made by the word were exceeding good wherefore forsomuch as al thinges were made by the worde euil things were not made by it So it remaneth that whatsoeuer things were not made are not good for al things are good which were made Therefore the thinges not made are euil and so consequentlie nothing Because without the word nothing was made Euil then is nothing because it was not made But how is euil if it was not made Because euil is a priuation of that which good is thorough which good was made Then to be without the worde is euil which is to be as nothing For besides it is nothing But what is it to be separated from the worde If thou wouldest knowe that listen what is ment by the word The word of God saith I am the waie the truth and the life Therefore to be separated from the worde is to be without the waie without the truth without life and so nothing without him and so euil because it is without the worde by whome al things were made and they were excellentlie good Againe to be separated from the worde by which al thinges were made is nothing else but to vndo and of something to become nothing For without him it is nothing As often therfore as thou declinest from that which good is thou separatest thy selfe from the word For that is good And so thou art made nothing because thou art without y e word without the which was made nothing that was made Now then ô Lord my light thou hast inlightened mee that I may see thee I haue sene and knowen that as often as I am separated from thee so oft I become nothing Because I forgat goodnes which thou art and therefore am made euil Wo worth me wretch that I neuer marked how I became nothing when I forsooke thee But what needes this cōplaint If I was nothing I needed not to knowe We knowe that euil is nothing and that is not which is nothing and that which is not good is not because it is nothing If therefore I was nothing when I was without thee I was but as nothing euen like an Idol which is nothing hauing eares and heareth not a nose and smelleth not eies and seeth not a mouth and speaketh not handes and feeleth not feete and walketh not al the proportion of members and yet liueth not Chap. 6. How the soule offendeth through sinne SO then as long as I was without thee I was naught but verie nothing and therefore blinde I was deafe I was and without sense For I neither knew what good was nor shunned that euil was nor perceaued my wounds when I was hurt nor saw the darknes which I was in Because I was without thee the verie light which lightneth euerie man that commeth into the world Alack therefore they wounded me yet I sorowed not they haled me yet I perceaued not for that I was not because I was without life which is the worde by whome al thinges were made And therefore ô Lorde my light mine enimies did with me euen what they would they struck me they striped me they polluted me they corrupted me they wounded mee yea they killed me because I forsooke thee and so became nothing without thee Alacke ô Lorde my life by whom I was made my light wherby I am directed haue mercie vpon me ô defender of my life and raise mee vp againe ô Lord my God my hope my strength my rock and my comfort in the daie of my troble Consider mine aduersaries and deliuer me let them which hate me flie awaie from my presence and through thee let me liue in thee For they haue watched me seing me without thee haue despised me They parted among themselues the garments of virtue wherewithal thou hadst clothed me they made a waie through me they troade me vnder their feete they defiled thine holie temple with the dregs of wickednes they left me desolate pining awaie through sorow I folowed after blind and naked and shackled with the cordes of wickednes They dragged mee after them in their circuite frō vice to vice and from mire to mire and so went I ful weakely God knowes before the face of him that pursued me Bond I was yet liked I slauerie blinde and desired blindenes bound and did not abhor the shackles I thought soure sweet and sweet to be soure Miserable I was yet knewe I not so much because I was without the worde without which nothing was made through which al thinges are maintained without which al thinges are brought to nothing For as al thinges by it were made without it was made nothing so by it are al thinges maintained whatsoeuer is either in heauen or in the earth in the sea or in any deep place Neither can anie part sticke to other either in a stone or in any other thing created did not the word by which al things were made maintaine it Wherefore ô worde I wil cleaue to thee that thou maist saue me For when I forsooke thee I had perished hadst not thou which didst make mee renued me againe I sinned thou didst visit me I fel thou didst erect me I was ignorant thou didst teach me I was blind thou didst lighten me Chap. 7. Of Gods manifold benefites conferred vpon man O My God showe mee how much I wretch am bound to loue thee how much I am bounde to praise thee how much I am bounde to please thee Thunder ô Lord with a great and mightie voice from aboue into the inwarde care of mine hart Teach me and saue me so wil I praise thee for creating me when I was nothing for lightning mee when I was in darknes when I was dead for reuiuing me for cherishing me euen from my youth with al good things Thou dost nourish me vnprofitable worme stinking in wickednes euen with al thy most excellent benefites Open to me ô key of Dauid which dost open and no man shutteth against him to whom thou openest and doest shut and no man openeth to him against whome thou shuttest Open to mee the doore of thy countenance that I may enter and beholde and knowe and praise thee with al mine hart For great is thy mercie toward me and thou hast deliuered my soule frō the lowest graue O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in al y e world What is man that thou art mindful of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him O Lord the hope of the godlie and the tower of their strength ô God the life of my soule by which I liue without which I die ô light of mine eies by which I see without which I am blinde ô the ioie
the Vniuersities for learning and London for resort which ought to be the Lanternes of godlines vnto al the land beside Preachers euen the grauest for wisedome and yeeres and the greatest for zeale and knowledge not the smallest for auctoritie euerie-where crie out vpon them so zealouslie with such griefe of hart that they are euen tyred againe with crieng Doctors condemne them By shops write against them yea the best auctors in these daies of those wanton yea wicked toies are quite out of loue with them ashamed of their doings Oh that the Magistrate our soueraigne Magistrate I meane would vtterlie forbid them publikelie to be vsed that the common people might not haunt them and al should be wel But to returne to my purpose from which I haue digressed these errors I feare mee haue caused manie to doubt whether S. Augustine were y e auctor of this booke but being left out as nowe they are I cannot see why S. Augustine might not make the same the matter is so heauenlie praiers the words so holie Scripture euerie thing so wiselie orderlie excellentlie done by the auctor that he must needes be a most excellent man whosoeuer made the same and a more excellent than S. Augustine among the Doctors I thinke was neuer none Which being so I trust I shal â—â—t neede to request your Honor 〈◊〉 accept this booke in good part 〈◊〉 to request your Honor to parâ—â—n my boldnes in dedicating my â—â—ple doings obscure as I am 〈◊〉 person vnknowne to your Hoâ—â—r and to beare with my rude â—diousnes and tedious rudenes â—aue great neede and so I humâ—â—ie doe The Lord almightie and King 〈◊〉 glorie who