any thing of the Virgin See how much the holy man strayned himselfe who shut his eyes least hee should behold vanitie lest by chance vnawares hee should respect that which afterwards inwardly he might desire Afterward and after such sort that the prophet hath entreated of the cleannesse of the heart he beginneth to speake of the reward thereof How glorious and delectable a thing it would bee to see the face of the Lord so long wished for beautifull in fairenesse aboue the Sonnes of men Now not abiect and base not hauing a hope with which his mother cloathed him but arayed with a robe of immortality and Crowned with a diademe with which his father hath crowned him in the day of resurrection and glory the day which the Lord hath made Meditation thinketh that in that vision there shall bee that fulnes of which the prophet speaketh We shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appeare Doe you not percerue how much lie our hath flowed out of a little grape how great a fler is risen out of this sparke and how much this little text is extended in the same Meditation Blessed bee the cleane in heart for they shall see God But how much yet might bee extended or enlarged if any one should come that hath proued such things For I feele that the well is déepe and I in these things vnskilfull I haue scantly sound a vessel in which I might draw vp few things The soule inflamed with these lights sacrificed with these desires the Alablaster box of sweete oyntment broken beginneth to sauor not of tast but as it were of an odoriferous sent Of this the soule doth gather how swéet a thing it is to féele the experience whereof it hath knowne MeditatioÌ„ to be so pleasant But what shall the soule doe it burneth with desire to haue it but it doth not find in it selfe how it may haue it and in how much more it searcheth the more greatly it desireth whilst it setteth before it meditation it setteth before it also sorrow because it vnderstandeth not the sweetnes which Meditation sheweth to be in the cleanesse of heart For it commeth not of reading and meditating to vnderstand this sweetnesse except it bee giuen from aboue for to reade and meditate is as common to the euill as to the good And those Philosophers of the Gentiles by the leading of reason found out in what the châ—efe of true goodnesse consisted But because when they had known God they glorified him not as God but presuming on their â—wne power they sayde bee will magnifie our owne tongues our lipps 〈◊〉 our owne they deserued not to vnderstaÌ„d what they might see They vanished in their owne thoughts and their wisedome is devoured which humane study of discipline had bestowed vpon them not the spirit of wisedome which onely giueth true wisedome which is to say sauory knowledge which when it is in whomsoeuer that inestimable sauor gladdeth and comforteth And of that it is said wisedome doth not enter into a malicious soule For this is of God alone and as God had giuen the office of baptizing to many yet in baptisme he hath retayned to himselfe onely the power and authority of forgiunesse of sins Wher vpon John hath sayde of him distinctly this is hee which baptiseth in the holy Ghost And of him we may say this is he which giueth the tast or sauor of wisedome hee maketh knowledge sauory to the Soule For truely speech is giuen to many Wisedome to a fewe the which the LORD distributeth to whom hée will and how he will The office of Prayer BVt the Soule perceiuing of it selfe that it caÌ„not attaâ—ne to the desired swéetnesse of knowledge experience by how much the more it commeth to the secret heart by so much the more God is exalted it humbleth it selfe vnto prayer saying Lord which art not seene but of cleane hearts I haue searched in reading I haue sought in meâ—itating how true cleannesse of heart may be had that by that meanes I might know thee I did seeke thy face O Lord thy face O Lord did I séeke I haue long meditated in my heart and in my meditation the fier waxed not and my desire more to know thee whilst thou breakest to me the bread of holy scripture and in the breaâ—ing of bread in which then art more knowne And how much more I know thee I long the more to knowe thée not in the barke of the letter but in the séeâ—ng of practice and experience Neither do I humbly aske this O Lord for my merits but for thy mercy Because I confesse I am vnworthy and a sinner but yet the dogs doe eate of the crums that fall from their masters table Giue me O Lord an earnest of the inheritance to come at least one droppe of heauenly raine wherwith I may coole my thirst for I burne with great desire The office of Contemplation WIth these and such burning speeches the soule doth inflame her desire like as shee doth shew her affection