THE SINNERS GLASSE Containing AVGVSTINES Ladder to Paradise With diuers Meditations and Prayers both for Morning and Euening Collected out of Saint Augustine and other ancient Fathers LONDON Printed by Iohn VVindet for John Budge 1609. To the vertuous and honorable Ladie Anne Windsor wife to the right honorable Lord Henry VVindsor AFter I had collected certaine doctrines and Meditations out of sundrie works of Augustine to mine owne priuate contentment In time following some of my learned friends by chance perusing and liking the order and method of them it put me in comfort to make them more knowne through the Englishing of them And honourable Ladie first out of that Booke vnder the name of Augustine intituled of the Spirit and Soule I had according to mine owne purpose disposed framed 15. portions or particulars out of many Chapters in that booke They are especiall easie teachings to many that yet know not what themselues are that thereby considering and beholding well of what they are made and their substance which is of the Soule and Body vnited and yet falling too often at variance will not be perswaded the one by the other they may feeling their owne miserie by it seek and desire higher after many diuine knowledges which may keepe their soules and bodies in vnitie and to bee at peace with God Then for the Meditations that follow I gathered them out of that blessed man his woorkes euery where when I thought which might mooue a godly minde not setting downe whole Chapters neither except foure or fiue but parcels thereof and contented partly with breuitie as also some time in a chapter meeting with the ignoraunce and corruption of that time in praying to Saints I left that part out which inuocation is a sacriledge not possible to haue any office allowed it in prayer through the whole scripture but by the large authoritie thereof it is most forcibly extruded And no doubt but Augustine in his time found it so lib. contra Parmenid 2. cap 8. For he sayeth Christian men doe togither commend themselues in their prayers but hee for whom none maketh intercession but he himselfe for all Hee is the verie onely and true Mediator And saith Ambrose lib. de Isaac anima He is our mouth by which we speake to the father our eye by which we see the father our right hand by which wee offer vs to the father otherwayes then by whose intercession neither wee nor all the Saintes hath any thing with God And I intend not that these abstracts out of those prayers and meditations vnto part of which I haue after my iudgment applied some verses out of the Psalmes shuld be vsed of any for or as in stead of their prayers for that cannot bee they haue beene long sithence offered vp by that holy man they were his owne But now they are to be taken as moouers stirrers vp of others to heauenly contemplation contrition and holy sorrow Our perfect prayer with the duties thereto belonging riseth of faith and knowledge which commeth by hearing and reading the Scriptures whereby thorough the holy ghost we are made able to seeke Christ and so the inuisible father who is not found elsewhere but in Christ that thus wee are come to haue a certaine communication with God in which entred into the Sanctuarie of heauen wee haue to doe with three persons As Gregorie Nazianzene vpon the Trinitie writeth I cannot sayeth he thinke of one but presently I am compassed round with the brightnesse and glorie of three Neither can I distinguish of three but suddenly I am brought again to one And so in our prayers it is with vs. Paul sayth thus Gal. 4. God hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts which crieth Abba father which spirit so sent proceedeth from the Father and the Son and sendeth vs forth-with to call on the Father through his Sonne And also Rom. 8. That spirit in our hearts certifieth our Spirit that wee are the children of God And the same most holy 3. persons one God keepeth such an immediate course in our prayer that no Saint in heauen can come betweene the holy ghost and our redeemer to intreat him to heare vs or to bee ioyned with him or to bee in his stead for an in tercessor his leue and worthinesse maketh vs worthy through his spirit to come to him our selues As also that holy Spirit which is the cause that wee haue knowledge in the Scriptures prompteth vs how to pray how to edifie and how to answere our aduersaries visible inuisible Moreouer most excellent and heauenly knowledge is learned out of the Scripture in praise of which and comparing it aboue all other learnings Augustin saith de doct Christiana lib. 2. Whatsoeuer a man can learne without it if it be faultie or offensiue there it is condemned If it bee profitable there it is found And when whosoeuer hath found all things which elsewhere hee hath profitably learned hee shall finde those things the more abundantly by much which are learned no where else at all but in the admirable highnesse and marueilous humility of the sacred Scriptures Thus Madame signifying vnto you the contents of this briefe Collection I pray to the Almightie to enlighten and direct you alwaies with his Spirit to the increase of true honour through you in this life and to crowne you with glorie in the life euerlasting Your seruant to your honour dutifully affected Timo. Pimm A confession of our Sinnes O Lord my God euerlasting almighty Father I acknowledge and confesse before thy holy and high Maiestie that I was bred and born in sinne and corruption and that since my birth I haue not ceased nor doe cease dayly to transgresse thy commandements In respect wherof I cannot escape ruine and destruction according to thy rightfull iustice Notwithstanding forasmuch as I am sory that I haue offended thée and doe condemne both my â—elfe and my sinne and forasmuch as it hath pleased thée to loue vs euen when wee were thine enemies and for assurance thereof to giue vs thy onely and wel be loued Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ to be a Mediator and aduocate betwéene thée and vs promising that wee shall obtaine whatsoeuer we aske of thée in his name Vouchsafe O most louing God and mercifull Father to pardon and forgiue me in his name and for his sake and not only to clense my heart from all vanity and vncleannes but also to gouerne and guide me by thy holy spirit in all my waies that I may liue according to thy holy and heauenly commandements all the daies of my life to the glory of thy holy name through the same thy welbeloued Sonne So be it Morning Prayer O God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thy speciall gift grant that vnto the rest of thine excéeding great benefites towardes mée this which is the greatest that can bee bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also
