A right Christian Treatise, entituled S. AVGVSTINES PRAIERS: Published in more ample sort than yet it hath bin in the English tong; purged from diuers superstitious points; and adorned with manifold places of the S. Scripture, by THOMAS ROGERS. Wherevnto is annexed Saint AVGVSTINES PSALTER: Translated and quoted by the same T. R.
Imprinted at London, by Henrie Denham, dwelling in Paternoster Row, at the signe of the Starre. 1581.
Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestati [...].
To the Christian Reader. S.
IN this place both to satisfie thee, beloued, and that thou also the better maist, if it please thee, answere mine aduersaries, I thinke it my part to show the reasons of my translating, correcting, and adorning this booke. For some perhaps, to translate that which is once done alreadie, wil thinke it vanitie; to amend that which no godlie man would euer enterprise to correct, wil iudge it presumption; and to adorne that which was, though often imprinted, yet neuer so put-forth, wil deeme it curiositie. And so I shal be counted vane for my translating; ouer-bold for my correcting; and verie curious for my quoting this booke. It stands me therefore vpon to show the causes of dooing what I haue done; wherein I wil be the more briefe, because else-whereIn the Epistle dedicatorie before S. Augustines Priuate talke with God: and also in the second Epistle before the Imitation of Christ. I haue somwhat touched these general points, and what there I haue spoken hath apt relation vnto this place.
And first for my translating (to ouer-passe in silence the wel acceptation of S. Augustines Priuate talke with God, Causes why this booke was translated, being in English before. by the godlie zelous, for whose sake I did bestowe my paines; and the approbation of the same by the Honorable of famous memorie master Secretarie Wilson, for whose iudgement sake chieflie, which I knew was verie learned and sound, I choase him to be Patrone thereof: sufficient causes both to encourage me to go forward, and to cleere [Page] me from al suspition either of vanitie, presumption, or curiositie for doing as I haue done) I saie, the rather I put this booke into English, for that I saw the other, before in our vulgar tongue (whosoeuer was the translator of the same, or what copie soeuer the Printer folowed) was verie vnperfect; as by comparing this my translation with the other in English, and both with the Latine copie, may easilie appeere. And therfore that neither the aduersarie might haue iust occasion to carpe; nor the godlie to complaine hence-foorth that it is not perfected, I thought good faithfulie to translate the same. Furthermore were nothing at al, as more than halfe was left-out, yet good cause I had to translate it, both because of the errors therein contained, which were necessarilie to be corrected; and of the manifold sentences of holie scripture comprehended therein, which were needful to be quoted. So that, both that the godlie might not be either infected, or offended by the one; and that manie might be allured to reade, and in reading confirmed by the other, I tooke the translation thereof vpon me, for otherwise neither could the faults be rightlie amended, nor the places dulie applied.
Secundarilie,Causes of correcting this booke. my correcting of this booke, I haue hope no good man wil mislike. For I did it not rashlie of presumption, but with the testimonie of a good conscience; with the warrant of God his word; and after the example too of such, who for doing the like are not dispraised. For if the Spirit of God command vs, To trie euerie [Page] Spirit 1. Iohn. 4, [...]; to trie al things, and to keepe that which is good 1. Thes. 5. verse. 21.; to doe al things vnto edification 1. Cor. 14. verse. 26., not vnto the destruction of soules; &, if both those noble & good men of Berea did examine the doctrine euen of the Apostles themseluesAct. 17, 10. 11.; and diuers godlie men in our age haue tried, and purged the writings of other men, & that to the great benefit of the Church, and their owne commendation: I trust I am not blame worthie for trieng, and for chusing that which good is, and refusing that which either might infect, or be offensiue to the godlie, but should do verie il, both against God, against man, and against my conscience too, if I did not so, hauing both so holie a commander to obeie, and so worthie examples to imitate. Againe, by the censure euen of anie indifferent iudge, I may with as good, and better auctoritie either quite-omit, or Christianlie conuert that which il is vnto good purpose, than some euil disposed persons either altogether leaue-out, or wickedlie change that which good is to the ingraffing of il opinions; as did both Io. Baptist a Ficklerus a Papist in his handeling that booke entituled, De iure Magistratus in Subditos; and also Iohan. de Ales another Papist in corrupting the holie Psalmes of Dauid, and applieng them most sacrilegiouslie vnto the virgine Marie. And thus brieflie for my correction in general.
Now furthermore would be showed particularlie what I haue corrected;What things corrected. how I haue corrected the same; and why. The places which I haue corrected, be either [Page] manifestlie erroneous; or scapes vnwittinglie, for so charitie and circumstances wil me to iudge, committed.
Of the former sort be praiers which tend either to make works meritorious, Faults manifestlie erroneous. as where among other things petition is made by the Auctor, that he may Amando mala sua red [...]nereMed. cap. 1; and haue teares granted, Quae peccatorum possint dissoluere vincula Medit. cap. 40.: or to make Saints intercessors for vs, as doth this praier vnto the House of God, Tu d [...]c, tu roga Deum, vt dignum me faciat participatione gloriae tuaeMedit. cap. 20.; againe vnto the same House of God, Ad [...]u [...]ent me merita tua, subueniant prauitati meae sanctae & purissimae orationes tuae, quae inefficaces apud Deum nullatenus esse possintMedit. cap. 20.; so doth this, Da mihi effectum petitionis, & desiderij mei intercedente, & orante, & impetrante gloriosa virgine, genetrice tua Maria, Domina mea, cum omnibus sanctisMed. cap. 35. & ca. 36.; and this, Da mihi gratiam lachrimarum, &c. propter merita, & orationes corum, qui tibi placuerunt, & deuotissimè s [...]ruieruntMedit. cap. 36.; and this especialie, Exa [...]di nos Trinitas sancta, & conserua ab omni malo, &c. per orationes Patriarcharum, per merita Prophetarum, per suffragia Apostolorum, per constantiam Martyrum, per fidem Consessorum, per cast [...]tatem Virginum, & per intercessionem omnium Sanctorum, qui tibi placuerunt ab mitio mundiMedit. cap. 40.: or praiers finalie either vnto the dead, as is both the whole 24. Chapter after the Latine copie; and these also in another place Medit. cap. 40., Sancta, & immaculata virgo, Dei genetrix, Maria, & Mater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, interuenire pro me digneris apud illum cuius meruisti effici templum. S. Michaël, S. Gabriel, S. Raphaël, [Page] S. chori Angelorum, Archangelorum, Patriarcharum, at (que) Prophetarum, &c. vos rogare praesumo, vt pro me culpabili ipsi Deo supplicare dignemini, quatenus de faucibus Diaboli, & de morte perpetua merear liberari: or praiers for the dead, as this is, Praesta Domine, &c. defunctis fidelibus requiem sempiternamMedit. cap. 40., Againe Medit. cap. 40., Omnibus etiam Christianis defunctis adiutorium praestare digneris, & defunctis fidelibus absolutionem, & requiem sempiternam per aeterna saecula.
Of the later sort be these especialie, Seapes vnwittinglie committed. and such like words in one chapter Medit. cap. 6., Respice clementissime Rex, qui patitur, & reminiscere benignus pro quo patitur, &c. Candet nudum pectus, rubet cruentum latus, tensa arent vescera &c. and these, and such like in another Medit. cap. 7., Ego iniquè egi, tu poena mulctaris, ego crimen edidi, tu torturae subijceris; ego superb [...]ui, tu humiliaris; ego tumui, tu attenu [...]ris, &c. Such is the whole 19. Chap. in a maner after the Latine copie, and finalie, so be these, and such like, (for to recite al the words, I thinke it not conuenient) in another Medit. cap. 41., Hei mihi, quia videre non potui Dominum angelorum, humiliatum ad cōuersationem hominū, &c. Vtinam cum felice Ioseph Dominū meū de cruce deposuissem, aromatibus condijssem, in sepulchro collocassem, &c.
In which my correction, I haue had special care to leaue as little out as might be,Maner of correcting this Booke. and therefore did I thinke it better to change vnto good purpose that which is contrarie vnto the Christian faith, where aptlie I could so do, than quite to omit whatsoeuer was amisse. In which respect I haue changed the 24. Chapter after the Latine copie in my traslation, the 23. which is a praier vnto Saincts, as also these words, [Page] Propter merita, & orationes, &c. Medit. cap. 36., and applied them vnto Christ. The other errors I haue quite left out. Likewise among the scapes, some things I haue omitted, and some things I haue changed. I haue omitted the whole 19. Chap. in the Latine copie, which is the cause I haue one Chapter lesse in my translation, than is in the Latine: and also these words, and the rest tending to the like effectMedit. cap. 41., Hei mihi quia videre non potui Dominum angelorum, humiliatum ad conuersationem hominum, &c. vtinam cum felice Ioseph Dominum meū de cruce deposuissem, aromatibus codijssem, in sepulchro collocassem, &c. That which I haue altered, are ye rest specified afore: the onlie difference betwene the Latine copie and mine in those places is, for that I turne the present tence into the preterperfect tence, which agreeth to ye truth.
It remaineth now that I do yeeld the reasons why I haue corrected these faults.Special reasons of correcting the errors and scapes in this booke. And first for the errors: the chiefest causes of my correcting them was, for that they be contrarie to Scripture, and might both infect the simple, and coole the zeale euen of the strong; but another was, because I saw manie places in this booke did ouerthrow them quite. As first the places for merits are ouerthrowne, as by other, so especialie by these, I acknowledge that no penance can satisfie for my sinnes August. praiers. ch. 38. pa. 198., and againe, If thou examinest my righteousnes, lo, I stinke like dead carion August. praiers. ch. 39. pa. 206.. Secondlie, intercession vnto Saints, with praieng vnto the dead, is ouerthrowne by these and such like places, What other intercessor should I direct vnto thee, but euen him August. praiers. ch. [...]. pag. 23., who is the reconciliation for our sinnes, and sitteth [Page] at thy right hand, making request for vs. For, what is it to cal vnto the truth in truth August. in the same cha. pa. 21., but euen to cal vnto the Father in the name of the Sonne (not of Saincts (reversed ?)) There is nothing behinde to adde, for I haue sent mine whole hope vnto thee August. praiers. ch. 8. pag. 35.. I haue directed thy beloued Sonne mine aduocate, vnto thee, and haue sent thy glorious child to be a mediator betweene me and thee: I haue sent I saie an intercessor, through whome (not through Marie, or anie other Sainct) I hope to get pardon. For what is more acceptable August. praiers. ch. 5. pag. 21., than to cal vpon the begetter in the name of his onlie begotten? to moue the Father vnto mercie, in the recordation of his Sonne? to mitigate the wrath of the King, through naming of his deere child? &c. Thirdlie, praieng that the faithful departed out of this life, may haue rest, is also in diuers places ouerthrowne, as where it is saidAugust. praiers. ch. 22. pag. 90., Happie is the soule; which departing from the earthlie bodie, goeth directlie into heauen, secure it is, and quiet, &c! Oh happie are al thy Saincts, o Christ, which haue passed ouer the sea of this mortalitie August. praiers. ch. 23. pag. 93., & attained vnto the hauen of perpetual quietnes, securitie, and peace, where they are at rest, and alwaie ioiful, & merie! And therfore considering this contrarietie in ye Auctor, I thought it best to publish those things which were consonant to ye true faith, and to omit whatsoeuer sauored either of heresie, or superstition.
And for the scapes, I am to yeeld the same reason, which I haue giuen for my correcting the errors. For as they, for the most part, be contrarie vnto the Scriptures: so be diuers places in this booke, as easelie I could showe, against them. I except onlie the scapes contained in the 41. [Page] Chapter after the Latine copie: the which, as also the other scapes and errors, I am persuaded, were the Auctor liuiug, hee would gladlie either amend himselfe, or suffer them to be reformed. I often make mention of the Latine copie, because that hath one Chapter more than this hath, which commeth to passe by leauing out the 19. Chapter.
Thirdlie,Causes of quoting this booke with places of Scripture. and last of al, I haue adorned this booke with places of Scripture, both to show from whence that which good is both is, and ought to be taken: and also to moue the zealous Christian the more earnestlie to reade this booke. For when it is apparent, that praiers, and meditations be deriued out of the pure fountane of Gods holie word, manie are not a little not onelie pricked forward vnto the reading, but also strengthened and comforted much in mind, when they doe reade them.
Which being so, I trust thou wilt accept my trauel in good part, and at the leastwise reade this booke as diligentlie now, being both made perfect, corrected, and adorned, a [...] earst thou hast done when it neither had so manie praiers in it by halfe as now it hath; nor was so pure fró error [...]; nor so auctorized with the warrant of Gods word for the comfort of thy soule, as now it is.
And thus I commend both thee and my selfe into his hands who hath not onelie made, but also redeemed vs for his owne glorie, and praise.
A right Christian Treatise, containing manie holie and heauenlie Meditations, written, as it is thought by that reuerend Father S. AVGVSTINE.
Chap. 1.
A praier vnto Almightie God for grace to leade a new life according to Gods holie Word.
O LORD my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3. Psalm. 18, 1. 2., giue me grace from the verie bottome of mine hart to desire thee; in desiring to seeke thee; in seeking to find thee; in finding to loue thee; in louing vtterlie to loath my former wickednes.
O Lord my God, giue I beseech [Page 2] thee to mine hart repentance; to my spirit contrition; to mine eies a fountaine of teares; to mine hands liberalitie vpon the poore.
O my KingPsal. 5, 2., quench in me the desires of the flesh; and inflame within my brest the fire of thy loue.
Driue awaie fro me the spirit of prideEccles. 23, verse. 4., ô my redeemerMatth. 20, verse. 28. Rom. 3, 24. 1. Cor. 1, 30. 1. Tim. 2, 6.; and of thy mercie bestowe vpon me the treasure of thine humilitieMatth. 11, verse. 29. Philip. 2, 5. 6, &c..
O my sauiourLuk. 9, 56. Iohn. 3, 17. Actes. 4, 10, 11. 12., remooue fro my mind the rage of wrath; and gratiouslie giue me the shield of patience.
Plucke euen from the verie roote of mine hart the rancor of malice ô my CreatorGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73.; and make me to enioie the sweetenes of a quiet mind.
Giue me, ô most louing fatherMatt. 6, 9. 14. Rom. 8, 15. Coloss. 1, 2., a sound faith; a right hope; and a constant loue.
[Page 3] O my gouernorEccl. 23, 1. 4, &c., driue awaie far fro me al vanitie; and suffer me to haue neither an vnconstant mind; nor a wandering heart; nor a scurrilous mouth; nor a proude looke; nor a greedie bellie; nor a slandering tongue; nor itching eares after curiositie; nor a couetous mind after richesPsalm. 119. verse. 36.; nor polling hands to abuse my power; nor ambitious motions to get vaine glorie; let both curssed hypocrisie; and poisoned flatterie; and proude contempt of the poore; and violent oppression of the weake; let both burning couetousnes, & cankred enuie, with damnable blaspheming of thy name, be alwaies far from me thy seruant.
O my makerPsal. 139, verse. 13. 14. 15., make a large distance betweene mee and rashnes; betweene me and wickednes; betweene me and frowardnes; [Page 4] betweene me and vnquietnes; betweene me & idlenes; betwene me & drousines; betweene me and blockishnes;
Grant that my hart prooue not blinded, my senses obstinate, my maners sauage: but let me delight in goodnes, and folowe coūsel, & neuer loose the bridle to my tong; nor cruellie make a praie of the poore; nor violentlie oppresse the weake; nor vniustlie slander the innocent; nor negligentlie regard inferiors committed to my charge;
Finalie, let me vse neither crueltie toward my seruants, nor treacherie toward my friends, nor violence vpon my neighbours.
O my God, my merciful God Psal. 59, verse. 17., euen through thy beloued sonneEph. 2, 18. Colos. 3, 17. I beseech thee, giue mee grace to exercise my selfe in the workes of mercie, and in godlie [Page 5] cogitations, namelie, to weepe with them that weepeRo. 12, 15. 1. Pet. 3, 8.; to instruct such as go astraieIam. 5, 19.; to helpe the afflictedMath. 25, verse. 35. 36, &c.; to cherish the pooreEsay. 58, 7. Ezec. 18, 7.; to comfort the sorowfulMatth, 25, verse. 35. 36. 37, &c.; to releeue the oppressed; to nourish the hungrie; to refresh them which mourne; to forgiue my debtersMatt. 6, 12. Matt. 18, 23. 24, &c. 35.; to pardon them which haue hurt meRo. 12, 19.; to loue them which hate meMat. 5, 44. 45, &c.; to render for euil, goodRo. 12, 19. 20. 21. 1. Peter. 3, 8. 9.; to despise nonePro. 14, 21. Prou. 17, 5., but to honor alRo. 12, 10.; to imitate the virtuous1. Cor. 11, 1. 1. Thes. 3, 7. 9. Hebr. 6, 12.; to shun the wickedProu. 4, verse. 14. Prou. 11, verse. 19. Prou. 24, 1. 2.; to embrace virtue Psalme. 5, verse. 9., to flie sin1. Peter. 3, verse. 9.; in aduersitie to be patientRom. 5, 3. Hebr. 10, verse. 36., in prosperitie to be continent; to set a watch before my mouthEccle. 22, 26., and a seale of wisedome before my lips; to despise earthliePhil. 3, verse. 7. 8., and to couet after heauenlie thingsColoss. 3, verse. 1. 2., Amen.
Chap. 2.
An accusation of mans vnworthines; and a commendation of Gods infinite mercie.
THus, my makerGen. 1, 26. 27., I haue asked much, and yet haue deserued naught.
I confesse, yea alas, I confesse, that not onelie I deserue not those blessings which I do require, but also do deserue manie and exquisite tormentsIob. 10, 8..
Notwithstanding, euen publicanesMat. 21, 31. Mark. 2, 15., harlots, and theeuesLu. 23, 40. 41. 42. 43., who in a moment plucked from out the iawes of the enimie, are taken into the armes of the shepheard, do embolden me to do as I do.
For albe thou, ô God, maker of al thingsGenes. 1, 1. 2. 3, &c. Psal. 148, 1, 2, &c. 5. Hebr. 1, 1. 2., art woonderful in al thy worksReue. 15, 3.: yet art thou most [Page 7] wonderful in the works of mercie: therefore didest thou saie by one of thy seruantsPsa. 145, 9., His mercies are ouer al his works.
And although thou spakest this but of one, yet we trust it is ment of thy whole people: My louing kindnes wil I not take from him2. Sam. 7, verse. 14. 15. Psal. 89, 33.. For thou despisest none, thou castest none awaie, thou abhorrest no man, vnles it be him which madlie abhorreth thee. Hence it is, that being moued, thou strikest not; but, if they surcesse, thou powrest thy blessings vpon them which prouoke thee.
O my God, the horne of my saluationPs [...], and my refuge I, wretch that I am, I haue prouoked thee; I haue done euil in thy sight; I haue stirred vp thine anger; I haue deserued thy displeasure. I haue sinned, and thou hast suffered; I haue offended, [Page 8] yet thou bearest with me.
If I repent, thou sparestEze. 18, 21. 22. Eze. 33, 14. 15. 16.; if I returne, thou embracestLuk. 15, 20.; yea, beside al this, though I differre, thou waitest.
Thou reclaimest him which wandereth; thou inuitest him that resisteth; thou lookest for him that sleepeth; and him thou embracest which returneth.
Thou teachest the ignorant; thou comfortest the pensiue; thou liftest vp from destruction after a fal; thou giuest to him that askethMatt. 7, 7.; he that seeketh, findeth thee, and thou openest to him which knocketh.
Lo, ô Lord, God of my saluationPsa. 18, 46. Psal. 51, 14., what I should saie for my selfe I knowe not, and how I may answere, I am ignorant: without thee there is no refuge, from thy sight no secret place can hidePsa. 139, 7. 8. 9, &c. Eccl. 23, 19.; thou hast showne [Page 9] me a waie to liue welDeu. 10, 12 Deu. 11, 22. 28., and giuen mee knowledge how to walke; thou hast threatned me hel fireEze. 18, 13 Rom. 2, 8. 9. Rom. 11, 15., and thou hast promised the glorie of Paradise.Rom. 2, 10. Reuel. 2, 7. Reue. 22, 14..
Now, ô Father of mercies, and the God of al comfort2. Cor. 1, 3., pearce my flesh with thy feare, so that by fearing, I may escape such things as thou doest threaten; and restore to me the ioie of thy saluationPsal. 51, 12., that by louing I may taste the felicitie which thou hast promised1. Cor. 2, 9..
O Lord, my rocke and my fortressePsal. 71, 3.; my God, my refuge, and my sauiourPsal. 18, 2.; put thou into my remembrance the things which I should conceaue of thee; teach me by what words I may cal vpon thee; instruct me with what good workes I may please thee.
For I knowe, indeede I knowe one good worke, wherein thou [Page 10] art much delighted; and another which thou doest not despise. Thy sacrifice is a contrite spiritPsal. 51, 17., a contrite and a broken heart, ô God, thou doest not despise.
O my God, mine helperPsal. 18, 2., enrich me with these thy gifts: with these defences arme thou me against the enimie; let this be the water to quench the flames of sinne; reach out of thy goodnes this refuge against the passions of my desires.
O Lord God, the strength of my saluationPsa. 140, 7., let me not be of that number which for a time beleeue, but when temptation commeth, go backePsa. 140, 7..
Couer thou mine head in the daie of battelLuk. 8, 13., ô mine hope in affliction, and my saluation in the time of trouble.
Thus, ô Lord, my lightPsal. 27, 1., and my saluation, what I neede, I [Page 11] haue asked; and what I feare, thou art priuie of: but my conscience gnaweth, and the secret cogitations of the heart reprooueth my boldnes, and what loue ministreth, feare scatreth; zeale stirreth vp, feare checketh; my wicked deedes strike a terror, but thy goodnes maketh bold; thy mercie encourageth, my wickednes keepeth mee backe: and to saie more trulie, the fantasies of vices come fresh into my remembrance, which beate backe the boldnes of presumptuous mindes.
Chap. 3.
A complaint of a sinner, whose praier God heareth not in respect of his disobedience.
FOr he that is worthie hatred, how can he require mercie! he which hath deserued paine, how can he desire [Page 12] glorie!
He prouoketh the iudge, that laieng satisfaction for his offence apart, sueth to be honored with rewards. Who so is condemned to punishment, is too bold with the King, if hee seeke to be crowned with an vndeserued garland. That foolish child doth prouoke the sweete affection of his louing father vnto wrath, that after reproches offered, wil vsurpe the dignitie of inheritāce, before he haue repented him of his fault.
O my FatherMal. 2, 10. Math. 5, 48., why cal I into mind what I haue done? I haue deserued death, and I beg life. I haue mooued my KingPsalm. 5, 2. Psal. 44, 4., whose assistance impudentlie I doe craue. I haue despised the iudge Iob. 9, 15. Psalm. 50, 6. Esai. 33, 22., and yet rashlie I beseech him to be mine helper. Proudlie I haue refused to heare my father, whom notwithstanding I presume [Page 13] to haue mine helper.
Wo is me, how late do I come; alas, alas, how slowlie do I hasten; wo is me, because I runne after woundes, refusing being whole to auoide the darts.
I haue neglected to fore-see the dartes, but now am troubled standing at deathes dore.
I haue encreased my wounds, because I haue not feared to adde sinne vnto sinne.
With a fresh wound I haue embrued my scars, because I haue augmented mine olde sinnes by my dailie transgressions; & what God by his medicines had healed, I by my frantike scratching haue opened.
The skin which going ouer the woundes, did hide the disease, through ye breaking out of the corruption, is become rotten, in asmuch as wickednes vsed againe, made ye mercie once [Page 14] granted to be of none effect.
For I knowe it is written, At what time soeuer the righteous man shal commit wickednes, al his righteousnes which he hath done shal not be mentionedEzech. 18, verse. 24.. Now if the righteousnes of a righteous man through sin shal be forgotten; how much more shal the repentance of a sinner turning again vnto wickednes!
How often haue I a dog returned vnto the vomitPro 26, 11.; and like a sow wallowed in the mire2. Pet. 2, verse. 22.!
I acknowledge, because for me particularlie to remember al it is impossible, I haue taught manie to sin, which knew not what sin meant; manie that were bent to sin, I haue persuaded thervnto; such as haue resisted, I haue cōpelled; & haue consented to thē as haue gone about wickednes. Snares I haue laid for them which haue kept the right waie; [Page 15] and made a pit for such as haue sought the same: yea I made no conscience of committing sin, & feared not to forget thy lawes.
But thou a righteous iudge2. Esdr. 14, verse. 32., sealing mine iniquitie vp as in a bagIob. 14, 17., lookest narowlie vnto al my paths, and numberest al my steps.
Thou hast held thy peace, thou hast alwaie bin silentPsa. 50, 21, thou hast bin patient a long time: but, out alas, one daie thou wilt crie like a woman in trauelEsa. 42, 14.
Chap. 4.
How God the righteous iudge should de feared.