With these incantations shee calleth vpon her bridegroome But the Lord whose eyes are vpon the righteous his eares open only vnto their prayers euen those their prayers he tarteth not for vntill they shall end their speech but interrupteth the middle course of their prayer and making speede offereth hâ—mselfe and compassed about with the dew of heauenly sweetnesse meeteth the longing soule and annointed with excellent oyntments refresheth the wearied soule comforteth the hungrie fatneth the poore maketh it forget earthly things quickneth it vnmindfull of it selfe in strengthening it meruailously And as in certaine carnall and fleshely pleasures carnal concuâ—iscence doth so much ouercome that it loseth all the vse of reason So of good right worthyly in this supernal Contemplation carnall fleshly motions are quite consumed and swallowed vp from the soule so that the flesh may contrary or gain say the soul in nothing man become altogether spirituall Signes of the holy Ghost comming to man O LORD how dost thou appeare when thou wilt doe these things and what signe of thy comming Whether are déepe sighes and teares witnesses and messengers of this comfort and gladnesse If it bee so this is a new meaning and an vnusuall signe For what agreement is there of comfort to sighes of gladnesse to teares but yet if these are to bee called teares and not rather the ouerflowing aboundance of the inward dew powred vpon and a signe of an inward washing and an outward clensing Like as in baptisme of Children by the outward washing is signified and figured the inward washing of the soule so here the inward clensing goeth before the outward washing O happy teares by which the inward spotts are purged and by which the burning flames of sinnes are quenched Blessed are you that so mourne for you shal reioyce O soule acknowledge thy Bridegroome with teares imbrace thy long wished for Now bee drunken with the flowing streame of pleasure sucke milke and hony from
Apostle did know when he saide By the grace of God I am that I am and because his grace in me is not in vame his grace remaineth in mee This double knowledge had Abraham of himselfe when he saide Beholde I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the Lord which am but dust and ashes In truth man is but dust for as dust is forced about with euery winde and is cast downe and there remaineth So man may fall into euery vice neither can moue to rise except the mercy of God ayde him Also man is ashes because as ashes bringeth forth neyther budde nor sproute of it selfe neither the receiued séede springeth out of it So a man neither can doe good nor remaine in any good thing without the grace of God Therefore wée ought to render great thankes vnto God because hee hath granted many good things vnto vs and many euils that wee haue done hee hath pardoned vs and hath preserued vs from many euils which wee might haue done as likely as many others which wee haue committed done for what euill soeuer wée haue not done it is through his mercy that we haue not done it for if he had suffered it surely we had done it aswell in déed as will And in sooth I do not know whether wee ought to loue him more for those thinges which hee hath forgiuen vs or for those sins which hée hath kept vs frée from For although wée haue not done them wée ought to thinke as if wée had done them and as though hee had forgiuen them for somuch as we had at the least done theÌ„ willingly if he had suffered it In very truth whosoeuer in such maner doth acknowledge himselfe he is both humble before God and men He loueth God and all men for God his sake And if hée haue perfect charity hée iudgeth no man he accuseth no man he condemneth no man he beareth no malice hée mooueth no brawles â—ée soweth no discorde hée doth not persecute innocents he hâ—reâ—â— not those which reproue him hée committeth no theft no false witnesse no periury he slandereth no man be hurteth no man hée hateth none but loueth all men It is written yée shall loue one another for so familiar is charity with God that hee will not dwell in him in whoÌ„ charity is not Who so euer therefore hath charity hath God because God is charity And who so hateth one man looseth God and the good that he doth Wherefore let euery one be carefuâ—l least for the hating of one man he looseth God and euery good thing CHAP. XI That euery man should know himselfe KNow thy self know from whence thou commest and whither thou shalt how thou liuest how much good thou dost or failest therein how farre thou art from God or how neare not as in space betwéene places but in the likenes and vnlikenes of good life and behauior Know how thou art a man whose conception was in sinne to bée borne in misery to liue in griefe and paine