THE HOLY PRACTICES OF A DIVINE LOVER OR THE SAINCTLY Idiots Devotions.  
The ●●●tents of the book are contained in the ensuing page.  Gustate, & videte quam suavis est Dominus. Psal. 34. Taste, and see how sweet our Lord is. Psal. 35. 8. 
Printed at Paris by LEWIS DE LA FOSSE at the sign of the looking Glass in the Carmes street 1657.  
With Approbation.   


1. The summary of Perfection.  
2. The Directions: for these Holy Exercises, & Idiots Devotions.  
3. A Catalogue of such Books as are fit for Contemplative Spirits.  
4. The Holy Exercises & Idiots Devotions.  
5. Th● Top of the Heavenly ladder, or the Highest step of Prayer 〈◊〉 Perfection, by the Example of a Pilgrim going to jerusalem.    

THE PREFACE. TO MY MOST Dear beloved Friends in Christ jesus.  
I HAVE according to your holy injunction, & desire (willing to communicate all Good to others) published those directions, & exercises through which by true practice (the only means, for simple reading only availeth nothing at all) you have reaped such great Comfort, & Benefitt: that you seem to cry out with the Royal Prophet. 
Ps. 66. v. 15.  Come and hear all ye that fear● God, and I will declare to you what He hath done for my soul. That He may do the like for yours by the same means you practicing these directions, & Exercises. This I know you say dear Friends, and from your hart wish the same Spiritual profit to all as to yourselves. 
Mat. 16 12.  Capiat qui capere potest. Let the capable & well disposed make use of them. It is not needful to name you to whom I speak this: for upon these very words I know your hearts are burning within you. 
Lu. 24. 32.  My sheep hear my voice, & those who are mine know me. 
Io. 10. 1●.  I am the poor unprofitable servant not so much as a voice sounding of the great & chief Shepherd; & you are his people, 
Ps. 94. 7.  & the sheep of his pasture, yea I hope the choice of His flock feeding, & graisinge in the pleasant deserts of intern Recollection guided by the sweet grace of His Holy Spirit the sole secure Director. I need say no more but that I am sure you rejoice for the voice of Him that speaketh and declareth these things to you, 
Io 3. 29.  & all other good people: and that I have done so, is my joy alsoe being hereby discharged of my Obligation to you and all. And our joy I hope none shall take from us being the best part, 
Lu. 15.  and for ever permanent. Dear friends I am yours the more intime by how much less outwardly expressed, living with you (I trust in God) a life hidden with Christ in God. 
Coloss. 3. 3.   

IHS    

A SUMMARIE of Perfection.  

Match. 5. ●.  B EATI mundo corde quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt, Happy are the clean of Hart, for they shall see God. Such a Vision of God signifieth withal a fruition of him thereupon, in this life only enigmaticallie, or according to the light of faith & feelings of Love, in the future facially, & really. And it is cleanness of hart (with is Purity in soul) that by the said sentence of our Saviour alone deserveth such Vision & fruition, whereof the degree will be according to the measure of purity towards it that is in the soul in this life. And such purity consisteth in having the soul exempt, or cleansed from inordinate loves towards her own self & all other creatures, & from all inherent images of creatures which those loves so fare as they be do necessarily cause. hindering (according to their measure) the soul's Vision, & fruition wherein alone were to consist her happiness, imperfect in this life, perfect in the future.  

And now here followeth the summary itself of Perfection consisting of ten Articles.  
1. FIRST we are to aim at as our final end (answerable to which shall be our happiness in the future) the state of absolute Perfection that man was in, in the state of innocence (siz: before the first man's fall) so fare as through God's Grace, & our own industry aided by the said Grace we may attain thereto.  
2. The said Perfection of the first Man consisted in two things, whereof if either had been wanting, it had not been that Perfection that indeed it was & which we his posterity are to seek after as our chief, & only happiness.  
3. The one of those two things so necessary was a perfection in all virtues that were requisite (as a mean) towards the exercise of the other as chief, & its end. And that Other chief thing was a continual perfect actuation of love by the Man's soul towards God that caused an Union with him. In which Actuation & Union causing the fruition heretofore mentioned by me, consisted the Man's felicity for this life, & the degree & measure whereof was to be the measure of his more real felicity in the future.  
4. The former of those two being the perfection of all virtues (that is the same as the perfect habits of them) implieth in it an exemption & freedom from their contrary being vicious inclinations or habits, or (which is all one) inordinate Affections with their evil effects or fruits being actual sins offensive to God and deseruinge punishment at his hands for the same. Those evil Habits for so much as they are in Man do ansuerably hinder his souls true & perfect Actuation towards God & union with him (which should cause his Happiness) God being purity itself & therefore incompatible with all impurity which reigneth in vicious Habits, & their effects.  
5. Now we are to know that through corruption of our nature by our said first Man's sin & our own actual sins we are become replenished with vicious Habits (contrary to those of virtue) that accordingly disables us as to the foresaid perfect Actuation, & Union with God.  
6. Nevertheless in what condition soever we be, as to such viciousness or virtuousness in us, We ought in soul with Love to actuate towards God the intensest & continuallest with discretion we can & there with & thereby & by all Other proper means ever tend towards the foresaid absolute perfection. And even by so doing though as yet in an imperfect manner we attain to God, unite ourselves unto him & get an answerable felicity in Him being as yet not a perfect but an imperfect one. Perfect & imperfect. I here mean as in regard of such perfection as even this life is capable of.  
7. Moreover we are to live as well & purely as we can both as to our thoughts, words & deeds, eschewing all sins & their occasions & doing all the good that pertaineth to us to do, the which doing by us answerably doth abate & destroy the vicious habits that are in us, & introduceth the contrary, being the habits of virtue, our progress & profit therein proceeding from this, that by those our do we relinquish & mortify in some measure or other our own natural perverse Will, & cause our will (as it is good) about those matters to accommodate & conform itself to the divine will for the matters themselues and intentions about them. And our do therein are the more profitable to us for our foresaid end of Perfection (as breeding the greater Mortification in us) by how much they are in things contrary to the proprietatious or unresigned will of our corrupt nature. And in that regard (speaking generally) we profit more by matters of abstaininge or restraininge of ourselves, then by matters of mere doing or actinge, & by matters of suffering more than by those either of mere doing or actinge, or of abstaining or restrayninge ourselves. And this by reason that the matter of suffering is less voluntary to us as more proceeding from the will of another, be it God, or Creature, then from our own will; the which will of ours I mean is less abnegated or mortified in or by matter of abstaynings or restreigning then in or by those of suffering: & is yet farther less abnegated or mortified in or by those of mere doing or actinge, which are more wholly of our own wills, then in or by either of those two others siz: abstaining, or sufferringe. Albeit indeed nevertheless all & every of those do or actings, abstaynings or restreigning be alsoe good & profitable to us in their divers measures or degrees though therein inferior to those of suffering for the reason aforesaid.  
8. By Actuation in soul (being the same as mental Prayer, or Prayerin Spirit) being duly pursued (which is with all diligence, assiduity, & seriousness) though as yet performed in state of imperfection, we get fowre● Benefits or helps as towards our foresaid end, being Perfection itself complete. 1. The first is a betteringe or increase in or towards the habit of Prayer itself. The exercise of such Prayer being (as I have said) duly pursued. And Perfection in Prayer being the most essential virtue or quality in the entire composite or fabric of Perfection itself. 2. The second good of Prayer for the foresaid end, is an increase of virtuousness, that is to say in other good habits (besides that of Prayer) by mean merely of the virtuous Acts we produce & exercise in such our Prayer; & naturally habits are gotten by acts of their matter. 3. The third good or benefit is some measure of mitigation or expulsion of Vicious Habits & inclinations, & an answerable introducinge of virtuousness, & this merely by way of a secret divine infusion or working in the soul in & by the mean of such Prayer, that had disposed & made her capable of such infusion. 4. The fourth good of su●● Prayer, is light of understanding ●●●ace or strength of will for doing 〈◊〉 forminge afterwards, being forth of actual Prayer in the manner & for the end as we ought, the good things pertaining to us to do, & eschewing the evil things or sins which pertain to us to eschew. And if we desist, or be negligent as to such due exercise, & pursuit of Prayer, we shall accordingly most certainly fail of the foresaid four proper & most happy good effects of it; & thereby shall remain unable as not tendant towards our foresaid end, wherein alone was to consist our soul's satisfaction, & supreme felicity.  
9 During the times we are forth of our actual Prayer (as always we cannot be in it in this our state of mortality) we are to eschew as before I have signified both as to thoughts, & as to words, & deeds, all sins & theirs occasions, so fare as we may avoid the same, & do all the good pertaining to us to do the best we can, & this chiefly according to such light, inspiration, & grace as we have for it in or by our past & present actual Prayer; that the next to God's Grace itself must be the root or source of all our well do. And without such care of ourselves & good demeavour out of the time of Prayer, our Prayer will not avail us to the foresaid ' end; by reason that through neglect of God and ourselves we thereby destroy the good otherwise got by our former prayer, & withal make further increase in evil habits. And moreover we having ever in our intention & desire the foresaid Perfection consisting of Purity & union & using all things so fare as they are of use, or appertain to us, as means for attaining to the said end, we must take heed and the greatest heed not to content please or delight ourselves (as making our rest or satisfaction in them) with those other things, which at the best can be but a mean conducinge to the said end, how worthy & noble soever otherwise those things in themselves seem to be; as namely, & for example sake, the performance of our obedience, extern Povertye, Chastity, (as did the foolish Virgins in esteem of their Virginity to their Loss of Heaven, as saith S. Gregory) frequent use of the Sacraments, Vocal Prayers, sing, though never so much, or so well exteriorlie performed, Quality of Religious Habit, Dignities, Offices, the Favours, o● Love's of Superiors towards us, our exacter observance of our Regular Discipline, & other good extern comportment of ourselves, natural Talents of Body, & mind, acquisite sciences, or skills, esteem of our Order for the numerosity of Saints of it, or for the Antiquity, or amplitude of it, in Countries, Houses & Persons; our Magnificence, Beauty or Lardgenesse in Buildings, our Riches in Temporalities, all commodiousness for living, with supply of all needs; The greatness or singularnesse of our Privileges or Exemptions of our Order, Confraternities or participations of the merits of others, or Hope in their Prayers, our fastings, Abstinences, or other corporal Austerities, our corporal Health, our Fame and estimation with others, as for our virtuousness, or other cause whatsoever; Gentry or Nobility in Birth and descent, Kindred or Alliance of Worth, or Friendshipps or Favours with greater Personages, in sum whatsoever we do or can do, or suffer, or whatsoever other gift or thing we have or can have from God naturally or supernaturally save simply our foresaid end, in which alone (I say) we are to sist, make and our final delight, repose, and rest, ever aspiring towards the same, taking and using all other things as means only (as fare as they may be such indeed, and no further or otherwise) towards attaining to the foresaid end wherein alone we are to rest as the proper natural and sole satisfaction of the soul, and her consummate happiness. And in the mean time (I say again) not adheringe in affection to those other things, but transcendinge as well as we can and as fare as justly we may even all thoughts of them and holding on forwards towards the foresaid end as the proper and sole centre of our affections.  
10. And so we duly pursuing such Prayer, and living the best we can, which is according to the Grace we have, or may have towards itt from God, we tend towards the foresaid end of absolute Perfection, and thereby satisfy God, and secure our own soul's salvation, which otherwise we cannot do. And in and by such tendance we pass by degrees (though perhaps but slow & low) from that which is less perfect, to that which is more perfect, & persevering in such our tendance & progress, (live we or live we not time enough for to be able to reach to the foresaid end itself) we shall finally become perfectly happy, God reguardinge and requitinge (as out of his most free and immense Goodness He will) such our good wills and endeavours in the said Holy affair, graciously accepting the same as fact and deed from us. And indeed no man in this life and state of corruption, doth fullye attain to the foresaid Perfection of the first Man, who in that state of his Loved God with his whole Hart, mind and powers of his soul and Body. But it will suffice us that we aim at such Perfection & faithfully labour to attain thereunto, in the mean time & towards it exercising & performing Love to God the best and most we can; albeit we never attain fullye and in deed to the aforesaid perfection; but to some degree of perfection inferior to it, which we shall attain to aiminge at and labouring for the said more absolute    

