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
Our Father giue vs this day our dayly bread that with the strength thereof wee may walk day and night vntill wee come vnto thy holy mount Horeb And I a little one among the little ones of thy household O God the father and my strength when shall I come appear before thy face that who now acknowledgeth thee for a time I may heere after acknowledge thee for euer Blessed shal I bee if I be admitted to see thy brightnes Who may grant me this that thou licence mee to come to this I know O lord I know and confesse my selfe vnworthy to enter vnder the roofe of thy house but graunt it for thine honour and confound not thy seruant putting his trust in thee The vision of God is lost by reason of sin and miserie found O Lorde thou art my God my Lord and I haue neuer seene thee thou hast made mee and made mee new againe and hast bestowed all thy good things on mee and yet I haue not seene thee neither know thee Finally I am made to see thee and yet I haue not done that for which I am made O miserable condition of man when hee lost that for which he was made O that cursed and hard fall Alas what lost he what hath he foūd what departed and what remained He lost felicitie to which hee was made and found miserie to which he was not made That departed without which nothing is happy that remained which of it selfe is not but miserable Man did then eate the bread of Angels which now he hungreth for and now hee eateth the breade of sorrowe which then hee knew not O thou lord how long wilt thou forget for euer how long turnest thou thy face from vs when wilt thou looke backe and heare vs. When wilt thou lighten our eies and shew thy face vnto vs When wilt thou restore thyselfe vnto vs Regarde O lord heare and enlighten vs and shew thy selfe vnto vs that it may bee well with vs without whom it is so euill with vs. Recreate vs help vs I beseech thee O Lord My hart is become bitter in his desolation make it sweete with thy consolation Being hungrie I haue begun to seeke thee let me not liue vnfed of thee I come poore to the rich a wretch to the pitifull let me not go away emptie and despised O Lord I am bowed downe and crooked that I cannot see but downward reare me that I may look and indeuour my selfe vpward Mine iniquities are gone ouer my heade they haue couered mee and wrapped mee round about and lode mee like an heauy burden Vnwrap me and vnburden me least the pit shut her mouth vpon me Teach me to seeke thee and shew thy selfe to me séeking thee because I can not seeke thee except thou teach mee neither finde thee except thou shew thy selfe to me I may seeke thee in desiring after thee I may desire thee in seeking thée I may find thee in louing thee and I may loue thee in finding thee A reason intreating God to helpe HElpe mee O Lord my life least I should perish in my wickednesse If thou hadst not created mee O Lord. I had not béen but because thou hast created me now I am If thou gouernest mée not yet I am not for my merits my grace compelled thee not that thou shouldest create mee but thy most fauourable goodnesse and thy mercy That loue of thine O lord my loue of thine O Lord my God which compelled thee to creation I beseech thee now that the same may compell thee to gouerne it For what profiteth that thy loue hath compelled thée to create me if I should perish in my miserie and thy right hand should not gouerne me Let the same mercie O Lorde my God compell thee to saue that that is created which compelled thee to create what was not created Let the loue winne thee to saue which wonne thee to create because that loue is not lesse now then it was for thou thy selfe art the same loue who euer art all one Prayers and Meditations much mouing the hart to deuotion diuine loue BLessed bee the pure in heart for they shal see GOD. Blessed bee they which dwell in thy house O Lord they shal praise thee world without end I beseech thee therefore O Lord through all thy mercies by which wee are deliuered from euerlasting death make soft my hard and stonie heart my rockie and yron hart with thy pretious and rich annointing and make mee through the inward touch and griefe of heart for my sinnes to become a liuely Sacrifice before thee at all times Grant mee in thy sighte euer to haue a contrite and an humble heart with aboundance of Teares graunt mee for the loue of thée vtterly to bee dead to this world and through the greatnesse of thy feare and loue quite forgetfull of transitory things so farre forth that concerning worldly things I neither mourne nor reioyce for them neither that I may feare any thing temporall nor loue it neither that I bee corrupted with allurements nor broken with aduersities And because thy loue is as forceable as death I beseech thee that the very whote and sweet force of thy loue may draw vp my minde from all things which are vnder heauen that I may abide fast to the onely