few that doo enioy them For straight is the gate and narow is the way whiche leadeth vnto life and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O heauenly father thou hast a litle flocke to whom it is thy pleasure to geue y e glorious kingdom of heauē Ther is a certaine number of sheep that heare thy voice whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand whiche shal neuer perish to whō also thou shalt geue eternall life Make me therfore O lorde of that number whom thou frō euerlasting hast predestinate to bee saued whose names also are written in the book of life Pluck me out of the cōpany of y e stinkking gotes whiche shal stād on thy left hand be damned place me among those thy sheep whiche shal stand on thy right hand and be saued Graunt me this o mer cifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake Iesu Christ our Lorde So shal I enioying this singular benefite at thy hand being placed in thy glorious kingdom sing per petuall praises to thy godly maiestie whiche liuest and reignest with thy deerely beloued sonne and the holy ghost one true and euerlasting God c. ¶ A thanks geuing vnto God for all his benefites THy benefites toward me O moste louing Father are so great infinite whether I haue respect vntomy body or vnto my soule that I finde not in my self how to recompence any part of thine vnspeakable goodnes toward me But y u whiche needest none of my goods knowing our beggery yea ournothing requirest of vs for a recompēce of thy kindnes only y e sacrifice of praise and thanks geuing o lorde and mercifull father what wurthi thanks am I pore wretched sīner able to geue the Notw tstāding trusting on thy merci fauorable kīd nes I offer vnto thee in the name of Christe the sacrifice of praise euer thanking the moste hartely for all thy benefites whiche thou hast be stowed vpon me thine vnprofitable seruaūt from the beginning of my life vnto this presēt houre moste hūbly beseeching the to continew thy louing kindnes to ward me and to geue me grace to walke wurthy of this thy fatherly goodnes that whē thou shalt call me out of this carefull life I may enioy y t thy moste singulare last benefite whiche is euerlasting glori through Iesus Christe our Lord to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be al honour praise for euer and euer Amen ¶ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whiche art the only helth of all mē liuing the euerlasting life of thē which die in thy faith I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy vnto thy most blessed wil. And I being sure that the thing cā not perish whiche is cōmitted vnto thy merci O lord geue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraill wicked fleshe in hope of the resurrection whiche in better wise shal restore it to me agaī I beseeche thee moste merciful lorde Iesus christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule agaīst all temptacions And that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all y e assaults of the deuill I see knowledge y e there is in my self no help of saluation But al my confidence hope trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good wurks whiche I may alledge before thee Of my sinns euill wurks alas I see a great hepe but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take accept me for rightuos and iust to be y e enheritour of euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake y u didst suffer bothe hunger thirst for my sake thou didst preache teache thou didst pray and fast for my sake thou didst al good wurks deeds for my sake Thou sufferedst moost greuous paines and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precious body to die thy bloud to be shed on the cros for my sake Now moste mercifull sauiour let all these things profit me whiche thou freely hast geuen me that hast geuē thy self for me Let thy bloud clense and washe away the spots and foulnes of my sinnes Let thy righte ousnes hide couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion bloud be satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be firm constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie wax not colde in me finally that the weaknes of my fleshe bee not ouercome with fear of death Graunt me mercifull sauiour that whē death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet that the eyes of my soule may stil beholde and look vpon thee that when death hath takē away the vse of my tung spech yet that my hart may cry say vnto thee In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meū that is to say O Lorde into thy hāds I geue and commit my soule Domine Iesu accipe spiritum meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Certain Godly Meditations made in the forme of prayers by S. Augustine whiche if thou wilt rede them quietly with a feruent spirit they will stir thee muche to deuocion ¶ A prayer wherin through cōmemoration of Christes passion we desire pardon of oure sinnes and continuaunce in vertue and godlines BEholde O pitiful father thy most pitifull sōne which suffred for me being so wicked Be hold o most merciful king who suffreth and remember as thou art louing and kinde for whom he suffred Is not this O my Lorde that innocent whom allthough he were thy sonne thou didst deliuer to redeme raunsō a seruant Is not this the author and beginner of life whiche being led as a sheep to bee killed beeing made obediēt to thee euen vnto death was not afraid to take vpō him the moste cruell and sharp kinde of death Cal to remembraunce O thou distributor of all helth that this is he whom althoughe thou diddest beget him by thy power yet not withstanding thou wouldest haue to bee made partaker of mine infirmitie and weaknes Truly this same is thy Godhed whiche did take vpō him my nature whiche was hanged vppō the gibbet of tourment or cros whiche in the fleshe whiche he had taken vpon him did suffer sorowful punishment Turn the eyes of thy maiestie O Lord my God toward the wurk of thine vnspekeable pitie Look vpō thy deere sonne whose whole body is stretched forth Mark y e harmles and pure hands whiche doo drop and distill down innocent bloud And I beseeche thee bee pacified and pardon the wicked dedes whiche my hands haue cōmitted Consider his bare naked side being thrust thorow cruelly with a spear and renue and wash me with
through faith vnto his grace wherin we stāde and reioyce in hope of the glory of God we thanke thee for all thy benefytes moste humbly beseeche thee to geue vs grace faithfully to beleue in thee stedfastly to confesse thee true God and true mā earnestlye to acknowledge thee our alone redemer sauiour Satisfier Recōciler Intercessor Mediator and Aduocate that we altogether depending on thee and thy merites on thy blessed passion precious death and glorious resurrection maye study through thy grace so to order our lyfe in true holines and innocency that at the day of iudgement thou mayst present vs both body and soule vnto thy heauenly father and so for euer and euer placevs in thi glorious kingdome Amen ¶ Unto God the holy ghost O Holy and blessed spirit which being true and euerlasting God with God the father and God y e sonne procedest from them bothe full of maiestie and power which also with thy heauēly breath quycknest y e mides of thē that afore were dead through sinne makest mery the hartes of y e faithful penitent bringest into y e waye of truth al suche as haue erred and are deceyued settest at one such as wer at debate cō fortest the soules of them y thūger and thirst after righteousnes and plenteouslye enrichest them w t diuers giftes whyche pray vnto thee in the name of Iesu Christ Purifye our hartes we beseeche thee with the fyre of thy loue mortify in vs what soeuer is not thine renue garnishe our mindes with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall giftes that they may be made thy temples leade vs into all necessary trueth suffer vs not to be caried about with