my cause from vniust people teache me to fulfill thy will for thou art my God Because I beleiue that in whom soeuer thou doost vouchsafe to make thine habitation in him thou doost builde a house for God the Father and the Sonne That man doubtles is blest who shal be thought worthy to haue thee for his guest for that by thee the Father and the sonne will with him make their mansion Come now come most kinde comforter of a sorrowefull soule come most ready helper in tribulation and time of trouble Come o cleanser of sinnes o healer of woundes Come o strength of such as are fraile o releife of suche as fall Come o instructer of the simple and lowly destroyer of the proude and hautie Come o pittifull Father of the fatherlesse milde iudge of widowes Come o hope of the needy refresher of the fainte and sickly Come o bright starre of those that saile o hauen of those that by shipwrack faile on the sea Come o singular commendation of all men liuing the onely saluation of the faithfull departing Come o most holie Spirit come and take pittie vpon me Vnite me vnto thee and gratiously graunt me that according to the multitude of thy mercies my smalnes may be pleasing to thy greatnes and my weakenes to thy force through our Sauiour Iesus Christ who together with the Father in thy vnity liueth and raigneth for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for one seruing God and thinkinge humbly of himselfe CHAPT X. I knowe o Lord I knowe and confesse that I am not worthy to be beloued of thee yet certainely thou art not vnworthy to be beloued of me I am vnworthy I coÌ„fesse to serue thee but thou art not vnworthy worthy of my seruice seinge thou hast created me Graunt me therefore o Lord to doe that whereof thou art worthy and I shal be worthy of that whereof I am now vnworthy Make me by what meanes thou wilt to cease from iniquitie that accordinge as I am bounde I may be able to serue thee Graunt me soe to keepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Giue me grace at my dyinge day to sleepe with repose to repose with securitie to be secure for all eternitie Amen A Prayer to the Holy Trinitie CHAPT XI WIth my whole harte and mouthe I confesse thee God the Father vnbegotten thee the Sonne onely begotten thee the Holy Ghost giuer of comforte and consolation the holy and vndeuided Trinitie to thee be glorie for all eternitie The acknowledginge of God almightie and of his maiestie CHAPT XII O Holy Trinitie one virtue and vnseparable maiestie one God and God almighty I confesse vnto thee I that am the last and least of thy seruants and a poore member of thy church I confesse vnto thee and honour thee with a sacrifice of praise as is my duty according to the small knowledge and abilitie which thou hast giuen me And for that I haue noe exteriour guifts to offer vnto thee I therfore from an vnfained faith and vndefiled conscience doe willingâ—ly and ioyfully offer vnto thee those vowes of praise which by the guift of thy grace are fouÌ„de within me I therefore with my whole harte beleiue and call vpon thee I confesse the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost three in persons and one in substance to be the true God omnipotent of one nature or essence simple spirituall inuisible incompreâ—ensible hauing nothing higher or lower or greater then thy selfe but beinge perfect without deformity great without quantity good without quality eternall without time life without death strong without infirmity true without falshood euery where present without situation wholy euery where without location filling all thinges without extension occurring euery where without contradiction going beyond all thinges without motion stayinge in all thinges without station creatinge all thinges hauing want of nothing gouerning all thinges without trauaile or perturbation giuing beginning to all thinges thy selfe being without beginning making all thinges mutable thy selfe being without mutation In greatnes infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnes superexcellent in wisedome inestimable in thy counsells terrible iust in thy iudgements most secrett in thy cogitations true in thy wordes holy in thy workes aboundant in mercies Most patient towardes offenders most pittifull towardes penitent sinners beinge still the same eternall and euerlastinge immortall immutable whom the largenes of places doth not enlarge nor the litlenes make lesse nor any places of receipt whatsoeuer doe any way straighten and presse together Neither doth thy will alter thee nor freindshipp corrupt thee or dolefull thinges trouble thee or ioyfull thinges moue thee Whom neither forgettfullnes doth make to forgett nor remembrance to remember any thinge To whom thinges past and thinges to come are alwaies present To whom beginning neuer gaue beginning nor time augmentation neither shall any hap or chaunce euer giue ending but thou art he who liuest for euer and euer before all ages and in all ages and through out all ages To thee therefore is due perpetuall prayse and eternall glorie most soueraigne power and singular dignitie and euerlastinge kingdome and dominion worlde without end duringe all eternitie Amen After what manner it pleased God the Father to succoure mankinde Of the incarnation of the diuine Worde and thankes for the same CHAPT XIII HItherto o God almighty the beholder and searcher of my hart I haue confessed the omnipotency of thy maiestie the maiesty of thy omnipotency but now after what manner thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankind towardes the end of the world as I beleiue with the hart for my iustification soe I confesse with my mouth before thee therby to attaine saluation Certaine it is we cannot any where finde it written of thee that thou o God the Father hast at any time beene sent alone but of thy sonne thus writteth thy Apostle But when the fulnes