to my selfe while my spirite desireth te be vpward and contrary my fleshe draweth me dounward O what suffer I inwardly I go about to mynde heauenly thynges and straight a greate rable of worldelie thoughts rush into my soule Therefore Lorde bée not longe awaie ne departe not in thy wrathe from me Sende me the light of thy grace destroie in me all carnall desires Sende forth the hotte flames of thy loue to burne and consume the cloudie phantasies of my mynde Gather O Lorde my wittes the powers of my soule together in thee and make me to despise al worldly thinges and by thy grace strongly to resist and ouercome all motions occasions of sinne Help me thou euerlasting truthe that no worldly gile nor vanitie hereafter haue power to deceiue me Come also thou heauenlie swéetenes and let all bitternes of sinne flée farre froÌ„ me PardoÌ„ me and forgiue me as ofte as in my praier my mynde is not surely fixed on thee For many tymes I am not there where I stande or sitte But rather there whither my thoughtes cary me For there I am where my thoughtes bee and there as customablie is my thought there is that that I loue And that oftentimes commeth into my minde that by custome pleaseth me beste and that deliteth me moste to thinke vpon Accordyngly as thou doest saie in thy Gospell where as a mannes treasure is there is his harte Wherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladly thereof and of suche thinges as be of God and of that that appertaineth to his honor to the glorifiyng of his holie name And if I loue the worlde I loue to talke of worldly thinges I ioye anone in worldly felicitie and sorrowe and lameÌ„t soone for worldlie aduersitie If I loue the fleshe I imagine oftentymes that that pleaseth the fleshe If I loue my soule I delite muche to speake and to beare of thynges that be for my foule healthe And whatsoeuer I loue of that I gladly heare speake and beare the Images of theÌ„ still in my mynde Blessed is that man that for the loue of the Lorde setteth not by the pleasures of this worlde learneth truly to ouercome hym self and with the fauour of the spirit crucifieth his fleshe so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he maie offer his praiers to thee and bee accepted to haue company of thy blessed Angels al yearthly thinges excluded from his harte Lorde and holie father be thou blessed now euer for as thou wilte so is it dooen and that thou dooest is alwaie beste Lette me thy humble and vnworthie seruaunte ioye onely in thee and not in my self ne in any thyng els beside thee For thou Lorde arte my gladnes my hope my croun and all my honour What hath thy seruaunt but that he hath of thee and that without his deserte All thynges be thine thou hast created and made them I am poore and haue been in trouble and pain euer froÌ„ my youth and my soule hath been in greate heauines thorowe manifolde passioÌ„s that come of the worlde and of the fleshe Wherefore Lorde I desire that I maie haue of thée the ioye of inwarde peace I aske of thee to come to that rest whiche is ordeined for thy chosen children that be vâ—ed and nourished with the light of heauenly comfortes for without thy helpe I caâ— not come to thee Lorde giue me peace giue me inward ioy and then my soule shalbe full of heauenly melody and be deuoute and feruente in thy laudes and praisynges But if thou withdraw thy self from me as thou haste sometyme dooen then maie not thy seruaunte runne the waie of thy commaundemeÌ„tes as I did beforâ— For it is now with me as it was when the Lanterne of thy ghostlie presence did shine vpon my heade and I was defended vnder the shadowe of thy winges from all perilles and daungers O mercifull Lorde Iesu euer to be praised the time is come that thou wilte proue thy seruaunte and rightfull is it that I shall now suffer somewhat for thee Now is the howre come that thou hast knowen from the beginnyng that thy seruaunt for a time should outwardly be set at naught and inwardly to leane to thee And that he should bée despised in the fight of y e world and be broken with afflictioÌ„ that he may after arise with thee in a newe light and bee clarified and made glorious in the kyngdome of heauen O holy father thou hast ordeined it so to bee and it is doen as thou hast coÌ„mauÌ„ded This is thy grace o lorde to thy freinde to suffer hym to be troubled in this worlde for thy loue how ofteÌ„ soeuer it be and of what persone so euer