according to thy owne hart but proceeded from the holy Ghost the Spirit of all truth who speaketh by the Prophets and Apostles for the comfort instruction and illumination of such as are true members of our holy Mother the Church how weak and contemptible soeuer they be In the beleif of which Church and in hope of thy mercies which I haue always experienced to be great towards me thy poore seruant I fly to thee in all my doubts and obscurities which sinne ignorance and imperfection cause to my soul in her way â—owards thee her only desired Beloued â—he by whom thou speak this had â—â—cepted any I should not haue daâ—d to haue applyed it to my selfe â—ut as it is I should do thee wrong â—o fly from thee when thou bidst me â—â—me and be illuminated Though my â—â—nnes be great yet thy mercies exâ—eed all the sinnes in the world I â—ill therefor come to thee that my â—â—ce be not confounded I will approach â—o thee the only true light that my souâ—â— may Loue thee being guided by â—his thy light In this light the glorious 〈◊〉 Augustin walked in an extraordiâ—ary maner when he cried out with â— most amorous hart Lord lett me know â—hee and lett me know my-selfe These â—wo knowledges are inseparable â—ompanions and increase the one â—y the other For who can know theeâ—nlesse â—nlesse he know himself vnlesse he â—e taught by thee Those that would â—now some thing of thee and would be fauoured by thee for any end but to loue thee and to learn to dispise themselues be in perill of a most dangerous ruine For those that walk the true way of the Crosse desire nâ— fauour but to be able without aâ— comfort to be faithfull to thee mâ— Lord God Those that haue done thâ— contrary of which alas there hauâ— not been a few are they which hauâ— brought a Spirituall life into such contempt that they shall haue in â— maner all the world about their eareâ— to censure them who enter into it one obiecting it will put one out oâ— his wits as they haue found by experience in many that ventureâ— vpon such a course Others say Those that affect singular waies of Spirit are in eminent perill of being deluded by the diuell Others pretend that those poore soules pretend such perfection that they slight and contemne the courses of others though their Superiors and betters which is an euident signe that they are for all their pretence in a great errour Others obiect that they abstract their affections from all the world and indeed would seeme to be dead to all creatures but that this they do that they may the better loue themselues and while they seek themselues in a Spirituall maner in the gifts and graces of God they say they are in more danger then those that liue in sinne and wickednes Others alleadg that the quietnes they seeme to enioy in occurring accidents of difficulty is either natural or els becaus they pretending to lead forsooth a Spirituall life are bound in honour to endure them patiently least otherwise they be prooued to their disgrace to be but in an imaginary course which a Spiritual life in these dayes is generally held to be Thus and in infinit other maners as it is known to thee I haue in some sort experienced euen from them whom I could haue expected by the place they â—ear to haue been hartned in my desyre of tending to thee to the vttermost ability of my soul but well might they do it seeing they were also in place where they were bound to reform in me what was and is amis in my life which I must confesse is very much but yet I confide in thy help But in fine the obiections against an internall life are so many that much help is necessary for a soul that shall be able to hold and go through with all obiections and difficulties in that kind For one saies for want of this circumstance all their life is in perill and another saith that the said circumstance may stand with a true Spirituall life but yet that there is another matter or circumstance which were necessary to be reformed in their course and thus in their exceptions there be so many mindes as men and yet none of them can say there is any sinne in that which they alleadg for such a mayn impediment the fault being indeed only that it is not sutable to their apprehension and experience in spiritual matters Thus therefor it stands with soules that in these days would lead a Spirituall life But those who place all their hope in thee my God shall remain stable as a rock and in thee who art their strength and refuge they liue peaceable and content hauing the testimony of their conscience to bâ— their comfort amidst all oppositions and contradictions But aboue all obiections which I haue heard that goes neerest my hart is when I read or hear that it is perillous to walk the way of Loue and that as some would seeme to proue no soul in any other course or state is in such perill as is a soul who giueth herself to thiâ— study But lett them affirm that who will For my part I will shutt my eares from harkning to such men becaus nothing is more plaine more easy more secure more pleasant then the way of Loue. For that way of Loue it cannot be called if the soul seek in it any thing but thee alone which these men would make it allmost impossible for one to do But thou knowst my God that in this thou hast wrong For it being thy own desire that soules should loue thee and thou hauing made them only for that end that