A07044:165
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
A07044:165
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.
Hitherto (O almighty God the beholder and searcher of mine hart) have I acknowledged thal mightifulnes of thy majesty, & majesty of thine almightifulnes. But now, like as with hart I believe (which is counted righteousness unto me) so with mouth do I confess before thee (which is to my salvation) after what sort and manner thou didst vouchsafe in the end of the world, to succour and aid mankind. Thou (in deed) only (O ⟨p. 73⟩God the father) art not red at any time, or in any place to be sent. But of thy Son: the Apostle writeth. When that the time was fulfilled: God sent his Son. In that he saith (he sent) he doth sufficiently declare that he, being sent, came into this world, when as he (being borne a very & perfect man of blessed Mary a pure Virgin) did appear and show him self in the flesh. But what is that, which he that is the chief of the Evangelists doth say? He was in the world and the world was made my him. Thither, truly, was he sent by his humanity, where he alway is and ⟨image 75⟩alway hath been by his divinity. The which sending or embassage, I believe withal my hart and confess with my mouth to be the consent and work of all the whole Trinity. Oh holy & good father, how didst thou love us? How great favour didst thou bear toward us most merciful creator? which haste not spared thine own Son, but for us wretched sinners hast delivered him. He was obedient unto thee until death, yea death upon a cross, taking the obligation or hand writing of our sins, which was his flesh & fastening it unto the cross, he crucified sin and ⟨p. 74⟩killed death. He a lone, is amongst the dead, free from death, having power to put his soul for us, & to take it again for us. Therefore was he both a vanquisher and a sacrifice, and therefore was he an overcomer, because he was a sacrifice for us. He was both the priest & sacrifice, unto thee, and therefore was he a priest, because he was a sacrifice. Not without a cause have I great hope in him. Forasmuch as thou wilt make whole all my diseases, for his sake that sitteth on thy right hand and doth continually make intercession for us. For my diseases (O Lord) are great and many: ⟨image 76⟩oh they are many in number & great. For the Prince of this world (as I very well know & confess) hath many things in me.
HItherto (O almighty God the beholder and sercher of mine hart) haue I acknowledged thal mightifulnes of thy maiesty, & maiesty of thine almightifulnes. But now, like as with hart I beleue (whiche is counted righteousnes vnto me) so with mouth doo I confes before thee (whiche is to my saluation) after what sort and maner thou didst vouchsafe in the end of the world, to succour and aid mankinde. Thou (in deed) only (O ⟨p. 73⟩God the father) art not red at any time, or in any place to be sēt. But of thy sonne: the Apostle writeth. When that ye time was fulfilled: God sent his sonne. In that he saith (he sent) he doth sufficiently declare that he, being sent, came into this world, when as he (being borne a very & perfect man of blessed Mary a pure Uirgin) did apeer and shew him self in ye flesh. But what is that, whiche he that is the cheef of the Euangelists dooth say? He was in the world and the world was made my him. Thither, truely, was he sent by his humanitie, where he allway is and ⟨image 75⟩alway hath bene by his diuinitie. The whiche sending or embassage, I beleeue withall my hart and confes with my mouth to be the consent and wurk of al the whole Trinitie. Oh holy & good father, how didst thou loue vs? How great fauour didst thou bear toward vs moste mercifull creator? whiche haste not spared thine owne sonne, but for vs wretched sinners hast deliuered him. He was obedient vnto thee vntill death, yea death vpon a cros, taking ye obligation or hād writing of our sinnes, whiche was his fleshe & fastening it vnto the cros, he crucified sin and ⟨p. 74⟩kild death. He a lone, is amongst the dead, free from death, hauing power to put his soule for vs, & to take it again for vs. Therfore was he bothe a vanquisher and a sacrifice, and therfore was he an ouercommer, because he was a sacrifice for vs. He was bothe ye preest & sacrifice, vnto thee, and therfore was he apreest, because he was a sacrifice. Not without a cause haue I great hope in him. Forasmuche as thou wilt make whole all my diseases, for his sake that sitteth on thy right hād and dothe continually make intercession for vs. For my diseases (O Lorde) are great and many: ⟨image 76⟩oh they are many in number & great. For the Prince of this world (as I very well knowe & confes) hath mani things in me.
