A PARADISE of prayers CONTAINING the purity of deuotion and meditation Gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of LEVVES of Granado AND Englished for the benefit of the Christian Reader Ascendat oratio descendat gratia LONDON Printed by R. Field for Mathew Law and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard neere vnto S. Austines gate 1614. At our vprising GOd the Father that saidst in the beginning Let light be made it was made lighten my eies that I sleepe not in death lest at any time mine enemie say vnto me I haue preuailed against him God the sonne light of light the great truest light from whence this light both of sunne and day ariseth thou light shining in darkenesse and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde driue from me all darknes of ignorance and giue me vnderstanding that in thee and by thee I may know the Father to know whom is to liue and to serue whom is to reigne God the holy Ghost thou fire both illuminating and warming kindle in me thy light that I may know the deceitful delights of this world and the true ioyes of heauen Enlighten my minde that I may see how great a good our enemy soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow Grant that I may onely see those things that are thine and be blinde to the rest infuse also into my minde the gift of thy charity that forsaking those transitorie things I may with a feruent zeale and continuel desire endeuour to attaine those things which are eternall Holy Trinity one God defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō assistance in temptation and in death a pleasant refuge Thou hest raised my body O Lord which was drowned in sleep I beseech thee that thou wilt deliuer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins the darknes of this world and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking may it please thee after death to restore to the same life for sleepe is to thee as death to vs. To thee be praise cleernes wildome thanksgiuing honor vertue fortitude for euer and-euer Amen When we rise RIse O my soule that sleepest arise from death Christ shal shine vnto thee Arise O thou daughter of Sion O my soule redeemed by Christs blood shake off the dust of sinnes set in thee the peace of Christ purchased for thee by his merits Christ thou mercifull aduocate of mankind as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit so lift vp our minds to the knowledge loue of thy Maiesty and grant that the body may be a companion Minister of pietie to the soule in this life to the end that in the life to come it may be partaker of that eternal blessednes where thou liuest reignest with God the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day OMnipotent eternall Lord the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I praise thee I blesse thee and with my whole heart giue thee thanks that according to thy vnmeasurable goodnes thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence preserued me this night that it hath pleased thee to be present with me so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me that thou hast protected me from all euill both of soule and body that thou hast defended me being drowned in profound sleepe by the assistance of thy holy Angels as it were with an impregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary who neuer letteth slip any opportunity to hurt vs Finally for that thou hast sweetly raised me from sleepe the true image of death lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins to the end I might haue space and time yet at the length to recollect and earnestly repent my selfe Now likewise O father of mercy and God of all consolation I beseech thee and from the bottome of my heart intreat thee that this day thou wilt take me also into thy fatherly protection and behold me with thy mercifull eies direct me in the way of thy commaundments and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit by whose means I may begin continue and end this day likewise to the praise and glory of thy holy name to the profit of my neighbors and the saluation of my soule endeuouring my selfe euery where and in all things without neglect of my duty to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called Keep me O Lord from all sin restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie and friend and minister to that old Adam coole by the dewe of thy spirit the heate of concupiscence that reigneth in my members lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me Grant O mercifull father and vouch safe O deere Lord that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue Direct this day my heart and my body my senses speeches and my actions in thy law in the workes of thy commaundements Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal that forsaking the riches and delights of this world I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome Curb and restraine the power of the diuell our old and sworne enemie that although hee rangeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure he may not yet hurt or any wayes hinder mee But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son who is the propitiation for my sins behold him O mercifull father and for the iustice sake of thy Son forgiue the sins of thy seruant grant mee that by thy mercy which is not my due in iustice who liuest reignest God for euer and euer Amen Morning exercises 1. The commemoration of benefits receiued O God my God early doe I wake vnto thee ◅aith y◠thy holie Prophet And a little after he addeth so I was mindfull of thee on my bed early in the morning will I think on thee because thou wert mine helper And I my Lord God with that holy king desire to watch Let this be the beginning of my occupations let the day beginne with this thought of mine For heereunto the duties driue me whereby I am bound vnto thee this is the end of my creation for I was therefore made to the end I should praise thee glorifie magnifie and sanctifie thy name For thou art the beginning and the end of all things I say the beginning without beginning and the end without end For euen as no man might euer create any thing without
body also O most sweete Iesus contaminate with many crimeâ—… this night and al other times sucâ—… rest that I may neuer depart from thee who art eternal tranquillitie neither at any time forsake theâ—… or through the dulnesse and sluggishnesse of my slothfull flesh beâ—… forgetfull of thee and thereby beâ—… thrust into the perpetuall agitatâ—… on and damnation of incessaâ—… trouble For which cause O eternal an most mercifull Lord I comment my spirit into thy hands for thoâ—… our most mercifull Sauiour haâ—… redeemed vs on the wood of thâ—… crosse suffer not my spirit O Lord to sleepe in sinne and saint therein lest I bee buried in eternall death â—…ut watch ouer mee and intend â—…y safety O most faithfull shepheard suffer mee not being destiâ—…ute of thy helpe to be swallowed 〈◊〉 the gulfe of my sinnes Protect me vnder the shadow of â—…hy wings and suffer me not to be â—…ntangled with extraordinary and â—…nnecessary sleepe but raise mee â—…n due time that wakened in that sort I may cheerefully endeuour my selfe to sing thy praises and intend thy seruice that I may thinke of thee and being raised by â—…hy power I may performe the â—…orks of iustice and seeke thy heaâ—…enly kingdome with my whole â—…eart that at length by thee with â—…hee in thee I may obtaine eterâ—…all light and celestial rest Amen Another praier before sleepe GRant vnto mee O my God the watching I may vigilantlie â—…and in thy presence as often as 〈◊〉 shall fortune me to sleepe let my sleepe bee without sinne and if in my waking I should commit any misdeed grant me O Lord pardoÌ„ for thy mercy sake and if sinne in my sleepe let thy clemency pardon mee and by the memory of thy martyrdome giue mee a quiet time of sleepe and deliuer mee from euill dreames and filthy imaginations and for the whole night bouchsafe me a sleepe full of tranquillitie lest wickednesse haue the power ouer mee and euill cogitations ful of peruersnesse seduce mee Giue me thine Angel of light that may keepe all the members of my body and deliuer mee from cursed concupiscence by that liuing body that was cruâ—…ified for mee Let me lay me downe to rest and sleepe in peace and let thy blood bee the keeper of mee and my soule which is thine image Giue libertie to thy handiworke and let thy right hand defend the bodie which thou hast fashioned with thine owne hands and enuiron mee with the wall of thy mercies as it were an acceptable fortresse and bulwarke that when the body shall rest and sleepe it may bee defended by thy vertue and let my sleepe bee as a sweete sinelling incense before thy maiesty neither let the enemy approch my bed for thy mercie sake I will heare and execute thy will O my God who lodest the night with the tranquillitie of the iustice of our redeemer Iesus Christ. For thou art the true light and thy glorie dwelleth in the light and the children of light adore thee dwelling in the light Iesus the Word of the Father vnto life haue mertie on mee for thy mercie sake to whom with the Father that sent thee and the holy Ghost bee all praise for euer Amen Iaculatorie prayers to bee had alwaies in memorie When any sudden feare assaileth thee BE vnto mee O Lord a tower of strength against the face of mine enemy If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee PIerce my flesh with thy feare for I haue trembled at thy iudgments If an ill suspicion ouertake thee CReate in mee O Lord a new heart and giue me a new spirit If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee GIue me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme mee with a principall spirit If vaine glory seduce thee NOt vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy â—…ame giue the glorie If desperation molest thee GOd is my hope froÌ„ my youth from the wombe of my mother thou art my protector If thou be afflicted in minde HElpe me and I shall be safe I will meditate alwaies vpon thy iustifications If sloth assaile thee EXcite thy power O Lord and come conuÌ„rme mee in thy words lest I faile in the way If labour tire thee BEhold my humility and my labour forgiue mee all my sins If wrath disturbe thee GIue mee patience O Lord peace to thy seruant lest I lose the crowne of my soule in heauen For thou hast said In your patience you shall possesse your soules If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee INcline my hart O Lord to thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse turne away mine eies lest I see vanitie and quicken mee in thy way If gluttony sollicite thee