The pomander of prayer, newly madeThe pomaunder of prayer, newly made

¶ In this prayer mans mind is very much and plenteously stirred & moved, if it be said in quietness.

¶ In this prayer mans minde is very muche and plenteously stirred & moued, if it be said in quietnes.

O my God my life, thou didst say with thy holy & blessed mouth, If any man thirst, let him cum unto me and drink. O well of life, grant unto my thirsty soul alway to drink of thee, that according to thy holy and true pro mice, waters of life may flow out of my belly. O well of life replenish and fill my mind full of the river of thy pleasure. Make my hart to be drunken as it were in thy love, that after the manner of the that be drunken with wine, which forget all things save the cup: so I may forget all vain and earthly things, and continually have nothing else in my remembrance ⟨p. 109⟩but the only, according as it is written, I remembered God and was delighted. Give me the holy Ghost whom those waters did signify, which thou didst promise to give to them that thirsted after thee. Grant I beseech thee) that I may assay to goo with my hole desire and all my study toward that place unto the which, we believe thou didst ascend the forty day after thy resurrection, that in this present misery I may be only in body: but in thought and desire, always with thee: that my hart may be there where as thou art which art my treasure worthy to be coveted, and much ⟨image 112⟩to be loved, wherewith no treasure is worthy to be compared. In this great flood of this life, where as we are tossed with storms on every side, there is no steadfast standing or place high enough above the waters, no not for the foot of a dove to rest upon in this (I say) there is no safe or quiet peace: nowhere any sure rest: every where battle and strife: every where enemies and fightings without doors, & fear at home within doors. And forasmuch as the one part of us is heavenly, and the other earthly: our body which is corrupted, doth laden and is burdenous ⟨p. 110⟩unto the soul. Therefore my mind which is my fellow and friend, being weary with wandering forth of the way, is sick and lieth all to torn and rent of those things which it hath passed by. It hungereth and thirsteth greatly after vanities, & I have nothing to set afore it, because I am poor and a beggar. Thou (O Lord) my God, art rich in all good things, and the most plenteous giver of the dainties of heavenly satiety: give meat unto the weary, not such as it lusteth after, but such as is convenient for it: gather together the disper sed: renew and refresh the corn, ⟨image 113⟩

I beseech thee by the bowels of thy mercy, wherewith thou being the day spring from an high hast visited us, open the hand of thy pity to a wretch that knocketh, & vouchsafe mercifully to bid him enter in to thee, and that he may rest with thee, & be refreshed of thee, which art the living and heavenly bread, wherewith when he is once fed, and that his strength is come to him again: he may ascend unto more high things. And being lifted up out of this vale of misery & tears, with the wings ⟨p. 111⟩of his godly desire, he may fly unto the heavenly kingdom.

I beseche thee by the bowels of thy mercy, wherwith thou being the day spring from an high hast visited vs, open the hande of thy pitie to a wretche that knocketh, & vouchsafe mercifully to bid him entre in to the, and that he may rest with thee, & be refreshed of thee, whiche art the liuing and heanenly breade, wherwith when he is once fed, and that his strength is cummed to him again: he may ascend vnto more high thinges. And being lifted vp out of this vale of misery & teares, with the wings ⟨p. 111⟩of his godly desire, he may flye vnto the heauenly kingdome.

Let my spirit (O Lord I beseech thee) take wings as an Eagle, & fly without fainting, let it fly and come to beautifulness of thy house and to the place where thy glory dwelleth, where as upon the meat tables of thy supernal citizens, it may be fed of thy secrets, in the place of thy pasture, by the most plentiful rivers sides. Let my hart rest in thee my God, my hart I say, which is as though it were a great sea swelling with waves. Thou which didst rebuke the winds and the sea, and there was made straight way a great ⟨image 114⟩calme: cum and walk upon the floods of mine hart, that all things which belong unto me may be made calm & clear, that I may embrace thee which art mine only God, and that I may behold thee which art the sweet light of mine eyes, without any blind darkness of troublesome cogitations & thoughts. Let my mind fly (O Lord) under the shadow of thy wings from heat that it being covered with the temperateness of thy pleasant coolness, may sing joyfully and say. I will lay me down and rest in peace.

