shouldest alwaie loue him to haue cōtēplacion fruiciō of him shuldest euer possesse him And that thou arte set here that thou shuldest faithfully serue hym thanke hym laud prayse and honour hym and to knowe and fulfyl his moost blessyd wyll and pleasure in thy self and in al creatures Consider also that thou art here in thys world as concernyng thy soule in a straunge contrey as an outlaw and a stranger beset round about with many grynnes and ennemyes in danger of innumerable peryls But yet yf thou remayne in god there can no man hart nor harme the. Consyder how noble how fayre how wyse thy soule is creatyd of god to hys owne lykenesse and ymage and yet neuerthelesse thou arte created as concernyng thy bodie of the slyme of the earth weake myserable vyle nedy redy and prone to all sinnes and vyce in goyng styll toward distruccyon Wherefore take good hede dylygently thou compel not thy soule to serue thy vyle fleshe for the moost filthi and most vile pleasures and delightes whiche soone passeth awaye of thy stynking fleshe and caren and so cast both body and soule into euerlastyng paynes and turmentes of hell and dampnacion Consyder diligently all thy cogytacyons thy workes and dedes whether the end and purpose in the vse of all thy powers and sensies be alway towarde god eyther toward thy selfe or toward creatures And thou shalt perceyue that thou canst neuer marke nor amend thy selfe suffyciently Consyder also how thou of thy self art nought thou hast naught canst naught do but syn Where fore I say consider oft tymes frō whens thou camst wher thou art what thou art whither thou shalt Thou maist see in thy selfe thre sorts of naught The first by innumerable deadely synnes thou art come to naught but to be turmentyd yf it please god perpetually in the deapth of hel like a stinking vessel and fier meate Secōdly by the great corrupcyon of al thy powers and senses of thy bodye and soule thou canst do naught but syn and sholdest fall in to innumerable enormyties yf god dyd not preserue the. And thus art thou become a botomles deapth of darkenes a vessell worthy of all contumelye and reproche be gotten by vnclennes and syn lyuyng in concupiscence and shalte die in anguyshe and agonye Thyrdly in comparyson vnto thy lord and sauyor Chryst thou and all creatures are naught and creatyd of nought and should in a moment come to naught yf thou and they were not contynually conseruyd of almighty god Wherefore thou shuldest desyre to be contempned dispised to be vnknowen of all men yet without thy faulte and deseruyng it For thou must not do any thynge synfull to be dispysed but if the worlde dyspise the god permittyng it thou must be glad and thinke thy selfe very worthy therof Thou must also punishe thy self wyth thy lorde Iesu but yet wyth discrecion Feare god euery where alway with chyldely or louely feare Speke fewe meke and lowely wordes Thynke and remēber alway beleuing that the commynge of thy heauenly brydegrome spouse is at hand alway callyng and saying to the Ecce spōsus venit exite obuiam ei And thus alway returninge thy thought and consideracion vpon thy naughtynes thou shalt merueyle greatly that god doth suffer the so foule filthy and vnthankefull a creature to abyde one moment before his eies or sight Thou shalte wyth all meekenes cry vnto thy lord god from the botomles deapth of thy mysery deuoutelye callynge for the botomlesse deapth of hys mercye with the ofte searche of thy conscience wherby he of his mercy by his grace synguler for of it thou haste nede wyl vouchesafe to geue thee the clere sight and knowledge of al thy vices imperfections passions and synful inclinacions to syn and all thy sinnes which cleaue and lye hidde within and withoute thy powers and sences and do miserablye blynde thy soule and drawe the continualy to perdiciō and destruction And thus must thou lerne to know thy selfe and that very dilygently For thoughe thou profite very much continually yet art thou not able to penetrate and perse to the botome of thy naughtynes the herte of man as Esay sayeth is so wycked and vnsearchable yet by grace thou mayst come to a great knowledge therof Where fore to optayne thys specyall grace thou shalt make deuoutely vnto god in thy herte and most herty desire and not with voyce thys prayer which is the practyse of this exercyse that folowe these fewe aspyracions ¶ These briefe short prayers be called aspyracions for they be as it were syghings and longinges to obtaine of almighty god that which we aske in them and they must be vsed and sayd in hert and desyre as often in the daye as they come to mynde what euer we do or where euer we be euery daye so longe as we do vse thys present exercise ¶ Oh most mercifull Lorde whose loue is the lyfe of my soule lyghten my soule with thy grace to knowe thee ¶ Oh mooste swete Iesu to knowe all the worlde and not to know the is but darkenes and foly graunte me grace therfore mercifull lorde to knowe the. ¶ Oh most mercifull Lorde make me Ignorant and a foole in all thynge so I maye knowe the whiche is the hyghest wisdome of all ¶ Oh Gracius Iesu whiche arte not knowen but of clene heartes purge my harte that I maye see the. ¶ My Lorde Iesu whiche doest reuele thy secretes vnto the litle babes make me perfecte meke and a babe in euyll that I may knowe the. ¶ Oh mercifull Lorde graūte me to come to the knowlege of my selfe the ground of all mekenes ¶ Graunt me grace good Lord perfectly to contempne my selfe and to se the botom lesse pytte of all my myseries ¶ Mercyfull sauiour graunt me an holye hate of my selfe for the verye pure loue of the and thy honour ¶ The practise of the exercise to come to some knowledge of god of thy self O Moost myghtyful maker swete sauiour Iesu whiche taughtest saydest Thys is the lyfe euerlastinge the very hygh waye to the blysse of heauen that we maye knowe the very god thy father thee his sonne whom he hath sente to redeme the worlde There can none come to the knowledge of the father but such to whom thou wylte vouchsafe of thy gracious mercy to reuele hym For it is thy gyfte onely and we must receyue it only at thy hand Wherfore most mercifull mediator Iesu by whose onely mercyfull meanes and the blessed merites of thy holy manhead all grace is geuen to vs wretched sinners of thy father celestial and thou also as very god doste geue with thy father al mercy and grace I most humbly beseche thee graunte me thy heauenlye lyght and the blessed knowledge of thy blessed godhead Manifest and open to me thy blessed father and thine owne selfe whych arte one god with hym and the holy goost I knowledge good lorde that to know the