Come the excellent glorie of all the liuing the onely health of the dying Come most holy spirite come and haue mercy on mée prepare mée for thée and discend louingly to me that my vnability and weakenesse may please thy greatnesse and strength according to the multitude of thy compassions through Iesus Christ my sauiour who with the father in vnitie of thée liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer to the holy Trinity O Thrée coequal and coeternall persons one god and true the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost who onely possesseth eternity and light that no man can come to who hast made the whole worlde with thy power and rulest the round compasse of the earth with thy wisdome Holy-holy holy Lorde God of Sabaoth terrible and strong iust and mercifull to be wondred at to bee praised and to be beloued one god three persons one power wisdome and goodnesse one and vnseparable Trinitie Open to mee calling on thee the gates of righteousnesse and then entring into them I wil confesse to thee O Lord. Beholde the earnest desire of the inward affections of my heart crying out and the complaint of the teares of mine eyes at thy gate O most gracious father before thee is all my desire and my mourning is not hidde from thee and thou O Lord turne not thy face any more from me neyther passe by in thy wrath from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the wailing of thine Orphan and reach out thy right hande an helper that it draw mee backe from the depth of waters and lake of miseries and the puddle of dregs least I should perish the mercy of thine eyes looking on the clemency of thy heart beholding but that I may passe without danger to thée my Lord God that I may sée the riches of thy Kingdome and beholde thy face for euer and sing prayses to thy holy name O Lord which doest maruailous thinges which makest my heart glad with the remembrance of thee which lightenest my youth Despise not mine olde age but make my bones to reioyâ—e and my gray haires to renue as an Eagle Amen Another of the same O God the true and very excellent life from whome by whome and in whome all things whatsoeuer doe liue are good and glorious to see to God whose faith doth erect vs whose hope doth comforte vs whose loue doth linke vs together God which commandest thy selfe to bee sought and makest thy selfe to bee found and openest to him that knocketh God from whome to bee turned it is to fall to whome to bee turned it is to rise in whome to remaine it is most auaileable God whome no man loseth but is deceyued whome no man seeketh but is warned whome no man findeth but is clensed and healed God whom to knowe it is to liue whome to serue it is to raigne whome to praise â—t is health and ioy to the soule Thee I praise blesse and honour with my lippes and heart and with all the strength and power I am able and I thanke thy mercy and goodnesse for all thy benefites and I sing an Hymne to thy glorie Holy holie holy I call on thee O blessed Trinity that thou wouldest come into mee and make mee a worthie temple of thy glorie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beséech the sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the sonne that all my sines and weckednesse bee remooued farre from mee Most mightie God from whome all things by whom all things and in whome all thinges are made visible and inuisible which compassest thy workes round aboute which replenishest them within couerest them aboue and sustainest them vnderneath keepe mee the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting in thine onely mercy keep mee I beseech thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behind aboue beneath and round about so that no place lie open in me to the deceits of mine enemies Thou art God omnipotent the keeper and protector of all them that put their trust in thee without whome no man is safe no man is deliuered from daungers thou art God and there is no other God besides thee neither in heauen aboue nor in earth below which doest great things to be wondred at of which there is no number Praise honour and songs to thy laud belongeth To thee al the Angels to thee the heuens and all the powers make Hymnes and sing prayses incessantly as it behooueth the creatures to their Creator the seruants to their Maister the Souldiours to their King Euery creature magnifyeth thee euery soule prayseth thee most holie and vnseperable Trinity through Isus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer how the word becomming flesh is cause of our hope GOD is not so much an enemy that hee may not loue his owne flesh his owne members ' and bowels verily I might despaire by reason of my too many sins and vices faults and infinite negligences which I haue committed and dayly and continually do in Hearte and Worde and deede and by all the meanes by which humaine frailety may sinne but that thy worde my GOD was become flesh and dwelled in vs. But now I dare not despaire because hee beeing obedient to thee euen to the Death yea the death of the Crosse tooke vp the hand writing of our sinnes and nailed it to the Crosse Crucified sinne and Death Therefore in him safely I rest which sitteth at thy righte hand and maketh intercession for vs. Hauing a sure confidence in him I look for to come to thee in whom we are risen againe now we are ascended into heauen and set together in the celestiall places to thee be praise to thee hee glorie to thee be honour to thee be praise and thansgiuing Amen A Praier that the kingdome of Heauen may be obtained O Happie reioysing and reioysing happinesse to see the holie ones to bee with them and to bee to see the holy God to possesse God for euer and infinitly these things wee should consider of with an earnest minde these thinges wee shoulde desire with all longing that wee might bee able quickly to come to them If thou wouldest consider and inquire how this may bee brought to passe either by what meanes heare mee this matter is put in the power of him that can doe it because the kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence the Kingdome of Heauen O man seeseeketh no other price then thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt possesse it Why art thou troubled touching the price Christ hath yeelded and deliuered vp himselfe to God his father that thou shouldest purchase thee a Kingdom thou so giue thy selfe that thou be his Kingdom and that sinne may not raigne in thy mortall bodie but the spirit in obtaining of eternall life A Praier for the sweetnes of heauenly loue I Loue thee my God I loue thée and more and more will loue thee O my Lorde my God
applyed it selfe to heauenly ioyes so suddenly to bee suppressed with vncleane thoughts and sinnes The stepps of the Bridegroome are but yet fresh in it and now adulterous desires are let in It euill beséemeth and t is a filthy thing the eares which euen now heard the wordes which are not lawfull for man to speake and so soone to bee inclined to heare fables and slanders the eyes which euen now were baptised with holy and deuoute teares so suddenly to be turned to beholde vanities the tongue which euen now swéetly song the wedding song which had reconciled the Bride her bridegroom with eloquent perswasions and now lead her into the tauerne again to bee turned into vaine spéeches to scoffing and scurrillity to forge deceits and to report euill Lord be it far from vs. But if it happen we slide into such falts through humaine infirmity we should not then dispaire but let vs runne backe agine to that milde and mercifull Phisition who taketh the simple out of the dust and lifteth the poore out of the myre and which will not the death of a sinner he will againe cure vs. Let vs pray God therefore that those impediments which wtdraw vs from his Contemplation that for the present he will mitigate them in vs and hereafter vtterly take them from vs. Who bring vs by those foresayd degrées from vertue to vertue vntill wee sée the God of Gods in Sion Where the Elect shall not receiue the swéetnesse of Divine Contemplation droppe after droppe but incessantly replenished with the riuer of pleasure shall haue that ioy which no man shall take from them and peace not subiect to any alteration peace into it selfe Amen THE SINNERS GLASSE CHAP. I. How God gaue the soule to Man IN the beginning God on the sixt day gaue to man and woman reasonable soules such as continually hee breatheth into euery one in their creation My Father sayth Christ worketh euen till now and I also worke The flesh is begotten of the flesh But one soule begets not an other Touching all other liuing creatures it is saide in the first of Genesis Let the waters bring forth c. And let the earth bring forth liuing creatures c. But neither the water nor earth bringeth forth the Soule