Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	great_a	lord_n	pity_n	2,183	5	9.5016	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A22871	An introduction to the looue of God. Accompted among the workes of S. Augustine, and translated into English, by the right reuerend father in God, Edmund, Bishop of Norvvitch, that nowe is, and by him dedicated to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, to the glorie of God, and comfort of his chosen. And newlie turned into Englishe meter by Robert Fletcher. 1581.	Simard, Marie Ange, attributed name.; Freake, Edmund, ca. 1516-1591.; Fletcher, Robert, fl. 1586.	1581 (1581)	STC 936; ESTC S114474	35,980	111

within his feare in safetie vnto mans estate Deuoide of daunger doone by fyre by water or like mortall fate That I by Beasts was not deuourde and that the Diuell had no holde On me but that all these mishaps was by the grace of God controlde By meanes whereof I now am growne to competent and séemely age To looue my God him serue and feare by faithe in him my sinnes t'asswage Finis 11. Cap. ¶ Of the patience and long suffering of God 12. Cap. GReat is thy pittie Lord therefore and infinite thy mercy eke Which thou hast vsed vnto me when I in faithe the same did séeke Moste wonderfull in all thy workes because thou art them all abooue Yea thou doost séeme moste maruelous euen in the bowels of thy looue For sure no man thou doost despise abhorre nor any man reiect But such as doo forsake the Lord and dreadfully themselues detect These are thy gifts therefore O Lord these are thy treasures which thou hast Indewd me with and by thy grace me in the midst of mercy plaste When I in dreadfull daunger was and in the sinck of filthy sinne Thou me deliuered from the same and left me not to die therein When I vnmindefull was of this thereof thou didst remember me When from thy presence I returnde thou callde me home againe to thée And gentlie did me entertaine with pardon when I did repent And did with mercie me remit when I deserued punishment Not onely pardon for my sinnes which I in wicked will did frame But for such sinnes I did eschew thy pardon did containe the same As into many sinnes I fell and foule offences did commit My wicked will was bent to more if thou hadst not withholden it Yet headlong further had I run with rashe attempt from thée to swarue By thy especiall meanes I doo remember thou didst me preserue From dooing of such wicked déedes that otherwise I should haue done But onely thy especiall grace I had no meanes the same to shun But thou occasions all didst kill and gaue me strength sinne to resist By kéeping and continuing me in thine affection ere I wist Had I at lybertie beene left my wilfull nature to obay In manifolde offences I committing should haue went on stray But so great was the mercie of my Lord and God bestowed on me Not once such sinne could me arest nor finde that oportunitie For much a doo he had to staye me from the doubling of my sin The violence of temptation great so grieuous vnto me haue béen As euerie man hath féeling in his frayle desyre and fickle minde Had not the Lord of mercie his assistaunce vnto me assignde Whereby I vanquished my luste my fleshlie and my fonde desire Concupiscence I kilde thereby which in my members burnt like fire From certaine other sinnes O Lord thine indulgence and fauour did So farre estraunge and stay my minde that from my heart them quite I rid I did abhorre and hate them sore and lothe the filth of former time Iniquitie that did suggest me to commit eche hainous crime Yet all these same had not the power to touch or mooue me to consent Although they made what meanes they could my stedfast purpose to preuent Not least point of thy pittie Lord nor meanest motion of thy grace When as the hugenesse of my sinnes had brought me into wretched case When I vnkindlie kindled had by dooing euill in thy sight Prouokte thy furie stirde thy moode with gréeuous sins for which thou might Haue punished my peruerse minde yet patientlie thou didst forbeare That notwithstanding all thinges past thou pardonedst through thy mercy méere If I doo put repentaunce off deferring tyme from day to day And doo securelie sléepe in sinne yet thou wilt pause and vse delay Preuenting patientlie the tyme and gentlie tarriest tyll I come When I doo wander thou doost haste me in the race that I shall runne Againe when I resist and striue rebelliouslie against thy grace Thou doost vanquish and conquere me and quite from me my sinnes doost chase When in the féeldes of fantasie I loyter or doo ling ring stay Thou eyther forwarde wilt me force or tarriest for me in the way When I diuert from wicked wayes and trie thy footsteps for to trace Foorthwith thou fréendly me receyues and loouinglie dooth me embrace When I in ignoraunce doo dwell full soone I shall instructed bée When I for gréefe lament and mourne thou commest straight to comfort mée I stumble fall and yet thou doost bothe reare me vp and art my stay Thou giuest what comfort I doo craue thou doost redéeme my dire decay That which I séeke in thée I finde I knock thou openest vnto mée Thou art my Loadstone and my life my staffe and stay in eche degrée I neither will nor cunning want to walke directlie in thy way The greater is my daunger then if wandringlie I walke astray This also woorthy is O Lord of admiration that before I had discretion in my youth what things to aske thou gauest me store As also in mine age when I