Let my spirit (O Lord I beseche thee) take winges as an Egle, & fly without fainting, let it flye and come to beautifulnes of thy house and to the place where thy glory dwelleth, wher as vpon ye meat tables of thy supernal citizens, it may be fed of thy secrets, in the place of thy pasture, by the most plentifull riuers sides. Let my hart rest in thee my God, my hart I say, whiche is as thoughe it were a great sea swellīg with waues. Thou which didst rebuke the winds and the sea, and there was made streight way a great ⟨image 114⟩calme: cum and walke vpon the fluddes of min hart, yt all things whiche belonge vnto me may be made calme & clere, that I may embrace thee whiche art mine onli God, and that I may behold thee whiche art the swete light of mine eyes, without any blind darknes of troublesom cogitacions & thoughtes. Let my minde flie (O Lorde) vndre the shadow of thy wings from heat that it being couered with the tamperatnes of thy pleasaunt colenes, may sing ioifully and say. I will lay me doune and rest in peace.

Let my memory sleep (O my ⟨p. 112⟩God I beseech thee) from all evils, make it to hate iniquity & to love righteousness. For what can be better or more delectable, then in the middest of the darkness of this life, and amongst the manifold and bitter miseries of the same, to desire fervently heavenly sweetness? to covet everlasting blessedness? a mans mind to be hold ever there, where as he may be most sure to have infallible and true joys. O Lord which for thy loving kindness art most worthy to be desired and coveted of all things: when shall I see thee? When shall ⟨image 115⟩I appear before thy face? when shall I be satisfied of thy glory? when wilt thou bring me forth of this dark prison, that I may confess thy name, so that afterward I be no more pricked? when shall I pass & goo to that marvellous and beautiful house of thine, whereas the voice of gladness and rejoicing doth sound in the tabernacles of just men?

Let my memory sleep (O my ⟨p. 112⟩God I beseeche thee) from all euils, make it to hate iniquitie & to loue righteousnes. For what cā be better or more delectable, then in the middest of the darknes of this life, and emongst the manifold and bitter miseries of the same, to desire feruentli hea uenly swetenes? to couet euerlasting blessednes? a mans mind to be holde euer there, where as he may be moste sure to haue infallible and true ioyes. O Lorde whiche for thy louing kindnes art moste wurthy to be desired and coueted of al thinges: when shall I see thee? When shall ⟨image 115⟩I appeare before thy face? when shall I be satisfied of thy glory? when wilt thou bring me forthe of this darke prison, that I may confesse thy name, so that afterward I be no more pricked? whē shall I passe & goo to that marueilous and beautifull house of thine, wheras the voice of gladnes and reioising doth sound in the tabernacles of iust men?

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house (O Lord) they shall praise thee ever world without end. Blessed are they, yea blessed in deed, whom thou hast chosen, and taken into that heavenly in heritaunce. Behold (O Lord thy ⟨p. 113⟩saints flourish before thee like unto lilies, for they are replenished with the plenteousness of thy house, and thou dost give them to drink of the flowing river of thy pleasure, because thou art the well of life, and in thy light and brightness they do see light, so greatly that they them selves, which are a light, which was made bright by thee, o god which dost give them light, do shine like unto the sun in thy sight. O how marvellous how fair & beautiful, how acceptable are thy mansions & dwelling places of thy house, O Lord of powers. My sinful soul doth covet to en ⟨image 116⟩tree into them. O Lord I have loved the comeliness of thy house and the place where thy glory dwelleth I asked one petition of the Lord, and the same will I require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Like as the hart coveteth to goo unto the water brooks even so doth my soul desire to come unto thee. O God. When shall I come and appear before the face of my Lord? When shall I see God after whom my soul longeth very sore? when shall I see him in the land of the living? For in this land of the dead, he can not be seen we mortal eyes: what shall I do wretch that I am, which ⟨p. 114⟩am fettered with the heavy gives of mortality? What shall I do? whiles we continue in this body, we go astray from the Lord, we have here no abiding place for ever but we labour for one that is to come. Our free city is in heaven. Woe is me, me think I dwell amongst the barbarous nations & infidels, & not amongst the faithful Israelites, I led my life in the tents of Cedar. My soul hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietness. Who will give me wings as a dove that I may fly & rest me. There is nothing that I desire or delight so much in, as to be in my Lords company, ⟨image 117⟩it is good for me to cleave unto God. Oh grant me, (O lord) whiles I am in this frail members, to stick unto thee, as it is written, he that cleaveth unto the Lord is all one spirit with him. Give me therefore I beseech thee, the wings of contemplation, wherewith when I am apparelled, I may fly upward, and forasmuch as every unlucky & infortunate thing lieth beneath:

