clerely deliuered by thee I maie with gladnes saie the right hande of him that is highest hath made this chaunge Lorde graunt me thy synguler grace that I may come thether where no creature shall let me ne kéepe me froÌ„ the perfect beholdyng of thée For as long as any transitorie thyng kepeth me back or hath rule in me I maie not frely ascende to thee O lorde without thee nothyng maie longe delite or please for if any thing should be likyng sauourie it must be through help of thy grace seasoned with y e spice of thy wisedome O euerlastyng light farre passyng all thynges sende doun y e beames of thy brightnesse from aboue and purifie and lighten the inward partes of my harte Quicken my soule and all the powers thereof that it maie cleaue fast and bée ioyned to thée in ioyfull gladnes of ghostly rauishynges O when shall that blessed howre come that thou shalt visite me and glad me with thy blessed preseÌ„ce wheÌ„ thou shalt be to me al in al verely vntill that tyme came there can be no perfect ioye in me But alas myne old man that is in my carnall affections liue still in me are not crucified nor perfectly dead For yet striueth the fleshe against the spirite and moueth greate battaile inwardly against me suffreth not thy kyngdome of my soule to liue in peace But thou good lorde that haste the Lordship ouer all and power of the Sea to asswage the rage and surges of the same arise and helpe me destroye the power of myne enemies whiche alwaies make battaile against me shewe forthe the greatnes of thy goodnesse and let the power of thy right hande be glorified in me For there is to me none other hope nor refuge but in thee onely my Lorde my God to thee bee honor and glory euerlasting O Lorde graunt me that I maie wholie resigne my self to thee and in all thynges to forsake my self and paciently to beare my crosse and to folowe thee O lorde what is man that thou vouchesaueste to haue minde of him to visit him Thou arte alwaie one alwaie good alwaie righteous and holie iustlie and blessedly disposyng all thynges after thy wisedome But I am a wretche and of my self alwaie readie and prone to euill and doe neuer abâ—de in one state but many tymes do varie and chaunge Neuerthelesse it shall bee better with me wheÌ„ it shall please thee for thou O lorde onely art he that maiest help me and thou maiest so confirme and stablishe me that my harte shall not be chaunged from thee but bée surely fixed and finally rest and be quieted in thee I am nothing els of my self but vanitie before thee an vnconstaunt creature and a féeble and therefore wherof maie I rightfully glorie Or why should I loke to be magnified Who so pleaseth hym self without thee despiseth thée and he that deliteth in mennes praisynges looseth the true praise before thee The true praise is to bee praised of thee and the true ioye is to reioyce in thee Wherefore thy name O lorde be praised not myne Thy workes be magnified and not myne and thy goodnesse bée alwaies lauded and blessed Thou arte my glorie and the ioye of my harte in thee shal I glorie and reioice and not in my selfe nor in any wordlie honour or dignitie whiche to thy eternall glory compared is but a shadowe and a verie vanitie O Lorde wée liue here in greate darknesse and are sone deceiued with the vanities of this wordle and are sone greeued with a little trouble yet if I could behold my self well I should plainly see that what trouble so euer I haue suffered it hath iustly comen vpoÌ„ me bicause I haue ofte sinned and greeuously offended thee To me therefore confusioÌ„ and despite is due but to thee laude honour and glorie Lorde sende mee helpe in my troubles for mans helpe is little worthe How often haue I been disappoineted wher I thought I should haue founde frendship And how often haue I founde it where as I leaste thought Wherfore it is a vain thing to truste in man for the true truste and healthe of man is onely in thee Blessed be thou lorde therfore in all thynges that happeneth vnto vs for wee bee weake vnstable sone deceiued â–ª and sone chaunged froÌ„ one thyng to an other O Lorde God moste righteous iudge strong and paciente whiche knoweste the frailtie and malice of man be thou my whole strengthe and coÌ„fort in all necessities for myne owne conscience Lorde sufficeth not Wherefore to thy mercie I dooe appeale seyng no man maie be iustified ne appeare righteous in thy sight if thou examine hym after thy iustice O blessed mantion of thy heauenly citie O moste clerest daie of eternitie whom the night maie neuer darkeÌ„ This is the daie alwaie cleare and mearie alwaie sure and neuer chaungyng his state Would too God this daie mighte shortly appeare and shine vpon vs and that this worldly phantasies were at an ende This daie shineth clearely to thy Sainctes in heauen with euerlastynge brightenesse but to vs pilgrimes in yearth it shineth obscurely and as through a mirrour or glasse The heauenlie Citezeins knowe how ioyous this daie is but we outlawes the children of Eue wepe and waile the bitter tediousnesse of our daie that is of this presente life short and euill full of sorowe and anguishe Where manne is oftentimes defiled with synne encoÌ„bred with affliction inquicted with troubles wrapped in cares busied with vanities blinded with errours ouerchanged with laboures vexed with temptations ouercome with vaine delites and pleasures of the worlde and greuouslie tormented with penurie and neede O wheÌ„ shall the'nde come of all these miseries When shall I bee clearely deliuered from the bondage of synne When shall I lorde haue onely minde on thee fullie be glad and merie in thee WheÌ„ shall I be frée without lettyng and be in perfect libertie without grief of bodie and soule Whe shall I haue peace without trouble peace with in and without and on euery side stedfast and sure O Lorde Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thée and haue full fighte and contemplation of thy glorie WheÌ„ shalt thou bee to me all in all And when shall I be with thée in thy kingdom that thou haste ordeined for thyne electe people from the beginnyng I am lefte here poore and as an outlawe in the laud of myne enemies where daily be battailes and greate misfortunes Comforte myne exile asswage my sorowe for all my desire is to be with thee It is come an â—npleasant burdeÌ„ what pleasure soeuer the worlde offreth me hore I desire to haue inwarde fruâ—sion in thee but I caÌ„ not attaine thereto I couet to cleane faste to heaueÌ„ly thynges but worldly affectioÌ„s pluck my minde doâ—neward I would subdue al euill affections but thei daily rebell and rife against me and will not be subiect vnto my spirit Thus I wretched creature fight in my self and am gréeuous
