with bit and bridlâ—… 〈◊〉 fall vpon thee 11 Great plagues 〈◊〉 foâ—… the vngodly but who so putâ—…h his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side 12 Be glad O yee righteous reioyce in the Lord and be ioyfull all ye that are true of heart PSALME XXXVIII PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure 2 For thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne 4 For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse 6 I am brought into so great trouble and miserie that I goe mourning all the day long 7 For my loines are filled with a 〈◊〉 disease and there is no whole â—…rt of my body 8 I am feeble and sore smitten 〈◊〉 haue roared for the very disquiâ—…esse of my heart 9 Lord thou knowest all my â—…sire and my groaning is not hid â—…om thee 10 My heart panteth my strength â—…th failed mee and the sight of â—…e eies is gone from me 11 My louers and my neighbours â—…id stand looking vpoÌ„ my trouble â—…nd my kinsmen stood afarre off 12 They also that sought after â—…y life laid snares for me and they â—…hat went about to doe mee euill â—…alked of wickednesse and imagiâ—…ed deceit all the day long 13 As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one yâ— is dumbe which doth not open his mouth 14 I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God 16 I haue required that they â—…uen mine enemies should not â—…umph ouer mee for when my fâ—… slipt they reioyced greatly agaâ—… mee 17 And I truly am set in 〈◊〉 plague and my heauinesse is eâ—… in my sight 18 For I will confesse my wiâ—… ednesse and be sorie for my sinnâ—… 19 But mine enemies liue aâ—… are mighty and they that hate mâ—… wrongfully are many in number 20 They also that reward euill for good are against mee because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou farre from me 22 Hast thee to helpe mee O Lord God of my saluation PSALME LI. HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2 Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense mee from my sinne 3 For I acknowledge my faults 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sinne is euer before me 4 â—…gainst thee onely haue I sinneâ—… done this euill in thy sight thâ—… thou mightst bee iustified in thâ—… saying and cleere when thou aâ—… iudged 〈◊〉 Behold I was shapen in wicâ—…nesse and in sinne hath my mothâ—… conceiued me 〈◊〉 But loe thou requirest truth in 〈◊〉 inward parts shalt make me 〈◊〉 vnderstand wisedome secretly 〈◊〉 Thou shalt purge me with Iâ—…e and I shall bee cleane thou â—…lt wash me and I shall be whiâ—… than snow 8 Thou shalt make me heare of â—…y gladnes that yâ— bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9 Turne thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeedes 10 Make me a cleane heart o God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me 12 O giue mee the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13 Then shall I teach thy wayeâ—… vnto the wicked and sinners shâ—… be conuerted vnto thee 14 Deliuer mee from bloodgâ—… tinesse O GOD thou that aâ—… God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15 Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thâ—… delightest not in burnt offerings 17 The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18 O bee fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou bee pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar PSALME CII HEare my prayer O Lord and let my crying come vnto thee 2 Hide not thy face from mee in 〈◊〉 â—…e of my trouble incline 〈◊〉 eares vnto mee when I call O heare me and that right soone 3 For my daies are consumed away like smoke and my bones 〈◊〉 burnt vp as it were a firebraÌ„d 4 My heart is smitten downe withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread 5 For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh 6 I am become like a Pellican in the Wildernes like an Owle that is in the desart 6 I haue watched and am euen as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies reuile mee all the day long and they that are mad vpon mee are sworne together against me 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast mee downe 11 My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered 〈◊〉 grasse 12 But thou O Lord shalt â—…dure for euer and thy remeâ—…brance throughout all generâ—…ons 13 Thou shalt arise and hauâ—… mercy vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercy on her yeâ—… the time is come 14 And why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones it pittieth theâ—… to see her in the dust 15 The Heathen shall feare thy Name O Lord and al the Kings of the earth thy Maiestie 16 When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glory shal appeare 17 When hee turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire 18 This shal be written for those that come after and the people that shall be borne shall praise the Lord. 19 For hee hath looked downe from his sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth 20 That hee might heare the mourâ—…g of such as be in captiuiâ—… 〈◊〉 deliuer the children apâ—…ed vnto death 21 That they may declare the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in Sion his â—…rship at Ierusalem 22 When the people are gatheâ—…ed together and the kingdomes 〈◊〉 to serue the Lord. 23 Hâ—…e brought downe my strength in my iourney and shortened my daies 24 But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of mine age 〈◊〉 for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the Heauens are the worke of thy hands 26 They shall perish but thou
A PARADISE of prayers CONTAINING the purity of deuotion and meditation Gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of LEVVES of Granado AND Englished for the benefit of the Christian Reader Ascendat oratio descendat gratia LONDON Printed by R. Field for Mathew Law and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard neere vnto S. Austines gate 1614. At our vprising GOd the Father that saidst in the beginning Let light be made it was made lighten my eies that I sleepe not in death lest at any time mine enemie say vnto me I haue preuailed against him God the sonne light of light the great truest light from whence this light both of sunne and day ariseth thou light shining in darkenesse and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde driue from me all darknes of ignorance and giue me vnderstanding that in thee and by thee I may know the Father to know whom is to liue and to serue whom is to reigne God the holy Ghost thou fire both illuminating and warming kindle in me thy light that I may know the deceitful delights of this world and the true ioyes of heauen Enlighten my minde that I may see how great a good our enemy soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow Grant that I may onely see those things that are thine and be blinde to the rest infuse also into my minde the gift of thy charity that forsaking those transitorie things I may with a feruent zeale and continuel desire endeuour to attaine those things which are eternall Holy Trinity one God defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō assistance in temptation and in death a pleasant refuge Thou hest raised my body O Lord which was drowned in sleep I beseech thee that thou wilt deliuer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins the darknes of this world and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking may it please thee after death to restore to the same life for sleepe is to thee as death to vs. To thee be praise cleernes wildome thanksgiuing honor vertue fortitude for euer and-euer Amen When we rise RIse O my soule that sleepest arise from death Christ shal shine vnto thee Arise O thou daughter of Sion O my soule redeemed by Christs blood shake off the dust of sinnes set in thee the peace of Christ purchased for thee by his merits Christ thou mercifull aduocate of mankind as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit so lift vp our minds to the knowledge loue of thy Maiesty and grant that the body may be a companion Minister of pietie to the soule in this life to the end that in the life to come it may be partaker of that eternal blessednes where thou liuest reignest with God the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day OMnipotent eternall Lord the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I praise thee I blesse thee and with my whole heart giue thee thanks that according to thy vnmeasurable goodnes thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence preserued me this night that it hath pleased thee to be present with me so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me that thou hast protected me from all euill both of soule and body that thou hast defended me being drowned in profound sleepe by the assistance of thy holy Angels as it were with an impregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary who neuer letteth slip any opportunity to hurt vs Finally for that thou hast sweetly raised me from sleepe the true image of death lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins to the end I might haue space and time yet at the length to recollect and earnestly repent my selfe Now likewise O father of mercy and God of all consolation I beseech thee and from the bottome of my heart intreat thee that this day thou wilt take me also into thy fatherly protection and behold me with thy mercifull eies direct me in the way of thy commaundments and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit by whose means I may begin continue and end this day likewise to the praise and glory of thy holy name to the profit of my neighbors and the saluation of my soule endeuouring my selfe euery where and in all things without neglect of my duty to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called Keep me O Lord from all sin restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie and friend and minister to that old Adam coole by the dewe of thy spirit the heate of concupiscence that reigneth in my members lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me Grant O mercifull father and vouch safe O deere Lord that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue Direct this day my heart and my body my senses speeches and my actions in thy law in the workes of thy commaundements Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal that forsaking the riches and delights of this world I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome Curb and restraine the power of the diuell our old and sworne enemie that although hee rangeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure he may not yet hurt or any wayes hinder mee But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son who is the propitiation for my sins behold him O mercifull father and for the iustice sake of thy Son forgiue the sins of thy seruant grant mee that by thy mercy which is not my due in iustice who liuest reignest God for euer and euer Amen Morning exercises 1. The commemoration of benefits receiued O God my God early doe I wake vnto thee ◅aith y◠thy holie Prophet And a little after he addeth so I was mindfull of thee on my bed early in the morning will I think on thee because thou wert mine helper And I my Lord God with that holy king desire to watch Let this be the beginning of my occupations let the day beginne with this thought of mine For heereunto the duties driue me whereby I am bound vnto thee this is the end of my creation for I was therefore made to the end I should praise thee glorifie magnifie and sanctifie thy name For thou art the beginning and the end of all things I say the beginning without beginning and the end without end For euen as no man might euer create any thing without
vnto thee that it may keepe thy word and as a new thing be infixed in my memorie Thou art he that saidst by thy Prophet The word that shall issue from my mouth shall not returne to me in vaine but shall prosper in that for which I send it Goe to Lord and let thy word heard by me from the mouth of thy minister prosper in me giue me strength y◠my life may bee answerable to the doctrine I haue receiued Giue increase to thy word O thou celestial husbandman that it may augment and increase in me that by thy holy word it may not onely bring me to the knowledge of thy will but also that I may fulfill and execute that which thou biddest and wilt and so I may perseuer vnto the end vntil I may attaine to thy celestiall and euerlasting kingdome Amen When we goe about any worke VVE that are thrust into the most obscurest darkenesse through the fal of our first parents O thou fountaine of eternall wisedome know not what is pleasing or displeasant to thee and what is expedient or hurtfull for vs notwithstanding O bountifull mercifull Lord I notwithstanding y◠labour bee great if I respect my strength light easie if I regard thy assistance doe now vndertake the same not knowing whether thou wilt that the same should bee done by me or likewise whether it shall be profitable or hurtfull vnto me O thou light of diuine maiesty O beauty of the glory of the Father O giuer of gifts I beseech thee let the drops of thy grace fall vpon me that herein I may know thy will To thee therefore O thou that dwellest in the highest God and Father omnipotent with humble heart godly affection and deuout praier doe I fly crauing thy helpe and assistance in beginning this worke For thou vnderstandest the depth of my ignorance my pouerty in vertues my sluggishnesse in weldoing and the great deformity of my maners all which make me vnworthy to finish such a wor◅e giue me therefore wisedome that assisteth thy seat send her from thy holy heauens that shee may bee with mee and labour with mee Strengthen me O Lord God of Israel and at this houre behold y◠workes of my hands Giue mee strength assist and helpe mee that the euill spirit do not hinder me in atchieuing this worke or the detractious of wicked men reuoke me from the same let mee faile other waies or let me fall before the end of the worke but vnder such a moderator and rector let me institute and end all things orderly namely Iesus Christ the mediator who is God to bee praised for euer Amen A thanksgiuing when the worke is finished O Most sweete Lord Iesus Christ thou redeemer of mankinde who art Alpha and Omega the beginning and end by whom al things are made without whom nothing is done who weighest vowes crownest merits and giuest rewards I giue thee thanks that I haue ended the work begun by thy prouidence and ended by thy assistance Thine it is O good Iesus at this present to weigh the value therof If I haue any waies defaulted therein all that is mine and if any thing hath beene gracious in the eies of thy Maiesty all that do I ascribe vnto thee For being conceiued in sin borne in sin bred vp in sin what other thing can wee doe but sinne And how can we performe any good thing except thou giue it O Lord It remaineth now O God that by the same mercy wherewith thou wroughtest this worke with me by the same now thou wilt direct it to a wished scope and end lest the fruits thereof doe perish either to my selfe or to my neighbour And if for al those benefits which thou hast bestowed on vs wee should giue thee thankes most bountiful Iesus all our whole life should bee spent in that one thing so that it behooued vs to think on no other thing but the same But now our duety calleth vs hencefoorth to another thing our vocation exacteth another thing at our hands yet are thy new benefits alwaies to bee receiued with a new giuing of thanks For which cause I also for that it hath pleased thee so faithfully to finish this worke in me and by me although thy vile vnworthy instrument I blesse thee and praise thee and glorifie thee But grant me also O Lord not onely to giue thee thankes but also to haue them that is to remember continually thy bounties imploied on mee that when as thou findest mee not ingratefull thou maiest continue the increase of thy gifts in me vntil by these of thine I may attaine the perpetual fountaine of all goodnesse and blessednesse Amen When we prepare ourselues to studie VVE whatsoeuer we be by a hidden instinct of nature desire knowledge but in so palpable darkenesse are wee conuersant that not onely wee are ignorant of those things which wee ought to know but also how wee ought to know For it is the punishment of the first sinne that this naturall light wherewith in the state of innocency our vnderstanding was illuminate is now extinct and we as it were blinde grope for the wall and as it were without eies handle it To thee therefore O Wisdome dwelling in the highest heauens residēt in the fathers bosome make I recourse enlighten I beseech thee my nunde giue mee an vnderstanding heart y◠I may know the truth which thou thy selfe art follow and take hold of it Uerily I desire to know because I haue read that thou repulsest those that repine at Sciences I haue read that they that are learned shal shine like the brightnes of the firmament and they that instruct many in the waies of iustice shall bee as a star in the perpetuities of eternities But because I know not how I ought to know I beseech thee shew me the meanes order grant that I may first learne y◠which is most conuenient to saluation and that most ardently that vrgeth most vehemently to loue Grant that I may not desire to know for vaine glory sake not for curiositie nor in respect of profite but onely for the edification both of my selfe and of my neighbour O thou Creator of all things thou meridian light O the reward of the elect thou knowest the depth of mine ignorance my vnpolisht speech my defect of vertues and my fluggishnesse in apprehending good and ghostly things is not hidden from thee Notwithstanding O vncreated Wisdome which at thine owne pleasure of the wicked makest iust and of the ignorant suddainly and without delay learned send from the seate of thy Maiestie thy light and thy truth that may illuminate my darknesse and giue mee the vnworthy the vnderstanding of thy chaste and holy word Make me wiser better that I may impart to others likewise part of that light which thou impartest vnto mee I atribute nothing to mine industry cūning or wit for I know that all those who are rightly wise are wise by thy
