The pomander of prayer, newly madeThe pomaunder of prayer, newly made
The pomander of prayer, newly made by Thomas BeconThe pomaunder of prayer, newly made by Thomas Becon
Thomas Becon 1512–1567Imprinted at London : Over Aldersgate beneath .S. Martins, by John Day, 1561Imprinted at London : Ouer Aldersgate benethe .S. Martins, by Iohn Day, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
OH maker of heaven and earth, king of kings, & Lord of Lords, which of nothing didst ma•e me ⟨image 45⟩to thy image and likeness, & didst redeem me with thine own precious blood, whom I a sinner am not worthy to name, neither to call upon, neither with my hart to think upon, humbly I desire thee, and meekly pray thee, that gently thou do behold me thy wicked servant, & have mercy on me, which haddest merry on the woman of Can nane, and of Mari Magdalen, which didst forgive the […], & the thief hanging ⟨p. 44⟩on the cross. Unto the I confess, O most holy father, my sins which if I would, I cannot hide from thee. Have mercy on me Christ, for I a wretch have sore of fended thee, in pride, in covetousness, in gluttony, in lechery, in vainglory, in hatred, in envy, in adultery, in theft, in lying in backbiting, in sporting, in dissolute and wanton laughing, in idle words, in hearing, in tasting, in touching, in thinking, ⟨image 46⟩in sleeping, in working, & in all ways, in which I a frail man, & most wretched sinner might sin. Mi default, my most grievous default. Therefore I most humbly pray & beseech thy gen tlenes, which (for my health) descended from heaven, which didst hold up king David, that he should not fall into sin. Have mercy on me, oh Lord have mercy on me (O Christ) the which didst for give Peter, that did forsake ⟨p. 45⟩
thee. Thou art my creator and my helper, my maker, & my redeemer, mi governor, my father, my lord, my god, and my king. Thou art my hope, my trust, my governor, my help, my comfort, my strength, my defence, my redemption, my life, my health and my resurrection. Thou art my steadfastness, my refuge or succour, my light & my help, I most humbly & heartily desire and pray thee help me, defend me, make me
⟨image 47⟩
strong and comfort me, make me steadfast, make me merry, give me light and visit me, revive me again, which am dead. For I am thy making & thy work (oh Lord) despise me not, I am thy servant thy bondman, although evil, although unworthy, & a sinner. But whatsoever I am, whether I be either good or bad, I am ever thine. Therefore to whom shall I flee, except I flee unto thee if thou cast me of, who shall
⟨p. 46⟩
or will receive me? If thou despise me, & turn thy face from me, who shall look upon me? Recognise & knowledge me?
OH maker of heauen and earth, king of kinges, & Lorde of Lordes, whiche of nothing didst ma•e me ⟨image 45⟩to thy image and likenes, & didst redeem me with thine owne precious bloud, whō I a siner am not wurthy to name, neither to call vpon, neither wt my hart to think vpon, humbli I desire thee, and meekly pray thee, that gentli thou doo beholde me thy wicked seruaūt, & haue merci on me, whiche hadest merry on the womā of Cā nane, and of Mari Magda lē, whiche didst forgeue the 〈…〉, & the theef hanging ⟨p. 44⟩on ye cros. Unto the I confes, O most holy father, my sīnes which if I would, I cannot hide from thee. Haue mercy on me Christe, for I a wretche haue sore of fended thee, in pride, in couetousnes, in glotony, in lechery, in vainglory, in hatred, in enuy, inadultry, in theft, in lying in backbitīg, in sporting, in dissolute and wanton laughing, in idle wurds, in hearing, in tasting, in touching, in thinking, ⟨image 46⟩in sleping, in wurking, & in all wayes, in whiche I a fraill man, & moste wretched sinner might sinne. Mi default, my moste greuous default. Therfore I moste hūbly pray & beseech thy gē tlenes, which (for my helth) descended frō heuē, whiche didst holde vp king Dauid, that he should not fall into sin. Haue mercy on me, oh Lorde haue merci on me (O Christe) the which didst for geue Peter, that did forsake ⟨p. 45⟩thee. Thou art my creatour and my helper, my maker, & my redeemer, mi gouernor, my father, my lord, my god, and my king. Thou art my hope, my trust, my gouerner, my help, my cōfort, my strength, my defence, my redemption, my life, my helth and my resurrection. Thou art my stedfastnes, my refuge or succour, my light & my help, I moste humbly & hartely desire and pray thee help me, defēd me, make me ⟨image 47⟩strong and cōfort me, make me stedfast, make me mery, geue me light and visit me, reuiue me again, which am dead. For I am thy makīg & thy wurk (oh Lorde) despise me not, I am thy seruant thy bondmā, although euill, although vnwurthy, & a sinner. But whatsoeuer I am, whether I bee either good or bad, I am euer thine. Therfore to whom shall I flee, except I flee vnto the if thou cast me of, who shal ⟨p. 46⟩or will receiue me? If thou despise me, & turn thy face from me, who shal look vppon me? Recognise & knowledg me?
(although unworthy (coming to thee, although I be vile & unclean, for if I be vile and unclean, thou canst make me clean, If I be sick, thou canst heal me. If I be dead & buried, thou canst revive me. For thy mercy is much more, than mine iniquity, thou canst forgive me more than I can offend. ⟨image 48⟩Therefore, Oh lord, do not consider nor have respect to the number of my sins, but according to the greatness of thy mercy forgive me, and have mercy on me most wretched sinner. Say unto my soul, I am thy health, which saidst: I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he live and be converted, & turn to thee. Oh lord be not angry with me, I pray thee most meek father for thy great mercy, I most ⟨p. 47⟩humbly secheech thee, that thou bring me to the bliss, that never shall cease.
(although vnwurthy (comming to thee, allthough I be vile & vnclene, for if I be vile and vnclene, thon canst make me clene, If I be sick, thou canst heal me. If I be dead & buried, thou canst reuiue me. For thy merci is much more, thē mine iniquitie, thou cāst forgeue me more thē I can offend. ⟨image 48⟩Therfore, Oh lorde, doo not cōsider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes, but according to the greatnes of thy merci forgeue me, and haue mercy on me most wretched sinner. Say vnto my soule, I am thy helth, which saidst: I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he liue and be conuerted, & turn to thee. Oh lorde bee not angry with me, I pray thee moste meek father for thy great mercy, I most ⟨p. 47⟩humbely secheech thee, that thou bring me to the blis, that neuer shall ceas.
The joys (o lord) which thou hast prepared for them that love thee, no eye hath seen, no ear hath heard nether is any hart able to think But as the joys are great & unspeakable, so are there few that do enjoy them. For straight is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
THe ioyes (o lorde) which thou hast prepared for them yt loue thee, no eye hath seen, no eare hath heard nether is any hart able to thīk But as the ioyes ar great & vnspeakeable, so ar there few that doo enioy them. For straight is the gate and narow is the way, whiche leadeth vnto life, and few there be that find it.
Notwithstanding, O heavenly father, thou hast a little flock, to whom it is thy pleasure to give the glorious kingdom of heaven. There is a certain number of sheep, that hear thy voice, whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand, which shall never perish to whom also thou shalt give eternal life.
Notwithstanding, O heauenly father, thou hast a litle flocke, to whom it is thy pleasure to geue ye glorious kingdom of heauē. Ther is a certaine number of sheep, that heare thy voice, whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand, whiche shal neuer perish to whō also thou shalt geue eternall life.
Make me therefore: O lord of that number, whom thou from everlasting hast predestinate to be saved, whose ⟨p. 48⟩names also are written in the book of life. Pluck me out of the company of the stinking goats, which shall stand on thy left hand & be damned, & place me among those thy sheep, which shall stand on thy right hand and be saved. Grant me this, o merciful Father, for thy deer sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord. So shall I enjoying this singular benefit at thy hand, & being placed in thy glorious kingdom, sing per ⟨image 50⟩petuall praises to thy godly majesty, which livest and reignest with thy dearly beloved Son, and the holy ghost one true and everlasting God. &c.
Make me therfore: O lorde of that number, whom thou frō euerlasting hast predestinate to bee saued, whose ⟨p. 48⟩names also are written in the book of life. Pluck me out of the cōpany of ye stinkking gotes, whiche shal stād on thy left hand & be damned, & place me among those thy sheep, whiche shal stand on thy right hand and be saued. Graunt me this, o mer cifull Father, for thy deere sonnes sake Iesu Christ our Lorde. So shal I enioying this singular benefite at thy hand, & being placed in thy glorious kingdom, sing per ⟨image 50⟩petuall praises to thy godly maiestie, whiche liuest and reignest with thy deerely beloued sonne, and the holy ghost one true and euerlasting God. &c.
Thy benefits, toward me O most loving Father, are so great & infinite whether I have respect unto my body or unto my soul, that I find not in my self how to recompense any part of ⟨p. 49⟩thine unspeakable goodness toward me. But thou which needest none of my goods, knowing our beggary, yea our nothing, requirest of us for a recompense of thy kindness only the sacrifice of praise and thanks giving, o lord and merciful father, what worthy thanks am I pore & wretched sinner able to give thee? Notwithstanding trusting on thy mercy & favourable kindness, I offer unto thee in the name of Christ the sacrifice ⟨image 51⟩of praise, ever thanking the most heartily for all thy benefits, which thou hast be stowed upon me thine unprofitable servant from the beginning of my life unto this present hour, most hum bly beseeching the to continue thy loving kindness to ward me, and to give me grace to walk worthy of this thy fatherly goodness, that when thou shalt call me out of this careful life, I may enjoy it thy most singular ⟨p. 50⟩last benefit, which is everlasting glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be all honour & praise for ever and ever.
