Al the thoughtes and imaginations of my harte haue been sette to dooe euill euer since I was young O why do I dye in my sinnes lorde God seyng thy wil is not that a synner dye but returne from his synne and liue For thou art good and mercifull and accordyng to thy greate mercie sauest theim that be vnworthie For albeit no man is able to beare the punishemente whiche thou dooest threaten against sinners yet the mercie whiche thou hast promised is greate vnsearchable Thou hast shewed mercie a thousande tymes heretofore to make thy name glorious as it is euen yet still The olde fathers in their necessities cried vnto thee thou didst deliuer them ther putte their trust in thee and thei were not confounded When thei were at their wittes ende and wiste not what to dooe this was their onely refuge to lift vp their eyes to thee Thou didst saue theim for thy names sake to shewe in them thy might and streÌ„gth Many a tyme thei prouoked thee throughe their iniquities and stirred thy goodnesse to displeasure Yet when thou saweste their tribulation and their lowlie submission vnto thee Thou didst remember thy promise and by and by baddest pitie and compassion vppon theim accordyng to the multitude of thy mercies Haue mercie vpon me O lorde God omnipotent haue mercie vpon me for I am a miserable and a wretched creature make me whole I beseche thee whoÌ„ thou haste striken for my synne and iniquitie My soule is troubled greatly how long O lorde wilt thou not loke towardes me How long wilt thou reiect my praier thus criyng oute vnto thée Wilte thou heare me at no tyme Howe long wilt thou tourne awaie thy face from me Where be thy old mercies O Lorde whom thou haste stablished in thy truthe Wilt thou now O Lorde God cease to shewe mercie Or wilt thou withdraw thy goodnesse for displeasure Hast thou caste me awaie for euer That thou wilte neuer hereafter bee pleased with me Thy hande is not weakened but it maie help and thy eares bee not stopped that thei refuse to heare How long shall my minde bee troubled with painfull and heauie thoughtes How long shall sorowe formente my harte How long shall myne enemie haue the ouerhande of me loke towardes me lorde God and heare my praier Giue light to myne eyes for I haue slepte to longe in death and my synnes haue preuailed against me Tourne againe O Lorde turne again and deliuer my soule saue me for thy great mercies sake Loe nowe is the accepted tyme nowe bee the daies of healthe and grace In death who shall remeÌ„ber thee In hell who shall laude or praise thee He that liueth he that liueth shall praise thee shall make thy mercie knowen Lorde rebuke me not in thine anger nor punishe me in thy greate displeasure Cast not thy dartes at me nor laie not thy heauie hand vpon me For I haue borne thyne anger a loÌ„g while and of the Cup of thy high displeasure I haue drunke very deepe There is no health in my fleshe for feare of thy displesure I haue no peace nor reste when I beholde my synnes My iniquities bee gone ouer my head and like an heuie burdein thei daily presse me doune The woundes in my soule dooe fester and stincke euen through myne owne follie I am a wretche cast awaie froÌ„ thy fauour and presence and goe mournynge all the daie long My soule is full of filthynesse and no parte of me is whole and sounde Wherefore my enemies dooe persecute me the more the greatnesse of my paine maketh me to rore and crie My hart fainteth and treÌ„bleth within me and my strength is gone awaie O Lorde thou knoweste my desire and thou seest my necessitie Forgiue me all my sinnes O Lorde GOD almightie for thyne owne sake and put out of thy sight my heinous offences for according to thy goodnesse thou haste promised forgiuenesse of synnes to theim that doe penaunce Haue mercie on me lorde for the glorie and honour of thy name and bee no longer displeased with me and then thou shalt surely be knowen to bee iuste and true in thy wordes and shalt ouercome when thou art iudged For by this thy great grace shalbe knowen that thou takest mercy on them whiche haue not whereof thei maie glory in thy sight And all the dwellers on the yearth shall learne and knowe thy goodnesse when thou shalt conferre and giue thy benefites to vs for thy greate names sake and not after our euill waies and wicked deedes Uerely lorde God except thou shewe vnto vs thy manifolde mercies the worlde shall not haue life nor thei that dwell therein And if thou helpe vs not with thy goodnesse how may thei whiche haue offended be raised vp froÌ„ their sinnes Haue mercie on me o good father haue mercie on me and for thy glorious name be no loÌ„ger angrie with me Take me synner vnto thy mercie for the name of thy holy sonne Iesus whoÌ„ thou haste sente to bee the obtainer of mercie for our sinnes through faithe in his bloud Beholde holie father beholde thy childe whom thou hast chosen beholde thy welbeloued sonne in whom thy soule deliteth vppon whom thou hast put thy holy spirit and sent hym to preache the Gospell to the poore to heale theim whiche for