memorie of thy sweetnesse Lorde let thy most sweete sauour descend I beseech thee let it descende into my Heart that thy loue most sweete may enter in let the wonderfull and vnspeakeable fragrant sweetinesse of thy sauour come to mee which may reare vp euerlasting desires in me and may bring the veines of the springing water of my heart into eternall life and that at length I may see thee the God of Gods in Sion and that I may dwell in thy house O Lord world without end Amen Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu I beseech thée replenish alwaies my heart with thy vnquenchable loue with thy continuall remembrance insomuch that as a burning flame I may wholie burne in the sweetnesse of thy loue the loue the which many waters may neuer quench in me Make mee sweete Lorde to loue thee and for the desire of thée to put off the heauy burden of earthlie concupiscence which fighteth against and grieueth my miserable soule that running without let after thee in the sauour of thy sweete perfumes I may effectually bee satisfied and thou beeing my guide I may deserue to come to the sight of thy beauty Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu as I desire and as I humblie pray with all my mind and heart graunt me thy loue holy and chaste which may fill mee may dwell in me and altogither possesse mee And graunt to me an euident signe of thy loue a watering fountaine of teares continually flowing that also those my teares may witnes thy loue in mee that they may bewray and declare how much my soule loueth thee Whilest for the exceeding sweetenesse of thy loue it cannot reframe from teares
according to the Image likenes of God that it may know the creator by his Image loue him because of his likenes for according to the image of God it hath reason and according to his likenes it hath loue or charity for as the creator which created mā according to his own Image is charity good and iust pacient méek pure and pitiful with other notable and holy vertues read of him So a man is created that hée should haue charity that hée should bee good and iust patient and méeke pure and pitifull Which vertues any man by how much the more hee hath them in himselfe by so much the nearer he is to God and beareth the greater likenes of him his Creator But if any man by the wrong wayes of vices and the crooked turnings of euils doth out of kinde wander from this most noble likenes of his creator then it shall become of him as it is written A man when hee was in honor did not vnderstand c. for what greater honour may there bee to a man then to bee made according to the likenesse of his creator and to bee adorned with the same robes of vertues that he is of whom it is reade The Lord is King and hath put on glerious apparell c. Which is that he is glorified with al the shining of vertues and garnished with the honour of all goodnesse What greater disgrace may there be to man or vnhappier misery that this glory of his Creator being lost hee should slide and fall into the deformity and vnreasonable similitude of a bruite Beast Wherefore let euery man more diligently haue his minde fixed into the excellencie of his first state and condition and acknowledge in himselfe the most worshippfull Image of the holy Trinity and striue with himselfe to obtaine the true honour of the diuine likenesse by the noblenesse of good conditions and maners and the exercise of vertues that when hee shall appeare what he is then hee may shew himselfe like vnto him that maruailously made him to his likenesse in the first man and more marueilously renued him in the second CHAP. IIII. That the soule is no part of God THe soule is no part of God the mutability into which it runneth proueth that for God is immutable or vnchangeable The soule is often changed by reason of sinne and sometime changed by reason of paine and being damned becomes most miserable Yet nothing may hurt it but when it departeth from God It departeth when it sinneth wherupon the miserable runnagate frō God is tormented Seuered from one it is scattered into many things and by reason of the intemperance of it is made as it were sicke and corrupt and is become discomfited and grieued Therefore the bodily senses the memory béeing distempered or disturbed are disquiet and heauy they are made féeble and dismaide Then the flesh doth suffer then faintings begin and violent death houereth about Surely a man turned from God by sinning is froward and vnfortunate because he disagréeing with God is also at discord and discontent with himselfe and bringeth paine of himselfe into himselfe CHAP. V. That the soule is immortall A Man consisteth of body and soule and whatsoeuer is séene with these bodily eyes is made for the body the body for the soule but the soule for God that when the body returneth to the earth out of which it is taken the spirit may returne to God who gaue it The soule giueth life to the