When we rise.

RIse, O my soule that sleepest, arise from death, & Christ shal Ephe. 5. 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 Esay 52. 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 [Page 5] 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) 2 Cor. 1. 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 [Page 6] 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 [Page 7] 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.

1. The commemoration of bene­fits receiued.

O God my God, early doe I Psalm. 66. 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: [Page 8] and the end without end. For euen as no man might euer create any thing without thee: so could not a­ny thing be created by any other but by thee: to the end that all things might serue thee, praise thee, and publish thy glory.

Thou art the vniuersall dispen­ser of good things, so that there is no benefit to be found either of na­ture or grace, body or soule, which taketh not his originall from thee, who art the fountaine of all good­nes. Thou art the maine of all perfection, the Abysse of all great­nesse, the D [...]ean of infinite mercy and goodnes, the image of incom­parable beauty, Thou art the God of Gods, the holy of holiest, the King of Kinges, the Lord of Lords, the cause of causes, the be­ing of beings, the life of the liuing, the order of the Uniuers, the beau­ty of the world, the glory of the heauens.

Thou art my Creator, that ma­dest me of nothing to thine owne Image and similitude: Thou art my conseruer, who by thy proui­dēce maintainest me, lest I should [Page 9] become nothing Thou art my san­ctifier, who by thy grace extollest me vnto things which are diuine.

Thou art my glorifier, who hast made me to enioy the glorie euer­lasting. Thou art my defender, helper, pastor, & benefactor. Thou art my King, my Lord, my father, my spouse. Thou art the center of my soule; my last end, in whom a­lone consisteth all my felicity, hap­pinesse, and the last perfection of my life: what neede many words? Thou art to me all in all, in as much as thou art God.

But in as much as thou art man, thou art my redeemer, my sauiour, and deliuerer: Thou art (as the A­postle testifieth) my wisedome, my 1. Cor. 1. iustice, my sanctification, my re­demption, my sacrifice, my Lambe, my priest, my aduocate, my inter­cessor, my doctor, my example, my fortitude, my consolation. Thou art the generall phisition of all my wounds & infirmities. Thou hast healed my pride by thy humility: my auarice, by thy pouerty; my plea­sures by thy dolors; my wrath, by thy meeknes: my enuy by thy cha­rity: [Page 10] my excesse by the gall and vi­negar which thou tastedst for my sake: my sloath by thy diligence, and vnmeasurable labors vnderta­ken for my sake.

For my sake thou didst fast, wander hither and thither, sweate, watch, pray, weepe: for mee thou wert banished, persecuted, de [...]ded, mockt, spit vpon, whipt, crowned with thornes, crucified, and more afflicted than all other men of this world, and at length put to death.

2. A thanksgiuing.

ALL these are thy benefits, O Lord, for which I ought to yeeld thee thanks nay rather they are most iust causes for which I am indebted vnto thee & bonds, by which thou holdest me captiue & bound vnto thee. What shall I giue vnto our Lord, for all the be­nefits Psal. 115. hee hath bestowed on mee? by what duty, or what humble ser­uice shall I recompence so manie graces bestowed vpon me? Uerily I beleeue, that although I onely [Page 11] had all mens hearts, and with all them did only loue thee: yet might I not in the least sort yeeld thee that which belongeth vnto thee. How then for many & so great be­nefits shall I yeeld thee satisfacti­on? How can I deny thee that one heart which I haue for all, whē I owe thee so much, for all thy bene­fits towards me? What shal I say my God? what shall I doe? for I alone am not sufficiēt to yeeld thee condigne thanks for such a multi­tude of blessings. But I know what I shall doe: I will call vpon all creatures that are in heauen & on earth, and I will desire them to assist me, and vouch safe with me to sing thy praises, and glorifie with mee the Lord of all glorie. Let vs therefore sing the song which the three children sang in the burning Furnace in Babilon, saying:

O blesse ye, all the workes of the Lord God, praise ye and magnifie him for euer.

O yee angels of the Lord, blesse yee the Lord, praise him and mag­nifie him for euer.

O yee heauens, blesse the Lord, [Page 12] praise yee and magnifie him for e­uer.

O yee waters that are aboue the firmament, blesse yee our Lord, praise him and magnifie him for e­uer. &c.

3. The oblation of a mans selfe.

ALL these praises and bles­sings doe I owe thee (O fa­ther) yea, and far more grea­ter belong vnto thee. For if I shal more neerely examine the matter, I not only owe thee mine, but my selfe also. For if in India, a man buy a­nother man for a red cap, and hee that is bought at so slight a rate, is in such sort wholly obliged & sub­iect to the buier, as that he is nei­ther master of a moment of time, or of a farthing, but is very often cast into fetters by his Lord, beaten with clubs, and handled according to the humour of him that bought him: what shall become of me O Lord? I am thine, yea truly wholy thine, not tied vnto thee vnder one [Page 13] name and title, but by infinite re­spects. Thou hast created me, thou hast bought me, not with a red cap, but with thy precious blood: thou hast conserued me in all and euery momēt of my life. For without thee I can nether stir hād or foot: with­out thy prouidence I can neither breath nor respire or act any thing: with what colour thē can I cast off thy dominion ouer me? How an I deny thee that which is thine? By what right can I challenge liberty to my selfe? Or with what impu­dence (shaking off the yoake of my Lord) can I wish to liue according to my wicked desires, when by so many reasons, I am thine, & ought so wholy to be dedicated vnto thee?

Most humbly therfore acknow­ledging thy dominion ouer me, be­hold I dedicate my self wholy vnto thee, and intirely submit my selfe to thy perpetuall seruice & subiection. Neither doe I onely offer my selfe vnto thee, but also all that which is mine, what soeuer this day, or in the rest of my life, I shall thinke, speake, or do: with all those things which at any time for thy sake shal [Page 14] be offered me to admit or further [...] so that henceforward I wil neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep, nor do any such like thing, whose end shall not bee the honour & glory of thy most holy name.

Once more I say, O Lord I sa­crifice my selfe vnto thee, lest here­after I be mine owne & not thine: I will liue no more according to mine owne will, I will not labour for my selfe, I wil not seek my selfe; but in all things, & euery way will I seeke thee, obey thy will, and be diligent in thy seruice: and if at a­ny time I shall doe the contrary, I will call my selfe a theefe and raui­sher of an other mans right; for that dutie and obedience which vn­der so many titles, and by so much right appertaineth vnto thee, deni­ing and stealing the same from thee, I shall vsurpe vnto my selfe.

4. A petition for new benefits.

BUt because without thy grace I cannot yeeld thee that duty, I pray thee (O Lord) that thou [Page 15] wilt assist me herein, and create in me a new heart that shal not iudge himselfe to be his own, no, not for [...] moment of time, but shall thinke [...] lost whatsoeuer is not imployed in thy honour and seruice: giue me a will, that may desire nothing more than to keepe thy comman­dements and obey thy wil: giue me an vnderstanding, that may medi­tate on thy law day and night, and such a memory as may neuer be for­getfull of thee.

Furthermore (O Lord) giue a bridle to my tongue, & set a watch before mine eyes. Grant me the pu­ritie of heart, the austerity of the f [...]esh, the mortification of all appe­ [...]es and perturbations of the minde. Finally, giue me a groun­ded humility of heart, and with it patience, obedience, meeknesse, cha­stity, true discretion: with these po­uerty of spirit, feruent zeal of thine honor, the loue of my neighbour, and sincere compassion of an other mans tribulations. Who liuest & reignest world without end.

Amen.

When any sudden feare assai­leth thee.

BE vnto mee (O Lord a tower Psal. 60. of strength against the face of mine enemy.

If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee.

PIerce my flesh with thy feare: Psalm. 118. 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 Psal. 50.

If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee.

GIue me the ioy of thy saluati­on, and confirme mee with a Psal. 50. principall spirit.

If vaine glory seduce thee.

NOt vnto vs (O Lord) not vn­to vs, but to thy [...]ame giue Psal. 113. the glorie.

If desperation molest thee.

GOd is my hope frō my youth: from the wombe of my mother Psal. 70. thou art my protector.

If thou be afflicted in minde.

HElpe me, and I shall be safe, & I will meditate alwaies vpon Psal. 118. thy iustifications.

If sloth assaile thee,

EXcite thy power (O Lord) and come: conūrme mee in thy Psal. 79. words, lest I faile in the way.

If labour tire thee.

BEhold my humility, and my la­bour, Psal. 24. & 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 Luke 21. you shall possesse your soules.

If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee.

INcline my hart (O Lord) to thy Psalm. 118 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 Rom. 14 ioy in the holy Ghost: It is the [Page 50] Spirit that quickneth, the fiesh profiteth nothing. Iohn 6.

Is euill [...] thee.

VVHose tinage and super­scription is this? And hea­ring that it is Ce [...]ars, that is, the Matth. 21. Act. 8. 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 Psalm. 115. much [...]west thou, m [...] soule? And tur [...]g to the angels, lay, Come and heare, and I wil show you, all y [...]e that [...]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. Psal. 85.

I [...] [...] persecution

IUdge them (O Lord) that hurt Psal. 34. mee, ouerthrow them that fight [Page 51] 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 Psal 9. Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities, in tribulation? Stay with vs, O Lord, for it wax­eth Luke 2. night.

Against detractors,

SAue mee (O God) for the righ­teous Psal. 11. 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 Act. 7. charge, because they know not what thy do.

When we address [...] our selues to studie.

BLessed art y ^u (O Lord) teach Psal. 118. 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) Psalm. 102. and forget not his benefits.

Sometime with an affection of loue.

I Will loue thee, O Lord my strength, God is my foundation, Psal. 17. my refuge, and my deliuerer: God is my helper, and I will hope in him. Euen as the Hart desireth the fountaines, so longeth my soule Psal 40. after thee, O God. My soule hath thirsted after the liuing fountaine God: When shall I come and ap­peare before the face of my God? My teares were bread vnto mee day and night, whilest they dayly said vnto me, Where is thy God?

Then inflamed with the loue of eter­nall beatitude, let him say:

OHow amiable are thy dwelling places, thou Lord of hosts my Psal. 83. soule thirsteth and longeth after the dwelling place of my God.

This that felloweth was familiar to the Fathers in Aegypt.

VVHo shall giue me wings like Psal. 54. a Doue, and I will fly and take rest?

The first Praier.

OOnly begotten Son of God, great and vnspeakable are y ^• benefits, O Lord, which I haue receiued at thy hands: thou fra­medst mee of the dust and dirt of the earth, and createdst my soule of nothing, to thy image & simili­tude, and madest it capable of thy glory: thou gauest mee vnderstan­ding, memo will, election, with [Page 54] all my members and senses, and with them the knowledge and loue of thee. Thou keptst mee in the secret celles of my mothers womb, lest in them I should bee choaked without baptisme. Thou sustai­nedst mee patiently after so many sins, euen vnto this present day, where in the meane space there are many others who haue lesse offen­ded than [...] & yet because y ^u wouldst not hitherto expect them, they are now perhaps tormented in hell. But besides all this, it was thy pleasure to take flesh vpon thee & to conuerse amongst men for my sake, to bee afflicted & troubled for me; to be bedewed w ^t bloudy sweate; to bee taken, bound, buffeted, spit vpon, mockt, blasphemed; to be clo­thed in a white and purple garmēt like a foole: to be strooken with a reede, to be blinded, condemned to death, & led to the place of executiō, hauing on thy shoulders the croūe to which thou wert affixed with nailes, and hanged betwixt two theeues, and adiudged for a male­factor: thou didst drinke gall and vineger: finally, thou wert slaine [Page 55] with most cruel death. By so many labours and dolors (O my God) thou didst redeeme mee, and yet I most vile and peruerse sinner, in­grateful for so many benefits, haue so oftentimes newly strooken thee againe, & nailed thee to the crosse by my sins: for which cause I am worthy that all creatures should rise vp against me, & take reuenge of this my so great iniurie.

What should I say of y ^• abuse of thy sacraments & medicines, which by thy precious bloud, thou insti­tutedst & obtainedst for me? Thou tookest mee for thine in the sacra­ment of baptisme, there thou adop­tedst me for thy sonne, and conse­cratedst mee as it were thy temple, there didst thou annoint me for thy Priest, King, and Champion, who was to wage combat with the ene­my: there diddest thou espouse my soule, and gauest me al the honors which were answerable to this dig nity. But how haue I vsed al these benefits and ornaments which I haue receiued from thee? what co­gitatiōs had I of keeping these ri­ches? Thou tookest me for thy son, [Page 56] and I may become the seruant of sinne. Thou sanctifiedst me for thy temple, and I made my selfe the habitation of diuels. Thou ar­medst me like a generous souldier, and I reuolted and fled vnto thine enemies. Thou madest me a king, and I waxed proud in the king­dome which thou gauest me. Thou espousedst my soule to thee in per­petuall charitie, and I more loued vanity than verity: more the crea­tures, than my Creator. Truly it were rightfull, yea most iust, (O Lord) that yet now at length I should begin to weepe, complaine, and lament, when I haue commit­ted so many and so enormous sinnes.

This is it that so long time thou expectedst from mee, as thou hast giuen me life: For so oftentimes hast thou called mee, and so long hast thou sustained mee, strooke mee, and againe flattered mee, and hast sought all waies and meanes that thou mightest reclaime mee vnto thee: thou hast expected mee, and I haue abused thy patience: thou hast called mee, and I haue [Page 57] stopt mine eares against thy coun­sels. Thou gauest mee time for re­pentance, and I consumed y ^• same in my pride: thou strookest me, and I felt it not: thou afflictedst mee, & I would not take thy correction: thou sweatedst that thou mightest clense mee, and I am not washed: thou prouedst mee by fire, and the rust of my sins is not clensed away. I am hardned as well by thy scour­ges, as thy allurements: ingratful to these: rebellious against those. Notwithstanding (O Lord God) though thou hast suffered so many and so great things for mee, thou hast commanded me that I should not despaire, nor distrust in thy mercie: I conuert my selfe there­fore wholy vnto thy mercy, and beseech thee to giue mee grace, that I may amend my selfe, where­by I may so heereafter please thee and serue thee, that I neuer here­after reuolt from thee, but cleaue alwaies to thee for euer and euer.

Amen.

For contrition. The second praier.

O Supreme Maker of al liuing creatures, when I bethink my selfe how greatly I haue offended thy diuine maiesty by my sinnes, I quake for feare, and detest my vn­decent madnes: considering how bountifull and reuerend a Father I haue forsooke: I curse my in­gratitude, when I consider from how noble a liberty I am fallen, into most miserable seruitude: I accuse my inconstancy, & know not what to set before mine eies, but iudgement and hell: for thy iustice from which I cannot flie, terrifi­eth my conscience.

On y ^• other side, when I behold thy vnmeasurable mercy, which ac­cording to the testimonie of thy Psal. 144. Prophet surpasseth al thy works, presently a pleasing breath of hope doth refresh mee, and strengthneth my too feeble mind. For as before I despaired, so here do I finde re­mission [Page 59] of my sinnes in him, who by the writing of his Prophets so oftentimes inuiteth sinners to re­pentance, saying, I wil not y ^• death Ezech. 18. of a sinner, but rather that he con­uert and liue. Thy onely begotten Son likewise declareth by many similitudes how ready thou art to pardon those that are penitent. That expressed he by the lost pen­ny, by the lost sheep, brought home on the shoulders of his pastor: but especially by the prodigall sonne, Luke 15. whose image I acknowledg in my selfe. For I am he that haue indeed forsaken my most louing Father: I haue spent all my substance: and obeying the appetites of my flesh, haue fled the obedience of thy com­mandements, and haue fallen in­to the most filthy captiuity of sin: now am I trauelled with extreme necessity, from which who shall de­liuer me, I truly know not, except it be he whom I haue forsaken.

Receiue me therefore (O Lord) thy most hūble seruant, submissiue­ly seeking pardō at thy hands, into thy fauor. But wheras (though in vaine) thou hast euen vnto this [Page 60] houre so bountifully expected mee, I confesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eies to heauen, or to call thee Father: yet because thou art my true Father, vouchsaf with thy fatherly eies to behold me: for thy aspect alone quickeneth the dead, and draweth all such as run astray, vnto thee. For this, whatso­euer repētance which I now haue, I could not haue had, except thou hadst beheld me.

When as wandring I forsooke thee, thou lookedst vpon mee from the highest heauens, where I was furthest from thee: and didst open mine eies that I might behold thee and search my conscience, and be­hold my selfe ouerwhelmed with so much wickednesse. Come therefore (O Lord) to receiue me: giue mee the knowledge and memory of my lost innocencie: I require not thy imbracings, nor thy kisses: I pray thee not to giue mee that goodly garment y ^• I was wont to weare, nor the ring of my ancient dignity: I require not that thou shouldest receiue me into the state and dig­nity of thy children: but it shall [Page 61] suffice mee if I may bee numbred amongst the mercenary seruants of thy house, sealed with thy mark, and tied with thy bonds, lest euer heereafter I run away from thee: It shal not grieue me, although in this life I bee one of the most con­temptible slaues of thy house, so that thou separate me not for euer from thee.

Heare me therefore, most merci­full Father, and giue me the grace of thy onely begotten Sonne: and communicate with mee the merits of his passion. Giue me thy Spirit that it may purifie my heart, and strengthen it in thy grace, lest hereafter I returne again, through ignorance, into that exile, from whence thy grace hath recalled me: who liuest & reignest world with­out end.

Amen.

For contrition. The third most zealous praier.

VVHo shall giue water to my head, and a fountaine of [Page 62] teares to my eies, that night and day I may bewaile my sinnes, and lament my ingratitude against God my Creator? There are many things (O omnipotent Lord) that incite the hearts of men, and draw them to the knowledge of then sinnes: but there is none so effe­ctuall, as the consideration of the greatnesse of thy bounty, and the multitude of thy benefits: yea, euē to those sinners, which are most reprobate & wretched. That there­fore my most miserable soule may by that meanes be confounded and ashamed, I wil begin (O Lord) to reckon vp some of thy mercies an [...] my mischiefes, that but in this I may manifestly vnderstand wh [...] thou art, & who I am: what tho [...] wert towards me: and what I a [...] towards thee.

The time was once (my God when I was not: & thou gauest [...] being, and tookest mee out of [...] dust of the earth, creating mee a [...] cording to thine owne image a [...] similitude: then from my mother­wombe thou becamest my God: f [...] frō the first moment wherin I be­gan [Page 63] to bee, euen vnto this present houre, thou art my Father, my re­deemer, my defender, and all my good. Thou createdst my body, with all my members and senses: thou createdst my soule, with all her powers: and hitherto hast thou preserued my life, by the benefite of thy prouidence.

All these (although in them­selues they be great, yea weiny al) yet are they little in respect of thy greatnes. But because thou hadst these things gratis, and bought by no great price, thou wouldest giue mee another thing which cost thee more decre, that I might thereby bee the more indebted vnto thee. Thou descendedst frō heauen vp­on the earth, that thou mightest find me, seeking me in al my waies in which I had lost my self. Thou didst ennoble my humanity by thy nature by thy thr [...]dome thou de­liueredst mee from captiuitie: thou freedst mee from the power of the diuell, deliuering thy selfe into sin­ners hands, & destroying my sin by assuming the shape of a sinner: thou wouldest bind mee vnto thee by so [Page 64] much grace: thou wouldest a [...]ure me by this benefite, strengthen my hope by so many merits, and be­get in me the detestation of sinne, shewing vnto mee how many things thou hast both done and suffered, to ouerthrow the king­dome of sinne. Thou kindlest li­uing fire vpon the dead coales of my heart, that being ouerwhelmed with such a multitude of benefit [...], which in this one are contained, I might loue him that did so great things for mee, and bestowed so much loue on me.

Behold (O Lord) thou redee­medst me: but what had that pro­fited me, except I had beene bap­tized? Amongst such a multitude of infidels, scattered vpon the face of the whole earth, it pleased thee to reckon mee among the number of thy faithful: and of those to whō so happie a lot befell, as to bee thy children, regenerated by the water of holy baptisme: there was I takē for thine: there was that famous & admirable contract or couenant concluded, namely that I should be thine, & thou shouldest bee mine: [Page 65] thou my Lord, and I thy seruant: thou my Father, & I thy son: where we meete together, y ^u to performe towards me the office of a Father, & I to serue thee with the duty of a son. What shall I say of the other Sacramēt, which thou institutedst as a remedy for my sinnes, making thy precious bloud a medicine for my wounds?

Hauing all these helps and fur­therances, as yet I continued not in goodnes, but such was my ma­lice, that notwithstanding these I lost once more my first innocencie: and so great again was thy mercy, y ^• hast hitherto patiently suffred mee in my sins O my hope and my redeemer, how cā I without tears remember how often thou mightst haue slaine me, and no euill happe­ned vnto me? how many thousand of soules haply doe now burne in hell, which haue sinned lesse then I haue sind, & yet burn not? what had become of mee if at that time thou tookest them away, thou hadst like­wise taken me? how strict a iudge­ment had bene prepared for mee, if iustice had apprehended me beeing [Page 66] guilty of so many grieuous sins? Who then (O Lord) bound the hands of thy iustice? Who praied for me when I slept? who staied y ^• scourge of thy wrath, when I pro­uoked the same by my sins? What was there pleasing in me, why y ^u shouldest deale more fauourably with mee than with them, who in y ^• midst of their perils, yea in the ve­ry heate of their youth, were taken hence? My sinnes cried vnto thee, and thou stoppedst thine eares lest thou shouldst heare them: my ma­lice against thee increased daily, and thy mercie likewise towards me increased daily: I sinned, and thou didst expect mee: I fled thee, & thou followedst me: I was wea­ried in offending thee, thou wert not weary in expecting mee, in no other sort, than if my sinnes had beene fauours, and no offences. In the midst of my sinnes, I receiued many good inspirations, & many holy reprehensions frō thee, which did cenuict and condemne the dis­solutenesse of my life. How often didst thou cal me, and inwardly in­uite me, saying, Thou hast cōmit­ted Hierem. [Page 67] fornication with many louers, yet returne vnto me, and I wil re­ceiue thee? How often hast thou called me in these or such like lo­uing words? How often hast thou terrified me with feare and threat­nings, reducing to my memory the perill of my death, and the rigor of thy diuine iustice? How many or­ders of Preachers & Confessors hast thou appointed, that by their words and counsels might incite me & helpe me (O Lord) walking in thy way? How often hast thou folowed me by thy words, inuiting me by thy benefits, and chastising me with thy scourges, stopping vp all the waies after the manner of a hunter, that I might no way fly or escape from thee? What shal I thē at this time render vnto thee (O Lord) for all those things which thou hast bestowed vpon me? Be­cause thou hast created mee, I owe [...]hee all that which I am: for thou [...]dest all things. Because thou [...]st conserued me, I ow vnto thee [...]ll that I am, & liue: for thou con­ [...]uest all things: & because thou [...]auest thy self as a reward vnto me [Page 68] what shal I restore thee? If I had all the liues of Angels & men, and should offer them for a sacrifice vn­to thee, what were this oblation, if it should be compared onely to the bloud which so aboundantly thou sheddest for my sake?