and that to die there is no remedie Certaine is it that thou shalt die but vncertaine how or when or where because death expecteth thée euery where And thou if thou be wise expect it euer Therefore carefully take héed what thou doest or what thou oughtst to do if thou hast anything to doe do it If it be to doe good mixe it not with any euill if it be good that thou shouldest doe accomplish it with much vprightnesse as thou oughtest If it be for another doe it as if thou shouldest doe it for thy selfe If thou thy selfe doest good doe it so well that it be a good example to others And thus as the Prophet Dauid sayeth and willeth Thou shalt decline from euill and doe good CHAP. XII What Meditation is BY Meditation wée may the better know God our selues Meditation bringeth knowledge knowledge bringeth compunction compunction causeth deuotion deuotion causeth prayer Meditation is an often moouing of the minde very diligent and foreséeing to search or finde out the meaning of thinges which are hard to bee vnderstood and to bring secrete thinges to knowledge Knowledge or learning is when a man is inlightned by often Meditation to the knowledge of himselfe Compunction is when through the consideration of his owne euills the heart is touched with an inward griefe Deuotion is a godly and an buÌ„ble affection towardes God Hamble by the knowledge of his owne infirmities godly by the consideration of the diuine mercy Prayer is a deuotion of the minde conuerting to God thorough holy and humble affection Affection is a certaine selfe will and swéete inclination of the mind wholy towardes God for there is nothing mouing God so much to loue and mercy as the pure affection of the minde Mens natures is to loue and prayse the knowledge of heauenly and earthly thinges But they are much better that preferre before this knowledge the knowledge whereby to know themselues For truely more prayse worthy is the soule that knoweth his owne infirmity and misery then it which searcheth the course of the starres and natures of things For the soule which waiteth vpon the Lord moued by the feruency of the holy Ghost and imbaseth it selfe before him in his loue and though not able yet willing to enter into him and hee shining oâ— that soule it wayteth on him and findeth him and acknowledging the grief of minde not to bée compared to his mercy hath good cause méekely to wéepe and to beséech him that hee will haue mercy and compassion on it and to put from it all misery This poore soule néedy and sorrowfull knowledge puffeth not vp because loue and charity edifieth and establisheth it For man setteth before him knowledge that is to know himselfe and his owne infirmities rather then to know the force and vertue of hearbes and the nature of all liuing creatures and setting before him this knowledge hée setteth before him griefe and sorrow that is in what hee hath rebelled and lailed in in this his life and pilgrimage in the earth considering of his owne country which hee is to go to and to sée his liuing and eternal God He sorroweth that he is kept in banishment and exile because hee is delayed and put off from his kingdome Hee sorroweth whilest hee calleth to minde what and how great euils he hath done and what intollerable paines for them hee is like to suffer CHAP. XIII That the soule cannot containe it selfe in good thoughts WHen I doe consider what the nature of the Soule is which can giue life to the flesh but cannot as it desireth containe it selfe in good thoughts I doe finde a certaine spirit belonging to vnderstanding liuing by the power of the Creator and quickening the body which it nourisheth and maintaineth But notwithstanding subiect to vanity and changeablenesse which often times myrth and gladnesse lifteth vp feare troubleth iniquity mortifieth righteousnesse reuiueth for in trueth the life of the Soule is God the death of the Soule is
Come the excellent glorie of all the liuing the onely health of the dying Come most holy spirite come and haue mercy on mée prepare mée for thée and discend louingly to me that my vnability and weakenesse may please thy greatnesse and strength according to the multitude of thy compassions through Iesus Christ my sauiour who with the father in vnitie of thée liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer to the holy Trinity O Thrée coequal and coeternall persons one god and true the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost who onely possesseth eternity and light that no man can come to who hast made the whole worlde with thy power and rulest the round compasse of the earth with thy wisdome Holy-holy holy Lorde God of Sabaoth terrible and strong iust and mercifull to be wondred at to bee praised and to be beloued one god three persons