to my selfe while my spirite desireth te be vpward and contrary my fleshe draweth me dounward O what suffer I inwardly I go about to mynde heauenly thynges and straight a greate rable of worldelie thoughts rush into my soule Therefore Lorde bée not longe awaie ne departe not in thy wrathe from me Sende me the light of thy grace destroie in me all carnall desires Sende forth the hotte flames of thy loue to burne and consume the cloudie phantasies of my mynde Gather O Lorde my wittes the powers of my soule together in thee and make me to despise al worldly thinges and by thy grace strongly to resist and ouercome all motions occasions of sinne Help me thou euerlasting truthe that no worldly gile nor vanitie hereafter haue power to deceiue me Come also thou heauenlie swéetenes and let all bitternes of sinne flée farre froÌ„ me PardoÌ„ me and forgiue me as ofte as in my praier my mynde is not surely fixed on thee For many tymes I am not there where I stande or sitte But rather there whither my thoughtes cary me For there I am where my thoughtes bee and there as customablie is my thought there is that that I loue And that oftentimes commeth into my minde that by custome pleaseth me beste and that deliteth me moste to thinke vpon Accordyngly as thou doest saie in thy Gospell where as a mannes treasure is there is his harte Wherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladly thereof and of suche thinges as be of God and of that that appertaineth to his honor to the glorifiyng of his holie name And if I loue the worlde I loue to talke of worldly thinges I ioye anone in worldly felicitie and sorrowe and lameÌ„t soone for worldlie aduersitie If I loue the fleshe I imagine oftentymes that that pleaseth the fleshe If I loue my soule I delite muche to speake and to beare of thynges that be for my foule healthe And whatsoeuer I loue of that I gladly heare speake and beare the Images of theÌ„ still in my mynde Blessed is that man that for the loue of the Lorde setteth not by the pleasures of this worlde learneth truly to ouercome hym self and with the fauour of the spirit crucifieth his fleshe so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he maie offer his praiers to thee and bee accepted to haue company of thy blessed Angels al yearthly thinges excluded from his harte Lorde and holie father be thou blessed now euer for as thou wilte so is it dooen and that thou dooest is alwaie beste Lette me thy humble and vnworthie seruaunte ioye onely in thee and not in my self ne in any thyng els beside thee For thou Lorde arte my gladnes my hope my croun and all my honour What hath thy seruaunt but that he hath of thee and that without his deserte All thynges be thine thou hast created and made them I am poore and haue been in trouble and pain euer froÌ„ my youth and my soule hath been in greate heauines thorowe manifolde passioÌ„s that come of the worlde and of the fleshe Wherefore Lorde I desire that I maie haue of thée the ioye of inwarde peace I aske of thee to come to that rest whiche is ordeined for thy chosen children that be vâ—ed and nourished with the light of heauenly comfortes for without thy helpe I caâ— not come to thee Lorde giue me peace giue me inward ioy and then my soule shalbe full of heauenly melody and be deuoute and feruente in thy laudes and praisynges But if thou withdraw thy self from me as thou haste sometyme dooen then maie not thy seruaunte runne the waie of thy commaundemeÌ„tes as I did beforâ— For it is now with me as it was when the Lanterne of thy ghostlie presence did shine vpon my heade and I was defended vnder the shadowe of thy winges from all perilles and daungers O mercifull Lorde Iesu euer to be praised the time is come that thou wilte proue thy seruaunte and rightfull is it that I shall now suffer somewhat for thee Now is the howre come that thou hast knowen from the beginnyng that thy seruaunt for a time should outwardly be set at naught and inwardly to leane to thee And that he should bée despised in the fight of y e world and be broken with afflictioÌ„ that he may after arise with thee in a newe light and bee clarified and made glorious in the kyngdome of heauen O holy father thou hast ordeined it so to bee and it is doen as thou hast coÌ„mauÌ„ded This is thy grace o lorde to thy freinde to suffer hym to be troubled in this worlde for thy loue how ofteÌ„ soeuer it be and of what persone so euer it bée and in what maner so euer thou wilt suffer it to fall vnto him for without thy wil or sufferaunce what thing is doen vpoÌ„ the earth It is good to me O lorde that thou hast mekened me that I maie thereby learne to knowe thy righteous iudgementes and to put from me all maner of presumptioÌ„ and statelinesse of harte It is very profitable for me that confusion hath couered my face that I maie learne therby rather to seke to thee for help succor then to maÌ„ I haue thereby learned to dread thy secret and terrible iudgementes whiche scourgeste the righteous with the synner but not without equitie and iustice Lorde I yelde thankes to thee that thou haste not spared my synnes but haste punished me with scrourges of loue and hast sent me afflictioÌ„ and anguishes within and without No creature vnder heaueÌ„ maie comforte me but thou Lorde GOD the heauenly leache of mans soule which strikeste and healest whiche bryngest a manne nigh vnto death after restorest hym to life againe that he maie therby learne to knowe his owne weakenesse and imbesilitie and the more fullie to trust in thee Lorde Thy discipline is laied vppon me and thy rodde of correction hath taughte me and vnder that rod I wholie submit me Strike my backe and my bones as shall please thee and make me to bowe my croked will vnto thy will Make me a meeke and an humble disciple as thou hast somtime doen with me that I maie walke after thy wil. To thee I commit my self to bee corrected for better it is to bee corrected by thee here then in tyme to â—ome Thou knowest all thynges and nothyng is hid from thee that is in mannes conscience Thou knoweste all thynges to come before thei fall and it is not nedefull that any man teach thee or warne thée of any thing that is doen vpon the yearth Thou knowest what is profitable for me how muche tribulatioÌ„s helpen to purge awaie y e rust of synne in me Do with me after thy pleasure I am a sinfull wretche to none so well knowen as to thee Graunt me lorde that to knowe that is necessarie to be knowen that to loue that is to bee loued that to desire that pleaseth thée that to
pacient of muche mercifulnesse and truthe Which for thy aboundant charitie and according to thy greate mercie hast taken vs out from the power of darknesse and haste saued vs by the fountaine of regeneration and newe birth and the renuyng of the holie ghoste whoÌ„ thou hast shed vpon vs aboundantly by Iesu Christ our sauiour If I haue found grace and fauour in thy sighte Suffer me to speake a woorde vnto thee and bee not displeased with me Why doest thou euer forgette me and leauest me in the middes of my troubles and euilles Where is become thy zeale and thy strength Where is the multitude of thy tender affections of thy mercies O lorde maie not he whiche is fallen rise vp againe or maie not he whiche hath gone awaie froÌ„ thée returne to thee againe Shall my sorowe euer indure Shall my wounde bée vncurable and neuer healed How commeth it to passe that I tourne still awaie froÌ„ thee my synne daily increaseth and of my self I cannot retourne In as muche as it is not giuen to manne to direct his own waies neither to make perfect his own procedinges For in thy hand is the life of euery liuyng thyng and the spirit also of euery man Thou shewest thy mercie to whoÌ„ thou wilte and thou art gracious to them whom thou fauourest Thou doest kill and thou doest quicken Thou leadest doune to hell gate and bryngest vp againe Thy iyes beholde the wayes of euery man and thou searchest the hartes of men There is no place so secret or darcke wherein synners may hide theÌ„ selues froÌ„ thée Nor any maÌ„ may so lurke and hide hym self in caues but thou shalt se hym which doest fulfill both heauen and yearth in euery parte