of thy commandements that I may bee able to come to him in spirit which hath not feared to bee couered with my flesh Merciful father dost thou not beholde the head bowing downe of toy most beloued Sonne resolued to most pretious death Regarde O most fauourable Creator the humanity of thy dearely beloued sonne and haue mercie on the weakenesse of brittle clay Look on O glorious Father the torn lims of thy most acceptable sonne and graciously remember of what I am made See the paines of God and man and release the miserie of mortall man Beholde the punishment of the Redeemer and forgiue the offence of the redeemed My Lord it is hee whome for the sinnes of thy people thou hast stroken although he bee the dearely beloued in whome thou art well pleased the same is hee the innocent in whome no guile is found and yet â—s reputed amongst the wicked Another WHAT hast thou committed most swéet Sonne of God that thou shouldest so be adiudged what hast thou offended most louing Lord that in such sort thou shouldest bee handled What is thy wickednesse what is thy fault what is the cause of thy death what is the occasion of thy coÌ„demnation Doubtlesse I am the wounde of thy griefe the blame of the slaughter done on thee I am the deseruing of thy death the heynous offence of thy punishmeÌ„t I am the print and signe of thy passion the worker of thy torment O marueylous manner of iudgement and vnspeakeable miserie The wicked sinneth and the iust is punished the guiâ—tie offendeth and the innocent is beaten the vngodly doth amisse and the godly is condemned What the euil deserueth the good suffereth what the seruant trespasseth the master dischargeth what man committeth God beareth c. Behold my vnrighteousnes and thy righteousnes is manifest My King and my God what shall I render againe to thee for all that thou hast done for me That the remembrance of the woundes of Christ is a Preuayling remedie against all aduersities I haue committed a grieuous sinne and am guilty of maay offences neither therfore doe I despaire because where sinne hath abounded also grace hath much more abounded He that despaireth of pardon of his sinnes denyeth God to be mercifull Hee doth great wrong to God that is mistrustfull of his mercy for so much as in him is he denieth God to haue loue truth and power in which thinges all my hope consisteth which is in the loue of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Now let my foolish imagination murmure how much it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merâ—is hopest thou to obtaine the same I aswell wil faithfully answere I knowe whome I hâ—ue trusted because in excéeding loue he hath adopted me for a sonne because he is true in his promise able in the performance thereof and hath power to doe what hee will I cannot bee terrified with the great multitude of sins if the death of the Lorde come into my minde because my sinnes cannot ouercome him The nayles and Speare call vnto me that I am truly reconciled vnto Christ if I will loue him Longius opened to mee the side of Christ with his Speare and I haue entred and there safely doe I rest Hee stretcheth out his armes on the crosse and spreadeth out his hands ready for the imbracement of sinners Betweene the armes of my Sauiour both will I liue and desire to die There safe and sure will I sing vnto him high praises I will praise thee O Lord because thou hast receyued mee neyther wouldest thou suffer mine enemies to triumph ouer me Our sauiour in his death bowed downe his head that he might kisse his dearely beloued So often doe we kisse God as often as wee are pricked in heart with the loue of him Prayers before the receyuing the Communion MErciful lord Iesu Christ I sinful soul nothing presuming of mine own merits but only trusting in thy mercy and goodnes am afraid tremble to draw neare to the table of thy most sweete and comfortable feast for I haue a heart and bodie polluted with many grieuous crimes and a minde and a tongue very euilly gouerned Therefore O gracious Deitie O dreadfull Maiesty I miserable wretch apprehended and taken betweene the troubles and griefes of mind and spirit returne to thee the fountaine of mercie I make haste to thee to be healed I flie vnder thy protection And thee whoÌ„ I cannot endure to bee my Iudge I hope to haue my sauiour to thee Lord I shew my wouÌ„ds to thee I vncouer my shame I know my sins to bee many and great for the which I am afrayed yet I trust in thy mercies of which there is no number Lord Iesu Christ eternall King God and man crucified for man look on me with the eyes of thy mercie heare mee putting my trust in thee haue mercy on mee full of miseries and sins thou which euer makest the fountaine of thy compassions to spring Remember Lord thy creature whoÌ„ with thy pretious blood thou hast redeemed I am sorie that I haue sinned I desire amendment of thy gracious fauour help me take froÌ„ me most mercifull Father al my sinnes and iniquities that being cleansed in mind and bodie I may through thee deserue worthily to taste the holy thing of all holiest and graunt that the holy and spirituall receiuing of thy body bloud which I vnworthie intende bee a ful remission of all my sinnes and a perfect purging of all my transgressions a banishing of all euill thoughts and a getting againe of good senses also a most strong defence against all the deceits of the worlde the flesh and the diuell Amen Another ALmighty euerlasting god behold I come to the Sacrament of thine onely Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ I come as one sicke to the Phisition of life foule to the fountain of mercie blinde to the light of eternall brightnesse poore and needy to the Lord of heauen and earth Therefore I beg of the aboundance of thy exceeding bounty to that end thou wouldst vouchsafe to heale my infirmitie to wash away mine vncleannesse to lighten my blindnesse to enrich my pouertie to cloath my nakednes that I may receiue the bread of Angels the King of Kings the Lord of Lords with so much reuerence and meekenes with so much contrition and deuotion with so much purity and faith with such purpose and intention as is expedient to the health of my soule Graunt mee O Lord I beseech thee not only to take the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Lord but also the effect and vertue of the Sacrament O most fauourable God grant mee so spiritually to receiue the bodie of thy onelie Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ that I may be worthy to be incorporated in his mysticall bodie and to bee numbred amongest the members of him O louing father grant to me thy dearly beloued Son whom
now as a shadow in the way I purpose to receiue at last his face reuealed to beholde him for euer who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen Another O Lorde my soule my coÌ„panion and friend wearie and comming out of the way fainteth lyeth broken torne of those vanities which it had passed through it is hungry and greatly thirsteth and I haue not wherwithall to set before it because I am poore and a begger Thou my Lord God art rich of al good things most rich and a liberall giuer of dainties satisfying from aboue giue meate to the weary bind vp the scattered refresh the broken and torne Sée it standeth at thy doore and knocketh I beséech thée through the vowels of thy mercy with which thou hast visited vs rising out of the déepe open to the wretched knocking the hand of thy deuotion and bid with thy mercifull fauour that it may enter into thee it may liue with thée and bee refreshed of thee with heauenly Bread and Wine whereby béeing satisfied and strength taken againe it may ascend to higher places being taken vp with the wings of holy desire from this vaile of teares it may fly to the celestiall kingdomes Lord I beseech thee that my spirit might receiue wings like an Eagle and might flie and not faint that it might flie euen to the beauty of thy house and to the place of the habitation of thy glorie that there vpon the table of the refection of heauenly Citizens it may bee fedde of thy secrets in the place of thy Pasture next toe most flowing waters c. Prayers after the Communion MOst sweet lord Iesus strike through the inward part of my heart and bowels of my Soule with the most sweete and Healing wound of thy loue with the true cleare and most holy Apostolicall loue that my soule may languish and melt with the onely and continuall loue and desire of thee that it may couet thée and faint in thy porch that it may desire to be dissolued and be with thée Grant that my soule may hunger after thée the bread of Angels the refreshing of holy souls our dayly bread hauing all pleasantnesse of tast and all delectation of swéetnesse yea for euer that my heart hunger and be fed on thee on whom the Angels delight to looke and that the inwards of my soule may bée filled with the plesantnesse of the tast of thée that it may euer thirst after thée the well of life the fountaine of wisedome and knowledge the spring of eternall light the riuer of pleasure the bounty of the house of God that it may euer desire thée séeke thée finde thée come to thee Meditate on thée speake to thée and may worke all thinges to the prayse and glory thy holy name with all humility and discretion with delight and delectation with obedience and affection with perseuerance to the ende And be thou alwaies my onely hope my trust my riches my delight my reioicing my ioy my rest my peace my sweetnesse my wisedome my portion my possession my treasure In whom bee my mind and heart fastned sure and immoueable rooted for euer Amen Another I Giue thee thankes O Lord holy Father almighty and eternal God which vouchsafest to satisfie me sinner thy vnworthy seruant with the precious body and blood of thy son our Lord Iesus Christ not by any of my merits but with the only fauour of thy mercy I beseech thee that this holy Communion be not my guiltinesse to punishment but a healthfull intercession to pardon Be it vnto me an armour of faith and a target of good will be it an auoiding of my faults an increasing of Charity patience humility obedience a sure defence against the wiles and deceits of all mine enemies as well visible as inuisible a perfect appeasing of my motions as well carnall as spirituall a sure fastning in the true and one God and a happy consummation of my ending And I pray thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me sinner to that vnspeakeable feast where thou with thy Son and the holy Ghost with thy elect art the true light the ful satiety the ioy euerlasting the confirmed reioysing and pâ—rfite felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A warning to the soule O Sinnes what easie entries you haue whilest you are in counsel but how hard and difficult goings out haue you Whilest you perswade and obtaine you doe delight but after you sting and vexe euen to the death of the soule My soule before all things I warne thee as the Mother of vertues least in the thoughts of thy euils thou shouldest runne into the snares of some Diuill into the which many vnheedily run and through the remembrances of the sinfull delights foolishly fall againe into the same their sinnes and euils The Concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of life BEhold Lord my God all the world is full of snares and concupiscences which they haue prepared for my feet And who may flie these snares Truely hee from whom thou takest away the euill lifting vp of his eies that the concupiscence of his eyes take him not and from whome thou takest a way the concupiscence of the flesh least the concupiscence of the flesh take him And from whom thou takest away an vnreuerent and a vaine glorious mind least the pride of life subtillie deceiue him O how happy is hee for whome thou doest these things surely he shall passe through free and blameles Now my redéemer I beséech thee for thine owne sake helpe me that I fall not grieuously in the beholding of mine aduersaries takeÌ„ with their snares which they haue made ready for my féet that they bow not downe my soule Thou Lord God father of the fatherles heare the pitiful cries of the children and spred out thy wings that wee may flie vnder them from the face of the enemie Thou tower of the strength of Israel which slumbrest neither sléepest kéeping Israel because the enemy neither slumbreth nor sléepeth that fighteth against Israel Of the misery of man without God LOrd forsake me not least the shadowes of mine ignorance increase and mine offences multiply for without thee all thinges are darknesse vnto mee all things are euill because nothing is good without thée the true onely and chiefest good This I confesse this I know my Lord my God for whersoeuer I am without thée it is euill with mee not onely of matters external concerning my selfe but in my selfe for all plenty and aboundance without my God is to mee want and misery Then shall I be rich and satisfied when thy glory shall appeare And thou lord my happie life graunt that I may euer confesse my misery to thee With how much bitternes this life is sprinckled I Am greatly weary Lord of this life of tedious pilgrimage This life is a frail life an vncertaine life a painefull life a defiled life a life Ladie
THE SINNERS GLASSE Containing AVGVSTINES Ladder to Paradise With diuers Meditations and Prayers both for Morning and Euening Collected out of Saint Augustine and other ancient Fathers LONDON Printed by Iohn VVindet for John Budge 1609. To the vertuous and honorable Ladie Anne Windsor wife to the right honorable Lord Henry VVindsor AFter I had collected certaine doctrines and Meditations out of sundrie works of Augustine to mine owne priuate contentment In time following some of my learned friends by chance perusing and liking the order and method of them it put me in comfort to make them more knowne through the Englishing of them And honourable Ladie first out of that Booke vnder the name of Augustine intituled of the Spirit and Soule I had according to mine owne purpose disposed framed 15. portions or particulars out of many Chapters in that booke They are especiall easie teachings to many that yet know not what themselues are that thereby considering and beholding well of what they are made and their substance which is of the Soule and Body vnited and yet falling too often at variance will not be perswaded the one by the other they may feeling their owne miserie by it seek and desire higher after many diuine knowledges which may keepe their soules and bodies in vnitie and to bee at peace with God Then for the Meditations that follow I gathered them out of that blessed man his woorkes euery where when I thought which might mooue a godly minde not setting downe whole Chapters neither except foure or fiue but parcels thereof and contented partly with breuitie as also some time in a chapter meeting with the ignoraunce and corruption of that time in praying to Saints I left that part out which inuocation is a sacriledge not possible to haue any office allowed it in prayer through the whole scripture but by the large authoritie thereof it is most forcibly extruded And no doubt but Augustine in his time found it so lib. contra Parmenid 2. cap 8. For he sayeth Christian men doe togither commend themselues in their prayers but hee for whom none maketh intercession but he himselfe for all Hee is the verie onely and true Mediator And saith Ambrose lib. de Isaac anima He is our mouth by which we speake to the father our eye by which we see the father our right hand by which wee offer vs to the father otherwayes then by whose intercession neither wee nor all the Saintes hath any thing with God And I intend not that these abstracts out of those prayers and meditations vnto part of which I haue after my iudgment applied some verses out of the Psalmes shuld be vsed of any for or as in stead of their prayers for that cannot bee they haue beene long sithence offered vp by that holy man they were his owne But now they are to be taken as moouers stirrers vp of others to heauenly contemplation contrition and holy sorrow Our perfect prayer with the duties thereto belonging riseth of faith and knowledge which commeth by hearing and reading the Scriptures whereby thorough the holy ghost we are made able to seeke Christ and so the inuisible father who is not found elsewhere but in Christ that thus wee are come to haue a certaine communication with God in which entred into the Sanctuarie of heauen wee haue to doe with three persons As Gregorie Nazianzene vpon the Trinitie writeth I cannot sayeth he thinke of one but presently I am compassed round with the brightnesse and glorie of three Neither can I distinguish of three but suddenly I am brought again to one And so in our prayers it is with vs. Paul sayth thus Gal. 4. God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts which crieth Abba father which spirit so sent proceedeth from the Father and the Son and sendeth vs forth-with to call on the Father through his Sonne And also Rom. 8. That spirit in our hearts certifieth our Spirit that wee are the children of God And the same most holy 3. persons one God keepeth such an immediate course in our prayer that no Saint in heauen can come betweene the holy ghost and our redeemer to intreat him to heare vs or to bee ioyned with him or to bee in his stead for an in tercessor his leue and worthinesse maketh vs worthy through his spirit to come to him our selues As also that holy Spirit which is the cause that wee haue knowledge in the Scriptures prompteth vs how to pray how to edifie and how to answere our aduersaries visible inuisible Moreouer most excellent and heauenly knowledge is learned out of the Scripture in praise of which and comparing it aboue all other learnings Augustin saith de doct Christiana lib. 2. Whatsoeuer a man can learne without it if it be faultie or offensiue there it is condemned If it bee profitable there it is found And when whosoeuer hath found all things which elsewhere hee hath profitably learned hee shall finde those things the more abundantly by much which are learned no where else at all but in the admirable highnesse and marueilous humility of the sacred Scriptures Thus Madame signifying vnto you the contents of this briefe Collection I pray to the Almightie to enlighten and direct you alwaies with his Spirit to the increase of true honour through you in this life and to crowne you with glorie in the life euerlasting Your seruant to your honour dutifully affected Timo. Pimm A confession of our Sinnes O Lord my God euerlasting almighty Father I acknowledge and confesse before thy holy and high Maiestie that I was bred and born in sinne and corruption and that since my birth I haue not ceased nor doe cease dayly to transgresse thy commandements In respect wherof I cannot escape ruine and destruction according to thy rightfull iustice Notwithstanding forasmuch as I am sory that I haue offended thée and doe condemne both my â—elfe and my sinne and forasmuch as it hath pleased thée to loue vs euen when wee were thine enemies and for assurance thereof to giue vs thy onely and wel be loued Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ to be a Mediator and aduocate betwéene thée and vs promising that wee shall obtaine whatsoeuer we aske of thée in his name Vouchsafe O most louing God and mercifull Father to pardon and forgiue me in his name and for his sake and not only to clense my heart from all vanity and vncleannes but also to gouerne and guide me by thy holy spirit in all my waies that I may liue according to thy holy and heauenly commandements all the daies of my life to the glory of thy holy name through the same thy welbeloued Sonne So be it Morning Prayer O God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thy speciall gift grant that vnto the rest of thine excéeding great benefites towardes mée this which is the greatest that can bee bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from
fast and sound sléepe so also thou wilt deliuer my mind from the sléepe of sinne and from the darknes of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it again from sléepe For that which is death to vs is but sléepe vnto thée I pray and beséech thée that through thy goodnesse this body of mine may bee fellow and furtherer of all godlinesse to my soule in this life so as it may also be partner with it of the endlesse felicity in the life to come through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord. For whose sake and by whom thou giuest vs all good and wholesome thinges to our welfare Amen Euening Prayer LOrd Iesus Christ to whose vnconsumeable goodnesse we bee beholden for all things which hast graunted the chearefull light of the day vnto all men both good and bad to doe their businesse in and mercifully giuen them the swéet stilnesse of the night to refresh the powers of their silly bodies and to put away the cares of their mindes to aswage their sorrowes For so much as thou thy selfe performest all these things much more beneficially to them that loue thée to whom thou giuest a farre greater light by the grace of faith to doe all déedes of godlinesse by then doth the shining of the Sunne vnto the world Insomuch as thy promises neuer suffer them to faint but the comfort of thy spirit putteth away all cumberances of minde farre more effectually then any sleepe of the body And the whole man resteth not more sweetly or safely in any thing then in thy mercy O deare Redéemer I â—eseech thee that if I haue done any thing this day through humaine frailty negligence which hath offended thine eies pardon it for thine wonted goodnesse sake and grant therwithall that this night may be happy to mee by thy prospering thereof pure by thy preseruing of me safe from the nightly illusions of wicked féends through thy protection so as this sléepe may make both my body and mind more chearefull and lusty to serue thee to morrow Moreouer because this life hath not one houre certaine whensoeuer the euentide therof commeth and the long sleepe of the body groweth vpon mee from which we shall not wake till the dead rise againe at the sound of thine Angelles Trumpet I beseech thee lighten thou then the eyes of my mind so as I may not sleepe in euerlasting death by the quenching of my faith but rest in thee to whom euen the dead are aliue Which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holy Ghost one God world without ende Amen Augustine his Ladder to Paradice BEing busied on a certaine day with the bodily labour of hands when I had begunne to consider of a spirituall mans exercise Foure degrees or steppes suddenly offered themselues vnto my consideration which were Reading Meditation Prayer and Contemplation This is the Ladder of secluded men of solitary men wherewith they are lifted vp into heauen it is a Ladder distinguished and noted but with a few degrees or stepps and yet of an vnmeasurable and incredible greatnesse The first part of the which is stayed vpon the earth but the vppermost part pierceth the clouds and searcheth the secrets of the Heauens These degrees or steps as in names and number they are diuers so in order and number they are distinguished· Whose properties and benefites surely euery of them what they may bring to passe in vs How betweene themselues they differ and excell if any one would throughly consider whatsoeuer labour or study he shal bestow in them be shall briefely and easily thinke and thinke againe vpon them in regard of the greatnesse of their profite sweetnesse and delight For Reading is a diligent and earnest looking on the scriptures with a bending and strayning of the mind Meditation is a studious action of the minde searching out the knowledge of the secret truth by the leading of ones owne and speciall reason Prayer is a deuout intention of the minde to God for the putting away of euill things and the obtaining of things that are good Contemplation is a certaine lifting vp of a stayed minde to God tasting the ioyes of eternall sweetnesse A discription of the parts and duties of those foure degrees THerefore the discriptions of the foure degrees assigned it remaineth that wee should sée their parts and duties Reading searcheth Meditation findeth Prayer sueth or maketh intercession Contemplation féeleth or tasteth Wherevpon the Lord himselfe saith Seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you Seeke by reading and yee shall finde in meditating Knocke ye by Prayer and it shall bee opened to you in contemplation Reading setteth the mouth as it were to sound meate Meditation cheweth and breaketh Prayer obtayneth tast Contemplation is the same sweetnesse which gladdeth and comforteth Reading is in the barke or shell Meditation in the fat Prayer in the supplication of desire Contemplation in the delectation of gotten sweetnesse which that it may appeare more plaine I will apply one example out of many I heare in reading Blessed are the cleane ' n hart for they shall see God Beholde a short sentence but swéet and manifolde in knowledge I come ouer and beside to the feede of the soule as it were of a Grape the which thing after the soule hath diligently séene into it sayth within it selfe may there be any good I will come to my heart and will try if happely I may vnderstand and finde this cleannesse for this thing is precious and worthy to bee 1 wished for the possessors of which are called Gods to whom is promised the sight of God which is eternall use which is commended with so many testimonies of holy scriptures Therefore destring this thing more plainely to be expounded to it selfe it beginneth to chew and breake this grape and putts it into the presse vntill it mooueth reason to search out whether this cleannesse so precious and worthy to be wished for can be and how it may be bad The office of Meditation THEN commeth Diligent and earnest Meditation it farieth not behinde it hath not any thing in the superficie or outside of another it pitcheth foote it pierceth the inward parts it seeketh euery corner it considereth beedely that he hath not sayde Blessed be the cleane in body but in minde because it sufficeth not to haue harmeles hands from euill worke but that also we should bée â—lensed in mind from wicked thoughts Which is confirmed by the authority of the Prophet saying Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure heart Also this Meditation it considereth this cleannesse of heart which the same Prophet would Thinke also how carefull blessed Iob was in keeping this who said I haue made a couenant with mine eyes that I would â—ot thinke
that the one say to the other know God for all knoweth him and beholdeth him all praise hâ—m and loue him They know him without errour they sée him without ende they prayse him and loue him without wearinesse They euer see him and desire to sée him so much worthy hee is to be séene They euer loue him and euer desire to loue him so sweete is hée to be loued And by how much they loue him by so much the more they will loue him hee is so delightfull to bee enioyed In this delight they repose themselues being full of God full of all blessing and sanctification and cleauing euer to blessednesse they are blessed and happie beholding euer eternity they are eternall And ioyned to the light are made light beholding euer vnchangeablenesse are chaunged into vnchaungeablenesse So much the more willinglier they beholde him in how much hee is the sweeter which countenance is holy and mercifull his face honorable his speeche pleasant O blessed sight to see the King of Angels in his honour to see the holy of all holy by whom all are holy To see him is the chiefest felicity the chiefest ioy a blessed life and life euerlasting Godly Prayers A Prayer to God the Father to vouchsafe to helpe mankinde ALmighty God the ouerséer and searcher of my heart I doe most humbly confesse the omnipotency of thy Maiestie and the maiestie of thy omnipotency But how thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankinde to the ende of all ages as I beléeue in my heart to righteousnesse and iustification so with my mouth before thée I confesse to my comfort and saluation Thou onely indéede God the father art neuer read as sent but the Apostle writeth so of thy Sonne which is when the fulnesse of time came God sent his sonne When hée saith hee sent hee apparantly sheweth that hee came sent into this world as borne of the blessed virgin he appeared in the flesh very true and perfect man But what is it that the chéefest of the Euangelistes saith of him hee was in the world and the world is made by him In truth thither hée is sent in humanity where hee was euer and is touching his Gothead Which sending I assuredly beleeue with all my heart and confesse with my mouth to be the worke of all the holy Trinity But how hast thou loued vs holy and good Father how much hast thou loued vs mercifull maker which also hast not spared thine onely Sonne but hast deliuered him for vs wretched sinners Hee was subiect and obedient to thee euen vnto the death yea to the death of the crosse taking vp the haâ—â— writing against vs of our sinnes and nailing it to the Crosse crucified sinne and slew death hee onely free amongst the dead hauing power to lay downe his life for vs and to take it againe for vs. Therefore is he a conquerer and a sacrifice for conquest and therefore a conquerour because a sacrifice to thee for vs a Priest and an oblation therefore a Priest because an oblation or offering Worthily haue I a strong hope in him because thou shalt heale through him all my griefes and weakenesse who sitteth at the right hand and maketh intercession for vs. For Lord my languors and griefes are great and many many they be and great for the Prince of this world hath many things in me I know and confesse it But I beséech thee deliuer mée through our redéemer sitting at thy right hand in whom no euill may be found Thorough him iustifie mee which hath done no offence neither was there found any guile in his mouth through him our head in whom is no spot deliuer me a member of him although very slerder and weake I beséech thée deliuer mée from all my sinnes imperfections faults and negligences Replenish mee with thy holy vertues and make mée to preuaile in good vsage and behauiour make me for thy holy names sake to perseuers in goodnesse euen to the end according to thy will Amen A Prayer to God the Sonne Obountiful Iesu O sweete Iesu O Iesu the Sonne of the blessed virgin Mary full of mercie truth O sweet Iesu haue mercie on mee according to thy great mercy O gracious Iesu I beseech thée by that precious bloud which thou hast vouchsafed to shed for vs wretched sinners vpon the aultar of the Crosse that thou wilt cast away all mine iniquities and that thou wilt not despise me humbly praying thee and calling vpon this thy most holy name Iesus this name Iesus is a coÌ„fortable name for what is Iesus but a sauiour O bountifull Iesu which hast â—reated mee and redéemed me with thy precious blood suffer me not to bee damned whome thou hast made of nothing O good Iesu Christ let not mine iniquitie destroy whom thy omnipotent goodnesse hath made and created O swéete Iesu reknowledge that which is thine in me wipe away that which is contrary from me O good Iesu haue mercy on me whilest time is of taking mercy least thou shouldest destroy mée in time of thy terrible iudgement O good Iesu if I wretched sinner from thy true iustice haue deserued euerlasting punishment for my most grieuous sins yet hauing a sure confidence I appeale from thy true iustice vnto thine vnspeakeable mercy vntill thou hast compassion on mee like a louing Father and a mercifull God O mercifull Iesu what profite is there in my bloud if I descend into euerlasting corruption For O Lord the dead shall not praise thée neither such as goe downe into hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy on mee O most swéete Iesu bee vnto me wretched sinner a fauorable Iudge O Iesu the health of those that put their trust in thée O Iesu the health of al that beléeee in thée haue mercy on me O swéet Iesu the remission of all my sinnes O Iesu sonne of the virgin Mary poure into me grace wisdome charitie chastitie and also a holy patience in all mine aduersities that I may perfectly loue thee for euer worlde without end Amen A Prayer to God the holy Ghost GIue sentence with mee O GOD and discerne my cause against the vngodly people Teach me to do thy will because thou art my god I beleeue in whome soeuer thou dwellest thou buildest there the long abyding place of the Father and the sonne togither Blessed is hee that shall deserue to receiue and lodge thee because by thee the Father the son make their mansion with him Come nowe come most blessed comforter of the sorrowfull soule descending in due time In tribulation an helper Come the clenser of euills the curer of wouÌ„ds· Come the strength of the weake the releeuer of those ready to fall Come the teacher of the humble the destroyer of the proude Come the gentle Father of the fatherlesse and motherlesse the fauourable Iudge of the widowes Come the hope of the poore the refresher of the faint Come thou starre of the Mariner thou hauen of them that escape shipwracke
faire and honourable before all the sonnes of men graunt mee that I maye desire thee that I maye loue thee so much as I will and as much as I ought Thou art exceeding great and exceedingly thou oughtest to bee beloued chiefly of vs whome thou hast so loued so saued for whome thou hast done so many things O loue which euer burnest and art neuer quenched Sweete Christ méeke loue Iesu my God inflame mee wholy with thy loue with thy light with thy delight with thy desire with thy gladnesse and reioycing with thy affection and swéete kindenesse with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and excellent which is chaste and cleare that being altogether full with the swéetnesse of thy loue altogether pleasured with the feruencie of thy loue I may loue thée my Lord most sweete and beautifull with all my heart with all my soule with all my power and all my diligence with great contrition of hart and a fountaine of tears with great reuerence and feare and hauing thee in heart in mouth and before mine eyes alwaies and euery where so that no place in mee appeare open to false and counterfeite loues Amen Prayers of the Soule thirsting to see Iesus MY soule thirsteth for thée my L. God my flesh also longeth alter thee My soule thirsteth for God the liuing fountaine when shal I come and appeare before the face of the Lord When wilt thou come my comforter whoÌ„ I waite for O when shal I see my ioy I looke for O then I shall bee satisfied when my glory will appeare whom I hunger for O then shalâ— I bee drunken of the aboundance of his house which I sigh for O that thou will soake me with the flowing streame of the pleasures In the meane time O Lord let my teares be to me bread day and night vntil it be saide to mee beholde thy God vntill my soule may there looke vpon the Bridegroome Féede mée in the meane time with my sobbes refresh me with my sorrowes it may bee that my redéemer will come because he is louing and will not tarry because he is merfull To him be all honor for euer and euer Amen Another of the same STrike Lord strike I beséech thée this my most hard heart with the godly and strong point of thy deare loue and pierce déeper to the very bottome with thy mighty power And so bring forth passing much water from my head and a true fountaine of teares from my eyes aboundantly flowing through the excéeding affection and desire of the sight of thy beautie that I may mourne day and nighte receiuing no comfort in this present life vntill I may bee worthie to see thee my beloued Lorde and God in the celestiall bride chamber that there beholding thy glorious admirable most beautifull face full with all pleasure and sweetnesse I may humblie adore and worshipp thy maiestie with those whome thou hast chosen and there at the last replenished with the vnspeakeable ioy of eternal reioysing I may cry out with them that loue thée saying Beholde now I sée that I haue desired now I hold that I haue hoped for now I haue that I haue longed for I am ioyned to him in heauen whom seÌ„t vpon the earth I haue with al my power loued with all loue imbraced to whom with all loue I haue cleaued him I extoll praise and honour who liueth and raigneth God without end Amen A Prayer for the feare of the great Iudge LLord God of gods forceable and mighty vpon all wickednes I know certainely that thou wilt come I know thou wilt not euer be siâ—ent when in thy sight the lightening waxeth violent and in thy course the great tempest shall suddenly come wheÌ„ thou shalt call heauen from aboue and the earth to iudge thy people Then loe before so many thousands of people all mine iniquities shall be reuealed before so many armies of Angels all my abhominations shall he open not of my déedes onely but of my thoughts and words Thou righteous Iudge marking sinnes hast kept all my wayes as in a Sachell and hast numbred my steppes togither thou hast held thy peace thou hast béene silent thou hast béen long suffering But wo is me at last thou speakest as though sore trauailing with child c. A Prayer where the Father is called vpon through the Sonne O Father I beseech thee for the loue of thy almighty Son bring my soule out of prison to praise thy holy name I instantly desire thee through thine onely son coeternall with thee deliuer me froÌ„ the bonds of sinne and thou most highest beeing appeased through the intercession of thy Sonne sitting at thy right hand restore me to life whose owne merits threaten to mée deadly and eternall doome For what other intercessor I should bring to thee I know not but the same which is the onely sacrifice for our sinnes which sitteth at thy right hande intreating for vs. Behold my aduocate with thee God the Father beholde the chiefe Bishop who néedeth not to make an attonement with others bloud because he appeareth glorious imbrued with the blood of his own woundes Beholde the holy sacrifice well pleasing and perfect offered vp and accepted into the sauour of swéetnesse Behold the lambe without spot who before the shéerers of him became as dumbe who beaten with buffetes beraied with spittle and rayled vpon opened not his mouth Beholde him that hath done no sins hath borne our sinnes land healed our infirmities with his owne bloud Amen A prayer of the penitent CReator of heauen and earth king of kings and Lord of al that rule which hast made me of nothing to thy Image and likenes and hast redeemed mee with thy precious blood whome I wretched sinner am not worthy to name neither to call vpon or meditate of in heart I beseâ—ch thee kneeling on my knees and humbly intreating thee that thou wilt pitifully regarde mee thy euill seruant and to haue mercy on me who hadst compassion on the woman of Canaan and of Marie Magdelen who forgauest the Publicane and théefe hanging on the Crosse In thee most mercifull Father I confesse my sinnes which to conceale from thée O Lord I cannot if I would Pardon mee O Christ whome I haue greatly offended both in thought word and deed and by all the meanes in which I wicked fraile man might offend Therfore O Lord I beseech thy clemency who descendedst from heauen for my safety who rearedst Dauid from the fall of sinne pardon mee O Lord pardon mee O Christ who forgauest Peter denying thee Thou art my Creator and redeemer my Lord and my sauiour my king and my God thou art my hope and my trust I beseech and intreate thee helpe me and I shal be safe gouerne and defend mee strengthen me and comfort me confirm me and make mee glad ' inlighten and visite mee ' reare me that am dead because I am of thy making and thy worke Lord dispise mee not because I am thy seruant