one power wisdome and goodnesse one and vnseparable Trinitie Open to mee calling on thee the gates of righteousnesse and then entring into them I wil confesse to thee O Lord. Beholde the earnest desire of the inward affections of my heart crying out and the complaint of the teares of mine eyes at thy gate O most gracious father before thee is all my desire and my mourning is not hidde from thee and thou O Lord turne not thy face any more from me neyther passe by in thy wrath from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the wailing of thine Orphan and reach out thy right hande an helper that it draw mee backe from the depth of waters and lake of miseries and the puddle of dregs least I should perish the mercy of thine eyes looking on the clemency of thy heart beholding but that I may passe without danger to thée my Lord God that I may sée the riches of thy Kingdome and beholde thy face for euer and sing prayses to thy holy name O Lord which doest maruailous thinges which makest my heart glad with the remembrance of thee which lightenest my youth Despise not mine olde age but make my bones to reioyâ—e and my gray haires to renue as an Eagle Amen Another of the same O God the true and very excellent life from whome by whome and in whome all things whatsoeuer doe liue are good and glorious to see to God whose faith doth erect vs whose hope doth comforte vs whose loue doth linke vs together God which commandest thy selfe to bee sought and makest thy selfe to bee found and openest to him that knocketh God from whome to bee turned it is to fall to whome to bee turned it is to rise in whome to remaine it is most auaileable God whome no man loseth but is deceyued whome no man seeketh but is warned whome no man findeth but is clensed and healed God whom to knowe it is to liue whome to serue it is to raigne whome to praise â—t is health and ioy to the soule Thee I praise blesse and honour with my lippes and heart and with all the strength and power I am able and I thanke thy mercy and goodnesse for all thy benefites and I sing an Hymne to thy glorie Holy holie holy I call on thee O blessed Trinity that thou wouldest come into mee and make mee a worthie temple of thy glorie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beséech the sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the sonne that all my sines and weckednesse bee remooued farre from mee Most mightie God from whome all things by whom all things and in whome all thinges are made visible and inuisible which compassest thy workes round aboute which replenishest them within couerest them aboue and sustainest them vnderneath keepe mee the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting in thine onely mercy keep mee I beseech thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behind aboue beneath and round about so that no place lie open in me to the deceits of mine enemies Thou art God omnipotent the keeper and protector of all them that put their trust in thee without whome no man is safe no man is deliuered from daungers thou art God and there is no other God besides thee neither in heauen aboue nor in earth below which doest great things to be wondred at of which there is no number Praise honour and songs to thy laud belongeth To thee al the Angels to thee the heuens and all the powers make Hymnes and sing prayses incessantly as it behooueth the creatures to their Creator the seruants to their Maister the Souldiours to their King Euery creature magnifyeth thee euery soule prayseth thee most holie and vnseperable Trinity through Isus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer how the word becomming flesh is cause of our hope GOD is not so much an enemy that hee may not loue his owne flesh his owne members ' and bowels verily I might despaire by reason of my too many sins and vices faults and infinite negligences which I haue committed and dayly and continually do in Hearte and Worde and deede and by all the meanes by which humaine frailety may sinne but that thy worde my GOD was become flesh and dwelled in vs. But now I dare not despaire because hee beeing obedient to thee euen to the Death yea the death of the Crosse tooke vp the hand writing of our sinnes and nailed it to the Crosse Crucified sinne and Death Therefore in him safely I rest which sitteth at thy righte hand and maketh intercession for vs. Hauing a sure confidence in him I look for to come to thee in whom we are risen againe now we are ascended into heauen and set together in the celestiall places to thee be praise to thee hee glorie to thee be honour to thee be praise and thansgiuing Amen A Praier that the kingdome of Heauen may be obtained O Happie reioysing and reioysing happinesse to see the holie