THy benefites, toward me O moste louing Father, are so great & infinite whether I haue respect vntomy body or vnto my soule, that I finde not in my self how to recompence any part of ⟨p. 49⟩thine vnspeakable goodnes toward me. But yu whiche needest none of my goods, knowing our beggery, yea ournothing, requirest of vs for a recompēce of thy kindnes only ye sacrifice of praise and thanks geuing, o lorde and mercifull father, what wurthi thanks am I pore & wretched sīner able to geue the? Notwtstāding trusting on thy merci & fauorable kīd nes, I offer vnto thee in the name of Christe the sacrifice ⟨image 51⟩of praise, euer thanking the moste hartely for all thy benefites, whiche thou hast be stowed vpon me thine vnprofitable seruaūt from the beginning of my life vnto this presēt houre, moste hū bly beseeching the to continew thy louing kindnes to ward me, and to geue me grace to walke wurthy of this thy fatherly goodnes, that whē thou shalt call me out of this carefull life, I may enioy yt thy moste singulare ⟨p. 50⟩last benefite, whiche is euerlasting glori through Iesus Christe our Lord, to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be al honour & praise for euer and euer.
O Lord Jesus, which art the only health of all men living & the everlasting life of them which die in thy faith. I wretched sinner give and submit my self wholly unto thy most blessed will. And I ⟨image 52⟩being sure that the thing can not perish which is committed unto thy mercy. O lord, give me grace that willingly I may leave this frail & wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection, which in better wise shall restore it to me again, I beseech thee, most merciful lord (Jesus christ) that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations. And that thou wilt cover and defend me with the buckler of thy ⟨p. 51⟩mercy against all the assaults of the devil. I see & knowledge ye there is in my self no help of salvation. But all my confidence, hope, & trust is in thy most merciful goodness, I have no merits nor good works, which I may allege before thee. Of my sins & evil works (alas) I see a great heap, but through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins: but take & ⟨image 53⟩accept me for righteous and just & to be the inheritor of everlasting life. Thou merciful Lord wast borne for my sake, thou didst suffer both hunger & thirst, for my sake thou didst preach & teach, thou didst pray and fast for my sake, thou didst all good works & deeds for my sake. Thou sufferedst most grievous pains and torments for my sake. And finally, thou gavest thy most precious body to die, & thy blood ⟨p. 52⟩to be shed on the cross for my sake. Now most merciful saviour, let all these things profit me, which thou freely hast given me, that hast given thy self for me. Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thy right ousnes hide & cover my unrighteousness. Let the merits of thy passion & blood be satisfaction for my sins Give me Lord thy grace that my faith and salvation ⟨image 54⟩in thy blood, waver not in me, but ever be firm & constant, that the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting never decay in me, that charity wax not cold in me, finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with fear of death. Grant me (merciful saviour) that when death hath shut up the eyes of my body, yet that the eyes of my soul may still behold and look upon thee, that when death hath taken ⟨p. 53⟩away the use of my tongue & speech, yet that my hart may cry & say unto thee.
O Lorde Iesu, whiche art the only helth of all mē liuing & the euerlasting life of thē which die in thy faith. I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy vnto thy most blessed wil. And I ⟨image 52⟩being sure that the thing cā not perish whiche is cōmitted vnto thy merci. O lord, geue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraill & wicked fleshe in hope of the resurrection, whiche in better wise shal restore it to me agaī, I beseeche thee, moste merciful lorde (Iesus christ) that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule agaīst all temptacions. And that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy ⟨p. 51⟩mercy against all ye assaults of the deuill. I see & knowledge ye there is in my self no help of saluation. But al my confidence, hope, & trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes, I haue no merits nor good wurks, whiche I may alledge before thee. Of my sinns & euill wurks (alas) I see a great hepe, but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes: but take & ⟨image 53⟩accept me for rightuos and iust & to be ye enheritour of euerlasting life. Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake, yu didst suffer bothe hunger & thirst, for my sake thou didst preache & teache, thou didst pray and fast for my sake, thou didst al good wurks & deeds for my sake. Thou sufferedst moost greuous paines and torments for my sake. And finally, thou gauest thy moste precious body to die, & thy bloud ⟨p. 52⟩to be shed on the cros for my sake. Now moste mercifull sauiour, let all these things profit me, whiche thou freely hast geuen me, that hast geuē thy self for me. Let thy bloud clense and washe away the spots and foulnes of my sinnes. Let thy righte ousnes hide & couer my vnrighteousnes. Let the merites of thy passion & bloud be satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and saluation ⟨image 54⟩in thy bloud, wauer not in me, but euer be firm & constant, that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me, that charitie wax not colde in me, finally, that the weaknes of my fleshe bee not ouercome with fear of death. Graunt me (mercifull sauiour) that whē death hath shut vp the eies of my body, yet that the eyes of my soule may stil beholde and look vpon thee, that when death hath takē ⟨p. 53⟩
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⟨p. 12⟩
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away the vse of my tung & spech, yet that my hart may cry & say vnto thee.