body also O most sweete Iesus contaminate with many crimeâ—… this night and al other times sucâ—… rest that I may neuer depart from thee who art eternal tranquillitie neither at any time forsake theâ—… or through the dulnesse and sluggishnesse of my slothfull flesh beâ—… forgetfull of thee and thereby beâ—… thrust into the perpetuall agitatâ—… on and damnation of incessaâ—… trouble For which cause O eternal an most mercifull Lord I comment my spirit into thy hands for thoâ—… our most mercifull Sauiour haâ—… redeemed vs on the wood of thâ—… crosse suffer not my spirit O Lord to sleepe in sinne and saint therein lest I bee buried in eternall death â—…ut watch ouer mee and intend â—…y safety O most faithfull shepheard suffer mee not being destiâ—…ute of thy helpe to be swallowed 〈◊〉 the gulfe of my sinnes Protect me vnder the shadow of â—…hy wings and suffer me not to be â—…ntangled with extraordinary and â—…nnecessary sleepe but raise mee â—…n due time that wakened in that sort I may cheerefully endeuour my selfe to sing thy praises and intend thy seruice that I may thinke of thee and being raised by â—…hy power I may performe the â—…orks of iustice and seeke thy heaâ—…enly kingdome with my whole â—…eart that at length by thee with â—…hee in thee I may obtaine eterâ—…all light and celestial rest Amen Another praier before sleepe GRant vnto mee O my God the watching I may vigilantlie â—…and in thy presence as often as 〈◊〉 shall fortune me to sleepe let my sleepe bee without sinne and if in my waking I should commit any misdeed grant me O Lord pardoÌ„ for thy mercy sake and if sinne in my sleepe let thy clemency pardon mee and by the memory of thy martyrdome giue mee a quiet time of sleepe and deliuer mee from euill dreames and filthy imaginations and for the whole night bouchsafe me a sleepe full of tranquillitie lest wickednesse haue the power ouer mee and euill cogitations ful of peruersnesse seduce mee Giue me thine Angel of light that may keepe all the members of my body and deliuer mee from cursed concupiscence by that liuing body that was cruâ—…ified for mee Let me lay me downe to rest and sleepe in peace and let thy blood bee the keeper of mee and my soule which is thine image Giue libertie to thy handiworke and let thy right hand defend the bodie which thou hast fashioned with thine owne hands and enuiron mee with the wall of thy mercies as it were an acceptable fortresse and bulwarke that when the body shall rest and sleepe it may bee defended by thy vertue and let my sleepe bee as a sweete sinelling incense before thy maiesty neither let the enemy approch my bed for thy mercie sake I will heare and execute thy will O my God who lodest the night with the tranquillitie of the iustice of our redeemer Iesus Christ. For thou art the true light and thy glorie dwelleth in the light and the children of light adore thee dwelling in the light Iesus the Word of the Father vnto life haue mertie on mee for thy mercie sake to whom with the Father that sent thee and the holy Ghost bee all praise for euer Amen Iaculatorie prayers to bee had alwaies in memorie When any sudden feare assaileth thee BE vnto mee O Lord a tower of strength against the face of mine enemy If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee PIerce my flesh with thy feare for I haue trembled at thy iudgments If an ill suspicion ouertake thee CReate in mee O Lord a new heart and giue me a new spirit If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee GIue me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme mee with a principall spirit If vaine glory seduce thee NOt vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy â—…ame giue the glorie If desperation molest thee GOd is my hope froÌ„ my youth from the wombe of my mother thou art my protector If thou be afflicted in minde HElpe me and I shall be safe I will meditate alwaies vpon thy iustifications If sloth assaile thee EXcite thy power O Lord and come conuÌ„rme mee in thy words lest I faile in the way If labour tire thee BEhold my humility and my labour forgiue mee all my sins If wrath disturbe thee GIue mee patience O Lord peace to thy seruant lest I lose the crowne of my soule in heauen For thou hast said In your patience you shall possesse your soules If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee INcline my hart O Lord to thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse turne away mine eies lest I see vanitie and quicken mee in thy way If gluttony sollicite thee THe kingdome of heauen is not meate drinke but peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is the Spirit that quickneth the fiesh profiteth nothing Is euill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee VVHose tinage and superscription is this And hearing that it is Ceâ—…ars that is the diuel of this world say let thy money bee with thee to thy perdition now the doore is shutte and our Lord careth his passe-ouer here I haue no leasure to open vnto thee If any blessing of God happen to thee VVHat shal I yeeld vnto our Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed vpon mee How much â—…west thou mâ—… soule And turâ—…g to the angels lay Come and heare and I wil show you all yâ—…e that â—…are God what hee hath 〈◊〉 to my soule And turning thine eies vnto God himselfe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt thou say O Lord thy mercy is great toward me Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecution IUdge them O Lord that hurt mee ouerthrow them that fight against mee Take the sword and shield and arise to do me helpe When thou seest thou art 〈◊〉 by God VVHerefore O Lord art 〈◊〉 departed farre from mee Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities in tribulation Stay with vs O Lord for it waxeth night Against detractors SAue mee O God for the righteous faile and truth faileth amongst the children of men Let the Lord confound all deceitfuil lips and the tongue that speaketh great things For our enemies O Lord lay not this sin to their charge because they know not what thy do When we addressâ—… our selues to studie BLessed art thou O Lord teach me to doe thy will open mine eies that I may consider the wonderfull works of thy Law A man may sometimes lift vp his heart by affection of repentance in these words TUrne thy face from my sinnes O Lord and blot out all my offences Create in mee O Lord a new heart Sometimes with an affection of gratitude BLesse the Lord O my soule and forget not his benefits Sometime with an affection of loue I Will loue thee O Lord my strength God is my foundation my refuge and my deliuerer God is my helper and I will hope in him Euen as the Hart desireth the
and no man can come vnto mee except my Father draw him All that therefore which I haue all that which I am it is of thy grace thy gift thy liberalitie and mercie so that but in thinking I could not preuent the gifts of thy good works by my vertue For we are not sufficient to thinke any thing of our selues as of our selues but all our sufficiencie is from thee What therfore shall I do wretched naked and poore that I am I am weake and lame but by thy gifts and benefits rich and wealthy I sailed by the sea but a tempest arising my ship was drowned mâ—… riches perished my wares at one misfortune lâ—…st By thy bounty although I suffered ship wrack I my selfe escaped my soule being saued by the helpe of one planke swam to land But what now shall I do I haue not whereon to liue and through infirmity I can get nothing The onely remedy that is lest me is to beg but who is so liberall that hee will or so rich that hee can helpe a caitife so miserably poore but thou onely O God â—…enigne and mercifull rich and omnipotent To thee therefore do I cry to thee do I cal at thy gate without â—…rmission will I beg But heere once againe my conscience terrifieth mee shame and modestie reclaimeth for what soeuer I possessed before and now haue lost all that was thine that thou hast trusted mee with for all that as yet I stand indebted vnto thee moreouer I offended thee I did thee wrong 〈◊〉 abused thy blessings to thy dishonor What impudency shall it therefore be in me to aske new fauours at thy hands shall I therefore despaire shall I therefore say with Cam my iniquitie is more than may be remitted shall I therefore bee a vagabond an outcast from the land of the liuing nothing lesse for I know that my God and my Lord is mercifull and compassionate long suffering and of great mercy I know that my Lord is bountifull and of much mercie fauourable to such as offeÌ„d I knâ—…w that after he had seene his seruant that ought him ten thousand talents humbling himselfe he forgaue him the whole debt I will therfore say in like sort with that seruant Lord haue patience with me I will pay thee all But how shall I restore vnto thee O Lord except thou first giue mee and to whom shalt thou giue but to him that beggeth at thy hands and who dare not aske when as thou so liberally inuitest all men saying Come vnto mee all you that labour and are burthened and I will refresh you come all ye that thirst vnto the waters and those that want mony hasten buy and eate Come buy without money and without any exchange Wine and milke Incited by this so bountifull prouocation of thine behold I come vnto thee and beseech thee that thou wilt giue mee the meanes to satisfie all that which I ow thee and namely giue mee thy grace duely to adore thee serue thee praise thee and yeeld thee that due reuerence and honour that belongeth vnto thee that I may giue thee thankes for thy benefites loue thee with all my heart put all my trust in thee obey thy commaundements offer my selfe wholie vnto thee commend my selfe into thy hands and that I may learne to aske these or such like graces from thee that outwardly before mine eies and inwardly within my heart the glorie of thy Name and the saluation of my soule like a white or marke may continually bee prefixt before me I beseech thee also O Lord to graunt mee the remission of my sinnes true contrition and pennance giue mee grace that I neuer hereafter offend thee either in those sinnes which were hitherto familiar vnto mee or any other whatsoeuer But especially O LORD I require the grace and strength at thy hands that I may chastice my flesh refraine my tongue mortifie the inordinate appetites of my heart and recollect the dispersed and wandering thoughts of my imagination that so reformed both inwardly and outwardly and made a new Creature I may deserue to bee a liuing and gratefull Temple in the which thou maist rest and make thy biding place Giue mee those vertues also wherewith that thy habitatioÌ„ may not onely bee purged but also beautified such as are the holie feare of thy name firme hope perfect humility entire patience prudent discretion pouertie of spirit exact obedience continuall fortitude and diligent alacritie in all those things which appertaine to thy seruice and honour and aboue all ardent charitie as wel towards thee as towards my neighbour But because I know my self vnworthy of all these and vndeseruing any of them remember I pray thee O Lord thy old mercies remember that thou desirest not the death of a sinner as thou thy selfe testifiest but that hee bee conuerted and liue remember that thine onely begotten Sonne came not into this world to cal the iust but sinners remember what hee did and how much hee suffred from the day of his Natiuitie till the time hee died vpon the Crosse. Al which I offer vnto thee O most mercifull Father that they may be a sweete smelling sacrifice for my sinnes and not for my sinnes onely but for all other my necessities also For whatsoeuer I pray and whatsoeur I pleade for that do I aske in his not in mine owne name for it is said of thee that thou honourest the fathers in their children and sparest one for another euen as Dauid in times past honoured Mephiboseth for his Father Ionathans sake Honour thou thy onely begotten Sonne in like manner in me doing good vnto me for his sake because hee is my Father and my second Adam and I his sonne although disobedient ill-nurtured Looke vpon mee O Lord because I flie vnto thee come to the gate of thy mercie to thee doe I lay open my pouerty to thee shew I my wounds because thou art my true Physition I powre out my soule before thee and inflamed with the spirit of Dauid I crie vnto thee saying Incline thine eares O Lord vnto me and heare me because I am poore and in necessitie Keepe my soule because I am holy saue thy seruant O my God that putteth his trust in thee haue mercie vpon mee O Lord because all the day long I cry vnto thee glad yâ— soule of thy seruant because vnto thee O Lord lift I vp my soule for yâ— O Lord art sweete and mercifull and many are thy mercies to those that call vpon thee Open thine eares O Lord vnto my praier heare the voice of my cry In the day of tribulation I cried vnto thee and thou didst heare me leade me O Lord in the way and direct mee in thy truth let my heart reioyce that I may feare thy name I will confesse vnto thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and I will praise thy name for euer and euer Amen A most deuout meditation
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
of loue O most holy father o most mercifull sonne O most louing holy ghost when wilt thou most beloued father dwell in my soule and abide in the secrets of my heart possesse me wholy When shal I be wholy thine and thou wholy mine When shall it come to passe o my King when will that day come o when O were it here Shall I neuer see it o how vngrateful delay how odious procrastinatiō Haste thee O Iesus haste thee and delay not returne returne and runne like a Goate and the yong hinds vpon the mountaines of Bether O my God the repose of my life the light of mine eies my consolation in tribulations the end of my desires the paradise of my heart the center of my soule the pledge of glory the companion of my pilgrimage my ioy in exile the medicine of my wounds mercifull iusticer of my sins master of the ignorant guide of life nest in which my soule resteth hauen wherein she is saued glasse wherein she beholdeth her selfe staffe on which she leaneth stone on which she is builded precious treasure in which shee glorieth If thou therefore o Lord be all these vnto me how can I forget yea but for a moment of time If I forget thee o my God let mee forget my right hand let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth if I remember thee not I will giue no sleepe vnto mine eies o blessed Trinitie nor rest to mine eie-lids nor quiet to my temples vntill I finde this loue vntill I finde a place for my Lord in my heart and a tabernacle for the God of Iacob in my soule who liueth for euer world without end Amen The first prayer for the loue of God I Will loue thee O Lord my strength I wil loue thee my vnspeakable ioy and let my whole life liue not to my selfe but to thee which was condemned to miserie raised againe by thy mercy Too late did I feare thy Maiestie too late did I loue thee thou beautie both old and new too late did I loue thee I sought thee my refreshment and I found thee not because I vndirectly sought thee I sought thee without my selfe thou didst dwel in me I trauelled the streets and waies of the Citty of this world seeking thee and I found thee not because inconsiderately I sought thee abroad wheras thou wert at home with mee I asked y◠earth whether it were my God and it answered mee no and all things which are in the same confessed the very same I asked the Sea the depths and y◠inhabitants therof and they answered we are not God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the fleeting aire with all the dwellers therein and he answered mee no. I asked heauen the Sunne the Moone and the Starres neither are wee thy Gods said they Finally I asked all creatures and they cried vnto mee with a loud voice hee that made vs is thy true God Lord. And I sayd where therfore is my God where shall I seek him shew him me And I heard a voice saying vnto me God is in euery place seeke him in thy self he filleth Heauen filleth the earth and filleth thy heart And I came to my selfe I entred into my selfe and I said vnto my selfe how entrest thou hither O my God at what doore wert thou admitted I began to enquire examine euery one of my senses if by any of them thou didst enter but they likewise knew not how or which waies thou camest in For the eies say if he be not coloured he cannot enter by vs. The cares say if he make no sound hee cānot passe by vs The nose saith if hee smell not hee could not come by me Taste saith if he sauored not he entred not by me Touch likewise addeth if he is not corpulent aske me nothing of this matter How therefore o my loue didst thou enter my soule and didst not enter by any doore Truly thou art light shining in darkenes yet such as the eie is not capable of Thou art a voice sweet aboue all voices yet such a one as the eare conceiueth not Thou art a sweete more fragrant than any odor which neuerthelesse my taste comprehendeth not Thou art an embracement to bee esteemed aboue all embraces which notwithstanding the touch attaineth not Where wert thoutherefore my God where wert thou my light where wert thou my hope I asked it was answered me Ascend into the superior parts of thy heart there shalt thou find God Truly thou art great O God and hast ouercome our wisdome Thou art the king of kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art immortall and dwellest in vnaccessible light whom no mortall man euer saw or shall euer see and liue Many and great are the wonders that are reported of thee o Lord yet more lesse and fewer than may be said of thee words are defectiue where thou are neuer deficient For thou exceedest all that which may bee spoken or thought O onely loue my Lord God thou didst loue me before I loued thee and createdst mee according to thine owne image and madest mee Lord ouer all thy creatures Moreouer thou makest thine Angels spirits for me whō thou hast ordained to defend mee in all my waies lest I should hurt my foote against the stone Thou wouldest not permit me to be borne in a pagan but a Christian land in which by the water and the holy Ghost I am regenerate sanctified Thou neither gauest me too much riches nor too abiect pouerty lest I shold either waxe proud or grow more contemptible but thou gauest me vnderstanding and wil whereby I should know and loue thee Thou didst cal me when I was lost knockedst at my doore but I did not answer thee I liued according to mine own lust and attributed too much to mine owne strength whereas neuerthelesse it was not strength but weaknesse I would runne and grow presently weary and where I thought I should bee secure there was I in greatest danger I went away frō thee like y◠prodigall son and trauelled into a strange countrey and dwelt therein whereas louing vanitie I became vain I was blind I desired blindnes I was a seruant I loued seruitude I was bound tooke pleasure in thraldome I thought bitter was sweet and sweete was bitternes I was wretched and I knew it not Whilst I liued in this most desperate estate thou didst cast thine eies of compassion vpon mee and although without intermission I did offend thee yet didst not thou giue ouer to reclaime me from my sins when I wandered thou broughtest me into the way when I was ignorant thou taughtest me when I did sinne thou didst correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort mee When I did despaire thou didst encourage me when I fell thou didst raise me vp when I stood thou sustainedst me I was vndone and dead thou descendedst vnto the dead tookest on thee mortality thou a