hath cast the eies 〈◊〉 his gratious countenance vpon â—â—u abide with you for euermore and with this new yeere powre vpon your Honor a newe increase of his heauenlie blessings Amen The first of Ianuarie An. 1581. At your Honors commandement Tho. Rogers A pretious Booke of holie Meditations written by that reuerend Father S. Augustine which he calleth his priuate talke with GOD. Chap. 1. Of the vnspeakable sweetenes of God O Lorde which knowest mee giue me grace to knowe thee to know thee euen â—he strength of my soule O my comforter showe me â—hy selfe let mee see thee ô â—â—ght of mine eies Come ô thou mirth of my â—pirit let me see thee the ioie â—f mine hart loue thee the â—erie life of my soule Come in my presence ô my souereigne delight my sweeâ— solace ô my Lord God my life and the whole glorie oâ— my soule Let me finde thee ô minâ— harts desire let me hold thee whome my soule doth loue 〈◊〉 O celestial bride-groome leâ— me embrace thee ô my souâ—â— reigne comfort both inward and outwarde let me possessâ— thee ô euerlasting blisse yeâ— in the middes of mine hart 〈◊〉 me possesse thee ô blessed liâ—◠ô surpassing sweetenes 〈◊〉 my soule Let me loue thee ô Lord 〈◊〉 strength my fortresse my refuge and my Sauior Let me loue thee ô my GOD 〈◊〉 helper mine hie tower aâ—â— mine hope in al my troble Let me embrace thee euâ—â— goodnes it self without whom nothing is good let me enioie thee the verie best without whome nothing is best O word more sharper than â—nie two edged sword open â—hou the secreat partes of mine eares that I may heare thy voice Thunder ô Lord from heaâ—en with a loude and mightie voice Let the sea roare and al â—hat therein is let the earth be mooued and al that is in it Lighten mine eies ô inâ—omprehensible light cast â—orth thy lightning and scatter â—hem that they regard no vaâ—itie Encrease thy lightning and â—â—atter them that the fountains â—f water may appeere and the â—â—undations of the worlde be â—â—scouered O light inuisible giue mee sight to see thee Create a new smelling ô fauor of life that I may runne after thee through the sauor of thy ointments Heale my tasting that I may taste know and discerne how great thy goodnes is ô Lord which thou hast laide vp for them who are filled with thy looue Giue mee an hart that may thinke on thee a minde that may loue thee a soule that may remember thee an vnderstanding to knowe thee and reason alwaies to sticke fast vnto thee the most souereigne delight Let wise loue fauor thee wiselie O life for whome al things liue ô life which giuest me life ô life which art my life by which I liue without which I die O life which raisest me to life without which I perish ô life whereby I reioice without which I am pensiue ô liuelie sweet and louelie life alwayes to be thought vpon where art thou I beseech thee where may I finde thee that I may faint in my selfe and depend on thee O my loue be thou nigh in my minde nigh in mine hart nigh in my mouth nigh in mine eares nigh to aide me For I languish through looue for without thee alas I die but when I thinke on thee I reuiue againe Thy sauor refresheth mee thy remembrance healeth me yet shal I not be satisfied til thy glorie appeereth ô thou life of my soule My soule longeth yea and fainteth through the remembrance of thee when shal I come and appeere before thy presence ô my ioie Wherefore hydest thou thy face ô my delight by whome I reioice O thou faire on whome I so desire where hast thou hid thy selfe Thy sent I feele therefore doe I liue and am somwhat comforted but thee I see not I heare thy voice and I take hart againe But wherfore hidest thou thy face Happilie thou wilt saie No man shal see me and liue Oh then Lord ô that I were dead so I might see thee ô let me see thee that I may die euen here I wil not liue die I would yea I desire to be loased to be with Christ I desire to die that I may see Christ I refuse to liue that I may liue with Christ O Lord Iesu receiue my spirite ô my life take my soule my ioie drawe my hart vnto thee my sweete foode let me eate thee mine head direct me light of mine eies inlighten me ô my comfort reioice me my sauior quicken me ô Word of God refresh me my praise comfort the soule of thy seruant Enter therinto ô my ioie that it also may ioie in thee Enter therinto ô souereigne sweetenes that it may sauor those thinges which are sweet ô light eternal shine thou ouer it that it may vnderstande thee knowe thee and loue thee For the cause ô Lord why it loueth thee
shortned that it cannot saue neither is thine eare heauie that it cannot heare But my sinnes haue separated betweene mee and thee betweene darkenes and light betweene the image of death and life betweene falsehood and truth betwene this vanishing state of mine and thine eternitie Chap. 12. Of the manifold snares of concupiscence THese be the shadowes of darknes wherwith I am couered in the dungeon of this darke prison wherein I lie groueling vntil the daie dawne shadowes doe depart and light be made in the firmament of thy strength The voice of y e Lord is mightie the voice of the Lord is glorious let it speake that light may be made darkenes may depart the drie land appeare and earth maye bud foorth the hud of the herbe that feedeth seede bringeth out the fruite of righteousnes of the kingdome of God O Lord father and God of my life by whom al things do liue without whome al things are as dead leaue mee not in a wicked imagination neither giue mee a proude looke Take fro mee vaine concupiscence and giue not me thy seruant ouer into an impudent mind but possesse thou mine heart that alwaies it may think on thee Inlighten mine eies that they may behold thee and neuer be lifted vp before thee ô eternal glorie but think humblie not of thy woonders aboue their reach that they may see those things which are at thy right hand not the things at thy left And alwaies let thine eie lids direct my steps For thine eie-lids do trie the sonnes of men Asswage the heate of my cōcupiscence with thy goodnes which thou hast laide vp for those that feare thee that with euerlasting desire I may couet after thee that mine inner taste may not be enticed deceiued with vaine things and so put sowre for sweete and sweete for sowre darknes for light and light for darkenes that I may be deliuered in the middes of so many snares as are laid by the enimie to take the soules of sinners wherewith the whole world is replenished Which thing S. Iohn did see and passed not ouer the same in silence when he said For al that is in the world is either the lust of the flesh the lust of the cies or the pride of life Behold ô Lord my God the whole worlde is ful of the snares of concupiscence which they haue prepared for my feete who cā escape them Euen hee doubtles from whome thou takest the loftie lookes that he be not taken by y e lust of the cies frō whome thou takest carnal cōcupiscēce that he be not taken by the lust of the flesh and from whome thou takest a bold impudent mind that the pride of life doe not slilie deceaue him O most happie man for whome thou dost these things for doubtles he shal go vnpunished Now then ô my redeemer by thy selfe I beseech thee assist me that I fal not in the sight of mine aduersaries being takē by y e traps which they haue set for my feete to bring downe my soule But deliuer mee ô strength of my saluation least thine enimies which hate thee haue me in derision Arise ô Lord my God my mightie one and let thine enimies be scattered they also that hate thee let them flie from thy face As waxe melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at thy presence But let me be hid priuilie in thy presence and reioice with thy children abounding with al good things And thou ô Lord God father of Orphanes and thou