THe kingdome of heauen is not meate drinke but peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is the Spirit that quickneth the fiesh profiteth nothing Is euill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee VVHose tinage and superscription is this And hearing that it is Ceâ—…ars that is the diuel of this world say let thy money bee with thee to thy perdition now the doore is shutte and our Lord careth his passe-ouer here I haue no leasure to open vnto thee If any blessing of God happen to thee VVHat shal I yeeld vnto our Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed vpon mee How much â—…west thou mâ—… soule And turâ—…g to the angels lay Come and heare and I wil show you all yâ—…e that â—…are God what hee hath 〈◊〉 to my soule And turning thine eies vnto God himselfe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt thou say O Lord thy mercy is great toward me Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecution IUdge them O Lord that hurt mee ouerthrow them that fight against mee Take the sword and shield and arise to do me helpe When thou seest thou art 〈◊〉 by God VVHerefore O Lord art 〈◊〉 departed farre from mee Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities in tribulation Stay with vs O Lord for it waxeth night Against detractors SAue mee O God for the righteous faile and truth faileth amongst the children of men Let the Lord confound all deceitfuil lips and the tongue that speaketh great things For our enemies O Lord lay not this sin to their charge because they know not what thy do When we addressâ—… our selues to studie BLessed art thou O Lord teach me to doe thy will open mine eies that I may consider the wonderfull works of thy Law A man may sometimes lift vp his heart by affection of repentance in these words TUrne thy face from my sinnes O Lord and blot out all my offences Create in mee O Lord a new heart Sometimes with an affection of gratitude BLesse the Lord O my soule and forget not his benefits Sometime with an affection of loue I Will loue thee O Lord my strength God is my foundation my refuge and my deliuerer God is my helper and I will hope in him Euen as the Hart desireth the
fountaines so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule hath thirsted after the liuing fountaine God When shall I come and appeare before the face of my God My teares were bread vnto mee day and night whilest they dayly said vnto me Where is thy God Then inflamed with the loue of eternall beatitude let him say OHow amiable are thy dwelling places thou Lord of hosts my soule thirsteth and longeth after the dwelling place of my God This that felloweth was familiar to the Fathers in Aegypt VVHo shall giue me wings like a Doue and I will fly and take rest Three most deuout praiers to excite the soule to contrition and griefe sor sinne The first Praier OOnly begotten Son of God great and vnspeakable are y◠benefits O Lord which I haue receiued at thy hands thou framedst mee of the dust and dirt of the earth and createdst my soule of nothing to thy image similitude and madest it capable of thy glory thou gauest mee vnderstanding memo will election with all my members and senses and with them the knowledge and loue of thee Thou keptst mee in the secret celles of my mothers womb lest in them I should bee choaked without baptisme Thou sustainedst mee patiently after so many sins euen vnto this present day where in the meane space there are many others who haue lesse offended than 〈◊〉 yet because thou wouldst not hitherto expect them they are now perhaps tormented in hell But besides all this it was thy pleasure to take flesh vpon thee to conuerse amongst men for my sake to bee afflicted troubled for me to be bedewed with bloudy sweate to bee taken bound buffeted spit vpon mockt blasphemed to be clothed in a white and purple garmēt like a foole to be strooken with a reede to be blinded condemned to death led to the place of executiō hauing on thy shoulders the croūe to which thou wert affixed with nailes and hanged betwixt two theeues and adiudged for a malefactor thou didst drinke gall and vineger finally thou wert slaine with most cruel death By so many labours and dolors O my God thou didst redeeme mee and yet I most vile and peruerse sinner ingrateful for so many benefits haue so oftentimes newly strooken thee againe nailed thee to the crosse by my sins for which cause I am worthy that all creatures should rise vp against me take reuenge of this my so great iniurie What should I say of y◠abuse of thy sacraments medicines which by thy precious bloud thou institutedst obtainedst for me Thou tookest mee for thine in the sacrament of baptisme there thou adoptedst me for thy sonne and consecratedst mee as it were thy temple there didst thou annoint me for thy Priest King and Champion who was to wage combat with the enemy there diddest thou espouse my soule and gauest me al the honors which were answerable to this dig nity But how haue I vsed al these benefits and ornaments which I haue receiued from thee what cogitatiōs had I of keeping these riches Thou tookest me for thy son and I may become the seruant of sinne Thou sanctifiedst me for thy temple and I made my selfe the habitation of diuels Thou armedst me like a generous souldier and I reuolted and fled vnto thine enemies Thou madest me a king and I waxed proud in the kingdome which thou gauest me Thou espousedst my soule to thee in perpetuall charitie and I more loued vanity than verity more the creatures than my Creator Truly it were rightfull yea most iust O Lord that yet now at length I should begin to weepe complaine and lament when I haue committed so many and so enormous sinnes This is it that so long time thou expectedst from mee as thou hast giuen me life For so oftentimes hast thou called mee and so long hast thou sustained mee strooke mee and againe flattered mee and hast sought all waies and meanes that thou mightest reclaime mee vnto thee thou hast expected mee and I haue abused thy patience thou hast called mee and I haue stopt mine eares against thy counsels Thou gauest mee time for repentance and I consumed y◠same in my pride thou strookest me and I felt it not thou afflictedst mee I would not take thy correction thou sweatedst that thou mightest clense mee and I am not washed thou prouedst mee by fire and the rust of my sins is not clensed away I am hardned as well by thy scourges as thy allurements ingratful to these rebellious against those Notwithstanding O Lord God though thou hast suffered so many and so great things for mee thou hast commanded me that I should not despaire nor distrust in thy mercie I conuert my selfe therefore wholy vnto thy mercy and beseech thee to giue mee grace that I may amend my selfe whereby I may so heereafter please thee and serue thee that I neuer hereafter reuolt from thee but cleaue alwaies to thee for euer and euer Amen For contrition The second praier O Supreme Maker of al liuing creatures when I bethink my selfe how greatly I haue offended thy diuine maiesty by my sinnes I quake for feare and detest my vndecent madnes considering how bountifull and reuerend a Father I haue forsooke I curse my ingratitude when I consider from how noble a liberty I am fallen into most miserable seruitude I accuse my inconstancy know not what to set before mine eies but iudgement and hell for thy iustice from which I cannot flie terrifieth my conscience On y◠other side when I behold thy vnmeasurable mercy which according to the testimonie of thy Prophet surpasseth al thy works presently a pleasing breath of hope doth refresh mee and strengthneth my too feeble mind For as before I despaired so here do I finde remission of my sinnes in him who by the writing of his Prophets so oftentimes inuiteth sinners to repentance saying I wil not y◠death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Thy onely begotten Son likewise declareth by many similitudes how ready thou art to pardon those that are penitent That expressed he by the lost penny by the lost sheep brought home on the shoulders of his pastor but especially by the prodigall sonne whose image I acknowledg in my selfe For I am he that haue indeed forsaken my most louing Father I haue spent all my substance and obeying the appetites of my flesh haue fled the obedience of thy commandements and haue fallen into the most filthy captiuity of sin now am I trauelled with extreme necessity from which who shall deliuer me I truly know not except it be he whom I haue forsaken Receiue me therefore O Lord thy most hūble seruant submissiuely seeking pardō at thy hands into thy fauor But wheras though in vaine thou hast euen vnto this houre so bountifully expected mee I confesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eies to heauen or to call thee Father yet because thou art my true
Father vouchsaf with thy fatherly eies to behold me for thy aspect alone quickeneth the dead and draweth all such as run astray vnto thee For this whatsoeuer repeÌ„tance which I now haue I could not haue had except thou hadst beheld me When as wandring I forsooke thee thou lookedst vpon mee from the highest heauens where I was furthest from thee and didst open mine eies that I might behold thee and search my conscience and behold my selfe ouerwhelmed with so much wickednesse Come therefore O Lord to receiue me giue mee the knowledge and memory of my lost innocencie I require not thy imbracings nor thy kisses I pray thee not to giue mee that goodly garment yâ— I was wont to weare nor the ring of my ancient dignity I require not that thou shouldest receiue me into the state and dignity of thy children but it shall suffice mee if I may bee numbred amongst the mercenary seruants of thy house sealed with thy mark and tied with thy bonds lest euer heereafter I run away from thee It shal not grieue me although in this life I bee one of the most contemptible slaues of thy house so that thou separate me not for euer from thee Heare me therefore most mercifull Father and giue me the grace of thy onely begotten Sonne and communicate with mee the merits of his passion Giue me thy Spirit that it may purifie my heart and strengthen it in thy grace lest hereafter I returne again through ignorance into that exile from whence thy grace hath recalled me who liuest reignest world without end Amen For contrition The third most zealous praier VVHo shall giue water to my head and a fountaine of teares to my eies that night and day I may bewaile my sinnes and lament my ingratitude against God my Creator There are many things O omnipotent Lord that incite the hearts of men and draw them to the knowledge of then sinnes but there is none so effectuall as the consideration of