COMMENDATIO Quotidiana.  
PIE jesus ego commendo tibi animam meam & corpus meum, progressum, finemque huius miserae vitae meae. Presta ut recessus meus ab hoc exilio sit placitus coram te, & cum venerit ipsa Hora mortis meae concede (si est Honor Nominis tui) ut absque impedimento mox perveniam ad Te. Fiat voluntas tua Domine Deus meus. Commendo tibi hunc locum & Congregationem, praesente: atque absentes Fratres nostros. Commendo tibi omnia negotia spiritualia, & temporalia, & omnes necessitates nostras. Da ut sit sancta disciplina verae Religionis, sit hîc Humilitas Charitas & Puritas ad Gloriam Nominis tui. Commendo Ecclesiam Catholicam. Da Reformationem morum tibi placentem In ●mnium hominum ordine. Commendo Vicarium tuum Summu●● Pontificem & famulum tuum Imperatorem & Regem nostrum & Principes Christianos commendo Patrem meum, Matrem, Fratres Sorores, Propinquos, Familiares & Benefactores Nostros, omnesque fideles tam vivos quam defunctos, ac praecipuè eos qui meis orationibus specialiter commendati sunt. Conuerte quaeso & salua excaecatos miserosque peccatores. Conuerte & revoca Hareticos atque Schismaticos. Conuerte & illumina infideles te adhuc ignorantes; periclitantibus subveni, maerentes consolare; Tentationibus, doloribus, calamitatibus pressos & afflictos releva. Miserere Domine, Miserere Omnium propter Sanctum nomen Tuum, Amen.  
Amor meus Pondus meum illo feror quocumque feror. S. Aug.   

DIRECTIONS.  
HOW to make right use of the Devotions or forms of Prayer following commonly called the Idiots Devotions, because they are for such as fervently and simply with all their affections, 
Light of f●ith the only ●ui, & safe ground.  desire to aspire after God in the Clo●d of faith and feelings of Love without troubleinge themselves with busy and impertinent operations of the understanding, commonly called Meditations or discourses of the understanding, to move & excite the will, which in the case of these divine & Seraphic Idiots, are superfluous, they being already sufficiently, yea abundantly excited and bend to love God, and practise virtue, through their light of Faith, which telleth and assureth them, that all is vanity of Vanities, but. Only to Love and serve God, 
Ec. 1. 2●  and their own innate Propension inclining them to this end, and not suffering them to rest contentedly any way else, or in any thing else; and this natural propension, strenthned & promoted by the habit of supernatural divine Charity, makes them run the ways of the Commandments of God he dilating their Hearts, 
Ps. 119.  

1. First you are to know that though these Devotions imply great perfection, yet no greater than every Christian of what state and condition soever is bound unto. To wit. To the perfect Love of God above all things. That is with all Ones hart, with all one's soul, with all one's mind. Which is the very first Commandment.  
2. Though in these Devotions there be many Act● peculiar & proper to Religious Persons (as principally made for them) yet single & married lay people may make very good, profitable and proper use of the rest, & of those acts alsoe so fare as they may make them agree with their state and condition by some small alteration. As where it is spoken of obedience to Superiors; it may be applied of wives to their Husbands, Children to their Parents, single people to their Ghostly Fathers, yea of all People to their Ghostly Fathers in a good sense. So also where it is spoken of Povertye, it may be understood in Spirit & affection, which all, even lay people ought to Have. And in like manner where it is spoken of Religious offices both for accepting mean and base ones, and refusing honourable ones, may be as well applied to lay Offices both in private families, and common Wealths. And thus appropriatinge every thing to each ones particular state and condition, very good and profitable use may be made of them all.  
3. Though these Devotions be ample and large enough, yet they cannot reach to every ones particular occasions & necessities, wherefore they are to observe that what Devotions may be specially inspired them, or upon some just Occasion suggested unto them as proper and necessary for them, they ought to make use of them freely and cheerfully though they be● not contained in these exercises. And this especially in the Acts of Resignation.  
4. Now as concerning the manner of exercising these Devotions, it ought chiefly to be done in Spirit & mind and without any vocalitie at all, especially in beginners who would be more distracted through such vocalitie as more sensible, and so more subject to distraction, yet in some who have such a Grace to exercise them both vocallie & mentallye that is spiritually; they may do well, and best it is so to do.  
5. And as concerning the quantity though they be divided into several Exercises and those into several Acts. Yet is it not to be understood that all the Acts of every exercise are to be used at one time; nor that one Exercise and all its Acts only are to be used at one time, but in this discretion is to be used, and liberty of Spirit; sometimes to use fewer, sometimes more as may be expedient for our souls good. For it may so happen that one or two Acts of an exercise may serve with great profit for one whole time of Prayer, and sometimes again 20. or 40. may not serve, and in this, as I have said, and now I say it again (as a principal point to be observed) discreet liberty is to be used. Yea it may so happen that not one single Act at all of the whole book is to be used, if God so enable and replenish a soul, and this is the Best of all. 

Rom. 8. 26.  
An Holy Idleness.   For then the Spirit asketh for us with unspeakable groan. And in this case we must not conceive ourselves idle, or doing nothing, this is Otium Sanctum an Holy Vacation.  
6. We must be wary not to oppress our souls too much with Vocal Prayers, as Offices of our Lady, the Dead, Litanies etc. which though they are very good Prayers allowed and commended by the Church, yet are they not commanded, but left to our choice. And we need not fear, if we discharge these mental exercises duly, we shall discharge our obligation as to all other voluntary Prayers and Customs of devotion, be they to the Saints, or for our Friends. For in these Exercises there is nothing neglected so they be performed with Humility and indifferency purely for the Love and Honour of God & our souls Good. Yet hereby we are not to conceive ourselves Freed from such Offices, or duties as are of Obligation, but only as I said from such as are merely Voluntary and rather a clog and Burden to the soul, than any advantage, or furtherance in the way of virtue.  
7. It will suffice to exercise and use daily two mental exercises, to wit, the one in the morning, the other at the most convenient time in the evening. And by thus doing and practicing virtue and Mortification (without which Prayer availeth nothing) we shall in time come to Exercise Prayer more continually, and by degrees draw nearer and nearer to the Perfection of continual Prayer, to which we are exhorted and commanded by our Sawiours saying. 
Luk. 18.  We must pray always without ceasing. And in this Continual praying consists our Happiness present and future. We still crying. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth.  
8. And though none can receive hurt by this summary, Directions, and Devotions, yet those only will reap the greatest profit and make the rightest use of them, who are of an interior Propension towards God and of Exterior and Interior sound senses, yet want perchance some means to nourish, feed, and increase such their Propension and desire towards God, which (I hope) they will find by these Directions and Devotions. And a great light to know their end, and what to aim at by the summary. And for such persons, of what state and condition soever, Religious, single, or married people, it was chiefly written, which they shall perceive more clearly by reading and perusing them, and thereby be more assured they are for their purpose. And thereupon let them resolve to make use of them to the Honour of God, and their Souls Good. Yea I have known some Persons who (unless these helps had fall'n into their Hand) would never have been satisfied, and quieted in Mind, whereas once put in this way, they have experienced such Benefitt by itt, that for ever they have been settled, and indeed Happy. For they have found that all Other things necessary have come with itt. According to that saying of the wise Man. All good hath come with it. Venerunt mihi omnia bona pariter cumilla. 
Wis. 11.  And without itt nothing.  
9 And here it is to be observed that we must not be dejected or give over our Mental Prayer though we do not find so soon an alteration, and amendment in our life, as we hoped for. The reason is because God many times petmitts us to fall into our wont imperfections and Frailties for our Humility and Mortification. Again we ought to consider that if we are so frail with this kind of Soweraigne Prayer what should we be without itt. And this is to be remembered specially in the Acts of Resignation where we shall perceive our Frailty more frequent and ordinary.  
10. To conclude, above all it will help much to confer with such as understand and practise these Exercises, and to have a Confessarius, or at least a Director for some time in the Beginning; especially, till we have got some feeling of them, and then we may better wrestle with difficulties Alone. And we shall easily perceive whom we are to make use of in this kind, and who are for our purpose, and who are not. And the like may be said of Books. What Books, or Parts or Parcels of Books relish with our Spirits, breed discreet fervour and Devotion in us, those we are to make use of and be conversant in; such as breed Fear, Scruples, Troubles, Confusion, and disquiet of Mind etc. they are not for our purpose, neither do they concern us. And thus doing, we shall make right use of all Books, and Confessors, and reap profit and no harm by them; which God send we may. jesus.     