their synnes bee sorowfull and contrite to comforte them that mourne to preache pardone to the prisoners and sight to the blinde Beholde thy littell one which was borne for vs behold thy sonne whiche is giuen to vs whom thou haste not spared but giueÌ„ to death for vs all to bee a sweete offeryng and sacrifice to thee Uerely be tooke vpon him in his bodie our infirmities and he bare our paines He was made weake for our sinnes and he was wouÌ„â—ed for our offences The correcttion for oure peace was laied vpon hym by the strokes that he suffered our wouÌ„des wer healed All wee went a straie like sheepe euery one followed his owne waie and thou O lorde puttest on him our iniquitie strikyng hym for the offences of thy people He gaue his bodie to bee beaten and his cheekes to be striken he turned not a waie his face from them that scorned him and spit vpon hym Through his loue mercie he hath redeemed theim that were loste and by his bloud shedde on the crosse he hath pacified all thynges in heauen and in yearth He gaue hymself to death and made his praiers for theÌ„ whiche were offenders Loke O mercifull father and consider who it is that thus did suffer and remember I besche thee for whom he hath suffered For this is that innocente whom thou gauest to death for vs euen then when wee were synners and shall wée not beyng now iustified by his bloud muche rather bee saued from wrathe through hym If we when we were yet enemies were reconciled to thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne shall wée not beyng reconciled muche rather bee saued by his life Behold that pure
and immaculate lambe whiche taketh a waie the sinnes of the worlde by whose precious bloud we are redemed from our iniquities Looke vpon that mooste méeke innocent whiche like a Lambe that was ledde to his death and beyng mooste cruelly intreated once opened not his mouthe Behold thine onely sonne whom although thou begattest of thy almightie power substaunce and nature yet thou wouldest he should bee partaker of my infirmitie Whiche being God in nature thought it no rauine to be equal with God but made hym self lowe takyng vpon him the shape of a seruaunt and commyng in the similitude of sinfull fleshe coÌ„demned synne in the fleshe submittyng hym self vnto thee O father euen to the death of the crosse and there putte on the hande writyng that was against vs conteined in the law written and taking it out of the waie fastened it to his crosse on the which he spoiled potestates and powers and made a shewe of them openly and triumphed ouer theÌ„ in his owne person Turne the iyes of thy maiestie O lorde God and loke vpon the woorke of thy ineffable goodnesse Behâ—ld thine owne swete sonne how all his bodie was drawen and stretched forthe on the crosse Looke vpon all the partes of his bodie from the croune of the heade vnto the sole of the foote and no paine shall be found like vnto his paine Behold O louyng father the blessed head of thy deare soonne crouned with sharpe Thornes and the bloud rennyng doune vpon his godlie visage Beholde his tender bodie how it is scourged his naked breast is striken and beaten his bloudie side is thrusted through his hart paÌ„teth his senewes bée stretched forth his Godlie eyes dasell and leese their sight his princely face is wanne and pale his pleasaunt tonge is inflamed for paine his inward partes waxe drie and starke his armes both blewe and wanne by striefe his bones bée plucked one from an other his beautifull legges bee feeble and weake the streames of blood issuyng out of his bodie renne doune apace vpon his feete Looke O my maker vpon the humanitie and geÌ„tlenes of thy deare soonne and pitie the infirmitie of thy weake handie woorke Beholde O glorious Father the bodie of thy deare soonne all too rente and torne and remember I beseche thee of how small substaunce I am Loke vpon the pain of him that is bothe God and man release the miserie of man whom thou hast made Beholde the greuous sufferyng of the redeemer and forgiue the sinne of him that is redemed Kéepe me froÌ„ all euill wayes and teache me by thy holy spirit to chuse the waie of truthe I beseche thée o thou king of holinesse by hym that is moste holy by this my redemer Christ that thou bryng me again into the right waie that I maie bee vnited and made one with hym in spirit whiche abhorred not to bee vnited with me in fleshe Make me to goe perfectly in thy pathes and to hate al wicked waies Washe my harte froÌ„ malice and clense me from my secrete synnes Clense me O holy father with the bloud of the newe Testament of thy welbeloued sonne which hath loued vs and washed vs with his bloud from our synnes and hath redemed vs from al iniquitie Purifie my harte by the sanctification of thy spirite the sprinklyng of the bloud of thy sonne froÌ„ al filthines of sinne and euil conscience O God almightie be mercifull vnto me sinner for thy glorious name sake and remeÌ„ber my sinnes no longer For thou arte God gracious and mercifull and paciently dooest suffer vs and wouldest