together in all the whoole world can thinke or speake it is lesse in comparison of hys hyghe worthines and perfeccion then one lytle droppe of water in comparyson of the whoole mayne sea And yet marke well he so myghty so great so hyghe and so wonderfull a lorde god hath creatyd thy soule moost nobly vnto hys owne lykenes and made it able and mete to be pertaker and to receaue his hygh maiestie and goodnes by loue of hym For he hathe knytte vnto thy soule three excellent myghtes or powers that not only in the lyfe to come in heauen but also in this present life and world thou myghtest know hym by thy vnderstanding in fayth and goostly contemplacyon And by thy wyll thou myghteste choose and loue hym And by thy memorie thou mightest reste in him and be knyt vnto him thou myghtest remayne and dwell euer in hym And playnely yf thou weere not blyndyd by the deuell the world and the fleshe and the loue of thes thou woldest be so rauished in the pleasure and loue of hym that for Ioye and wonder thou shuldest not be able to stand but faynt and synke The Ioyes and sorows of this world thou shludest not marke nor take any heede to them nor passe for them any thyng at all For thou woldest not suffer thy selfe in any wyse to be seperatyd not one momente from the consyderacyon and loue of that hyghe and infinite goodnes ¶ Secondlye consyder and beholde with greate Ioye gladnesse and thankefulnesse how so hyghe excellent wonderfull a lord of his euerlastynge loue and charytie offreth hym self euery where in euery place specyally in thy soule very presently vnto the. Yea more nearer the then thou arte to thyne owne self to vpholde thy lyfe and being to conserue to gouerne the and to saue the and to bring the to eternal blisse Wherfore thou haste more neade to be ware and charie of thy honestie of verteous couersacyon yf thou wylt not dissemble for as muche as thou dost all thynges yea al that thou thynkest and spekest is openly done spoken and thought in his very presence whiche seeth all thynges Take heede therfore and consyder thy moste deare louyng lord god thy creator thy very hartes loue alway before the present and walke in thy conuersacion lyke a chaiste spouse with reuerent feare louely shamefastnes mekenes obedyence and pacyence before the eies of so highe a maiestie of god preparing thy selfe alway without ceassyng to please him syghyng and desyryng in the botome of thy hart to haue hys loue in thy hart and moost louyngly to enbrase hym ¶ Oh what abūdance of grace wold grow in thee yf thou coldest thus do At the leaste do as thou maist vntyll more grace come ¶ Thyrdely consyder that the same so myghty and omnipotent lord of his vnmesurable charytie and of moost constant and free loue turneth hym selfe and hath speciall regarde to the so specyally and syngularly that it passeth the vnderstanding desire of the aungels So great is his dignacion and goodnes toward the an vncleane and vyle worme that he intendyth and taketh soo great hede and care for the as though ther were no mo creatures left hym neyther in heauen nor in earth but thou alone He also hath deliuered the and defendid the from many periles and dangers both of body and of soule and dothe styll euery moment kepe the. He also vnaskyd doth geue thee allure the and intyse the wyth so many benyfytes gyftes and graces thoughe thou be very vnkynd and most vnworthy vnto hym agayne that thou canst not number the least part of them And of the same hys charitie he geuyth the most free lybertie to come to hym euery momente so that with onely a good thoughte and a louely desire thou maist obtaine and possesse infinite and euerlastynge goodnes whiche he his hym selfe In so muche that thou mayst safely surely and most profitably open vnto hym as vnto thy moost faithful louing and trustye frynde all thy necessyties Wherefore for a special laude and praise vnto so louing and so good a lord god among the infynite number of these thinges that myght be spoken or written to hys honor it shal help the greatly to come to hys loue contynually to remember and to haue meditacyon of his infynite and perpetuall goodnes wysedome mercy swetnes lowelynes and charitie That by this as by smal coles of fyre thy hart may be kindled to rēder some loue for loue agayne And that thou mayest be transformed and made lyke hym in lyke vertues and graces Oh wolde God thou couldest and woldest exercise thy selfe contynually in these thre how wold it delyght the to aryse earely and to watche wyth thy lorde god How sone sholdest thou be delyuered from thy vices and passions from al betternes and from all temptacions beynge in maner dronken in the loue of thy sauyour Yea thou shuldest be turned into a newe man and be transformed in maner into almyghty god For there is no exercise more holyer and more fruteful thē this whiche perced the harte of holye saint Augustine and other fryndes of god with the darte of loue when they wyth their inner eyes lyghtened of god did depely consyder the wonderfull tokens of the loue of God towardes them specially in this incarnacion lyfe and passion wyth other innumerable benefites of so greate and myghtye a lorde god geuen vnto them specyally whē they consydered earnestly the wonderfull charyte of god wherby he hath geuen him selfe vnto vs by his birth as a felow in our nature in the sacrament as our foode In hys death as the pryce of our redempcion and reigninge in heauē as our euerlasting rewarde whiche he graunt vs of hys mercy and charitie Amen ¶ Of the consyderacyon of thy selfe AFter this done then turne thy thought vnto the profunde and depe consideracion of thy selfe earnestly behold how noblye thy soule was created of God and made by his power of nought to his ymage and likenes Then consyder also how miserable fylthy and abhomynable it was made by orygynall syne in Adam and howe mercyfully thou arte redemed throwe the vnspekable loue and moost harde and paynefull satysfaction of thy lord Iesu Yet after thy baptisme thou hast innumerable tyme defyled thy selfe agayne by thy actual synnes turnynge thy loue and obedience from the sēpiternall goodnes which is god hym selfe by thy frowarde cursed and noughty wyl and arte become now more filthye more vyle than is the vnresonable beast Consyder well and marke into how manye euyls thou arte fallen by thy owne sinnes from the whiche euylles thou arte neuer able to aryse by thy selfe but only by the helpe of almyghte god by whom thou arte able to do all thynge that thou can do For by the true turninge or conuersion of thy loue to god and to all vertue thou mayst come agayne vnto the vnion wyth god Attende consyder earnestly that thou arte created therfore of god bycause that thou
the length thou most paynefully most miserably yet most louynglye and willinglye sufferest moost crewel moost bytter and moost shamefull deathe for me specially and for all mākynd and so well thou yet louyst me that if nede were thou art redy to suffer the lyke yea more paynfull passion more cruel death rather then I should perysh if I wold faithfully loue and serue the. ¶ O Most louing and mercyfull sauyoure Iesu I moost vnkind sinner haue neglected and set at nought the that haue done so muche for me and I haue offended as vnkyndly and as greuously as though thou haddest done nothing at all for me For I haue contynually offendyd and synned all my life but specially ī these N. Thou most here remember thy special dedly sinnes one after another and be speciallye sorye yf tyme wyll serue And generally I confesse my innumerable enormytes wherin I haue contēpned and offendyd the. Fyrst in breking of thy holy .x. commaundementes In the .xii. Artycles of the catholyque fayth The statutes and commaundementes of holy churche In the .xii. coūsels of the gospell In breking such priuate vowes as I haue promised In the .vii. mortal sinnes ¶ Omytting the .vii. workes of meryc gostly and in not doing the .vii. gyftes of the holy inspiracions I haue misused the gyftes of grace lent vnto me I haue mysused my v. vyttes or senses outwarde and my senses inward I haue misspent al the powers members and myghtes of my body and of my soule I haue mysspent the gyftes of nature the gyftes of fortune the giftes of the holy goost I haue not desposyd me