A Catalogue of such Books as may much help, comfort, and increase the Devotion of Contemplative spirits, such as are well grounded, & instructed already in the Catholic Faith and have passed through the necessary rudiments of active Preparations.  
For such and in very deed only such This summary, Instructions, Catalogue, and Exercises are by me set Forth, and for None Other intended.  

A  
All the Venerable Father Augustine Bakers Manuscripts of the Holy Order of S. Benedict of the English Cong●, which are kept as Precious treasures (as indeed they are) in the English Monastery of Comfort of she same Order, and Cong●. at cambray. And all that is in this summary, Directions, Exercises, and what else in this treatise is taken out of these Manuscripts, and if any thing to be reproved; it is to be attributed to him who set them forth.   

B.  
All S. Bernard's works.  
S. Bonaventures' little works, or opuscula.  
Fath. Bennet Canfields' Books of the three wills.   

C.  
The Works of Climachus.  
Cassianus Works corrected.  
The Colloquies of S. Catherine of Sienna.   

D.  
Dionysius Areopagita his Mystic Divinity.  
The little work of Dionysius the Carthusian of Contemplation.  
The Works of S. Dorotheus.   

G.  
The Works of S. Gregory the great.   

H.  
Hugo of S. Victor.  
Harphins his Mystic Dininitie according to the Roman impression.   

I.  
The golden Book of john Gersen of the Imitation of Christ.  
john of the Crosse.   

L.  
Lincolniensis: or Hugo Bishop of Lincoln.   

R.  
Regnum Dei intra nos. Or the Kingdom of God within us.  
Rusbrochius his Works.  
Richard of S. Victor's Works.  
The Revelations of Saint Gertrude, and Saint Brigitt.   

S.  
The Scale of Perfection.  
Suso his life and Works.  
The Secret Paths, of divine Love..   

T.  
Thaulerus his life, and Works.  
S. Teresa Her works, & Her life written by Herself.   

V  
Vitae Patrum, or the Life's of th● Fathers.  
Many other Books there are more th●n I can number up, very proper for thee, which obuiously may happen into thy hands; but these I only reckon up, that thou mayst easily find out devout Reader what may serve thy turn; and to save thee a labour never look to find any Book for thy turn in this way written by any of the Society of jesus, whose genius is the active way, and in that they are excellent, and very commendable, but in this contemplative way few or none hath appeared ever since their first institute above these hundred years.    
Vanity of Vanity, and all is Vanity. Eccles. 1. 
But only to love, to love and serve God.  
Though thou a fair house hast, and splendid fare What then?  
A spouse, or concubine without compare. What then?  
And Blessed with numerous issue, large extents. What then?  
Yea fair, strong, rich in all accomplishment. What then?  
If Prior, Abbot, Prince, or Pope thou be. What then?  
Courted by the world, and all prosperity. What then?  
Let fortunes wheel advance thee above the skies. What then?  
Live here ten thousand years in Paradise, What then?  Then virtue only doth remain by which true Glory thou shalt gain. The world passes away, and the concupiscence thereof. 1. Io. 2.17.  


JESUS son of david have mercy on me. GOD be mercieful to me a sinner. Luc● 1●. ●● 1●.    

HOLY EXERCISES OR SAINCTLY IDIOTS DEVOTIONS. THE POENITENT.  

THE FIRST EXERCISE.  
1. WHO shall give to my head water, and to mine eyes a fountain of Tears that I may bewail both day and night my sins and ingratitude towards God my Creator.  
2. Consider (o my soul) the multitude of the Benefits of God bestowed upon thee, and be thou confoun  
16. Amongst so many infidels as are in the world, thou hast brought me to thy Faith and Baptism.  
17. There that covenant was made that thou shouldst be mine, and I thine; thou my Lord and I thy servant; thou my Father, and I thy child. That thou shouldst behave thyself as a Father towards me, and I as a child towards thee.  
18. What shall I say of the other Sacraments which thou hast instituted for remedies of my evils, making a plaster for my sins of thy own most precious Blood.  
19 Haveinge these helps yet have I not remained in goodness, but my wickedness hath been so great, that I have lost my first Innocence.  
20. And thy Mercy on the other side so great that thou hast patiently hitherto expected me.  
21. O my Hope and Sawiour how can I without tears call to my remembrance how oftentimes thou mightst justly have bereft me of my life?  
22. How many thousand souls now peradventure burn in hell who have less sinned than I, and yet I burn not there.  
23. What had become of me, if thou hadst taken me away, when thou tookst them.  
This is continued in the ensuing Exercise.   

THE II. EXERCISE.  
WHO then o Lord bound the hands of thy justice?  
2. Who held the rod of thy judgements when as I by sinning provoked thee?  
3. What pleased thee in me that thou didst deal more dear with me then with others?  
4. My sins cried unto thee, and thou stoppedst thine ears.  
5. My malice every day increased against thee; and thy merit every day increased towards me.  
6. I sinned, and thou expectedst.  
7. I Fled away, and thou Followedst me.  
8. I was wearied in sinning, and thou wert not wearied in expecting.  
9 In the midst of my sins I received from thee divers good inspirations.  
10. What shall I now render o Lord unto thee for all these benefits which I have received of thee?  
11. Because thou hast created me I own thee all that I am.  
12. Because thou hast preserved me, I own thee all that I am and my life.  
13. Because thou hast given me thyself what shall I render to thee?  
14. If all the Life's of Angels and men were mine and that I should offer them all unto thee as a Sacrifice, what were this Oblation if it were compared with one drop of thy Blood, which thou hast shed for me so abundantly?  
16. Who therefore will give Tears to mine eyes that I may bewail my ingratitude, and wicked retribution, or requital of these thy so many benefits?  
16. Help me o Lord, and give me Grace that I may worthily bewail mine iniquities?  
17. For I am that unhappy wretch who hath sinned against heaven and before thee.  
18. I am thy Creature made according to thy Image, take away from me that which I have made and know that which thou hast made.  
19 I have bend all my forces to do thee injury, and have offended thee by the works of my hands.  
20. The things which thou hast given and created for me to be employed and used for thy service and Honour, I have wrougfullie and most unthankfully converted and employed the same to thy offence and dishonour.  
This is continued in the ensuing Exercise.   

THE III. EXERCISE.  
1. MY feet have been swift to evil, and mine eyes have been dissolute to Vanity, & mine ears have been always open to trifles, and toys.  
2. My understanding which should have contemplated thy Beauty, and have meditated both day and night on thy Commandments hath considered transitory toys, and meditated day and night how to transgress thy said Commandments.  
3. My will was by thee invited to the Love of celestial delights and delicacies, but I preferred the earth before heaven.  
4. I have spread my Arms which thou hast consecrated to thy love to embrace, and hug the filthy Love of Creatures.  
5. This is o Lord the reward, this is the Fruit which I, thy Creature have yielded.  
6. Alas. What can I a wretch answer if thou interest with me into judgement, and wilt say; I have planted thee a chosen vineiard all true seed, how then o strange vineiard art thou turned in my sight into that which is depraved?  
7. And if I cannot answer to this first question concerning my Creation, how shall I answer the second concerning my conversation?  
8. Thou o merciful God hast preserved him by thy providence who hath thought of no other thing, but how to violate thy Commandments, and to set up the Kingdom of sin against thee.  
9 Thou hast moved that tongue which dishonoured thee, thou hast governed those members which offended thee.  
10. In so much as I have not only been ungrateful for thy benefits, but used thy benefits alsoe themselves as weapons against thee.  
11. Thou hast made all creatures for my use to allure me to love thee, I have abused them, and of them have divers times taken occasion of sin.  
12. I have made choice rather of the gift, than the giver.  
13. I have been blinded by them, and have not lifted up mine ey●s at the sight of them.  
14. I have not considered how much more beautiful the Creator is, than the creature.  
15. Thou hast given me all things that I should give thee myself; and all things have served me, but I never have given thee Glory, or paid thy tributedue.  
16. Thou hast given me health, and the devil hath gathered the fruits thereof.  
17. Thou hast given me strength and I have spent it in the service of Thin● enemy.  
18. What shall I say? wherefore have not all the calamities and miseries which I have known to have fall'n upon other men and touched not me, been a sufficient argument to me that my delivery from every one of them was a peculiar benefit from thee?  
19 O most gracious Lord shall I be ungrateful for these Benefits?  
20. If the fierceness and cruelty of Lions and serpents be assuaged with benefits, why shall not thy benefits be sufficient to tame and assuage my sinful Hart?  
This is continued in the Following Exercise.   