king didst descend to thy seruant to redeeme thy slaue thou didst betray thy selfe So much didst thou loue mee that thou gauest thy blood for a ransome for mee thou didst loue me O Lord more than thy selfe because thou wouldst seÌ„d for mee For this cause thou didst ransome mee from exile with so deere a price thou didst redeeme me from thraldome thou withheldedst mee from punishment thou calledst mee by thy name thou â—…ignedst me with thy blood that thy remembrance might bee alwaies with mee and neuer depart from my heart which for my sake departed not from the Crosse. Let mee know thee therefore O Lord my acknowledger let mee know thee thou vertue of my soule let me walke alwaies in thy light O thou Sun of iustice for it is good for me to cleaue O Lord to put my trust in our lord God for as soone as I shall bee turned from thee I am presently conuerted to transitory delights and distracted with vaine cogitations O therefore wretched vnfortunate that I am when shall I so inseparably cleaue vnto thee as I may neuer bee withdrawne from thee When shall my thoughts words and works differ no more from the rule of thy equitie iustice Thou o Lord louest solitude and I company thou silence and I fables thou verity and I vanity thou cleannesse and I follow vncleannesse I beseech thee therefore O Lord for thine own sake illuminat mine eies with thy light wouÌ„d my heart with thy loue direct my steppes in the way of thy commandements that I may neuer swerue from the same deliuer me o Lord that am captiue reduce the stray into thy wounds raise him that is fallen and releeue him that is euery way weakned Giue me a heart that may alwaies thinke on thee a minde that may alwaies loue thee an vnderstanding that may conceiue thee a reason that may alwaies strongly cleaue vnto thee the most chiefe delight Fly not from my heart depart neither froÌ„ my words nor works but alwaies assist me because thou art my helper in all my tribulations Without thee I die thinking on thee I am reuiued thine adour doth recreate mee thy memory doth heale mee thy light doth illuminate me I am raised againe by thy voice and shall bee satisfied when thy glory shall appeare The sixth prayer for the loue of God IF amoÌ„gst all those things which prouoke vs vnto loue there bee nothing more effectuall than form beauty why should I not worthily loue thee o my God who art the Fountaine of all beautie and seemelines Thou art the Ornament of the whole Masse of this world for whatsoeuer is beautiful in it by thee and from thee hath his beauty because thou createdst it the Sunne and Moone admire thy maiestie the Angels desire to behold thy face for in the sight thereof consisteth perfect felicitie and the glorie of all supernall spirits Birds flowers fouÌ„taines fields floods seas woods forrests trees earth mountaines valleies and whatsoeuer is in them haue their ornaments from thee thou didst decke the heauens with starres the aire with birds the water with fishes the fields with flowers and the earth with infinite plants and variety of liuing creatures In each place of the world thou art feared because tokens of thy beauty are seene in euery place in the heauens thou art the beautie of glorie in hell of iustice in good men of grace in the wicked of patience I will therefore loue thee my God who are the perfection of all things thou art the praise of the Angels the reward of Saints yâ— hope of Patriarches the Crowne of Martyrs the glory of Confessors that puritie of Uirgins and the saluation of all the elect All blessed spirits praise thee yâ— Pillars of heauen trâ—…ble at thy presence and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee Thou fulfillest all things yet art thou not diâ—…ated thou art in all things yet art contained in none thou didst create all things without necessitie thou gouernest all things without labour thou changest all things thy selfe art not changed thou only iudgest without any erroâ—… thou onely chastifest without any pâ—…turbation thou onely distributest gifts and thy treasure is not impaired thou only art sufficient for thy selfe and all things who therefore hath thee he hath all things and who hath thee not although hee haue all the treasures of this world he is poore hee is naked he is wretched and miserable One thing verie often draweth vs to such insensate a loue of some creature that wee feare not in the behalfe of the same to aduenture a thousand deaths but in thee O Lord whereas so many things so great concurre together why should I not loue thee why should I not willingly suffer whatsoeuer miserie for the glory of thy name why should I not freely spend my blood for thee who so liberally diddest powre out thine for me If I consider thy benefits I owe no man more than thy self if thy loue no man wisheth mee better than thy selfe if consangumitie my soule hath not any one more neerely allied vnto her than thy selfe Truly similitude is a great cause of loue what greater similitude is there than is betweene thee O Lord my soule which is created after thy similitude and likenesse Thou art a spirit my soule is a spirit thou art inuisible my soule is also inuisible thou immortall my soule is immortall thou hast vnderstanding memory and will and the like powers hath my soule Thou being most simple and inuisible art all in the whole world and all in euery part thereof and my soule being of the same condition is all in the whole body and all in euery member of the same Since therfore there is so much similitude betweene thee mee O my loue why should I not loue thee Is it because thou art high I humble or for that thou art the Creator and I thy creature or because thou art the perfectest being and I altogether imperfect This ought not to hinder but to increase our loue For the similitude is far more amâ—…able which is proportioned with inequalitie than that which is euery way equall The fathers loue is greater towards yâ— son the wiues towards the husband than of brothers amongst themselues who are equal Uoices that art â—…rent among themselues 〈◊〉 more sweetly if they be reduced vnto proportion than those that are consonant and vniforme Let then this inequalitie which is betweene thee my soule o Lord be a cause of greater loue In thee therefore O most sweet spouse of my soule in thee are all the causes of loue which may bee imagined and thou art most worthy to bee beloued with infinite loue but I finde in my selfe my wil in such manner depraued that it cannot performe it would God it were not so that she loued her selfe more than thee Wherfore O Lord except thou heale my infirme nature by thy grace and except thou powre
liuest and reignest for euer Thou art he who possesseth all things in all places and that disposest them sweetly Thou art he that createdst all things without any necessitie and conseruest them without labour and gouernest all things without molestation and mouest al things thy selfe being immoueable Thou art all eie all foote all hand for thou seest sustainest and worâ—… all things Thou art in al things yet art not concluded thou art without all things and yet art not disioyned Thou art vnder all things yet art not subiect thou art aboue al things yet art not lifted vp Thou art the soueraigne and true God the soueraigne and true life from whom and by whom all things haue birth and being Thou O Lord art very goodnes and beauty it selfe by which and from which all that is good faire is good and faire Thou art he who willest vs to leeke thee and giuest vs leaue to finde thee thou bidst vs knocke and thou openest when wee call vpon thee thou art hee whom to forsake is to fall and whom to weare is to rise and in whom to stand is to endure for euer Thou art hee whom no man forsaketh but the foolish no man seeketh except hee bee called no man findeth except he be purged thou art hee whose knowledge is life whose seruice is a Kingdome whose praise is saluation and thou art the very ioy of those that reioâ—…e in thee What therefore shall I O my king Sauior what shal I say vnto thee I say a wretched worme what shal I say of the greatnes of so many praises I wil say that which the Prophets inspired with thy truth said who hath measured the waters with a hand weighed the heauens with a palme who hanged the weight of the earth on three fingers poised the mountaines in ballances and the hils 〈◊〉 scales Who assisted the spirit of our Lord or who is his counseller and instructour Of whom tooke hee counsell and instructed him and taught him the way of his â—…stice and brought him vp in science and shewed him the way 〈◊〉 prudence Behold the Gentiles are but as a drop of a bucket and are reputed as a graine in the ballance Loe the Ilands are but as a little dust the Woods of Lybanus shal not be sufficient to burne and the beasts shal not suffice for a sacrifice All nations as if they were not so are they before him in his sight are reputed as nothing a vain thing For if at the presenâ—…e of the Sunne al the stars in the heauens shine not nay rather are as if they were not whereas notwithstanding both the one and the other are creatures what shall all created things bee in his sight who is the Creatour of the whole world I adore thee therefore especially O Lord with profound humility and due reuerence with that adoration and worship which is only due vnto thee and to no other creature with such duty as all the dominations of heauen and all the creatures of the world adore thee of whom though many know thee not yet can they not choose but euery one in their kinde adore thee end in their manner offer homage to the Scepter of thy diuinity and acknowledge thy greatnesse For thou onely art the God of Gods thou only the King of Kings thou onely the Lord of Lords and the cause of causes thou art Alâ—…ha and Omega the beginning and ending of all things Thou art the beginning without beginning and the end without end Thou onely art he that thou art for all other things how excellent soeuer they bee haue their beeing borrowed from another but thy beeing is high perfect vniuersall and that dependeth on none other And therefore deseruedly art thou said to bee that which thou art because whatsoeuer is created hath no beeing if it be compared with thine For which cause O Lord acknowledging all these great and wanderfull things prostrate before the foote of thy Diuine presence with all that humility which I am able to expresse I adore thee in such maner as those blessed spirits adore thee who falling downe before thee seated in thy Throâ—… of Maiesty and laying down their crownes before thy feete adore thee confesse that all that which they haue proceedeth from thee So I also o Lord who am the vilest of all creatures adore thee and a thousand times remember thee confessing vnto thee that thou art my true Lord and God and that all that which I am or whatsoeuer I finde in my selfe as my being liuing breathing is all thine and therfore I call vpon all creatures that they together with mee may praise thee adore thee glorifie thee in that diuine song of the Prophet saying Come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs praise the God of our saluation let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and reioyce to him with Psalmes because our God is a great God a great King aboue all Gods in his hands are all the corners of the earth the height of the hilles is his also The sea is his and he made it and his hands fashioned the drie land Come therefore let vs adore and fall downe before him and weepe before our Lord God that made vs for hee is our Lord God and wee are his people and the sheepe of his pasture Wherefore O my God since thou art so worthy to bee adored and honored giue me grace that without intermission I may magnifie thee not onely in words and with my tongue but also in my heart my actions and my whole life Thou which liuest and reignest world without end Amen The second praier to the holy Trinitie of the greatnesse of the diuine Maiestie OMnipotent eternall God three in persons one in substance iust and meet it is agreeable with reason that I should imploy all my whole life in the exercise of repentance feare when as I haue so iust causes of lament feare Tuen as therfore the greatnesse of thy glory impelleth mee to honour and praise thee so also commandeth it mee to praise and glorifie thee For a Hymne becommeth thee in â—…ion and a vow shall be made to thee in Ierusalem because thou art the Ocean of all perfections the Sea of wisedome the Abysse of power beauty greatnesse riches sweetnesse and maiestie in which are all perfections and beauties of creatures which are in heauen or on earth and all these perfections are found in thee in the highest perfection degree All beauty compared to thee is deformitie all riches pouerty all strength weakenesse all wisedome ignorance all sweetenesse bitternesse and to conclude many things in a few all things that are in heauen and on earth make lesse appearance in thy sight than a little candle before the sun-shine Thou art perfect in all things without any deformity great wtout quantity good without quality strong without infirmitie true without falsitie alwaies present without
place in all places without diuision In magnitude thou art infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnesse chiefe in wisedome inestimable in counsels terrible in iudgements iust in thoughts secret in words true in works holy in mercy copious towards sinners patient toward penitents compassionate But what in especiall should I speake of thy wisedome but that which earst the Prophet aid O Lord thou knowest my thoughts afar off thou hast searcht my commings in and goings out and all my waies hast thou foreknowne because there is no speech in my tongue which thou knowest not Behold O Lord thou knowest al things both the first and the last Thou hast made mee and laid the hand vpon me Such knowledge is too wonderfull excellent for me I cānot attaine vnto it Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shal I fly frō thy presence if I climbe vp to heauen thou a◅ there if I goe downe to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vtmost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand leade mee and thy right hand shall hold me If I say the darkenes shall couer me then shall thy right hand bee turned to day yea the darkenes is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as day the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For his eies saith another are vpon the waies of men hee considereth all their steps there is no darknes nor shadow of death to hide them that work iniquity But what shal I say of the greatnes of thy power I wil say that in times past which the Prophet said saying For God is my king of old the helpe that is done vpon earth hee doth it himselfe Thou diddest deuide the sea through thy power thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou smotest the heads of the dragons and gauest them for meate to thy people in the wildernesse thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard rockes thou driedst vp many waters The day is thine the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made sommer and winter And in another place the same Prophet saith O Lord God of hoasts who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty Lord is on euery side Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they arise thou hast subdued Egypt destroied it thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme The heauens are thine and the earth is thine thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is Thou hast made the North the South ◅abor and Herm◅ shall reioyce in thy name Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand high is thy right hand Blessed Iob knew this thy power when he said With him is counsel strength wisedome vnderstanding Behold if he breake downe a thing who can set it vp again If he shut a thing who will open it Behold if he withhold the waters they ◅ry vp if he let them goe they destroy the earth with him is strength wisedome both the deceiuer and ◅ee that is deceiued are his hee carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile and maketh that Iudges fooles hee looseth the rule of Kings guirdeth their loines with a band he leadeth away the great men into captiuity and turneth the mightie vpside downe he stoppeth the mouth of them that speake truth and disappointeth the aged of their vnderstanding hec poureth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake Looke what lieth hid in darkenesse hee declareth it openly and the verie shadow of death bringeth he to light he increaseth the people and destroieth them he maketh them to multiply and diminisheth them These o Lord are testimonies of thy mightines but what shal I say of the riches of thy glory and the veine of thy felicitie If thou hast sinned saith the scripture what hast thou done against him if thy offences be many what hast thou done vnto him if thou bee righteous what giuest thou him or what wil he receiue at thy hands Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnes may profit the sonne of man But thou O Lord art such and so blessed as thou needest not another mans goods I confesse thee to be such a one for such a one I praise thee and glorifie thy most holy name Infuse thy light into my heart giue me words in my mouth that my heart may alwaies think of thy mightines and let thy praise be in my mouth for euer But for that thy laud is not seemely in y◠mouth of a sinner I therefore require all the Angels of heauen and all the creatures of the world that they together with me may praise thee and may supply my defect inuiting them thereunto with that glorious song which the three children sung in the midst of the fierie furnace in Babylon saying Blessed bee the Lord God of our fathers bee hee praised magnified for euer And blessed be the name of his glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy maiestie to bee praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubins to be praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and praised and glorified world without end Amen The third prayer to the holy Trinitie GOD holy of holiest God omnipotent God eternall God that art strong God of spirits and all flesh at whose presence heauen and earth trembleth at whose beck the heauens and elements obey trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in trinitie Father Son holy Ghost thou being of my being life that quickenest me light that illuminatest me science that instructeth me yet aboue all essence light life and science all creatures adore and celebrate thee and I incited by the dutie I owe thee this day do bow the knees of my heart before the footstoole of thy Maiestie I giue thee thanks that thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing but also didst fashion mee according to thine owne forme that is gauest mee a perfect shape that where I deserued no fauour thou hadst compassion on mee for that thou hast sanctified mee with the sacraments of y◠Church that from my child-hood hitherto thou hast brought me vp in al goodnes But O thou maker of heauen of earth whereas I am not able to serue thee to any vse for whose cause didst thou so much bountie vpon me how commeth it to passe that thou louest mee so much for what haue I giuen thee to induce thee to recompence me yea where was I before I was made that I might shew thee a former curtesie Truly by thy benefit in times past I was made dignified with