that no maÌ„ should perishe but that all menne should returne to penaunce Make me O Lord God to retourne from my euill waies and wicked thougtes Remember not the synnes and abhominations of my youthe accordyng to thy mercie bee myndfull of me for thy goodnes sake O lorde Looke not vpon me with a greuous countenaunce for there is no manne that dare speake for me Enter not into iudgemeÌ„te with thy seruant for if thou accuse me I shall neuer bee quitte For if thou o lorde marke my synnes iniquitie who shall not fall before thee This is certaine and sure that then in thy sight no maÌ„ liuyng shalbe iustified seyng thou haste founde iniquitie euen in thy angels How muche rather in meÌ„ whiche is abhomination and filthinesse and dwelleth in the earthly house of this bodie and drinketh iniquitie as it were water Who is clene from filthinesse when all be corrupted Truely not one No though he haue liued but one daie on the yearthe and though his Monethes maie bee easilie numbred Of a truthe there is no mortal manne whiche hath not doen wickedly nor there is any righteous on yearth whiche doeth good and synneth not Yet bicause mercie is in thy hand O lorde although thou be dreadfull my hope is in thee in whom my soule trusteth My soule looketh for thee bicause mercie and pleÌ„tifull redemption is with thee For this I knowe assuredly that thou wilte not caste me awaie for euer But although thou caste me awaie for my synnes a while yet thou wilt haue mercie vpon me againe accordyng to the multitude of thy mercies For thou O lorde are â—ull of pitie and mercie and wilt not tourne thy face awaye from vs if we will retourâ—e to thee Thou art our God full of sweetenesse veritie and pacience and disposest all thinges by mercie The fouÌ„taines of thy goodnes be euer full flow ouer thy grace neuer decaieth All thy waies be mercieâ— truth to them that seke outthy couenaunt and testimonies How geÌ„tle and louyng the father is to his children so gentle and louyng arte thou O lorde to them that feaâ—e thee and for the habouÌ„dance of thy mercy thou doe it pardon our infirmities Thou â—nowest thine own handie worke thou rememâ—eâ—est what we are thou seest that we are fleshe and of no strength Thou hast not forgotten that this worlde is ful of vnrighteousnesse and wickednesse and that it is whollie set and bent on euill Yea neuerthelesse thou art mercifull and full of grace and like a mercifull lord forbearest to punishe synners when thei repente them self and returne froÌ„ their sinnes Haue mercie vpon me O Lorde God my Sauiour for the glorie of thy name And deliuer me forgiue me my synnes for thy names sake O righteous father looke not straitly vpon the multitude of my synnes but looke on the face of Iesu thy holie soonne whiche beyng without synne bare our synnes in his body on the free of the crosse Turne awaie thy face froÌ„ my synnes and putte out all my iniquities Make a cleane hart in me O God and renue me with a right spirite Caste me not awaie from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Giue me againe the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy mightie spirit Mollifie my harte o lorde God that I maie returne to thy pathes for I haue wandered ouer long in the waie of errour Tourne me
regarde that is precious in thy sight and that to refuse that is vile before thee Suffer me not to iudge thy misteries after my outward sences ne to giue sentence after the hearing of the ignorante but by true iudgemeÌ„t to discerne thynges spirituall and aboue all thinges alwaie to searche and followe thy will and pleasure O Lorde Iesu thou art all my richesse all that I haue I haue it of thee But what am I lord that I dare speake to thee I am thy poore creature a worm moste abiecte Beholde Lorde I haue nought and of my self I am nought worth thou art onely God righteous and holie thou ordereste all thynges thou giuest all thynges and thou fulfilleste all thynges with goodnesse I am a synner barren and voide of godlie bertue Remember thy mercies and fill my harte with plentie of thy grace for thou wilt not that thy woorkes in me should be in vaine How maie I beare the miserie of this life excepte thy grace mercy do coÌ„fort me Tourne not thy face from me deferre not the visityng of me ne withdrawe not thy comfortes least happely my soule be made as drie yearth without the water of grace Teache me lore to fulfill thy will to liue mekely and worthelie before thee for thou art all my wisedom and cunnyng thou arte he that knoweste me as I am that knowest me before y e world was made and before I was borne or broughte into this life to thee O Lorde bee honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen Laus deo in aeternum Amen ¶ A deuoute praier to bee saied daiely O Almightie and eternall God which vouchsauest that we as it were heauenly children should euery one of vs call thee our heauenly father Graunt that emong vs be purenesse and example of iâ—nocent life thy moste holy name may be sanctified that all other nations beholdyng