A07044:174
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
A07044:174
The pomander of prayer, newly made by Thomas BeconThe pomaunder of prayer, newly made by Thomas Becon
Imprinted 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.
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⟩be the same that had ben ever without any beginning, that is, his godhead. Oh marvellous mystery.
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.
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.
Look how much (O Lord our God) we are in debt unto thee even for so great a price were we redeemed, with such a great gift were we saved, and with so great a benefit helped. How much ought we wretches to love, dread, bless, praise, honour and glorify thee which hast so loved us, after such fashion saved us, after such a sort sanctified us, so set us on high. To the truly do we owe, & are bound, in as much as we are able, even our life and all our study or endeavour. ⟨p. 85⟩But who hath any thing that is not thine? But do thou (O Lord our God) from whom all goodness proceedeth, even for thy holy names sake) give us of thy goodness, that we may serve thee of thine own goods and gifts & that we may please thee in truth, & repay unto the daily due praises for so great benefits of thy mercy. For by none other means can we serve or please thee, but by thine own gifts, that thou hast lent us, while we be in this world. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, & cometh down from the father of light, with whom there ⟨image 87⟩is none alteration or variableness neither yet is he changed unto darkness. O Lord our God, & a pitiful God, a good God, and almighty God, an unspeakable God, and incomprehensible, of such a nature that can not be contained as in a place, o god which art the beginner of all things & the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which diddest send the same thy beloved Son our lord, forth of thy bosom to our common profit, to take upon him our life, to the intent he might give us his life, & that he might be perfect and very God of thee his father, and very and perfect ⟨p. 86⟩man of his mother, a whole and a perfect God, and a whole and perfect man: and yet but one only Christ, both everlasting: & enduring but for a space, both immortal and mortal, both a creator: and a creature, strong: & weak, an overcomer: and one overcome, a nurse: and one that was nursed him self, a shepherd: and a sheep, dead for a time: and living with the everlasting, pro missing to them that loved him the freedom of life. Who said to his disciples, what thing so ever ye ask the father in my name: he will give it unto you. For that hie Priests sake, which was all ⟨image 88⟩so a bishop in deed, & a god shepherd, that offered him self in a sacrifice to thee, putting his life in jeopardy for his flock:
for his sake I say (I beseech thee) which sitteth on thy right hand & maketh intercession for us, being our redeemer & our advocate, that thou wouldest grant unto me that together with thy Son & the holy ghost I may in all things bless and glorify thee with much contrition of hart, and a fountain of tears, with much reverence & fear: For the gift of them that be all of one substance: is all one. But because a body that is corrupted doth aggravate & burden ⟨p. 87⟩the soul: stir up and awake I be seche thee) my sluggishness, with thy pricks and provokings, and make me boldly to persevere and continue in thy commandments and laws day and night Grant me that my hart may wax warm within me, and that in my meditation and prayer I may be fervent. And for as much as thy only Son said.
for his sake I say (I beseche thee) whiche sitteth on thy right hand & maketh intercession for vs, being our redemer & our aduocate, that thou woldest graunt vnto me that to gether with thy sonne & the holy ghost I may in al things bles and glorify thee with muche cō triciō of hart, and a fountain of teares, with muche reuerence & fear: For the gift of them that be all of one substaunce: is all one. But because abody that is corrupted doth aggrauate & burden ⟨p. 87⟩the soule: stir vp and awake I be seche thee) my sluggishnes, with thy pricks and prouokings, and make me boldly to perseuer and continue in thy commaundements and lawes day and night Graunt me that my hart may waxe warme within me, and that in my meditation and praier I may be feruent. And for as muche as thy only sonne said.
No man can come to me except my Father that sent me, shall draw him: & again no man cometh to the father but by me, I require and humbly beseech thee, draw me always unto him, that he at the length may bring me to ⟨image 89⟩thee: thither (I mean) whereas he is sitting on thyrighthand, where as is everlasting life, and continu all blessedness, whereas is perfect love, without all kind of fear, where as is one day everlasting, and one spirit of all men, where as is most sure security & safety, secure quietness, and quiet pleasantness, pleasant felicity and happiness, happy eternity, continual and eternal seeing and praising of thee without end, where as thou with him, and he with thee in the communion and unity of the holy ghost everlastingly and continually livest & reignest through out all worlds ⟨p. 88⟩of worlds.