the greatnesse of thy bounty and the multitude of thy benefits yea eueÌ„ to those sinners which are most reprobate wretched That therefore my most miserable soule may by that meanes be confounded and ashamed I wil begin O Lord to reckon vp some of thy mercies anâ—… my mischiefes that but in this I may manifestly vnderstand whâ—… thou art who I am what thoâ—… wert towards me and what I aâ—… towards thee The time was once my God when I was not thou gauest 〈◊〉 being and tookest mee out of 〈◊〉 dust of the earth creating mee aâ—… cording to thine owne image aâ—… similitude then from my motherwombe thou becamest my God fâ—… froÌ„ the first moment wherin I began to bee euen vnto this present houre thou art my Father my redeemer my defender and all my good Thou createdst my body with all my members and senses thou createdst my soule with all her powers and hitherto hast thou preserued my life by the benefite of thy prouidence All these although in themselues they be great yea weiny al yet are they little in respect of thy greatnes But because thou hadst these things gratis and bought by no great price thou wouldest giue mee another thing which cost thee more decre that I might thereby bee the more indebted vnto thee Thou descendedst froÌ„ heauen vpon the earth that thou mightest find me seeking me in al my waies in which I had lost my self Thou didst ennoble my humanity by thy nature by thy thrâ—…dome thou deliueredst mee from captiuitie thou freedst mee from the power of the diuell deliuering thy selfe into sinners hands destroying my sin by assuming the shape of a sinner thou wouldest bind mee vnto thee by so much grace thou wouldest aâ—â—ure me by this benefite strengthen my hope by so many merits and beget in me the detestation of sinne shewing vnto mee how many things thou hast both done and suffered to ouerthrow the kingdome of sinne Thou kindlest liuing fire vpon the dead coales of my heart that being ouerwhelmed with such a multitude of benefitâ—… which in this one are contained I might loue him that did so great things for mee and bestowed so much loue on me Behold O Lord thou redeemedst me but what had that profited me except I had beene baptized Amongst such a multitude of infidels scattered vpon the face of the whole earth it pleased thee to reckon mee among the number of thy faithful and of those to whoÌ„ so happie a lot befell as to bee thy children regenerated by the water of holy baptisme there was I takeÌ„ for thine there was that famous admirable contract or couenant concluded namely that I should be thine thou shouldest bee mine thou my Lord and I thy seruant thou my Father I thy son where we meete together thou to performe towards me the office of a Father I to serue thee with the duty of a son What shall I say of the other SacrameÌ„t which thou institutedst as a remedy for my sinnes making thy precious bloud a medicine for my wounds Hauing all these helps and furtherances as yet I continued not in goodnes but such was my malice that notwithstanding these I lost once more my first innocencie and so great again was thy mercy yâ— hast hitherto patiently suffred mee in my sins O my hope and my redeemer how caÌ„ I without tears remember how often thou mightst haue slaine me and no euill happened vnto me how many thousand of soules haply doe now burne in hell which haue sinned lesse then I haue sind yet burn not what had become of mee if at that time thou tookest them away thou hadst likewise taken me how strict a iudgement had bene prepared for mee if iustice had apprehended me beeing guilty of so many grieuous sins Who then O Lord bound the hands of thy iustice Who praied for me when I slept who staied yâ— scourge of thy wrath when I prouoked the same by my sins What was there pleasing in me why thou shouldest deale more fauourably with mee than with them who in yâ— midst of their perils yea in the very heate of their youth were taken hence My sinnes cried vnto thee and thou stoppedst thine eares lest thou shouldst heare them my malice against thee increased daily and thy mercie likewise towards me increased daily I sinned and thou didst expect mee I fled thee thou followedst me I was wearied in offending thee thou wert not weary in expecting mee in no other sort than if my sinnes had beene fauours and no offences In the midst of my sinnes I receiued many good inspirations many holy reprehensions froÌ„ thee which did cenuict and condemne the dissolutenesse of my life How often didst thou cal me and inwardly inuite me saying Thou hast coÌ„mitted fornication with many louers yet returne vnto me and I wil receiue thee How often hast thou called me in these or such like louing words How often hast thou terrified me with feare and threatnings
occasion of my malice from the very same meanes which thou vsedst to kill sinne I tooke occasioÌ„ to quicken sinne in my selfe So so O Lord I haue peruerted thy counsels from thy mercy pickt out the method and meanes of my malignity Because yâ— wert so good I thought it was lawfull for me to be euill and because thou hadst bestowed so many benefits on mee I supposed it lawfull for mee to doe thee so many offences iniuries so that I conuerted the very medicines themselues which thou institutedst against sin to occasions of sinne and the sword which thou gauest me to defend my selfe with fight against mine enemies the same haue I whet against my selfe to endanger my own life Finally thou to the end that thou mightst rule the liuing the dead wouldst die as the Apostle witnesseth to the end that they which now liue shold not liue to themselues but to thee who daiâ—…edst to die for them and I like some Iesabel tooke the same death as a means wherby I might bereaue my selfe of thy benefits flying from thy seruice making my selfe the bondslaue of thine enemies O what deserued he that did those things If the dogs eate the flesh of that Iesabel for her sin how may mine remain vntouched that haue altogether done the like And if the Apostle so much exaggerateth the malice of mans heart because that from the law he tooke occasion to breake the law how much more greater shall the malice be of grace if any man take occasion thereby to offend grace it selfe O most patient Lord that sufferedst strokes for sinners but more patieÌ„t that sufferedst sinners theÌ„selues but shall that thy patience continue for euer I remember what thou saidst by thy Prophet I held my peace I was alwaies sileÌ„t I was patient I will speake like a womaÌ„ wtâ—…hild I see yâ— earth that yeeldeth no fruit after it hath bin moistned with the raine to bee reprooued and accursed the vine that after it had bene well trim'd and yeelded no grapes but briers by thy commandement cut downe and laid waste Therefore O vnprofitable and vnfruitfull branch why fearest thou not the voice of that husbandman or Uine-heard that taketh away yâ— branches that beare no fruite and casteth them into the fire Euery tree that beareth not fruit saith he my Father will cut downe and cast it in the fire Will he euer feare that feareth not such a iudgement How deafe is he that heareth not such a voice How profoundly sleepeth he that is not wakened with such a thâ—…der This earthly habitation delighted me I tooke pleasure to walke among these thornes The fire of my passions bâ—…ned mee the thornes of my concupiscence pricked mee the distractions of my thoughts â—…d mee the worâ—…e of my conscience bit mee and al these thought I to be liberty and solaâ—…e so many and so great eâ—…is did I caâ—… peaâ—…e O how ignorant rude was I in the knowledge of my selfe and how hard vnâ—…actable to obey serue thee What shal I do my God what shall I do 〈◊〉 coÌ„sesse I am vnworthy to appeare before thy presenâ—… vnworthy to lift vp mine eies to behold thee whither shall I goe whither shall I flye from thy presence Art thou not my Father yea the Father of mercies which neither haue end or measure for although I haue already desisted to be thy sonne yet thou hitherto ceasest not to be my Father and though I haue done many things for which thou mightest worthily condemne mee yet hast thou not lost the meanes wherby thou maist saue me What therefore shal I do but cast my selfe prostrate before thy feet and aske mercy Whom shal I cal vpon who shal helpe me but thou Art not thou my Creator my maker my gouernour my redeemer my king my shepheard my Priest and my sacriâ—… Whither therfore shall I go to whom shall I flie but vnto thee if thou repulse mee who shall releeue me if thou reiect mee who shall rescue mee Acknowledge O Lord this lost sheep behold I come vnto thee altogether wounded thou canst heale me altogether blinde thou canst giue mee sight altogether dead and thou canst reuiue me altogether leprous and thou canst clense me Sprinkle me O Lord with hysope and I shall be cleane wash me I shall be whiter than snow Greater is thy mercie than my iniquitie greater thy clemency than my malice and thou canst remit more than I can sin Repulse me not therefore O Lord repulse me not looke not vpon the multitude of my sins but on thine infinite mercy who liuest reignest world without end Amen An oblation of all the labours and passions of Christ for our sins WHat shal I render vnto thee O Lord for all the benefits thou hast bestowed vpon me with what signification of gratuity shall I recompence so many benefits what shal I giue thee for that thy so great mercy alasse how slenderly doe I requite the merits of so liberall and fauourable a benefactor I was alwaies vngrateful for thy benefits alwaies rebellious against thy commandements I alwaies shut vp my soule against thy inspirations heaping offence vpon offence and adding sinne to sinne I confesse O Lord that I am not worthy to bee called thy sonne although I acknowledge thee to be my Father For thou art truly my Father thou art my hope thou art the fountaine of mercy that repulsest not sinners that flie vnto thee but receiuest them washest them and feedest them Behold therefore my helper see how I the poorest of al thy creatures come vnto thee bringing no other thing with mee but the grieuous burthen of my sinnes I prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy mercy humbly asking pardon Forgiue me I beseech thee O my firme hope saue mee for thy infinite mercy sake O sweete Iesus in remission of my sinnes I offer vnto thee thy immeasurable charitie wherewith thou being God of infinite maiesty wert moued not to refuse for my sake to be incarnate to be made man and to be conuersant in this world thirty three yeares in many tribulations persecutions paines vexations labours 〈◊〉 offer vnto thee that thy deadly affliction yâ— bloody sweate and that agony which afflicted and pierced thy hearâ—… when praying in the garden prâ—…ating thy selfe on the ground thou besoughtest the Father I offer vp vnto thee that aâ—â—â—nt charitie whereby thou desiredst to suffer for vs when as of thine owne accord thou offeredst thy selfe into the hands of thine 〈◊〉 as a wel pleasing sacrifice to thy Father for our sins 〈◊〉 offer vp vnto thee al 〈◊〉 iniuries blasphemies buffetings beatings spittâ—…s al other thoâ—…e tormeÌ„ts which in that miserable night thou sustainedst in the houâ—…e of Annâ—…s 〈◊〉 offer vnto thee O good 〈◊〉 al these things beseeching thine 〈◊〉 goodnes that by the merits therof thoâ—… wâ—…t pardon me all my sins thou wilt as wel remit the penalty as the crime and