of time was come God sent his soâ—re When he saieth he sent he sufficiently declareth that he came at that time sent into this worlde when being borne of blessed Marie euer a Virgin he appeared in our flesh true and perfect man But what is that which the cheife euaÌ„gelist affirmeth of him He was in the world and the world was made by him Doutlesse he was sent thither by taking vpoÌ„ him our humanitie where he alwaies hath beene and is remaining by his diuinity Which Mission I verily beleiue with my whole hart and confesse with my mouth to haue bene the work of the whole holy Trinity Now how greately hast thou loued vs o holy and louing Father how greately hast thou loued vs o pitâ—ifull Creator who hast not spared euen thine onely son but hast giuen him for vs sinners He hath beene obedient vnto thee vnto death euen the death of the crosse and takinge our hand writing or obligation wherin we stoode bounde aâ— slaues to the diuell by sinne and fastninge the same to the crosse he
them Certainely the Trinitie is wholy knoweÌ„ to thee onely o holy Trinitie o Trinitie most admirable most vnspeakeable most vnsearcheable most inaccessible most incomprehensible superintelligible and superessentiall superessentiallie surmounting all humaine sense all reason al vnderstanding all wisdome all essence or being euen of the very Saintes in heauen soe that it is impossible euen with Angells eies to expresse imagine vnderstande or knowe the same How then haue I knowen thee o Lord God most highe aboue all the earth and heauens who art not perfectlie knowen of the Cherubins and Seraphins theÌ„selues soe that theire face is couered with the winges of their coÌ„teÌ„platâ—oÌ„s whilst in praise of him that sitteth vpon the high and loftie throne they cry out with a loude voice saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of hostes All the earth is full of thy glory The Prophet was afraied and saied Woe be to me for that I haue beene silent because I am a man of vncleane lipps My harte likewise hath beene affrayed and saied Woe be to me for that I haue not beene silent because I am a man of vncleane lipps I cannot denie but that I haue affirmed that I haue knowen thee Neuerthelesse woe be to those who speak not of thee because without thy ayde and assistance those that speake much would become speechelesse Wherfore o Lord my God I will not be silent because thou hast made me and enlightned me by which meanes I haue founde my selfe and knowen thee But how haue I knowen thee I haue knowen thee in thy selfe I haue knowen thee not as thou art to thy selfe but as thou art to me not without thee but in thee because thou art the light which hast enlightned me For euen as thou art onely knowen to thy selfe as thou art to thy selfe soe thou art knowen to me according as by thy grace thou art to me But what art thou to me Tell me o mercifull Lord thy poore and wretched seruant tell me for thy mercies sake I beseech thee what art thou to me Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation hide not away thy face from me least I dye Suffer me albeit I am but earthe ashes to speake vnto thy mercy suffer me I say to speake vnto thy mercy because thy mercy is greate towardes me I will therfore presume to speake vnto my Lord albeit I am but dust and ashes Tell me o mercifull Lord thy poore and wretched seruaunt tell me for thy mercies sake I beseeche thee what art thou to me Whervpon thou hast thundered with a greate voyce from aboue into the internall eare of my harte and hast cured my deafnes soe that I haue hearde thy voyce thou hast likewise enlightned my blindnes and I haue seene thy light and knowen thee to be my God For this cause I affirmed that I haue knowen thee I haue knowen thee to be my God I haue knowen thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent There was a time when I did not know thee Woe be to that time when I did not knowe thee woe be to that blindnes when I did not see thee woe be to that deafnes when I did not heare thee when I became blinde deae and deformed by ouermuch affectinge those faire things which thou hast framed Thou o Lord wert with me and I was not with thee because those thinges did keepe me away from thee which had noe being but in thee Thou hast enlightned me o light of the worlde and I haue seene thee and loued thee Because noe man loueth thee but he that seethe thee and noe man seethe thee but he that loueth thee Too late haue I loued thee o beautie most old and new to to late haue I loued thee Woe be to that time when I haue not loued thee A profession of the true faith CHAPT XXXII I Giue thee thankes o my light who hast enlightned me I haue knowen thee But how haue I knowen thee I haue knowen thee to be the onely liuing and true God and my creator I haue knowen thee to be the maker of heauen and earthe of all thinges visible and inuisible to be true God omnipotent immortall and inuisible hauing neither boundes nor limits eternall inaccessible incomprehensible vnsearcheable immutable vnspeakeably greate yea infinite the beginning of all visible and inuisible creatures by whom all thinges are made by whom all the elements are preserued and maintained Whose maiestie like as it had neuer beginning soe it shall neuer haue ending I haue knowen thee to be one onely true God the euerlasting Father Sonne and holy Ghost three personnes indeede yet but one onely simple essence and indiuisible nature the Father from none the Sonne from the Father alone the holy Ghost proceeding equallie from the Father and the Sonne being alwaies without beginning or ending one onely God in three personnes true God almighty the sole beginning of all thinges the creator of all thinges visible and inuisible spirituall and temporall Who by thy omnipotent power in the beginninge when time first beganne didst create of nothing both creatures at once the spirituall