But I beseech thee deliver me, through our redeemer which sitteth on thy right hand, in whom the said Prince of this world could find none evil, that was his, of his own committing. By him do thou justify me whom his self did not sin, nether was there any deceit or guile found in his mouth. By him which is our head, in whom there is not one spot of evil, deliver me, which am one of his members, though I be but a little member and feeble ⟨p. 75⟩and weak. Deliver me (I be sech thee) from my sins, offences, faults, & ignorances. Fulfil me with thy holy virtues & make me to shine in good manners, make me (I beseech thee) for thy holy names sake, to continue in holy works until the end, accor ding to thy will and pleasure.
But I beseche thee deliuer me, through our redeemer whiche sitteth on thy righthand, in whō ye said Prince of this world could finde none euill, that was his, of his owne committing. By him doo thou iustify me whome his self did not sin, nether was there any deceit or gile found in hys mouth. By him whiche is oure head, in whom there is not one spot of euill, deliuer me, whiche am one of his members, though I be but a little membre and feble ⟨p. 75⟩and weake. Deliuer me (I be sech thee) from my sinnes, offences, faults, & ignoraunces. Fulfill me with thy holy vertues & make me to shine in good maners, make me (I besech the) for thy holy names sake, to cōtinue in holi wurks vntill thend, accor ding to thy will and pleasure.
I Might despair verily because of my manifold sins & negli gences without number, if it were not that thy word (O God) was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us. But I can not now despair ⟨image 77⟩because that seeing (when we were enemies) we were reconciled by the death of thy Son: how much more, are we (now reconciled) saved by him. For all the hope and the certitude & sureness of all my trust, is in his precious blood which was shed for us & for our salvation. In him do I take heartening: and trusting in him: I have a desire to come unto thee, not having mine own righteousness, but that which I have through thy Son our lord Jesus Christ. For the which (O most merciful God and most gentle lover of mankind) we give thee thanks, which through ⟨p. 76⟩Jesus Christ thy Son our lord, when we were not, didst mightily make us, and when we were lost through our sins: most marvellously didst deliver & recover us again. To thy goodness (I say) do I give thanks, & manifold praises do I show for the to the withal my hart & mind, which (through the unspeakable love) wherewith thou hast vouchsafed of thy marvellous goodness to love us wretches & (unworthy to be loved) didst send that same thine only begotten Son from thy bosom unto our common weal, to save us sinners which were at that time the children ⟨image 78⟩of perdition and damnation. I render unto thee thanks for his holy incarnation and nativity and for his blessed mother upon whom he did vouchsafe to take flesh for us and for our salvation, to the intent that like as he is very God of God: so he might be very man of man. I give thee thanks for his passion and cross, for his death and resurrection, for his ascension into heaven & his seat of his majesty on thy right hand. For he the forty day after his resurrection, ascending above all the heavens (his disciples seeing it) and sitting on thy right hand, did pour out his holy ⟨p. 77⟩spirit abundantly according to his promise, upon them whom he had chosen to be his children. I give thee thanks for that most sacred shedding forth of his precious blood, wherewith we are deemed, & also for the most holy and quickening sacrifice of his body and blood, which daily in thy church we feed of & drink of, wherewith we are washed & sanctified, and are made partakers of the only high divinity.
I give thee thanks for thy marvellous & unspeakable charity & love wherewith thou didst love us unworthy persons, and didst save us by thine only and be ⟨image 79⟩loved Son, for so thou didst love the world, that thou gavest thine only begotten Son to the intent that none which believed in him should perish, but have everlasting life. This thing truly is everlasting life, to know thee & also Jesus Christ, whom thou sent to be very God, by an upright faith and works worthy for faith.
I geue thee thanks for thy merueilous & vnspekeable charitie & loue wherwith thou didst loue vs vnwurthi persones, and didst saue vs by thine only and be ⟨image 79⟩loued sōne, for so thou didst loue ye world, that thou gauest thine only begotten sonne to thintent that none which beleued in him should perish, but haue euerlasting life. This thing truly is euerlasting life, to knowe thee & also Iesus Christe, whom thou sent to be very God, by an vpright faith and wurkes wurthy for faith.