flesh when it commeth no other wayes then the Sunne giueth light to the day and it causeth death when it departeth yet death dooth not consume the body and soule once ioyned togither but parteth them vntill both of them come againe to their first originall or beginning And least any man should thinke the soule to be consumed by the death of the body let him heare what the Lord saith in the Gospell Feare ye not them sayth he which kill the body but the soule they cannot kill CHAP. VI. Of the loue and friendship betweene the body and the soule WOnderfull is the fellowship of the flesh and the soule the breath of life and the clay of the earth for thus it is written God made man of the clay of the earth and breathed into his nostrels the breath of life giuing to him sense and vnderstanding that by sense hée should quicken the clay assotiated to him and by vnderstanding he should rule and gouerne it and by that vnderstanding hée should enter inwardly into himselfe and behold the wisdome of God and that by sense hée should goe forth and behold the workes of his wisedome By vnderstanding hée hath enlightened man inwardly and to sense he hath abroad beautified and made things so faire that man might find delight and recreation in both of them felicity inwardly and outwardly and abroad pleasure and gladnesse But because the outward good things canot indure long man is commanded to returne from them to things inward and from those inward things to ascend to higher matters For of so great a dignity is the state and condition of man that no good thing besides the chiefe good may suffice him It is very miraculous that such diuerse contrary things one frō the other might conioine together in one Neyther lesse maruaylous is it that the euerlasting and liuing God hath ioyned himselfe to our molde and clay that God and clay should bee vnited together so great a highnesse and so much basenesse for nothing is higher then God and nothing more base then slime and clay Maruaylous was the first coniunction and maruailous the second nor lesse maruailous shall the third bée when men Angells and God shall bee one spirit For with the same goodnesse is man good with the which the Angels are good and with that selfe goodnesse both and either of them are blessed If so it bee that both doe desire the same thing with the same will and the same spirite For if God could ioyne such a differing and vnlike in nature as is of the flesh and soule to bée of one league confederacy and friendshippe no doubt it is as possible for him to exalt and extoll a reasonable spirite to the partaking of his glory which is brought lowe euen to the company of an earthly body that the same body being gloryfied it may bee to it a glory which was a burthen yea euen to the fellowship of those blessed spirits which haue continued still in their brightnesse and purity Very certainely the most highest hath created man to that purpose of his onely and méere loue without any necessity that hee might become partner of his happinesse If therfore so much ioy and so great gladnesse is in this temporall life which consisteth by the presence and company of the spirit in a corruptible body then how much more gladnesse and ioy shall there be in the eternall and euerlasting life which consisteth by the presence of the Godhead in a reasonable spirite
although a bad one vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am either good or bad I am alwaies thine to whom should I flie but to thee If thou cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou dispise me who shal regarde mee O God I do acknowledge my selfe vnworthy flying againe to thee Lord thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy compassion is more then my vngraciousnesse towardes thée Thou canst forgiue more theÌ„ I can commit and canst pardon more then I can offend Despise mee not O Lord neither note the multitude of my sinnes but acording to the multitude of thy mercies pitty me and bee fauourable vnto me a haynous sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy sauiour which saydest I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Conuert mee O Lord to thee and be not wrathfull against mee I beséech thee most gentle father for thy mercies sake that I may end my life well and with true and harty repentance of all my sinnes Amen Short Meditations THy hands O Lord haue made me and fashioned me I may say those hands which were nayled with nayles for mee Lord despise not the worke of thy hands Beholde in thy handes O Lord my God thou hast writen mee reade that writing and saue mee Beholde I thy creature sigh to thee thou art my creator renew me make me againe beholde thy workemanshippe I cry vnto thee thou art life quicken mee beholde I thy clay looke backe to thee thou art the Potter fashion me againe Lord haue mercy on mee for my daies are nothing c· Another THou full of pittie say vnto mee thy