to haue constante fayth perfect hope and burning charitie which are the thre theological vertewes I haue not had in me the foure cardinall vertues Prudence Iustice Fortytude and Temperaunce I haue not labored to haue in me the .xii. frutes of the holy gost I haue not labored so ernestly to com to perfection of lyfe and to the perfect loue of the as I wolde haue done to come vnto hyghe dignitie and honour of the worlde I haue sinned and lyued sinfully in euerye place in euery state in euery office that I haue lyued in by word by dede thought in omission in losse of my tyme and in vnkyndnes and vnthankfulnes towardes the my Lorde God towardes thy blessed mother and all thy blessed angels and saintes And agaynst all myne neighbors against the good folkes the blessed frindes of god agaynst the weake and sinners agaynste my benefactours and frendes agaynste my superiors my egalles my inferiours agaynste the quicke and the deade against the sowles in purgatory againste all creatures against my owne selfe agaynste both my body and my soule for I haue misvsed these creatures to the great dyshonor of the my lord god to the iniurye of myne neghbours and to the condemnacion of myne owne soule So that ther is no gyfte nor benefyt that thou haste geuen me nor no good thing in the whiche I haue sought the sincerely and purelye For I haue lesse or more sought myne owne commodytie myne owne wyll or pleasure Thus in all my hole lyfe I haue ether done commytted sinne eyther omyttyd and not done my dewty or els doing my dewty or any good woorke I haue not done it so syncerelye purely as I ought to haue done Wherfor I forsake here al kynde of sinne and al my dedes good and bad and I runne only vnto thy greate mercy and infinyte merytes ¶ O most mercyfull petyfull and most louyng lorde Iesu I moost humbly lowly beseke thy mercyful goodnes for thy most holy concepcion and natiuitye For thy blessed conuersacion and moost holy lyfe For thy moost harde and sore laboure and trauel for the great sorow and heuynes of thy blessed harte for thy most payneful agonye and bloudy sweat for al thy bytter and most paynfull passion for al the cruell effucion of thy moost precious bloud for thy most painful most cruel moost bytter and shamefull death graunt me mercy and forgeuenes of all my vnkindnes and sinne mortyfye in me al that offendeth the worke in me suche vertues as moost maye please thy blessed wyll in me to thy honour my saluacion Amen O Moste gloryus mother of mercy and ladye of grace my syngular help and comfort in heauen and in earth nexte vnto my lord god and sauyor Iesu I humbly beseke the for that holy passyon death and al the paines that thy deare sonne Iesu sufferyd in thy sorowfull syght For al the sorow heuines and most bytter compassion that thou sufferedst for him and me optain for me cleane remyssyon of al my synnes and all the paines that I haue deserued for them and increase of al vertue perfeccion Here praye to thy specyall aduowryes O Mooste blessyd and holy N N. N. N. and al ye moost holy and blessed company of heauen for al the paynes and labours that ye suffered here by the grace of the holy goost and for the very loue and honoure of god I humbly beseche your blessyd charyte pray for me vnto my lord and swet sauyour Iesu that he vochesaf to remyt my wickednes and synnes and so to confyrme me in his grace and loue that I neuer returne to syn agayne Here turne thy heart agayne vnto thy Lorde Iesu saynge ¶ And were I dayly fall and am redy to syn vochesafe to graūt me oh Lorde grace euer moore as ofte as I fal to arise againe with perfect sorow hate of syn and with most lowely cōfidēce trust of his blessed swet mercy That the multytude of my syn and mi great frailtie driue me not to disperate sorowe and inordynatte heuynes Nether let me mistrust the great and most gracius redynes of thy moost louyng mercy that is euer redye to forgyue as ofte as we do repent be yt neuer so ofte Draw me not to presūpcyon but that I how so euer whan so euer and how often soeuer I offend the I may moost lowly and mekely acknowelege my wretchydnes and frayltie and repente myne offences and synnes wyth a fyrme purpose to amend and with an vnfayned trust of remyssyon and forgeuenes in the infynyte merytes of thy most blessed blood payneful passyon and most precyus death to the glory honoure of thy mercy ful charytie most myghty maiestie Amē ¶ The Thyrd exercyse of reformacyon of the soul in the fyue wyttes sences COnsider how thy fyue wittes are wonderful wekened and dysorderid by the fall of our forefather and parent Adam But a greate deale more infected and disorderyd by thy owne actual synnes the great abuse of thē Wherefore that they may be redyer brought againe vnto ther former and original purenes wherin they were before the fall of adam thou must nedes shut vppe and refrayne from all misuse of all thy senses as thy syghte hearing taisting with thy tong smellyng and fealyng in the crucyfied humanitie of Chryst accordyng to hys exāple wyth so
in me and I feare more thy Iustice and the payne of hell then I do loue beleue thy infynitie goodnes blessed mercy and therfore I am disquietid wyth this scrupulous feare whiche letteth me greatly from many good dedes and increace of thy loue and holy perfectiō Therfore most mercyful lorde for thy mercy sake graunt me the pure loue of the most fyrme hope and trust of thy mercy that al scrupulous feare may vtterly be mortified in me to thy honoure and glory ¶ O moost meke sauiour Iesu whiche cāmest into this wrecchyd worlde not to do thyne owne wyll but the wyl of thy heauēly father and in the tyme of thy moost soroufull heauy and deadly agony and intolerable heuynes of thy godly and most innocente harte didest forsake thy owne wyl and dydest resigne thy selfe wholy vnto the wyl of god thy father In the gracius merites of thy most painful agonie sorouful blody swete graunte me I humbly beseke the swete Iesu the grace vtterly in me to mortifye the propryetie of my owne wyll and perfectly to yelde and resygne my selfe wholy into thy most blessed pleasure handes to abide whatsoeuer thou shalt in time or for euer suffer to come vpon me be it solas or sorow payne or plesure hel or heauē so it be thy blessed wil wtout any gain sayng murmur or gruge of hart that ioifulli I may for thy loue suffer al paine gostly bodely ¶ Graunt me good lorde moost perfecte obedience not only vnto my superiours but also to al others in thynges lawefull ¶ Graunte me obedyence vnto my superiours not only in outwarde dedes but also inwardly in redines of my wyl to cōforme my wyll vnto the wyll of my Prelate in al thinges and that for no regarde of any fauer laude or prayse therfore but that I maye rather desyre to be dispised therfore ¶ Graunte me most gracious Iesu so exacte and perfecte obediens vnto the my lord god that I may neuer haue any other desyre or wyl in me sauing only thyne That thyne and myne by singular grace maye be made one wyl one harte one desyre ¶ Take frome me oh mercifull maker my wicked will the ground of al sinne and geue me thy blessid wyl ground of al grace and goodnes Take from me my proud harte take from me my vnpure and vnclene desyre put into my soule the insaciable desire of thy honoure and to do thy only will to thy honor and glorye Amen ¶ The Fyfte exercyse to come to the conformytie in vertue of Chryst crucyfyed in the desyre of al vertue and hate of al synne THou must exercyse thy