our goodnesse and vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs maie bee stirred to hallowe and glorifie thee Graunt O lorde that the kyngdome of thy grare and mercy maie reigne continually in our hartes so that we maie he worthie to be partakers of the realme of glorie and maiestie Graunt that vnto the very death we refuse not to folowe thy deuine will that wée accordyng to the example of the celestiall citezens agreyng together quietly vnited in spirit all controuersie in opinions laied aparte the lustes of the fleshe beyng subdued and the flatteryng assaultes of the worlde and the Deuill ouercome neuer wrastell againste thy moste holie will but obeye it in all thynges Graunt O Lorde for our bodie néedefull sustenaunce that wee maie the more fréely serue thee Giue vs we beseche thee O mercifull father that heauenlie bread the bodie of thy sonne Iesu Christ the verie foode health of our soules giue vs the breade of thy diuine preceptes that we maie truely walke and liue after theim Giue vs the breade of the heauenly woorde whiche is thy stroÌ„g buttresse and sure defeÌ„ce of our soules that we beyng well fedde and filled with this foode may worthily come to the celestial feast where as is no huÌ„ger GrauÌ„t O lorde that wée paciently beare suffer our enemies and suche as hurte vs and willyngly to forgiue the offences coÌ„mitted against vs that so wee maie finde thee lord in forgiuing vs our trespasses milde and mercifull Graunt O lorde that we be not vtterly ledde into teÌ„ptation that thereby we should be loste but in all perilles of temptation and in the middes of the stormy tempestes and tribulations let vs thy children perceiue and feele thy fatherly succoure readie to helpe vs least that we ouercome with the naughtie craftes and deceiptes of the temptour should be drawen into euerlastyng destructioÌ„ but when we be well assaied approued and pourged with the fire of temptation then let vs finishe our course and so well and valiauntly fight that we maie for euermore liue with thee in that heauenly citie where against thee whiche no maner temptation can preuaile Finally graunte moste mercifull father that we through thy benigne goodnesse maie bee deliuered from all euils presente and to come bothe of bodie and soule and that at the last the yoke of the foule feinde beyng shaken of wee maie possesse the heritage of the heauenlye Kyngdome whiche thy soonne with his precious bloud bought for vs thy children and there for euer to haue the fruitioÌ„ of celestiall delectations accompanied with Angells blessed sainctes through the help benignitie and grace of our sauiour Iesu Christ to whoÌ„ and to thee our father and to the holie ghost be glorie and honor now and euer Amen ¶ An other praier O Heauenly father God almightie I praie and beseche thy mercie benignly so beholde me thy vnworthy seruaunt that I maie by gifte of thy holie spirite feruently desire thy kyngdom that I maie knowe thy will and worke thereafter Giue me O lorde wisedom Make me constaunte pacient and strong in thée Kepe me lord from the sleightie inuasioÌ„ of the old wilie serpeÌ„t Defende me from the counsailes and cursynges of euill tongues let thy mightie arme bée my shield againste all the malignitie of this wicked world Remember not O Lorde myne offences instruct prepare me to repent to be sory for my synnes Make me to loue Iustice and hate wrong to doe good and abstain from all euilles that I maie be worthie to be called thy childe To thee be honor and glorie for euer and euer AmeÌ„ ¶ A deuoute praier LOrde harken to my wordes consider the thought of mine harte Beholde hold loude I crie vnto thee Let my iuste praier enter into thyne eares whiche vnfainedly cometh fro mine hart Heare me Lorde for I am poore and destitute of mannes helpe Take care for my soule saue me thy seruaunte whiche wholie trust in thee haue mercie vpoÌ„ me o lord for I wil neuer cease criyng to thee for help For thou art milde and more mercifull then any tong caÌ„ expresse as often as aduersitie assaileth me I will crie and call for helpe vnto thée I will cal vpoÌ„ thee in the daie tyme and in the night my crie shal not bee hidde from thee O thou God of the heauens maker of the waters and lorde of al creatures heare me a poore sinner callyng vpoÌ„ thée puttyng my whole truste in thy mercie Haue mercie vpoÌ„ me for thy manifolde mercies sake forgiue me al mine offences Amen ¶ The Letanie O God the father of heaueÌ„ haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the father of heauen c. O God the soonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer c. O God the holy ghost proceding from the father and the soonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O God the holie ghost c. O holie blessed and glorious trinitie three persones and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable synners O holie blessed and glori c. Remember not Lorde our
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
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