The Second Treatise of Vocal Praier

OF THE VTILITIE AND necessitie of vocal praier. CHAP. I

ALBEIT vocall praier be in deede of greate fruite, and profit at all times, and for all kind of states and persons, yet particularlie it serueth for such, as dooe not geeue them selus wel to th'exercise of meditation, whereof we haue writen in the former treatise. For to such, as hath ben alredie said, vocall praiers doe serue verie much, & more particularlie for those, that dooe not vnderstand laten. For whome this treatise shalserue as a deuocionarie, in which they maie exercise and stirre vp theire deuotion. And for this also, the doctrine of the former treatise maieserue, in which those things, arhandled, that help deuotion, and those also, that hinder the same; that by this meanes a man maie procure the one, and quite him self of the others that be contrarie, and so with th'one and other treatise, further and augment his deuotion.

And after that he shall haue som daies cōtinued these praiers, yf he find conuenient time, he maie exercise him self in mentall praier, that is in those considerations, which haue ben set downe in the meditations of the former treatise; that in this manner we maie goe by little, and little mounting vp from that which is easie, to that which is more difficultous and hard.

This little preamble then presupposed, we wil begin to laie downe heere certaine praiers, amongst which these seuen, that folow, shall haue the first place, and eche of them serueth to obtaine som particular vertue, and grace of our lord, as by them shall appeere. And these seuen praier; maie be diuided, according to the seuen daies of the weeke, that is, to eche daie his praier; and after that these be ended, a man maie exercise him self in others, as his deuotion shall require.

A PREAMBLE TO THE PRAIERS that folow, treating of the preparation, and mind, with which they must…

WHEN thou shalt sitte (saith the wise man) to eate with a Prince, ¹ consider diligentlie those things, that ar set before thy face: that thereby thou maist know what thou oughtest to prepare for thy parte. And conformablie to this document, let him that commeth to treate with almightie God in praier, first of al fixe his eys vppon our lord, with whome he gooth to treate, and consider with greate attention, what, and whoe he is; because such a one as he is, whome he representeth to him self, such a hart & affects it behoueth that he haue towards him. Let him then lift vp his eyes on high with al humilitie, and behold God sitting in the throne of his maiestie, aboue alwhatsoeuer is created, and let him consider how this is he, ² whoe hath writen in his garment, and in his thigh, king of kings, and lord of lords, & also how he is infinitelie perfect, beautiful, glorious, good, merciful, iust, terrible, and admirable; likewise how he is a most kind father, a most liberall benefactor, and a most gentell Redeemer and Sauiour. And after that he hath considered him in this sorte, let him forthwith think with what vertues, and affects he ought of his part to be answerable to these titles; and he shall find, that for asmuch as he is God, he deserueth to be adored; because he is infinitelie perfect and glorious, to be praised; because he is good and beautiful, to be beloued; because he is terrible and iust, to be feared; because he is lord and king of all things, to be obeyed; in respect of his benifits, he deserueth infinite benedictions, and thanks; because he is our Creator and Redeemer, he deserueth that we offer him al that we ar, seeing all is his: and because he is our helper and Sauiour, it behoueth that of him onlie we seeke remedie for all our necessities.

These and such other like actes of vertues, oweth a reasonable Creature to those titles, and greatenes of his Creator. These be the vertues, and these the assects, with which we must of our part be answerable, and honour this lord, whoe as he is all things, so will he be worshipped and respected with all these affects and feelings; which, although they be vertuallie exercised, and found in all those woorks, which be donne for his loue, yet more excellentlie they be exercised in praier.

And this is one of the greatest prerogatiues that praier hath, being made as it ought to be, that in the same be found the acts of al these most noble vertues, Faith, Hope, Charitie, Humilitie, Religion, Feare of God, and other such, as we shall euidentlie see in the praiers folowing, which conteine all this; and therefore it behoueth, that they be greatlie esteemed of, and exercised with much deuotion and repose of mind.

THE FIRST PRAIER, FOR THE first daie of the weeke, which serueth to stirre vp in our sowle a holie…

YF that publican of the ghosple, ³ was not so bold as to lift vp his eys to heauen, but standing a far of, did strike his brest and said, God be merciful to me a sinner: and yf that holy woman a sinner, ⁴ was not so hardy as to present her self before the face of our lord, but going behind him, did cast her self downe at his feete, and with the teares of her eys, obteined pardon of her sinnes; and yf the holie Patriarch Abraham, ⁵ desyring to speake vnto thee, said, I wil speake vnto my lord, albeit I be dust and ashes: yf these, I saie, were so lowlie & humble, when they presented them selues before thy maiestie, being yet such persons as they were, what shall one so poore & miserable a sinner, as I am, doe? what shall durt and as hes dooe? what shall the bottomles deepnes of all sinnes and miseries dooe?

But because I am not able, o lord, to obteine that feare and reuerence, which is due vnto thy maiestie, without casting mine eyes vppon the same; giue me leaue that I may be so bould as to lift vp mie bleare eyes, in such sort, that the brightnesse of thy glorie, doe not dasel the weakenes of my sight. And for so much as the beginning of true wisdome, is the feare of thy holy name, with this, o lord, haue I a desire to beginne now.