it bée and in what maner so euer thou wilt suffer it to fall vnto him for without thy wil or sufferaunce what thing is doen vpoÌ„ the earth It is good to me O lorde that thou hast mekened me that I maie thereby learne to knowe thy righteous iudgementes and to put from me all maner of presumptioÌ„ and statelinesse of harte It is very profitable for me that confusion hath couered my face that I maie learne therby rather to seke to thee for help succor then to maÌ„ I haue thereby learned to dread thy secret and terrible iudgementes whiche scourgeste the righteous with the synner but not without equitie and iustice Lorde I yelde thankes to thee that thou haste not spared my synnes but haste punished me with scrourges of loue and hast sent me afflictioÌ„ and anguishes within and without No creature vnder heaueÌ„ maie comforte me but thou Lorde GOD the heauenly leache of mans soule which strikeste and healest whiche bryngest a manne nigh vnto death after restorest hym to life againe that he maie therby learne to knowe his owne weakenesse and imbesilitie and the more fullie to trust in thee Lorde Thy discipline is laied vppon me and thy rodde of correction hath taughte me and vnder that rod I wholie submit me Strike my backe and my bones as shall please thee and make me to bowe my croked will vnto thy will Make me a meeke and an humble disciple as thou hast somtime doen with me that I maie walke after thy wil. To thee I commit my self to bee corrected for better it is to bee corrected by thee here then in tyme to â—ome Thou knowest all thynges and nothyng is hid from thee that is in mannes conscience Thou knoweste all thynges to come before thei fall and it is not nedefull that any man teach thee or warne thée of any thing that is doen vpon the yearth Thou knowest what is profitable for me how muche tribulatioÌ„s helpen to purge awaie y e rust of synne in me Do with me after thy pleasure I am a sinfull wretche to none so well knowen as to thee Graunt me lorde that to knowe that is necessarie to be knowen that to loue that is to bee loued that to desire that pleaseth thée that to
clerely deliuered by thee I maie with gladnes saie the right hande of him that is highest hath made this chaunge Lorde graunt me thy synguler grace that I may come thether where no creature shall let me ne kéepe me froÌ„ the perfect beholdyng of thée For as long as any transitorie thyng kepeth me back or hath rule in me I maie not frely ascende to thee O lorde without thee nothyng maie longe delite or please for if any thing should be likyng sauourie it must be through help of thy grace seasoned with y e spice of thy wisedome O euerlastyng light farre passyng all thynges sende doun y e beames of thy brightnesse from aboue and purifie and lighten the inward partes of my harte Quicken my soule and all the powers thereof that it maie cleaue fast and bée ioyned to thée in ioyfull gladnes of ghostly rauishynges O when shall that blessed howre come that thou shalt visite me and glad me with thy blessed preseÌ„ce wheÌ„ thou shalt be to me al in al verely vntill that tyme came there can be no perfect ioye in me But alas myne old man that is in my carnall affections liue still in me are not crucified nor perfectly dead For yet striueth the fleshe against the spirite and moueth greate battaile inwardly against me suffreth not thy kyngdome of my soule to liue in peace But thou good lorde that haste the Lordship ouer all and power of the Sea to asswage the rage and surges of the same arise and helpe me destroye the power of myne enemies whiche alwaies make battaile against me shewe forthe the greatnes of thy goodnesse and let the power of thy right hande be glorified in me For there is to me none other hope nor refuge but in thee onely my Lorde my God to thee bee honor and glory euerlasting O Lorde graunt me that I maie wholie resigne my self to thee and in all thynges to forsake my self and paciently to beare my crosse and to folowe thee O lorde what is man that thou vouchesaueste to haue minde of him to visit him Thou arte alwaie one alwaie good alwaie righteous and holie iustlie and blessedly disposyng all thynges after thy wisedome But I am a wretche and of my self alwaie readie and prone to euill and doe neuer abâ—de in one state but many tymes do varie and chaunge Neuerthelesse it shall bee better with me wheÌ„ it shall please thee for thou O lorde onely art he that