through thée was able for to craue And aske for that by goodnesse thine which I in heart desirde to haue Againe when nothing I requirde nor any thing in mercie sought But rechleslie and careleslie estéemed all thy giftes as nought And now I doo esteeme this grace A great and mighty gifte that thou Didst ouer me giue Angels charge from birth to kéepe me safe tyll now More then tyll now for euen betwéene my day of birth and day of death Thou my protector art as long as I enioy this vitall breath In contemplation of which thing a certaine holie Father sayde Great is the dignitie of those whome God electes and Angelles ayde As garders set them to defend the Wise man in this sence exprest The righteous soules are in the handes of God and there doo safelie rest I cease not heere for to commend thy pittie ioynd with patience But rather double doo thy prayse that so hast borne my fowle offence And not according to the same my due desarte did me requite Nor that I should for sinfull life be recompenst with déepe despite The earth to swallowe me nor fire from heauen sent my corpes to burne● Not water floods to drowne me nor such pains of death should serue this turn That I so sore deserued had bothe anguish and afflictions great I had deserued for my sinnes but so he did me not intreat For when by sinne I went away and would no longer with him dwell His creatures did disdayne me sore I had deserude the paines of hell No meruaile is this same for if a hyred seruaunt run away But from his earthlie Maister héere and doo not all his hestes obay His punishment shall sure be great his Maister is against him sore His seruaunts and familliar fréendes doo soone abhorre this wretch therefore Therefore when I displeased thee O Lord my God iust cause I gaue That all thy faithfull creatures

An Introduction to the looue of God ¶ Accoumpted among the workes of S. Augustine and translated into English by the right reuerend Father in God Edmund Bishop of Norvvitch that nowe is and by him Dedicated to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie to the glorie of God and comfort of his chosen ¶ And newlie turned into Englishe Meter by Robert Fletcher 1581. Mathew 22. Thou shalt looue the Lord thy God alone with all thy heart with all thy soule and minde this first commaundement is the greatest one the second like vnto it shalt thou finde to looue thy neighbour as thy selfe in deede these two the Lawe and the Prophetes haue decreede ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoot and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church ¶ To the right Honourable Sir Frauncesse Knowles Knight Maister Treasurer of the Queenes Maiesties householde and of her Hignesse most honourable priuie Councell c. IT hath beene the vsuall course of Writers right Honourable to pleade pardon by aucthoritie when they thinke or knowe them-selues farre from intent of offending either by example of the mightie King of Persia for his freendlie accepting a small gift esteeming the good will of the giuer or else by comparing their endeuour by the example of some graue Philosopher I doo not so but confesse my presumption in two sortes committed the one to your Honour the other to the honourable and reuerend Father in God my Lorde Bishop of Norwitch that now is beeing the Translator of this Booke and hauing dedicated the same to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie beeing called An Introduction to the looue of God and so it maie right well be called My presumptiō to your Honour is in pressing your name in print before I knew your Honours pleasure therin for which most hūbly I craue your honors pardon My presumption to his Lordship is in taking vpon me to alter the course and nature of to excellent and profitable a prose but I hope to haue his good Lordships fauour for the same when he shal vnderstand the cause of my so dooing considering the prose is still exstaunt to the profite of the Readers and my meter now instaunt to the pleasure of the Readers for so I accoumpt it hauing therein followed the example of diuers godlie minded which haue turned into Englishe meter many Bookes out of the Bible beeing sacred and canonicall as other pithie Pamphlettes beeing prophane and Historicall yet to good purposes as well appeareth by their writinges which so meant them the parties with their Pamphlettes as impertinent to my purpose I omitte to repeate But as his Lordshippe did make her Maiesty patronesse of the matter so I thought it my duetie to make your Honour Patrone of the Meter assuring your Honour not to haue committed any error therein my presumption onelie excepted nor haue not altred the sence of the matter more then the nature of the meter must of necessitie compell me The causes mouing me to sollicite your Honour with this Introduction to the looue of God was for that I haue beholden the same most bountifullie bestowed not onelie in your Honours owne person but also in your Honours bothe honourable and VVorshipful off-spring and posteritie in your owne person the feare and looue of God with seueritie in Iustice according to your Honours calling and precise rule and lawes of God which I my selfe haue not onelie beholden but also beene beholden vnto In your Honours off-spring that vertuous Noble and towardlie young Gentleman the Earle of Essex dooth shewe himselfe a liuelie graffe and goodlie member of so good a Grandfather which together with your Honour I beseeche God long