Why hast thou cast me awaie from thy presence and takest me for thy enemie Why hast thou laied vpoÌ„ my head the heauie waight of my sinnes seyng no maÌ„ is able to beare thy displeasure What meaneth it that thou sheweste thy power against a wretche Why destroyest thou me for the sinnes of my youth If I haue sinned what shal I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee if my sinnes be increased what shall I doe If I doe iustly what shall I giue to thee or what shall thou receiue at my hande My wickednesse shal hurt myself and my rightousnes shall profite me The life of man is a temptation vpon the yeare â—â—and if I haue synneâ— as all men haue what maiâ— I 〈◊〉 Shall any man bee founde cleane and without 〈◊〉 fore thee or shall 〈…〉 without default in his dides How maie â— morâ— all man 〈◊〉 puâ—e from spirite 〈◊〉 sight 〈◊〉 how maie he which is borne of a woman â—ee righteous Remember O lorde I beseche thee that thou haste made me of the yearth and that thou shalte brâ—ng me againe into the dust of death My daies passe and vanish awaie like smoke thei waist daily there is no tarriyng My life flieth awaie as the wynde and considereth not that whiche is good I 〈◊〉 but lately â—orne into thiâ— worlde and shortly I shalbe taken away hence by death I neuer continue still in one state The daies of my life bee fewe and shorte thou haste appoincted an ende which I shall not passe Naked and bare I came out of my mothers wombe and naked and bare I shall retourne againe Tuely all men liuyng are vanitie Haue pitie o lorde on theÌ„ that are in miserie despise not the workes of thy haÌ„des Though we sinnâ— yet are we vnder thée for we know thy power and strength and if we synne not then are we sure that thou regardest vs. Cease thy indignation O lorde and turne it from me and caste all my synnes behinde thy backe Take awaie thy plagues from me for thy punishmeÌ„t hath made me bothe feeble and fainte For when thou chastisest a manne for his sinnes thou causest him by and by to consume and pine awaie Whatsoeuer is delectable in hym perisheth like vnto the clothe that is eaten with Mothes Would God I had one to defende me a while vntill thy anger were tourned awaie or that thou wouldest set me a tyme in the whiche thou wouldest remeÌ„ber me I am cleane caste awaie froÌ„ thy preseÌ„ce shall I neuer hereafter se thy face againâ— â–ª Behold I haue opened the griefes of my soule the daies or my sorowes hauâ— takeÌ„ me The flâ—uddes of triâ—ulation coÌ„passe me rounde about and the â—reaures of thy fury renne ouer me And I crie â–ª vnto thee O lorde God but thou heareste me not I aske mercie but thou reieâ—test my praiers Why thrustest thou doun 〈◊〉 wretche froÌ„ thy presence or why forsakest thou me so long tyme Why takest thou not away my iniquitie And why puttest thou not awaie the wickednesse of my harte Arise and tarry no longer O Lorde arise and â—eieâ—â—e me not for euer Haue me in remembrance I beseche thée for I throâ—ghly tremble shake for feare Yet I will not holde my tonge â–ª but crie still vnto thée with a mournyng an heauie harte Tourne awaie the stroke of thy vengeaunce from me bryng my minde out of troubles into rest I am here no longer continewer but a pilgrime and a straunger as all other mortall men be And what â—s maÌ„ that thou shouldeâ—â— beâ— angerie with him Or what is mankinde that thou shouldest be so heauie Lorde vnto vs What witte thou bryng folowe vpon sorowe I pant for paine and finde no reste My sorowe greeueth me when I should eate sodain fighes ouer whelme my hart I am as if my bones were all to broken when I heare myne enemies raile vpoÌ„ me and saie to me daie by daie where is thy Godâ— Why tournest thou thy face awaie froÌ„ these thinges O Lorde Why hast thou no regarde of my trouble I earnestly â—ake my prayers daiely 〈◊〉 thy sight and the heauinesse of my hart â–ª I doe shewe vnto thee My spirite is carefull and troubled within me and desperation hath entered into my harte Is it thy pleasure O lorde GOD to caste awaie thyne owne handie worke Deliuer my soule froÌ„ corruption and my life from euerlastyng darkenesse What auaileth it me that euer I was borne if thou caste me straight into damnation seyng that she deade shall not praise thee nor any of theim whiche goe doune to helle I haue synned what shall I doe to thee why hast thou putte me to bee contrarie to thee I am wearie of myne owne self Why searcheste thou out my sinnes so narrowly wheÌ„ there is no man that caÌ„ take out of thy hande If â— would say that I wer rightous and without sinne then thou mightest worthily condemne me to the fire prepared for the Deuill and his angelles But I confesse that I am a synner and I dooe humble my harte in thy sight Surely if any man would stande with thee in iudgement he shall not be able to answere one word to a thousande thynges wherewith thou mightest charge hym This maketh me to feare all my deedes knowing
seruaunt After that I had long looked for thee O Lorde at the last thou diddest attende vnto me and heardest my crie Thou hast taken me out of the lake of miserie and sette my feete vppon a rocke and made my steppes sure Thou haste giuen me my desire I haue séen thy ioyful countenaunce Thou haste striken all my aduersaries and hast abated their strength Thou haste rebuked the rablement of theim that vexed me and hast plucked me forthe of their handes Thou haste caste theim headlyng into their own pit their feete bee wrapped in the Nette whiche thei laied priuely for me Mine enemies are reculed backe thei are fallen doune and destroied from thy sight Thou hast been the poore mānes defence and his helper in tribulation whē most neede was Thou haste dooen Iudgemente for me thou haste defended my cause against my accusars And although thou were verie angrie with me a little while yet nowe I liue thorowe thy mercie goodnesse Uerly I supposed with my self that I was cleane caste awaie out of thy fauour But thou haste heard my praiers and according to thy greate mercie hast taken me againe into thy fauour O Lorde of thyne owne minde and will thou hast giuen strength vnto my soule but whē thou hidest thy face from me o lorde how greatly was I astonied When I was in aduersitie then I cried vnto thee and thou diddest aunswere me when my soule was in greate anguishe and trouble then O lorde I did remember thee I haue tasted seen howe swete thou arte truely blessed is that manne that trusteth in thee Accordyng to thy name so is thy cōmendation praise but thy counsailes touchyng vs bée without example and greater then can with woordes be expressed Dominiō power and glorie bee thyne for thou haste made al thinges and bicause thy will is so thei dooe still continue Thy name be blessed praised and magnified both now and euer worlde without ende Amen ¶ The .xiij. Psalme In the whiche the goodnes of God is praised O Lorde our gouernour how wonderfull is thy maiestie throughout y e whol worlde whiche haste set thy glory aboue all the heauens What is manne that thou magnifieste hym so greatly Or the sonne man that thou doest visite hym O Lorde thou art greate and muche to bee praised in thy holie hill Praise bee vnto thee O Lorde God let our vowes made to thee be alwaies performed Confession and magnificence are thy woorke and thy righteousnes continueth for euermore Thou haste dooen many thynges O lorde God bothe marueilous and greate and there is none that cā bee like vnto thee