maiest help me and thou maiest so confirme and stablishe me that my harte shall not be chaunged from thee but bée surely fixed and finally rest and be quieted in thee I am nothing els of my self but vanitie before thee an vnconstaunt creature and a féeble and therefore wherof maie I rightfully glorie Or why should I loke to be magnified Who so pleaseth hym self without thee despiseth thée and he that deliteth in mennes praisynges looseth the true praise before thee The true praise is to bee praised of thee and the true ioye is to reioyce in thee Wherefore thy name O lorde be praised not myne Thy workes be magnified and not myne and thy goodnesse bée alwaies lauded and blessed Thou arte my glorie and the ioye of my harte in thee shal I glorie and reioice and not in my selfe nor in any wordlie honour or dignitie whiche to thy eternall glory compared is but a shadowe and a verie vanitie O Lorde wée liue here in greate darknesse and are sone deceiued with the vanities of this wordle and are sone greeued with a little trouble yet if I could behold my self well I should plainly see that what trouble so euer I haue suffered it hath iustly comen vpoÌ„ me bicause I haue ofte sinned and greeuously offended thee To me therefore confusioÌ„ and despite is due but to thee laude honour and glorie Lorde sende mee helpe in my troubles for mans helpe is little worthe How often haue I been disappoineted wher I thought I should haue founde frendship And how often haue I founde it where as I leaste thought Wherfore it is a vain thing to truste in man for the true truste and healthe of man is onely in thee Blessed be thou lorde therfore in all thynges that happeneth vnto vs for wee bee weake vnstable sone deceiued â–ª and sone chaunged froÌ„ one thyng to an other O Lorde God moste righteous iudge strong and paciente whiche knoweste the frailtie and malice of man be thou my whole strengthe and coÌ„fort in all necessities for myne owne conscience Lorde sufficeth not Wherefore to thy mercie I dooe appeale seyng no man maie be iustified ne appeare righteous in thy sight if thou examine hym after thy iustice O blessed mantion of thy heauenly citie O moste clerest daie of eternitie whom the night maie neuer darkeÌ„ This is the daie alwaie cleare and mearie alwaie sure and neuer chaungyng his state Would too God this daie mighte shortly appeare and shine vpon vs and that this worldly phantasies were at an ende This daie shineth clearely to thy Sainctes in heauen with euerlastynge brightenesse but to vs pilgrimes in yearth it shineth obscurely and as through a mirrour or glasse The heauenlie Citezeins knowe how ioyous this daie is but we outlawes the children of Eue wepe and waile the bitter tediousnesse of our daie that is of this presente life short and euill full of sorowe and anguishe Where manne is oftentimes defiled with synne encoÌ„bred with affliction inquicted with troubles wrapped in cares busied with vanities blinded with errours ouerchanged with laboures vexed with temptations ouercome with vaine delites and pleasures of the worlde and greuouslie tormented with penurie and neede O wheÌ„ shall the'nde come of all these miseries When shall I bee clearely deliuered from the bondage of synne When shall I lorde haue onely minde on thee fullie be glad and merie in thee WheÌ„ shall I be frée without lettyng and be in perfect libertie without grief of bodie and soule Whe shall I haue peace without trouble peace with in and without and on euery side stedfast and sure O Lorde Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thée and haue full fighte and contemplation of thy glorie WheÌ„ shalt thou bee to me all in all And when shall I be with thée in thy kingdom that thou haste ordeined for thyne electe people from the beginnyng I am lefte here poore and as an outlawe in the laud of myne enemies where daily be battailes and greate misfortunes Comforte myne exile asswage my sorowe for all my desire is to be with thee It is come an â—npleasant burdeÌ„ what pleasure soeuer the worlde offreth me hore I desire to haue inwarde fruâ—sion in thee but I caÌ„ not attaine thereto I couet to cleane faste to heaueÌ„ly thynges but worldly affectioÌ„s pluck my minde doâ—neward I would subdue al euill affections but thei daily rebell and rife against me and will not be subiect vnto my spirit Thus I wretched creature fight in my self and am gréeuous