to blesse and continew he onelie maie serue to confirme the looue of God towardes your Honour although his gracious blessings be apparauntlie multiplied in the rest your Honors bothe good and godlie Children For the continuance whereof I shall not cease to beseeche almightie God to send your Honour long and honourable life in this life but after the same ended eternall happinesse in the life to come Amen ¶ Your Honours most humble and duetifull bounden Robert Fletcher To the Christian Readers WHatsoeuer hath been written before time was written for our learning that we through patience comfort of the scriptures might haue hope Among which right courteous Readers I may insert this present Pamphlet béeing trāslated by my Lord Bishop of Norwitch to the benefite of our corporall bodyes and comfort of our soules accoumpted amongst the workes of S. Augustine and no lesse commended by that famous and learned Father of godly memorie Erasmus of Rotardam to taste of good learning which to peruse I referre you to the Preface in the Prose written to the Reader by that honourable and godly Bishop who translated the same naming it An Introduction to the looue of God Declaring thereby the looue he beareth vnto his Prince Soueraigne Lady to whom he Dedicated the same as also the good wil to comfort in the looue and mercie of God his loouing neighbours and countreymen following y e example of a true Shéepheard and faithfull Pastours in penning this so profitable a Discourse which distinguisheth vnto you by equal portions the gratious benefites of our creation preseruation sanctification iustification and redemption by God the Father through the merites and frée grace of Christe Iesus our Lorde Which great mercies you maye beholde in this lyttle Booke euen as if in a glasse you were disposed to take viewe of your countenaunce shape and bodilie proportion but much more to your profite for that the one is presentlie forgotten the other remayneth permanent for euer if it be sought in singlenesse of eye and simplicitie of harte Which woorthy worke according to my skillesse capacitie I haue turned into Englishe Meter not thereby to derogate the Prose or to arogate the prayse thereof in any part to my selfe for so might I iustlie be condempned of presumption and arrogant follie but he which knoweth the secret of all hearts knoweth also how far I am from séeking vainglorie thereby onlie this mooued me therevnto the profite that I sawe contained in the Prose which I hope will be no lesse pleasant in the Meter béeing plaine and not much alienated from the former sence I hauing so good a theame thought good to meditate therein following the example of these godly minded with whome I will make no comparison but onelie for endeuour which haue turned many Bookes of the olde Testamēt into Englishe meter as y e Psalmes of Dauid the life of Dauid containing the secōd booke of Kings the fiue bookes of Moses the Prouerbes of Salomon and diuers other as well Canonicall as Historicall according to that saying of the Apostle Iames If any be afflicted let him pray if merrie let him sing Psalmes So he that is disposed to profit in the prose it is an excellent meditatiō if to pleasure in the meter it is present for him that

of vs is vnderstoode What doost thou then desire my soule what is it that my minde dooth mooue Within this good is all contriu'de that comes from God the Lord aboue To speake therefore of all the goodes his heauenly kingdome dooth containe No man that's cloathed in his fleshe the same is able to explaine All Fame that kingdome dooth excell surmounteth cunning prayse and skill It royall is and glorious eke according to Gods holie will Tis full of lyght of charitie of patience and of endlesse peace Of worship glorie and renowne all pleasures there doo styll increase Delight and euerlasting ioye perpetuall eke in blisfulnesse Replenished with all the good that heart can thinke or tongue expresse It can not comprehended be nor measured by the wit of man Why should our silence this conceale but yéelde it all the prayse we can Because we can not as we would God is vnspeakeable we knowe And so beléeue and should we not abroade his power and mercie showe Should we not euerlasting life which God to vs by promise plight None otherwise beléeue but as we finde it written to our sight His promise made to vs is sealde of lasting looue in greater sort Then eyther can the tongue declare or else the Pen for trueth report The heart much more can comprehend it is of more capacitie And yet it can not sound the depth of his great power and Maiestie The ioyes and glorie of the life to come therefore beléeue we must For euerlasting in it selfe it is and so should be discust It euerlasting happy is and dooth containe tranquilitie All pleasauntnesse most peaceable and our assurde securitie This perfect looue no dread no feare no want of day no doubt of night But chéerefull motions and one sprite amongst vs all euen in the sight Of God there to abyde in ioye among his Saintes and Angelles all Bright shining in the righteousnesse of Christ which hath redéemde our thrall Euen where saluation dooth abound where truth dooth raigne where no deceit Is vsed betwixt man and man where is no measure false nor weight No happy man can thence be cast nor may from thence exiled bée No wicked wretch may there be plast nor once aduaunst to that degrée There is the life contemplatiue which fruitfull Faith who dooth attaine