Who therfore shal giue me tears for mine eies, that I may bewail [...] my ingratitude, and my negligent retribution, for so many benefits? Giue mee therefore thy helpe (O Lord) giue mee thy grace, that in due maner I may confesse my sins vnto thee. I vnhappy that I [...] I (although I haue demeaned [...] selfe farre otherwise) am thy cre­ature made according to thy I­mage and likenesse: acknowledg [...] this similitude, for it is thine. Take from me that which I haue made, and thou shalt finde th [...] which thou by thy holy hand hast made. I haue imploied all my for­ces and powers to iniurie thee; and haue offended thee in y ^• very work [...] of my hands. My feete were swif [...] to doe euill, my hands ready t [...] act any wickednesse, mine eie [...] dissolute to all vanitie, and mi [...] [Page 69] eares open to all follies and false­hoods. I haue diuerted the most noble part of my soule, which had eies to behold thee, from thy beauty, and conuerted them to the flourishes of this miserable life: the soule, that day and night should haue meditated on thy commandements, now night and day studieth in what maner it may offend thee. The vnderstanding so depraued, what should the will doe? Thou, my God, hadst inui­ted it to celestiall delights: but she preferred earth before heauen, stretching her armes, to thee (O Lord) consecrated, to the filthie affection of Creatures. This is y ^• recompence (O God) this the fruit which my senses (which thou createdst) brought foorth. Ah wretch that I am, what can I an­swer, if thou enterest into iudge­ment with me, and saist vnto mee, I haue planted thee an elected [...], all true seed?

And if I cannot giue answer to this first question, how shall I an­swer thee in the second, for my be­nefite of conseruation? Thou, my [Page 70] Lord, thy prouidence hath conser­ued him that meditated on no­thing else but how he might trans­gresse thy commandements: how persecute thy seruants: how offend thy Church: and how to strengthē the kingdome of sin against thee. Thou moouedst the tongue that biasphemed thee: thou ruledst the members which offended thee: and gauest them sustenance, who lay in wait for thy seruants: so that I haue not onely bene vngrateful for thy benefits, but also haue conuer­ted the benefits themselues into armes, with which I impugned thee. Thou hadst made all Crea­tures for my vse, that I, allured by that benefite, should loue thee: and I haue adulterated them, in that I haue so often time offended thee by them. I rather made choise of the gift, than the giuer: and from whom the occasion of knowing thy bounty was to bee taken, from them I was blinded: neither lifted I vp mine eies, y ^t I might see how farre more faire the Creator was thā the creature. Thou gauest me all things, that I might giue my [Page 71] selfe vnto thee, & all things might serue me, but I neuer either gaue thee glory, or the tribute which is due vnto thee. Thy creatures were alwaies ready at my command (for so thou ordainedst them:) but I haue alwaies studied to offend thee: and to this end haue vsed and abused all things. Thou gauest me health, and the diuell hath gathe­red the fruite thereof: thou gauest me strength, and I haue imploied the same in the seruice of thine ene­mie. What shall I say? why were not so many kinds of calamities and miseries, which euery where I beheld in other men, sufficient that but in them I might vnder­stand, but that all other mens e­uils were my benefits? for from all them hast thou deliuered mee. Shall it therefore bee lawfull for any man to shew himselfe vngrate­full for a benefite receiued? and who is hee that oweth not thanks for a benefite receiued? If the rage of Lyons and Serpents bee lenified by gifts, why (O Lord,) shall not thine bee sufficient to mortifie and mollifie mee? [Page 72] that yet at the least sometime I may say, Let vs (care our Lord God, that giueth vs tunely and e­uening rame in due time, & pien­tie of annual increase to those that loue him.

It was enough for me (O Lord) to know that it was thou that [...]o long time sustainedst me, although I had not any other demonstratiō or testimony of thy bounty: and if y ^t account shall be so strict for these things which cost thee little, what shall that be which thou shalt exact for those which thou hast purcha­sed with thy precious blood? How I haue peruerted thy commande­ments? how I haue violated the mystery of thy incarnation? Thou becamest man, that thou mightest make me God: & I, besotted with mine owne abiectnesse, made my selfe a beast, and the sonne of the diuell. Thou descendedst on the earth, that thou mightest bring me to heauen: and I vnworthy su [...]h a vocation, as one that deserued it not, knew not the same, and perse­uered in the dirt of my abiectnesse. Thou didst deliuer mee, and I cast [Page 73] my selfe head long againe, into my former captiuitie: [...]hou raisedst me vp, and I re-embraced death: thou hadst incorporated me in thy selfe, & I again tooke party with the di­uell. So many & so great blessings had not that power ouer mee, to make mee acknowledge thee: nei­ther so many arguments of loue to make me loue thee againe: neither so many merits to make mee hope in thee: neither such a iustice which shined in thy passion, to make mee feare thee: thou hast humbled mee euen vnto the dust of the earth, & I swel with pride: thou hangedst naked on the Crosse: & the whole world satisfieth not my Auarice: They buffeted thee vpon the face, who art God: if any man touch my garment, I am angry: & notwith­standing, am but a base and vile worme. What shall I say, my Sa­uior? Behold how great thy mercy and charitie is towards me. Thou wouldst die, to kil my sin & I, con­fident in the same mercy, bounty, & loue, am not afraid to sin against thee. Alas, what greater blasphe­my may there be? I of thy bounty [Page 74] tooke occasion of my malice: from the very same meanes which thou vsedst to kill sinne. I tooke occasiō to quicken sinne in my selfe. So, so O Lord, I haue peruerted thy counsels: from thy mercy pickt out the method and meanes of my ma­lignity. Because y ^• wert so good, I thought it was lawfull for me to be euill: and because thou hadst be­stowed so many benefits on mee, I supposed it lawfull for mee to doe thee so many offences & iniuries: so that I conuerted the very me­dicines themselues, which thou in­stitutedst against sin, to occasions of sinne: and the sword which thou gauest me to defend my selfe with, & fight against mine enemies, the same haue I whet against my selfe to endanger my own life. Finally, thou, to the end that thou mightst rule the liuing & the dead, wouldst die, as the Apostle witnesseth, to the [...]2 Cor. 5. end that they which now liue shold not liue to themselues, but to thee who dai [...]edst to die for them: and I like some Iesabel, tooke the same death as a means wherby I might bereaue my selfe of thy benefits, [Page 75] flying from thy seruice, & making my selfe the bondslaue of thine e­nemies. O what deserued he that did those things? If the dogs eate the flesh of that Iesabel for her sin, 4. Reg. 9. how may mine remain vntouched that haue altogether done the like?

And if the Apostle so much exag­gerateth the malice of mans heart, because that from the law he tooke Rom. 7. occasion to breake the law: how much more greater shall the malice be of grace, if any man take occasi­on thereby to offend grace it selfe?

O most patient Lord that suffe­redst strokes for sinners, but more patiēt, that sufferedst sinners thē ­selues: but shall that thy patience continue for euer? I remember what thou saidst by thy Prophet; I held my peace, I was alwaies Esay 42. silēt, I was patient, I will speake like a womā w ^t [...]hild. I see y ^• earth y ^t yeeldeth no fruit, after it hath bin moistned with the raine, to bee re­prooued and accursed: the vine that after it had bene well trim'd and yeelded no grapes but briers, by thy commandement cut downe and laid waste: Therefore O vn­profitable [Page 76] and vnfruitfull branch, why fearest thou not the voice of that husbandman or Uine-heard, that taketh away y ^• branches that beare no fruite, and casteth them into the fire? Euery tree that bea­reth not fruit (saith he) my Father will cut downe, and cast it in the fire. Will he euer feare, that fea­reth not such a iudgement? How deafe is he that heareth not such a voice? How profoundly sleepeth he that is not wakened with such a th [...]der? This earthly habitation delighted me: I tooke pleasure to walke among these thornes: The fire of my passions b [...]ned mee: the thornes of my concupiscence pricked mee: the distractions of my thoughts [...]d mee; the wor [...]e of my conscience bit mee: and al these, thought I to be liber­ty and sola [...]e: so many and so great e [...]is did I ca [...] pea [...]e. O how ig­norant & rude was I in the know­ledge of my selfe: and how hard & vn [...]actable to obey & serue thee!

What shal I do, my God, what shall I do [...] cōsesse I am vnwor­thy to appeare before thy presen [...], [Page 77] vnworthy to lift vp mine eies to behold thee: whither shall I goe? whither shall I flye from thy pre­sence? Art thou not my Father? yea, & the Father of mercies, which neither haue end or measure? for although I haue already desisted to be thy sonne, yet thou hitherto ceasest not to be my Father: and though I haue done many things for which thou mightest worthily condemne mee, yet hast thou not lost the meanes wherby thou maist saue me. What therefore shal I do but cast my selfe prostrate before thy feet, and aske mercy? Whom shal I cal vpon? who shal helpe me but thou? Art not thou my Crea­tor? my maker? my gouernour? my redeemer? my king? my shepheard? my Priest? and my sacri [...]? Whi­ther therfore shall I go? to whom shall I flie but vnto thee? if thou repulse mee, who shall releeue me? if thou reiect mee, who shall rescue mee? Acknowledge (O Lord) this lost sheep: behold I come vnto thee altogether wounded, & thou canst heale me: altogether blinde, & thou canst giue mee sight: altogether [Page 78] dead, and thou canst reuiue me, al­together leprous, and thou canst clense me. Sprinkle me (O Lord) Psal. 50. with hysope, and I shall be cleane; wash me, & I shall be whiter than snow. Greater is thy mercie than my iniquitie; greater thy clemency than my malice: and thou canst re­mit more than I can sin. Repulse me not therefore (O Lord) repulse me not: looke not vpon the multi­tude of my sins, but on thine infi­nite mercy: who liuest & reignest, world without end.

Amen.

An oblation of all the labours and passions of Christ, for our sins.

WHat shal I render vnto thee (O Lord) for all the bene­fits thou hast bestowed vpon me? with what signification of gratuity shall I recompence so many bene­fits? what shal I giue thee for that thy so great mercy? alasse how slen­derly doe I requite the merits of so liberall and fauourable a bene­factor? I was alwaies vngrateful for thy benefits, alwaies rebellious against thy commandements: I [Page 79] alwaies shut vp my soule against thy inspirations, heaping offence vpon offence, and adding sinne to sinne. I confesse (O Lord) that I am not worthy to bee called thy sonne: although I acknowledge thee to be my Father. For thou art truly my Father, thou art my hope thou art the fountaine of mercy, that repulsest not sinners that flie vnto thee, but receiuest them, wa­shest them, and feedest them. Be­hold therefore, my helper: see how I (the poorest of al thy creatures) come vnto thee, bringing no other thing with mee, but the grieuous burthen of my sinnes.

I prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy mercy, humbly asking pardon. Forgiue me I beseech thee (O my firme hope) saue mee for thy infinite mercy sake. O sweete Iesus, in remission of my sinnes I offer vnto thee thy immeasura­ble charitie, wherewith thou being God of infinite maiesty, wert mo­ued not to refuse for my sake to be incarnate: to be made man: and to be conuersant in this world thirty three yeares in many tribulations, [Page 80] persecutions, paines, vexations, & labours, [...] offer vnto thee that thy deadly affliction, y ^• bloody sweate and that agony which afflicted and pierced thy hear [...] when praying in the garden, & pr [...]ating thy selfe on the ground, thou besoughtest the Father: I offer vp vnto thee y ^t a [...]nt charitie, whereby thou de­siredst to suffer for vs, when as of thine owne accord thou offeredst thy selfe into the hands of thine [...], as a wel pleasing sacrifice to thy Father for our sins. [...] offer vp vnto thee al [...] iniuries, blasphe­mies, buffetings, beatings, spitt­ [...]s & al other tho [...]e tormēts which in that miserable night thou sustai­nedst in the hou [...]e of Ann [...]s & [...] offer vnto thee O good [...] al these things, beseeching thine [...] goodnes, that by the merits therof tho [...] w [...]t pardon me all my sins thou wilt as wel remit the pe­nalty as the crime, and purifie my soule from all reliques of sin, & at length bring me to eternall life. I offer vp vnto thee that thy inesti­mable humilitie, obedience, & pati­ence, which thou shewedst when [Page 81] they whipt thee, being bound to, a hard pillar, & after crowned thee with thorns; thy meeknes, when as those assistāts of satan, & perpetual tormētors of hel, in way of disgrace a [...]tired thee in a purple raiment: whē as mocking, they saluted thee and spit in thy face, & with a reed which thou barest in thy hand in steed of a septer, strook thy woun­ded and brused head. I offer vnto thee wearines of thy afflicted body, thy bloudy steps the grieuous bur­den of thy crosse, which thou barest on thy delicate shoulders miserably martyred with whipping. I offer vnto thee that thirst wherewith in thy passion thou wert afflicted, and al those other tormēts which thou sustainedst for vs with a meek hart All these with thanksgiuing, do I offer vnto thee, beseeching thy im­measurable mercy, that for the merits herof, thou wilt wipe away my sins, y ^u wilt remit the penalty and crime, & purifie my soule from the reliques of sinne, and bring the same at length to eternall life, Sweet Iesus in satisfactiō for my sins, I offer vp vnto thee thy most [Page 82] cruel dolors which thou sufferedst, when as the soldiers cruelly haled from thy body thy garment, stick­ing with clotted blood vnto thy flesh and bones, and renued againe al those wounds which thou hadst receiued in thy scourging: when as cast vpon the crosse, thou sufferedst thy hands and feete to be fastened with sharpe nailes to y ^• holy crosse, with so much violence, that al the articles and members of thy ioints were remoued from their naturall places: when as thy precious blood flowed from all thy members in no other sort than the springs from the ouerflowing fountaines. I of­fer vp vnto thee all and euery drop of thy precious bloud, and beseech thy mercy that for the merits ther­of, thou wilt blot out my sinnes: remit both the penalty and y ^• crime, & purifie my soule from the relikes of sin, and bring the same at length to euerlasting life.

Most merciful Iesus, I offer vp vnto thee, thy bounty & meeknes, wherewith thou sustainedst the re­proches and slanders of the repro­bate, who wagging their heads [Page 83] scorned & mocked thee whilst thou praiedst for thē to thy Father. I offer vp vnto thee those horrible torments which y ^u sufferedst, when as thou wert altogether giuē ouer as a prey to al afflictions, tormēts and dolors: destitute of al internall or external consolation, and forsa­ken of God and man: and misera­bly affixed to a crosse betwixt hea­uen & earth, didst hang in y ^• midst of two most notorious theeues.

I offer vp vnto thee thy intolle­rable thirst, wherewith y ^u wert af­flicted on the crosse: and that humi­lity and reuerence of thine, where­with in hanging downe thy head, thou commendedst thy spirit to thy Father. I offer vnto thee that most holesome bloud flowing from thy side, & inforced by y ^e soldiers lance. Al these things do I offer vp vnto thee, and for them giue thee most hearty thanks, humbly beseeching thee to forgiue me my sins, & to pu­rifie my soule from al reliks of vn­righteousnes, & bring the same at length to eternall rest: where thou liuest & reignest with the Father & the holy ghost, world without end.

Another praier for remission of sins

O Omnipotent and eternal Fa­ther, God almighty, all merci­full: behold, I the most wretched amongst sinners, lying lowly, pro­strate on y ^• ground before thy feete, confesse my most grieuous & many sins, wherin al my lifetime I haue hitherto offended thee, most mer­cifull Father. I acknowledge my great ingratitude, in y ^t [...] haue so lightly set by thy infinite & inesti­mable benefits hitherto bestowed vpon mee: as that amongst the rest thou hast shewed me so much loue & bounty, as to expect mee so long time, that conuerting vnto thee, I might repent, and escape my dam­nation and punishment in the bot­tomlesse pit of hell, as heretofore my sinnes haue often times deser­ued: nay, rather for that thou hast inuited mee so many waies to fol­low iustice: and that to the end I might follow thee, thou hast offe­red me thy grace and assistance.

How often (my most sweet lord) hast thou stood before the doore [Page 85] of my heart, and knocked thereat by manifold inspirations, desiring that I would open the same vnto thee? How often hast thou prouo­ked mee by thy benefits? How of­ten allured mee by thy bounties? How often enforced mee by cala­mities & tribulations? Notwith­standing, I haue alwaies repulsed thee from me, I haue resisted thee, I haue turned my backe against thee, yet thou of thy infinite good­nesse and patience, hast sustained mee.

I confesse (O Lord) that iustly & deseruedly thou mightest haue cast me into the depth of hell: but for thy mercy sake, thou restrai­nest the force of thine ire, which after so many waies [...] had increa­sed against my selfe. Truly it is to be ad [...]red (O father) yea it is ve­ry admirable, that my heart is not broken with griefe, as often as I weigh these things with my selfe: I am vnworthy to bee called thy creature, vnworthy that the earth should any longer sustaine me, vn­worthy that y ^e earth should afford me either succour or sustenance.

[Page 86] It is infinitely to be admired at, that the elements & all creatures doe not at once rise vp against me, and reuenge the iniurie I haue of­fered to the vniuersall Lord of all things. Yet vouchsafe, O y ^u most mercifull Father, to be fauourable vnto me, and open the bowels of thine infinite pittie, and pardon me, in that I haue so long time de­ferred my conuersion vnto thee. Open vnto mee thy most benigne & Fatherly bosome, and giue mee that nutriment which thou wert woont to giue vnto thy Children. Humbly I beseech thee (O Lord) now at length, effect that in mee for which thou hast hitherto so long tune expected me.

I confesse vnto thee (O Lord) with my whole heart and soule, y ^t of all the sinners that are in the world at this present, I am y ^e most grieuous: yet distrust I not thy goodnesse: for although my sins be many, yet thy mercies may not be numbred. O most louing Fa­ther, if thou wilt thou canst make M [...]h. 8 me cleane: heale me (O Lord) and I shal be healed because I confesse [Page 87] my sins vnto thee. Remember thee of thy promises, which are sweeter then the hony and the hony combe, than which, nothing can be more comfortable vnto a sinner: For thou saiest by the mouth of thy Prophet, thou hast committed for­nication with many louers, yet re­turne Ieremie 3. thou vnto me, and I will re­ceiue thee.

Wherefore (O most mercifull Father) cleauing and depending on this thy promise, I returne vnto thee with my whole heart, in such sort as by thy word thou hadst only called mee, and inuited mee alone vnto thy mercy. I know (O Lord) and I confesse my selfe to bee the wretchedest creature of thy crea­tures: for I am that prodigall son, that departed frō thee the Father of light, from whom all goodnesse proceeded: I, like the lost sheepe wandered far astray from the fold, who lewdly consumed that grace which thou so liberally hadst im­parted to me. I left thee the Foū ­taine of liuing water, and dig­ged me Ceste [...]ns, and drunke of troubled water, full of bitter con­solations, [Page 88] & such as in short time are dried vp. For all consolations and al the pleasures of this world, vanish away like smoke.

I left the tree of life, and fed on mast & cods, which were spurned and trodden downe by the hogs, following the passions and inordi­nate affections of my minde, & my beastly appetites: I departed from thee the chiefest good, and follow­ed those earthly and transitorie pleasures, which ouerthrew mee: But now, O father, I beseech thee, forget thou these iniuries which I haue committed against thy maie­stie: which I craue not for, in re­spect of the multitude of my me­rits, but by beholding the labours and dolours of thy onely begotten Son, which he suffred for my sake.

And thou the onely begotten S [...]nne of the eternall Father, my Lord God and Sauior, haue mer­cy vpon me: I cast all mine iniqui­ties, all my iniurie, ignom [...]e, ire, pride, auarice disobedience, im­pudencie, presumption, with all my other sins, wherby I haue pro­uoked thy wrath, into thy lenitie, [Page 89] clemency, & sacred wounds, wide open to yeeld mee refuge. I giue my selfe wholy vnto thee, and com­mend my selfe wholy to thy grace: for thou art my hope, my helpe and my strength. As much as my sins trouble and confound me, so much doth thy goodnesse, and the infinite merits of thy passion rei [...]yce and comfort me.

My sins although in themselues they be grieuous in weight, and in­finite in number, yet in comparison of thy mercies, they are light and few. Under this confidēce I come vnto thee, and confesse my sinnes vnto thee, hoping that thou wilt not destroy him, whom thou hast created according to thine owne image & similitude, and for whose loue, thou madest thy selfe parta­ker of our nature, bloud and flesh. I trust I shall not bee condemned by thee, whom thou hast redeemed as it were with so incomparable a price, with so many labours and dolors: To thee be all honour and dominion for euer & euer.

Amen.

Another most deuout praier for remission of sinnes.