self in the cōstante very trew hate of al syn so that thou woldest neuer comytte any wer it neuer so lytle for the fear of no dammage sclaunder or torment in this world were it neuer so greate and dredeful Al sinne muste neades be pullyd out of thy harte before any perfect vertue cane growe there and eare thou canste be permyttyd to enter in to the harte of Iesu to be knyt and made one spiritually wyth hym Thou shalt therefore hate nothynge so euyll as syn yea the least that can be for it dyuydythe and sondryth thy soule from god and god from thy soul In lyke maner thou shalt exercyse the in the dylygent and contynual serche loue and geuynge of all and euery vertue be they neuer so wonderful or neuer so many yea if thou wyst that euery drop of water in the sea were a vertue thou shouldest labour for thē al for the very honor of god Thou oughtest as muche as is possyble for the to adorne to crucyfie thy bodie wyth vertues alway and euery where cōformyng it vnto Chryst crucyfied for the accordynge to the example of hys most blessyd bodie which lyued alwaye crucyfied and crucyfied he dyed and departyd this world and that of hys infynite loue which was as freshe new in hym toward vs as it had ben the loue of a new maryed bryde gromme Our loue therfore ought to be euer freshe and new towarde him lyke the loue of a new maryd bryde that a faithful and trew spouse dothe beare towardes her moste louynge housebande THus by thys trewe perfecte loue towarde oure swete loue Iesu we shuld in maner sucke and draw in to vs oute of hys sacrate bodye thes fyue pryncypal vertues that folowe with theyr daughters and prynte thē very strongly perfectly in our soule and bodie that they myght shyne therein lyke as they were sterres in the firmamente The first vertue is very true mekenes This thou shalt carye in thy feate and shalt desyre thy Lord Iesu by the precyus woundes of his moost holy feate and hys infynite humilitie whiche he shewed alway but specyally in takynge vppon him manhed that he wyl vochsafe to grant the to be so meke in al thyngs as his moost pleasant wyl wyl requyre of the. Thys humylitie then thou haist perfectly optayned when thou sorowest lamentest art vnfaynedly sory as oft as any benefyte or honor is geuen or shewid vnto the wher of thou verely thynkest thy selfe very vnworthy and also when the perfecte desyre of al contempte perseueryth and abydethe in the in the myddest of al sclanders iniuries rebukes paynes sorowes that are layde vppon the and thou thynkest thy selfe most worthy of them and of much worsse Thys humilitie bryngeth forthe thre daughters obedyens pacyens and sylens or kepynge of the tonge The true and very obedyent doth nat only obey his prelate for his promyses and hys vowes but also he obeyeth al creatures The very patiēt sufferith and beryth al thynges for the honor and loue of god be they neuer so paynful sharpe that god permyttyth to com vppon hym for he beholdyth and consyderyth how pacyenly our Lord Iesu sufferid his crosse and al his paynes passyon for our helth The meke person thoughe he be very wyse and ryght wel learnyd yet he speakyth fewe for all thinges are not gotten by muche talke and sayng many For it wer better to lyue well and in fewe wordes to shewe that which thou canst say when nede is and art demaūdyd And the very meke spekith lytle for he is obedyent patient kepeth wel his tonge The seconde pryncypal vertue is true wisdome or sapience in the exercyse and vse of all thy thoughtes workes and dedes This wysdome wyll gouerne the strōgly and resonabli that thou shalt nether thinke speke nether do any thinge be it neuer so litle as is the styrryng of any ioynte of thy bodye but only of very reason and the permyssyō and pleasure of God This wisedome thou shalte carye in thy head pryntyng thy head into the pearsed head of Iesu chryste most humbly besekynge him for the sorowe and payne that he suffered in his most holy head that he wyll vochsafe to adorne thy head with hys godly wysdome as moche as it shall please hym and he shall know
to folowe thy most redye mercye cōpassion and pitie thy bontefullnes and lyberalytie toward me yea to mine enemies aduersaries that I be neuer dyspleased nor angry wyth any mā that I neuer hate iudge or contēpne any man but that without accepcion of persō I may with a fatherly affeccion loue and honoure for thy sake al persons specyally such as be disesed or afflycted tempted or greued thoughe they be myne enemyes I may faithfuly and louīgly serue them and do them good also with my prayer and my helpe to the vttermoste of my power I may succour them in al necessites but chiefely I may seke and desyre their soules helth that I may sorow their sinnes hartely pray for thē And for the vertuous the good I may geue thankes to the as I woulde for my selfe ¶ Graunte me most swete sauyour grace to folow thy holy verytie truthe to flee and exchewe all kynde of vntreuth ¶ Graunte me to folowe also godlye zeale against myne owne vyces specyally al other mennes the which holy zeale may deuoure me all to gether for the helthe of chrysten soules ¶ Graunte also good lorde that my lyfe al my dedes maye euermore agre with my harte and godly wordes that they maye be conformable also vnto the verteus of thy most holy lyfe ¶ Graūt me also most gracius Iesu most hartye and inwarde thankefulnes whereby I may with al mekenes most lowly acknowlege all thy benifites geuen vnto me by the and by thy creaturs and that I may esteme them and regarde them worthely laudyng and praysyng the wyth all deuocion and geue vnto the moost humble and hartie thankes ascribyng them wholy and purely wythout subtraccion of any parte of them only to thy infinitie goodnes thinking my selfe most vnworthy of them yea I may thinke my selfe one that dothe mysuse al thy gyftes that I may neuer delyghte in them nor rest in none of them be it neuer so lytle but rest and delyght only in the fynally whiche art the geuer of al and wyth out the all they can nothinge profyte me ¶ Vnto the lefte hand of Iesu I Laud and prayse the geue most humble thankes vnto the most mightie Iesu for thy almightie fortitude and strength and for the incomprehensible loue and payne of the precius wound of thy lefte hand in the whiche moste blessed wound I mooste lowly and mekely commend and commit me whooly with al my sinnes offences but speciallye all my cowardenes and wekenes against temtacion and sinne Al my neglygence and slowthfullnes Al the losse of my time and idelnes Al the impuritie and sinful filthines of my bodie and soule And my intemperance excesse in meat drinke and of other bodily necessaries Al my coueties gredines and inordinate loue and pleasure that I haue had in vse or keping of any thinge withal vices that appertaine to thes or any of them that they may be forgeuen and be purged in thy precyus bloud and merites And most merciful sauyor Iesu I humbly beseke thi infinite goodnes for thy most crewel payne and sorow that thou suffredst in the precyus wound of thy lefte hand and for that great charitie that causyd the to suffer and abide the same for my sinnes I beseke the in the honor of thy most almightye strenghth thy moost holy purytie thy moost wonderful temperance and thy most blessed pouertie graūt me so much strenghth as is necessary for me to thy glory and honor and my soule helth by the whiche goostly strength I may be able to rule my wyt and soule with al my senses and powers so that