ones to bee with them and to bee to see the holy God to possesse God for euer and infinitly these things wee should consider of with an earnest minde these thinges wee shoulde desire with all longing that wee might bee able quickly to come to them If thou wouldest consider and inquire how this may bee brought to passe either by what meanes heare mee this matter is put in the power of him that can doe it because the kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence the Kingdome of Heauen O man seeseeketh no other price then thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt possesse it Why art thou troubled touching the price Christ hath yeelded and deliuered vp himselfe to God his father that thou shouldest purchase thee a Kingdom thou so giue thy selfe that thou be his Kingdom and that sinne may not raigne in thy mortall bodie but the spirit in obtaining of eternall life A Praier for the sweetnes of heauenly loue I Loue thee my God I loue thée and more and more will loue thee O my Lorde my God
now as a shadow in the way I purpose to receiue at last his face reuealed to beholde him for euer who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen Another O Lorde my soule my coÌ„panion and friend wearie and comming out of the way fainteth lyeth broken torne of those vanities which it had passed through it is hungry and greatly thirsteth and I haue not wherwithall to set before it because I am poore and a begger Thou my Lord God art rich of al good things most rich and a liberall giuer of dainties satisfying from aboue giue meate to the weary bind vp the scattered refresh the broken and torne Sée it standeth at thy doore and knocketh I beséech thée through the vowels of thy mercy with which thou hast visited vs rising out of the déepe open to the wretched knocking the hand of thy deuotion and bid with thy mercifull fauour that it may enter into thee it may liue with thée and bee refreshed of thee with heauenly Bread and Wine whereby béeing satisfied and strength taken againe it may ascend to higher places being taken vp with the wings of holy desire from this vaile of teares it may fly to the celestiall kingdomes Lord I beseech thee that my spirit might receiue wings like an Eagle and might flie and not faint that it might flie euen to the beauty of thy house and to the place of the habitation of thy glorie that there vpon the table of the refection of heauenly Citizens it may bee fedde of thy secrets in the place of thy Pasture next toe most flowing waters c. Prayers after the Communion MOst sweet lord Iesus strike through the inward part of my heart and bowels of my Soule with the most sweete and Healing wound of thy loue with the true cleare and most holy Apostolicall loue that my soule may languish and melt with the onely and continuall loue and desire of thee that it may couet thée and faint in thy porch that it may desire to be dissolued and be with thée Grant that my soule may hunger after thée the bread of Angels the refreshing of holy souls our dayly bread hauing all pleasantnesse of tast and all delectation of swéetnesse yea for euer that my heart hunger and be fed on thee on whom the Angels delight to looke and that the inwards of my soule may bée filled with the plesantnesse of the tast of thée that it may euer thirst after thée the well of life the fountaine of wisedome and knowledge the spring of eternall light the riuer of pleasure the bounty of the house of God that it may euer desire thée séeke thée finde thée come to thee Meditate on thée speake to thée and may worke all thinges to the prayse and glory thy holy name with all humility and discretion with delight and delectation with obedience and affection with perseuerance to the ende And be thou alwaies my onely hope my trust my riches my delight my reioicing my ioy my rest my peace my sweetnesse my wisedome my portion my possession my treasure In whom bee my mind and heart fastned sure and immoueable rooted for euer Amen Another I Giue thee thankes O Lord holy Father almighty and eternal God which vouchsafest to satisfie me sinner thy vnworthy seruant with the precious body and blood of thy son our Lord Iesus Christ not by any of my merits but with the only fauour of thy mercy I beseech thee that this holy Communion be not my guiltinesse to punishment but a healthfull intercession to pardon Be it vnto me an armour of faith and a target of good will be it an auoiding of my faults an increasing of Charity patience humility obedience a sure defence against the wiles and deceits of all mine enemies as well visible as inuisible a perfect appeasing of my motions as well carnall as spirituall a sure fastning in the true and one God and a happy consummation of my ending And I pray thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me sinner to that vnspeakeable feast where thou with thy Son and the holy Ghost with thy elect art the true light the ful satiety the ioy euerlasting the confirmed reioysing and pâ—rfite felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A warning to the soule O Sinnes what easie entries you haue whilest you are in counsel but how hard and difficult goings out haue you Whilest you perswade and obtaine you doe delight but after you sting and vexe euen to the death of the soule My soule before all things I warne thee as the Mother of vertues least in the thoughts of thy euils thou shouldest runne into the snares of some Diuill into the which many vnheedily run and through the remembrances of the sinfull delights foolishly fall againe into the same their sinnes and euils The Concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of life BEhold Lord my God all the world is full of snares and concupiscences which they haue prepared for my feet And who may flie these snares Truely hee from whom thou takest away the euill lifting vp of his eies that the concupiscence of his eyes take him not and from whome thou takest a way the concupiscence of the flesh least the concupiscence of the flesh take him And from whom thou takest away an vnreuerent and a vaine glorious mind least the pride of life subtillie deceiue him O how happy is hee for whome thou doest these things surely he shall passe through free and blameles Now my redéemer I beséech thee for thine owne sake helpe me that I fall not grieuously in the beholding of mine aduersaries takeÌ„ with their snares which they haue made ready for my féet that they bow not downe my soule Thou Lord God father of the fatherles heare the pitiful cries of the children and spred out thy wings that wee may flie vnder them from the face of the enemie Thou tower of the strength of Israel which slumbrest neither sléepest kéeping Israel because the enemy neither slumbreth nor sléepeth that fighteth against Israel Of the misery of man without God LOrd forsake me not least the shadowes of mine ignorance increase and mine offences multiply for without thee all thinges are darknesse vnto mee all things are euill because nothing is good without thée the true onely and chiefest good This I confesse this I know my Lord my God for whersoeuer I am without thée it is euill with mee not onely of matters external concerning my selfe but in my selfe for all plenty and aboundance without my God is to mee want and misery Then shall I be rich and satisfied when thy glory shall appeare And thou lord my happie life graunt that I may euer confesse my misery to thee With how much bitternes this life is sprinckled I Am greatly weary Lord of this life of tedious pilgrimage This life is a frail life an vncertaine life a painefull life a defiled life a life Ladie
that the one say to the other know God for all knoweth him and beholdeth him all praise hâ—m and loue him They know him without errour they sée him without ende they prayse him and loue him without wearinesse They euer see him and desire to sée him so much worthy hee is to be séene They euer loue him and euer desire to loue him so sweete is hée to be loued And by how much they loue him by so much the more they will loue him hee is so delightfull to bee enioyed In this delight they repose themselues being full of God full of all blessing and sanctification and cleauing euer to blessednesse they are blessed and happie beholding euer eternity they are eternall And ioyned to the light are made light beholding euer vnchangeablenesse are chaunged into vnchaungeablenesse So much the more willinglier they beholde him in how much hee is the sweeter which countenance is holy and mercifull his face honorable his speeche pleasant O blessed sight to see the King of Angels in his honour to see the holy of all holy by whom all are holy To see him is the chiefest felicity the chiefest ioy a blessed life and life euerlasting Godly Prayers A Prayer to God the Father to vouchsafe to helpe mankinde ALmighty God the ouerséer and searcher of my heart I doe most humbly confesse the omnipotency of thy Maiestie and the maiestie of thy omnipotency But how thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankinde to the ende of all ages as I beléeue in my heart to righteousnesse and iustification so with my mouth before thée I confesse to my comfort and saluation Thou onely indéede God the father art neuer read as sent but the Apostle writeth so of thy Sonne which is when the fulnesse of time came God sent his sonne When hée saith hee sent hee apparantly sheweth that hee came sent into this world as borne of the blessed virgin he appeared in the flesh very true and perfect