O Lord, God of godsDeu. 10, 17, of great kindnesIoël. 2, 13., I knowe how thou wilt one daie appeereActs. 1, 11. Acts. 10, 42. 2. Tim. 4, 1. 8.; I knowe thou wilt not keepe silencePsa. 50, 3. 4., at what time the fire shal deuour before thy face, [Page 16] and a mightie tempest encrease about thee; when thou wilt cal the heauen aboue, and the earth to iudge thy people; and lo, al my sinnes shalbe laid open1. Cor. 4, 5. before so manie thousand people; and not onelie al my wicked deedes, but also al mine euil thoughts, and words shal be manifest before al the companies of Angels.
So manie iudges then shal I wretch stand before, as haue excelled me in wel-doing. So manie shal giue sentence to my confusion, as haue shewed me examples to liue vprightlie. So manie shal be witnesses to conuince me, as haue both instructed me with their godlie exhortations, and prouoked mee vnto imitation by their righteous dealing.
O my Lord, I knowe not what to saie; I can not tel what answere [Page 17] to make: and being now in extreme peril, my conscience trobleth; my secret cogitations torment; my couetousnes fettereth; my pride accuseth; mine enuie eateth; my lust inflameth; my riotousnes trobleth; my gluttonie shameth; my drunkennes confuteth; my detraction teareth; my discord parteth; mine anger disquieteth; my lightnes dissolueth; my sloth oppresseth; mine hypocrisie deceaueth: my flatterie breaketh; my fauor lifteth vp; my slander pricketh me.
Behold my deliuerer from the fierce nations; behold, with whom I haue liued, with whom I haue studied, with whom also I haue kept promise from the daie of my birth!
The studies which I delighted in, doe now condemne me; which once I praised, dispraise [Page 18] me now.
These are the friends vpon whom I rested; the teachers to whom I listened; the masters whom I serued; the counselers whom I beleeued; the citizens with whom I dwelled; the companions, whome I consented vnto.
Alack, my King and my God Psal. 5, 2. that my freedome is so long kept fro me. Alack, ô my lightPsal. 27, 1., that I haue remained with the dwellers of KedarPs. 120, 5.. And seeing holie Dauid hath said Too long Psa. 120, 6., how much more may I wretch saie, My soule hath too long bin a stranger!
O God, my strengthPsal. 18, 1. 2., in thy sight shal none that liueth be iustifiedPsa. 143, 2.. My trust is not in the sonnes of men. Whome wilt thou find righteousRom. 3, verse. 20., if thou iudge without mercie! And vnles in fauor thou preuent the [Page 19] wicked, there wil not be to glorifie the good.
For I do beleeue, ô my saluation Psa. 88, 1., which thing I haue heard, how that thy bountifulnes leadeth me vnto repentanceRom. 2, 4.: the sweete words of thy mouth haue sounded in mine eares, No man can come vnto me, except the Father, which hath sent me draw himIoh. 6, 44..
Now because thou hast taught me, and mercifulie endued me with this knowledge, from the bottome of mine hart, and with al the power of my mind, I humblie praie thee, ô almightie Father, with thy most welbeloued sonneMat. 3, 17.; and thee, sweete Sonne with the most cheerful comforter Iohn 14, 16 26., I beseech thee drawe meSal. songs. 1, verse. 1. 2. 3., so that I may run after thee by the sauor of thy good ointments.
Chap. 5.
A praier vnto God the Father, through his sonne Iesus Christ.
VNto thee doe I calPsal. 18, 3. 6., ô GOD, euen vnto thee doe I cal. For thou art neere vnto al that cal vpon thee, to al that cal vpon thee in truthPs. 145, 18..
Because thou art the truthIoh. 14, 6., teach me I beseech thee of thy goodnes; ô holie truth teach me to cal vpon thee in truth. For of my selfe I am ignorant how to doe soRom. 8, verse. 26., but mine humble request is, ô blessed veritie, to be taught of thee.
For to be wise without thee, is but foolishnes1. Cor. 1, 20.; but to knowe theeIohn. 17, 3, is perfect wisedome.
Instruct me in thine heauenlie wisedome; and teach me thy statutesPsa. 119, 1 [...].. For I verelie doe beleeue [Page 21] that he is blessed, whome thou chastisest, ô Lord, and teachest in thy lawePsa. 94. 12..
My desire is to cal vnto thee; now grant, I praie thee, I may doe so in truth.
What is it to cal vnto the truth in truth; but euen to cal vnto the Father in the name of the SonneIoh. 15, 16.? Then, holie Father, thy word is the truthIoh. 17, 17.; the beginning of thy word is truthPs. 119, 160., for this is the beginning of thy words, that the word was in the beginningIohn. 1, 1..
In that verie beginning I worship thee the chiefe beginning. In that same very word of truth, I cal vnto thee the perfect truth; in which thou, the verie same truth, direct me in thy truth, and teach me.
For what is more acceptable than to cal vpon the begetter, in the name of his onlie begotten? [Page 22] to mooue the Father vnto mercie in the recordation of the Sonne? to mitigate the wrath of the King through naming of his deere child?
So haue the guiltie bin woont to be deliuered out of prison; the fettered loased; and such as haue bin adiudged to the death, haue not onelie bin pardoned, but gotten beside extraordinarie fauor, while they haue expressed the tender affection toward a deerlie beloued child to angrie princes; finalie, so haue trespassing seruants escaped punishment at their masters hands euen through the intercession of their sweete sonnes.
Euen after the like sort by the tender loue of thine almightie Sonne, I humblie beseech thee, ô almightie Father, bring my soule out of prisonPsa. 142, 7, that I may praise thy Name. By thy coëternal, [Page 23] and onelie SonneIoh. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9., I praie thee, deliuer me from the chaines of sinne; and through the intercession of thy Sonne that sitteth now at thy right hand, restore me vnto life, to whome mine owne desertes doe threaten a deadlie sentence.
For what other intercessor should I direct vnto thee, but euen him which is the reconciliation for our sinnes1. Ioh. 2, 2.; and sitteth at thy right hand making request for vsRom. 8, verse. 34.!
Behold mine aduocate with thee God the Father1. Iohn. 2, 1.; behold the most hie PriestHebr. 8, 1., which needeth not to be sanctified by the blood of anie thingHeb. 9, 11. 12., but shineth gloriouslie embrued with his owne blood; behold the sacrifice holie, acceptable, and perfect Heb. 9, 24. 25, &c., offered and receaued for a sweet smelling sauorEph. 5, 2.; behold the lambe vndefiled1. Pet. 1, 19., that as a [Page 24] sheepe before his shearers opened not his mouthEsai. 53, 7.; neither spake a word when he was buffeted with fistsMark. 14, verse. 65., spit vponMatt. 26, verse. 67., and obraided; finalie, which did no sinne1. Pet. 2, 22, and yet bare our sinnes1. Pet. 2, 24, by whose stripes we are healed.
Chap. 6.
A praier vnto God the Father for mercie, in respect of the bitter paines of his deere Sonne.
BEhold, louing Father Mat. 5, 45., thy most louing Sonne which hath endured such wicked things for my sake.
O most gratious PrinceEccl. 23, 1. 4, &c. Psalme. 5, 2., behold him which hath suffered; and of thy goodnes cal him into mind for whom he hath suffred.
Is not he that innocent one2. Cor. 5, verse. 21. 1. Pet. 2, 22., ô my Lord, euen thy SonneRom. 8, verse. 32. Iohn. 3, 17. whom thou gauest, to redeeme [Page 25] thy seruantsGal. 3, 13. Galat. 4, 1. 2, &c. 5. 6, &c.! Is not this the author of lifeIoh. 11, 25., that, being brought as a sheepe to the slaughterEsa. 53, 7., and shewing himselfe obedient to thee, euen vnto the deathPhil. 2, 8., dreaded not to end his life with a most cruel deathGalat. 3, 13!
Remember, ô worker of al saluation, how this is he, whom thy wil was should be partaker of mine infirmitieEsai. 53, 3. 4., notwithstanding thou hadst begotten him of thine owne powerPsal. 1, 7. Heb. 1. 5.. Out of doubt hee is God with theeMatt. 16, verse. 16. Iohn. 1, 1. 2., which tooke my nature vpon himIohn. 1, 14, and in that flesh ascended vpon the crosseLuke. 23, verse. 33., and suffered a most greeuous punishment.
O Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1., cast the eies of thy Maiestie vpon the worke of thine vnspeakeable mercie.
Behold thy sweete Sonne, whose whole bodie was stretched foorthMark. 15, verse. 22. 23. 24. Luk. 23, 33..
[Page 26] Behold his harmeles handsIohn. 20, verse. 20. 25. distilling foorth godlie blood; & being pacified, forgiue the sins which mine hands haue committed.
Behold his naked side pierced through with a sharpe speareIoh. 19, 34.; and renue mee with the holie fountaine, which I beleeue flowed from his side.
Behold his vndefiled feete, that haue neuer stood in the way of sinnersPsal. 1, 1., but euer walked in thy lawe, dented-through with cruel nailesIohn. 20, verse. 20. 25., and make my pathes perfect in thy waies; giue mee grace to abhor al wicked steps; take fro me the waie of lieng Ps. 119, 29., and grant me gratiouslie to choose the waie of truth.
O King of saints, by this most holie Saint, by this my redeemer Col. 1, 14. 1. Tim. 2, 6., I beseech thee, make me to run the waie of thy commandementsPs. 119, 32., that in spirit I may be [Page 27] knit vnto him, which abhorred not to bee clothed with my fleshIohn. 1, 14..
O merciful Father, remember how the same thy most deere Son, being a yong man, bowed his white necke with his head, and gaue vp the ghostIoh. 19, 30.
Behold, ô most gratious maker Psa. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73., the humanitie of thy beloued Sonne; and haue pitie vpon the weaknes of thy fraile workmanship.
Behold how his brest became white; his side bloodie; his bowels drie; his sight dimme; his countenance pale; his armes stiffe; how his legs hoong; and the streame of blessed blood watered his pierced feete.
Behold, ô glorious FatherPsal. 1, 7. Heb. 1, 5., the torne members of thy tenderlie beloued Sonne; and gratiouslie remember what my substance is.
[Page 28] Behold the paines of God become manIohn. 1, 14.; and release the miserie of man thy creatureGen. 1, 26. 27. Iob. 10, 8..
Behold the punishment of the redeemerGal. 3, 13.; and forgiue the sins of the redeemed1. Pet. 1, 18. 19..
Euen this is he, ô my Lord, whom thou hast plaged for the sinnes of thy peopleEsai. 53, 8., notwithstanding hee bee thy beloued Sonne, in whome thou art wel pleasedMat. 3, 17. Matth. 17, 5. 2. Pet. 1, 17.. This is that innocent person, in whome there was found no deceitEsai. 53, 9. 1. Pet. 2, 22., and yet was he reckoned with the transgressorsEsa. 53, 12 Mark. [...]5, 28 Luk. 22, 37..
Chap. 7.
A praier wherein man confesseth, how he was the cause why Christ suffered.
O Sweete Christ, what sin didst thou commit, yt thou shouldst be so iudged? What [Page 29] didst thou commit, that thou shouldest be so cruely handled? What was thy sinne; what was thy fault; what was the cause of thy death; what was the occasion of thy damnation?
For I, alas, I did the sinne, for which thou didst sufferEsai. 53, 4. 5. 6. 1. Pet. 2, 24.; I deserued the torments which thou didst endure. O strange iudgement, ô vnspeakeable disposition of the mysterie!
The sinner offendeth, the iust is punishedMat. 27, 24 Luk. 23, 41. 47.; the guiltie transgresseth, the innocent is beatenEsai. 53, 5.; the wicked sinneth, the godlie is damned: That which the euil deserueth, the good suffereth; the seruant doth amisse, the maister maketh amends; man committeth sin, and God beareth the punishment!
O ah, how, ô Sonne of GodMat. 3, 17., how hast thou debased thy selfe Phil. 2, 8. Heb. 2, 9.! How hast thou burned in affection!
[Page 30] Ioh. 15, 13. Ephes. 5, 2. 1. Ioh. 3, 16.! How far is thy mercie stretched! How great is thy kindnes! whither extendeth thy loue! whither is thy compassion come!
For I did wickedlie, but thou wart punishedMatt. 8, 17; I sinned, and thou wart afflictedGal. 3, 13.; I offended, thou wart tormentedMarke. 15, verse. 20. 21, &c. 1. Cor. 2, 7. 8.; I lifted vp my selfe, thou wart humbledPhil. 2, 8.; I swelled, thou wart brought loweHeb. 2, 9.; I was disobedient, but thou obedientlie barest the punishment of disobedience Phil. 2, 8.; I serued the bellie, but thou enduredst hungerMatt. 4, 2.. The tree allured me vnto vnlawful concupiscence: but perfect charitie led thee vnto the crosseEphe. 5, 2. 1. Iohn. 3, 16. I tasted presumptuously the forbidden fruite; thou sufferedst torments. I delight in meate; thou didst hangGal. 3, 13.. I enioie pleasure; thou wart pierced with nailesIoh. 20, 25. I feele the sweetenes of [Page 31] the apple, but thou tastest the bitternes of galMatth. 27, verse. 34.. Eua smiling is merie with me; Marie weeping had compassion vpon theeMatth. 27, verse. 55. 56.. Lo, King of gloriePsal. 24. 7. 8. 9. 10., thus is mine vngodlines, and thy mercie manifest; thus mine vnrighteousnes, and thine innocencie is euident.
Now, ô my King and my God, what shal I render to thee for al thy benefits toward mePsa. 116, 12? For mans hart can not conceiue the thing which may worthilie recompence these thy ample rewards. Can the wit of man find out anie thing answereable to Gods mercie? No, it is not for a creature to enterprise to make God amends.
Notwithstanding, ô Sonne of God, in this so wonderful dispensation, something my frailtie is able to do, namelie, if thorough thy visitation the mind being pricked, it crucifie the [Page 32] flesh, with the affections and the lustsGal. 5, 24.; which thou hauing granted, it then beginneth as it were to suffer for thee, because thou also hast vouchsafed to die for my sinneMatt. 8, 17 1. Pet. 2, 24.. And so through the conquest of the inner man, it shal be armed, thou being capitaine, vnto the attaining of the outward victorie, inasmuch as it feareth not, hauing ouercome the spiritual battel, to be subiect, for thy sake, to the material sword. In which respect ye weaknes of my condition, if it like thy goodnes, shal be able, according to the power it hath, to answere to the greatnes of the Creator. And this is heauenlie physicke, ô sweete Iesu, this is the preseruatiue of thy loue.
Now I beseech thee, by thy wonted mercies, powre that into my wounds, which, the melancholie humor of venemous [Page 33] contagion being thrown away, may restore mee againe to my former health; and, hauing tasted the nectar of thy sweetnes, may make mee from the verie hart to despise the inticements of the world, and to feare none aduersitie of the same for thy Name sake; finalie, that I may be alwaies mindful of thine euerlasting glorie, and in that respect abhor the trobles of this transitorie world.
I beseech thee let nothing seeme sweete to mee without thee; let nothing please me, no worldlie thing like mee beside thee. Let me not loue that, which thou doest abhor; and let thy good pleasure, be al my desire continualie.
Let it greeue me to reioice without theeIer. 9, 23. 24. 1. Cor. 1, 31.; & let me glad to bee afflicted for thy Name sakeAct. 5, 41..
[Page 34] Let thy Name be my ioie; and the remembrance of thee my consolation.
Let my teares be my meate night and daiePsal. 42, 3., in seeking after thy righteousnes.
Let the Lawe of thy mouth be better vnto me, than thousands of gold and siluerPsal. 119, verse. 72..
Finalie, let al my care be to please thee; and to resist thy wil, let me vtterlie detest.
O mine hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1., by al thy mercies I beseech thee, be merciful to my sinnesPsal. 65, 3..
Open mine eares to thy lawes, and incline not mine heart, I praie thee by thine holie Name, vnto euilPsa. 141, 4., that I do not commit wicked woorkes with men that worke iniquitie.
Last of al I beseech thee by thy wonderful humilitie, let not the foote of pride come against mePsa. 36, 11., [Page 35] and let not the hand of the wicked moue me.
Chap. 8.
A praier vnto God the Father, shewing how the passion of his Sonne was for the reconciliation of man.
LO, almightie God2. Cor. 6, verse. 18., Father of my LordEphe. 1, 2. 3. Philip. 1, 2., deale gratiouslie, & haue mercie on me, I beseech thee.
For I haue deuoutelie offered that which I found most pretious; and humblie presented him, which I saw was most dere vnto thee.
I haue concealed naught, which I haue not reuealed to thy Maiestie; there is nothing behinde to adde, for I haue sent mine whole hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1. vnto thee.
I haue directed thy beloued SonneMat. 3, 17. Matth. 17, 5. 2. Pet. 1, 17., mine aduocate1. Ioh. 2, 1. vnto [Page 36] thee; and haue sent thy glorious child to be a mediator betwene me and thee2. Tim. 2, 5. Heb. 9, 14. 15. Heb. 12, 24.: I haue sent, I saie, an intercessor, through whome I hope to get pardon.
In words I haue sent the WordIohn. 1, 1., which, I said, was sent for my sakeIohn. 3, 17.; I haue recited also the whole passion of thy most holie Sonne, which, I beleeue, suffered to saue meEsai. 56, 4. 5. 6. Matth. 8, 17. 1. Pet. 2, 24..
I beleeue the Godhead sent of theeMatth. 21, verse. 37. Iohn. 17, 3., tooke vpon him mine humanitieIohn. 1. 14., wherein he thought good to suffer himselfe to be buffetedMatt. 27, verse. 30. 31, &c., bound, spit on, mocked, yea, and crucified, nailed, and pierced too.
I beleeue also the same verie Manhoode, which was trobled with the crieng of infancie, wrapped with the swadling clothes of childrenLuke. 2, 6. 7.; vexed with the labors of youth; weakned with fastingMatt. 4, 2.; afflicted with [Page 37] watchingLuk. 6, 12.; weried with traueling Ioh. 4, 6.; with scourging whipped Matth. 27, verse. 26. Iohn. 19, 1.; torne with punishmentMar. 15, 15. 16. 17, &c.; counted with transgressorsEsa. 53, 12. Luke. 22, 37.; he hath gloriouslie raised from the dead, carried into the ioies of heauenActes. 1. 9. 10. 11., and placed the same at ye right hand of thy MaiestieMarke. 16, verse. 19. Rom. 8, 34..
He is both my reconciler, and thy reconciliation1. Ioh. 2, 2..
Consider now both who is thy Sonne, whome thou hast begot Hebr. 1, 5. Hebr. 5. 5.; and who is the seruant whome thou hast redeemedGal. 3, 13. Gala. 4. 5. Ti [...] 2, 14.. Behold the makerIohn. 1, 1. 2. 3. Hebr. 1, 2.; and despise not the workemanshipPsa. 100, 3.. Gratiouslie embrace the shepheardIoh. 10, 11. 14., and fauorablie respect the shepe brought vpon his owne shouldersLuke. 15, 5 6..
This is that good shepheard, which with much and great labour sought the wandering sheepe ouer steepe hils, and dangerous lowe valies; and hauing [Page 38] found the same welnigh dead through long estraieng, with great ioie stoupeth himselfe downe, and louinglie tieng it about himselfe, doth lift it out of the deepe of confusion, and carieth it al ioifullie which was lost, vnto the ninetie and nineLuk. 15, 4. 5. 6, &c..
Behold, ô Lord my kingPsal. 5, 2., God almightie2. Cor. 6. verse. 18.; behold, the good shepheardLuk. 15, 4. 5, &c. Iohn. 10, 11. 14. bringeth that vnto thee which thou didest commit vnto his charge.
He tooke vpon him through thine appointment to saue man Iohn. 3, 17, and behold, he hath restored the same to thee voide of al spot of sinne1 Tit. 2, 14..
Behold, thy deere Sonne hath reconciled the workmanship1. Iohn. 2, verse. 3., which was estraied far from thee: the merciful pastor fetcheth that to the fold, which the greedie deuourer1. Pet. 5, 8. had hunted [Page 39] awaie. He bringeth him into thy presence, which fledGen. 3, 8. out of sight through a guiltie conscience, yt by his maker he might obteine pardon1. Cor. 1, verse. 30., which of himselfe deserued wrathEph. 2, 3.; and that through such a Capitaine he might haue hope to be called home into his countrie, to whome nothing was due but hel fire in respect of his sinne.
I could, holie FatherMatt. 6, 10., offend thee of my selfe; but so could I not of my selfe please thee. And therefore thy beloued SonneMatt. 3, 17. 2. Pet. 1, 17., my God, became mine helper, & tooke my nature vpon himIohn. 1, 14. Matth. 1, 23., thereby to heale mine infirmities Esai. 53, 4. 5., that thence he might offer to thee the sacrifice of praise, whence the cause of sinne did first spring out; and might by that thing bring me into thy fauor, whereby sitting now at thy right hand he would show that [Page 40] he is partaker of my substanceMar. 16, 19 Actes. 1, 9. 10. 11. Rom. 8, 34..
Lo, this is mine hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1., this is al my confidence.
Wherefore if you despise me, as you may right wel, in respect of my sinne; yet regard me at the least of thy goodnes in respect of the great loueEph. 5, 2. 1. Iohn. 3, 16 of thy beloued Sonne: behold that in thy Sonne, which may mooue thee to showe mercie vpon thy seruant: behold the sacrament of his flesh, and remit the sinnes of the flesh.
As often as thou lookest vpon ye wounds of thy blessed Sonne; so often, I praie thee, let my sins be couered. As often as thou remembrest the pretious blood of his holie side; so often, I beseech thee, let the spots of my filthines be washed awaie. And because flesh hath prouoked thee vnto anger, my humble sute is, that flesh also may mooue thee vnto [Page 41] mercie; that as flesh seduced man to offend, so flesh may bring man to pardon.
For much it is, I grant, which my wickednes hath deserued: yet far much more is it, which the loue of my redeemer may lawfulie chalenge. For though great be mine vnrighteousnes: yet is the righteousnes of Christ my redeemer much greaterRom. 5. 15.
Because by how much God is better than man: by so much is my wickednes inferior to his goodnes, both in qualitie, and also in quantitie.
For what hath man cōmitted, which the Sonne of God, made manIohn. 1, 14. hath not redeemed! who in pride can so swel, that by his woonderful humilitie may not be ouerthrowne! what power of death can there be so great, but the passion of ye Sonne of God on the crosse wil destroy ye same!
[Page 42] Trulie, ô my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3. Iohn. 20, 17., were both the sinnes of wicked man, and the mercie of my redeemer waied together in equal balance, surelie neither the east would so differ from the west, nor the lower most part of hel from the vppermost top of heauen.
Now therefore, ô most glorious Creator of the lightGen. 1, 3., for the exceeding great paines of thy beloued Sonne, forgiue my sins: set his godlines against my wickednes; his trobles against my crookednes; his meekenes against my frowardnes. Let his humilitiePhil. 2, 8. for mine hautines; his patience1. Pet. 2, 21 22. 23. for mine impatiencie; his gentlenesMat. 11, 29 for my crueltie; his obediencePhil. 2, 8. for my rebellion; his quietnesEsai. 53, 7. for my crabednes; his sweetnes for my bitternes; his mildnes for my rage; and his loueEph. 5, 2. 1. Iohn. 3. 16 for mine hatred make amends.
Chap. 9.
Vnto the holie Spirit a godlie praier.
THerefore almightie and holie Ghost, which art the loue of the deitie, proceeding both frō the almightie FatherIoh. 20, 17, & his blessed SonnePsal. 1, 7. Matth. 3, 17. Hebr. 1, 5., the most gratious comforterIoh. 14, 16. 17. Iohn. 15, 26. of the trobled soules, slide thou downe into the secret parlor of mine hart by thy mightie power, and lighten euery priuie corner of the neglected house by the brightnes of thy glittering light; and such places as wither through long drines, by visiting with thine abundant showers of raine make thou to spring.
The priuie places of the inner man heale thou with the dart of thy loue; and kindle by piercing with thy healthful flames the [Page 44] intrals of my nummed liuer; and with the lightsome fire of thine holie and feruent loue feede thou euerie secrete part both of my mind and bodie.
Giue me drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasuresPsal. 36, 8.; that I may now couet no more to taste of ye poisoned sweetenes of worldlie things.
Iudge me ô LordPsal. 43, 1., and defend my cause against the vngodlie people; teach me to do thy wilPsa. 143, 10, for thou art my God.
Wherefore I doe verelie beleeue, that in whom soeuer thou dwellest, thou doest build the house both of the Father, and the Sonne.
Blessed is that man which can get such a guest; bicause through thee, both the Father and the Son wil dwel with himIoh. 14, 23. Come then, ô thou most gratious comforter of the trobled souleIoh. 15, 26, [Page 45] which art a protector in due timePsal. 9, 9., & an helper in affliction, come. O come thou purger of wickednes, & curer of wounds. Come, thou which art the fortitude of the weake, and the staie of such as are falling. Come thou instructor of the humbleLuk. 12, 12, & the destroier of the proud. Come thou louing father of the fatherles, & thou merciful iudge of the widowesPsal. 68, 5.. Come thou hope of the poore, and refresher of them, which be readie to faint. Come thou guide of seafaring men; and hauen to auoid shipwrack. Thou singular glorie of such as liue; thou onelie saluation of them at ye point of death, come. Come, ô most holie spirit, come and haue mercie vpon me, knit me to thee; and mercifulie grant after the multitude of thy mercies, that my slendernes may please thy greatnes; and my [Page 46] weakenes thy strength, through Iesus Christ my SauiorIoh. 4, 42. Phil. 3, 20. 1. Tim. 4, 10. 1. Iohn. 4, 14., who in thy vnitie with the Father liueth and raigneth for euermore, Amen.