they might wholy attend euen in this life to the Loue and Praise of thee alone how can this way be dangerous where the only endeauour of the soul is that thy will be in al fullfilled who can doubt of thy assistance and help therein though we be able to do nothing of our selues Verily it cannot be doubted any more then it can be feared that thou willt cease to be good to thy creatures which thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Lett not soules therefor I beseech thee by any such frights be brought into fear of walking this noble and amiable way but lett vs sing in hope Dominus illuminatio mea salus mea quem timebo Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos My Lord is my light and my Saluation whom shall I feare If God be with vs what matter is it who is against vs. Lett vs proceed humbly till we be admitted to enioy thee the God of Gods in Sion where thy praise shall be perfected in vs. These things therefor remembring and recounting before thee do strengthen my soul that it fall not from the stedfastnes which is grounded and founded vpon thee To harten and inconradg my soul by speaking and writing thus to thee was the caus why these things haue been
then haue thus displeased her beâ—â—ued whom alone she desireth intendeth thirsteth aâ—ter and to whom to adhere in here she putteth al her coÌ„tent happines Al he doth and permitteth seemeth mosâ— iust and reasonable to her and to liue interiorsly and exteriorly according to the right Rule of his iustice is al she desireth These are they which our Sauiour said should Adore â—im in Spirit and Truth and of whom it is said Al the glory of the soâ— is within for the Kingdom of God is withâ—â— vs such a soul may truly say I wil hearâ— what my Lord God saith within me Thâ—â— my most sweet Lord God be euer adored and praised and sought after by vs al anâ— blissed and praised by al in Heauen anâ— earth for euer and euer Amen Thaulerus saith that it is as easy for oâ— that hath an aptnes for an internal life anâ— wil be diligent and obseruant in it 〈◊〉 note obserue and discerne the diuine 〈◊〉 within him as it is for one to discerne 〈◊〉 â—ight hand from his left And it is plain 〈◊〉 our rule that our holy Fathers desire that souls should obserue their internal 〈◊〉 and the tracts of the diuine spiâ—it who is thâ— proper Maistâ—r of the interior And it but a meere natural course that we can 〈◊〉 by the meere instruction of man frâ—â— whom only we haue our first help aâ— instruction and then the souls capable 〈◊〉 liuing a true internal life are to be referred to God the only Teacher of the way of spirit And where it is obiected by those who pretend to be spiritual that following the diuine Tracts Moâ—â—ons and Cals is perilous dangerous and without al warrant or security It may be answered supposing alwayes an aptnes in the party that hath the instructions that as the power of God surpasseth the power of man so the warrant security of God which a true internal liuer findeth from God is far beyond the warrant of a mortal man the warrant of one man being contradicted by another that from God is able to stand in al the contrarieties changes and opposiâ—ions which happen out of the differing of al men in indifferent things for as for other things God referreth the soul to the ordinary means he vseth in those cases As for example for confession of mortal sins she most confesse them to a Pâ—iest who hath iurisdiction ouer her and for a true doubt she must not presume that he must resolue her by him-self but she must aske according to discretion and obedience and for her rule and other obligations of Religion she must obserue â—hem out of Obedience to God and suâ—eâ—iors which being done and also going and walking the way of the cros what warrant I pray you wil she need after her conscience is once wel setled from confessor or Superior Wo be to those at leaâ—t wo in this respect that haue a confidence rather in men then in God And those that praise so much the security of a soul that hath no other confidence in God at her death but so far as she is warranted by heâ— Confessor for she cannot but by this means dy perplexed and troubled For toâ—day I haue a Confessor which wil warrant meâ— and to morrow another who wil doubt of my case To day I haue one so precise that he wil warrant me in nothing and to moâ—â—ow I haue one who thinketh he can pearse so far into al things that if I wil adhere vnto him and no body els he wilâ— answer for al. He goes away and another who must assist me at my death comâ—th who is of a good meaning but cannoâ— pearse so far as the other He at first finding vs to feare feareth too We haue forgot our couradg vpon the others warrant going before and fal into feare with him at the present And yet ouâ— soul doth not alter before God aâ—cording to euery ones apprehension we meet with if it dâ—d or if this were al the certainty that were to be found between God and our souls in Religion we might bid al true confidence à lieu I meane those only who are apt for an internal lifeâ— for as for others I do not take vpon me to know their case and place our peace vpon that which is as changeable as the moon to wit the humours and opinions of men in indifferent things I haue had my-self a Confessor who though he had the largest conscience that euer I knew good man haue in my life in