[...] there consisteth life and welfare vnto my sowle, and by breatch and viola­tion, nothing else but seuere sentence of finall dampnation:

Therfore I cannot tell, most mi­serable wretch as I am, how I shuld presume to approche thée for mercie, I dare not shew my selfe beefore thée, but if it were possible, I would gladly hide my self from thy sight, where thou mighst not finde mée out, that by sutch meanes I might escape thy dreadfull iudgement.

Howbeit, O Lorde, thou art the mightie God, to whom all things in heauen and earth are knowne, whose eies béeholde what is done in the top of the highest, and in the bottome of the deapest places in the world.

In thy sight Lord, the most secret thoughtes of the harte are open, and from thée there are no cogitations, pretences, practises, deuises, nor the smallest motions of the mind, hidden.

[Page]Vnto thée therefore, with trem­blinge and teares I returne, appea­ling from thy high, dread, and terry­ble throne of iust iudgement, remoouing my cause to thy most swéete, a­miable, pleasaunt, and comfortable court of thy manifold mercies.

Euen there, Lord, thou hast layde vp sutch store and abundance of graces, pardons, & forgiuenes of sinnes: that they do surmounte the numbre, and ouers [...]read the greatnes of al thy wonderfull woorkes.

Héere then it is, O my God, that I dare to appeare béefore thy diuine Maiestie, a fylthye sinner béefore a mercifull God, a very lumpe of wic­kednes beefore the eternall creator of all thinges, of inestimable wisdome, that takest mercie vppon our weake­nes, and infirmitie: béecause thou wo­test well the stuffe, and substaunce wherof thou hast made vs.

Béeholde, Lord, I call vnto mée, [Page]thy dearelybéeloued sonne, my most louing redéemer and sauiour Ihesus Christe to bée myne aduocate, accor­ding vnto his own fréewil and volun­tarie offering, in whom, and through whom, by his most precious blouddeshed vnto thée, vpon the acceptable al­tare of the Crosse, in liew of the dou­ble death that wée should al haue died for our-most horrible offences:

Pardon I béeséech thée, O god, my gréeuous iniquities, forgyue mée all my wickednes, release my necligen­ces, remit mine ignorances, abandon the lothsomenes of my sinnes, which from my mothers wombe vnto this present day, I haue cōmitted or shall do hereafter vnto my liues ende.

That béeing so clensed, and purifi­ed from all contagion of sinfull impu­ritie: let mée obtayn a liuely and fer­uent fayth at thy handes, stedfastly to call vpon thée in most hartie prayer.

Lord, in all my necessities, aduer­sities, [Page]troubles, and afflictions: con­firme my harte that I may put my whole trust and affiance in thy maiestie, and séeke none other meanes, nor take none other comfort: but in reading thy worthy woorde, or in re­course to thée in most faithful, and ef­fectuall supplications.

If at any tyme, Lorde, as is the frailtie of our corruptible nature, and the incessant suggestions of Sathan our auncient enemie, I féele in my selfe any faintnes or fayling of fer­uencie, in calling continually vppon thée: kindle thou then my hart with the heauenly heate of thy holy spirit.

Graunt mée grace, to crie with thy hollie Apostle for encrease of faithe, that béeing awaked and stirred vppe through thée: I may enioy the effect of my godly desiers, which thou hast promised to yelde vnto mée, through thy sonne Iesus Christ, my sauiour.

Performe, my God, that whiche [Page]thou hast indented with thy selly ser­uant, who with anguishe of minde séeketh after the comfort of thy face, continue in mée the custome to call vpon thée in praier, and all the pow­ers of my body shal not cease to sing thy sacred praise. Amen.

IN most hartie hope of thy many­fold mercies, and with lowly reue­rence, O euerlasting God, loe, thus I draw nighe vnto thée, béeing sore laden with th'infinite number of my sinnes, trusting in thy fatherly good­nes, [Page]and entier loue, which thou bea­rest vnto mankinde: thou wilte dis­charge mée of mine vnrighteousnes, and wash away al mine infirmities.

Thy louing kindenes hath ben in­estimable, which thou hast borne vn­to mée since my simple conception in the tender intrailes of my mother, within whose body thou didest laye forth the platforme of my body, and gauest vnto mée the representatiō of a man, thy bestbéeloued and cumli­est creature.

After this, in due maturitie of time according to the established and ordi­narie season, assigned by thy heauen­ly wisedome: thou broughtest mée foorth into this worlde, my first tune giuyng proofe of the vnhappie condi­cion, that I should enioy therin.

Lorde, thou knowest how that so soone as I was deliuered frō my mo­thers wombe: euen then I béegan my life in féeblenes and sorow, and the [...] [Page]my thoughte, kéepe myne eies from seing it, myne eares from hearing it, and my sense of féeling from concea­uing delight in it.

But cause mée to take a singular delectation in all thinges that maye please thée, put away from mée al er­ring from thy waies, all wéerines of thy will, all lothsomnes of thy loue.

Take from mée all pride and self liking, that I may conceaue no good opinion of my selfe for that which is none of myne own, let mée not think I am ritch in thée when I am poore, that I sée when I am blinde, that I am hid when I am naked, that I am iust when I am vnrighteous, that I am somthing when I am nothing.

As for the infinitie of my offences, which in numbre surpas the sandes of the sea: giue vnto mee a cléere spar­cle of thy heauenlie light, O my god, that I may béehold them, a penitent hart that I may confesse them, plen­tifull [Page]teares that I may bée waile thē, a wonderfull mislikinge that I may abhorre them.

O Lorde, is there any thing that flesh an Bloud may glorie of in thy sight? no truely, for thou hast asked vs what wée haue which wée haue not receaued? from the fountaine of thy fulnes wée haue drawne all that wée haue enioyed, and of our selues there is not one that doth good, no Lord, not one.

Create in mée therefore, O graci­ous Lorde, a new hart, and a new soule, confirme mée in thy faith that I may not fall, erect mee in all good woorkes that bée acceptable in thy sight, then cannot my mouthe cease but alwayes bée shewyng thy péere­lesse praises, and milde mercies.

Amen.

COme vnto mée all yée that tra­uell and bée heauie laden, criest thou, O my most swéet sauiour, and I will refresh you. Here now I come vnto thée, offryng my selfe bée­fore thy heauenly maiestie, lowly fallyng downe vpon the knees of my hart, holdynge vp the handes of my Faith, wherby I may take most as­sured hope of thee, and come vnto thée.

Draw mée vnto thee for els I am not able to come, I can doo nothynge therto of my selfe, not so mutche as [Page]thinke one good thought, mutchlesse merite or deserue to presume vnto thee, vpon respect of any mine owne woorthinesse.

As for my woorthinesse, it is vn­woorthinesse béefore thée, my though­tes bee sinfull, my deedes bee dam­nable, and if thou haue reguard vnto my merites: then am I sure to haue damnation for my desert, and Hell for mine hier.

O thou almightie, béefore whom the Angels tremble at their impuri­tie, the Sonne is fowle, the Moone is filthy, the Starres vncleane, and the heauens are corrupt: what can I haue to boast of, but of mine owne natural vnclenlinesse, and that I am the childe of perdition?

Supplie thou my defects, O God, and what is wantyng in mee: make it perfect through thee, which art the summe of all goodnes, and perfection vnto the righteous, let mee not de­part [Page]destitute from thee, for in thee is the fulnesse of felicitie.

Heere where I am Lorde, I am laden sore and greeuously ouerpres­sed with the burden of my sinnes, they weigh mee greeuously downe to the grounde, I cannot looke vp, and my crusshed bones doo ake with extreeme wéerinesse.

Come, O Lorde, O come speede­ly, and set to thy helpyng hande, take from mée this wright of wickednes, cleere mée from this clogge of cor­ruption, and seuere mee from this sinke of sinne.

Humble my Harte, that I may haue no vayne likyng of my self, and that my freindes, neighbours, and acquaintnance, finally the world fall into no displeasure against mée ther­fore, but especially thy maiestie, for it is a greeuous offence.

Fortifie my minde with the stron­gest armour of pacience, that I may [Page]take in good part all mockes, scoffes, reproches, and persecutions for thy truethes sake, and when I am proo­ued: let mee bee founde faithfull.

Confirme mee fully, O my crea­tor, in thy Trueth and al godlinesse, let no shininge of promotions, nor thundre of threatninges, nor windie puffes of wordlie vanitie, pluck mee from that whiche is right, but let thy will bee my way, and thy law my delight.

Driue away all dimnesse from mine eyes, and sluggishnesse from my feete, that I may speedely bee­holde, and diligently fulfill to my a­bilitie, the least poynt and iote of thy preceptes, wherto when I haue ap­plied my selfe: yet am I to to mutch an vnprofitable seruaunt, notwith­standynge let thy tendre mercie al­wayes preuent mee, O my moste sweetest God.

Thou hast lified mee vp alost in [Page]the sight of thy people, and haste in­dued mee with greate honour aboue my peeres and equalles, graunt vn­to mee likewise so mutche to excell them in vertue and godlinesse, make mée a worthy minister and steward of thy giftes, consideryng that all po­wer and aucthoritie commeth from thee, and that thou raisest the vngod­ly on high to cast him downe low, and the loftier his seat is: the more great, and gréeuous is his fall.

Engendre in mée, good Lorde, a greedie desier to do Iustice, that ha­uing thée alwaies béefore mine eies, and printyng thy iudgements with­in my hart: I may bee free from all affection, and pure from all partiali­tie, hauyng no respect to the persons, but vprightly weighyng the causes, that thereby the trueth may bee ad­uaunced, and vniustice condempned.