Chap. 10.
A deuout praier of an humble seruant of God.
I Knowe LORD, I knowe, and confes, how I am vnwoorthie to be loued of thee: yet art not thou vnwoorthie to be loued of me. I am vnwoorthie to serue thee: yet art not thou vnwoorthie to haue my seruice. Make me therfore woorthie of that which thou art woorthie of; so shal I be woorthie of that, of which now I am vnwoorthie. Make me, as thy wil is, to cesse from sinne; that as my dutie binds, I may serue thee.
Grant that I may so keepe, and [Page 47] gouerne, and end my life, that I may sleepe in peace, and rest in thee.
Sticke to me euen to the end, that sleepe with rest; and rest with quietnes; & quietnes with euerlastingnesReu. 7, 15. 16. 17. Reu. 21, 4. 23. 24. may receaue me, Amen.
Chap. 11.
A praier vnto the blessed Trinitie.
BOth with hart and mouth we confesse, we praise, & blesse thee God the Father Mat. 11, 25 Mark. 13, 32 Iohn. 20, 17. vnbegotten; thee, God the Sonne onelie begottenIohn. 1, 14. 18. Iohn. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9.; thee, God the holie Ghost the comforterIoh. 14, 16 17. 26. Iohn. 15, 26., an holie and inseparable Trinitie; to thee be glorie worlds without end1. Tim. 1, 17 2. Tim. 4, 18. Reu. 7, 12., Amen.
Chap. 12.
A confession of Gods almightines, and maiestie.
O Our GODPsal. 90, 1. 2. Psal. 95, 7., ô almightie GodGen. 35, 11 Ezech. 10, 5 Eccl. 42, 17. Reuel. 15, 3., ô holie Trinitie, one power, and vnparted Maiestie.
I praise thee, yea, euen I ye basest of thy seruants, and a simple member of thy Church, I praise thee; and with a due sacrifice of praisePsal. 50, 14 Psal. 116, 17., according to the knowledge and power, which thou hast vouchsafed to impart vpon me, I glorifie thee.
And because I lacke outward gifts to offer, behold, that which is in mee, euen the vowes of thankesgiuingPsa. 116, 14 17. 18., gladlie and ioifulie doe I offer out of a good conscience1. Tim. 1, 5., and faith vnfained.
With mine hart therefore I do beleeueRom. 10, 10, ô King of heauenMat. [...]1, 25, and Lord of the earth, and with [Page 49] my mouth I confesse, the Father Mar. 13, 32 Iohn. 20, 17, the SonneIohn 1, 18. Rom. 8, 3. 17., and the holie GhostMar. 12, 36 Actes. 1, 5. 8. 16., three in personsMatt. 3, 16. 17. Mark. 1, 10. 11. Luke. 3, 21. 22., yet but one in substance, to be a verie Ier. 10, 10. Iohn. 17, 3., and almightie2. Co. 6, 18 Reu. 11, 17. God, of one simple, spiritualIoh. 4, 24. 2. Cor. 3, 17., inuisible 1. Tim. 1, 17, and incomprehensiblePsa. 139, 7. 8, &c. nature, in which none is either higher, or lower, or greater than other, but are altogether perfect Matt. 5, 48 without deformitie; big without quantitieIob. 2, 3 8. 9.; goodMat. 19, 17. without qualitie; without anie time euerlastingEccl. 18, 1 Lamen. 5, 19; without dieng immortal 1. Tim. 1, 17; strongPsal. 7, 10. 12. 13. Esaie. 1, 24. without faintnes; trueReu. 6, 10. without falsehood; without anie abode present euerie wherePsa. 139, 6. 7. 8.; without anie place wholie euerie where; filling al things without stretching; going euerie where without stop or let; passing ouer al things, and yet moouest not; abiding in al places, and yet standest not; creating al things [Page 50] Psa. 124, 8. Psal. 134, 3. Eccl. 43, 1. 2, &c. without neede; gouerning al thingsMat. 11, 25. without labor; giuing beginnings to al thingsHab. 1, 12., and yet had no beginningPro. 8, 22. 23, &c.; changing al things2. Pet. 3, 10, and yet neuer changedMal. 3, 6. Dan. 6, 26. Rom. 16, 26; in greatnes infinitIob. 23, 8. 9.; in power almightiePsal. 115, 3 Reuel. 1, 8.; in goodnes soueraigneMar. 10, 18 Iames. 1, 17.; in wisedom wonderful Wisd. 9, 1. 4. 5, &c. Eccles. 1, 1. 2, &c. Iam. 1, 17.; in counsels terriblePsal. 66, 5; in iudgements righteousPs. 119, 137; in cogitations, secretPsal. 92, 5.; in promise, truePsa. 86, 15.; in works, holieEsaie. 6, 3. Esai. 43, 15. Reuel. 4, 8.; in mercie, richPsal. 130. vers. 7.; toward sinners, most patientPsal. 86, verse. 15.; toward the penitent, most mercifulIerem. 18, vers. 8. Ezec. 18, vers. 21. Luk. 13, vers. 3, 5. Luk. 15, vers. 18, 19, 20.; alwaie ye sameMal. 3, vers. 6., eternalPsal. 102, vers. 11, 12., and euerlasting, and immortal1. Tim. 1, 17., and vnchangeable, whom neither widenes of place maketh bigger, nor straightnes lesser, nor corners wring; whose wil doth not varie; nor friendship alter; whom neither aduersitie maketh out of quiet; neither [Page 51] prosperitie ouer iocund; nor obliuiō bringeth aught out of thy mind, nor memorie into thy remēbrance; neither things passed goe awaie, nor things to come succeede where thou art: with the beginning thou begannest not; with times thou encreasest notPs. 10 [...], 25 26. 27.; with the end thou takest not an end, but both before al worlds and in the world, and worlds without end thou liuest, & enioiest perpetual praise, eternal glorie2. Tim. 4, verse. 18. Reuel. 7, 12., soueraigne auctoritie, singular honor, an euerlasting kingdom, & infinit power, for euer and euer, Amen.
Chap. 13.
A Zealous praier wherein is declared how God the Father hath saued mankind; and how the Word became flesh; with a praier for remission of sinnes.
HItherto, ô GOD almightie Gen. 35, [...] Eccl. 46, 16., which seest and searchest mine [Page 52] hart1. Sam. 16, verse. 7. Psal. 7, 9., hitherto I haue confessed the almightines of thy Maiestie, & the Maiestie of thine almightines: but now, as I beleeue in mine hart vnto righteousnesRom. 10, verse. 10., so wil I confesse with mouth vnto saluation, how thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankind in the end of the world.
Touching thee, God the Father, thou art neuer read to be sent; but of thy Sonne the Apostle writeth on this wise,Gal. 4, 4. When the fulnes of time was come, God sent forth his Sonne. Whē he saith, Hee sent, he plainlie showeth how hee came being sent into this world, when, being borne of the virgin MarieMatt. x, 18 19, &c. Luke. 2, 6. 7., he showed himselfe in the flesh to be verie GOD and perfect manIohn. 1, 14..
But what meaneth that principal of al the other Euangelists when he saithIohn. 1, 10, He was in the [Page 53] world, and the world was made by him. Thither truelie he was sent by his humanitie, where he was alwaie & is by his diuinitie. Which ambassage of his, I verelie do beleeue with mine hart, and acknowledge with my mouth, was the worke of the whole sacred Trinitie.
Now then how hast thou loued vsIohn. 3, 16, ô heauenlie and louing FatherIoh. 20, 17.! how hast thou loued vs, ô gratious makerPs. 100, 3., which hast not spared thine owne SonneRom. 8, 32, but giuen him to the death for vs vngodlie wretches! He was obedient to thee, euen vnto the death, yea the death of the crossePhil. 2, 8., taking out of the waie the handwriting of our sinnes, and fastening it vpon the crosseCol. 2, 14., he hath crucified sinne, and killed death. He onlie is free among the deadPsal. 88, 5., hauing power to laie downe his lifeIoh. 10, 18., and [Page 54] power to take it againe for our sakes.
And therefore he was both a conqueror and an oblationHeb. 9, 26.: and because an oblation, therefore a conqueror. For our behoofe hee was to thee both a priest & a sacrifice; and because a sacrifice therefore a priestHeb. 5, 5. 6, &c. Heb. 7, 25. 26. Heb. 9, 11. 12, &c.. Wel may I then repose a strong hope in himCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1., because through him that sitteth at thy right handRom. 8, 34 Heb. 7, 25. Heb. 8, 6., making intercession for vs, thou wilt heale al mine infirmitiesEsai. 53, 5..
For, Lord, great be my diseases, and manifold; yea, manifold and verie great be they. For the prince of this world, I knowe, and I confesse hath much to laie against me: but for his sake that sitteth at thy right handMar. 16, 19 Actes. 1, 9. 10. 11., euen for my redemers sakeRom. 3, 24 Eph. 1, 7. 14., in whom he could find none euilIoh. 14, 30, deliuer me.
[Page 55] For his sake, who did no sin1. Pet. 2, 22, and in whose mouth there was found no guile, iustifie me.
For his sake, who is our headEph. 4, 15. Ephes. 5, 23., wherin there is no blemish, saue a member of his, though poore and weake.
Pardon I praie thee, al my sins, vices, faults, and offences. Indue mee with thine holie virtues; make me to liue godlie, and to continue euen to the end in good workes, according to thy wil, euen for thine holie Name sake, Amen.
Chap. 14.
A thankesgiuing of a faithful mind vnto God for sending his deere, and onlie Sonne to saue mankind.
I Might vtterlie despaire in consideration of my manifold sinnes, and infinite offences, had not thy word, ô [Page 56] God, bin made fleshIohn. 1, 14., & dwelled among vs.
But now I dare not despaire. For, if when we were enimiesRom. 5, 10, we were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy Sonne; how much more being reconciled, are we saued by his life!
For al mine hope1. Tim. 1, 1., and al my confidence is reposed in that pretious blood, which was shed for vs, and for our saluation1. Pet. 1, 18. 19.. In it I take hart againe, and resting therevpon I couet to come vnto thee, not hauing mine owne righteousnesPhil. 3, 9., but that which is through the faith of my Lord Iesus Christ.
Wherefore, ô most gratious & merciful God, louer of mankind Wisd. 11, 21 23. Iohn. 3, 16., which, through Iesus Christ thy Sonne & our LordRom. 1, 4. 7. 1. Cor. 1, 3. 7. &c., euen when we were in the state of damnation by reason of sinRom. 5, 7. 8, &c., hast deliuered and saued vs: I [Page 57] thanke thy goodnes, yea from the verie bottom of mine hart I doe highlie thanke thee, for sending of thy great loueEphes. 2. 4. 5. wherewith thou hast loued vs, miserable wretches vnwoorthie al fauor, the same thy onlie begotten SonneIohn. 3, 16 1. Iohn. 4, 9. from thine owne bosome into the world, to saue vs great sinners1. Tim. 1, 15, the children of wrathEph. 2, 3..
I thanke thee for his holie incarnation and birth of his glorious mother, of whom he vouchsafed to take flesh for vs men and for our saluation: that as he was verie God of GodMatt. 1, 23 Matt. 16, 16.; so he might be verie man of manIohn. 1, 14..
I thanke thee for his passionLuke. 23, verse. 26. 33, &c., crosse, and death; for his resurrection, and ascention into heauen, & sitting at thy right hand. For the fortie daie after his resurrectionActs. 1, 3. 9., in the sight of his disciples he ascended vp aboue [Page 58] al the heauens, where hee sitting on thy right hand, powred downe the holie SpiritActs. 2, 1. 2, &c., according to his promiseIoh. 15, 26. Luk. 24, 49., vpon the children of adoption.
I thanke thee both for that shedding of his pretious blood wherewithal we be redeemed1. Pet. 1, 18. 19.: and also for his instituting the holie and liuelie sacrament of his bodie & bloodMatt. 26, verse. 26. 27. 28. Luke. 22, 19. 1. Cor. 11, 23. 24, &c., where withal in thy Church we be dailie nourished, refreshed, washed, sanctified, and made partakers of one heauenlie, and diuine nature.
Finalie, once againe I thanke thee for thy great loueEph. 2, 4. wherewith thou hast so loued vs wretches through thine onlie1. Ioh. 4, 9., and welbeloued sonneMatt. 3, 17. For so thou didst loue the worldIohn. 3, 16, that thou gauest thine onelie begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth on him, should not perish, [Page 59] but haue euerlasting life. And this is eternal lifeIoh. 17, 3., that wee knowe thee to be the true God, and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ, through a right faith, and works agreeable to our faith.
Chap. 15.
Of the incomprehensible good wil of God the Father toward mankind.
OPitie vnmeasurable! ô wonderful loue! To saue a seruant, thou hast giuen thy SonneIohn. 3, 16. God was made manIohn. 1, 14., that wretched man might bee plucked out of the power of diuels.
How deerlie hath thy Sonne, ô God, loued man, which thought he did not humble himselfe enough, if he were onelie borne of the virgin Marie, vnles for vs and for our saluation1. Pet. 1, 18 1. Pet. 2, 24., he shed [Page 60] his blood also vpon the crosse!
He came a merciful God, he came of meere compassion and goodnes, yea to seeke and to saue that which was lostLuk. 19, 10 Matth. 18, 11, he did come. He sought the lost sheepeLuk. 15, 4. 5. 6.; he sought and found it; and, like a gratious Lord, and right good shepheardIoh. 10, 11 14., on his shoulders he carried it vnto his flocke.
O rare loue! ô tender kindnes! who at anie time hath heard the like! who but wil be amazed at such bowels of mercie! who but wil wonder! who but must needes reioice at his abundant loue, wherewith he hath loued vsEph. 2, 4. 5, &c.!
Thou didst send thy Sonne in the similitude of sinful fleshRom. 8, 3. 4., that of sin he might condemne sinne, and that we might be thy righteousnes in him.
For he is the lambe vndefiled1. Pet. 1, 19, [Page 61] which hath taken awaie the sins of the worldIoh. 1, 29., abolished death by his death2. Tim. 1, 10, and brought life againe by his resurrection.
But what may we render vnto thee, our God, for these so great benefitsPs. 116, 12 of thy mercie? What praises, what thanks may wee ascribe?
Surelie had we the knowledge and power of the blessed Angels: yet could our amends be nothing correspondent to thy mercie, and goodnes. And were al our members conuerted into tongues: yet should we neuer extol thee sufficientlie enough.
For thy great loue, extended gratiouslie of thy meere goodnes to vs ward, reacheth beyond al knowledge. For thy Sonne, ô our GodIohn. 17, 3, tooke in no sort the AngelsHeb. 2, 16., but he tooke the seede of Abraham; and was like to vs in al things, yet without sinneHeb. 4, 15..
[Page 62] So that taking mans nature, not Angels vpon him; and glorifieng it with the robe of holie resurrection and immortalitieActs. 1, 9., he hath carried the same ouer al heauens, ouer al the quires of Angels, ouer al Cherubs, and Seraphims, and placed the same at thy right hand.
The which both Angels doe praise, and dominions worship; and al the powers of heauen do bowPhi. 2, 9. 10. 11. at man God ouer them. This verelie is al mine hope, and mine whole confidence.
For euerie of vs hath a portion of blood and flesh, in the bodie of Iesus Christ our Lord. Therefore where a piece of my selfe is, there, I trust, I do raigne; where my flesh is glorified, there I knowe I am glorious; where my flesh doth rule, there I perceaue I haue dominion.
And although I am yet a sinner: [Page 63] yet I doubt not of this participation of grace; although my sinnes doe hinder me; yet my substance doth require it; and although mine offences exclude me; yet the communion of nature doth not repel me.
For God is not so hard harted that he can forget flesh & blood which he beareth; which for my sake he hath taken; which on my behalfe he requireth.
But the Lord our God is mild, and verie gentleIoēl. 2, 23.; he loueth his owne flesh, his members, and his bowels.
In verie God, and our sweete, gratious, and most gentle Lord, euen Iesus Christ, in whom we haue risen, ascended now into heauen, and now sit together in the heauenlie placesEph. 2, 5. 6., our flesh doth loue vs.
In him we haue the prerogatiue of our blood: we are his [Page 64] members, and his flesh: finalie, he is our headEph. 4, 15. 16. Eph. 5, 23., of which the whole bodie dependeth.
As it is written, This now is bone of my bonesGen. 2, 23. 24., and flesh of my flesh; and they shal be one flesh. And no man euer yet hated his owne fleshEph. 5, 29., but nourisheth, and cherisheth it. This is a great secretEph. 5, 32., but I speake concerning Christ, and concerning the Church, saith the Apostle.
Chap. 16.
A thankesgiuing vnto God, for his mercie extended toward man, in the incarnation of his Sonne Iesus Christ.
I Therefore, ô Lord our GodPsal. 90, 1. 2., with my lips, and with mine hart, and with al my power do thanke thy mercie for al mercies, whereby thou hast miraculouslie redeemed vs thy [Page 65] wretched seruantsEph. 2, 4. 5., and that through the same thy Sonne our Sauior1 Pet. 2, 24, and redeemerGal. 3, 13., which was deliuered to death for our sinnesRom. 4, 25, and is risen againe for our iustification, and sitteth liuing without end at thy right handRom. 8, 34, making request for vs, and showing mercie with thee vpon vs. Because of thee the Father Ioh. 8, 42. Iohn. 13, 3. he is an eternal God, of one substance with thee in al respects. Whereby he can saue vs at al times.
But in that he is a man, whereby he is inferior to thee, Al power is giuen him in heauen and in earthMatth. 28, verse. 18., that at the Name of Iesus euerie knee should bowPhil. 2, 10. both of things in heauen, and things in earth, and things vnder the earth; and that euerie tongue should confes, that Iesus Christ is the Lord, vnto thy glorie, ô God the Father.
[Page 66] Him thou hast ordeined a iudge of quicke and deadAct. 10, 42.. For thou iudgest no manIohn. 5, 22, but hast committed al iudgement to thy Sonne, in whose breast are hid Col. 2, 3. al the treasures of wisedome, and knowledge.
And he is the witnes and the iudgeAct. 10, 42, I saie the iudge and the witnes, whose presence no guiltie conscience shal escape1. Cor. 4, 5.. For al things are naked and open to his sightHeb. 4, 13.. And he which vniustlie was condemnedMatt. 27, verse. 24. 25, &c., he euen he wil iudge the world with righteousnesPsa. 96, 13, and the people in truth.
Wherefore I blesse thine holie Name for euermore, and with mine whole hart, ô almightie & gratious Lord, I glorifie thee, for that vnspeakeable and wonderful vniting together of thy Godhead and manhood in one person, so that one was not God, [Page 67] and another man, but one and the same person was both God and man, or man and God.
But although of thy great goodnes the Word was made fleshIohn. 1, 14.; yet neither of those two natures was conuerted into another substance.
To the mysterie of the Trinitie there is not a fourth person added. For the substance both of the Word of God, and of man is vnited, but not confounded: that vnto the Godhed that thing which was taken of vs might approch, and that thing which neuer had bin, might remaine the same which alwaie it was.
O woonderful mysterie1. Tim. 3, 16! ô vnspeakable felowship! ô strange goodnes of Gods mercie, euer to be marueled at, euer to be loued! We were not woorthie to be seruants; and lo, we are made the sonnes of GOD, euen the [Page 68] heires of GodRom. 8, 17, and heires annexed with Christ! How came this to passe? who hath brought vs here vnto?
But, ô God merciful Father, by this thine inestimable goodnes, mercie, and good wil, I beseech thee, make vs woorthie so great and so manifold promises of the same thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ1. Cor. 1, 3. 7. 8, &c..
Appoint thy strength, stablish ô God, that which thou hast wrought in vsPsa. 68, 28; finish what thou hast begun, that we may be able to come into the fulnes of thy mercie.
Make vs through the holie spirit to vnderstand; and through thy Sonne to discerne; and with due honor to reuerence this high mysterie of godlines1. Tim. 3, verse. 16., which is, how God was manifested in the flesh; iustified in the Spirit; seene of Angels; [Page 69] preached vnto the Gentils; beleeued on in the world; and receaued vp in glorie.
Chap. 17.
Another thankesgiuing for the benefit of our redemption.
O Lord our GODPsa. 90, 1. 2. Psal. 95, 7., how much are we bound vnto thee, which be redeemed with such a price1. Pet. 1, 18 19.; salued with such a giftIohn. 3, 16.; and preserued by so heauenlie a benefit!
O how greatlie are we wretches bound to feare thee; to loue thee; to blesse thee; to praise thee; to honor thee; and to glorifie thee, seeing we are so saued, so sanctified, and so glorified of theeRom. 8, verse. 30.!
For we are indebted to thee, both for al that wee can doe, and for al our lifeAct. 17, 28., and for al our wisedomeIam. 1, 17.. And who hath [Page 70] anie thing of himselfe not from thee1. Cor. 4, 7?
Wherefore, ô Lord our God, from whome euerie good gift doth proceedeIam. 1, 17., euen for thine owne sake, and for thine holie name sake, giue vs grace of thy goodes and gifts to serue thee, and in truth to please thee, and euermore for so great benefits of thy mercie to thanke thee.
For by none other meanes can we either serue or please thee, but by thine owne gift. For euerie good giuing and euerie perfect gift is from aboueIam. 1. 17., and commeth downe from the Father of lights, with whome is no variablenes, neither shadowing by turning.
O Lord our GodIoh. 20, 17; ô gratious Esai. 6, 3. Esai. 43, 15. God; ô goodMatt. 19, verse. 17. God; ô God almightie2. Cor. 6, verse. 18. Reu. 11. 17.; GOD whose nature can be neither vttered by words, nor conteined in anie [Page 71] placeIob. 23, 8. 9. Psal. 139, 6. 7. 8, &c.; GOD Creator of al thingsGen. 1, 1. 2, &c. Psal. 135, 6., and the Father of our Lord Iesu ChristGal. 1, 1. 3., which hast from thine owne bosome sent the same thy beloued SonneMatt. 3, 17. into the world for our common welfare1. Tim. 1, 15; to take our nature vpon himIohn. 1, 15., that he might giue vs his; and be as perfect God of thee his Father, so perfect man of his mother, a verie God and a verie man, yet but one and the same Christ, both eternal and temporal, immortal and mortal, a Creator and a creature, strong and weake, a conqueror and conquered, a nourisher and nourished, a shepheard and a sheepe; temporalie dead, and yet liuing eternalie with thee, who promised to his friends a citie of life; and said to his disciples, Whatsoeuer ye shal aske the Father in my NameIoh. 10, 23, he wil giue it you.
[Page 72] By the same high PriestHeb. 8, 1., and right ByshopHeb. 9, 11. 12, &c., and good ShepheardIoh. 10, 10 11., who hath offered himselfe for a sacrifice, giuing his life for his sheepe; I beseech thee, euen by him which sitteth at thy right handRom. 8, 34, and maketh request for vs, our redeemer1. Pet. 1, 18 19., & aduocate1. Iohn. 2, 1 2.; I saie of thy mercie and goodnes I humblie beseech thee, ô most gentle, most louing, and most gratious God, louer of mankindIohn. 3, 16, giue mee grace with the same thy Sonne, and the holie Ghost, in al things to blesse thee, and with much sorowe of hart to glorifie thy Name; finalie, giue me a fountaine of teares with great reuerence and feare. For they haue power to giue alike, whose substance is al one.
But forsomuch as a corruptible bodieWisd. 9, 15 is heauie vnto the soule: quicken me, I praie thee, by thy [Page 73] spurs: and make me valiantlie to perseuere in thy precepts, and praises daie and nightPsa. 35, 28. Make mine hart hot within mePsa. 39, 3.; and in my musing let the fire bee kindled.
And because thy beloued, and only Son hath said, No man can come to meIoh. 6, 44., except the Father which hath sent me, drawe him; and againe, No man commeth vnto the Father, but by meIoh. 14, 6.; I praie and humblie beseech thee, drawe mee alwaies vnto him, that he at length may bring me vnto thee, euen thither where he is sitting at thy right handRom. 8, 34, wheras life euerlastingReu. 7, 15. 16. 17., and euerlastinglie blessed is; whereas perfect loue, and no feare isReu. 21, 4; whereas daie alwaie, and one spirit of al is; whereas soueraigne and sure securitie, and secure quietnes, and quiet ioifulnes, and ioiful blessednes, and blessed [Page 74] euerlastingnes, and euerlasting happines, and the happie sightReu. 22, 4., and praising of thee is without end; where thou with him, and he in the communion of the holie Spirit, liueth and raigneth a God for euer and euer, Amen.
Chap. 18.
A most godlie praier vnto our Sauior Christ.