that thou wilt prepare thy selfe a dwelling place in my heart to that end that thou adorne the same with all kinds of vertues to the end that thou perpetually maiest dwell in the same Would to God O Lord it might please thy bounty that my heart should bee such that I might not feare to inuite thee but that thou mightest come dwel with me and I might deserue to entertaine thee kindly thou in the same heart mightst rest contentedly for all eternities O that I might embrace thee with so powerfull armes of loue that neither in thought or affection I might euer bee drawne from thee I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that after thou wert conceiued in the glorious wombe of the Uirgine Marie thou wouldst haue her passe the mountaines visite her Cousen Elizabeth to the end shee might salute her minister in her childbirth vnto her Thou didst not disdain to be inclo sed for nine moneths space in the glorious womb of thy mother And therefore I pray thee giue me the grace of true humility and vouchsafe that I may imprint the same in the bowels of my heart that by the benefit thereof thou maiest alwaies finde mee ready in matters which appertaine to thy seruice Grant O Lord that my heart may alwaies loath transitory things and alwaies desire to haue thee O Lord inhabitant therein I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that thou wert borne of the pure Uirgine thy mother without staine of her virginity who laid thee presently in a manger as a poore mortall creature and humbly adored thee as God and the creator of al things I beseech thy diuine mercy to vouchsafe to bee continually borne in mee by new heate of charity that thou maist be my onely destre my sole sacietie the firme hope of my heart That it may please thy bounty that I may onely and alwaies seeke thee alwaies think of thee alwaies loue thee with an ardent affection I giue thee alwaies thanks O sweet Iesu that being borne in the extremest horrour of winter thou diddest not refuse to be wrapped in most vile swathing bands and to suck milke from y◠Uirginal breast of thy blessed mother as it were a simple innocent babe to draw the Uirgins teates where indeede thou wert God omnipotent Grāt me o Lord the in thy sight I may be alwaies a very infāt in humility truly poore in spirit Uouchsafe that for thy loue sake I may refuse to endure no tedious or laborous troubles whatsoeuer Grāt that I may loue nothing in this world but thee neither desire to possesse any thing in the same but thee I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu for that as soone as thou wert borne it pleased thee to bee praised by the Hymnes of Angels and to be adored by the shepheards with great ioy admiration Giue me the grace O Lord that I may perseuere likewise in thy praise with gladnes and that I may seeke thee in the societie of shepheards and seeking thee finde thee and finding thee possesse thee eternally Bee thou praised and glorified alwaies O good Iesu for that y◠eight day according to the custome of other infants thou wouldest be circumcised for that in thy tender age thou beganst to shed thy blood for my loue and to the end thou mightst blesse mee with vnspeakeable consolation thou wert pleased to be called Iesus I beseech thee O Lord vouchsafe to reckō mee amongst the number of thy elect and to register my name in the booke of life that thou wilt circumcise my heart from al superfluitie that is idle and vndecent speeches and wicked works and roote out in me all impure and vaine cogitations My redeemer thou art called Iesus which is a Sauiour for to thee alone it appertaineth to giue saluation I therefore request thee O Lord that the sweet remembrance of this name may expell from mee all inordinate pustilanimity and sluggishnesse and may giue me the firme hope of thy mercie and defend me from all the persecutions of mine enemies I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu who wert found by the wisemen who of entire deuotion and with sincere faith sought thee out and that by the meanes of a starre which conducted them who humbling them on their knees before thee offered thee gold frankencence and myrrhe Grant mee O Lord that in the company of these holy kings I may seeke thee not in Brthleem but in the hiue of my heart and that there finding thee I may adore thee in spirit truth Let me offer thee the gold of shining charitie the incense of deuotion and the perfect myrrh of mortification Finally giue me grace that I may imploy with a willing minde and alacrity all my forces and all the strength of my minde in imitating thy fortitude I giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ who that thou mightst giue vs an example of obedience and humility wouldest be subiect to the law of our Lord and bee brought into the temple in the armes of thy holy mother haue an oblation not of a rich but of a poore man offered for thee for which cause iust and old Simeon with Anna the Prophetesse reioycing at thy presence gaue a famous testimonie of thy glory Let it bee pleasing to thy good will O Lord that neuer hereafter the least thought of vanity enter into my hart Ah how blessed shold I be if each kinde of presumption were banished from mee and each desire of worldly fauour together with all my inordinate loue were wholy extinct in me Uouchsafe to impart that grace vnto me that I may flie al worldly praise and subiect my selfe to all men and obey them willingly I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu for that being as yet yong thou beganst to suffer persecution in the company of thy deere mother neither didst disdaine to fly into Egypt Giue me the grace that in all y◠tempests of my persecutions in all my tribulations and temptations I may flie vnto thee seeke thee only call vpon thee and as oft soeuer as any of y◠aforesaid troubles shall bee inflicted on mee by thy hand grant O Lord that I may sustaine them with ioy and suffer them with a quiet heart yeelding thee continuall thankes for all things which it shall please thee to impose vpon me I giue thee also infinit thanks O Lord Iesu for that thy most deere mother sought thee with great griefe when thou remainedst in the Temple and after three daies with great ioy found thee sitting in the midst of the doctors whom thou heardest questionedst with wonderfull wisedome O Lord for thy meere mercie sake grant that I may neuer bee separated from thee nor thou from mee Expell from mee all idlenes and sluggishnesse banish the coldnesse of my minde which displeaseth thee so much giue mee perfect deuotion and ardent thirst of thy iustice which may
for the honour and glorie of thy holy Name I giue thee thanks O sweetest Iesu that vpon thy departure out of this world thou didst admonish comfort thy Disciples commending them in the words full of loue praiers fraught with charity to thy Father shewing with how much loue thou didst embrace them all those that through their doctrine should beleeue in thee I beseech thee O Lord that my heart may taste some sweetnes in thy words and that they may be sweeter vnto mee than the honey and the honey combe Let thy spirit full of exhortation wound my breast and alter my affections that I may wholly transforme my selfe into thy loue Order all mine actions that thy will may bee alwaies fulfilled in me and of me I giue thee thanks most beloued Iesus that falling vpon the earth with outstretched armes thou didst pray vnto thy Father resigning thy selfe wholy into his hands requiring that in all things not thy will but thy Fathers should bee fulfilled I beseech thee O Lord giue me grace that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue recourse vnto thee in praier and that I may trust my selfe wholy to thy prouidence without the election of my will or expectation of any priuate profite Let mee neuer flie aduersities nor faile in any good intent through them but that whatsoeuer befortune mee I may receiue it with a quiet minde as that which is giuen mee by thy mercifull hands suffering all things with an humble quiet heart I giue thee thanks o bounteous Iesu for that thou vouchsafedst to bee taken by armed souldiers and to be bound with cords like a wicked man and offender and thence bee led to Annas and for that before him thou fearedst not to stand in iudgement o admirable meekenes of my Redemer whilst then art apprehended whilest thou art bound whilst thou art moâ—…kt whilst thou art abused thou lamentest not thou murmurest not thou striuest not but silently followest their steps who led thee or rather draw thee weary thee Thou obeiest such as command thee and with infinite patience bearest the torments wherewith thou art crucified O my Lord eâ—…uy mee not that such and so excellent an example of so much vertue may shine in me for the glory and honour of thy most holy Name I giue thee thanks O most amiable â—…su king of heauen earth who standing before the proud inflamed Bishop in no other sort than as if thou hadst bene a vile abiect man wert stroken and didst patiently suffer the cruell stroake which one of his wicked ministers inforced against thy face I pray thee o Lord mortifie in me all vnbridled heate of wrath restraine al indiguation take away all hate extinguish in mee euery sparke and desire of reuenge that when as any man shall do me iniurie I may not bee moued or thought full of reuenge but suffering all things patiently for thy loues sake I may doe good to all those that doe mee euill Our Father c. The fourth prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweet Iesus who in the night of thy passion wert mocked deluded stroken by thine enemies hands and kickt with their heeles and vexed with diuerse sorts of iniuries Thou knowest o my Lord how grieuous and troublesome it is vnto mee to suffer the least iniury Thou know est I haue no vertue that my will is slow and my good desires are cold in mee O Lord for thy mercie sake helpe my inâ—…nitie Giue me grace that my minde may be deiected by no storme of aduersity but humbled by afflictioÌ„ Help me lest I saint vnder the burden of my tribulations which shall come vpon me neither let iniuries offered mee by other men â—…re vp my impatiencie but giuing thee thankes in all things I may refer all things to the honour and glory of thy Name I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesu for that standing before the President Pontius Piâ—…ate thou didst not answer to the false accusations slanders of thy accusers but like an innocent Lambe that openeth not his mouth and is silent before his sheerers so with a reuerent â—…lence diddest thou ouerpasse all things Grant O Lord that reproofes murmurings detractions may not moue mee to choâ—… but that instructed by thy example I may ouercome all those that inâ—…ure and defame mee with silence Giue me the grace of perfect humility that I may neither desire to bee praised by men nor feare to bee dispraised by thee I giue thee thanks most mercifull Iesus for that amidst the great tumult and furie of the people by the commandement of Pilate thou wert led to King Herode Giue me strength that persecutions confound me not neither the iniuries of mine enemies prouoke me to wrath nor their impudence make me ashamed but that I may endure all things with meekenes and ouercome them with silence and possesse my soule in my patience according to the prescript of thy holy commaundements I giue thee thanks merciful Iesus that standing before Herod and accused of many crimes and offences by the Bishops and Priests thou wouldest answere to none of them but didst iustifie thy cause with silence Giue me O Lord the deâ—…ritie to refraine my tongue that I may neuer take pleasure to speake idle vaine or fillthy words or consume my time vnprofitably 〈◊〉 telling fruitles and vaine stoâ—…s but grant that my tong may â—…und with nothing but that which is iust honest and profitable and consonant likewise to thy heauenly will make mee detest the vice of backbiting and grant that I may take pleasure to heare and speake that which is honest I giue thee thanks sweete Iesus that being compared with that infamous and seditious Theefe Barrabas thou wert iudged worse than he and vnworthier life in so much as the homicide was set at liberty and thou the author of life condemned to death King of eternall glory with what more great ignominy I pray thee might thy maiesty be affected Heere Lord hence it appeareth that thou art that liuing stone refused by men which God chose vnto himselfe made the corner stone May it please thee o Lord that I preferre nothing before thee nor change any thing for thee but let al thingâ—… seeme as dirt vnto mee in comparison of thee Grant that the venome of enuy may neuer infect my soule but that I may alwaies rest in thee and build my whole salâ—…tion vpon thee I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu that being dispoiled of thy garmeÌ„ts thou sufferedst that maiden skin of thine to be laid naked and then tied with hard cords vnto a pillar thou wouldst suffer the same flesh to be torne with horrible scourges to the end thou mightest heale our wounds by thy wounds O Lord spoile my heart of all vncleane cogitations put off mine old man with all the concupiscence thereof and put mee on a man which is created
according to thine owne similitude and likenesse in iustice and sanctitie and grant mee that with all patience humility I may sustaine the whip of thy fatherly visitation I giue thee thanks benigne Iesu that after so many wounds so many stripes receiued in that scourging for my sake after so copious bloodshedding from all thy body that thou wert diuers wayes mocked and scorned at and to thy greater disgrace they put thee on a Purple garment platting a Crowne of thorns they put it on thy head they gaue thee a reed in thy hand in stead of a Scepter and bowing their knees saluted thee or rather mocked thee by the name of King saying All haile king of the Iewes Grant O Lord that the memory of this miserable tragedy may be imprinted in my heart and neuer bee blotted out of the same pierce the same with the ardent arrowes of thy charity that I may onely loue thee only thinke of thee onely rest in thee and that neither tribulation anguishes or any persecutions may separate mee from thee neither let mee take it grieuously if at any time men contemne and set me at nought for thy sake I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu that after so many labours anguishes tribulations scornes and wounds suffered for my sake thou wouldst also beare thy Crosse on thy broken and bruised shoulders vnto the Mountaine of Caluarie thy place of execution and that with great labour and wearinesse through yâ— grieuous weight thereof and the extreme weakenesse of thy bodie Uouchsafe me O Lord that with a willing deuout heart I may embrace thy Crosse denying my selfe and imitating the example of thy vertues with feruent charity that I may humbly follow thee euen vnto the death I giue thee thanks O good Iesu who in this laborious iourney when thou wert led foorth to bee crucified didst bountifully comfort the women that lamented exhorting them not to weepe for thee but for themselues and their children Grant O Lord that I also may powre out deuout teares of compassion and loue so aboundantly that the hardnesse of my heart may be mollified and made acceptable in the sight of thy Maiestie Grant me O Lord that set on fire by the flames of thy most holy loue I may little or nothing esteeme these worldly delights but onely loue thee and eternally rest in the. Our Father c. The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu that being wearied spent with labour and oppressed with the grieuous weight of thy Crosse thou camest at length to the place of sacrifice where thou wert found altogether afflicted almost kild with thirst at which time those wicked and barbarous souldiers offered thee vinegar mixed with gall May it please thee O Lord that yâ— memory of this cup may extinguish in mee all inordinate desire of belly cheere and delight of the flesh and bring to passe that I may neuer giue consent to any filthy and vnlawfull delectations but giue mee the most honest and the most necessarie vertue of temperance as well in eating and in drinking as in other things that refraining all gluttonous appetites I may onely hunger and thirst after thee and fixe my whole pleasure on thee I giue thee thanks blessed Iesu who once more dispoyled of thy garments stoodest naked before all the people where thy raiments pulled off which with clotted blood were fast sticking to thy shoulders all thy wounds grew fresh were renewed from whence once more blood did plentifully flow not without renewing of thy dolours Grant mee O Lord the true loue of pouerty that I may neuer bee distracted through the want of worldly wealth but that I may beare my Crosse and the necessities of this life with all patience Spoile my heart O Lord of all carthly imaginations and affections and renew in me daily liuing desires of thy holy loue I giue thee thanks good Iesu who wert cruelly puld torne diuers wayes when they would crucifie thee so as all the ioynts of thy most sacred bodie were puld out of their natural places Thou like wise didst suffer thy holy hands and sacred feete to be pierced with hard and thicke nayles affixed to the Crosse. Grant me O Lord that with a gratefull and thankful heart I may alwaies haue in mind thy most ardent charity by meanes whereof thou so bountifully extendedst thine armes openedst thy hands that they might be pierced and setledst thy feete that they might be boared with hard nailes Goe to O LORD arise and wound my heart with perfect charitie pierce all my senses with the same nailes of thy loue that my thoughts and desires may be neuer separated from thee I giue thee thanks O holy Iesu that for three houres space thou hangedst on yâ— wood of the Crosse afflicted with many and intollerable reproofes shedding blood abundantly and sustaining immeasurable dolors in all thy members Naile O Lord my miserable soule to that Crosse that lyeth on the ground and purge the same from the vncleannesse of all my sinnes and appetites washing it in the flowing riuers of thy blood O blood that gauest mee life saluation disdaine not o Lord to wash mee in that blood to sanctifie me and purifie me in that precious liquor Offer the same O Lord to thy dread Father in full satisfaction and remedy of all my euils I pray thee grant mee that with my heart I may deserue to drinke and with the tongue of my soule to licke yâ— precious drops of thy Diuine blood that I may taste there how sweete thy Spirit is and how sweete that thy most precious liquor is I giue thee thanks sweet Iesus who for my sake wouldest hang in the midst of two theeues and bee esteemed for such as they were that by this thy incredible humilitie and patience thou mightst heale and vitterly ouerthrow my pride and impatience I pray thee O Lord exalt my spirit that I may despise all the visible things of this world and onely looke vpon thee loue thee think on nought but thee sigh after thee speake of thee delight in thee and that all mine actions may bee alwaies in thee and by thee and nothing without thee which may saciate my minde I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who wert so kinde to them that were cruell towards thee who also prayedst to thy Father for them who crucified thee saying Father forgiue them they know not what they doe Giue mee grace Lord that I may haue true patience and meekenes by which being armed according to thy example which thou gauest mee and commandement which thou leftest me I may loue mine enemies and doe good vnto them that doe mee euill and pray vnto thee for them that thou wouldst pardon them all iniuries from my heart I giue thee thanks benigne Iesu who wert mocked and despised by thine enemies and outraged with so many blasphemies and inâ—…ties