OH unmeasurable pity and fatherly love, oh inestimable charity, that thou shouldest deliver thy Son to suffer death to the intent thou mightest redeem ⟨p. 78⟩and ransom a servant. God was made man, to the intent that man, being lost, might-be plucked out of the power of devils. How gentle and kind a lover of man was thy Son our God who thought it not enough to humble him self to be made man of the very virgin Mary: but also took upon him the pains of the cross in shedding his blood for us and for our salvation. He came a pitiful God, he came for his pity & goodnesses sake, he came to search and to save that which was lost. He sought the strayed sheep, he sought and found, and he being a good Lord and truly ⟨image 80⟩a very good & pitiful shepherd, brought him home upon his shoulders unto the folds of the flock. Oh charity, oh pity, who hath heard any such things? who is not astonied to consider the bowels of so great mercy? who would not marvel? who would not ho nor & worship thee for thy great charity wherewith thou lovedst us? Thou didst send thy Son into the similitude of flesh, subject to sin, that he might condemn sin for sin, that we might be made thy righteousness in him.
OH vnmesurable pitie and fatherly loue, oh inestimable charitie, that thou shouldest deliuer thy sonne to suffre death to thintent thou mightest redeem ⟨p. 78⟩and raunsom a seruaunt. God was made mā, to the intent that man, being lost, might-be plucked out of the powre of deuels. How gētle and kinde a louer of man was thy sōne our God who thought it not enough to humble him self to be made man of the very virgin Mary: but also took vpon him the paines of the cros in sheding his bloud for vs and for our saluation. He came a pitifull God, he came for his pitie & goodnesses sake, he came to serche and to saue that which was lost. He sought the straied sheep, he sought and found, and he being a good Lorde and truly ⟨image 80⟩a very good & pitifull shepherd, brought him home vpō his shulders vnto the foldes of the flock. Oh charitie, oh pitie, who hathe heard any suche things? who is not astonied to cōsider the bowels of so great mercy? who wold not meruail? who would not ho nor & wurship thee for thy great charitie wherwith thou louedst vs? Thou didst send thy sōne into the similitude of fleshe, subiect to sin, that he might condemn sin for sin, that we might be made thy righteousnes in him.
For he was the very lamb with out spot, which took away the sins of the world, which destroyed ⟨p. 79⟩our death by dying him self. But what may we render, unto thee (our God) for so great benefits of thy mercy? What praises or what thanks? Verily, if we should have that same knowledge and power that blessed Angels have: yet should we not be able to requite thy so great pity and goodness with any thing of valour. No if all our members were turned into tongues to repay unto thee due praises: yet were not our slenderness sufficient. There is one thing that exceedeth all knowledge, even thine inestimable charity, which thou didst show unto us ⟨image 81⟩unworthy persons for thy goodness & pities sake. Thy Son (O our God) did take upon him to be the seed of Abraham not of Angels, yea and he was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted. He therefore taking man's nature not angels, and glorifying it with the stole of holy resurrection and immortality: carried it above the he avens and above all the melodious companies of Angels, above Cherubin & Seraphin, placing it upon thy right hand. This human nature do Angels praise, all the powers of heaven do tremble, to see a man, to be God over them. This truly ⟨p. 80⟩is all my hope, all my trust. And this same human nature is in Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the portion of every one of us, the flesh & blood. Therefore whereas my portion reigneth: there do I believe to reign. Whereas my flesh is glorified: there do I believe to be glorified. Where my blood ruleth: there do I per ceiveme to bear rule. Although I be a sinner, yet I do not mistrust nor despair of the communion and partaking of favour. Although my sins do hinder me & in a manner forbid me: nevertheless my substance requireth it. And all be it that mine offences ⟨image 82⟩do exclude me: yet the con manion of our nature doth not expel me. For God is not so ungentle as to forget man, and not to remember that thing which him self beareth, & that which for my sake he took upon him, & that which for my sake he requireth. But truly the Lord our God is lowly and meek, & wonderful gentle, and loveth his flesh, his members and his bow else.
In the very same God our lord Jesus Christ, who is most gentle, loving and merciful, in whom we are risen from death, (that is to say) from the state of perdition and eternal damnation, & even now by him we ascend ⟨p. 81⟩into the heavens, & now sit in the heavens (in him I say) our flesh loveth us. For we have in him, & by him a prerogative and as it were a preferment of our blood. For we are his members & his flesh. And he is our head, of the which dependeth the whole body (as it is written) a bone of my bones & flesh of my flesh & they shall be two, in one flesh, & no man at any time hateth his own flesh but rather cherisheth and loveth it. This is a great mystery, I speak in Christ, & in the church saith the apostle.