mother of thy poore children listen vnto y e crie of thy sonnes spreade out thy wings that we may flie therevnder from the face of the enimie For thou art the tower of Israëls strength who wilt neither slumber nor sleepe keeping Israël because he that fighteth against Israël doth neither sleepe nor slumber Chap. 13. Of mans miserie and of Gods benefites O Light ô cleerenes whome none other light or clerenes doth beholde ô light which darckeneth al light ô cleerenes which dimmeth al strange light ô light from which al light ô cleerenes from which al cleerenes doth proceede ô cleerenes in respect wherof al other brightnes is but darkenes and al other light but dimnes Where thou shinest the verie darkenes is bright as daie and dimnes is light O moste souereigne light whom no blindnes can darken nor mistines dimme nor darknes obscure nor anie let close vp nor shadow keepe away O light which inlightenest al things at one time togither and alwaies swalow me vp into the depth of thy brightnes that I may on al sides beholde thee both in thy selfe and me in thee al things vnder thee Forsake mee not ô Lord least the shadowes of mine ignorance do encrease and mine offences multiplie For without thee euerie thing is darkenes to me and al things are euil because nothing is good without thee the true onlie and souereigne good This I acknowledge and this I know ô Lord my God For be I in anie place without thee euil is it with mee hauing not thee not onlie outwardlie to my bodie but also inwardlie to my soule because al abundance being not with thee my God is but beggerie but whē thy glorie apeareth I shal be satisfied And ô Lord my blessed life grant that I maie confesse my wretchednes vnto thee for from thee the souereigne and verie good it selfe and from the vnitie of thy goodnes hath the diuers kinds of temporal things separated me being fallen into sinne through carnal senses and from one it hath parted me into many things so that abundance to mee was combersome and pouertie was plentie while I haunted after this and that and yet could neuer be satisfied for in my selfe I found not thee th' vnchangable singular vnseparable and onlie good which had I once atteined I should want no more which had I once found out I should weepe no more which did I once enioie mine heart would be at rest Oh miserie vpon miserie sith my miserable soule doth flie from thee with whom she hath abundance and ioie and foloweth the world with whome she hath pouertie and sorow The world crieth I vanish ô Lord thou criest I refresh yet doth my wicked wretchednes more folowe that which vanisheth than him who refresheth This verilie is my weakenes O Physicion of the soule cure it that I may praise thee euen the saluation of my soule and that with mine whole hart for al thy benefites where with thou hast refreshed me euen fro my youth Cast me not off in the time of my age forsake me not whē my strength faileth ô Lord for thine owne sake I beseech thee Thou didest make me when I was
◠waies of the sonnes of men from the time of their birth euen til the daie of their burial that thou maist render vnto eueric man according to his workes either good or euil Shew to me that I maie confesse my wretchednes to thee For I said that I was rich and had neede of nothing knew not how that I was wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked I supposed my selfe should be somewhat when in deede I was nothing I professed my selfe wise and I became a foole I thought I was prudent and I was deceiued For now I see it is thy gift without whome we can do nothing Because if thou Lord keepe not the Citie in vaine doth he watch that keepes the same Thus hast thou taught me that I might know my selfe For thou hast forsaken me and tried me not for thy owne sake that thou mightest know me but for my sake that I might know thee For as I said I thought Lord I should haue bin somewhat of my selfe I thought I had had sufficiencie of my selfe and perceaued not how it is thou Lord which rulest me vntil thou wentest 〈◊〉 fro me for a space I tooke a fal Then did I see and perceaue how it was thou which ruled me and how I fel of my self and rose againe through thy grace O light thou hast opened mine eies and raised me vp lightned me Now therefore I see that mans life vpon earth is but a tentation and that no flesh can glorie in thy sight nor be iustified For al goodnes be it little or much is thy gift and we haue nothing of our selues but euil Whereof then maie al flesh glorie of wickednes but that is no glorie but miserie May it glorie of anie good then and of anothers goodnes O Lord goodnes is thine and thine is the glorie For he who seeks of thy goodnes his owne and not thy glorie 〈◊〉 a verie theefe and robber like the diuel himselfe who would haue robbed thee of thy glorie For whosoeuer would haue praise of that good thing which is thine and seeketh not therein thy glorie but his owne yea although he get praise of men for thy gift yet is he dispraised of thee Because of thy gift he sought his glorie not thine And he who is praised of men and dispraised of thee neither can be defended by men when thou shalt iudge nor be deliuered when thou shalt condemne But ô Lord who hast formed me from the wombe of my mother suffer me not to fal into that reproch and neuer let it be cast in my teeth that I wold haue stolen awaie thy glorie Al glorie be ascribed vnto thee from whome al goodnes doth proceede but vnto vs open shame and miserie to whom al euil doth belong vnles thou take mercie For thou shewest mercie ô Lord thou shewest mercie ouer al and hatest nothing which thou hast made thou giuest vs of thy good things and makest vs rich ô Lod God with thy most excelēt benefits For thou louest the poore makest them rich euen with thine owne riches O Lord behold now we are thy poore children and thy little slocke open to vs thy gates that the poore may eate and be satisfied so they which seeke thee wil praise thee For I know Lord and confesse through thine instruction that they alone shal be enriched who know themselues to be poore and acknowledge their pouertie before thee For such as thinke themselnes rich when they are poore shal be barred from the participation of thy riches Wherefore ô Lord my God vnto thee do I confesse my pouertie that al the glorie may be thine inasmuch as the good which I haue done is thine I confesse ô Lord as thou hast taught me I am nothing else but altogither vanitie a shadow of death a darke dungeon and a barren and emptie ground bringing foorth nothing without thou blesse me and bearing no fruite but confusion sinne and damnation If I had any goodnes I receiued it of thee if I haue anie at this time it is thine or I haue it from thee When I stood I stood through thee but when I fel I fel through my selfe and alwaies I had stuck in the mire if thou haddest not plucked me out I had alwaies bin blind if y u haddest not lightned me When I fel I had not risen againe vnles thou haddest reached foorth thine hand Yea and when thou haddest erected me I had falen by and by if thou hadest not held me vp And oftentimes I had perished haddest thou not gouerned me Thus euermore Lord euermore thy grace mercie hath preuented me deliuering me from al euil sauing me from those past raising mee from these present and arming me against miseries to come in like sort cutting awaie y e snares of sinne before me and remouing al occasions and causes of offence For vnlesse thou haddest done so I had committed al the sinnes of the world For I am persuaded ô Lord there hath no sinne bin committed afore time by man but another may do the same if his Creator leaue him by whome he was made a man But that I did not so thou hast brought it to passe that I absteined thou diddest commaund