diuers straunge doctryne but alway to remaine in that doctryne wherof thou alone art y e author enarme our soules against the crafty assaultes of suttil Satan against the vain pleasures of the wicked world and against the leude lustes of filthy fleshe that we beeing replenished with thy holy breath may doo y toneli whiche is acceptable in thy godly sight Amen ¶ Particular prayers to be sayed of the Magistrates FOrasmuch as it is thi godli pleasure O king of kinges and Lorde of Lordes to appoint me among other a ruler of thy people geue me grace I beseeche thee so to minister the commō weale and so to execute my office y t I may please thee and hurt no man in all my doinges but iudge equally and iustli rule according to thy wyll shewe my self a father vnto thy people and so behaue my self in all myne enterprises y t I seking thy glory y e furtheraunce of thy blessed gospel the weale of y tsubiectes may when thou shalt render to euery man according to hys deeds be found blameles in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of the ministers of Gods word Thou hygh Priest and O euerlasting bishop Iesus Christ the alone teacher of all godly trueth and the onely Curate of oure soules whyche by thy holye worde hast appointed some of thy congregacion to be Ministers and Preachers of thy blessed lawe and Gloryous gospell y t by this meanes the holy ghost also working they may call synners vnto repentaunce preache remission of synnes in thy name perswade vnto vertue and disswade frō vice forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to cal me an vnprofitable seruaūt vnto that holy office of ministracion and to make me a preacher of thy worde I moste humbly beseeche thee to geue me thy holy spirite whiche may lead me in to all trueth instruct me with the knowledge of thy holimisteries and through his heauenly inspiracion so prepare my harte and order my tūg that I may neyther thinke breath nor speak any thyng but that may turne vnto thy glory and the edifying of thy flock Graunt also that what soeuer I preache in word I may fulfil the same in work vnto the example of that thy flock which thou haste purchased w t thi precious bloud y t when thou the cheef shepeheard shalt appeare I beyng found faithfull in my office mai through thi goodnes re ceiue y e incorruptible crown of glory Amen ¶ Of Subiectes or Commens AS it is thy godly appoītment O Lorde God y tsum should bear rule in this worlde to see thy glorye set forth and the commō peace kepte so it is thy pleasure againe that some should be subiectes and inferiours to other in theyr vocation although before thee there is no respecte of persons And forasmuch as it is thy good wil to appoint me in the nūber of subiectes I beseeche thee to geue me a faithfull an obediēt hart vnto the hye powers y t there may be foūd in me no disobedience no vn faithfulnes no reasō no falshod no dissimulacion no iusurrectiō no cōmociō no cōspiracy nor ani kind of rebelliō in word or in dede agaīst the ciuil magistrates but all faithfulnes obediēce quietnes subiectiō humility and whatsoeuer els becommeth a subiecte that I liuīg here in all lowlinesse of mynde may at the last day through thy fauoure be lifted vp vnto euerlasting glory where thou with the father and y e holy ghost liueste raignest very God for euer Amen ¶ Of Fathers and Mothers THe frute of the wombe the multitude of childrē is thy gifte and blessing O Lorde geuen to this ende y t they may liue to thy glory the cōmodity of their neighbour For asmuche therfore as thou of thy goodnes hast geuen me children I beseeche thee geue me also grace to traine them vp euen from theyr Cradels in thy nourtoure doctrine in thy holy lawes blessed ordinaūces that from theyr very yonge age they may know thee beleue in thee feare loue thee and diligently walke in thy commaundements vnto the praise of thy glorious name Amen ¶ Of Children THou haste geuen a commaundemēt in thy law O heauēly father that children should honour theyr fathers and mothers I moste humbly beseeche thee therfore to breath thy holy spirit into my brest that I maye reuerence and honoure my father mother not oneli w t outward gestures of mi body but also with the vnfayned affecciō of the hart loue them obey them pray for them help them and doo for thē both in worde and dede whatsoeuer lyeth in my power that thou seeing myne vnfayned harty good wil toward my Parentes mayst become my louing heauenly father number me among those thy children whō thou hast appointed from euerlasting heires of thy glorious kyngdom through thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of Masters THy commaundement is by thine holy Apostle O most merciful Lord Christ y e masters should entreat their seruauntes gently puttyng away threatninges doing that vnto thē whiche is iust and equal forasmuch as we also haue a maister in heauē with whom there is no respect of persones Graūt I most hartely pray thee I may so order my seruauntes that I attēpt none vnrighteousnes against them but
of perfect pacience sufferīg quietly not y e spiteful words but also y e cruel dedes of thi most cruel enemies forgeuing thē praying for thē whiche moste tyranlike hādled thee Giue me grace O thou moste meek and louing lamb of God to folow this thy pacience quietly to bear the slaunderous wordes of mine aduersaries paciently to suffer the cruel dedes of mine enemies to forgiue thē to pray for them yea to doo good for thē by no meanes to go about once to auenge my selfe but rather giue place vnto wrath seeing y t vengeaunce is thine and y u wilt reward seing also that thou helpest them to theyr ryght that suffer wronge that I thus paciently suffering all euils may after ward raign with thee in glory Amen ⧠For Humilitie WHat haue we O heauēly Father that we haue not receyued ▪ Euery good gyfte and euery perfect gift is frō aboue and cometh downe from thee which art the father of lightes Seyng then all y t we haue is thine whether it pertaine to the body or to the soule how can we be proud and boast our selues of that whiche is none of our own seing also y t as to geue so to take away againe thou art able and wilt whēsoeuer thy gifts be abused and thou not knowledged to be the giuer of them Take therfore away from me all pride hautynesse of mynd and graffe in me true humilitie that I may knowledge thee the giuer of al good things be thāk full vnto thee for them vse them vnto thy glorye and the profyte of my neyghboure Graunt also that all my glorye and reioysynge maye bee in no earthly creatures but in thee alone whiche doost mercy equitie and ryghtuousnes vpon earth To thee alone be all glory Amen ⧠For Mercifulnes THy deerelye beloued sōne in his holy Gospell exhorted vs to be mercyfull euē as thou our heauenly Father art merciful and promisest that if we be merciful to other we shall obtaine merci of thee which art the father of mercies and God of al consolacion Graunt therfore that for asmuch as thou art oure Father and we thy children we may resemble thee in all our life and conuersaciō and that as thou art beneficial liberal not onli to y e good but also to the euil so we likewise mai shew our selues merciful gentil and liberall to so many as haue nede of our healp y tat the dredful day of dome we may be found in the number of those merciful whom thou shalt appoint by thy onely begotten sonne to go into euerlasting lyfe to whō with thee and the holy ghost be all honour and praise Amen For true godlynes IN thy law O thou maker of heauen and earth thou hast appoynted vs a waye to walke in and hast commanded that we shuld tourn neither on the right hand nor on the left but doo according to thy good will and pleasure with out adding of our own good entents and fleshly imaginacions As thou hast cōmaunded so giue me grace good Lorde to doo Let me neither folowe mine owne will nor the fancies of other men neither let me be begiled with the visar of olde customes long vsages fathers decres auncient