In the very same God our lord Iesus Christe, who is moste gentle, louing and mercifull, in whom we are risen from death, (that is to say) from the state of perdition and eternall damnation, & euen now by him we ascend ⟨p. 81⟩into the heauens, & now sit in the heauēs (in him I say) our flesh loueth vs. For we haue in him, & by him a prerogatiue and as it were a preferment of our bloud. For we are his mēbres & his flesh. And he is oure head, of the whiche dependeth the whole body (as it is written) a bone of my bones & flesh of my flesh & thei shalbe two, in one flesh, & no mā at ani time hateth his owne flesh but rather cherisheth and loueth it. This is a great mistery, I speak in Christe, & in the churche saith the apostle.
Wherefore with my lips & hart, and with all the might that I may, I render thanks unto thine infinite mercy. o Lord our god) for all thy mercy, wherewith marvellously thou vouchsafed to help & succour us that were lost, by the same thy Son our saviour and recoverer, which died for our sins, & rose again for our justification, and living, without end sitteth on thy right hand and entreateth for us, and together with thee, taketh pity and mercy upon us, because he is God through thee (O father) everlasting and of one substance with thee in all things. Whereby alway ⟨p. 82⟩he may save us, but for as much as he is man in which thing he is less and inferior unto thee, all power both in heaven and in earth, was given unto him, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of celestial, earthly creatures, and also of infernal, that all tongues may confess that our lord Jesus Christ is in thy glory (O father almighty He verily was constituted of thee and ordained to be a judge of the quick and dead, for thou truly judgest no man, but all thy judgement hast given to thy Son, in whose breast all treasures of wisdom & knowledge ⟨image 84⟩are hid. He truly is both a witness and a judge, a judge & a witness, whom no sinful conscience can flee or avoid for all things be they never so secret, are open and even naked and uncovered unto him. He verily which was unrighteously judged himself: shall judge the whole world in equity, and the people in righteousness, and according to justice. Therefore do I bless thy name everlasting and glorify the same with all my hart (O almighty & merciful Lord) for that unspeakable and marvellous coniuntiō of godhead and manhood together in the unity of a person, & not ⟨p. 83⟩after this sort, that the one should be God, and the other man: but one and the same was both God & man, man and God. Nevertheless although by thy marvellous will, the word was made flesh, yet nether of both the natures was changed into others substance. In the mystery of the Trinity, there is not a fourth person added. For the substance of the word of god and of man was united and knit together, but not confused & mixed, that that thing which was taken of us: should be turned into god, & that which never had ben before that time, that is his flesh & manhood should ⟨image 85⟩
Oh unspeakable fellowship. Oh marvellous meekness of the heavenly mercifulness, which is ever worthy marvelling and ever to be loved. We were but vile servants & behold we are made the sons of god. Yea, and heirs of god together with christ. From whence came this goodness? and who brought us unto this state? But I require the (O most merciful father (by thine inestimable pity, goodness & charity: to make us worthy of these many and great promises of the ⟨p. 84⟩same, thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Send forth thy strength (O God) and establish the thing that thou hast wrought in us.
Oh vnspeakeable felowship. Oh merueilous meeknes of the heauenli mercifulnes, which is euer wurthy merueiling and euer to be loued. We were but vile seruants & beholde we are made the sōnes of god. Yea, and heires of god together wt christe. From whence came this goodnes? and who broughte vs vnto this state? But I require the (O moste mercifull father (by thine inestimable pitie, goodnes & charitie: to make vs wurthy of these many and great promisses of the ⟨p. 84⟩same, thy Sonne our Lord Iesu Christe. Send forth thy strength (O God) and establish the thing that thou hast wrought in vs.
Make perfect that which thou hast begun, that we may be able to come unto the fullness and per fectnes of thy pity. Make us tho row the holy ghost to understand and through thy Son to deserve, and with due honour alway to worship this great mystery of thy pity, which is manifest in our flesh. Justified in the spirit, did appear unto Angels, was preached unto nations, was believed to be in the world, was taken up into heaven.
Make perfect that whiche thou hast begun, that we may be able to come vnto the fulnes and per fectnes of thy pity. Make vs tho row the holy ghost to vnderstād and thorow thy sōne to deserue, and with due honor allway to wurship this great mistery of thy pitie, whiche is manifest in our fleshe. Iustified in the spirit, did appeere vnto Angels, was preched vnto nations, was bele ued to be in the world, was takē vp into heauen.
Amen.