Giue me then grace, o my lord, my God, and vouchsafe to powre into my soule the gift of feare, by the meanes of thy holy spirite; for without it, al the considerations, that I am able to alleage heere, wil little auaile me; because to this feare thou didst exhort vs, ⁶ when thou didst saie. Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after this haue no more to doe. But I wil shew you whome ye shall feare: feare him whoe after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hel, yea I say to you, feare him. This self same the holie Church teacheth vs, ⁷ when she saith. Be not asraid in the presence of nations. But adore and feare ye God in your harts, because his Angel is with you to deliuer you. Let my sowle then, o lord, and my hart feare thee, seeing in thee, whoe art al things, there is no les reason wherefore to feare thee, then to loue thee. For as thou art in deede infinitelie merciful, so art thou infinite lie iust; & as the woorks of thy mercie be innumerable, so be also the woorks of thy iustice, and, that which is much more to be feared, the vessels of wrath be without comparison moe, then the vessels of mercie; for somuch as those that be damned, ar so manie; & those that be saued, so fewe. Let me then, o lord, feare thee, for the greatnes of thy iustice, for the deepenes of thy iudgments, and for the highnes of thy maiestie, for the immensitie of thy greatnes, for the number of my sinnes and offences, and aboue al, for the continual resistance against thy holy inspirations. Let me feare thee, and tremble before thee, before whose face the powers doe tremble, the pillers of heauen, yea and al the whole compasse of the earth dooe quake. Whoe then, O king of nations, wil not feare thee? whoe wil not tremble at those woords, which thou thy self hast spoken by thy Prophet. Wil you not then seare me, ⁸ and before mie face wil you not be sorowsul? whoe haue set the sands a bound to the sea, and an eternal commaundement which he shal not passe? and they shal be moued and shal not be able, and his waues shall swelle, and shall not passe ouer it. Yf then al the creatures of heauen & earth, doe in this manner obey and feare thee, for the greatnes of thie maiestie, what shall I doe, most vile sinner, dust and ashes? yf the Angels tremble, when they adore thee, and sing thie praises, wherefore doe not mie lippes and mie hart tremble, when I am so bold as to doe this office? O miserable wretch that I am! how is mie sowle becom so hard? how ar the fountaines of mine eys dried vp, that they powre not out abūdance of teares, when the seruant speaketh with his lord, the creature with his Creator, man with God, he that was made of slime and cley, with him that made al of nothing? more I would saie, but I am not able, because I can not doe al that I desire. Thou, ⁹ o lord, fasten with thie feare mie flesh; let mie hart reioice, that it may feare thy holy name.

Let me also feare thee, o lord, for the greatnes of thie iudgments, which thou hast shewed from the beginning of the woorld vntil this daie. A greate iudgment was the fall of that Angel, ¹⁰ so principall and so beautifull. A greate iudgment was the fall of all mankind, for the fault committed by one. ¹¹ A greate iudgment was the punishment of the whole woorld, by the waters of the diluge. A greate iudgment was the election of Iacob, & the reprobation of Esau; the forsaking of Iudas, and the vocation of S. Paul; the reprobation of the Iewes, and the election of the Gentiles; with other such like wounders, which dailie passe ouer mens heads and yet ar vnknowen to vs. And aboue al this, a most dreadfull iudgement it is, to see so manie nations vppon the face of the earth, to be in the countrey & shadow of death, and in the darknes of infidelitie, going from one darknes to an other, and from temporal paines to eternal torments. Let me then feare thee, o lord, for the greatnes of these iudgments, seeing I know not, as yet, whither I shalbe one of these forsaken, ¹² or noe. For yf the iust shall scarse be saued, the sinner and wicked where shall he appeare? yf that innocent man Iob, trembled at the furie of thie wrath, as at the violence of the sourging waues, how shal not he be afraid & tremble, that seeth him self so far of from this innocencie? yf the Prophet Ieremie trembled being sanctified in the wombe, and found no corner were to hide him self, because he was full of the feare of thie anger, what shall he dooe, that came from his mothers wombe with sinne, and hath since that time committed so manie, and so gteat sinnes? Let me feare thee also, o lord, for the innumerable multitude of mie sinnes, with which I must appeare before thy iudgment, when before thie face there shall com that burning fiar, and round about thee a boisterous tempest; when thou shalt assemble heauen and earth together, to iudge thy people. There, then, before so manie thowsands of nations, shal be discouered my wickednes; before so manie quiars of Angels, shal be diuulged my sinnes, not onlie those committed by woords and woorks, but those also committed by thoughts. Where I shall haue as manie for my iudges, as haue gone before me by example of good woorkes; and so manie shall be witnesses against me, as haue giuē me presidents of vertues. And yet expecting this iudgment, I cease not to giue bridell to my vices, but rather more & more I lie rotting, and corrupting in the dregges of my sinnes; stil glutonie maketh me vile, pride maketh me vaine, couetousnes maketh me niggesh, enuie consumeth me, murmuration teareth me in peeces, ambition puffeth me vp, anger trowbleth me, lightnes of māners draweth me out of my self, sluggishnes benūmeth me, heauines casteth me downe, and fauour lifteth me vp. Thou seest heere the companions, with which I haue liued frō the daie of mie childhood, vntil this present time; these be the frinds, with whome I haue cō uersed; these the maisters, that I haue obeied; these the lords, which I haue serued, Enter not therfore, o lord, ¹³ into iudgment with thy seruant, because no man liuing shall be iustified before thee: for whoe is he that shal be found iust, yf thou wouldest iudge him without pitie? for this then, o lord, prostrating my self at thy feete, with an humble and contrite spirite, I wil weepe with the Prophet, and saie. ¹⁴ Lord rebuke me not in thy furie; nor chasten me in thy wrath. Haue mer […]e vppon me, lord, because I am weake; heale me, lord, because mie bones ar trowbled. And mie sowle is verie much trowbl[…]d; but thou, lord, how long? Be thou conuerted, lord, and deliuer my sowle; saue me for thy mercie. Because there is none in death, that is mindful of thee; and in hel, whoe will confesse vnto thee? I haue laboured in my sigh, I shall euerie night wash mie bed; with my teares shall I weat mie couche. Mine eye is troubled with furie, I am waxen old among al mine enimies. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne, and to the holie ghost; As it was in the beginning, and now, and euer, and woorld without end. Amen.

THE SECOND PRAIER; FOR THE second daie, of the praises of God. CHAP. IIII

IN this exercise of feare and penance, it behoued me, o lord, to spend all mie life; seeing I haue so iust cause wherefore to feare, and wherfore to lament. Yet notwithstanding al this, as the greatnes of thie glorie obligeth vs, to woorship & reuerence thee; so likewise doth it binde vs to praise and glorifie thee, because to thee onlie is due a hymne, and praise in Sion, thou being in deede, as thou art, a passing great deepenes of al perfections, and a maine sea of wisdom, of omnipotencie, of bewtie, of riches, of greatnes, of sweetenes, of maiestie; in whome be all the perfections, and bewties of all creatures in heauen and in earth, and those also all in the highest degree of perfection. In comparison of which, al bewtie, is foulnes; all riches, at pouretie; al power, is weakenes; al wisdom, is ignorance; all sweetenes, is bitternes; and finallie all, whatsoeuer we see in heauen and in earth, is much les before thee, then is a little candel, in comparison of the sunne.