O My best beloued Iesus, I a [...] that wretched & vnhappy sin ner, y ^t hath inflicted thee so many woun [...]s, and crucified thee a [...]ew by my sinnes, ahlas too many and too mighty. Behold yet how I pre sent my selfe before thee my father and iudge, being guilty of so m [...] crimes, & accountable for so ma [...] sinnes, beseeching thee through the bowels of thy mercy, that all thy wounds may once more bee o­pened in the sight of the Father, & may flow into my miserable & vn­cleane soule, soiled and infected with so many sinnes: not suffering them to be closed before they haue throughly washed and perfectly cleansed me. O sweet Iesus, turne not thy face from me, but ouerflow me with thine infinite mercy, and behold me with the eies of thy pi­tie, wherewith thou beheldst Mary Luke 7. Luke 22. Magdalen at the feast time, Peter in the Bishops palace, & the theefe [Page 91] on the Crosse. Giue mee the true Luke 23. knowledge of my sinnes: giue me the iust griefe: receiue me into the paradise of thy grace: wash mee in thy reaking blood, and quicken me by thy precious death: pardon me, and take from me, whatsoeuer my heart wrongfully possesseth: bee­cause thou thy selfe hast said, if I bee exalted from the earth, I will Iohn 12. draw all things to me.

For which cause I pray thee, O thou redeemer of my soule, draw mee vnto thee, and cleanse me from Psalm. 18. my hidden sins. O true light, illu­mine the darknes of my minde. O consuming fire, burne in me all my sinnes and iniquities. Come and vi [...]t my sick soule: cleanse my con­science, and make me thy gratefull Tabernacle. O deerest beeloued Lord, spred for my sake on the tree of the Crosse, draw mee out of the suds of my sinnes: embrace mee, kisse mee being clensed from all s [...]aine of my wickednesse. O noble cluster of grapes, pressed in the wine-presse of the Crosse, hug my soule with thy naked, but faire armes distained w ^t bloud. Grant [Page 92] also that thou maist bee embrac [...] in like sort by the same, and [...] a handfull of Mirrhe thou ma [...] rest betweene her teates. O th [...] nailed and pierced souldier, ho [...] cruelly wert thou wounded in t [...] warre vndertaken in my behalfe How strongly didst thou fight fo me, thou triumpher ouer the wor [...] and the diuell, who by thy death diddest conquer death, and by t [...] precious blood, didst expiate f [...] all the sinnes of mankinde? O [...] what shall I giue thee for all th [...] which thou hast bestowed vp [...] mee? All that little that I haue, I offer it wholly vnto thee, name [...] my spirit, that thou maist rest [...] the same: my soule, that it m [...] [...]oue thee: my body, that it m [...] serue thee.

O noble Pellican, that nou [...] shest thy yong ones with thy hea [...] blood, so feed my soule, faint [...] for hunger and spirituall thirst, nothing else may be sauourie vn [...] the same: neither that she may d [...] sire to take any thing, but to ea [...] thy flesh, and drinke thy blood O mellifluous riuer of celes [...] [Page 93] delights, ouerflow all my inward parts, make me drinke, and grant that I may bee dead to all other creatures, and aliue to thee onely. O glorious myrrour of the incom­prehensible Trinitie, on which all the Angels and Saints desire to contemplate, alas how cruelly wert thou intreated for my sake? There is neither forme nor beau­ty Esay, 53. in thee; thou becamest a by­word of men, and the scorne of Psal. 21. the multitude. O make mee parta­ker of that incomparable treasure of thy precious ransome where­with thou redeemedst mee: open the treasurie of thy merits, and pay all my debt: make mee such a one in this world, as thou would­dest haue me in the world to come, where thou reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God, world without end.

Amen

A most godly praier and oblation, wherein man offereth himselfe vp vnto God, requiring, that the ty­ranny of his vices expelled, God hereafter may reigne in his soule, and dwell therein, and so worke in it those fruits which pertaine to newnesse of life.

O My God, O my loue, O my hope, O all my refuge, and all my desire, O Father of mercy and God of al consolation, as oft as I cōsider with my selfe in what state I was somtime in how many dan­gers of perdition I haue escaped, from how many euils thou hast de­liuered me, whē I was dead in my sinnes, and lay buried and couered with the stone of my inueterate custome of offending: such a hope is quickened in me, that I cannot choose but aske at thine hands (O Lord) all such things as are necessary for my saluation.

For I am thy workmanship: thy hands haue fashioned me, O Lord [Page 95] despise not therefore the worke of thy hāds. For why should I doubt that thou wilt giue mee all thy goods, that hast daigned to take on thee all my euils? I will there­fore say with the Prophet: I will Psal. 30. trust in thee, O Lord, I will re­ioyce and be glad in thy mercie.

But because hope is not secure without obedience, as one of thy friends saith, Offer the sacrifice of iustice, and trust in our Lord: I Psal. 4. beseech thee O most deere God, grant me that the hope of thy mer­cies may strengthen mee in the o­bedience of thy commandements, for no lesse is this obedience due vnto thee, than hope, than loue, and the other rest. Thou art my Emperor, my King, and my God, to whom Heauen, and earth, the Sea, and all that is therein do ob­seruance: which haue neuer bro­ken thy lawes, but alwayes obser­ued thy commandements.

Grant mee (O Lord) that with no lesse dutie than all other crea­tures, I may bee obedient to thy holy will, by reason I am bound vnto thee in more offices of dutie [Page 96] than they are: vouchsafe, O King of Kings, that I may obey thee: and may neuer decline from the prescript of thy law. Reigne in me, O Lord, and suffer not the world, neither the Prince thereof to go­uerne in mee any longer: let not the flesh hold mee captiue, neither mine owne will, but thine. Let all these tyrants, intruders vpon thy possession, theeues of thy glorie, & wret [...]hed subuerters of thy iustice flie and forsake me. Gouerne thou onely in mee, O Lord, that I also may reigne with thee whose King­dome shall haue no end. Come O thou mercifull Father, take away the scandalles of thy Kingdome; driue away sinne from my soule, that thou maist reigne therein, who oughtest to gouerne the same: For auarice commeth and chal­lengeth to himselfe an inheritan [...]e therein: boast desireth to rule ther­in: pride will be my King: lech [...] saith, [...] will reigne: ambition, de­traction, enuie, wrath striue in mee, for mee, which of them seemeth to haue the chiefest title & preroga­tiue ouer me But I (as much as in [Page 97] mee lieth) resist them, I impugne as much as I am helpt I surren­der to thee my God: I defend my selfe for thee, because I acknow­ledge my selfe to bee thine owne, I esteeme thee for my God, and my Lord, saying, I haue no other King but my God. Come therfore (O Lord) destroy them in thy strength: thou shalt rule in me, for y ^• art my very King and my God, who sendest saluation to Iacob. No other lawes, no other pre­scripts shall haue place in me, but thine: no other name, no other Scepter except thine shall be ado­red in me, that thy will may be done in earth as it is in heauen.

O Lord when shall that day be, when I shall bee freed & deliuered from these tyrants? what? no o­ther voice but thine, shall be heard in mee. When shall my heart bee cleansed? When shall the forces of mine enemies be so defeated, y ^t no contradiction may hinder mee in the obseruation of thy commande­ments? When shall the force of mine enemies be so broken, that no force may be found in me contrary [Page 98] to thy law? when shall this sea bee calme? when shall this heauen wax cleere? when shall my affections bee so bridled, and my passions so sub­dued, so that no flouds, no clouds, no troubles may bee found in mee that may disturbe thy kingdome in me: but y ^t I may euery way enioy happy peace, secure tranquillitie, and obseruance of thy lawes?

Giue mee (O Lord) this obedi­en [...]e, or (to speak more aptly) giue mee that authority and emperie o­uer my heart, that vpon my becke it may neuer rebell against thee, but in all things bee subiect vnto thee. But euen as I am alwaies boūd to obserue & obey thee, so also both profit doth perswade, & equ [...] ­ty require that I offer my self who­ly vnto thee, & sacrifice my self vn­to thee: for whatsoeuer I am I am all thine. Thine I say am I, vpon most iust titles: thine, becaue thou didst create me, & gauest mee that being which I enioy: thine because in this being thou hast conserued mee, and plentifully furnished mee with the benefits and offices of thy prouidence: thine, because from [Page 99] thraldome thou hast set mee at li­bertie, not with gold or siluer, but redeeming mee with the ransome of thy most precious blood. Final­ly I am thine, because thou hast so often bought me, as thou hast de­liuered me from any sinne.

If therfore vpon so many groūds I am thine, & thou likewise art my King, my Redeemer and deliuerer: Behold I turne vnto thee, that I may yeeld thee that which is thine owne: that is, I yeeld my selfe vp vnto thee as a perpetuall bondmā and slaue. Behold I giue thee the keyes of my liberty, the dominion ouer my will, that hereafter I nei­ther bee mine owne, neither any other mans, but altogether thine: that I may not liue to my selfe, but to thee: not serue my selfe but thee, so that whether I eat or drinke, or whatsoeuer I do, I may referre al things to the glory of thy name. I stay my selfe for thee, I deliuer my selfe vnto thee, that thou maist dis­pose of mee as of thine owne, and that according to thy good liking and pleasure: whether it please thee y ^t I liue, or y ^• I die: whether I bee [Page 100] whole, or sicke: whether rich or poore: whether praised or reproo­ued: in all things I offer and de­uote my selfe vnto thee: I resigne my selfe into thy hands: I renoūe the right & possession of my selfe, that hereafter I be not mine owne but thine, vntil that which is thine by right, may be made thine by my will, & that not once nor one day, but alwaies & euery where.

Amen.

The second prayer of the penitent.

O Lord, thou that createdst me, my only God, my onely Lord, thou art my creator and my redee­mer, in whom I hope, from whom I expect al those things which are requisit for my soule. Thou forsa­kest not those y ^t trust in thee: thou art my sweetest, my bountifullest, my liberalest God: thou art the fa­ther of light, from whom all good things proceede, and euery perfect gift descēdeth frō aboue vnto mee. Thou createdst me whē I was no thing: thou redeemedst me when I was created & lost: thou restoredst [Page 101] vnto me the Seale of innocencie which I lost, in my first baptisine: Thou sauedst mee after I had re­ceiued the knowledge of the truth, voluntarily sinning againe, & al­most shipwrackt in the seas of this world, by the sacred anchor of true repentance: and all this of thine owne will and meere grace: for if by my good deedes I had preuen­ted thee, where is that which thy Prophet saith, his iustice preuen­ted Psalm. 58. mee? If I had done any good worke whereby I might deserue thy mercie, where is that of thine Apostle: Through grace you are Ephes. 2. saued by faith, and not of your selues, for it is the gift of GOD? If my loue preuented thee, how is that true, Not because wee loued him, but for that he first loued vs? 1. Iohn 4. If without thy helpe, and by our owne vertue we follow thee where is it that thine onely begotten Sonne saith, Without me can you doe nothing? and no man can come Iohn 15. Iohn 6. 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 [Page 102] 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 2. Cor. 3. 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, m [...] riches perished, my wares at one misfortune l [...]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 y ^t 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) [...]enigne and mercifull, rich and omnipotent? To thee therefore, do I cry, to thee do I cal: at thy gate, without [...]rmission, will I beg.

[Page 103] 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 Gen. 4. 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 Exod. 34. Ioel 2. much mercie, & fauourable to such as offēd. I kn [...]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.

[Page 104] 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 Math. 11. 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, Esay, 55. 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 [Page 105] 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.

[Page 106] Giue mee those vertues also, wherewith that thy habitatiō 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 [...]zech. 18. that thine onely begotten Sonne, came not into this world to cal the Math 9. 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 [Page 107] 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 2. Reg. 9. 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 y ^u 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 Psal. 86. me, and heare me, because I am poore and in necessitie: Keepe my soule, because I am holy: saue thy [Page 108] 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 y ^• soule of thy seruant, because vnto thee, O Lord lift I vp my soule: for y ^• 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, y ^t 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, & most profitable before the Communion, whereby the soule is excited to the feare and loue of God.

VVHo art thou my Lord, and who am I, that I dare ap proch thee? What is man that hee [Page 109] can receiue God vnto him, his ma­ker & Redeemer? What is man in his nature, but the vessell of cor­ruption, and rottennes: the sonne of the diuell: the heire of hell? the worker of iniquitie? the contemner of God? and a Creature vnfit for all goodnesse: and apt and prompt to all wickednesse?

What is man but a creature mi­serable in all things? in his coun­sel blinde; in his actions incōstant: in his appetites vncleane: in his desires vnconstant: in euery worke of his, litle: in his owne eies, great: see Lord, see what I am.

But thou my God, who & what a one art thou? Thou art great, w ^t out quantitie: good, without qua­lity: wise, without measure: and eternall without time: Thou art omnipotent in vertue: infinite in wisedome: admirable in counsels: terrible in iudgements, perfect and absolute in all vertue.

How therefore dare so vile and vncleane a creature as I am, ap­proach and touch a GOD of so great maiestie? Behold the moone also shineth not, and the stars are Ioh, 25 [Page 110] vncleane in thy sight. The pillars of heauen tremble and quake at thy becke: Those celestial Seraphins clo [...]ke their wings, and in thy pre­sence confesse themselues to bee butterflies, & most abiect wormes. What boldnesse therefore, & what rashnesse is it for a most vile man, the abiectest creature vpon earth, to dare so much, as but to looke vpon such a Lord?

Holy Saint Iohn Baptist, sanctifi­ed in his mothers womb, durst not Luke, 3. when he baptized our Lord, touch the crowne of his head: yea he pro­fest himselfe to be vnworthy to vn­loose the latchet of his shooe? The Iohn 1. Prince of the Apostles, exclaimed saying: Depart from me (O Lord) for I am a sinfull man: & shall I y ^t am the notorious sinner of all men not feare to approach thee? If it were vnlawfull for any man to eat the Bread of proposition (which were onely but a shaddow of this 1. Reg. 21. profoūd mystery) except him that was clean and sanctified: how can I bee secure who eate the bread of Angels, where notwithstanding I am so farre off from all sanctite?

[Page 111] That pascall Lamb which was Exod. 12. a type & figure of this sacrament, according to the commandement of God, was to bee eaten with vn­leauened bread, and wild Lettuice, and they that did eate the same, ought to haue their loines girt, & their shooes vpon their feete.

Ah, how shall I dare to come to this true Pascal Lambe, who haue none of these preparations? For what thing else is the vnleauened bread, than Purity without the le­uen of malice? And what the bit­ter Lettuice, but vehement contri­tion? Where is the puritie of my reynes? where of my feete? that is, the cleannesse of my holy desires?

I feare (O Lord) and vehemēt­ly suspect, lest I should bee exclu­ded from this table if any of those preparations should bee wanting in me.

From this table was he reiected Math. 22. or rather repulsed who came with­out his wedding garment, that is, without charity: and being bound hand & foote, hee was cast into ex­terior darknesse: what other thing expect I now, if I shall intrude my [Page 112] selfe to this banquet without this vesture?

O diuine eies, to whom all the cranies & corners of my soule are open and manifest, what shall be­come of mee, if I present my selfe naked & boide before thy presence?

To touch the Arke (which was only but a figure of this sacramēt) 2. Reg. 6. it was so great an offence, that Oza the priest stretching out his hand to vphold the same, being ready to fall, & supporting it, was strooken with suddain death: how can I thē choose but feare, and suspect the like penalty, if vnworthily I shall receiue that, of which the Arke was onely but a figure?

The Bethsam [...]tes offended in no other thing than for that they had too curiously beheld the Arke of the couenāt, when as it was caried through the confines of the coun­trey: & yet God was so displeased, that, for that only cause of the peo­ple he slue seuenty men, and of the common sort fiftie thousand. But O most merciful Lord, how much more worthy is this sacrament thā the Arke of y ^e Couenant: and how [Page 113] much more dangerous is it to re­ceiue thee, than to see thee?

Not without reason therefore ought I to bee afraid and tremble as often as I come to receiue a Lord of so great maiesty & iustice. And if there be so many causes why I ought to feare thy greatnes: how many reasons should there bee of feare, if I weigh the mu [...]itude of my sinnes? For I call to remem­brance O Lord many grieuous sins of mine, whereby I haue in this world offended thy diuine ma­iesty. The time was, somtime ther was a time (thankes bee giuen to God that the time is not now) whē I loued not that thine infinite beu­ty, but buried it in deepest obliui­on: when the dust of thy creatures was more estimate with mee, than the treasures of thy graces, and y ^• hope of thy eternall glorie. The Lawes and rules of my life were my desires & inordinate appetites, I had no care of thee: I shewed thee no reuerence, because I knew thee not.

I am that foole that said in my heart there is no God: for so disso­lutely [Page 114] for a time did I liue, that in my matters I did professe that I beleeued thee either to be nothing, or to be of power to do nothing. I did not labor to insinuate my selfe into thy-loue: I feared not thy iu­stice: I set light by the breach of thy lawes: I yeelded not that thankes which I ought although I knew thou wert present in all places, yet was I not ashamed se­curely in thy sight to commit sin, yea and that very grieuously.

Whatsoeuer mine eies desired, that made I lawful vnto them: nei­ther did I restraine my heart [...] crossing the incontinent delights thereof: and what kinde of wicked­nesse is there, wherewith my soule is not distained? what else was my whole life, but a continuall war a­gainst thee? what else but a recei­uing of torments and passions of my whole life? How often haue I for a momētany pleasure, or a tri­fling gain, like a second Iuda [...], so [...] thee? And now comming to re­ceiue thee, what els doe I, but pre­pare thee a kisse, with Iudas, by which I may betray thee, whom I [Page 115] haue already sold? What else haue I done, when other waies I com­ [...]icated, but that with the soul­diers I haue mocked thee, & insul­ted ouer thee, here bowing my knee and adoring thee, there beating thy blessed head with a reede.

How shall I therefore dare to receiue thee (O my Lord) in an e­state so vncleane and wicked? How can I be so rash to inclose thy most sacred body in the den of dragons & the nest of vipers? What other thing else is the soule of a sinner, than a dwelling place of diuels, a [...]est of beasts, a hog-stie and a sink of all iniquitie?

How canst thou rest heere, O Lord, who art purity of the purest? and thou that art the fountaine of all beauty, how canst thou dwell in a place so abhominable?

What participatiō is there be­tweene iustice and iniquitie? or what societie betweene light and darknesse? or what conuention be­tweene Christ & Beliall? O flow­er 2. Cor. 6. of the field! O Lillie of the val­l [...]s! O bread of Angels? how art thou now become the fodder of [Page 116] beasts? Why giuest y ^• this diuine meate vnto dogs? and castest these precious pearles before swine? O louer of pure and cleane soules, who feedest among the lillies, till the day spring, & the shadowes de­part Cantic. 1. what foode may I giue thee in this my heart, where nothing groweth but thornes and briers? Thy bed is of the wood of Lib [...], the pillers thereof are guilded, th [...] pillow is of gold, and thy foot [...] ­pace of purple: in the bed of my heart there are none of these to bee found: what seate therefore shall I prepare for thee there when th [...] enterest? what bed shall I ma [...] ▪

Thy most holy body taken fr [...] the crosse, was wrapped in a cleane and faire sheete, & put into a new Sepulchre, in which no man had bene before times buried: but what part of my soule is cleane? what no [...]e is there that is new, whe [...] I may bury thee? what is my mouth others than an open Sepulchre, from whence there [...]ueth nothing but the stinkes and impurities of my sinnes? What is my hart: but [...] fountaine of most euill appetites [Page 117] and desires? What is my will, but a house and resting place of the Diuell?

How therfore shal I dare to ap­proch thee, receiue thee, or kisse thee w ^t my impure lips? There is not one corner in my soule which is cleane and pure, & which hath not too often times bene propha­ned by diuers kinds of sinnes. I haue not a cleane and new Sepul­cher in which I may hide thee. O thou my redeemer and Sauiour, I am ashamed as often as I see my selfe in this estate: I blush whē I consider in what sort I come to this thy worthy and royall ban­quet, in what maner I intrude my selfe to embrace my celestial spouse, who againe standeth ready to re­ceiue me fauourably.

Another part of this Medi­tation.

I Acknowledge (O Lord) I ac­knowledge my great vnworthi­nesse, and yet thy most great mer­cie is not hidden from me: this it [Page 118] is that maketh me bold and confi­dent to come vnto thee, howsoe­uer I am. For the more vnworthy I come vnto thee, by so much the more art thou glorified, if thou re­pulse mee or persecute a creature so vncleane w ^t thy displeasure. O Lord, thou art not wont to shake off sinners, but to call them, and conuert them vnto thee: Thou art he that saiest, Come vnto me all ye Math. 11. that labour & are laden, and I wil refresh you: And in another place, The whole haue no need of a Phy­sition, Math. 9. but such as are sick. Of thee is it publikly said, that thou enter­tainedst Publicans and sinners, & didst eate with them. O my God thou hast not changed thy nature, which then thou hadst: for which cause I firmely beleeue that thou as yet dost call them from heauen, whom then thou didst call vpon the earth.

For which cause I likewise allu­red by that thy fatherly summons, come vnto thee, groaning vnder the burden of my sinnes, and thou shalt vnloade me: I come laboring and ouer-charged, and thou shalt [Page 119] refresh me: I come like a patient to my Physition, and thou shalt heale mee: like a sinner to the fountaine of iustice, and thou shalt iustifie mee: Thou receiuedst sinners, and eatest with them, and thy meate is to conuerse with them: and thy de­light is to be with men.