The Kynges Psalmes ¶ The firste Psalme 〈◊〉 the obteinyng remission â—f synnes O Lorde of Lordes God almightie greate and dreadfull whiche by thy woorde haste made heauen yearth the Sea and all thynges conteined in them Nothyng is hable to resist thy power thy mercie is ouer all thy woorkes 〈◊〉 thynges bée vnder thy dominioÌ„ and rule bothe man 〈◊〉 beaste and all liuyng â—â—â—atures Thou arte mercifull too whom thou wilte and haste compassion on whom it pleaseth thee Thy counsaile shalt stand for euer and what so euer thou wilt shalbe doen. Power Dominion and Glorie is thine whiche arte aboue all thynges and in all thynges and in vs all Thou arte father of mercies and GOD of all grace peace and comforte whiche wilt not the death of sinneâ— nor delitest in the damnation of soules O Lorde God whiche art riche in mercie and of thyne especiall loue towardes vs euen when wee were thyne enemies by sinne didst sende into the worlde thyne onely begotteÌ„ sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleueth duly in hym shall not perishe but haue euerlastyng life Haue mercie vpoÌ„ me haue mercie vpon me accordyng to thy greate mercie And according to the multitude of thy mercâ—â— put awaie myne 〈…〉 O God moste 〈…〉 me from my 〈◊〉 and make me cleane 〈◊〉 myne vncleannesse For I acknowledge O Lorde my heinous synnes and accuse my self of myne vnrighteous deedes I confesse against my self the wickednesse of my hart whiche hath been euer vnfaithfull and rebellyng against thy preceptes I haue béen an vntrue and a froward childe to thee and haue prouoked thee with my vanities O holie father I haue offended thy diuine Maiestie and am not worthie to bee called thy sonne Bicause I prouoked thee to anger through the multitude of my synnes and haue not exercised my self in thy righteous lawes I haue turned backe from thy waies and doen euill before thee I haue doen wickedly and vniustly behaued my selfe leauing thy coÌ„maundementes and murmuring against thy correction I haue tourned my self awaie and not kepte my promise made vnto thée I haue walked in an euill waie after myne owne thoughtes fantasies chusyng the thynges that thou wouldest not O Lorde God almightie I haue not feared thee nor shewed due reuerence vnto thee but I haue been disobedient stubburne vnto thée As a coÌ„mon harlot is with out shame eueÌ„ so am I without shame of my synnes for behold I speake vnto thee yet I synne more and more I haue left that whiche is good and gone backe from thee and I haue not put my truste and hope in thee my maker but haue soughte for helpe and sauegarde otherwise I haue ploughed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie eaten the fruicte of lyes Bicause I haue trusted in mine owne waie I haue cast thy lawes behynde my backe not regardyng thy commaundementes nor leauyng mine owne leude customes I haue not giuen my hart to returne to thy pathes for I would not knowe thee but haue falleÌ„ through mine iniquitie I neuer vnto this day turned truely vnto thée with all my harte But as a woman that breaketh her fidelitie and promise vnto her houseband euen so O lorde God I haue broken my promise vnto thee For I haue liued abhominablie and haue had no remorse nor repentaunce for my euill deedes but haue runne from synne to synne followyng the leude desires of my harte Thou knoweste all thynges O Lorde howe I haue prouoked thée to displeasure by my leude inuentions and none of all my synnes be hid from thee I hated thy discipline and correction and regarded not thy wordes and saiynges I haue not doen penaunce for my malice But haue increased in muche vanitie My harte hath been voide of truthe my handes haue wrought vnrighteousnesse My tonge hath spoken sinfully and I haue laboured with the imagination of my harte to finde out lyes and deceiptes and no truth hath been in my waies I haue accustomed my tong to speake â—rifles vanities fulfillyng my fleshly desires and thoughtes my purposes and inuentions haue been contrary to thy will whereby I haue offended the eyes of thy Maiestie Thou haste seen all these thynges O Lorde and haste holdeÌ„ thy peace and yet thei were euill in thy fighte and displeased thee In thy anger thou hast cast me awaie and arte diuided from me now many daies Thou hast giuen me vp to the desires of my harte To doe the thynges whiche bee not semyng Woe I am that I haue gone from thée greate is my miserie that I haue lead my life in synne Woe