wretched seruant say vnto mee through thy compassions what thou art to me Say vnto my soule I am thy health doe not hide thy face from mee least I die Another SAue mee O Lord which art the true safety and that willest not the death of a sinner Lord haue mercy on my sinfull Soule loose the bonds thereof Sweete Iesu regarde my humility and blot out all my transgressions bee my ayde leaue me not neither despise mee O God mine onely comfort but tèach me to doe thy will O bountifull Iesu although though I haue offended whereupon thou maiest iustly damne mee yet thou hast not lost that whereby thou art accustomed to saue Good lord my Iesu why camest thou down from heauen to what ende yéeldest thou thy selfe to death but that thou wouldest saue sinners of which sort I am exceeding O vile sinner that I am take breath againe be of good cheare thou maist not despaire hope in him whom thou fearest flâ—e to him from whom thou hast fled call vpon him importunately whome proudly thou hast prouoked Say vnto him Iesu for thy sweete names sake do by me according to thy name Iesus is a name of fauour a name most delightfull a name comforting a sinner and a name of happy hope for what is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore for thine owne sake O Iesu be Iesus to me be to me a mercifull Sauiour which art magnified and blessed world without ende Amen Godly Meditations of our Lord his sufferings O God who for the worldes Redemption wouldest bee reproued of the Iewes deliuered by the traitor Iudas and bee bound with bonds like an innocent Lambe led to the sacrifice Also vnseemely to bee brought before the beholding of Annas Caiaphas Pilate and Herod to bee accâ—used by false witnesses to bee tormented with whippes and reproches to be defiled with spittle crowned with thornes beaten with buffets stroken with a Reede blindfolded thy garmeÌ„ts put off wouldest be nayled on the crosse lifted vp thereon reputed among theeues drinke vinegar and gal and be wounded with a Speare O most mighty Lord how wonderful is thy kindnes and pitie that wouldest indure all these extreeme torments shames and cruell death and all for to appease the almighty father and be an attonement betweene him and sinfull mankinde I beséech thée most mercifull Iesu sithence all this was of excéeding loue that through those thy sharpe and bitter paines which I vnworthie wretch now meditate of and call to minde thou wilt defende and deliuer mee from the paines of hell and vouchsafe to bring mee whether thou broughtest the thiefe crucified with thee O meek and vnspotted lambe my onely righteousnesse and iustification haue mercie on me who with the father and the holy ghost liuest and raignest world without end Another HOrde Iesu Christ Son of the liuing God which hanging on the Crosse saying father forgiue theÌ„ for they know not what they do grant that I for the loue of thée may pardon euery one that doth euill vnto me And which saidest vnto the theefe this day thou shalt bee with me in paradise grant me so wel to liue that in the houre of my death thou say to me this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice And which saydst to thy mother Woman behold thy sonne Moreouer to thy Disciple behold thy mother graunt that thy loue and perfite charitie may accompanie me vnto thy mother And which saiedst My God my God why hast thou forsaken me grant me to say in all my afflictions griefes of mind mâ— Father my Lorde haue mercie on me a sinner and helpe mee my king and my God which with thy precious bloud hast redeemed mee And which saydest I thirst graunt that I may euer thirst after thee the fountaine of liuing water And which saidest Father into thy handes I commend my spirit Receiue me yeelding my self vp vnto thee And which saydest It is finished graunt that I may bee worthie to heare that sweete voyce of thine saying Come my Loue my dearly beloued spouse come that thou mayest go vp with me with my Angels and Saints to banquet reioyce and remaine together in my kingdome through infinite worlds of worldes Amen Another O Lorde Iesu Christ for the bitternesse which thou sustainedst for me wretch on the Crosse chiefly about that houre when thy most excellent soule departed out of thy blessed bodie Grant I most humblie beseech thee mercie to my soule in the departure thereof and bring it into life euerlasting Amen Another I Beséech thée Lorde Iesu Christ throgh those thy woundes suffered on the Crosse and bringing Saluation vnto vs wounde this my sinfull soule for which also thou hast vouchsafed to die wound it with thy burning and most mightie dart of thy exceeding loue Thrust my heart through with the arrow of thy loue that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy loue so that out of that wounde teares may bountifully flowe day and night O Lord strike I beseech thee strike my most hard heart with the godly strong point of thy loue yea deepely to the bottome pierce it with thy mighty power who liuest and raignest worlde without ende Amen Another of the same KIng of the elect I beséech thee throgh him holie of all the holie ones through him my redeemer make mee to runne the way