what he pleased yet out of the difficulty he had with me in his nature and out of his aptnes thereby to take al I did and said in another sense then I meant it he could and did turn twenty things which my other Confessors made no great matter of into horrible mortal siâ—s and would haue frighted me â—rom the Sacraments til I had setled my conscience according to his wil and mind VVhat was I to do in this case I hâ—d been warranted by three former Confessors two of which were my cheif Superiors Doctors of Diuinity and now this present wholy doubted my case he had as he pretended agreaâ—er reach into my case then al the rest and they were simple to him in discouering truely the state of my soul. But should I in this case put my soul into hâ—s hands who desired to know al that haâ— passed â—n my life to informe him in some things he desiâ—ed to know â—out of pollicy thereby also to tye me to him self more absolutly Verily if I had thus put my-self on him I had done great wrong to God and I might haue bid farewel to al true peace hereafter but standing to my former warrant and giuing him the respect was due to him and being reserued towards him I haue hitherto God be praised kept my-self out of his fingers And also by the grace of God hope to hold on my way in tendance towards God thereby raising my-self according as his diuine Maiesty shal vouchsaf to enable me out of my natural feare to the lout of God Who is only able to satisfy and satiate our soul. And not as this my Confessor would haue had me to plunge my-self by reason of his words and threats of my miserable state which notwithstanding his apprehensions is so much and no more as it is in the sight of God who changeth not his opinion of vs as the humour of the Confessor may be but imagineth vs according to what we really are in very truth But these spiritual men of this kind would be so absolute that there is no power left in the soul thus vnder such to haue relation or confidence in God whereby those for the most part vnder them if they be poor simple women of how good spirits soeuer liue miserable deiected liues for it is their only way to bring their politicke and absolute gouernment about And ordinarily vnder this pretence they do it saying that there is no way
looked vpon by me may be a meanes to put me in mind of his former mercy which hath been so great to me that it cannot poâ—â—ibly be expressed and whatsoeuer heerafter becometh of me be the fault wholy attributed to me for nothing hath my Lord God left vndon which might win me wholy to himself and make me despise my self and al created things for his loue For when I sinned he recalled me and forsook me not in that my misery of offending such an infinit goodnes so shamefully and that also after my entry into Religion the happines and worth whereof I did not yet know by which meanes I grew weary of bearing therein his sweet yoke and light burthen the which is heauy only through our fault and not of it-self Through which default and ignorance of mine it grew so greiuous and intolerable to me that I wished often it might haue been shaken of lawfully by me pretending it was so incompatible with my good that I could scarsly work my saluation in this my state and Profession This my God thou art witnes of is true and so it did continue with me aboue two years after I had in shew forsaken the world and the world indeed forsaken me but did my Lord in these biter afflictions forsake me No no but he prouided such a help for me by meanes of a faithful seruant of his that quikly was my sorrow turned into ioy yea into such an vnspeakeable ioy that it hath sweetned al the sorrows which since that time haue befaln me For as soon as my soul was set in a way of tending to my God by Praier and Abâ—egation I found al my miseries preâ—ently disperse themselues and come to nothing yea euen in fiue weeks my soul became so enamoured with the yoke of this my deare Lord that if I must haue made not only foure but foure thousands vowes to haue become wholy dedicated to him I should haue embraced this state with more ioy and content then euer I did find in obtaining that which euer I most of al wished or desired yea and as thou knowst my God by my souls being put into a cours of prayer I seemed to haue now found a true means wherby I might loue without end or measure and that without any peril or danger For who can loue thee my God too much O let me melt wholy into loue to record these thy most aboundant Mercies Let me neuer be weary of singing thy Praise who thus hast inuited and drawn me euen whither I would or no to a perfect contempt of al created things that I may adhere to thee aboue al gifts whatsoeuer This I do so particularly write down becaus my frailty is so great that I may perhaps grow vnmindful of thee notwithstanding al this that thou hast done for me which I beseech thee for thine own sake neuer permit me to be that I may praise and loue thee without ceasing who art my God blessed for euer and euer Amen THE XXXV CONFESSION QVi facit veritatemâ— venit ad lucem vt manifestentur opera eius quae in Deo sunt facta O Lord what is more amiable and desirable then Truth That is it which powerfully preuaileth in all things and no wonder seeing thou art Truth Wel may Truth be oppressed thou permitting it but suppressed it-self can neuer be becaus as thou