euen at that time when thou wert afflicted on the crosse with so many vnspeakeable dolours and anguishes Grant mee grace O Lord I beseech thee that remembring me of that humilitie and patience wherewith thou enduredst so many griefes and disgraces I also with the like sufferance may endure all whatsoeuer aduersities perseuering with thee on the crosse of patience till death Let no force of temptation no tempest of tribulation no stormes of iniuries leade mee from my intended good purpose let neither death nor life nor things present nor to come nor any other creature separate mee from thee I giue thee thanks honored Iesus who sparedst that theefe who blasphemed and mocked thee and to the other that confessed his sins and with a firme faith preached thine innocency promisedst the glorie of Paradise O blessed were I if euer I might be so happy as to deserue to be beheld by thine eies of mercie wherewith thou didst looke vpon that fortunate theefe and by the helpe of thy grace I might so innocently liue that in the end of my life I were worthy to here that most sweet word To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Our Father c. The sixt prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee as great thanks as is possible for me O Lord Iesus for that looking from the tree of the Crosse seeing thy mother full of griefes afflictions and drowned in her teares thou tookest cōpassion other estate and commendedst her to thy beloued Apostle Iohn and afterwards commended him to thy mother and vs all in his person Grant me Lord that I may suffer with her in griefe and trauell in teares til I behold thee I giue thee thanks sweetest Iesus for that with open wounds thy head crowned with thornes thy hands feete nailed to the Crosse thou saidst O God my God ◅hy hast thou forsaken me Effect O Lord in mee that in all my aduersities and temptations I may flie vnto thee my most mercifull Father and distrusting in my self trust only in thee resigne my selfe wholy into thy hāds I require thee O Lord to wound the entrals of my soule with the memorie of thy wounds cause them to bee imprinted in my secret thoughts and make mee so drunke with thy blood that I may thinke on nought else nor seeke any other but thee that seeking thee I may finde thee and possesse thee for euer I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesus Christ who hauing thy bodie weakned and dried through too grieuous torments and too much effusion of blood wert vehemently drie and burning with excessiue desire of our saluation saidst I thirst Grant me o Lord that I may ardently thirst after thine honor the saluation of al soules herein let me wholly conforme my selfe to thy holy will doing as much as lieth in mee in respect of my profession I pray thee that no loue of transitory things may intangle me that no creature may draw me into perilous snares but that I may loue all things for thy sake which ought to bee loued and thy selfe more than all that in thee alone I may onely finde rest I giue thee thanks O mercifull Iesu for that in the houre of thy death that thou mightest quench thy thirst thou wouldest apply to thy mouth a sponge full of Uinegar that tasting that bitter draught in that thy most afflicted state thou mightst satisfie thy eternal Father for all our intemperance and ryots mightst leaue vs a wonderfull example of pouertie Grant me grace that for the loue of thee I may contemne all delicious sauours and exquisit banquets and that I may bee content to eate and drinke that onely with temperance and moderation which sufficeth to sustaine this bodie yeelding thee infinite thanks for the same Puri◅e and heale the palate of my soule that that may be sweete vnto mee whatsoeuer is gratefull vnto thee and whatsouer displeaseth thee the same may not bee sauorie vnto me but rather loathsome I giue thee thanks O Iesus the feruent louer of mankinde for that so absolutely and with so excellent an order thou broughtst the worke of our redemption to end offering thy selfe a liuing sacrifice on the altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world I pray thee O my Redeemer that thou wilt only vouchsafe to be the seale of my heart and the scope of my thoughts words and works that in all things with a pure and chaste intention I may onely respect and doe that which thine honour requireth or that nothing without thee may please me or that I may desire any thing but thee Grant mee O Lord that hereafter I neuer wax sluggish or wearie in thy seruice but that the feruour of the Spirit renewed in mee daily my diligence may more and more increase in praising and seruing thee I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu who when it was thy pleasure calledst for death and bowing thy reuerēd head thou commandedst thy spirit commended to the hands of thy Father to forsake thy bodie wherein thou declaredst that thou wert the true Shepheard who lost his life for his sheepe Grant mee O Lord that being dead to all my sinnes and iniquities I may liue onely to thee that the course of this my life being finished in charitie I may presentlie enter into thee who art the true Paradise of our soules I giue thee thanks most meeke Iesus that thou wouldest haue thy diuine bodie opened with a launce of a certaine Souldier out of which blood and water issued to wash quicken our soules May it please thee O LORD so to strike my heart with the launce of thy holy loue that I may will nothing except that which thou willest O Lord let my soule enter the wound of thy breast and attaine euen vnto the seate of thy charitie and treasure of thy diuinitie that there I may adore thee my GOD crucified and dead for mee and casting from my memory all the figures of things visible I may onely respect thee and haue thee solely present in all things I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who with the great lament of thy friends wert taken from the Crosse and embalmed with precious oyntments wrapped in a faire winding sheete and carried into a strāge Sepulcher O Lord burie with mee all my senses that beeing ioyned vnto thee by a strong bond of loue I may bee as it were dead in those things which displease thee and as it were rauished out of my selfe in all things contrary vnto thee And contrariwise in these things that please me let mee bee altogether liuelie prompt and swift and delight in thee alon◅ my onely Redeemer and treasure of my soule Our Father c. The seuenth praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweete Iesu who of thy mighty power descendedst into hell and there subduedst sathans power conqueredst obscurity and death I pray thee O Lord that the reason of thy
passion and blood may redeeme mee from hel and damnation and reserue me to the life euerlasting I giue thee thanks o good Iesu who victoriously issuing from the Sepulcher 〈◊〉 noble triumph after thou hadst ouercome and slaine death didst rise againe the third day reassuming thy glorious body and clothed with immeasurable brightnesse visiting thy friends didst affect them with vnspeakeable ioy Grant me also O Lord that rising againe from the death of my sinnes and olde conuersâ—…tion I may walk in newnes of life and seeke those things onely which are high and excellent and not base and transitorie that when as thou the true life shalt make thy second apparition heere on earth I may appeare with thee also in thy glory I giue thee thanks O merciful Iesu who forty daies after thy resurrection in the sight of thine Apostles didst ascend into Heauen glorious and triumphant where sitting on the right hand of the Father thou liuest reignest world without end May it please thy diuine bounty o God that my soule may languish in thy loue and disdaine all things that are in this world that she may alwaies aspire vnto thee desiring celestial things and that with a continual and feruent will let nothing reioyce her nothing affect her but thou onely my Lord and God I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon yâ— elect who perseuered in prayer didst send them to preach and teach all nations throughout the world I beseech thee O Lord purifie the secrets of my heart and giue me the true purity and cleannesse of conscience that the same Comforter finding a general habitation in the same may adorne it and make it faire and beautifull with the plentifull gifts of his graces let him alone comfort me let him confirme and rule mee and bee possessed of mee I giâ—…e thee thanks most bountifull Iesu who when thou shalt come in the latter day to iudge the world to reward euery one according to his works and deserts either with rewardes or punishments My mercifull Lord giue me grace that my soule innocently â—…nishing the race of this miserable life according to thy holy will may at last depart out of this prison of the body adorned with many merits and vertues that for thy mercie-sake shee may bee receiued into the house of thy glorie that without end shee may praise thee and in the companie of all the Saints blesse thee world without end Amen Our Father c. The first thankesgiuing for the benefite of our Creation I Giue thee thanks omnipotent and eternall God most wise and munificent Creator of all things that when I was nothing hast created me to be somethat not a stone not a Serpent not a boord not a fourefooted beast but a man made according to thy image and similitude or rather the very image and similitude of thy selfe namelie a substance endued with vnderstanding and will that hauing a similitude of being liuing working with thee I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie But â—…est a creature so noble should presently fall againe to nothing and should presently and instantly perish thou createdst mee immortall that whereas other liuing creatures appeare but a little while and straight come to nothing I should neuer returne to not being but perpetually liue Yet seemed that little vnto thee O Lord except also thou hadst infused into me a soule so precious noble as that it scarsely giueth place to the Angels in dignity Orâ—…n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse Hogs feede on Aâ—…orns and Beane-cods neither are the meanes of more moment wherewith all other creatures are nourished which if they enioy they rest contented But my meate is celestiall and my appetite cannot be satisfied but by thy immeasurable Maiestie for thou hâ—…st created my soule of that nature and capacity as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it O vnhappy man that I am why doe I loue thee world why seeke I honours why gape I after riches why am I drowned in pleasures why seâ—…ke I those things that are to day are not found to morrow These Acornes suffice not These Huskes are not sauoury and these Beanes do not nourish Know O my soule what thou art to what vse thou wert created what thou oughtest to seeke and with what dainties thou shouldest be satified Only God can satiate thee all the rest may possesse thee but they cannot satisfie thee Seeke him hâ—…e is thy Spouse he is the Hauen of thy desires hee is thy last end Acknowledge thy dignity O my soule acknowledge what and how thou art created The king whose beauty the Sun and moone admire whose maiesty the Heauens reuerence and the earth adoreth with whose wisedome yâ— quires of Angels are illuminate with whose bounty the society of supernall Citizens is sed he created thee that thou mightest be his habitation his seate and holie temple hee would infuse himselfe into thy bosome he can fill all the corners of thy immeasurable capacities Rise arise o my soule go meete with such a guest introduce him with gladnesse into thy house and say He that created mee hath his rest in my tabernacle Which dignitie of my Soule O Lord when I considerately looke into I wonder not that thy onely begotten Son make drunke with the loue thereof forsaking thy bosome disâ—…ained not the Uirgins wombe sought her thirty three yeares with diuers labors and dolours gaue his life for her and by the pledge of his precious blood redeemed her being captiue But I rather woÌ„der at my ingratitud carelesnesse and dulnes who had rather prostitute the same soule so redeemed for a finall reward once againe to the cursed diuels and commit fornication with so vncleane beasts than rest in the armes of my Redeemer who is fairest amongst the children of men whose â—…aps are better than wine and whose name is powred out oyle When I behold the fashion which yâ— gauest to this my body I findâ—… so many of thy benefits as theâ—… are members senses veins nerues or small strings to bee found in thâ—… same all which doe publish thy â—…comparable wisedome and bounty In the only harmony of which bâ—…dy if I shold alwaies philosophy I should neuer want matter to praise thee I should neuer yeeld thee condigne thanks I should neuer pay my duties for so many 〈◊〉 great benefits which how great they are they best know who want the vse of some members or are trauelled with some other vicious affection of the body I yeeld therefore O thou maker of man infinite thanks vnto thy goodnesse for that thou hast not made mee blinde lame mute monstrous mad or disguised with any other vice either of minde or of body but for that thou hast bestowed on me a sound mind in a sound body Grant also that I may neuer abuse any of my members senses or powers of my soule
iniuries done thee by thine enemies They spake against thee who sate in the gate and the drunkards made Ballads of thee In a word thy life was tormented in so vnworthy sort as that thou maiest iustly say with the Prophet I am poore in labours from my youth and infancie These were the things thou sustainedst in thy life time but greater are they which thou sufferedst in thy death and on the Crosse There was liberty takē prisoner innocency strooken beauty spit vpon iustice condemned glorie deluded and life slaine and crucified Good Lord what more admirable what more horrible what more strange Life dieth God is whipt the power of God tied with cords the image of the Father spit vpon finally naked God is nailed to a Crosse and hanged betweene two theeues in the sight of the whole world Further may not my soule wade my strēgth is weak ned my heart faileth within mee O height of charity O depth of immasurable humilitie O greatnesse of mercie O incomprehensible bottomlesse pit of bounty If I owe thee so much O Lord for that thou hast redeemed me what shall I owe thee for that after so admirable a manner and so hard and difficult vnto me thou hast redeemed me O most mercifull Pastor O most faithfull shepheard who gauest thy life for thy sheepe whom thou tookest vpon thee to defend and keepe with what duty may I remunerate so great a benefite with what teares may I prosecute my plaints with what life shal I imitate thy pure and immaculate life Truly I owe thee farre more O Lord for thy sufferance wherby I was redeemed than for thy worke by which I was created And if O Lord thou hadst sustained these things for Angels or archangels for cherubins or seraphins it were lesse to be wondred at but now hast thou not suffred for these but for man what is man that thou art mindfull of him or the sonne of man that after this sort thou visitest him If thou consider his bodie man is the most wretched of al liuing creatures if his manners more miserable and worser Dost thou therefore O God die for the sonnes of Satan for y◠corrupters of all honesty iustice for parricides and breakers of thy diuine Lawes for contemners of thy Maiesty and blasphemers of thy glory Dost thou then die O God for thy infernall tormentor whose heart is not allured by benefits nor terrified by threatnings nor mollified by promises nor moued by punishments For a man who is not content with his own power and domesticall malice compasseth the earth also sorteth out all the worse sensualities putteth on the nature of beasts becoming woorse than they crueller than a Tyger fiercer than a Liō greedier thā a Wolfe venomouser than a Toad craftier than a Serpent Which not sufficing him hee descendeth into hell and borroweth whatsoeuer detestable things in the diuels themselues as blasphemy pride enuie and perpetuall hardnesse of heart And when hee findeth no more ◅ee inuenteth of his owne braine ◅ost prodigious monsters of sin ◅ertaine new kindes of ryot lechey and other