I doe remember holy lorde that good woman Hanna which came to the tabernacle to pray and intreted thee to haue a sonn of whome the Scripture mentioneth that her countenance after teares and prayers was no more diuersly chaunged But I mindfull of so much vertue and so greate constancie am tormented with sorrow and confounded with shame because I beholde my selfe wretch so much abased For if a woman wept so and perseuered in weeping which desired to haue a sonne how much ought my soule to lament and continue in lamentation which seeketh and loueth GOD and loueth to come to him Howe ought such a soul to mourn and lament which seeketh God day and night which besides Christ will loue nothing Surely maruell it is if then the teares of that soule be not made bread for it day and night Looke backe therfore and haue mercy on me because the sorrowes of my heart bee multiplyed Graunt mee thy heauenly comfort and despise not my sinfull soule for which thou dyedst Grant me I beseech thée inwarde teares with al effect which may breake the bonds of my sins and for euer store my soule with heauenly reioysing Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu the maruellous deuotion of an other woman also commeth into my minde the which with holy loue sought the liuing in the Sepulcher the which the Disciples going away from the Sepulcher departed not the which sate downe there sad and sorrowfull and wept both long and much and rising with many teares againe and againe shee diligently searched the hollow places of the forsaken sepulchre if happily she might sée thee in any place whom with a feruent desire she looked for Then surely going into the Sepulchre shée had séene it once and againe but too much was not sufficient to her that loued For the vertue of a good worke is perseuerance or constant abyding therein And because before others she loued and in louing wept and in wéeping sought and in seeking perseuered therefore the rather shee first of all others deserued to finde thee to see thee and to speak to thée And not onely for these things but shee was the first tydings bearer to the Disciples of thy glorious resurrection thou instructing and meekely aduertising her saydest Go tel my brethren that they goe into Galilee there they shall see mee If therefore a woman so wept and perseuered in wéeping which sought the liuing amongst the dead which touched thée with the hands of faith how ought the soule to lament and abide in lamentation whâ—ch beleeueth in heart confesseth with mouth thee hiâ— redeemer now ruling in heauen and raigning euery where How therefore ought such a soule to mourne weepe which loueth thee with al heartinesse and coueteth to see thee with all desire Thou alone succour and onely hope of al that are in miserie who neuer is humblie intreated without hope of mercie Giue me this grace for thine owne sake and for thine holy name that how often I thinke of thee I speake of thee I write of thee I reade of thee I conferre of thee how often I remember thee I stand before thee I offer thanks prayers and sacrifice to thee that so often with rising teares in thy sight I may aboundantly méekely wéepe so that my teares bee instead of bread to me day night Verily thou king of glory and master of all vertues hast taught in thy word and example to mourne and wéepe saying Blessed bee they that mourne for they shall be comforted Another AH alas my Lord woe is my soule thou comforter of my soule thou departedst and saidest not so much as farewell Going thy wayes thou blessedst thine neither was I present Thy handes lifted vp thou waft receyued into heauen with a cloud neither did I see it The Angels promised thou wouldest come againe neither did I heare it What shall I say what shall I doe whether shall I goe where shall I séek him or when shal I find him Whom shal I aske who shall tell my deerly beloued that I languish in loue the delight of my heart ceaseth my laughing is turned into heauinesse my flesh and my heart fainteth O God of my heart and my portion thou God for euer My soule refuseth to bee comforted but of thée my delight for what haue I in heauen besides thée what would I vpon the earth I wish for thée I hope for thée I seeke thee my heart hath saide to thée I haue sought thy face I will seeke after thy face O lord turn not thy face away from me O most gracious louer of men the poore is left alone to thee thou art an ayder to the Orphan My onely defending aduocate haue mercie on mee desolate Orphan I am become fatherlesse my Soule is as it were a widow Regarde the teares of my lacke and widowhoode which I offer vnto thée vntill thou coÌ„mest again Ah now my Lord alas Appeare vnto me and I