Shall like the blisfull spirites be made with God in kingdome his to raigne For what they haue beléeued héere there shall they it beholde and sée The substaunce of theyr Creator in whome all good thinges perfect bée With innocent and humble eyes with harts most pure they shall reioyce And triumphe in this happinesse of which in God they made their choyce And dooing thus possesse the looue of God our euerlasting Lord In charitie together they with vnitie and swéete concord Doo liue and porcion lyke receiue the priuiledge of heauenlie place Like Cittizens enfraunchized they all enioy the God of grace There shall such ioy and gladnesse be such heauenlie sollace shall abound For there the fulnesse of his grace and mercie of our God is found Vnto the giuer of the same incessauntlie they shall sing prayse Without all kinde of irksomnesse yéelde lawde and thanks to him alwayes The hearts of euerie creature there shall laye abroade and opened bée As héere we corporall thinges beholde and with our eyes the same doo sée Mens consciences so perfect are so pure and cleane without all blame That for theyr former fowle offence they néede not nowe to blushe for shame No sinne nor sinner shall be there of power they are depriude therefore That meanes is taken from all men they shall be sure to sinne no more Neither shall they which perfectly are blest be ignoraunt of this Of any secrete mysterie the same to knowe they shall not misse For they shall him beholde which hath the Author of all secretes béene And they shall sée him face to face euen so as they of him are séene For then shall all mankinde be made so absolute and perfect pure It thencefoorth neuer shalbe chaungd but so for euer shall endure And of that substaunce shall remaine although transformde and glorifyde Into his mightie maker and in him most blessedlie abyde And all the goodes which we receyu'de disfigured by our filthy sin Shalbe in blisse repayrde againe in happy state and stay therein That is our vnderstanding shall without all error perfect be Without obliuion in that place assured is our memorie Thoughtes without wandering likewise Charitie voide of fained sence Health without sicknesse sorrowe shall not vnto any bréede offence Mirth Pleasure Pastime without paine Life without death Agilitie Without impediment is there where safetie syts in eche degrée For whatsoeuer in this lyfe the violence of Beastes or rage Or what misfortune did impayre or what thy sicknesse did asswage What crueltie had wasted or some fowle disease had putrifide Or age by nature comborsome had thée benumde or strength denide Shall all againe be freshe restorde by Resurrection all renude In glorious sort we shall receyue most perfect lymmes and to conclude Our bodyes with our members all shall to our soules vnited be And bothe together be endude with grace and immortalitie And therefore whosoeuer that in blisfull state possessed is Shall by no distaunce of the place of this his great preferment misse No difference of merites may nor meanes of any other kinde Once seperate vs from this looue which in the Lorde we hope to finde This graunt vs for thy mercie sake through fulnesse of thy glorie great Our sinfull soules from hence doo take and place them on thy mercie seate Amen FINIS ¶ A verie fruitefull Prayer to God the Father for the obtayning of these benefites promised in this Booke and necessarie to be vsed at all tymes MOst holie Lord the God of the spirites of all fleshe we giue vnto thée most humble thankes for all thy goodnesse towardes vs which thou hast found in thy selfe before the beginning of the world and hast declared vnto vs from tyme to tyme acknowledging our selues to be farre lesse then the least of thy mercies Thou arte perfect in thy selfe and hast no néede of any thing but it hath pleased thée to create all these thinges wherein thy glorie dooth appeare as Angelles and men and all things else for them that them selues might know that they are created onelie for thée not that any thing by them could be added vnto thée but that thy glorie which is perfect in it selfe might be séene in them and they also be made pertakers of that happinesse which is with thée the which thou hast giuen vs in thy belooued In whome also thou hast chosen vs before all worlds for so thy wisedome hath apointed it that we should passe through a world and so come vnto thée and see thy glory and the ritches of thy mercie and that pleasure which is with thée for euer And to this ende hast thou giuen vs thy most holie woorde and thy sanctifying spirite to attend therevpon wherby thy elect children might be reformed vnto thée Holy Father who is able to comprehend this thy great worke of our saluation in Iesus Christe but thine owne wisedome which is infinite as thy mercie is all goodnesse mercie and trueth come from thée and ende in thée but the euill corruption which befalleth thy Creatures commeth of them selues Notwithstanding this also thou turnest to good for euen the wicked thou sufferest for a tyme that at the length thy iustice might be séene in them but to thy chyldren thou ordainest all thinges to the best for euen the punishmentes for theyr sinnes and the afflictions of this life thou hast appointed for good that by thy iustice thy mercie might more appeare and their own happinesse which thou hast prepared for them in more glory might be reuealed To this ende hast thou set them from thée for a tyme in this lyfe that in the lyfe to come