and corporall to wit Angells and creatures of the worlde and after that man consisting of a bodie and soule as one common to both of them I haue knowen thee and confesse thee to be true God the Father vnbegotten the sonne begotten of the Father the holie Ghost the comforter neither begotten neither vnbegotten the sacred and vnseparable Trinitie in three personnes coequall consubstantiall and coeternall Trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in Trinitie which I belieue in my harte for my iustification and confesse with my mouthe for the attaining of saluation I haue knowen thee Iesus Christ our Lord the onely begotten sonne of God to be true God the creator sauiour and redeemer of me and all mankinde whom I confesse to haue beene borne of the father before all worldes God of God light of light verie God of verie God not made but begotten consubstantiall and coeternall to the father the holy Ghost by whom all thinges were made from the beginning firmely belieuing and vnfainedly confessing thee Iesus Christ the only begotten sonne of the father to be true God by the coÌ„mon consent of the whole Trinitie taking fleshe vppon thee for the saluation of man and by the cooperation of the holy Ghost conceiued of thy blessed mother Marie euer a Virgin being made true man of a reasonnable soule and humaine fleshe subsisting Who al be it thou art the onely begotten sonne of God and consequently impassible and immortall according to thy diuinitie yet by reason of the vnspeakeable loue wherewith thou hast loued vs thou the same sonne of God hast become passible and mortall according to thy humanitie Thou I say o onely Sonne of God for mans saluation hast vouchsafed to endure a most bitter death passion to the end thou mightest deliuer vs from death euerlasting Thou likewise o author of light hast descended into hell
stones thy gates are composed of the rarest pearles thy streetes paued with most pure golde in which Alleluia is ioyfullie and continuallie songe to God Thy mansions which are many are founded vpon fower square stones built of Saphires and couered ouer with tyles of golde into which none doe enter but such as are cleansed none doe dwell that are defiled Thou art beautifull and pleasant in thy delightes o HierusaleÌ„ our mother None of those thinges are suffered or seene in thee which we suffer and see in this vale of miserie In thee there is neuer any darkenes or night or any change of time The light that shineth in thee proceedeth neither stom lampes or candles nor from the moone nor from the brightnes of the starres but God of God the light of light euen Christ the sunnne of iustice giueth light in thee The white and immacultate lambe is thy most cleare and beautifull light The sunne and brightnes yea thy whole happines doth consist in the conteÌ„plation of this thy king surpassing all others in fairenes Euen the king of kinges himselfe in the middest of thee keepeth continuall residence compassed about with his seruants There are the quires of Angells singing hymnes there are the companies of the heauenly cittizens There is celebrated the sweete solemnitie and feaste of all such as returne from this sorrowfull pilgrimage vnto thy most ioyful rest There is the forseeing assembly of the Prophetes There is the mysticall nomber of the twelue Apostles There is the inuincible armie of innumerable Martyrs There is the reuerend companie of holy Confessors There are the true perfect Monkes There are the sacred Virgins and other holy woemeÌ„ who haue ouercome all worldly pleasure likewise the weakenes of theire owne nature There are those blessed boyes and girles who haue surmounted theire tender yeares by theire mature manners There are the sheepe and little lambes who as from a wolfe haue now escaped from the intangling snare of the pleasures of this life All these reioyce and triumphe in theire proper places differing ech one from an other in degree of glorie but being all alike in excesse of gladnes There charitie raigneth in full perfection because God is all in all vnto them besides whom they desire nothing whom they eternallie doe behold and by continuallie beholding him doe continuallie burne in his loue whom they alwaies doe loue and by louing doe prayse and by praysing doe loue theire whole exercise and all they haue to doe being nothing els but to praise God euerlastinglie without any difficultie Happie were I yea happie indeede for all eternitie if after the seperation of my soule from this my bodie I might be admitted to heare those Canticles of celestiall melodie which are sung in the praise of the euerlasting King by the cittizens troupes of Saints of that heauenlie countrie Happie I say yea exceeding and excessiuelie happie were I if I poore vnworthie wretch might be thought worthy to sing and in my turne to intone those celestiall Canticles if I might be neare vnto my king my God and my capitaine and might behold him in glorie euen as he vouchsafed to promise vs when he sayed O Father my will and desire is that those which thou hast giuen me be with me that they may see my glorie which I had with thee before the creatio of the world And in an other place He that ministreth vnto me lett him followe me and where I am there likewise shall my minister be And againe He that loueth me shal be loued of my Father and I will loue him and will shew my selfe vnto him A hymne of the glory of Paradyce composed by the blessed Peter Damian Cardinall of Ostia taken out of the sayings of S. Augustin CHAPT XXVI VNto the spring of endlesse life My fainting soule doth thirst Full saine the cloâ—sture of her flesh With speede shee wisheth burst She sekes shee sues shee striues exilde Her countrie to obtaine Wailing that nothing heere shee findes But miserie and paine Contemplating the glory which findes Shee when shee sinned lost Her woes encrease her greife