is me that I haue forsaken thee to doe my deuises not after thy minde to accomplishe my thoughtes which haue not proceaded of thy spirite but haue heaped vp synne vpon synne Myne infamie reproche is daiely before mine eyes for shame I dare not shewe my face And now o lord god why forgettest thou me why kepeste thou awaie so long thy mercie from me Heare now my cause gratiously although thou haste been displeased with me agreate while For thou arte mercifull bee not angrie alwaies I beseche thee Cast not awaie a contrite penitent persone a wretch and an abiecte whiche humblie calleth vpon thy name Tourne againe a little toward me O lorde God and forgiue me my mischeuous deedes Order me not accordyng to my sinnes nor punish me as my wickednes deserueth Shewe not forthe thy power against a poore wretch persecute hym not so sore which is without al streÌ„gth Turne not thy face alwaie from my praiers but accordyng to thy promises take me againe vnto thy fauour For I am thyne O righteous father whoÌ„ thine onely deare sonne hath redemed with his precious bloud And now my soule abhorreth my old coÌ„uersation and of thee whiche arte iudge of all men I aske mercie I dooe submit my self vnder thy mightie hand for after thyne anger thou shewest mercie and in the time of tribulation thou doest forgiue synnes I acknowledge that I am a sinner beseching thee lorde God almightie of thy goodnesse to doe with me accordyng to thy greate mercie I am coÌ„founded and ashamed to lifte vp myne eyes vnto thee for my synnes are ascended vp vnto thy sight Against thee O father againste thee I haue synned and dooen euill before thee thou seest that myne iniquitie is greate Truely I haue béen an offender againste thee euen from my cradell and sinee I sucked my mothers brestes I haue not ceased to doe euil Beholde I was begotten in iniquitie and my mother brought me into this worlde defiled with synne For the Corne of an euill seede is sowen in my harte and how muche wickednesse hath sprong therof vnto this daie thou knowest O lorde I can not shake of my synnes and offence but I carrie still with me the infamie of my youth Behold lord I am sold vnder sinne and in my fleshe I finde not that whiche is good For the good that I would that dooe I not but the euill that I hate that I doe
that thou spareste not hym that offendeth If I loke vpon thy power O how mightie and stronge thou art if I shall cal for iudgemente who shall defende my matter or speak for me To thée O lorde I cal and crie to thée my God I make myne humble sute Tourne awaie thyne anger from me That I maye knowe that thou arte more mercifull vnto me then my synnes deserue What is my streÌ„gth that I maie indure Or what is y e ende of my trouble that my soule maie pacieÌ„tly abide it My streÌ„gth is not a stonie strength and my flesh is not made of brasse There is no helpe in my selfe and my strength fleeth awaie from me Although thou hide these thynges in thyne harte yet I knowe that thou wilt remember me at length For thou art true and iust O lorde God thou doest not condemne vniustly whiche rewardest man accordyng to his deserteâ— All this is come vnto me bicause I haue forgotteÌ„ thée and not vsed my self truely in thy testament My hart hath turned backwarde and I hauâ— followed the desires of my fleshe And thou hast surely knowen thiâ— thing which â—nowest the sâ—cretes of the hart Laie not againste me O lord the sinnes of my youth nor haue in remembraunce â—yne olde iniuries dooen against thee Daily sorowe ouercometh me and saâ—nesse possesseth my harte I looke after peace but I can not haue it I looke for a tyme of health but my grief continueth still When the tyme of thyne anger is past let mercy come yet am I vnhappy more and more Woe and alas that euer I synned My harte therefore mourneth is sad all mirth and ioye be banished froÌ„ me How am I wasted How miserably am I confounded bicause I haue forsaken and caste awaie thy lawe Death hath asceÌ„ded vp by the windowes pearcyng the inwarde partes of my hart When I daily one while in use secretly with my self an other while with loude voice crie out and complain the meane tym◠〈◊〉 draweth nere to the pitte Who shall giue me place to reste in from all my griefes and troubles And I will forsake all men and get me awaie from them Who shal giue me water to my heade and a fountaine of teares to myne iyes that I maie bewaile my synnes bothe night and daie And I will looke for hym whiche maie saue me and deliuer me from the wrathe to come I haue no trust neither in life nor death but I feare thy iudgement o lorde the paines prepared for wicked sinners The feare of my sinne maketh me carefull the burdein of my conscieÌ„ce oppresseth me sore O God whiche tenderly louest mankinde art most rightful iudge spare me now I beseche thée and shewe me some fauour while tyme is Forgiue that which I feare putte awaie that whiche I dread before I depart hence and shall not returne again My synnes do vexe trouble me sore thei be so greate that none can be greater Alas my fal alas my miserie alas y e grief of my plague and stroke certainly my syn is the cause of all this and so I will take and suffer it ¶ The .v. Psalme for the obteinyng of godly wisedome O Lorde God of mercie whiche by thy woorde hast made all thinges and by thy wisedome haste created manne O God eternall to whom all thynges bee knowen bee thei neuer so secrete whiche knowest all thynges before thei be doen. Open my lippes and my mouthe that I make speake and shewe forthe the glorie and praise of thy name Giue me a newe hart and a right spirit take from me all wicked sinfull desires O lorde I am folishe ignoraunt and blinde wheÌ„ I am destitute of thy knowledge I am ignorant and without intelligeÌ„ce my dulnesse is so great that my iyes can no see nor my hart perceiue Yea I am a very babe and a child and knowe full little mine owne life coÌ„uersatioÌ„ My lippes bee defiled and vncleane my tyme is short and I am not able to vnderstande thy lawe Giue thy seruaunte I beseche thee an harte apte to take learnyng that I maye knowe what thing is acceptable in thy sight at al times Sende doune from heaueÌ„ the spirite of thy wisedome and replenishe my hart with knowledge thereof The wisedom giueth true knoweldge and out of thy mouth procedeth bothe couÌ„saile and intelligence Thy wisedome openeth the mouthe of the dombe and maketh the tongue of infantes eloquent If any seme to be perfecte among men yet if thy wisedome forsake hym he shalbe reckened nothyng worthe Thy wisedome is to men a treasure that faileth not which who so vse it thei are ioined to god in loue amitie Howe well is it with that man which is wittie in this behalf and hath his soule indued with thy wisedome What manne in all the worlde knoweth thy counsaile Or who caÌ„ compasse in his minde what thy will is Who can coÌ„prehende thy purpose and mynde Except thou giue him wisedom and instructe hym with thy holie spirite For mennes reasons dooe faile in many thynges and their forecastes and inuentions be vncertaine vnsure For the mortall and corruptable bodie muche greeueth the soule and the earthly house of the bodie holdeth doune the minde musyng vpon many thynges CouÌ„saile and good successe commeth from aboue wher also wisedome is and vertue With thee O lorde is richesse glorie and righteousnesse whiche bee treasures incorruptible He that hath fouÌ„d out thee hath founde life and he that loueth not thée loueth death O Lorde GOD touche my mouthe that my iniquitie maie bee driuen awaie dwell thou in my harte that my synnes maie be purged Wisedome doeth not enter into a malicious soule nor will abide in a bodie whiche is suiecte to synne Teache me O lorde God least my ignorance increase and my synnes waxe moe and moe Let thy spirite teache me the thynges that bee pleasaunt vnto thée that I maie bee ledde into the straighte waie out of errours wherin I haue wandered ouer long Let thy wisedome bée stablished in my spirite write thy lawe in my harte Thy wisedome is to me more precious then al riches and I desire more to haue it thaÌ„ all other thinges be thei neuer so faire and goodly O lord thou knowest how sore I am inflamed with the loue of thy wisedome which is my onely studie and meditation O how pleasaunt swete thy wordes be to my harte truely muche more then honie is to my mouthe Thy worde is a bright caÌ„dell to my feete and a lighte to my waies Thy wisedom pleaseth me more then thousaÌ„des of gold or of siluer can doe I haue more pleasure and delectatioÌ„ in the waie of thy wisedome then in greate aboundaunce of treasure Would GOD my waies maie be ordered that I may learne thy wisedom and thy woordes Thy woorde giueth heate and inflameth wherefore I greatly desire it O happie is he lorde whoÌ„ thou instructest and makest learned in thy lawe His soule hath alwaie