man But what is it that the chéefest of the Euangelistes saith of him hee was in the world and the world is made by him In truth thither hée is sent in humanity where hee was euer and is touching his Gothead Which sending I assuredly beleeue with all my heart and confesse with my mouth to be the worke of all the holy Trinity But how hast thou loued vs holy and good Father how much hast thou loued vs mercifull maker which also hast not spared thine onely Sonne but hast deliuered him for vs wretched sinners Hee was subiect and obedient to thee euen vnto the death yea to the death of the crosse taking vp the haâ—â— writing against vs of our sinnes and nailing it to the Crosse crucified sinne and slew death hee onely free amongst the dead hauing power to lay downe his life for vs and to take it againe for vs. Therefore is he a conquerer and a sacrifice for conquest and therefore a conquerour because a sacrifice to thee for vs a Priest and an oblation therefore a Priest because an oblation or offering Worthily haue I a strong hope in him because thou shalt heale through him all my griefes and weakenesse who sitteth at the right hand and maketh intercession for vs. For Lord my languors and griefes are great and many many they be and great for the Prince of this world hath many things in me I know and confesse it But I beséech thee deliuer mée through our redéemer sitting at thy right hand in whom no euill may be found Thorough him iustifie mee which hath done no offence neither was there found any guile in his mouth through him our head in whom is no spot deliuer me a member of him although very slerder and weake I beséech thée deliuer mée from all my sinnes imperfections faults and negligences Replenish mee with thy holy vertues and make mée to preuaile in good vsage and behauiour make me for thy holy names sake to perseuers in goodnesse euen to the end according to thy will Amen A Prayer to God the Sonne Obountiful Iesu O sweete Iesu O Iesu the Sonne of the blessed virgin Mary full of mercie truth O sweet Iesu haue mercie on mee according to thy great mercy O gracious Iesu I beseech thée by that precious bloud which thou hast vouchsafed to shed for vs wretched sinners vpon the aultar of the Crosse that thou wilt cast away all mine iniquities and that thou wilt not despise me humbly praying thee and calling vpon this thy most holy name Iesus this name Iesus is a coÌ„fortable name for what is Iesus but a sauiour O bountifull Iesu which hast â—reated mee and redéemed me with thy precious blood suffer me not to bee damned whome thou hast made of nothing O good Iesu Christ let not mine iniquitie destroy whom thy omnipotent goodnesse hath made and created O swéete Iesu reknowledge that which is thine in me wipe away that which is contrary from me O good Iesu haue mercy on me whilest time is of taking mercy least thou shouldest destroy mée in time of thy terrible iudgement O good Iesu if I wretched sinner from thy true iustice haue deserued euerlasting punishment for my most grieuous sins yet hauing a sure confidence I appeale from thy true iustice vnto thine vnspeakeable mercy vntill thou hast compassion on mee like a louing Father and a mercifull God O mercifull Iesu what profite is there in my bloud if I descend into euerlasting corruption For O Lord the dead shall not praise thée neither such as goe downe into hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy on mee O most swéete Iesu bee vnto me wretched sinner a fauorable Iudge O Iesu the health of those that put their trust in thée O Iesu the health of al that beléeee in thée haue mercy on me O swéet Iesu the remission of all my sinnes O Iesu sonne of the virgin Mary poure into me grace wisdome charitie chastitie and also a holy patience in all mine aduersities that I may perfectly loue thee for euer worlde without end Amen A Prayer to God the holy Ghost GIue sentence with mee O GOD and discerne my cause against the vngodly people Teach me to do thy will because thou art my god I beleeue in whome soeuer thou dwellest thou buildest there the long abyding place of the Father and the sonne togither Blessed is hee that shall deserue to receiue and lodge thee because by thee the Father the son make their mansion with him Come nowe come most blessed comforter of the sorrowfull soule descending in due time In tribulation an helper Come the clenser of euills the curer of wouÌ„ds· Come the strength of the weake the releeuer of those ready to fall Come the teacher of the humble the destroyer of the proude Come the gentle Father of the fatherlesse and motherlesse the fauourable Iudge of the widowes Come the hope of the poore the refresher of the faint Come thou starre of the Mariner thou hauen of them that escape shipwracke