the Father of light from whom all goodnesse proceeded I like the lost sheepe wandered far astray from the fold who lewdly consumed that grace which thou so liberally hadst imparted to me I left thee the FouÌ„taine of liuing water and digged me Cesteâ—…ns and drunke of troubled water full of bitter consolations such as in short time are dried vp For all consolations and al the pleasures of this world vanish away like smoke I left the tree of life and fed on mast cods which were spurned and trodden downe by the hogs following the passions and inordinate affections of my minde my beastly appetites I departed from thee the chiefest good and followed those earthly and transitorie pleasures which ouerthrew mee But now O father I beseech thee forget thou these iniuries which I haue committed against thy maiestie which I craue not for in respect of the multitude of my merits but by beholding the labours and dolours of thy onely begotten Son which he suffred for my sake And thou the onely begotten Sâ—…nne of the eternall Father my Lord God and Sauior haue mercy vpon me I cast all mine iniquities all my iniurie ignomâ—…e ire pride auarice disobedience impudencie presumption with all my other sins wherby I haue prouoked thy wrath into thy lenitie clemency sacred wounds wide open to yeeld mee refuge I giue my selfe wholy vnto thee and commend my selfe wholy to thy grace for thou art my hope my helpe and my strength As much as my sins trouble and confound me so much doth thy goodnesse and the infinite merits of thy passion reiâ—…yce and comfort me My sins although in themselues they be grieuous in weight and infinite in number yet in comparison of thy mercies they are light and few Under this confideÌ„ce I come vnto thee and confesse my sinnes vnto thee hoping that thou wilt not destroy him whom thou hast created according to thine owne image similitude and for whose loue thou madest thy selfe partaker of our nature bloud and flesh I trust I shall not bee condemned by thee whom thou hast redeemed as it were with so incomparable a price with so many labours and dolors To thee be all honour and dominion for euer euer Amen Another most deuout praier for remission of sinnes O My best beloued Iesus I aâ—… that wretched vnhappy sin ner that hath inflicted thee so many wounâ—…s and crucified thee aâ—…ew by my sinnes ahlas too many and too mighty Behold yet how I pre sent my selfe before thee my father and iudge being guilty of so mâ—… crimes accountable for so maâ—… sinnes beseeching thee through the bowels of thy mercy that all thy wounds may once more bee opened in the sight of the Father may flow into my miserable vncleane soule soiled and infected with so many sinnes not suffering them to be closed before they haue throughly washed and perfectly cleansed me O sweet Iesus turne not thy face from me but ouerflow me with thine infinite mercy and behold me with the eies of thy pitie wherewith thou beheldst Mary Magdalen at the feast time Peter in the Bishops palace the theefe on the Crosse. Giue mee the true knowledge of my sinnes giue me the iust griefe receiue me into the paradise of thy grace wash mee in thy reaking blood and quicken me by thy precious death pardon me and take from me whatsoeuer my heart wrongfully possesseth beecause thou thy selfe hast said if I bee exalted from the earth I will draw all things to me For which cause I pray thee O thou redeemer of my soule draw mee vnto thee and cleanse me from my hidden sins O true light illumine the darknes of my minde O consuming fire burne in me all my sinnes and iniquities Come and viâ—…t my sick soule cleanse my conscience and make me thy gratefull Tabernacle O deerest beeloued Lord spred for my sake on the tree of the Crosse draw mee out of the suds of my sinnes embrace mee kisse mee being clensed from all sâ—…aine of my wickednesse O noble cluster of grapes pressed in the wine-presse of the Crosse hug my soule with thy naked but faire armes distained with bloud Grant also that thou maist bee embracâ—… in like sort by the same and 〈◊〉 a handfull of Mirrhe thou maâ—… rest betweene her teates O thâ—… nailed and pierced souldier hoâ—… cruelly wert thou wounded in tâ—… warre vndertaken in my behalfe How strongly didst thou fight fo me thou triumpher ouer the worâ—… and the diuell who by thy death diddest conquer death and by tâ—… precious blood didst expiate fâ—… all the sinnes of mankinde Oâ—… what shall I giue thee for all thâ—… which thou hast bestowed vpâ—… mee All that little that I haue I offer it wholly vnto thee nameâ—… my spirit that thou maist rest 〈◊〉 the same my soule that it mâ—…â—…oue thee my body that it mâ—… serue thee O noble Pellican that nouâ—… shest thy yong ones with thy heaâ—… blood so feed my soule faintâ—… for hunger and spirituall thirst nothing else may be sauourie vnâ—… the same neither that she may dâ—… sire to take any thing but to eaâ—… thy flesh and drinke thy blood O mellifluous riuer of celesâ—… delights ouerflow all my inward parts make me drinke and grant that I may bee dead to all other creatures and aliue to thee onely O glorious myrrour of the incomprehensible Trinitie on which all the Angels and Saints desire to contemplate alas how cruelly wert thou intreated for my sake There is neither forme nor beauty in thee thou becamest a by-word of men and the scorne of the multitude O make mee partaker of that incomparable treasure of thy precious ransome wherewith thou redeemedst mee open the treasurie of thy merits and pay all my debt make mee such a one in this world as thou woulddest haue me in the world to come where thou reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God world without end Amen A most godly praier and oblation wherein man offereth himselfe vp vnto God requiring that the tyranny of his vices expelled God hereafter may reigne in his soule and dwell therein and so worke in it those fruits which pertaine to newnesse of life O My God O my loue O my hope O all my refuge and all my desire O Father of mercy and God of al consolation as oft as I coÌ„sider with my selfe in what state I was somtime in how many dangers of perdition I haue escaped from how many euils thou hast deliuered me wheÌ„ I was dead in my sinnes and lay buried and couered with the stone of my inueterate custome of offending such a hope is quickened in me that I cannot choose but aske at thine hands O Lord all such things as are necessary for my saluation For I am thy workmanship thy hands haue fashioned me O Lord despise not therefore the worke of thy haÌ„ds For why should I doubt that thou wilt giue mee all thy goods that hast
Prophet and my soule is no lesse dead than the body of that mā neither is this touch of lesse efficacie than that why therefore should I not expect the like benefit in my selfe why should a body begotten in sinne doe more mirecles than a body conceiued by the holy ghost Why shall the body of the seruant haue a greater prerogatiue than the body of the maister Why shall not thy body raise my soule sanctified in thy blood which cleaueth and is ioyned vnto thee by faith when that raiseth those bodies which it toucheth And because this body was raised not requesting life but by the onelie vertue of the bones of thy blessed Prophet let it bee pleasing to thine infinite mercie O my God since I request and beseech thee to giue me life by the meanes of this Sacrament that I may not now line but thou in mee O good Iesu by that thine inestimable charitie which betraied thee for my sake made thee suffer an ignominious death I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt cleanse me from all sin adorne me with all kindes of vertues and thy merits and grant me grace that I may receiue this holy Sacrament with so much humilitie and reuerence so much feare and trembling with so much griefe and repentance for my sins finally with so much loue and charitie as this most heauenly mystery doth require Grant mee most mercifull Lord that puritie of intent whereby I may worthily ha◅e accesse to thy mysticke table to the glory of thy holy name and the remedy of my infirmities necessities that strengthned by the vertue of this Sacrament I may be able strongly to withstand mine enemies to ouercome them and to sustaine my selfe by that liuing meate in the spirituall life Grant also by y◠benefit of this Sacramēt that I may be made one with thee and incorporated in thee may inseparably cleaue vnto thee being made one spirit with thee Let this sacrifice bee my safetie and this inestimable benefit of this Sacrament assist all men as it is instituted for the health of them left vnto thy Church who liuest reignest world without end Amen A most worthy meditation after the Communion O My God and my Sauiour how shal I yeeld thee cōdigne thankes for that thou beeing the King of Kings Lord of Lords hast not disdained to visit my soule and to enter the poore roose of my miserable cottage and so to worke that both thou and I are one and that by the means of the inestimable vertue of y◠Sacrament With what reward shal I requite such a benefit With what offices shal I remunerate thy so great goodnes with thanks may a miserable wretched and poore creature giue for a gift so rich and precious For it suffised thee not in this mystery to make vs partakers of thy supreme deity but thou wouldest also communicate vnto vs thy humanitie together with all thy merits which in the same and with the same thou didst purchase for vs for giuing vs thy body and blood thou makest vs also partakers of thy holy treasure and of all thy merits which being on earth thou obtainedst for vs. O admirable Communion O treasure to be equalled by no price and as yet vnknowne vnto men O mercifull Redeemer of our soules with what more richer iewels or greater riches couldest thou store vs thā with this most blessed Sacrament Deseruedly O Lord didst thou say in the praier which thou saidest about the houre of thy passion I sanctifie my selfe for thē that they also may bee sanctified in truth namely after a new maner of sanctification