No man can come to me except my Father that sent me, shall draw him: & again no man cometh to the father but by me, I re quire and humbly beseche thee, draw me alwaies vnto him, that he at the lēgth may bring me to ⟨image 89⟩thee: thether (I mean) wheras he is sitting on thyrighthand, wher as is euerlastīg life, and continu al blessednes, whereas is perfect loue, without all kinde of fear, where as is one day euerlasting, and one spirit of all men, where as is moste sure securitie & safty, secure quietnes, and quiet plesantnes, pleasaunt felicitie and happines, happy eternitie, continuall and eternall seeing and praising of thee without ende, where as thou with him, and he with thee in the communiō and vnitie of the holy ghost euerlastingly and continually liuest & reignest thorow out all worldes ⟨p. 88⟩of worldes.
Amen.
O Christ and God, which art my hope, and the true & gentle lover of mankind, the light, the way, the life, the health, the honour and worship of them that be thine: I beseech thee call to thy remembrance all things that thou willingly didst suffer for them, both bonds, cross, wounds, death and sepulchre, which after three days, death being over comed, didst rise, wast seen of thy Disciples, reforming their harts and establishing them that were almost inclining from thee: the forty day after didst ascend up to ⟨image 90⟩heaven, which livest everlastingly now, and reignest through out worlds, thou art my God both living and true, my father, & my God both holy and pitiful, my mighty king, my good shepherd, mine only Master, my best helper, one, whom I am most bound to love, my living bread, mine everlasting priest, my guide unto my country, my true light, my holy sweetness, my right & straight way. Mine excellent wisdom, my pure and unfeigned simplicity, my peaceable concord, my safe garrison, my good portion, mine everlasting health, my great mercy, my strongest patience, mine unspotted ⟨p. 89⟩sacrifice, my holy redemption, my sure & steadfast hope, my perfect charity, my very and true resurrection, mine everlasting life, my joy and most blessed vision, & continual without end: I humbly beseech thee, I desire and pray thee, that I may walk by thee, that I may come to thee, that I may rest in thee, which art the way, the truth & the life without the which no man can come unto the father. Thee do I desire & covet (O good Lord) which art the brightness of thy fathers glory, which sittest above the Angel called Cherubin, and dost behold, the low and deep ⟨image 91⟩places, which art the true light the light ye lighteneth all things, the light that never faileth nor goeth out, which the Angels have desire to behold. Lo my hart is before thee in thy sight, put away the darkness from it, that it may fully be replenished with the clearness of thy love.
O Christe and God, whiche art my hope, and the true & gentle louer of mankinde, the light, the way, the life, the health, the honor and wurship of them that be thine: I beseche thee call to thy remembraunce all things that thou willingly didst suffre for thē, bothe bōds, cros, woūds, death and sepulchre, whiche after thre dayes, death being ouer comed, didst rise, wast seen of thi Disciples, reforming their harts and establishing them that were almoste enclining from thee: the forty day after didst ascend vp to
Give unto me Lord thy self, behold I do love thee, & if that be but a thing of small valour: make me to love the more strongly and earnestly. I can not measure to know how much I lack of thy love, nether can I tell, how much should be sufficient for me, that my life may fulfil his ⟨p. 90⟩course in thy love, and not turn back until it be hid in the secrets of thy countenance. Nevertheless, this I know that it were evil with me, if it were not for thee (O Lord) and that not only we the outward things that belong unto me, but also with the inward things. For all my riches (God except) is but mere pover tie: but thou only art a treasure & a parcel of riches that canst nether be changed into better nor worse. Thou art he, to whom it is not one thing to live, and an other thing to live haply, because thou art thy blessedness, thy happiness, and thou art all one.
Geue vnto me Lorde thy self, beholde I doo loue thee, & if that be but a thing of small valure: make me to loue the more strōgly and earnestly. I can not mesure to know how muche I lack of thy loue, nether cā I tell, how muche shoulde be sufficient for me, that my life may fulfill his ⟨p. 90⟩course in thy loue, and not turn back vntil it be hid in the secrets of thy coūtenance. Neuertheles, this I knowe that it were euell with me, if it were not for thee (O Lorde) and that not only we thoutward things that belong vnto me, but also with the inward things. For all my riches (God except) is but meere pouer tie: but thou only art a tresure & a parcell of riches that canst nether be chaūged into better nor wurs. Thou art he, to whom it is not one thing to liue, and an other thing to liue happely, because thou art thy blessednes, thi happines, and thou art all one.