for God inspireth that into man And man hath not originall sinne by reason of the soule but by the flesh from whence the soule is made guilty of the first fault or original sinne which the flesh draweth or powreth into the soule with which flesh the soule is vnited in person although differing in nature for the acts déedes of the body are of one sort and the actions of the soule of another And yet notwithstanding the vices of the body may charge the soule Because the Soule was giuen to that ende that it should correct the vnlawfull motions of the flesh whether they happen by negligence or ignorance which cannot be excused Like as when the scholler or seruant by the negligence of the teacher or master doth offend the teacher or master cannot bée without blame So no lesse can the soule bée blameles when it ought to gouerne and cause the flesh to obey CHAP. II. A distinction between the spirit and the soule THe Soule and the spirit although they bee two wordes and names it is not to be vnderstoode that they are of seuerall essence or being in a man but are clearely one essence and substance as selfe one of pure nature for in these two words as there is not vnderstood a double substance yet in them there is a difference to be noted by a double force of the same essence or being in a man As thus the spirit is taken as the higher and the soule is taken as the lower or inferior part The soule in that it is a liuely and an euerlasting thing and maintaining life in the body is reckoned as it were the lower part But the spirit in that it is spirituall flyeth vp to the highest and is serued from the Soule that it might be vnited to God because as it is written that cleauing to God is one spirit with him Happy is that diuision of the spirit from the soule and maruailous which beeing lifted vp vnto the Lord is transformed into his Image And thus at that present instant lifting vp of the Spirit the soule which is the inferior part is most quietly in peace and great tranquilitie And the spirit which is the higher and purer part is exalted into excellent glory and reioycing My soule saith the virgine doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour Men may perceiue being touched by the word of God either in their sorrow and contrition being cast downe by the power of the same word or comforted therby how the soule and spirit are deuided For as the very truth saith the word of God is quicke and of great force more piercing then the two edged sword euen reaching out to the diuision of the soule and the Spirit So that no diuision amongst men is so much to bée marueiled at as when that which is essentially one and indiuideable should be parted in it selfe Now before that this soule and spirit doe leaue our bodies we must consider and vnderstand an other spirit a leaged by the Apostle which is the grace of the holy spirit the which the Apostle doth pray that it may remaine in vs sound and whole because that spirit doth flie from that which is fained and remoueth it selfe from the thoughts which be wtout vnderstanding Therefore with continuall Meditation wee should exercise our selues and consider our miseries and wants our labours and sorrowes For we entred into this life with mourning and liue in it with trauell and must againe put it of with paine and feare Therefore wée ought to thinke how short our life is how fraile a life it is how certaine it is that wee shall die and how vncertaine the howre of death is Let vs cōsider with how many bitter griefes life is mixed if any thing bée swéet and ioyfull in the way of this life fanning on vs how deceitfull it is and to bée suspected how vnconstant and transitory it is whatsoeuer the loue of this world bringeth forth whatsoeuer shew or temporall brauery it promiseth On the other side let vs consider the pleasant beauty and swéetenes of our heauenly coūtry Let vs take heede and well weigh from whence wee are fallen and where we lie what we haue lost and what we find that on both parts wee may vnderstand how much wee ought to mourne and lament in this exile and banishment And then hereupon it is that Salomon saith he that setteth before him knowledge setteth before him sorrow Because by how much the more a man knoweth his euils by so much the more hee hath cause and ought to sigh and grone CHAP. III. How man is made to the Image of his creator THe reasonable soule belonging to vnderstanding is made
sinne for it is saide by the holy Spirite that the soule which sinneth shall die but that Soule which hath done Iudgement and righteousnesse shall liue and not die In such sort is the soule immortall that it cannot die and in such sort mortall that steaÌ„not but die By mortality it is mortall by immortality it is immortall Wherefore to the wretched and accursed death is without death end without ende wearines without wearinesse because death euer liueth and the ende shall euer beginne and wearines shal not know to be weary death shall kill and yet not end life paine shall torment and shall not put away feare and horror the flame shall burne but not driue away darkenes for there shall bee in fire darkenesse in darkenesse horrible feare and in burning vnspeakeable torment Thus the reprobate cast into hell fire shall féele in their punishment sorrow paine and in the extremity of sorrow shall be strooken with feare and shal euer suffer and euer be afraid because euer tormented without ende they shall euer liue without hope of pardon and mercy which is a misery aboue all miseries for after so many thousand of yéeres in number as they haue had haires on their head how many soeuer they were if they should hope to end their paines then yet they should much the better endure them But because they haue no hope nor shall haue they shall faint in dispaire and shall not suffice their torments Of them it is written by Esay the Prophet Their worme shall not die and their fire shall neuer bee put out because neither they shall euer bee consumed The worme shall gnaw their conscience the fire shall burne their flesh and because they haue forsaken their Creator in heart and body they shall be punished both in heart and body when the soule shall be seperated from the blessed life euerlasting the body shall be subiect to euerlasting punishment There shall be feare and heauinesse of heart mourning and sorrow There shall bée the tormentors sitting the worme gnawing the fire consuming sinnes discouered the guilty punished and all this euerlastingly Who soeuer shall come to these torments shall neuer go out againe where they shall sée detestable monsters of diuels and the vgly shapes of them And they shall also sée in the torments of fire their mates and followers which against the commaundements of God they haue loued in vnlawful loue and lust and beholding their distruction it shall afflict them in the increasing of their damnation Such shall not sée God which is the most misery of all miseries for who can expresse what a paine it is not to sée the Creator and framer of al things the redéemer and sauiour of the faithfull the King of heauen and earth the Lord of all by whom we are wée liue and haue knowledge Therefore it behoueth vs on euery side that we circumspectly looke about vs euery where watch that wée commit no euill or doe not those things rightly that wee are commaunded to doe And in those things rightly done that we bee not proud in our thoughts therefore for many through their vertues that way haue fallen headlong into hell CHAP. XIIII Of the euill Angell IT is saide that Satan doth fill the minde of some not entring into them and their senses but intycing and inducing them by guile and iniquity doth by euery malicious meane bring lewde motions and alluring vices into their thoughts But the diuell doth not fill