in thy worke Thy waies be iust true who wil not feare and dread thée and magnifie thy name I thāke thee o lorde God with all my harte and I wil halowe thy name for euer O lord thou art my strēgth and my praise Thou haste broughte downe myne enemies whiche arte a iudge euen from the beginnyng The right hande is exceadyng strong thy right hande worketh many great actes Thyne arme is mightie and strōg and bicause it hath pleased thee thou hast strēgthened myne infirmitie I wil praise thy great and dreadful name for it is holy Although I haue fallē yet I am not crusshed in peeces for thou haste susteined my hande I haue opened and shewed my waie vnto thee and in thee I haue trusted and thou at length haste accomplished my desires Thou hast broken the heddes of myne enemies and haste made theim to stoupe whiche walked proudely in their synnes Thou hast dominion ouer their power and when thei bee exalted and set a lofte in their waies thou abateste their courage and destroiest thē with thy mightie arme In thy name I will euer reioyce and in thy mercie is all my glorie Thou louest righteousnes and iudgement the yearth is replenished with thy mercy Thy iye looketh fauourably vpon thē that dread thee and trust in thy mercie There shall no good thing be lackyng to them that seke thée and thei that feare thee shall not be helplesse For thou doest order their waies hearest them when thei crie vnto thee That thou maiest deliuer their soule from death and swage their paines whē thei be greeued For thou helpest theim whose hartes be brokē with sorowe and bearst vp with thy hande them that be contrite in spirite Thou sauest the soules of thy seruauntes and all thei that truste in thee shall not be destroied Wherefore my tong shall syng thy praise O lorde god I wil alwaies magnifie thée I will loue thee O lorde whiche art my strength my staie my might my sauiour and my refuge My God my defendoure and my buckeler the strēgth of my saluation and my supporter After that I had called vpon thee with due laude and praise thou haste saued me from myne enemies When I was in trouble I called vpon thee thou haste heard my voice out of thy holy temple and my crie hath entred vp into thyne eares Thou hast saued me from myne aduersaries that rose vp against me thou hast deliuered me from wicked enemies Then haste taken me frō the companie of euill menne and myne iye hath séen vpon myne enemies the thynges that I desired And therefore if it should fortune me to passe through the darcke vale of death I will goe without feare For thou wilte bee with me thy rod and thy staffe shall comforte me Thou shalte deliuer mee from tribulation thou shalt hope me from them whiche seke to destroie me Mine iyes be vpon thée O Lorde for thou shalte bryng my feete forthe of the snare Unto thee O Lorde God I will performe my vowes I will giue thee thākes both now and euermore worlde without eror Amen ¶ The .xv. Psalme Of the benefites of God with thankes for the same MY soule praiseth thee O Lorde and al that is within me praiseth thy holie name My soule giueth thée humble thankes and thy benefites I will neuer forget Whiche forgiuest all my sinnes and healest all my infirmitie◠Whith hast saued my life from destructiō and shewed in me thy grace and mercie Whiche he hast satisfied my desire with good thynges shalte once restore my youth againe Thou haste intreated me mercifully at all tymes and haste reuenged me of myne enemies Thou haste been a defence to me O Lorde and a sure foundation of my wealthe Thou hast guided me with thy counsaile and taken me to thee through thy mercie Thou haste many waies declared in me thy greate might and power and after thyne anger hath been past thou hast tourned again and comforted me Thou hast sent me many greuous troubles but at the lengthe thou haste broughte me out of the bottomeles depenesse Thou haste made me priuie to thy waies and haste not hid thy counsailes from mee Thou arte full of mercie and grace O Lorde slowe to wrathe and readie to goodnesse Thy displeasure lasteth not alwaie and thou keepest not backe thy mercies in thyne anger for euer Thou rewardeste
hym yea and all the deade whiche are huried in the yearth shal knele and make reuerence in his honour bicause he hath not disdained to spende his owne life for them Thei that shall come after vs shall honour and serue hym These thynges shall bee written of the Lorde that our posteritie maie knowe and vnderstande them That thei also maie come and shewe these thynges to the people that shalbe borne of them that the Lorde hath doen these thynges whiche be so marueilous A Psalme of thankes giuyng Iubilate deo omnis terra REioyce and syng in the honour of the Lorde all ye that liue on yearth Worshippe and serue the Lorde with gladnesse come into his sighte and presence with ioye and mirthe Acknowledge you and cōfesse that the Lorde is that GOD whiche hath created and made vs for truely wee made not our self but we bée his people and his flocke which he nourisheth and feedeth continually Goe ye through his gates to giue him thākes for the innumerable benefites which ye haue receiued of hym and to syng through his courtes his worthie actes and dedes praise hym and highlie commende his name For the lorde is both good and gracious and his mercie is infinite he is moste constaunt in kéepyng of his promises not to one generation onely but euen to all ¶ A Psalme to be saied in the tyme of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of GOD. O Come let vs humble our selues fall doune before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lorde oure God and wee are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore lette vs turne againe vnto our lorde for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and tourne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shalbe forgiuē vs. Lette vs tourne and the Lorde will tourne from his heauie wrathe and will pardon vs we shall not perish For wee knowledge oure fault and our sinnes be euer before vs. Wee haue sore prouoked thyne anger O Lorde thy wrathe is waxen hotte and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou haste in thyne indignatiō striken vs with gréeuous sicknesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten doune with a vehemente winde In dede we acknowledge that all punishementes are lesse then our deseruynges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correcte vs to amendement and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not help neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not hear Thou haste promised O Lorde that afore wee crye thou wilte heare vs whilest wee yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thée shalbee confounded neither any that call vpon thee shalbe despised For thou arte the onely Lorde who woundeste and doest heale againe who killest and reuiueste bryngeste euen to helle and bryngeste backe againste Our fathers hoped in thée thei trusted in thée and thou diddest deliuer them Thei called vpon thée and were helped thei put their truste in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke not vs in thyne indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the synnes offences of our youth but accordyng to thy mercie thinke thou vpon vs o lorde for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lorde for wée are weake O Lorde heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirites and the anguishe of our soules wee remember thee and wee crye vnto thee heare Lorde and haue mercie For thyne owne sake and for thy holie names sake incline thyne eare and heare O mercifull Lorde For we doe not powre out our praiers before thy face trustyng in our owne righteousnesse but in thy greate and manifolde mercies Washe vs throughly frō our wickednesse and clense vs from our synnes Tourne thy face from our synnes and put out all oure misdeedes Make vs cleane hartes O God and renewe a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs o God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and bee mercifull vnto our synnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people and shepe of thy pasture shal giue thee thankes for euer and will alwaies be shewing forthe thy praise from generation to generation Glory be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. ¶ A Psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kinde of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrde thou arte become gracious vnto thy lande thou hast turned alwaie the afflictions of thy seruantes Thou hast taken awaie al thy displeasure and tourned thy self from thy wrathfull indignation For if thou lord hadst not helped vs it had not failed but our soules had been put to silence But when wee saied oure feete haue slipped thy mercie O lorde helped vs vp In the multitude of the sorowes that wee had in our hartes thy comfortes haue refreshed our soules Our soules waited still vpon the lorde our soules hāged vpon his helpe our hope was alwaies in hym In the Lordes woorde did wée reioyce in Gods woorde did we comfort our selues For the lorde saied call vpon me in the tyme of trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me So when wée were poore nedie sickly and in heuines the lord cared for vs he was our help and our sauiour accordyng to his woorde In our aduersitie and distresse he hath lifte vp oure heades and saued vs frō vtter destruction He hath deliuered our soules from death he hath fedde vs in the tyme of dearth he hath saued vs from the noysome pestilence Therefore wil we offer in his holie temple the oblatiō of thankesgiuing with great gladnesse wée will syng and speake praises vnto the lord our sauiour We wil giue thankes vnto the lord for he is gracious and his mercie indureth for euer The Lorde is full of compassion and mercie long sufferyng plenteous in goodnesse and pitie His mercie is greater then y e heauens his gracious goodnes reacheth vnto y e cloudes Like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lorde mercifull vnto theim that feare hym Therefore will we praise thée and thy mercies o God vnto thee will wee syng O thou holy one of Israell We will syng a new song vnto thee O God wee will praise the Lorde with Psalmes of thankes giuyng O syng praises syng praises vnto our GOD O syng praises syng praises vnto our kyng For God is the king of the yearth sing praises with vnderstandyng Wee will magnifie thee O GOD our kyng we will praise thy name for euer and euer Euery daie will wee giue thākes vnto thee and praise thy name for euer and euer Our mouthe shall speake the praises of the Lorde and let all fleshe giue thankes to his holie name for euer and euer Blessed be the Lorde God of Israell for euer and blessed bee the name of his Maiestie worlde without
ende Amen Glory be to the father c. As it was in the begin c. FINIS The Queenes praiers Or Meditations wherein the mynde is stirred to suffer all afflictions here Jmprinted at London by H. Wykes Colloss iij. ¶ If ye bee risen againe with Christe seke the thynges whiche are aboue where Christe sitteth on the righte hande of God sette your affection on thynges that are aboue not on thynges which are on the yearth MOoste benyng Lorde Iesu graunte me thy grace that it maie alwaie woorke in me and perseuere with me vnto thende Graunte me that I maie euer desire and will that whiche is moste pleasaunte and moste acceptable to thee Thy will bée my will and my will be to folowe alwaie thy will Lette there bée alwaie in me one will and one desire with thee and that I haue no desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Lorde thou knowest what thynges is moste profitable and moste expedient for me Giue therefore what thou wilt as muche as thou wilt and when thou wilt Dooe with me what thou wilte as it shall please thee and as shalbe moste to thine honour Put me where thou wilt and fréely doe with me in all thynges after thy will Thy creature I am and in thy handes leade and turne me where thou wilt Loe I am thy seruaunte readie to doe all thinges that thou commaundest for I desire not to liue to my self but to thee Lorde Iesus I praie thee graunte me grace that I neuer set my harte on the thinges of this worlde but that all worldly and carnall affections maie vtterly dye and be mortified in me Graunt me aboue al thinges that I maie rest in thee and fullie quiete and pacifie my harte in thee For thou lorde art the verie true peace of harte and the perfecte rest of the soule and without thee all thynges be greuous and vnquiet My lorde Iesus I beseche thee bee with me in euery place and at all tymes and let it bee to me a speciall solace gladly for thy loue too lacke all worldly solace And if thou withdrawe coÌ„forte from me at any tyme keepe me O lorde from desperation and make me paceintly to abide thy will and ordinaunce O Lorde Iesu thy Iudgementes be rightous and thy prouidence is muche better for me then all that I can imagine or deuise Wherefore do with me in all thynges as it shall please thee for it maie not bee but well all that thou doest If thou wilte that I be in light bee thou blessed if thou wilte that I be in darknesse be thou also blessed If thou vouchsaue to comfort me be thou highly blessed if thou wilt I liue in trouble and without comfort be thou likewise euer blessed Lorde giue me grace gladly to suffer whatsoeuer thou wilte shall fall vpon me and pacientely to take it at thy hande good and hadde bitter and swete ioye and sorowe and for all thynges that shal befall vnto me hartely too thanke thee Kepe me lorde from sinne I shall then neither dread death nor hell O what thankes ought I to giue vnto thee which hast suffered the greeuous death of the Crosse to deliuer me from my synnes and to obtain euerlastyng life for me Thou gaueste vs mooste perfecte example of pacience fulfillynge and obeiyng the will of thy father euen vnto the death Make mée wretched synner obediently to vse my self after thy will in all thinges and paciently too beare the burdeÌ„ of this corruptible life For though this life be tedious and as an heauie burden to my soule yet neuerthelesse through thy grace and by example of thee it is now made muche more easie and coÌ„fortable then it was before thy incarnation and passion Thy holie life is our waie to thee and by followyng of thee we walke to thée that art our heade and sauiour and yet except thou haddest gone before and shewed vs the waie to euerlastyng life Who would indeuoure hym self to followe thée Seyng we bee yet so slowe and dull hauyng the light of thy blessed example and holie doctrine to lead and direct vs. O Lorde Iesu make that possible by grace that is too me impossible by nature Thou knowest well that I maie little suffer and that I am anone caste doune and ouerthrowen with a little aduersitie wherefore I beseche thée O lorde to