But I which am thy creature, to whom it is not one thing to live, and an other to live blessedly and happily: all, both in that I live, and in that I live haply, I ought not to at tribute nor refer it to be received of any body, but of thy favour. And therefore have we need of thee but not thou of us, because if we were not at all, yet shouldest thou lack nothing of thy goodness. Therefore (O lord) it is necessary for us to stick and cleave unto thee, that by thy continual help we may be able to live holily, virtuously, and as we ought to live For with the weight of our frailness ⟨p. 91⟩we are drawn ever downward, but by thy gift we are stir red & carried upward: we fervently desire to ascend, we make certain ascensions in our harts, lifting them upward, & sing the songs of stars, we the fire of thy love (I say) are we kindled & moved to go we thee. Whether go we now upward, unto the peace of Jerusalem? because I was glad & did rejoice in those things which were spoken unto me: we will go into the house of our Lord: there hath he placed us, we will have good things, that we may will or desire no thing else, but to tarry and remain there for ever. But for as much as ⟨image 93⟩whiles we be clad with this bo, dy, we do as it were go a stray & are strangers unto thee: we have not here an abiding place for ever but we seek for one that is to come. Our abiding place is in heaven. Therefore thy favour and grace being my guide, I enter in to the chamber of my hart, and sing unto thee songs of love (my king & my God) mourning with marvellous sighings in this place of my peregrination, whereas thy justices are made my songs. And when I remember Jerusalem, I extend and stretch forth toward it the senses of my hart: Jerusalem (I say which is my country ⟨p. 92⟩Jerusalem which is my mother: and toward thee which art a king over her, her light, her father, her defender, her patron, her governor, her keeper, her chaste and strong delight, her only and whole pleasure, & all her goodness comes of thee, because thou art the chief good & the true good, & I will never turn back, until thou bring me home from this Pilgrimage (in which I am deformedly scattered abroad) unto the peace of my dearly beloved mother, whereas be the first fruits of my spirit, and until thou (O God which art my mercy) fashion me and confirm me for ever
LOok how muche (O Lorde our God) we are in det vnto thee euē for so great a price wer we redeemed, with suche a great gift were we saued, and with so great abenefit helped. How muche ought we wretches to loue, dread, bles, praise, honoure and glorify thee whiche hast so loued vs, after suche facion saued vs, after suche a sorte sanctified vs, so set vs on high. To the truly doo we owe, & are bound, in as muche as we are able, euē our life and all our study or endeuour. ⟨p. 85⟩But who hath ani thing that is not thine? But doo thou (O Lorde our God) from whom all goodnes procedeth, euen for thy holy names sake) geue vs of thy goodnes, that we may serue thee of thine owne goods and gifts & that we may please thee in truthe, & repay vnto the daily due praises for so great benefites of thy mercy. For by none other meanes can we serue or please thee, but by thine owne gifts, ytthou hast lent vs, while we be in this world. For euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue, & commeth down from the father of light, with whō there ⟨image 87⟩is none alteration or variablenes neither yet is he changed vn to darknes. O Lorde our God, & a pitifull God, a good God, and almighty God, an vnspekeable God, and incomprehensible, of suche a nature that can not be cō teined as in a place, o god which art the beginner of all things & the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche diddest send the same thy beloued sōne our lorde, foorth of thy bosome to oure cō mon profite, to take vpon him our life, to thintent he might geue vs his life, & that he might be perfect and very God of thee his father, and very and perfect ⟨p. 86⟩man of his mother, a whole and a perfect God, and a whole and perfect man: and yet but one on ly Christe, bothe euerlasting: & enduring but for a space, bothe immortall and mortall, bothe a creator: and a creature, strong: & weke, an ouercommer: and one ouercomed, a nurs: and one that was nurced him self, a shepherd: and a sheep, dead for a time: and liuing with the euerlasting, pro mising to them that loued him the fredom of life. Who said to his disciples, what thing so euer ye ask the father in my name: he will geue it vnto you. For that hie Priestes sake, whiche was al ⟨image 88⟩so a bishop in deed, & a god shepherd, that offred him self in a sacrifice to thee, putting his life in ieoperdi for his flock: