A right Christian treatise, entituled S. Augustines 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 Augustines psalter: translated and quoted by the same T.R. S. Augustines praiers. 1581 Approx. 270 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 125 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A23061 STC 950 ESTC S100329 99836173 99836173 429

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A23061) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 429) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1475-1640 ; 869:05) A right Christian treatise, entituled S. Augustines 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 Augustines psalter: translated and quoted by the same T.R. S. Augustines praiers. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616. [10], 218, [24] p. By Henrie Denham, dwelling in Pater noster Row, at the signe of the Starre, Imprinted at London : 1581. Probably not in fact by Augustine. At foot of title: Cum priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis. "The psalter which S. Augustine composed for the use of his mother", p. [219]-[234]. With four final contents leaves. Possibly issued with "S. Augustines manuel", London, 1581; and "A pretious booke of heavenlie meditations", London, 1581. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.

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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.

1. Theſ. 5, 17. RRAIE CONTINVALIE.

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 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 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 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, 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, 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 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. 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.

The tenth of Iune. An. 1581. Yours in the Lord, THO. ROGERS.
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 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.

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; 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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; 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, 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 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 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 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 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? 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, 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 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 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..

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 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.

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 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!

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 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 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 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..

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., 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 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 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 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 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 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 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!

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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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, 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 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, 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..

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: 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 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 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.

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, 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 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; 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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, 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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. VNto the wel of life endles, My ſoule, ah drie, my ſoule doth thirſt, Wherein it lies in great distres, The fleſh hir gaile ſhe would haue birſt. She ſtirs, ſhe ſtriues, ſhe ſues amaine. Her countrie to enioie againe. Her preſent caſe while ſhe doth • ourne, Subiect to griefe, ſhe thinkes vpon The glorious ſtate ſhe had beforne, Which now through ſinne is quite igon. The euils wherein we be toſt, Bring into mind the bliſſe we loſt. For who can tel what ioie it is1. Cor. 2, 9., For to enioie the ſoueraigne peacePhil. 4, 7.? Where the foundations of ho • ſes With pretious ſtonesReu. 21, 19. riſe and encreaſe! With gold the roofes are al ſet out: With gold the parlors ſhine about. Of iewels onlie pretious, This goodlie buildin rected was! The ſtreete whereof is glorious, Paued with gold as ſhining glasReu. 21, 2 • . There is no ſlime, there is no lane: There is no ſicknes for to paineReu. 21, 4.. No winter cold, no ſommer hot, At no time there do men annoie. Freſh roaſes alwaie may be got, The ſpring alwaie men there enioie. The ſaffron red, the lilies white, The balme giueth ſent men to delight. The fields are freſh, the ſeede doth ſpring. With honie ſweete the riuers flowe. The pleaſant odors comfort bring, And ſauors good from ſpices go. The apples alwaie hang on tree, And euermore the woods greene bee. The Moone doth riſe ne yet decline, Nor ſtars, nor ſunne do alter race, The Lambe continualie doth ſhine In that ſame towne and bleſſed place. There is no time, nor anie nightReu. 22, 5., But euermore the daie is bright. For al the ſaincts ſhine gloriouſlie, As doth the ſinneMatt. 13, verſe. 34., euen they do ſo, After the triumph mutualie, They ſing together on a rowe. And make report with harts al glad, Of euerie fight which they haue had. Th'are freed from ſinne, and rid from ſtrife Of blood and ſprite: the fleſh and eke The mind enioie the ſpiritual life, And each one thing do thinke and ſeeke. Thers none offences to moleſt, They now poſſeſsing perfect reſt. Ful gladlie they do mention make, Being rid from change of former caſe, And comfort much they alwaie take, Of pleaſant truth ſeeing the faceReu. 22, 4. Hence liuelie ioie from liuing ſpring: Thence being rid they skip and ſing. They noble, ſtrong, they iocund are, From trobles now they be ſet free. The healthful there right wel doe fare: And youth dreads nought old age to ſee. Hence too & thence they ſpring, & last: For frailtie now is gone and past. Their ſtate diuine doth vp ſwalowe, The mightie force of death ſo fel. God knowing al things they which knowe▪ Al other things most knowe right wel. For ech mans hart to ech mans ſight Is ope. In one they do delight. One thing they loath, one thing they like, Their harts, and mind, and wil are one: Albe they are not crownd alike, For thoſe good deeds which they haue done. Loue worketh ſo that each mans blis. To al men due, and common is. The Egles meete where carcaſe liesMatth. 24, verſe. 28.. That holie ſoules with Angels good, May be renued in the skies: In euerie place they eate one food, They filled are, & yet do craue. They would thoſe things the which they haue. Yet loath they nought: though ful they be. Their hunger doth them moue nothing. They eate and that ful greedilie: And eating pricks them to eating. The pleaſant ſongs expel ſad feares, And organe pipes doe pleaſe the eares. Due praiſe they yeeld vnto the King, Through whom they doe triumph in blis. O happie ſoule is ſuch, ſeeing Before th • Lord it preſent is, And from his ſeate with look • ful bold▪ How earth is ruled doth behold! And how the Stars, the Sunne, and Moone, With Planets al their place doe keepe! After my fight, ô let • e ſoone Approch vnto this felowſhip. O Christ, my ſute doe thou regard, Of ſtriuers who art the reward. And make me to receaue apart Of that ſame blis which they poſſeſſe. Giue ſtrength that with couragious hare, I may endure the fight eaſeleſſe. That battel fought, I then may find Long rest, thee Christ, euen to my mind. 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 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 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 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 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; 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 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 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 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., 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:

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, 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 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 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 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:

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, 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 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, 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 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 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.

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 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 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, 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.

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:

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:

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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 •• 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, 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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., 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 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 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 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 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 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., 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, 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 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 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!

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 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 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 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..

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 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, 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, 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 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 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., 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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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. 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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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, 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.

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 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, 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 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 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 ende of S. AVGVSTINE his PRAIERS. FINIS.
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 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., 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 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 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.

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.

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 • , • ., 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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, 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 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.

Luke. 2, verſe. 14. GLORIE TO GOD ON HIGH. FINIS.

〈2… pages missing〉 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.

FINIS.
¶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. 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.

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.