the more To think how deare they cost For who can vtter with what ioy That happy peace delights Where Pallaces stand stately reard With liuing margarites With gold the loftie turretts shine And chambers glitter bright And all the frame with onely gemms And pretious stones is dight The streets the citty out are pau'd With golde as Christall cleen Where dirt nor rayes nor duÌ„ge annoyes Nor any filthe is seen Stormie winter scortching sommer Come neuer there to braule Rose-flowers spring continuallie With Spring continuall Lillies still white and saffron ruddie And balsame sweating growes Meades alwayes green corne alwayes grown And honie in riuers flowes Sweet spices breath out fragrant smells Rich liquors and perfumes Faire orchards ouershaded stand With fruit that nere consumes Noe varyng course of Sunne or Moone Or Starr comes there in sight The Lambe is to that happie cittie A neuer setting Light Nor Night nor Moine nor Time is there But a continuall day Where Saincts in glorie shine like SuÌ„nes And glittering beames display In triumph crown'd together they With â—oy coniubâ—laâ—e And th' battells of theire vanquish'd foe Secured now relate Purg'd cleane from either blotâ— or spott They grudg of flesh feâ—le none For flesh made now spirituall With th' Spir â—t gâ—ees in one Abounding with vntroubled peace Noe scandalls them annoy Who freed from mutabilitie Theire center reinioy Where now they present see that Truth Which mortall eyâ—s nere saw And from the euerlasting Spring A liuing sweetnesse draw Where ere they goe they still retaine The same vnaltered state Faire â—iuely cheerefull subiect to Noe change of Chance or â—ate Whose health no sicknes doth decay Whose youth noe age doth wait Whose being without passing is For Passing nowe is past They spring they bloome they flouriâ—s h stilo From all corruption free Mortallitie is swallowed vp By Immotallitie Who knowing him who all doth knowe Can ignorant not be Who in ech others patent breasts All inmost secrets see The same they will the same they nill One mind 's the same of all Though ' cording to theire seuâ—rall paines Theire guerdon's seuerall Thus what 's an others Charitie By loue soe makes her owne That what is propert'euerie one To all is common growne Where ere the bodie's'th ' Eagles there Are duely congregated And with it are those blessed Soules And Angells recreated One bread both countrie Cittizens Doth feede one breade they craue Still hungtie and yet alwayes full Still wiâ—â—ing what they haue Whom noe satiety doth cloy Whom hunger doth not bite With appetite they euer eate And still haue appetite There the melodious-singing Voyce New harmonies concents Theire eares are lull'd with sweetest sounds Of rarest instruments To him by whom they conquerd haue Due prayses there they sing O happie Soule who present dost Behold soe greate a king And from thy loftie throne suruiew ' The
how to praise him blessed is that man whose helpe is from God who hath soe disposed the ascents of his harte in this dolefull vale of miserie that by them he may ascende vp to the place of eternall felicitie Happie are the cleane in harte for they shall see God happie are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praise thee for euer and euer A Prayer greatly mouinge the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God CHAPT XXXV O Iesu our redemption loue and desire God of God giue â—are to me thy poore vnworthy seruant To thee I câ—ll crie with a loude voyce with my whole harte To thee I call calling thee into my soule enter into the same and make it fitting for thee that thou mayest possesse it without wrinkle or blemishe of iniquitie because reason requireth that a cleane dwellinge shoulde be prepared for soe cleane a Lord to dwell in Sanctifie me therefor I beseech thee thy vessell which thou hast made cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that heere and for all eternity I may be made a fitt habitation for thy diuine maiestie O most sweete most powerfull most louing most deare most powerfull most desired most inestimable most amiable most beautifull Lord thou art more sweet then honie more white then either milke or snowe more pleasant to the tast then nectar or delitious wine more pretious then golde or pretious stones and more deare to me then all the riches and honoures of this worlde What doe I say o my God my onely hope and my surpassing great mercie What doe I say my happie and secure sweetnes What doe I say in saying these thinges Verilie I say what I am able not what I ought Woulde to God I were able to singe such hymnes of prayses as doe the quires of blessed Angells O how willinglie woulde I bestowe my selfe wholy in singing and setting forthe thy praises O how deuoutelie in the middest of thy Church would I pronounce those Canticles of celestiall melodie to the praise and glorie of thy holy name But because I cannot doe this shall I therefore holde my peace Woe be to those that haue not thee in theire mouth because thou art he that openest the mouthes of such as are mute and makest the tongues of infants to be eloqueÌ„t Woe be to those whose talke is not of thee because those that are talkatiue and full of wordes are to be esteemed as men speecheles if theire talke doth not tende to the extollinge of thy praises But who is able to praise thee worthily o vnspeakable vertue and wisedome of the Father Seeing therefore I want wordes by which I might be able sufficientlie to expresse thee o diuine worde of all power and knowledge I will in the interim say what I can vntill thou vouchsafe to call me vnto thee where I shal be able to speake what appertaineth both to thee and me Wherfore I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt not soe much consider what I say as what I desire to say Verily I greatlie desire to speake that of thee which is fittinge meete in respect