difficile to the sanctifier and easie to the sanctified For thine is the sanctity O Lord mine the fruit of sanctitie thou didst labour I receiued the reward thou wert at the charge I reapt the profite thou art chastised I am pardoned for my sins thou drunkest the bitter potion I with my selfe recouer my lost health thy dolours thy nayles thy strokes thy thornes and thy precious blood not shed by drops but by flouds satisfied for me thy teares wash mee thy wounds heale me thy scourgings haue satisfied for me O rich Communion O fraternity of infinit merits O traffique of inestimable treasure what stocke or summe haue we imploied in this partnershippe what haue we aduentured that the increase is so profitable vnto vs Why doth the sun illuminate the world why warmeth the fire the body which is the obiect against it why doth the water coole that same The reasō is manifest for these are their naturall properties for such creatures produce such effect And it is thy property O lord to pardon thy custom to shew mercie and that rather to others than to thy selfe Thy goodnesse is ours that not ordinary but infinit for as the property of good is to be cōmon communicatiue so truly the chiefest good should also be chiefly diffusiue this hast thou done vnto vs because thou hast wholy giuen thy selfe vnto vs. In thy birth thou becamest our brother in our nourishing our food in thy death our redemption in our ruling our reward finally O my soule if in one word thou wilt comprehend all these benefits which this so admirable Sacramēt bringeth with it consider that which this Lord brought into this world when as becoming man he came into thy world For when he entred into the world he gaue the world the life of grace with al those things which attend on the same so also when he comes by y◠Sacrament into our soule hee giueth the same life of y◠soule O diuine food by which the sons of men are trāsformed into the sons of God and by which the flesh is mortified in vs that the deity may liue in vs O sweetest bread worthy to bee adored nourishing the soule not the belly strengthning the heart and not ouercharging the body reioycing the spirit not troubling the vnderstanding whose vertue doth moderate our appetites killeth our selfe will that the will of God may be more effectuall in vs. What thanksgiuing therefore shal I yeeld vnto thee what praises shal I sing vnto thee O Lord for this thy benefite If the gratuitie ought to be answerable to the gift what kinde of recompence I pray you will equall such a gift Thou saidst in times past to thy seruant Moses Take the golden vessel and hide it in the Arke of the couenant and it shall be kept there for future generatiōs that they may see that meate which for forty yeares long I made you feede on in the desart If y◠so much esteemedst O Lord that corruptible meate which thou gauest thy people in the desart that thou wouldest it should be kept with reuerence in perpetuall remembrance of the same in what account should that incorruptible meate be with vs which giueth life eternall to those that eat the same I manifestly see that there is the same difference which is betweene the one meate and the other
into my heart the vertue of charitie by the mediation of the holy Ghost I may neuer loue thee with a gratuitall and supernaturall loue in such manner as thou art worthy wilt be beloued Giue mee the grace to loue thee if not with such a loue as thou art worthy of yet at leastwise with such a loue as my nature may partake that is with all my heart all my soule all my strength all my forces so that all my bowels inwardly burne melt in thy loue Grant that I may loue thee with a simple willing and free loue without any respect of profit Grāt that with pure loue no peruerse intentiō I may desire nothing but thy selfe for thy selfe Grant me O Lord a strong and inuincible loue that may refuse or abhorre no perils no labours no damages no iniuries or torments for thy sake Giue mee a ready and diligent loue that may alwaies be occupied in matters pertaining to thy seruice Giue me an inestimable loue O Lord that may contemne all things for thy sake giue me a discreete loue which with immoderate zeale and feruour shall not exceed thy law Finally giue me o my God that grace to loue thee with an ordinate loue which loueth al things according to that dignity of their proportion but thee aboue all things with a sweete and amiable loue which shall taste no sweetnes or pleasure in any thing but in thee with a loue burning in zeale that destreth nothing more than thy glory hateth nothing more than ignominie imputed to thy holy Name Finally with a loue so violent that it may pul my hart from all things that are transitorie and alwaies draw the same vpwards vnto thee vntill I may passe ouer all this place of exile into that celestiall countrey where beholding the greatnes of thy beauty face to face I may perpetually loue thee with those perfect louers that neuer ceasse to loue and praise thee the King of Kings Lord of Lords and God of Gods in Sion Amen The seuenth prayer for the obtaining of Gods loue O Most high mightie omnipotent mercifull iust strong incomprehensible God and my Lord. Thou that art sweeter than any hony whiter than milke clearer than all light and more precious than al pearle there are infinit causes which rauish my heart with thy loue For thou art higher then heauen deeper than hell thy measure is longer then the earth and broader then y◠sea as thy prophet saith Who is perfecter than thou art who better who fairer who bountifuller who nobler who stronger who wiser who richer than thou art A◅ these things are in thee O Lord and for euery one of them art thou to be loued since thou art the chiefest good But since euery good thing is truely amiable by it selfe yet euery man affecteth more his proper good I will therefore loue thee o Lord my God not onely because thou art the chiefest good but also because thou art my good for when I consider and weigh with my selfe by how many titles and meanes thou art made mine my inward parts melt and I cry with the spouse My spouse is beloued of me and I of him For thou o Lord art my creator thou art my sanctifier and glorifier thou gauest mee my being in nature thou gauest mee that of grace and wilt giue mee the being of glory Thou art my helper my gouernour defender tutor and keeper finally thou art my God my Lord thou art my saluation thou art my hope thou art my glory thou art all my good Uerily thou art all those vnto mee in as much as thou art my God in so much as thou art my creator and the conseruer of all things But in as much as thou art man there are many other titles other offices and other bonds wherwith I am bound vnto thee and thou vnto me For which I also if it were possible ought to loue thee and that by reason with an in◅nite and diligent loue for thou art my restorer for thou hast restored mee to entire humane nature which by sin was weakned in me Thou art my deliuerer for by thy captiuity thou hast deliuered me from the tyranny of sin death hell and the diuell my most capital enemies Thou art my Redeemer for thou hast ransomed mee from seruitude into which through sinne I was fallen by the shedding of the incomparable treasure of thy precious blood Thou art my King for thou gouernest me by thy Spirit thou foughtest for mee and deliueredst me from the hands of my enemies thou art my priest for thou praiedst incessantly praiest like an euerlasting priest for me in y◠sight of thy celestiall Father Thou art my sacrifice for thou offeredst vp thy selfe on the altar of the Crosse that by thy clemency thou mightest expiate my crimes Thou art my aduocate for when the Diuell accuseth me and offereth the libel wherein my sins are written to thy father thou dost protect my cause thou makest paiment with thine owne dost supply all that which my iustice defaulteth in Thou art my Mediator for thou art God and man and a mighty friend of God and that true Son of God so puttest thou thy selfe as a mediator betweene me and God Thou art my shepheard for y◠feedest gouernest my soule like a sheepe of thy flocke thou art my meate for thou art hee by whom I am nourished in the diuine Sacrament of the Altar thou art my father and the father of the world to come for thou hast regenerated me with grieuous dolours on the tree of the Crosse and giuen me a new essēce by y◠holy Spirit Thou art my head the vniuersall head of the Church for from thee as from the true head floweth into the same and euery member thereof vertue life and spirituall sense Thou art my true Physition for by thy blood thou hast healed the wounds and strips of my soule Thou art my master for by the light of thy doctrine thou hast shewed mee the way to the celestiall country Thou art my example for not onely in words but that which is farre more in deedes and most holy examples of thy life thou hast led me in this way Thou art my strength and mercy for there is no tribulation or griefe so great which the memorie of thy passions that thou sufferedst for me doth not make sweete tollerable Thou art my honour and glory for thou becamest man for mee thou madest mee thy brother and a consort of thy nature To conclude thou art my Sauiour yea such a sauiour that euery where alwaies in all things art sufficient for me for thou hast most perfectly wrought all that on the earth which was requistte for my saluatiō Thou hast illuminated my ignorance by thy doctrine thou hast strengthned my weaknes by thy examples Thou hast inflamed my warmth by thy benefits thou hast instructed my soule in thy mysteries thou hast enriched my pouerty by thy merits Thou hast