strengthen me with thy spirit that I maie willyngly suffer for thy sake al maner of trouble and affliction Lorde I will knowledge vnto thee all myne vnrighteousnesse and I will coÌ„fesse to thee all the vnstablenesse of my harte Oftentymes a verie little thing troubleth me sore and maketh me duâ—le and slowe to serue thee And sometyme I purpose to stande strongly but when a little trouble commeth it is to me great anguishe and griefe and of a righte little thyng riseth a geeuous temptation to me Yea when I thynke my self to be sure and stroÌ„g and that as it semeth I haue the vpper hande sodainly I féele my self readie to fall with a little blaste of temptation Behold therfore good lorde my weaknesse and consider my frailnesse beste knowen to thee Haue mercie on me and deliuer me from all iniquitie and synne that I bee not intangled therewith OfteÌ„tymes it greueth me sore and in maner confoundeth me that I am so vnstable so weake and so fraile in resistyng sinfull motions Whiche althoughe they drawe me not awaie to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaultes bee verie gréeuous vnto me And it is tedious to me to liue in suche battaill albeit I perceiue that suche battaile is not vnprofitable vnto me For thereby I knowe the better my self mine owne infirmities and that I must seke help onely at thy haÌ„des O lorde God of Israel the louer of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to beholde the labour and sorrowe of me thy poore creature Assiste me in all thynges with thy grace so strength me with heauenly strength that neither my cruell enemie the fâ—ende neither my wretched fleshe whiche is not yet subiecte to the spirit haue victorie or dominion ouer me O what a life maie this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh Where euery place is full of snares of morall enemies For one trouble or temptation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the firste conflicte yet duryng a new battaile sodenly ariseth Wherefore Lorde Iesu I praie thee giue me the grace to rest in thee aboue al thinges and to quiete me in thée aboue all creatures aboue al glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue al cunnyng policie aboue all healthe and beautie aboue al riches and treasure aboue all ioye and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue al mirthe and consolation that mannes harte maie take or feele besides thee For thou Lorde God art best moste wise moste high moste mightie moste sufficiente and moste full of goodnesse moste swete and most coÌ„fortable moste faire most louyng moste noble moste glorious in whom
that thou spareste not hym that offendeth If I loke vpon thy power O how mightie and stronge thou art if I shall cal for iudgemente who shall defende my matter or speak for me To thée O lorde I cal and crie to thée my God I make myne humble sute Tourne awaie thyne anger from me That I maye knowe that thou arte more mercifull vnto me then my synnes deserue What is my streÌ„gth that I maie indure Or what is y e ende of my trouble that my soule maie pacieÌ„tly abide it My streÌ„gth is not a stonie strength and my flesh is not made of brasse There is no helpe in my selfe and my strength fleeth awaie from me Although thou hide these thynges in thyne harte yet I knowe that thou wilt remember me at length For thou art true and iust O lorde God thou doest not condemne vniustly whiche rewardest man accordyng to his deserteâ— All this is come vnto me bicause I haue forgotteÌ„ thée and not vsed my self truely in thy testament My hart hath turned backwarde and I hauâ— followed the desires of my fleshe And thou hast surely knowen thiâ— thing which â—nowest the sâ—cretes of the hart Laie not againste me O lord the sinnes of my youth nor haue in remembraunce â—yne olde iniuries dooen against thee Daily sorowe ouercometh me and saâ—nesse possesseth my harte I looke after peace but I can not haue it I looke for a tyme of health but my grief continueth still When the tyme of thyne anger is past let mercy come yet am I vnhappy more and more Woe and alas that euer I synned My harte therefore mourneth is sad all mirth and ioye be banished froÌ„ me How am I wasted How miserably am I confounded bicause I haue forsaken and caste awaie thy lawe Death hath asceÌ„ded vp by the windowes pearcyng the inwarde partes of my hart When I daily one while in use secretly with my self an other while with loude voice crie out and complain the meane tym◠〈◊〉 draweth nere to the pitte Who shall giue me place to reste in from all my griefes and troubles And I will forsake all men and get me awaie from them Who shal giue me water to my heade and a fountaine of teares to myne iyes that I maie bewaile my synnes bothe night and daie And I will looke for hym whiche maie saue me and deliuer me from the wrathe to come I haue no trust neither in life nor death but I feare thy iudgement o lorde the paines prepared for wicked sinners The feare of my sinne maketh me carefull the burdein of my conscieÌ„ce oppresseth me sore O God whiche tenderly louest mankinde art most rightful iudge spare me now I beseche thée and shewe me some fauour while tyme is Forgiue that which I feare putte awaie that whiche I dread before I depart hence and shall not returne again My synnes do vexe trouble me sore thei be so greate that none can be greater Alas my fal alas my miserie alas y e grief of my plague and stroke certainly my syn is the cause of all this and so I will take and suffer it ¶ The .v. Psalme for the obteinyng of godly wisedome O Lorde God of mercie whiche by thy woorde hast made all thinges and by thy wisedome haste created manne O God eternall to whom all thynges bee knowen bee thei neuer so secrete whiche knowest all thynges before thei be doen. Open my lippes and my mouthe that I make speake and shewe forthe the glorie and praise of thy name Giue me a newe hart and a right spirit take from me all wicked sinfull desires O lorde I am folishe ignoraunt and blinde wheÌ„ I am destitute of thy knowledge I am ignorant and without intelligeÌ„ce my dulnesse is so great that my iyes can no see nor my hart perceiue Yea I am a very babe and a child and knowe full little mine owne life coÌ„uersatioÌ„ My lippes bee defiled and vncleane my tyme is short and I am not able to vnderstande thy lawe Giue thy seruaunte I beseche thee an harte apte to take learnyng that I maye knowe what thing is acceptable in thy sight at al times Sende doune from heaueÌ„ the spirite of thy wisedome and replenishe my hart with knowledge thereof The wisedom giueth true knoweldge and out of thy mouth procedeth bothe couÌ„saile and intelligence Thy wisedome openeth the mouthe of the dombe and maketh the tongue of infantes eloquent If any seme to be perfecte among men yet if thy wisedome forsake hym he shalbe reckened nothyng worthe Thy wisedome is to men a treasure that faileth not which who so vse it thei are ioined to god in loue amitie Howe well is it with that man which is wittie in this behalf and hath his soule indued with thy wisedome What manne in all the worlde knoweth thy counsaile Or who caÌ„ compasse in his minde what thy will is Who can coÌ„prehende thy purpose and mynde Except thou giue him wisedom and instructe hym with thy holie spirite For mennes reasons dooe faile in many thynges and their forecastes and inuentions be vncertaine vnsure For the mortall and corruptable bodie muche greeueth the soule