saiest heauen and earth shal fail but thy word shal not fail He that loueth verity and doth desiâ— to liue to thee cometh to the light And what is this light Is it not thy-self my God Yes verily For in thy light only can we see light By faith we are made capable or disposed for this light For as thou saiest My iust liueth by faith By this light we are strengthned in hope and inflamed in charity and by apprâ—aching to theâ— who artour true light and life we obtain a light which teacheth vs to do our works in thee and for thee In his light we discouer our own nothing â—nd perceiue we are poor and frail of â—ur-selues aboue al we can imagin â— conceaue and by it we plainly â—â—rceaue that whatsoeuer is wel â—one by vs is as truly to be attribuâ—ed to thee as if it had been don â—ithout any concurrence of ours â—ith thee and that it is as iust our â—ill should in al things obey thee â—nd that without any challenging â—f reward â—or it of thee but only so â—r as it is due by thy meere promised â—ercy as it is certain that without â—ee we could neither liue nor be â—lso in this ligâ—t we see in some sort as it were in a looking glasse how â—reat and good a God we haue and â—â—at he is more present to vs then â—e are to our selues which maketh â—y soul exult and rejoice amidst â—â—e troubles tumults and various â—hanges which the difficulty of pasâ—ons and crosse actions and the â—â—stability of â—uman and transiâ—ory things daily and howrly caus 〈◊〉 my soul. For who can mourn for want of a friend who hath her only friend always present with her who can choose but hope seeing he is her helper for whose loue she fighteth against flesh and bloud yea and against the power of darknes But how doth she fight Not as one confiding in her own strength but in his help whose loue hath made her proclaim warre with al that would hinder her from being true to this her only beloued To those that loue what can be wanting seeing loue is able to sweeten al labours and lighten al burthens As for me therfor I wil sing without ceasing in my hart It is good for me to adhere to my God and to put my whole trust in him For vain is the help of man After him I will sigh to him I wil sing For my offences I wil weepe and humble my self at the feet ef al creatures becaus nothing pleaseth him so wel as humibity and I wil approach to my God and walk solicitous with him Of him I wil write and I wil not depart from himâ— least darknes and the shadow of death do apprehend my sinfull foul He shal be my God who am his vnworthiest creature that so no euil may haue power ouer me I wil long my Lord to be dissolued and that I may more fully and perfectly enioy theâ— and neuer any more offend thee who art so worthy of al Praise Glory Honour and Adoration for euer Amen THE XXXVI CONFESSION O My Lord to thee I wil speak to whom yet the secrets of my hart are otherwise most cleerly manifest To thee I wil speak and vpon thee I wil cal If thou wilt my Lord thou canst saue me This day my Lord God it is read of thee in rhe holy Church that thou didst heale the man sick of the Palsey Let me also find grace before thee that my diseases may by thee be cured that so I may become pleasing to thee For the diseases of the
but to be whoiy his who is most worthy to be that that hee is If it is his delight be to be with the children of men what should comfort vs but to praise and loue him Those that seeke him shal find him With al their heart O who would seek any thing besids him seeâ—ng he is not more willing to giue vs any thing then his own self heer by grace and heerafter in Heauen by glory Let vs adore him in spirit and truth Al wâ— can giue him is nothing vnles we entierly giue him onr selues and that also cannot add to his greatnes and glory yet if we doe this so much doth his diuine Maiesty esteem of this gift that for it and in requital of it he wil giue vs his own self al his gifts and graces are a meanes for the preparing of vs for this end if we vse theiâ— rightly with Humility and according to the iust wil of Almighty God Let vs extend our wil to serue loue praise please and magnify our Lord to the vttermost we are able â—ea wthout al limits or bounds Leâ— vs â—esire his honour til such time as we may be swallowed vp in the bottomles Ocean of al loue and praise God in himself in whom and by and in whom only we can praise him as we ought Let vs loue him as far as we arâ— possible able without regard of our selues either for time or eternity This is the humble loue that feeleth no burden This is the loue that knoweth not how to attribute any thing it doth or suffereth to it-self It chooseth not wherin God shâ—l make vse of her but accommodateth her-self in al things to his diuine pleasure If it were his wil to hauâ— it so she would rather for euer be picking vp chips or straws then out of her own election to be doing that which is most admired or might seeme to her to procure her the greatest reward O you souls that God bestoweth his loue vpon think it not much to beare the burthen not only of your selues but also of al that you liue with for God beareth you vp in al more then you can coÌ„ceaue or imagin Beware aboue al things of pride For that cast euen Angels out of heauen A soul of prayer as-long as she keeps Humility is in no peril of going out of her way It is certainly true that God giueth himself