O GOD Christ, thou most kind louer of mankindEph. 5, 2. 1. Ioh. 3, 16., mine hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1., the lightIohn. 1, 4. 5, &c., the waieIoh. 14, 6., the lifeIoh. 11, 25, the saluation1. Pet. 2, 24, the honor, and the glorie of al thy peopleLuk. 2, 32.. Cal into thy remembrance for whose sake thou wouldest endure & suffer bandsMatt. 27, 2, the crosseMar. 15, 15. 16, &c. Gal. 3, 13., woundsIoh. 19, 34, death and the graueIoh. 19, 41. 42., I beseech thee; for whose cause, hauing ouercom death after three daies [Page 75] thou rosest againeMat. 28, 5 6., appeeredst to thy DisciplesMar. 16, 14 Luk. 24, 13. 14, &c. 25. 26, &c. instructing their wauering minds; and fortie daies after thy resurrection thou ascendedst into heauenLuke. 24, verse. 51. Actes. 1, 9., where thou liuest, and shalt raigne for euermoreReu. 4, 8. 9. 10. 11..
Thou art my GOD, a liuingRom. 8, verse. 34., and a true GodMatt. 4, 7. 10., mine holie Father, my louing LordAct. 7, 59., my puissant PrinceReu. 4, 9. 10. 11. Reu. 5, 11. 12. 13., my good shepherdIohn. 10, 11 14., mine onlie masterMat. 23, 8, my best helperHeb. 13, 6., my faithfullest friendIoh. 15. 15., my liuing breadIohn. 6, 35 48. 51., mine euerlasting PriestHeb. 7, 24, 25., my guide vnto my contrie, my true lightIohn. 1, 4, 7, &c. Iohn. 8, 12., my holie sweetnesPhil. 3, 7, 8. Rom. 8, 35, 36, &c., my readie waieIohn. 14, 6., my noble wisdome1. Cor. 1, 30., my pure simplicitie, my peacemaking quietnesEph. 2, 14., my sure safetie, my good portionRom. 8, 32., mine eternal saluationHeb. 2, 9. 1. Pet. 2, 24., my great mercie, my mightie patience, mine vnspotted [Page 76] sacrificeHeb. 9, 14. 1. Pet. 1, 18. 19., mine holie redemption1. Cor. 1, 30, my strong hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1., my perfect charitieRom. 5, 8., my true resurrectionIoh 11, 25., mine euerlasting lifeIohn. 14, 6 Col. 3, 4., my blessed ioie and contemplation1. Cor. 13, verse. 12., continuing euermoreReu. 7, 15. 16. Reu. 21, 4..
Vnto thee do I praie, crie, and bend my sute, that through thee I may walke, vnto thee I may come, in thee I may rest, who art the waie, the truth, and the lifeIohn. 14, 6, beside whom no man commeth vnto the Father.
For I desire theePsal. 42. 1. 2., a most gratious and a glorious Lord, the verie brightnes of the fathers glorie, which sittest vpon the Cherubins, and beholdest the deepes, which art ye true lightIohn. 1, 4. 5. 9, &c., the light inlightening, the lasting light, whom the verie Angels desire to behold1. Pet. 1, 12..
Lo, mine hart is before thee; expel the darknes of the same, [Page 77] that more fullie it may be endued with the cleerenes of thy light.
Giue me thy selfe, ô my God, restore me thy selfe; lo, I loue thee, & if not entirelie enough, I would loue thee more. I can by no meanes discerne how much I lack of louing thee as I should, that my life may run into thine armes, and be at no time alienated, til it bee hid in the secret place of thy countenance.
Notwithstanding, this doe I knowe, that il is it with me without thee, ô Lord, not onelie outwardlie to my bodie, but also in wardlie to my soule. For al plentie, being not my GOD, is but pouertie.
But the good, which no waie can be altered, either into the better or worse, thou alone artMal. 3, 6., which art simplie alonePsa 86, 10 Esai. 37, 16. 20., to whome it is not one thing to [Page 78] liue, and another to liue happilie: for thou art thine owne happines. But thy creature to whom it is one thing to liue, and another to liue happilie, can ascribe both his life and his blessed life, to none other thing; but onelie to thy mercie. And therefore we stand in neede of thee, but not thou of vs. For were not we at al, nothing were wanting to thy felicitie, which thou art. So that we haue great cause to cleaue vnto thee our Lord God, that through thy continual helpe we may leade an holie, godlie, and vpright life.
For by reason of the waight of our weakenes, wee are drawne downe wardWis. 11, 15.; but through thy gift we are inflamed, and carried vpward, we burne and we go; we doe mount, and ascend in our harts, and we sing a song of degrees; with thy good fire [Page 79] we burne, and we go forward.
Whether doe we now ascend vpward vnto the peace of Ierusalem? For I reioiced, when they said vnto me, We wil go into ye house of the LordPsa. 122, [...].. There hath he placed vs, we wil good, that wish nothing else, but there to abide for euermore.
But forsomuch as while we are in the bodie, we be absent from thee2. Cor. 5, 6, ô Lord; we haue here no continuing citieHeb. 13, 14, but we seeke one to come; and our freedome is in heauen: therefore through thy grace I do enter into the closet of my hart, and there doe I sing the songs of loue to thee, ô my King and my God, fetching vnspeakeable sighings in this house of my pilgrimagePsal. 119, verse. 54., where I sing out thy righteousnes. And calling Ierusalem into mind, I stretch the sense of mine hart toward the [Page 80] same, euen toward Ierusalem my countrie, Ierusalem I saie my motherGal. 4, 26.; and also toward thee her King, her inlightener, her father, defender, protector and gouernour, her pure and strong delight, her constant ioie, and al goodnes else whatsoeuer 1. Cor. 2, 9 Reu. 7, 15. 16. Reu. 21, 4. 3. 24, &c.. For thou art the soueraigne and the true happines. From whence I wil not be turned awaie, vntil in the peace of that my deere mother, whereas the first fruites of my spirit are, thou gather al that I am from scattering and deformitie, and so conforme & confirme me for euer, ô my God, & my mercie.
Chap. 19.
A longing after the ioies in Heauen.
O Lightsome & glorious house of God, I haue loued thy goodlines, and the [Page 81] place where the glorie of the Lord God, who both enioieth, and hath created thee, doth dwelPsal. 26, 8..
In mine exile I sigh after thee both night and daie; mine hart longeth, my mind coueteth, and my soule desireth to come vnto the societie of your happines.
My praier vnto him which hath made me, is, that he would possesse me in thee; because he hath made both meGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psa. 129, 73., and you.
For I desire your holie felowship, and wonderful glorie, not for anie merit of mine owne; but I trust to atteine therevnto through the price of his bloud, namelie of Iesus Christ, wherby we be redeemed1. Pet. 1, verse. 18. 19..
I confesse, I haue gone astraie like a lost sheepePsal. 119, verse. 176., and haue too long dwelled out of my natiue soile, and am far awaie cast from the face of the Lord my [Page 82] God into this blindnes of banishment, where, driuen out of the ioies of paradise, I bewaile with my selfe dailie the miserie of my captiuitie; and sing a woful song with great lamentation, when I remember you, ô mother IerusalemGal. 4, 26.; while my feete do but stand in thy courts, ô sacred and comelie Zion, and I am not able plainelie to looke into thy inner places.
Notwithstanding, I haue good hope vpon the shoulders of my good shepheardLuk. 15, 5. Iohn. 10, 11. 14., thy Creator, to be brought backe vnto thee, that I may triumph againe with that vnspeakeable ioie, wherewithal they be cheered which dwel with you before God his maiestieReu. 22, 4., and our Sauiour Christ, which hath abrogated through his flesh the hatredEph. 2, 15., and pacified al things both which are in heauen, and which [Page 83] are in earth by his bloodColo. 1, 14.. For he is our peace which made of both oneEph. 2, 14., and ioining the two contrarie walles together, hath promised that he wil giue the euerlasting felicitie of your happines in himselfe, after the like maner and measure, when he said, They shal be like the Angels of God in heauenMatth. 22, verse. 30..
Chap. 20.
A bewailing of the miseries of this life.
O My Lord, I am euen wearie of this life, and of this troublesome pilgrimagePsa. 39, 12. Hebr. 11, 13.. This life is a miserable lifeIob. 14, 1., a transitorieRom. 6, 12. 2. Cor. 4, 11. life; an vncertaine life1. Chr. 29. verse. 15. Psal. 102, 11., a laborsome lifeGen. 3, 17, 18. 19., a polluted lifeGen. 6, 5., a life which is the mistres of wickednes, the Queene of pride, replenished with error and miseries, not to [Page 84] be called a life, but a death, wherein euerie moment we die, both by sundrie defects of nature, and manifold diuersities of deathes.
Can we therefore cal it a life that we liue in this world? the which both humors puffe vp, and sorowes pluck downe; and heate withereth, and the aër infecteth; which both eating maketh fat, and fasting maketh leane; mirth maketh dissolute, sadnes consumeth; care shortneth, securitie dulleth; wealth maketh proude, pouertie bringeth out of hart; youth extolleth, age crooketh; sicknes breaketh, sorowe depresseth: and after al these things commeth raging death, and bringeth an end at once to al the ioies of this miserable life! which being past, a man would not thinke it had euer bin at all.
[Page 85] This vital death, and mortal life, albe it be replenished with these and other miseries, yet a griefe to tel, how manie doth it catch with her snares! how manie be deceaued by her false promises!
And although it be so deceitful and bitter of it selfe, that her blindest louers cannot choose but perceaue the same, yet with her golden cup, which she carieth in her hand, she maketh an infinite companie of fooles vtterlie drunke.
Oh happie are they, and those verie rare, which auoide her familiaritie 1. Iohn. 2, verse. 15. 16. 17., which despise her momentanie pleasure, and her companie, least with the perishing deceauer, they also be compelled to perish.
Chap. 21.
Of the felicitie of that life which God hath prepared for such as loue him.
BVt, ô thou life, which God hath prepared for them that loue him1. Cor. 2, 9., thou art a liuelie life, a blessed lifeReu. 7, 15. 16. 17., a secure lifeReu. 21, 4. 23. 24., a goodlie life, a pure life, chaste life, an holie life; a life ignorant what death means, voide of sorowe; a life without spot, without griefe, without trouble, without corruption, without perturbation, without change and alteration; a life replenished with al goodlines and glorie, where neither aduersarie to impugne, nor inticement of sinne is to carrie awaie; but perfect loue, no feare is, where the daie lasteth euer, and one spirit of al is; euen where [Page 87] God is beholden face to face1. Cor. 13. verse. 12., and with this foode of life the mind is fed abundantlie.
It doth me good to meditate of thy glorie; thy good things doe exceedinglie delight me.
The more I remember, the more I long for thee. Greatlie doe I desire; maruelouslie am I delighted with the sweete memorie of thy Name.
It doth me good therefore, to lift vp the eies of mine hart; to stir vp the state of my mind; to bend mine affection towards thee.
Truelie it doth me much good to talke of thee, to heare of thee, to write of thee, to confer of thee, to reade euerie daie of thy glorie & blessednes, and to meditate often of that I reade; that so at least wise from the heate, perils, & sweatings of this mortal and transitorie life, I may [Page 88] passe vnto the delectable coole of the liuelie aër, and so when I go to sleepe may somewhat laie downe my wearie head in thy bosome.
For which cause I walke manie times into the pleasant fields of the holie Scriptures, where I plucke vp the goodlie greene herbes of sentences by pruning; eate them by reading; chawe them by vsing; and laie them vp at the length in the hie seate of memorie by gathering them together; that so hauing tasted thy sweetenes, I may the lesse perceaue the bitternes of this miserable life.
O thou most happie life; ô right blessed kingdome, voide of deathReu. 21, 4. euerlasting; where no times succeede by ages; where the continual day without night hath none end; where the conquering soldier ioined to that [Page 89] ioiful quier of angels, and crowned with the crowne1. Pet. 5, 4. Reuel. 4, 4. of euerlasting glorie, doth sing to his God a song among the songs of Zion.
Oh that I might, my sinnes being pardoned, and this burden of the flesh laid-awaie foorthwith, ô that I might enter into thy ioiesMatt. 25, verse. 21. 23. to enioie euerlasting rest; that I might passe into the goodlie and glorious wals of thy citie, to receaue a crowne of life at the hands of my LordReu. 2, 10.; that I might bee among that holie quier; that I might stand with the blessed spirits before the maiestie of the CreatorReu. 22, 4.; that I might behold the present countenance of Christ1. Cor. 13, verse. 12.; that I might see that soueraigne, and vnspeakeable, and vncompassed light; and finalie, that I might be neuer tuched with anie feare of deathReu. 21, 4., but reioice euerlastinglie [Page 90] for the gift of perpetual incorruption.
Chap. 22.
Of the happines of the good soule hence departing.
HAppie is the soule, which departing from the earthlie bodie goeth directlie into heauen; secure it is and quiet, and feareth neither enimie, nor deathReu. 21, 4.. For it enioieth continualie thy presence1. Cor. 13, verse. 12., ô God, and vncessantlie beholdeth the most glorious Lord, whome she hath serued, and loued1. Cor. 2, 9., and whome now at the length ful ioifulie and gloriouslie she hath attained vnto.
And this glorie of so great blessednes, neither time shal diminish, nor anie wicked person take awaieMatt. 6, 19 20. Luk. 12, 33..
The daughters of Zion haue [Page 91] seene her, and counted her blessedSal. songs. 6, verse. [...]., euen the Queenes and the concubines haue praised her, saieng:
Who is she that commeth vp out of the desertSal. songs. 8, verse. 5., abounding in pleasure, leaning vpon her welbeloued?
Who is she that looketh foorth as the morningSal. songs 6, verse. 9., faire as the moone, pure as the sun, terrible as an armie with banners?
How cheerefulie goeth she out, hasteneth, runneth, when al amazed she heareth her beloued saieng vnto her on this wiseSal. songs. 2, verse. 10.: Arise my loue, my faire one, and come awaie. For behold,11. the winter now is past; the raine is changed, and gone awaie.
The flowers appeere in our earth;12. the time of the singing of the bird is come, & the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
[Page 92] The fig tree hath brought forth her yoong figs;Sal. songs. 2, verse. 13. and the vines▪ with their smal grapes haue cast a sauor; arise my loue, my faire one, and come awaie.
My doue that art in the holes of the rocke,14. in the secret places of the staiers, showe mee thy sight, let me heare thy voice, for thy voice is sweet, and thy sight comelie.
Come awaie my chosen, my faire one, my doue, mine vnspotted one, my spouse come awaie, and I wil put thee into my bed chamber: because I haue longed after thy beautie.
Come awaie, that thou maist triumph in my presence with mine Angels, whose companie I haue promised thee.
After manie perils and laborActs. 14, 22 come awaie, enter into thy masters ioieMatt. 25, verse. 21. 23., the which no man shal take from theeIoh. 16, 22..
Chap. 23.
A praier vnto Iesus Christ, that he would vouchsafe in troubles to helpe vs.
OH happie are al thy Saincts, ô Christ, which haue passed ouer the sea of this mortalitie, and attained vnto the hauen of perpetual quietnesEsa. 35, 10. Reue 7, 15. 16. 17. Reue. 21, 4. 23. 24, &c., securitie, and peace, where they are at rest, and alwaie ioiful, and merie.
Wherefore of thy tender loue, I beseech thee, ô Christ, who art without care of thy selfe, be careful of vs; who needest not to care for incorruptible glorie, haue thou a consideration of our manifold miseries.
O our God, who hast chosen a people to thy selfeRom. 8, verse. 30., and endued them with glorie, making them both immortal of thine [Page 94] immortalitie, and ioiful through thy blessed sight1. Cor. 13, verse. 12., I beseech thee, be thou alwaies mindful of vs, and helpe vs, who as yet in the salt seas of this life are tossed with the surges about vs.
O thou goodlie gate, who art raised into a maruelous highnes, helpe vs, vile pauiment, lieng much beneath thee.
Giue vs thine hand, and raise vp such as lie vpon the ground, that waxing strong out of weakenes, we may be made couragious in battel.
Make thou1. Tim. 2. verse. 5. 1. Iohn. 2, 1. 2. intercession for vs continuallie; and vncessantlie praie for vs wretches, and most negligent sinners; that through thy praiers, we may be conioined to the holie companie of Saincts, for otherwise we shal neuer be saued.
For, alas, we are verie fraile [Page 95] weaklings of no courage, creatures giuen to the seruice of the bellie and flesh, hauing in vs almost no sparke of virtue.
And yet placed vnder thy confession, ô Christ, we are borne by ye wood of the crosse through this great and wide seaPsal. 104. verse. 25., wherin are things creeping innumerable, both smal beastes and great; wherin the most cruel Dracon isReu. 12, 9., alwaie prepared to deuour vs1. Pet. 5, 8.; wherin be the dangerous rockes, Scylla, and Carybdis, with other such like innumerable things, whereby the heedles, & wauering in faithIam. 1, 6., make shipwracke.
Wherefore, ô Christ praie for vs, ô good Christ, praie thou, we saie, for vs, that through thy good praiers and merits, we may deserue, ship and merchandise being saued, to attaine vnto the port of perpetual saluation, quietnes, [Page 96] peace, and securitie, which neuer shal haue end, Amen.
Chap. 24.
A desire of the soule after the supernal Ierusalem.
O Mother IerusalemGal. 4, 26., the holie Citie of GodReuel. 21, verse. 10., and the derelie beloued spouse of ChristEph. 5, 23. 24. 25, &c., after thee doth mine hart couet; and my soule exceedinglie is in loue with thy beautie.
Oh how comelie, how gloririous, how honorable art thou! thou art al faire, and there is no sport in theeSal. songs. 4, verse. 7..
Triumph and reioice, ô beautiful daughter of the Prince; for the king hath a pleasure in thy fairenesPsa. 45, 11., and loues thy goodlie personage, ô thou fairer than the children of menPsal. 45, 2..
But what is thy welbeloued, ô [Page 97] thou fairest among womenSal. songs. 5, verse. 9. 10., of the welbeloued? my welbeloued is white and ruddie, the chiefest of ten thousand.
Like as the apple tree among the trees of the forestSal. songs. 2, verse. 3., so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men. Vnder his shadowe had I delite; lo now I sit, and his fruite is sweete vnto my mouth.
My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doreSal. songs. 5, verse. 4., and mine hart was affectioned toward him.
In my bed by night I sought him that my soule louedSal. songs. 3, verse. 1. 4., I sought, and I found him: I hold, and wil not let him go, vntil he bring me into my mothers house, into the chamber of hir that conceaued me.
For there thou wilt giue me thy teates most abundantlie, and perfectlie, and wilt satisfie mine hart with a maruelous satietie, [Page 98] so that I shal neither hunger nor thirst anie moreReu. 7, 15. 16. 17. Reue. 21, 4..
Oh, happie shal my soule be, yea happie and alwaies happie shal I be, could I once get to behold thy glorie, thine happines1. Cor. 2, verse 9., thy beautie, thy gates, and thy wallesReu. 21, 23 25., and thy streetes, and thy manifold mansionsIoh. 14, 2., thy noble citizens, and thy mightie king in his maiestie1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4..
For thy walles are of pretious stonesReu. 21, 18. 19, &c.; thy gates of the richest pearlesReu. 21, 21.; and thy streetes of the purest goldeReu. 21, 21., wherein is soong the ioieful HalleluiahReu. 19, 1. 3, &c. without intermission; thy manifolde buildings are founded vpon squared stones, builded vpon Saphires, inclosed with golden walles, whereinto none shal enter, but the cleane, and it no vncleane person shal inhabitReuel. 21, verse. 27..
Beautiful art thou become, ô mother IerusalemGal. 4, 26., and sweete [Page 99] in thy comforts, no such thing is in thee, as we suffer in this world; and as we behold in this wretched life.
There is neither darkenes nor night, nor any change of times in theeEsa. 35, 10. Reu. 21, 23. 24. 25. Reu. 22, 5..
There shineth not in thee either the light of the candle, or ye brightnes of the moone, or the glitteringnes of the starres; but the God of God, light of light, euen the sonne of righteousnes euermore doth lighten thee.
The white & vnspotted lamb, is thy pure and cleere light, thy sunne, thy cleerenes, and euerlasting contemplation1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reuel. 22, 4. of this most glorious King is al thine happines.
He is the King of kings in the mids of thee; and you are his ministers about him.
There be the singing quires of AngelsReue. 5, 11. 12.; there the companies [Page 100] of supernal citizensEph. 2, 19.; there the solemnitie of al which haue returned from this woful peregrination vnto thy ioies.
There be the prudent Prophets; the twelue ApostlesReu. 21, 14.; the victorious host of infinite MartyrsReu. 7, 14.; & the sacred conuent of holic confessors is thereReu. 12, 11. Reuel. 19, 1. 2. 4..
There be both vpright men, and holie matrones, which haue ouercome the pleasures of this world, and the weakenes of sexe; there be those yong men, and maidens, which haue spent their time in godlie conuersation.
There be the sheepeMatth. 25, verse. 32. 33. and lambes that haue escaped the snares of this world, where they now triumph in their seueral mansions: the glorie of each particular man differeth; but common is the ioie of them al.
There ful and perfect charitie [Page 101] doth raigne1. Cor. 13, verse. 13., for God there is al in al1. Cor. 15, verse. 28.; whome they do alwaies beholdReu. 22, 4.; and by beholding him, continualie they burne the more in loue toward him.
They loue, and they praise him; they praise and they loue him: al their worke is to praise God without ending, without fainting, without toiling.
Oh happie, yea, and euermore happie shal I be, if after the resolution of this mortal bodie, I may heare those celestial songs of melodie, which are soong vnto the praise of the eternal king, by those citizens of the supernal countrieHeb. 11. 16., and by the companies of the blessed spirits!
Happie then, yea much happie should I be, might I be counted worthie to sing those songs, and to wait on my King, my God, and my Captaine; to [Page 102] behold him in his glorie, according as he hath promised, saieng Ioh. 17, 24., Father, I wil that they whome thou hast giuen me, be with me euen where I am, that they may behold my glorie, which I had with thee, before the foundation of the world.
And in another placeIohn. 12, verse. 26., If anie mā serue me, let him folow me; for where I am, there shal also my seruant be. And againeIohn. 14, verse. 21., He that loueth me, shal be loued of my father, and I wil loue him, and wil shewe mine owne selfe to him.
Chap. 25.
A Psalme, concerning the glorie of Paradise, paraphrasticallie made v [...]on the words of Saint Augustine.
Amen.
Chap. 26.
The praise which the soule continualie doth ascribe vnto God, through the contemplation of his supernal blessednes.
MY soule, praise thou ye LordPsa. 103, 1. and al that is within me, praise his [Page 107] holie Name.
My soule,Psal. 103, 2. 22. praise thou the Lord, and forget not al his benefits.
Praise ye Lord, al ye his works, in al places of his dominion: my soule praise thou the Lord.
Praise we the Lord, whom Angels praiseReu. 7, 11. 12., dominions adorePhil. 2, 9. 10., powers doe reuerence; to whom the Cherubims, and Scraphims continualie do crieEsaie. 6, 3., Holie, Holie, Holie.
Ioine we therefore our voices to the voices of the holie Angels; and according to our abilitie, let vs praise the GOD which we both haue. For they, whose eies euermore bee fixed vpon the Lord, whom they behold not through a glasse darklie 1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. but face vnto face; they doe most purelie and without ceasing praise the Lord.
But who can, yea so much as in thought comprehend, much [Page 108] lesse in words expresse, what an infinit multitude of those blessed spirits, and celestial powers are in the presence of the Lord God almightie! Or what continual ioie they receaue by the sight of God! what euerlasting mirth! what heate of loue, not to their griefe, but to their delectation! what a desire is in them of the sight of God with satietie; & a satietie with desire, in whom neither desire ingendreth griefe, nor satietie bringeth loathing! How blessed they are by cleauing to thy soueraigne blessednes! How they be made light, ioined to the true light! Finalie, alwaie beholding the vnchangeable Trinitie, they be conuerted into an vnchangable nature!
But when shal we be able to comprehend the glorious condition of the Angels; when we are not able to search out the [Page 109] nature of our owne soules!
What is this thing which can quicken the flesh; and yet voluntarilie can not bind it selfe to holie cogitations! what kind of thing is this which is so strong, and yet so weake; so smal, and yet so mightie, that it searcheth out the secrets of God, and beholdeth celestial things; which for mans behoofe is wel knowne to haue, through sharpenes of wit, inuented the knowledge of manie sciences? what kind of thing is this then which knoweth so much of other things, and yet is vtterlie ignorant how it selfe was made?
For although much be spoken doubtfulie of some, concerning the beginning of the soule: yet we find how it is a certaine intellectual spirit made through the power of the Creator; liuing euerlastinglie in her kind; quickening [Page 110] the mortal bodie which it sustaineth; subiect to alteration; prone to forgetfulnes; which feare manie times trobleth, and mirth puffeth vp.
O strange thing, most woorthie to be woondred at! Of God the Creator of al thingsGen. 1, 1. 2, &c. Iohn. 1, 1. 2. 3. Heb. 1, 1. 2., who is incomprehensible1. Kin. 8, 27, and vnutterable, al doubtfulnes laid apart, we reade great things and verie maruelous, we speake, and write also: yet whatsoeuer we saie, either of Angels, or of the soules of men, we can not so easilie approoue the same.
But omit we these things, and mount we; leaue we, and ouerpasse we whatsoeuer is created; and let vs direct the eies of our faith vpon him who hath made al things.
Wherfore I wil make degrees of ascension in mine hart; and therby mount vp vnto my soule; [Page 111] and by my soule and vnderstanding ascend vnto my Lord, who abideth aboue ouer mine head.
Let whatsoeuer is either visiblie seene, or spiritualie imagined, with a strong hand be far awaie remoued from the sight of mine hart & mind: onlie let the pure vnderstanding, going on plainelie, attaine swiftlie vnto him who is the Creator both of AngelsPsa. 148, 1. 2. 5., and of soulesGen. 1, 26. 27. 1. Cor. 11, 7. Col. 3, 10., and of al things besideGen. 1, 1. 2. 3, &c. Heb. 1, 2.
Blessed is that mind which forsaketh base things belowe; and seeketh after hie things; which maketh a nest in the rocke, and from the high cliffe with Egles eies beholdeth the Sonne of righteousnes.
For nothing is so goodlie, and so comfortable, as with the sight of the mind, and desire of hart to behold the verie Lord alone; and after a maruelous manner [Page 112] inuisiblie to behold the inuisible 1. Tim. 1, 17: and so to taste another, not this sweetenes; and to see another, not this light.
Because this light, which is enclosed in a place, is ended by time, and changed by the interruption of nights, and is common with vs to wormes and beasts; and, to saie the truth, in comparison of that soueraigne light, can not be called light indeede, but night rather.
Chap. 27.
VVhat it is to hold, and to behold God in part; and how we are to conceiue of God.
AND although that soueraigne and vnchangable essence, that true light, that lasting light, that light of Angels can be seene of none in this life (for that preeminence is reserued [Page 113] for the Saints in celestial glorie:) yet firmelie to beleeue, and to vnderstand, & to marke, and zealouslie to couet for the same, is after a sort to hold, and to behold the same.
Let the voice therefore sound aboue the Angels; and let man with an intentiue mind behold God, and praise him with words as wel as he can.
For it is meete that the creature doe praise his Creator. Because he hath made vs to praise himEsai. 43, 7., who standeth not in need of our praise.
And he is an incōprehensible virtue, wanting naught2. Mac. 14, verse. 35.: great is our Lord God and al sufficient to himselfe, great also is his power, his wisedome is infinitPsa. 147, 5.. Great is our Lord GOD, and much to be praised1. Chro. 16 verse. 25. Psal. 48, 2. Psal. 96, 4..
Him therefore let the mind loueDeut. 6, 5. Matt. 22, 37, the tongue praise, ye hand [Page 114] write; and in these holie cogitations let the faithful soule wholie exercise her selfe.
With these pleasant iunkates of celestial contemplation let the zealous man, and the beholder of heauenlie matters refresh himselfe daie by daie, that being fattened with this celestial foode, he may crie with a great voice, he may crie from his hart roote, with gladnes he may crie, and with a most earnest desire of the mind, saie on this wise.
Chap. 28.
A praier expressing the manifold properties of God.
O Most hieTob. 4, 11. Heb. 7, 1., most holie Esai. 6, 4. 5., most mightieGen. 17, 1. Reuel. 4, 8., moste mercifulPsa. 145, 9 Matt. 5, 45., most righteousPsal. 11, 5. 6. 7., most secretMatth. 6, 4 6., presentEcc. 15, 18 19. Eccl. 23, 18. 19. 20., beutiful Sal. songs. 5, verse. 10. 11. 12, &c., and most strong GodPsal. 24, 8. Esai. 26, 4.;
StablePsal. 90, 1. 2, &c. Psa. 102, 25. 26. 27., incomprehensiblePsa. 139, 7. 8, &c., [Page 115] inuisible1. Tim. 1, 17, yet beholding al thingsEcc. 23, 19 20.; immutableMal. 3, 6., yet altering al thingsPs. 102, 25. 26.; immortal1. Tim. 6, verse. 16., vnplaced Iob. 23, 8. 9, &c., vnmeasuredBaru. 3, 24 25., vncomprehended Psa. 139, 7. 8, &c., without endLam. 3, 19 Dan. 6, 26.;
InestimableExo. 15, 11, vnutterableIob. 11, 7., woonderfullPsa. 139, 6., vnmooueable, moouing al thingsPs. 102, 24 25, &c., vnsearchable Ro. 11, 33., vnspeakeable, feareful and terribleDeu. 7, 21. Nehem. 1, 5., to bee honoredMal. 1, 6., serued Psal. 33, 8., worshippedDeut. 6, 13. Matth. 4, 10., and reuerenced;
Neuer yong and neuer oldPsal. 90, 1. 2, &c. Psa. 102, 25. 26. 27.; renuing al thingsWis. 7, 27.; rooting out the houses of the proud, yet marke they not so much:
Alwaies workingIohn. 5, 17, and yet euer at rest; gathering and yet neuer wanting; bearing-vp al thingsHeb. 1, 3. and yet not burdened; filling al thingsEcc. 23, 18, 19. and yet not included; the creatorGen. 1, 1, 2, &c. Iudi. 9, 12., protector, nourisherPs. 104, 27, 28, and maintainer of al things:
[Page 116] SeekingLuk. 15, 4. 5, &c., when thou lackest naught; louingWis. 11, 23, yet not inflamed; ielousExo. 20. 5 Esaie. 9, 7., and yet vnmooued; thou repentestGen. 6, 6. 7, Ierem. 26, 3, and yet art not greeued; thou art angriePsal. 79, 5., and yet not disquieted;
Thou changest thy worksWi [...]. 7, 27. 2. Pet. 3, 6. 7., but not thy counselPsa. 33, 11.; thou receauest what thou findest not, and neuer loasedst:
Thou art neuer poore, yet art thou glad when thou gettest; at no time couetous, yet exactest vsurie:
Manie are bountiful to binde thee vnto them; yet who hath aught which is not thine1. Cor. 4, verse. 7. Iam. 1, 17.?
Thou paiest debts, owing naught; thou forgiuest debtsMatth. 18, verse. 23. 27, &c. 35., and yet forgoest nothing:
Thou quickenest al things1. Tim. 6, verse. 13.; thou hast created al thingsIohn. 1, 1. 3. Hebr. 1, 1. 2., thou art euerie-whereEccles. 16, verse. 18. 19., and euerie-where whole:
Thou maist be vnderstoode, [Page 117] but not seene1. Tim. 1. verse. 17.; and art no where wantingPsal. 139, verse. 7. 8, &c.; yet art thou far from the cogitations of the wickedPro. 15, 29.:
There are thou, where thou seemest not to be; for where thou art not to shew fauour, thou art to execute vengeance:
Thou touchest al things, yet not al alike; for somethings thou touchest, that they may onlie be, and not liue, perceaue, and discerne:
Some things thou touchest that they may liue, and haue sense, but not discerne:
And somethings also thou touchest, that they may be, and perceaue, and discerne too:
And although at no time thou art vnlike to thy selfe; yet touchest thou diuers things diuerslie:
Thou art present alwaies eueriewhere; yet art thou hardlie to [Page 118] be found out:
We folow thee standing, yet can we not lay hold vpon thee:
Thou possessest al thingsPsa. 50, 9. 10. 11. 12.; fillest al thingsPsal. 139, 7. 8, &c.; compassest al things; ouerpassest al things; and bearest vp al thingsHebr., 3.:
And yet thou bearest not of one part, and of another art ouerpassed; neither of one part fillest thou, and of another compassest: but in compassing thou fillest, and filling compassest; in bearing thou ouerpassest, and in ouerpassing bearest: Againe, thou teachest the harts of the faithfulEsa. 54, 13. Iohn. 6, 45., without noise of words:
Thou reachest from one end to another mightilieWisd. 8, 1., and comelie dost thou order al things:
Thou art neither enlarged by places, nor changed by timePsal. 102, verse. 24. 26. 27.:
Neither is there anie recesse, or accesse vnto thee, but thou [Page 119] dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto1. Tim. 6, verse. 16., whome neuer man sawe, neither can see:
Abiding in thy selfe quiet, thou goest about the whole world, euerie-where, being altogether al whole euerie-where.
For thou canst neither be cut nor diuided, because thou art trulie oneDeut. 6, 4. Mala. 2, 10.; nor yet be brought in parts, in as much as al whole thou keepest the whole, fillest the whole, lightenest and possessest the whole.
The bottomles deapth of this mysterie neither the minde of man can conceaue, nor the tongue of orators expresse, nor the most learned bookes in anie librarie make euident. Were the whole world replenished with bookes, yet could not thine vnspeakeable knowledge be vttered, because thou art indeede vnutterable: thou canst [Page 120] by no meanes be either written or concluded, being the fountaine of Gods heauenlie light, and the sunne of eternal brightnes.
For thou art great without quantitie, and therfore vnmeasurable; good without qualitie, and therefore in deede and soueraignlie good; yea, to say the truth, there is none good but thou aloneMatth. 19, verse. 16. 17. Mar. 10, 17. Luk. 18, 18. 19., whose wil is a worke, & whose wil is abilitie:
Who hast of nothing created al thingsGen. 1, 1. 2, &c. Hebr. 1, 1. 2.; the which thou madest, euen onlie because thou wouldest:
Who possessest al thy creatures without anie lacke; gouernest them without labor; & rulest them without paine: for there is nothing either of things on high, or of things below, that can disturbe the order of thy gouernement:
[Page 121] Who art in al places without anie place; and containest al things without enclosure; and remainest euerie-whereEccle. 23, verse. 18. 19. 20. without seate, or motion:
Who neither art the author of sinneEccles. 15, verse. 20., (which thing onlie thou canst not doPsal. 11, 5. 6. 7., who canst do al thingsExod. 6, 3. Gen. 35, 11.) neither hast thou bin sorie for aught which thou hast done; neither art thou disturbed with anie commotion of the mind, nor hast anie losse by the destruction of the whole world:
Who neither commendestPsal. 5, 4. 5. 6. Rom. 6, 16. 17, &c., nor commandest wickednesEccles. 15, verse. 20.; who at no time liestRom. 3, 4. 1. Ioh. 1, 10., because thou art the euerlasting truthPsal. 117, 2.:
By whose goodnes we were createdGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3.; by whose iustice we are punishedDan. 9, 4. 5. 6, &c.; by whose mercie we are sauedPsa. 103, 1. 2. 3. 4, &c..
For wee are to worship in steed of God nothingExo. 20, 3. 4. 5., be it celestial, [Page 122] or of the substance of the fire, or earthlie, or else howsoeuer sensible.
For thou art what thou artExo. 3, 14., and changest notMal. 3, 6.. To whome chieflie belongs that which the Greekes cal On, the Latins Ens, because thou art alway the same Ps. 102, 27, and thy yeeres shal not faile.
These, & much mo things haue I learned of the holie mother the ChurchGal. 4, 26., whereof through thy grace I am made a member.
Of her haue I learned how thou the alonePsa. 86, 10. Esai. 37, 16. 20., and true GodIoh. 17, 3. 1. Thes. 1, 9., both hast no bodieIoh. 4, 24., and also art vnsubiect to passions; and how nothing of thy substance or nature is anie waie violable, or changeable, or compounded, or created: and therefore certaine it is, how thou canst neither be perceaued by anie bodilie eies2. Tim. 1, verse. 17., nor could euer be seene in thy proper nature of anie [Page 123] mortal manIoh. 1, 18..
For hence it may euidentlie be gathered, that where Angels do now behold thee: there we also after this life shal see theeReu. 22, 4..
Naie, the verie Angels neither are able to see thee as thou art in thy selfe.
Naie, to conclude, the almightie Trinitie is knowne to none, but to thy selfe onlie.
Chap. 29.
Of the vnitie of persons, and pluralitie in God.
ANd thou an vnitie of the God-head, through the pluralitie of persons manifold, art in number infinite, and therefore measurablie vnmeasurable, and waightilie vnwaiable.
For we acknowledge no beginning of the soueraigne goodnes, [Page 124] the which thou art; of whome, through whome, in whome al things; but through participation thereof we saie al good things are1. Cor. 4, 7. Iam. 1, 17..
For thy diuine essence hath alwaies bin, and yet is without matter; although it lacke no forme, to wit, informed, the forme of formes, the most welformed forme, the which while thou imprintest as a seale to euerie particular thing, thou makest them doubtles to differ from thy selfe without anie either of your augmenting, or diminishing; but whatsoeuer is in the world, it is thy creatureIohn. 1, 1. 3. Hebr. 1, 1. 2..
O simple Trinitie, and triple vnitie, God, whose almightines both possesseth, and ruleth, and replenisheth al things which thou hast created.
Neither in saieng how thou fillest al things, meane we that [Page 125] they conteine thee, but rather that thou conteinest them; neither by partes fillest thou al things; nor yet may it be thought, that euerie thing, according to the greatnes of the portion it hath, receaueth thee, that is, the greatest thing more, and the smallest thing lesse: thou rather being in al things, or more trulie al things in theeAct. 17, 28., whose omnipotencie includeth al things; neither can anie man finde a waie to escape thy powerPsa. 139, 7. 8, &c..
For whosoeuer hath not thy fauor, can by no meanes auoide thy displeasure, as it is writtenPsal. 75, 6. 7., Neither from the East, nor from the Weast, nor from the South, but God is the Iudge: and againe Psa. 139, 7. 8, &c., Whither shal I go from thy spirit, or whither shal I go from thy presence?
The immensitie of thy diuine greatnes is this, that we knowe [Page 126] thee to be within al things, not as included; and without al things, yet not as excluded. And therfore thou art within, yt thou maist conteine al; and therfore without, that al things may be comprehended within the immensitie of thy circumscribed greatnes.
So then by that thou art within, thou art knowne to be a Creator; by that thou art without, we perceaue how thou art the gouernor of al things.
And least al things which are created, might be without thee, thou art within, and without, that al things may be included of thee, not by local greatnes, but by thy mightie presence, who are euerie-where present, and al things present before theeEccle. 15, verse. 18. Eccl. 23, 18. 19. 20.: although some vnderstand these things, yet some do not.
[Page 127] The vnitie then of thine inseparable nature, cannot haue separable persons; because as thou art a trinitie in vnitie, and a vnitie in trinitie, so can you not haue a separation of persons.
Sometime indeede those persons are particularlie namedMat. 3, 16. 17. 1. Iohn. 5, 7., but so thou wouldest, ô God the Trinitie, declare thy selfe inseparable in persons; that there is no name in anie one person, but may be referred vnto another, according to the rule of relation.
As the Father vnto the Sonne, and the Sonne vnto the Father; so hath the Sonne true relation both vnto the Father and the Sonne.
Also those names which signifie either your substance, ô God, or person, or power, or essence, or els what, which properlie [Page 128] is caled God, do equalie agree to al the persons: as great God, almightie, eternal, and generalie al things, which naturalie are spoken of God.
So that there is no name of nature, which so may agree vnto thee God the Father, but the same also may fitlie be referred vnto the Sonne, & holie Ghost.
We saie how thou the Father art naturalie God, so is the Sonne naturalie God, and the holie Ghost naturalie; and yet not three Gods, but one God naturalie, ye Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost.
And therefore, ô God holie Trinitie, in persons thou art inseparable, in sense are they to be vnderstood, though in sound you haue separable names: for you receaue no plural number in the names of nature.
For hereby is it declared, how [Page 129] the persons in the holie Trinitie, which is onePsa. 86, 10. Esaic. 37, 16. 20., verie GodIohn. 17, 3. 1. Thes. 1, 9., can not bee diuided: for that the name of euerie person, respecteth alwaie another person.
If I saie the Father, I point vnto the Sonne; if I name the Sonne, I presuppose a Father; if I mention the holie spirit, I must necessarilie vnderstand of whom he is the Spirit, namelie of the Father and of the Sonne.
For this is the true faith, proceeding from sound doctrine: this vndoubtedlie is the catholike and right faith, which God of his goodnes hath taught me in the bosome of the mother ChurchGal. 4, 26..
Chap. 30.
A zealous praier vnto the blessed Trinitie.
WHerefore, ô Lord, my faith, which thou hast giuen me to my saluation, [Page 130] calleth vnto thee.
For the faithful soule liueth by faithRom. 1, 17.: he enioieth in hope1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. 13., which one daie he shal behold in thee.
O my God, vnto thee crieth my pure conscience, and the sweete loue of my faith, which, the darknes of ignorance being driuen awaie, thou hast brought vnto ye knowledge of the truth; which also thou hast plucked from the foolish bitternes of this world, and made comfortable and pleasant to me through thy sweete loue.
Vnto thee, ô blessed Trinitie, doth the cleere voice, and syncere loue of my faith cal, the which, nurishing the same from the cradle, thou hast inlightened alwaie by the light of thy grace; and confirmed mightilie in me through the instructions of our mother the Church.
[Page 131] Vnto thee, doe I cal, ô happie, and blessed, and glorious, and single Trinitie, FatherMat. 11, 25 Mark. 13, 32, and SonneIohn. 3, 16 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 3., and holie Ghost2. Cor. 13, verse. 13. 1. Iohn. 5, 7..
GodDent. 6, 4. 1. Tim. 1, 17., LordDeut. 6, 13 Matth. 4, 10., and Comforter Ioh. 14, 16. 17.: loue, grace, and communion 2. Cor. 13, verse. 13.: the begetterHeb. 1, 5., the begotten Act. 13, 33., the renuerTitus. 3, 5:
The verie light of the verie lightIohn. 1, 4. 5. 9., the verie illumination:
The spring, the flud, and the watering:
Of one, al; through one, al; in one, al things:
Of whomAct. 17, 28., through whom, in whom are al things:
The liuing life, the life from the liuing, the quickener of such as liueIohn. 5, 21 1. Tim. 6, 13..
One of himselfe; one of one; one of two:
A Being of himselfe; a Being of another; a Being from both:
The Father is true1. Ioh. 5, 9. 10., the Sonne truthIohn. 14, 6, & the holie Ghost truth1. Iohn. 5, 6:
[Page 132] So that the Father, the Word, and the Comforter, are one essence 1. Iohn. 5, 7, one power, one goodnes, & one blessednes; of whom, through whom, and in whom are al things blessed, whatsoeuer things are blessed.
Chap. 31.
How that God is the true, and the soueraigne life.
O God, the true and the soueraigne life; of whom, through whom, & in whom al things doe liueAct. 17, 28, whatsoeuer things do liue trulie, and in happie state:
O God, euen goodnes and goodlines; frō whomIam. 1, 17., through whom, and in whom are al good and goodlie things, which are good and goodlie:
God, whose faith quickeneth, hope erecteth, and loue linketh vs:
[Page 133] God, who hast commanded vs to praie vnto theeMatt. 7, 7.; and makest thy selfe to be found; and openest to him which knocketh:
God, whom none forgoeth but the deceaued; none seeketh but the admonishedIoh. 6, 44.; and no man findeth, but the purgedMatt. 5, 8.:
God, whom to knowe is lifeIohn. 17, 3.; whom to serue is to raigne; and whome to loue is the saluation and ioie of the soule:
Thee, both with my lips, and with mine hart, and with al my strength, I doe praise, blesse, and worship; to thy clemencie and goodnes I doe yeeld humble thanks for al thy benefits, and to thy Maiestie doe I sing, Holie, Holie, HolieEsai. 6, 3..
O blessed Trinitie, I beseech thee, vouchsafe to come into me, and to make me a meete temple for thine holines.
I doe praie the Father through [Page 134] the Sonne; I praie the Sonne through the Father; I praie the holie Spirit by the Father and the Sonne, that al wickednes may be set far-awaie fro me; and that al the holie virtues may be implanted within me.
O infinit GOD, of whome, through whom, and in whom are al things made, both visible and inuisibleCol. 1, 16., which enclosest thine outward works, and fillest thine inward; gouernest them aboue, & bearest them beloweHeb. 1, 3., keepe mee the worke of thine handsPsa. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73., which trust in thee, and hope onlie in thy mercie. Keepe me, I beseech thee, both here and euerie-where; now and alwaie; within and without; before and behind; aboue and beneath; round-about, so that there be no place for the snares of the enimie against me.
Thou art God almightieGen. 35, 11 Psal. 115, 3. Reuel. 11, 17, the [Page 135] keeper and protector of al that trust in theePsa. 18, 30; without whom none is in safetie, no man is free from danger.
Thou art God, and beside thee there is none otherDeu. 4, 39 Psal. 86, 10., either in heauen aboue, or in earth belowe; which doest great things and vnsearchableIob. 5, 9., and maruelous things without number.
Meete is it that thou be praised, that thou be honored, that thou be magnified with commendations:
To thee the whole troupe of Angels; to thee the heauens and al the powers do sing, and continualie yeeld praises, as creatures to the Creator, seruants to the Lord, souldiers to their King:
Euerie creature doth extol, and euerie soule doth glorifie thee the holie, and vndiuided Trinitie.
Chap. 32.
A fourme of thankesgiuing vnto God.
TO thee the holie and humble men of hartSong of ye three children. ver. 87 86.; to thee the spirits and soules of the righteous; to thee doe al the supernal citizens, together with al the orders of blessed spirits, yeeld humble praise, and glorie, and exalt thee aboue al things for euer.
O Lord, gloriouslie and honorablie do those heauenlie citizens adorne thee with praises. Man also, the most excellent among thy creatures, doth magnifie thee.
Yea and I too a miserable sinner doe exceedinglie desire to praise thee; & greatlie do I loue to loue thee aboue al things.
O my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., my lifePsal. 42, 8., my [Page 137] strengthPsa. 18, 1. 2., and my praisePsa. 118, 14 Esaie. 12, 2., giue me grace to praise thee.
Put thy light in mine hart, and thy word into my mouth; that both mine hart may thinke vpon thy glorie, and my tongue sing out thy praises euerie daiePsal. 71, 8..
But forsomuch as praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner Ecc. 15, 9., and I am a man of polluted lipsEsai. 6, 5.: purge mine hart, I beseech thee, from al iniquitiePsal. 51, 7. 8.; sanctifie mee both within and without, ô almightie sanctifier, and make me woorthie to sound foorth thy praise.
Receaue in good part from the hand of the hart, and from the loue of the mind, receiue, I praie thee, the sacrifice of my lips, and let it be acceptable in thy sight, and ascend-vp vnto thee like a sweete smelling sauor.
Let thine holie memorie, and thy blessed sweetenes possesse [Page 138] my whole soule, and rauish me with desire of inuisible things.
Let my soule, I beseech thee, passe from visible vnto inuisible; from terrestrial vnto heauenlie; vnto eternal from transitorie things; let it passe I saie, and see thy woonderful vision.
O eternal veritiePsal. 117, 2., & true charitie 1. Iohn. 4, 8 9., and deere eternitie1. Tim. 1, verse. 17., thou art my GodPsa. 31, 14., vnto thee doe I sigh, after thee doe I couet, on thee doe I thinke, vnto thee doe I desire to come night and daie: who so knoweth thee, knowes the truthIohn. 14, 6, knowes eternitie.
Thou, ô truth, bearest the preeminence aboue al things, whom we shal behold euen as thou art1. Ioh. 3, 2., when as this blind and mortal life is passed-awaie; wherein it is said vnto vs, Where is thy GodPsa. 42, 3.? And I saie, Thou art my GodPsal. 31, 14..
Som-what I breath after thee, [Page 139] when I powre-out my soule vpon thee in the voice of ioie and confession, as one that maketh good-cheere, and kepeth a feast, and as yet is pensiue, because it slideth-backe, and becommeth a deepe, or more truelie perceaueth it selfe as yet to be a verie deepe indeede.
My faith, which thou hast inflamed in the night before my feete, saith to it, Why art thou cast downe, my soulePsal. 43, 5.; and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait on God; his word is a lanterne vnto my feetePs. 119, 105. Wait and perseuere, vntil the night, euen the mother of the wicked, be gone-awaie; vntil the wrath of God, whose children we sometime wereEph. 2, 3., be passed-awaie.
For we haue bin ere-this darknes Eph. 5, 8., vntil this streame of waters flowe-awaie, we carrie yet the remnants in the bodie▪ dead [Page 140] in respect of sinne, vntil the daie doe rise, and shadowes depart; wait on God, in the morning I shal stand before him, and behold, and alwaies praise him.
In the morning I wil direct me vnto theePsal. 5, 3., and behold the health of my countenance, euen my God, who shal quicken our mortal bodiesRom. 8, 11., because of the Spirit dwelling in vs, that now we may be lightEph. 5, 8., while yet we are saued by hopeRom. 8, 24, and are the children of light, and the children of the daie1. Thes. 5, 5, not of the night, neither of darknes.
For we were once darknesEph. 5, 8., but are now light in the Lord, and yet through faith1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. 13., not as we shal be. Hope that is seene is none hopeRom. 8, 24.
O Lord, that immortal people of thine Angels doe praise thee, and the celestial powers doe magnifie thy NameEsaie. 6, 1. 2. 3., who [Page 141] haue no neede either to reade this our scripture, or to knowe thee the holie & single Trinitie.
For they alwaies behold thy faceMatt. 18, verse. 10., where they reade without syllables of time, what thine eternal pleasure is: they reade, they choose, and they loue; yea, alwaies they reade, and what they reade, they forget not.
By choosing, and louing, they reade this constancie of thy counsel, and their booke shal at no time be shut and folded, because thy selfe art, and wilt euerlastinglie be this to them.
O much blessed are those heauenlie powers, that can religiouslie and purelie with an exceeding delight and vnspeakeable ioie magnifie thee with praises!
Thence they praise, whence they reioice, forsomuch as alwaies they behold that which [Page 142] offereth them continual occasion both to praise, and reioice.
But we, pressed downe with the waight of fleshWis. 9, 15., and placed far awaie from thy countenance 1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. in this exileHeb. 11, 13. 14, &c. 1. Pet. 2, 11., and distracted through varieties of the world, we alas, are not able worthilie to praise thee; through faith we praise thee; not of perfect knowledge1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. 13..
But those Angelical spirits praise thee of knowledgeMatth. 18, verse. 10., not through faith: for our flesh is the cause, why we praise thee otherwise than they do.
Notwithstanding, albeit we sing praises to thee after diuers sorts, yet thou art but one God Deut. 6, 4. Mala. 2, 10., creator of al thingsGen. 1, 1. 2, &c. Iohn. 1, 1. 3. Hebr. 1, 1. 2., to whom is offered the sacrifice of praise both in heauen and in earth, but one day we shal come vnto their companie, with whom alwaies we shal see thee1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4., and [Page 143] praise thee without cessing.
Now then, ô Lord, graunt that while I do liue in this fraile bodie, both mine hart, and my tongue, and al my bones may glorifie thee, and saiePsal. 35, verse. 10., Lord, who is like vnto thee!
Thou art God almightieExod. 6, 3. Reuel. 4, 8., whom, three in personsMatt. 3, 16. 17. Mark. 1, 10. 11., yet but one in ye substance of the Godhead, we serue and worship, namelie, the Father vnbegotten, the Sonne onlie begotten of the FatherIoh. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9., the holie Spirit both proceeding from, and remaining in them both, an holie and a single Trinitie, one God almightie:
Which, when we were not, didest mightilie make vsGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73., and when, through our owne default, we were lost, mercifullie and maruelouslie hast deliuered vsPsal. 103, 1. 2, &c. 9. 10, &c. 1. Pet. 2, 24..
Oh suffer vs not to prooue [Page 144] neither vngrateful for so great benefits, nor vnworthie so manifold mercies.
Vnto thee do I praie, sue, and beseech, increase my faith, increase mine hope, yea, and increase my loue also.
Through that same thy goodnes, make vs to be euermore stable in faithColo. 1, 23., and fruitful in al good workesCol. 1, 10., that by a right faith and workes agreeable vnto faith, we may come through thy mercie vnto euerlasting life, where, seeing thy perfect and ful glorie euen as it is1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4., we may worship thy maiestie, and, made worthie to behold thy glorie, sing:
Glorie to the Father which hath made vsPsal. 136, 1. 2. 3. &c., glorie to the Sonne who hath redeemed vsGal. 3, 13. Gala. 4, 1. 2, &c. 1. Timo. 2, 6., glorie to the holie Ghost that hath sanctified vsRom. 15, verse. 26. 1. Cor. 6, 9. 10. 11., glorie to the soueraigne and single Trinitie, [Page 145] whose workes are vnseparable, and whose kingdom hath none endReu. 11, 15..
Vnto thee belongeth al praise, al commendation, al honor, blessing, and loue, honor, and power, and might be vnto thee our God for euermoreReu. 7, 12., Amen.
Chap. 33.
A complaint, that man is not moued in hart through contemplation, when as the Angels, who see God, tremble thereat.
PArdon, ô Lord, ô merciful God pardon, pardon and shewe mercie, forgiue mine ignorance, and my great imperfection.
O reiect me not, for that I dare be so bold with thee, who am thy seruant, not thy good seruant, whome would I were, but thine vnprofitable and euil, and [Page 146] therefore verie euil, because I presume without anie contrition of the hart, & fluds of teares, and without due reuerence and feare, to praise, blesse, and worship thee our almightieGen. 17, 1. Gen. 35, 11. Reue. 11, 17. God, terrible, and much to bee feared Reu. 15, 1. 2. 3..
For if the Angels in honoring and praising thee do tremble, filled with a maruelous reioicing; why do not I, when I come into thy presence to praise thee, and to offer sacrifice, why do not I euen quake at the verie hart; why blush I not in countenance, why do not I stammer in my speach, and why shed I not plentiful teares fro mine eies?
Alacke, I would, but I am vnable, because I cannot do as I would. Hence it is that I maruel much with my selfe, while with the eies of my faith I behold [Page 147] thee, who art verie terrible.
But who can do this without the helpe of thy grace? for it is thy mercie which doth saue vs alRom. 9, verse. 23. 24. Rom. 11, 31..
O wretch that I am, how senseles is my soule become, that it is not much dismaied, while it standeth before God, and soundeth out his praises!
O wretch that I am, how is mine hart hardened, that mine eies do not powre out euen flouds of teares, while I felowe-seruant reason before my Lord Mal. 1, 6.; a man with GodExo. 20, 1. 2. 3, &c.; a creature with the CreatorPsa. 100, 3.; I who am made of the slime of the earthGen. 1, 26. 27., with him who hath created al things of nothingHebr. 1, 1. 2. Iohn. 1, 1. 3.!
Behold, ô my Lord, I place my selfe before thine eies, and what I thinke secretlie of my selfe in mine hart, I make others [Page 148] to knowe.
But, ô God, who art rich in mercieEphe. 2, 4., and liberal in thy rewards, giue me of thy riches, that through them I may serue thee. For none otherwise can we either serue, or please thee, but of thy giftIam. 1, 17.; pierce, I beseech thee, my flesh with thy feare; let mine hart reioice, that I may feare thy Name.
Oh that my sinful soule did so feare thee, as did that holie man, who said, Gods punishment was feareful vnto meIob. 31, 23..
Wherefore, ô God, who art the giuer of al good thingsIam. 1, 17., giue me among thy praises a wel of teares, together with a pure hart, and ioiful mind, that louing thee perfectlie, and lauding thee worthilie, in the verie palat of mine hart, I may perceaue, taste, and sauour, how sweete thou art, and pleasant, ô [Page 149] Lord; as it is written, Taste yee and see how gratious the Lord isPsa. 34, 8., blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Blessed is the people that can reioice in theePsa. 89, 15.: blessed is the man whose strength is in theePsal. 84, 5., and in whose hart are thy waies in the vale of teares, in the place which he hath appointed.
Blessed are the pure in heartMatt. 5, 8., for they shal see God.
Blessed are they which dwel in thine house, ô Lord, for euer and euer, they wil praise theePsal. 84, 4..
Chap. 34.
A praier verie forceable, to moue the mind vnto Religion, and the loue of God.
O Iesus, who art our redemptionGala. 4, 1. 2. Colos. 1, 14. 1. Tim. 2, 6., our loue, & desire, God of GodIoh. 8, 42. Ioh. 16, 27. 30., helpe me thy seruant.
[Page 150] Vpon thee do I cal, vnto thee do I crie from the verie bottom of mine hart.
For thee do I cal into my soule, ô enter thereinto, and ioine it to thee, that thou maist possesse the same without spot or wrinkleEph. 5, 27..
For a most cleane Lord must haue a cleane habitation.
O then sanctifie me thy vessel which thou hast madeIob. 10, 8., purge me from al wickednes, fil me with thy grace, and being replenished keepe me so, that I may be a meete temple1. Cor. 3, verse. 16. 17. for thy dwelling both here & for euer.
O most good, most gratious, louing, deere, mightie, desired, pretious, amiable, and glorious God, thou art to me than honie sweeter, than milke or snowe fairer, than nectar pleasant, than gold and iewels more pretious, and deerer than al the wealth [Page 151] and promotions of the world.
What do I saie, ô my GOD, mine onlie hope, and so infinite mercie? what do I saie, ô happie and quiet sweetenes? what do I saie, when I saie these things? I saie what I am able, but I saie not al that I should, would to God I could saie, as the melodious quires of Angels do saie!
Oh how willinglie would I powre out my selfe wholie in thy praises! how deuoutelie without ceassing would I sing foorth those Psalmes of heauenlie musicke, vnto the laude and praise of thy Name, in the mids of thy congregation!
Notwithstanding, because I cannot do so, shal I be stil? wo to them which talke not of thee, who openest the mouth of the dumbeWis. 10, 21., and makest the tongs of babes eloquent. Wo to them which talke not of thee, for they [Page 152] which babble much are dumbe, when they sing not thy praises.
Who can praise thee worthilie enough, ô vnutterable power, & wisedome of the Father!
And albeit I can not finde words, where withal I may sufficientlie expresse the almightie, and al-skilful word; yet vntil thou cal me vnto thee, where I may praise thee as I should, and ought, I wil saie what I am able. Wherefore, mine humble request is, that thou wouldest respect, not that which I now do saie, but that which I desire to saie.
For in deede, I do mightilie desire to speake of thee as I ought, and as becommeth me, because to thee praise, to thee Psalmes, to thee al honor, and glorie is due1. Tim. 1, verse. 17. Reuel. 4, 9..
Then knowest thou, ô God, who knowest the secret cogitations [Page 153] of the hartPsal. 7, 9. Acts. 15, 8. Rom. 2, 16. 1. Cor. 14, 25, thou knowest how to me thou art more acceptable and deere, than either heauen, or earth, or anie thing contained in heauen or earth. For I doe loue thee aboue heauen, and aboue earth, and more than anie things which are in heauen or earth; yea, for the loue of thy Name, no transitorie things1. Cor. 7, 31 1. Ioh. 2, 15. 16. 17. doubtles are to be loued.
O my God, exceedinglie doe I loue thee; and more and more I desire to loue thee.
Grant, I beseech thee, that I may loue thee euermore, not onelie as I would, but also as I should, that thou onlie maist be in my thought and meditation.
Of thee let me meditate in the daie time, and cease not; of thee let me thinke in the night when I am asleepe; with thee let my spirit reason; and my soule let it [Page 154] talke with thee.
With the light of thine holie contemplation let mine hart be inlightened, that through thy directiō I may go from strength vnto strengthPsal. 84, 7., and so at length behold thee the God of gods in Zion, whom now I see indeede through a glasse darklie1. Cor. 13, verse. 12.: but then face to face, where I shal know thee euen as I am known.
Blessed are the pure in hartMatt. 5, 8.: for they shal see God. Blessed are they which dwel in thine HousePsal. 84, 4., ô Lord, for euer and euer they wil praise thee.
Wherfore by al thy mercies, wherewithal we bee deliuered from euerlasting damnationRom. 9, 23 24., I beseech thee, ô Lord, mollifie mine hard, and stonie, and flintie, and iron hart, with thine holie, and mightie ointment; and through ye fire of compunction make me at al houres to seeme [Page 155] a liuing sacrifice in thy sightRom. 12, 1..
Cause me to haue alwaies a contrite, and an humbled hart with a flud of teares in mine eies.
Cause me from the bottome of mine hart vtterlie to die to this world, & through the greatnes of thy feare and loue so to forget transitorie things, that I may neither weepe nor reioice at; neither feare nor loue anie worldlie thing; neither be corrupted with prosperitie, nor be ouerthrowne by aduersitie.
And forsomuch as thy loue is strong as deathSal. songs. 8, verse. 6., let the firie and pleasant force of thy loue swalowe vp mine hart, I beseech thee, from al things that are vnder heauen, that I may cleaue vnto thee alone, and be fed with the onelie remembrance of thy sweetenes.
Let thy sweete sauor, ô Lord, [Page 156] let the sweete sauor of thee, I praie thee descend, yea let it descend into mine hart; and let the comfortable loue of thine holie Name enter euen into my soule.
O let the maruelous and vnspeakeable sweetenes of thy sauour come vnto me, which may both raise vp in my brest a continual desire after thee, and fro mine hart bring the veines of water springing-vp into euerlasting lifeIohn. 4, 14..
Thou art vnmeasurable, ô Lord, & therefore without measure thou shouldest bee loued, and praised of them, whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood1. Pet. 1, 18. 19..
O most gratious louer of mankind1. Ioh. 3, 16, most merciful Lord, and righteous iudge, to whome [...] iudgement is committed by the FatherIoh. 5, 22., by the most wise iudgment of thine equitie thou ha [...] [Page 157] giuen-out, how the children of this worldLuk. 16, 8., of night, & of darknes, with a more earnest desire, endeuor, and studie do loue and seeke after transitorie riches and fleeting promotion; than wee thy seruants can loue our God, by whom we are both madeGen. 1, 26. 27. Iob. 10, 8. Psal. 119, 73., and redeemedGal. 3, 13. 1. Tim. 2, 8..
For if one man do so entirelie loue another, that he can hardlie beare the absence of his friend; if the wife with so great a fire of goodwil be ioined to her husband, that in respect thereof, she can at no time be at rest til she haue his companie: with what a goodwil, with what a care, with what a zeale ought the soule, which through faith of her part, & through mercie on your part betrothed to thee, to loue thee the trueMatt. 1, 23 Matt. 16, 16. GOD, the fairest spouse2. Cor. 11, 2 Eph. 5, 22. 23, &c., who hast so loued, and saued vs; who hast done so manie, [Page 158] such and so great things for our sakes!
And although these weake things haue their comforts, and their loues: yet doe they not so delight, as thou our God doest. For in thee do the righteous reioice: because thy loue is sweet, and quiet. For thou doest replenish the harts, which thou possessest, both with sweetnes, with ioie, and with tranquillitie.
Contrariwise the loue of this world, and of the flesh is troblesome and vnquiet, neither suffereth it the minds whom it entereth into at anie time to be at rest. For continualie it moueth them with suspicions, and with perturbations, and with manifold feares.
So that thou art the ioie of the righteous: and good cause why. For with thee is an assured quietnes, with thee is the life void of [Page 159] al trobles.
O gratious God, who so entereth into thee, entereth into his masters ioieMat. 25, 2 [...], and shal feare no more: but shal fare wel in the place of happines, saieng, This is my rest for euerPs. 132, 14.: here wil I dwel, for I haue a delite therein; and againe, The Lord is my shepheardPsal. 23, 1. 2., I shal not want: he maketh me to rest in greene pastures.
O deere Christ, ô sweete Iesu, replenish mine hart, I beseech thee, with the vnquenchable fire of thy loue, with a continual remembrance of thee; so that as a burning flame I may so burne with the loue of thee, that no water, be it neuer so much, may quench the same.
O most gratious Lord, make thou mee vnfainedlie to loue thee, and through desire of thee to laie-downe the burden of al [Page 160] fleshlie desires, and the importable waight of earthlie affections, which beateth, and peiseth downe my soule, that by the sauor of thine ointments running amaine after thee, I may the more speedilie discerne, by the conduction of thee my Capitaine, to come vnto the contemplation of thy fairenes, there to be throughlie satisfied.
For two sorts of loue, whereof the one is good, and the other naught; the one sweete, and the other vncomfortable; can not abide at one time together in one bodie.
And therefore, who so besides thee loueth anie thingMat. 10, 37, thy loue ô God, is not in him1. Ioh. 2, 15; thy loue, I saie, euen the loue of sweetenes, and the sweetenes of loue; the loue which trobleth not, but delighteth; the syncere & chaste loue abiding euerlastinglie; the [Page 161] loue, which alwaies burnest, and neuer goest out.
O deere Christ, ô sweete Iesu, who art the verie loue1. Ioh. 4, 8., and my GodMatt. 4, 10., inflame me wholie with thy fire, with thy loue, with thy sweetnes and delectation, with thy ioie and mirth, with the delight and desire of thee, the which is both holie & good, chaste and pure, quiet and secure, that filled euen topful with the sweetenes of thy loue, and wholie set on fire by the flames of thy friendship, I may loue thee, my God, with al mine hartDeut. 6. 5. Luke. 10, 27., and with al my strength, hauing thee alwaies, and in al places both in mine hart, and in my mouth, and before mine eies, so that strange loues may find no place at al in me.
Heare me, ô my God; heare me, ô light of mine eies; heare my petition, and grant my petition, [Page 162] that thou maiest heare me. Gratious, and most merciful God, stop not thine eares against me, because of my sinnes; but of, thy woonted goodnes receaue the praiers of thy seruant, and grant me the effect of my petition, and request; Amen.
Chap. 35.
A deuout praier for grace, to praise and to thanke the Lord dulie for his benefits.
O Lord, Christ, word of the FatherIohn. 1, 1. 2, &c. Heb. 1, 1. 2., who camest into this world to saue sinners1. Tim. 1, 15, through the tender bowels of thy mercie I beseech thee, amend my life, change my dealings, and reforme my maners: take-awaie fro me such things as hurt my soule, and displease thee; and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasing to thee [Page 163] and profitable for my soules health.
Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesIob. 14, 4., but thou alone? Thou art God almightieGen. 35, verse. 11. Reu. 11, 17., of infinite merciePsa. 145, 9., which iustifiest the vngodlieRom. 4, 5., and quickenest the dead in respect of sinne, who changest sinners, and they are not.
Remooue therefore fro me whatsoeuer in mee displeaseth thee. For thine eies doe behold my manifold imperfections.
Send thine hand of mercie, I praie thee, vpon me: and take awaie frome whatsoeuer within me doth offend the eies of thy goodnes.
O Lord, thou knowest both how sound, and how sicke I am. Heale my sickenes, and maintaine my health, I beseech thee.
O Lord, thou which helpest the weake, and preseruest the [Page 164] healthful; thou, at a becke amendest the things which are broken and decaied, heale thou me, and I shal be wholeIer. 17, 14., saue me, and I shal be saued.
For do thou vouchsafe in mine hart, thy field, to sowe the good seede, it must needes be, that first thou wilt plucke-out the thornes of my wickednes by the hand of thy mercie.
O most gratious, most gentle, most louing, desired, amiable, and louelie of al others, powre, I praie thee, vpon mine hart, the streames of thy sweetenes, and goodwil, that I may neither desire, nor thinke vpon anie earthlie, or fleshlie thingMatth. 10, verse. 37. 1. Iohn. 2, 15 16., but loue thee alone, and haue thee onlie both in mine hart, and mouth.
By thine owne finger write thou within my brest a sweete remembrance of thy comfortable Name, neuer to be blot-out [Page 165] by forgetfulnes.
Write thy wil, and thy iustifications also vpon the tables of mine hart, that alwaie, and euerie-where I may set both thee, the Lord of infinite sweetenes, and thy lawes before my face.
Inflame my mind with that thy fire, which thou sendest vpon the earthLuk. 12, 49., and wouldest haue increased verie much, that daie by daie with abundance of teares I may offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a contrite spiritPsal. 51, 17., and of a broken hart.
According as I desire, and as from mine hart I craue, ô sweet Christ, ô good Iesu, giue me thine holie and chast loue, that it may replenish, and hold, and possesse me altogether.
And giue me too a continual watering streame of teares, which is an euident signe of thy loue, that they also may testifie [Page 166] to the world thy loue within me, that they may declare, and tel, how greatlie my soule doth loue thee, seeing for the exceeding pleasure it receaueth from thy loue, it cannot refraine from shedding teares.
O good Lord, sometime I remember that good woman Anna1. Sam. 1, verse. 18., which came vnto the tabernacle to beg a sonne of God, of whome the Scripture testifieth, how after her teares and praiers, she looked no more sad: but when I remember so great virtue, and such constancie of that woman, I am troubled in mind, and do blush againe, because I behold how I wretch do grouel too much downeward.
For if a woman did so weepe, and continue in weeping, and that for a sonne; how should my soule weepe, yea and persist in weeping, which seeketh, and loueth [Page 167] God, yea and longeth too for to come vnto him! How should the soule both groane, and be greeued, that seeketh after God night and daie! which esteemeth al things as naught beside Christ! for it is much maruel, if teares be not the meate of such a soule daie and night.
Regard therefore, and shewe mercie vpon me, for the dolors of mine hart be increased.
Giue me thine heauenlie comfort, and despise not the sinful soule for which thou diedst1. Tim. 1, verse. 15..
O giue, I beseech thee, the inward teares of hartie affection, which may both lose the fetters of my sinnes, and also replenish my soule euermore with thy celestial comfort.
Gladlie would I atteine some portion in thy kingdome, if not among men aforetime, whose [Page 168] steps I am vnable to imitate, yet at the least among religious women.
And here commeth into my remembrance the woonderful deuotion of other women, that with a godlie affection sought thee in the graueMatt. 28, verse. 1. 5. Mark. 16, 1. 2, &c., that, albe thy disciples departed, yet went not from the sepulchre, that sate there heauie lamenting, and weeping much & a long while, and rising againe, with manie teares oftentimes went and peeped into the holes of the sepulchre, & verie diligentlie sought if anie where they could see thee, whome earnestlie they sought for.
Manie times went they vnto the graue, but to the louers too much was not often enough; for the virtue of a good worke is perseuerance: and because aboue the rest they loued, both in [Page 169] louing they wept, and in weeping they sought, and in seeking they perseuered, and therefore they before al did find thee, saw thee, and talke with thee.
And not onlie so, but also they carried the tidings of your glorious resurrection to ye disciples themselues, according as you bad, and warned them, saieng, Go and tel my brethren, that they go into Galile, and there shal they see meMatt. 28, verse. 10..
If then the women so wept, and in weeping perseuered, that sought the liuing among the dead, and by faith touched thee; how should the soule bewaile, and in bewailing continue, which in hart beleeueth, and with mouth confesseth, how thou her Sauior dost rule in heauen, and gouerne euerie-where! how should that soule weepe and lament, which with her hart [Page 170] loueth, and with al her whole desire longeth for thee!
O thou onlie refuge, and hope of the distressed, to whome no man sueth, without hope of mercie, giue me this grace for thine owne sake, and for thine holie Name sake, that as often as I thinke of thee, speake of thee, write of thee, reade of thee, confer of thee, as often as I remember thee, serue thee, offer the sacrifice of praise vnto thee, so often I may shed abundance of teares sweetelie before thy face, that my teares may become my meate daie & nightPsal. 42, 3..
Thou, ô king of gloriePsa. 24. 7. 8, &c., and maister of al virtuesMatth. 23. 10., hast taught vs both by word and example to weepe & to mourne, saieng; Blessed are they which mourne, for they shal be comfortedMatth. 5, verse. 5.. Againe, thou didest mourne for thy frend departedIohn. 11, verse. 33. 34, &c., [Page 171] and weepe ouer Ierusalem readie to come vnto desolationLuk. 19, 41 42..
O good Iesu, by those most pretious teares of thine, and by al thy manifold mercies, wherewithal thou hast vouchsafed wonderfullie to helpe vs miserable sinners, giue me grace to bewaile my transgressions, the which my soule doth much long for, and desire, because without thou giue it, I cannot get the sameIam. 1, 17., but euen through the holie Ghost, which mollifieth the harts of sinners, and prouoketh them vnto the teares of repentance.
Giue me grace to mourne for my sinnes, as our forefathers did, whose footesteps I am bound to imitate, that I may bewaile mine offences al my life long, as they haue mourned daie and night.
Euen for thine intercession [Page 172] sake, and for al thy merits sake, haue mercie vpon me thy miserable and vnworthie seruant; and giue me grace to bewaile my sinnes.
Water thou my plants both from aboue, and from beneath, that my teares may be my meate daie and nightPsal. 42, 3.; and I through the fire of compunction may be made a fat burning sacrifice in thy sight, and be killed altogether vpon the altar of mine hart, and be taken as a fat burnt sacrifice for a sweete smelling sauor in thy nostrels.
O sweete Lord, giue me a watering fountaine, and a cleere fountaine, wherin dailie this defiled sacrifice may be clensed.
For although through the assistance of thy grace I haue offered my selfe wholie to thee; yet in manie things for al that I do sinneIam. 3, 2., by reason of my too too [Page 173] great weakenes.
Wherefore, ô blessed and louing God, giue me grace especiallie of the great sweetnes of thy loue, and remembrance of thy mercies, make readie this table for thy seruant in thy presence, and giue me power, that when I wil, I may be satisfied of it.
Of thy mercie and goodnes grant, that this inebriating and goodlie cup may quench my thirst, that my spirit may couet after thee, and my mind burne with thy loue, forgetting al vanitie and miserie.
Heare, ô my God, heare ô light of mine eies, heare my petition, and grant that I may beg that thing, which thou maist grant.
Gratious, and merciful God, stop not thine eares against me, because of my sinnes, but of thy woonted goodnes grant me the [Page 174] effect of my petition and desire; Amen.
Chap. 36.
A verie effectual praier to the stirring vp of the mind vnto godlines being zelouslie vttered.
O Lord Iesus, ô pitiful Iesus, ô good Iesus, who both hast voutsafed to suffer death for our sinnes, and art risen againe for our iustificationRom. 4, 25.
I humblie beseech thee by thy glorious resurrection, raise me out of ye sepulchre of my sinnes, and of al my vices, and giue me dailie a part in the first resurrectionReu. 20, 6., that trulie I may receaue a portion in the resurrection at the last daie.