and the earthly house of the bodie holdeth doune the minde musyng vpon many thynges CouÌ„saile and good successe commeth from aboue wher also wisedome is and vertue With thee O lorde is richesse glorie and righteousnesse whiche bee treasures incorruptible He that hath fouÌ„d out thee hath founde life and he that loueth not thée loueth death O Lorde GOD touche my mouthe that my iniquitie maie bee driuen awaie dwell thou in my harte that my synnes maie be purged Wisedome doeth not enter into a malicious soule nor will abide in a bodie whiche is suiecte to synne Teache me O lorde God least my ignorance increase and my synnes waxe moe and moe Let thy spirite teache me the thynges that bee pleasaunt vnto thée that I maie bee ledde into the straighte waie out of errours wherin I haue wandered ouer long Let thy wisedome bée stablished in my spirite write thy lawe in my harte Thy wisedome is to me more precious then al riches and I desire more to haue it thaÌ„ all other thinges be thei neuer so faire and goodly O lord thou knowest how sore I am inflamed with the loue of thy wisedome which is my onely studie and meditation O how pleasaunt swete thy wordes be to my harte truely muche more then honie is to my mouthe Thy worde is a bright caÌ„dell to my feete and a lighte to my waies Thy wisedom pleaseth me more then thousaÌ„des of gold or of siluer can doe I haue more pleasure and delectatioÌ„ in the waie of thy wisedome then in greate aboundaunce of treasure Would GOD my waies maie be ordered that I may learne thy wisedom and thy woordes Thy woorde giueth heate and inflameth wherefore I greatly desire it O happie is he lorde whoÌ„ thou instructest and makest learned in thy lawe His soule hath alwaie
exclamation for very paine and thou wilte not saue me O lorde god of hostes how loÌ„g wilt thou be angrie with the praiers of thy seruaunt Come againe vnto me O God my sauior take awaie thine indignatioÌ„ against me When thou arte tourned O Lorde thou thaâ— restore al thinges again and he that was in sadnesse before shall take ioy and comfort of thee Let thy hande bee to helpe manne whiche is thy hâ—ndy worke whom thou hast exalted and magnified to sette forthe thy glorie Mine enemies liue wealthily and are strong and thei which hate me increase and goe forward daiely Thei despraise and set at naught my couÌ„saile bicause I take God for my hope and comforte Thei saie to me daily thou trusteste in God let hym deliuer thee and saue thee if so bee that he heare loue and fauour towardes thee Thei leape at me as it wer so many dogges the companies of the wicked barke at me thei beset my haÌ„des and feete rounde aboute O Lorde goe not farre awaie from me thou art my strength make spede to help me Deliuer my soule froÌ„ death tourne my waie froÌ„ the rage of dogges Kepe mâ— out of the mouth of Lions and saue me from the déepe lake Thou art bothe holie and strong and no man is hable to resist thee wheÌ„ thy anger is greate and feruent Who shall not feare thee O Lorde Or whiche of all princes shall not obey thee The earth trembleth and quaketh for fear of thine anger the people shall not bée able to abide thy â—â—râ—atning Helpe me O Lorde God my sauiour and for the glorie of thy name â—eliuer me forgiue me my trespasses For I doe vtter expresse myne iniquitie vnto thee my synne greueth me verie sore Arise vp O Lorde and helpe me and deliuer me for thy mercies sake O god my refuge and my strength whiche haste been euer a greate helpe in tribulation Thou diddeste receiue me into thy tuition wheÌ„ I came out of my mothers wombe and thou mâ—ste my helper when I sucked my mothers breastes I was left to thâ—â— as sone as I was borne euen from my motherâ— wombe thou art my God Withdrawe not thâ— selfe farre awaie from me for tribulation is nere at hand and ther is none that caÌ„ help me Mine enemies coÌ„passe me rouÌ„de about my persecutors besiege me on euery side And I am feble and weake and sore broken the paine of my hart maketh me to gron and sigh I am as the water that is caste foorthe my strength is gone and vtterly dried vp as if it were a tile stone Haue mercie vpon me O Lorde haue mercie vpoÌ„ me and impute not my sinnes vnto me which I haue doen by folie Remember not my synnes passed lette thy mercies preuent them for I am in a marueilous wretched case I am weakned and cleane out worne and go mourning euery daie And now O Lorde what loke I after verely my soule loketh to thee for helpe Shewe nowe and declare thy goodnesse to me withhold not thy helpe from me My soule is replenished with troubles and aduersities and draweth nere vnto deathes dore I am in greate pouertie and neede and my harte is sore troubled within me Cast not me awaie in the time of my moste necessitie and now when my stength faileth me faile not thou me O Lorde Deliuer me from myne enemies and make me not a mockyng stocke to theim that iest and raile vpon me Saue me from these roaryng LioÌ„s readie to deuour and from the haÌ„des of them that would haue my life froÌ„ me I doe crie to thee O lorde for thou art my hope and my portioÌ„ in the lande of liuers Bring my soule out of prison and set my fete in a place where I maie walke at libertie Turne not thy face away from me leaste I bee made like vnto them that discende intot the pitte Giue eare vnto my praiers for I am punished and brought very lowe Deliuer me from my persecutours for thei bée muche stronger then I. O Lorde heare me spedely least my spirite faile within me Deliuer my soule out of trouble and in thy mercie destroie all myne enemies And make them to perishe whiche would destroye me for I am thy seruaunt AmeÌ„ ¶ The .xiij. Psalme In which he giueth thankes to god that his enemies haue not gotten the ouerhande of hym I Will magnifie and praise thee O Lorde GOD for thou hast exalted me and set me vp and my enemies haue not gotten the ouerhande of me O Lorde of hostes I haue cried vnto thée and thou hast saued me Thou haste broughte my soule out of helle thou haste holden me vp from fallyng into the depe lake froÌ„ wheÌ„ce no man retourneth Thou haste not closed me vp in the handes of myne enemies but thou haste sette my féete in a place both wide and broade I haue soughte thee and thou hast heard me thou hast brought me into libertie out of greate distresse Thou hast tourned my sorow into gladnesse thou hast ceased my mournyng and compassed me rounde about with mirthe Thou haste declared thy greate magnificence in helpyng thy seruaunt Thou hast doen mercifully with me in my miseries Thou hast regarded y e pain of the poore thou hast not turned a waie thy face from me I will euer be singyng and speaking of thy mercies and I will publishe to other thy fidelitie and truthe so longe as I shall liue My mouthe shall neuer cease to speake of thy righteousnesse and of thy benefites whiche bée so many that I can not number them But I will giue thée thankes till death take me away I will sing in y e praise of thée so long as I shall continue I will triuÌ„phe and reioyce in thy mercie for that thou hast looked vpon my necessities and regarde my soule in my greate distresse Thou haste been my sure refuge and the strengthe of my trust and hope I thanke thee Lorde for thy goodnesse alwaie and for thy exceadyng mercie Thou haste been my comfort in the tyme of my trouble thou hast been mercifull vnto me o lorde and hast reuenged the wronges y e mine enemies haue doen to me Accordynge to the multitude of the heauie thoughtes that I had in my mynde thy comfortes haue cleared and lightned my harte Thou haste sente me now ioye for the daies wherein I was in sorowe and for the yeres in whoÌ„ I suffered many a painfull storme Thou hast called to remâ—braunce the rebuke that thy seruaunte hath been put to and how furiously mine enemies haue persecuted me O lorde god of hostes who may be compared vnto thee thou art greate and greatlie to bée praised Thou art high vpon al the earth thou art exalted farre aboue all Goddes Glorie and honour before thy face holinesse magnificence in thy sanctuarie With Iustice and Iudgement thy roial throne is stablished mercie and truth goe before thy face Blessed art thou O lorde which hast not holden backe thy mercie froÌ„ thy