lawes nor any other thing that ffghteth with thy holy ordinaunces blessed commaundemēt but faithfully beleue stedfastly confes y t to be the true godlines which is learned in thy holy Bible according vnto that to order my life vnto the praise of thy holy name Amē ⧠For the true vnderstanding of Gods word O Lorde as thou alone art the Authour of the holy scriptures so lykewyse can no manne althoughe neuer so wise politike and learned vnderstand them except he be taught by thy holy spiryt which alone is the Scholemaster to lead the faithfull into all truth Uouchesafe therfore I moste humbly beseeche thee to breath into my hart thy blessed Spirit whiche may renew the senses of my minde open my wits reuele vnto me the true vnderstāding of thy holy misteries ▪ and plant in me such a certaine and infailyble knowledge of thy truthe that no subtyll perswasyon of mans wysdom may pluck me from thy truth but that as I haue lerned the true vnderstāding of thy blessed wyll so I may remayne in the same continually come lyfe come death vnto the glory of thy blessed name Amen ⧠For a lyfe agreable to our knowledge AS I haue prayd vnto thee O heauenly Father to be taught the true vnderstāding of thi blessed word by thi holy spirit so I moste entierly beseech thee to giue me grace to lead a lyfe agreable to my knowledge Suffer me not to be of the number of them which profes that they know God with theyr mouth but deny hym with theyr dedes Let me not be lyke vnto that sonne which sayd vnto hys father that he would labour in his vineyeard and yet labored nothing at al but went abrode lottering idely Make me rather lyke vnto that good and fruteful land which yeldeth agayne her sede with great increase that men seing my good workes maye glorify thee my heauenly father Amen ⧠For the health of the body I Fele in my selfe O mercifull Sauiour how greuous a pryson thys my body is vnto my Soule which contynually wysheth to be loosoned oute of thys byle carcasse and to come vnto thee seeing it hath heere no reste but is at euery houre vexed wyth the filthy lustes of the flesh wyth the wicked assaultes of the deuyll and the worlde and is neuer at quiet but alway in daunger to be ouercome of her ennemyes were it not preserued of thy goodnes by the mynistery and seruice doing of thy holy Angels Notwythstāding O most louing lord forasmuch as it is thy good pleasure that my bodye and soule shall styl remain heere together as yet in this vale of mysery I beseche thee to preserue my soule from all vyce and my body from al sycknes that I enioying through thy benefyte the helth bothe of body and soule maye be the more able to serue thee my neighbour in such works as are acceptable in thy sighte Amen ⧠For a good name NOthing becometh y e professour of thy name better O heauenly Father thē so to behaue him selfe accordyng to hys professyon that he maye be well reported of them that be of the houshold of Faith yea such synceritie and purenes of lyfe ought to be in them which profes thy holy name that the very aduersaryes of thy truth should be ashamed once to mutter a gaynst them Giue me grace therfore I moste intierly desyre thee soo to frame my lyfe accordinge to the rule of thy blessed word that I may giue no man occasyō to speak euill of me but rather so lyue in my vocacion that I may be an exsample to other to liue Godly and vertuously vnto the honour and praise of thy glorious name Amen ⧠For a compitent liuing ALthough I doubt not of thy fatherly prouision
two edged sworde Thou O chosen dart most sharp sword whiche arte able by thy power to perce thorow the hard sheeld or buckler of mans hart fasten stick the shaft of thy loue in my hart that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy charitie so that forth of that same woūd of thy loue teares may flowe most plenteously bothe day and night Strike O Lord strike I beseech thee this most indurated and hardened mind of mine with the sharp dart of thy loue perce it deper deper into the inermost partes therof by thy mightie power so bring oute of my head abundaunce of water and out of mine eyes a very well of teares continually running thorow the great affect maruelous desire to see thy glory y tI may mourn day night without taking any comfort in this life vntill in thy heauenly wedding chambre I may se thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse my god my Lord. And that there when I see thy glorious marueilous and beautifull face ful of all swetnes togither with them whiche thou haste chosen then I say I may wurship humbly thy maiesty there at the laste beeing replenished with heauenly and vnspeekable reioising of euerlasting gladnes I may euen cry out with them that loue thee saying Beholde that whiche I haue long desired now I haue obteined For I am ioyned in heauen vnto him whō when I was in earth I loued with all my strength with all my charitie I embrased him vnto whom with all my loue I did stick cleaue Him doo I praise blesse and wurship that liueth reigneth God worlde without ende Amen A prayer in time of tribulation HAue mercie on me o Lorde haue mercie on me a moste wretched sinner whiche doo cōmit wickedli and doo suffre ther fore worthely whiche doo sin cō tinualli suffre thy scourge ther fore daily If thou take my daily tribulacion as a recompence for the euils whiche I haue cōmitted then it is not somuch that I suffre For it is a great deale more greuous which I haue tres passed then y t whiche I doo suffer Thou art iust O Lord thy iudgemēt is according to right Yea all thy iudgmentes ar iust true and thou O lorde our god art iust and righteous for there is none iniquitie in thee Thou dost not vniustli nor yet cruelly scourge and punish sinners O all mighty and mercifull God whiche when we had no beyng at all didst mightily create and make vs. And when we were lost by oure owne faulte thou by thy pitie and goodnes marueilously didst recouer vs. I know and am very certayn sure that our life is not led by so den motions but it is disposed and gouerned of thee O Lorde our god Wherby I know thou takest care for all men and most chiefly for thy seruaunts whiche haue put theyr whole hope in thine oneli merci Therfore doo I beseche humbli require the that thou woldst not deale with me accordīg to my sinnes wherwith I haue deserued thine angre but according to thy great mercifulnes whiche exceadeth yeathe sinnes of the hole world Thou O Lorde which outward ly doost punish scourge graunt me in wardli a pacience that wil neuer faile so that thy praise ne uer depart away frō my mouth Haue merci on me o lorde haue mercy on me help me as thou thinkest best to be most necessary for my body and soule Thou knowest all thinges thou canst doo all thinges whiche liuest for euer and euer ¶ A very deuout prayer to the sonne O Lorde Iesu Christe sonne of the liuing God which being vpon the cros with thy handes spred abroade for the redemptiō of all mankinde didst drinke the most bitter cup of thy passion I beseche thee that thou woldest vouchsafe to geue me help this day euer Lo I a poore wretch cum vnto thee whiche art riche a sinner vnto thee that art mercifull Let me not retourn home contemned and dispised with no thing I begin a hungred let me not leaue of fasting I cum vnto thee as though I wer famished let me not go away vnfed Althoughe before I eate I sigh sorow yet after my sorow geue me somwhat to eate First of all good Iesu I acknowledg before thy maiestie mine vnrighteousnes towards thee Beholde O Lorde I was conceyued in sin borne in the same thou didst wash them of from me sanctified me but I afterward defiled my selfe with bigger and more greuous sinnes For I was born in sin of necessitie because I could be borne none otherwise But afterward I rolled my self willingly in sinnes Neuertheles thou O Lorde being mindful of thy pitie didst take me out of the house of my carnall father out of the tents of the vngodli and hast enspired me put me in mind to folow thee with