O sweete, and most blessed Iesus, thou hast ascended into heauen with a glorious triumph, and sittest at the right [Page 175] hand of the FatherRom. 8, verse. 34., ô almightie Prince, drawe me vpward vnto thee, that I may runne after theeSal. songs. 1, verse. 2. 3., through the sauor of thine ointments, that I may runne and tire not, thou drawing and conducting mee in my race: drawe the mouth of my soule thirsting after thee, vnto the supernal riuers of eternal satietie, yea, drawe me vnto thee the wel of lifePsal. 36, 9., that according to my power I may from thence take my drinke, whence I may liue for euermore, ô my God, my lifeIoh. 14, 6. Ioh. 11, 25..
For thine holie and blessed mouth hath said, If anie man thirstIoh. 7, 37., let him come vnto me, and drinke.
Now grant, ô fountaine of life, that the thirstie soule may drinke of thee continualie, that according to thine holie and true promise, out of my belie may flowe [Page 176] euen riuers of water of lifeIoh. 7, 38..
O fountaine of life, replenish my soule with the riuer of thy pleasure, make mine hart throughlie drunke with the sober drunkennes of thy loue, so that I may vtterlie forget whatsoeuer is vaine and earthlie, and euermore haue thee alone in my remembrance, as it is written; I remembred God, & mine hart was glad. Giue me thine holie spirit, signified by those waters, which thou promisest to giue to such as thirst.
O, I beseech thee, giue me grace with al my desire, & with al my care, to go on toward that place, whither we beleeue thou ascendedst the fortie daie after thy resurrectionActs. 1, 3. 4. 9, &c., that onlie in the flesh I may be held in this wretched world, but in thought and desire may be with thee, that there mine hart may beMatth. 6, verse. 21., [Page 177] where thou my desired, and incomparable, and much louelie treasure art.
For in the great deluge of this life, where we are tossed with raging stormes on al sides, and no good footing, and hie place can be found, where the doue may somewhat rest her selfeGen. 8, 9., there is no where either sure peace, or secure quietnes, but wars in al places, contention, and enimies: abrode fightings, within feares.
And forsomuch as one part of vs is heauenlie, and the other earthlie, the corruptible bodie is heauie vnto the souleWi. 9, 15..
Therefore my mind, my friend and companion, being wearied comming out of the waie is sicke, and lieth, al too rent and torne of those vanities which it hath passed-by: it is verie hungrie, and faine would drinke, [Page 178] but I haue nothing to set before it: because I am in pouertie, and in beggerie.
But, ô Lord my God, who aboundest in al good thingIam. 1, 17., and art a liberal bestower of the dainties of heauenlie satietie, giue thou meate to the wearied, gather together the dispersed, amend that which is torne.
Lo, he standeth at the doore, & knocketh: through the bowels of thy mercie, whereby thou the daie spring from on high hath visited vsLuk. 1, 78., I beseech thee, open the hand of thy pittie to the distressed which knocketh; and gratiouslie command that hee come-in vnto thee, rest in thee, & be refreshed of thy liuelie and heauenlie bread, wherewithal being satisfied, & strengthened, he may from this vale of teares mount aloft vnto celestial things; and carried on high [Page 179] by the wing of holie desire, may flie vnto the kingdome of heauen.
O Lord, let my spirit take, let it take I beseech thee, wings to it selfe as an Egle, that it may flie amaine, and faint not: that it may ascend euen vnto the glorie of thine house, and to the where thine honor dwellethPsa. 26, 8., there at the table, where thine heauenlie citizens doe repast themselues, to bee refreshed of thy secrets in the places of thy greene pasture nigh the stil waters.
O my God, let mine hart, mine hart, an huge sea swelling with waues, rest in thee.
Thou, which rebukedst the windMatth. 8, verse. 26. Mark. 4, 39. Luke. 8, 24., and the sea, whereby there came a great calme: come thou, and go vpon the waues of mine hart, that euerie thing which I haue may be calme and [Page 180] cleere, that I may embrace thee mine onelie good, and behold thee, the sweete light of mine eies, without anie blind darknes of troblesome cogitations.
O Lord, let my mind from the parching heat of worldlie cares flie vnder the shadowe of thy wings, that being hid in thy temperate coolenes, it may ioifulie sing, and saie, I wil laie me downe, & also sleepe in peacePsal. 4, 8..
Let my memorie sleepe, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., I praie thee, let it sleepe frō al euil; righteousnes let it loueHeb. 1, 9., but hate iniquitie.
For indeede, in the middes of the darknes and trobles of this life, what goodlier, and what sweeter thing can there be, than to couet after the sweetenes of heauen, and to sigh for eternal happines; than to haue the mind there fixed, where it is most assured to haue true ioies!
[Page 181] O most sweete, most louelie, and blessed Iesu, when shal I behold thee? when shal I come, and appeare before thy presencePsal. 42, 1. 2.? when shal I be satisfied with thine imagePsa. 17, 15.? when wilt thou bring my soule out of prisonPsa. 142, 7., that I may praise thy Name; and be grieued no more? when shal I passe into that glorious, & goodlie house of thinePsal. 84, 1. 2., wheras the voice of singing and praise is in the tabernacles of the righteous?
Blessed are they which dwel in thine House, ô Lord, they wil euer praise theePsal. 84, 4.. Blessed, and blessed indeede are they, whom thou hast chosen, and taken into that celestial inheritance.
Behold, Lord, thy saints flourish before thee as the Lilie. Because they are satisfied with the fatnes of thine HousePsal. 36, 8. 9.; and thou giuest them drinke out of the riuer [Page 182] of thy pleasures. For with thee is the wel of life, and in thy light they doe see light; so that they, to wit, the light inlightened of thee, God inlighteningIohn. 1, 9., doe now shine as the SunneMatth. 13, 43. in thy presence.
Oh, how maruelous, how glorious, how amiable are thy tabernacles, ô Lord of hostsPsal. 84, 1. 2.! my sinful soule longeth to enter thereinto.
O Lord, I haue loued the habitation of thine housePsal. 26, 8., and the place where thine Honor dwelleth.
One thing haue I desired of the Lord, and that I wil require, euen that I may dwel in the house of the Lord al the daies of my lifePsal. 27, 4..
As the Hart braieth for the riuers of waterPsal. 42, 1.: so panteth my soule after thee, ô God.
When shal I come,2. and appeare [Page 183] before thy presence! when shal I see my God, whome my soule so thirsteth for!
When shal I see him in the land of the liuingPsa. 27, 13.! For in this land of the dieng, he can not be seene with mortal eiesIohn. 1, 18. 1. Tim. 6, 16. 1. Iohn. 4, 12.
What shal I wretch do, being fettered with the gieues of this mortal fleshWisd. 9, 15? what shal I doe? while we are in the bodie, we are absent from the Lord2. Cor. 5, 6. Here we haue no continuing citieHeb. 13, 14, but we seeke one to come. And, our freedome is in heauen2. Cor. 5, 1..
Wo is me, that I am a stranger so long; and that I dwel in the tents of KedarPsa. 120, 5. 6.. My soule hath too long dwelled in a strange place.
Oh that I had wings like a douePsal. 55, 6.; then would I flie-awaie and rest! Nothing is so pleasant to me, as to be with my God. It is good for me to drawe neere [Page 184] vnto GodPsa. 73, 28.
O Lord, grant, while I liue in this mortal bodie, that I may cleaue to thee, as it is written, He that is ioined vnto the Lord, is one spirit1. Cor. 6, 17.
Giue me the wings of contemplation, I beseech thee, that endued there withal I may flie aloft vnto thee.
And seing euerie sinister thing lieth downeward, hold thou my mind, that it fal not downe vnto the bottome of the darkesome vale; and that, by reason of the shade of earth comming betwene, it be not separated from thee the true Sun of righteousnes, and be hindered from beholding things on hie through the cloud of darknes.
For which cause I doe soare vpward vnto the ioies of peace Phil. 4, 7., and vnto the delectable, and pleasant state of lightReu. 21, 23 24, &c..
[Page 185] Hold thou mine hart by thine hand: because without thee it can not be carried aloft. Thither I do hasten, whereas soueraigne peace raigneth, and euerlasting quietnes doth shineReu. 7, 16. 17..
Hold, and gouerne thou my spirit, & take it vnto thee according to thy wil, that thou being guide, it may ascend into that region of plentie, where thou feedest Israel euerlastinglie with the foode of truth: that at the least with swift cogitation it may attaine vnto thee the soueraigne wisedome, abounding aboue al, surpassing al, and gouerning al things.
But, alas, manie things doe mutter against my soule flieng vnto thee. Notwithstanding, at thy commandement, ô Lord, let them not ouerthwart me. Yea, let my verie soule be silent, let her ouer-passe al things; mount [Page 186] ouer al things that are created, and come vnto thee, fixing the eies of faith vpon thee alone the Creator of al things, for thee let her long; to thee let her couet; on thee let her thinke; thee let her behold; be thou in her sight, & euermore meditate she in her hart of thee, the true and soueraigne goodnesIam. 1, 17., and the ioie abiding for euermoreMatt. 25, verse. 21..
To conclude, though manie are the contemplations, wherewithal the godlie soule is maruelouslie fed, and refreshed: yet in none is she so delighted, and resteth, as in thee, and when thou alone art in her thought, and eies.
O Lord, how great is the goodnes, which woonderfulie thou inspirest into the harts of them, which loue thee! How maruelous is the sweetnes of thy loue, which they enioie, who loue nothing, [Page 187] seeke nothing, yea desire nothing beside thee!
Oh, happie are they, whose hope is onlie in thee; and whose onlie worke is praier!
Blessed is he who sitteth solitarie, and silent; and watcheth himselfe daie and night continualie, that, placed as yet in this mortal body, he may haue some fore-taste of thy celestial sweetnesse!
O Lord, by those health-bringing wounds, which on the cros thou suffredst for our sakes, from which gushed-out that pretious blood wherewith we be redeemed1. Pet. 1, 18. 19., wound, I beseech thee, this my sinful soule, for which also thou hast vouchsafed to die1. Pet. 2, 24: wound her by the firie and mightie dart of thine abundant loueIoh. 15, 12. 13. 1. Iohn. 3, 16.
For the word of God is liueliueHeb. 4, 12., and mightie in operation, [Page 188] and sharper than anie two edged sword.
O thou, the elected dart, and the most piercing sword, who art of power able to pierce the hard buckler of mans hart: prick thou mine hart with the dart of thy loue, that my soule may saie to thee, I am wounded with thy loue; so that from that wound of thy loue, teares abundantlie may issue daie and nightPsal. 42, 3..
Strike, ô Lord, strike, I beseech thee, this mine hard mind with the godlie and mightie speare of thy loue, and with a stoute courage pierce thou euen the most secret parts of my soule, and there-withal fetch thou a streame of water from out mine head, and out of mine eies a true fountane of teares flowing forth continualie from an hartie affection, and desire to behold thy beautie; that night and daie I [Page 189] may mourne in this present life, receauing no comfort, vntil in thy celestial bride-chamber, I be thought woorthie to see my beloued, and beautiful spouse, euen my Lord and God, that beholding there thy glorious, wonderful, and most beautiful countenance1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4., ful of al sweetnes, I may with those whome thou hast electedRom. 8. verse. 30., humblie adore thy maiestie, and replenished at the length with heauenlie & vnspeakeable ioie of euerlasting mirth, may with louers and friends crie out, saieng.
Behold, I see now what I so desired; I enioie now what I so hoped for; I haue that which I loued so. For I am now ioined to him in heauen, whome in earth I loued with al my strength, embraced with right good wil, & claue vnto from my verie hart: him I praise, him I blesse, and I worship [Page 190] him, who liueth and ruleth God for euermore, Amen.
Chap. 37.
A praier in the time of trouble.
HAue mercie on me, ô Lord, haue mercie on me, ô gratious God, haue mercie on me a most wretched sinner offending hainouslie, and suffering iustlie; sinning dailie, and feeling continualie thy correction.
If I waigh the euil which dailie I haue committed, my punishment is but smal; much wickednes haue I done, & little correction do I feele.
Righteous art thou, ô Lord, and iust are thy iudgementsPsal. 119, verse. 137.. Thy iudgements are truthPsal. 19, 9., they be righteous altogether. O Lord my God thou art righteousPsa. 92, 15., [Page 191] neither is there anie iniquitie in thee.
For neither vniustlie, nor cruelie dost thou afflict vs sinnersDan. 9, 4. 5. 6, &c., ô almightie, & merciful LordExo. 34, 6., who when we were not, didest mightilie make vsIob. 10, 8. Psal. 100, 3., and when through our sinnes we were in the state of damnation, hast both mercifullie, and miraculouslie repared vsGal. 3, 13. 1. Tim. 2, 6..
I knowe, and am assured, how that our life is not gouerned by al aduentures, but that it is disposed and ruled by theePro. 16, 9., ô Lord our God.
Whence it is that thou carest for al thingsWis. 12, 13., but chieflie for thy seruants1. Pet. 5, 7., who haue put al their cōfidence in thine onlie mercie.
Wherefore I praie, and humblie beseech thee, ô Lord, deale not with me according to my sinnes, whereby I haue deserued thy iust displeasure, but according [Page 192] to thy great mercie, which is more than al the sinnes euen of the whole world.
O God, who outwardlie dost afflict the bodie, grant inwardlie to my mind continual patience, so that thy praise at no time depart out of my mouth.
Haue mercie on me, ô Lord, haue mercie on me, and helpe me, according as thou knowest I haue neede, both in my bodie, and minde, thou knowest al thingsEccle. 23, verse. 19. 20., and canst do al thingsGen. 35, verse. 11. Reue. 15, 3., who liuest euerlastinglie 1. Tim. 1. 17, Amen.
Chap. 38.
A verie godlie praier vnto the Sonne.
O Lord Iesu Christ1. Tim. 1, 1., sonne of the liuing GodMatt. 16, verse. 16., which vpon the crosse with outstretched armes, drankest the [Page 193] cup of bitter passion for the redemption of al mankinde1. Pet. 2, verse. 24., vouchsafe to defend me this daie.
Behold, I a poore wretch vnto thee who art rich, I miserable vnto thee who art merciful, do approch, suffer me not to depart emptie, and despised.
I begin hungerlie, let me not go from thee fasting; I come euen hunger-starued as it were, ô let me not depart vnrefreshed. And though before I eate, I do sigh, yet grant that after my sighing I may eate.
Especialie before thy glorious magnificence, ô sweete Iesu, I acknowledge to thee my sinnes against my selfePsal. 32. 5..
Behold, I was borne in iniquitie Psal. 51, 5., but thou didest wash, and sanctifie meEph. 5, 25. 26., yet haue I defiled my selfe sithence with greater sinnes.
[Page 194] For I was borne in necessarie sinnes, but afterward I wallowed in voluntarie wickednes.
But, thou, ô Lord, not vnmindful of thy woonted mercie, tookedst me from out of the house of my carnal father, and from the tabernacles of the wicked, and gauedst me a mind to follow thee with the generation of them which seeke thy face, which treade the right path, which abide among the lilies of a chast life, and sit with thee in the parlor of greatest pouertie.
Yet I, vngrateful for so manie benefits, since mine entrance into thy seruice, haue done manie an vnlawful fact, and committed manie a foule sinne; and where I should haue repented me of my sinnes, I added sinnes vnto sinnes.
These are the euils, ô Lord, whereby I haue both dishonored [Page 195] thee, and stained my selfe, (whome thou didest create after thine own likenesGen. 1, 26. 27. 1. Cor. 11, 7. Colo. 3, 10.) with pride, vaine glorie, and such other manifold sinnes, whereby the wretched soule is vexed, and afflicted, and rent asunder and destroied.
Behold, ô Lord, mine iniquities are gone ouer mine headPsal. 38, 4., and as a weightie burthen, they are too heauie for me, and, doe not thou, whose propertie is to shewe mercie, and to spare, laie vnder the right hand of thy maiestie, I shal be enforced to sinke euen to the verie bottome.
O Lord my God, attend, and consider because thou art holie, lo, mine enimie insulteth against me, saiengPsal. 71, 1 [...]., God hath forsaken him, I wil pursue and take him, for there is none to deliuer him.
But Lord, how long wilt thou [Page 196] delaie? Returne, deliuer my soule, saue me for thy mercie sakePsal. 61 4..
Take mercie vpon thy sonne, whome thou broughtest foorth into this world, and respect not so mine euil which I haue done, that thou forget the good which thou hast made.
What father is there but would saue his sonne? or what sonne, whome the father, with the rod of mercie, wil not correct?
Wherefore, ô Father, and Lord, although I be a sinner, yet I cannot but be thy sonne, because thou hast both made meIob. 10, 8. Psal. 119, 75., and renued meCol. 3, 9. 10..
As I haue sinned, amend me, but first deliuer me to thy sonne being reformed with ye scourge. Can a woman forget hir childEsa. 49, 15? notwithstanding, though she should, yet thou father, hast promised neuer to forget.
[Page 197] Behold I crie, and thou hearest me not; I am vexed with sorow, and yet find no comfort.
What shal I saie, or what shal I do wretch that I am? I destitute of such consolation, am cast from the sight of thine eies.
Wo is me, from what felicitie into what miserie am I fallen? whether did I bend my selfe, and to what passe am I come? where am I, wretch, and where am I not? vnto whome did I aspire, and wherin do I now sigh?
I sought after good things, but behold vexation!
Lo, I now labor, and Iesus is not with me.
Doubtles, better were it for me not to be at al, than to be without Iesus. Better is it not to liue, than to liue without life.
And now, ô Lord Iesus, where be thy former merciesPs. 89, 49.? wilt thou be angrie with mee for [Page 198] euerPsa. 85, 5.?
Be pacified at the length I beseech thee, and haue mercie vppon me, neither hide awaie thy face fro mePsa. 27, 9., who for my redemption, didest not turne thy face from such as reprooued, and spat vpon theeMatt. 27, vers. 27, &c. 30..
I confesse in deede, I haue sinned, and that my conscience deserueth damnation; I acknowledge also that no penance can satisfie for my sinnes, but certaine it is, that thy mercie is more than al my sinnes.
O most gratious Lord, write not thou bitter things against meIob. 13, 26., neither enter thou into iudgement with thy seruantPsa. 143, 2., but according to the multitude of thy compassions, put awaie mine iniquitiesPsal. 51, 1..
Wo to me wretch, when the daie of iudgement shal come, and the bookes of each mans [Page 199] conscience be openedReu. 20, verse. 12. 13., when it shal be said of me, Behold the man, and his workes.
What shal I then do, ô Lord my God, when the verie heauens shal reueale mine iniquitie, and the earth rise vp against me? Surelie I shal be able to saie nothing, but hang-downe mine head for verie griefe of hart, and stand trembling and confounded before thy presence.
Alacke wretch, what may I saie? shal I crie vnto thee my Lord God, wherefore am I consumed saieng naught? but though I do speake, yet wil not my griefe haue end; and if I be stil silent, I shal be vexed inwardlie with most bitter sorow.
O my soule, mourne thou like a virgin for the husband of hir youthIoël. 1, 8.; howle thou miserable wretch, and weepe, because thine husband euen ChristEph. 5, 25. [Page 200] hath forsaken thee.
O wrath of the almightie, fal not thou vpon me, for I cannot beare thee, because there is not that strength in me, that I can endure thee.
But haue mercie on me, ô God, that I despaire not, but in despaire let me hope againe.
And although I haue done that which deserueth damnation; yet hast not thou forgone that whereby thou art wont to salue.
O Lord, thou wilt not the death of sinners, neither doest thou reioice in the destruction Eze. 18, 23. of the dieng: but that the dead might liue thou diedstRom. 4, 25; and thy death hath killed the death of sinners; and if they through thy death were againe brought vnto life, ô Lord, grant, I beseech thee, that I may not die, now thou art aliue.
[Page 201] Send downe from heauenPsa. 57, 3., and saue me from the power of mine enimies, least they triumph ouer me, and saie, We haue deuoured him.
O good Iesu, who at anie time can doubt of thy mercie, who, euen when we were thine enimiesRom. 5, 10 didst redeeme vs with thy pretious blood, and reconcile vs to God!
Lo, thus protected vnder the shadowe of thy mercie I doe run vnto the throne of graceHeb. 4, 16., requiring mercie, crieng and knocking vntil thou take compassion vpon me.
For if thou calledst vs vnto mercie, when we asked none: how can we misse of mercie, crauing the same!
O sweete Iesu, thinke not vpon thy iustice against a sinner; but remember thy goodnes toward thy creature. Thinke not [Page 202] vpon thy displeasure against a transgressor; but remember thy mercie toward the miserable. Forget me when I was proud, prouoking thee vnto wrath; and regard me now in distresse, crieng vnto thee for mercie.
For what is Iesus, but a SauiorMatt. 1, 21.? Therefore, ô Iesus, by thy selfe arise to helpe me, and saie vnto my soulePsa. 35, 3., I am thy saluation.
Much doe I presume of thy goodnes, ô Lord, the rather because thy selfe thou teachest vs to aske, to seeke, and to knock Matt. 7, 7.. And therefore admonished thereby, I doe aske, seeke, and knocke.
But thou, Lord, who commandest to aske, grant I may receiue; who counselest to aske, giue grace to find; who teachest to knocke, open to the knocker, and strengthen me a sinner, saue [Page 203] me a wretch, raise me that am dead, and vouchsafe to direct and gouerne al my senses, cogitations, & works after thy good pleasure, that hencefoorth I may serue thee, liue to thee, and be wholie thine.
I knowe, Lord, I doe owe my selfe to thee, euen because thou hast made me; and for that thou hast redeemed me1. Pet. 1, 18. 19., and taken humane flesh vpon thee for my sakeMatt. 1, 21 Luke. 1, 31. 69., I doe owe so much more beside my selfe, as thou art greater than he for whom thou hast giuen thy selfe.
Lo I haue no more; neither can I giue that which I haue too without thee: but accept thou me, and drawe me vnto theeIohn. 6, 44, that I may be thine by imitation and loue, as I am thine by condition, and creation, who liuest1. Tim. 1, 17, and rulestPsal. 45, 6. now and euermore, Amen.
Chap. 39.
A godlie praier vnto the blessed Trinitie, meete oftentimes to be repeated.
O Lord, God almightieExo. 6, 3. Reuel. 4, 8., three in personsMath. 3, 16 17. Luke. 3, 21. 22., yet but one GodDeut. 6, 4. Mal. 2, 10., who both art in al, and wart before alEcc. 42, 21, and wilt be in al things, a blessed God for euermoreReu. 4, 11..
Now, and alwaies into thine hand I doc commend, both my soule, my bodie, my sight, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, with al my cogitations, affections, actions, outward and inward things, my sense, and vnderstanding, my memorie, my faith and beleefe, and perseuerance, that thou maiest keepe them daie and night, euerie houre, and moment.
[Page 205] O sacred Trinitie, heare my petition, and saue me from al euilMatt. 6, 13, from offending, and from sinning anie maner of waie; from al snares and pursutes of Satan, and of enimies visible, and inuisible.
Expel far fro me the hautinesse of mind, and increase within me the sorowe of hart; diminish my pride, and establish true humilitie within my breast; fetch teares from mine eies, mollifie mine hard and stonie hart; and saue Lord, both me & my soule from al traps of the enimie; and continue me in thy pleasure.
Teach me to doe thy wilPs. 143, 10., for thou art my God.
Giue me perfect sense, & vnderstanding, ô Lord, that I may be able to conceaue the deepenes of thy mercie.
Grant me grace to beg that at thine hands, which may both be [Page 206] ioiful for thee to grant, and behooueful for me to receaue.
Make me vnfainedlie to bewaile my sinnes, and manifold offences.
Heare, ô my Lord, and my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3.; heare, ô light of mine eiesIohn. 1, 9.; heare my petition, and grant that what I request, I may obteine.
If thou despise, I am vtterlie vndone; if thou heare me, I take hart againe. If thou examinest my righteousnes, lo I stinke like a dead carrion; but if in mercie thou respect mee, thou raisest him that stinketh out of the graue.
What thou hatest in me, remooue far fro me; and ingraffe the spirit of chastitie and of a cleane life in my mind, that in asking anie thing at thine hands I may not offend thee in asking the same.
[Page 207] Take fro mee whatsoeuer is hurtful to my soule, and giue what is behooueful.
O Lord, giue me a salue, to heale my greeuous woundes.
Indue me, good Lord, with thy fearePsal. 2, 11., with sorowe of hartPsa. 51, 17., with humilitie of mindeEcc. 23, 4., and with a pure consciencePsal. 24, 4..
Giue me grace, Lord, to keepe brotherlie concord euermoreRom. 12, verse. 10. 1. Pet. 2, 17.; to remember my transgressions; not to meddle with the dealings of other men.
Pardon my soule; pardon my sinnes; my wickednes pardon; ô pardon mine offencesPsal. 51, 2. 9..
Visit me that am weake; cure me that am sicke; heale me that doth languish, & raise me which am dead.
O Lord, giue me both an hart to dread thee; a mind to loue thee; sense to knowe thee; eares to heare thee; eies to see thee.
[Page 208] Haue mercie on me, ô God, haue mercie on me; looke vpon me from the holie seate of thy Maiestie; and illuminate the darknes of mine hart with the beame of thy brightnes.