they may know the better what it is to enioy thy presence Thou hast made them héere mortal that they may then perceyue what it is to be immortall with thée thou giuest them ouer some time to their owne sinne that they may knowe how much better it is to be holy with thée in thy kingdom thou makest them taste of the afflictions of this world that they may féele in them howe great thy glorie is and to be happye and blessed with thy euerlasting goodnesse Lord in thy great power hast thou created all thinges and orderest them in thy wisedome preseruest them in thy goodnesse and hast redéemed vs in thy mercie to thy selfe in thy belooued but thou knowest this vaine and corrupte nature which is fallen from thée and can not ryse againe vnto thée except it be drawne by thée Doo away our sinnes O Lord and possesse vs sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that we may walke before thée as becommeth thy chyldren and knowe and féele in déede that there is no pleasure nor comfort of it selfe in these thinges which are mortall of them selues but onely in thée the euerlasting goodnesse in all thinges else in thée and for thée Increase our faith that we may walke before thée in obedience of faith giue vs also those things which thou knowest good and expedient for vs in this mortall life that wée may vse them to thy glorie and to the comfort of our selues and others whome thou hast commaunded vs to looue in thée that thou béeing our lyfe in this life and in the life to come we may enioy the presence of thy Maiestie and glorifie thy holie name for euer among thy elect people and blessed Angelles Amen FINIS ❧ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 12. 3. Deu The ●●●●rence ●●twee●●●gelles 〈◊〉 men 9. Hebr seeth ougnen 12 for G for v. them s. This is c●●trary to 〈◊〉 deuillish doctrine H. N. Sapi. 3. Men 〈…〉 not 〈…〉 lie 〈…〉 one 〈…〉 ther 〈…〉 doot 〈…〉 giue 〈…〉 1. 3. ●8 21. ● ●9 Luk 〈…〉 Deuil ●orld 〈◊〉 Luke 1. Psalm ●●amon ●●thias 〈◊〉 5. 4. 2. 4 2 Luke 〈…〉 per●one 10. 1. C●● 12.

sayth aboue or equall howe they bée Inferiour or in what sort else all thinges in highe or lowe degree A highe comparison he makes for to perswade vs to the same Is God in Trinitie sayth he and Vnitie in one to frame The equall thinges with vs are ours in one consent with them t'agree As Angels at this present though farre distant from our sightes they bee In time shall be our equall mates where time in time no ende shall haue That woorthy we may be thereof Lord for thy mercie graunt we craue The thinges inferiour eke are ours and stand vs in most happy steede As necessarie instrumentes to serue our turne in time of néede As thinges pertaining to a Lord or Maister of an earthly man May be his seruants porcion like not robbing his sayde Maister than But pertinent by tytle due to serue the vse of seruant his Heereby the Maister hath no wrong the seruant hath not done amis In sundrie sortes the Scriptures saye that Angels for our sakes be sent To serue and to administer to vs by Gods cōmaundement Th'Apostle hath these wordes likewise are they not ministring Spirites callde Sent for their sakes that fear the lord that they in sinne should not be thrald Beleeue the same and let it not incredible seeme vnto you That he which king of angels is vs for to saue thought good to sew To saue and not be saued he came to dye for our redemptions all He gaue his life for many soules them to redeeme from endles thral The angells eke are saide for vs to offer vowes and prayers pure Vnto the seate of mighty Ioue therby our pardons to procure But not because they do instruct or teach the lord our deepe desires For he himselfe doth know our thoughtes to shew the same thers none aspires Before that wee do crimes commit and afterward to him is knowen Our fond imaginations al our selues before his face haue showen And they do waite to vnderstand his will and what his pleasure is And do to vs the same conuay to keepe vs least we walke amisse And for this cause the aungel sayd to men at such tymes as you pray I offred vp the same to God who sent you ayde without delay In like case also when you praye take not in hande our God to teache As if that ignoraunt he were what at his handes wee beseech But man must of necessitye commit his causes temporal Vnto theternall verity who can redeeme him out of thrall Whether he do desire the thing he could by his indeuour haue Or by consenting to the will of God and so the thing do craue From thabitacion of the heauens our soueraigne Lord doth angels send Euen downe to vs and for our sakes his heauenly pleasure to attend To visite and to help vs eke for God for vs and for themselues For him because most meete it is they wayte vpon no creature else But to reueale his lasting loue the bowels of his mercy great His pitye and compassiou both to imitate his mercy seate For vs because that we in them and they in vs like image haue And reuerentlie they doo admire his power the which such likenesse gaue Now for themselues because that with desire and feruent longing they Doo wayte our comming from this world with them in blisse to liue for aye Finis 3. Cap. ¶ Of the looue of God towards vs. 4. Cap. THis therefore is most néedefull nowe and necessarie to eche man That he consider with him selfe and eke in seuerall sort to skan When his owne woorthinesse is wayde and dignitie he doo not take It from his mightie creatour which him of nothing thus did make Looue him abooue all earthlie