A07044:149
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
A07044:149
The pomander of prayer, newly made by Thomas BeconThe pomaunder of prayer, newly made by Thomas Becon
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.
Behold (O almighty God, father of my Lord I beseech thee of thy benignity and gentleness to have mercy upon me, because of the most precious thing that I could find, the same I have offered devoutly unto thee, the thing of most estimation, ytI could imagine, I have presented it humbly unto thee. I have left nothing, but I have declared it to thy majesty. There is nothing remaining that I may ad more, because I have committed ⟨image 63⟩and be taken my whole hope unto thee. I have sent unto thee my advocate and spokes man, even thy well beloved son. I have sent thy glorious child to be a mediator betwixt me & thee. I have set (I say) an intercessor by whom I trust to get pardon and forgiveness of my sins. I have sent word unto word (that is) God unto God, according to that which saint John hath in the beginning of his gospel, where he calleth God the word, saying in the beginning, was the word and the word was with God, & God was the word. &c. which word (as I have said) was sent ⟨p. 62⟩for my misdeeds. And I have rehearsed unto thee the passion of thy most holy Son, which passion I believe was suffered for me. I believe that the godhead which was sent of thee did take upon him, mine humanity & nature, in the which he thought not scorn to suffer buffets, bends, spittings, mocks, yea, he took upon him to suffer the cross, nails and dart. I believe also that his manhood being in this my nature during his infancy was troubled with creeping and scrawlings, & was wrapped in clothes after the manner of other children, was vexed in his youth, with labours ⟨image 64⟩made lean, with waking & fastings, wearied with journeying, afterward whipped & all to torn and rent with divers kinds of punishments, reckoned amongst the dead, and when it was endued with the glory of resurrection, he carried it into the joys of heaven, & placed it upon the right hand of thy majesty. (This I say) he is my manhood, way & means of pacifying and appeasing thee and thy way and means of having mercy upon me. Mercifully look upon, hear the Son which thou didst beget & the bond servant which he redeemed. Behold here a creator, and do not despise ⟨p. 63⟩a creature. Receive the shepherd welcomed with a gentle & loving countenance, and mercifully look upon the sheep which he hath brought home upon his own shoulders.
BEhold (O almighty God, father of my Lorde I beseeche thee of thy beningnitie and gentlenes to haue mercy vpon me, because of ye moste precious thīg that I could finde, the same I haue offred deuoutly vnto thee, the thing of moste estemacion, ytI could imagin, I haue presented it humbly vnto thee. I haue left nothyng, but I haue declared it to thy maiestie. There is nothing remaining that I may ad more, because I haue cōmitted ⟨image 63⟩and be taken my whole hope vnto thee. I haue sent vnto thee my aduocate and spokes man, euen thy well beloued sonne. I haue sent thy glorious childe to be a mediator betwix me & thee. I haue set (I say) an intercessour by whome I trust to get pardon and forgeuenes of my sinns. I haue sent wurd vnto wurd (that is) God vnto God, according to that whiche saint Ihon hathe in ye beginning of his gospel, wher he calleth God the wurd, saying in the beginning, was the wurd and the wurd was with God, & God was the wurd. &c. whiche wurd (as I haue said) was sent ⟨p. 62⟩for my misdedes. And I haue rehersed vnto thee the passion of thy moste holy sonne, which passiō I beleue was suffred for me. I beleeue that the godhed which was sent of thee did take vpon him, mine humanitie & nature, in the whiche he thought not scorn to suffre buffets, bendes, spittings, mocks, yea, he took vpon him to suffer ye cros, nailes and dart. I beleeue also that his māhod being in this my nature during his infancie was trobled with creeping and scraulings, & was wrapt in clothes after the maner of other childrē, was vexed in his youth, with labours ⟨image 64⟩made lene, with waking & fastings, weried with iourneying, afterward whipped & all to torn and rent with diuers kindes of punishments, rekened amongst the dead, and whan it was endued with the glory of resurrectiō, he caried it into the ioyes of heauen, & placed it vpon the righthād of thy maiestie. (This I say) he is my manhod, wai & meanes of pacifying and appeasing thee and thy way and meanes of hauing mercy vpon me. Mercifully look vpon, hear the sōne whiche thou didst beget & the bond seruāt whiche he redemed. Beholde here a creator, and doo not despise ⟨p. 63⟩a creature. Receiue the shepherd welcomed with a gentle & louing countenance, and mercifully looke vpō the sheep whiche he hathe brought home vppon his owne shoulders.