to them who forsake al I say al and not by halfs with reseruing what we please to our selues but to al that forsake al he giueth himself without exception of persons and he that pleaseth our Lord neâ—deth nor feare al the diuels in hel It is a wonderful thing to see the variety of opinions that are or may be about the best vse of those things that of themselues are indifferent or at least are not euil one holding this aâ—d another that euery man according to his fancy and as Saint Paul saith abounding in his â—wn sense No wonder then that those that liuâ— and conuerse with others and namely in a Religious Community do easily fal into occasion of iars and differences with others whilst euery one pretends the truth and the best to be of her side howsoeuer it be indeed and therefor ones nâ—ture wil easily take occasion of iarring with oâ—hers if it be not mortâ—fyed by restraint from what it is inclining to by such occasions It is only the diuiâ—e vertue of true discretion that is able to discern and iudg for ones own practise what is good better or best of al in the vse of those indifferent things The more truly mortifyed the â—oul is the cleerer is such light of discretion in her and wil increâ—se in her if she be stil solicitous more and more to liue to God in her interior and to dy to her-self and to al created things by simply regarding God in al she doth oâ— omitteth intending him alone in al â—â—â—ngs It is a true prouerbe that it is an easier matter to corrupt the mind of one then of a great many Wherefor we must remember that it is a good and happy thing for Brethren to dwel in One or rather by true loue and charity in that One Which is truly necessary to wit in God For no loue is true but that which is in him and for him and without impediment to his loue Al other loues are false slippery peruerse and vaine as not being founded in God the ground of al true and happy loue nor being referred to him and his loue But the true loue which is the diuine wil make al others deare vnto vs for his sake and none deare but in hâ—m and for him It wil make vs in capable of accounting any to be our enemies how hardly soeuer they treat vs because in al things we wil regard God that permitteth such difficulties to happen to vs to the end our fidelity to him may therby be tried and so not regaâ—d with any auersion the party who afflicteth vs And it wil be sufficient for vs towards the pacification of our soul vpon the hard or bitter vsadge offred vs that we remember that he hath suffred it to happen to vs for our good who only knoweth what is best for the humbling of vs and the abating of our pride the which must be done if wil be pleasing to God to whom now and euer I commit my-self Amen Vnum sit mihi â—oâ—um id est omnia in omnibus Let one be al to to me that is Al in Al. This was a Poesy bestowed on me and my Parteners by another the truth wherof I pray God may anâ—werably be in the harts and loues of vs and of al other souls whatsoeuer The simple exâ—rcâ—se of the wil being faithfully and perseâ—eraÌ„â— prosecâ—ted through Gods concurring gâ—â—ce remoueth in time al impediments beâ—ween our soul and God and the soul by loue cometh so to transcend al created thiâ—gs yâ—a euen her own self that al creatures are to her as if they were not as to any hurtful distraction they cause to her or as to any other impediment between her and God the which can be only by inordinate adhering in affection to those creatures A true spiritual internal life is so priuate and secret between God and the soul that others cannot easily disâ—erne it no not by by the external effects of it For in her exterior cariadge â—he is common and general as hating singularity by meanes wâ—erof she euoideth much occasion of pride and walketh the more seâ—urly between God and her Those â—hat liue an internal life do so wiâ—hdraw al natural inordinate affection from creatures that they often therfor are censured by superiors equals to neglect others out of pride But they abhorring to haue special interest in any do proceed so far as they can according to true charity and mind not what others iudg of them they desiring only in al to dischardg their duty to God â—hom they
for vaine is the help of man I will therefor confide in thee my God my mercy who be Adored Praised and Exalted for tyme and eternity Amen THE NINTH CONFESSION LEX Domini immaculata conuertens animas testimonium Domini fidele sapientiam praestans paruulis Iustitiae Domini rectae laerificantes corda praeceptum Domini lucidum illuminans oculos The Law of our Lord is immaculate correcting soules the Testimony of our Lord is faithfull giuing Wisedome to little Ones The Iustices of our Lord be right making harts ioyfull the precept of our Lord light some illuminating the eyes These my God are the words of thy Royall Prophet which are as it followeth in the same Psalme to be desired aboue gold and rich pretious stones yea they are more sweet to a louing soul then the honny or the honny combe Lett this Law of thine conuert my soul that it may become one of thy little ones to whom the grace of true Wisedome is oâ—ten promised by thee Lett thy Iustice make my hart ioyfull For in the perâ—ormance thereof is true Peace only to be found They that liue according to this thy Iustice do enioy such a diuìne tranquillity that it cannot be expressed