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

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:

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house (O Lorde) they shall praise thee euer worlde without ende. Blessed ar they, yea blessed in dede, whom thou hast chosen, and taken into that heauenly in heritaunce. Behold (O Lord thy

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.

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.

¶ A very devout prayer to the Son.

¶ A very deuout prayer to the sonne.

O Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God, which being upon the cross with thy hands spread abroad for the redemption of all mankind didst drink the most bitter cup of thy passion I beseech thee that thou wouldest vouchsafe to give me help this day & ever. Lo, I a poor wretch cum unto thee, which art rich, a sinner unto thee that art merciful. Let me not return home contemned and despised with no thing. I begin a hungered, let me not leave of fasting I cum unto thee as though. I were famished, let me not go away unfed. Although before I eat, I sigh & ⟨p. 121⟩sorrow: yet after my sorrow, give me somewhat to eat. First of all good Jesus, I acknowledge before thy majesty mine unrighteousness towards thee. Behold, O Lord, I was conceived in sin & borne in the same: & thou didst wash them of from me, & sanctified me: but I afterward defiled my self with bigger and more grievous sins. For I was born in sin of necessity, because I could be borne none otherwise. But afterward I rolled my self willingly in sins. Nevertheless thou, O Lord being mindful of thy pity, didst take me out of the house of my carnal father ⟨image 124⟩& out of the tents of the ungodly and hast inspired me & put me in mind to follow thee, with the generation of them that seek thy face, of them that walk in the right path, of them that abide & continue amongst the lilies of chastity: & of them that sit down together with the at supper of most scarcity & least excess. But I an unkind person, forgetting so many great benefits, after that I was entered into religion & holiness did commit many unlawful things. I did offend wonderful ungraciously: & where I should of right, have amended mine evil life, and lest my sins: I heaped ⟨p. 122⟩sins upon sins, & these be the evils, o Lord wherewith I have dishonoured thee, & have spotted & defiled my self (whom thou didst create after the similitude and likeness of thine own self) with pride vain glory and other many evils wherewith mine unlucky soul is vexed, punished, torn & destroyed. Behold, o lord mine unrighteousness is gone over my head and are like a sore burden, over heavy for me to bear. And except thou, whose property is ever to have mercy & to forgive, do lay under me the right hand of thy majesty: I shall be constrained miserably to sink in to the deep and be drowned.

Give heed, o Lord god & behold, because thou art holy, Look how mine enemy assaulteth me saying, God hath forsaken him, I will persecute him and catch him, because there is no man that will deliver him. But thou lord how long? Turn again & deliver my soul, save me for thy mercies sake. Have mercy upon thy son, whom thou hast brought forth with no small sorrow and pain: & be not so attentive unto mine evilness, that thou forget thine own goodness: what father is there but he will deliver his son? yea & what fathers is there that will not correct his ⟨p. 123⟩son and chasten him? but with the rod of pity. Therefore, O father and Lord, although I be a sinner yet can I not choose but be thy son, because thou hast made me, and made me again when I was marred with sin. Repair & amend me now, o Lord, but first of all, I being mended & chastised with thy scourge, deliver me to thy Son. Can a mother forget the child she bare of her womb and surely, although she sometimes be forgetful: yet thou (O father, hast promised not to forget us. Behold I cry and thou dost not hear me▪ I am vexed with sorrow and thou comfortest me not. ⟨image 126⟩What shall I say? or what shall I do, most wretched caitiff that I am? I being desolate of so great comfort, am cast out from the sight of thine eyes. Woe be unto me: from how great goodness, into how great a mischief am I fallen? whether purposed I to go, and whether am I come? Where am I? and where am I not? whom did I study to attain▪ unto? and what evils have I obtained? I sought for good things, and behold I have found trouble & care. Behold now I am in the state of death, and Jesus is not with me. And surely it were better for me to have nothing at ⟨p. 124⟩all, yea no being at all: than to be without Jesus. It is better not to live then to live without life. And thou O Lord Jesus, where be thine old mercies? wilt thou be angry towards me for ever? Be pacified I beseech thee, and have mercy upon me, and turn not thy face away from me, which to the intent thou mightest redeem me, didst not turn a way thy face from them that rebuked thee and spitted upon thee. I confess and acknowledge that I have sinned and my conscience deserveth damnation and the penance that I am able to do is not sufficient to make amends

Oh do not (I beseech thee most pitiful Lord) write my heinous sins against me, that thou shouldest enter into judgement with thy servant. But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies, cross & blot out mine in iquities. Woe be unto me wretch that I am, when the day of judg meant cometh, and the books of consciences shall be laid wide open: when it shall be said of me Lo, look upon this fellow & his works: What shall I do then, O Lord my God, when the ⟨p. 125⟩heavens shall reveal and show forth mine iniquity, & the earth shall arise up and testify mine iniquity, against me? Behold I shall be able to give never one word to answer. but to stand in thy presence trembling, quaking, utterly confounded and holding down my head for shame. Alas wretch that I am, what shall I say? I will cry unto thee, o lord my God. Why am I consumed & fretted with holding my peace? But if I should speak: my grief would not cease. And if I hold my peace: I shall be most bitterly vexed within me. Mourn o my soul, & lament as a widow for ⟨image 128⟩her first husband, that she had in her young age. Howl wretch & cry out with weeping because thy spouse Christ hath forsaken thee, O God almighty let not thine anger fall upon me: because that if thou lay so much to my charge as is dew for my sins: it is so much that I can not receive it. Surely my power is not able for to suffer or bear it.

Oh doo not (I beseche thee most pitifull Lorde) write my heynous sinnes against me, yt thou shuldest entre into iudgement with thy seruaunt. But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies, cros & blot out mine in iquities. Wo be vnto me wretch that I am, when the day of iudg ment commeth, and the bookes of consciences shalbe layd wide open: when it shalbe said of me Lo, looke vpon this felow & his wurkes: What shall I doo then, O Lorde my God, when the hea ⟨p. 125⟩uens shall reuele and shew forth mine iniquitie, & the earth shall arise vp and testifie mine iniquitie, against me? Beholde I shalbe able to geue neuer one wurd to answer. but to stande in thy presence trimbling, quaking, vtterly confounded and holding downe my head for shame. Alas wretch that I am, what shall I say? I will cry vnto thee, o lorde my God. Why am I consumed & fretted with holdīg my peace? But if I should speak: my greef would not cease. And if I hold my peace: I shalbe most bitterly vexed within me. Mourne o my soule, & lament as a widow for

Have mercy upon me least I despair. But in despairing I will take hart to me and be somewhat comforted. For all though I have committed so much that thou mayst condemn me worthily: yet thou hast not lost that wherewith ⟨p. 126⟩thou wast wont to save sin ners, nether dost thou rejoice at the destruction & loss of them that dye, yea to the intent that dead men might live, thou thy self didst die: and thy death did kill the death of sins. And if they were revived again and did live by thy death: I beseech thee, let not me die, now that thou livest Send down thy hand & power from hie, and deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies, that they rejoice not over me and say, let us devour him. Who ever (O good Jesus) needed to mistrust of thy mercy? which when we were thine enemies didst redeem ⟨image 129⟩us with thy blood, and reconciled us unto God? Behold, I being hid under the shadow of thy mercy, do come unto the throne of thy glory requiring, & I do run crying and knocking until thou take pity upon me. For if thou didst call us to pardon & forgiveness before we laboured for pardon: how soon shall we obtain forgiveness when we ask it? Do not remember, O most bountiful Jesus, thy justice toward a sinner? but think upon thy liberality & gentleness toward thy creature. Do not remember thine anger toward the guilty, but remember thy pity and mercy toward ⟨p. 127⟩a wretch. Forget me in that I proudly did provoke & move thee to wrath: and look upon a wretch that calleth upon thee. For what is Jesus but a saviour? Therefore, good Jesus, for thine own sake, arise and help me: and say unto my soul. I am thy health and thy safeguard. I presume much and am very bold of thy goodness (O Lord) because thou dost teach us to ask, to seek and to knock, wherefore I being admonished by thy word do ask, seek and knock. And thou, O Lord that commandest us to ask, make me able to receive. Thou that givest counsel ⟨image 130⟩to seek, grant that I may find. Thou that teachest us to knock, open to me when I knock, and confirm me which am unstable and wavering, restore me that am lost, raise me that am dead:

Haue merci vpon me least I dispeire. But in despeiring I will take hart to me and be sōwhat cōforted. For all though I haue committed so muche that thou mayst condemne me wurthely: yet thou hast not lost that wherwith

and vouchsafe to direct & govern in thy favour all my senses, my thoughts and doings, that from henceforth I may serve thee, I may live toward thee and that I may commit my self unto thee I know (O my Lord) that through this that thou hast made me, I owe and am in debt unto thee even mine own self: & because thou hast redeemed me and wast made man for my sake: for this ⟨p. 128⟩(I say I owe unto thee more than my self. Lo I have no more: nether can I give that which I have unto thee, without thee. But do thou take me and draw me unto thee, that I may be thine in following & loving thee: like as I am thine in condition &, creation, which livest and reignest world without end.

and vouchsafe to direct & gouern in thy fauoure all my sences, my thoughts and dooings, that frō hensfoorth I may serue thee, I may liue toward thee and that I may commit my self vnto thee I knowe (O my Lord) that thorow this that thou hast made me, I owe and am in det vnto thee euen mine owne selfe: & because thou hast redemed me and wast made man for my sake: for this ⟨p. 128⟩(I say I owe vnto thee more thē my selfe. Lo I haue no more: nether can I geue that whiche I haue vnto thee, without thee. But doo thou take me and draw me vnto thee, yt I may be thine in folowing & louing thee: like as I am thine in condicion &, creation, whiche liuest and reignest world without ende.

Amen.