This is that most faithful shepherd which by many and divers labours and travails over steep hills and through headlong and deep valleys did search for his own sheep that was strayed away, which also when he had found it faint and almost dead through long wandering, gat him self under it with great rejoicing, and making it fast unto him with a marvellous bond of ⟨image 65⟩charity, lifted it up out of the depth of confusion and brought it home to the ninety and nine. Behold (O Lord) my king and God almighty, behold a good shepherd, which rendereth to thee, that which thou committed to his charge. He took upon him through thine ordinance to save man, whom he hath delivered unto the clean and pure from all spots through the washing in his blood. Lo thy most dearly beloved son hath reconciled unto thee thy handy work, which was gone astray far out of the way. Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth again to thy flock, him that the ⟨p. 64⟩violent pirate & robber had driven away. He hath brought unto thy sight, the servant whom his own conscience had made to run away, that he which by him self had deserved punishment, by thy Son being his solicitor hath deserved forgiveness, unto whom also for his offences everlasting fire was due: nevertheless being a soldier under such a captain, he doth hope to be brought home to his own country. I was able (O holy Father) by my self to offend thee, but I was not able of my self to pacify and appease thee. Thy well beloved Son (O my God) was made my helper, ⟨image 66⟩by taking upon him mine humanity, to the intent he might cure mine infirmity, that whereof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring: of the same, he might offer up to thee a Sacrifice of praise. And that he might render & make me also well pleasing to to thy goodness by that thing, in the which he sitting now on thy right hand, did always show & declare him self to be equal with my substance, & as it were fellow with the same. Lo my hope, behold, in whom is all my trust. If thou despise me (as it were right) for mine iniquity: yet look upon me (at the least wise) mercifully
And because flesh hath stirred thee to anger: let flesh (I beseech thee) move thee to mercy, that like as flesh hath seduced & led me to sin: so flesh may get & obtain for me remission For certainly it is much that mine iniquity hath deserved, but much ⟨image 67⟩more is it, that the goodness of my redeemer may even of right require. Mine unrighteousness is great, but his righteousness is bigger. For look how much god is superior unto man: even so much is my malice and evil inferior unto his goodness both in quality and quantity. For what have I sinned being a man: that the Son of God being made man hath not redeemed? what pride could be in me so exceeding hie: but such humility as was in him, should bring it down? what power of death was there in me so great, but the punishment which the Son of God ⟨p. 66⟩suffered upon the cros migght de face it & utterly destroy it? Truly my God, if the sins of sinful man should be weighed in a just & equal balance with the love & favour that was in our redeemer toward us: the East is not so far distant from the West, nor the innermost part of the earth so much separated from the upper most part of the heaven: as they should be unlike, so much less should mine iniquity be, then is his goodness. Now (O most noble creator of light) now pardon mine offences for the unmeasurable travails and pains that thy beloved son did sustain.
And because flesh hath stirred thee to angre: let fleshe (I beseech thee) moue thee to mercy, that like as fleshe hath seduced & led me to sin: so fleshe may get & obtein for me remissiō For certainly it is muche ytmine iniquitie hath deserued, but much ⟨image 67⟩more is it, that the goodnes of my redemer may euen of right require. Mine vnrightousnes is great, but his righteousnes is bigger. For loke how much god is superior vnto man: euen so muche is my malice and euil inferior vnto his goodnes bothe in qualitie and quātitie. For what haue I sinned being a man: that the sonne of God beeing made man hath not redeemed? what pride could be in me so exceding hie: but suche humilitie as was in him, shuld bring it downe? what power of deathe was there in me so great, but the punishment whiche the Sonne of God ⟨p. 66⟩
Now (I beseech thee) let his goodness be set against my wickedness, his modesty and temperance: against mine ungracious frowardness, and his meekness against my fierce cruelty. Let his humility: recompense my pride, his patience: mine impatience, his gentleness: mine unkind churlishness, his obedience: my disobedience, his quietness: mine unquietness, his pleasant towardness: my bitter frowardness, his sweet facility and gentleness: mine anger and fretting fumes, to conclude let his charity: make amends for my heinous and detestable cruelty.
Now (I beseeche thee) let his goodnes bee set against my wickednes, his modesty and temperaūce: against mine vngracious frowardnes, and his meeknes against my ferse crueltie. Let his humilitie: recompence my pride, his pacience: mine impacience, his gentlenes: mine vnkinde churlishnes, his obedience: my disobedience, his quyetnes: mine vnquietnes, his plesaūt towardnes: my bitter frowardnes, his sweet facilitie and gentlenes: mine anger and freating fumes, to cōclude let his charitie: make amendes for my hemous and dedetestable crueltie.
Amen.