Thou art without deformitie, perfect; without quantitie, great; without qualitie, good; without weaknes, strong; without place, al wheresoeuer thou wilt; in vertue, omnipotent; in goodnes, highest; in wisdom, inestimable; in thy counsels, terrible; in thy iudgments, iust; in thy thoughts, most secreat; in thy woords, true; in thy woorks, holy; in thy mercies, abundant; with sinners, most patient; and with those that be penitent, most pitiful. Therfore, o lord, for such a one I dooe confesse, and acknowledge thee; for such a one I dooe praise thee, & glorifie thy holy name. Giue thou me light in my hart, and woords in my mouth, that my hart may think of thy […]rie; and my mouth be ful of thy praises. But for somuch as praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner, ¹⁵ I request all the Angels of heauen, and al the creatures of the woorld, that they together with me praise thee, and supplie in this behalfe my faults; inuiting them to this, with that glorious canticle, which those holy children did sing vnto thee, amiddest the flames of fiar in the fornace of Babilon saying. Blessed art thou, ¹⁶ ô lord god of our fathers, and praised, and superexalted for euer. And blessed is the holie name of thie glorie, and praised, and superexalted for euer. Blessed art thou in the holie temple of thie glorie, and superpraised, and superglorious for euer. Blessed art thou in the throne of thie kingdom, and superpraised, and superexalted for euer. Blessed art thou that beholdest the deapths, and sittest vppon the Cherubines, and praised, and superexalted for euer. Blessed art thou in the firmament of he auen & raised, and glorious for euer. All the woorks of our lord, blesse our lord, praise and exalt him for euer. Angels of our lord, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Heauens blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. All waters that be aboue the heauens, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. All vertues of our lord, blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer. Sunne and moone blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Stars of heauen blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. All raine and dewe blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Al spirits of God blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer. Fiar and heate blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Winter and sommer blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Moisti[…]res and hore frost blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Frost and cold blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Yse and snowe blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Nights & daies blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Light and darknes blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Lightnings and clowdes blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Let the earth blesse our lord, let it praise and superexalt him for euer. Mountaines and hillocks blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. All things that spring vppon the earth blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Welles blesse our lord, praise & superexalt him for euer. Seas & riuers blesse our lord, praise & superexalt him for euer. Whales, & all things that be moued in the waters, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. All byrds of the atre blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Children of men blesse our lord, praise & superexalt him for euer. Let I srael blesse our lord, let him praise & superexalt him for euer. Priests of our lord, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Seruants of our lord, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Spirites and sowles of iust men, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Holie and humble of hart, blesse our lord, praise and superexalt him for euer. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne, and to the holie ghost: as it was in the beginning, and now, and euer, and woorld without end, Amen.

THE THIRD PRAIER, FOR THE third daie, to giue thanks to God for his benifits. CHAP. V

I LIKE-wise giue thee thanks, o lord, for all the benifits & fauours, which I haue receaued of thee, since the time that I was cōceiued, vntil this present daie, & for the loue, which from al eternitie thou hast borne me, when euen from the same, thou didst determine to create me, to redeeme me, to make me thine, & to giue me al that, which hitherto thou hast geauen me, for somuch as al that I haue, or may hope to haue, is thine. Thine is my bodie, with al the parts and senses of the same; thine is my sowle, with al her habilities and powers; thine be al the howers and minutes, that hitherto I haue liued; thine is the streangth and health, which thou hast geauen me; thine is heauen, and the earth which susteineth me; thine is the sunne and the moone, the stars and the feelds, the fowles and the fishes, the beasts and al other creatures, which at thy commaundement serue me. Al this, o my lord, is thine, and for the same I geaue thee as manie thanks, as I am able to giue thee. Neuertheles, much greater thanks I yeeld thee, that thou thie self hast vouchsafed to becom mine, seeing that for my remedie, thou hast offred and geauen all thie self; in so much that for me thou wast clothed with fleash; for me thou wast borne in a stall; for me thou wast reclined in a manger; for me thou wast swadled in poore cloutes; for me thou wast circumcised the eight daie: for me thou didst flie into Egypt; for me thou wast in so diuers sorts tempted, persecuted, yl vsed, scourged, crowned with thornes, dishonoured, iudged to death, and nailed vppon a crosse; for me thou didest fast, praie, watch, weepe, and suffer the greatest torments and outrages, that euer were suffred. For me thou didst ordeine, and dresse the medicines of thy sacraments, with the liquor of thie pretious blowd, and principallie the cheefest of all the Sacraments, which is that of thie most sacred bodie (wherein thou, o mie God, art conteined) for mie reparation, for mie maintenance, for mie strength, for mie delices, for a pledge of mie hope, and for a testimonie of thie loue. For al this I yeeld thee as great, and as manie thanks as I can giue thee, saying, from the bottom of mie hart, with the Prophet Dauid, ¹⁷ Blesse o mie sowle our lord, and al those things that ar within me, his holie name. Blesse o mie sowle our lord, and forget not all his fauours. Whoe hath pitie of all thy iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases. Whoe deliuereth from death thy life, whoe crowneth the in mercie and compasstons. Whoe filleth thy desire in goods, thy youth shal be renued as that of an eagle. Our lord is dooing mercie, and iudgment to all that suffer iniurie. He made his waies knowen to Moises, to the children of Israel his wils. Our lord is merciful and pitiful, long-suffering, and verie merciful. He wil not be angrie for euer, neither for euer wil hee threaten. He hath not dealt with vs according to our sinnes, neither according to our iniquities hath he rewarded vs. Because according to the height of heauen from earth, hath he confirmed his mercie vppon those that feare him. As far as the east is distant from the weast, hath he made far from vs our iniquities. Euen as a father hath compassion of his sonnes, our lord hath had compassion of such as seare him, because he knoweth our woorkmanshippe. He remembred that we ar dust; a man as the grasse, so ar his daies, as the flouer of the filde, so shall he fade. Because his spirite shall passe awaie in him, and shall not remaine, and shall not knowe anie more his place. But the mercie of our lord from euer, and euen for euer vppon those that feare him. And his iustice vppon the sonnes of sonnes, to those that keepe his testament. And ar mindfull of his comandements, to fulfil them. Our lord hath prepared his seate in heauen, and his kingdom shall ouerrule all. All Angels blesse our lord, that be mightie of power, and dooe his woord, to obey the voice o[…] his speeches. Blesse ye our lord al his vertues; you his ministres that dooe his will. Blesse our lord all his woorks, and in euerie place of his soueraigntie, blesse thou, o mie sowle, our lord. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne &c.