nether ferynge man nether the world nor my owne fleshe I may strongly boldely for thy sake whiche gauest me strēgth passe thorow and dispise al thinge as thoughe they pertaynyd nothynge vnto me and that I may not stay nor stycke at nothyng vntyl I come vnto and optayne that which I most desyre that is to say to be one spryte and remayne one in one spyryte wyth the my Lord god ¶ Graunt me also most blessed Iesu grace to folow thy moost louely chastitie of bodie puryte of hart wherby I may vehemētly detest vtterly abhorre al fylthy vnclēnes And that I may contynually kepe chaistly al my cogytacyons and my senses from al syn occasyon thereof from al impuritie and cleauynge vnto any creature And in al vncleane temtacions as oft as they shal chance vpon me graunt me grace spedely without any taryance alway to renounce them and to rūne vnto the with a myghty turninge of my hart that with my whole mind and desire And so with a pure mynd and affeccyon I may cleaue and stycke fast to the only ¶ Graunt me grace mooste myld sauyor Iesu to folow thy moost holy sobryetie temperance wherby I may restrayne and mortifye al the powers and affeccyons of my soule and the senses of my body from al inordynate delectacyon and pleasure and from superfluitie excesse in meates drinkes that I may moderatly vse only necessaryes without delyght in them with thy feare not turnynge my affeccion from the but that the vppermost powers of my soule may remayne strongely in the louely knot and burnyng desire of the. ¶ Graunt me also most blessed Iesu grace to folowe thy mooste blessed voluntarye pouerte The which who might come to it bringyth a man by a merueilus neare way spedely vnto god ¶ Graunte me therfore good Lord by that pouertie to be and to abide euer losid bare and verely poore in spyryte outwardlye from al affeccyon and tēporal thinges and inwardly from al loue and rest in any of thy gyftes sperytual that I may vse with sorow and yrkesomenes yea my veri necessaryes that I may neuer desyre to kepe or possesse any thinge but al naked and bare I maye reste betwene thy naked and bare armes not kepynge nor reseruynge any thyng in my hart or desyre but only a pure intente to please the and to seke how I may do it and that moost perfectly by thy grace and merciful helpe And al the daies of my wretchyd lyfe but specyally at the dredful howre of my death graunt me moost merciful Iesu to haue a suer and trustie refuge and succure in the precius woūd of thi blessed lefte hand Moste swete sauyor Iesu I humblye beseke the that where I wretche by reason of my great enormities and syn am vnworthy to be hard or to optayne thes petycyons of the thy moost blessed and inmaculat mother marie mai optaine thē for me to whose blessed prayer intercessions merites I commend them that by her they may be admittid into thy most godly gracius presēs bring to me of thy mercy forgeuenes grace to thi glory honor Amē ¶ The sixte Exercyse to optayne a conformitie folowyng of christes lyfe passion THou must also exercyse thy selfe in the whoole shape and prefyte medytacyon of the lyfe
to be an outcaste to be scornyd to be afflictid beaten to be rebukyd of al parsones when I do the most seruyce for so were thou handlyd when thou dydest most good and greateste myracles ¶ Graunt me grace moost gracius sauior that I may be so bare pore in spryte that I may wyshe or desire nothing but rather I may thynke it a greuus paine and vnmesurable sorow to haue any thyng and that it may be my singular pleasur ioy to haue nothinge and to want my necessaryes for thy sake ¶ Graunt me grace good Lord to abhore al delyght and pleasure and swettnes in al thing saue in the only that I may desyre in al thyng rudenes homlines and bitternes in meat and drinke I may desyre that thing should rather be bitter then swete remembring thou my deare redemer drankyst for my sake sowre vyneger gall And generally in al laboure trauel sorow shame paine and greafe graunte me grace to conforme my selfe in al thing to thy blessyd example with discreacyon as my wretchid nature is able to suffer to thy honor and glorie ¶ Gracyus good Lord Iesu graunt me thi special grace that I mai oft time haue swet meditacion of thy bitter passion with most true and earnest compassion and sorow for the pure loue of the when I consider what greate payne sorowe and afflyccyon thou didst suffer for my sinnes what deadly and payneful agony sorowful heuynes thou sufferedst in thy moost louynge swete and tender hart when thou swettist both water and blood thou weptest vppon the crosse for our sin and vnkindnes And that I may sorowe the greate dyshonour of thy blessyd celestyal father and namely for the intollerable payne and turmentes that thou were in but in speciall that thou tokest for thy sorowful and mooste lamentable mother whom thou louydst most tenderly when thou dydyst behold her redie to die for very sorow and heuynes For thy passyon was a passyon mooste paynful vnto thy mooste blessid and tender mother more greuus more bitter then euer was turmēt or martyrdom to any saint that euer sufferid for the. ¶ Graunt me moost swet Iesu oft tyme to reuolue in my hart thes two sorowful and painefull passions of the and of thy mother and to lament morne sorow in my harte wyth the my most louyng Lorde Iesu and wyth that blessed mayd thy swete mother Make me one good Lord with that by moste intyre loue that I may sorow and lament as much yea and more thy paynes then yf I sufferyd them my self ¶ Good lord neuer let thi rebuke shame reuilinges depart out of my mind nor out of the very bottom of my harte nor thy bitter scorgyngs thy thornes thy woūdes precious death neuer be out of my mind that what so euer is in me may be ful of thy paines passion that I may cōtinually sorow therfore to thy honor my soule helth ¶ Gracius good lord and deare sauior Iesu graūt me grace to mind oft time thy bitter paine and passion with most reuerent and louely admiracion depely and amyably to consider Fyrst what thou art that suffredst so louingly kyndly for me that I may reuerently see and parceaue that it was no smalle personage that was so crewelly put to death for my sake but it was the very sonne of al myghty god the second parsone in trinitie very god and man moost myghtest moost excellent infinitely good most noblest in comparyson of whom al the goodnes all excellency al wysedome al nobilitie that is in al creatures or can be thought of al vnderstandynge or wyt is nothing For this mightye maiestie and mooste vnmesurable excellencie incomparably transendyth surmoūteth al things in heauen or earth ¶ Graunt me grace also good Lord to consider how greuous and cruel paines so noble and excellent maiestie sufferid for me howe greate trauel and labor how greate hunger thurst cold heate watche temptacions feare parsecucyon agony bloody swete mooste crewel comprehēsion spyttinges reuiles sore bondes scorginges mockes scornes sorow shame cōfusyons beatynges greuous strokes innumerable plages and woundes and most crewel and payneful death For in thy passion very honour and glorie it selfe was dispisid and dishonored rightousnes was condempned the iuge of al the world was iuged the harmeles was rebuked and accusyd and the innocent was defamyd god hym self was blasphemyd god man ouer trodden life it selfe was slaine the sun was eclipsid the moone was darkenid the starres were sparkelyd Yet al those paines and passion didest thou moost innocente lambe suffre and bare most paciently for mi sake which were able and couldest yf it had pleasid the haue drownyd in the botomeles pyt of hell al those vnkynde and cruel creaturs and wyckyd people ¶ Graunt me grace to consider of whome my gracyus good Lord Iesu thou sufferedist so cruelly For if thou haddest sufferyd of them whome thou haddest harmyd or hatyd it had not byn so wonderfull But thou sufferedest of thē whom thou didist specially chose and syngularly louyd vnto whome thou shewedst specyall goodnesse and all kynd of benignitie And for thy great goodnes and benyfittes for thy great vertues and myracles for thy most holy conuersacyon and doctrine thou were cruelly tormented and put to death of most vylaines beyng moost excellent and valyant prynce The moost wisest ye the eternall wisedom of the father of most ignorant Most holiest of moost sinful Most godlyest of moost vngodlyest Moost righteus of most wickyd The euerlasting and eternall brightnes of god of the most and foule and filthy drosse and durte of the worlde The Lorde of hys owne seruauntes The kyng of hys owne subiectes The sauioure and benefactoure of them that he hath saued done most for ¶ God almyghty of hys vnkind and wretched creature It may make me most gracious lorde Iesu more to wōder and meruell when I consider and waye deapelye wyth my selfe for whom thou sufferedst For most louyng lorde and mercyfull sauiour thou suffredst for most vile slaues most sinful enymies most wretchyd caytifes ye very deuelles and dyabolycall persons and the very chyldren of the deuyll by imytacion for the contemners and dyspycers of the maiestie of god and most vnkinde and vnthankeful to the infinite goodnes of their lorde and maker of the which nomber oh mercyfull sauioure Iesu I am one I haue greate cause therfore wyth louely admyracion to laude and prayse thy mercyfull goodnes towarde me and al mankind and wyth moost lowly thankes to ioye in thy moost blessed mercy ¶ Graunt me therfore most gracious Iesu to haue ofte in the meditaciō of thy passion gostly ioye and gladnes with thankes geuyng vnto the for the redempcion of mā kynd for the restoryng of the quieres of angels and for thy dyuine clemencye and godly mercy ¶ Graunt me grace moost mercyfull Iesu wyth gostly gladnes to remēber how mercyfull how louyngly thou hast redemed al mankynd
thinges lawful Moost perfect pacyence that I may moost quietli and with rest of mind suffer al thinges that thi blessid wil shal suffer to come vppon me be they neuer so paynful and hard remembrynge howe paciently thou sufferedest for me Moost discreat silence that thoughe I were neuer so wise wel lerned yet I may speake very fewe wordes and those only profitable and necessary A very meke parson swete sauior spekyth fewe wordes redely obeith sufferith al thing for thy loue and pleasure Moost gracius Iesu graunte me grace most earnestly to desire and labor for the vertue of wisedom which may teache gouerne me in al my thoughtes wordes and dedes that I haue to thinke to speake or to do that I may do nothyng be it neuer so lytle no not the wagginge of my finger but only as reason and wisedom shal leade to thy honor for necessite and soule helth of mine euen Chrysten ¶ Graunt me also good Lord to attayne godly feare descrecion simplicite which are the doughters of thy godly wysedome For wher soeuer is thys wisedome there muste be the feare of thee Lorde for the begynnyng of wysedom is to feare al mighty god DyscrecioÌ„ puttith a meane in al thing without the which there is no vertue For ether we shal do to muche or to lytle Holy simplicitie takith no care for no curiosytie in thynges It takyth al thynges as at the handes of god and in good part thinkith it good ynoughe be it neuer so homly or rude so it wyl serue bare nede Mercyful Lord to haue wysedome and vertue with out thy feare is occasion of pryde and with out simplicitie it wolde be to curyus without dyscresion it wold be to strayte hard ¶ GrauÌ„t me therfore good Lord the grace to be godly wise louely feareful symple with discrecion Moost louyng sauior Iesu graunt me most ardent desyre of true and burnynge charytie and moost infatygably to seke syghe vnto the most deuoutly for to optayne it For thys vertue Lord is so necessarie for me that al other vertues are nothynge worth without I haue perfecte charity This most perfect vertue workith in vs lyuely fayth and stronge beleue it bryngyth hope and turste in the. For loke how great our charytie is so great is oure trust hope in the. Yea if charity be great it begettyth in vs perseueraunce For loue wyl not suffer vs vnkindly to leade and for sake oure louer nor to leaue vndone that we begone of loue This charytie maketh vs to abyde in greate confydence and hope of the mercy of god and not to trust in our own power And therfore good lord what so euer charytie askyth whiche caÌ„ aske no euell with ful confydence and beleue in thy mercy it optaynyth easely ¶ Graunt me moost gracyus Iesu to desyre thi loue moost hartely to beleue in the moost constantly to trust in the moost vndoutydly to perseuer in thy loue most faythfully vnto the ende Moost mercyfull sauyoure Iesu graunte me moost feruente desyre of trew Iustice very ryghtwysenes in all my dedes First that I maye geue vnto the in all my wordes dedes and thoughtes al honor glory al obedience thankes Lykewyse that I maye geue vnto my superyours to my equales and to my inferiors and to euerye creature that whiche to euery man belongyth And also that I may geue that whiche belongeth vnto my body as in meate drinke cloth slepe and in other necessaryes nether more nether lesse then my dew is to geue This ryghtewysenes is a blessed and perfecte vertewe bryngeth forth thre other vertues mercy verytie and thankefullnes The whyche I humbly beseke the moost mercyfull Iesu graunt me grace to desyre to labour dylygently for trewe mercye For verye trewe mercy taketh firste pytye vpon the soule of oure euen chrysten and if he nede anye gostly almes he geueth that first if he be able and then the temporall almes Verytie sufferith no falshed nether in dede nether dyssymulacyon in worde nor yet ypocrysie nor any vntreuth be it neuer so profytable or neuer so lytle For it is vnmete that the seruaunte of god who is verytie it selfe shuld shew any vntreuth in worde or dede ThaÌ„kefulnes thynke it ryghte reasoÌ„ that euery maÌ„ do render thankes for the benefites which he hath receaued specyally vnto god the geuer of al gyftes and graces and to all suche that hath or doth helpe to further them in their soul health and all that maynteyneth them in ther bodyly necessytes These vertues graunt me most mercyfull Iesu that by ryghtwysenes I may do my deuty to the my lorde god to my eueÌ„ chrysten specially in dedes of mercy gostly and bodely to my power By veritie I may exchew al dyssymylacyon ypocrysy and al vntrewth And thankefully I may euer more render vnto the al laude prayse and thankes for thy innumerable benyfites And vnto suche as helpethe me goostlye or bodely I may dewly geue them thankes praye for them Mooste myghtyful maker Iesu graunt me grace moste affectuusly to desyre and optaine the holye vertue of fortytude and goostly strengthe that thereby I may myghtyly and strongly exercise and practyse al vertue and do al kynde of good workes and manfully resyst al trouble and temtacyon bothe goostly and bodyly that I neuer care for neather the world man nether the deuill