do thou, O Lord, hold up my mind, lest it fall headlong, into the lowest bottoms of the dark valley, and lest the shadow of the earth should come between and separate it from thee, that ⟨p. 115⟩art the bright sun of righteousness: & lest it, once hid with the clouds of darkness: should not have liberty, but be letted to look for heavenly things which be above. Therefore I do assay to goo upward unto the joys of quietness and peace, and unto the delectable and pleasant state of light. O hold my hart with thy hand, because it can not be draw en unto high things without thee. Thither do I make haste where as most chief and principal peace reigneth and continu all quietness shineth forth. Hold and govern my spirit, and take it according to thy will, that ⟨image 118⟩thou being a guide unto it: it may ascend into the region and country of plentifulness, whereas thou feedest Israel everlastingly, with the food of truth, to the intent that there, at the least wise with my swift cogitation & thought, I may come nigh thy wisdom, which remaineth above all things: over passeth all things and governeth all things. But alas there be many things, which when my soul would fly unto thee, do cry out upon it. Command them all, O lord to hold their peace, & speak not unto me As for my soul it self, let it give never a word to answer. Let it ⟨p. 116⟩pas by all things. Let it clime above all things that be created and come unto thee, and that it may fasten the eyes of faith upon thee, which art the only creator of all things. Let it covet unto thee, and be bent towards thee, Let it think upon thee by meditation and contemplation. Let it lay thee before his eyes for it self, let it roll and toss thee in his hart: thee I say which art the true and chief goodness, and the joy that will remain ever without ending. There is surely many contemplations, in the which mans soul is marvellously fed of thee. But in none of them is my soul so much delighted, nor yet ⟨image 119⟩ha the so good rest in, as in thee: and when as it thinketh upon thee, and hath thee only in contemplation. Oh how much is thy sweetness, O Lord, how marvellously dost thou inspire the harts of them that love thee? How delectable is thy love, the fruition whereof they have that love nothing but thee: they seek for no thing else, they covet to think of nothing else.

Happy are they whose only hope thou art, which have no trust but in thee only & all their whole work is prayer. Blessed is he that sitteth solitarily alone and holdeth his peace, & standeth upon his ward that ⟨p. 117⟩he is set to keep, continually day and night, that yet whiles he is in this frail body, he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasantness. I require thee by those thy wounds which bring health unto us, which wounds thou sufferedst upon the cross for our health, out of the which thy precious blood wherewith thou redeemed us, did distil and drop down: wound this my sinful soul, for the which also thou didst vouchsafe to dye.

Happy are they whose only hope thou art, which haue no trust but in thee only & all their whole wurk is prayer. Blessed is he that sitteth solitarili alone and holdeth his peace, & standeth vpon his warde that ⟨p. 117⟩he is set to kepe, continualli day and night, that yet whiles he is in this fratle body, he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasaūtnes. I require thee by those thy woundes whiche bringe health vnto vs, whiche wounds thou suffredst vppon the crosse for our health, out of the which thy precious bloud wherewith thou redemed vs, did distill and drop downe: wounde this my sinfull soule, for the whiche also thou didst vouchesafe to dye.

Wound it (I say) with the fiery and mighty dart of thy great charity. For the word of God is lively and effectuous: & more ⟨image 120⟩piercing & sharp then any two edged sword. Thou, O chosen dart & most sharp sword, which art able by thy power to pierce through the hard shield or buckler of mans hart, fasten & stick the shaft of thy love in my hart, that my soul may say unto thee, I am wounded with thy charity, so that forth of that same wound of thy love, tears may flow most plenteously both day and night. Strike O Lord, strike I beseech thee, this most indurated and hardened mind of mine with the sharp dart of thy love, & pierce it deeper & deeper into the innermost parts thereof by thy mighty power, & so bring out ⟨p. 118⟩of my head, abundance of water, and out of mine eyes a very well of tears continually running through the great affect & marvellous desire to see thy glory, ytI may mourn day & night without taking any comfort in this life, until in thy heavenly wedding chamber, I may see thee my well beloved and beautiful spouse, my god & my Lord. And that there when I see thy glorious, marvellous and beautiful face, full of all sweetness, together with them which thou haste chosen: then I say, I may worship humbly thy majesty: & there at the last being replenished with heavenly and unspeakable ⟨image 121⟩rejoicing of everlasting gladness I may even cry out with them that love thee (saying) Behold that which I have long desired now I have obtained. For I am joined in heaven unto him, whom when I was in earth, I loved with all my strength, with all my charity I embraced him, unto whom with all my love I did stick & cleave. Him do I praise, bless and worship that liveth & reigneth God world without end.