the ge neration of them that seeke thy face of thē that walke in y e right pathe of them that abide continew emongst the lillies of chastitie of them that sit downe together w t the at supper of most scarcitie least exces But I an vnkinde person forgetting soo many great benefites after that I was entred into religion holines did cōmit many vnlawful things I did offend wunderfull vngraciously where I shuld of right haue amended min euill life and lest my sinnes I heaped sīns vpō sinnes these be the euils o Lorde wherwith I haue dishonored the haue spotted defiled my self whom thou didst creat after the similitude and lik nes of thine own self with pride vaine glory and other many euills wherwith mine vnlucky soule is vexed punished torne destroyed Beholde o lord mine vnrighteousnes is gon ouer my head and ar like a sore burden ouer heauy for me to beare And except thou whose propertie is euer to haue mercy to forgeue doo lay vnder me y e right hand of thy maiesty I shalbe cōstrained miserably to sink in to the deep and be drouned Geue heed o Lord god behold because thou art hooly Looke how mine enemie assaulteth me saying God hath forsaken him I will persecute him and catche him because there is no mā that will deliuer him But thou lord how long Turne again delyuer my soule saue me for thy mercies sake Haue mercy vpon thy sōne whō thou hast brought forth with no small sorow and paine be not so ententife vnto mine euilnes that thou forget thine owne goodnes what father is there but he will deliuer his sonne yea what fathers is there that will not correcte his sonne and chasten him but with the rod of pity Therefore O father and Lorde although I be a sinner yet can I not chuse but be thy son because thou hast made me and made me again when I was mard with sinne Repaire amend me now o Lord but first of all I being mended chastised with thy scourge
deliuer me to thy sonne Can a mother forget the child she bare of her wōb and sureli although she sōtimes be forgetful yet thou O father hast promised not to forget vs. Behold I cry and thou dost not heare me ▪ I am vexed with sorow and thou confortest me not What shall I say or what shall I doo most wretched caitife that I am I beīg desolate of so great comforte am cast out from the sight of thine eyes Wo be vnto me from how great goodnes into how great a mischefe am I fallen whether purposed I to go and whether am I comen Where am I and where am I not whom did I study to attein ▪ vnto and what euils haue I obteyned I sought for good thīgs and beholde I haue found trouble care Behold now I am in the state of deathe and Iesus is not with me And surely it were better for me to haue nothing at all yea no beyng at all thē to be without Iesu. It is better not to liue then to liue without life And thou O Lorde Iesu where be thine olde mercies wilt thou be angry towardes me for euer Be pacified I beseche thee and haue mercy vpon me and turne not thy face away frō me which to thintēt thou mightest redeme me didst not turne a way thy face from thē that rebuked thee and spitted vpon thee I confes and acknowledge that I haue sinned and my conscience deserueth damnacion and the penaunce that I am able to doo is not sufficient to make amēds for mine iniquities But sure certain I am that thy mercy exceadeth all offences that a man can doo Oh doo not I beseche thee most pitifull Lorde write my heynous sinnes against me y t thou shuldest entre into iudgement with thy seruaunt But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies cros blot out mine in iquities Wo be vnto me wretch that I am when the day of iudg ment commeth and the bookes of consciences shalbe layd wide open when it shalbe said of me Lo looke vpon this felow his wurkes What shall I doo then O Lorde my God when the hea uens shall reuele and shew forth mine iniquitie the earth shall arise vp and testifie mine iniquitie against me Beholde I shalbe able to geue neuer one wurd to answer but to stande in thy presence trimbling quaking vtterly confounded and holding downe my head for shame Alas wretch that I am what shall I say I will cry vnto thee o lorde my God Why am I consumed fretted with holdīg my peace But if I should speak my greef would not cease And if I hold my peace I shalbe most bitterly vexed within me Mourne o my soule lament as a widow for her first husbande that she had in her yong age Houle wretche cry out with weping because thy spouse Christ hathe forsaken thee O God almightie let not thine angre fall vpō me because that if thou lay somuche to my charge as is dew for my sinnes it is so muche that I can not receiue it Sureli my power is not able for to suffre or beare it Haue merci vpon me least I dispeire But in despeiring I will take hart to me and be sōwhat cōforted For all though I haue committed so muche that thou mayst condemne me wurthely yet thou hast not lost that wherwith thou wast wont to saue sin ners nether dost thou reioise at the destructiō los of them that dye yea to thintente that dead men might liue thou thy felf didst die and thy deathe did kill the deathe of sinnes And if they were reuiued again and did liue by thy deathe I besech thee let not me die now y tthou liuest Send downe thy hand power from hie and deliuer me out of the hands of mine enemies that they reioyse not ouer me and say let vs deuoure him Who euer O good Ie su needed to mistrust of thimerci which whē we were thine enemies didstredeme vs with thy blud and reconciled vs vnto God Beholde I being hid vnder the shadow of thy mer cy doo come vnto the throne of thy glory requiring I doo rū crying and knocking vntil thou take pitie vppon me For if thou didst call vs to pardon forgeuenes before we laboured for pardon how soone shall we obtein forgeuenes when we aske it Doo not remembre omost boūtefull Iesu thy iustice toward a sinner but think vpon thy liberalitie gentlenes towarde thy creature Doo not remēbre thine angre toward the giltie but remembre thy pity and mercy toward a wretche Forget me in y t I proudly did prouoke moue thee to wrath and look vppon a wretche that calleth vpon thee For what is Iesus but a sauior Therfore good Iesu for thine owne sake arise and helpe me and say vnto my soule I am thy health and thy safegarde I presume muche and am very bolde of thy goodnes O Lord because thou doost teache vs to aske to seek and to knocke wherfore I being admonished by thy wurd doo aske seek and knock And thou O Lorde that commaundest vs to aske make me able to receiue Thou that geuest councell to seeke graunte that I may finde Thou that teachest vs to knock opē to me when I knock and confirme me whiche am vnstable and wauering restore me that am lost raise me y t am dead and vouchsafe to direct gouern in thy fauoure all my sences my thoughts and dooings that frō hensfoorth I may serue thee I may liue toward thee and that I may commit my self vnto thee I knowe O my Lord that thorow this that thou hast made me I owe and am in det vnto thee euen mine owne selfe because thou hast redemed me and wast made man for my sake for this I say I owe vnto thee more thē my selfe Lo I haue no more nether can I geue that whiche I haue vnto thee without thee But doo thou take me and draw me vnto thee y t I may be thine in folowing louing thee like as I am thine in condicion creation whiche liuest and reignest world without ende Amen FINIS O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs myserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God y e holy Ghost proceding frō the Father the sōne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holi Ghost proceding c O holy blessed glorious Trinitie thre persōs one god haue merci vpō vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lorde our offēces nor the offēces of oure forefathers nether take thou vengeaunce of oure sinnes Spare vs good lord spare thy people whō thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lorde From all euill mischief from sinne from the crafts
haue not one office so likewyse we being many making one body whereof thy dearely beloued Sonne is the head haue not all one gifte neyther are we all called to one office but as it hath pleased y e to distribute so receyue we We therfore moste humbly pray thee to send the spirit of loue concord amōg vs that without any disorder or debate eueri one of vs may be content w e our calling quietly lyue in y e same study to doo good vnto all men by the true and diligēt exercise therof without to muche seking of our owne priuat gain so order our lyfe in all points according to thy godly will that by wel doing we mai stop y e mouthes of such foolish and ignoraunt people as report vs to be euill dooers cause thē through our good works to glorify thēe our Lord god in y t dai of visitacion Amen ¶ For the Grace fauour of God WHosoeuer liueth w t out thy grace fa uour O moste gracious and fauorable Lorde although for a time he waloweth in all kinde of fleshely pleasures and abound with to muche wordly ryches yet is he nothing els but y e wretched bond slaue of sathan the vile dūghil of syn Al his pleasure is extreme poison all his welth is nothing but plain beggeri For what felicitie can ther be where thy grace and fauour wanteth ▪ But where thi grace and fauour is present though the Deuel roar the world rage y e flesh swel ther is true blissednes vnfained pleasure cōtinual welth Pour down therfore thi heauēly grace fatherly fauour vpō vs that we beeynge assured of thy fauorable goodnes towards vs may reioyce and glory in thee and haue mery hartes when so euer we be most assailed with any kinde of aduersitie be it pouerty or sicknes losse of freends or persecution for thy names sake to whom be glorye for euer Amen ¶ For the gift of the holy Ghost SO frayl is our nature so vile is our flesh so lewd is our hart so corrupt are our affects so wicked are al our thoughts euen frō our child hod vpward y t of our selues we can nether thinck breath speak or doo any thing y t is praise worthy in thy sight O heauenly father yea except thou doost assist vs with thy mercifull goodnes all things are so far out of frame in vs that we se nothing present in our selues but thy heauy displeasure and eternal damnacion Uouche safe therfore O swete father to send thy holy spirite vnto vs whiche may make vs new creatures put away frō vs al fleshly lustes fil our harts w t new affects spiritual mociōs so altogether renew vs bothe in body soule through his godly in spiracion y twe may dye vnto olde Adam lyue vnto thee in newnes of lyfe seruynge thee our Lorde God in holines and righteousnes all y e daies of our lyfe Amen ¶ For the true knowledge of our selues IT is written in thy holye Gospel moste louing Sauiour y t thou cammest into this world not to call y e righteous that is such as iustifie thē selues but sinners vnto repentaunce Suffer me not therfore o lord to be in y e nūber of those iusticiaris which boasting their owne righteousnes theyr owne wurks and merits despise that righteousnes that commeth by faith whiche alone is alowable before thee Giue me grace to knowe to knowledge my selfe as I am euen y e sonne of wrath by nature a wretched synner and an vn profitable seruaunt wholy to depend on thy mercifull goodnes with strōg and vnshaken faith y t in this world thou mayest continually call me vnto true repentaunce seeyng I continually sinne and in y e worlde to come brīg me vnto euerlasting glorye Amen ¶ For a pure and clene Hart. THe hart of man naturalli is lewd and vnsearcheable through the multitude of sinns which as in a stinking dūghil lyeth buried in it in so much that no man is able to say mi hart is clene and I am cleane from syn Remoue from me therfore O heauēly Father my leud stony stuburn stincking and vnfaithfull hart Creat in me a clene hart free from al noisom and vngodly thoughts Breath into my hart by thy holy spirit godly and spirituall mocions that out of the good treasure of the hart I maye bring foorth good things vn to the praise and glory of thy name Amen ¶ For a quiet conscience THe wicked is like a ragīg sea whyche is neuer in quiet neither is ther ani peace to the vngodly but such as loue thy law O Lorde they haue plenty of peace they haue quiet mindes and contented consciences whiche is the greatest treasure vnder y e Sun geuē of thee to so mani as seek it at thy hand wyth true faith cōtinuall praier Gyue me O Lord that ioyfull Iewell euen a quyet mynde and a free mery conscience y tI beeing free from the damnable accusacions of Sathā from the crafty perswacions of the worlde from the subtil entysements of the flesh from the heauy curs of the law and fully perswaded of thy merciful goodnes toward me through faith in thy Sonne Christe Iesu may quietly serue thee both bodyly and ghostly in holines and rightuousnes al the dayes of my lyfe Amen ¶ For Faith FOrasmuche as nothīg pleaseth thee that is doon w t out faith appereit before the blinde world neuer so beautyful and commendable but is counted in thy sight sinfull and damnable yea the selfe syn and damnacion this is moste humbly to desyre thee O father for Christes sake to breathe into my hart bi thi Spirit this moste precious and singular gifte of faith which worketh by Charity whereby also we ar iustified and receiued into thy fauor y t I truly beleeuing in thee and fully perswaded of the trueth of thy holy word may be made thy sonne and inheritour of euerlasting glorye throughe Iesu Chryste our Lorde Amen ¶ For Charitie THy cognisaunce badge whereby thy Disciples are knowen O Lorde sauiour Iesu Christe is charitie or loue which cometh out of a pure hart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfayned I pray thee therfore gyue me this Christen loue and perfect charitie that I may loue thee my Lord God with all my hart with al my minde with all my soule and with all my strēgths dooing alway of very loue y t onely whiche is pleasaunte in thy sight again that I may loue my neighbour and Christen Brother as my self wishing as well to him as to my self redy at al tymes to doo for him what so euer lieth in my power that when we al shal stād before thy dreadful iudgyng place I beeing knowē by thy badge may be nūbred among thy disciples and so through thy mercye receyue the reward of eternall glory Amen ¶ For Pacience WHen thou liuedst in thys world O Lorde Christe thou shewedst thy self a mere mirrour
for this my poore nedy lyfe yet for as much as y u hast bothe commaunded and taught me by thy deere Sonne to praye vnto thee for thinges necessary for thys my lyfe I am bolde at this present to come vnto thi diuine maiesty moste humbly beseching thee that as thou hast geuen me lyfe so thou wylte giue me meat and drincke to sustayn the same Again as thou hast geueÌ„ me a body so thou wilt gyue me clothes to couer it that I hauing sufficyent for my liuing may the more fre ly with the quieter minde apply my selfe vnto thy seruice and honour Amen ¶ For a pacient and thankfull hart in sicknes WHoÌ„ thou louest O lorde him doost thou chasten yea euery soÌ„ne that thou receiuest thou scourgest in so dooing thou offerest thy self vnto him as a father vn to his SoÌ„ne For what soÌ„ne is he whom the father chast neth not Graunt therfore I moste hartely pray thee that wheÌ„soeuer thou layest thy cros on me and visitest me with thy louing scourge of sicknes I may by no meanes striue against thy fatherly pleasure but paciently thankfully abide thy chastisemeÌ„t euer being perswaded that it is for y e helth bothe of my body and soule that by this meanes thou wurkest my saluacion subduest the fleshe vnto the spirit makest me a new crea ture that I may hereafter serue thee the more freely coÌ„tinue in thy fear vnto my lyfes ende Amen ¶ For strength against the deuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the Diuell goeth about like a roring LioÌ„ seeking whom he may deuour The Flesh lusteth against the Spirite The world perswadeth vn to vanities y t we may forget thee our Lorde God so for euer be daÌ„ned Thus are we miserably on euery side beseeged of cruell vnrestful enemies like at eue ri moment to perish if webe not defended with thy godly power against their tiraÌ„ny I therfore poore wretched siner dispairiÌ„g of mine owne strengthes whiche in deed are none moste hartely pray thee to endue me w t streÌ„gth from aboue that I may bee able through thy help with strong faith to resist SataÌ„ with serueÌ„t prayer to mortify y e raging lusts of the Fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy law to auoyde the foolish vanities transitory pleasures of this wicked world that I through thy grace be ing set at libertie from the power of mine enemies may liue and serue thee in holines rightuousnes all the days of my life Amen ¶ For the helpe of Gods holy Aungels AN infinit nuÌ„ber of wicked Aungels are there O Lorde Christe whiche without ceasing seek my de struccioÌ„ Against this exceding great multitude of euill spirits seÌ„d thou me thy blessed and heauenly angels which may pitche their teÌ„ts round about me so delyuer me from their tirany Thou o lorde hast deuoured hel ouercom y e Prince of darknes with all his ministers yea and that not for thy self but for them that be leue in thee Suffer men of therfore to bee ouercome of Satan of his seruaunts but rather let me triuÌ„phe ouer them y t I through stroÌ„g faith the help of the blessed angel hauing the victory of the hellish armi mai with a ioisul hart sai Death where is thy stiÌ„g hel where is thy victory so for euer euer magnifi thy holy name AmÌ„ ¶ A prayer to our Lorde Iesus Christe called Conditor celi et terrae OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges Lorde of Lordes whiche of nothing didst maâ—e me to thy image and likenes didst redeem me with thine owne precious bloud whoÌ„ I a siner am not wurthy to name neither to call vpon neither w t my hart to think vpon humbli I desire thee and meekly pray thee that gentli thou doo beholde me thy wicked seruauÌ„t haue merci on me whiche hadest merry on the womaÌ„ of CaÌ„nane and of Mari Magda leÌ„ whiche didst forgeue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theef hanging on y e cros Unto the I confes O most holy father my siÌ„nes which if I would I cannot hide from thee Haue mercy on me Christe for I a wretche haue sore of fended thee in pride in couetousnes in glotony in lechery in vainglory in hatred in enuy inadultry in theft in lying in backbitiÌ„g in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in idle wurds in hearing in tasting in touching in thinking in sleping in wurking in all wayes in whiche I a fraill man moste wretched sinner might sinne Mi default my moste greuous default Therfore I moste huÌ„bly pray beseech thy geÌ„tlenes which for my helth descended froÌ„ heueÌ„ whiche didst holde vp king Dauid that he should not fall into sin Haue mercy on me oh Lorde haue merci on me O Christe the which didst for geue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my creatour and my helper my maker my redeemer mi gouernor my father my lord my god and my king Thou art my hope my trust my gouerner my help my coÌ„fort my strength my defence my redemption my life my helth and my resurrection Thou art my stedfastnes my refuge or succour my light my help I moste humbly hartely desire and pray thee help me defeÌ„d me make me strong and coÌ„fort me make me stedfast make me mery geue me light and visit me reuiue me again which am dead For I am thy makiÌ„g thy wurk oh Lorde despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondmaÌ„ although euill although vnwurthy a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee either good or bad I am euer thine Therfore to whom shall I flee except I flee vnto the if thou cast me of who shal or will receiue me If thou despise me turn thy face from me who shal look vppon me Recognise knowledg me although vnwurthy comming to thee allthough I be vile vnclene for if I be vile and vnclene thon canst make me clene If I be sick thou canst heal me If I be dead buried thou canst reuiue me For thy merci is much more theÌ„ mine iniquitie thou caÌ„st forgeue me more theÌ„ I can offend Therfore Oh lorde doo not coÌ„sider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnes of thy merci forgeue me and haue mercy on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy helth which saidst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted turn to thee Oh lorde bee not angry with me I pray thee moste meek father for thy great mercy I most humbely secheech thee that thou bring me to the blis that neuer shall ceas AmeÌ„ ¶ For the glory of heauen THe ioyes o lorde which thou hast prepared for them y t loue thee no eye hath seen no eare hath heard nether is any hart able to thiÌ„k But as the ioyes ar great vnspeakeable so ar there
of mine hart haue I acknowledged thal mightifulnes of thy maiesty maiesty of thine almightifulnes But now like as with hart I beleue whiche is counted righteousnes vnto me so with mouth doo I confes before thee whiche is to my saluation after what sort and maner thou didst vouchsafe in the end of the world to succour and aid mankinde Thou in deed only O God the father art not red at any time or in any place to be sēt But of thy sonne the Apostle writeth When that y e time was fulfilled God sent his sonne In that he saith he sent he doth sufficiently declare that he being sent came into this world when as he being borne a very perfect man of blessed Mary a pure Uirgin did apeer and shew him self in y e flesh But what is that whiche he that is the cheef of the Euangelists dooth say He was in the world and the world was made my him Thither truely was he sent by his humanitie where he allway is and alway hath bene by his diuinitie The whiche sending or embassage I beleeue withall my hart and confes with my mouth to be the consent and wurk of al the whole Trinitie Oh holy good father how didst thou loue vs How great fauour didst thou bear toward vs moste mercifull creator whiche haste not spared thine owne sonne but for vs wretched sinners hast deliuered him He was obedient vnto thee vntill death yea death vpon a cros taking y e obligation or hād writing of our sinnes whiche was his fleshe fastening it vnto the cros he crucified sin and kild death He a lone is amongst the dead free from death hauing power to put his soule for vs to take it again for vs. Therfore was he bothe a vanquisher and a sacrifice and therfore was he an ouercommer because he was a sacrifice for vs. He was bothe y e preest sacrifice vnto thee and therfore was he apreest because he was a sacrifice Not without a cause haue I great hope in him Forasmuche as thou wilt make whole all my diseases for his sake that sitteth on thy right hād and dothe continually make intercession for vs. For my diseases O Lorde are great and many oh they are many in number great For the Prince of this world as I very well knowe confes hath mani things in me But I beseche thee deliuer me through our redeemer whiche sitteth on thy righthand in whō y e said Prince of this world could finde none euill that was his of his owne committing By him doo thou iustify me whome his self did not sin nether was there any deceit or gile found in hys mouth By him whiche is oure head in whom there is not one spot of euill deliuer me whiche am one of his members though I be but a little membre and feble and weake Deliuer me I be sech thee from my sinnes offences faults ignoraunces Fulfill me with thy holy vertues make me to shine in good maners make me I besech the for thy holy names sake to cōtinue in holi wurks vntill thend accor ding to thy will and pleasure ¶ Of the trust whiche a soule ought to haue in our Lorde Iesu and in his Passion I Might dispaire verely because of my manifolde sinnes negli gences without nūber if it were not that thy wurd O God was made fleshe and dwelt amongst vs. But I can not now dispaire