Now (O almighty and holy Ghost) which art the love of the divine power, the holy participator & partner with the almighty father, and his most blessed Son, the most merciful comforter of the sorrowful, I beseech thee to slide by thy mighty power into the inward parts of mine hart, that thou dwelling there, mayest make glad, and as it were lighten every dark corner of the neglect and forletten cottage, with the bright shining of thy light, & that in visiting the same, thou wouldest ornate & deck ⟨image 69⟩with the plenteousness of thy dew the loathsome places thereof, which be corrupted with filthiness. Kin del the privy wounded parts of the inner man, with thy wholesome flames and with piercing the in ward parts of my soul entrails with the dart of thy love. Feed all the inner parts bo the of my mind & body by the illuminating and lightening with the fire of thy holy & fervent love. Give me to drink of thy most pleasant river, to the intent I may have no lust to taste any worldly things which be mixed with poison. Give sentence with me (o lord) and defend my cause against the ⟨p. 68⟩ungodly nation. Teach me to do thy will because thou art my God. For I believe that in whom so ever thou dost dwell: thou buildest an house in him for the Father also & the Sonne. Blessed is that man that getteth such a guest, because that by thee, the father and the Son also will dwell and abide with him. Come now (O most loving comforter of my sorrowful soul) which art a pro tector in all necessities and an help in troubles and adversities Como purger of sins, healer and curer of wounds. Come the strength of the frail and feeble, the reliever and raiser up of them ⟨image 70⟩that slide. Come the instructor & reacher of the humble and meek, the destroyer and plucker down of the proud and stubborn. Come the good and kind father of the fatherless, the gentle judge of widows. Come thou which art a guide unto them that are tossed in the waves of this tempestuous world, like as a bright and notable star is to them that sail on the sea, an haven unto them that are afraid of shipwreck. Come the worship & honour of all them that live, the only health of the dead.
NOw (O almighty and holy Ghost) whiche art the loue of the deuine power, the holy participator & partner with the almighty father, and his moste blessed sōne, the moste mercifull comforter of the sorowful, I beseeche thee to slide by thy mighty power into thinward partes of mine hart, that thou dwelling there, maist make glad, and as it were lighten euery dark corner of the neglect and forletten cōtage, wt the bright shining of thy lyght, & that in visiting ye same, yu wouldest ornate & deck
Come most holy ghost, come and have mercy on me, make me meet for thee, and mercifully ⟨p. 69⟩grant unto me according to the multitude of thy great mercies that my baseness may please thy majesty, and my weakness thy almighty power, for Jesus Christ my saviours sake, which with the fathers and thine unity liveth and reigneth world without end.
Come most holi ghost, come and haue mercy on me, make me meete for thee, and mercifully ⟨p. 69⟩graunt vnto me according to ye multitud of thy great mercies ytmy basenes may please thy maiestie, and my weaknes thy allmighty power, for Iesu Christe my sauioures sake, which with the fathers and thine vnitie liueth and reigneth worlde without end.
Amen.
With all my hart and mouth do I confess, praise & bless thee, O God the father unbegot ten, and thee, O God the Son only begotten, also thee, O holy ghost and comforter, to thee be glory in the world of worlds.
WIth all my hart and mouthe doo I confesse, praise & blesse thee, O God the father vnbegot ten, and thee, O God the sonne only begotten, also thee, O holy ghost and comfortour, to thee be glory in the world of worldes.
Amen.
O Most high Trinity one only power and undivided Majesty, our God; God almighty I the abject and hin most of all thy servants, confess and acknowledge thee, and being the least member of thy church, I worship thee with a due sacrifice of praise, for as much as I am able & can, according to that which thou hast vouchsafed to endue me with all. And for as much as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer unto thee. Those vows of praise which I have of the gift of thy mercy: behold, willingly & gladly ⟨p. 70⟩I offer them to thee, which be an unfeigned faith and a pure con sciece. I believe therefore with all my hart (O king of heaven) and Lord of the earth, and with my mouth do I confess thee, the father, the Son and holy ghost, to be three in persons, and one in substance, the true and very God almighty, of one simple, in corporal and invisible nature, incomprehensible and of such a nature as is not in a place, as other natures be, and that thou hast nothing superior or above thy self. or lower, or any thing bigger then thy self. But in all manner of means perfect with ⟨image 72⟩out all spot of deformity, & that thou art great without quantity, good without quality, ever lasting without time, life without death, strong without infirmity or weakness, true without lying, present in every place with out any situation or being placed in any place, to be all every where without place, fulfilling all things without stretching forth thy hand: going every where without any contradiction or gain saying, passing over all things without moving, abiding win all things without any kind of proportion, making all things, having need of nothing, governing all things without ⟨p. 71⟩labour, giving all things their beginning, having no beginning thy self. Making all things mutable and variable, thy self being without all kind of mutability, in greatness with out measure in power almighty, in goodness the chief & best, in wisdom inestimable, in counsels, intents & purposes: terrible and fearful. In judgments most upright & just, in cogitations & thoughts most secret, in words true, in works holy, in mercies abundant & plentiful, toward offenders most patient, to ward the penitent and those that ⟨image 73⟩be sorry for their sins most gen tle & loving.