Remooue from mee all corruption in iudgement, and vnrighteousnes [Page]in dealyng, kéepe my mouth from le­singes, and my handes from bloud, remembryng that thou art the sear­cher of the hart and raines, that shalt come to iudge the quicke and y^e dead, repaying vnto euery man accordyng vnto the woorks of his owne hands.

Forgiue mée, O my Lorde, and my God, the wickednesse of my fore passed life, remembre not mine of­fences, neither the offences of my predicessours to lay them vnto my charge, lay foorth the direct line of thy law béefore my féete, that I may walke therein with out erryng, re­generate a new will within mée to perseuere in thy way, holde mee vp therin that I doo not fall, pricke mee foorth that I doo not fainte, and my toongue shal talke continually of thy moste glorious goodnes.

Amen.

HArken vnto the voice of the Lord thy God, O my feely soule, and heare what cheerefull promises hée hath reposed in store for thée, name­ly that when soeuer thou repentest thée of thy sinnes from the bottome of thy hart: hée will blotte out the remembrance of them for euermore so that they shall neuer bée imputed vnto thée.

O come then with spéede, and with all submission cast foorth the intolle­rable [Page]burden of thy moste lothsome lustes béefore the Lorde, call vnto him that hée woulde set open the gates of his manifolde mercies vnto thée, giue thée a perfect penitent hart, and the spirite of constancie to per­seuere in the same.

Bende downe thine heauely eies, O Lorde, from the celestiall throne of thy glorie, and béeholde the state and condition of mée that lie héere in the earth béelow, waltrynge in this vale of wickednesse, drenched in this dungeon of darkenesse, martired in millians of miseries, couched in this cloake of calamities, loste in this la­berinth of lustes, smoultred in this smoke of sensualitie, greatly grow­yng from grace, and voide of vertue.

Wherefore, as thou haste at this present time: so continew with day­ly increasing in mée, a lothyng of my self in respect of sinne, a desier vnto thée by meane of faithfull praier, [Page]hartie contrition, possible satisfactiō, innouation of life, continuation of Grace, tendynge vnto the preserua­tion both of my body, and soule.

Send downe vnto mée, Lorde, the cleere lookyng glasse of thy wisdoome, that I may béeholde therin th' ougle­somenesse and deformitie of mine vnrighteousnes, giue mée a Viale ful of the water of vnfained repentance, that sprincklyng my self therwith, although I were with sinnes more read then scarlet: I may bée made more white then snow.

Wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes with a branche of bitter I sop, wherein is figured the vnpleasant fast of afflictions, troubles, and perse­cutions sent vnto vs by thy hande, most righteous God, in liew of our offences, and I shall béecome passing pure.

Neuertheles ouercharge mee not, O swéet Lorde, I béeséeche thée, nor [Page]lay not more vpon my backe then I am able to carie, for thou knowest best th'infirmitie of my fraile fleash, and the weakenes of our kinde, since wée all bée thine, and the worke of thy holly handes.

O my God, what is there in this worlde that men should bée so gree­die to continue therin, and so lothe to forgoe the fruition of this transitorie life? while wée remayne héere wee are all touched with troubles, those that haue wealth at will are checked with calamities, yea Princes them­selues are not alwayes at ease, bée­sides that wée heape vp dayly the de­sert of thy iudgement.

Whilst my dayes bée prolonged within this darke den of mortallitie: lighten the Lantern of thy diuine woord béefore my feete, that I stum­ble not agaynst the heape of my hay­nous offences, and fall downe head long into the déepe Dungeon of des­peration.

[Page]Likewise, plucke from mée the fonde Feathers of saucie presump­tion, least takyng an hautie conceite in my selfe to bee that which (alas) I am not: thou reueale my filthinesse, and cast mée downe thither where there is no redemption.

Gratiously graunt vnto mee, O my Lorde, and Kynge, that I may neuer take my selfe to bée other then in deede I am, make mée to bée sutch one as I ought, and let mée bée hée that I would, thē shal I neuer dwell in errour, thy fauour shoulde neuer fayle mee, and hereafter (which not­withstandyng I hope) bée an inhe­ritour of thy heauenly kyngdome.

Lorde, I béeséeche thée keepe mee that I neuer fall into reprobate sence and let mée not bée seduced by any false doctrine, let the lines of thy law bee printed in the bowels of my bel­lie, lighten, inflame, and confirme the hartes of thy chosen people, that they [Page]may haue one minde, one will, all a like seeke thee, finde thee, see thee, and magnifie thy glorious name.

Preuent all my dooinges with thy most fauourable kyndenes, O father of mercies, and so direct my wayes in thy Faith, and feare of thy maie­stie: that I may commit no wicked­nes, nor consent thereto, let there bee founde no guilt in my handes, nor guile in my hart, preserue my lippes from lies, from incontinencie mine eyes, my fleash from filth, my sowle from sinne, and the whole course of my life from offence, & transgression.

O Lorde, heare my praiers, let myne ernest crie come into thy pre­sence and entre into thine Eares, whiche I yeeld heere vnto thee from the very deapth of my Hart, with a wounded conscience, and a bleedyng soule, with broken sighes, and wee­pyng eyes, bended knees, and stret­ched handes, but which most is: with [Page]ardent affection, and feruent Faith.

Bende downe thy selfe, O bende downe vnto my piteous playntes, thou God of our Fathers, and accor­dyng as thou hast spoken: let it so bée doone vnto thy seruant. Great is thy grace: O graunt mée thy grace, ma­nifolde are thy mercies: O shew mée thy mercie, puisant is thy power: O sende mee thy power, that I may turne from sinne and turne to thee, leaue my olde life and leade a new, that I may alwaies bee thy seruant, and thou likewise eternally bée mine eternall God.

Amen.

O Euerlastyng GOD, and moste louyng Father, maker of all the world, kyng of Blisse, Lorde of Life, giuer of peace, and continuer of con­corde, looke downe into the bottome and deapth of my conscience, and con­sider the perpetuall afflictions which dayly I sustayne therin, to the daun­gerous distresse, & wonderful woun­dyng of the same.

Strengthen mee, O Lord, against the furious inuasions of three my moste mortall foes, the Fleash, the Worlde, and the Deuill, whiche to th'intent they might suppresse mee: cease not continually withall theyr force, to assayle the séely spirite which thou hast lent vnto mee, the woorke of thy wisedome, and the image of thy substance.

My moste sweet God, keepe mee [Page]with the winges of thy vertue, asist mee with thy holy ghost, that I may heedfully withholde my feete from all snares, and trappes, whiche may any way intangle mee, & withdraw mee from due obedience towardes thee and thy will, staying mee from walkyng forwarde in thy heauenly heastes that lead to life.

For Satan myne auntient ene­mie, seeketh out a thousand meanes to beguile mee, hée excelleth in sub­teltie, hée aboundeth in craftes, hee passeth in wilinesse, in so mutch that hee transformeth his lothsome shape into the likenesse of an Angell of light, therby to supplant thine elect, but defende thou mee from him, O my most mightie God.

Pondre the nature and disposition of my frayle fleash, how it is nothing els but the graue of my ghost, a far­thell of infirmities, a lumpe of lothe­somnesse, a prison of perdition, a sink [Page]of sinne, and a frame of frowarde moulde, contrarie to that whiche is good, and alwaies promptly prest to the worse.

As for this worlde: it is the vale of wilfulnesse, the way of wicked cō ­uersation, a iorney fraught with io­perdie, a pilgrimage fully pight with pitious pininges, a deepe dungeon of destruction, an infectious soyle with sinfulnesse, a lake of vnlawful lustes and a tree of traiterous fruites, re­pugnant, O God, to thy moste sa­cred will.

The Deuill is y^e déerlyng of dam­nation, the Prince of dreadful darke­nesse, the Kynge of calamities, the wicked woorker of woes, the Fende of finall destruction, the greedie ga­per for mans procured perdition, the poysoned puddle of lies, the sneaking Snake of sinne, the serpent of trou­blesome temptations, the minger of all mischeifes, and the ouerthrower [Page]of vertues.

But, O thou most glorious God, as thou hast lightned my vnderstan­dyng and perseuerance in these, to discerne what is hurtfull to mee, and displeasant to thee: dispose euen so the hart of thy seruant with the day­ly influence of thy grace, that I may bée acquit from al such sharpe assaul­tes as may winne mée from thee, but confirme mée in all Godlinesse, trueth, and faithfulnesse.

Make my harte the vndefiled in­strument of pure, & perfect thoughts, and my tungue the Trump of thine eternall prayse, my bodie the habita­tion of the holly Ghost, myne eyes the windowes to beholde the worthy way that leadeth vnto thée, my leg­ges the supporters of my bodie and soule, towardes th'attainment of thy heauenly kyngdome.

Incline mine eares, that I may giue diligent attendance vnto thy [Page]moste blessed will, and commaunde­mentes, expressed in thy moste sa­cred woorde, mollifie the hardnesse of my hart that it may easely entre in, and firmely take roote, to th'increase of semblant seedes of vertu and god­linesse in mee, graunt this, O Lorde for my delight is in thy seruice.

Knocke harde, O Lorde God, O knocke harde at the doore of my con­science, with the ringle of thy moste holly wil, awake mée out of the snor­kyng sleepe of securitie in sinnynge, whereout manie doo neuer rise a­gayne but vtterly perish, put mee in minde of my duetie towardes thy di­uine maiestie, let mée haue the wis­dome to know my self, and that thou only art my good Lorde and God.