euen at that time when thou wert afflicted on the crosse with so many vnspeakeable dolours and anguishes Grant mee grace O Lord I beseech thee that remembring me of that humilitie and patience wherewith thou enduredst so many griefes and disgraces I also with the like sufferance may endure all whatsoeuer aduersities perseuering with thee on the crosse of patience till death Let no force of temptation no tempest of tribulation no stormes of iniuries leade mee from my intended good purpose let neither death nor life nor things present nor to come nor any other creature separate mee from thee I giue thee thanks honored Iesus who sparedst that theefe who blasphemed and mocked thee and to the other that confessed his sins and with a firme faith preached thine innocency promisedst the glorie of Paradise O blessed were I if euer I might be so happy as to deserue to be beheld by thine eies of mercie wherewith thou didst looke vpon that fortunate theefe and by the helpe of thy grace I might so innocently liue that in the end of my life I were worthy to here that most sweet word To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Our Father c. The sixt prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee as great thanks as is possible for me O Lord Iesus for that looking from the tree of the Crosse seeing thy mother full of griefes afflictions and drowned in her teares thou tookest cōpassion other estate and commendedst her to thy beloued Apostle Iohn and afterwards commended him to thy mother and vs all in his person Grant me Lord that I may suffer with her in griefe and trauell in teares til I behold thee I giue thee thanks sweetest Iesus for that with open wounds thy head crowned with thornes thy hands feete nailed to the Crosse thou saidst O God my God ◅hy hast thou forsaken me Effect O Lord in mee that in all my aduersities and temptations I may flie vnto thee my most mercifull Father and distrusting in my self trust only in thee resigne my selfe wholy into thy hāds I require thee O Lord to wound the entrals of my soule with the memorie of thy wounds cause them to bee imprinted in my secret thoughts and make mee so drunke with thy blood that I may thinke on nought else nor seeke any other but thee that seeking thee I may finde thee and possesse thee for euer I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesus Christ who hauing thy bodie weakned and dried through too grieuous torments and too much effusion of blood wert vehemently drie and burning with excessiue desire of our saluation saidst I thirst Grant me o Lord that I may ardently thirst after thine honor the saluation of al soules herein let me wholly conforme my selfe to thy holy will doing as much as lieth in mee in respect of my profession I pray thee that no loue of transitory things may intangle me that no creature may draw me into perilous snares but that I may loue all things for thy sake which ought to bee loued and thy selfe more than all that in thee alone I may onely finde rest I giue thee thanks O mercifull Iesu for that in the houre of thy death that thou mightest quench thy thirst thou wouldest apply to thy mouth a sponge full of Uinegar that tasting that bitter draught in that thy most afflicted state thou mightst satisfie thy eternal Father for all our intemperance and ryots mightst leaue vs a wonderfull example of pouertie Grant me grace that for the loue of thee I may contemne all delicious sauours and exquisit banquets and that I may bee content to eate and drinke that onely with temperance and moderation which sufficeth to sustaine this bodie yeelding thee infinite thanks for the same Puri◅e and heale the palate of my soule that that may be sweete vnto mee whatsoeuer is gratefull vnto thee and whatsouer displeaseth thee the same may not bee sauorie vnto me but rather loathsome I giue thee thanks O Iesus the feruent louer of mankinde for that so absolutely and with so excellent an order thou broughtst the worke of our redemption to end offering thy selfe a liuing sacrifice on the altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world I pray thee O my Redeemer that thou wilt only vouchsafe to be the seale of my heart and the scope of my thoughts words and works that in all things with a pure and chaste intention I may onely respect and doe that which thine honour requireth or that nothing without thee may please me or that I may desire any thing but thee Grant mee O Lord that hereafter I neuer wax sluggish or wearie in thy seruice but that the feruour of the Spirit renewed in mee daily my diligence may more and more increase in praising and seruing thee I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu who when it was thy pleasure calledst for death and bowing thy reuerēd head thou commandedst thy spirit commended to the hands of thy Father to forsake thy bodie wherein thou declaredst that thou wert the true Shepheard who lost his life for his sheepe Grant mee O Lord that being dead to all my sinnes and iniquities I may liue onely to thee that the course of this my life being finished in charitie I may presentlie enter into thee who art the true Paradise of our soules I giue thee thanks most meeke Iesus that thou wouldest haue thy diuine bodie opened with a launce of a certaine Souldier out of which blood and water issued to wash quicken our soules May it please thee O LORD so to strike my heart with the launce of thy holy loue that I may will nothing except that which thou willest O Lord let my soule enter the wound of thy breast and attaine euen vnto the seate of thy charitie and treasure of thy diuinitie that there I may adore thee my GOD crucified and dead for mee and casting from my memory all the figures of things visible I may onely respect thee and haue thee solely present in all things I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who with the great lament of thy friends wert taken from the Crosse and embalmed with precious oyntments wrapped in a faire winding sheete and carried into a strāge Sepulcher O Lord burie with mee all my senses that beeing ioyned vnto thee by a strong bond of loue I may bee as it were dead in those things which displease thee and as it were rauished out of my selfe in all things contrary vnto thee And contrariwise in these things that please me let mee bee altogether liuelie prompt and swift and delight in thee alon◅ my onely Redeemer and treasure of my soule Our Father c. The seuenth praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweete Iesu who of thy mighty power descendedst into hell and there subduedst sathans power conqueredst obscurity and death I pray thee O Lord that the reason of thy
passion and blood may redeeme mee from hel and damnation and reserue me to the life euerlasting I giue thee thanks o good Iesu who victoriously issuing from the Sepulcher 〈◊〉 noble triumph after thou hadst ouercome and slaine death didst rise againe the third day reassuming thy glorious body and clothed with immeasurable brightnesse visiting thy friends didst affect them with vnspeakeable ioy Grant me also O Lord that rising againe from the death of my sinnes and olde conuersâ—…tion I may walk in newnes of life and seeke those things onely which are high and excellent and not base and transitorie that when as thou the true life shalt make thy second apparition heere on earth I may appeare with thee also in thy glory I giue thee thanks O merciful Iesu who forty daies after thy resurrection in the sight of thine Apostles didst ascend into Heauen glorious and triumphant where sitting on the right hand of the Father thou liuest reignest world without end May it please thy diuine bounty o God that my soule may languish in thy loue and disdaine all things that are in this world that she may alwaies aspire vnto thee desiring celestial things and that with a continual and feruent will let nothing reioyce her nothing affect her but thou onely my Lord and God I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon yâ— elect who perseuered in prayer didst send them to preach and teach all nations throughout the world I beseech thee O Lord purifie the secrets of my heart and giue me the true purity and cleannesse of conscience that the same Comforter finding a general habitation in the same may adorne it and make it faire and beautifull with the plentifull gifts of his graces let him alone comfort me let him confirme and rule mee and bee possessed of mee I giâ—…e thee thanks most bountifull Iesu who when thou shalt come in the latter day to iudge the world to reward euery one according to his works and deserts either with rewardes or punishments My mercifull Lord giue me grace that my soule innocently â—…nishing the race of this miserable life according to thy holy will may at last depart out of this prison of the body adorned with many merits and vertues that for thy mercie-sake shee may bee receiued into the house of thy glorie that without end shee may praise thee and in the companie of all the Saints blesse thee world without end Amen Our Father c. The first thankesgiuing for the benefite of our Creation I Giue thee thanks omnipotent and eternall God most wise and munificent Creator of all things that when I was nothing hast created me to be somethat not a stone not a Serpent not a boord not a fourefooted beast but a man made according to thy image and similitude or rather the very image and similitude of thy selfe namelie a substance endued with vnderstanding and will that hauing a similitude of being liuing working with thee I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie But â—…est a creature so noble should presently fall againe to nothing and should presently and instantly perish thou createdst mee immortall that whereas other liuing creatures appeare but a little while and straight come to nothing I should neuer returne to not being but perpetually liue Yet seemed that little vnto thee O Lord except also thou hadst infused into me a soule so precious noble as that it scarsely giueth place to the Angels in dignity Orâ—…n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse Hogs feede on Aâ—…orns and Beane-cods neither are the meanes of more moment wherewith all other creatures are nourished which if they enioy they rest contented But my meate is celestiall and my appetite cannot be satisfied but by thy immeasurable Maiestie for thou hâ—…st created my soule of that nature and capacity as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it O vnhappy man that I am why doe I loue thee world why seeke I honours why gape I after riches why am I drowned in pleasures why seâ—…ke I those things that are to day are not found to morrow These Acornes suffice not These Huskes are not sauoury and these Beanes do not nourish Know O my soule what thou art to what vse thou wert created what thou oughtest to seeke and with what dainties thou shouldest be satified Only God can satiate thee all the rest may possesse thee but they cannot satisfie thee Seeke him hâ—…e is thy Spouse he is the Hauen of thy desires hee is thy last end Acknowledge thy dignity O my soule acknowledge what and how thou art created The king whose beauty the Sun and moone admire whose maiesty the Heauens reuerence and the earth adoreth with whose wisedome yâ— quires of Angels are illuminate with whose bounty the society of supernall Citizens is sed he created thee that thou mightest be his habitation his seate and holie temple hee would infuse himselfe into thy bosome he can fill all the corners of thy immeasurable capacities Rise arise o my soule go meete with such a guest introduce him with gladnesse into thy house and say He that created mee hath his rest in my tabernacle Which dignitie of my Soule O Lord when I considerately looke into I wonder not that thy onely begotten Son make drunke with the loue thereof forsaking thy bosome disâ—…ained not the Uirgins wombe sought her thirty three yeares with diuers labors and dolours gaue his life for her and by the pledge of his precious blood redeemed her being captiue But I rather woÌ„der at my ingratitud carelesnesse and dulnes who had rather prostitute the same soule so redeemed for a finall reward once againe to the cursed diuels and commit fornication with so vncleane beasts than rest in the armes of my Redeemer who is fairest amongst the children of men whose â—…aps are better than wine and whose name is powred out oyle When I behold the fashion which yâ— gauest to this my body I findâ—… so many of thy benefits as theâ—… are members senses veins nerues or small strings to bee found in thâ—… same all which doe publish thy â—…comparable wisedome and bounty In the only harmony of which bâ—…dy if I shold alwaies philosophy I should neuer want matter to praise thee I should neuer yeeld thee condigne thanks I should neuer pay my duties for so many 〈◊〉 great benefits which how great they are they best know who want the vse of some members or are trauelled with some other vicious affection of the body I yeeld therefore O thou maker of man infinite thanks vnto thy goodnesse for that thou hast not made mee blinde lame mute monstrous mad or disguised with any other vice either of minde or of body but for that thou hast bestowed on me a sound mind in a sound body Grant also that I may neuer abuse any of my members senses or powers of my soule