THE iv EXERCISE.  
1. BUT if so strict an account shall be demanded for these things which cost thee so little what account wilt thou ask of those which thou hast bought to thyself with thy most precious Blood.  
2. How have I perverted thy Counsels?  
3. How have I violated the Mystery of thine Incarnation?  
4. Thou wert made man to make me a God, I have made myself a beast, and the slave of the Devil.  
5. Thou hast come down to the earth to bring me to heaven, and I have not hearkened to or acknowledged this high Vocation.  
6. But have persevered in wickedness, and in the dirt and mire of my baseness.  
7. Thou hadst delivered me, I have cast myself again headlong into my old bondage.  
8. Thou hadst raised me, I have again embraced death.  
9 Thou hadst made me one Body with thee, and I have joined my self again with the devil.  
10. So many, and so great Benefits could not do so much, as make me know thee.  
11. Nor so many tokens of Love, make me requite thee with Love..  
12. Nor so many deserts, and gifts make me hope in thee.  
13. Nor such a strict kind of justice, as appeared in thy Passion make me fear thee.  
14. Thou hast humbled thyself even to the dust of the earth, I puff myself up with pride.  
15. Thou didst hang naked on the Cross, I seek the world & worldly delights.  
16. Thou being God wert buffeted; if any man touch my garment who am only a most vile worm, I presently become choleric.  
17. What shall I say my sweet Sawiour? behold how great thy mercy and charity is towards me.  
18. Thou wouldst die to kill my sins; and ● persuminge in thy said Mercy, Goodness, and Love have ●ot feared to sin against thee, what greater impiety can be imagined?  
19 I have taken occasion of thy Goodness to work malice; and by that mean which thou hast used to kill sin, I have taken occasion to raise again sin in myself.  
20. Because thou wert so good, I thought I might without prejudice be evil.  
21. And because thy Benefits were so many I thought I might without punishment render unto thee, as many injuries.  
This is further continued in the ensuing Exercise.   

THE V EXERCISE.  
1. THUS have I made thy medecines occasions of sinne● and I have turned that sword which I received of thee to defend myself from mine enemies against my own bowels, and with the same murdered mine own soul.  
2. Finally thou diedst (as we are taught by the Apostle) that they that now live may not live to themselves but unto thee.  
3. And I as the child of jezable have made thy Death as a mean to deprive myself of thy blessings by Flying from thy service, and making myself the Bondslave of thine enemies.  
4. Alas what doth he deserve who committeth such enormities?  
5. If dogs have eaten the flesh of jezable, what will become of me?  
6. If the Apostle make it so heinous a matter, of the Law itself to take an occasion to break the Law how great is my malice who of Grace & Mercy have taken an occasion to offend Grace and Mercy itself?  
7. O most Patiented Lord who for sinners hast suffered buffets; but fare more patiented in suffering sinners. Will this thy patience ●ndure for ever?  
8. I remember what thou hast said by the Prophet, I have held my peace I have kept silence, I have been Patiint as one that hath been labouring with child. I will speak.  
9 I see that the earth that yieldeth not fruit after rain is rejected and cursed.  
10. I see that the vineyard which being well tilled producing no grapes but wild vines by thee is commanded to be destroyed.  
11. Wherefore o unprofitable & fruitless branch dost thou not fear the voice of that potent husbandman, that dresser of the vineyard, who (as truth itself reporteth) taketh away all branches not bearing fruit, and casteth them into the fire?  
12. What shall I do my Lord, what shall I do? I confess I am not worthy to appear in thy sight, nor to behold thee.  
13. Whither shall I fly from thy Face?  
14. Art not thou my Father and in very truth a Father of Mercies which have no end, or measure?  
15. For though I have (as much as lay in me) for a long time desisted to be thy child; yet thou even to this present, dost not desist to be my Father.  
16. Although I have done many things worthy of damnation, yet thou hast not desisted to save me.  
17. What then shall I do but cast myself down at thy Feet, and humbly crave Mercy?  
18. Art not thou?  

My Creator,  
My Preserver,  
My Redeemer,  
My Deliverer,  
My King,  
My Pastor,  
My Priest, and  
My Sacrifice.   
19 Whither then shall I go? whither then shall ● fly but unto thee?  
20. If thou repel me, who will receive me?  
21. If thou reject me, of whom shall I seek succour?  
22. Acknowledge o Lord and receive this sheep that hath run a stray.  
23. Behold I come full of wounds, thou canst heal me.  
24. I come all blind thou canst give me sight.  
25. I come all dead thou canst raise me.  
26. I come all full of leprosy, thou canst make me clean.  
27. Thou shalt sprinkle me (o Lord) with I soap (with thy precious blood shed for me) and I shall be made clean.  
28. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.  
29. Thy mercy is greater than my iniquity, thy clemency, exceedeth my malice; and thou canst forgive more, than I can sinne.  
30. Do not therefore o Lord, do not repel and reject me.  
31. Do not consider the multitude of my sins, but thine infinite mercy.  
32. I resign myself wholly into thy hands.  
33. Thou o God who art able to do all things, convert me unto thee, renew my Spirit.  
34. Enlighten my understanding, sanctyfie my will, increase my strength of Body and soul.  
35. That I may depend only on thee, Fear and love thee above all things, and serve thee fervently.  
36. And in all my actions hereafter to conform myself to thy blissed will and pleasure.  
37 I beseech thee finally to impart unto me thine abundant effectual Grace by which I may be able to begin to lead a perfect and holy life, and to serve thee perfectly and thoroughly even to the end.  
Hear end the 5. Exercises of Contrition.   

THE VI EXERCISE.  
1. TAKE pity o Lord, take pity o merciful Sawiour of me most miserable sinner, doing things worthy of blame, and worthily suffering for the same.  
2. Being by thee daily afflicted, for that I am continually found to have offended.  
3. If I ponder the evil which I daily commit, that which I endure is nothing in comparison of it.  
4. That which I have done being much more grievous than my Affliction. Thou art just o Lord, and right is thy judgement. All thy judgements most just, and true.  
5. Thou o Lord our God art just & full of goodness neither is there in thee any wickedness.  
6. Because when we offend thou dost not unjustly and cruelly afflict us, who when we were not hast powrefullye made us, and when for our sins we were guilty of damnation thou hast by thy wonderful Mercy, and goodness set us in the state of Salvation.  
7. I know o Lord God and am assured that our life is not governed by uncertain chances but wholly disposed and ordered by thy Awful power and providence.  
8. Thou therefore takest care of all things, but especially of such as serve the, who put their confidence in thy only mercy.  
9 Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt not deal with me according to mine iniquities by which I have deserved thine anger, but according to thy manifold mercies which surmount the sins of the whole world.  
10. Thou o Lord who dost punish me outward give always an invincible Patience inward to the end may never cease to praise thee.  
11. Take pity of me o Lord and help me both in soul and Body.  
12. Thou I say who knowest all things and art able to do all things whatsoever, who livest and rieguest for ever and ever.  
13. O Lord jesus-christ the Son of the living God who with thy hands stretched forth on the Cross hast drunk the bitter cup of thy Passion for the Redemption of all mankind, secure me this Day I beseech thee.  
14. Behold o Lord, that I that am needy do come to thee who art wealthy; I that am full of misery do approach to thee replenished with mercy, suffer me not therefore to departed void or as one worthy to be despised.  
15. I begin hungry, let me not end empty.  
16. I approach as one hunger starned, let me not departed unfedd.  
17. And if I sigh before I eat grant that I may at least eat after I have sighed.  
18. First therefore most sneete jesus before the magnificence of thy sweetness, I confess against me my injustice.  
19 Behold o Lord whereas I was conceived and borne in sin, thou hast washed and sanctified me from the same; and I after this have I defiled myself with greater offences.  
20. Those wherein I was borne were of necessity, but those in which I afterwards lay wallowing were voluntary.  
This is continued in the following Exercise.   

THE VII. EXERCISE.  
1. THIS notwithstanding, thou o Lord being not unmindful of thy Mercy and goodness hast drawn me from my Father's house and from the tabernacles of sinners.  
2. And thou inspiredst me with thy Grace to follow the company of those who seek thy Face, who walk the direct way that leadeth to felicity, living amongst the Lilies of Chastity, and sitting at the table with thee in the parlour of most profound poverty.  
14. As I have sinned, so do thou correct, & amend me.  
15. And being by the stripes of thy fatherly Pity corrected & amended, commit me to the care & custody of thy only begotten Son jesus-christ our Lord.  
16. Is it possible for a women to forget the child of her own womb?  
17. And though she should forget, o most loving Father thou hast promised not to be unmindful.  
18. Behold I cry & thou dost not hear me?  
19 I am afflicted with with grief, & thou dost not comfort me?  
20● O what shall I say or do in this extreme misery? Alas I am altogether comfortless & which is worse am chased out of thy presence.  
21. Wretch that I am from how great good into how great evil am I fall'n?  
22. Whither did I attempt to go, & whither am I come?  
23. Where am I, & where am I not?  
24. How is it that I, that did sigh after heaven; do now sigh through so great Tribulation?  
25. I have sought comfort, & have Found affliction.  
26. And truly it is better for me not to be, then to be without thee sweet jesus.  
27. It is better not to live then to live without thee the only true life.  
This Exercise is continued in the Following.   