THE FOWERTH PRAIER, FOR the fouerth daie, of the loue of God. CHAP. VI

AND yf we be so greatlie bound to our benefactours by reason of theire benifits, yf euerie benefit be as it were a fiarbrand, and a prouokement to loue, and yf according to the great quantitie of woode, the fiar is also great that is kindled in it; how great then should the fiar of loue be, that ought to burne in my hart, seeing the woode of thy benifits is so greate, and so manie the prouokements that I haue of loue? yf al this world visible & inuisible be for me; ought not, by al reason, the flame, of loue that should rise thereof, to be as greate as it? And speciallie I ought to loue thee, because in thee onlie; ar to be found al the reasons and causes of loue, that be in al creatures, and those also in the highest degree of perfection. For yf we speake of goodnes, whoe is more good then thou? yf of beautie, whoe is more beautiful then thou? yf of sweetnes and benignitie, whoe is more sweete and bening then thou? yf of riches and wisdome, whoe is more riche and more wise then thou? yf of loue, whoe hath euer loued more, then he that so much suffered for our sakes? yf of benifits, whose is al that we haue, but thine? yf of hope, of whome dooe we hope to haue whatsoeuer we neede, yf not of thie mercie? yf to our parents we naturallie ought to beare great loue, ¹⁸ whoe is more our father, then he that saith. Cal none father to your self vppon earth, for one is your father, he that is in heauen? Yf the bridegromes ar beloued with soe great loue, whoe is the bridegrome of my sowle, but thou; and whoe filleth the bosome of my hart, and of my desires but thou? yf the last end, as the Philosophers say, is beloued with infinite loue; whoe is my beginning, & my last end but thou? whēce came I, and whither goe I to repose, but to thee? whose is that which I haue, and of whome must I receaue that which I neede, but of thee? finallie yf likenesse be cause of loue, to whose image and resemblance was mie sowle created, but to thine? This is euidentlie knowen by her manner of operation, for where there is like manner of operation, there is also like manner of being: and this, o lord, is so betwixt thee and man; for no other thing is that which the Philosophers saie, that art doth imitate nature, and nature art, but to saie that man doth woork as God, and God as man. Where then there is so great likelihood in woorking, there is also in being. If therfore this title, and eche one of the rest by it self, be so sufficient a motiue of loue; what a motiue behoueth that to be, that procedeth of all these titles together? Trulie that vantage which the whole maine sea hath, in respect of eche one of those riuers that enter into it, the same it behoued also that this loue should haue, in respect of al other loues.

Yf then, o mie lord and mie God, I haue so manie causes to loue thee, wherfore shal I not loue thee with all my hart, & with all my bowels? O all my hope! o the most beloued of all beloueds! O florishing spowse! sweete spowse! honie-sweete spowse! O my louing beginning, & my highest sufficiencie, when shal I loue thee with al my forces, & with all my soule? when shal I be agreeable to thee in al things? when shall all that die, which in me is contrarie to thee? when shal I be wholie thine? when shal I leaue to be mine owne? whē shal nothing beside thee liue in me? when shall all the flame of thy loue burne me? when wilt thou rauish, drowne, and transport me into thee? when wilt thou take awaie all impediments & disturbance, & make me one spirite with thee, in such sort, that I may neuer more depart from thee? Ah good Lord, what doth it cost thee to doe me so great good? what doest thou quite of thy house? what dost thou lose of thy substāce? wherfore then, o lord, thou being a sea of infinite liberalitie & clemencie, doest thou reteine in thine anger thy mercies towardes me? wherfore shal my wickednes ouercom thy goodnes? wherfore shal my faults be a grea ter occasion to cōdemne me, then thy goodnes to saue me? if in steede of sorow & penance, it please thee to accept of it, I am so much discontented to ha[…]e offended thee, that I would rather haue endured a thowsand deaths, then haue committed anie one offence against thee. If in steede of satisfaction thou please to take it, behold here this my miserable bodie; execute, o lord, vppon it al the furie of thy wrath, with this condition, that thou doe not depriue me of thie loue. I request not at thie hands gold nor siluer, I demaund not of thee heauen nor earth, nor anie other thing created, because all this can not satiate me without thee, and all to me is but pouertie, without thie loue. Loue I desire, loue I request at thie hands, loue I demand thee, for thie loue dooe I suspire, graunt me thie loue, and it suffiseth me. Wherfore, o lord, doest thou so much differre me this fauour? wherfore doest thou see me languish daie and night, and doest not succor me? How long o lord wilt thou forget me? how long wilt thou turne thie face awaie from me? how long shall mie sowle goe wauering with so great anxietie and desire? Behold me, o mie lord, and haue mercie vppon me. I demaund not of thee that copious portion, which is giuen to children; I wil content mie self with one onlie little crumbe of those, that come from thie table. Heere then I present mie self as a poore, and hungrie little whelp before thy riche table; heere I stand beholding thee in the face, and considering how thou doest eate, and doest giue to eate to thy children, with the repast of thy glorie. Heere I stand changing a thowsand formes, and figures in my hart, and this to bend downe thy hart, that thou take compassion of me. The things of this woorld, o lord, doe not fil me, thee onlie I long for, thee I seeke, thy face, o lord, I desire, & thy loue wil I alwaies demand, and sing with thy Prophet. ¹⁹ I wil loue thee o lord my fortitude; our lord is mie staie, and my refuge, and he that deliuereth me. My God, my helper, & I wil hope in him; my protector, and the horne of my saluation, and my receauer. Praising I wil cal vppon our lord, and from my enemies I shal be safe. Glorie be to the father and to the sonne, &c.