thinges of what estate or what degrée Estéeme not equall with his might those thinges that his inferiors bée What follie were it to compare the things that beautifullest bée With those that vile in sight doo séeme which serue in fowle and base degrée For sure it is no séemelie sight where beautie is but counterfeit To match it with the fayrest and for beautie with the same to set Therefore my soule peruse thine owne thy beautie vnderstand and prooue And by the same soone shalt thou learne whose beautie thou art bound to looue But if thy sight be duske and dull or darkned by thy negligence That thou thy selfe canst not beholde thou doost commit a fowle offence Yet at the least let others iudge and doo thou holde their iudgements true What estimation thou art of when they with clearer sight thee view Thou hast a Spowse of beautie such his bounty fauour and his grace Such Maiestie and Mercie great that thou couldst neuer sée his face And yet beholde he hath thée séene if not he would not looue thée so His gifts may make thée graunt thée same and tell if this be true or no. The perfect pledges of his looue and tokens of his kindnesse trie Of this if thou didst sée his face thou nothing doubtfull then would bée Then perfectlie thou shouldst perceyue that he in beautie passeth all So singuler so comely fayre as neuer set the lyke thou shall And yet enamored is of thee so much thy beauty doth appeare Aboue all creatures that he made that none with thee compared wer This beauty yet was not thyne owne but hys in thee left for thy welth that hauing it thou mightst perceaue it came from him thy sauing health But what meanst thou because thou canst not see him present as he is Art not ashamde iuinriously him to abuse with workes amisse Not onely in contemning these his louing graces to thee lent But seruile to thy sensuall lust as vassaile thou dost geue consent But o my soule take heed of this and do not so though able thou Be not assuredly to conceaue whatone he is his grace alow His earnest and his pledgefot thee the gage and token which he gaue As leasses of his loue iutyre from endles death he did thee saue In thy possession these be plast that thou mayst learne thy lord to loue With zeale and with affection great thy minde from him not to remooue His gift right noble is and great great mē giue great rewards we know Which doo receiue them at their hand as with his Maiestie may stand A wise man for a trifle wyll not giue a riche reward we sée But none can giue so great a gift as thy good God hath giuen to thée Yet greater is the gift which he in thée dooth looue thy selfe t'assure And eke much greater will he giue if thou thy faith to him indure But O my soule what are these gifts Examine looke the world beholde If euery thing therein containde To serue thy turne be not controlde Behold how euery creature dooth to serue thy turne his course direct Thy profit to supply and for thy wealth to vse as thy subiect For to accomplish thy delight commodities doo all abound Within the world for thy

he thée to aunswer dooth not call But dooth beningly them restore his mercy thou in these hast tride Which others by themselues haue lost and are most strictly still denyde Thou by his gracious bounty art not once denayde the truthe to tell His prouidence may thée perswade thy woorkes for to accomplish well If readily great things thou doo thou highly art aduaunst therefore If hardly thou small things performe thou humbled art so much the more Thy God dooth know whats good for thée much better then thy selfe canst tell Haue thou a duetifull regarde that dooth for thée prouide so well Such is his mercy vnto man infirmities cannot indure But are by goodnesse his disposde that they our profits doo procure Perhaps thou hast not strength and grace in trade of vertue to persist But shaken with Suggestions arte of vice and vertue hath dismist Yet art thou in humilitie made stronger then thou wast before Humility perswades thy minde thy life misse led for to deplore For weakenesse with humilitie hath better fauour in the sight Of God then vertue with the strength and pride of minde in one complight Be not therefore to mallepart or bolde for to presume of this Gods secret disposition if thou preiudice thou doost amis But still with reuerence and feare direct thy prayers to his grace That he vouchsafe to helpe thée then as one that knowes thy present case The euill that in thée remaines he will with mercy it redresse If thou in humblenesse of minde and faithfull hart doo it confesse If goodnes doo begin to grow in thée and thou wouldst it mainetaine Referre it to the wyll of God who will increase it to thy gaine Yea finally conduct and bring thée to him selfe by such away As best he liketh for himselfe where thou with him shalt dwell for aie FINIS 8. Chap. ¶ Of the gift of vnderstanding and knovvledge 9. Cap. NOw tell me O my soule what we in recompence shall giue the Lord For all the goodnes which we haue receiu'de of him in déede and woorde He onely not contented is to giue vs those good things which we Receaue with other creatures eke our fellow partners by degrée But also hath prouided that in our afflictions we may féele And take and taste his mercy great and loouing kindnesse euery deale We singuler occasions heere in our aduersitie may take And in prosperitie we may imbrace his kindnes for his sake Within the armes of faithfull looue vnto our selues we thus may say In all our meditations