sorts of vncleannesse ◅hich are neuer heard of a◅ongst very Beasts or the diuels themselues Dost thou thinke O Lord this monster to bee worthy that thou shouldst open thine eies on him Doest thou die for this sinke and caue of Serpents replenished with Uipers and Scorpions to the end to sanctifie y◠same My heart faileth mee in considering thy mercies O God there is no more spirit left in me Because I haue once begunne I will speake vnto thee my King my God though I am dust and ashes What mooued thy mercifull heart What ouercame and conquered the same that thou sufferedst so much for so abhominable a creature didst thou hunt after profite didst thou expect greater glory and blessednesse than thou hadst O meere grace O loue wtout respect O pure and sincere goodnesse What profite hast thou by the seruice of one poore Ant What fruit was there expected to thee by the saluation of man Thou hast no neede of riches Who gaue thee that thou mightst restore againe vnto him all things vnder the heauens are thine What hadst thou therefore to do with our dolours and miseries Through the bowels of the mercy of our God thou didst visit vs rising from on high O pittifull bowels O sweet bowels O bowels vnto vs the Sea of loue and mercy In these bowels and not mooued either with profite or necessity thou tookest compassion on our griefes and hadst mercie vpon vs Thou sawest the affliction of thy people and appearedst in the bush amongst thornes and bryers discending from Heauen and taking on thee our nature Be not angry o Lord if I speak If the force of thy loue were so great thou fountaine of charitie that it compelled thee to a marriage so vnworthy thy maiestie that thou wouldst espouse thy selfe to thy creature was there not a more noble spouse for thee on the earth and more allied to thee by grace and nature Why didst thou not rather entertaine the Angelicall nature why didst thou loue a wife of an vncircumcised nation which shall afterward betray thee to thine enemies and kill thee what doest thou answer mee my God what doest thou answer but I would haue this this was pleasing in my fight as ◅ampson who erst prefigured thee once said What thanks shall I therefore giue thee O Lord for this incomparable benefit with what loue shal I loue thee that hast giuen so manifest and incomprehensible testimony of thy goodnes towards mee How can it bee that there should bee any one in this world that should not loue thee how can hee bee vnmindfull of such a benefit First O Lord let mee forget my selfe than the memorie of so great a mercy bee extinct in mee Those nailes which pierced thy most innocent hands shall also pierce my heart and that admirable change wherein thou tookest vpon thee my infirmities powredst thy goodnes liberally vpon mee shall neuer depart out of my minde And whereas thou all thy life time diddest desire the Crosse with great affection whereon thou wert to die for my sake Grant that I also as long as I liue may not abhorre the Crosse but beare the same patiently vntill thou transferre me to that place where nei◅ death nor mourning nor cry nor dolour shall be heard of where thou reignest world without end Amen The fourth thanksgiuing for the benefit of our vocation and iustification I Giue thee thanks O Lord God my helper Redeemer for that from darkenesse thou hast called me into so admirable a light as that being without hope of mercy I haue now obtained mercie For during the time that I liued in the land of Obliuion and in the shaddow of death when my waies were most wicked and contrary vnto thee then did thy mercie call mee not onely flying but also repugning then gauest thou me thy holy Spirit
adoptedst mee for thy sonne The grace which in baptisme I receiued of thee I cursedly neglected I rent my first robe and like the prodigall sonne spent all my substance Thy holy temple which thou sanctifiedst in me for thy le◅e I haue prophaned raising in the same an idoll of my disordinate pleasures defiling it with diuers sinnes The tune was once o Lord my Sauiour wherein I was so blinde and liued so loosely as if I had no law or as though I beleeued there were no God I was vnmindfull of death neither remembred I y◠latter iudgment or the life to come The Lawes according to whose prescript I did liue were mine appetites I followed mine owne inuentions and walked according to mine owne waies So diuers yeares of my life were ouerpast wherin I liued in so palpable darkenes tha◅ in like sort as that of Egypt I might haue felt it with my handes O eternall light how ouerlate did I know thee how slackely did I open mine eies to behold thine ancient beauty All this time thou obseruedst me sustainedst me expectedst mee not permittting timelesse death to apprehend mee O altitude of thy iudgements O greatnesse of thy ◅ercies How many men in the ◅eane space in the midde race of their sinnes are there swallowed by sodaine death who now are miserably tormented in hel I who was one of them protected by thy mercy am reserued euen vntill this houre Ah what had become of me if at that time thou hadst summoned me likewise before thy iudgement seat What account could I haue made in so miserable an estate O my mercy my redemption I giue thee no lesse thanks for this bounty than if thou hadst acquited me being condemned amongst those damned and deliuered mee from perpetuall torments Blessed bee thy patience by the benefite whereof I liue and blessed be thy mercy which so long time defended and kept me Neither didst thou onely keepe me whē I sinne◅ against thee but very often times thou didst also visite me as my friend calledst me vnto thee by thy sweete and secret inspirations obiecting to mee the greatnes of my sins the shortnes of this life the eternity of y◠other the seuerity of thy iustice and ◅he bounty of thy mercy In the midst of mine iniquitie afterwards thy presence appeared vnto mee so effectually that perseuering in my delights seeking after y◠Leeks ◅urneps and Garlike of Egypt thou extortedst plentifull teares from mee I did sinne and thou didst recall me from finne I did flie from thee as though it had bene a slight matter to lose thee and thou didst seeke me as though it were much for thy profit to finde me out So many yeares did wee liue wrastling resisting thou in doing good I in doing euill and contemning thy goodnesse With these voices didst thou call mee with these cords didst thou drawe mee At length when it pleased thee to single me out and to call me by thy grace thou sentest a great cry into the eares of my soule wherwith as it were the roaring of a Lion thou didst awake mee from sleepe and thou calledst me from death vnto life This is the voice which Dauid thy friend so highly commendeth in vertue and power breaking the Cedars cutting the flames of fire and shaking moouing the desart of Cades For no lesse is thy power than thy mercie which thou art wont to vse in this worke for it is great mercie to remit sins mighty power to make finners iust O how many and how great are the benefits which together with this one are powred into vs here is giuen pardon of sinnes grace is giuen charity is giuen with those other vertues which attend her finally the gifts graces of the holy Spirit are giuen Heereby the sinner is reconciled vnto thee of an enemy made a friend and of the slaue of the diuell thy Sonne and the heire of thy kingdome Heere the Prodigall Sonne is entertained into his Fathers house the first Robe Ring and Shooes ornaments of a Sonne are restored vnto him And although I cannot be assured O Lord whether I be worthy of hate or loue yet hope I y◠same and confidently euery way trust in thy bounty my conscience likewise beareth mee witnesse that I am partaker of the grace of iustification for which I acknowledge my selfe deepely indebted Blessed bee thou therefore O bountifull Lord the giuer of all goodnes yea of thy selfe for that I liuing most lasciuiously thou gauest mee thy holy Spirit for my nurse tutor master gouernour comforter and all my good hee is to mee the pattent of adoption the pledge of matrimonie the assurance of euerlasting life Blessed bee the day in which such a guest entered my soule and blessed bee the houre in which the gates of my wal were opened to receiue him That day was holy vnto mee in that day I came out of Egypt that day was my birth day in which I was regenerated into the Son of God This my Easter day in which I rose againe from death to life in which I receiued the holy Ghost Let Iob curse the day of his natiuitie I will blesse this this is the day in which the Angels reioyced at the conuersion of a sinner in which the woman reioyced that found her groat in which the shepheard assembled his neighbours with ioy for the lost sheepe which he found in which the diuels doe houle for their lost prey This is that day in which thou my Father doest acknowledge mee thy sonne and thy Sonne termeth mee his brother and thy holy Spirit hath consecrated mee for his Temple and the Quire of Angels haue saluted me for their companion and fellow Citizen If on this day the Angels reioyced and sung vnto thee O Lord how can my lips bee shut how may my tongue be silent how can my mouth choose but bee ◅lled with thy praises whatsoeuer the Psalmi◅ or Prophets sung of the comming of my Redeemer all y◠will I sing vnto thee O Lord. It was a great benefite of thine O Lord that thou diddest create me for thereby thou didst produce me from not being to a being but much more is it that thou iustifiedst me for in this thou tookst frō me the being of sinne and bringest me to the being of grace in that am I made the son of man in this am I adopted the son of God It is a great benefite which I expect of glory but no lesse in this kinde is that of iustificatiō For it is no lesse to make a iust man of a sinner than of a iust man a blessed man since there is a greater distance betwixt sin grace than betweene grace and glory Great also yea very great is the benefite of redemption but what had redemption profited if vocation and iustification had not followed I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefite of iustification is the keie and ground of all the other without which
the rest do not onely not profite but giue vs matter of greater damnation But O Lord what did I vnto thee that thou shouldst giue mee those things what obedience shewd I to thee that thou shouldst giue me this blessing what foundest thou in me worthy of so great honour reward nothing in mee was free frō sin I knew thee not I loued thee not I serued thee not neither had thee in remembrance I became the bottomlesse pit of darknes and iniquity I cannot choose O Lord but tremble with horror as oftē as I think hereon neither finde I any other cause of this benefite but thy bounty How many were my companions of the same age nature and impietie of whom I was the most reprobate yet tookest thou me vnto thee and forsookest them we were detained in the same Egyptian captiuitie thou admittedst mee to thy royall Table but condemnedst them cast out their flesh to bee deuoured by the creatures of hell Whilst I remember these things O Lord my spirit is no more in me and I know not how to praise thee or what thanksgiuing to offer vnto thee for so incomparable a benefite All the time of my life I will say O Lord what sawest thou in me O Lord what sawest thou in mee Lord what sawest thou in mee more than in the rest whom thou hast forsaken Why didst thou so call mee so deliuer mee so looke vpon me so succour me if so bee thou hast succoured me leauing the rest in sinne who were lesse euil than I I know not what to say I know not what to do I know not what to yeeld vnto thee O Lord for all the benefits thou hast bestowed on mee I will with the Prophet praise my Lord at all times his praise shall be alway in my mouth I will say with the same Prophet Thou hast brokē my bonds O Lord I wil sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise cal vpon the name of the Lord. To the Lambe that sitteth on the throne be blessing and honor and glory and power for euer euer Amen A thanksgiuing for the benefite of our spirituall conuersation in the life of grace I Adore thee I praise thee I glorifie thee I giue thee thanks most mercifull Father and eternal God with my whole heart for all thy benefits but in especiall for that thou hast called mee whom being beforetimes wounded thou hast ◅thout any my precedent merits ◅ured and being an enemie vnto thee reconciled redeemed from captiuity and called from death to life and of thy fatherly goodnesse hast hitherto conserued me in this state and as yet doest conserue me by thy grace Thou art he onely O Lord that created me made mee of nought and thou onely art he that conseruest that which thou hast created thou bountifully dost protect that essence of nature which thou gauest me lest it should perish Thou onely hast regenerated mee by thy Spirit in the life of grace By thee are we priuiledged from our sins by thee are wee conserued lest wee should fall againe into sinne If at any time I haue risen thou gauest me thy hand if I now stand thou sustainest me lest I fall As many good purposes as I haue conceiued as many godly inspiratiōs as I haue felt all are by thy benefite As oftē as I haue ouercome mine enemy as oftē as I haue refrained my euill inclinations and peruerse appetites it was thy benefite For if no man can say Lord Iesu but in the holy Spirit nor doe any good deede without thee euen as the branch can yeeld no fruite being deuided from the vine sure it is that if any fruite grow from this cluster it is by the benefite of that vine to which it cleaueth If at any time I haue fasted it came from thee if I haue endured aduersity patiently thou didst assist me if at any time I haue denied mine owne will it was thy working If euer hitherto I haue shed the teares of contrition if my prayers haue preuailed with thee I confesse O Lord that I did it by thy helpe I confesse that thou hast wrought all good workes in me for all theese doe I giue thee thanks I referre al these benefits with thanksgiuing to him from whom they proceeded that hereafter they may flow more plentifullie I acknowledge my selfe to bee indebted for so many benefits as I haue done duties to thee O Lord in this life if I haue done any at all What shall I say of the occasions and opportunities offered by thee vnto me of good life How many preachers hast thou sent to teach me how many counsellers to instruct me how many good friends how many godly companions how many good examples how many deuout bookes hast thou lent mee by whose helps I am incited to goodnesse and pricked forward to vprightnes of life Great are these thy benefits but greater doth he owe thee who hath profited without these blessed is hee whom thou hast taught O Lord and instructed in thy law for so much more hath hee profited by how much thou art a better Doctor and wiser Master then others But who can recount the perils and dangers from whence thou hast deliuered mee O bountifull shepheard of mens soules or the sinnes whereinto I had fallen wtout thine assistance There is no sin so great that was euer attempted by man which another man cannot fall into if the Creator bee wanting by whom he is made For whi◅h cause vpon good occasion I will call all mens sinnes my benefits for into al them might I haue beene plunged except thine infinite mercie had preserued mee Is many occasions of sinne therefore as might haue inforced mee to fall for they could inforce Dauid so many had I fallē into except thou O Lord hadst taken them away because thou knewest my infirmities All men acknowledge not these thy benefits but I through the grace doe both acknowledge embrace them How often O louing Father hast thou vsed this mercy towards mee How often hast thou bound the enemies hands lest he should tempt me or if he should haue tempted me that yet hee might not ouercome mee how often hast thou inchanted that old Serpent that although I walked amongst Uipers Bas◅lisques yet could they not hurt me How often hast thou trauelled with mee through water fire lest I should bee burned in the flame or drowned in the water How often in the midst of the seruants of this world hast thou tempered the flame of this Babylonicall furnace with the dew of the holy Spirit and so cooled it that it might not consume me How often might I iustly say with the Prophet I was thrust fore at y◠I might fal But y◠Lord was my helpe If at any time I haue stood I stood by thee if I haue fallen I haue fallen by my selfe thy hand hath staied me vp lest I shold be bruised Yea I had alwaies lien in y◠dirt
except thou hadst raised me In the multitude of my sorrowes therefore which I had in my heart thy comforts haue refreshed my soule and raised it How often O Lord haue my sins deserued thy wrath How often mightst thou haue taken thy hand away and that iustly from mee as thou hast withdrawne it from others lesse vngratefull yet wert y◠mercifull vnto mee and didst not punish me according to my iniquities I was proud swolne with vaine glory I attributed that glorie which was due vnto thee to my selfe and therefore I am worthy to bee an outcast from thy mercie I was ingrateful I did not acknow ledge thy benefits I attributed that to nature which was due to the author of nature neither did I yeeld the thanks which belonged vnto thee I was negligent slothfull in those things which appertaine to my saluation and therefore I deserued that my talēt should long since haue bene taken from me I was rash in louing perils and therefore worthy to fall into them I am worthy I say O Lord y◠for these and many such like I should alreadie bee forsaken and ◅ast off by thee that the crime of the last sinne might be the punishment of the first But thy patience was so great that thou wink◅dst at the wickednesse of my dissolute life shuttedst thine eies against my infirmities Hitherto hast thou forborne mee with so much mercie neither wouldest thou suffer that thy succour should at any time leaue me I pray thee O Lord perfect that which thou hast begun vouchs◅ not onely to keepe in mee but also to in◅ease thy benefits which thou thy selfe hast daigned to impart to mee Continue O Lord to keepe me innocent in this spirituall life and forsake me not as hitherto thou hast not forsaken mee I conuert the dolors of my conscience O Lord wherewith I should be vexed if thou hadst forsaken mee into ioy and now with glad minde and reioycing spirit in way of thanksgiuing and praise I sing saying with thy friend Returne my soule into thy rest for our Lord hath done good vnto thee For he hath deliuered my soule frō death mine eies from teares and my feet from falling For all these thy benefits we yeeld thee thanks Lord God omnipotent who art and hast bene and who shalt be for thy works are great and wonderfull and thy waies are iust and true Lord and King for euer Amen To how many temptations our life is exposed and how much neede wee haue of Gods helpe LOrd let mee know mine end and the number of my daies that I may bee certified how long I haue to liue Are not my daies few it irketh my soule of my life For what is this life where continuall tribulations are conuersant where all things are full of snares and enemies Scarcely doth one temptation passe away but another succeedeth and the first conflict as yet vndetermined others more greeuous and vnexpected doe follow Helpe mee therefore O Lord my God for mine enemies haue inuironed my soule on this ◅e my body on that side the diuell heere the world vrgeth and all of these enforce and search after my soule I cannot flie from the body nor driue it from mee I must needes beare it about with me for that it is tied vnto me I must not kil it I am compeld to sustaine it when I ◅atten the same I nourish mine owne enemy against my selfe The world begirteth and bes◅egeth mee euery way by the fiue windows or senses of my body my sight my hearing my taste my smelling and my touching woundeth mee with his arrowes and death entreth by my windows into my soule I cannot see the diuell and therefore haue lesse meanes to beware of him Hee hath bent his bow and hath to that end prepared his shafts that he may wound mee sodainely he hath said he would hide his snares saying Who shall see them which way soeuer I see thē there is no security the flesh suggesteth me with delight the world presenteth sweete the diuell gall the flesh talketh vnto me of sleepe of drinke of meat and such like appurtenances of the same the world bewitcheth mee with ambitious pleasing of time with boasting with arrogancy and pride but to wrath malice bitternes of minde the diuell prouoketh me Behold Infidels Atheists are with me O Lo◅ I dwell with Scorpions woe is me because my life is prolonged I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of ◅edar my soule hath too long remained on the earth in this so dangerous assault I finde nothing in me wherunto I may haue recourse for my heart is vaine fugitiue and vnstable more moueable than motiō it is distracted diuers waies and trauerseth innumerable things with incertaintie and whilst it wandreth through diuers things it findeth no rest For euen as a Mil turneth swiftly and refuseth nothing but grindeth whatsoeuer is put vpon it and if nothing be put thereon it consumeth it selfe so is my heart alwaies in motion and neuer resteth Bitter thoughts trouble vncleane defile vaine disquiet trouble the same whilst my heart crieth not for future ioy nor seeketh thy helpe it is estranged from the loue of God and drowned in ◅rthly affections And when it falleth from those and is insnared in these vanity seduceth it curios◅tie confoundeth it des◅re allureth it pleasure intangleth it lust de◅leth it enuie tortureth it ire disturbeth it sadnesse tormenteth it So by miserable chances it is drowned in all vices sometimes an abiect matter falleth out to be the cause of a greeuous temptation Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death In all these am I ouerthrowne O Lord vnlesse thou helpe me Haue mercy therefore haue mercy vpon me O Lord and deliuer me from the dirt that I sticke not therein lest euery way I remaine discomfortlesse Deliuer me from ◅ine enemies O God and from them that hate mee defend mee against all those that rise vp against me But thou O Lord deliuer me from the snare of the Hunter and from the bitter tongue that wee may confesse vnto thee saying Blessed be God who gaue vs not in prey to their teeth My soule is escaped like a Sparrow from the ◅et of the fowler the net is broken and we are escaped Against whatsoeuer temptation THou seest O bountifull Father the great danger wherwith I am entangled thou seest the snares which mine enemies haue laid for me and the violence that they v◅ against mee that they may raui◅ me o Father from the number of thy children and deliuer mee thy poore sheepe as a prey to the fierce teeth of Wolues I therfore humbly beseech thee for thy fatherlie goodnesse sake to helpe mee and strengthen me and that they may haue no other vse of these their subtilties but to strengthen my loue towards thee and make their subtilties cursed counsels more manifest Truely my infirmities might
craue peace and tranquillity for how can I choose being a weake fraile man but feare so mightie enemies as the world the diuell and the greatest enemy of all my flesh yet since I am not ignorant O Father that temptations are so profitable healthfull for vs yâ— we ought to reioyce therein I require no other thing at thy hands but that thou wilt take from before me the multitude of all my sinnes which with their immmeasurable weight not only depresse my poore backe but turne away thy helpe and assistance euery way from me Let mee heare in my temptations that which once Saint Paul heard when hee was tempted My grace â—…s sufficient for thee O Lord if â—…hou deny me not this I will say with the Prophet God is my light and my saluation whom then shall I fear God is the protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid If 〈◊〉 host of men were encamped against mee my heart should not â—…are If an army were imbattelled against mee hereat I would not be afraid Behold O Father how thy coÌ„â—…ence maketh vs fearelesse how â—…int hearted our sins finde vs for â—…is written whither flieth the wicked when no man followeth him â—…nd seeing the morning Star he supposeth it to bee the shadow of death Take my sinnes therefore from me which make me fearefull and faint-hearted and giue me thy grace that if it bee not expedient for mee to haue a life which is free from all temptations yet that I may constantly resist some assaults and with greater desire thirst after that my celestiall countrey wheâ—… neither temptation doth sollicite nor griefe cruciate nor tribulation afflict where thou the celestiall Father with the Sonne and the holy Ghost liuest and reignest God world without end Amen Against the temptation of the diuell LOrd God Creator and maiâ—…tainer of mankinde behold yâ— feareful Dragon tempteth me thâ—… old serpent which first began in the paradise of pleasure who with his tayle draweth the third part of the stars of heauen and casteth them on the earth who with his venome corrupteth the waters of the earth that men that drinke thereof die and who shall defend me from his iawes Who shall deliuer mee from his mouth but thou o Lord who hast broken the head of the great Dragon Helpe me spread thy wings O Lord ouer mee that mee may flie vnder them from the face of this Dragon who persecuteth mee and with thy shield deliuer me from his hornes for this is his continuall studie this his only desire to deuoure those soules â—…hom thou hast created therefore my God I cry vnto thee deliuer me from my daily aduersary who whether I sleep or wake whe ther I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer I do doth euery way day and night with his frauds and artes endeuour now openly to wound and now secretlie to hurt mee directing his inuenomed shafts against mee to the end hee may slay my soule But thou O inuisible Lyon of the tribe of Iuda giue strength to thy seruant against this roaring Lyon who alwaies seeketh about watching whom hee may deuoure most healthfull Serpent fixed on a high Crosse giue power vnto the weake one against the deceits of this subtill Serpent Thou snow-white Lambe conquerour of sathans tyranny giue thy tender sheepe the strength of thy Spirit that being fraile in himselfe and strong in thee hee may ouercome all the assaults of the diuell lest mine enemie triumph ouer me but being conquered by thy might I may giue thee thanks for thy mercy which neuer faileth those that put their trust in thee Amen Against the temptations of the world I Am assaulted O Lord Iesu I am assaulted come and reuenge me of mine aduersary and deliuer me Hast thou not said Be not dismaied I haue ouercome the world Whence therefore had the world those forces that it so triumpheth ouer thine elect and persecuteth all with fire and sword who cleauing vnto thee doe not adore and reuerence him why do they so largely rule ouer those whom thou hast chosen in the world to bee thine especially in this doting age of his continuance in which it behooued his power should decrease and his might diminish The contempt of Gods word reigueth euery where and with it ingratitude lust ryot vnlawfull pleasures and an extreame abuse of all things and he that wil not follow these is scorned and esteemed a foole his life is accounted madnesse and his end is without honour Hee is odious in the worlds eie for that his life is different from other â—…us These things do often times asâ—…ult our soules o Lord almost mooue our feete that leauing the hard wayes we may enter into the â—…igh way of the world which proâ—…seth vs all things happy pleasant sweete delightfull smiling â—…pon vs with a pleasant counteâ—…ance and offering vs with a full â—…and the riches honours pleaâ—…res of the same But thou O Lord withdraw mee from the darknesse deceites and allurements of this world Lighten mine eies that I may see and vnderstand how short and vncertaine how deceitfull how blinde and pernicious yâ— felicity of this world is Maintaine mee in the knowledge of thy truth lest in this couetous and drunken age of this world I bee intangled with secular cares which leade our minds from the exercises of piety and choake those motions which the holy Spirit stirreth vp in vs. Grant o Lord that this world may d ee crucified vnto mee and I vnto the world let mee no wayes study to please him lest whilst I become a friend of this world I make my selfe thine enemie let me contemne his hatred and slanders knowing that wee oughtto glory in nothing but in thy Crosse O Lord. Who liuest and reâ—…nest with the Father and the hâ—… Ghost world without end Amen Against the temptations of the flesh VVHere art thou O good Iesus where art thou Yet once againe Iesabell tyr annizeth once againe the flesh rageth a domesticke but yet a mortall enemie Be at hand O Iesus bee at hand assist mee in my necessity because the waters haue ouer-flowed my soule and the desires of the flesh ouerprest me My flesh made of dirt bringeth foorth nought but dirtie and filthy cogitations In respect of the world vaine and curious from the diuell iâ—… receiueth vaine and bitter whereby it sinneth against the Spirit borne of sinne nourished in sinne corrupted from the beginning with vices but much more depraued by euill customes Who shall stand against so strong an enemie O Lord. Who shall sustaine his assaults He stirreth vp vnlawful motions venemous cogitatious It inflameth moueth war nourisheth hatred inciteth gourmandise quickeneth lust prepareth occasions of sinne and ceasseth not with a thousand subtilties of circumuention to driue away the spirit It is a grieuous conflict a dangerous war to fight against a home-bred enemie especially where we are strangers and hee a Citizen he dwelleth in his owne countrey wee are
pilgrimes and strangers Thou art not ignorant of mine infirmity O sweet Iesus thou knowest how weake fraile a fortresse this is thou knowest it must needs fall beeing shaken with so many volleyes except thou O Christ rampaire it by thy might To thee therefore do I cry from the depth of my heart giue me grace that I follow not the concupiscence of my flesh that I prouoke not my vnbridled senses with liberty but that I may strongly resist them Helpe me that I may tame my body and bring it in subiection lest my flesh growing too proud make me offend and breake my appointed limits lest my heart and body bee stained with carnall concupiscence lust riot and vnlawfull pleasures Sanctifie mee and gouerne mee that mine eies may bee gouerned mine eares shut that I may touch no vnlawfull thing but â—…e from that which is hurtfull though I feele a sting yet let mee not giue coÌ„sent so let me nourish my flesh that it rebell not and so bridle it that it allure not Grant that in all and through all I may so subiect my flesh to my spirit that at the last it may willingly obey her tyrannize ouer her no more is a mistresse but serue as a handmaid that betweene both there may bee an harmonious concent wished peace and perpetuall concord Amen When temptations are ouercome Giue thee thanks O Lord God â—…y whose bounty I am enabled 〈◊〉 such sort that this teÌ„pest being â—…ed I enioy a destred calme To thee be the honor of the triumph by thee and not by mee this proue Goliah is ouercome to thee I attribute whatsoeuer good effect hath succeeded For in respect of mine owne forces I must needs be subdued but now am I conquerour because I grounded my assured hope of victorie on thee my stroÌ„g assister hauing this alwaies hanging before mine eies If God be with vs who can be against vs and I can doe all things in hâ—… that comforteth me And though I sing praises to thee O Lord for this victory yet for that we are taught that when wee haue done all those things which belong to or become a stroÌ„g Champion we should not returne to lusts and pleasures but by the assistance of thy holy Spirit stand strong in the battell against the continuall assaults of the dwell Therfore I flie vnto thee the helper of all those that hope in thee increase my trust in thee that dailâ—… more and more increasing in faitâ—… the power of our enemies may faâ—… vntil thou hast setled vs in that security whereas there is no feare of battell perill or anguish but eternall security purchased by thee when thou shalt surrender thy kingdome to thy Farher with whom thou liuest and reignest God for â—…uer Amen Against the conflict of vices MOst mercifull Lord Iesus Christ behold me miserable wretched and vile sinner prostrate before the feet of thy mercy behold the wounds botches infirmities and vices of my soule which I my selfe ah lasse by my sinne haue inforced against my selfe and now present them to bee healed by the eies of thy mercy Most mercifull Iesus take pitty of my infirmity captiuity and infelicitie wherewith my wretched soule is drowned in transitorie things and distracted by diuers desires Most louing Iesus by that charity which deliuered thee bound into the hands of sinners and haled thee to the Crosse and there afflicted thee more than those nailes that pierced thy hands feet I beseech thee loose the yoake of my captiuitie and deliuer me from all vices concupiscences and euill inclinations and from all the assaults of mine enemies and euery tribulation defend me Extinguish and kill in me vtterly all prâ—…ate loue all inordinate motions passions and affections each occasion all promptnes and inclination to pride wrath enuie vaine-glorie c. for from these thou onely canst deliuer me Sweet Iesus fill me with graces and most perfect charity keepe me in all goodnesse that I may 〈◊〉 all occasions of sinne ouercome all temptations constantly subiect my flesh to my spirit persecute and banish sin auoide the assaults and subtilties of the diuell neuer consent to any sinne neuer nourish that which displeaseth thee but that I may ardently thirst after thy glory faithfully further the same and addict my selfe wholly 〈◊〉 thy good liking Amen Against euill thoughts O Lord my God bee not farre from me O my God haste thee to helpe me because diuers cogitations are risen vp against mee and great feares afflicting my soule How shall I escape vnhurt how may I ouercome them I saiest thou will go before thee and will humble the mighty on earth Doe O Lord as thou speakest and let all euill cogitations flie from thy presence This is my hope and onely consolation to flie vnto thee in all tribulation to trust in thee to call vpon thee with my whole heart and patiently to expect thy consolation Amen Against diuerse sorts of sinnes GOD Father of our Lord God Sauior Iesus Christ lord of great might blessed nature effused goodnesse God and Lord of all things who art blessed for euer who art glorified by the Seraphins to whom thousands of Angels assist and whom infinite hoasts of Angels and Archangels attend for thy Christs sake and the coming of thy holy Spirit sanctifie we pray thee our soules our bodies and our spirits touch thou likewise our minds search our coÌ„sciences and take from vs all euill cogitations all immodest talke al filthy destres al vndeceÌ„t thoughts all enuy pride and hypocrisie all lying all deceit all distraction of this life all auarice all vaine glorie all sloth all vice all wrath all ire all remembrance of iniurie all blasphemy all commotion of the flesh or spirit contrary to thy holy will Amen Against euill thoughts O Lord my God bee not thou estranged from me o God take me into thy protection for diuers cogitations are risen vp against me and great feares that afflict my soule How shall I escape vnhurt how shall I ouercome them I sayest thou will goe before thee and I will humble the mighty vpon earth Doe O Lord as thou speakest let all wicked thoughts fly from thy presence This is my hope and onely comfort to fly vnto thee in all tribulations to trust in thee to call vpon thee with my whole heart and patiently to expect thy consolation Amen A prayer against couetousnesse THe daily necessities of the body draweth and tieth the minde thereunto send vs O Lord who as wee know hast care ouer vs that daily Bread which thine onely Son Iesus Christ coÌ„manded vs to aske and hope for at thy hands Grant vs to liue coÌ„tent with those things that are needfull to despise such things as are superfluous that neither vnauoidable necessitie ouercome vs neither affluence ouerwhelme vs so send vs those things that are necessarie for vs that we obtaine not the same to offend thy Maiestie So deliuered and discharged of all