the soule by participation of nature or substance as some thinke as an inhabiter therein but by fraudulent deceite and malice filleth them whome it is saide he dwelleth in for it onely belongeth to the Trinitie to fill the nature and substance which it hath created CHAP. XV. That wee desire and seeke after good things WHosoeuer truely and vnfaynedly be waileth his sins and will feare to commit sinne and will rebuke himselfe in his smallest faults remembring how much hee hath offended in the greatest And although with how great vertue soeuer his minde may bee mighty and with how great constancie it may be in force yet childishly notwithstanding some fleshly toyes will outwardly bewray themselues And except with a certaine manly vehemency they be restrayned they draw the weake minde to all frailties and lightnesse wherin if by long custom it bee inured when it would rise it cannot being pressed downe by the weight of euill vse and custome Therefore as the Apostle sayth who soeuer standeth let him take héed he fall not and if he fall let him with an humble contrite heart very quickly rise againe let there be no deferring Let him bee the â—umâ—ler in his owne conscience the earnester and readier to repentance and the waryer not to offend againe for whosoeuer through the onely desire of heauenly blessednesse hateth these temporall things and loueth nothing of this world and séeketh onely his after euerlasting Country shall bee comforted and sustained with great peace and tranquility of minde How much the clearer doth man sée God when hee findeth himselfe with hâ—m alone For nothing is more present then God and nothing more secret Wée ought to desire therefore a seperation of the minde from the swarme of earthly delights and desires and then driuing out from the inward of the heart the commotions of vnlawfull imaginations thoughts wée should labour with diligence to our heauenly Country for the loue of eternall rest Let vs déepely consider what those companions of Angelles bée what that fellowshipp is of blessed soules What is the Maiestie of the vision of God and how God doth comfort his Saints with the sweete euerlastingnesse thereof For no man in this life can worthyly weygh in his mind how great that felicity is to see God face to face how much sweetnesse to heare that Angelicall melody how much gladnesse to enioy the company of al saints For euery one shall reioyce so much at the blessednesse of the other as at his own vnspeakeable ioy In that glory I bebeholde nothing more willingly I find nothing more delectable to contemplate then the affection of the inward loue wherewith euery one shall loue the other so much as himselfe God more then himselfe and God shall loue theÌ„ more then they shal loue them selues and that in perpetuall ioy There we shall see nothing strange wee shall loue nothing out of order wee shall heare nothing to offende out eares for all things there are agreeing al thinges delightfull all thinges quiet There is all felicity all pleasantnesse all gladnes al things goodly to beholde all beauty all swéetnesse Whatsoeuer is néedfull and whatsoeuer to delight is there as all riches and al daâ—nties all rest and all solace There is continuall tranquility pleasant sayrenesse eternall ioyfulnesse ioyfull and honourable praise and the full knowledge of al good things For what may be wanting there where God is which wanteth nothing How many so euer bee there are as Gods neither it néedeth
of thy commandements that I may bee able to come to him in spirit which hath not feared to bee couered with my flesh Merciful father dost thou not beholde the head bowing downe of toy most beloued Sonne resolued to most pretious death Regarde O most fauourable Creator the humanity of thy dearely beloued sonne and haue mercie on the weakenesse of brittle clay Look on O glorious Father the torn lims of thy most acceptable sonne and graciously remember of what I am made See the paines of God and man and release the miserie of mortall man Beholde the punishment of the Redeemer and forgiue the offence of the redeemed My Lord it is hee whome for the sinnes of thy people thou hast stroken although he bee the dearely beloued in whome thou art well pleased the same is hee the innocent in whome no guile is found and yet â—s reputed amongst the wicked Another WHAT hast thou committed most swéet Sonne of God that thou shouldest so be adiudged what hast thou offended most louing Lord that in such sort thou shouldest bee handled What is thy wickednesse what is thy fault what is the cause of thy death what is the occasion of thy coÌ„demnation Doubtlesse I am the wounde of thy griefe the blame of the slaughter done on thee I am the deseruing of thy death the heynous offence of thy punishmeÌ„t I am the print and signe of thy passion the worker of thy torment O marueylous manner of iudgement and vnspeakeable miserie The wicked sinneth and the iust is punished the guiâ—tie offendeth and the innocent is beaten the vngodly doth amisse and the godly is condemned What the euil deserueth the good suffereth what the seruant trespasseth the master dischargeth what man committeth God beareth c. Behold my vnrighteousnes and thy righteousnes is manifest My King and my God what shall I render againe to thee for all that thou hast done for me That the remembrance of the woundes of Christ is a Preuayling remedie against all aduersities I haue committed a grieuous sinne and am guilty of maay offences neither therfore doe I despaire because where sinne hath abounded also grace hath much more abounded He that despaireth of pardon of his sinnes denyeth God to be mercifull Hee doth great wrong to God that is mistrustfull of his mercy for so much as in him is he denieth God to haue loue truth and power in which thinges all my hope consisteth which is in the loue of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Now let my foolish imagination murmure how much it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merâ—is hopest thou to obtaine the same I aswell wil faithfully answere I knowe whome I hâ—ue trusted because in excéeding loue he hath adopted me for a sonne because he is true in his promise able in the performance thereof and hath power to doe what hee will I cannot bee terrified with the great multitude of sins if the death of the Lorde come into my minde because my sinnes cannot ouercome him The nayles and Speare call vnto me that I am truly reconciled vnto Christ if I will loue him Longius opened to mee the side of Christ with his Speare and I haue entred and there safely doe I rest Hee stretcheth out his armes on the crosse and spreadeth out his hands ready for the imbracement of sinners Betweene the armes of my Sauiour both will I liue and desire to die There safe and sure will I sing vnto him high praises I will praise thee O Lord because thou hast receyued mee neyther wouldest thou suffer mine enemies to triumph ouer me Our sauiour in his death bowed downe his head that he might kisse his dearely beloued So often doe we kisse God as often as wee are pricked in heart with the loue of him Prayers before the receyuing the Communion MErciful lord Iesu Christ I sinful soul nothing presuming of mine own merits but only trusting in thy mercy and goodnes am afraid tremble to draw neare to the table of thy most sweete and comfortable feast for I haue a heart and bodie polluted with many grieuous crimes and a minde and a tongue very euilly gouerned Therefore O gracious Deitie O dreadfull Maiesty I miserable wretch apprehended and taken betweene the troubles and griefes of mind and spirit returne to thee the fountaine of mercie I make haste to thee to be healed I flie vnder thy protection And thee whoÌ„ I cannot endure to bee my Iudge I hope to haue my sauiour to