Lord giue vs thy grace thée to obay And eke to know thee graunt vs Lord much more then other creatures doo Because thou hast in secret wise thy selfe disclosed vs vnto Our vnderstanding thou didst frame thy hidden misteries to conceiue More then our mates and equalles were in ignoraunce thou didst them leaue Darkenesse of infidelitie as vailes hath shadowed theyr face But vnto vs thou hast declarde thy light and purenesse of thy grace ●hy veritie and trueth it selfe on vs thou didst bestowe indéede On vs much more thou haste bestowde then on the rest of Adams séede As sence and aptnes to conceaue strength to performe good works eke That which is ill a witte to hate grace in conuersion for to séeke Prosperitie for to conserue profit by studie to apply Wit in conceyts which turne to good and comfort in aduersitie Which way so euer we doo turne thy grace thy mercy and good will Our pathe are ready to preuent and thou dooste rule and guide vs still When vtterly we séemed waste my soule and quite consumed were He sodainly reléeued vs and straight his mercy did appéere When we were ignoraunt and rude when wandering we went astray He taught vs for to feare his name and vs directed in the way When we were sad his comfort came he held vs vp when downe we fell When that we stoode he was our staye from falling headlong into hell Now finally graunt vs thy grace more verily to know thy name More sincerely thée to beléeue more purely for to looue the same More feruently to follow thée because that more pertaines vs too For benefits which we receaue more then thy other creatures doo Therefore O Lord my God to thée what recompence shall I deuise Thou swéetenes of my life and eke the Lampe and light of both mine eyes Wilt thou that I shall looue thée well then teach me how to doo the same How greatly eke thou wilt that I to thée my God my looue shall frame For what am I that so may looue the Lord my God my stedfastnes My refuge my deliuerer my helper in my déepe distresse The horne of my saluation and my mainetainer at all assayes What shall I say my Lord and God O giue me grace thy name to praise FINIS 9. Cap. ¶ Of Gods prouident care ouer vs. 10. Cap. FOr manifolde be these good things which thou O Lord hast doone for me Moste swéete and pleasaunt to beholde and in no case can numbred be To speake thereof great pleasure is Lorde make me thankfull for the same For these thy gratious benefits aye blessed be thy holy name Loe now my soule thou hast thy pledge thy pledge thy spowse dooth represent Vntouched kéepe the same therefore and vndefilde with glad intent Yea vnpolluted kéepe it safe yea kéepe it cleane and perfect sound Albeit thou once defiled was th'art now an honest Virgin found According to his fancie firme and opperation of his looue With purity he dooth restore corrupted things that so they prooue In those that pure remaine indéede a chaste condition to conserue Vnspotted to his holy name that in no case it cannot swarue Apply thy cogitations sée how mercifully God dooth deale With thée and how his looue is bent all thine infirmities to heale Not suffering thee to want at all his benefits nor yet to be So ignoraunt but that thou shouldst remember what is giuen to thée And this I say to thée because thou shouldest marke his mercy great It séemes my God dooth nothing els but me with mercy still intreate I sée him wholy occupied for my saluation and I sée His care so great that nothing els he dooth but onely nourish me Continually God present is with me and that to my behooue He offereth himselfe for me all this his goodnes I doo prooue Which way so euer I me turne he neuer dooth my soule forsake And wheresoeuer I become for me he dooth prouision make And as a woorkeman which wil be inseperable to the same His woorks what wanteth in my forme with precious he a new dooth frame Although his face cannot be séene with vs his presence dooth appeare His Spirit dooth inspire our harts as though he still among vs were What pleasaunt thing is it my soule which while I thinke on him dooth oft Euen swéetely handle with desire and touch me with his fingers soft And presently me thinkes I féele my selfe euen rauished for ioy I drawne and caried

Creatures all that in the world euer were No eye his countenaunce can discerne he in no likenesse will appeare And therefore to auoyde him quite it passeth mans habillitie Some time he dooth assault vs sore with violence euen openlie Some times he secretly will steale and guilefully he alwayes will Continew in his crueltie and seeketh meanes our soules to kill But who is able to endure all this his mischéefe to withstand Or who is fit t'encounter with this chapion stoute to take in hand In verie déede no earthlie man but he that long hath looued vs And that by his triumphant death this victorie atchieude for vs. Now maist thou knowe therfore my soule how harde and difficult it is Euen to be continent if that the grace of God thereto thou misse Great cause therefore we haue to looue him most intyrelie for the same For onelie in the Lord we haue this power praysed be his name Our might he giues vs to withstand this tryple battrey all by force Maintaind against vs by these foes that would of vs take no remorce It is our God that dooth therefore tread vnderfoote eche fowle offence Our looue our lust our lauishe minde our fleshlie vile concupiscence As also all the world and all her vile and worldlie vanities Her trecherous entisements and of