shall be comforted Let me beholde thy presence and I shall inioy my desire reueale thy glory and my ioy shall be full Remember this note SO often as wee doe well the Angells reioyce and the Diuells are sad So often as wee go out of the way from that which is good wee make the diuels glad and defraude the Angels of theâ—r ioy For there is ioy with them ouer one sinner which hartely repenteth Grace before Dinner ALmighty GOD whose prouidence reacheth to the vttermost ends of the world and to the depth of the Sea which nourishest all creatures with sustenance agreeable to their natures the fish the foule the foure-footed beast and the creeping worme we beseech thee that the meate drinke which is set before vs on this table at this present may be so moderately receiued that our bodies therby may be refreshed our senfes comforted through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after dinner BLessed God eternal thankes and praise bee ascribed vnto thee which hast opened thine hand at this time and made vs partakers of thy benefites and hast supplyed the necessity of our nature with these nourishing elements without the which our life caÌ„not be maintained We beseech thée to kindle in vs a continuall remembrance of thy bountifull goodnes towards vs that as thou neuer withdrawest thy fatherly care from vs so wee may neuer cease to offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS
Come the excellent glorie of all the liuing the onely health of the dying Come most holy spirite come and haue mercy on mée prepare mée for thée and discend louingly to me that my vnability and weakenesse may please thy greatnesse and strength according to the multitude of thy compassions through Iesus Christ my sauiour who with the father in vnitie of thée liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer to the holy Trinity O Thrée coequal and coeternall persons one god and true the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost who onely possesseth eternity and light that no man can come to who hast made the whole worlde with thy power and rulest the round compasse of the earth with thy wisdome Holy-holy holy Lorde God of Sabaoth terrible and strong iust and mercifull to be wondred at to bee praised and to be beloued one god three persons one power wisdome and goodnesse one and vnseparable Trinitie Open to mee calling on thee the gates of righteousnesse and then entring into them I wil confesse to thee O Lord. Beholde the earnest desire of the inward affections of my heart crying out and the complaint of the teares of mine eyes at thy gate O most gracious father before thee is all my desire and my mourning is not hidde from thee and thou O Lord turne not thy face any more from me neyther passe by in thy wrath from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the wailing of thine Orphan and reach out thy right hande an helper that it draw mee backe from the depth of waters and lake of miseries and the puddle of dregs least I should perish the mercy of thine eyes looking on the clemency of thy heart beholding but that I may passe without danger to thée my Lord God that I may sée the riches of thy Kingdome and beholde thy face for euer and sing prayses to thy holy name O Lord which doest maruailous thinges which makest my heart glad with the remembrance of thee which lightenest my youth Despise not mine olde age but make my bones to reioyâ—e and my gray haires to renue as an Eagle Amen Another of the same O God the true and very excellent life from whome by whome and in whome all things whatsoeuer doe liue are good and glorious to see to God whose faith doth erect vs whose hope doth comforte vs whose loue doth linke vs together God which commandest thy selfe to bee sought and makest thy selfe to bee found and openest to him that knocketh God from whome to bee turned it is to fall to whome to bee turned it is to rise in whome to remaine it is most auaileable God whome no man loseth but is deceyued whome no man seeketh but is warned whome no man findeth but is clensed and healed God whom to knowe it is to liue whome to serue it is to raigne whome to praise â—t is health and ioy to the soule Thee I praise blesse and honour with my lippes and heart and with all the strength and power I am able and I thanke thy mercy and goodnesse for all thy benefites and I sing an Hymne to thy glorie Holy holie holy I call on thee O blessed Trinity that thou wouldest come into mee and make mee a worthie temple of thy glorie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beséech the sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the sonne that all my sines and weckednesse bee remooued farre from mee Most mightie God from whome all things by whom all things and in whome all thinges are made visible and inuisible which compassest thy workes round aboute which replenishest them within couerest them aboue and sustainest them