that all praise thankesgiuinge and glorie is due vnto thee Thou knowest therefore o God from whom the very secrets of our hartes cannot be concealed that thou art more deare and acceptable to me then heauen and earthe and all thinges elsâ— that are therein for I loue thee aboue heauen and earthe and all other thinges contained in them yea soe greate loue is due to thy holy name as that in comparison thereof noe transitorie thinge doth deserue the fame I doe loue thee o my God very muche and doe desire to loue thee still more and more Giue me grace that I may alwaies loue thee accordinge to the greatnes of my affection and according to the greatnes of my obligation that thou onely maiest be my whole intention and my whole meditation Lett me thinke of thee in the day time without ceasinge Lett me dreame of thee in the night season Lett my soule talke to thee lett my minde discourse with thee Lett my harte be beautified by the light of thy holy sight that hauinge thee for my conductor and capitaine I may marche forewarde from vertue to venue and at length may beholde thee the God of Gods in Sion During the time of this life I doe see thee obscurelie as it were through a mrtroure or looking glasse but then I shall beholde thee apparentlie face to face where I shall knowe thee like as I am knowen of thee Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Blessed are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praiâ—e thee worlde without end I beseeche thee therfore o Lord by thy manifolde mercies by which we are deliuered from eternall death mollifie my stonie harde harte harder then either stone or iron with thy most sacred and powerfull vnction and make me at all times to become a liuinge sacrifice in thy sight by the fire of compunctioÌ„ Make me to haue alwaies in thy sight a humble and contrite harte ioyned with aboundance of teares Make me in all my desires as one wholy deade to this wretched world and through the greatnes of the feare and loue of thee to forgett all thinges transitorie in so much as that I may neither greiue nor growe gladd at any temporall thinge being free from the feare loue of whatsoever passeth away with time beinge neither depraued through flattery nor dismaied through aduersitie And for that the loue of thee is forcible like vnto death graunt I beseeche thee that the fierie and sweete force of thy loue may wholy withdrawe my minde from all thinges vnder heauen that I may adhere to thee alone being fedd with the only memorie af thy sweetnes Lett the most odoâ—iferous smell of thee o Lord descende lett it descende I beseech thee lett it descende and with it lett the mellifluous loue of thee enter into my harte Let the admirable and vnspeakable fragrant sauoure of thee come vnto me causinge in me an eternall desire and affection and producinge in my harte fountaines of water flowinge into life euerlastinge Thou o Lord art infinitely good and therefore infinitelie to be loued and praysed of those whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud O most liberall louer of men most louinge Lord and most iust iudge to whom the Father hath committed all iudgment thou perceiuest in the most wise iudgement of thy righteousnesse whether this be iust and reasonable or noe that the children of this worlde of the night and darkenesse doe loue and seeke after riches and honoures that are transitorie and cannot long continue with a farr greater desire earnestnes and studie then we thy seruants doe loue and seeke after thee our God by whom we haue been made and redeemed For if one man loueth an other with soe greate affection as that the one can scarcely endure the other to
be wanting if the wife be conioyned to her husband with that feruoure of minde as that through the greatnes of her loue shee can take noe repose being not able without greate greife to sustaine the absence of her beloued husbande with what affection desire and feruoure of minde ought that soule whoÌ„ thou hast espoused and linked vnto thee by faith and thy manifold mercies to loue thee the true God the most beautifull spouse who hast after that wonderfull manner loued and saued vs who hast donne soe many soe greate and such vnspeakeable thinges for vs. But althoughe the transitorie thinges of this worldâ— haue theire particular loues and delightes yet is the delight and content which they yeilde farre inferiour to that which proceedeth from thee o Lord our God In thee the iust man is dâ—lighted because thy loue is sweete and peaceable thou being accustomed to replenishe those hartes which thou dost possesse with vnspeakeable delight sweetnesse and quietnes Contrariwise the loue of the worlde and of the fleshe causeth a thousande woes not permittinge the soules into which it entreth to be at any repose but continually vexeth them with suspitions with diuers doubtes and perturbations Thou therfore o Lord art the delight of good and iust men and truly not without reason for that in thee is true repose and a life free from molestation He that entreth into thee o good God entreth into the ioy of his Lord and shall not be any more afraied but shall finde himselfe happily placed in a most happie habitation saying This is my rest for euermore heere I will dwell because I haue chosen the same And Againe Our Lord guideth me and I shall want nothinge he hath placed me in a place of pasture O sweete Christ o good lesu fill my harte perpetually with thy vnquenchable charitie with the continuall remembrance of thee soe that beinge become as a fierie flame I may wholy burne through the sweetnes of thy loue which loue in me let be soe greate as that whole fountaines flouddes of water may neuer be able to quenche it Make me most sweete Lord to loue thee and for thy loue to lay a side the heauie and vnsuportable burden of all earthly and carnall conscupiscences which doe molest and presse