THE VIII. EXERCISE.  
WHERE are now o Lord jesus thy accustomed Mercies?  
2. Wilt thou be displeased with me for ever?  
3. Be appeased I beseech thee & take pity on me, & turn not thy loving Face away from me, who to redeem me hast not turned away thy Face from those who did mock & spit at thee.  
4. I confess that I have sinned & my conscience doth adjudge me worthy of damnation, neither is my penance sufficient to make satisfaction.  
5. Nenerthelesse it is most certain that thy mercy doth surmount all offences whatsoever be they never so abominable.  
6. Wherefore o most merciful Lord I beseech thee do not write down my malicious bitterness, neither enter into judgement with thy servant.  
7. But according to the multitude of thy mercy's blot out mine iniquities.  
8. Woe be to me at the day of judgement when the books of our consciences shall be opened (wherein our Actions are registered) when of me it shall be openly proclaimed. See here a man and his works.  
9 What shall I do O my Lord a● that dreadful day when the Heavens shall reveal mine iniquity. And the earth shall bear witness against me.  
10. verily I shall be mute and able to say nothing, but holding down my head through shame and confusion, I shall stand before thee shaking, and blushingé.  
11. Alas, what shall I say? I will call and cry unto thee, o Lord my God, why am I consumed being silent?  
12. Nevertheless, if I speak my grief will not cease.  
13. And if I hold my peace I shall interiorlie be tormented with insupportable bitterness.  
14. Weep o my soul and make lamentation, as a young married weoman for the death of her Husband.  
15. Weep and be wail thy misery, for that thy bridegroom, who is Christ, hath forsaken thee.  
16. O Anger of the Almighty rush not upon me, for I cannot subsist against t●●e.  
17. Ver●●●e there is nothing in me that is able to sustain thee.  
18. Take pity on me, lest I despair of thy Mercy; that by dispairinge of myself I may find comfort in confidinge in thee.  
19 And albeit I have done that for which thou may justly condemn me, yet thou hast not lost thy accustomed property of showing mercy, and pity.  
20. Thou o Lord dost not desire the death of sinners, neither dost thou take pleasure in the perdition of those that die.  
21. Nay rather that those who were dead might live, thou thyself ha●● died, and thy death hath been the death of that death that was due to sinners, and they by thy Death are come to life.  
22. Grant me I beseech thee O Lord that thou living I may not die; since that thy death hath given life, much more let thy life give life.  
23. Let thy heavenly ●●●d help me and deliver me from the hands of those that hate me lest they insult and rejoice over me saying we have devoured Him.   

THE IX. EXERCISE.  
1. HOW is it possible o good jesus that ever any one can despair of thy mercy who when we were thine enemies thou hast redeemed us with thy precious Blood, & hast reconciled us to God?  
2. Behold o Lord protected by thy mercy I run craving pardon to the Throne of thy Glory, calling and knocking until thou take pity on me.  
3. For if thou hast called us to pardon even when we did not seek it, how much more shall we obtain pardon, if we ask it.  
4. Remember not thy justice o most sweet jesus towards me a sinner.  
5. But be mindful of thy mercy towards me thy creature.  
6. Remembeh not thy Anger towards me guilty, but be mindful of thy Mercy towards me in misery.  
7. Forget my pride provoking thee to displeasure and weigh my wretcheūnesse● imploringe thy Favour.  
8. For what dost thy sacred name jesus signify but only a Saviour.  
9 Wherefore o Sawiour jesus be thou my succour and protection, and say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation.  
10. I do presume very much on thy divine Bounty because thou thyself dost teach us to ask, seek and knock at the door of thy mercy.  
11. Wherefore I do ask seek and knock at thy door, as thou hast admonished me to do.  
12. Thou therefore o Lord who willest me to ask grant that I may receive.  
13. Thou dost counsel me to seek, grant me likewise to find.  
14. Thou dost teach me to knock, open unto me knocking at the door of thy Mercy.  
15. Recover me being diseased, repair me being craised, raise me● being dead.  
16. Vouchsafe likewise so to direct and govern all my senses, thoughts and Actions in that which is pleasing unto thee.  
17. That from henceforth I may faithfully serve thee, live to thee, and give myself wholly unto thee.  
18. I know my Lord that by reason thou hast made me, I own myself unto thee.  
19 And by reason thou hast redeemed me and hast been made Man for me, I do owe (if I had it to give thee) much more than myself unto thee, by how much thou art greater than I who hast given thyself for me.  
20. Behold I have nothing else to give thee neither can I give thee this without thee.  
21. Take me therefore and draw me unto thee that so I may be thine by imitation, and affection, like as I am by Condition, and Creation, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.   

THE X. EXERCISE.  
1. O Lord God Almighty who art Trinity in Unities who art always in all things, and wert before all things and will't be in all things everlastingly, one blissed God for all Eternity.  
2. To thee this and all the days of my life I commend my soul, my body, my seeing, my hearing, taste, smell, and touching.  
3. All my cogitations, Affections, Words, and Actions.  
4. All things that I have without and within me, my sense and understanding, my Memory, Faith, and Belief, and my constancy in well doing. All these I commend into the hands of thy powerful protection.  
5. To the end that all the nights and days, hours, and moments of my life, thou preserve and direct me.  
6. Hear me o sacred Trinity and preserve me from all evil, from all Mortal sin.  
7. And from all the deceits and Vexations of the Devil, and of all mine enemies visible, and invisible.  
8. By the Prayers of the Patriarches, by the suffrages of the Apostles, by the Constancy of the Martyrs.  
9 By the Faith of the Confessors, by the Chastity of the Virgins, and by the intercession of all the Saints who have pleased and Faithfully served thee since the world begun.  
10. Root out of my hart all vainglorious ostentation, and increase in me the Spirit of compunction.  
11. Abate my Pride, and increase my Humility.  
12. Stir me up to tears and contrition, and mollify my Hart being hard as a stone.  
13. Deliver me, and my soul o Lord from all the snares of my ghostly enemies, and preserve me in the performance of that which is most pleasing unto thee.  
14. Teach me to do thy will o Lord because thou art my God.  
15. Grant me o Lord perfect sense, and intelligence whereby I may be able to know, and acknowledge thy marvellous great kindness.  
16. Grant that my petitions may be such as that they may be pleasing to thee, and profitable to myself.  
17. Grant me tears flowing from my whole Affection, which may be able to dissolve the bands of my sins.  
18. Hear me o My Lord, and My God, Hear me o light of mine eyes.  
19 Hear what I demand, and grant that thou mayst hear what I demand.  
20. If thou despise me I shall perish, and be consumed, if thou respect me, I shall live.  
This is continued in the ensuing exercise.   

THE XI. EXERCISE.  
1. IF thou o Lord examine my righteousness I shall be found as a dead Man stinking through rottenness.  
2. But if thou behold me with the eye of thy mercy, thou wilt thereby raise me (being through sin but a carcase) from the sepulchre of mine iniquity.  
3. Whatsoever thou hatest o Lord ●n me, expel, and root out of me.  
4. And plant in me the Spirit of Chastity, and continency to the end ●hat whatsoever I shall demand of ●hee, in my demand I may not offend ●hee.  
●. Take from me that which is hurtful, and give me that is profitable.  
6. Give me a medicine o Lord by which the soars of my soul may be healed.  
7. Bestow upon me o Lord thy Fear, compunction of Hart, Humility, and a conscience Free from all sin.  
8. Grant me Grace o Lord that I may be always able to live in charity with my Brothers, not forgetting my own sins, or pryinge into the sins, or do of other men.  
9 Pardon my soul, Pardon my sins. Pardon mine offences; Pardon mine abominations.  
10. Visit me Weakened; Cure me diseased; Refresh me wearied. Raise me dead.  
11. Take pity o God, take pity of me, and behold me from the sacred seat of thy sacred Majesty.  
12. Grant me o Lord a hart tha● may fear thee, a mind that may lou● thee, a sense that may conceive thee, eyes that may see thee.  
13. And illuminate the darkness of my hart with the bright beams of thy light.  
14. Give me o Lord discretion to be able to discern betwixt good and evil, and enduemee with an understanding that is always watchful.  
15. I humbly crave pardon of all my sins, I humbly crave it (o Lord) of thee from, whom and by whom I hope to find Favour in the time of necessity.  
16. O Marry Mother of God; Mother of jesus-christ our Lord, thou sacred and unspotted Virgin vouchsafe to make intercession for me unto him who made thee a worthy temple for himself to dwell in.  
17. O S. Michaël, O S. Gabriel, O S. Raphaël.  
18. O holy Quires of Angels and archangels, of Patriarches and Prophets, of Apostles, and Evangelists, O S. Peter and S. john, of Martyrs, o blissed S. Thomas of Canterbury. of Doctor's o Blissed S. Gregory our Apostle; of Priests and Levites, o Venerable Bede; of Monks, & Ermites' o Holy Father S. Bennet, of Virgins o Blissed S. Scholastica, & of all such as have lived holy and religiously.  
19 I presume to beseech you even for his sake by whom you have been elected, and by whose contemplation you are extremely delighted, and fullye satiated.  
20. That you will be pleased to pray for me a poor sinner unto him our God, that I may be delivered from the furious laws of the infernal fiend, and from that death which never shall have end.  
This is continued in the following Exercise.   

