moment of time but shall thinke 〈◊〉 lost whatsoeuer is not imployed in thy honour and seruice giue me a will that may desire nothing more than to keepe thy commandements and obey thy wil giue me an vnderstanding that may meditate on thy law day and night and such a memory as may neuer be forgetfull of thee Furthermore O Lord giue a bridle to my tongue set a watch before mine eyes Grant me the puritie of heart the austerity of the fâ—…esh the mortification of all appeâ—…es and perturbations of the minde Finally giue me a grounded humility of heart and with it patience obedience meeknesse chastity true discretion with these pouerty of spirit feruent zeal of thine honor the loue of my neighbour and sincere compassion of an other mans tribulations Who liuest reignest world without end Amen A CoÌ„mendatory morning praier wherin together with our selues we commend all faithfull Christians vnto God I Adore blesse and glorifie thee 〈◊〉 holy Trinity omnipotent God Father Son and holy Ghost Behold I offer vp my selfe to thy diuine maiesty and yeeld me tributary to thy most holy and irreuocable will I pray thee O Lord take from me from all faithfull christians whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee and giue whatsoeuer is gratefull in thine eies and cause vs become such as thou commandest vs to be I commend vnto thee my father my mother brothers sisters sons cousins benefactors friends familiars neighbors and all those that haue recoÌ„mended themselues to our praiers or for whoÌ„ I ought to pray I coÌ„mend vnto thee thy holy catholike Church bring to passe O Lord that all and euery one may know thee all may honour thee all may loue thee and may likewise be beloued by thee Reduce the ignorant into the right way destroy heresies let all those bee conuerted to the true and sincere faith who haue no knowledge of thy most holy name Giue vs peace and conserue vs in the same yet in all things let thy will not our will bee fulfilled Comfort and helpe all those that are in tribulation and such as leade their liues in miseries temptations perturbations and afflictions as well of the body as the soule Finally I commend all creatures to thy protection that to the liuing thou mâ—…est giue grace and to the dead etâ—…nall rest Amen A praier before we goe out of doores OMnipotent eternall God who art the way the life and the truth behold I am to walke amidst the snares of the diuell the world his minister laid in waite for me I beare likewise about mee the temptations of my fraile flesh so that it cannot be that I shall walke without harme tither of body or soule amongst so many gulfs dangerous heaps of teÌ„ptations which that cursed enemy hath beset vs with being swallowed in sin except thou stretch thy right hand to assist vs. Leade mee therfore thou most assured faithfull guide open mine eies conduct me in the high way that I may neither turne on the right nor on the left hand Shewe mee thy pathes teach me thy waies make my path straight direct my iournies in peace O Lord in thy righteousnesse leade me because of mine enemies direct thou my waies in thy sight Thou that to holy men sendedst thine Angels for guardians by whom as the weaker sons they should be directed as by their elder and more stronger brothers Thou that to Toâ—…y the modest son of an honest father sendedst Raphael thy minister to accompany him on the way in his intended iourney send me being sarre inferiour to Tobias in vertue but confident in thy goodnesse thy holy Angel who may now leade mee in these paths that are most pleasant in thy sight and at length bring mee to the hauen of eternall life In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen When you enter any iourney O God that broughtest Abraham thy seruant from Vr of the Chaldees and keptst him in safety in the whole course of his pilgrimage we beseech thee vouchsafe to keepe vs thy seruants Be vnto vs O Lord in our setting out our succour in our way our solace in heate a shelter in raine and cold a garment in wearines a wagon in aduersity a helper in the slippery way a staffe in shipwrack a hauen that by thy conduct wee may attaine thither with happines whither we trauell and at last returne in safety to our owne households through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A praier before the Sermon O Lord Iesu Christ that dâ—…scendedst from the bosome of thy father into this world 〈◊〉 our teacher yâ— thou mightest shew the will of thy Father to wretched mortall men and teach them in the way of â—…aluation Behold I come to heare thy word and haue many yeares since repaired to the same but alas with small fruit of my soule I came vnto the light and I am not illuminated to the bread of life behold I die for hunger to the fire and I starue for cold to the medicine 〈◊〉 am oppressed with diuerse infirmities of sinne The dew of diuine doctrine falleth without intermissioÌ„ vpoÌ„ my earth and yet hitherto hath it brought forth nothing but thorns and thistles what need more daies moÌ„ths and yeeres are past and I remain in the same state of sinne It is a great benefit O Lord that thou hast left vs the seed of thy diuine word otherwise we had bene like Sodome and Gomorra It is likewise a great benefite that thou sendest laborers into thy vineyard that thou leauest vs Doctors and Catholicke preachers but in vaine teach they outwardly except thou mooue inwardly I beseech thee therefore O good Iesus open the eares of my heart that that which is instilled by the eare of my flesh may penetrate euen vnto the marrow of my spirit and there worke such holesome effects that thy word returne not againe in vaine Uouchsafe I say O Lord yâ— this seed which at this time falleth on me be not choked with the thornie cares of this world neither wither through drought and defect of the deaw of the holy Ghost in the time of tribulation neither be deuoured by the birds of the aire but warmed by the heate and operation of the holy Spirit may flourish in a fruitful mould and bring forth the fruits of eternall life that I may know thee loue thee and laud thee with perpetual praise who art laudable and glorious for euer Amen A prayer after the Sermon LOrd Iesus Christ eternall Sauiour I giue thee thanks for that thou hast fed me wiâ—…h the food of thy word 〈◊〉 abundantly nourished me I beseech thee that the vnderstanding of thy word be effectuall and healthfull to mee that the same celestiall seede do not perish in me without fruit Keepe my heart and enclose it with the sence of thy grace and prohibite that the infernall foule do not plucke it out of my heart but prepare it
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
teaching but from thee I expect that thou shouldest open vnto mee the treasures of thy wisedome Be assistant bee assistant therefore O thou brightnesse of diuine Maiestie O beauty of thy Fathers glory O giuer of rewards be assistant I beseech thee vnto me and from the height of thy throne powre the sparkling light of thy grace into the heart of thy seruant that being solely taught inwardly by thee I may vnderstand not that which the prudence of the flesh perswadeth but that which thy celestiall wisedome doth allow that I may vnderstand also with sobrietie and not whilst I perswade others to goodnesse make my selfe arrogant and euill but that I may first of all conuert to mine owne profit whatsoeuer is giuen mee by thee then from mee let it redound to my neighbour that by the benefite of this imperfect science I may at last come to the contemplation of the most perfect wisedome which thou thy selfe art Who liuest and reignest GOD world without end Amen When the clocke striketh BLessed bee the houre in which my Lord Iesus Christ was borne died for vs O Lord haue me in remembrance at the houre of my death A praier before repast IT is y◠admirable mystery of thy work O thou Maker and ruler