all goodnesse moste perfectly is And therfore whatsoeuer I haue beside thee it is nothyng to me For my harte maie not rest ne fully be pacified but onely in thee O Lorde Iesu moste louyng spouse who shall giue me wynges of perfecte loue that I maie flie vp froÌ„ these worldlie miseries and reste in thee O when shall I ascende to thee and see and feele howe swete thou art When shall I wholie gather my self in thee so perfectly that I shal not for thy loue feele my self thee onely aboue my self and aboue all worldlie thynges that thou maieste vouchsaufe to visite me in suche wise as thou doest visite thy moste faithfull louers Now I often mourne and complaine of the miseries of this life and with sorow and greate heauinesse suffer theÌ„ For many thynges happen daiely to me whiche oftentymes trouble me make me heauie and darken mine vnderstandyng Thei hinder me greately and put my minde from thee and so incomber me many waies that I can not freely and clearely desire thee ne haue thy swete consolations which with thy blessed sainctes be alwaie present I beseche thee Lorde Iesu that the sighynges and inward desires of my harte maie mone and incline thee to heare me O Iesu king of euerlaking glorie the ioye and comforte of all Christian people that are waÌ„dring as pilgrimes in the wildernesse of this world my harte crieth to thee by still desires and my silence speaketh vnto thee saieth how long tarieth my Lorde God to come to me Come O Lorde and visite me for without thee I haue no true ioye without thee my soule is heauie and sad I am in prison and boundeÌ„ with Fetters of sorowe till thou O lorde with thy gratious prsence vouchsafe too visite me and to bryng me againe to libertie and ioye of spirite to shewe thy fauourable countenauÌ„ce vnto me Open my hart lorde that I maie beholde thy lawes and teache me to walke in thy commaundementes Make me to know and folowe thy wil and to haue alwaies in my remembraunce thy manifold benefites that I maie yelde due thankes to thee for them But I knowledge and coÌ„fesse for truth that I am not hable to giue theâ— condigne thankes of the least benefite that thou hast giuen me O lorde all giftes and vertues that any man hath in bodie or soule naturall or supernaturall be thy giftes and come of thee and not of our self and thei declare the greate riches of thy mercie and goodnesse vnto vs. And though some haue no giftes then other yet thei al procede from thee and without thee the leaste can not bee had O Lorde I accompt it for a greate benefite not to haue many worldly giftes wherby the laude praise of men mighte blinde my soule and deceiue me Lorde I knowe that no man ought to bee abashed or miscoâ—tente that he is in a lowe estate in thsi worlde and lacketh the pleasures of this life But rather to bee glad and reioyce thereat For so muche as thou hast chosen the poore and meeke persons and suche as are despised in the worlde to bee thy seruauntes and familiâ—r freindes Witnesse bee thy blessed Apostles whom thou madst chiefe Pastours and Spirituall gouernors of thy â—locke whiche departed froÌ„ the couÌ„saile of the Iewes reioysyng that thei were compted worthy to suffer rebuke for thy name Euen so O Lorde graunte that I thy seruaunt maie be as well content to bée taken as the least as other be to be greatest that I be as well pleased to bee in the loweste place as in the higheste and as glad to be of no reputatioÌ„ in the worlde for thy sake as other are to bée noble and famous Lorde it is the woorke of a perfecte man neuer to sequestre his minde from thée and emong many wordelie cares to go without care not after the maner of an idle or a dissolute person but by the prerogatiue of a free mynde alwaie myndyng heauenlie thynges and not by inordinate affectioÌ„ to any creature I beseche thee therefore my Lorde Iesu kepe me froÌ„ the superfluous cares of this worlde that I be not inquieted with bodilie necessities ne that I be not taken with the volupteous pleasures of the worlde ne of the fleshe Preserue me froÌ„ all thynges whiche hinder my soule healthe that I bee not ouerthrowen with theim O Lorde God whiche art swetenes vnspeakable turn into bitternesse to me all worldlie and fleshly delites whiche moughte drawe me froÌ„ the loue of eternall thinges to the loue of shorte and vile pleasure Let not fleshe and bloud ouercome me ne yet y e world with his vaine glorie deceiue me nor the feinde with his manifolde craftes supplante me But giue me ghostely strength in resistyng theim pacience in sufferyng them and coâ—stauncie in perseueryng to the ende Giue me for all worldlie delectations the most swete consolation of thy holy spirit and for al fleshely loue indue my soule with feruente loue of thee Make me strong inwardly in my soule cast out therof all vnprofitable cares of this worlde that I bee not ledde by vnstable desires of yearthly thynges but that I maie repute all thynges in this worlde as thei bée transitory and sone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing toward mine ende For nothynge vnder the Sunne maie long abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Giue me Lorde therefore heauenlie wisedome that I maie learne to seke and find thee and aboue all thynges to loue thee Giue mee grace to withdrawe me from theim that flatter me and pacientlie to suffer theim that vniustlie greue me Lorde when temptation or tribulation cometh vouchsafe to succoure me that all maie tourne to my ghostlie comfort and pacieÌ„tly to suffer and alwaie to saie thy name be blessed Lorde trouble is nowe at hande I am not well but I am greatly vexed with this presente affliction O moste glorious father what shall I dooe Anguishe and trouble are on euery side helpe now I beseche thee in this houre thou shalte bee lauded and praised when I am perfectly made meke before thee and when I am clerely deliuered by thee Maye it therefore please thee to deliuer me for what maie I moste sinfull wretch doe Or whether maie I goe for succour but to thee Giue me pacience now at this tyme in all my trouble helpe me Lorde God and I shal not feare ne dread what troubles soeuer fall vpoÌ„ me And now what shall I say but that thy will bee doen in me I haue deserued to bee troubled gréeued and therfore it behoueth that I suffer as long as it pleaseth thee But would to God that I mighte suffer gladly till the furious tempestes wer ouer passed and that quietnesse of harte might come againe Thy mightie hande lorde is strong inough to take this trouble from me and to asswage the cruell assaultes thereof that I bee not ouercome with theÌ„ as thou haste oftentymes doen before this tyme that when I am