THE FIFT PRAIER, FOR THE fift daie, of hope in God. CHAP. VII

NETHER doth all this, onlie bind me to loue thee, but also to put all my hope in thee alone, for in whome ought I to haue hope, if not in one that so much loueth me, and in one that hath donne me so much good, and in one that hath suffred so much for me, and in one that hath so oftentimes called me, expected me, tolerated me, forgeauen me, and deliuered me from so manie euils? In whome ought I to hope, but in him that is infinitelie merciful, pitiful, louing, gentle, suffering and pardoning? In whome ought I to hope, but in him that is my father, and my father almightie, father to loue me, and almightie to remedie me; father to wish me wel, and almightie to doe me good; whoe hath more care and prouidence of his spiritual children, then anie carnal father of his natural children. Finallie in whome ought I to hope, but in him, that almost in al his holie scriptures, repeateth nothing more, then commaunding me that I approche to him, and hope in him, and promiseth me a thowsand fauours and rewards yf I doe so; geauing me for paune of al this his veritie and his word, his benifits bestowed vpdon me, his torments endured for me, and his bloud which he hath shed in confirmation of this truth, what is there then, that I maie not hope of so good a God, and so true; of a God that hath so much loued me, that he vouchsafed to be clod with fleash for me; and suffered scourging pinching, and buffeting for me; & finallie of a God, that did let him self die vppon a Crosse for me; and enclosed him self in a sacred host for me? How can he flie from me, when I seeke him, whoe hath so sought me, when I fled from him? How can he denie me pardon, when I seeke it at his hands, whoe hath commaunded me that I request it of him? How can he denie me remedie, which now costeth him nothing, whoe procured me the same, when it did cost him so deerelie? for althese reasons then, I wil confidentlie hope in him, and with the holy Prophet, in al my tribulations and necessities I wil hartilie sing. Our lord is mie light, ²⁰ and mie saluation, whome shal I feare? Our lord is the protector of mie life, at whome shal I tremble? yf armies shal stand against me, my hart, shal not feare. Yf war shal rise against me, in him will hope. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne, &c.

The Sixt Praier for the Sixt Daie, of Obedience. Chap. VIII

BVT for asmuch as hope is not secure without Obedience (according to that which the Psalmist saith, Sacrifice ye sacrifice of iustice, ²¹ and hopeye in our lord) giue thou me, o my God, that with this hope in thy mercie, I ioine the obedience of thy holy commaundements, seeing that I no lesse owe thee this Obedience, then all other whatsoeuer vertuous affects; because thou art my king, my lord, my Emperour, to whome the heauen, the earth, the sea and alcreatures obey, whose commaundements and lawes they haue hitherto kept, and wil obserue for euer. Let me then, o lord, obey thee more then they al, for somuch as I am more obliged thereunto then they. Let me obey thee, o my king, and obserue entirelie all thy most holie lawes. Reigne thou in me, o lord, and let not the woorld reigne in me anie more, nor the Prince of the woorld, nor mie flesh, nor mine owne propre will but thine. Let all these tyrans depart out of me, that be vsurpers of thy seate, theeues of thy glorie, corrupters of thy iustice, and doe thou onlie, o lord, commaund and ordeine, and let onlie thou, and thysceptre be acknowledged, and obeyed: that so thy wil maie be donne in earth, as it is fulfilled in heauen. O when shall this daie be! O when shall I see my self free from these tyrans! O when shall there be heard in my sowle none other voice, but thine! O when shal the forces, and pykes of mie enimies be so subiected, that I find no contradiction in my self, to fulfil thy holy wil and pleasure! O when shall this boistrous & tempestuous sea be so calme, when shall this heauen be so faire and vnclowdie, when shall mie passions be so quiet and mortified, that there be neither waue, nor clowde; nor noise, nor anie other perturbation, that maie alter, and chaunge this peace and obedience, and hinder this thie kingdom in me? Giue thou me, o lord this obedience, or to saie better, this soueraigntie ouer mie hart, that in such sort it maie obey me, that in al things I maie subiect the same to thee: and being in this subiection, I maie saie with al mie hart as the Prophet said. ²² Set me o lord for alaw, the waie of thy iustifications, and I wil search it out alwaies. Giue me vnderstanding, and I wil seeke thie law, and wil keepe it with al mie hart. Guide me in the pathe of thy commaundements, because Thaue desired the same. Incline my hart to thy testimonies, and not to auarice. Turne away mine eys that they see not vanitie, in thy waie quicken me. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne, and to the holie ghost, &c.

THE SEVENTH PRAIER, FOR THE seuenth daie, in which a man offereth him self, and al things that he…

EVEN so as I am bound, o lord, to obey thee, am I also bound to resigne, and offer my self into thy hands, because I am altogether thyne, & thyne by so manie, and soe iust titles. Thyne, because thou hast created me, and giuen me this being that I haue: thyne, because thou doest maintaine me in this being, with so manie benifits and fauours of thy prouidence: thyne, because thou hast redeemed me out of captiuitie, & hast bought me, not with gold nor siluer, but with thine owne bloud; and thine, because so manie other times thou hast redeemed me, how manie times thou hast drawen me out of sinne. Yf then by so manie titles & claimes I be thine, and yf thou for so manie respects be mie king, mie lord, mie Redeemer, and mie deliuerer, heere I turne to resigne into thie hands thie substance, which I my self am; heere I offer mie self to be thie sclaue and captiue; heere I giue vp the kaies and omage of mie will, to th'end that henceforward I be no more mine owne, nor of anie other, but thine; that I liue not, but for thee; nor doe no more mine owne will, but thine, in such sort, that I nether eate, nor drinke, norsleepe, nor doe anie other thing, which is not according to thee, and for thee. Heere doe I present mie self to thee, that thou dispose of me, as of thine owne substance, as it best pleaseth thee. Yf it like thee that I liue, that I dye, that I be in health, that I be sick, that I be riche, that I be poore, that I be honoured, that I be dishonoured, to all I offer mie self, and resigne my self into thie hands, and I dispossesse me of mie self, that I be now no more mine owne, but thine, in so much, that what is thine by iustice and right, be also thine by mie will. But whoe, o lord, can doe anie of these things without thee? whoe can make as much as one steppe without thee? Giue me therfore grace o lord, to doe that which thou commaundest, and commaund whatsoeuer it pleaseth thee. Remember, o lord, that thou thy self hast commaūded vs most instantlie, that we should ask thee, saying: Aske, and it shal be giuen you; ²³ seeke and you shal finde; knocke and it shal be opened to you. Thou also thie self hast said by thy Prophet. ²⁴ A God iust, and sauing there is not besides me. Be conuerted to me, and you shal be saued, al the ends of the earth. Yf then thou thy self, o lord, doest cal vs, d[…]est inuite vs, and doest hold open thine armes, to the end that we com to thee, wherefore should we not hope, that thou wvilt receaue vs in them? Thou art not, o lord, as men ar, whoe becom poore by giuing, and therfore ar so troubled, when ought is demaunded of them. Thou art not so, because as thou becommest not poore in th'one, thou art not offended in th'other; and therefore to ask of thee, isn't to importunate thee, but to obey thee (seeing thou hast commaunded vs to ask of thee) to honour thee, and to glotifie thee: for by dooing this, we protest that thou art God, and the vniuersal lord, and giuer of althings; of whome we ought to demaūdal, seeing that of thee dependeth al whatsoeuer. And hence it is, that thou thy self doest demaund vs this sort of sacrifice, aboue al others saying. ²⁵ Cal vppon me in the daie of tribulation, I wil deliuer thee, and thou shalt honour me. I then being moued through this thy gracious commaundement, doe com to thee, and beseeche thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to giue all this, that I owe vnto thee; to wit that I maie so adore thee, so feare and reuerence thee, so praise thee, so giue thee thanks for althy benifits, so loue thee with al my ha[…]t, so settle al mie hope and confidence in thee, so obey thy holie cōmaundements, so offer & resigne mie self into thy hands, and so vnderstand how to request thee other fauours, as it behoueth me to doe for thy glorie, and for my saluation. I beseeche thee also, o lord, to graunt me pardon of my sinnes, & true contrition & confession of them al, & to giue me grace, that I maie no more offend thee in them, nor in anie other; and cheefelie I demaund of thee strength and vertue to chasten mie flesh, to refraine my toung to mortifie the appetites of my hart, & to recollect the thoughts of my imagination, that I, being altogether so renued and reformed, may deserue to be a liuing temple, and thy abode. Giue me likewise, o lord, al those vertues, by which this thy dwelling place mare be not onlie p[…]rified and cleansed, but also adorned and decked, such as be the feare of thy holie name; a most stedfast hope; a most profound humilitie; most perfect patience; a cleare discretion: pouretie of spirite; perfect Obedience; continual strength & diligence in al trauails, apperteining to thy holie seruice; and aboue al, a most inflamed charitie towards my neighbours, and towards thee. And for asmuch as I deserue none of al these things, be mindful, o lord, of thy mercie, which presupposeth our miserie, to be put in execution. Be mindful, ²⁶ that thou desi[…]est not the death of a sinner, as thy self hast said, but that he be conuerted and liue. Be mindful, that thy onlie begoten sonne came not into this woorld, as he him self said, to seeke those that be iust, but sinners. ²⁷ Be mindful, that whatsoeuer he did, and suffred in this woorld, from the daie that he was borne, vntill he gaue vp the ghost vppon the Crosse, he suffred it not for him self, but for me; which all, I offer vp to thee in sacrifice, for my necessities and offenses; and for his sake, and not for myne owne, doe I beseeche thee of mercie. And for asmuch as of thee it is said, that thou wilt honour the father in his sonnes, honour him, by dooing good to me. Be mindfull, that I haue recourse to thee, that I enter through thy gates, and that to thee, as to a true physition and lord, I present my necessities, and wounds; and so with this spirite will I cal vppon thee, with that p[…]aie which the Prophet Dauid made, saying. Incline, ²⁸ o lord, thyne eare, and heare me; because I am needie and poore. Keepe my sowle, because I am holy; saue, o my God, thy seruant, that hopeth in thee. Haue mercie vppon me, o lord, because to thee haue I cried al the day; make glad the sowle of thy seruant, because to thee, o lord, haue I lifted vp my sowle. Because thou, o lord, art sweete and milde and of much mercy to all those that cal vppon thee, Vnderstand, o lord, with thy eares my praier; and listen to the voice of my request. In the day of my tribulation haue I cried vnto thee; because thou hast heard me. There is none like to thee amongst the Gods, o Lord; and there is none according to thy woorkes. All the nations that thou hast made shal com and adore before thee, o lord; and shall glorifie thy name. Because thou art great, and dooing woonders, thou onlie art God. Guide me, o lord, in thy way & I will walke in thy veritie, let my hart reioice that it may feare thy name. I wil confesse to thee o lord my God, in al my hart, and I wil glorifie thy name for euer. Because thy mercie is great vppon me; and thou hast deliuered my sowle, out of the deepest hell. Glorie be to the father, and to the sonne. &c.

A Praier to the Holy Ghost Chap. X

O HOLY Ghost, the comforter, that in the holy daie of Pentecost diddest com doune vppon the Apostles, and fill theire holy brests with charitie, grace, and wisdom: I beseeche thee, o lord, for this vnspeakeable liberalitie and mercie, that thou wilt fil my soule with thy grace, and all mie entrails with the vnspeakeable sweetenes of thy loue. Com, o most holy Spirite, and send vs from heauen som one beame of thy light. Com, o father of the poore, o giuer of gifts, o light of harts. Com, o best comforter, sweete ghest of sowles, and theire sweete refreshing. Com to me, o cleanser of sinnes, & phisition of diseases. Com, o strength of weakelings, & remedie of those that ar fallen. Com, o maister of the humble, and destroier of the proude. Com, o singular glory of those that liue, and only saluation of those that die. Com, o my God, and prepare me for thee, with the riches of thy giftes and mercies. Make me drunk, with the gift of wisdom; inlighten me, with the gift of vnderstanding; gouerne me, with the gift of counsel; encourage me, with the gift of strength; teach me, with the gift of science; wound me, with the gift of pietie; and pearse my hart, with the gift of feare.

O most sweete louer of those that be cleane of hart, kendle & burne al my bowels, with that most sweete fiar of thy loue, that they al being so burned, maie be rauished & drawen to thee, which art my last end, and the depth of all goodnes. O most sweete louer of cleane soules, for so much as thou knowest, that I of my self am able to doe nothing, extend thy pitiful hand vppon me, and make me leaue my self, that so I may be able to passe vnto thee. And to this end, o lord, beate doune, mortifie, annihil, and vndoe in me whatsoeuer it shal please thee, that thou make me wholy according to thy wil, that so al my life be a perfect sacrifice, to be altogether consumed in the fiar of thy loue. O that som one could aford me this, that thou wouldest admit me to so great good! Behold, that this thy poore and miserable creature, daie and night suspireth to thee. My sowle hath thirsted after the liuing God, when shal I com and appeare before the face of al graces? when shal I enter into the place of that wonderful tabernacle, euen to the face of my God? when wilt thou fill my sowle, with the ioye of thy diuine countenance? when shal shee be satiated with thy diuine presence? O fountaine of eternal brightnes, turne to enclose me in that depth, whence I proceeded, where I may know thee, as thou didst know me, and loue thee, as thou didst loue me, and see thee for euer, in the companie of al Saincts. Amen.

A PRAIER WHILES WEE HEARE masse, or at anie other time, taken out of diuers places of S. Austen.…

O MOST merciful, & supreame creator of heauen and earth, I the most vile of al sinners, together with thy holy Church, offer vp to thee this most pretious sacrifice, of thy onlie begoten sonne, for al the sinnes of the woorld. Behold, o most merciful king, him that suffereth, and gentellie remember for whome he suffere h. Is not this peraduenture, o lord, thy sonne, whome thou diddest deliuer to death, for the remedie of an vngrateful seruant?

Is not this peraduenture the author of life, which being lead as a sheepe to the slaughter, disdeigned not to suffer such a cruel kind of death? Turne, o lord my God, the eys of thy maiestie, vppon this woork of vnspeakeable pietie. Consider thy sweete sonne, stredched out vppon the woode of the Crosse, and his most innocent handes gushing out bloud, and be thou content to pardon those euils, which my hands haue committed. Consider his naked brest, pearced with that cruel iron of the speare; and renue mee with that sacred fountaine, which I beleeue to haue runne from thence. Behold those most holy feete, which neuer past through the way of sinnes, now pearced with those hard nails, and let it please thee to direct my feete, in the way of thy holie commaundements. Doest not thou perchaunce, o most pitiful father, consider the head of thy most louing sonne fallen doune, & his white neck bowed downe with the presence of death? Consider, o most merciful Creator, in what plight the bodie of thy beloue I sonne emaineth, and haue mercie vppon the seruant, which he hath redeemed. Behold how his naked brest remaineth all white; how his bloudie side remaineth all redde: how his bowels extended remaine drie; how his bewtiful eys remaine dimme, how his kinglie presence and figure remaineth pall and wanne; how his armes stretched out remaine stiffe; how his knees like alabastre remaine hanging, & how the streames of that diuine bloud wash his pearced feete. Behold, o glorious father, the mangled membres of thy most louing sonne, and remember the miseries of thy poore seruant. Behold the torments and paines of our Redeemer, and forgiue the offenses of the redeemed. This is our faithful Aduocate before thee, o father almightie. This is that high priest, which hath no neede to be sanctified with other bloud, seeing he shineth embr[…]ed with his owne. This is the holy sacrifice agreable and present, offred and recea[…]ed in the sauour of sweetenes. This is the lamb without spotte, which heald his peace before those, that did sheare him; which being charged with stripes, defiled with spittle, and iniuried with reproches, did not open his mouth. This is he, which hauing committed no sinne suffered for our sinnes, and cured our wounds with his wounds.

Now what hast thou donne, o most sweete Lord, that thou wast so iudged? what hast thou cōmitted, o most innocent lamb, that thou wast so dealed withail? what were thy faults, & what the cause of thy cōdemnation? Trulie, o lord, I am the wound of thy paine, I am the occasion of thy death, and the cause of thy condemnation. O meruailous dispensation of God! He sinneth that is euil, and he is punished that is good: he offendeth that is g[…]iltie, and he is wounded that is innocent: the seruaunt committeth the fault, and the lord paieth for it. How far, o sonne of God, how far hath thy humilitie abased it self? how far hath thy charitie extended it self? how far hath thy loue proceeded? How far hath thy compassion arriued? I haue committed the offense, and thou endurest the punishment. I haue donne the sinnes, and thou suffrest the torments. I am he that waxed prowd, & thou art humbled. I am the disobedient, and thou art becom obedient, euen to death, and so paiest the fault of my disobedience. Behould heere, o king of glorie, behould heere thy pietie, and my impietie; thy iustice, and my wickednes. Consider the fore now, o ete nall father, how thou oughtest to haue mercie vppon me, seeing that I haue offered thee so deuoutlie, the most pretious offer that could be offred thee. I haue presented to thee thy most louing sonne, & set betwixt thee & me this faithful aduocate. Receiue with a cheerefull coūtenance the good pastor, & consider the straied sheepe, which he beareth vppon his shoulders. I beseeche thee, o king of kings, by this holie of holies, that I may be vnited to him in spirite, seeing he disdained not, to bevnited to me in flesh: and I humblie request thee, that by the means of this praier, I may deserue to haue him for my helper, for so much as of thy meere grace, without that I deserued it at thy hands, thou hast giuen me him for my Redeemer.