of the world that thou sustainest by these meates the liues of men and of beasts Truly that power is neither in the bread nor meate but it is in thy will and word by which all things liue and haue their beeing And how great is that likewise that euery yeare thou so prouidest whereby so many sorts of liuing creatures are sufficiently satisfied Which thy holy Prophet testified in the publishing of thy praises That all things looke vp vnto thee that thou mightest giue thē meat in due season Thou openest thy hand fillest with thy blessing euery liuing creature These are the wonderfull workes of thy omnipotencie wee beseech thee thou Prince magnificent father that as thou ministrest life vnto our bodies by meates and by thy word so also it might please thee to quicken our soules with grace by the same word Grant that thy helpe may be present with vs lest wee wickedly abuse those things which thou hast created for our good vses let vs not loue thee because thou giuest those things but let vs loue those things because they come from thee for a time are necessary vnto vs returning vnto thee Let vs conuerse soberly purely moderately holily amongst thy gifts which thou giuest vs lest wre conuert those things which thou giuest vs as a medicine of our life to the venome and death of our soules But rather duely and thankefully receiuing them they may become holsome both to our soules and bodies that we may be worthy that thou like a good Father shouldest deseruedly nourish vs like thy deare children with holsome nourishment till we obtaine to that perfection of thy Son Iesus Christ in which this mortall shall out on immortality neither any more want nouriture beeing made one with thy selfe who art blessed for euer and euer Amen A praier after meate VVE feele a double eating O boūtiful liberal Father in our members by this the naturall heate daily consumeth somewhat of the substāce of our bodies by that not the natural but the noxious concupiscence consumeth somewhat of that iustice which by thy larges is infused into our soules If thou repairest not and daily strengthenest not our body with corporall meats it dieth and that naturall life which is in it is extinguished except thou daily nourish our soule by thy grace it is first weakned and at length dieth not a temporall but an eternall death For as we consist of two-fold substance so haue wee neede of a double aliment We pray thee therfore O Lord God to giue our bodies our daily bread wee beseech thee also impart to our soules thy continuall grace by the one the bodie is strengthened by the other the soule is inriched by this wee liue by that we liue happily Now hast thou nourished O most gracious father the corporall life of thy children with corporall meates we pray thee that with the same beneficence thou wilt now also nourish in vs the spirituall life with the crummes of thy mercy falling from thy table that by thy grace thou maiest driue away the death of our soules Truly we are much indebted vnto thee for this present life and because thou prolongest the same by thy bounty wee giue yeeld thee most humble thankes but this now is the way to that eternall life which wee beseech thee by the death of thine only begotten Sonne to bestow vpon vs by thy bounty and immortall blessednesse Here but for a temporall life wee giue thee thanks but temporarie such as we may there for eternall graces shall we giue thee eternall thanksgiuing For there shall we truly be satisfied when thy glory shall appeare which thou shalt giue vs through Iesus Christ thy Sonne who with thee and the holy Ghost liueth and reigneth world without end Amen A praier to almightie God about Sunne setting O Lord the way of the iust shineth like a cleere light and increaseth euen vnto the perfect day of eternity but the wicked knewe not neither vnderstood they walk in darknes they shall descend from the interior darknes of the mind to the exterior darkenesse of hell O therefore most miserable are they foure-times more miserable are they to whom that thy sunne doth set that sun I say that to thy saints neuer setteth but is alwaies meridian cleere shining A grieuous night also in the noonestead attendeth their minds who depart from thee They expect the light and beholde darkenesse the light and they walke in darknes they feele like the blinde for the wall grope as it were without eies they stumble at noone day as it were in the darke and in obscuritie like the dead but they that are conuersant with thee the day is neuer darkenesse vnto them but shineth clearely Heere the etheriall Sun keepeth his course ariseth setteth draweth neare vs and departeth from vs But thou O Lord if we truely loue thee hast no changes thou risest alwaies and settest neuer thou commest to vs and remainest with vs to the worlds end O thou that risest from the highest lighten mee that fit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death O light of the Father O eternall Sonne illumine my inward darknesse lest after this life I be drawne to the exteriour O mercifull and sweete Iesu remaine with mee because it wareth darke and the day is already at an end for as long as wee enioy thy presence wee abide in light and clearenes but if thou shalt depart from vs what thing can bee pleasant nay what not heauy and dolesome vnto vs When wee haue thee present wee are fedde by thy sweetnesse we enioy thy familiaritie we rest in thine armes wee are delighted by thy inward conference
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
and no man can come vnto mee except my Father draw him All that therefore which I haue all that which I am it is of thy grace thy gift thy liberalitie and mercie so that but in thinking I could not preuent the gifts of thy good works by my vertue For we are not sufficient to thinke any thing of our selues as of our selues but all our sufficiencie is from thee What therfore shall I do wretched naked and poore that I am I am weake and lame but by thy gifts and benefits rich and wealthy I sailed by the sea but a tempest arising my ship was drowned mâ—… riches perished my wares at one misfortune lâ—…st By thy bounty although I suffered ship wrack I my selfe escaped my soule being saued by the helpe of one planke swam to land But what now shall I do I haue not whereon to liue and through infirmity I can get nothing The onely remedy that is lest me is to beg but who is so liberall that hee will or so rich that hee can helpe a caitife so miserably poore but thou onely O God â—…enigne and mercifull rich and omnipotent To thee therefore do I cry to thee do I cal at thy gate without â—…rmission will I beg But heere once againe my conscience terrifieth mee shame and modestie reclaimeth for what soeuer I possessed before and now haue lost all that was thine that thou hast trusted mee with for all that as yet I stand indebted vnto thee moreouer I offended thee I did thee wrong 〈◊〉 abused thy blessings to thy dishonor What impudency shall it therefore be in me to aske new fauours at thy hands shall I therefore despaire shall I therefore say with Cam my iniquitie is more than may be remitted shall I therefore bee a vagabond an outcast from the land of the liuing nothing lesse for I know that my God and my Lord is mercifull and compassionate long suffering and of great mercy I know that my Lord is bountifull and of much mercie fauourable to such as offeÌ„d I knâ—…w that after he had seene his seruant that ought him ten thousand talents humbling himselfe he forgaue him the whole debt I will therfore say in like sort with that seruant Lord haue patience with me I will pay thee all But how shall I restore vnto thee O Lord except thou first giue mee and to whom shalt thou giue but to him that beggeth at thy hands and who dare not aske when as thou so liberally inuitest all men saying Come vnto mee all you that labour and are burthened