thee Lord I shew my wouÌ„ds to thee I vncouer my shame I know my sins to bee many and great for the which I am afrayed yet I trust in thy mercies of which there is no number Lord Iesu Christ eternall King God and man crucified for man look on me with the eyes of thy mercie heare mee putting my trust in thee haue mercy on mee full of miseries and sins thou which euer makest the fountaine of thy compassions to spring Remember Lord thy creature whoÌ„ with thy pretious blood thou hast redeemed I am sorie that I haue sinned I desire amendment of thy gracious fauour help me take froÌ„ me most mercifull Father al my sinnes and iniquities that being cleansed in mind and bodie I may through thee deserue worthily to taste the holy thing of all holiest and graunt that the holy and spirituall receiuing of thy body bloud which I vnworthie intende bee a ful remission of all my sinnes and a perfect purging of all my transgressions a banishing of all euill thoughts and a getting againe of good senses also a most strong defence against all the deceits of the worlde the flesh and the diuell Amen Another ALmighty euerlasting god behold I come to the Sacrament of thine onely Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ I come as one sicke to the Phisition of life foule to the fountain of mercie blinde to the light of eternall brightnesse poore and needy to the Lord of heauen and earth Therefore I beg of the aboundance of thy exceeding bounty to that end thou wouldst vouchsafe to heale my infirmitie to wash away mine vncleannesse to lighten my blindnesse to enrich my pouertie to cloath my nakednes that I may receiue the bread of Angels the King of Kings the Lord of Lords with so much reuerence and meekenes with so much contrition and deuotion with so much purity and faith with such purpose and intention as is expedient to the health of my soule Graunt mee O Lord I beseech thee not only to take the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Lord but also the effect and vertue of the Sacrament O most fauourable God grant mee so spiritually to receiue the bodie of thy onelie Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ that I may be worthy to be incorporated in his mysticall bodie and to bee numbred amongest the members of him O louing father grant to me thy dearly beloued Son whom
now as a shadow in the way I purpose to receiue at last his face reuealed to beholde him for euer who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen Another O Lorde my soule my coÌ„panion and friend wearie and comming out of the way fainteth lyeth broken torne of those vanities which it had passed through it is hungry and greatly thirsteth and I haue not wherwithall to set before it because I am poore and a begger Thou my Lord God art rich of al good things most rich and a liberall giuer of dainties satisfying from aboue giue meate to the weary bind vp the scattered refresh the broken and torne Sée it standeth at thy doore and knocketh I beséech thée through the vowels of thy mercy with which thou hast visited vs rising out of the déepe open to the wretched knocking the hand of thy deuotion and bid with thy mercifull fauour that it may enter into thee it may liue with thée and bee refreshed of thee with heauenly Bread and Wine whereby béeing satisfied and strength taken againe it may ascend to higher places being taken vp with the wings of holy desire from this vaile of teares it may fly to the celestiall kingdomes Lord I beseech thee that my spirit might receiue wings like an Eagle and might flie and not faint that it might flie euen to the beauty of thy house and to the place of the habitation of thy glorie that there vpon the table of the refection of heauenly Citizens it may bee fedde of thy secrets in the place of thy Pasture next toe most flowing waters c. Prayers after the Communion MOst sweet lord Iesus strike through the inward part of my heart and bowels of my Soule with the most sweete and Healing wound of thy loue with the true cleare and most holy Apostolicall loue that my soule may languish and melt with the onely and continuall loue and desire of thee that it may couet thée and faint in thy porch that it may desire to be dissolued and be with thée Grant that my soule may hunger after thée the bread of Angels the refreshing of holy souls our dayly bread hauing all pleasantnesse of tast and all delectation of swéetnesse yea for euer that my heart hunger and be fed on thee on whom the Angels delight to looke and that the inwards of my soule may bée filled with the plesantnesse of the tast of thée that it may euer thirst after thée the well of life the fountaine of wisedome and knowledge the spring of eternall light the riuer of pleasure the bounty of the house of God that it may euer desire thée séeke thée finde thée come to thee Meditate on thée speake to thée and may worke all thinges to the prayse and glory thy holy name with all humility and discretion with delight and delectation with obedience and affection with perseuerance to the ende And be thou alwaies my onely hope my trust my riches my delight my reioicing my ioy my rest my peace my sweetnesse my wisedome my portion my possession my treasure In whom bee my mind and heart fastned sure and immoueable rooted for euer Amen Another I Giue thee thankes O Lord holy Father almighty and eternal God which vouchsafest to satisfie me sinner thy vnworthy seruant with the precious body and blood of thy son our Lord Iesus Christ not by any of my merits but with the only fauour of thy mercy I beseech thee that this holy Communion be not my guiltinesse to punishment but a healthfull intercession to pardon Be it vnto me an armour of faith and a target of good will be it an auoiding of my faults an increasing of Charity patience humility obedience a sure defence against the wiles and deceits of all mine enemies as well visible as inuisible a perfect appeasing of my motions as well carnall as spirituall a sure fastning in the true and one God and a happy consummation of my ending And I pray thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me sinner to that vnspeakeable feast where thou with thy Son and the holy Ghost with thy elect art the true light the ful satiety the ioy euerlasting the confirmed reioysing and pâ—rfite felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A warning to the soule O Sinnes what easie entries you haue whilest you are in counsel but how hard and difficult goings out haue you Whilest you perswade and obtaine you doe delight but after you sting and vexe euen to the death of the soule My soule before all things I warne thee as the Mother of vertues least in the thoughts of thy euils thou shouldest runne into the snares of some Diuill into the which many vnheedily run and through the remembrances of the sinfull delights foolishly fall againe into the same their sinnes and euils The Concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of life BEhold Lord my God all the world is full of snares and concupiscences which they haue prepared for my feet And who may flie these snares Truely hee from whom thou takest away the euill lifting vp of his eies that the concupiscence of his eyes take him not and from whome thou takest a way the concupiscence of the flesh least the concupiscence of the flesh take him And from whom thou takest away an vnreuerent and a vaine glorious mind least the pride of life subtillie deceiue him O how happy is hee for whome thou doest these things surely he shall passe through free and blameles Now my redéemer I beséech thee for thine owne sake helpe me that I fall not grieuously in the beholding of mine aduersaries takeÌ„ with their snares which they haue made ready for my féet that they bow not downe my soule Thou Lord God father of the fatherles heare the pitiful cries of the children and spred out thy wings that wee may flie vnder them from the face of the enemie Thou tower of the strength of Israel which slumbrest neither sléepest kéeping Israel because the enemy neither slumbreth nor sléepeth that fighteth against Israel Of the misery of man without God LOrd forsake me not least the shadowes of mine ignorance increase and mine offences multiply for without thee all thinges are darknesse vnto mee all things are euill because nothing is good without thée the true onely and chiefest good This I confesse this I know my Lord my God for whersoeuer I am without thée it is euill with mee not onely of matters external concerning my selfe but in my selfe for all plenty and aboundance without my God is to mee want and misery Then shall I be rich and satisfied when thy glory shall appeare And thou lord my happie life graunt that I may euer confesse my misery to thee With how much bitternes this life is sprinckled I Am greatly weary Lord of this life of tedious pilgrimage This life is a frail life an vncertaine life a painefull life a defiled life a life Ladie