THE XII. EXERCISE.  
1. VOuchsafe o Lord according to thy meekness, and unspeakable Mercy to make me partaker of eternal felicity.  
2. Grant, o Lord that Priests may live in concord, & that Kings and Princes ruling as they ought to do may be united in peace and tranquillity.  
3. I humbly crave Grace (o Lord) for the whole Catholic Church, for Men, and women, for Religious Persons, and for secular people, for all Christian Magistrates, and for all that believe in thee, and labour for thy holy Love, that they may persever in doing well all the days of their life.  
4. Grant o Lord, and king eternally to Virgin's Purity, to Religious Persons who have dedicated themselves unto thee, the gift of Chastity; to married folks Holiness of life.  
5. To such as are truly sorrowful for their sins forgiveness; to Widows, and Orphans secure.  
6. Protection to those that are poor, to Travellers a safe return to their Home, comfort to such as mourn.  
7. To the faithful departed the present repose of Heaven, to mariners, and such as sail on the sea their desired Port, or Haven.  
8. To those who have attained to Perfection Grace, increase, and perseverance; to beginners, and proficients in virtue Grace to do better, and better.  
9 To sinners and to such as offend (as to me poor wretch) that they may speedily Amend.  
10. O most mild and merciful Lord and Saviour, son of the living God the world's Redeemer amongst all men and in all things I confess myself to be a miserable sinner.  
11. Nevertheless I beseech thee most sweet and soweraigne father, that as an Abject I may not be cast out of thy Favour.  
12. Yea rather o Lord thou who art King of Kings and hast determined and decreed the length of each Man's life, grant me a devout desire to amend mine.  
13. Stir up my sluggish soul to the end that at all times, and in all things, it may seek, desire, love, and fear thee who in all places art three and one; and may put in practice that which is pleasing to thee.  
14. Especially I beseech thee o Holy Father who art blissed and glorious for ever, that thou wilt mercifully preserve all those who in their Prayers are mindful of me, or have commended themselves to mine.  
15. Those likewise who have showed towards me any deed of Charity, or pity.  
16. And those alsoe that are joined to me in Blood, and affinity aswell those who are dead, as those who yet live in this mortal Body to the end that thou guiding and assisting them they may not perish everlastingly.  
17. In general, I beseech thee o Lord to aid, and secure all Christians that are yet living, and on those that are dead to bestow pardon, and life everlasting.  
18. finally o Lord: I most humbly, and hartylie beseech thee (who art the Alpha, & Omega: the beginning, and ending) that when the time is come I must die thou wilt be a mild and merciful judge, and a perpetual Protector to me against the Accusations, and snares of the Devil mine old adversary.  
19 Admit me for ever into the society of the Holy Angels.  
20. And of all thy Saints in thy Heavenlye city where thou art blissed and praised for all Eternity. Amen.   

THE XIII. EXERCISE.  
1. O Lord jesus Christ, My Redemption, My Mercy, and my Salvation.  
2. I praise thee, and give thee thanks albeit fare short of thy benefits, wholly void of Devotion and Fervour; lean, and without the desired fattnesse of that most sueete Affection which thou dost require, & deserve.  
3. Nevertheless my soul doth render thee thanks, such as they are, not such as I know to be owinge, & due unto thee.  
4. But such as I am able to endeavour such doth my Soul render unto thee.  
5. O Hope of my hart, o strength of my soul may it please thy omnipotent Worthiness to accomplish what my wonderful great weakness doth attempt to perform being thou art my life, and the scope of my intention.  
sire, sigh, and covet to come to thee.  
17. And as a poor distressed child deprived of the presence of his tender hearted Father doth with sighs, and robs incessantly embrace in his hart the Image, and semblance of his father. So fareth it with me as often as I call to mind thy bitter Passion: when I call to mind alsoe the buffets, and whips by thee sustained, the grievous wounds by thee endured. When I remember in what cruel manner thou hast been crucified, and murdered; in what manner thou hast (by thy dear friends) been enbalmed, and buried; a● often likewise as thy Glorious Resurrection, and admirable Ascension do occur to my Memory. All these things I believe most firmly lamenting with Tears the Calamities of my exile in this veil of misery. My only hope is the comfort of thy comeinge, my chief desire is to behold thee face to face in thy heavenly habitation.  
18. I cannot but grieve for that I have not seen thee o Lord of Angels debasinge thyself to converse, and live amongst men, that by that means thou mightst exalt men to Angelical conversation; when God did die who was offended, that man might live who had offended.  
19 I cannot but grieve that I have not deserved to be present, and to be astonished through admiration of a work so wonderful and unspeakable compassion.  
20. How is it o my soul that the sword of most sharp sorrow doth not pierce thee to the hart, seeing thou couldst not be present to behold the side of thy Sawiour wounded with a spear?  
21. seeing thou couldst not be present to behold the feet and hands of thy Maker to be fastened with nails, nor the blood of thy Redeemer to be spilt on the ground in that dreadful manner?  
This is continued in the following Exercise.   

THE XIV. EXERCISE.  
1. WHY art thou not drunk with the Bitterness of tears, seeing he was made to drink of the bitterness of Gall?  
2. Why dost thou not take compassion of the most chaste Virgin Marie, his most worthy Mother, and thy most worthy Lady?  
3. O my most merciful lady what fountains of Tears may I affirm to have flowed from thy most chaste eyes when thou beheldst thy only son (though free from all offence) to be bound, whipped, and slain in thy presence?  
4. In what mournful manner may I imagine thy doleful countenance at that time to be blubbered all over with weeping, when thou beheldst this thy innocent son thy God and thy Lord to be stretched out upon the Cross and that sacred flesh framed of thy flesh to be by those bloody butchers so cruelly rend in Pieces?  
5. With what unspeakable grief may I well think thy poor hart at that time to be tormented when thou didst hear those words pronounced. Weoman behold thy son. And to the Disciple. Behold thy Mother? when thou didst accept of the Disciple instead of his Master, and the servant in jeiu of his Lord?  
6. O that I had been worthy with joseph to have taken my Lord down from the Cross, to have enbaulmed, and buried him, to have followed, or accompanied him to his sepulchre that so I might have done some little service at so great a funeral!  
7. I am as a poor fatherless child, and my soul is as a weoman bereft of her husband in the Absence of my buried Lord.  
8. Vouchsafe graciously to behold the tears of my distressed Orphancie and widowhood, which I offer unto thee, until thou return o my God.  
9 May it please thee therefore, may it please thee o Lord to manifest thyself to me, and I shall be comforted.  
10. Grant that I may see thee, and I shall obtain what I desire.  
11. Make manifest thy Glory, and my joy will be accomplished.  
12. My soul hath thrusted after thee, and so hath likewise my flesh exceedingly.  
13. My soul hath thirsted after my God the living fountain; when shall I come, and be presented before the face of my Lord?  
14. When wilt thou come o my comforter: for whom I will wish, and earnestly wait?  
15. O that I might once behold my delight which I do so much desire?  
17. O how truly shall I be satisfied when thy Glory shall appear which I greatly hunger to behold?  
17. When shall I, become drunk through the plenty of thy heavenly habitation, for which I sigh often?  
18. When wilt thou make me to drink of the river of thy pleasure, which I so much thirst after?  
19 In the mean while let my Tears be my continual food until it be said unto me behold thy God; until it be said unto my soul behold thy Bridegroom.  
20. In the mean while feed me with my sobs and tears, nourish me with my sorrows and lamentations.  
21 Peradventure my Redeemer will come and visit me, because he is full of Mercy, he will not be long in coming because He is full of Pity to him be Glory for all Eternity. Amen.   

THE XV. EXERCISE.  
1. O Lord my God grant unto my hart to desire thee, by desiring thee to, seek thee, by seeking, to find thee, by finding, to love thee, by loving thee, to ga●ne pardon of my sins heretofore committed, and being pardoned, to commit them no more?  
2. Grant o Lord God repentance to my hart, and sorrow to my spirit.  
3. O my King extinguish in me the heat of unlawful lust, and kindle in me the fire of thy love!  
4. O my Redeemer expel from me the Spirit of Pride, and Arrogancy, and mercifully grant me the treasure of thy humility.  
5. O my Sawiour remove from me all anger, and testiness, and graciously give me the shield of patience, & meekness.  
6. O my Creator root out of me all bitterness of Affection and bestow on me the sweetness of a mild disposition.  
7. Give unto me most merciful father a firm faith, true hope, and everlasting Charity.  
8. O my God, my Mercy, I beseech thee for thy beloved son's sake, grant unto me to take pity on the afflicted, to pardon such as have offended me, to love those, who hate me, and to render good for evil.  
9 To despise noeman, but rather reverence all Men.  
10. To embrace Patience in adversities, and Temperance in prosperities.  
11. To tread underfoot by contempt all temporal things, and greatly to desire those that are eternal.  
12. Behold o my Maker I have now requested of thee many things, and those not small, albeit I deserve nothing at all.  
13. I confess alas, I confess that I do not only not deserve these gifts, and Graces which I have demanded; but great, and grievous torments to be inflicted upon me.  
14. Publicans notwithstanding, harlots, and thiefs do enbolden me, who on a sudden being delivered out of the jaws of the ghostly adversaries, are received into the bosom of their true shepherd.  
15. For thou o God the Maker of all things, though in all thy works thou art full of Admiration, yet art thou most to be admired in thy works, of Mercy, and compassion.  
16. Whereupon by a certain servant of thine thou hast said of thyself. His Mercies are above all his Works.  
17. And as speaking of one, we hope thou hast said of all thy people. I will not take away my Mercies from Him.  
18. For thou disdainest no Man, dispisest no Man, unless peradventure such an One, as, being as it were besides himself, shall hate thee.  
19 Thou therefore not only forbearest to strike when thou art angry, but likewise givest gifts, and graces to those that have provoked thee, if they shall cease from living wickedly.  
20. O my God the horn of my health and my Refuge, I unhappy creature, I have provoked thee, I have sinned against thee, I have incensed thine Anger, and deserved thy displeasure!  
This is continued in the ensuing Exercise.   