and I will refresh you come all ye that thirst vnto the waters and those that want mony hasten buy and eate Come buy without money and without any exchange Wine and milke Incited by this so bountifull prouocation of thine behold I come vnto thee and beseech thee that thou wilt giue mee the meanes to satisfie all that which I ow thee and namely giue mee thy grace duely to adore thee serue thee praise thee and yeeld thee that due reuerence and honour that belongeth vnto thee that I may giue thee thankes for thy benefites loue thee with all my heart put all my trust in thee obey thy commaundements offer my selfe wholie vnto thee commend my selfe into thy hands and that I may learne to aske these or such like graces from thee that outwardly before mine eies and inwardly within my heart the glorie of thy Name and the saluation of my soule like a white or marke may continually bee prefixt before me I beseech thee also O Lord to graunt mee the remission of my sinnes true contrition and pennance giue mee grace that I neuer hereafter offend thee either in those sinnes which were hitherto familiar vnto mee or any other whatsoeuer But especially O LORD I require the grace and strength at thy hands that I may chastice my flesh refraine my tongue mortifie the inordinate appetites of my heart and recollect the dispersed and wandering thoughts of my imagination that so reformed both inwardly and outwardly and made a new Creature I may deserue to bee a liuing and gratefull Temple in the which thou maist rest and make thy biding place Giue mee those vertues also wherewith that thy habitatioÌ„ may not onely bee purged but also beautified such as are the holie feare of thy name firme hope perfect humility entire patience prudent discretion pouertie of spirit exact obedience continuall fortitude and diligent alacritie in all those things which appertaine to thy seruice and honour and aboue all ardent charitie as wel towards thee as towards my neighbour But because I know my self vnworthy of all these and vndeseruing any of them remember I pray thee O Lord thy old mercies remember that thou desirest not the death of a sinner as thou thy selfe testifiest but that hee bee conuerted and liue remember that thine onely begotten Sonne came not into this world to cal the iust but sinners remember what hee did and how much hee suffred from the day of his Natiuitie till the time hee died vpon the Crosse. Al which I offer vnto thee O most mercifull Father that they may be a sweete smelling sacrifice for my sinnes and not for my sinnes onely but for all other my necessities also For whatsoeuer I pray and whatsoeur I pleade for that do I aske in his not in mine owne name for it is said of thee that thou honourest the fathers in their children and sparest one for another euen as Dauid in times past honoured Mephiboseth for his Father Ionathans sake Honour thou thy onely begotten Sonne in like manner in me doing good vnto me for his sake because hee is my Father and my second Adam and I his sonne although disobedient ill-nurtured Looke vpon mee O Lord because I flie vnto thee come to the gate of thy mercie to thee doe I lay open my pouerty to thee shew I my wounds because thou art my true Physition I powre out my soule before thee and inflamed with the spirit of Dauid I crie vnto thee saying Incline thine eares O Lord vnto me and heare me because I am poore and in necessitie Keepe my soule because I am holy saue thy seruant O my God that putteth his trust in thee haue mercie vpon mee O Lord because all the day long I cry vnto thee glad yâ— soule of thy seruant because vnto thee O Lord lift I vp my soule for yâ— O Lord art sweete and mercifull and many are thy mercies to those that call vpon thee Open thine eares O Lord vnto my praier heare the voice of my cry In the day of tribulation I cried vnto thee and thou didst heare me leade me O Lord in the way and direct mee in thy truth let my heart reioyce that I may feare thy name I will confesse vnto thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and I will praise thy name for euer and euer Amen A most deuout meditation
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
as betweene the one benefit and the other and that for that cause there ought to bee the same difference betweene the one gratuitie the other that meate was earthly this heauenlie that was of the bodie this of the Soule that gaue not true life to those that eat the same this giueth eternall life to those that worthily receiue it But why make I cōparisō betweene the one the other For whatsoeuer difference is betweene the creature the Creator the same is betweene this and that meate If therefore thou O Lord require such remembrance and gratuity for that thou didst nourish thy people with corporall and corruptible meate what wilt thou require of vs whom thou nourishest with so farre better foode as the Creator exceedeth the creature there is not any praise nor thanksgiuing which is worthy this benefite When as therefore I neglect mine owne forces faculties neither can I finde way or meanes to pay thee that which I owe thee there is no other remedy left for me than with the Prophet to take that cup of saluation and call vpon the name of our Lord that is not to remunerate that benefits that are past but to aske new to require grace vpon grace I beseech thee therefore O Lord vouchsafe that I may receiue this Sacrament in satisfaction of all my sinnes and amendment of my former life that being repaired in me by the benefite thereof whatsoeuer is fallen whatsoeuer I wāt let it be supplied and grant that my pouerty may bee enriched by the benefits of thy graces By that vertue of this sacrament mortific in me whatsoeuer is displeasant to thy diuine eies and make me conformable to thy will Uouch safe mee O Lord that by this mystery I may alwaies perseuere in thee may continually and perfectly loue thee that I may be alwaies continually vnited coupled vnto thee to the honour of thy holy name Be fauourable O Lord vnto all my offences and not mine onely but all others Grant the Heretikes Schismatikes may returne to the vnitie of thy Church illuminate the Infidels that they may know thee help all those for whom I am bound to pray Comfort my father mother brothers and sisters friends and enemies with all those that haue euer done me good Bee mercifull vnto all those for whom thou sh◅dest thy most precious blood To thee be all praise honour vertue and glory who liuest and reignest world without end Amen Prayers and thanksgiuings after the Communion The first Praier I Giue thee thanks O Lord holy Father omnipotent and eternall God that thou hast vouchsafed to sat◅ate mee a wretched sinner and thy vnworthy seruant not for my merits but onely for thy mercie sake with the precious body and blood of thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ. And I beseech thee that this holy Communion may be vnto me not guiltines to procure punishment but a fruitfull intercession of pardon may be my armour of faith and shield of good will may bee the euacuation of my vices extermination of my concupiscence and lust the augmentation of my charitie and patience humility and obedience against the deceits of both my visible and inuisible enemies a firme defence a perfect pacification of my motions both carnall and spirituall assured cleaning to thee the onely and true God a happy consummation of my life And I beseech thee that thou wilt conduct mee most wretched sinner to that inestimable banquet where thou with thy Sonne and the holy Ghost to thy Saints art a true light compleat satietie eternall ioy consummate pleasure and perfect felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The second Prayer after the Communion I Giue thee thāks O Lord Iesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords reuerend immesurable in maiestie for