I confesse with gréeuous gronyng of hart, that I haue manifoldly trans­gressed thy commaundementes, in seekyng thee I haue embraced that which I should haue refused, I haue [Page]stragled longe whilst I should haue walked in thy wayes, and trode in thy pathes, I haue gone backe when I should haue pursued thy pleasure, and haue trained my selfe in the tra­uerse of thy teachynges.

Leade mée, O Lorde, with thy heauenly hande and I shalbée truely lead, dirext mee with the spirite of vnderstandyng and I shalbée saulfly directed, let y^e bright burnyng lampe of thy woonderfull woorde still shyne béefore mine eyes, and pearce into my harte, so shall I bée sure not to treade one steppe amisse, bée thou al­wayes my most mercifull God, and make mée continually thy most obe­dient childe.

Blot the beadroule of my misdee­des out of thy remembrance, O thou kynge of mercie, and indorse the re­cordes of my transgressions with a discharge of thy great compassion, set thy holly hande vpon my harte in to­ken [Page]that I am thy childe, and write the woordes of thy pleasure in my breast, make mée assured that I am one whom thou haste predestinated vnto life.

Glorifie thy self in mée, Lorde, for I am thy woork, and let mée bee glo­rified in thée, for thou art my GOD, my strength, my saluation, and glo­rie, purifie my soule that thou mayst dwell in mée, and graunt I may bée made woorthy to dwell in thee, for thou art in althinges, and althinges are in thée, to thée therfore bée praise and honour for euer and euer.

Amen.

LORDE, in thy moste louynge mercies, haue I alwayes put my whole trust and confidence, wherfore thou haste assured mée that I shall come to no reproche nor shame, there shal no ignominie nor confusion take holde vpon mee, and although there should rise whole thousandes of wic­ked conspiratours against mée: yet should they not preuayle, for thou art the portion of my hope.

Accordynge vnto whiche moste swéetest couenantes of thine: so let thy kindenesse more then fatherlie compasse mée alwayes, like the gar­ment wherwith I am couered, let thy mercies bée vnto mée a shielde of defence, and a buckler of assured pro­tection, that I may neuer dread the furie of any foe, striue hée to ouer­throw my bodie or soule.

[Page]O turne the hartes of those that hate mée without a cause, or bée offē ­ded with mée for thy blessinges sake wherewith thou hast blessed mée, ey­ther because thou hast increased mee with wealth, or aduaunced mée to honour, or lifted mée into the fauour of my gracious Soueraigne, wherin I yéelde thy maiestie moste hartie thankes.

Make mée, O Lorde, a méete mē ­ber for the vocation whervnto thou hast called mée, graunt mee the gifte of godlinesse: as thou haste planted mee in preheminēce of place, let ver­tue flowrish and vice bée suppressed, the righteous cause of the Orphane, widowe, and sutche as are destitute preuayle, and the oppressour receaue his deserued foyle.

Bryng it thou to effect, O almigh­tie God, from whom procéedeth the motion of all good thoughtes, that as thou hast made thine onely Sonne, [Page]our Sauiour Christe, the sole sheap­heard of thy faithfull flocke: so wee may all know his voyce, and follow him in sinceritie of life, and puritie of doctrine, all the dayes of our life.

I hartly béeséeche thee, Lorde, that in consideration of mine vnrighte­ousnesse: thou giue mee not ouer in­to the handes of mine enemies, and sutch as fayne woulde see my fal, and reioyce at my finall destruction, and especially deliuer mée from false pro­phetes, and preachers, whiche seeke only their owne commoditie, and not the edefication of thy hungrie peo­ples soules.

Cause mee to take a moste singu­lare delight in the readynge, and hea­ryng of thy holly Gospell, to frame my life accordyng vnto the sacred in­stitutions of thy woorthie woorde, without whiche: all other doctrine concernyng the woorshipping of thée, is deuilish and vngodly, and that by [Page]all meanes I may seeke the settyng foorth of the same.

Let the enemies of thy trueth bee enemies vnto mée, that embrasinge their persons with laudable charitie: I may persecute their offences vnto th'amendement of their liues and conuersation, and that they may vn­derstand at length, that thou art a ie­lous God, and wilt not giue thine honour to another.

O moste mightie kynge, and gi­uer of all gracious goodnesse, conuert the hartes of all sutche as persecute thy Christe in his membres thine elect, open their eies I béeséeche thée that they may béehold their errours, and repent them of their misdeedes, and confirme the hartes of the afflic­ted, that they may persist in confes­sing thy name.

Mercifully cal mée backe, for I ac­knowledge that for my parte I haue walked wronge, thou hast giuen me [Page]vnderstandynge to perceaue myne owne imperfections, the multitude of them lieth heaped béefore myne eyes, and my harte is sore gréeued therwith, O comfort mée, good Lord, and quicken mée oftsoonesin thée.

I haue bin continually more rea­die to offende thy maiestie, then to execute thy heauenly will, there is no maner of meanes wherin a man may displease thée that I am guilt­lesse, take mercie vpon mée and for­giue mée therefore, for I am deter­mined neuer agayne to commit the like, strengthen mee with thy spirite that I neuer sinne hereafter.

Most louynge Father, and merci­full God, I hartely require thee, for my Lorde Iesus Christes sake, graunt mée that I may couet with a prudent minde those thinges that be pleasant and acceptable vnto thée, that I may finde them easely, searche them wisely, know them truely, and [Page]exercise them effectually, to the wor­thy praise of thy glorious name.

Dispose the whole course of my life in sutche order, that it may ac­complish that whiche thy godly plea­sure requireth at my handes, that I may perfectly know it, haue a wil­lyng minde to do it, and power from thée to fulfill it, whereby I may ob­tayne those thinges, that bée moste conuenient for my necessities, and appertaynyng to my saluation.

Chéere vp my hart, O my moste déere God, with the hope of thy plen­teous promises, and make mée al­wayes as merie as it béecommeth a Christian, and one that feareth God, giue mée grace euer to reioyce in thée and thy godly will, and that I may bée sorie for nothynge: but onely in dooyng those thinges that draw mee away from thee, to éeuell.

O Lorde God of infinite wisdom, inspire my hart, and direct my voyce [Page]that I may not thinke, nor vtter any thinge béefore thée: then that whiche thou knowest to bée expedient for mée to aske, and glorious for thée to giue, turne not my prayer into per­dition, nor my sute into sinne, for thou art my God, on whom I wholy depende, saue mée for thy mercies sake, O saue mée, accordynge as I haue alwayes repoased my confi­dence in thée.

Amen.

ACcordyng vnto the incomprehē ­sible numbre of thy manifolde [Page]mercies, O Lorde, take pitie and compassion vpon mée, discharge mee of the importable fraught of mine in firmities, for thou art hee that losest and none can binde, and that bindest and none can lose, lose mée therefore I béeséeche thee, from the lothesome burden of my sinne, and binde mee that I may not depart from thy sta­tutes.

O thou God of my power, make my hart to resemble the driest towe, and let the most feruent loue of thy lawes, kindle, as it were, a flaminge fier within my breast, that I may so bée consumed with a greedie zeale in fulfillyng thy heastes, let no coale of conscience in aniwise extinguish this burnyng: nor yet likewarmenesse aswage this heate.

Let others sée this in mée, that they may take example thereat and bee confirmed in Godlinesse, for I am priuily greeued that I haue bin vn­acquayne [...] [Page]deth in dread of thy driry iudgement lookyng for deliuerance, and running for refuge to the redoubted rampier of thy milde mercies.

Pardon mée, Lorde, if at any time I haue sought the ayde of any crea­ture, neclecting thée that art the crea­tor of all thynges, without whom there is no health nor saluation, if I haue drunken of the lothsome lakes, and refused thee that art the Foun­tayne of Life, if I haue fully fead on wicked weedes, and passed by the holsome herbes of diuine doctrine.

I haue erred, Lorde, and gone a­stray like a wilfull shéepe, and hark­ned vnto the voyce of fayned sheap­heards that had no part with thée, I haue bin loste in the wildernesse of wicked superstition and Idolatrie, and torne in the briars of sutche as sought my fleece and cared not for my soule but to destroy it, I haue ta­sted of the deadly dewe, and the rotte [Page]is entred into my veynes.

I am extreame sicke that I can­not stand vpon my legges, I am not able to lift vp my voyce for my lun­gues are infected, my threat is horce with criyng, I am vexed w^t a cough, and the terrible stitche assaulteth me so sore within my ribbes: that I am nothynge but a carcas fraught with care, and a wretche wrapped in sin­full sickenesses.

O come, thou God of my saluation come visite thy poore seruant, bring mée home whiche am lost, and direct mee that haue gone astray, teache mée to know the liuely sounde of thy moste holly woord, that I may who­ly harken therto, and to the voyce of none other that shall happen to call vnto mee, saying: lo héere is Christ, or there is Christe.

Saue mée, Lorde, from the vnsa­uerie smell of pharasaicall supersti­tion, that my hart neuer bee defiled [Page]therewith, and for thy mercie sake: asist mée moste graciously that I fall not into any dotage of deuilish Ido­latrie, for thou art a ielous God, and wilt not suffer thine honour to bee giuen to other, and béesides thee ther is none that can helpe.

I haue fead, O Lorde, to mutche at full vpon the sugred delightes of this wicked worlde, whiche indeede are sauced with most bitter woorme­wood, the taste of them is pleasant: but the tayle is abhominable tarte, I haue chawed them with pleasure: but they haue choked mee with ca­res, they seemed vnto mee as toothe­some Triacles: but I haue founde them pestilent poysons.