THE XVI. EXERCISE.  
1. I Have sinned thou sufferest me, I have done amiss, and yet thou lookest not angrylie upon me.  
2. If I repent thou dost pardon me, if I return, thou receivest me, yea moreover whilst I delay to do it thou expectest me.  
3. Thou recallest me wandering, thou invitest me resistinge, thou waitest for me lingering, thou embracest me returning.  
4. Thou instructest me simple, thou comfortest me sorrowful.  
5. Thou raisest me from sin, thou ●●pairest me after I am fall'n.  
6. Thou givest when I ask, thou vonchsafest to be found when I seek thee, and when I knock, thou openest unto me.  
7. Behold o Lord God of my Salvation, what to object I know not, what answer to make I am ignorant?  
8. There is no place of Refuge to which I can fly from thee; there is no place so secret in which I may remain secret from thee.  
9 Thou hast showed me the way of living well, thou hast given me the knowledge of walking as I ought.  
10. Thou hast threatened to punish me with the pains of Hell; thou hast promised to reward me with the joys of Heaven.  
11. Now therefore o Father of mercy; and God of all comfort pierce my flesh with thy fear, to the end that those things which thou dost threaten, I may eschape by fearing thee.  
12. And give me again the joy of thy salvation that those things which thou dost promise; I may receive by loving thee.  
13. O Lord my strength, my force, my God, my Refuge, and my deliverer, instruct me what I ought to think; and conceive of thee.  
14. Teach me with what words, I am to call upon thee.  
15. Make known unto me, which way I may please thee.  
16. One thing (doubtless) I know with which thou art appeased, and another which thou dost not despise. Verily a penitent spirit is to thee, A sacrifice acceptable; so likewise a hart that is contrite, and humble.  
17. With these gifts o my God, & my Aid do thou enrichmee?  
18. Barricade me with these Bulwarks against mine enemies.  
19 Grant me this refreshing, against the flames of my vicious inclinations.  
20. Set open this pious place of Refuge, to which I may fly from the Tumults of mine inordinate Affections. Amen.   

THE XVII. EXERCISE.  
1. GRAUNT o Lord that I be not of the number of those, who for a time believe, and in time of Temptation do departed, and leave thee.  
2. Cover my head in the day of Battle, thou o Lord who art my hope in the day of Affliction, and my safeguard in the time of Tribulation.  
3. Behold o Lord my light and my life, I have asked those things which I wan●, I have made known those things which I fear; my conscience nevertheless tormenteth me; the secrets of my hart do reprehénd me!  
4. And what love affordeth, fear disperseth, zeal encourageth me, dread daunteth me?  
5. Mine Actions cause me to fear, but thy pity giveth me cause of Hope.  
6. Thy Mercy emboldeneth me, my naughtiness with holdeth me.  
7. And to speak the truth, their occur to my memory many sinful imaginations, which reprehend the boldness of my presuming Affections.  
8. He therefore who deserveth anger; with what face can he demand favour?  
9 He who meriteth to be punished, how can he be so fool hardy, as to ask to be rewarded?  
10. He incenseth the judge, who neglecteth to make satisfaction for his offence, and yet maketh means to obtain a Recompense.  
11. That malefactor mocketh and derideth His King, and Lord, who earnestly requireth the Prize, and honour, which he never deserved.  
12. That foolish son likewise provoketh to anger the sweet Affection of his Father, who upon reproaches offered without repentance, dare usurp, and lay title to his inheritance.  
13. What is this (o father) that I recount of myself? I have deserved death, yet beg for life.  
14. I have moved my King to anger whose aid notwithstanding I impudently implore.  
15. I have despised my judge, whom boldly I beg to be my helper.  
16. I have insolentlye refused to hear him, as a father, whom now I presume to choose as my defender.  
17. Woe is me, for not coming so soon as I ought. Alas! alas how little hast do I make?  
18. I neglected to beware of the weapons which wounded me behore hand, and now I am troubled through the apprehension of Death at hand.  
This is continued in the following Exercise.   

THE XVIII. EXERCISE.  
1. I Have made my former scars to fester with new sores, since I have renewed my former faults by new iniquities  
2. And those which the divine salve had made sound; my phrenetical itching hath again vnbound.  
3. The skin which being grown over my wounds had hidden my malady (by reason of corruption breaking forth) hath grown to purify; because mine iniquity being reiterated, hath bereft me of mercy, which before was granted.  
4. For that I know it is written in what hour soever a just Man shall sinne all his good deeds shall be forgotten.  
5. If the righteousness of a good man is abolished when he falleth into sin?  
6. By how much more is the penance of a sinner defaced if he return to the same?  
7. How often like a dog have I returned to that which I had vomited up before?  
8. And as a sow have wallowed again, in the mire?  
9 I confess that it is impossible for me to remember how many simple, and ignorant persons through my means have sinned?  
10. How many that were desirous to cease from sin, have I persuaded to sin?  
11. How many that have withstood me, have I constrained?  
12. To how many that were willing have I consented?  
13. To how many walking in the right way have I prepared a gin, or snare?  
14. To how many that have sought the right way have I uncovered the pit that they might fall in?  
15. And that I might not be frighted with committing still the like, I easily put those past out of my mind.  
16. But thou in the mean while (being a just judge) hast observed, and recorded; and doth observe, and record all mine offences, and hast numbered all my footsteps.  
17. Thou hast all this while held thy peace, thou hast been silent, thou hast been patiented.  
10. Woo is me: for that thou wilt speak at length, as a weoman in her Travail.  
This Exercise is continued.   

THE XIX. EXERCISE.  
1. I D●●re not (o my Lord God) presume on my own merits; yea I am afraid, and tremble to present myself before thee.  
2. For my Soul, and Body are spotted, and blemished with many sins, and defects, and I have been negligent ●● thought, and word.  
3. To thee, therefore o merciful God, & dear Sawiour I wretched sinner being in these straits recurre as unto the fountain of Mercy and pity, ● fly unto thee for Salvation.  
4. And to thee o Lord I lay open my wounds, and sores, to thee I discover my infirmities of which I am ashamed.  
5. I know my sins to be many, and great for which I stand in fear.  
6. I hope in thy Mercies which are without end.  
7. Lord jesus-christ eternal King God and Man, look upon me with the eyes of thy Mercy.  
8. Hearken unto me putting my trust in thee, have pity on me that am full of miseries, and sins, thou o Lord who never restreignest the flowing of the fountain of thy Mercy.  
9 I am heartily sorry that ever I have offended thee, I desire to amend for the time to come.  
10. Do away therefore from me, o most merciful father all my sins, and iniquities: that so being purified and cleansed in soul and Body I may be able worthily to serve thee, and blissedly to be united unto thee.  
11. Let my soul thirst always after thee, the source of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal life, and sun of eternal light, the River of Pleasure, the Plentifulness of the House of God.  
12. Let it always earnestly aspire after thee, seek thee, and find thee, deserving such ingratitude at my hands.  
6. I much desire that I were more sorry, & that my hart might break for any one of the offences which I have committed against thy divine Majesty.  
7. How great reason is there that I should melt into tears for the least of them?  
8. For I have little corresponded with my duty, and been very ungrateful for thy Benefits.  
9 For thou hast spent thy whole life for my Advantage, and I have spent mine in offending thee.  
10. I acknowledge I deserve for my sins, and in punishment of them all the pains of hell.  
11. Yea they are all too little for my demeritt.  
12. I have sinned, I have sinned, I am sorry, I am sorry, and repent from the bottom of my hart.  
This Exercise is continued in the following.   

THE XXI. EXERCISE.  
1. I Offer thee a sorrowful, and repentant hart: because such an one is acceptable unto thee, and beseeming me.  
2. I assure thee I had rather have suffered all the torments, and travails of the world, rather than to have offended thee in the least of my sins.  
3. I purpose, if please thee to give me life, to take chastisement, and revenge of myself, for offending● thee, doing for my sins all the penance I am able.  
4. And though they be many and great; yet have I great hope and confidence thou wilt pardon them.  
5. For thou art the sea of Mercy, & that which thou most gloriest in, is to be merciful, and forgive sins.  
6. Thou hast promised that in what hour soever a sinner should repent him of his sins; thou wouldst pardon him.  
7. Be merciful therefore to me, o Lord, be merciful.  
8. Pardon, and forgive me my sins, and offences, pardon me sweet jesus.  
9 Be merciful unto me, for thy bitter death, and Passions sake, and for ihy glorious merits have mercy upon me, for in them I trust, and confide.  
10. If thou lookest on me Alone, and naked: then mayst thou presently cast me into hell.  
11. But I humbly beg of thee that thou wouldst place thy Death and Passion, thy Blood, and Cross between thy ●udgement, and my soul.  
12. That by the merits of thy death, I may be delivered from everlasting death, and admitted to life in thy Glory.  
13. And in the blessed society of thy Saints, I may praise thee world without end. Amen.   
Hear Endeth the Penitent. FINIS.   

CERTAIN AMOROUS speeches of the so●le to herself in Prayer. The Which are a good form, or matter of Prayer when the soul is not able, or apt to speak immediately to God.  

THE FIRST EXERCISE.  
1. O My soul when wilt thou be ready to follow the humility of thy Lord jesus-christ?  
2. When wilt thou imitate his mildness?  
3. When shall the example of his Patience shine in thee?  
4. When wilt thou be better?  
5. When wilt thou be, wholly free from Passions, and vicious Affections?  
6. When shall evil be quite destroyed in thee?  
7. When shall disordinatenesse be blotted out of thee?  
8. When wilt thou peaceably, and gently endure all tribulation, and temptation?  
9 When wilt thou perfectly love thy God?  
10. When wilt thou most inward embrace Him?  
11. When wilt thou be wholly swallowed up in his Love?  
12. When wilt thou be pure, simple, and resigned before him?  
13. How long will it be ere thou be hindered no more, from his most chaste embrace?  
14. O that thou wert immaculate?  
15. O that thou didst fervently love God?  
16. O that thou didst inseparablye cleave unto thy chiefest good?  
17. O my soul where is thy God?  
18. Where is thy Love?  
19 Where is thy Treasure?  
20. Where is thy Desire?  
2●. Where is all thy Good?  
22. Where is thy God?  
23. When shalt thou be with him?  
24. When shalt thou most happily enjoy him?  
It is continued.   