This is that moste faithfull shepherd whiche by mani and diuers labours and trauailes ouer steep hilles and thorow hedlong and deepe valies did serche for his owne sheep that was straide away, whiche also when he had founde it faint and allmoste dead thorow long wanderyng, gat him self vnder it with greate reioising, and making it faste vnto him with a merueilous bonde of ⟨image 65⟩charitie, lifted it vp out of the depth of confusion and brought it home to the nintie and nine. Behold (O Lorde) my king and God almighty, beholde a good shepherd, whiche rēdreth to thee, that whiche thou committed to his charge. He tooke vpon him thorow thine ordinaūce to saue man, whō he hath deliuered vnto the cleane and pure from all spots thorow the washing in his bloud. Loe thy most deerly beloued sonne hathe reconciled vnto thee thy hādy wurk, whiche was gon astray far out of the way. Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth again to thy flock, him that the ⟨p. 64⟩violent pirate & robber had driuen away. He hath brought vnto thy sight, ye seruaunt whō his owne conscience had made to rū away, that he which by him self had deserued punishmēt, by thy sonne being his sollicitour hath deserued forgeuenes, vnto whō also for his offences euerlasting fier was due: neuertheles being a souldiour vnder suche a captain, he doth hope to be brought home to his owne countrey. I was able (O holy Father) by my self to offēd thee, but I was not able of my self to pacify and appese thee. Thy welbeloued sōne (O my God) was made my helper, ⟨image 66⟩by taking vpon him mine humanitie, to ye intent he might cure mine infirmitie, that wherof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring: of the same, he might offer vp to thee a Sacrifice of praise. And that he might rēdre & make me also well pleasing to to thy goodnes by that thing, in the which he sitting now on thy right hand, did alwayes shew & declare him self to be equal with my substance, & as it wer felow with the same. Lo my hope, behold, in whom is all my trust. If thou despise me (as it wer right) for mine iniquitie: yet look vpō me (at the least wise) mercifully ⟨p. 65⟩for the charitie of thy beloued sonne. Geue heed to thy sonne, wherby thou maist haue mercy vpō thy bond seruant. Look vppon the sacrament of flesh: & pardon the offences of flesh. How oft so euer thou doost remember the woundes of thy blessed sōne: so oft (I beseche thee) let mine in iquities be hid.
O Most high Trinitie one only power and vndeuided Ma iesty, our God; God almighty I the abiect and hin moste of al thy seruaunts, confes and acknowledge thee, and beeing the least mēbre of thy church, I wurship thee wt a due sacrifice of praise, for as much as I am able & can, according to that whiche thou hast vouchsafed to endue me wt al. And for as muche as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto the. Those vowes of praise whiche I haue of the gift of thy mercy: behold, willingly & gladly ⟨p. 70⟩I offer them to thee, which be an vnfained faith and a pure cō sciece. I beleue therfore with all my hart (O king of heauen) and Lorde of the earth, and with my mouthe doo I confes thee, the father, the sonne and holy ghost, to bee three in persons, and one in substaunce, the true and very God almighty, of one simple, in corporal and inuinsible nature, incomprehensible and of suche a nature as is not in a place, as other natures bee, and that thou hast nothing superiour or aboue thy selfe. or lower, or any thing bigger then thy self. But in all maner of meanes perfect with ⟨image 72⟩out all spot of deformitie, & that thou art great without quantitie, good without qualitie, euer lasting without time, life without death, strong without infirmity or wekenes, true without lying, presēt in euery place with out any situatiō or being placed in any place, to be al eueri where wtout place, fulfilling all things without stretchīg forth thy hād: going euery where without any contradiction or gaine saying, passing ouer al thinges without mouing, abiding win all things without ani kinde of proportiō, making al thinges, hauing need of nothing, gouerning al things without ⟨p. 71⟩labor, geuing all thinges their beginning, hauing no beginning thy selfe. Making all thinges mutable and variable, thy self being without all kinde of mutabilitie, in greatnes with oute measure in power almighty, in goodnes the cheef & best, in wisdome inestimable, in counsels, intentes & purposes: terrible and fearfull. In iudgmentes most vpright & iust, in cogitations & thoughtes most secret, in wurdes true, in wurkes holy, in mercies abundant & plentiful, toward offenders most patiēt, to ward the penitēt and those that ⟨image 73⟩be sory for their sinnes most gen tle & louing.