men the wofull myseries And finally the Diuell with his crafte and false suggestions vile His subtile shiftes whereby he sought my simple soule for to beguile Then haue not I iust cause thinke you of duetie to confesse that he Which mightie is of mighties most all these great thinges hath done for me FINIS 13. Cap. ¶ Of the gift of Hope 14. Cap. MOreouer my good God dooth giue me grace that I my selfe perswade And to conforme that by his will I am to him obedient made And fullie am assured by faith that finally I shall not misse But by his promise shall inioye his kingdome and eternall blisse In the especiall pointes this grace consisteth and continueth too That I contempne detest and hate my sinnes forepast of purpose doo Disdayning present pleasures all or fonde delightes and séeke in some To frame and force our fowle desire to looke and long for thinges to come Which to attaine this hope we haue supported by thrée thinges also Which strengthen and confirme my heart that from this hope it dooth not goe And so dooth animate my minde me so incourage and perswade That lacke of merites want of workes nor worldly blisse my minde may glad Nor estimation of the ioyes which with delight my heart dooth grope Not any of these shall hable be to hale me from the fort of hope First I consider that the looue of him that hath adopted me And secondlie the trueth of him whose promises performed bée The thirde his mercie might and power that in these thrée did me redéeme Haue I not cause these benefites most highlie them for to estéeme Now therefore let my fleshlie thoughtes repine and murmure with disdaine Euen as they lust and aske me how I can these heauenlie ioyes attaine With confidence I aunswer will I knowe whome I beléeued haue His benefites perswades me so which vndeserued his mercie gaue Most condempnable were to doubt I am assured of his trueth I fullie am resolude from hence Grace and adoption bothe ensueth That he his promise will performe as one best hable to fulfill He may and dooth bothe heauen and earth commaund and they obay his will For these his merites I of right my God and Sauiour ought to looue It is the working of his Grace and mercie so my minde to mooue When I doo flée out from his face me to his presence he allures When I for sinfull life dispayre my present comfort he procures I am vnthankfull for his giftes yet dooth he benefite me styll When I vncleannes would commit he dooth my carnall humours kyll When I in vanities delight his trueth to me he dooth declare When I lie bound in snares of sinne he dooth my fréedome straight prepare And to conclude he dooth preserue and kéepe me from the pit of hell And drawes me from the wicked world within his kingdome for to dwell FINIS 14. Cap. ¶ Of Gods bountie of our iniquitie and of thankes giuing 15. Cap. BVt yet my soule beholde and sée consider how Gods goodnesse showne In all his giftes and benefites which thou receyuest as thine owne What gladsome comfortable chéere if thou thy worldlie will deny Christe offereth him selfe to thée what delycates he dooth apply With foode thy hunger to refresh he store in mercie dooth bestowe Thy pouertie he dooth enritch All these his graces thou doost knowe What secrete good affections hée euen with the same thy heart aspyres As with a pleasaunt cuppe of looue he dooth replenishe thy desyres That thou his footsteppes follow doo and transitorie thinges forsake Héereby thou mayst beholde thy God how great accoumpt of thée dooth make This is no simple thing thou séest or vile contempned for to bée That thou a gadding fugitiue his mercie more should giue to thée Thou wast a rechlesse rebell rude thou to eche treacherie wast thrall Yet he vnto his setled home and heauenlie mancion did thée call And plentifullie did refreshe with consolation spirituall He harkened to thy mishappe or euer thou had minde to call He comfortes thy confused minde if thou were tempted he sustaind If he in daunger did thée finde thy lybertie was quicklie gaind He thée reléeu'de if sorrowfull by him thou should comforted bée If wauering in minde thou waste he did confirme and strengthen thée How often euen with verie feare thou séemed like a withered wight He quicklie did thy state redéeme and thée endude with strength and might When thou in drought did drie away he did himselfe to thée infuse And often he with spirituall light thine vnderstanding did peruse Thy sence with swéetnesse he perfumde when thou delightst to reade or sing To praye or meditate thy minde in any kinde of heauenlie thing He rauished thy déepe delight from déepe delight in worldlie vice That thou mightst take thy pleasure in his euerlasting Paradice I leaue to speake of mightie workes it pleasde his Maiestie so to doo Of kindnesse and of mercie more which he restorde my soule vnto Least any parte of his due prayse should be ascribed vnto me And that the giuers graces should with the receipt vnited be Or knit together with the same or séeme as equall in consent Or he lyke praises should receyue whome God dooth make his instrument For if the creature should presume to be pertaker of the prayse Iniuriouslie he dealeth with his good Creatour diuers wayes For what hath any man a liue that he of God did not receyue Why should he then be praysde for that which he enioyes not but by leaue To thée therefore O Lord my God all honour prayse and glorie be Thankes giuing laude dominion power for these thy Graces gouerne me Sée nowe therefore