of euils a Quéene of pride full of miseries and errours which is not to bee tearmed a life but death in wich wee die euery moment with diuerse kinde of deathes through sundry the defects of mutability Whether therefore we which liue in this world may call it a life which humors puffe vp sorrowes abate ayres infect meates breed diseases hunger makes leane disports makes dissolute sadnes cōsumes thought shortneth riches maketh proude pouerty debaseth youth aduanceth olde age maketh crooked and sicknesse ouer commeth And after all these euils furious death followeth and moreouer appointeth such an end to all the ioyes of this miserable life that when it ceaseth to be it may be suposed neuer to haue béene This death vitall and life mortal although it bee sprinkled with these and other bitternesses yet alas how many doth it deceiue with false promises And so this life as of it selfe it is false and bitter so also it cannot be hidden and vnknowne to the blinde louers of it yet notwithstanding it soketh and vtterly drunkeneth an infinite number of fooles with the golden cup it hath in hande Happie they are and they be but few that forsake the familiarity of it that despise the flitting ioyes of it and reiect the fellowship therof least that also they be compelled to perish with that perishing deceiuer Prayers in aduersity and trouble HAue mercy Lord haue mercy on me miserable sinner doing wickednes worthily suffering therefore continually sinning and dayly earning thy scourges If I weigh the euill dayly that I haue done it is not much that I suffer grieuous it is that I haue committed easie it is that I endure Thou art iust O Lord and thy iudgements are right all thy iudgements are iust and true Iust and vpright art thou our Lord and God and there is no iniquity in thee for not vniustly neither cruelly doest thou aflict vs sinners almighty and most mercifull Lord who when wee were not mightily madest vs and when wee had béene lost through our owne offence in thy mercy and goodnesse marueyloussy thou restoredst vs. I know and am sure that our life is not guided with rash motions but is ordered and gouerned by thee our Lord God whereby thou hast care of all chiefly of thy seruants who haue put their whole hope in thy onely mercy Therefore I beseech and humbly pray that thou doest not to mee according to my sinnes in which I haue deserued thy wrath but according to thy great mercy which passeth the sinnes of the whole world Thou O Lord which outwardly imposest plagues and scourges graunt alwaies an vnfainting patience so that thy prayse neuer depart out of my mouth haue mercy on me Lord haue mercy and helpe me as thou knowest how because I haue néed therof both in soule and bodie thou knowest all things thou canst doe all things which liuest and raignest world with out end Amen Of the felicity of the life which God hath prepared for them that loue him O Thou life which God hath prepared for them that loue him a life long hoped for a blessed life a peaceable life a glorious life a vndefiled life a chast life a holy life a life without knowledge of death ignorant of sadnesse a life without spot without paine without griefe without corruptiō without vexation without variety and change a life of all beauty and most full of honor where there is no aduersarie resisting where bee no allurements of sin where there is perfect loue and no feare where day is euerlasting and of all one spirit where God is seene face to face and the mind satisfied with this nourishment without want O thou life most happie where that souldiour the conquerer accompanied with all the companies of Angelles singing praises singeth to God without ceasing the pleasant song of the songs of Sion the perpetuall crowne compassing his honorable head I would to God the pardon of my sins granted me and this vnprofitable burden of the flesh put off I might enter to possesse the true rest to thy ioy And that I might go into the bright and beautifull walles of thy City to receiue a crown of life of the hand of the Lord that I might be in presence with those most holy companies that I might stand before the glory of the Creator with the most blessed spirits that I might see the present countenance of Christ that alwaies I might beholde that high and vnspeakeable and vnmeasurable light and so to bée moued with no feare of death but that I might reioyce of the reward of euerlasting incorruption without ende A Meditation of the celestiall Soule O My soul sigh feruently desire earnestly that thou mayest come into the Citie aboue of which so glorious things are spoken in which there is a dwelling of all reioysinges Thou mayest ascende through loue nothing is difficult to him that loueth nothing vnpossible The Soule that loueth ascendeth often and passeth familiarly through familiarly through the stréets of heauenly Ierusalem in visiting the Patriarks and Prophets in saluting the Apostles in marueling at the armies of Martyrs and Confessors and in beholding the companies of Virgins Let not heauen and earth cease to call on mee that I loue the Lord my God That all our hope and desire ought to bee to God ONe thing I haue asked of the Lord and this I request that I might dwel in the house of God all the dayes of my life For as the Hart desireth the water springs so my soule longeth after thee my liuing God O when may I come and appeare before thy face when shal I see my God whome my soule thirsteth for when shall I see him in the land of the liuing For in earth of dying men hee cannot bee seene with mortall eies What shall I doe wretch that I am bound with the setters of my mortality what shall I do Whilest wee are in this bodie wee goe on pilgrimage to God wee haue not heere any Citie to inhabit but wee seeke an other that is to come for our incorporation is in heauen Ah wo is me that I am constrained to dwel with Mesech and to haue my habitation amongest the Tentes of Cedar My soule hath long dwelt amongst them that haue beene enemies to peace Who shall giue mee wings like a doue and I wil flie and take m◠rest Nothing is so sweete to mee as to bee with my Lord for it is my good to cleaue vnto the Lorde Graunt mee O Lord whilest I am present in these frail lims to cleaue vnto thee according as it is written Hee that cleaueth to the Lord is one spirit with him Another THou O lord the hope of Israell the desire after which our hearts sigheth dayly make hast tarrie not Arise make speede and come that thou maist deliuer vs out of this prison to praise thy holy name that I may glory in thy light Open thine eares to the cries and teares of thine Orphanes which crie out vnto the.