If thou take so much delight, O Lord, in such banquets, behold thou hast heere a grieuous sinner, with whom thou maiest eate thy bread. I verily beleeue, O my Re­deemer, that thou tookest more de­light in the teares of that publike penitent, thā in y ^e sumptuous feast of that proud Pharisee, for which cause thou neither despisedst her, Luke, 7. neither reiectedst her from thee as an adultresse, but rather most bountifully receiuedst her, forga­uest her sinnes, defendedst her a­gainst the reproches of her calum­ners, & for a few drops of teares, pardonedst her many sinnes. Be­hold O Lord, here is a new matter of greater glory offred vnto thee, a new occasion: behold heere lieth a sinner who hath far more sinnes, and yet fewer teares: shee neither [Page 120] was the first nor the last, whom thy mercie suffered: many such like things hast thou done, O Lord, and many the like as yet remaine for thee to do. Enter now, O Lord the number of them that beginne thy worke receiue him into fauor, who hath more grieuously offen­ded thee, and that lamenteth his offences. This penitēt hath not so many teares as may wash thy feet, but thou hast shed so much blood as sufficeth not onely to cleanse mine, but also the sins of the whole world. Bee not displeased, O my God, that being such a one as thou seest I am, I dare preas [...]e into thy presence. Remember that thou wert not displeased with y ^• poore womā which trauelled with a flux of blood, and secretly came vnto thee, seeking remedie of her in­firmitie, and taking thee by the hemme of thy Uesture; but rather didst praise her, and comfort her, saying: Daughter bee comforted, Math. 9. thy faith hath made thee whole. Behold I y ^• haue a greater & more perilous flux of blood, and am lesse curable, what shall I doe? whither [Page 121] shall I turne me, to whom shall I goe, but vnto thee (O LORD) that I may obtaine the benefite of health?

My Lord, thou hast neither chan­ged thine office, neither that cu­stome and nature which thou wert wont to haue, when thou werst cōuersant with vs vpon the earth, although now thou art ascended into heauen, and seemest to bee farre distant from vs. For if thou hadst bene changed, wee had neede of another Scripture and Gospell that might teach vs now what wee should beleeue of thee, and what to hope from thee being now res [...]ant in heauen.

I reade in the holy Gospels, that such as were sick flocked vnto thee & that the whole multitude sought to touch thee, because a vertue came frō thee that healed all men: Leapers came vnto thee, and thou stretchedst thy blessed hands, and clensedst them. The blinde came Luke, 6. vnto thee, the deafe, the sicke of the palsey, they that were possessed by diuels. Finally, all the monsters of this world ranne vnto thee, and to [Page 122] none of these didst thou denie thy helpe. In thee onelie is saluation, in thee is the medicine, and remedy of all euils. Thou art more readie to giue saluation, than they to aske it.

Whither therefore shall we goe (O Lord) in our necessities but vnto thee? for I know my God, y ^t this Sacrament is not onely their food that are whole, but their me­dicine also that are sicke & weake: not only the strength of the liuing but the resurrection of the dead: it not 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 [Page 123] 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.

[Page 124] 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 [Page 125] 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 w ^c 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 y ^u 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 [Page 126] 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 vnheard­of 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 Psal. 92. 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 [Page 127] 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 3. Reg. 8. 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 y ^e 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 [Page 128] blood, dost thou medicine vs.

O true Pastor, how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by Ezech. 34 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. [Page 229] 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 Prophet, and my soule is no lesse dead, than the bo­dy of that mā, neither is this touch of lesse efficacie than that: why therefore should I not expect the like benefit in my selfe? why should a body begotten in sinne, doe more mirecles than a body conceiued by the holy ghost? Why shall the body of the seruant haue a greater pre­rogatiue, than the body of the mai­ster? Why shall not thy body raise my soule, sanctified in thy blood, which cleaueth and is ioyned vnto thee by faith, when that raiseth those bodies which it toucheth? And because this body was raised, not requesting life, but by the one­lie vertue of the bones of thy bles­sed Prophet: let it bee pleasing to thine infinite mercie, O my God, since I request and beseech thee to giue me life by the meanes of this Sacrament, that I may not now line, but thou in mee.

[Page 130] O good Iesu, by that thine inesti­mable charitie, which betraied thee for my sake, & made thee suffer an ignominious death; I humbly be­seech thee, that thou wilt cleanse me from all sin, adorne me with all kindes of vertues, and thy merits: and grant me grace that I may re­ceiue this holy Sacrament with so much humilitie and reuerence: so much feare and trembling: with so much griefe and repentance for my sins: finally, with so much loue and charitie, as this most heauenly mystery doth require. Grant mee most mercifull Lord that puritie of intent, whereby I may worthily ha [...]e accesse to thy mysticke table, to the glory of thy holy name, and the remedy of my infirmities & ne­cessities: that strengthned by the vertue of this Sacrament, I may be able strongly to withstand mine enemies, to ouercome them, and to sustaine my selfe by that liuing meate in the spirituall life. Grant also by y ^• benefit of this Sacramēt that I may be made one with thee, and incorporated in thee: may in­separably cleaue vnto thee, being [Page 131] made one spirit with thee.

Let this sacrifice bee my safetie, and this inestimable benefit of this Sacrament assist all men, as it is instituted for the health of them: & left vnto thy Church: who liuest & reignest world without end.

Amen

A most worthy meditation after the Communion.

O My God and my Sauiour, how shal I yeeld thee cōdigne thankes, for that thou beeing the King of Kings, & Lord of Lords, hast not disdained to visit my soule and to enter the poore roose of my miserable cottage: and so to worke that both thou and I are one, and that by the means of the inestima­ble vertue of y ^• Sacrament. With what reward shal I requite such a benefit? With what offices shal I remunerate thy so great goodnes? w ^t thanks may a miserable wret­ched, and poore creature giue for a gift so rich and precious? For it suffised thee not in this mystery to make vs partakers of thy supreme [Page 232] deity, but thou wouldest also com­municate vnto vs thy humanitie, together with all thy merits, which in the same, and with the same thou didst purchase for vs: for giuing vs thy body and blood, thou makest vs also partakers of thy holy trea­sure, and of all thy merits, which being on earth, thou obtainedst for vs. O admirable Communion! O treasure to be equalled by no price, and as yet vnknowne vnto men O mercifull Redeemer of our soules! with what more richer iewels, or greater riches couldest thou store vs, thā with this most blessed Sa­crament? Deseruedly, O Lord, didst thou say in the praier, which thou saidest about the houre of thy passion: I sanctifie my selfe for thē, Iohn 17. that they also may bee sanctified in truth, namely after a new maner of sanctification, difficile to the sancti­fier, and easie to the sanctified. For thine is the sanctity, O Lord: mine the fruit of sanctitie: thou didst la­bour, I receiued the reward: thou wert at the charge, I reapt y ^e pro­fite: thou art chastised, & I am par­doned for my sins: thou drunkest [Page 133] the bitter potion, & I with my selfe recouer my lost health: thy do­lours, thy nayles, thy strokes, thy thornes, and thy precious blood, not shed by drops but by flouds, sa­tisfied for me: thy teares wash mee, thy wounds heale me, & thy scour­gings haue satisfied for me. O rich Communion! O fraternity of infi­nit merits! O traffique of inestima­ble treasure! what stocke or summe haue we imploied in this partner­shippe? what haue we aduentured that the increase is so profitable vnto vs? Why doth the sun illumi­nate the world? why warmeth the fire the body, which is the obiect a­gainst it? why doth the water coole y ^t same? The reasō is manifest, for these are their naturall properties; for such creatures produce such ef­fect: And it is thy property, O lord, to pardon; thy custom to shew mercie, and that rather to others than to thy selfe. Thy goodnesse is ours, & that not ordinary, but in­finit: for as the property of good is to be cōmon & communicatiue, so truly the chiefest good should also be chiefly diffusiue: & this hast thou [Page 134] done vnto vs, because thou hast wholy giuen thy selfe vnto vs. In thy birth, thou becamest our bro­ther: in our nourishing, our food: in thy death, our redemption: in our ruling, our reward: finally, O my soule, if in one word thou wilt comprehend all these benefits, which this so admirable Sacramēt bringeth with it, consider that which this Lord brought into this world, when as becoming man he came into thy world. For when he entred into the world, he gaue the world the life of grace, with al those things which attend on the same: so also when he comes by y ^• Sacra­ment into our soule, hee giueth the same life of y ^• soule. O diuine food by which the sons of men are trās­formed into the sons of God, and by which the flesh is mortified in vs, that the deity may liue in vs: O sweetest bread, worthy to bee ado­red, nourishing the soule, not the belly: strengthning the heart, and not ouercharging the body: reioy­cing the spirit: & not troubling the vnderstanding: whose vertue doth moderate our appetites, killeth our [Page 135] selfe will, that the will of God may be more effectuall in vs.

What thanksgiuing therefore shal I yeeld vnto thee: what praises shal I sing vnto thee (O Lord) for this thy benefite? If the gratuitie ought to be answerable to the gift, what kinde of recompence I pray you will equall such a gift? Thou saidst in times past to thy seruant Moses: Take the golden vessel, and Exod. 16. hide it in the Arke of the couenant and it shall be kept there for future generatiōs, that they may see that meate which for forty yeares long I made you feede on in the desart. If y ^• so much esteemedst (O Lord) that corruptible meate which thou gauest thy people in the desart, y ^t thou wouldest it should be kept w ^t reuerence, in perpetuall rememb­rance of the same: in what account should that incorruptible meate be with vs, which giueth life eternall to those that eat the same? I mani­festly see that there is the same dif­ference which is betweene the one meate and the other, as betweene the one benefit and the other: and that for that cause there ought to [Page 136] bee the same difference betweene the one gratuitie & the other; that meate was earthly, this heauenlie; that was of the bodie, this of the Soule: that gaue not true life to those that eat the same, this giueth eternall life to those that worthily receiue it. But why make I cōpa­risō betweene the one & the other? For whatsoeuer difference is be­tweene the creature & the Creator, the same is betweene this and that meate. If therefore thou O Lord, require such remembrance, and gratuity for that thou didst nourish thy people with corporall and cor­ruptible meate, what wilt thou re­quire of vs whom thou nourishest with so farre better foode as the Creator exceedeth the creature? there is not any praise nor thanks­giuing which is worthy this bene­fite. When as therefore I neglect mine owne forces & faculties, nei­ther can I finde way or meanes to pay thee that which I owe thee, there is no other remedy left for me, than w ^t the Prophet to take y ^t cup of saluation, and call vpon the Psal. 115. name of our Lord: y ^t is, not to re­munerate [Page 137] y ^t benefits that are past, but to aske new, & to require grace vpon grace. I beseech thee there­fore (O Lord) vouchsafe that I may receiue this Sacrament in sa­tisfaction of all my sinnes, and a­mendment of my former life: that being repaired in me by the bene­fite thereof, whatsoeuer is fallen, whatsoeuer I wāt, let it be suppli­ed: and grant that my pouerty may bee enriched by the benefits of thy graces. By y ^t vertue of this sacra­ment, mortific in me whatsoeuer is displeasant to thy diuine eies, and make me conformable to thy will. Uouch safe mee (O Lord) that by this mystery I may alwaies perse­uere in thee, & may continually and perfectly loue thee, & that I may be alwaies continually vnited & cou­pled vnto thee, to the honour of thy holy name. Be fauourable (O Lord) vnto all my offences; and not mine onely, but all others. Grant the Heretikes & Schisma­tikes may returne to the vnitie of thy Church: illuminate the Infi­dels that they may know thee: help all those for whom I am bound to [Page 138] pray Comfort my father, mother, brothers, and sisters, friends, and enemies, with all those that haue euer done me good. Bee mercifull vnto all those for whom thou sh [...] ­dest thy most precious blood. To thee be all praise, honour, vertue, and glory, who liuest and reignest world without end.

Amen.

The first Praier.

I Giue thee thanks, O Lord, holy Father, omnipotent and eternall God, that thou hast vouchsafed to sat [...]ate mee a wretched sinner, and thy vnworthy seruant, not for my merits, but onely for thy mercie sake, with the precious body and blood of thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ. And I beseech thee, that this holy Communion may be vn­to me not guiltines to procure pu­nishment, but a fruitfull interces­sion of pardon: may be my armour of faith, and shield of good will: [Page 139] may bee the euacuation of my vi­ces, extermination of my concu­piscence and lust: the augmentati­on of my charitie and patience, hu­mility and obedience, against the deceits of both my visible and in­uisible enemies: a firme defence, a perfect pacification of my moti­ons, both carnall and spirituall & assured cleaning to thee, the onely and true God: & a happy consum­mation of my life. And I beseech thee, that thou wilt conduct mee most wretched sinner, to that ine­stimable banquet, where thou with thy Sonne, and the holy Ghost, to thy Saints art a true light, com­pleat satietie, eternall ioy, con­summate pleasure, and perfect fe­licitie, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The second Prayer after the Communion.

I Giue thee thāks O Lord Iesus Christ, King of Kings, & Lord of Lords, reuerend & immesura­ble in maiestie, for that thou hast [Page 140] vouchsafed to feede, and sweetly to refresh my ouer-dried soule with thy sacred body, & precious bloo [...] I beseech thee that whatsoeuer is found vitious in mee, and contra­ry to thy most holie will, by the Communion of this Sacrament may bee vtterly extinct in mee, so that my heart may bee prepar [...] for a worthy habitation, for the holy Ghost. And grant, O most sweet Iesus, that this Sacrament of thy body and blood may be vnto me an attonement for my sinnes: a medicine for my life, an establish­ment of grace, a memorie of thy most holy passion, reliefe in my pil­grimage, the sweet and pleasure of my soule: my health & sanctitie in temptations, my light & vertue in tribulations, my light & vertue in all my words and deeds, my finall comfort & de [...]ence in death. Grant that it may so change the affecti­ons of my heart, that it may feels conceiue no sweetnesse, but that which is in thee, loue no bea [...], seeke no loue, desire no consolatiō, admit no pleasure, care for no ho­nours, & feare no cruelty.

Amen.

The third Prayer after the Communion.

PIerce, O most sweet Lord Ie­su, y ^t marrow and inwards of my soule, w ^t the sweet and holsome wound of thy loue: with true, per­fect, pure, Apostolike, and sacred charitie: that my soule may onely languish & melt away, in the loue & desire of thee: let it not long af­ter, and grow weary in thy wayes: let it desire to be dissolued, and to be with thee. Grant that my soule may hunger after thee the bread of Angels: y ^• resurrection of al holy soules: our supercelestiall and dai­ly bread: hauing in it all sweetnesse and sauour, and all delectation of suauitie. Grant that my heart may alwaies hunger & thirst after thee on whom the Angels desire to looke: and with the sweetnes of thy fauor, let the inward secrets of my soule be filled: let it alwaies thirst after thee the fountaine of life, the fountaine of wisdome and science, the fountaine of eternall light, [Page 142] the riuer of pleasures, the plenty of Gods house: Let her alwaies seek thee, compas [...]e thee, finde thee, trauell to thee, and attaine vnto thee: let her meditate on thee, speake of thee, & worke all things to the honour and praise of thy name, with humility, and discren­on: with loue and delectation: with facility, and affection: with perse­uerance vnto the end: and be thou alwaies my onely hope, my whole trust, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my Sauiour, my sweet­nesse, my meate, my refection, my refuge, my hope, my wisedome, my portion and possessiō, my treasure, in which my heart and minde may be alwaies fixed, and firmely roo­ted.

Amen.

The first prayer for the loue of God.

O Sweet, benigne louing, boun­teous, deere, mighty, o admi­rable, ineffable, inestimable, in­comparable, o powerfull, magnifi­cent, liberall, incomprehensible, [Page 143] infinite, & most mighty God. Thou art onely good, all pitifull, all ami­able: thou art sweeter than hony, whiter than snow, delightfuller than all pleasure, sweeter than all delight, more precious than gold of precious stones: Thou art my God, my life, and my onely hope. Grant me (o Lord) y ^t I may loue thee: if not as much as thou deser­uest, yet at leastwise as much as thou maiest be beloued in this life, by any man subiect to sinne, and thrall to many necessities.

With that Leaper in the gospel, O Lord, I come before thy pre­sence, Math. 8. crying, o Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane: thou canst I say, clense my soule from al her sinnes, & canst purge the same, as it were gold in the fire of thy loue: if thou wilt, thou canst pre­sently enrich this poore one: if thou wilt, thou canst make mee glad, & of all those that are in this world most blessed. What will it hinder thee, O Lord, if thou yeeld me such a blessing? what disprofite will it breede? what losse will it bring thee?

[Page 144] So then, O Lord, since thou art the Ocean of infinite goodnesse, liberality and riches, why through thy wrath hidest thou thy mercies from mee? Why are my sins more mightie than thy goodnesse? Why shall my sins rather condemne me, than thy mercies saue me?

If thou requirest contrition, & griefe for my offences, behold I con [...]eiue so much sorrow for my sinnes, that I had rather haue en­dured a thousand sorts of death, then once to haue offended thee. If thou requirest satisfactiō, loe I of­fer my bodie vnto thee, powre thy wrath vpon it: exercise what tor­ments of thy displeasure thou [...] vpon it, so thou denie mee not thy mercie.

Grant therfore that I may loue thee, my God, my strength, my re­fresher, my redeemer, my helper and my hope: I onely seeke thee, I onely desire thee, I onely crie vnto thee, my Lord God: thou art [...]y first beginning, & my last end. The things of this life satisfie mee not, haue no sweetnesse in them, no sta­bility or strēgth, whatsoeuer I see [Page 145] besides thee is but pouerty: what­soeuer is in any place without thee, is but troubled and salt water vnto mee: it cooleth not my thirst, but kindleth it. I onely seeke thee, I onely will thee, I onely desire to behold thy face, I pray vnto thee, beseeching thee not to separate thy mercy and loue from me.

I will possesse thee, and will not let thee goe before thou hast bles­sed me: I will cleane vnto thee, and will not depart from thee before thou hast brought mee into thy Winecellar, and ordered me in thy Cant. 2. charity. I will cry after thee, nei­ther will I hold my peace: I will say with the Prophet, I will loue Psal. 17. thee O Lord my strength, I will meditate vpon thee without ceas­sing, I will thinke on thee, in my sleepe in the night time: for I am in health when I am with thee, and sicke if I be from thee, for thou onely canst blesse my soule, thou art my God and my Lord, for euer and euer.

Amen.

A second prayer for the loue of God.

O Good Jesu! O the sweetnes of my hart, O y ^• life and salua­tion of my soule, when, in all, and through all things shall I please thee? When shall I perfectly die vnto my selfe? When shall I pre­fer thee before all other creatures? when shall nothing liue in mee but thy selfe? Haue mercy vpon me, O Lord, and helpe mee. I salute thy wounds, O Lord, like vernall ro­ses: hide me O Lord, in them, and wash mee in y ^• same, y ^• euery way I may bee cleane, and inflamed w ^t thy loue. O Lord my God O admira­ble beginning, O piety of amiable charity, O clearest light of my vn­derstanding, O repose of my will, when shall I ardently loue thee? vouchsaf o Lord, to pierce my soule w ^t y ^• dart of thy loue, vouchsafe to associate me w ^t thy selfe, that I may bee made one with thee. O my de­sire, O my hope, O my reliefe: Oh if my soule were woorthie of thy imbracings, that all slownesse and [Page 147] lukewarmnesse were consumed in mee by the fire of thy loue. O the soule of my soule, O the life of my life: I wholy desire thee, & wholie offer my selfe vnto thee, one to one & onely to thee onely. O if that had place in mee which thou saidst to thy Father: Blessed Father, let thē Iohn 17. be one as we are one: I in them & they in mee, that they may bee con­summate in one.

I wil no other thing, I desire no other thing, I expostulate no other thing at thy hands, for thou onely suffisest me: Thou art my Father, thou art my mother, thou art my defender, thou art my guider, thou art al my good: thou art altogether amiable, wholy delectable, onelie faithful. Who was euer so liberal, as to forsake himselfe? who euer so tenderly loued, as to yeeld himselfe into y ^• hands of so bitter death for so vile a creature? Who so hum­ble, that so much diminished and humbled his maiesty? o Lord thou despisest no man, thou disdainest no man▪ thou repulsest no mā that seeketh thee, nay rather thou cal­lest & excitest all men to come vnto Prouerb. [...] [Page 148] thee, for thou takest thy pleasure to bee conuersant among the chil­dren of men.

To thee, O lord, angels sing prai­ses, and what other thing hast thou foūd in vs but y ^• filth of our sins? why wouldest thou be with vs till Math. 28. the end of the world? was it not e­nough for thee that thou sufferedst death for vs, and gauest vs also y ^• Sacraments for our medicine, & left vs the angels for our fellowes and tutors, Truly although wee are vngratefull for these benefits, yet wouldst thou dwell amongst vs, for thou art so good that thou couldst not deny thine owne selfe.

Let vs therfore make a couenant (if it so please thee O Lord) take thou care of me, & I will haue care of thee; loue thou me, & I will loue thee: protect and preserue my bodie and soule, and by thy assistance I will keepe thy law: doe that with me, O Lord, which best pleaseth thee, for thou knowest what I wāt, and what is expedient for me: I will be thine, and no other mans. Giue me the grace, O Lord, that I may not seek or desire any thing, [Page 149] but thy selfe, & that I may whollie offer my selfe vnto thee.

O fire that kindlest me1 O chari­ty that inflamest me! o light that il­luminatest me! o my rest! o my life! O my loue, that alwaies burnest, and art neuer quenched: when shall I perfectly loue thee againe? when shall I embrace thee with y ^• naked armes of my soule? when shall I despise my selfe and the whole world, for thy sake? whē shal my soule with all the powers and strength thereof, bee vnited with thee? whē shall it be swallowed vp in the bottomlesse pit of thy loue? Most sweet, louing, [...]aire, wise, rich noble, precious, and worthy, both to bee beloued and adored, when shall I so loue thee, y ^t I may who­lie be deuoured by thy loue? O life of my soule, that sufferedst death to giue mee life: and dying, sluest death: kill mee also, that is, all my peruerse inclinations to euill, my selfe-will, & whatsoeuer it bee that hindereth me from beeing, & liuing with thee. And when in this sort thou hast slaine me, make mee liue with thee through loue and chari­table [Page 150] actions, that I may faithful­ly obserue all thy cōmandements, and the directions of my superiors, & onely follow those things which are of the Spirit.