I Might dispaire verely because of my manifolde sinnes & negli gences without nūber, if it were not that thy wurd (O God) was made fleshe, and dwelt amongst vs. But I can not now dispaire ⟨image 77⟩because that seeing (when we were enemies) we were reconciled by the death of thy sonne: how muche more, are we (now reconciled) saued by him. For all the hope and the certitude & sure nes of all my trust, is in his precius blud whiche was shed for vs & for our saluation. In him doo I take hartening: and trusting in him: I haue a desire to come vnto the, not hauing mine owne righteousnes, but that whiche I haue through thy sōne our lorde Iesu Christe. For the whiche (O moste mercifull God and moste gentle louer of mankinde) we geue thee thāks, which through ⟨p. 76⟩Iesus Christe thy sōne our lord, when we were not, didst mighte ly make vs, and when we were lost through our sinnes: moste merucilously didst deliuer & recouer vs again. To thy goodnes (I say) doo I geue thanks, & manifold praises doo I shew for the to the withall my hart & minde, whiche (through the vnspeakable loue) wherwith thou hast vouchesafed of thy meruelous goodnes to loue vs wretches & (vnwurthy to be loued) didst sēd that same thine only begotten sōne from thy bosome vnto our cōmon weal, to saue vs sinners whiche were at that time ye children ⟨image 78⟩of perdition and damnaciō. I rendre vnto thee thāks for his holy incarnation and natiuitie and for his blessed mother vpon whom he did vouchesafe to take fleshe for vs and for our saluation, to thintent that like as he is very God of God: so he might be very man of man. I geue thee thanks for his passion and cros, for his death and resurrection, for his ascention into heauen & his seat of his maiestie on thy right hand. For he the fortie day after his resurrection, ascending aboue all the heauens (his disciples seeing it) and sitting on thy right hand, did pour out his holy ⟨p. 77⟩spirite abundantly according to his promis, vppon them whom he had chosen to be his children. I geue thee thāks for that moste sacred sheding foorth of his precious bloud, wherwith we ar re deemed, & also for the moste holy and quickning sacrifice of his body and bloud, whiche daily in thy churche we feed of & drink of, wherwith we are washed & sanctified, and are made partakers of the only high diuinitie.
WHerfore with my lips & hart, and with all the might that I may, I rendre thankes vnto thine infinit mercy. o Lorde our god) for all thy mercy, wherwith merueilously thou vouchsafed to help & succour vs that were lost, by the same thy sonne our sauior and recouerer, whiche died for our sinnes, & rose again for our iustification, and liuing, without end sitteth on thy right hand and entreateth for vs, and together with thee, taketh pitie and mercy vpō vs, because he is God thorow thee (O father) euerlasting and of one substance with thee in all things. Wherby alway ⟨p. 82⟩he may saue vs, but for as muche as he is man in whichething he is les and inferiour vnto thee, all power bothe in heauen and in earth, was geuen vnto him, that in the name of Iesu euery knee should bow bothe of celestiall, earthly creatures, and also of infernall, that all tūgs may confes that our lorde Iesus Christe is in thy glory (O father almightie He verily was constituted of thee and ordeined to be aiudge of the quick and dead, for thou truly iudgest no man, but all thy iudgement hast geuen to thy sonne, in whose brest all trea sures of wisedom & knowledge ⟨image 84⟩are hid. He truly is bothe a witnes and a iudge, a iudge & a wit nes, whom no sinfull conscience can flee or auoid for al things be thei neuer so secret, are open and euen naked and vncouered vnto him. He verely whiche was vnrighteously iudged himself: shall iudge the whole world in equitie, and the people in rightousnes, and according to iustice. Therfore doo I bles thy name e uerlasting and glorify the same with all my hart (O almighty & mercifull Lorde) for ytvnspeakable and merueilous coniuntiō of godhed and manhod together in the vnitie of a person, & not ⟨p. 83⟩after this sort, yt thone should be God, and thother man: but one and the same was bothe God & man, man and God. Neuertheles although by thy merueilous will, the wurd was made fleshe, yet nether of bothe the natures was chaunged into others substaunce. In the mistery of ye Trinitie, there is not afourth persō added. For the substaunce of the wurd of god and of man was vnited and knit together, but not cōfused & mixed, that that thing whiche was taken of vs: should be turned into god, & that which neuer had ben before that time, that is his flesh & manhod shuld ⟨image 85⟩be the same that had ben euer without any beginning, that is, his godhed. Oh meruellous mistery.