vnderneath keepe mee the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting in thine onely mercy keep mee I beseech thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behind aboue beneath and round about so that no place lie open in me to the deceits of mine enemies Thou art God omnipotent the keeper and protector of all them that put their trust in thee without whome no man is safe no man is deliuered from daungers thou art God and there is no other God besides thee neither in heauen aboue nor in earth below which doest great things to be wondred at of which there is no number Praise honour and songs to thy laud belongeth To thee al the Angels to thee the heuens and all the powers make Hymnes and sing prayses incessantly as it behooueth the creatures to their Creator the seruants to their Maister the Souldiours to their King Euery creature magnifyeth thee euery soule prayseth thee most holie and vnseperable Trinity through Isus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer how the word becomming flesh is cause of our hope GOD is not so much an enemy that hee may not loue his owne flesh his owne members ' and bowels verily I might despaire by reason of my too many sins and vices faults and infinite negligences which I haue committed and dayly and continually do in Hearte and Worde and deede and by all the meanes by which humaine frailety may sinne but that thy worde my GOD was become flesh and dwelled in vs. But now I dare not despaire because hee beeing obedient to thee euen to the Death yea the death of the Crosse tooke vp the hand writing of our sinnes and nailed it to the Crosse Crucified sinne and Death Therefore in him safely I rest which sitteth at thy righte hand and maketh intercession for vs. Hauing a sure confidence in him I look for to come to thee in whom we are risen againe now we are ascended into heauen and set together in the celestiall places to thee be praise to thee hee glorie to thee be honour to thee be praise and thansgiuing Amen A Praier that the kingdome of Heauen may be obtained O Happie reioysing and reioysing happinesse to see the holie ones to bee with them and to bee to see the holy God to possesse God for euer and infinitly these things wee should consider of with an earnest minde these thinges wee shoulde desire with all longing that wee might bee able quickly to come to them If thou wouldest consider and inquire how this may bee brought to passe either by what meanes heare mee this matter is put in the power of him that can doe it because the kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence the Kingdome of Heauen O man seeseeketh no other price then thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt possesse it Why art thou troubled touching the price Christ hath yeelded and deliuered vp himselfe to God his father that thou shouldest purchase thee a Kingdom thou so giue thy selfe that thou be his Kingdom and that sinne may not raigne in thy mortall bodie but the spirit in obtaining of eternall life A Praier for the sweetnes of heauenly loue I Loue thee my God I loue thée and more and more will loue thee O my Lorde my God
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
of euils a Quéene of pride full of miseries and errours which is not to bee tearmed a life but death in wich wee die euery moment with diuerse kinde of deathes through sundry the defects of mutability Whether therefore we which liue in this world may call it a life which humors puffe vp sorrowes abate ayres infect meates breed diseases hunger makes leane disports makes dissolute sadnes cōsumes thought shortneth riches maketh proude pouerty debaseth youth aduanceth olde age maketh crooked and sicknesse ouer commeth And after all these euils furious death followeth and moreouer appointeth such an end to all the ioyes of this miserable life that when it ceaseth to be it may be suposed neuer to haue béene This death vitall and life mortal although it bee sprinkled with these and other bitternesses yet alas how many doth it deceiue with false promises And so this life as of it selfe it is false and bitter so also it cannot be hidden and vnknowne to the blinde louers of it yet notwithstanding it soketh and vtterly drunkeneth an infinite number of fooles with the golden cup it hath in hande Happie they are and they be but few that forsake the familiarity of it that despise the flitting ioyes of it and reiect the fellowship therof least that also they be compelled to perish with that perishing deceiuer Prayers in aduersity and trouble HAue mercy Lord haue mercy on me miserable sinner doing wickednes worthily suffering therefore continually sinning and dayly earning thy scourges If I weigh the euill dayly that I haue done it is not much that I suffer grieuous it is that I haue committed easie it is that I endure Thou art iust O Lord and thy iudgements are right all thy iudgements are iust and true