Deliuer mee, gratious GOD, through thy great goodnesse, say vn­to mee I wilbée thy comfort, and vn­to my soule I will bée thy phisition, then shall there no daunger daunt my hart, nor ghostly greife procure [Page]myne anoy, but that I may alwaies cheerefully singe foorthe thy noble prayse for euer.

Amen.

SAluation, immortalitie, and vn­speakeable pleasures, O God, are prepared bountifully to embrace those that put their trust in thee, and without all doublenesse of harte, or contagion of sinne: leade foorthe the lingrynge steppes of their lothsome life, in the wayes of trueth and obe­dience towardes thy commaunde­mentes.

[Page]Thy wayes, most swéete Lorde, are the wayes of wealthe, and thy commaundementes conducte vnto heauenly honour, thou haste layde foorth a streigth pathe vnto those that haue grace to walke therin, and thou hast promised most singular rewar­des, vnto sutche as obey thy moste woorthy will.

As for thy wil: it is the welspring of welfare, the pathe of peace, the sea of securitie, the porte of perfection, and the fountayne of all felicitie.

Wherefore, I would fayne bée clen­sed, that I might tread foorthe y^e time of this daungerous pilgrimage, in accomplishing thy heauenly heastes, and fulfilling thy statutes full of con­solation.

O thou, y^t art the God of al trueth, whiche in puritie doest passe the An­gels, and exceedest the saincts in per­fection, in respect of whose hollinesse: all thinges are vile and sinfull, my [Page]poore pantyng ghost sore longeth af­ter thée, for that thou art the consum­mation of all goodnesse, & in the sight of thy glorie: I am ashamed of mine owne vnrighteousnesse.

Lorde, faine would I intreate thy maiestie, and I doo moste hartely re­quest the same, that thou wouldest béeholde the wofull afflictions, greifs miseries, stripes, sores, and wounds, which my soule sustayneth through the continuall surprise of my cancred sinnes, and in the large abundance of thy milde mercies: heale them with thy holly hande.

Woe am I, my God, that I ap­peere béefore thée thus couered qui­ght in a sacke of sinne, my filthinesse maketh mée stande in feare of thee, and horrour of my self, I tremble to thinke what one thou seest of mee, if possible thou mayest sée mée for the numbre of my sinnes that exceede the flowers of the springe, or leaues [...] [Page]thy fatherlie pitie, and forgiuenesse.

Turne not away from mée, poore wretch, thy woonted benignitie, for­asmutch as I confesse my daily ini­quitie, and although my sinnes bée mo in number then is for mée méete and sittinge: yet let thy mercie bée no lesse then it is decent for so gentle and pitieful a god, O god the god of al fauourablenes.

How mutch the more abhomina­ble my sinnes are in thy sight, yéel­dinge foorth a lothsome smell of dis­pleasure in thy presence O god: so mutch the more do they stand in néed of holsome cure, which of necessitie procéedeth from thée and none other, to requite the same with sutche inte­gritie and newnesse of life: as may bée acceptable vnto thee.

Heale therefore, O most singular good Lorde, my gréeuous infirmitie, and so shalt thou ridde mée of that whiche offendeth thée my wofull de­formitie, [Page]acquite mee from my contagious sickenesse: and thou shalt smel no more my most horrible loth­somnesse, pardon within mée this bitter calamitie: and nothyng shall len­ger offende thy sinceritie.

Create in mée, O Lorde God, a moste godly zeale, and feruent desier to perseuere alwayes within the cō ­passe of thy heauenly will, and neuer to commit any thynge that is repug­nant vnto the same, asistyng mée al­so with thy holly spirite, that I fayle not in this most godly purpose, but stedfastly pursue it vnto the last day of my life, so shall I bée assuredly salf from sinne and my toongue shall alwayes bée tel­lynge thy perelesse prayses.

Amen.

AS a childe that hath transgressed the cō ­maundement of his master, standeth in awe of the rodde: e­uen so, O lorde, am I in greate dread of thy iudgement, for that is the hier of sutch as obserue not thy heastes, bicause I haue not walked after thy will, nor harckned vnto the voyce of thy woorde, but run foorthe on the reigne of myne owne sensualitie.

[Page]But thou haste made a couenant with mée, that when so euer I con­uert myselfe vnto thée: thou wylte fauourably turne thy selfe vnto mée, and if I repent: thou wilt forgiue, if I bée sorie: thou wilt remēber myne offences no longer, sée then, Lorde, for I bring with mée now the branch of sorow, and héere I hold it vp vnto thée for a monument of thy remem­braunce.

Saue mée, good Lorde, as hither­to thou hast done, deliuer mée in the day of distresse, for thou art the horne of my health, and the sheild of my sal­uation, and the gaine of my glorie, I haue no power at all but it procée­deth from thée, and thou bearest vp the féeblenes of myne infirmitie, and thy mercie is my staffe to leane vpō.

From the daungers of death, and from the snares of Sathan, and from the cheines of Hell, and when I was swallowed vp: thou didst deliuer my [Page]soule from destruction, I was wrap­ped in woe but I am set at libertie, as a bird that was fallen into the fowlers lyme, and at length is losed by some good bodie.

For these thy bountiful benefites, O god, take from mée the vice of vn­thankfulnes that I may thinke and thanke thée therefore, and graciously dispose the waies of thy seruant, that I may continew in thy pleasure, but if thou wouldest so direct mée that I might offende thée no more: there shoulde no ioy bée comparable vnto myne.

They are hated of thée that do turn thy plentifull blessings into scarcitie, and they are partakers of their wic­kednes that are in aucthoritie seinge it, and do not redresse it, open their eies, swéet god, that they may sée it, & endeuour their hartes to amend it, that thy people perishe not throughe the iniquitie of a fewe, that haue hea­ped [Page]vp a great sinne.

I haue praid vnto thée with an er­nest hart for all my imperfections, to bée deliuered of them, and nowe I humbly sue, good Lorde, that thou wouldest vouchsalfe to preserue mée from the déede that may prouoke the bitternes of any mans soule against mée, for I am assured that thou wilt repay it with vengeance.

There bée some that haue laid wait to intrap mée, and they would bee ex­céeding glad of my fall, but my trust is in thée, that thou wilt not giue mée ouer as a praye to myne ennemies, make their desiers void, let them bée confounded in their owne drifts, and faile of their purpose that they wic­kedly haue inuented.

Pardon mée, O god, in all my pre­sumptions, forgiue them that perse­cute mee, make mée loue them that hate me, and hartely to pray for them that wish my finall destruction, how [Page]beeit, I béeséech thée, Lorde, to saue me from their handes, lest if thou shouldst forsake mee: I fall into their power, and there bée none to defende mée from their malice.

Truly, Lord, I am fully determi­ned to make thy precepts a gardeyne of pleasure, and thy lawes an alley of delight to take my recreation therin during the dayes of my flesh, only I request thée of thy goodnes to graunt mee thy grace, with the continuance of this good woorke which thou hast béegun in mee.

Since thou lothest, Lorde, an vn­godly life: giue mee power, I praye thee, to flie the woorkes of the fleshe which thou dost hate, and to embrace the deedes of righteousenes whiche thou doest loue, and in them to seeke thy glorie, incline my mind alwaies to meditate on thy lawe, and to caste all the cares of my hart vpon thee.

The death and buriall, the resur­rection [Page]& ascention of thee, my swéet sauiour Christe, I humbly adore, and giue hartie thankes for them, for in them there riseth vnto mee a sa­uour of life, through the quickenyng smell of all these: raise vp my soule, I pray thée, good Lorde, from the dreadfull death of sinne.

O dust and ashes, why doest thou walke with a proude hart, and stret­ched out neck, and why art thou moo­ued with impacience agaynst euerie triflynge aduersitie? Béeholde the méekenesse and humilitie of thy re­déemer, and learne to bee humble of harte, and low of courage, bée asha­med of pride, and blush for want of patience.

Lorde, if I coulde giue vnto thée Heauen and Earth, and all the glory thereof for hier, from the toppe of my rewarde: I coulde not sufficiently recompence the deapth of thy desert, yet giue mée that grace, that so farre [Page]as mine abilitie extendeth: I may requite thy bountie with thankes, and shew how mutch I am bettered by thy heauenly liberalitie.

Giue mée thy peace whiche the worlde cannot giue, graunt mée the ioy whiche thine elect doo possesse, sus­tayne mée with the comfort that ne­uer shalbée voyde, erect mée with hope that shall alwayes persist, in­struct mée with thy woorde that euer shall endure, aduaunce mee to thy kyngdome that neuer shall ende, and thy glorie shall still liue in mée, for I shall neuer die.

Amen.

NEwnesse of life, and singlenesse of hart, and an vndefiled waye, are the very offringes of soote incense vnto thée, O thou moste righteous God, and thou acceptest the sorowful sute of a martyred minde, in what time soeuer hee powreth foorthe his playnt vnto thee, so harken vnto mée I béeséeche thee, for heauinesse hath builded his bower within my breast.

I come vnto thée béetimes in the mornyng, and late in the night, and at high noone, and when I go to rest and when I rise agayne, when I am alone, and when I am in companie, whether I bée in thy holly church, or in my secret chamber, and all is for thy mercie, O Lorde, for thou haste no respecte of the person, time, or place.

Multiplie in mée the giftes of thy [Page]grace, and conuert thy foes through my force, make my bodie an instru­ment of all goodnesse, whiche shall come to passe: if thou clense the vn­cleanesse of my soule, scoure the vn­séemely spottes of my stayned con­science, examine my thoughtes, and innouate a newe degrée of desiers within my harte.