A Devovt Praier to Ovr Blessed Ladie. Chap. XII

O GLORIOVS and happie virgin, more pure then the Angels, more bright then the startes, how shall my praier appeare before thee, seeing the grace that I merited through the passion of him which redeemed me, I haue lost it thorough the wickednes of mine owne fault? But yet, although I be so great a sinner, knowing my request to be iust, I wil make bold to beseeche thee, that thou wilt heare me. O my Queene and Ladie, I humblie request thee to praie thy sacred sonne, that for his infinite goodnes and mercie, he pardon me whatsoeuer I haue donne against his will and commaundement. And yf this may not be graunted me, in respect of my vnworthines, yet let me obtaine it, to the end that that perish not, which he hath created to his Image & likenes. Thou art the light of darknes. Thou art the mirrour of Saincts. Thou art the hope of sinners. All generations praise thee; all those that be afflicted call vppon thee; all those that be good behold thee; all creatures reioice in thee; the Angels in heauen with thy presence; the sowles in purgatorie with thy comfort; the men vppon earth with thy hope. All call vppon thee, and thou doest awnswere to all, and praie for all. Now what shal I doe, vnworthie sinner that I am, to obtaine thy fauour, for so much as my sinne troubleth me, my demerite afflicteth me, and my malice maketh me speachles. I beseeche thee, o most pretious virgin, for that thy so greeuous and mortall sorow, which thou diddest feele, seeing thy beloued sonne going with the Crosse vpon his shoulders, to the place of his death, that thou wilt morti[…]ie all my passions and tentations, that I lose not thorough mie wickednes, that which he redeemed with his bloud. Put alwaies in my thought those pitiful teares, which thou did […]est shedde, when thou diddest see the wounds, and the bloud of thy blessed sonne; that thorough the contemplation of them, there runne such quantitie of teares out of myne eyes, that they may be sufficient, to wash away all the spottes of my sinnes. For what sinner will be so bold, as to appeare without thee before that eternal Iudge, whoe although though he be mild in his suffering, yet is he iust in his punishment; for so much as neither reward is denied for doing good, nor paine eschewed for doing euil. Whoe then shal be so iust, that in this iudgment he shal not haue neede of thy helpe? what shal becom of me, o blessed virgen, yf I win not by thy intercession that, which I haue lost thorough myne owne sinne? I demaund a great thing of thee, according to my faults but in deede verie little according to thy power. All that I can request thee is nothing, in respect of that which thou art able to giue me. O Queene of the Angels, amend my life, and dispose all my woorkes in such manner, that albeit I be but euill, yet I may deserue to be heard of thee with pitie. Shew, o Lady, thy mercie in afording me remedie, that by this meanes those that be good, maye praise thee, and those that be euill, maye hope in thee. Let the sorowes, which thou diddest endure in the passion of thy most louing sonne, and my Redeemer Iesus Christ, be alwaies before myne eys, and let thy paines be the foode of my heart. Let not thy succour forsake me, let not thy pitie leaue me, let not thy memorie forget me. If thou, o Lady, abandon me, whoe shal vphold me? yf thou forget me, whoe shal be myndful of me? yf thou, that art the starre of the sea, and the guide of thos[…] that erre out of the way, doe not lighten me, what shal becom of me? Suffer me not to be tempted by the enimie; and yf he tempt me, suffer me not to fall; & yf I fall, help me to rise vp againe. Whoe, o Lady, hath called vppon thee, and was not heard of thee? whoe hath euer serued thee, that was not rewarded with much magnificencie? Make, o most glorious virgin, that my hart may feele that pearsing griefe which thou didst suffer, when, after that thy most pretious sonne was taken downe from the Crosse, thou did dest receaue him into thine armes, and wast not able anie more to weepe, beholding that most pretious image adored of the Angels, but at that time defiled with the spittle of so vile, and vnworthie persons; and seeing the crueltie so straunge, with which the innocencie of the iust, paied for the disobedience of the sinner. I doe contemplate with my self, o my woorthy Queene, in what sort thou diddest remaine at that time, with thyne armes open; thyne eyes dimme; thy head hanging downe; without colour in thy face: and feeling in the same more torment, then anie other could endure in his owne bodye. Let those sorowful woords alwaies sound in myne eares, which thou diddest speake at that time to those, that did behold thee saying; O you that passe by the way, behold yf there be anie sorow like to mine; that by those woords I maie deserue to be heard of thee. Fasten, o Lady, in my sowle, that sword of sorow, which passed thorough thy sowle, when thou diddest lay in the sepulchre that dismembred body of thy most pretious sonne, that I may remember how I am of earth, and how in the end, I must yeld to the earth that, which thence I receaued; that so the perishing glory of this woorld doe not deceaue me. Make me, o Lady, remember how often times thou didst turne to behold the sepulchre, where thou hadst left so great good inclosed, that I may therby deserue so much fauour at thy handes, that thou vouchsafe to turne and regarde my petition. Let my companie be that solitarinesse, in which thou diddest remain[…] al that doleful night, when thou hadst nothing more liuelie before thine eys, then thy paines & sorows; when thou diddest drinke the water of thy pitiful teares, and eate the bread of thy heauie contemplations: that I bewailing the anguish, and distresse which thou diddest suffer heere in earth, may, by thy meanes, atteine to see the glorie, which thou hast merited in heauen. Amen.

A PRAIER OF S. THOMAS OF Aquine to demaund al vertues. CHAP. XIII

O Almightie, & most merciful Lord God, graunt me grace, that such things as be acceptable to thee, I feruentlie desire them, wiselie seeke them, trulie knowe them, and perfectlie fulfill them, to the praise ad glory of thy holy name. Ordaine the state of my life, & giue me light to know that, which thou cōmaundest me to doe, and forces to put it in execution, as I ought, and as it is requisite for the saluation of my soule. Let the waie, o lord, which leadeth to thee, be to me secure, right, and perfect, and such, that I faile not betwixt the properities and adue[…]sities of this life, but that in prosperities I praise thee, and in aduersities be not dismaied; in prosperities I becom not loftie and proude, neither waxe disconfident in aduersities.

Let me take heauines or ioy of nothing, but onlie of that, which may ioine me with thee, or separate me from thee. Let me desire to content no bodie but thee, neither to discontent anie bodye but thee. Let all transitorie things be vile vnto me for the loue of thee, and most deare and pretious al things apperteining to thee, and thou, o mie God, aboue them all. Let al ioie be yrksom to me without thee, and let me not desire anie thing besides thee. Let al trauail be pleasant vnto me for thee, and noisom whatsoeuer repos[…] I take without thee.

Graunt that I maie oftentimes lift vp my hart to thee, and yf at anie time I faile to doe this, that I recompence mie fault with thinking of the same, and purposing to amend it. Make me, o my lord God, obedient without contradiction, poore without lacke, chast without corruption, patient without murmuring, humble without fayning, merie without dissolution, sadde without deiection, graue without heauines, quicke without lightnes, fearful without desperation, true without doublenesse, dooing good without presumption, to amend my neighbour without loftinesse, and to edifie him in woords & woorks without dissimulation.

Giue me, o my most sweete God, a verie watchful hart, that no curious cogitation maie withdrawe it from thee. Giue me a noble hart, that noe vnworthie affection may draw it dounewards. Giue me a right hart, that noe sinistrous intention maie turne it awrye. Giue me an inuincible hart, that noe tribulation maie breake it. Giue me a free hart, that no peruerse and violent affection maie constraine it. Giue me, o most sweete and pleasant lord, vnderstanding to knowe thee, diligence to seeke thee, wisdom to find thee, conuersation that maie please thee, perseuerance to faithfullie expect thee, and hope to finallie embrace thee. Graunt that I maye deserue to be nailed vppon the Crosse with thee by penance, to vse thy benifits in this woorld by grace, and to enioie thy felicitie in heauen by glorie: whoe, with the father and the holy Ghost, liuest and raignest God, woorld without end, Amen.

Prou. 23.1 ↩
Apocal. 19.16. ↩
Luc. 18.13. ↩
Luc. 7.37. ↩
Genes. 18.27. ↩
Luc. 12.4 ↩
In festo S. Michaelis. ↩
Ierem. 5.22. ↩
Psal. 118.120. ↩
Isai. 14.2. Petr. 2. Gen. 3. ↩
Gen. 7. ↩
Petr. 4.18. ↩
Psal. 142.2. ↩
Psalm. 6. ↩
Eccl. 15.9. ↩
Daniel. 7. ↩
Psal. 102. ↩
Math. 23.9. ↩
Psalm. 17. ↩
Psal. 26. ↩
Psal. 4.6. ↩
Psal. 118.[…]3. ↩
Matth. 7.7. ↩
Isaiae. 45.21. ↩
Psal. 49.15. ↩
Ezech. 33.11. ↩
Math. 9.13. ↩
Psal. 85. ↩

Chapter 16 of 23