Giue me wisedome, ô Lord, to discerne betweene good and euil; and grant me a watchful vnderstanding.
Forgiue al my sinnes I beseech thee; and in the time of necessitie & troblePs. 37, 39., be thou good and gratious to me, I onelie beseech thee. After thy woonted mercie, & most louing kindnes, ô Lord, I beseech thee, vouchsafe to giue me ye life which euer shal endure.
O Lord Iesus Christ, giue both to thy ministers vnitie of mind; and to magistrates iudging vprightlie, peace and tranquillitie.
Furthermore, ô Lord, my request is for the whole catholike, and holie Church, for men and [Page 209] women; for religious and for secular men; for al Christian gouernors, & people beleeuing in thy Name, which labor for thine holie loue, that they may haue grace to continue in wel doing.
O Lord, eternal King, giue to virgins, chastitie; to the vnmaried, continencie; to the wedded, puritie; to repenters, mercie; to widowes and orphanes, comfort; to the poore, protection; to trauelers, a safe returne; to mourners, consolation; to seafaring men, a ioiful hauen; to the good, zeale to persist; to the wel inclined, a mind to prooue better; to the wicked and sinful, as to me wretch, grace with speede to repent.
O sweete Lord, and most merciful, Iesus Christ, Sonne of the liuing GodMat. 16, 16, redeemer of the worldTit. 2, 14. Col. 1, 14. 1. Pet. 2, 22. 24., I acknowledge that among al, and aboue al sinners I [Page 210] am wretched: but thou most gratious, and hie Father, who takest mercie vpon al, canst not suffer me to be vtterlie destitute of thy mercie.
O thou, Lord, King of kings1. Tim. 6, verse. 15. Reu. 19, 16., who grantest truce of life, stir in me a mind alwaie, and aboue al things to seeke, to desire, to loue, to feare thee, and to do thy wil, who art euerie-where al wholeIob. 23, 8. 9, &c. Eccl. 23, 18. 19., a Trinitie, and but one GodMal. 2, 10..
Especialie, ô Lord holie Father, who art blessed and glorious for euermore, I beseech thee in most humble sort, vouchsafe to gouerne & keepe them from destruction, who either doe make mention of mee in their praiers; or haue commended themselues to mine vnwoorthie supplication, or haue done good whether it bee vnto my bodie with tēporal benefits, or to my [Page 211] soule with profitable instructions; or be linked vnto me either in kinred, frendship, or goodwil.
Furthermore, both for al Christians which are aliue, I praie thee, stand thou at their elbowe to assist them; and for such also as are dead, and euerlastinglie doe rest from their laborsReu. 14, 13, I yeeld thee immortal praise.
Finalie, this one thing more, grant me, ô Lord, I do earnestlie beseech thee, who art Alpha and OmegaReuel. 1, 8. Reuel. 21, 6., that when the vttermost daie, and end of my life shal come, thou wilt be a merciful iudge to me against that malicious accuserReu. 12, 10 the diuel; and that thou wilt continualie protect me against the snares of the old serpentReu. 12, 2.; and finalie conduct me into the societie of Angels, and of al Saints in thy holie paradise, who art blessed now, and euermore, Amen.
Chap. 40.
A deuout praier in memorie of the passion of Christ.
O Lord Iesu Christ, my redemptionCol. 1, 14., my mercie, and my saluationMatt. 1, 21., I doe praise thee, & yeeld thee thanks, although far vnanswereable, I confes, to thy benefits, although not zealous enough, although verie leane from the desired fatnes of thy sweete affection: yet such as it hath, not as I knowe it oweth, and as it is able, my soule paieth vnto thee.
O thou hope of mine hart, and strength of my soule, let thy diuine power fulfil, what my luke warme weaknes endeuoreth to bring to passe; ô my life, and thou end of my thought.
And though I haue not hitherto deserued so greatlie to loue, [Page 213] as I am bound, yet my desire is to loue, euen as I ought to do.
O light of mine eiesIohn. 1, 9., thou beholdest mine hart, for my sighing is not hid from theePsal. 38, 9., and it is thy gift1. Cor. 4, 7. Iam. 1, 17., if I do minde anie thing that good is.
If it be good which thou doest enspire, yea, because it is good yt I would loue thee, graunt that which through thee I would.
Giue me grace so greatlie to loue thee, as thou commandest. Praise and thankes I do offer, ô let not thy gift, which voluntarilie thou hast imparted vpon me, be vnfruiteful to me.
Performe what thou hast begun, and giue the thing, which of thy goodnes preuenting me, vndeseruing the same, thou hast made me to desire.
Conuert, ô gratious God, my securitie into the burning loue of thy Name.
[Page 214] For, merciful Father, hetherto tendeth this my praier, this remembrance and meditation of thy benefits is, to the end that thy loue may be inflamed within my brest.
Thy goodnes, ô Lord, hath created meGen. 1, 26. 27. Iob. 10, 8. Psal. 100, 3., thy mercie hath clensed me1. Cor. 6, verse. 11., and thy patience wallowing in other filthines of sinnes after my purification of baptisme hetherto, hath tolerated, nourished, and looked for my conuersion2. Pet. 3, 8. 9..
O good Lord, thou lookest for mine amendment, and that I may repent, and leade an vpright life, my soule doth looke for the inspiration of thy grace.
O my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., my creatorPsa. 119, 73, forbearerWis. 11, 20., and my nourisher, after thee do I thirst, after thee do I long, after thee do I sigh and couet.
And as a tender Orphane bereft [Page 215] of the presence of his louing Father, weeping and lamenting incessantlie, doth embrace his sweete countenance with al his hart, so I, not as I should, but as I am able, am mindful of thy passion, of thy blowesMatt. 27, verse. 27. 28. 29., of thy woundes, how thou wart killed for my sakeGal. 3, 13. 1. Pet. 2, 22., how buriedLuk. 23. verse. 53., and laid in the graue, finalie, how gloriouslie thou didest arise, and triumphantlie ascend into heauenActs. 1, 9..
These things I do hold by an vndoubted faith, I hope for the onlie comfort of thy returneMatt. 16, verse. 27. Mar. 13, 26., and from mine hart I desire the glorious contemplation of thy countenance.
Wo is me, that I cannot see the Lord of Angels, who was humbled vnto ye condition of menPhil. 2, 5. 6. 7, &c., yt he might exalt men vnto the dignitie of Angels, when God offended would suffer death, [Page 216] that sinful man might enioy life.
What shal I saie? what shal I do? whether may I go? where shal I seeke? or when shal I find him? of whom shal I aske? who wil tel my beloued how I languish for loue?
The ioie of mine hart decaieth, my laughter is turnd into mourning, my flesh faileth, and mine hart alsoPsa. 73, 26., God is the strength of my hart, & my portion for euer. My soule refuseth comfortPsal, 77, 2. of anie besides thee, ô my sweetenes. For whome haue I in heauen but theePsa. 73, 25.? & I haue desired none in the earth but onlie thee.
Thee I would, thee I long for, thee do I seeke, to thee hath mine hart said, I haue sought after thy face, ô Lord I require, turne not thy face fro me, ô most merciful louer of mankindeWis. 11, 23., the poore committeth himselfe to thee, thou art the helper of [Page 217] the fatherlesPsa. 10, 14..
O mine assured aduocate1. Ioh. 2, 1. 2., haue mercie on me a forsakē orphane, I am become a fatherles child, my soule is like a widowe.
Looke vpon the teares of my miserie and widowhood, which I offer to thee, vntil thou returne.
Oh my Lord, now, ah shew thy selfe to me, and I shal be comforted. Let me behold thee, and I shal atteine ye end of my desire. Reueale thy glorie, and my ioie shal be perfect.
My soule thirsteth for theePsal. 63, 1 [...]., my flesh longeth greatlie after thee.
My soule thirsteth for GodPsal. 42, 2 [...]., euen for the liuing Wel, when shal I come and appeare before the presence of God? O my comforter, whom I so looke for, when wilt thou come?
Oh that I might see the ioie, that I so desire! oh that I were satisfied with the presence of the [Page 218] gloriePsa. 17, 15., for which I do hunger! oh that once I were satisfied with the fatnes of thine housePsa. 36, 8., wherevnto I do sigh, and had drunke out of ye riuer of thy pleasures, which so much I thirst for!
In the meane while, ô Lord, let teares be my meate daie and nightPsa. 42, 3., vntil it be said vnto me, Behold thy God, vntil my soule do heare, Behold thy spouse.
In the meane while, I saie, feede me with sighings, refresh me with my sorowes.
Happelie my redeemer wil come ful soone, because he is good, and wil not lingerHeb. 10, verse. 37., for that he is merciful: to him be glorie now and for euermoreReu. 5, 13., Amen.
THE PSALTER-WHICH S. AVGVSTINE COMPOSED FOR THE VSE OF HIS MOTHER; ENGLISHED FOR A MORE GENERAL COMMODITIE.
O Lord GOD almightie, and King of eternal glorie, who dost acknowledge him to be a blessed manPsal. 1, 1. 2., that abhorreth the waie of sinners, and doth meditate in thy Lawe daie and night:
Teach thou me, a wretched sinner, faithfulie to serue theePsal. 2, 1 [...] with feare and trembling of the hart.
And seeing with al humilitie of heart, I do cal vnto thee with [Page] my voice, heare mePsal. 3, 4.; haue mercie vpon me, and so harken vnto my praierPsal. 4, 1. Psalme. 5, 1. 2., that neither thou for thy part rebuke me in thy wrathPsal. 6, 1., nor that old enimie to mankinde, lieng in waite for his part to deuoure my soule like a LionPsal. 7, 2., and teare it in peeces, while there is none to helpe.
But Lord, whose Name is excellent in al the worldPsal. 8, 1. 9., turne thou mine enimie backePsal. 9, 3., that he fal againe, and perish at thy presence.
Let him not entrap my soulePsal. 10, 8. 9. with his firie snares; and suffer not brimstonePsal. 11, 6., and stormie tempests to torment me.
But for the oppression of the neediePsal. 12, 5., and for the sighings of the poore, now thou doest arise, behold, and heare mePsa, 13, 3., ô Lord my God, because thou art the counsel, and trust of the poorePsal. 14, 6..
Make me to walke vprightlie,Psal. 15, 2., [Page] and to worke righteousnes that thy fauorable kindnes may be the portion of mine inheritance Psal. 16, 5..
Keepe me as the apple of the eiePsal. 17, 8.; hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings, because thou art my strengthPsal. 18, 1. 2., my rock, and my refuge.
Clense me fro my secret faultsPsal. 19, 12. 13.; and keepe thy seruant from presumptuous sinnes.
Send me helpe from the Sanctuarie Psal. 20, 2.; and giue mee mine harts desirePsal. 21, 2..
Saue me from the Lions mouth Psa. 22, 21.; and leade me in the pathes of righteousnesPsal. 23, 3., that I may ascend into thy mountainePsa. 24, 3. 4., and stand in thine holie place, hauing innocent hands, and a pure hart.
Remember not the sinnes of my youthPsal. 25, 7., nor my rebellions.
Gather not my soule with the [Page] sinnersPsal. 26, 9.; neither giue me vnto the lust of mine aduersariesPsa. 27, 12.:
But so fauorablie harken thou vnto the voice of my petitionsPsa. 28, 2., that calling vpon the glorie of thine holie NamePsal. 29, 2., thou do heare mePsa. 30, 10., and haue mercie vpon me.
And so trusting in thee, let me neuer be confoundedPsal. 31, 1.; but forgiue the punishment of my sinnePsal. 32, 5..
Let thy mercie, ô Lord, be vppon me, as I trust in theePsa. 33, 22.: and deliuering mee out of al my fearePsal. 34, 4., saie vnto my soulePsal. 35, 3., I am thy saluation.
And because I trust vnder the shadowe of thy wingsPsa. 36, 7., giue me mine harts desirePsal. 37, 4.; and hast thee to helpe mePsa. 38, 22, ô my Lord, my saluation.
Lord, let me knowe mine endPsal. 39, 4., and the measure of my daies what it is; let me knowe how [Page] long I haue to liue.
Incline vnto mePsal. 40, 1. 2., and heare my crie. Bring me out of the lake of miserie, out of the mirie claie, and set my feete vpon the rocke, and order my goings.
Deliuer mee in the time of troublePsal. 41, 1., that I may go into thy glorious housePsal. 42, 4.; for thou art the God of my strengthPsal. 43, 2..
Let not my steps go out of thy pathesPsa. 44, 18; that I may loue righteousnes, and hate iniquitiePsa. 45, 7..
Be thou mine hope & strēgthPsal. 46, 1.: for thou art a great King ouer al the earthPsal. 47, 2..
Thou which art a God for euer Psa. 48, 14, deliuer my soule out of the power of HelPsa. 49, 59, for it hath receiued me.
And when thou shalt appeare to iudge vsPsal. 50, verse. 1, &c., haue mercie vpon mePsa. 51, 1. 11., according to the multitude of thy mercies, and take not thine holie Spirit fro me.
[Page] O most gratious God,9. in that houre hide thy face fro my sins, and put awaie al mine iniquities.
Create in me a cleane hart,10. ô God, renue a right spirit within me. That I may appeare like a greene Oliue tree, in the House of my GodPsal. 52, 8; and there with Iaacob reioicePsal. 53, 6., and euerlastinglie be glad with Israël.
Saue me, ô God, by thy namePsal. 54, 1., and by thy power iudge me.
Hide not thy selfe fro my supplication Psal. 55, 1., but be merciful vnto mePsal. 56, 1..
Send thou from heauenPsal. 57, 3., and saue mee from the reproofe of them that would swalowe mee vp.
Breake their teeth, ô God, in their mouthesPsal. 58, 6.; breake ye iawes of the yong Lions, ô Lord.
Thou art my defence, and my merciful GodPsa. 59, 17.
[Page] Helpe mee with thy right handPsal. 60, 5., and vnder the couering of thy wings let me be protected Psal. 61, 4., when thou art to render euerie man according to his workesPsa. 62, 12..
While my soule thirsteth for theePsal. 63, 1., hide me from the conspiracie of the wickedPsal. 64, 2..
Sith al flesh shal come vnto theePsal. 65, 2., put not backe thy mercie fromePsa. 66, 20..
Neither take from me thine holie Spirit, but cause thy face to shine vpon mePsal. 67, 1..
Send me a good passage, ô our God which sauest vsPsa. 68, 20, that the deepe swalowe me not vpPsa. 69, 15., nor the pit shut hir mouth vppon me.
Be thou mine helper, and my deliuererPsal. 70, 5.; ô Lord, make no tarieng.
Sith in thee, ô Lord, I do trust, let me neuer be confoundedPsal. 7 [...], [...]., [Page] when thou shalt iudge thy people Psal. 71, 2..
Lo, they which withdrawe themselues from thee, shal perish Psa. 73, 27; oh let not me oppressed returne ashamedPsa. 74, 21.
Because thou art a righteous iudgePsa. 75, 7., thou makest lowe, and thou exaltest; and who shal stand in thy sight when thou art angriePsal. 76, 7.!
Thou art the God that doest wondersPsa. 77, 14.
As thou nourishedst thy people with bread in ye wildernesPsa. 78, 20 21, &c. 30., and didest not turne them from their lust: so let thy grace refresh me an hungrie soule, make hast, and let thy tender mercies preuent mePsal. 79, 8..
And thou my defender, giue me the bread of tearesPsal. 80, 5., and the bitternes of a troubled mind in the time of tribulation; and grant withal, that from the honie [Page] out of the rockePsal. 81, 16., I may taste the sweetenes of inward consolation.
O God, who iudgest betweene the innocent and the sinnersPsal. 82, 1, who alone art the most high ouer al the earthPsa. 83, 18, haue mercie vpon me, and giue grace and gloriePsa. 84, 11., who hast ordeined a lawe.
Forgiue the iniquitiePsal. 85, 2, of mine hart, couer al my sinnes, and saue thou thy seruant, that trusteth in theePsai. 86, 2.
O God, who laiest the foundations of thy Church vpon the holie mountainesPsal. 87, 1., encline thine eare vnto my criePsal. 88, 2..
Let thine hand therefore establish mePsa. 89, 21., and turne me not vnto destructionPsa. 90, 3., but deliuer me from the snare of the hunterPsal. 91, 3., from the pestilence, and from the plague that destroieth at noone daie: that being planted [Page] in thine housePsa. 92, 13. 12. 14., I may flourish like a Palme tree, and grow like a Cedar in Libanon, bringing out fruite euen in mine old age.
Be thou my refuge, ô my God, the rocke of mine hopePsa. 94, 22: for thou Lord, art a great God, and a great King aboue al GodsPsal. 95, 3..
When thou wilt iudge the world with righteousnes, and thy people in truthPsa. 96, 13, I shal enioie light with the righteousPsal. 97, 11, and ioie with the vpright in hart.
Let thy right handPsa. 98, 1., and thine holie arme preserue me.
Thou which sittest vpon the CherubimsPsal. 99, 1., make me to come before thy presence with ioifulnes Psa. 100, 2., that I may walke in the vprightnes of mine hart in the mids of mine housePsa. 101, 2. 4. 6. 8..
Let a froward hart depart fro me; but cause mine eies to be turned vnto thy faithful, that I [Page] may sit with them walking in a perfect waie, when through thy iudgement thou shalt cut off al the workers of wickednes from thy Citie.
O Lord heare my praierPsa. 102, 1 2., and let my crie come vnto thee.
Hide not thy face fro me, in the time of trouble incline thine eares vnto me.
Pardon al my sinnesPsa. 103, 3. 4. 5., and redeeme my soule from destruction.
Satisfie my longing with good things, thou which lookest vpon the earth, and it tremblethPs. 104, 32; and broughtest foorth thy people with ioie, and thy chosen with gladnesPs. 105, 43..
Make mee to keepe iudgement, and to worke righteousnes at al timesPsa. 106, 3.
Bring me out of darkenes, and out of the shadowe of deathPs. 107, 14, that with a prepared hart I may [Page] sing and giue praisePsa. 108, 1..
Saue me, ô Lord, according to thy merciePs. 109, 26, that in the glorie of SainctsPsa. 110, 3., in the assemblie and congregation of the iustPsa. 111, 1. 3., my righteousnes may endure for euer; and mine horne be exalted with gloriePsa. 112, 9., that while thou raisest the needie out of the dust, and liftest vp the poore out of the dungPsa. 113, 7., I may blesse thee, ô Lord, from hencefoorth, and for euer,Psa. 115, 18, then I shal walke before the Lord in the land of the liuingPsa. 116, 9. 16..
Breake thou my bonds; and confirme thy mercie towards mePsa. 117, 2.. When I cal vpon thee in my trouble, ô Lord, heare mePsa 118, 5., and set me at large.
Teach me, ô Lord, the waie of thy statutesPs. 119, 33., that I may liue and keepe it vnto the end.
Giue me vnderstanding both to search thy Lawe,34. and to obserue [Page] it also with mine whole hart.
I haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe,176. ô seeke thy seruant, and deliuer my soulePsa. 120, 2..
Preserue my going out, and my comming inPsa. 121, 8., that my feete may stand in the courts of Ierusalem Psa. 122, 2..
I lift vp mine eies vnto thee, that dwellest in the heauensPsa. 123, 1..
Deliuer my soule out of the snare of the foulersPsa. 124, 7., least I put forth mine hands vnto wickednes Psa. 125, 3..
Fil my mouth with laughter, and my tongue with ioiePsa. 126, 2.; replenish my longing with good things, and blesse me out of Zion Psa. 128, 5., that I may see the wealth of Ierusalem, hauing escaped the cords of wickednesPsa. 129, 4..
Let thine eares attend vnto the voice of my praiersPsa. 130, 2., ô Lord.
Let not mine hart be hautie, [Page] nor mine eies loftiePsa. 131, 1.; but giue me grace to thinke humblie, vntil I finde a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mightie God of IaacobPsa. 132, 5..
There the Lord hath appointed the blessing, and life foreuer Psa. 133, 3.. There wil I lift vp mine hands to the Sanctuarie, and praise theePsa. 134, 2., who iudgest thy peoplePsal. 135, verse. 14., and art pacified toward thy seruants.
O God of GodsPsa. 136, 2. 3., and Lord of Lords, now weepingPsa. 137, 1., and worshipping toward thine holie TemplePsa. 138, 2., trie me, and knowe mePsal. 139, verse. 23. 24.; marke, and consider my pathes, and leade mee in thy waie for euer.
Deliuer me, ô Lord, from the euil manPsa. 140, 1., and preserue mee from the cruel man.
Let my praier be directed in thy sight as incensePsa. 141, 2..
Bring my soule out of prison, [Page] that I may praise thy NamePsa. 142, 7..
Heare my praier, ô Lord, in thy righteousnesPsa. 143, 1. 2.: and enter not into iudgement with thy seruant.
Heare me speedelie,7. ô Lord, least my spirit faile me: for thou, God art my refuge, and my deliuerer Psa. 144, 2..
And forsomuch as thou art great, and most worthie to be praisedPsa. 145, 3., and thy greatnes is incomprehensible; raise vp the crookedPsa. 146, 8., loase the shacled, and giue sight to the blinde, thou which doest build vp Ierusalem Psa. 147, 2..
And when thou hast made the bars of thy gates strong,13. let me be copled to thy children within.
As the Angels, and al the powers in the kingdome of heauen do praise theePsa. 148, 1. 2., there let me triumphing gloriouslie in [Page] the congregation of ye SainctsPsa. 149, 1., with the sounding cymbalsPsa. 150, 5. of my lips, praise and magnifie thy Name, the which is holie, and glorious, and raigneth now and euerlastinglie, Amen.
[...] [Page]God, tremble thereat, pag. 145.
34 A praier verie forceable to moue the mind vnto religion, and the loue of God, pag. 149.
35 A deuout praier for grace, to praise and to thanke the Lord dulie for his benefits, pag. 162.
36 A verie effectual praier to the stirring-vp of the mind vnto godlines beeing zealouslie vttered, pag. 174.
37 A praier in the time of troble, pag. 190.
38 A verie godlie praier vnto the Sonne, pag. 192.
39 A godlie praier vnto the Trinitie, meete oftentimes to be repeated, pag. 204.
40 A deuout praier vpon the recordation of the passion of Christ. pag. 212.
Afterward foloweth S. Augustine his Psalter.
¶A TABLE EXPRESSING THE SVNDRIE KINDS OF MEDITATIONS IN THIS BOOKE.
This booke conteineth special
- 1. Confessions.
- 2. Thankes-giuings.
- 3. Praiers.
And therefore Vse, if thou wouldest
- 1. Confesse, & acknoledge either
- the omnipotencie, wisdome, & goodnes of God, chap. 12, pag. 48; ch. 28, pag. 114; ch. 31, pag. 132.
- A sacred Trinitie, cha. 11, pag. 47; ch. 29. pag. 123; ch. 30. pag. 129.
- the blessednes of the life to come; chap. 21, pag. 86; ch. 22, pag. 90; ch. 24, pag. 96; ch. 32, pag. 141.
- the wretchednes of this life, chap. 20, pag. 83.
- the miserie of man before Christ suffered, chap. 7, pag. 28.
- the mercie of God in sauing mankind, ch. 8, pag. 35; ch. 15, pag. 59.
- 2. giue God hartie thanks
- for all his benefits in general, ch. 26, pag. 106; ch. 27, pag. 112; ch. 32, pag. 136.
- for thy saluation through Iesus Christ, ch. 14, p. 55; ch. 16, pag. 64; ch. 17, pag. 69.
- 3. Praie vnto God, either
- for grace
- to praie aright, ch. 5, pag. 20; ch. 33, p. 145. vnfainedlie to repent, ch. 35, pag. 162.
- to knowe the diuine mysterie of our redemption, c. 16. p. 64.
- to thanke God duelie for the benefit of thy saluation, ch. 17, p. 69.
- [Page] to serue God zealouslie, chap. 4, pag. 15; chap. 7, pag 28; ch. 9, pag. 43; chap. 10, pa. 46; chap. 31, pa. 132; cha. 34, pag. 149; ch. 36, pag. 174; cha. 39, pag. 204.
- to leade a good life, chap. 1, pag. 1; ch. 18, pag. 74.
- for
- the forgiuenesse of sinnes, chap. 6, pag. 24; chap. 8, pag. 35; chap. 13, pag. 51; chap. 37, pag. 190; ch. 38, pag. 192; chap. 39, pag. 204.
- the whole church of Christ, chap. 39, pag. 204.
- helpe in troble, ch. 23, pag. 93.
- the attainement of euerlasting happines, chap. 21, pag. 86; chap. 25, p. 103; chap. 36, pag. 174; chap. 40, pag. 212.
- for grace
FAVLTS ESCAPED.
| Page. | Line. | Fault. | Correction. |
| 26 | 2 | distilling | which distilled. |
| 31 | 1 | tastest | tastedst. |
| 88 | 10 | pruning | praieng. |
| 127 | 19 | the Sonne | the holie Spirit. |
| 150 | 23 | nectar pleasant | nectar more pleasant. |
1581.
OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT
Printed by Henrie Denham, dwelling in Pater noster Row, at the signe of the Starre.
Cum priuilegie Regiae Maiestatie.