by any pen whatsoeuer None can walk in this path of true Iustice in perfection but the humble Those find out in thy light what is thy best will and pleasure in all things as farr as humane flesh will admitt and perform thy iust will as well as human frailty will reach When we do perform any thing by this iust rule of thy holy will we find an admirable effect theâ—eof in our soul. This is that which by performing in all things we become truly subiect to thee and haue the merit of Obedience which maketh all our actions so noble before thee and of which vertue of Obedience how much or how little our actions partake so much and no more do they deserue reward Worthyly may Obedience be preferred before Sacrifice For it is that which gouerneth heauen and earth and which only deserueth reward in thy sight Happy are they who walk this way For they haue a â—ast euen of the ioyes of heauen For as they there obey thy will so these thy humble soules do also endeauour to do the same This Obedience to thee maketh the Angells as â—ell content with their degree of Glory as to be of the Seraphins who are yet in a farr higher degree in thy Kingdome This maketh the Saints content with theirs this maketh soules on earth who aspire to thee with all their harts to limit their desires with thy good will and pleasure and by this meanes they desire neither life nor death but in it conforme themselues to thy most iust will this maketh them desyre disgrace nor Glory neither paine nor health neither Crosses nor comforts This Obedience to thee and to Superiors for thee made some soules pleasing to thee by liuing in the wildernes and others by liuing in a Community some by liuing to the profit of their neighbour and others by liuing and attending only to thee in their soules some by liuing in high and eminent degree and hauing commaund ouer many others and some by being esteemed abiect and the very scumme of the world and these if they had of their own choice and election chosen the contrary state would neuer haue arriued to true Sanctity Some also by many paines Crosses come to thee some only by an internall affectioÌ„ to thee hauing that in affection which others suffer in act they also are respected by thee By which it appeares how great a subiection is exacted by thee of those who desire to become vnited to thee and neuer can we prosper in a Spirituall life vnlesse we hearken to thee and obserue euen in the least things what thou wouldst haue vs do and go that way thou wouldst haue vs in all things whatsoeuer For we may be sure thou willt lead vs by the way of Abnegation which is the way of the Crosse which if we will walk with humility and simplicity we shall with security arriue at the port of eternall Glory and enioy thee our only beloued in that degree thou hadst ordained for vs from all eternity liue we long or dy we soone For only in thee can we be happy and by thy meere grace can we deserue to enioy thee What we ouercome is so done in thy strength that the glory is wholy due to thee alone and this I find dayly seeing that when I presume of my own strength though it be in a thing which I haue often ouercome and many times farr greater it seemes to me yet I faile in that euen often to the offending thee my Lord in an extraordinary maner From this errour therefor my God heerafter deliuer thy poore contemptible seruant that I may praisâ— thee who art my only strength and hopeâ— Lead me which way thou willt soâ—â— may blesse thee in all and rest in thee aboue all From thee the strong receaue their strength and in thee sinners that haue nothing of our owne haue wherewith to supply all our want thou flyest vp with them who by an ardent loue haue surmounted all created things and are firmely vnited to thee in Spirit and thou also lendest thy sweet hand to thy little and imperfect ones who are of a good will to help them out of the mire and durt of passions and inordinate affections In this mercy my soul doth hope and reioice and I do in my pouerty congratulate the perfections of others beseeching thee to make me partaker of their merits And aboue all out of the aboundance of thy owne store giue me whereâ—ith to retorn to thee for all the merâ—ies thou hast shewed to my sinnefull â—oul Lett me please thee and praise â—hee and desire no more but that thou do with me whatsoeuer thou knowst most to thy honour O that soules would conuert their hart wholy to thee the most desirable beawty to whom if we compare all that is fair which thou hast made they will seeme â—o be without all beawty and light O if by humility soules would dispose themselues for the Diuine Loue what a reformation would there quickly be in the whole world When I remember how many soules seperate themselues by sinfull sinning from thee it pearceth my very soul seeing they forsak him who is an infinit good and a most amiable beawty Remember O Lord for thy own sake our extreame frailty and giue graâ—e that we may all conuert and return by Loue to thy Diuine Maiesty whose mercies are aboue all thy works for which Glory be euer to thee by all for time and eternity Amen THE X. CONFESSION ACCEDITE ad Deum illuminamini facies vestrae non confundentur Come to Him and be illuminated and your faces shall not be confounded These words in our diuine Office are spoken not only by him who by thy owne testimony was a man