downe my wretched soule to the end that being freed from them and runninge after thee in the sweete smell of thy odoriferous ointments I may at length hauinge thee for my guide be able to attaine to the vision and fruition of thy beauâ—ie and by the same to remaine truly satisfied eternally For two seuerall loues the one good the other â—uill the one sweete the other bitter cannot in one harte possibly dwell together And therefore if any one doth loue any thinge besides thee thy charitie in him o God is not the loue of sweetnes and the sweetnes of loue for thou art that loue that afflicteth not but delighteth that loue that for euer remaineth chast and sincere that loue alwaies burneth and neuer consumeth O sweete Christ o good Iesu my loue my loue and my God inflme me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes and delectaâ—ion with thy mirth and exultation with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and good chast cleane quiet and secure to the end that being wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy inflamed with the fire of thy charity I may loue thee my God with all my harte force and strength hauinge thee at all times and in al places in my harte in my mouth and before mine cees soe that noe receptacle may be founde in me to receiue the counterfayted loue of thinges transitorie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee to the end thou maiest heare me O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the intercession prayer and request of the glorious virgin Marie thy mother and my Ladie and of all the Saintes of thy heauenly Cittie Amen A most deuoute Prayer demaunding Grace of God to praise him as wee ought CHAPT XXXVI O Christ our Lord the diuine worde of the Father whose comming into the worlde was to saue sinners I beseech thee by the bowels of thine infinite mercie amende my life make better mine actions compose my manners take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to me displeasinge to thee and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasinge to thee and profitable for me Who is there that can cleanse man from sinne conceiued in the same sauinge thou alone Thou arâ— God almighty of infinite mercy who iustifiest the wicked and raysest to life those that through sinne were deade who changest sinners from that which they were before vpholdinge them that they fall not any more Remoue from me therfore I beseeche thee whatsoeuer in me is displeasinge vnto thee Thy eies I knowe doe plainely see mine imperfections to be very manie Wherefore may it please thee to stretche forth towards me the hande of thy mercie and with the same remoue from me whatsoeuer is offensiue in me to the eies of thy diuine Maiestie My health o Lord and my sicknesse doe depende of thy power preserue I beseech thee the one and cure the other Cure me o Lord and I shal be cured saue me and I shal be saued thou art he that dost cure those thinges that are diseased keepinge them in health after they are healed thou art he that with the very becke and nod of thy heade dost repaire those thinges that are ruined and decayed For if it be thy pleasure to sowe in my hart the good seedâ— of vertues it is necessarie that first with the hande of thy pittie thou pluck vp the thornes of mine iniquities Most sweete benigne louinge deare desired beloued and most beautifull Lord powre into my harte I most hartlie beseeche thee the aboundance of thy sweetnes and charitie that I may neither desire nor as much as thinke vppon any worldly or carnall delectation but may loue thee alone hauinge thee onely in my mouthe and in my affection Write in my breaste with thy finger the sweete remeÌ„brance of thy hony sweete name by noe forgetfulnes euer to be blotted out of the same Write in the tables of my harte thy most holy will and thy iustifications that alwaies and in all places I may haue thee and thy preceptes before mine eieâ— who art a Lord of infinite sweetnes Inflame my minde with that sacred fire of thine which thou haâ—t sent into the world and dost greatlye desire that it should be kindled to the end that with teares I may daylie offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a humble and contrite harte O sweete Christ and louinge Iesu giue me as I desire as I desire with my whole hart giue
nowe o Lord Iesu thine accustomed mercies Wilt thou be displeased with me alwaies Be appeased I beseeche thee and take pittie of me and turne not away thy louinge face from me who to redeeme me hast not turned away thy face from those that did â—â—ocke and spit vpon thee I confesse that I haue sinned and my conscience doth adiudge me worthy of damnation neither is my pennance sufficient to make satisfaction neuerthelesse it is a thinge infallible that thy mercie doth surmount all offence whatsoeuer be it neuer soe abominable Wherefore o most mercifull Lord I beseeche thee doe not write any malitious bitternes against me neither enter into iudgment with thy seruant but according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out mine iniquities Woe be to me at the day of iudgment when the bookes of our consciences shal be opened wherein our actions are registred when of me it shall openly be proclaimed See heere the man and his deedes committed What shall I doe o Lord my God at that dreadfull day when the heauens shall reueale mine iniquitie and the earthe shall beare witnes against me Verilie I shall be mute and able to say nothinge but holding downe mine head through shame and confusion I shall stande before thee shaking and blushing Alas what shall I say I will call and crie vnto thee o Lord my God Why am I consumed being silent Neuerthelesse if I speake my greife will not cease and if I holde my peace I shall inwardlie be tormented with vnspeakeable bitternes Weepe o my soule and make lamentation as a younge married woman for