that thou hast vouchsafed to feede and sweetly to refresh my ouer-dried soule with thy sacred body precious bloo◅ I beseech thee that whatsoeuer is found vitious in mee and contrary to thy most holie will by the Communion of this Sacrament may bee vtterly extinct in mee so that my heart may bee prepar◅ for a worthy habitation for the holy Ghost And grant O most sweet Iesus that this Sacrament of thy body and blood may be vnto me an attonement for my sinnes a medicine for my life an establishment of grace a memorie of thy most holy passion reliefe in my pilgrimage the sweet and pleasure of my soule my health sanctitie in temptations my light vertue in tribulations my light vertue in all my words and deeds my finall comfort de◅ence in death Grant that it may so change the affections of my heart that it may feels conceiue no sweetnesse but that which is in thee loue no bea◅ seeke no loue desire no consolatiō admit no pleasure care for no honours feare no cruelty Amen The third Prayer after the Communion PIerce O most sweet Lord Iesu that marrow and inwards of my soule with the sweet and holsome wound of thy loue with true perfect pure Apostolike and sacred charitie that my soule may onely languish melt away in the loue desire of thee let it not long after and grow weary in thy wayes let it desire to be dissolued and to be with thee Grant that my soule may hunger after thee the bread of Angels y◠resurrection of al holy soules our supercelestiall and daily bread hauing in it all sweetnesse and sauour and all delectation of suauitie Grant that my heart may alwaies hunger thirst after thee on whom the Angels desire to looke and with the sweetnes of thy fauor let the inward secrets of my soule be filled let it alwaies thirst after thee the fountaine of life the fountaine of wisdome and science the fountaine of eternall light the riuer of pleasures the plenty of Gods house Let her alwaies seek thee compas◅e thee finde thee trauell to thee and attaine vnto thee let her meditate on thee speake of thee worke all things to the honour and praise of thy name with humility and discrenon with loue and delectation with facility and affection with perseuerance vnto the end and be thou alwaies my onely hope my whole trust my riches my delight my pleasure my Sauiour my sweetnesse my meate my refection my refuge my hope my wisedome my portion and possessiō my treasure in which my heart and minde may be alwaies fixed and firmely rooted Amen The first prayer for the loue of God O Sweet benigne louing bounteous deere mighty o admirable ineffable inestimable incomparable o powerfull magnificent liberall incomprehensible infinite most mighty God Thou art onely good all pitifull all amiable thou art sweeter than hony whiter than snow delightfuller than all pleasure sweeter than all delight more precious than gold of precious stones Thou art my God my life and my onely hope Grant me o Lord that I may loue thee if not as much as thou deseruest yet at leastwise as
in thee Helpe mee O Lord my Sauiour draw me on high after thee for the weight of mortalitie doth alwaies depresse me Thou o Lord that ascendedst the tree of the Crosse that thou mightst draw all things vnto thee thou that through so unmeasurable charity didst couple two-natures so different together and madest one person of them that we might be made one with thee Grant mee this one thing o Lord and it suff◅eth mee For the riches of this world satiate me not I onely will thee I seeke thee I desire to see thy face I will aspire alwaies to thy loue and with the Prophet I will sing I will loue thee o Lord my strength God is my foundatiō my refuge God is my helper and I will hope in him my protector and the horne of my saluation and my defender Praising will I call vpon our Lord and I shall be safe from mine enemies The fourth prayer for obtaining of the loue of God ON the bended knees of my heart deuoured in the depth of mine own abiectnes with a◅ are and reuerence I come before thy sight o my God as one the most vnhappie poore and vilest creature of the world I set my selfe neere the flouds of thy mercy by the riuer of thy graces before the brightnes of the true Sunne of iustice whose beames are spread ouer the whole earth and communicate themselues freely to all those that shut not the window against them Behold a masse of chalke a rude and impolisht trunck cut from the tree is presented to the hands of the most wise workmaster make of it O most merciful Father that which thou hast decreed to doe Great is my boldnesse in that a creature so vile dare demand a loue so precious excellent as thine is Truly I would considering my great indignity require some lesser thing at thy hāds but what shal I doe wretch that I am whereas thou cōmandest me that I should loue thee Thou hast created me to the ende I should loue thee and threatnest mee except I loue thee Tho◅dst die that I might loue thee and commandest mee that I should aske nothing more feruently at thy hands than thy loue yea so much destrest thou to bee beloued by mee that seeing mee without thy loue thou didst institute thy Sacramēt of admirable value whereby my heart might be enflamed with thy loue O my Sauiour whom am I that thou shouldest require my loue to this end thou shouldest seeke so many and so admirable meanes What am I to thee but a torment a crosse and a vaily tribulation And what art thou to me but saluation rest and all goodnesse If therfore thou louest me why am I euerie waies trouble some vnto thee why shall I not loue thee again who art euery way so profitable and beneficiall to me Possessed therefore O Lord of these pledges of thy loue and confirmed by that thy mercifull commandement whereby euen vnto my liues ende it pleased thee so bountifully to muite me and command mee to loue thee by this thy singular grace I require another like fauour namely that thou wilt first giue me that which y◠wouldest haue me giue thee for I cannot giue thee this except thon first giue it me for I am not worthy to loue thee but thou art worthy to beloued by mee I therefore dare not request thee to loue thee but that it might please thee to giue me leaue to loue thee Fly not O Lord flie me not despise not to bee beloued by thy creatures with the vtmost of their loue O God who art essentially loue increated loue infinite loue loue without measure not onely a louer but all loue from whence the loue of all Seraphins euery creature proceedeth in like manner as the light of all the starres from the brightnes of the sun why shall I not loue thee how can I chuse but be burnt with this fire of loue which inflameth the whole world and each thing contained in the same yea welnigh burneth them O God who art essentialy goodnesse it selfe from whom all that is good whatsoeuer is called good from whom the goodnesse of all liuing creatures no otherwise than al riuers from the sea is deriued in comparison of whose more than excellent goodnes there is not any thing either in heauen or in earth that may be called good why therfore shall I not loue thee whereas goodnes is the obiect of loue If I cannot loue thee o my Lord for thine excellency how can I chuse but loue thee for mine owne profite sake The son loueth the father who hath receiued his being from him the members loue the head and offer themselues to death for it because by the same they are continued in their essence All effects loue their causes for from them they haue receiued whatsoeuer they are from them they expect that which yet they haue not but thou o Lord art my father my head and my cause that therefore which the sonne oweth the father the mother the head that which the effects owe to their causes all that and far more do I owe thee Thou gauest mee that beeing which I haue more perfect than my parents did thou keepest mee in this beeing which thou gauest mee more carefully than the