and that I beleeued it was of thy grace poured vpon me For thou Lord diddest guide me both for me and thy selfe and thou hast giuen me grace and vnderstanding to absteine both from adulterie and other wickednes Chap. 16. Of the Diuel and of his manifold tentations THERE wanted a temptor but thou wert the cause y t he was absent there wanted place and time and that they should bee lacking thou didest worke There wanted neither temptor nor place nor time but thou heldest me backe that I should not consent The temptor came foule and ouglie as he is but thou didst comfort me that I might despise him The temptor came armed and strong but thou didest both encourage me and bridle him that he could not ouercome The temptor came like an Angel of light but that he might not deceaue me thou didest take him vp that I might know him thou didest open mine eies For he is that great and red Dracon the old Serpent called the Diuel and Satan hauing seauen heads and ten hornes whom thou hast created to plaie in this great and wide sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both smal beastes and great that is diuers kinds of Diuels which doe nothing neither daie nor night but range vp downe seeking whome they may deuoure if thou preserue not For he is that old Dracon which sprang vp in the paradise of pleasure drawing with his taile the third part of
hardlie perceaued vnles wee receaue light from thee ô Lorde our hope that we may behold al things For he hideth subtile traps not in the workes of the flesh onlie which with no great ado may be descried nor in manifest vices only but in spiritual exercises besides vnder the colour of virtues he cloaketh vices and transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light These and many mo things doth that sonne of Belial euen Sathan himselfe enterprise against vs ô Lord our GOD And sometime like a Lion like a Dracon sometime openlie and secretlie inwardlie and outwardlie daie and night he lieth in waite to catch our soules But thou who dost saue those which trust in thee deliuer vs ô Lord that both he may haue sorow of vs and thou be glorified in vs ô Lorde our God Chap. 18. Againe of Gods manifold benefites ANd I the sonne of thy hādmaid who haue commended my selfe into thine hand in these my poore confessions wil praise thee my redeemer with mine whole heart and cal into mind al the good things which thou hast done for me al my life long euen fro my youth For I know right wel that ingratitude doth much displease thee as being the roote of al spiritual wickednes and a certaine winde drieng burning vp al goodnes and stopping the spring of thine heauenlie mercie toward man whereby dead workes now die not and liuing die out of hand are no more I then wil thanke thee ô Lord that I may not prooue vngrateful to thee my deliuerer for thou hast deliuered me How often would that Dracon haue deuoured mee but thou Lord didest plucke me out of his mouth How often haue I sinned and how often hath he bin readie to swalow me vp But thou ô Lord my God hast defended me When I did wickedlie against thee and when I brake thy commandementes then stood hee readie to plucke mee downe euen to hel but thou didest hold him backe I offended thee but thou didest defend me I feared not thee and yet thou didest keepe me I went from thee and yeelded to mine aduersarie but thou didest beate him backe that he durst not take me O Lord my God these benefites hast thou conferred vpon mee and I wretch neuer marked so much For thus thou hast saued me oftentimes from the iawes of Satan and taken me by force out of the Lions mouth and manie waies reduced me from hel although I wist not how For I descended euen to the gates of hel but that I might not go in thou didest hold me backe I drew verie nigh to deaths doore but so thou didest worke that they could not take me In like sort ô my Sauior thou hast deliuered mee from bodilie death when greeuous sicknes oppressed me when I haue bin in manie perils both on sea and land thou hast stood by me alwaie preseruing mee from fire and sword and from al danger sauing mee of thy great mercie Indeede Lord thou didest knowe that if death then had takē me my soule had straightwaie gone into hel and so had bene damned world without end But thy grace and thy mercy did preuent me ô Lord my God and saued both my bodie from death and my soule from damnation These and manie mo benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me but I was blind and knew not so much vntil thou inlightenedst me Now therefore ô light of my soule ô Lord my God my life through whome I liue the light of mine eies through which I see lo thou hast inlightened me so that I knowe thee for I liue through thee therefore I praise thee and giue thee thankes albeit I confesse my thankes are vile and bare and farre vnanswerable to thy benefites yet such as my frailtie can afford For thou alone art my God and my merciful creator louing our soules and hating nothing which thou hast made Lo I am of sinners which thou hast saued the chiefe that I might shew an example vnto others of thy most louing kindnes I wil acknowledge vnto thee thy great benefites for thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest graue both once and twice and thrice and a hundred yea a thousande times I alwaies inclined downe to helwarde but thou alwaies didest bring me backe againe and iustlie thou mightest haue condemned mee a thousand times if thou wouldest But thou wouldest not for thou louest our soules and dissemblest the sinnes of men because they should amend ô Lord our God of much mercie in al thy waies Now therefore ô Lord my God I see and perceaue these things through thy light and my soule is astonished in consideration of thy great mercie poured vpon me especialie for deliuering my soule from the lowest graue and for bringing me againe to life I was wholie dead and thou hast wholie reuiued me againe Therefore let it be wholie thine that I liue and wholie I doe offer my selfe vnto thee al whole Let my whole spirit my whole hart my whole bodie my whole life liue to thee ô my sweete life For thou hast redeemed mee wholie that thou mightest possesse mee whole thou hast renued mee wholie that thou mightest haue me wholie againe Wherefore let me loue thee ô Lord my strength let mee loue thee mine vnspeakeable ioie Let my whole life hencefoorth liue not to my selfe but to thee my life I saie which had perished in my miserie had it not bin raised againe in thy mercie who art a pitiful God and a merciful of much kindnes toward thousands of them which loue thy name Hence is it ô Lord my God my sanctifier that in thy lawe thou hast commanded mee to loue thee with al mine hart with al my soule with al my mind with al my strength and with al the powers which I haue yea from the verie marow and pith of mine hart and that euerie houre and moment wherein I enioie the goodes of thy mercie For I should continualie perish if thou didest not guide me continualie I should continualie die didest thou not quicken me continualie and euerie moment thou dost bind mee vnto thee whilest euerie moment thou bestowest thy great benefites vpon me As therefore there is no houre nor minute in al my life wherein I enioie not thy blessing so ought there bee no moment wherein I should not haue thee before mine eies and loue thee with al the powers both of my bodie and mind Yet this am I not able to do without thou giue mee grace whose euerie good giuing and euery perfect gift is cōmeth downe from y e Father of lights with whome is no variablenes neither shadowing by turning For it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but of thee which she west
greatnes nor number of thy wisedome nor measure of thy benignitie neither is there end nor number nor measure of thy blessings For as thou art great thy selfe so is thy liberalitie great because thou art the reward and the blessing which they shal haue that fight as they ought to doe Chap. 22. That godlie ioy taketh awaie al present bitternes of the world O Lord God sanctifier of al thy Saints these ar thy great benefits wherwithal thou hast supplied the want of thine hungrie children For thou art the hope of the hopeles the ioie of the comfortles the glorious crowne of hope prepared for such as ouercome Thou art the euerlasting fulnes which shal be giuen to the hungrie Thou art the endlesse comfort which rewardest them that contemne the comfort of this world for thy perpetual comfort For they who in this world receiue comfort find no comfort in the world to come But such as are tormented here be there comforted And suth as suffer with thee doe raigne with thee For no man can haue pleasure in both worlds neither can a man reioice heere and heereafter too but of necessitie he must forgo the one which would haue the other When I consider these things ô Lord my comforter my soule refuseth comfort in this life that it may be meete for thine endles comfort For reason it is that hee should forgo thee whosoeuer chooseth the comfort of anie before thee Wherefore ô soueraigne truth I beseech thee suffer me not to delight in anie vaine pleasure But my request is that al other things may waxe bitter to mee and thou alone seeme sweete to my soule because thou art the vnspeabable sweetnes by whom al sowre things are made sweete For thy sweetenes made the verie stones of the riuer sweete to Stephen Thy sweetenes made the burning greediron sweete vnto Laurence Through thy sweetenes the Apostles departed from the Counsel reioicing that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for thy Name Andrew went quietlie and ioifulie to the crosse because he hastened vnto thy sweetnes The princes of thine Apostles were so filled with this sweetenes that for desire thereof one choase the galowes for his death and the other cheerfulie offered his head to bee strooke off with a sword For to buie the same Bartholomow gaue his own skin And to taste this in like sort Iohn without shrinking backe souped off a cup of poison As soone as Peter had tasted heereof by and by forgetting al earthlie things he brake out as if hee had bin dronke into these words Maister it is good for vs to be heere if thou wilt let vs make heere three tabernacles heere let vs abide stil and enioie thy contemplation for wee lacke nothing now It sufficeth vs Lord that we see thee It sufficeth vs to be satisfied with so vnspeakeable sweetnes He had tasted but one drop of sweetenes and lothed forthwith al other sweetenes What thinke yee he would haue said had he tasted that great sweetnes of thy Godhead which thou hast laid vp for such as feare thee That virgin also whome we reade went as ioiefulie vnto prison as to a banquet had tasted this thine vnspeakeable sweetnes This also as I iudge he had tasted who said How great is thy goodnes which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and who admonished saieng Taste yee and see how gratious the Lord is For this is the happines ô Lord our God which wee trust thou wilt giue vs for which cōtinualie we fight vnder thy baner for which we are killed al the daie long that to thee we may liue in thy life Chap. 23. That al our trust and al the desire of our carke should be cast vpon God O Thou Lord y e hope of Israël the verie thing in hart I dailie do desire make haste and tarie not Arise hasten and come awaie that thou maiest bring vs out of this prison to praise thy name to reioice in thy light Listen ô Lord to the crie of the teares of thy poore orphanes that crie vnto theee ô our father giue vs this daie our dailie bread in the strength whereof wee may walke night and daie and minister the same vntil wee shal approch vnto thine holie mountaine And I the smalest among y e little ones of thy familie whē shal I come and appere before thy presence ô God my father and my strength that I who praise thee now for a time may heereafter praise thee eternalie O blessed should I be were I once admitted to behold thy brightnes who can shew me such fauor that thou maist permit me to come therevnto I know Lord I know and acknowledge that I am vnworthie to enter vnder thy roofe yet for the honor of thy name destroie not thy seruant which putteth his trust in thee And who shal enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy power vnles thou open vnto him And who can open if thou shut against him for if thou destroy no man can build againe And if thou shut man vp none can loase him out If thou with-hold y e waters al things wil drie vp and if thou send them foorth they wil destroie the earth If thou bring to nothing al which thou hast made who dare control thee for the same Moreouer the goodnes of thy mercie whereby thou didest al whatsoeuer thou wouldest is euerlasting O maker of the world thou hast made vs therefore gouerne vs we beseech thee Thou hast created vs then despise vs not because we are the worke of thine hands For doubtles ô Lord our God we silie wormes clay are vnable to enter into the house of thine eternitie vnles thou who of nothing hast created al things do guide vs in Chap. 24. That our saluation commeth from God ANd I the worke of thine hands protest vnto thee in thy feare that I wil not trust in my bowe and that not my sword but thy right hand and thine arme and the light of thy countenance shal saue mee Without which I should despaire But thou who hast made me art mine hope for thou forsakest not them which trust in thee For thou our Lord God art gratious long suffering and gouernest al things by mercie For although we sinne yet are we thine if we sinne not we are thine for we are in thy compt For wee al the sort of vs are but a leafe and al men liuing are but vanitie And our life vpon earth is but a blast Be not angrie with vs thine Orphanes though wee fal for thou knowest whereof wee be made ô Lord our God O God whose power none can
houres and places succurring and prouiding for our necessities yea ful carefulie doe they runne betweene vs and thee ô Lord. For they walke with vs in al our waies they go in and out with vs diligentlie considering how godlie and how honestlie we do walke in the middes of a naughtie and crooked generation how ernestlie we seeke the kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof with what feare and trembling we do serue thee and how our harts reioice in thee ô Lord Those which labor they strēgthen those which rest they protect such as fight they encourage they crowne such as ouercome they reioice with such as reioice such I meane as reioice in thee and they suffer with such as suffer I saie with such as suffer for thy name sake Great is the care which they haue of vs Great is the affection of their loue toward vs And al this for y e honor of thine inestimable goodwil wherwith thou hast loued vs. For they loue those whome thou doest loue they keepe those whome thou dost keepe they forsake those whom thou doest forsake neither can they abide such as work iniquitie because thou also hatest al them that worke iniquitie and wilt destroie them that speake lies When we do wel the Angels reioice but the diuels are sad when wee doe il the diuels reioice but the Angels are sad For there is ioie among the Angels for a sinner y ◠conuerteth and ioie to the diuel for a iust man that forsaketh repentance Grant therefore ô father that they may alwaies reioice ouer vs that both thou alwaies maist be glorified in vs and we may be brought with them into thy folde that together wee may praise thy Name ô Creator both of men and Angels These things I confesse before thy Maiestie praising thee for them For great are these thy benefits which thou hast honored vs withal in giuing vs thy spirits to be messengers for our seruice For thou hadst giuen whatsoeuer is contained vnder y e coape of heauen yet thoughtest thou al that too little vnles withal thou addest those things which are aboue heauen For this benefit praise y e Lord al ye his Angels praise him al ye his workes yea let al thy Saints blesse thee O our glorie thou hast exceedinglie honored enriched and glorified vs with manifold benefites O Lord how excellent is thy Name in al the world For what is man y ◠thou art mindful of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him For thou the ancient truth hast said My delite is with y e children of men Is not man rottennes and the sonne of man a worme Is not euerie man liuing meere vanitie yet thou thinkest it good to open thine eies vpon such and causest him to enter into iudgment with thee Chap. 28. Of Gods bottomles predestination and foreknowledge TEach me ô bottomles deepe ô wisedome which hast made al things weighed the mountaines in a weight and hanged the masse of the earth by three fingers in a balance Lift vp the masse of this bodie which I carrie about by thy three inuisible fingers vnto thy selfe that I may see and knowe how excellent thou art in al the world O most ancient light which didest shine before al light in the holie mountaines of thine old eternitie to which al things before they were made were naked open O light which canst abide no spots inasmuch as thou art without spot and most pure what delight canst thou take with man what cōmunion hath light with darkenes where is thy delight in man In what part of me hast thou prepared a meete sanctuarie for thy sacred Maiestie wherinto when thou goest thou maist delight thee to thy contentment For meete is it that thou shouldest haue a pure parlor who art the purifieng virtue who canst not be seene much lesse possessed but of the pure in hart But where is there so pure a temple in man that it may receaue thee which rulest the world who can bring a cleane thing out of filthines But thou alone who onlie art pure For who can be clensed by the vncleane For according to the law which thou gauest to our fathers in the mount out of the middes of fire and in the cloude couering the darksome water Whatsoeuer toucheth an vncleane thing shal be vncleane But al of vs are as the cloth of a menstruous woman we proceede out of a corrupt and filthie masse and beare in our foreheds the spot of our vncleanes the which we cannot hide especialie from thine eies who seest al things So then we cannot be cleane vnles thou make vs cleane who onlie art cleane And of vs the sonnes of men those onlie thou makest cleane in whome it hath pleased thee to make thine abode whome by the bottomles and secrete depth of the incomprehensible iudgements of thy wisedome which are alwaies iust though they be secret thou hast without anie merits of theirs predestinated before al world called out of the world iustified in the world and after the world thou wilt glorifie them Yet dost y ◠not this to al men which makes the wise of this world euen to wonder and to be astonished And I also Lord when I thinke hereof am vtterlie agast and amazed at the deepenes of the riches both of thy wisedome and knowledge How vnsearchable are y e iudgements of thy righteonsnes thy knowledge is aboue my reach For of the same claie thou hast made som vessels vnto honor some to euerlasting infamie Therefore whom out of manie thou hast taken into an holie temple for thy selfe those thou dost clense pouring vpon them cleane water whose names and number is knowen to thee which alone countest the number of the stars and callest them al by their names who also be written in the book of life who cannot perish to whom al things worke together for the best yea verie wickednes it selfe For when they fal they be not brused into peeces for thou puttest vnder thine hand thou wilt keepe al their bones so that not one of them shal be broken But a most vile death haue the wicked they I saie whome in the great deepe of thy secret iudgements which are alwaies righteous thou diddest foreknowe euen before thou didst make either the heauen or the earth should euerlastinglie be damned the number of whose names naughtie merits thou knowest who hast counted the number of the sand of the sea and sounded the verie bottome of the deepe whome thou hast giuen vp to their vncleannes to whom al things worke together for y e worst yea euen their praier is abomination so that albe they should ascend vp to
the verie heauens lift their head aboue the cloudes and make their nest among the stars yet shal they be cast awaie in the ende like doong Chap. 29. Of such as once were godlie and afterward proued wicked and contrariwise GReat are these thy iudgments ô Lord God ô iudge righteous and strong which iudgest right and dost things that are vnsearchable and deepe the which when I consider al my bones do shake For there is not a man vpon earth sure that wee can serue thee godlie purelie in feare and reioice before thee in trembling al the daies of our life that there shoulde be neither seruice without feare nor ioie without trembling and that he which hath girded his harnesse may not boast himselfe as he that hath laid it off neither in deede that anie flesh should reioice in thy presence but shake and tremble before thee inasmuch as no man knoweth whether he be worthie loue or hatred al things being kept vncertaine til the time to come For Lord we haue not onlie heard our fathers tell but haue seene also with our eies which thing I cannot vtter without trembling nor confesse without feare how manie hertofore haue climed in manner vp vnto heauen and made their nest among the stars which afterward fel downe headlong euen to hel and were hardened in wickednes Wee haue seene the stars fal from heauen through the violent stroke of y e Dracons taile And we haue seene some lieng in the dust of the earth who sodenly by thine helping hand ô Lord haue woonderfulie ascended We haue seene the liuing dieng and the dead rising from death we also haue seene them which walked among the sons of God in the mids of stones of fire euen as claie to haue vanished to nothing We haue seene light become darknes and darknes come out of light because publicans and harlots doe go before the inhabiters into the kingdome of God and the children of the kingdome are cast into vtter darknes And how commeth al this to passe but euen because they moūted vp vnto that hil wherinto the first ascended an Angel and came downe a diuel But Lord whome thou hast predestinate them thou hast called and sanctified clensed that they may be a meete dwelling place for thy maiestie with whom and in whome thy holie and pure delight is in whom thou takest pleasure and reioicest their youth dwelling with them in their remēbrance that they may be thine holie temple which doubtles is no smal commendation of our humanitie Chap. 30. That the soule of a faithful man is the sanctuarie of God FOr the soule which thou hast created not of thy selfe but by thy word not of the matter of anie element but of nothing the which is reasonable of vnderstanding spiritual liuing alwaies and euer mouing which thou hast sealed with the light of thy countenance and halowed by the virtue of thy baptisme is made so capable of thy glorie that thou alone and nothing else can satisfie the same And when it hath thee it hath her harts desire neither is there anie outwarde thing beside which it would wish But while it desireth anie outward thing it is a manifest argument that thou art not within For if thou be had it can wish for no more For inasmuch as thou art the soueraigne yea al that good is it hath nothing which it may wish for more but enioieth thee who art al that good is Now if it couet not after al that good is it resteth that it must couet after some thing which is not al that good is and so consequentlie not the soueraigne good and so not God but rather a creature And as long as it desireth a creature it is alwaies hungrie For although it haue what it can desire of creatures yet remaineth it emptie For there is nothing which can fulfil it but thou alone after whose image it was created And those thou fillest which desire nothing beside thee and makest them meete for thee holie blessed vndefiled and the friends of God which do iudge al things but as doong that they may win thee alone For this is the blessing which thou hast bestowed vpon man this is the honor wherewith thou hast exalted him among al yea and aboue al creatures that thy name may be woonderful throughout al the world Behold ô Lord my God who art most hie most righteous almightie now haue I found the place where thou inhabitest it is euen the soule which thou hast created after thine owne image and similitude which doth seeke and long after thee alone not the soule which neither seeketh nor desireth thee Chap. 31. That God neither by the outward nor inward senses can be found out I Haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe seeking thee without who art within And much haue I labored to find thee without me and thou dwellest within mee at leastwise if I had a lust to thee I went about by the lanes and by the streets of the citie of this world seeking thee but I found thee not Because I sought thee not rightlie without who art within I sent abroad my messengers namelie al mine outward senses to seeke thee yet did I not finde thee because I sought amisse For now do I see ô my light ô God which hast inlightened me I see now that I did not wel in seeking thee by them For thou art within yet could they not tel me where thou camest in For mine eies do tel me If he had no color he entered not by vs Mine eares do tel me If he made no noise he passed not by vs My nose telleth me If he had no sent hee came not by me My tasting saith if he had no sauor he entered not by me likewise my feeling doth saie If he had no bodie aske not mee the question Therefore ô my God these things are not in thee For it is neither the fairenes of bodie nor the beutie of time nor the brightnes of light nor y e freshnes of color nor the melodie of musicke nor anie thing else which is pleasant to the eare it is neither y e fragancie of floures nor the smel of ointments or spices nor the sweetenes of honie or manna delightful to the taste neither is it those things which are louelic to be touched or embraced nor finalie anie thing subiect to these senses which I seeke when I seeke my God Be it far fro my thought that I should thinke these things to be my God which are comprehended of the senses euen of brutish creatures And yet when I seeke my God I seeke for al that a certaine light excelling al light which the eie cannot comprehend a certaine sound excelling al sound which the eare can not conceaue a
certaine sent surpassing al sent which the nose cannot discerne a certaine sweetenes excelling al sweetenes which no taste can judge of and a certaine embracement aboue al embracement which no feeling can reach vnto For this light shineth where no place is to containe it This voice soundeth where no aër is to carie it this sent giues a sent where no wind is to waste it this sauor sauoreth where no taste is to eate it and this embracing is felt where it is not sundered This is my God and there shal none other be compared vnto him This doe I seeke when I seeke my God This do I loue when I loue my God Too late haue I loued thee ô beutie so old and yet so fresh too late haue I loued thee Thou wert within and I was without where I sought thee and I deformed as I am rushed vpon these goodlie things which thou hast made Thou wert with me but I was from thee Those things kept me aloofe frō thee which could not be but in thee I went al about seeking thee and forsaking my selfe for al things I asked the earth if it were my God and it answered No and al things in the earth confessed the same I asked the sea the deepes and al things creeping in them but they answered We are not thy God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the puffing aër and the whole aër with al the dwellers in the same made me this answere Anaximenes is deceaued for I am not thy God I asked the heauen the sunne the moone and the stars and they said Neither be wee thy God Then said I vnto al those which stand about the doores of my flesh Tel me I praie you what thinke yee of my God tel me somewhat of him and they al answered with a loude voice He hath made vs Then said I to the masse of the whole world Tel me art thou my God or no And it answerd with a mightie voice I am not but through him I am whome thou seekest in me Hee hath made mee seeke him aboue me by whom I am now ruled and was once created The asking of the creatures is the deepe consideratiō of them their answere is the testimonic which they yeeld of God For al things crie God hath made vs For as the Apostle saith the inuisible things of God are sene by the creation of the worlde being considered in his works Then I returned vnto my selfe and went into my selfe and said thus to my selfe what art thou I answered my selfe and said A man reasonable and mortal Then began I to discusse what that should be said Whence is this kind of creature ô Lord my God whence but of thee Thou hast made me and not I my selfe What art thou Thou I meane by whom I liue naie thou by whom al things do liue what art thou Verilie thou Lord my God art the true and onlie God almightie euerlasting incomprehensible and infinite liuing alwaies and dieng in no part of thee thou inhabitest the eternitie and art wonderful in the sight of Angels thou canst not be vttered nor found out nor named thou art a liuing God a true God a terrible strong God knowing neither beginning nor end the beginning and the end of al things who art before the world and from euerlasting to euerlasting Thou art my God and the Lord of al which thou hast created with thee are the causes of al stable things with thee do the originals of al changeable things abide vnchangeable and with thee doe the groundes of reasonable vnreasonable and temporal thinges continue for euer O my God tel me thine humble seruant ô merciful God tel thy seruant euen by thy great mercies I beseech thee tel me whence is this kind of creature if not of thee Shal anie man be his owne maker Haue anie either being or life but from thee Art not thou the principal being from whom al being doth proceede For whatsoeuer is it is of thee because without thee there is nothing Art not thou the welspring of life from which floweth al life For whatsoeuer liueth doth liue through thee because without thee nothing doth liue Therefore ô Lord thou hast made al things What shal I aske who hath made mee Thou Lord hast made me without whom nothing was made Thou art my maker I thy workmanship Thankes be to thee ô Lord my God through whom I liue and through whom al things do liue because thou hast made al. Thankes be to thee ô my maker for thine hands haue made me and facioned me Thanks be to thee ô my light because thou hast inlightned me wherby I haue found both thee and my selfe Where I founde my selfe there I knewe my selfe where I founde thee there I knew thee and where I knewe thee there thou didst inlighten me Thankes be to thee ô my light for inlightening me But what is it that I saide I knewe thee Art not thou a God incomprehensible vnmeasurable the King of