O most bountiful Iesu, giue me perfect renouncement and hatred of my sinne, and perfect conuerst­on of my heart vnto thee: that all my thoughts, and all my desires may bee fixed on thee, and in thee onely. O life, without which I am dead: O truth without which I am deceiued: O way, without which I go astry: O saluation, without which I perish: O light, without which I walk in darknes. Suffer me not O Lord (suffer mee not) to be at any times drawne from thee: for I liue cnely in thee, & without thee [...] die: in thee I am saued, and without thee I am lost: in thee I am somewhat, without thee I am nothing: because I had not bene at all, except thou hadst bene in mee: and except I were in thee, thou shouldest not bee in mee. Bee thou therefore (O good Iesu) in my me­morie in the morning: by the same may I know thee: in the same [...]et [Page 151] me finde thee: when I remember thee, delight in thee, and deriue my pleasures from thee, from whō all things, by whom all things, & in whom all things are.

The third prayer for the loue of God.

IF y ^• duty whereby we are bound to our benefactors for the bene­fits we haue receiued be so great, if euerie of the bounties wee receiue, bee as it were brands and motiues of loue: if the sire waxe in greatnes according to the multitude of the fuell: O Lord how great a fire of loue ought there iustly burne in my heart, if the matter of thy boun­ty be so infinite, which kindleth & nourisheth the same? If the whole world, as well visible & inuisible, with all that which is found there­in, bee but meere benefits of thine towards vs, how huge ought that flame of my loue bee, which ought to glow in me? And that so much the more: because I ought not to loue thee for these benefits onely, [Page 152] but also for that in thee, all the causes and reasons of loue are to bee found, and they euery one of them in the highest degree of per­fection.

For if we consider thy goodnes, who is found better than thou art? if wee respect thy beauty, thou art the fairest one, whose face the an­gels desire to contemplate: if wee seeke for bounty & sweetnesse, who is to [...]ee found more sweete and benigne than thou art? if we desire riches and wisdome, who richer or wiser than thou art▪ [...] friend­ship, who will soue any thing more thā he that pawned his life for vs? Now if we returne vnto benefits, O Lord, from whom proceedeth all that which wee haue, but from thee? what shall wee say of hope? when as from thee alone, and from thy mercie, wee hope and crpect whatsoeuer we want: if by the on­ly right of nature, wee owe much dutie to our carnall parents: who is more father than he of whom it is [...], Call not your selues a fa­ther on the earth, for you haue one Father who is in heauē? If y ^e hus­band [Page 153] be so tenderly beloued of his wife, what other spouse hath our soule than thy selfe, O Lord? who shall replenish the bosome of my heart, and my desires but thou? If the Philosophers say that y ^e finall end is beloued with infinite loue: who is my beginning, who my lat­ter end, but thou, O Lord? for frō whence tooke I my originall, and whither shall I go to be perfected, but from thee, and in thee? From whom is all that which I haue, & from whom hope I to receiue the same which I want but from thee?

Finally, if s [...]tude bee the cause of loue: to whose similitude and likenesse is my soule created, if not to thine? So then if this speci­all title, and euery one of the rest bee motiues of loue, what ought y ^t to be that is deriued from all these vnited together? verity, as the Sea is more spacious than all other flouds that enter into the same: and by how much it, ouercommeth the rest in greatnesse, by so much also is thy loue more abundant, grea­ter, and more excellent, than all o­ther eternall loues.

[Page 154] Since therefore I haue so iust causes (O Lord) and so pregnant occasions to loue thee, why should I not loue thee with all my heart, with all my soule, with all my strength, and inward thoughts? O my hope, my glorie, my ioy, O my amiable beginning: O my sacietie and sufficiencie [...] when shall that day bee when I shall truely loue thee and embrace thee with my whole heart? Whē shal I shew my selfe gratefull vnto thee in all things, and for all things? When shall I feele all that mortified m ine, which is opposed against thee? Whē shal I be wholy thme? Whē shal I ceasie to be mine own? Whē shall that houre come, when no­thing shall liue in me but thy selfe? When shall I feele my selfe wholy inflamed with thy loue? Whē wilt y ^• rauish mee perforce? When wilt thou make me drunke with y ^t milke of thy teares? When wilt y ^u trans­ferre mee wholy into thee? When shall I see that happy day, when all impediments and perturbations of the minde taken away, thou wilt make mee one spirit with thee, so [Page 155] that hereafter I shal not be drawn from thee? Ah Lord, how much cost it thee to redeeme me? but be­ing once redeemed, how easily canst thou do good? For when y ^• doest good vnto man, what is takē out of thy house? what is lost of thy riches? what is taken out of thine infinite treasures? Why O Lord, doth thy wrath fight with thy mer­cy against mee, whereas thou art th [...]ea of infinite liberalitie and [...]? Remember therefore O Lord, that I am thine, & thou art mine. Fly me not therfore O Lord, but suffer mee to finde thee out: I make a long iourney, [...] stand ofē, I often returne: let it not grieue thee (O Lord) to expect mee, who cannot keepe company with thee. O my God and my saluation, why am I so idle? why runne I not w ^c speedie alacritie vnto thee, the chiefest good, in whom at once are all goodnesses found? I will loue thee (O Lord) with an ardent and strong loue: I will stretch y ^e armes of my affections and desires, that I may embrace thee the sweet spouse of my soule, from whom I promise [Page 156] vnto my selfe all goodnesse. The Iu [...]e so strongly embraceth her neighbouring tree, that euery twist thereof seemeth to bee a seuerall arme: for sustained by this helpe, it groweth high, and attaineth to full perfection: but (O Lord) to what tree shall I cleaue, but vnto that, which planted-on the mountaine of Caluarie, is become a sure sup­porter vnto me? The Iuy increa­seth not so largely, neither extend­eth the beauty of her branches so far, being sustained by the tree, as my soule increaseth in vertues and graces, beeing vnderpropped by this tree.

Why therfore are not all the mem­bers of my body turned into armes that on euery side I may embrace thee? why shall I not loue thee? why shall I not put all my trust [...] confidence in thee? Helpe mee, O Lord my Sauiour, draw me on high after thee, for the weight of mortalitie doth alwaies depresse me. Thou (o Lord) that ascendedst the tree of the Crosse, that thou mightst draw all things vnto thee, thou that through so unmeasurable [Page 157] charity, didst couple two-natures so different together, and madest one person of them, that we might be made one with thee. Grant mee this one thing (o Lord) and it suf­f [...]eth mee: For the riches of this world satiate me not: I onely will thee, I seeke thee, I desire to see thy face, I will aspire alwaies to thy loue; and with the Prophet I will sing, I will loue thee, o Lord Psalm. 17. my strength, God is my foundatiō & my refuge: God is my helper, and I will hope in him, my protector and the horne of my saluation, and my defender. Praising will I call vpon our Lord, and I shall be safe from mine enemies.

The fourth prayer for obtaining of the loue of God.

ON the bended knees of my heart, & deuoured in the depth of mine own abiectnes, w ^t a [...] are and reuerence, I come before thy sight (o my God) as one the most vnhappie, poore, and vilest crea­ture of the world. I set my selfe neere the flouds of thy mercy, by [Page 158] the riuer of thy graces, before the brightnes of the true Sunne of iu­stice, whose beames are spread o­uer the whole earth, and commu­nicate themselues freely to all those that shut not the window a­gainst them.

Behold a masse of chalke, a rude and impolisht trunck cut from the tree, is presented to the hands of the most wise workmaster: make of it, O most merciful Father, that which thou hast decreed to doe. Great is my boldnesse, in that a creature so vile dare demand a loue so precious & excellent as thine is. Truly I would (considering my great indignity) require some les­ser thing at thy hāds: but what shal I doe, wretch that I am, whereas thou cōmandest me that I should loue thee? Thou hast created me to the ende I should loue thee, and threatnest mee except I loue thee. Tho [...]dst die, that I might loue thee, and commandest mee that I should aske nothing more feruent­ly at thy hands, than thy loue: yea, & so much destrest thou to bee be­loued by mee, that seeing mee with­out [Page 159] thy loue, thou didst institute thy Sacramēt of admirable value whereby my heart might be enfla­med with thy loue.

O my Sauiour, whom am I, y ^t thou shouldest require my loue, & to this end thou shouldest seeke so many and so admirable meanes? What am I to thee but a torment? a crosse, and a vaily tribulation? And what art thou to me, but sal­uation, rest, and all goodnesse? If therfore thou louest me, why am I euerie waies trouble some vnto thee? why shall I not loue thee a­gain, who art euery way so profi­table and beneficiall to me?

Possessed therefore, O Lord, of these pledges of thy loue: and con­firmed by that thy mercifull com­mandement, whereby euen vnto my liues ende it pleased thee so bountifully to muite me, and com­mand mee to loue thee: by this thy singular grace, I require another like fauour, namely that thou wilt first giue me that, which y ^• woul­dest haue me giue thee: for I can­not giue thee this, except thon first giue it me: for I am not worthy to [Page 160] loue thee, but thou art worthy to beloued by mee. I therefore dare not request thee to loue thee, but that it might please thee to giue me leaue to loue thee. Fly not, O Lord, flie me not, despise not to bee beloued by thy creatures, with the vtmost of their loue.

O God, who art essentially loue, increated loue, infinite loue, loue without measure, not onely a louer but all loue, from whence the loue of all Seraphins & euery creature proceedeth in like manner as the light of all the starres from the brightnes of the sun, why shall I not loue thee? how can I chuse but be burnt w ^t this fire of loue, which inflameth the whole world, and each thing, contained in the same, yea welnigh burneth them?

O God, who art essentialy good­nesse it selfe, from whom all that is good whatsoeuer is called good, from whom the goodnesse of all li­uing creatures (no otherwise than al riuers from the sea) is deriued, in comparison of whose more than excellent goodnes, there is not any thing either in heauen or in earth [Page 161] that may be called good; why ther­fore shall I not loue thee, whereas goodnes is the obiect of loue? If I cannot loue thee, o my Lord, for thine excellency, how can I chuse but loue thee for mine owne profite sake? The son loueth the fa­ther, who hath receiued his being from him: the members loue the head, and offer themselues to death for it, because by the same they are continued in their essence: All ef­fects loue their causes, for from them they haue receiued whatsoe­uer they are, & from them they ex­pect that which yet they haue not: but thou o Lord art my father, my head, and my cause: that therefore which the sonne oweth the father, the mother the head: that which the effects owe to their causes, all that and far more do I owe thee.

Thou gauest mee that beeing which I haue, more perfect than my parents did: thou keepest mee in this beeing which thou gauest mee, more carefully than the head doth the members: thou finishest in mee that which is wanting, till thou hast brought mee to the last [Page 162] point of perfection. Thou art my father which made me: thou art my head which gouernest me: thou art my spouse who gauest to my soule perfect felicity: thou art the Archi­tect of this building: thou art the painter of this figure made accor­ding to thy image and similitude, which thou wilt also make perfect. Whatsoeuer it hath, it hath it frō thee: whatsoeuer it wanteth, it ho­peth to receiue it from thee. For euen as no one could giue him that which he is, but thou O Lord: so also no man can perfect that which as yet is imperfect, but thou: what­soeuer therefore it hath, whatsoe­uer it is, whatsoeuer it hopeth, all that is thine. Whom therefore shal it behold, but thee? To whom shall it bee accountable but to thee? In whose eies shall it walke, but in thine? Whither shall hee direct all his loue, but to thee, who art his whole good?

If therefore (O Lord) thou bee the beautie and ornament of my soule, how cā I forget thee? What haue I in heauen, and what will I of thee on earth? My flesh and my [Page 163] heart faileth, God of my heart, & my heritage for euer. O increate loue, which alwaies burnest & ne­uer art extinguished: o loue which alwaies liuest and burnest in the bosome of God. O eternall dart of the fathers heart, y ^t alwaies woun­deth the face of the Son with the wound of infinite loue! O let this dart wound me: this fire inflame me, let me follow thee my beloued, let me sing a new song with a loud voice, let my soule melt in thy prai­ses, with the vnspeakable applause and Iubile 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 [Page 164] 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 Psal. 136. o my God, let mee forget my right hand; let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth, if I remem­ber Psal. 131. 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 [Page 165] 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, [Page 166] 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 [Page 167] 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: [Page 168] 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 Psal. 90. 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 [Page 169] 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 y ^u brough­test me into the way: when I was ignorant thou taughtest me, when I did sinne, thou didst correct me: [Page 170] when I was sad, thou didst com­fort mee: When I did despaire, y ^u didst encourage me: when I fell y ^u 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 sēd 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 [...]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 [Page 171] light, O thou Sun of iustice; for it is good for me to cleaue, O Lord, Psal. 72. & 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: woūd 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 y ^t may [Page 172] alwaies thinke on thee, a minde y ^t 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 frō 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 amōgst 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 [Page 173] 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, foūtaines, 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, y ^e aire with birds, the water with fi­shes, the fields with flowers, and y ^e 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, y ^• [Page 174] hope of Patriarches, the Crowne of Martyrs, the glory of Confes­sors, y ^t puritie of Uirgins, and the saluation of all the elect. All bles­sed spirits praise thee, y ^• Pillars of heauen tr [...]ble at thy presence, and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee.

Thou fulfillest all things, yet art thou not di [...]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 erro [...], thou onely chastifest without any p [...]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 [Page 175] 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 [Page 176] 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 am [...]able which is pro­portioned with inequalitie, than y ^t which is euery way equall. The fathers loue is greater towards y ^• son, & the wiues towards the hus­band, than of brothers amongst themselues, who are equal. Uoices that art [...]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 [Page 177] 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 into my heart the vertue of charitie, by the mediation of the holy Ghost, I may neuer loue thee with a gratui­tall and supernaturall loue, in such manner as thou art worthy, & wilt be beloued. Giue mee the grace to loue thee, if not with such a loue as thou art worthy of, yet at least­wise with such a loue as my nature may partake, that is, with all my heart, all my soule, all my strength, & all my forces, so y ^t all my bowels inwardly burne, & melt in thy loue.

Grant that I may loue thee, w ^t a simple, willing, and free loue, without any respect of profit. Grāt that with pure loue, & no peruerse intentiō, I may desire nothing but thy selfe for thy selfe. Grant me (O Lord) a strong and inuincible loue, [Page 178] that may refuse or abhorre no pe­rils, no labours, no damages, no iniuries, or torments for thy sake.

Giue mee a ready and diligent loue, that may alwaies be occupied in matters pertaining to thy ser­uice. Giue me an inestimable loue (O Lord) that may contemne all things for thy sake: giue me a dis­creete loue, which with immode­rate zeale and feruour, shall not exceed thy law.

Finally, giue me (o my God) y ^t grace to loue thee with an ordinate loue, which loueth al things accor­ding to y ^t dignity of their propor­tion, but thee aboue all things w ^t a sweete and amiable loue: which shall taste no sweetnes or pleasure in any thing but in thee: with a loue, burning in zeale, that destreth nothing more than thy glory: ha­teth nothing more than ignomi­nie imputed to thy holy Name. Fi­nally, with a loue so violent, that it may pul my hart from all things that are transitorie, and alwaies draw the same vpwards vnto thee, vntill I may passe ouer all this place of exile, into y ^t celestiall coun­trey, [Page 179] where beholding the greatnes of thy beauty face to face, I may perpetually loue thee, with those perfect louers that neuer ceasse to loue and praise thee, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and God of Gods in Sion.

Amen.

The seuenth prayer for the obtai­ning of Gods loue.

O Most high, mightie, omnipo­tent, mercifull, iust, strong, & incomprehensible God, and my Lord. Thou that art sweeter than any hony, whiter than milke, clea­rer than all light, and more preci­ous than al pearle, there are infinit causes which rauish my heart with thy loue. For thou art higher then Iob 1 [...]. heauen, deeper than hell: thy mea­sure is longer then the earth, and broader then y ^• sea, as thy prophet saith: Who is perfecter than thou art: who better? who fairer? who bountifuller? who nobler? who stronger? who wiser? who richer than thou art? A [...] these things are in thee, O Lord, and for euery one [Page 180] of them art thou to be loued, since thou art the chiefest good.

But since euery good thing is truely amiable by it selfe, yet eue­ry man affecteth more his proper good: I will therefore loue thee, o Lord my God, not onely because thou art the chiefest good, but also because thou art my good: for when I consider and weigh with my selfe, by how many titles and meanes thou art made mine, my inward parts melt, and I cry with the spouse: My spouse is beloued of me, and I of him. Cant. 2.

For thou (o Lord) art my crea­tor, thou art my sanctifier and glo­rifier, thou gauest mee my being in nature, thou gauest mee that of grace, and wilt giue mee the being of glory. Thou art my helper, my gouernour, defender, tutor, and keeper: finally, thou art my God, my Lord, thou art my saluation, thou art my hope, thou art my glory, thou art all my good.

Uerily, y ^u art all those vnto mee, in as much as thou art my God, in so much as thou art my creator, and the conseruer of all things. [Page 181] But in as much as thou art man, there are many other titles, other offices, and other bonds wherwith I am bound vnto thee, and thou vnto me. For which I also (if it were possible) ought to loue thee, and that by reason, with an in [...] ­nite and diligent loue: for thou art my restorer, for thou hast re­stored mee to entire humane na­ture, which by sin was weakned in me. Thou art my deliuerer, for by thy captiuity, thou hast deliuered me from the tyranny of sin, death, hell, and the diuell, my most capi­tal enemies, Thou art my Redee­mer, for thou hast ransomed mee from seruitude, into which through sinne I was fallen, by the shedding of the incomparable treasure of thy precious blood.

Thou art my King, for thou gouernest me by thy Spirit, thou foughtest for mee, and deliueredst me from the hands of my enemies: thou art my priest, for thou prai­edst & incessantly praiest like an e­uerlasting priest for me, in y ^• sight of thy celestiall Father. Thou art my sacrifice, for y ^u offeredst vp thy [Page 182] selfe on the altar of the Crosse, that by thy clemency thou migh­test expiate my crimes. Thou art my aduocate, for when the Diuell accuseth me, and offereth the libel wherein my sins are written, to thy father, thou dost protect my cause, thou makest paiment with thine owne, & dost supply all that which my iustice defaulteth in. Thou art my Mediator, for thou art God and man, and a mighty friend of God, and y ^t true Son of God, so puttest thou thy selfe, as a media­tor betweene me and God.

Thou art my shepheard, for y ^• feedest & gouernest my soule like a sheepe of thy flocke: thou art my meate, for thou art hee by whom I am nourished in the diuine Sacra­ment of the Altar: thou art my fa­ther, and the father of the world to come: for thou hast regenerated me with grieuous dolours on the tree of the Crosse, and giuen me a new essēce by y ^• holy Spirit. Thou art my head, & the vniuersall head of the Church: for from thee, as from the true head, floweth into the same, and euery member there­of, [Page 183] vertue, life, and spirituall sense. Thou art my true Physition, for by thy blood thou hast healed the wounds and strips of my soule.

Thou art my master, for by the light of thy doctrine thou hast she­wed mee the way to the celestiall country. Thou art my example, for not onely in words, but that which is farre more, in deedes and most holy examples of thy life, thou hast led me in this way.

Thou art my strength and mer­cy, for there is no tribulation or griefe so great which the memorie of thy passions that thou suffe­redst for me doth not make sweete & tollerable. Thou art my honour and glory, for thou becamest man for mee, thou madest mee thy bro­ther, and a consort of thy nature.

To conclude, thou art my Saui­our, yea & such a sauiour, that eue­ry where, alwaies, & in all things art sufficient for me: for thou hast most perfectly wrought all that on the earth, which was requistte for my saluatiō. Thou hast illumina­ted my ignorance by thy doctrine, thou hast strengthned my weaknes [Page 184] by thy examples. Thou hast infla­med my warmth by thy benefits, thou hast instructed my soule in thy mysteries, thou hast enriched my pouerty by thy merits: Thou hast healed my wounds by thy Sacraments, thou hast satisfied by thy dolors for my defaults, & now in Heauen thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father, as mine aduo­cate: what neede many wordes? Thou art made vnto me wisdome and iustice, sanctification and re­demption, and therefore all good­nesse. 2. Cor. 1.

What impudence were it there­fore in me not to loue my Lord, who did all this for my sake, & to whom I am bound vnder so many titles & benefits? If men with the same loue where-with they affect them selues, do also loue al those things which are their owne, why should I not also loue thee (O Lord) if I would haue thee to bee mine, and that by so many offices and bene­fits, & in things so pregnant? And if for euery one of these benefits I owe thee my whole heart, and not this one onely, but more if I had [Page 185] them: what shall I owe thee, or what am I not indebted vnto thee if we ioyne all these benefits toge­ther? What iniquitie therefore should it be, not to giue one heart wh [...]h I haue, vnto him to whom I owe so many, and other diuerse things? And if euery one of these benefits be a goade or prouocation to loue, yea, and arrowes to pierce the hearts of men, how shall I choose blit burne amids so many flames of loue? How comes it to passe that I am altogether cold? a­midst so many weapōs, how escape I from wounds? How comes it to passe, that I perseuer in the hard­nesse of my heart, as it were with­out sense?

O Lord, I lament in thy pre­sence the dulnesse, & insensibility of my heart, I confesse the infidelity thereof: for y ^u raining into it innu­merable causes of loue, yet recei­uest nothing from y ^• came that de­serueth so many fauours. O heart more felon than furious beastes; more insensible than stones, more hard than Adamant, that is not mollified by so many strokes! [Page 186] I pray thee therefore, O thou fai­rest amongst the children of men, grant that I may desire thee, loue thee as much as I list, & as much as I ought. Thou art immeasu­rable, and oughtest to be loued be­yond measure, especially of vs, whom thou hast so loued, so saued, and for whom thou hast done so great and so many things. O loue that alwaies burnest, & art neuer extinct: sweet Christ, good Iesu, charity, my God, inflame me wholy with thy fire, with thy loue, with thy sweetnes, with thy affection, with thy desire, with thy charitie, with thy pleasure, & ioy, which is holy and good, which is chast and cleane: that wholy filled with the sweetnes of thy loue, wholy kind­led with the flame of thy charity, I may loue thee my most sweet Lord with my whole heart, with all my soule, with all my strength, with al my intention, and let nothing bee in me that doth not loue thee.

And for that to loue, is to wish well to him wee loue, and thou (O Lord) aboundest with so much goodnesse that I cannot wish thee [Page 187] more than thou hast: that onely thing I wish, that thou be possessed of my heart also, and that all y ^t is mine, may be thine: and for thine infinite glory, I giue thee heartie thāks. This likewise do I desire, that al creatures should serue thee, honor thee, praise, & glorifie thee, and that the whole earth should be filled with thy praises. Let this be alwaies my desire, this my meat, this my dainties to praise thee al­waies; & let thy laudes be alwaies in my lips. But because praise is not seemely in the mouth of a sin­ner, let the Saints, and all the spi­rits of the celestiall throne praise thee continually: for to them praise belongeth.

O all ye works of y ^t Lord there­fore, blesse yee the Lord, praise yet and magnifie him for euer. O yee Angels and Archangls, blesse yee the Lord, praise yee and magnifie him for euer. O yee vertues & do­minations, blesse ye y ^t Lord, praise him and magnifie hime for euer. O ye prince-domes & powers, blesse ye the Lord, praise him and mag­nifie him for euer, &c. Yee blessed [Page 188] thrones in which God sitteth an iudgeth, blesse ye the Lord, praise him, &c. O ye Cherubins, & Sera­phins that burne altogether infla­med with the loue of your creator, blesse ye the Lord, praise him, &c. O yee Apostles and Euangelists, founders of the Christiā Church, blesse yee the Lord, praise him, &c. O yee glorious hosts of Martyrs, blesse yee the Lord, praise him, &c. O all ye renownced and chaste vir­gins, blesse ye the Lord, praise him and magnifie him for euer. Bles­sed is the God of our Fathers, & blessed bee the name of thy glorie, holy and laudable, and magnified for euer and euer.

Amen.

The first prayer vnto the holy Tri­nitie, expressing the Maie­stie thereof.

LOrd God, without beginning, immortall, incomprehensible, incircumscribed, incorporall, inde­finite, vnsearchable, inuisible, im­mutable, euery where present, but hidden, euery where al, but immea­surable, [Page 193] who by thy neuer too much praised wisdome, hast created this huge world, and placed man in the same: holy Trinity, one God haue mercie vpon me.

If that Publican in the Gospel durst not lift vp his eies to heauē, but standing afar off, strooke his breast, saying: God be merciful vn­to Luke 18. me a sinner: if that holy penitent was affraid to appeare before the presence of our Lord, but standing behinde neare his feete, obtained remission of her sins by him, teares flowing from her eies: if that holy Luke 7. Patriarch Abraham, willing to talk with thee o God, said, shal I speak vnto my Lord whereas I am but Genes. 18. dust and ashes? If all these were so humble and so reuerent in respect of thee, comming before the sight of thy diuine maiestie, & thy most holy: what shall a poore & misera­ble sinner doe, such as I am? what shall dust and ashes doe? what shal the Abysse of all miserie & sins do? But because, o Lord, I cannot ob­taine that feare & reuerence, which is due to so great a maiesty, except I fixe mine eies immediatly on the [Page 194] same: giue mee leaue to dare to lift vp mine eies vnto thee: neither let the brightnes of thy glorie bee an impediment to the frailty of my sight. Truely I see that thou art y ^t great God that transcendest al the reach of our vnderstanding: I know that no vnderstanding crea­ted can comprehend thee: and al­though this be thus, yet can I not do any thing more profitable, than to fire mine eies on thee.

Therefore, O most high, omni­potent, merciful, iust, faire, strong, stable, simple, perfect, incompre­hensible, secret, and yet present withall: inuisible, and yet seeing all things: immutable, changing and renewing al things: whom al­titudes dilate not, neither limits restraine, nor variety changeth, nor corruption wasteth, nor affliction fasteneth on, nor ioyes moue in his essence: from whom neither obli­uion detra [...]h, nor to whom me­mory addeth any thing: to whom neither things y ^t are past, are past: nor things to come shall succeed: to whom nothing gaue beginning, nor time augment, neither any [Page 195] thing shall giue end, for thou 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 wor [...] 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: y ^u 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 [Page 196] 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 y ^u art the very ioy of those that re­io [...]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 y ^e great­nes of so many praises? I wil say y ^t which the Prophets (inspired w ^t thy truth) said: who hath measured the waters with a hand, & weigh­ed Esay 40. 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 Sap. 11. and taught him the way of his [...] ­stice, and brought him vp in sci­ence, and shewed him the way [...] [Page 197] prudence? Behold, the Gentiles are but as a drop of a bucket, and are reputed as a graine in the bal­lance. Loe, y ^e 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 presen [...]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, [Page 198] 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 Al [...]ha and Omega, the beginning and ending Apoc. 22. of all things: Thou art the begin­ning without beginning, and the end without end. Thou onely art he y ^t 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 Thro [...] [Page 199] of Maiesty, and laying down their Apoc. 4. 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 y ^e Psal 94. 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 [Page 200] 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 [Page 201] glorifie thee: For a Hymne becom­meth thee in [...]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 sun­shine.

Thou art perfect in all things, without any deformity: great w ^t ­out quantity, good without quali­ty, strong without infirmitie, true without falsitie, alwaies present without place, in all places, with­out diuision. In magnitude y ^u art infinite, in vertue omnipotent, in [Page 202] 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 [Page 203] thy right hand shall hold me. If I say y ^e 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 y ^e greatnes of thy power? I wil say that in times past which y ^e Prophet said, saying: For God is my king of old, the helpe that is Psal. 74. 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 [Page 204] made sommer and winter. And in another place the same Prophet saith: O Lord God of hoasts, who Psal. 89. is like vnto thee? thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on euery side. Thou rulest y ^e raging of the sea: y ^u 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 y ^t 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 [Page 205] carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile, and maketh y ^t Iud­ges fooles: hee looseth the rule of Kings, & guirdeth their loines w ^t 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 y ^e 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 y ^e scripture, what hast y ^u done against him? if thy offen­ces be many, what hast thou done Iob 35. 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 [Page 206] 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 Daniel 3, 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 [Page 207] depths, and sittest vpon y ^e 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 y ^t thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing, but also didst fashion mee [Page 208] 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 ma­ny blessings: thy bounty and be­nignity hath done all this, and I being insufficient to yeeld thanks for only one of them, how can I re­quit so many thousands? And how may darkenesse praise light? how may vanity commend verity? how [...] a mortal man (by nature fraile) conceiue thine immortalitie? how may a grosse substance compre­hend [Page 209] him, who is free from all weight of matter? how may vn­cleannes praise puritie? who then shal applaud thy works? who shall resound thy praises? but thou like a most mercifull Father, receiuest our vowes, and takest in good part thy childrens thāsgiuing whosoe­uer. Make me therfore worthy, O good God, to giue thee thanks, to cleaue perpetually to thy charitie, that I may praise thee for y ^e many and mighty benefits wherewith y ^u hast honoured mee. That I may pay thee thanksgiuing for y ^e perils from whence thou hast deliuered me. Finally, y ^t I may doe thee du­tie for protecting mee both in pros­perity & aduersitie: because thou hast done all things with discreti­on; and for that thou art the Lord of our bodies and soules, of life & death, of health and sicknes, of feli­city & infelicity. To bee short, the moment of all things dependeth on thy hand. Thou dost reioyce in vs by thy benefits, thou dost a­mate vs by thy menaces, thou diffe­redst in chastising & comfortest vs, reclaming our frailty vnto thy self.

[Page 210] Glory be to thy wondrous pow­er, praise to thy vnsatiable loue to mankinde: gouerne the rest of our life, most mercifull guide and vigi­lant gouernour: deliuer mee, O Lord, from all mine enemies, visi­ble and inuisible: stretch out thy bounteous hand, that may drawe vs out of the deepe waters of the roaring flouds of this world, and that may relieue and lighten the dangers of our nauigation. Go­uerne y ^• the magistracy, O King, which thou hast committed to our charge: for thou art the steersman, we the rudder, let thy hand there­fore inuisibly rule this Rudder whither it please the, and whither thou hast decreed it; for neither wil I trust in my bow, neither shal my sword saue me: but thy right hand and thine arme, and the cleare light of thy countenance.

Thy wil be done, o King, in vs, as it is in heauen and earth: if at a­ny time wee shall run astray from the lawes of thy commandements, conceiue not suddaine wrath, O most mercifull God, since thou art not ignorant how fraile and weak [Page 211] we are from our beginning: if thou list thou canst saue mee: vouch safe it may be accordant to thy wil. For vnlesse thy power strengthen mee, I cannot do that which I would.

Consider my heart therefore, with the vnspeakable sweetenes of thy bounty, to the end that a little sense, and taste of the future and eternall blessednesse which we shall enioy in thee, may refresh our minds. Lastly, make nice worthie, that after this present life, I may hasten vnto thee my Lord & God: that I may behold the riches of thy kingdome, and contemplate the beautie of thy looke: which grant, o most holy King, my true God and maker, for thy Sonnes sake our Lord Iesus Christ,

A prayer vnto the Father, where­in we demand sanctifi­cation.

THou that rulest in the highest, reignest for euer, & onely canst doe all things, God the gouernor of heauen and earth, at whose becke [Page 212] all creatures tremble, & the pillars of heauen shake. O heauenly God, perfect workman and Potter, I wretch made out of clay, or rather of filthy mudde, with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie. I acknowledge & confesse my wickednesse, I know that I am nothing, yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight, if thy grace and mercie do faile me: without thee I thinke no goodnes, without thee I do no good thing: without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme.

I cannot be saued without thine assistance, my saluation dependeth on thy hands. I giue thee thanks, O God, & in especiall for this, for that thou hast giuen me that know ledge, that I may see and know y ^t I am nothing, and vnable to do a­niething without thee. Thou art y ^e Potter, I the clay: such as thou wilt haue mee bee, such canst thou forme and fashion me: if thou ma­kest mee blessed, thou shewest thy mercy & grace: if thou castest mee into perdition, thou shewest thy iu­stice, and executest thy iudgement: [Page 213] neither is it my duety to contradict thee, why, or vnder what reason thou doest it. For thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest: these things I meditate with my selfe, o Lord, & I feare thy iudgements.

Since therefore all my safety & saluation dependeth on thee, and consisteth in thy hand and power, and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull & long-suffering God to the whole world: and hast testi­fied the same indeed, in that thou woldest thy only son Iesus Christ the innocent, should die for our offences, and expiate our sinnes with his blood on the Crosse. Fi­nally, since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to cal vpon thee, and aske thy grace and mer­cy, for that thou wilt giue vs all things which wee shall aske in the Name of thy Sonne: I come vnto thee, being drosse and a lumpe of clay, O mercifull and celestiall Potter, beseeching thee most hum­bly, that thou wilt vse thy mercie, and make of this vnworthy mat­ter, a Uessell of eternall Glorie. Uouchsafe also of thy meere grace, [Page 214] to fixe my minde on perfect faith, assured hope, and chaste and holie loue, that being iustified by these thy gifts, I may become vpright, perfect, good and holy, according to thy good will both in the midst, and end of my life, as also at the latter day of iudgement.

O mercifull Father, grant mee pardon of all my sinnes: through y ^• death of thy beloued Sonne Ie­sus Christ, make me to please thee alone: grant me to be thy gratefull sonne and heire, increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer, which is giuen me, and granted from heauen, that I may continue and end my life [...] the same: increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen mee: kindle my loue of thee, and make it more apparant, that by thy helpe, and the presence of thy grace, and the accomplishment of thy holy will, I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs, to the end I may praise thee, and giue thee thanks in thy kingdome, for e [...] and euer,

Amen.

A prayer to God the Sonne.

OThou maker and redeemer of makinde, Iesus Christ, who saiedst, I am y ^e way, the truth, and the life: the way in doctrine, pre­cept and examples: the truth in promises: y ^e life in reward: I pray thee by thy vnspeakeable charitie, wherwith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation, suffer mee neuer to wander from thee who art the way: neither euer to distrust in thy promises, who art the truth and performest whatsoe­uer thou doest promise: neither to repose or relie on any other thing, because thou art eternall life, than which, there is nothing more to bee desired, neither in heauen nor in earth. By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall sal­uation, lest wee should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life. Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue, what to doe, what to hope, and in whom we ought to rest: by thee we haue learnt how vn [Page 216] happy we were borne through our first father Adam, by thee wee haue learnt that there is no hope of sal­uation, except by faith in thee.

Thou hast taught vs y ^t thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this world, cō ­ducting them through the night of their mindes, from the Egyptian darkenesse, to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke, and such as follow thy hu­mility. For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse, who neither could see our calamity, neither know frō whence to secke the remedy of our misery: thou daignedst to enter in­to the world, vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature, that thy do­ctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorāce: that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in y ^e way of peace: by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality: & beating it with thy steps, thou madest it of a tedious & rough, an easie & beaten way. So becamest thou vnto vs a way, that knoweth no errour, in which lest wee should bee wearied, [Page 217] thy bounty with great and assured promises, vouchsafed to assure vs: for who could bee wearied, that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of e­ternal life prepared for him? Ther­fore whilst we are in this iourney, thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs where­by wee might be sustained.

Neither was thy goodnes con­tented herewith, but acknowledg­ing the frailty of our natures, in the meane space with the comfort of y ^e holy Spirit y ^• repairest our courages, to the end that wee may more willingly run vnto thee. And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour, so becom­ming our truth, thou takest away all distrust.

Finally, being made life vnto vs, thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne, a life through thy holy spirit which quickneth all things, vntill all mortality laid a­side, in y ^e resurrection we may al­waies liue with thee and in thee, by reason that thou art vnto vs al in all things: For it is eternall life [Page 218] to know the Father, & the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, to be one true God. Wherfore I beseech thee, O most mercifull Father, to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruāt, lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine: increase o­bedience in me, lest I swerue from thy precepts, increase constancy, that walking in thy waies, I nei­ther bee allured by the inticements of sathan, nor deiected by his ter­rors: but that I may perseuere in thee who art the true way, to my liues end. Increase my faith, that possessed of thy promises, I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse: but forgetting those things I haue left behinde mee, I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection.

Increase thy grace in me, that daily more and more being morti­fied my selfe: I may liue and be in­couraged by thy holy Spirit, fea­ring nothing but thee, than whom there is nothing more amiable, glo rying in none but in thee, who art the true glorie of all the Saints, wishing nothing but thee, th [...] [Page 219] whom there is nothing better: de­siring nothing but thee, who art full and perfect felicitie, with the Father and the holy Ghost, world without end.

Amen.

A prayer to the holy Ghost.

HOly Spirit, our aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpō thy Apostles, filling their bo­somes with charity, grace, and wis­dome: I pray thee by that thy vn­speakeable mercie and liberality, that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue: Come holy Ghost, and from heauen send a beame of thy light. Come thou Father of the poore, come thou giuer of gifts, come thou light of hearts, come thou gracious comforter, thou sweete guest of my soule, my pleasant re­fresher. Come thou Physition of those that faint, come thou purger of eies, come thou strength o [...] the fraile, come thou remedy of sins, come thou doctor of the humble, come thou destroier of the prond, [Page 220] come thou excellent ornament of all vertues: come thou onely salua­tion of the dying. Come my God, and adorne a bed for thee, in which I may worthily entertaine thee, with all thy riches and mercies: make me drunke with the gifts of thy wisedome, illuminate me with the benefite of vnderstanding, go­uerne me with the gift of counsell, confirme me with the gift of forti­tude, instruct mee with the gift of science, wound me with the gift of pietie, and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare.

O sweet louer of cleane hearts, burne and inflame all my bowels with the sweet fire of thy loue, that being inflamed, they may bee car­ried and rauished into thee, who art the center & finall end of all my good: o sweet louer of holy soules, since thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe, nor by my selfe: stretch out thy fauou­rable hand ouer me, & grant that I may forsake my selfe, & fly vnto thee: mortifie, extinguish and dis­solue in me whatsoeuer is displea­sant vnto thee, that in all things [Page 221] thou maiest conforme mee vnto thy will, that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight, or rather an offering which may wholy bee consumed in the fire of thy loue.

O who shall giue me the grace, y ^e I may at least attaine this chiefe good? Looke vpon mee, O Lord, looke vpon mee, and see here this thy poore creature: my soule sigh­ing after thee day and night, how she thirsteth after God: when shall I come & appeare before the pre­sence of thy grace? When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attain the house of my God? When wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance? When shall I be sa­tiate with the presence of thy glo­ry? When shal I by thy meanes be deliuered from all temptations? and when shall I ouercome this frailty of my mortality? O eter­nall fountaine of light: bring mee backe againe to the Abysse of eter­nall goodnes, by whom I am crea­ted, that there I may know thee, e­uen as I am known of thee, & may [Page 222] so loue thee, as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect, euen as thou also hast seene me from euer­lasting

Amen.

The first prayer of the life of Iesus.

I Yeeld thee immortall thanks, O most sweete Iesu, that from thy 1 Christ des cended frō heauen, and was concei­ued in the Virgins wombe. roial pallace, and the secret bosome of thy father, thou hast vouchsafed for my sake to descend into this vale of miserie, and in the sanctifi­ed womb of that chaste Uirgin thy mother, thou didst take vpon thee a humane body: I pray thee (O Lord) 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 [Page 223] 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 2 Mary visi­teth her Cousin. 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 [Page 224] Iesu, that thou wert borne of the 3 Christ is borne. 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 4 Christ is swathed. 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, y ^e in thy sight, I may be alwaies a very infāt in humili­ty, & truly poore in spirit. Uouch­safe that for thy loue sake, I may [Page 225] 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 5 Christ is a­dored by the shep­heards. Iesu, for that as soone as y ^u 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 6 Christ is ci [...] cumcised and called Iesus. 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 [Page 226] 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 7 Christ is a­dored by the wise­m [...]n. 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 [Page 227] 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 8 Christ is presented in the Temple. Christ, who, that y ^u 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, y ^t neuer hereaf­ter y ^e 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 [Page 228] 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 9 Iesus flies [...]to Egypt. didst disdaine to fly into E­gypt: Giue me the grace y ^t 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 10 Iesus sit­teth a­mongst the Do [...]tors. 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 [Page 229] 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 so possesse my heart, y ^• I may neuer be weary, nor satisfied with seruing thee. Our Father, &c

The second praier of the life of Iesus.

I Giue thee thanks most sweet Ie 11 Iesus is Baptized. su, for that entring y ^• flood Ior­dan thou wouldst bee baptised by the hands of thy precurser S. Iohn Baptist: vouchsafe, O Lord, to pu­rifie mee in this life by thy merits, and to cleanse me from all my sins, and to make mee drunke with thy loue, and desire of my celestiall countrey. Make me such a one be­fore my soule shall depart out of y ^• prison of this flesh, as thou wilt haue me to bee, that at the end of this pilgrimage I may presently [Page 230] bee with thee: that I may alwaies see thee, and alwaies enioy thee in y ^t blessed eternity that hath no end.

I giue thee continuall thanks, most bountifull Iesu, for y ^t liuing 12 Iesus is tempted by the diuell in the de­sart. in the desart before thou beganst to preach the Gospell, thou didst liue amongst wilde beasts: & perseue­ring in fasting fortie daies & for­tie nights, and watching in conti­nuall praiers & sighs, thou woul­dest afterwards be tempted by the diuell: and after thou hadst obtai­ned the victory, the Angels came and ministred vnto thee. Uouch­safe O Lord, that by thy grace I may chastise my flesh: and make thrall all my sinfull affections of y ^• flesh: and that by the gift of perse­uerance I may exercise my selfe in fastings, watchings, prayers, and other spiritual exercises. But espe­cially, O Lord, grant mee that by the helpe of thy grace, I may bee free from the sinne of gluttome, and from all other snares & temp­tations of the diuell: let no temp­tation preuaile against mee: let no allurement separate me from thee: rather bring to passe, O Lord, that [Page 231] all these may giue mee greater oc­casion, more neerely to vnite and tie my selfe vnto thee.

I giue thee thanks sweete Iesu, for that for my loue thou wert af­flicted 13 Iesus is af­flicted with diuers la­bours and necessities. in this world with many do­lors, & diuers necessities, as heate, colde, thirst, hunger, wearinesse, and swellings: with diuers iour­neis, watchings, persecutions, and tribulations of al sorts. Grant me, O Lord, that for thy loue sake I may suffer all aduersitie w ^t a glad heart, as if coming frō thy hands: and that I may beare them with great patience. Grant y ^t in what­soeuer fortune, either prosperous or aduerse, troublesome or peace­able, I may alwaies perseuere in thee, and faithfully cleaue vnto thee, that in all things thy will bee done, and not mine.

I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu, for that thou sufferedst many 14 Iesus prai­eth and preacheth. things whilst like a true shepheard and Sauiour of the world, thou soughtest the conuersion and health of my soule: in watching and prayer, in wearying thy selfe in trauels, in preaching the Gospell, [Page 232] trauelling from Prouince to Pro­uince, and Castle to Castle, and omitting in no sort the office of a good Pastor. I beseech thee, O Lord, giue mee this grace, that I may neuer be found hereafter slow and negligent in doing thee ser­uice, but that I may be alwaies ready and prompt to all good­nesse. Grant that I may most ar­dently thirst after all mens salua­tion: and may alwaies haue zeale of thine honour, and occupy my selfe in the same.

I giue thee thanks, most boun­tifull 15 Iesus con­uerseth with men. Iesu, y ^t in thy mercifull con­uersation with men, thou wouldest comfort them, and of thy great mercie cure their infirmities. Giue mee, O Lord, a heart replenished with a certaine zealous affection towards al mē, that I may be par­taker with all those whom I shall see in afflictiō. Grāt also, O Lord, y ^t I may esteeme other mens mi­series as mine owne, and that with a sincere heart, and without any passion, I may beare with other mens imperfections, and succour them according to my most power [Page 233] in all their necessities. O Lord purge my heart perfectly from all vicious passions, and all euill de­sires, which tyrannize in the same: that being healed of all these euils and freed from all these impedi­ments, shee may freely flie to Hea­uen, and neuer ceasse, till of most pure loue it may deserue to par­take thy diuine embracings.

I giue thee thanks, good Iesu, for 16 Iesus suffe­reth manie things for our sake. that for my sake thou sufferedst so innumerable iniuries, blasphemies slaunders, reproches, and persecu­tions, & especially at their hands whom thou hadst graced with infi­nite benefits. I beseech thee (O Lord) giue me a heart truly simple & innocent, that I may loue mine enemies, and that their misfor­tunes may greeue me to the heart, that I may excuse them alwaies, if many thing they shall offend, yeel­ding good for euill: & that I may be a perfect follower of thy perfect charity and patience.

I giue thee thanks most louing 17 Iesus came into Ieru­salem. Iesu, for that thou camest in hum­ble sort into Hierusalem, lowly sit­ting vpon an Asse, and whilst they [Page 234] that came out to meete thee: recor­ded thy glorious praises in plea­sant Hymnes, thou sheddest teares full of bitternesse, with the griefe thou hadst conceiued for the de­struction of such a Cittie, and the losse of so many soules, extorted from thee. Giue mee, O Lord, a certaine inward knowledge of my selfe, that I may manifestly know my vilenes, & hartily hum­ble my selfe: y ^t I may so contemne my selfe, that hereafter no flatterie or commendations of men may please me, but that I may continu­ally bewaile not onely mine owne but my neighbours sinnes, repu­ting all his euils to bee mine. Our Father, &c.

The third prayer of the life of Iesu.

I Giue thee thanks, O Lord Iesu Christ, for that to bring the old 18 Iesus wa­sheth his disciples [...]eet at sup­per. law to an end, thou didst eate the paschall Lamb w ^t thy Disciples in Hierusalem, and giuing them an example of great humility, and vn­speakeable [Page 235] loue, kneeling on thy knees, thou didst wash their feete, wiping them with the towell wherewith thou wert girt: I pray thee, O Lord, let this example of thine pierce my heart, and cast out of the same, whatsoeuer presump­tion or pride may bee found in it. Giue me I beseech thee, O Lord, profound humility, by meanes wherof I may reioyce to be subiect vnto them, without alteration. Adde to me also perfect obedience, whereby I may entirely satisfie thy commandements: together be obseruant to their instructions, who in thy name haue the autho­rity ouer me. Kindle in mee a fer­uent charitie, wherewith I may purely loue thee, and through thy loue, loue all men.

I giue thee thanks, most sweete Iesu, that of thy most excellent 19 Iesus insti­tuteth the holy Sacra­ment. charitie, thou didst institute the most excellent Sacrament of thy bodie and blood: and for that of a certaine admirable liberality of thine, thou gauest thy self for meat vnto vs, and repinedst not to re­main with vs in this world till the [Page 236] end thereof. Ah Lord, excite in me I pray thee a louing desire, and an ardēt thirst of this venerable Sa­crament. Grant mee the grace, that I may come to this Table of life, to receiue thee with a chaste loue, profound humility, purity of heart, and sincerity of mind. Grant also, that my soule may so thirst af­ter thee, and bee so wounded by thy loue, that at length I may deserue to enioy thy diuine pleasures for the honour and glorie of thy holy Name.

I giue thee thanks, O sweetest Iesu, that vpon thy departure out 10 Christin his last Supper comforteth his disciples 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 y ^t 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 [Page 237] 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 21 Iesus prai­eth to his Father in the garden. w ^t 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. 22 Iesus is ta­ken priso­ner.

I giue thee thanks o bounteous Iesu, for y ^t thou vouchsafedst to [Page 238] 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 y ^u art mo [...]kt, whilst thou art abused, thou lamentest not, thou murmurest not, y ^u 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, e [...]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 [...]su, king of heauen & earth, 23 Iesus suf­fered a stri [...]e on the face. 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 [Page 239] 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 24 Iesus in the night wher­in hee was taken, was vexed di­uers wayes. 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 in [...]nitie: [Page 240] Giue me grace, that my minde may be deiected by no storme of aduer­sity, but humbled by afflictiō. Help me, lest I saint vnder the burden of my tribulations, which shall come vpon me, neither let iniuries offered mee by other men, [...]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 Pi [...]ate, thou didst not 25. Iesus is ac­cused be­fore Pilate. 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 [...] ­lence diddest thou ouerpasse all things. Grant, O Lord, that re­proofes, murmurings, & detracti­ons may not moue mee to cho [...]: but that instructed by thy example I may ouercome all those that in­ [...]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.

[Page 241] I giue thee thanks, most merci­full 26 Iesus is led to Herod. Iesus, for that amidst y ^e 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, 27 Iesus is ac­cused before Herod. 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 de [...]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 sto­ [...]s, but grant that my tong may [...]und with nothing but that which [Page 242] 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 28 Iesus is iudged more wicked then Bar­rabas. 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 thing [...] 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 sal [...] ­tion vpon thee.

[Page 243] I giue thee thanks, most louing 29 Christ is whipt. Iesu, that being dispoiled of thy garmēts, 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 30 Iesus is crowned. 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 [Page 244] 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, 31 Iesus bea­reth his Crosse. 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 y ^• grieuous weight there­of, and the extreme weakenesse of thy bodie. Uouchsafe me, O Lord, [Page 245] 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, 32 Iesus bea­ring his crosse, spea­keth to the women. 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 & 33 Iesus drin­keth vine­gar and gal 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 y ^• 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: y ^t refraining all gluttonous appe­tites, I may onely hunger and thirst after thee, and fixe my whole pleasure on thee.

[Page 247] I giue thee thanks, blessed Iesu, 34 Iesus is stript of his garments. who once more dispoyled of thy garments, stoodest naked before all the people, where, thy raiments pulled off, which w ^t 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 35 Iesus is cru­cified. 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) [Page 248] 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 36 Iesus hang­eth on th [...] Crosse. hangedst on y ^• 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 [Page 249] 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 y ^• 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, 37 Iesus hang­eth between two theeues 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. [Page 250] I giue thee thanks, beloued Iesu, who wert so kinde to them that 38 Iesus pray­eth for his persecutors. 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 39 Iesus is mockt vpon the Crosse. by thine enemies, and outraged with so many blasphemies and in­ [...]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 [Page 251] 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 40 Iesus pro­miseth the thiefe Pa­radise. 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: 41 Iesus com­mendeth his mother to the dis­ciple. for that looking from the tree of the Crosse, seeing thy mother full of griefes & afflictions, and drow­ned in her teares, thou tookest cō ­passion 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 w ^t open wounds, thy 42 Iesus com­plaineth that he is left of his Father. 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, [Page 253] 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 43 Iesus thir­sted on the Crosse. 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, y ^t 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. [Page 254] I giue thee thanks, O mercifull Iesu, for that in the houre of thy 44 Iesus drin­keth gall on the Crosse. death, that thou mightest quench thy thirst, thou wouldest apply to thy mouth a sponge full of Uine­gar, that tasting y ^t 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, y ^e 45 [...]sus fini­ [...]eth the [...]orke of [...]r redemp [...]n. feruent louer of mankinde, for that so absolutely and with so excellent an order thou broughtst the worke of our redemption to end: offering [Page 255] thy selfe a liuing sacrifice, on the altar of the Crosse, for y ^e 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) y ^t 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, 46 Iesus gi­ueth vp [...]he­ghost. 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 [Page 256] 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 47 Iesus side is opened with a Lau [...]e. 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, 48 Christ is a­dored by [...]he wise­ [...]en. who with the great lament of thy friends wert taken from the Crosse, and embalmed with pre­cious [Page 257] 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, 49 Iesus des­cended in­to hell 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.

[Page 258] I giue thee thanks, o good Ie­su, 50 Iesus ari­seth from the dead. 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 conuers [...]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 51 Iesus as­cendeth in­to heauen. (in the sight of thine A­postles, didst ascend into Heauen, glorious and triumphant, where sitting on the right hand of y ^e 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 [Page 259] 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 52 Iesus sen­deth the ho­ly Ghost. Iesu, for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon y ^• 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 gi [...]e thee thanks, most boun­tifull Iesu, who when thou shalt 53 Iesus shall come to iudgement come in the latter day to iudge the world, & to reward euery one ac­cording to his works and deserts, either with rewardes or punish­ments. [Page 260] My mercifull Lord, giue me grace, that my soule innocent­ly [...]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, y ^t 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 [Page 261] of being, liuing & working with thee, I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie.

But [...]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 y ^e Angels in dignity. Or­ [...]n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse: Hogs feede on A [...]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 h [...]st created my soule of that nature and capa­city, as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it. [Page 262] 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 se [...]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, h [...]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 y ^• 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 [Page 263] 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. Eccle. 24.

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, dis [...]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 wōder 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 y ^e armes of my Redeemer, who is fairest a­mongst the children of men: whose Psal. 44. Cant. 1. [...]aps are better than wine, and whose name is powred out oyle. [Page 264] When I behold the fashion which y ^• gauest to this my body, I find [...] so many of thy benefits, as the [...] are members, senses, veins, nerues, or small strings to bee found in th [...] same: all which doe publish thy [...] ­comparable wisedome and bounty. In the only harmony of which b [...] ­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, in cōtempt or disgrace of thy holy Name.

[Page 265] Yet (O Lord) there are many things which yet I want, for no­thing is presently reduced from his not being, to his perfect being: but all things tend to their per­fection by certaine degrees: And that perfection, from whom is it to bee required, but from him who is the beginner of this worke? Hence it is that all effects are conuerted to their causes, that they may re­ceiue their finall perfection from thence whence they had their be­ginning. So see I (O Lord) the plants labour & wrest themselues on euery side, that they may be­hold the Sun, & fasten their roots in the earth: Fishes forsake not the water: and the Chicken scarce hat­ched from the egge, hides himselfe vnder the wings of the Hen, and followeth her whither soeuer shee go. Since all creatures do this, in whom there is no vnderstanding: I alone doe it not, whom yet thou hast created and endued with rea­son: I see y ^t I want many things, [...] that daily I am diuersly hinde­red: & the inordinate & insatiable hunger of mine appetites teach­eth [Page 266] me no lesse: but I like a Doue wanting a heart, haue not recourse to my Creator, but to creatures: I seeke not water out of y ^e Fou [...] ­taine, but digge new Cesterns for my selfe: I hunt after the earth, & contemne him that made y ^e earth: I seeke life in the land of death: & I will rest my selfe in things that are restles: I will begge from crea­tures, that which I ought to aske from the Creator.

I therefore pray thy goodnes, O my mercifull Father & Creator, to take away this ignorance from [...] and conuert me vnto thee, and then shall I be conuerted: thine eies see that which is imperfect in me, thou madest mee, thou finishedst mee, thou beganst this worke, doe thou finish it. Thy hands haue fashioned mee, giue mee vnderstanding, that I may learne thy Testimonies. Thou gauest mee eares, but such as are more attentiue to heere fables thā thy word: thou gauest me eies, but such as are more prone to be­hold curiosity, than to consider the wondrous works of thy law: thou gauest me hands, but weak to per­forme [Page 267] good workes: thou gauest me feet, but swift vnto euill, & slow vnto goodnes. What neede more? There is no health in my flesh: per­ [...] O Lord▪ that which thou hast begun [...] me. [...] of thy hands. Giue me y ^t I want, because thou art my Creator & my God: thou art my life, thou art my saluation: thou art my liuing, thou art my aboundance, thou art my glory: thou art my honour: thou art my peace, thou art all my good: without thee, all my plenty is po­uerty: who liuest & reignest God, world without end.

Amen.

The second thanksgiuing for the benefite of our corporall con­seruation.

I Giue thee thanks, O most om­nipotent, high, iust, and merci­full Lord God, not onely for that thou hast created me, and brough­test me from not being, to a being: but also for that thou hast preser­ued, and daily doest preserue me [...] being made of nothing, from fal­ling [Page 268] into nothing: for I both be­leeue and confesse that both is thy worke: but if thy hand should be shut, and but for the twinckling of an eie should [...]iue ouer [...]is [...] [...]ng, (of which thou createdst me.) As ma­ny moments therefore, and points of time as this my life hath had, now hath, or may haue hereafter, so many parts are there of this be­nefite.

I giue thee thanks, O merci [...] Father, that by an vnsearchabl [...] kinde of meanes, from my concep­tion, vntill my natiuitie, thou has [...] kept mee close shut vp in the nar­row bed of my mothers wombe, least choaked in my mothers bo­wels, I had come foorth into this world, either borne an abortiue, or strangled in my natiuitie without the benefite of Baptisme. I giue thee thanks that I am borne, not amongst Barbarians & idolators, who honor wood, and adore stone: not amongst Heretickes, that blas­pheme thy name and most sacred Sacraments but amongst Catho­liques, who honour and reuerence [Page 269] thee with a true, sincere and pure [...]uth.

I giue thee thanks for that thou hast preserued me from all misfor­ [...]ne & sodaine death, being borne [...] bred vp in this world so full of snares and of perils. For whereas [...]uers men in my life time, drow­ned in the Sea, slaine in the war, [...]urthered by theeues, torne by the [...]skes of beasts, swallowed vp by [...]rthquakes, killed by hunger, ex­ [...]ct by thirst, burnt with heate, [...]illed with colde, poysoned with venome, strāgled with the haltar, slaine by y ^e sword, or other sodaine and violent death, are taken hence; when in the meane while there are so many blinde, lame, mad, trou­bled with the Iand [...]es, s [...]ke of the [...]ir, trauelled with the spleen, bed­ [...]em, furious, lunat [...]ke, and sub­ [...]ct to the falling sickenesse, whose [...]ife is more miserable than death: Thy fatherly prouidence, O Lord hath defended me from all these e­ [...]ils: wheras notwithstanding no­ [...]hing hapned vnto thē that might not haue fallen on me, the sonne of [...]dam, created out of the same [Page 270] masse of perdition, conceiued an [...] begotten in the same originall sin, except thou hadst preserued me. I owe all this to thy mercy, these be­nefits I receiue from thee. If my earthly King & Lord, had of tenne captiues condemned for one and the same crime, sent nine to the gallowes, and of his meere grace & fauour had set me free, what con­digne thankes could I offer him? But thou (O Lord) hast done this for mee, not once, but daily: yea and euery moment.

What shall I therefore pay thee, O Lord, for al these benefits? what praises shall I sing? what thanks­giuing shall I offer? I will say w ^t y ^e Prophet: It is the mercy of God [...]am. 3. that we are not consumed: for that his mercies haue not failed.

Thou hast giuē vs a body though vnworthy of many things, which except they bee present, it easily cor­rupteth & perisheth: but that they might be present, it is thy singular prouidence that hath so disposed. For as thou createdst vs for thy selfe, so hast thou made all things for vs: for whatsoeuer is created in [Page 271] the earth, in the waters, the ayre, the fire, or in the celestiall spheres, yea in the imperiall heauen, al that hast thou created to obey vs: for thou hast placed man aboue all the workes of thy hands. Thou hast Psal. 8. subiected all things vnder his feet, &c. For me, trees bring forth their boughes and fruite: vines flourish for me: oyles fattē and grow fruit­ful for me: the garden flowreth for me, & all the plowland of the fields is mine. For mee doth the earth yeeld gold, siluer, and diuers min [...] ­rals, profitable for the vse of man. For me doth the Sea ebbe & flow­for mee it bringeth foorth diuers sorts of fishes: for mee it beareth ships and sailes: for mee doe the fountaines spring: for mee doe the flouds flow: sheepe, oxen and the beasts of the field are fed, bring forth skins, wooll, milke, and but­ter for mee: for mee hath the hound nailes and teeth: for mee doth the Monocerote bring foorth a horne: for mee doth the Thrush sing: for mee doth the Peacoke spread her party-coloured plumes: what need more? There is nothing y ^t liueth [Page 272] or mooueth in water, earth, o [...] ayre, which either feedeth me no [...], or recreateth mee not, or medici­neth me not: so that all this inferi­our world is no other thing tha [...] my store-house, my walke, and [...] Poticaries shop.

If I shall ascend aboue the ele­mentall world, how many & how great wonders hast y ^• made there for me? The moone, the sunne, the stars, to whom shine they but to me? to whose vse doe they impart their influences to those inferiour bodies, but to mine? To whom do the times of yeares, moneths, and daies, varie and admit measure, but for me? I wil ascend higher: it was thy will that those noble and pure Angelicall spirits, who mini­ster vnto thee & assist thee, should bee my ministers also, that they might defend me from the assaults of al mine enemies, visible and in­uisible, induce mee to goodnesse by their suggestion, helpe me in my tribulations, offer my prayers vnto thee, and bring my soule departing out of this life to thy presence.

[Page 273] Arise now my soule, arise, num­ber if thou canst, all these benefits wherwith God ceasseth not to fol­low thee, though a sinner euerie day. All and euery one of these are certaine voyces inuiting thee to prayse this thy bountifull bene­factor. Doest thou not heare, nor know who he is, who insinuateth himselfe vnto thee by so many ar­guments? makes himselfe known by so many testimonies? draweth thee vnto him by so many re­wards? esteemed thee so much, y ^t hee made all things for thy vse? who is made the shepheard of thy flocke? y ^e steward of thy houshold? y ^e Physition of thy bodie & soule? wilt thou not loue him? wilt thou not serue him? wilt thou not giue him thanks? wilt thou not prayse him?

I desire to prayse thee, O Lord, & giue thee thanks with my whole heart, but in my selfe I finde no means how I may do it: for praise is not seeming in the mouth of a Eccles. 15. sinner. But for that thou hast cre­ated all things to my vse & seruice, I will cal vpon all creatures, that [Page 274] they with me may praise the Lord of al things, saying: O alye works of the Lord, blesse yee with mee the Lord, praise him and magnifie his name for euer.

The third thanksgiuing for the benefite of our redemp­tion.

I Giue thanks with my lips, my heart, and all the vertue that is in mee, to thine infinite mercie, O Lord my God, for y ^t, being crea­ted according to thy similitude and likenesse, and fallen and lost in my first parents, thou wouldst not ba­nish me for euer like the proud an­gell from thy presence: but of thy vnspeakeable goodnesse thou hast redeemed me. Because thou madst mee, O Lord, I owe my selfe vnto thee: but for that thou redeemedst mee, I should owe thee farre more than my self, if I had it. But wher as thou couldst not helpe vs by thy life, yet was it thy pleasure to effect the same in thy death, to the end thou mightest expresse vnto vs, the [Page 275] force of thy loue: for lesse hadst thou loued, except for a time thou hadst sustained, to the end thou mightest disburden vs. And so much more worthily art thou to bee honoured by vs, by how much more greater things thou hast su­stained for our sakes. For who art thou that sufferest? what, & of what kinde are the things thou sufferest? for whom sufferest thou? and why sufferest thou? Tell me, O Lord, that I may counterpoise equallie this wonderfull worke & incompa­rable benefite. What therefore, O my God, shall I say that thou art? I will say y ^t which y ^u thy selfe saidst to Moses in times past: Thou art that thou art: Thou art an infinite being that proceedest from no man but thy selfe: and without thee, there is no being that hath being of him­selfe, but from thee onely, who art that beginning and fountaine of al being. Thou of thy omnipotent power, madst al things of nothing, thou of thy goodnesse, conseruest all things without any forraine helpe: thou by thy will (if it so plea­sed thee) maiest reduce al things to [Page 276] nothing: thou onely art, that art, and all that seemeth to be, is no­thing in comparison of thee. The moone shineth not, and the starres are not cleane in thy sight. All beautie compared to thee is defor­mitie, all power infirmity, all wis­dome ignorance, and all goodnesse is malice. Thou art good without defect: wise without error, liberall without acception of persons, iust without wrath, cleane without de­triment: thou workest all things, and art not distracted, thou labou­rest, and art not wearie: thou art euerie where, and nothing is wan­ting in thee.

What therfore shal I speake of the greatnes of thy maiesty? Thou beholdest the earth, and makest it P [...]al. 103. tremble: thou touchest the moun­taines, and they smokke. thou hast shut the sea within bounds, when Iob. 38. it brake out as a child from his mothers wombe: thou numbrest y ^• multitude of starres, and callest Psal. 148. them all by their names: whom the dominations and Angelical pow­ers adore: before whom the high­est Seraphins clock their wings, [Page 277] & hide themselues w ^t their fethers. All thy works praise thee, and thy Saints blesse thee: the morning starres praise thee, and all the chil­dren of God reioyce in thee: the heauens declare thy glory: and Psal. 18. the firmament sheweth thy bright­nesse: the flowers of the field testi­fie thy beauty: the earth thy proui­dence: the Sea, and the flouds thereof, doe preach thy Maiestie.

Such and so great art thou, O Lord, oh now let it be lawfull for mee to speake, or rather to feele, what and how vnworthy wrongs, thou, the God of so great maiesty, hast suffered for mee: and whilst I reckon vp these things, let all [...]he Quires of Angels fall downe be­fore thee, and giue thee thanks for that which thou hast sustained for our redemption. Thou being so sublime and admirable, didst des­cend from the height of thy glory into this vale of miserie, inuested with our carnall body, and in ha­bite like a man subiect to sinne. Thou in this world sustainedst for my sake hunger and thirst, y ^• heate of the Sunne, and the cold of the [Page 278] Winter: persecutions and dolors: thou sufferedst for me so much po­uertie, that where the Foxes haue dennes, and the birds of the aire their nests, thou the Lord of hea­uen, hadst not a place to rest thy Luke 5. head on: borne in a Stable among beasts, thou didst beg the heate of their breath from them, and wert wrapped in ragged clouts. On the eight day thou tookest on thee the marke of a sinner: Presently after this, the world persecuted thee: thou fledst to forraine Lands, and to a Nation honouring idols, and to that purpose soughtst the silence of the night: the innocency of thy [...]s excused thee not, neither was there rest giuen to thy tender bodie, neither was thy delicate childhood idle: as thy body increa­sed, thy griefes and labours grew. For who can expresse, O Lord, thy praiers, watchings, fastings, wea­rines, hunger, thirst, persecutions, and iniuries done thee by thine e­nemies? They spake against thee who sate in the gate, and the drun­kards made Ballads of thee. In a Psal. 68. word, thy life was tormented in so [Page 279] vnworthy sort, as that thou maiest iustly say with the Prophet, I am poore, & in labours from my youth Psal. 87. 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 y ^t thou hast redeemed me, what shall I owe thee, for y ^t after so ad­mirable [Page 280] 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? w ^t 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 y ^u not suffred for these, but for man: & what is man y ^t thou art mindfull of him, or the sonne of man y ^t after this sort y ^u 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 [Page 281] and breakers of thy diuine Lawes? for contemners of thy Maiesty, and blasphemers of thy glory? Dost y ^u 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 w ^t his own power and domesticall malice, compasseth the earth also, sorteth out all y ^e worse sensualities, putteth on y ^e 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 [Page 282] 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: Genes 18. 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 w ^t ­out respect! O pure and sincere goodnesse! What profite hast thou by the seruice of one poore Ant? Psal. 15. What fruit was there expected to thee by the saluation of man? Thou hast no neede of riches. Who gaue thee, that y ^u mightst re­store Iob 41. againe vnto him? all things vnder the heauens are thine.

[Page 283] 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 [Page 284] 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. Iudg 14.

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 y ^t [Page 285] 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 1, Pet. 2. 21. that being without hope of mercy, I haue now obtained mercie. For Oseas, 1. 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 [Page 286] 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 y ^e 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 w ^t 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 [Page 287] 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 y ^u 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 [Page 288] 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 [Page 289] thou calledst me from death vnto life: This is the voice which Dauid thy friend so highly commendeth, Psal. [...]8. 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 y ^e 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, & Luke, 15. ornaments of a Sonne are resto­red vnto him.

And although I cannot be assu­red, O Lord, whether I be worthy [Page 290] 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, Iob. 3. Luke, 15. I will blesse this: this is y ^e [Page 291] 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 [Page 292] 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 y ^e benefite of redemp­tion: but what had redemption profited, if vocation and iustifi­cation had not followed? I ac­knowledge therefore, O Lord, y ^t 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: [Page 293] I loued thee not, I serued thee not: neither had thee in remem­brance. I became y ^e 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 [Page 294] 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 y ^e Lord. To the Lambe y ^t 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, w ^t my whole heart, for all thy benefits: but in especiall, for that thou hast called mee, whom being [Page 295] 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, y ^t 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 [Page 296] appetites, it was thy benefite. For if no man can say, Lord Iesu, but in y ^e 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. [Page 297] 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 Psal. 94. 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 w ^t ­out thine assistance? There is no sin so great, that was euer attemp­ted by man, which another man cannot fall into, if the Creator bee [Page 298] 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, y ^t 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 [Page 299] midst of the seruants of this world hast thou tempered the flame of this Babylonicall furnace with y ^e 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 Psal. 118. 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 Psal. 94. 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 [Page 300] 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 [...] [Page 301] 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 Psal. 116. 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 Apoc. 11. & 15. 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, y ^t I may bee certified how long I Psal. 38. haue to liue. Are not my daies few? it irketh my soule of my life: For Iob. 10. 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 [Page 303] 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 [Page 304] Scorpions: woe is me because my life is prolonged, I haue dwelt w ^t Ezech. 2 Psal. 119. 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 w ^t 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 [Page 305] 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 Rom. 7. 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 Psalm. 5 [...]. 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 Psalm. 123. 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, y ^e great danger wherwith I am entangled: y ^u seest y ^e 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 [Page 307] O Father, that temptations are so profitable & healthfull for vs, y ^• 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 1. Cor. 12. [...]s sufficient for thee. O Lord, if [...]hou deny me not this, I will say with y ^e Prophet, God is my light, and my saluation, whom then shall Psalm. 27. 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 [...]are: If an army were imbattelled against mee, hereat I would not be afraid.

Behold, O Father, how thy cō ­ [...]ence maketh vs fearelesse, & how [...]int hearted our sins finde vs: for [...]is written, whither flieth the wic­ked when no man followeth him? [...]nd seeing the morning Star, he [Page 308] 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, whe [...] 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 mai [...] ­tainer of mankinde, behold y ^• feareful Dragon tempteth me, th [...] 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 Apoc. 12. on the earth: who with his ve­nome, corrupteth the waters of the [Page 309] 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 [...]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. [Page 310] most healthfull Serpent, fixed on a high Crosse, giue power vnto y ^e weake one, against the deceits of this subtill Serpent. Thou snow­white 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 y ^u 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 [Page 311] 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 Sap. 5. his end is without honour. Hee is odious in the worlds eie, for that his life is different from other [...]us.

These things do often times as­ [...]ult our soules, o Lord, & almost mooue our feete, that leauing the hard wayes, we may enter into the [...]igh way of the world, which pro­ [...]seth vs all things happy, plea­sant, sweete, & delightfull: smiling [...]pon vs with a pleasant counte­ [...]ance, and offering vs with a full [...]and, the riches, honours & plea­ [...]res of the same. But thou (O [Page 312] Lord, withdraw mee from y ^e 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 y ^• 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 w ^t 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 dee 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 re [...] ­nest with the Father and the h [...] 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 i [...] 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. [Page 314] 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: y ^u 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 [Page 315] 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 [...]e from that which is hurtfull: though I feele a sting, yet let mee not giue cōsent: 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 [...]y whose bounty I am enabled [...] such sort, that this tēpest being [...]ed, I enioy a destred calme. To [Page 316] 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 strōg 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 h [...] y ^t Rom. 8. Philip. 4. 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 strōg 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 dail [...] more and more increasing in fait [...] the power of our enemies may fa [...] vntil thou hast setled vs in that se­curity, [Page 317] 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 [...]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 y ^t charity which deliuered thee bound into the hands of sinners, and haled thee to the Crosse, and there afflicted thee [Page 318] 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 pr [...]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 Esay, 45. 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 [Page 320] 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 cō ­sciences, and take from vs all euill cogitations, all immodest talke, al filthy destres, al vndecēt 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? [Page 321] how shall I ouercome them? I (sayest thou) will goe before thee, Esay, 45. 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 y ^e minde thereunto: send vs, O Lord, who as wee know, hast care ouer vs, y ^t daily Bread, which thine onely Son Iesus Christ cōmanded vs to aske and hope for at thy hands: Grant vs to liue cōtent with those things y ^t are needfull, & to despise such things as are superfluous: y ^t 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 [Page 322] 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 y ^u 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 [Page 323] 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 [Page 324] 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: y ^t in those things wee denie pardon vnto others, in which wee our selues euerie houre are faulty and want pardon: y ^t 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 [Page 325] 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 y ^e rest of thy benefits, that we may submit to thy iudgement, and satisfie our selues with thy [...]stributions: that we may giue thee thanks for those things which wee haue receiued. [Page 326] And for those things y ^t 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 y ^e 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 [Page 327] 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 natio [...] 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 y ^t iust punishments of our sins: wee haue sinned, wee haue done wick­edly, we haue left thee y ^e fountaine of life & our felicitie, we haue con­temned [Page 328] 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, Esay, 1. 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 [Page 329] 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, [...]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 creatiō) 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, [Page 330] 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 destres, and that for this cause thy creatures are obedient vnto thee. Bee than mindfull in this thy wrath, of thy great mercy: and fauourably take away this contagious sickenesse, which by thy wrath is powred vp­on vs. For the pestilent aire shall enforce no euill, if we oppose our selues against all kinds of iniqui­ty: yet all things proceede from thee, O most mercifull Father. both for that in body wee are secu­red from this plague, and for that in soule wee are protected from the venome of sinne, and reward thereof. For although other men, detained with the loue of this lif [...], runne here and there seeking hel [...]: in these perils, yet from no m [...], either more rightly or more secu [...] ­ly is their helpe to bee intreat [...], than from thee onely, whose po [...] [...]t no man may fly, who receiuest vs [Page 331] into thy fauour, for that thou de­spisest no man that hopeth in thy goodnesse. To thee therefore doe we cry, O Lord, heare our prayers and supplications, that thou maist deliuer vs from this pestilent and deadly plague: Command thine Angell that striketh vs, to shut his sword in his sheath, lest he pursue vs till we be vtterly extinguished: extend not thine ire against vs, spare our soules, preserue vs from the plague.

R [...]rne returne, O Lord, and haue mercy on thy seruants, take from vs this indisposition of the aire, and vnholsomnes of y ^e place, lest the infected aire powre that poyson (wherewith it is infected) vpon vs, to our confusiō. O Lord, let thy hand I pray thee be turned, that all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our GOD, and that thy Name is called vp­on 2. Reg. 24. amongst vs.

Amen.

In the time of famine and scarsity of victuals.

MOst iust Lord God, that ac­cording to the merits of thy people, both bestowest and with­drawest thy blessings: looke vpon our pouerty, who acknowledge this present scarsitie of victuals & famine, as a rod in thy hand, wher­by thou chastisest and punishest y ^• manifold abuses of thy blessings, misimployed by vs in riot, and of­ten drunkennes, and other destres of the flesh, and dissipations of thy gifts which thou hast giuen vs, not to that intent, that being fa [...]ed & filled, we should kicke against thee, but rather wee might serue thee thankfully in way of acknowledg­ment. Why complaine wee not of the prophanation of thy name by oathes, and horrible imprecations, and of the violating of thy holy daies and seruice?

But what other thing shall wee most wretched sinners (iustly puni shed by thee for our iniquities) do, [Page 333] but falling downe prostrate in the presence of thy Maiestie, accuse our selues, and deplore our offen­ses, and implore thy grace and mercy: that thou wilt vouchasafe to looke downe from Heauen, to the end, that by thy blessing, our land may yeeld vs increase: and by that meanes releeued and satisfied with necessary food, we may praise thee for the blessings wee haue re­ceiued, & professe our selues more and more bound to do thee seruice.

Amen.

Against the tempests and thunder of the aire.

KIng of eternal glory, omnipo­tent God, that giuest food vn­to all creatures, and couerest the heauen with clouds, and preparest raine for the earth, that transfer­rest the Southerne winde from y ^• heauen, and bringest in the Af­fricke by thy vertue: that waterest the mountaines from the higher places thereof, & who satiatest the earth with the fruite of thy works: [Page 334] that hast commanded thine An­gel, that he should not hurt neither Apoc. 9. the land nor the Sea, nor trees: spare those that feare thee, and bee mercifull to their prayers.

For wee most humbly beseech thee, O Lord, that y ^• incursion of stormes may depart far from vs, and the calamity of tempests, the tempest of haile, the blasting of lightning, and that all the assaults of the enemie may bee tempered. Let the harmefull thunders, the noisome raines, the raging wmdes be calmed, grant also that the right hand of thy vertue may ouer-way the spirits of storme and airie tempests.

O Lord, thou that thunderest from heauen, and giuest thy voice, Psalm. 17. that sendest forth thine arrowes, & multipliest thy lightnings: turne away we pray thee, this cruel tem­pest from vs, let it not bring vs to confusion. Restraine the thunder and thine arrowes, lest they hurt vs. keepe vs and our houses, lest we perish through y ^t fury of storme and the force of lightning: Protect our habitations, lest by fire sent [Page 335] downe from heauen, they burne & [...] consumed.

Most mercifull Lord, raine not I beseech thee, thy haile vpon the [...] of the earth, neither strike the [...]ell or fruite of our pastors: [...]rch not vp the herbs & trees of [...] Countrey: kill not our corne, [...]ther expose our cattell to the [...]le, whereby they may bee de­stroied: but in thy mercy conteine thy wrath, that we that are iuftly punished for our offences, by the [...]ntion of thy mercy may finde grace and indulgence of our sins.

Amen.

A prayer for the Master of a Houshold.

VVHereas, O Father, y ^u com­mandest euery one of vs to haue care of our neighbors, to fur­ther their affaires and fortunes, & to withstand all their incommodi­ties, I very well vnderstand what [...]u meanest: namely, that it be­ [...]th a Master in his houshold [...]e no lesse care towards his ser­uants, [Page 336] than himselfe: and than teachest the seruants likewise to obey their masters: I acknow­ledge my duty: but in ruling those whom thou hast committed to my charge, my wife, children, seruants, handmaids, and other domesticall seruants, I neither finde facult [...] nor iudgement in my selfe.

I flie therefore vnto thee, t [...] chiefest Father of the familie; [...] thee I say, who art y ^e ruler both [...] heauen and earth, I most hu [...] submit my selfe, beseeching thy [...] uor. Grant O Father & gouer [...] that I may keepe & continue th [...] my seruants, which thou hast com­mitted to my charge, in thy fea [...] discipline, and that I may de [...] and further both those things y ^t be­long to the profit of their bodies & soules, and such as concerne their honour and profite. And grant y ^t they likewise on the other side [...] performe their duties with f [...] and obedience, not seruing accor­ding to the outward eie, but de [...] ­ning them louingly, and freely dis­charging their duties in [...] ­tie of heart, as if before GOD▪ [Page 337] and not men, whereby at lenght we may al finde the reward in hea­ [...].

Amen.

The prayer of a Sonne.

OMnipotent and eternal God, to whom euery obedience of the child towards his parents is [...]ll pleasing, and all rebellion is loathsome: who in thy law com­ [...]dest vs to honor our parents, [...]ding this thy commandemēt [...] a double wal, namely with re­ [...]d and punishment, whilst thou promisest to the humble and obe­dient child eternall life, and to the Exod. 20. vntoward and rebellious, thou de­nouncest death and malediction. Neither is this thy precept vpon me, neither farre estranged from me, that I might say, who in effect may fulfill the same? but it is neere me, or rather in me, whereas the very law of nature ingrauen in my foule, inciteth and inuiteth me vn­to the same.

I beseech thee therfore, O most bountifull Father, frō whom pro­ceedeth [Page 338] all fatherhood, bo [...] heauen and in earth: take [...] me all rebellion [...]d conten [...] lest I attempt and dare to br [...] and infringe all the bonds [...] ­ume and humane lawes. [...] vouchsafe that I may pro [...] my parents in all kinde of [...] serue them with due honor & re [...] ­rence, obey their commande [...] with humble & readie obedi [...] and that I may helpe them [...] kinds of succour, obsequios [...] & offices of kindnesse: that I [...] suffer their reproofes, auste [...] vnbridled mislikes or exclai [...] & all their imperfections whats [...] ­uer with a willing minde, not [...] ­greeuing or vexing them in the whole course of my life: if at any time through age they shall dote, default in reason, y ^• I may not cō ­ [...]emne them, but that I may suffer their age & imbecillity w ^t 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 thei [...] liues, from whom and by whom I [Page 339] had the beginning of my life: but that I may serue them that begot me in all things as my Lords: O Eccles. 3. Lord, forgiue me all those my sins wherein I haue euer offended my most deere parents: Increase the [...]ltitude of their daies, and keepe them in all health of minde and of body: let them behold their sonnes, like oliue plāts round about their Psal. 12 [...] [...]ble: let them bring them vp in all [...]: let them gouerne their fa­mily in holy counsels and conuer­ [...]on; that at the length they may, [...]culate and faultlesse, come [...]to thee where thou liuest with [...] Sonne and the holy Ghost, [...] God world without end,

The prayer of the Schoole­master.

OMnipotent and eternal God, in whose power all things [...]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 [Page 340] pietie and good manners: but [...] diligently to apprehend lear [...] to the glory of thy holy nam [...] the end they may become [...] citizens, and profitable [...] of thy Church. Giue thē a [...] and vnderstanding heart, that [...] may easily apprehend and [...] that which I teach them, and [...] [...]ee in all things which co [...] my function: suffering themse [...] to be directed and informed [...] an humble and obedient will, [...] their age, who haue spent [...] youth in good arts, in increase [...] 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, a [...] [Page 341] hast most wonderfully disposed y ^• [...]rts of the world: Thou I say, y ^• [...] called the true Fountaine of life and wisedome, and the supere­ [...]t beginning, vouchsafe to [...] vpon the darknes of my vn­ [...]tanding the double beame of the brightnes, remouing from me [...]tion, sinne and ignorance, [...]erein I was borne. Thou that [...]est the tongues of infants elo­ [...]t, order my discourse, and [...] on my lippes the grace of thy blessing. Giue me the sharpnes of [...]erstanding, the capacity of re­ [...]ning, the subtilty of interpre­ [...]g, the faculty of learning, the [...]pious grace of speaking: instruct mine entrance, direct my procee­dings, and fulfill my issues. Who with the Father and y ^• 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, [Page 342] without whom a [...] our studies want their successe: wh [...]y thy holy Spirit, madest of sh [...] heards of sheep, y ^• Prophets of [...] Amos. 1. people: and of fishermen, the Apo­stels and doctors of the wh [...] world. Infuse into me by y ^• me [...] of Christ thy Son, y ^• grace of th [...] same holy Spirit, whereby my vn­derstanding may be the better [...] ­formed in the liberall Science [...] which hereafter I way conuert [...] thy diuine honour, and the spiritu­all profite of thy Church.

Grant y ^• I may faithfully lear [...] 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, [Page 343] 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.

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.

[Page 344] 3 My soule is also fore tro [...] ­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 th [...] 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 [Page 345] sinne is couered.

2 Blessed is the man vnto whō the Lord imputeth no sinne: and [...]t whose spirit there is no guile.

3 For while I held my tongue, [...]y bones consumed away, through [...]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 w ^t mine eie.

10 Bee yee not like vnto horse & mule, which hath no vnderstan­ding: [Page 346] whose mouthes [...] den with bit and bridl [...] [...] fall vpon thee.

11 Great plagues [...] fo [...] the vngodly: but who so put [...]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.

[Page 347] 7 For my loines are filled with a [...] disease: and there is no whole [...]rt of my body.

8 I am feeble and sore smitten: [...] haue roared for the very disqui­ [...]esse of my heart.

9 Lord, thou knowest all my [...]sire: and my groaning is not hid [...]om thee.

10 My heart panteth, my strength [...]th failed mee: and the sight of [...]e eies is gone from me.

11 My louers and my neighbours [...]id stand looking vpō my trouble, [...]nd my kinsmen stood afarre off.

12 They also that sought after [...]y life laid snares for me: and they [...]hat went about to doe mee euill [...]alked of wickednesse, and imagi­ [...]ed deceit all the day long.

13 As for me, I was like a deafe man and heard not: and as one y ^• 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.

[Page 348] 16 I haue required that they [...] ­uen mine enemies) should not [...] ­umph ouer mee: for when my f [...] slipt, they reioyced greatly aga [...] mee.

17 And I truly am set in [...] plague: and my heauinesse is e [...] in my sight.

18 For I will confesse my wi [...] ednesse: and be sorie for my sinn [...]

19 But mine enemies liue a [...] are mighty: and they that hate m [...] 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.

[Page 349] 3 For I acknowledge my faults: [...] sinne is euer before me.

4 [...]gainst thee onely haue I sin­ne [...], & done this euill in thy sight: th [...] thou mightst bee iustified in th [...] saying, and cleere when thou a [...] iudged.

[...] Behold I was shapen in wic­ [...]nesse, and in sinne hath my mo­th [...] conceiued me.

[...] But loe, thou requirest truth in [...] inward parts: & shalt make me [...] vnderstand wisedome secretly.

[...] Thou shalt purge me with I­ [...]e, and I shall bee cleane: thou [...]lt wash me, and I shall be whi­ [...] than snow.

8 Thou shalt make me heare of [...]y & gladnes, that y ^• 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.

[Page 350] 13 Then shall I teach thy waye [...] vnto the wicked: and sinners sh [...] be conuerted vnto thee.

14 Deliuer mee from bloodg [...] tinesse, O GOD, thou that a [...] 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 th [...] 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.

[Page 351] 2 Hide not thy face from mee in [...] [...]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 firebrād.

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: [Page 352] and I am withered [...] grasse.

12 But thou, O Lord, shalt [...] ­dure for euer: and thy reme [...] ­brance throughout all gener [...] ­ons.

13 Thou shalt arise and hau [...] mercy vpon Sion: for it is time that thou haue mercy on her, ye [...] the time is come.

14 And why? thy seruants thinke vpon her stones: & it pittieth the [...] 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 [Page 353] mour [...]g of such as be in captiui­ [...] [...] deliuer the children ap­ [...]ed vnto death.

21 That they may declare the [...] of the Lord in Sion: & his [...]rship at Ierusalem.

22 When the people are gathe­ [...]ed together: and the kingdomes [...] to serue the Lord.

23 H [...]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 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: a [...]d their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.

PSALME CXXX.

OUt of the deepe haue I c [...] vnto thee, O Lord: Lord h [...] my voice.

2 Oh let thine eares cou [...] well the voice of my complaint.

3 If thou Lord wilt bee extr [...] to marke what is done amisse, [...] Lord who may abide it?

4 For there is mercy with th [...] therefore shalt thou be feared.

5 I look for the Lord, my so [...] 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, an [...] consider my desire: hearke [...] [Page 355] [...] [...]

[...] [...]ter not into iudgement [...] seruant, for [...] thy sight [...] [...]o man liuing be iustified.

3 For the enemy hath persecu­ [...] my soule, hee hath smitten my [...] downe to the ground: he hath [...]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 y ^• way that I should walke in, for I [...]ft vp my soule vnto thee.

[Page] [...] [...] [...]

[...] [...] [...] me foor [...]h [...] of right [...] ousnesse.

11 D [...] [...] Lord, s [...] thy names sake: [...] for thy righte­ousnesse s [...]e bring my soule out of trouble.

12 And of thy goodnesse [...] ­mine enemies: and de [...]y [...]ll thē that vexe my soule, for I am thy seruant.