the deathe of her newe married husbande weepe and bewaile thy miserie for that thy bridegroome which is Christ hath forsaken thee O anger of the almightie rushe not vpon me because thou canst not be contained in me verily there is nothing in me that is able to sustaine thee Take pittie of me loast I despaire of thy mercie that by despairing of my selfe I may finde comforte in thee And albeit I haue donne that for which thou maiest iustly condemne me yet thou hast not lost thy accustomed propertie of shewing mercie and pittie Thou o Lord dost not desire the death of sinners neither dost thou take pleasure in the perdition of those that die nay rather that those that were deade might 〈◊〉 thou thy selfe hast died and thy death hath beene the death of that death that was due to sinners And if thou dying they haue â—iued graâ—nt o Lord I beseeche thee that thou living I may not die Let thy heauenly hande help me and deliuer me from the handes of those that hate me lâ—ast they insult reioyce ouer me saying we haue deuouted him Howe is it possible o good Iesu that euer any one can despaiâ—e of thy mercie who when we were thine enimies hast redeemed vs with thy pretious blood and hast reconciled vs to God Beholde o Lord protected with the shadowe of thy mercie I runne crauing pardon to the throne of thy glorie calling and knocking vntill thou take pittie of me For if thou hast called vs to pardon euen when we did not seeke it by how much more shall we obtaine pardon if we aske it Remember not thy iustice o most sweete Iesu towardes me a sinner but be mindeful of thy meeknes towards me thy creature Remember not thine anger towardes me guilty but be mindefull of thy mercie towardes me in miserie Forgett my pride prouoking thee to displeasure and weigh my wretchednes imploring thy fauoure For what doth thy sacred name Iesu signifie sauing onely a Sauiour Wherfore o Sauioure Iesu be thou my succoure and protection say vnto my soule I am thy saluation I doe presume very muche of thy diuine bountie because thou thy selfe dost teache vs to aske seeke and knocke at the dore of thy mercie Wherfore I doe aske seeke and knocke at thy dore as by thy wordes thou hast admonished me to doe Thou therfore o Lord that willest me to aske graunt that I may receiue Thou that dost couÌ„sell me to seeke graunt me likewise to finde Thou that dost teach me to knock open vnto me knockinge at the dore of thy mercie Recouer me being diseased repaire me being crased raise me being deade Vouchsafe likewise soe to direct and gouerne all my senses thoughtes and actions in that which is pleasing vnto thee that from hence forth I may faithfullie serue thee I may liue and giue my selfe wholy vnto thee I knowe o Lord that by reason thou hast made me I doe owe my selfe vnto thee and by reason thou hast redeemed me and hast been made man for me I doe owe if I had it to giue thee much more then my self vnto thee by how much greater then me thou art who hast giuen thy selfe for me Beholde I hau nothing els to giue thee neither can I giue thee this without thee take me therefore and drawe me vnto thee that I may be thine by imitation and affection like as I am by condition and creation Who liuest and raignest world without end Amen A profitable Prayer CHAPT XL. O Lord God almightie who art Trinitie in vnitie who art alwaies in al thinges and wert before all thinges and wilt be in all thinges euerlastingly one blessed God during all eternitie To thee this day and all the dayes of my life I coÌ„mende my soule my bodie my seeing hearing taste smelling and touchinge all my cogitations affections wordes and actions all thinges that I haue without within me my sense and vnderstanding my memorie faith and beleife and my constancie in well doinge all these I commende into the handes of thy powerfull protection to the end that all the nightes and daies howers and moments of my life thou wilt vouchsafe to preserue them Heare me o sacred Trinitie and preserue me from all euill from all scandall from all offence mortall from all the deceiptes and vexations of the diuell and of mine ennimies visible and inuisible by the prayers of the Patriarchs by the meritts of the Prophets by the suffrages of the Apostles by the constancie of Martyrs by the faith of CoÌ„fessors by the chastity of Virgins and by the intercession of al those Saints and holy men that haue pleased and faithfullie serued thee since the worlde began roote out of my hart all vaine glorious ostentation and increase in me the spiritt of compunction appease my pride and make perfect my humilitie Stirre me vp to teares and contrition and mollifie my hart being as harde as a stone Deliuer me o Lord and my soule from all the snares of my ghostlie enimie and preserue me in the performance of that which is most pleasing vnto thee Teache me to doe thy will o Lord because thou art my God Giue me o Lord a perfect sense and intelligence wherâ—by I may be able to knowe and acknowledge thy maruailous greate kindenesse Graunt that my petitions may be such as that they may be pleasing to thee and profitable to my selfe â—raunt