in coÌ„tempt or disgrace of thy holy Name Yet O Lord there are many things which yet I want for nothing is presently reduced from his not being to his perfect being but all things tend to their perfection by certaine degrees And that perfection from whom is it to bee required but from him who is the beginner of this worke Hence it is that all effects are conuerted to their causes that they may receiue their finall perfection from thence whence they had their beginning So see I O Lord the plants labour wrest themselues on euery side that they may behold the Sun fasten their roots in the earth Fishes forsake not the water and the Chicken scarce hatched from the egge hides himselfe vnder the wings of the Hen and followeth her whither soeuer shee go Since all creatures do this in whom there is no vnderstanding I alone doe it not whom yet thou hast created and endued with reason I see that I want many things 〈◊〉 that daily I am diuersly hindered the inordinate insatiable hunger of mine appetites teacheth me no lesse but I like a Doue wanting a heart haue not recourse to my Creator but to creatures I seeke not water out of the Fouâ—…taine but digge new Cesterns for my selfe I hunt after the earth contemne him that made the earth I seeke life in the land of death I will rest my selfe in things that are restles I will begge from creatures that which I ought to aske from the Creator I therefore pray thy goodnes O my mercifull Father Creator to take away this ignorance from 〈◊〉 and conuert me vnto thee and then shall I be conuerted thine eies see that which is imperfect in me thou madest mee thou finishedst mee thou beganst this worke doe thou finish it Thy hands haue fashioned mee giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy Testimonies Thou gauest mee eares but such as are more attentiue to heere fables thaÌ„ thy word thou gauest me eies but such as are more prone to behold curiosity than to consider the wondrous works of thy law thou gauest me hands but weak to performe good workes thou gauest me feet but swift vnto euill slow vnto goodnes What neede more There is no health in my flesh perâ—… O Lord that which thou hast begun 〈◊〉 me of thy hands Giue me that I want because thou art my Creator my God thou art my life thou art my saluation thou art my liuing thou art my aboundance thou art my glory thou art my honour thou art my peace thou art all my good without thee all my plenty is pouerty who liuest reignest God world without end Amen The second thanksgiuing for the benefite of our corporall conseruation I Giue thee thanks O most omnipotent high iust and mercifull Lord God not onely for that thou hast created me and broughtest me from not being to a being but also for that thou hast preserued and daily doest preserue meâ—… being made of nothing from falling into nothing for I both beleeue and confesse that both is thy worke but if thy hand should be shut and but for the twinckling of an eie should â—…iue ouer â—…is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ng of which thou createdst me As many moments therefore and points of time as this my life hath had now hath or may haue hereafter so many parts are there of this benefite I giue thee thanks O merciâ—… Father that by an vnsearchablâ—… kinde of meanes from my conception vntill my natiuitie thou hasâ—… kept mee close shut vp in the narrow bed of my mothers wombe least choaked in my mothers bowels I had come foorth into this world either borne an abortiue or strangled in my natiuitie without the benefite of Baptisme I giue thee thanks that I am borne not amongst Barbarians idolators who honor wood and adore stone not amongst Heretickes that blaspheme thy name and most sacred Sacraments but amongst Catholiques who honour and reuerence thee with a true sincere and pure â—…uth I giue thee thanks for that thou hast preserued me from all misforâ—…ne sodaine death being borne 〈◊〉 bred vp in this world so full of snares and of perils For whereas â—…uers men in my life time drowned in the Sea slaine in the war â—…urthered by theeues torne by the â—…skes of beasts swallowed vp by â—…rthquakes killed by hunger exâ—…ct by thirst burnt with heate â—…illed with colde poysoned with venome straÌ„gled with the haltar slaine by the sword or other sodaine and violent death are taken hence when in the meane while there are so many blinde lame mad troubled with the Iandâ—…es sâ—…ke of the â—…ir trauelled with the spleen bedâ—…em furious lunatâ—…ke and subâ—…ct to the falling sickenesse whose â—…ife is more miserable than death Thy fatherly prouidence O Lord hath defended me from all these eâ—…ils wheras notwithstanding noâ—…hing hapned vnto theÌ„ that might not haue fallen on me the sonne of â—…dam created out of the same masse of perdition conceiued anâ—… begotten in the same originall sin except thou hadst preserued me I owe all this to thy mercy these benefits I receiue from thee If my earthly King Lord had of tenne captiues condemned for one and the same crime sent nine to the gallowes and of his meere grace fauour had set me free what condigne thankes could I offer him But thou O Lord hast done this for mee not once but daily yea and euery moment What shall I therefore pay thee O Lord for al these benefits what praises shall I sing what thanksgiuing shall I offer I will say with the Prophet It is the mercy of God that we are not consumed for that his mercies haue not failed Thou hast giueÌ„ vs a body though vnworthy of many things which except they bee present it easily corrupteth perisheth but that they might be present it is thy singular prouidence that hath so disposed For as thou createdst vs for thy selfe so hast thou made all things for vs for whatsoeuer is created in the earth in the waters the ayre the fire or in the celestiall spheres yea in the imperiall heauen al that hast thou created to obey vs for thou hast placed man aboue all the workes of thy hands Thou hast subiected all things vnder his feet c. For me trees bring forth their boughes and fruite vines flourish for me oyles fatteÌ„ and grow fruitful for me the garden flowreth for me all the plowland of the fields is mine For mee doth the earth yeeld gold siluer and diuers minâ—…rals profitable for the vse of man For me doth the Sea ebbe flowfor mee it bringeth foorth diuers sorts of fishes for mee it beareth ships and sailes for mee doe the fountaines spring for mee doe the flouds flow sheepe oxen and the beasts of the field are fed bring forth skins wooll milke and butter for mee for mee hath the hound nailes and teeth for mee doth the Monocerote bring foorth a horne
adoptedst mee for thy sonne The grace which in baptisme I receiued of thee I cursedly neglected I rent my first robe and like the prodigall sonne spent all my substance Thy holy temple which thou sanctifiedst in me for thy le◅e I haue prophaned raising in the same an idoll of my disordinate pleasures defiling it with diuers sinnes The tune was once o Lord my Sauiour wherein I was so blinde and liued so loosely as if I had no law or as though I beleeued there were no God I was vnmindfull of death neither remembred I y◠latter iudgment or the life to come The Lawes according to whose prescript I did liue were mine appetites I followed mine owne inuentions and walked according to mine owne waies So diuers yeares of my life were ouerpast wherin I liued in so palpable darkenes tha◅ in like sort as that of Egypt I might haue felt it with my handes O eternall light how ouerlate did I know thee how slackely did I open mine eies to behold thine ancient beauty All this time thou obseruedst me sustainedst me expectedst mee not permittting timelesse death to apprehend mee O altitude of thy iudgements O greatnesse of thy ◅ercies How many men in the ◅eane space in the midde race of their sinnes are there swallowed by sodaine death who now are miserably tormented in hel I who was one of them protected by thy mercy am reserued euen vntill this houre Ah what had become of me if at that time thou hadst summoned me likewise before thy iudgement seat What account could I haue made in so miserable an estate O my mercy my redemption I giue thee no lesse thanks for this bounty than if thou hadst acquited me being condemned amongst those damned and deliuered mee from perpetuall torments Blessed bee thy patience by the benefite whereof I liue and blessed be thy mercy which so long time defended and kept me Neither didst thou onely keepe me whē I sinne◅ against thee but very often times thou didst also visite me as my friend calledst me vnto thee by thy sweete and secret inspirations obiecting to mee the greatnes of my sins the shortnes of this life the eternity of y◠other the seuerity of thy iustice and ◅he bounty of thy mercy In the midst of mine iniquitie afterwards thy presence appeared vnto mee so effectually that perseuering in my delights seeking after y◠Leeks ◅urneps and Garlike of Egypt thou extortedst plentifull teares from mee I did sinne and thou didst recall me from finne I did flie from thee as though it had bene a slight matter to lose thee and thou didst seeke me as though it were much for thy profit to finde me out