Lorde, graunt I beseeche thée, that whether I bee in wealth or woe, in health or in sickenesse, whether I eat or drinke, sleepe or wake, trauayle or take my rest, or what euer I doo: I may doo it in thée, and for thée, and by thée, and nothing without thée, for my defier is alwaies, if it bée possible to bée with thee, & neuer to bee from thee.

Plant fast thy pleasure in the bot­tome of my breast, for thy will, O God, is the worker of my wealthe, and my wil is the weauer of my wothy law is the leader vnto light, and [Page]my law is the loser of my life, thy heastes are the healpers vnto health, and my heastes are the heapers vp of my heauinesse, thy precepts are the porte of peace, and my preceptes are the passedge to perdition.

This worlde where I am, Lorde, may well bée termed the vale of wic­kednesse, for héere is nothyng els but pride, malice, partialitie, trouble, en­uie, vexation, strife, carefulnesse, am­bition, couetousnesse, briberie, extor­cion, vsurie, idle othes, and abhomi­nable periuirie, whoredome, hipocri­sie, and all vnclenlinesse, bitter con­tention for the trueth of thy woorde: and no man careth to follow it.

O Lorde, that it might please thee to quenche the thirst of this worldly vanitie that biteth so sharpe within the breast of mortall men, that they might see what it is that they seeke for, & learne to looke after that which thei lose, that by due conference of the [Page]twayne: they may beeholde their fol­lie, and hartely repent them while they haue respite.

The gayne of thy grace, O thou greate God, shall euermore bée the brightnesse of my bewtie, for I will request nothyng but thy mercie, and put my confidence in no creature but in thee only, if I haue that: then am I happie, and if I bee with thee: I am blessed, and I wil singe foorth thy prayses in the congregation of thy faithfull people.

Lorde, thou knowest how litle the righteousnesse is whiche I haue, and yet that whiche I haue is altogether to bee reputed thine, for it is euident that I can alonely doo no good deede, but not so mutche as name GOD, were it not through the holly ghoste, and vnlesse thou giue the power, whiche sayest that without thee wee can doo nothynge.

Open my mouthe, that withall [Page]my soule I may make humble sup­plications vnto thee, and confesse my selfe vnto thy maiestie, saying: thou hast wrought all our good woorkes in vs, and therefore in respect of them wee may sing with thy princely pro­phet Dauid, not vnto vs Lorde, not vnto vs, but vnto thy name giue the glorie.

So farre as in mée lieth, I wil en­deuour, that thy most woorthie fame shall streatche vnto the endes of the worlde, vnto Turkes, and infidels, that haue no knowledge of thee, or such as liue in misbeeleef of thy truth and I beeséech thee to arme the preachers of thy woord with boldnes, and vnderstanding, that they may fayle for no feare, to tell the truth, nor bée corrupt with ignorance, nor heresie.

Thou art most woorthie, O lorde God, to bée loued and honoured, f [...]r thy great goodnes and vnsearcheable wisedome, and all other perfections [Page]without number or end, that art ve­rie perfection it self, and all that euer wée can yéeld vnto thée, in faithe, or feare, or loue: is too too litle and very nothing in respect of that which thou hast deserued.

If thou shouldest lay vnto our charge, the gréeuous default of inno­cencie, and righteousnesse, whiche is required to bee in vs, by thy com­maundementes: O Lorde, how coulde wee endure the sharpenesse of thy iudgement? for wée were assu­red to perish eternally, but lende mée the shield of thy mercy, to defend mée against the stroake of thy iust wrath.

Reueale vnto mine eyes the bew­ty and coomlinesse of vertues, and the fowlenesse and deformitie of vices, that I may fall in loue with the one, and mislikyng with the other, taking a speciall reguarde whiche I shoulde harbour in my hart, submittyng my self vnto thy heauenly disposition, as [Page]I may bée made meetest to serue thée.

I will laude thée, O Lorde my strength, with my lippes, and I will magnifie thy might with my mouth, I wil loue thy lawes as my life, and walke in thy will as my way, I wil singe foorth thi saluation in my song, and muse on thy mercies in my minde, I will hange vp thy hope in my harte, and bury thy bountie in my bosome.

Amen.

NEuer let mée doo the thynge, O Lorde, that is displeasant in thy sight, but make thou my steppes right vnto thée, and cléere my pathes in thy presence, that there bée no ini­quitie founde in my harte, nor guile in my mouth, nor vnrighteousnesse in my handes, nor any thynge about mée that maye prouoke offence a­gaynst thee, that thou shouldest turn from mée, and forsake mée.

It is thy wisdome that is vnto mee more precious then golde, and I desier it aboue althynges bee they neuer so fayer, I am inflamed with the loue of it, lende it vnto mée, my deere God, for it is that whiche tea­cheth thy will, and sheweth what is most acceptable vnto thy sight, and it leadeth the way vnto the true worshippynge of thee.

[Page]O my God, I haue gone astray, I haue doone amisse, I haue commit­ted wickednesse, I am sinfull, cal mée home, and pardon my misdooynges, plucke mee away from my haynous offences, heale my soule that is op­pressed with harmes, for I acknow­ledge my manifolde iniquities, and I am hartely sorie for my sinnes.

I am woe that euer I went a­wrie, thou seest, Lord, the contrition of my hart, and my sighing is not hid from thée, take no reguarde to my crimes that are past, but harken how I purpose to amende, only guide mée with thy grace, shunne not the sute of a sinner, but heare the prayer of him that putteth his trust in thee, as thou most louingly hast promised.

Thou art almightie, O Lorde my God, and canst graunt whatsoe­uer is asked, giue vnto my soule an hartie féelyng of true deuotion, fulfill mée with the Charitie, and louynge [Page]kindenesse of thy deere sunne, which hee expressed when moste humbly hée offred himselfe vpon the Crosse, died the bitter death, and shedde his precious bloud for the sinnes of mee, and many.

Lorde, if my teares were in quan­titie match to the déepe sea, and my sighes were as the smoke of a For­nace, and my sobbes coulde breake the harde Diamonde, and my way­lynges were equall vnto the noyse of thundre, and my sorow were sutch as no tongue can expresse: yet could I not sufficiently lamēt for the guilt of my gréeuous offences.

Thou hast giuen mee an harte to vnderstande thee, and eies to béehold thee in thy woorthie woorkes, giue mée also, I pray thee, a desier to walke in thy will, and then I am certayne I shall want nothynge that is needefull for the good estate of my bodie or soule, aboue all, giue mée the [Page]quietnesse of a calme conscience, and seperate mée not from the hope of thy health.

I haue prayed vnto thee, my swéet God, for perfection of minde, so I béeséeche thée also, sende mée the strength and firmitude of bodie, with al the powers therof to thy pleasure, preserue the corporal life of my soue­raigne, thy faithfull seruant, our gra­cious gouerner: likewise of my pa­rentes, friendes, and kinsefolke, vouchesaulfe to bée fauourable vnto my feere whom thou hast sent mée in thy feare, and stande good father vnto my poore remainder, the béeloued moitie of my life.

If thou graunt not my petitions, thou art true notwithstandyng, for God heareth not sinners, and if thou giue eare vnto my prayers, thou art merciful, for thou commaundest mée to aske and I shall receaue, and if I obtayne: it is only thy méere libera­litie [Page]no desert of mine, shew mée thy mercie that I may bee hearde, and make mee worthy, O Lorde, to re­ceaue.

Thou hast taught mée to pray, O deliuer mée from the greate éeuill, saue mée from the mouth of the mon­strous Dragon whiche continually prosecuteth mée, and with the sheild of thy might deliuer mée from his perilous hornes, for his most gréedy desier is to entrappe my life, and to deuoure my soule whiche thou haste created.

Wherefore, O Lorde, incessantly I crie vnto thee, acquite mee from my daylie aduersarie, whiche, whe­ther I sleepe or wake, whether I eate or drinke, or whatsoeuer I doo: by all meanes bothe day and night, lieth in waite priuely or openly to shoote his venemous shaftes against mee, and to sley my soule, but bee thou my gracious protectour.

[Page]If thou, Lorde, bée on my side: I estéeme not the force of any foe, there is nothynge to hurt where thou arte to helpe, there can no fende of darck­nesse impugne, where the Lorde of light doth defende, let mée not perish, Lorde, through lacke of thy succour, for in my hart I haue made thee the full refuge of my hope, and the ram­pier of my health.

Confesse I must néedes, that the deuises of my hart haue driuen mee from my duetie, and the imaginati­ons of my minde haue augmented my mischeif, but I trust, Lorde, that in the ritchnesse of thy mercies thou wilt thinke on my pouertie, and in the plentie of thy goodnesse thou wilt remembre my scarcitie of perfectiōs, and take fauourable compassion vp­pon mee.

O eternall Lorde, I powre not foorthe my prayers béefore thy pre­sence, trustynge in the strength of [Page]mine owne righteousnesse: but in thy greate and manifolde mercies, saue mée, Lorde, for thy déere sonnes sake, preserue mée from slaundrous tungues, and hatefull hartes, defende mée from mishappe, pestilence, fa­mine, murther, and sudden death I béeséeche thee.

I will singe with my mouth, and giue thankes with my harte, and set foorth thy glorie, most glorious God, and I will conforme all the mem­bers of my body that they shall doo thy will, I wil bee wholy the Lords and the Lorde shalbee the porcion of my patrimonie, refuse mée not, for my will shall alwayes bée with thée.

Amen.

EVerlastyng God, and most mer­cifull Father, thou haste stirred mée vp with the liuely feelyng of an vnfayned faith, this day to call vpon thy most holly name, increase, I bée­séethe thee, continually that godly de­sier within my breast, for I know thou hast guiftes enow in store for vs all, and thou wilt heare the humi­litie of an hartie praier.

Heare mée now therefore, O my Lorde, for I stande a far of criynge with the Publican, Lorde haue mer­cie [Page]vpon mée which am a sinner, and with the Leaper, Lorde if it bée thy will: thou canst clense mée, and with the faithfull Centurian, Lorde my seruant is very sicke and like to die, but say thou the woorde and hée shall bée made whole.

What doo théese woordes signifie other, O Lorde, but that I am in miserie and fayne woulde bée relée­ued, I am in sorow and fayne would bée comforted, I am in distresse and fayne woulde bee succoured, I am in sinne and fayne woulde bée pardo­ned, and I come vnto thee, for thou art the only woorker of wealth, and Lorde of mercie, and I hope thou wilt helpe mée.

Haue mercie vpon mée, O Lorde, haue mercie vpon mée, for I had ne­uer so mutche néede, my offences are increased, and my force is diminished a [...]d if I would take in hand to write the millians of my misdeedes, that [Page]dayly doo burden my bodie, and sinke my soule: it were néedeful that thou shouldest create in mee a thousande new toongues.

I can hide nothyng from thée, that whiche I haue committed in secrete: lieth manifest béefore thy celestiall eyes, for at the dooynge of all thynges thou art present, and thou art the per­petuall bee holder of my harte, and all my delightes, déedes, and deuises of minde, are as cleare in thy sight: as is the light of the nooneday, and more clearer.

But harken now awhile, O my soule, forsake thy worldly businesse, and carefull cogitations for a season, bée at leasure vnto God, and take thy rest in him, entre into the secret clo­set of thy harte, and shut foorth all o­ther occupations, and when thou art there alone: then séeke for the lorde, and hée will séeke for thée, and if thou list: thou shalt surely finde him.

[Page]And when thou hast founde him: say then vnto him, O lorde, my harte hath sought thy face, teache mée, I béeséeche thée, how I may séeke thee aright, and where I may finde thee readely, if thou bée absent where I may haue thée present, if I cannot se thée, for darkenesse of my vnderstan­dyng: brynge mée into the inaccessi­ble light, where I may alwayes be­holde thee.

Lorde, what shall thy seruant doo whiche languisheth for the loue of thée, and pineth for payne that hée is so longe frō thy presence? hée would gladly finde thée: and hée woteth not the place of thy abode, hée would wil­lyngly seeke thee: and hée knoweth not thy face, yet art thou my Lorde, and my God, and I the worke of thy worthy handes.

O mightie God, thou haste made mée, and preserued mée, and thou diddest create mée that I should bée­holde [Page]thee, and yet haue I not fulfil­led that for whiche I was ordeyned. O how miserable is the state, and condition of mankinde, if hée lose that through his owne wilfulnesse, for whiche hée was made? let mée neuer Lorde, sée that day, but shew mee the light of thy glorie.

Make mée recompt, O Lorde, through thee, the miserie of mine owne transgressions, and with woon­derfull affection to desier redresse at thy deitie, how all the children of A­dam should haue fead on the bread of Angels at pleasure, which now they doo want, and now they breake the bread of sorow, wheron they feede at full with all bitternesse.

Forget not thy poore creature, O most merciful God, that is buried vp in mountaynes of miserie, and swal­lowed vp in the sea of sorow, turne thy face vnto mée whiche was tur­ned away from mée, and heare mée [Page]whom thou wouldest not beeholde, lighten my dimmed eies, and shew mee thy cheerefull countenance.

Restore thy selfe vnto mée, that it may goe well with mée in thée, with whom it goeth so ill without thee, re­payer my decayed partes, take pitie vpon my afflictions and traueiles, helpe mine endeuours, for I can doo nothyng without thee, sweeten my bitter potion with thy celestiall su­ger, suffer mée not to die in despay­rynge: but to haue life in hopyng.

In hart and contemplation, Lord, I draw néere vnto thee, a carefull castaway pining with pouertie: vn­to thee the Lorde of light waltrynge in wealth, a miserable wretche: to a mercifull God, an hungrie soule to the fountayne of foode, Lorde, I haue sought thée hungrynge, let mée not leaue thee fastyng, nor departe from thee fayntyng.

Teache mée the way, sweet God, [Page]wherein I may walke to seeke thee, and shew thy selfe vnto mee, I bee­seeche thee, that faine woulde finde thee, for I cannot seeke thee vnlesse thou instruct mee, nor I cannot finde thee: vnlesse thou discrie thy self, let mee seeke thee in desieryng, and de­sier thee in seeking, let mée finde thée in louyng, and loue thee in findyng.

As I am thine Image: so make mee remembre my selfe, to thynke on thee with loue, loue thee with de­sier, desier thee with feare, feare thee with faith, seeke thee with wisdome, finde thee with truth and singlenesse of hart, and abide with thee in thyne eternall glorie, whiche thou hast pre­pared for them that serue thee.

Amen.

BLessed are they, as thou hast taught vs, O my sweete saui­our Iesus Christe, which diligently doo heare thy most wor­thy woord: and kéepe the same, yea thrise blessed are they that spende their time in the searche of thy right sacred will, ex­pressing [Page]it in their life and conuersa­tion, for thy holly spirite shall neuer bée absent from them.

I woulde to God it might please thee, so to addresse my waies, that I might in no wise wander awrie, and that thou wouldest take away all stumblinge blockes from my feete that I might not fall, and preuent all daungers that I might not mis­carie, but that thy pathes were made so plaine: that I might neuer com­mit offence against thee.

O Lorde, so it irketh mee that e­uer I went astray, it greeueth mee to the hart, insomutch that I can re­ceaue no comfort when I thinke on thy heauie wrath, and due indigna­tion wherwith thou doest prosecute the sinnes of the vngodlie, eeuen vn­to the third and fouerth generation of sutch as haue not fulfilled thi com­maundementes.

But bée thou, good Lord, vnto mee [Page]a most speciall comforter, that al­though I bée alreadie laid verie low: yet I may not bée vtterly brought to ruine, turne the bitter scourge of thy welwoorthie vengeance, least I perish in the sharpe execution of thy deserued punishment, and so that bée lost which thou didest make, and buie full déere.

Thy propertie it is, moste blessed God, to saue and not to spil, thou did­dest create and not consume, thy woorkes are wondrous, and they sée­med al good vnto thée, when thou did­dest make nothynge of spight, nor spight at nothyng that thou diddest make, whereby increaseth my com­fort, that I shall not bée left quight destitute, and forsaken.

It is affliction enough for mée, that I haue forsaken thy waies, and not looked after the Lorde of my life, let confession of the fault bee sufficient punishment for an offender y^t trans­gresseth [Page]not of set purpose, but onely through the imperfection of frayle nature, and want of thy most graci­ous goodnesse.

I haue broken thy statutes like a proude rebell, I haue contemned thy preceptes like a naughtie seruant, I haue violated thy will like a disobe­dient childe, I haue wandred from thy folde like a lost shéepe, I haue dis­obeyed the good pleasure of my most sweete and louyng God: like a most wicked, and wretched creature.

Deale not with mée, O Lorde, ac­cordynge vnto my desertes but thy kindenesse, not hauyng respect vnto seuere iustice, but tendre mercies: that I may liue lenger to amend my misdeedes, and other by mine exam­ple may endeuour to doo the like, and so thy most noble name may be magnified bothe in them and mée, with right woorthy commendation.

Let not that bée layed vnto my [Page]charge, I hartly béeséeche thée, wher­in vnwittyng, vnwillyng, or vnadui­sedly I haue prouoked thy anger, but forget the follies of my forepassed yéeres, when I was yonge and rash by course of kinde, when sinne is ac­coumpted but a play, and but very smale reguarde is hadde vnto thy wayes.

Purifie mée from my secret sinnes wherof there is none priuie but thou alonely, that sittest on high, and sear­chest the priuities of eche mans hart béelow in the earthe, to iudge euery one in his owne deuise, and repaye them accordyng vnto their inuenti­ons, béewraying their filthinesse vn­to the worlde, that erst lay secret in couert.

O Lorde, for thy names sake, let no custome of sinnyng take holde vp­pon mee, nor let mée neuer take pleasure in dooynge wickednesse, for the one were harde to bée eschewed with [Page]out speciall helpe, and the other is a manifest signe of want of grace, but bée thou alwayes my succour, O thou the God of my strength, and fortitude.

Suffre vs not to goe a whoorynge with straunge thinges, whilst wee seeke after thee, as for thee: thou art within vs if wée wilbée within thee, wee neede not to searche thée far of: for thou art with vs in our fayth, vn­till sutche time as wée deserue that thou maist bee with vs in personall apparance, which graunt that I may beeholde.

For wée know, as sayeth the holly Apostle, that Christe through faythe dothe dwell within our hartes. For why? Christe is within our Faith, the faith within our minde, y^e minde within our hart, the hart within our breast, but clense thou them all, most gratious God, that my bodie may bée made a méete temple for thee to [Page]dwell in.

Thou hast fasshioned mee after thyne owne image, conforme mee therefore my God, most likely vnto thy similitude, in all vertue, and hol­linesse, in desier of peace, in contem­plation of veritie, in loue of charitie, let mée euermore retayne thee in memorie, carie thée in my conscience holde thee in my harte, and honour thee as present.

Heare mee, O God, in thy good­nesse, & turne not thy mercifull eare from my sorowfull crie, O let the vncleanesse of my soule bee purified, the darckenesse of my minde light­ned, the warmenesse of my harte heatened, the coldenesse of my consci­ence warmed, and the sleepinesse of my bodie wakened, and I my self by all meanes prepared, that I may bée thy seruant to doo thy heauenly plea­sure, as I am alreadie the woorke of thy cunninge fingers.

Amen.

ADuaunce thyself, O Lorde, in thine eternall power, and draw thée néere to deliuer mee from the snares of the Deuill, that haue in­trapped mée, and throwne mée al­most vnto the grownd, I haue bin plunged a longe time in the sea of sensualitie, and I perceaue my deli­uerāce cometh only from thée, wher­fore deliuer mée, O Lorde, of my saluation.

Thy power is aboue all powers, [Page]thou hast made althynges subiect vn­to thée, for through thée Death hath no stinge, nor Hell hath victorie, e­ternall thankes bée vnto God, who in our good Lorde, and sauiour Iesus Christe: hath giuen vnto vs a noble cōquest euer our enemies, for which while I liue: I wil giue most woor­thy prayse, as it best béeseemeth.

Henceforward looke thou carefully vnto the course of my life, and holde fast my harte alwayes in thy feare, that I bée not founde vnwoorthy of thy moste bountifull benefittes, en­crease in mée a care to continue in thy commaundements, erecte a fer­uent faith and assured hope of thy promises, and mercie, within the tendre intrayles of my breast.

Sprinckle my hart with a dreadge of thy compassion and precepts min­gled togither, that I may not wan­der aside, nor fall into the gulf of thy wrath, but thy fauour may sustayne [Page]mee, and thy loue may lift mee vp, bryngyng my féete into thy roomthe of rest, where I may not choose but fulfill thy godly heastes.

O, how happie were I, if I might neuer héereafter in thought, woorde, nor déede, commit the thynge that should displease thy maiestie? that life is the longyng of my soule, and th'effect of my desier, my hart mutch wisheth to sée that blessed time, and my ioyes then should bée sutch as no toongue can tell.

Truely, to know thée, with the Sunne, and the holly ghost: is the true perfection of eternall life, th'end of blissefulnesse, the summe of all de­lightes, no eye hath séene, no eare hath heard, nor hath it pearced into the deapth of any mans vnderstan­dyng, to valew the inestéemable cha­ritie, delectation, and pleasures of the same felicitie, when wée shall béehold the maiestie of God face to face.

[Page]Verely, moste glorious kinge, I haue reposed this hope in my bosom, and my harte daunceth within my breast for ioy therof, and I doo assure my selfe, through faith in thée, that these eyes wherewith I reade these lines: shall sée that glorie, and this fleash wherwith I am cloked in cor­ruption, and meashed in mortalitie: shalbee a membre of that immortall kyngdome.

This worlde is farst with wicked­nesse, and there are manie staies that stoppe a man from righteousnesses, blindyng him that hée may not see, and hampryng him that hée may not stirre to doo the thyng that is accepta­ble vnto God, sequestring his minde from all thoughtes, studies, and la­bours that may incite him vnto thée.

But my trust is in thée, O God, that thou wilt not suffer mée to fall into any outragious offēce, that may demerite thy hot indignation, O [Page]turne away mine eyes, least I bee­holde vanitie, and guide my handes that I tutche no vniust thyng, lift vp my mynde vnto contemplation of heauenly sightes, and pull mée from terrestriall cogitations that are but transitorie.

I haue prayed for one thynge, and I request the same moste hartely, that y^u wouldest preserue my youthe from flatterers, and mine olde age from slaunderers, for the one sorte of them would deuoure mée béefore I am ripe, and the other would burie mée béefore I am dead, and I haue alwayes hated them bothe vtterly.

Powre downe vpon mée, O my louyng God, the blessed dew of thy diuine and incomparable wisdome, whiche is alwayes resident aboute thy heauenly seat, that I may know my selfe throughly, and honour thée woorthely, consideryng the frame of mine owne infirmitie, and that there [Page]is no goodnesse but it descendeth from thee that arte aboue.

When, through the peruerse, and froward inclination of my nature, I fall into any wicked, and vngodly i­maginations: leaue mée not, good Lorde, vnto them, acquite mée from the disordinate lustes of the body, let no desier of vncleanesse take holde vpon mee, and giue mée not ouer vn­to an vnshamefast, impious, and ob­stinate minde.

Set a sure bridle vpon my mouth, that I speake no proude thynges a­gaynst thée, suffer not my toongue to bée acquaincted with swearyng, and let not the namyng of God bée conti­nually in my lippes, for in it are ma­nie falles, but mercifully giue thou mée aduisement what I shal speake, ere euer I open my mouth.

Call not the woordes that I haue vaynely spoken vnto accoumpt, im­pute them not vnto mée for sinne, [Page]giue mée vnderstandynge to keepe prudent silence, and when I speake let it either bée for temporall neces­sitie, either to edefie others, or els to beare righteous testimonie of the trueth, let the veritie of my assertion consist in yea yea, or nay nay.

Lorde, héere stande I vile wretch béefore the throne of thy drad pre­sence, hopyng that I shalbée heard, not in the fayntnesse of my faith: but in the power of thy promises. O weigh my weakenesse, and graunt my desier, as thou knowest moste méete for mée, then can I want no wealth, and my conscience shalbée re­plenished with all spirituall conso­lation.

Amen.

CHasten mée, O God, howbéeit, not in the consumyng rage of thy ielous wrath, for then shall I vtter­ly perish, but temper, I béeséeche thee, thy fury with compassion, to the redresse of my life, not confusion of my soule, for if thou shouldest deale so seuerely with sinners: alas, what should béecome of them? for there is no fleash righteous in thy sight.

O, thinke mercifully vppon the [Page]auncient sore of our sinnes, how that vnwittyngly wée are coneaued and borne in iniquitie, and bée thou rea­die to apply the salue of thy mercie, the onely remedie of Adams infec­ted frute, wherby our wekned bones are made stronge, and wée are eft­soones erected into thy fauour.

Thou hast layde thine heauie dis­pleasure vpon mée, whiche I know well my wickednesse hath deserued, namely a carelesse conscience, and necligent callyng vpon thée for grace and thou hast opened mine eyes that I might béeholde my miserie, and how far I am caried from thee, that art the port of my saluation.

Notwithstandyng thy roddes, and thy staues, O Lorde, wherwith thou hast beaten mée haue brought mee comfort, thy correction is full of com­passion, and in the midst of the mise­ries whiche deseruedly thou heapest vpon our heads: thou gronest at our [...] [Page]plagues, what due damnation deser­ueth sutche demeanure?

Agayne, O moste vnspeakeable mercie of thy diuine goodnesse, that béeholdest vs dayly turnynge away our vnhappie eares, shuttynge our foolish eyes, hardning our stubburne hartes, and yet notwithstandynge criest vnto vs, O yée sinners, incline vnto wisdome, and béeholde, for I am the Lorde your God.

Mercifull God, if at any time I haue bin sutche one: I hartely bee­séeche thée not to impute it vnto mée, forgiue mée all my fonde negligen­ces, and grosse ignorancies whiche I haue left vndoone, let them come no more into thy sight to bée obiected a­gaynst mée.

O, how well were I, if it might please thée to draw mée a direct line in thy lawes, that I might goe right, and leade mée in the light of thy tru­eth that I might not trippe, and hold [Page]mée by the hande that I might not fall, but especially if thou wouldest take mée vnto thée, that wheras thou art, I might bée euer there also?

I haue meruelously offended thée, and there are manie occasions of of­fence, whiche if thou wouldest take from mée: then should not my sinnes bée so burdenous vnto my soule, nor so gréeuous vnto thy sight, whiche I confesse are manifold, but, Lorde, I know thy mercie, and sauyng health are infinite, and thou art prone vnto forgiuenesse.

The ripenesse of my perfection: shalbée the gréenesse of thy glorie, the Summer of my sutes: shalbée the spryng of thy prayse, the haruest of my righteousnesse: shalbee the séede of thy commendation, the winter of my wickednesse: shalbée the earyng of thy honour, the frutes of my faith: shalbée the flower of thy worthinesse the toppe of my tranquillitie: shalbée [Page]the roote of thy renowme.

I will walke in thy wayes, O Lorde, and obey thy will, I will kéep thy commaundementes and take care of thy couenantes, I will holde thy heastes as my life and reguarde thy preceptes as mine owne soule, there shall nothyng thrust mée from thy trueth, nor fray mée from thy feare, nor allure mee from thy loue, and then am I as certayn that I shal liue: as I am sure thy prayses shall not die.

Amen.

O Lorde, thou Father and GOD of my life, I béeseeche thée, for thy sunne Christes sake, bend down thine eyes of compassion vpon mée that am thine humble seruant, but at this presente wofully oppressed with careful incumbrances of sinne, so that I want power to lift vp my handes, and with my tongue I am not able to expresse the sorowes that I sustayne.

I am déepely wounded that my life languisheth away, I am broken that I cannot recouer, I am sore that I cannot bée cured, I am sicke that I cannot bée saued, I am so nighe death that I cannot liue, I am so pi­ned: that I am past al helpe, vnlesse that thou, O Lorde, come with spée­die reléeife, the worker of my wealth and curer of all infirmities.

[Page]For, if thou put foorthe thy hollie hande: I shalbée holpen, if thou doo tutche mée: I shalbée saued, if thou doo but say the woorde: my lothsom­nesse shalbée releeued. O Lorde, I pray thee hartely come ease mée of my gréeifes, come cure mée of my care, come saue mée from my sicke­nesse, come assure me from my sores restore mee to my health, and pro­longe the dayes of my life to thy pleasure.

In weakenesse of bodie and infir­mitie of minde, in feeblenesse of flesh and crasinesse of conscience, in aduer­sitie of the worlde and all miseries of mankinde: I haue made mine er­nest complaynt vnto thee, O Lorde, and thou hast graciously heard mee, thou diddest neuer turne from mee in prosperitie, nor disdayne mée in trouble, and I trust thou wilt neuer forsake mée.

Lorde, this worlde is subiect vnto [Page]meruelous mutabilitie, the state of men is variable, for thou enritchest the poore, & empouerishest the ritch, thou pullest downe the loftie, and raysest vp the base, yet graunt vnto mée, that I may with all meekenes of minde bée well contented with the callyng wherunto thou hast alotted mée, and yéelde vnto thée moste due­tifull thankes therefore.

Giue not vnto mée, O God, the great heapes of worldly wealth, nor cast not vpon mée the gnawyng pai­nes of pininge pouertie, for ritches make a man not know himselfe, mutchelesse God, and pouertie, ma­nie times, is an enemie vnto verte­ous maners and godlinesse, but mer­cifully graunt vnto mée a resonable competent liuing.

There are many that haue fallen by abundance, and diuerse by lacke, but, O thou heauenly Father, that art only the ritche God: vouchsaulf, [Page]I beeseeche thee, to giue mée alwaies a sufficient relieuynge bothe for my body and soule, and for the charge of householde whiche thou hast giuen vnto mee, and in althynges to auoid most vayne superfluitie.

Sweete Lorde, fixe my minde firmely vpon thee and nothyng els, as for worldly things let them séeme vile vnto mee in respect of thee, let mee take comfort in thee and not in them, suffer no mirth to remayne in my minde, nor ioy to harbour in my harte, nor pleasure to rest in my thought, nor desier to abide in my breast: that is not in thee, and for thee only.

If it bee thy will, O eternal kyng, that I shall liue in thy loue, and con­tinue in thy fauour: take away from mee the meanes of ordinarie offen­ding thee, make mee angrie without sinning, humble without faynynge, merie without lightnesse, sad with­out [Page]out mistrust, sobre without dulnesse, and trustie without doublenesse.

Strike into my harte a true feare of thee, yet that I doo not dispayer, and a feruent loue vnto thee, but yet that I may not presume, giue mee vnderstandynge to amende myne owne vnrighteousnesse with discre­tion, and admonish my neighbours of their faultes without dissimula­tion, and that by my woordes and ex­ample they may take a paterne of doctrine, and liuinge.

Establish mée in a right trade of wel pleasing thee, that my life may bée conformable vnto thy woorthie will, reueale vnto th'eies of my soule by inspiration of the holly spirite, some sight or taste of thy heauenly ioyes, that I may bée caried with de­light to accomplish that whiche is pleasant vnto thée: and profitable for myne owne selfe.

A droppe of thy grace: shalbée the [Page]sea of my saluation, a sparcle of thy loue: shalbée the flame of my fayth, a mote of thy mercie: shalbée the heape of my health, a sande of thy sight: shalbée the banke of my bew­tie, a grayne of thy goodnesse: shalbée the weight of my woorthinesse, one fauour of thy celestiall face: shalbée the fulnesse of mine eternall felicitie.

O Lorde God, and holly Father, cast downe thine eyes from thy sa­cred sainctuarie, and from thy hea­uenly habitation, and béeholde the most acceptable sacrafice whiche our high bishop Iesus Christe, thy déere sunne our Lorde, offreth vp vnto thy maiestie for our manifolde sinnes, and bée mercifull vnto the multitude of our misdéedes.

Béeholde, the precious blood of our most swéete Sauiour crieth yet vnto thée from the altar of the Crosse, hee hangeth yet there, and still is hée dy­ing vnto thée, who séest althynge in [Page]present that bée past, & béefore whose eyes the effectes of all times doone do euer abide as now in dooing, consider him, O mercifull God, and for his sake take pitie vpon vs.

I must néedes loue thée, O my most déere redéemer Iesus Christe, with all my hart, with all my soule, and with all my power, that diddest vouchsaulf to die for my sinnes, my soule cleaueth fast vnto thee, for thou art hir strength and fortitude, graunt vnto mee, that I may ensue thy worthy steppes, and bée partaker of thy heauenly kingdome, accordyng as I haue shewen my sighinges vnto thée and put my whole trust in thée, that art the porcion of mine inheritance.

Amen.

NO creature vnder heauen may bryng mée comfort but thou, O Lorde of eternall glorie, that art the healpe of mans health, and surgeon of his soule, thou strikest and healest, thou bringest a man nigh vnto death and anon restoreth him to life again, to th'intent hée may know his owne weakenesse and imbecillitie: & cleaue the more firmely vnto thy strength and vertue.

[Page]As for man, hée is nothynge els but a shew of simple séede, and a slip of slender strength, and a bubble of boylyng brothe, and a branche of fa­dynge flowers, and an handfull of goodly grasse that to day flourisheth in the fielde, and to morow is flunge into the fier, a frame of moste frayle fleash, in whom is no perpetuitie nor endurance.

Lorde, let mée euermore beare this portrature in my minde of mine owne infirmitie, considerynge still what I am, remembryng alwayes what I would bée, then shall I léese likyng of my selfe: and longe after the loue of thee, for I am the image of thy substance, although the looking backe from thy lawes hath soyled mée sore with sinne.

As I am ful of imperfection of my selfe: so supply thou my wantes in thee, for when I haue indeuoured al I may, my righteousnesse is thine, [Page]and thou crownest mée with endlesse honour for that which procéedeth on­ly from thee, and is so litle agreeable vnto my corrupt nature: that it is rather quight, alas, repugnant.

My sinnes, O Lorde, lie foorth in plentie béefore my face, I can turne no way but they ouertake mée, I woulde faine intreate thee to pardon them and I dare not draw néere thee for dread of them, consider my neces­sitie most mightie God, and deliuer mée, and graunt most graciously vn­to thy sinfull seruant: the participa­tion of thy most glorious maiestie.

What though my sinnes bée as the sandes of the sea, and my wicked­nesse surmount the leaues of the woodde, and my transgressions striue in numbre with the flowers of the sprynge? yet take thou no reguarde, O Lorde, vnto the frowardnesse of my hart, but like as thou hast many times shewed mercie: so now bee [Page]pitifull, and forgiue mée.

I haue hungred, my souereigne Lorde and God, to feede vpon thee that art the breade of life, not with the iawes of my fleash: but with the mouth of my faith, vntil it mai please thée to féede mée at full with the en­tire contemplation of thy substance, whiche I shall sée face to face, and al­so bée séene in thy celestiall glorie, when I am discharged of this farthel of frailtie, this hope is the harbour of my delight, and the assured lookynge for it is the cheifest flower of my Garlande.

Most gracious gouerner, giue mée to drinke of that water, wherof who so drinketh: shall thirst the more, as after the swéetenesse of heauenly thynges, whose taste is vnspeakable pleasant, and giue mée also to drinke of that water the drinkers whereof shall thirst nomore for euer, for it floweth foorth from thée, the fountain [Page]of immortalitie.

Truely Lorde, there is no cause, why I should longe to abide in this life, if I were of sutch perfection as was thy Apostle Paule: I should perceaue the wickednesse of this worlde, and the glorie of thy kynge­dome, and wishe ernestly as hée did, to bée dissolued from this body, and to bée with Christe, where as hée reig­neth in eternitie.

O Lorde, thou knowest my hartie desier is alwaies to serue thee, graūt vnto mée of thy gracious goodnesse, that I may liue in thy law, and run in thy rule, and walke in thy way, and die in thy faith, and that I may bée cléerely deliuered of the bondage of sinne, and bee wholy out of dreade of death and dampnation.

Execute these thinges vpon mee, O my moste louynge God, and as it shall seeme best vnto thy pleasure, & most sittyng for my soule: abridge [Page]the dayes of this Pilgrimage, and commence the terme of my true life, call mée from this Clay, and clothe mée in the wéede of euerlastynge wealth, where thou art resident with thy saynctes in eternall glorie.

Lorde, if it so bée, that the destruc­tion day of all fleash bée at hande, as it is hartely hoped: then haue wee great cause to yéelde thée most hum­ble thankes for shortning the time of our trouble and takyng away the oc­casions of offendyng, that thine elect may possesse the longer frute of their ioyes, and yéelde vp the summes of a shorter accoumpt.

O God, what a ioyfull day shall that same bée, when wée shall bée­holde with our eyes those thynges whiche wée haue often recorded in our hartes, and heare with our eares whiche wée haue read with our eies, and feele with our sence that whiche wée haue manifoldly conceaued in [Page]our mindes, but all as it were in a cloude, or veyle, but then to enioye them in expresse, and perfect kinde?

Mortefie the man of sinne, I pray thée good Lorde, which reigneth with in my mortall body, that alwayes re­belleth agaynst my spirite, depres­singe mee downe euer in ignorance, and enuiyng mée the fruition of thy noble bewtie, let no feare of any cor­porall death deterre mée from the moste heauenly féelynge of sutche a ghostly contemplation.

If once the fulnesse of this effect were brought vnto wisshed ende: wée should not néede with sutche de­sier to make sute for our sinnes, for in thy kyngdome, O most pure god, there diuelleth no wickednesse nor infirmitie, but eche toongue is busie in singyng thy prayse, all laude and honour bée vnto thée, O most migh­tie God, for euer and euer, worlde without ende.

Amen.