because that seeing when we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of thy sonne how muche more are we now reconciled saued by him For all the hope and the certitude sure nes of all my trust is in his precius blud whiche was shed for vs for our saluation In him doo I take hartening and trusting in him I haue a desire to come vnto the not hauing mine owne righteousnes but that whiche I haue through thy sōne our lorde Iesu Christe For the whiche O moste mercifull God and moste gentle louer of mankinde we geue thee thāks which through Iesus Christe thy sōne our lord when we were not didst mighte ly make vs and when we were lost through our sinnes moste merucilously didst deliuer recouer vs again To thy goodnes I say doo I geue thanks manifold praises doo I shew for the to the withall my hart minde whiche through the vnspeakable loue wherwith thou hast vouchesafed of thy meruelous goodnes to loue vs wretches vnwurthy to be loued didst sēd that same thine only begotten sōne from thy bosome vnto our cōmon weal to saue vs sinners whiche were at that time y e children of perdition and damnaciō I rendre vnto thee thāks for his holy incarnation and natiuitie and for his blessed mother vpon whom he did vouchesafe to take fleshe for vs and for our saluation to thintent that like as he is very God of God so he might be very man of man I geue thee thanks for his passion and cros for his death and resurrection for his ascention into heauen his seat of his maiestie on thy right hand For he the fortie day after his resurrection ascending aboue all the heauens his disciples seeing it and sitting on thy right hand did pour out his holy spirite abundantly according to his promis vppon them whom he had chosen to be his children I geue thee thāks for that moste sacred sheding foorth of his precious bloud wherwith we ar re deemed also for the moste holy and quickning sacrifice of his body and bloud whiche daily in thy churche we feed of drink of wherwith we are washed sanctified and are made partakers of the only high diuinitie I geue thee thanks for thy merueilous vnspekeable charitie loue wherwith thou didst loue vs vnwurthi persones and didst saue vs by thine only and be loued sōne for so thou didst loue y e world that thou gauest thine only begotten sonne to thintent that none which beleued in him should perish but haue euerlasting life This thing truly is euerlasting life to knowe thee also Iesus Christe whom thou sent to be very God by an vpright faith and wurkes wurthy for faith ¶ Of thexceding loue of the euer lasting father toward mankind OH vnmesurable pitie and fatherly loue oh inestimable charitie that thou shouldest deliuer thy sonne to suffre death to thintent thou mightest redeem and raunsom a seruaunt God was made mā to the intent that man being lost might-be plucked out of the powre of deuels How gētle and kinde a louer of man was thy sōne our God who thought it not enough to humble him self to be made man of the very virgin Mary but also took vpon him the paines of the cros in sheding his bloud for vs and for our saluation He came a pitifull God he came for his pitie goodnesses sake he came to serche and to saue that which was lost He sought the straied sheep he sought and found and he being a good Lorde and truly a
whatsoeuer offendeth y e eyes of thy pitie remoue it from me In thy sight is bothe my health and my disease The one I beseche thee to preserue the other to cure doo thou heale me O Lorde and I shal be healed doo thou make me safe I shal be saued Thou I meane which dost make hole them that be diseased dost preserue them that be cured which onely with a beck dost restore and repaire thinges that be decayed fallen into ruī For if thou wilt vouch safe to sow any good seed in the feld of my hart of necessitie thou must pluck vp first with the hād of thy pitie the thornes a fvices whiche be in it Put in my harte I beseche thee so great plentie of delectacion in the that I may desire no earthly or carnal thing nor yet thīk vpon them but that I may loue thee alone y t I may haue thee only in my hart and in my mouth Write with thy fingar in my brest the delectable re membraunce of thy sweet name soo that it may be blotted oute with no forgetfullnes Write thy wil in y e tables of mine hart and also thy iustifications that I may alwayes in euery place haue thee O Lorde before min eyes in my sight Enflame my mind with that fire which thou diddest send into the earth and willedst it to be kindled that I might offre vnto the daily with teares a sacrifice of a troubled spirit and a repentaunt hart O swete Christ O good Iesu euē according vnto my desire and euen as I hartely require thee with my whole minde geue me thy holy and chast loue whiche may replenish and kepe me also fully posses me Geue me an euident signe and token of thy loue a flowing well of teares whiche will cōtinually run that those teares may somwhat testifie thy loue in me y t they may shew forth that thei may declare how much my soule loueth thee whiles for the great delectacion it hath in y e swetnes of thy loue it may not refreine from teares I call to my remembraunce fom times good lorde that vertuous womā Ann which came to y e tabernacle to pray y e thou woldest send her a sonne of whō the scrip ture maketh mencion y ther coūtenaunce after her teares and prayers was not again chaunged or altered But whē I think apon so great vertue cōstance stedfastnes I am vexed with sorow and cōfounded with shame because I a wretchedoo perceiue my self to be fallen ouer muche from thee For if a woman did weep after suche a sorte and continued so in weeping which did serche for nothing els but a sonne how ought my soule to mourne and to persist and abide in weping that seeketh loueth God and hathe a desire to cum vnto him how ought suche a soule to mourne weep whiche seeketh God day night which will loue nothing but Christ My teares now truly should be made vnto me meat day night Looke vppō me therfore o lord and take pitie on me because the dolours and sorowes of my hart are many in numbre Geue me thy heauenly consolation doo not despise nor cast away a sinfull soule for the whiche thou didst die Geue me inward teares I beseche thee from the botome of min hart which may wash away the spottes of my sinnes Replenish my soule alwayes w t heauenli delectacion and heauely mirth y t I may obteine some litle porcion or part in thy kingdome although not emongst the perfect men whose stepes I cannot folow yet at the least wise emongst the inferiour sorie The marueilous deuotiō of an other woman cumeth now vnto my minde whiche with a vertuous loue did seek thee lying in the sepulchre whiche when thy discipies went away and departed from thee did remain with thee her self whiche sat there sad and sorowfull weping long and very muche and when she did arise she serched with a diligent eye and with many teares the corners of the sepulchre whiche was left emptie if the might espie thee out in any place whom she with a feruent desire sought Yea and more ouer she went again and again to the sepulchre but that was not ynough vnto her nether did it satisfie her desire For y e grace of a good wurk is to perseuer and continue in the same And because she did loue more then other and that in louing she wept and in weping she serched in searching she continued therfore was it thy pleasure that she should first finde thee see thee and talke with thee before all other And not only this but also she was a tidinges berer of thy glorious resurreccion vnto thy disciples when thou didst commaund her and bid her goo and tell my brethern that they goo vnto Galile there they shall see me c. Seyng therfore that a woman did weep after suche a sorte and continued in weeping whiche did seeke him that was aliue among the dead whiche touched thee w t the hand of her faith how ought a soule to mourne and to cōtinue in mourning which beleueth in the and with his mouth dooth acknowlege