kings and Lord of lordes who alone hast immortalitie and dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see Art not thou an hidden God whose glorie is past finding out art not thou best knowne and a wonderful beholder of thy selfe Who then knowes that which he neuer sawe For thou hast said in thy truth No man shal see mee and liue Thy Prophet hath said through thy truth No man hath sene God at anie time Who then knowes that which hee neuer sawe And thy truth it selfe hath said No man knoweth the Sonne but the Father neither knoweth anie man the Father but the Sonne Thy Trinitie alone which is aboue al knowledge is perfectlie knowne onelie to it selfe Then what is it that I a man like to vanitie haue said I know thee For who knowes thee but thy selfe alone For thou God alone in thy most holie and heauenlie word art said to be almightie passing praise worthie passing glorious passing honourable passing hie beyond al being For thou art found superessentialie and beyond al knowledge to be aboue the nature of anie thing which maie be imagined be it intellectual or sensible and aboue euerie name that is named not in this world onelie but also in that which is to come Inasmuch as through the superessential and secret power of thy Godhead howe no reason vnderstanding nor being can conceiue thou dwellest so as no man can either search thee out or haue accesse vnto thee and that in thy selfe where as light is that none can attaine vnto and brightnes which no creature can either find out comprehend or vtter wherevnto no light can attaine Because it is no light
A light vnmeasureable a light without bodie incorruptible incomprehensible a light which faileth not a light vnquenchable vnapprochable vncreate a true light an heauenlie light which lighteneth the eies of Angels which cōforteth y e strength of the righteous which is the light of lights and the fountaine of life which is none other things but euen thou ô Lord my God For thou art the light in which light we shal see light that is thy selfe in thy selfe in y e brightnes of thy countenance when we shal see thee face to face What is it to see thee face to face but euen as the Apostle saith To knowe euen as I am knowen to knowe thy truth and thy glorie To know thy face is to know the power of the Father y e wisedome of the Sonne the mercie of the holie Ghost and the single and simple essence of the glorious Trinitie For to see the face of the liuing God is the cheefest happines the ioie of Angels and of al Saints the reward of eternal life the glorie of the spirits euerlasting ioie y e crowne of glorie the garland of felicitie rich tranquilitie the goodlie peace inward outward delectation the paradise of God celestial Ierusalem the blessed life perfect happines the ioie of perpetuitie y e peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding This is ful happines indeede and al the glorie of man euen to see the face of his God to see him that made heauen and earth to see him that hath made man that hath saued man that hath glorified man Man shal see God in knowing him like him in louing him and praise him in possessing him For he shal be y e heritage of his people of his holie people of the people whom he hath redeemed He shal be the possession of their felicitie he shal be the reward and recompence of their hope I wil be saith he thine exceeding great reward For great things beseeme a great person In good sooth ô Lorde my God thou art much greater than al Gods and thy reward is exceeding great Neither art thou great and thy reward little but as thou art great so is thy reward great For thou art not one thing and thy reward another But thou thy selfe art exceeding great thou thy selfe art an exceeding greatreward Thou thy selfe art both the crowne and the crowner the promise and the promiser the gift and the giuer the rewarder and the reward of euerlasting blisse Thou art then the crowner the crowne ô my God and the diademe of mine honor adorned with glorie the brightnes comforting the light renuing the glorie adorning my great hope the desire and thing desired from the hart of al Saints Thy sight therefore is al the recompence al the reward al the ioie which we looke for For this is eternal life this I saie is thy wisedome This is eternal life that we knowe thee to be the onlie true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ So that whē we shal see thee the onelie true God liuing almightie simple inuisible who can neither be conteined nor comprehended and thine onlie begotten Sonne of one substance with thee and coeternal euen Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou didest send into the world for our saluation in the power of the holie spirit three in persons and but one in substance an holie and God alone beside whome there is no God then we shal haue what now we seke namelie eternal life euerlasting glorie which thou hast prepared for them which loue thee and laid vp for them that feare thee and wilt giue to them which seeke thee Isaie which continualie do seeke thy face And thou ô Lord my God which didest take me out of my mothers bowels which recōmended me into thine hand suffer me not anie more I beseech thee to bee distracted so on euerie side but bring mee from outward things vnto my selfe and fro my selfe vnto thee that mine hart maie alwaie saie vnto thee My face hath sought thee out Lord I wil seeke thy face the face of the Lord of hosts wherein al the euerlasting glorie of the saints consisteth The sight whereof is eternal life and the euerlasting glorie of the saints Wherefore let mine hart reioice that it maie feare thy Name Let the hart of such as seeke the Lord reioice but much more the hart of such as find him For if there be ioie in seeking how great shal bee the ioie in finding Wherefore I wil alwaie earnestlie seeke thy face yea vncessantlie wil I seeke the same if happilie the gate and doore of righteousnes maie bee opened vnto me that I maie enter into my maisters ioie This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shal enter through the same Chap. 37. A praier vnto the holie Trinitie O BLESSED Trinitie three coëqual and coëternal persons one verrie God Father Sonne and the holie Ghost which alone inhabitest the eternitie and the light that no man can attaine vnto who hast made the earth by thy power and rulest the world by thy wisedome Holie holie holie Lord God of hostes dreadful and mightie and righteous and merciful and wonderful who art to be praised and to beloued One God three persons one essence power wisedome goodnes and one vndiuided Trinitie Open to me which cal vnto thee the gate of righteousnes and when I am come in I wil praise the Lord. Lo most honorable housholder I a poore begger knocke at thy doore cōmand the doore to be opened to me which knocke who hast said Knock it shal be opened For doubtles y e grones of my paned bowels the crie of the teares of mine eies knock at thy gate ô most merciful Father O Lord my whole desire is before thee and my sighing is not hid from thee O Lord hide thy face no longer fro me neither cast thy seruant away in displeasure Most merciful Father heare the complaint of thy sonne and reach him thine helping hande that it may bring me out of the horrible pit out of the lake of miserie and from the miry clay that I perish not in the sight of thy pitiful eies and in the presence of thy bowels of mercie but may escape vnto thee my Lord God that I may see the riches of thy kingdome and euermore behold thy face and sing praises to thine holy name O Lord which dost woonderous thinges comfortest mine hart through the remembrance of thee and inlightenest mine youth cast mee not off in the time of mine age but reioice al my bones and renue my strength like the