where our forefathers did sit in darknes and hast returned from thence on the third day as a glorious conquerour resuming againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had remained deade in the sepulcher and reuiuing it the third day accordinge to the scripture that thou mightest place it in glorie at the right hande of God the father For hauinge deliuered those from captiuitie whom the ancient foe and ennimie of mankind hath detained as prisoners in â—imbo Patrum thou the true sonne of God hast ascended aboue all the heauens with the substance of our flesh that is with a soule and humaine flesh taken of the glorious Virgin mounting aboue all the orders of Angells where thou sittest at the right hande of God the Father where there is the fountaine of life and that light vnto which noe creature can attaine where there is the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding We adore thee Iesus Christ belieuing thee to be there confessinge God to be thy Father from whence we expect thee to come at the end of the worlde to iudge both the quicke and the deade and to render to all men whether good or euill a rewarde or punishment accordinge to theire actions donne in this life like as euery one shal be deemed worthy either of perpetuall peace or paine For all men that haue receiued a humaine soule shall arise at that day in the same fleshe which they had heere being by the voice of thy diuine power summoned to appeare to the end that euerie man his soule and body being reunited in one may according to his meritts receiue ether glorie or damnation Thou o Lord Iesus Christ art our life and our resurrection whom we expect as our Sauiour to come and saue vs who wilt reforme the bodie of our basenes making it conformable to the bodie of thy brightnes I haue knowen thee true God and one holy Spirit of the Father and the Sonne proceeding equallie from both of them consubstantiall and coeternall to the Father and the Sonne being our comforter and aduocate who in likenes of a doue hast descended vppon the same God our Lord Iesus Christ appearing likewise in tongues of fire vppon the Apostles Who alsoe by the guift of thy grace hast taught all the Saints and elect of God from the beginning openning in like manner the mouthes of the Prophetes to the end they might declare the wonderfull thinges of thy heauenly kingdome who together with the Father and the Sonne art adored and glorified of all the Saints of God Amongst whome I likewise the sonne of thy hande-maide doe with my whole hart glorify thy name because thou hast enlightned me For thou art the true light the light that telleth the truth the truth the fire of God and the maister and directour of our soules who by thy sacred vnction dost teache vs all truth Thou art the Spirit of truth without whose ayde it is impossible to please God because thou thy selfe art God of God light of light proceeding after an vnspeakable manner from the Father of lightes and from his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord with whom thou art glorified and dost raigne together with them superessentiallie being consubstantiall coequall and coeternal with them in the essence of one Trinitie I haue knowen thee one liuing and true God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost three indeede in personnes but one in essence whom I confesse adore and glorifie with my whole harte as the tâ—ue and onely God holy immortall inuisible immutable inaccessible vnsearcheable one light one sunne one breade one life one good one beginning and one end one creator of heauen and earthe by whom all thinges doe liue are preserued guided gouerned and reuiued in heauen in earthe and vnder the earth besides whom there is noe God either is heauen or earthe Thus o Lord God I haue knowen thee who knowest me thus I haue knowen thee I haue knowen thee o my light by thy faithe which thou hast inspired into me o Lord my God the light of â—â—ineeies the hope of the vniuersall worlde the ioy that maketh glad my young and tender yeares and the good that sustaineth my old age All my bones reioyce in thee o Lord saying O Lord who is like vnto thee Who is like vnto thee o Lord amongst the Gods For that the handes of men haue not made thee but contrariwise it is thou that hast made the handes of men The idolls of the Gentills are siluer and golde the workemanship of the handes of men but the maker of men is not such an one All the Gods of the Gentiles are diuells but our Lord hath made the heauens he therefore is the true God Let those Gods which haue not made heauen and earthe perishe and be cast forth of heauen and earthe and let heauen and earthe prayse that God which hath created heauen and earthe The acknowledging of our owne basenes CHAPT XXXIII WHo is like vnto thee o Lord euen amonge the Gods Who I say is like vnto thee Thou art greate in sanctiâ—ie terrible and worthy to be praised doing things that deserue to be admired Too too late haue I knowen thee o true light too too late haue I knowen thee And the cause was for that there was a great and darke cloude before mine eies that delighted in vanitie which hindred me from beholding the sunne of iustice and the light of all veritie I was wrapt in darknes being the child of darknes because I knewe not the light I was blindâ— and loued blindnes and walked through one darknes into an other Who hath deliuered me from thence where I remained as a blinde man sitting in darknes and in the shadowe of death Who hath taken me by the hande and lead me forthe of the same Who is he that hath thus enlightned me I sought him not and he sought me I called him not and he called me But who is he Thou art he o Lord my God being most mercifull and pittifull yea the Father of mercies and God of all comforte Thou o Lord my God most holy art he that hast donne the same whom I confesse with my whole harte rendring thanks to thy holy name I did not seeke thee thou hast sought me I did not call vpon thee thou hast called me yea thou hast called me by thine owne name Thou hast thundered from heauen with a greate voice into the internall eare of my harte saying Let light be made and light was made whereupon that greate and darke cloude which had couered mine eies departed and was dissolued whereby I haue seene thy light and knowen thy voice And I saied Trulieo Lord thou art my God who hast deliuered me out of darknes and from the shadowe of deathe calling me into thy admirable light soe that now I see Thanks be to thee o Lord who hast enlightned me And I looked backe and beheld the darknes wherein I had liued and the deepe darke dongeon wherein I had remained