Wounde it (I say) with the firy and mighty darte of thy greate charitie. For the wurde of God is liuely and effectuous: & more ⟨image 120⟩pearcing & sharp then any two edged sworde. Thou, O chosen dart & most sharp sword, whiche arte able by thy power to perce thorow the hard sheeld or buckler of mans hart, fasten & stick the shaft of thy loue in my hart, that my soule may say vnto thee, I am wounded with thy charitie, so that forth of that same woūd of thy loue, teares may flowe most plenteously bothe day and night. Strike O Lord, strike I beseech thee, this most indurated and hardened mind of mine with the sharp dart of thy loue, & perce it deper & deper into the inermost partes therof by thy mightie power, & so bring oute

Amen.

A prayer in time of tribulation.

Have mercy on me (o Lord) have mercy on me a most wretched sinner, which do commit ⟨p. 119⟩wickedly, and do suffer there fore worthily, which do sin continually, & suffer thy scourge there fore daily. If thou take my daily tribulation as a recompense for the evils which I have committed: then it is not so much that I suffer. For it is a great deal more grievous which I have tres passed, then that which I do suffer. Thou art just, O Lord, & thy judgement is according to right. Yea all thy judgments are just & true, and thou, O lord our god, art just and righteous: for there is none iniquity in thee. Thou dost not unjustly, nor yet cruelly scourge and punish sinners, O ⟨image 122⟩all mighty and merciful God, which when we had no being at all didst mightily create and make us. And when we were lost by our own fault, thou by thy pity and goodness, marvellously didst recover us.

HAue mercie on me (o Lorde) haue mercie on me a moste wretched sinner, whiche doo cō mit ⟨p. 119⟩wickedli, and doo suffre ther fore worthely, whiche doo sin cō tinualli, & suffre thy scourge ther fore daily. If thou take my daily tribulacion as a recompence for the euils whiche I haue cōmitted: then it is not somuch that I suffre. For it is a great deale more greuous which I haue tres passed, then yt whiche I doo suffer. Thou art iust, O Lord, & thy iudgemēt is according to right. Yea all thy iudgmentes ar iust & true, and thou, O lorde our god, art iust and righteous: for there is none iniquitie in thee. Thou dost not vniustli, nor yet cruelly scourge and punish sinners, O ⟨image 122⟩all mighty and mercifull God, whiche when we had no beyng at all didst mightily create and make vs. And when we were lost by oure owne faulte, thou by thy pitie and goodnes, marueilously didst recouer vs.

I know and am very certain & sure, that our life is not led by so den motions, but it is disposed and governed of thee, O Lord our god. Whereby I know thou takest care for all men, and most chiefly for thy servants, which have put their whole hope in thine only mercy. Therefore do I beseech & humbly require thee, that thou wouldst not deal with ⟨p. 120⟩me according to my sins, wherewith I have deserved thine anger: but according to thy great mercifulness, which exceedeth, yea the sins of the hole world. Thou, O Lord which outwardly dost punish & scourge, grant me in wardli a patience that will never fail, so that thy praise never depart away from my mouth. Have mercy on me, o lord, have mercy on me & help me, as thou thinkest best to be most necessary for my body and soul. Thou knowest all things: thou canst do all things, which livest for ever and ever.

I know and am very certayn & sure, that our life is not led by so den motions, but it is disposed and gouerned of thee, O Lorde our god. Wherby I know thou takest care for all men, and most chiefly for thy seruaunts, whiche haue put theyr whole hope in thine oneli merci. Therfore doo I beseche & humbli require the, that thou woldst not deale with ⟨p. 120⟩me accordīg to my sinnes, wherwith I haue deserued thine angre: but according to thy great mercifulnes, whiche exceadeth, yeathe sinnes of the hole world. Thou, O Lorde which outward ly doost punish & scourge, graunt me in wardli a pacience that wil neuer faile, so that thy praise ne uer depart away frō my mouth. Haue merci on me, o lorde, haue mercy on me & help me, as thou thinkest best to be most necessary for my body and soule. Thou knowest all thinges: thou canst doo all thinges, whiche liuest for euer and euer.