head doth the members thou finishest in mee that which is wanting till thou hast brought mee to the last point of perfection Thou art my father which made me thou art my head which gouernest me thou art my spouse who gauest to my soule perfect felicity thou art the Architect of this building thou art the painter of this figure made according to thy image and similitude which thou wilt also make perfect Whatsoeuer it hath it hath it frō thee whatsoeuer it wanteth it hopeth to receiue it from thee For euen as no one could giue him that which he is but thou O Lord so also no man can perfect that which as yet is imperfect but thou whatsoeuer therefore it hath whatsoeuer it is whatsoeuer it hopeth all that is thine Whom therefore shal it behold but thee To whom shall it bee accountable but to thee In whose eies shall it walke but in thine Whither shall hee direct all his loue but to thee who art his whole good If therefore O Lord thou bee the beautie and ornament of my soule how cā I forget thee What haue I in heauen and what will I of thee on earth My flesh and my heart faileth God of my heart my heritage for euer O increate loue which alwaies burnest neuer art extinguished o loue which alwaies liuest and burnest in the bosome of God O eternall dart of the fathers heart that alwaies woundeth the face of the Son with the wound of infinite loue O let this dart wound me this fire inflame me let me follow thee my beloued let me sing a new song with a loud voice let my soule melt in thy praises with the vnspeakable applause and Iubile
of loue O most holy father o most mercifull sonne O most louing holy ghost when wilt thou most beloued father dwell in my soule and abide in the secrets of my heart possesse me wholy When shal I be wholy thine and thou wholy mine When shall it come to passe o my King when will that day come o when O were it here Shall I neuer see it o how vngrateful delay how odious procrastinatiō Haste thee O Iesus haste thee and delay not returne returne and runne like a Goate and the yong hinds vpon the mountaines of Bether O my God the repose of my life the light of mine eies my consolation in tribulations the end of my desires the paradise of my heart the center of my soule the pledge of glory the companion of my pilgrimage my ioy in exile the medicine of my wounds mercifull iusticer of my sins master of the ignorant guide of life nest in which my soule resteth hauen wherein she is saued glasse wherein she beholdeth her selfe staffe on which she leaneth stone on which she is builded precious treasure in which shee glorieth If thou therefore o Lord be all these vnto me how can I forget yea but for a moment of time If I forget thee o my God let mee forget my right hand let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth if I remember thee not I will giue no sleepe vnto mine eies o blessed Trinitie nor rest to mine eie-lids nor quiet to my temples vntill I finde this loue vntill I finde a place for my Lord in my heart and a tabernacle for the God of Iacob in my soule who liueth for euer world without end Amen The first prayer for the loue of God I Will loue thee O Lord my strength I wil loue thee my vnspeakable ioy and let my whole life liue not to my selfe but to thee which was condemned to miserie raised againe by thy mercy Too late did I feare thy Maiestie too late did I loue thee thou beautie both old and new too late did I loue thee I sought thee my refreshment and I found thee not because I vndirectly sought thee I sought thee without my selfe thou didst dwel in me I trauelled the streets and waies of the Citty of this world seeking thee and I found thee not because inconsiderately I sought thee abroad wheras thou wert at home with mee I asked y◠earth whether it were my God and it answered mee no and all things which are in the same confessed the very same I asked the Sea the depths and y◠inhabitants therof and they answered we are not God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the fleeting aire with all the dwellers therein and he answered mee no. I asked heauen the Sunne the Moone and the Starres neither are wee thy Gods said they Finally I asked all creatures and they cried vnto mee with a loud voice hee that made vs is thy true God Lord. And I sayd where therfore is my God where shall I seek him shew him me And I heard a voice saying vnto me God is in euery place seeke him in thy self he filleth Heauen filleth the earth and filleth thy heart And I came to my selfe I entred into my selfe and I said vnto my selfe how entrest thou hither O my God at what doore wert thou admitted I began to enquire examine euery one of my senses if by any of them thou didst enter but they likewise knew not how or which waies thou camest in For the eies say if he be not coloured he cannot enter by vs. The cares say if he make no sound hee cānot passe by vs The nose saith if hee smell not hee could not come by me Taste saith if he sauored not he entred not by me Touch likewise addeth if he is not corpulent aske me nothing of this matter How therefore o my loue didst thou enter my soule and didst not enter by any doore Truly thou art light shining in darkenes yet such as the eie is not capable of Thou art a voice sweet aboue all voices yet such a one as the eare conceiueth not Thou art a sweete more fragrant than any odor which neuerthelesse my taste comprehendeth not Thou art an embracement to bee esteemed aboue all embraces which notwithstanding the touch attaineth not Where wert thoutherefore my God where wert thou my light where wert thou my hope I asked it was answered me Ascend into the superior parts of thy heart there shalt thou find God Truly thou art great O God and hast ouercome our wisdome Thou art the king of kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art immortall and dwellest in vnaccessible light whom no mortall man euer saw or shall euer see and liue Many and great are the wonders that are reported of thee o Lord yet more lesse and fewer than may be said of thee words are defectiue where thou are neuer deficient For thou exceedest all that which may bee spoken or thought O onely loue my Lord God thou didst loue me before I loued thee and createdst mee according to thine owne image and madest mee Lord ouer all thy creatures Moreouer thou makest thine Angels spirits for me whō thou hast ordained to defend mee in all my waies lest I should hurt my foote against the stone Thou wouldest not permit me to be borne in a pagan but a Christian land in which by the water and the holy Ghost I am regenerate sanctified Thou neither gauest me too much riches nor too abiect pouerty lest I shold either waxe proud or grow more contemptible but thou gauest me vnderstanding and wil whereby I should know and loue thee Thou didst cal me when I was lost knockedst at my doore but I did not answer thee I liued according to mine own lust and attributed too much to mine owne strength whereas neuerthelesse it was not strength but weaknesse I would runne and grow presently weary and where I thought I should bee secure there was I in greatest danger I went away frō thee like y◠prodigall son and trauelled into a strange countrey and dwelt therein whereas louing vanitie I became vain I was blind I desired blindnes I was a seruant I loued seruitude I was bound tooke pleasure in thraldome I thought bitter was sweet and sweete was bitternes I was wretched and I knew it not Whilst I liued in this most desperate estate thou didst cast thine eies of compassion vpon mee and although without intermission I did offend thee yet didst not thou giue ouer to reclaime me from my sins when I wandered thou broughtest me into the way when I was ignorant thou taughtest me when I did sinne thou didst correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort mee When I did despaire thou didst encourage me when I fell thou didst raise me vp when I stood thou sustainedst me I was vndone and dead thou descendedst vnto the dead tookest on thee mortality thou a
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
place in all places without diuision In magnitude thou art infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnesse chiefe in wisedome inestimable in counsels terrible in iudgements iust in thoughts secret in words true in works holy in mercy copious towards sinners patient toward penitents compassionate But what in especiall should I speake of thy wisedome but that which earst the Prophet aid O Lord thou knowest my thoughts afar off thou hast searcht my commings in and goings out and all my waies hast thou foreknowne because there is no speech in my tongue which thou knowest not Behold O Lord thou knowest al things both the first and the last Thou hast made mee and laid the hand vpon me Such knowledge is too wonderfull excellent for me I cānot attaine vnto it Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shal I fly frō thy presence if I climbe vp to heauen thou a◅ there if I goe downe to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vtmost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand leade mee and thy right hand shall hold me If I say the darkenes shall couer me then shall thy right hand bee turned to day yea the darkenes is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as day the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For his eies saith another are vpon the waies of men hee considereth all their steps there is no darknes nor shadow of death to hide them that work iniquity But what shal I say of the greatnes of thy power I wil say that in times past which the Prophet said saying For God is my king of old the helpe that is done vpon earth hee doth it himselfe Thou diddest deuide the sea through thy power thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou smotest the heads of the dragons and gauest them for meate to thy people in the wildernesse thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard rockes thou driedst vp many waters The day is thine the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made sommer and winter And in another place the same Prophet saith O Lord God of hoasts who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty Lord is on euery side Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they arise thou hast subdued Egypt destroied it thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme The heauens are thine and the earth is thine thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is Thou hast made the North the South ◅abor and Herm◅ shall reioyce in thy name Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand high is thy right hand Blessed Iob knew this thy power when he said With him is counsel strength wisedome vnderstanding Behold if he breake downe a thing who can set it vp again If he shut a thing who will open it Behold if he withhold the waters they ◅ry vp if he let them goe they destroy the earth with him is strength wisedome both the deceiuer and ◅ee that is deceiued are his hee carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile and maketh that Iudges fooles hee looseth the rule of Kings guirdeth their loines with a band he leadeth away the great men into captiuity and turneth the mightie vpside downe he stoppeth the mouth of them that speake truth and disappointeth the aged of their vnderstanding hec poureth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake Looke what lieth hid in darkenesse hee declareth it openly and the verie shadow of death bringeth he to light he increaseth the people and destroieth them he maketh them to multiply and diminisheth them These o Lord are testimonies of thy mightines but what shal I say of the riches of thy glory and the veine of thy felicitie If thou hast sinned saith the scripture what hast thou done against him if thy offences be many what hast thou done vnto him if thou bee righteous what giuest thou him or what wil he receiue at thy hands Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnes may profit the sonne of man But thou O Lord art such and so blessed as thou needest not another mans goods I confesse thee to be such a one for such a one I praise thee and glorifie thy most holy name Infuse thy light into my heart giue me words in my mouth that my heart may alwaies think of thy mightines and let thy praise be in my mouth for euer But for that thy laud is not seemely in y◠mouth of a sinner I therefore require all the Angels of heauen and all the creatures of the world that they together with me may praise thee and may supply my defect inuiting them thereunto with that glorious song which the three children sung in the midst of the fierie furnace in Babylon saying Blessed bee the Lord God of our fathers bee hee praised magnified for euer And blessed be the name of his glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy maiestie to bee praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubins to be praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and praised and glorified world without end Amen The third prayer to the holy Trinitie GOD holy of holiest God omnipotent God eternall God that art strong God of spirits and all flesh at whose presence heauen and earth trembleth at whose beck the heauens and elements obey trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in trinitie Father Son holy Ghost thou being of my being life that quickenest me light that illuminatest me science that instructeth me yet aboue all essence light life and science all creatures adore and celebrate thee and I incited by the dutie I owe thee this day do bow the knees of my heart before the footstoole of thy Maiestie I giue thee thanks that thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing but also didst fashion mee according to thine owne forme that is gauest mee a perfect shape that where I deserued no fauour thou hadst compassion on mee for that thou hast sanctified mee with the sacraments of y◠Church that from my child-hood hitherto thou hast brought me vp in al goodnes But O thou maker of heauen of earth whereas I am not able to serue thee to any vse for whose cause didst thou so much bountie vpon me how commeth it to passe that thou louest mee so much for what haue I giuen thee to induce thee to recompence me yea where was I before I was made that I might shew thee a former curtesie Truly by thy benefit in times past I was made dignified with
many blessings thy bounty and benignity hath done all this and I being insufficient to yeeld thanks for only one of them how can I requit so many thousands And how may darkenesse praise light how may vanity commend verity how 〈◊〉 a mortal man by nature fraile conceiue thine immortalitie how may a grosse substance comprehend him who is free from all weight of matter how may vncleannes praise puritie who then shal applaud thy works who shall resound thy praises but thou like a most mercifull Father receiuest our vowes and takest in good part thy childrens thaÌ„sgiuing whosoeuer Make me therfore worthy O good God to giue thee thanks to cleaue perpetually to thy charitie that I may praise thee for the many and mighty benefits wherewith thou hast honoured mee That I may pay thee thanksgiuing for the perils from whence thou hast deliuered me Finally that I may doe thee dutie for protecting mee both in prosperity aduersitie because thou hast done all things with discretion and for that thou art the Lord of our bodies and soules of life death of health and sicknes of felicity infelicity To bee short the moment of all things dependeth on thy hand Thou dost reioyce in vs by thy benefits thou dost amate vs by thy menaces thou differedst in chastising comfortest vs reclaming our frailty vnto thy self Glory be to thy wondrous power praise to thy vnsatiable loue to mankinde gouerne the rest of our life most mercifull guide and vigilant gouernour deliuer mee O Lord from all mine enemies visible and inuisible stretch out thy bounteous hand that may drawe vs out of the deepe waters of the roaring flouds of this world and that may relieue and lighten the dangers of our nauigation Gouerne yâ— the magistracy O King which thou hast committed to our charge for thou art the steersman we the rudder let thy hand therefore inuisibly rule this Rudder whither it please the and whither thou hast decreed it for neither wil I trust in my bow neither shal my sword saue me but thy right hand and thine arme and the cleare light of thy countenance Thy wil be done o King in vs as it is in heauen and earth if at any time wee shall run astray from the lawes of thy commandements conceiue not suddaine wrath O most mercifull God since thou art not ignorant how fraile and weak we are from our beginning if thou list thou canst saue mee vouch safe it may be accordant to thy wil. For vnlesse thy power strengthen mee I cannot do that which I would Consider my heart therefore with the vnspeakable sweetenes of thy bounty to the end that a little sense and taste of the future and eternall blessednesse which we shall enioy in thee may refresh our minds Lastly make nice worthie that after this present life I may hasten vnto thee my Lord God that I may behold the riches of thy kingdome and contemplate the beautie of thy looke which grant o most holy King my true God and maker for thy Sonnes sake our Lord Iesus Christ AmeÌ„ A prayer vnto the Father wherein we demand sanctification THou that rulest in the highest reignest for euer onely canst doe all things God the gouernor of heauen and earth at whose becke all creatures tremble the pillars of heauen shake O heauenly God perfect workman and Potter I wretch made out of clay or rather of filthy mudde with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie I acknowledge confesse my wickednesse I know that I am nothing yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight if thy grace and mercie do faile me without thee I thinke no goodnes without thee I do no good thing without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme I cannot be saued without thine assistance my saluation dependeth on thy hands I giue thee thanks O God in especiall for this for that thou hast giuen me that know ledge that I may see and know that I am nothing and vnable to do aniething without thee Thou art the Potter I the clay such as thou wilt haue mee bee such canst thou forme and fashion me if thou makest mee blessed thou shewest thy mercy grace if thou castest mee into perdition thou shewest thy iustice and executest thy iudgement neither is it my duety to contradict thee why or vnder what reason thou doest it For thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest these things I meditate with my selfe o Lord I feare thy iudgements Since therefore all my safety saluation dependeth on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world and hast testified the same indeed in that thou woldest thy only son Iesus Christ the innocent should die for our offences and expiate our sinnes with his blood on the Crosse. Finally since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to cal vpon thee and aske thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs all things which wee shall aske in the Name of thy Sonne I come vnto thee being drosse and a lumpe of clay O mercifull and celestiall Potter beseeching thee most humbly that thou wilt vse thy mercie and make of this vnworthy matter a Uessell of eternall Glorie Uouchsafe also of thy meere grace to fixe my minde on perfect faith assured hope and chaste and holie loue that being iustified by these thy gifts I may become vpright perfect good and holy according to thy good will both in the midst and end of my life as also at the latter day of iudgement O mercifull Father grant mee pardon of all my sinnes through yâ— death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne and heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life 〈◊〉 the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen mee kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparant that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy will I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thanks in thy kingdome for eâ—… and euer Amen A prayer to God the Sonne OThou maker and redeemer of makinde Iesus Christ who saiedst I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakeable charitie wherwith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer mee neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to bee desired neither in heauen nor in earth
By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest wee should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learnt how vn happy we were borne through our first father Adam by thee wee haue learnt that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this world cōducting them through the night of their mindes from the Egyptian darkenesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know frō whence to secke the remedy of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorāce that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious rough an easie beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest wee should bee wearied thy bounty with great and assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could bee wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternal life prepared for him Therfore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby wee might be sustained Neither was thy goodnes contented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit y◠repairest our courages to the end that wee may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becomming our truth thou takest away all distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy spirit which quickneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs al in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherfore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruāt lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither bee allured by the inticements of sathan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art the true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behinde mee I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glo rying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee th◅ whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpō thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charity grace and wisdome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakeable mercie and liberality that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost and from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou strength o◅ the fraile come thou remedy of sins come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroier of the prond come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God and adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies make me drunke with the gifts of thy wisedome illuminate me with the benefite of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct mee with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne and inflame all my bowels with the sweet fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may bee carried and rauished into thee who art the center finall end of all my good o sweet louer of holy soules since thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauourable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe fly vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou maiest conforme mee vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholy bee consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace the I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon mee O Lord looke vpon mee and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attain the house of my God When wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance When shall I be satiate with the presence of thy glory When shal I by thy meanes be deliuered from all temptations and when shall I ouercome this frailty of my mortality O eternall fountaine of light bring mee backe againe to the Abysse of eternall goodnes by whom I am created that there I may know thee euen as I am known of thee may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Yeeld thee immortall thanks O most sweete Iesu that from thy roial pallace and the secret bosome of thy father thou hast vouchsafed for my sake to descend into this vale of miserie and in the sanctified womb of that chaste Uirgin thy mother thou didst take vpon thee a humane body I pray thee O Lord
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
care we shall onely endeuour our selues to keepe vs as farre as in vs lieth in thy fauour which care thou wilt further who if thou beest wanting nothing can prosper with vs. Translate my heart from the seruice of Idols to thy seruice toward whom whosoeuer is deuout he obtaineth dignitie Grant mee in stead of this desire of riches which are exposed to time the iniuries of men and mischances to grow in loue with thine which being once receiued are eternall and inuiolable Amen Against pride O Most wise beloued Father who alwayes studiest how thou maiest further vs whereas wee alwayes endeuour how to offend thee thou gauest to mankinde the proudest vntamed and rebellious creature the heauenly example of moderation and obedience in thy Sonne Conuert our minds vnto thee and that thine example that wee may so humbly demeane our selues beeing wicked and weake as hee that was most worthy and most strong Amen Against drunkennesse ALmighty and most mercifull God vouchsafe so to looke vpon vs that wee may so detest that most shamefull sinne of drunkennesse that wee neuer permit the same to take place but let that which was to perish in drunkennesse bee imployed for the sustenance of the poore through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Against remembrance of iniuries O Lord of thy goodnesse fill our hearts with thy peace clense vs from all euill cogitations and vncleannesse and from all memorie of iniuries and from all enuy and mind of mischiefe which bringeth death O Lord make vs all worthy to salute one another with a holy and immaculate salutation and graunt that wee may receiue without iudgement and death thy heauenly gift that is thy grace with the holy Spirit Amen Against wrath HOw much error breedeth this blind indulgence of our selues in our minds that we esteeme that to be done vniustly which is done most vprightly that in those things wee denie pardon vnto others in which wee our selues euerie houre are faulty and want pardon that wee challenge to our selues a reuenge being children mad furious vniust and take it from him who is only wise and iust who in respect of his wisedome is deficient in nothing and in regard of his equitie seduceth no man from the truth O most mercifull Christ example of modesty fountain of meekenesse 〈◊〉 into vs some part of this thy lenitie whereby in imitation of thy humility being assailed with railings affected with iniuries oppressed and afflicted with slanders and reproofes yet that we may reward good for euill Against enuie THou O Lord art the founder and maker of all things thou art the dispenser of thy mercies which thou by thy immeasurable liberality bestowest on men yeelding euery one more than hee deserueth and defrauding no man of that which is sufficient for him What cause therefore haue we to enuy thee when as thou bestowest thy liberality vpon al men of thine owne and art bountifull to those that deserue it not and giuest to euery one that which sufficeth him for his beatitude O Father adde this also to the rest of thy benefits that we may submit to thy iudgement and satisfie our selues with thy â—…stributions that we may giue thee thanks for those things which wee haue receiued And for those things that thou hast bestowed on others grant that secretly we condemne not thy holy will and vnsearchable iudgement but rather that in other mens blessings wee may loue and laud thy munificence who art so bountifull vnto all men wanting of thy selfe nothing neither receiuing any thing from any man neither hoping any thing Amen In extreme troubles and persecutions O Lord God that deliueredst the honest matron Susanna from false iudgement at such time as she was reprochfully circumuented by slander that keptst Daniel thy prophet in the denne of Lyons and preseruedst the three children in the flaming furnace that deliueredst Peter ready to be deuoured by the sea swallowed in the waues thereof by the might of thy right hand I beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt redeeme and deliuer both me thy vnworthy seruant all other christian people out of these miseries and calamities wherewith wee are circumuented Spare thy people I beseech thee whom thou hast redeemed by thy precious blood keepe this natioâ—… and people redeemed by so precious a ransome in peace mutuall concord and coniunction to the glory of thy holy name Amen In the time of warre amongst Christians O Lord Father of mercies God of peace and dilection how long I pray thee wilt thou be angry with thy christian people punishing them with erecrable wars and vtter ouerthrows Behold the affliction and extreme extinction of thy people nations Heare the groanes of the poore let the christian blood moue thee vnto mercy Ah las O Lord these are truly that iust punishments of our sins wee haue sinned wee haue done wickedly we haue left thee the fountaine of life our felicitie we haue contemned thee mocked thee and with an obstinate minde made war by our sins against thy commandements wee haue kept none of thy testimonies of which thou hast said If you shall keepe them they shal keepe you if you dispise them the sword shall consume you But thou O Lord notwithstanding thou art iustly displeased remember thee of thy mercies and to the end we may be made capable therof giue vnto thy people I beseech thee the knowledge and confession of their wicked liues powre vpon them the spirit of thy grace and of prayer that euery where with a contrite and humble heart which thou despisest not they may crie vnto thee saying O Lord haue mercie O Lord haue mercy vpon thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood wee haue sinned we haue done vniustly Thy iudgements are iustly vrged against vs prostrating our selues we call vpon thy grace and mercie to the end that thy reuenging hand may be appeased Put o Lord thy cruell and deuouring sword into thy sheath command the euill beasts that is all those things which giue cause of warre to returne vnto their place leaue most holsome peace long desired amongst Christians safely to reigne amongst them to the praise glory of thy most holy name who strikest and healest â—…illest and quickenest Amen In the time of plague WE know O Lord God and most iust Father that the rebellion almost of all creatures against man onely is very great whom if all things were disposed according to the order of creatioÌ„ they ought to obey and acknowledge Now earthquakes now thunders now inundations now most fatal coniunctions of Stars now the infection of the aire and daily new and other kinde of euils are heard of But this punishment falleth vpon vs because wee abuse the giftes of thy munificence transgresse thy commaundemenis for that we are not terrified with threatrungs nor allured by promises We acknowledge that by these thy chastisements thou drawest vs from these earthly affaires and inuitest vs to heauenly