thee to be his redemer that sittest now in heauen reignest euery where How muche therfore ought such a soule to mourn wepe which loueth thee with all his hart and with his whole desire doth couet to see thee Oh onely refuge the only hope of wretches vnto whom no man nedeth at any time to pray with out hope of mercy graunt vnto me this grace for thy sake and for thy holy names sake that as oft as I think vpon thee as oft as I speake of thee write of the rede of thee cōfer of thee as oft as euer I remembre thee stand before thee offre vp prayses prayers and sacrifice vnto thee so oft I may wepe aboundauntly with teares in thy sight so y t my teares may be to me in stead of bread day and night Thou tru ly king of Glory and master of all vertu hast taught vs with thy wurd and with thin exsample to mourne and wepe wher as thou saist Blessed be they y tmourne for they shalbe conforted Thou didst weep for thy frende that was dead and didst let teares fall downe plenteously for the citie whiche shulde perish I beseche thee O good Iesu by those most precious teares and by all thy mercies and pieties wherwith thou didst vouch safe meruelously to helpe succour vs that were lost geue me the grace to weep and to be earnestli repentaunt for my sinnes whiche grace my soule desireth and coueteth very muche and except it cum of thy gift I can not haue it but by the holy ghost whiche dooth mollify the hard harts of sinners and prouoketh them to weping Geue me the grace of teares like as thou gauest to our forfathers whose exāples we ought to follow that I may bewayle my self in all my life like as thei did bewaile them selues day and night
ioifully and say I will lay me doune and rest in peace Let my memory sleep O my God I beseeche thee from all euils make it to hate iniquitie to loue righteousnes For what cā be better or more delectable then in the middest of the darknes of this life and emongst the manifold and bitter miseries of the same to desire feruentli hea uenly swetenes to couet euerlasting blessednes a mans mind to be holde euer there where as he may be moste sure to haue infallible and true ioyes O Lorde whiche for thy louing kindnes art moste wurthy to be desired and coueted of al thinges when shall I see thee When shall I appeare before thy face when shall I be satisfied of thy glory when wilt thou bring me forthe of this darke prison that I may confesse thy name so that afterward I be no more pricked whē shall I passe goo to that marueilous and beautifull house of thine wheras the voice of gladnes and reioising doth sound in the tabernacles of iust men Blessed are they that dwell in thy house O Lorde they shall praise thee euer worlde without ende Blessed ar they yea blessed in dede whom thou hast chosen and taken into that heauenly in heritaunce Behold O Lord thy sainctes florish before thee like vnto lilies for they are replenished with the plēteousnes of thy house and thou doost geue them to drink of the flowing riuer of thy pleasure because thou art y e well of life and in thy light and brightnes they doo see light soo greatly that they them selues whiche are a light whiche was made bright by the o god which doost geue them light doo shine like vnto the sonne in thy sight O how marueilous how faire beautifull how acceptable are thy mancions dwelling places of thy house O Lord of powers My sinfull soule doth couit to en tre into them O Lorde I haue loued the comlynes of thy house and the place where thy glory dwelleth I asked one peticion of the Lorde and the same will I require that I may dwell in the house of the Lorde all the dayes of my life Like as the hart coueteth to goo vnto y e water brooks euen so dooth my soule desire to come vnto thee O God When shall I come and appeare before the face of my Lord When shal I see God after whom my soule longeth very sore whē shal I see him in the land of y e liuing For in this land of the dead he can not be seen w e mortal eies what shal I doo wretch y t I am which am fettred w t the heaui giues of mortalitie What shall I doo whiles we cōtinue in this body we go astray frō y e lordé we haue here no abidīg place for euer but we labour for one y t is to come Our free citie is in heauē Wo is me me think I dwel emongst y e barbarous nations infidels not emongst the faithfull Israelites I led my life in y e tentes of Cedar My soule hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietnes Who will geue me wings as a doue that I may flye rest me There is nothing that I desire or delite so muche in as to be in my Lords cōpany it is good for me to cleaue vnto God Oh graunt me O lorde whiles I am in this fratle membres to stick vnto thee as it is written he that cleaueth vnto the Lorde is all one spirit with him Geue me therfore I beseche thee the winges of contempla cion wherwith when I am appareled I may flye vpward and for asmuche as euery vnlucky infortunate thing lyeth beneth doo thou O Lorde holde vp my minde lest it fall headlong into the lowest botomes of the dark valley and lest the shadow of the earth shulde come betwene and seperate it from thee that art the bright sonne of rightwisnes lest it once hid with the cloudes of darknes should not haue libertie but be letted to looke for heauēli thinges which be aboue Therfore I doo assay to goo vpward vnto the ioyes of quietnes and peace and vnto the delectable and pleasaunt state of light O hold my hart with thy hand because it can not be draw en vnto high things withoute thee Thither doo I make haste where as moste cheef and principall peace reigneth and continu all quietnes shineth forth Hold and gouern my spirit and take it according to thy will that thou beīg a guide vnto it it mai ascend into the region and contrey of plentifulnes whereas thou feedest Israell euerlastingly with the food of truthe to thintent that there at the least wise with my swift cogitacion thought I may com nie thy wis dom which remaineth aboue al things ouer passeth all thinges and gouerneth all thinges But alas there be many thīgs which when my soule would fly vnto thee doo cry oute vppō it Commaund thē all O lorde to holde their peace speak not vnto me As for my soule it self let it geue neuer a wurd to answer Let it pas by all thinges Let it clime aboue al thinges that be created and come vnto thee and that it may fasten the eyes of faith vppon thee which art the only creator of all things Let it couit vnto thee and be bent towards thee Let it think vppon thee by meditacion and contemplacion Let it lay thee before his eyes for it self let it rolle and tos thee in his hart thee I say whiche art the true and cheef goodnes and the ioy that will remayne euer without ending Ther is surely mani cōtēplacions in the which mans soule is marueylously fed of thee But in none of them is my soule so much delited nor yet ha the so good rest in as in thee and when as it thinketh vpon thee and hathe thee onely in cōtemplatiō Oh how much is thy swetnes O Lorde how meruei lousli dost thou enspire the harts of them that loue thee How delectable is thy loue the fruicion wherof they haue that loue nothing but thee they seek for no thing els they couet to think of nothing els Happy are they whose only hope thou art which haue no trust but in thee only all their whole wurk is prayer Blessed is he that sitteth solitarili alone and holdeth his peace standeth vpon his warde that he is set to kepe continualli day and night that yet whiles he is in this fratle body he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasaūtnes I require thee by those thy woundes whiche bringe health vnto vs whiche wounds thou suffredst vppon the crosse for our health out of the which thy precious bloud wherewith thou redemed vs did distill and drop downe wounde this my sinfull soule for the whiche also thou didst vouchesafe to dye Wounde it I say with the firy and mighty darte of thy greate charitie For the wurde of God is liuely and effectuous more pearcing sharp then any