Iust and vpright art thou our Lord and God and there is no iniquity in thee for not vniustly neither cruelly doest thou aflict vs sinners almighty and most mercifull Lord who when wee were not mightily madest vs and when wee had béene lost through our owne offence in thy mercy and goodnesse marueyloussy thou restoredst vs. I know and am sure that our life is not guided with rash motions but is ordered and gouerned by thee our Lord God whereby thou hast care of all chiefly of thy seruants who haue put their whole hope in thy onely mercy Therefore I beseech and humbly pray that thou doest not to mee according to my sinnes in which I haue deserued thy wrath but according to thy great mercy which passeth the sinnes of the whole world Thou O Lord which outwardly imposest plagues and scourges graunt alwaies an vnfainting patience so that thy prayse neuer depart out of my mouth haue mercy on me Lord haue mercy and helpe me as thou knowest how because I haue néed therof both in soule and bodie thou knowest all things thou canst doe all things which liuest and raignest world with out end Amen Of the felicity of the life which God hath prepared for them that loue him O Thou life which God hath prepared for them that loue him a life long hoped for a blessed life a peaceable life a glorious life a vndefiled life a chast life a holy life a life without knowledge of death ignorant of sadnesse a life without spot without paine without griefe without corruptiō without vexation without variety and change a life of all beauty and most full of honor where there is no aduersarie resisting where bee no allurements of sin where there is perfect loue and no feare where day is euerlasting and of all one spirit where God is seene face to face and the mind satisfied with this nourishment without want O thou life most happie where that souldiour the conquerer accompanied with all the companies of Angelles singing praises singeth to God without ceasing the pleasant song of the songs of Sion the perpetuall crowne compassing his honorable head I would to God the pardon of my sins granted me and this vnprofitable burden of the flesh put off I might enter to possesse the true rest to thy ioy And that I might go into the bright and beautifull walles of thy City to receiue a crown of life of the hand of the Lord that I might be in presence with those most holy companies that I might stand before the glory of the Creator with the most blessed spirits that I might see the present countenance of Christ that alwaies I might beholde that high and vnspeakeable and vnmeasurable light and so to bée moued with no feare of death but that I might reioyce of the reward of euerlasting incorruption without ende A Meditation of the celestiall Soule O My soul sigh feruently desire earnestly that thou mayest come into the Citie aboue of which so glorious things are spoken in which there is a dwelling of all reioysinges Thou mayest ascende through loue nothing is difficult to him that loueth nothing vnpossible The Soule that loueth ascendeth often and passeth familiarly through familiarly through the stréets of heauenly Ierusalem in visiting the Patriarks and Prophets in saluting the Apostles in marueling at the armies of Martyrs and Confessors and in beholding the companies of Virgins Let not heauen and earth cease to call on mee that I loue the Lord my God That all our hope and desire ought to bee to God ONe thing I haue asked of the Lord and this I request that I might dwel in the house of God all the dayes of my life For as the Hart desireth the water springs so my soule longeth after thee my liuing God O when may I come and appeare before thy face when shal I see my God whome my soule thirsteth for when shall I see him in the land of the liuing For in earth of dying men hee cannot bee seene with mortall eies What shall I doe wretch that I am bound with the setters of my mortality what shall I do Whilest wee are in this bodie wee goe on pilgrimage to God wee haue not heere any Citie to inhabit but wee seeke an other that is to come for our incorporation is in heauen Ah wo is me that I am constrained to dwel with Mesech and to haue my habitation amongest the Tentes of Cedar My soule hath long dwelt amongst them that haue beene enemies to peace Who shall giue mee wings like a doue and I wil flie and take m◠rest Nothing is so sweete to mee as to bee with my Lord for it is my good to cleaue vnto the Lorde Graunt mee O Lord whilest I am present in these frail lims to cleaue vnto thee according as it is written Hee that cleaueth to the Lord is one spirit with him Another THou O lord the hope of Israell the desire after which our hearts sigheth dayly make hast tarrie not Arise make speede and come that thou maist deliuer vs out of this prison to praise thy holy name that I may glory in thy light Open thine eares to the cries and teares of thine Orphanes which crie out vnto the.