but with goostly boldnes myghtyly passe thorowe all worldly thynges as though I had nothyng to do wyth them contempne and bare pacientlye al aduersity and temtacion and go thorow and increasyng in al perfeccyoÌ„ for thy loue and honoure that no trouble nor temptacion neuer let me or ouerthrow me in the way towarde thy perfecte loue and true seruice that I neuer feare to passe throughe fyre and water to come vnto the. ¶ Graunte me also good lorde Iesu pure chastytie meane and sobryetie and perfect pouertie whyche spryngeth out of thys fortytude ¶ Goostly fortytude thynketh it a greate vylany and shame to be ouerthrowne ruâ—â—d or mastered of the vyle fleshe the peuish pleasure and fylthye lustes there of therfore strongely resystynge them it kepethe hym chayste and pure in soule and bodye Gostly strengthe wyll not be in bondage vnto the vyle bely neather vnto the sinnefull body But lyke the valyante souldiour of chryst can be contented to fare harde to ware vyle and homly garmentes and hath al hys mynd to do his dewty vnto his greate captayne and lorde chryst to folow hym And therfore he coÌ„temnyth al beastly lust of the flesh al vnreasonable pampering of his bealy and the superfluus vnnedeful deckyng of his wretchyd carkas and when any suche temtacyons or lustes do aryse in hym he manfully and myghtyly resystyth and labouryth to mortifie them vtterly Wherefore moost mercyful Iesu grauÌ„t me this so necessary a vertue which am assaultid with diuers and many kindes of temtacyons whome wythout thy specyall gyfte of this gostly fortytude I am
shoulde do bycause I se not my great enormytes and detestable wyckednes of my former lyfe I beseke thy moste blessed mercy in the mercyes of thy moost obedyente death helpe my imperfection that I may make ful resignaciō vnto thy only wil in al thinges to thy honour glory Amen THough thou can not at the fyrst fully make vnfained oblaciō to al these so faythfully that thou wolde not feare by by to abide and suffer any or al of these for gods sake for perhappes thou shalt fele in thy selfe feare or gruge yf thou shuldest be put to any of these yet be of good cōfort and haue trust that god wyl worke it in the in tyme at his blessed wyl and pleasure so thou do acknowlege thy infyrmytes and cry mercy and continew thy good purpose that thou hast begone and this offerynge shal be very acceptable vnto god vntil thou canst do better And when thou fealest thy selfe somewhat resygned vnto the wyll of god in all these thynges then maist thou with ful confydence and trust enter to the other membre of this exercyse whiche is peticiō or postulacion and knocke wyth the second hammer notwithstāding wether thou fele thy selfe fully resigned or not yf thou haue a desyre to be resygned perfectly to god in al these forsaid thinges feare not nor faile not but in the name of god wyth a humble hope and a meke confidence in the greate mercies of god make this peticion knock thus wyth thys hāmer as deuoutly as thou can in thy mynde vnto almyghty God as our sauiour chryst teacheth vs saing Seke ye shal haue or it shal be geuen vnto you MOOST gloryous god almyghty and moost lyberal lorde god which for thy infinitie goodnes art redye to geue vnto all that faythfully mekely do aske of the that which maye bee to thy glory and honour and theire soules helth And specyally the blessed fruycion of thy selfe in perfecte loue I moost mekely most lowly and deuoutly beseke thy vnmesurable goodnes and most lyberal mercy in the blessed and infynitie merites of my sauiour Iesu for thy mercyful charytie that thou bearest towardes my poore soule for his sake graunt me good lorde the moost blessed fruicion of thy only godhede That my whole affection loue and desire may be satisfyed fully fixed and altogether restyd in the only by the bare pure sincere loue of the and in no other vertue giftes or graces be it neuer so excellent but in the only my most blessed lorde god and moost deare loue of my soule ¶ Graunte me not withstādyng god lord al such special graces and thy gyftes whiche may helpe and bring me vnto the more perfection of lyfe in the trewe loue of the not to rest in them but by them to come to the least restynge in them I myght highly offend the and wexe colde in the desyre of spirituall profyte And in special graunte me gracious good lord most pure perfect clere lyghtenyng of my vnderstandynge that I maye moost fully and perfectly knowe vnderstand in al thynges thy most blessyd wyl and godly pleasure and to folowe fulfyl and execute the same as promptely spedely and perfectly without any retracciō or gruge of harte as the shadowe mouyth at the mocion of the body according to the moost blessid example of my sauyour Iesu And thus for to doo I here offer my selfe most redy with al the mightes and powers of my bodye and soule ¶ Graunt also good lorde the lyght of thy grace to knowe fully my selfe my incomprehensyble vylenes my vnthanfulnes towards the my vnworthines and wretchidnes my mysery and sinfulnes wherby I may come to most perfect contēpt gostly hate of my self perfect profund mekenes ¶ Graunte me perfecte knowlege of all very true vertues and to obtayne so many of them as most shal plese thy blessed goodnes in me to my saluacion But syngulerly and aboue al other things in this world graunte nowe and euermore the contynuall increase of the moost pure true and sincere loue of the. That al my delyght ful fruycion the rest of my soule maye be in the. And that my hart may by so incensed in flamid so whote and set on fyre with the loue of the that the memory of the may be so frequente and ofte in my harte and mynd as is my breath that I contynually do take to lyue wyth all For lyke as yf I lacke thys bodely breath then departith lyfe from my body euen so the very lyfe of my pore soule is the very loue of the is contynued by often continual turning with burning desyre to the which art the orygynal of my soule vnto whom my soule shuld cleaue vnto as the sonne beames do byde wyth the sonne As for other thy graces and gyftes moost gracious lord that ar not necessary for my soule helth as to be delyuered from temtacion perels and pressures the gyftes of reuelacion of secreates deuocion and sensyble grace I aske not most mercyfull lorde god But as it may moost please thy infynite goodnes to thy glorye and my saluacion Wherfore I most humbly beseke thy greate goodnes and mercy graunt me this my meke postulacion peticion and grace that I may wyth al my myght and power laboure and trauel dayly and hourly to optayne it and neuer to cease from most feruente prayer and knockyng vntyl thou most petyful lorde dost open vnto me thy moost lyberal goodnes vnto thy great glory and honoure and my saluacyon ANother parte of thys exercyse after that thou hast vsyd this one day the next day vse this folowyng one day one an other dai an other After this maner first thou must styre thy harte to the loue of god with the same prayer callid an oblaicō gostly which is in the exercise next a fore apointed of the benefites of god yf thou fele thy selfe disposed in harte to the earneste desyre of the loue of god and thy harte be inkyndelyd with the swet memorie of his kindnes towardes the Then shalt thou as it wer burne al vnlikenes toward god in thy selfe that is to say al thy synnes and vycyousenes al thy fautes and imperfeccyons al thy passions and immortificacion thy vnruled sences and theire in ordinate inclynacyō al thi vicius affeccion and thy impaciences but thou shalt not reken and remember them one by one but generally gether them together in thy hart and mynd and caste them as it were in to the infynite fyer of godes loue there to be consumyd and burnyd vp by his mercye with most ardent desyre and deuout mynd saing in thy hart and desyre thus MOst myghtyful god and mercyful Lord whiche dydyst create make me to thy blessyd lykenes and thy owne ymage after that it was disfigured and blemyshyd by the syn of adam thou moost mercyfully hayst reformed it in thy deathe and blod of my lord Iesu by baptisme And now I wretchyd caytyfe synful wretche haue