care we shall onely endeuour our selues to keepe vs as farre as in vs lieth in thy fauour which care thou wilt further who if thou beest wanting nothing can prosper with vs. Translate my heart from the seruice of Idols to thy seruice toward whom whosoeuer is deuout he obtaineth dignitie Grant mee in stead of this desire of riches which are exposed to time the iniuries of men and mischances to grow in loue with thine which being once receiued are eternall and inuiolable Amen Against pride O Most wise beloued Father who alwayes studiest how thou maiest further vs whereas wee alwayes endeuour how to offend thee thou gauest to mankinde the proudest vntamed and rebellious creature the heauenly example of moderation and obedience in thy Sonne Conuert our minds vnto thee and that thine example that wee may so humbly demeane our selues beeing wicked and weake as hee that was most worthy and most strong Amen Against drunkennesse ALmighty and most mercifull God vouchsafe so to looke vpon vs that wee may so detest that most shamefull sinne of drunkennesse that wee neuer permit the same to take place but let that which was to perish in drunkennesse bee imployed for the sustenance of the poore through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Against remembrance of iniuries O Lord of thy goodnesse fill our hearts with thy peace clense vs from all euill cogitations and vncleannesse and from all memorie of iniuries and from all enuy and mind of mischiefe which bringeth death O Lord make vs all worthy to salute one another with a holy and immaculate salutation and graunt that wee may receiue without iudgement and death thy heauenly gift that is thy grace with the holy Spirit Amen Against wrath HOw much error breedeth this blind indulgence of our selues in our minds that we esteeme that to be done vniustly which is done most vprightly that in those things wee denie pardon vnto others in which wee our selues euerie houre are faulty and want pardon that wee challenge to our selues a reuenge being children mad furious vniust and take it from him who is only wise and iust who in respect of his wisedome is deficient in nothing and in regard of his equitie seduceth no man from the truth O most mercifull Christ example of modesty fountain of meekenesse 〈◊〉 into vs some part of this thy lenitie whereby in imitation of thy humility being assailed with railings affected with iniuries oppressed and afflicted with slanders and reproofes yet that we may reward good for euill Against enuie THou O Lord art the founder and maker of all things thou art the dispenser of thy mercies which thou by thy immeasurable liberality bestowest on men yeelding euery one more than hee deserueth and defrauding no man of that which is sufficient for him What cause therefore haue we to enuy thee when as thou bestowest thy liberality vpon al men of thine owne and art bountifull to those that deserue it not and giuest to euery one that which sufficeth him for his beatitude O Father adde this also to the rest of thy benefits that we may submit to thy iudgement and satisfie our selues with thy â—…stributions that we may giue thee thanks for those things which wee haue receiued And for those things that thou hast bestowed on others grant that secretly we condemne not thy holy will and vnsearchable iudgement but rather that in other mens blessings wee may loue and laud thy munificence who art so bountifull vnto all men wanting of thy selfe nothing neither receiuing any thing from any man neither hoping any thing Amen In extreme troubles and persecutions O Lord God that deliueredst the honest matron Susanna from false iudgement at such time as she was reprochfully circumuented by slander that keptst Daniel thy prophet in the denne of Lyons and preseruedst the three children in the flaming furnace that deliueredst Peter ready to be deuoured by the sea swallowed in the waues thereof by the might of thy right hand I beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt redeeme and deliuer both me thy vnworthy seruant all other christian people out of these miseries and calamities wherewith wee are circumuented Spare thy people I beseech thee whom thou hast redeemed by thy precious blood keepe this natioâ—… and people redeemed by so precious a ransome in peace mutuall concord and coniunction to the glory of thy holy name Amen In the time of warre amongst Christians O Lord Father of mercies God of peace and dilection how long I pray thee wilt thou be angry with thy christian people punishing them with erecrable wars and vtter ouerthrows Behold the affliction and extreme extinction of thy people nations Heare the groanes of the poore let the christian blood moue thee vnto mercy Ah las O Lord these are truly that iust punishments of our sins wee haue sinned wee haue done wickedly we haue left thee the fountaine of life our felicitie we haue contemned thee mocked thee and with an obstinate minde made war by our sins against thy commandements wee haue kept none of thy testimonies of which thou hast said If you shall keepe them they shal keepe you if you dispise them the sword shall consume you But thou O Lord notwithstanding thou art iustly displeased remember thee of thy mercies and to the end we may be made capable therof giue vnto thy people I beseech thee the knowledge and confession of their wicked liues powre vpon them the spirit of thy grace and of prayer that euery where with a contrite and humble heart which thou despisest not they may crie vnto thee saying O Lord haue mercie O Lord haue mercy vpon thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood wee haue sinned we haue done vniustly Thy iudgements are iustly vrged against vs prostrating our selues we call vpon thy grace and mercie to the end that thy reuenging hand may be appeased Put o Lord thy cruell and deuouring sword into thy sheath command the euill beasts that is all those things which giue cause of warre to returne vnto their place leaue most holsome peace long desired amongst Christians safely to reigne amongst them to the praise glory of thy most holy name who strikest and healest â—…illest and quickenest Amen In the time of plague WE know O Lord God and most iust Father that the rebellion almost of all creatures against man onely is very great whom if all things were disposed according to the order of creatioÌ„ they ought to obey and acknowledge Now earthquakes now thunders now inundations now most fatal coniunctions of Stars now the infection of the aire and daily new and other kinde of euils are heard of But this punishment falleth vpon vs because wee abuse the giftes of thy munificence transgresse thy commaundemenis for that we are not terrified with threatrungs nor allured by promises We acknowledge that by these thy chastisements thou drawest vs from these earthly affaires and inuitest vs to heauenly
froÌ„ whom proceedeth all fatherhood boâ—… heauen and in earth take 〈◊〉 me all rebellion â—…d contenâ—… lest I attempt and dare to brâ—… and infringe all the bonds â—…ume and humane lawes 〈◊〉 vouchsafe that I may proâ—… my parents in all kinde of 〈◊〉 serue them with due honor reâ—…rence obey their commandeâ—… with humble readie obediâ—… and that I may helpe them 〈◊〉 kinds of succour obsequiosâ—… offices of kindnesse that I 〈◊〉 suffer their reproofes austeâ—… vnbridled mislikes or exclaiâ—… all their imperfections whatsâ—…uer with a willing minde not â—…greeuing or vexing them in the whole course of my life if at any time through age they shall dote default in reason yâ— I may not coÌ„â—…emne them but that I may suffer their age imbecillity with due modesty Finally if they want or bee sicke that I may nourish and sustaine them by my succour and sustenance lest through my default and auarice they should lose theiâ—… liues from whom and by whom I had the beginning of my life but that I may serue them that begot me in all things as my Lords O Lord forgiue me all those my sins wherein I haue euer offended my most deere parents Increase the â—…ltitude of their daies and keepe them in all health of minde and of body let them behold their sonnes like oliue plaÌ„ts round about their â—…ble let them bring them vp in all 〈◊〉 let them gouerne their family in holy counsels and conuerâ—…on that at the length they may â—…culate and faultlesse come â—…to thee where thou liuest with 〈◊〉 Sonne and the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 God world without end AmeÌ„ The prayer of the Schoolemaster OMnipotent and eternal God in whose power all things â—…re giue mee thy holy Spirit without whom I neither can learne or teach any thing that I may diligently instruct the youth committed to my charge and forme them not onely to follow pietie and good manners but 〈◊〉 diligently to apprehend learâ—… to the glory of thy holy namâ—… the end they may become 〈◊〉 citizens and profitable 〈◊〉 of thy Church Giue theÌ„ a 〈◊〉 and vnderstanding heart that 〈◊〉 may easily apprehend and 〈◊〉 that which I teach them and 〈◊〉 â—…ee in all things which coâ—… my function suffering themseâ—… to be directed and informed 〈◊〉 an humble and obedient will 〈◊〉 their age who haue spent 〈◊〉 youth in good arts in increaseâ—… bee increased in knowledge 〈◊〉 may reape and communicate 〈◊〉 others the most pleasant fruits 〈◊〉 his former studies Amen The prayer of a professor of any facultie O My Creator and incomprehensible Lord God who from the treasure of thy wisedome didst informe the nine orders of angels and placedst them in worthy order aboue the imperiall heauen aâ—… hast most wonderfully disposed yâ—â—…rts of the world Thou I say y◠〈◊〉 called the true Fountaine of life and wisedome and the supereâ—…t beginning vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 vpon the darknes of my vnâ—…tanding the double beame of the brightnes remouing from me â—…tion sinne and ignorance â—…erein I was borne Thou that â—…est the tongues of infants eloâ—…t order my discourse and 〈◊〉 on my lippes the grace of thy blessing Giue me the sharpnes of â—…erstanding the capacity of reâ—…ning the subtilty of interpreâ—…g the faculty of learning the â—…pious grace of speaking instruct mine entrance direct my proceedings and fulfill my issues Who with the Father and yâ— holy Spirit liuest and reignest God world without end Amen The prayer of a Student O Most wise Father and omnipotent God the fountaine and giuer of all wisedome and vnderstanding without whom aâ—… our studies want their successe whâ—…y thy holy Spirit madest of shâ—… heards of sheep yâ— Prophets of 〈◊〉 people and of fishermen the Apostels and doctors of the whâ—… world Infuse into me by yâ— meâ—… of Christ thy Son yâ— grace of thâ—… same holy Spirit whereby my vnderstanding may be the better â—…formed in the liberall Scienceâ—… which hereafter I way conuert 〈◊〉 thy diuine honour and the spirituall profite of thy Church Grant yâ— I may faithfully learâ—… good letters necessary tongues and retaine them with apprehending memory and conuert them to the vse of a better life that according to the example of thy holy youth I may dailie increase in yeares wisedome grace before GOD and men Grant mee vnderstanding and subtiltie of wit that I may the easier comprehend those things that are to be learnt and cull out the sublimest and deepest knowledge thereof Giue me also alacrity in study lest my minde wearied with continuall labour and surprised with a certaine loathsomnesse abhorre studies Suffer mee not to spend my time vnprofitably nor passe my young yeares that are most apt for studie in idlenesse lest my parents charge being euilly imployed on mee I increase their hate against me and I leaudly delude the hope and expectation of my friends Amen Seuen Psalmes of Dauids repentance commonly called Penitentiall Psalmes PSALME VI. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine indignation neither chasten mee in thy displeasure 2 Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed 3 My soule is also fore troâ—…bled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me 4 Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue mee for 〈◊〉 mercies sake 5 For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thâ—… thanks in the pit 6 I am wearie of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares 7 My beauty is gone for verie trouble and worne away because of mine enemies 8 Away from mee all yee that worke vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping 9 The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receiue my prayer 10 All mine enemies shall bee confounded and sore vexed they shall bee turned backe and put to shame suddenly PSALME XXXII BLessed is hee whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered 2 Blessed is the man vnto whoÌ„ the Lord imputeth no sinne and â—…t whose spirit there is no guile 3 For while I held my tongue â—…y bones consumed away through â—…y daily complaining 4 For thy hand is heauy vpon me day and night and my moisture is like the drought in Summer 5 I will acknowledge my sinne vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnesse haue I not hid 6 I said I will confesse my sins vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednesse of my sinne 7 For this shall euery one that is godly make his praier vnto thee in a time when thou maist bee found but in great water-flouds they shall not come nigh him 8 Thou art a place to hide mee in thou shalt preserue mee from trouble thou shalt compasse mee about with songs of deliuerance 9 I will informe thee and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go I wil guide thee with mine eie 10 Bee yee not like vnto horse mule which hath no vnderstanding whose mouthes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 den
shalt endure they shall waxe old as doth a garment 27 And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall bee changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile 28 The Children of thy Seruants shall continue aâ—…d their seed shall stand fast in thy sight PSALME CXXX OUt of the deepe haue I câ—… vnto thee O Lord Lord hâ—… my voice 2 Oh let thine eares couâ—… well the voice of my complaint 3 If thou Lord wilt bee extrâ—… to marke what is done amisse 〈◊〉 Lord who may abide it 4 For there is mercy with thâ—… therefore shalt thou be feared 5 I look for the Lord my soâ—… doth waite for him in his word 〈◊〉 my trust 6 My soule flieth vnto the Lord before the morning watch I say before the morning watch 7 O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 8 And he shall redeeme Israel from all his sinnes PSALME CXLIII HEare my prayer O Lord anâ—… consider my desire hearkeâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…ter not into iudgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seruant for 〈◊〉 thy sight 〈◊〉 â—…o man liuing be iustified 3 For the enemy hath persecuâ—… my soule hee hath smitten my 〈◊〉 downe to the ground he hath â—…d mee in the darkenesse as the men that haue bene long dead 4 Therefore is my spirit vexed within mee and my heart within 〈◊〉 is desolate 5 Yet do I remember the time past I must vpon all thy works yea I exercise my selfe in the works of thy hands 6 I stretched foorth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land 7 Heare mee O Lord and that soone for my spirit waxeth faint hide not thy face from mee lest I be like vnto them that goe downe into the pit 8 O let mee heare thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me yâ— way that I should walke in for I â—…ft vp my soule vnto thee me foorâ—…h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of rightâ—… ousnesse 11 Dâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord sâ—… thy names sake 〈◊〉 for thy righteousnesse sâ—…e bring my soule out of trouble 12 And of thy goodnesse â—…mine enemies and deâ—…y â—…ll theÌ„ that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant FINIS Psalm 12. Iohn 1. Apoc. 7. Ephe. 5. Esay 52. 2 Cor. 1. Psalm 66. 1. Cor. 1. Psal. 115. Psal. 24. Prou. 4. Psal. 5. Esay 55. Psal. 145. Psal. 36. Prou. 4. Psal. 81. Esay 59. Math 28. Luk. 1. Psal. 16. Psal. 60. Psalm 118. Psal. 50. Psal. 50. Psal. 113. Psal. 70. Psal. 118. Psal. 79. Psal. 24. Luke 21. Psalm 118 Rom. 14 Iohn 6. Matth. 21. Act. 8. Psalm 115. Psal. 85. Psal. 34. Psal 9. Luke 2. Psal. 11. Act. 7. Psal. 118. Psalm 102. Psal. 17. Psal 40. Psal. 83. Psal. 54. Psal. 144. Ezech. 18. Luke 15. Hierem. â—…2 Cor. 5. 4. Reg. 9. Rom. 7. Esay 42. Psal. 50. Mâ—…h 8 Ieremie 3. Luke 7. Luke 22. Luke 23. Iohn 12. Psalm 18. Esay 53. Psal. 21. Psal. 30. Psal. 4. Psalm 58. Ephes. 2. 1. Iohn 4. Iohn 15. Iohn 6. 2. Cor. 3. Gen. 4. Exod. 34. Ioel 2. Math. 11. Esay 55. â—…zech 18. Math 9. 2. Reg. 9. Psal. 86. Ioh 25 Luke 3. Iohn 1. 1. Reg. 21. Exod. 12. Math. 22. 2. Reg. 6. 2. Cor. 6. Cantic 1. Math. 11. Math. 9. Luke 7. Math. 9. Luke 6. Psal. 92. 3. Reg. 8. Ezech. 34 Iohn 17. Exod. 16. Psal. 115. Math. 8. Cant. 2. Psal. 17. Iohn 17. Prouerb 〈◊〉 Math. 28. Psalm 17. Psal. 136. Psal. 131. Psal. 90. Psal. 72. Iob 1â—… Cant. 2. 2. Cor. 1. Luke 18. Luke 7. Genes 18. Esay 40. Sap. 11. Apoc. 22. Apoc. 4. Psal 94. Psal. 74. Psal. 89. Iob 35. Daniel 3 1 Christ des cended froÌ„ heauen and was conceiued in the Virgins wombe 2 Mary visiteth her Cousin 3 Christ is borne 4 Christ is swathed 5 Christ is adored by the shepheards 6 Christ is ciâ—… cumcised and called Iesus 7 Christ is adored by the wisemâ—…n 8 Christ is presented in the Temple 9 Iesus flies â—…to Egypt 10 Iesus sitteth amongst the Doâ—…tors 11 Iesus is Baptized 12 Iesus is tempted by the diuell in the desart 13 Iesus is afflicted with diuers labours and necessities 14 Iesus praieth and preacheth 15 Iesus conuerseth with men 16 Iesus suffereth manie things for our sake 17 Iesus came into Ierusalem 18 Iesus washeth his disciples â—…eet at supper 19 Iesus instituteth the holy Sacrament 10 Christin his last Supper comforteth his disciples 21 Iesus praieth to his Father in the garden 22 Iesus is taken prisoner 23 Iesus suffered a striâ—…e on the face 24 Iesus in the night wherin hee was taken was vexed diuers wayes 25. Iesus is accused before Pilate 26 Iesus is led to Herod 27 Iesus is accused before Herod 28 Iesus is iudged more wicked then Barrabas 29 Christ is whipt 30 Iesus is crowned 31 Iesus beareth his Crosse. 32 Iesus bearing his crosse speaketh to the women 33 Iesus drinketh vinegar and gal 34 Iesus is stript of his garments 35 Iesus is crucified 36 Iesus hangeth on thâ—… Crosse. 37 Iesus hangeth between two theeues 38 Iesus prayeth for his persecutors 39 Iesus is mockt vpon the Crosse. 40 Iesus promiseth the thiefe Paradise 41 Iesus commendeth his mother to the disciple 42 Iesus complaineth that he is left of his Father 43 Iesus thirsted on the Crosse. 44 Iesus drinketh gall on the Crosse. 45 â—…sus finiâ—…eth the â—…orke of â—…r redemp â—…n 46 Iesus giueth vp â—…heghost 47 Iesus side is opened with a Lauâ—…e 48 Christ is adored by â—…he wiseâ—…en 49 Iesus descended into hell 50 Iesus ariseth from the dead 51 Iesus ascendeth into heauen 52 Iesus sendeth the holy Ghost 53 Iesus shall come to iudgement Eccle. 24. Psal. 44. Cant. 1. â—…am 3. Psal. 8. Eccles. 15. Pâ—…al 103. Iob. 38. Psal. 148. Psal. 18. Luke 5. Psal. 68. Psal. 87. Genes 18. Psal. 15. Iob 41. Iudg 14. 1 Pet. 2. 21. Oseas 1. Psal. â—…8 Luke 15. Iob. 3. Luke 15. Psal. 94. Psal. 118. Psal. 94. Psal. 116. Apoc. 11. 15. Psal. 38. Iob. 10. Ezech. 2 Psal. 119. Rom. 7. Psalm 5â—… Psalm 123. 1. Cor. 12. Psalm 27. Apoc. 12. Sap. 5. Rom. 8. Philip. 4. Esay 45. Esay 45. Esay 1. 2. Reg. 24. Apoc. 9. Psalm 17. Exod. 20. Eccles. 3. Psal. 12â—… Amos. 1.