faire and honourable before all the sonnes of men graunt mee that I maye desire thee that I maye loue thee so much as I will and as much as I ought Thou art exceeding great and exceedingly thou oughtest to bee beloued chiefly of vs whome thou hast so loued so saued for whome thou hast done so many things O loue which euer burnest and art neuer quenched Sweete Christ méeke loue Iesu my God inflame mee wholy with thy loue with thy light with thy delight with thy desire with thy gladnesse and reioycing with thy affection and swéete kindenesse with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and excellent which is chaste and cleare that being altogether full with the swéetnesse of thy loue altogether pleasured with the feruencie of thy loue I may loue thée my Lord most sweete and beautifull with all my heart with all my soule with all my power and all my diligence with great contrition of hart and a fountaine of tears with great reuerence and feare and hauing thee in heart in mouth and before mine eyes alwaies and euery where so that no place in mee appeare open to false and counterfeite loues Amen Prayers of the Soule thirsting to see Iesus MY soule thirsteth for thée my L. God my flesh also longeth alter thee My soule thirsteth for God the liuing fountaine when shal I come and appeare before the face of the Lord When wilt thou come my comforter whoÌ„ I waite for O when shal I see my ioy I looke for O then I shall bee satisfied when my glory will appeare whom I hunger for O then shalâ— I bee drunken of the aboundance of his house which I sigh for O that thou will soake me with the flowing streame of the pleasures In the meane time O Lord let my teares be to me bread day and night vntil it be saide to mee beholde thy God vntill my soule may there looke vpon the Bridegroome Féede mée in the meane time with my sobbes refresh me with my sorrowes it may bee that my redéemer will come because he is louing and will not tarry because he is merfull To him be all honor for euer and euer Amen Another of the same STrike Lord strike I beséech thée this my most hard heart with the godly and strong point of thy deare loue and pierce déeper to the very bottome with thy mighty power And so bring forth passing much water from my head and a true fountaine of teares from my eyes aboundantly flowing through the excéeding affection and desire of the sight of thy beautie that I may mourne day and nighte receiuing no comfort in this present life vntill I may bee worthie to see thee my beloued Lorde and God in the celestiall bride chamber that there beholding thy glorious admirable most beautifull face full with all pleasure and sweetnesse I may humblie adore and worshipp thy maiestie with those whome thou hast chosen and there at the last replenished with the vnspeakeable ioy of eternal reioysing I may cry out with them that loue thée saying Beholde now I sée that I haue desired now I hold that I haue hoped for now I haue that I haue longed for I am ioyned to him in heauen whom seÌ„t vpon the earth I haue with al my power loued with all loue imbraced to whom with all loue I haue cleaued him I extoll praise and honour who liueth and raigneth God without end Amen A Prayer for the feare of the great Iudge LLord God of gods forceable and mighty vpon all wickednes I know certainely that thou wilt come I know thou wilt not euer be siâ—ent when in thy sight the lightening waxeth violent and in thy course the great tempest shall suddenly come wheÌ„ thou shalt call heauen from aboue and the earth to iudge thy people Then loe before so many thousands of people all mine iniquities shall be reuealed before so many armies of Angels all my abhominations shall he open not of my déedes onely but of my thoughts and words Thou righteous Iudge marking sinnes hast kept all my wayes as in a Sachell and hast numbred my steppes togither thou hast held thy peace thou hast béene silent thou hast béen long suffering But wo is me at last thou speakest as though sore trauailing with child c. A Prayer where the Father is called vpon through the Sonne O Father I beseech thee for the loue of thy almighty Son bring my soule out of prison to praise thy holy name I instantly desire thee through thine onely son coeternall with thee deliuer me froÌ„ the bonds of sinne and thou most highest beeing appeased through the intercession of thy Sonne sitting at thy right hand restore me to life whose owne merits threaten to mée deadly and eternall doome For what other intercessor I should bring to thee I know not but the same which is the onely sacrifice for our sinnes which sitteth at thy right hande intreating for vs. Behold my aduocate with thee God the Father beholde the chiefe Bishop who néedeth not to make an attonement with others bloud because he appeareth glorious imbrued with the blood of his own woundes Beholde the holy sacrifice well pleasing and perfect offered vp and accepted into the sauour of swéetnesse Behold the lambe without spot who before the shéerers of him became as dumbe who beaten with buffetes beraied with spittle and rayled vpon opened not his mouth Beholde him that hath done no sins hath borne our sinnes land healed our infirmities with his owne bloud Amen A prayer of the penitent CReator of heauen and earth king of kings and Lord of al that rule which hast made me of nothing to thy Image and likenes and hast redeemed mee with thy precious blood whome I wretched sinner am not worthy to name neither to call vpon or meditate of in heart I beseâ—ch thee kneeling on my knees and humbly intreating thee that thou wilt pitifully regarde mee thy euill seruant and to haue mercy on me who hadst compassion on the woman of Canaan and of Marie Magdelen who forgauest the Publicane and théefe hanging on the Crosse In thee most mercifull Father I confesse my sinnes which to conceale from thée O Lord I cannot if I would Pardon mee O Christ whome I haue greatly offended both in thought word and deed and by all the meanes in which I wicked fraile man might offend Therfore O Lord I beseech thy clemency who descendedst from heauen for my safety who rearedst Dauid from the fall of sinne pardon mee O Lord pardon mee O Christ who forgauest Peter denying thee Thou art my Creator and redeemer my Lord and my sauiour my king and my God thou art my hope and my trust I beseech and intreate thee helpe me and I shal be safe gouerne and defend mee strengthen me and comfort me confirm me and make mee glad ' inlighten and visite mee ' reare me that am dead because I am of thy making and thy worke Lord dispise mee not because I am thy seruant