So many yeares did wee liue wrastling resisting thou in doing good I in doing euill and contemning thy goodnesse With these voices didst thou call mee with these cords didst thou drawe mee At length when it pleased thee to single me out and to call me by thy grace thou sentest a great cry into the eares of my soule wherwith as it were the roaring of a Lion thou didst awake mee from sleepe and thou calledst me from death vnto life This is the voice which Dauid thy friend so highly commendeth in vertue and power breaking the Cedars cutting the flames of fire and shaking moouing the desart of Cades For no lesse is thy power than thy mercie which thou art wont to vse in this worke for it is great mercie to remit sins mighty power to make finners iust O how many and how great are the benefits which together with this one are powred into vs here is giuen pardon of sinnes grace is giuen charity is giuen with those other vertues which attend her finally the gifts graces of the holy Spirit are giuen Heereby the sinner is reconciled vnto thee of an enemy made a friend and of the slaue of the diuell thy Sonne and the heire of thy kingdome Heere the Prodigall Sonne is entertained into his Fathers house the first Robe Ring and Shooes ornaments of a Sonne are restored vnto him And although I cannot be assured O Lord whether I be worthy of hate or loue yet hope I y◠same and confidently euery way trust in thy bounty my conscience likewise beareth mee witnesse that I am partaker of the grace of iustification for which I acknowledge my selfe deepely indebted Blessed bee thou therefore O bountifull Lord the giuer of all goodnes yea of thy selfe for that I liuing most lasciuiously thou gauest mee thy holy Spirit for my nurse tutor master gouernour comforter and all my good hee is to mee the pattent of adoption the pledge of matrimonie the assurance of euerlasting life Blessed bee the day in which such a guest entered my soule and blessed bee the houre in which the gates of my wal were opened to receiue him That day was holy vnto mee in that day I came out of Egypt that day was my birth day in which I was regenerated into the Son of God This my Easter day in which I rose againe from death to life in which I receiued the holy Ghost Let Iob curse the day of his natiuitie I will blesse this this is the day in which the Angels reioyced at the conuersion of a sinner in which the woman reioyced that found her groat in which the shepheard assembled his neighbours with ioy for the lost sheepe which he found in which the diuels doe houle for their lost prey This is that day in which thou my Father doest acknowledge mee thy sonne and thy Sonne termeth mee his brother and thy holy Spirit hath consecrated mee for his Temple and the Quire of Angels haue saluted me for their companion and fellow Citizen If on this day the Angels reioyced and sung vnto thee O Lord how can my lips bee shut how may my tongue be silent how can my mouth choose but bee ◅lled with thy praises whatsoeuer the Psalmi◅ or Prophets sung of the comming of my Redeemer all y◠will I sing vnto thee O Lord. It was a great benefite of thine O Lord that thou diddest create me for thereby thou didst produce me from not being to a being but much more is it that thou iustifiedst me for in this thou tookst frō me the being of sinne and bringest me to the being of grace in that am I made the son of man in this am I adopted the son of God It is a great benefite which I expect of glory but no lesse in this kinde is that of iustificatiō For it is no lesse to make a iust man of a sinner than of a iust man a blessed man since there is a greater distance betwixt sin grace than betweene grace and glory Great also yea very great is the benefite of redemption but what had redemption profited if vocation and iustification had not followed I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefite of iustification is the keie and ground of all the other without which
craue peace and tranquillity for how can I choose being a weake fraile man but feare so mightie enemies as the world the diuell and the greatest enemy of all my flesh yet since I am not ignorant O Father that temptations are so profitable healthfull for vs yâ— we ought to reioyce therein I require no other thing at thy hands but that thou wilt take from before me the multitude of all my sinnes which with their immmeasurable weight not only depresse my poore backe but turne away thy helpe and assistance euery way from me Let mee heare in my temptations that which once Saint Paul heard when hee was tempted My grace â—…s sufficient for thee O Lord if â—…hou deny me not this I will say with the Prophet God is my light and my saluation whom then shall I fear God is the protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid If 〈◊〉 host of men were encamped against mee my heart should not â—…are If an army were imbattelled against mee hereat I would not be afraid Behold O Father how thy coÌ„â—…ence maketh vs fearelesse how â—…int hearted our sins finde vs for â—…is written whither flieth the wicked when no man followeth him â—…nd seeing the morning Star he supposeth it to bee the shadow of death Take my sinnes therefore from me which make me fearefull and faint-hearted and giue me thy grace that if it bee not expedient for mee to haue a life which is free from all temptations yet that I may constantly resist some assaults and with greater desire thirst after that my celestiall countrey wheâ—… neither temptation doth sollicite nor griefe cruciate nor tribulation afflict where thou the celestiall Father with the Sonne and the holy Ghost liuest and reignest God world without end Amen Against the temptation of the diuell LOrd God Creator and maiâ—…tainer of mankinde behold yâ— feareful Dragon tempteth me thâ—… old serpent which first began in the paradise of pleasure who with his tayle draweth the third part of the stars of heauen and casteth them on the earth who with his venome corrupteth the waters of the earth that men that drinke thereof die and who shall defend me from his iawes Who shall deliuer mee from his mouth but thou o Lord who hast broken the head of the great Dragon Helpe me spread thy wings O Lord ouer mee that mee may flie vnder them from the face of this Dragon who persecuteth mee and with thy shield deliuer me from his hornes for this is his continuall studie this his only desire to deuoure those soules â—…hom thou hast created therefore my God I cry vnto thee deliuer me from my daily aduersary who whether I sleep or wake whe ther I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer I do doth euery way day and night with his frauds and artes endeuour now openly to wound and now secretlie to hurt mee directing his inuenomed shafts against mee to the end hee may slay my soule But thou O inuisible Lyon of the tribe of Iuda giue strength to thy seruant against this roaring Lyon who alwaies seeketh about watching whom hee may deuoure most healthfull Serpent fixed on a high Crosse giue power vnto the weake one against the deceits of this subtill Serpent Thou snow-white Lambe conquerour of sathans tyranny giue thy tender sheepe the strength of thy Spirit that being fraile in himselfe and strong in thee hee may ouercome all the assaults of the diuell lest mine enemie triumph ouer me but being conquered by thy might I may giue thee thanks for thy mercy which neuer faileth those that put their trust in thee Amen Against the temptations of the world I Am assaulted O Lord Iesu I am assaulted come and reuenge me of mine aduersary and deliuer me Hast thou not said Be not dismaied I haue ouercome the world Whence therefore had the world those forces that it so triumpheth ouer thine elect and persecuteth all with fire and sword who cleauing vnto thee doe not adore and reuerence him why do they so largely rule ouer those whom thou hast chosen in the world to bee thine especially in this doting age of his continuance in which it behooued his power should decrease and his might diminish The contempt of Gods word reigueth euery where and with it ingratitude lust ryot vnlawfull pleasures and an extreame abuse of all things and he that wil not follow these is scorned and esteemed a foole his life is accounted madnesse and his end is without honour Hee is odious in the worlds eie for that his life is different from other â—…us These things do often times asâ—…ult our soules o Lord almost mooue our feete that leauing the hard wayes we may enter into the â—…igh way of the world which proâ—…seth vs all things happy pleasant sweete delightfull smiling â—…pon vs with a pleasant counteâ—…ance and offering vs with a full â—…and the riches honours pleaâ—…res of the same But thou O Lord withdraw mee from the darknesse deceites and allurements of this world Lighten mine eies that I may see and vnderstand how short and vncertaine how deceitfull how blinde and pernicious yâ— felicity of this world is Maintaine mee in the knowledge of thy truth lest in this couetous and drunken age of this world I bee intangled with secular cares which leade our minds from the exercises of piety and choake those motions which the holy Spirit stirreth vp in vs. Grant o Lord that this world may d ee crucified vnto mee and I vnto the world let mee no wayes study to please him lest whilst I become a friend of this world I make my selfe thine enemie let me contemne his hatred and slanders knowing that wee oughtto glory in nothing but in thy Crosse O Lord. Who liuest and reâ—…nest with the Father and the hâ—… Ghost world without end Amen Against the temptations of the flesh VVHere art thou O good Iesus where art thou Yet once againe Iesabell tyr annizeth once againe the flesh rageth a domesticke but yet a mortall enemie Be at hand O Iesus bee at hand assist mee in my necessity because the waters haue ouer-flowed my soule and the desires of the flesh ouerprest me My flesh made of dirt bringeth foorth nought but dirtie and filthy cogitations In respect of the world vaine and curious from the diuell iâ—… receiueth vaine and bitter whereby it sinneth against the Spirit borne of sinne nourished in sinne corrupted from the beginning with vices but much more depraued by euill customes Who shall stand against so strong an enemie O Lord. Who shall sustaine his assaults He stirreth vp vnlawful motions venemous cogitatious It inflameth moueth war nourisheth hatred inciteth gourmandise quickeneth lust prepareth occasions of sinne and ceasseth not with a thousand subtilties of circumuention to driue away the spirit It is a grieuous conflict a dangerous war to fight against a home-bred enemie especially where we are strangers and hee a Citizen he dwelleth in his owne countrey wee are