sekyng purely thy only glory and honoure here in nowe and euer Amen AFter thou haiste made this deuoute petycion in thi harte then must thou fully hope and trust that thy louynge Lord Iesu hathe in the vnmesurable sea of his infynitie merites consumed al thes thy fawtes and vtterly forgeuen them the. Then al thy sinnes are lefte as it were beneth thou must ascende vp vnto his blessed handes whiche are alway stretchyd out vnto his deare fryndes in token of singulare frindship thou shalt then in this place approche in thy hart and desyre vnto god askyng of hym and desyryng that thou maiste be knyt vnto hym and made one with him in true loue and charytie And firste thou mast put out of thy hart al carefulnes al thy dystraccyon casting and committing them in to the handes and pleasure of almyghty god by whom there can nothing be lost nor peryshe Then thou must set thy ful mind and behold thy Lord god that is veryly present with the ther which louith the most hartely which also tarith for the yea he knockyth and callyth the louingly And so muste thou knyt thi mind so earnestly vpon god that thou maist be as it were inclosed within thy lord god thy selfe with in him gatheryng and recolectinge al the powers of thy soule and bodyly sensies in the blessed woūdes of his most holy handes And whyle thou art thus recollectyd thou shalt make these thre prayers in thy hart mynd vnto god the thre persons in trinite And first to the father say this prayer O Most omipotent god father celestial in the mooste blessyde merytes of my sauyor Iesu take away and put out of my memorye phansie by thy infinite power and myght al the imagynacyons and outward affeccyons and fulfyl my memorie wyth thyne owne selfe and with al godly imagynacyons and desyres ¶ Secondly vnto the Some O Moost al myghty sonne sempyternall of god I humbly beseke the of thy infynitie mercy by thy eternal and euer lastynge wysedome mooste gracyously vochsafe to lyghten my wyt and vnderstandyng with the most blessed knowledge of thy goodnes increate and īfinitie which thou art and to know thy blessed benefites and mooste holy wyl and pleasure and myne owne noughtynes ¶ Thurdly thou must make petycyon vnto the holy goost after this maner O Gloryous Lord god holy gost moste humbly I beseke the of thy infinitie mercy and charytie whiche thou arte thy selfe vochesafe with thy in comprehēsyble goodnes to raiushe and swalowe me vp all together in to the with my will and al myne affeccyons and set them on fyere with most ardent loue and charytie ¶ The fourth is vnto Christ Crucified O Moost louing sauior and most derest loue of my soul my swete Lord Iesu I humbly beseke the for thi crosse and passyon and for thy most payneful deathe that thou of most perfect loue towardes me dydest suffer vpon the crosse vochsafe by thi most holy powers of thi blessid soul and the senses of thy moost holye bodye to make bare and nakyd all my wytes and powers of my boodie and soule frome al phansyes vyces imperfeccions and inordynacyons and restore them to their fyrst perfeccyon and order vochsafe to knyte and to inclose them within thy selfe and thy selfe al together within them Amen MORE ouer as often as thou wilt knyt thy wil and vnderstandynge vnto thy Lord god thou must stirere vp and not without some labor these two that is to say thy vnderstandyng and wyl towardes thy Lord. First thou must force thy vnderstandyng earnestly to consyder and faithfuly to behold the highe goodnes of god and his infinyte hys moost super-excellent and incomprehensible nobylytie and holines and therwtal consider and fele also the innumerable tormentes paynes sorowes and passyons that he so hyghe so noble so excellente and so infinite maiestie suffered of most ineffable loue and charitie for vs most vile wreched and most vnkind synners And with greate wonder thou muste meruayl at the moste wonderful loue that god almyghtye hath shewyd towardes the by his owne moost deare sone whome for thy loue only saluacion he gaue to suffer al kynd of myserye saue syn of trauel labour fatigaciō care honger thirst watch trouble sorow shame reuyle rebuke cōfusyon sclander blasphemye persecucyon false trateri heuines dread feare and deadly agony vntyl blody swete wrongful cōprehencyon and captyuitie lyke a thief in bondes most cruelty most vyle entreatyd halyd pullyd and led from poste to pillar moost worngeful accusacion and mooste vniuste condempnacyon spyttynge and conspurcacion yllusions mockes and skornes forsworne forsaken of his owne apostles mooste cruell flagellacyon and beatynges fore strypes and buffets most payneful coronacyons with thornes hys tender limmes body and fleshe rent torne moost cruelly And in al these plages and woful aray made a gasyng stocke to al hys most cruel enemies At the length cōptyd moost abhomynable more vyle and more worthy of deathe then a stronge thiefe and cruell murderer he was condemnyd the other delyuered and so ladē wyth his most cruel and heuy crosse vpon his torne shoulders and weake body vnto his paine and al wordly wonder confusion and shame he was lad vnto the most fylthy and horyble place of his moost cruell shameful death moost bytter drynke offered hym and violently spoyled naked of al his garmentes rackid to the lengh and bredth of his crosse most paynefully nayled with sturdy blunte nayles eleuated on hygh vpon the crosse hys mēbers most cruelly torne rent his vaynes and synowes violently broken his precyous bloude moost paynefully shed trayled downe vpon the earth in greate aboundaunce in suche paynfull plyghte he honge thre long houres vpon the crosse in moost wooful panges and paynes of death sustayning moost deadly burnyng thurst blasphemye reproche and reprofe mooste payneful derelection wythout al comforte or consolacion And thus he most wofully yeldyd vp his blessid soule by moost bytter cruel paineful and shameful death And al only for the mere and most burnynge loue and charitie that he bare vnto the hys enymye that thou myght be delyuered from the wrath of God and sentence of damnacion that thou haddest deseruyd by the sinne oryginal and innumerable other in normytes deadly and dayly offēces which thou hayst done myghtest haue done and mayste do yf he reserued thee not by hys grace And yet requyreth he nothynge in this worlde of the for al these that he hathe sufferid and done for the but only thy trew harte and loue And for this cause he suffered his moost dyuine and louely hart to be opened wyth a speare that thou myghtest yf thou woldest in maner crepe into hys most blessid syde and swete harte the treasure house of al grace and mercy of al vertrue and perfection where thou mayst optayne what thou wylt aske And all for the moost tender loue that the swete louynge hart of thy deare lorde Iesu berith to the. Thou hayst