although a bad one vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am either good or bad I am alwaies thine to whom should I flie but to thee If thou cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou dispise me who shal regarde mee O God I do acknowledge my selfe vnworthy flying againe to thee Lord thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy compassion is more then my vngraciousnesse towardes thée Thou canst forgiue more theÌ„ I can commit and canst pardon more then I can offend Despise mee not O Lord neither note the multitude of my sinnes but acording to the multitude of thy mercies pitty me and bee fauourable vnto me a haynous sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy sauiour which saydest I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Conuert mee O Lord to thee and be not wrathfull against mee I beséech thee most gentle father for thy mercies sake that I may end my life well and with true and harty repentance of all my sinnes Amen Short Meditations THy hands O Lord haue made me and fashioned me I may say those hands which were nayled with nayles for mee Lord despise not the worke of thy hands Beholde in thy handes O Lord my God thou hast writen mee reade that writing and saue mee Beholde I thy creature sigh to thee thou art my creator renew me make me againe beholde thy workemanshippe I cry vnto thee thou art life quicken mee beholde I thy clay looke backe to thee thou art the Potter fashion me againe Lord haue mercy on mee for my daies are nothing c· Another THou full of pittie say vnto mee thy wretched seruant say vnto mee through thy compassions what thou art to me Say vnto my soule I am thy health doe not hide thy face from mee least I die Another SAue mee O Lord which art the true safety and that willest not the death of a sinner Lord haue mercy on my sinfull Soule loose the bonds thereof Sweete Iesu regarde my humility and blot out all my transgressions bee my ayde leaue me not neither despise mee O God mine onely comfort but tèach me to doe thy will O bountifull Iesu although though I haue offended whereupon thou maiest iustly damne mee yet thou hast not lost that whereby thou art accustomed to saue Good lord my Iesu why camest thou down from heauen to what ende yéeldest thou thy selfe to death but that thou wouldest saue sinners of which sort I am exceeding O vile sinner that I am take breath againe be of good cheare thou maist not despaire hope in him whom thou fearest flâ—e to him from whom thou hast fled call vpon him importunately whome proudly thou hast prouoked Say vnto him Iesu for thy sweete names sake do by me according to thy name Iesus is a name of fauour a name most delightfull a name comforting a sinner and a name of happy hope for what is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore for thine owne sake O Iesu be Iesus to me be to me a mercifull Sauiour which art magnified and blessed world without ende Amen Godly Meditations of our Lord his sufferings O God who for the worldes Redemption wouldest bee reproued of the Iewes deliuered by the traitor Iudas and bee bound with bonds like an innocent Lambe led to the sacrifice Also vnseemely to bee brought before the beholding of Annas Caiaphas Pilate and Herod to bee accâ—used by false witnesses to bee tormented with whippes and reproches to be defiled with spittle crowned with thornes beaten with buffets stroken with a Reede blindfolded thy garmeÌ„ts put off wouldest be nayled on the crosse lifted vp thereon reputed among theeues drinke vinegar and gal and be wounded with a Speare O most mighty Lord how wonderful is thy kindnes and pitie that wouldest indure all these extreeme torments shames and cruell death and all for to appease the almighty father and be an attonement betweene him and sinfull mankinde I beséech thée most mercifull Iesu sithence all this was of excéeding loue that through those thy sharpe and bitter paines which I vnworthie wretch now meditate of and call to minde thou wilt defende and deliuer mee from the paines of hell and vouchsafe to bring mee whether thou broughtest the thiefe crucified with thee O meek and vnspotted lambe my onely righteousnesse and iustification haue mercie on me who with the father and the holy ghost liuest and raignest world without end Another HOrde Iesu Christ Son of the liuing God which hanging on the Crosse saying father forgiue theÌ„ for they know not what they do grant that I for the loue of thée may pardon euery one that doth euill vnto me And which saidest vnto the theefe this day thou shalt bee with me in paradise grant me so wel to liue that in the houre of my death thou say to me this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice And which saydst to thy mother Woman behold thy sonne Moreouer to thy Disciple behold thy mother graunt that thy loue and perfite charitie may accompanie me vnto thy mother And which saiedst My God my God why hast thou forsaken me grant me to say in all my afflictions griefes of mind mâ— Father my Lorde haue mercie on me a sinner and helpe mee my king and my God which with thy precious bloud hast redeemed mee And which saydest I thirst graunt that I may euer thirst after thee the fountaine of liuing water And which saidest Father into thy handes I commend my spirit Receiue me yeelding my self vp vnto thee And which saydest It is finished graunt that I may bee worthie to heare that sweete voyce of thine saying Come my Loue my dearly beloued spouse come that thou mayest go vp with me with my Angels and Saints to banquet reioyce and remaine together in my kingdome through infinite worlds of worldes Amen Another O Lorde Iesu Christ for the bitternesse which thou sustainedst for me wretch on the Crosse chiefly about that houre when thy most excellent soule departed out of thy blessed bodie Grant I most humblie beseech thee mercie to my soule in the departure thereof and bring it into life euerlasting Amen Another I Beséech thée Lorde Iesu Christ throgh those thy woundes suffered on the Crosse and bringing Saluation vnto vs wounde this my sinfull soule for which also thou hast vouchsafed to die wound it with thy burning and most mightie dart of thy exceeding loue Thrust my heart through with the arrow of thy loue that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy loue so that out of that wounde teares may bountifully flowe day and night O Lord strike I beseech thee strike my most hard heart with the godly strong point of thy loue yea deepely to the bottome pierce it with thy mighty power who liuest and raignest worlde without ende Amen Another of the same KIng of the elect I beséech thee throgh him holie of all the holie ones through him my redeemer make mee to runne the way