THE II. EXERCISE.  
1. WHEN shalt thou freely praise him, with all the Glorious Citizens of Heaven?  
2. Despair not o my soul?  
3. Take comfort daughter, and be confident most dear?  
4. If thou hast sinned, and art wounded: behold thy God; behold thy Physician is ready to cure thee?  
5. He is most gracious, and most merciful, and therefore willing; 〈…〉 tent and therefore 〈…〉  
6. Peradventure thou art afraid because he is thy judge; but take ha●● for he who is thy judge, is alsoe thy Advocate.  
7. He is thy Advocate to defend, and excuse thee doing penance, & so thy ●udge to save, not to condemn thee being humbled.  
8. His mercy is infinitely greater than is, or can be thine iniquity.  
9 Thy God is most gentle, most sweet, he is wholly amiable; wholly desirable; and loveth all things which he hath created.  
10. Let not thine imperfections discourage thee too much, for thy God doth not despise thee, because thou art frail, and infirm. But loveth thee exceedingly because thou desirest, and labourest to be more perfect.  
11. Arise my soul, arise out of the dust, slip thy head out of the collar, thou captive daughter of Zion.  
12. Arise forsake the puddle of thy negligent lise.  
13. How long must thou take pleasure in perils? how long wilt thou esteemee anxiety, and torments to be rest? how long wilt thou securely sleep in destruction?  
14. How long wilt thou willingly leave the right way, and wander abroad fare, and near in uncouth, and unknown Paths?  
15. Return unto our Lord thy God, for he expecteth thee.  
16. Make haste, be not slack, for he is ready to receive thee.  
17. He will meet thee with open arms, defer not to return.  
18. Have access unto jesus he will heal, and purify thee.  
19 join thyself to jesus he will illuminate thee.  
20. Adhere to jesus, he will bless, and save thee.  
21. Alas my soul how ungrateful hast thou been to thy God.  
It is continued.   

THE III. EXERCISE.  
1. HE hath bestowed innumerable, and most admirable benefits on thee; and thou still repaist evil for good.  
2. He hath adopted thee to be heir of the Kingdom of Heaven.  
3. He hath promised those things unto thee which neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor the Hart of man can comprehend.  
4. But thou hast left, and contemned Him, who hath been so many ways beneficial unto thee.  
5. Thou hast cast away the holy fear of Him that loved thee.  
6. Thou hast shaken of his sweet yoke that hath elected thee.  
7. Thou art become as One of the daughters of Belial; as an impudent harlot, void of all shame thou hast worshipped iniquity.  
8. Thou hast made a compact with death, thou hast given thy hand to the devil.  
9 Thou hast been most prompt to all wickedness thou hast heaped evil upon evil, and hast rejoiced to add sin to sin.  
10. By thy wickedness thou hast crucified Christ again, who had chosen thee for his spouse.  
11. Thou hast renewed his wounds by thy crimes.  
12. Who will give groans and sighs?  
13. Who will give thee a springe of tears that thou mayst night, and day be wail thy ingratitude?  
14. O unhappy wretch what wilt thou do?  
15. O that thou hadst kept thyself in the state of Innocence?  
16. O that thou hadst remained immaculate?  
17. O that thou hadst, not miserably defiled thyself with dishonesty!  
18. O that thou hadst not gone a stray from thy God  
19 Thou hast lost thine innocence, thou art defiled, thou art become dishonest, thou hast forsaken thy God.  
20. Alas poor wretch, and what wilt thou do? to whom will't thou fly? from whom will't thou expect help?  
21. From whom? but from Him whom thou hast offended? He is most pitiful, most courteous, and most merciful.  
It is continued.   

THE iv EXERCISE.  
1. HUMBLE thyself, prostrate thyself, pour out thyself like water in his sight, and He will take pity on thee.  
2. O my soul if it were necessary daily to suffer torments, yea to endure hell itself for a long time together that we might see Christ in his glory, and be joined in fellowship with the saints in His Heavenlye City: were it not meet thinkest thou to sustain all manner of misery, that we might be made partaker of so great a good, and so great a felicity?  
3. O my soul who art most famous by being framed according to the likeness of God being bought with the price of Christ's own blood, espoused unto Him by Faith, endowed with the holy Ghost, adorned with virtues, esteemed equal with the Angels?  
4. Love Him then, Love Him of whom thou art beloved?  
5. Attend to Him that attendeth to thee, and seek Him, that seeketh thee?  
6. Love this Lover, of whom thou art beloved, with whose love thou art prevented, and who is the fountain from whence thy love floweth?  
7. Be careful to please Him who is careful to please thee, think on Him who thinketh on thee: be pure with Him, who is Purity itself, be holy with Him, who is Holiness itself.  
8. Accoordinge to thy carriage towards God in thy conversation, will he carry himself towards thee again.  
9 God is courteous, mild, full of mercy, and compassion, and doth require therefore of thee that thou likewise be courteous, mild, sweet, humble, and merciful towards All.  
10. Love Him (o my soul) who hath delivered thee from the lake of misery; and from the Mire of sin, and iniquity?  
11. Choose Him for thy special Friend who alone will Faithfully adhere, and stick unto thee, when all other things, and Friends will fail, and shrink from thee.  
12. One the day of thy burial when thou shalt be Abandoned and forsaken by all thy Friends, He will not leave thee, but will defend thee from those roaring infernal Fiends ready to devour thee, & will conduct thee unto the Land of the living.  
13. O my soul sigh vehemently, and aspire fervently to that glorious City, so highly spoken of.  
14. Heaven, and Earth, and all therein contained do continually exhort thee, to love thy Lord God.  
15. My soul bliss thou our Lord, my soul praise thou our Lord?  
16. Why art thou o my soul sad? and why art thou troubled? Hope in our Lord for he will be thy comfort, and solace?  
17. Sweet, and amiable jesus is present with thee, thou must with Reverence, and love attend unto Him?  
18. O would to God he would wash me with his most precious blood, & perfectly cleanse, and heal me, and lighten me with the brightness of his Grace?  
19 O that he would wound my hart interiorlye, and mollify itt perfectly, and make it as it were drunk with his mellifluous Charity?  
20. O would to God I might wholly burn, and be consumed and melted with the fire of his Love!  
21. I ask, I wish, I desire that the heavenly King who vouchsafeth to be my soul's Bridegroom, would vouchsafe alsoe to make me pleasing to him. Amen.  
FINIS.  

An example of Acts, which a Soul may Exercisee towards God as absent from Her.  
1. I will bless our Lord at all times, his praises shall ever be in my Mouth.  
2. Our Lord have Mercy on vs● enlighten his countenance upon us, and take pity on us.  
3. It is good for me to seek after our Lord and get near unto him, for he is our Hope, and our All.  
The Pfalmes of David are full of these Acts.  
FINIS.   

An example of speakings supposed to be made by God to the soul.  
1. SON it behoveth thee to give all for all, and reserve nothing to thyself.  
2. Son, where is true peace to be found? is it not in Me?  
3. Son thou canst not attain to perfect liberty; if thou dost not wholly forsake thyself.  
4. Son abide constant, and hope in me. This is All in All.    
FINIS.   

ACTS OF LOVE, AND wellwishinge towards God.  

THE FIRST EXERCISE.  
1. I Do rejoice in all the Perfections that are in thee o my God, as in thy wisdom, Goodness, Pour, and all other thy divine prerogatives, and perfections.  
2. Let it please, and suffice me; that thou art infinitely happy, and Rich, my most benign, and loving Father.  
3. I do rejoice at the presence of thee my God in heaven (where thou reignest as in thy Kingdom) and that thou art there worshipped, adored, and loved by all thy Angels, and Saints.  
4. So that if it were in my Powre, I would Love, and honour thee with all that love and worship wherewith all the Angels, and Saints do there Love thee.  
5. I do joy in all the Loves, and services that the just Men in the Church, especially the Perfect in all former ages, in the present Age, or in the future Ages; have borne, & performed, do bear, and perform, or shall bear, and perform towards thee.  
6. And I desire to love thee with the Love of them All; and would for thy Love do, and perform, if it lay in my power, all their works aswell internal, as external, and would undergo all their labours, and endure all their Afflictions.  
7. I do heartily rejoice in all the good things that are in the elect servants of God, but especially for the wonderful gifts of the perfect, and that they are by thee, o my God, illuminated, inflamed, and sanctified.  
8. My Love, and desire towards thee, o my God is such, and so great: that if it were possible to me, and acceptable to thee, I would of each soul especially of mine own make a Kingdom of Heaven, that thou mightst be beloved, and praised in foe many Heavens by the dwellers in them.  
9 Which if it lay in my power should be more in number then the Grass piles on the Earth, the sands in the sea, or drops of water therein.  
10. I do here in thy presence, o my God, hold and repute myself as nothing, and whatsoever I have above nothing natural or supernatural; I acknowledge it to be thine, and none of mine.  
11. And because of myself I am nothing, and that my God is all Good; and that all good things come only from him: I do greatly rejoice, and with all my hart confess that I am nothing, can do nothing, and have nothing; for both my being, and ability to do, and all I have, is thine, and from thee.   

THE II. EXERCISE.  
1. I Do here in the presence of God, repute, and judge myself the most vile of all creatures; and because I cannot feel, or perceive this in myself, but rather the contrary having a good, and great opinion of myself; I do acknowledge therefore that I am most proud, and ungrateful of all others, and I do bewail myself as such an One.  
2. O my God I love, and desire to love thee with a love pure, and free from all respect of proper commodity, and self interest.  
3. I love thee my Lord with a perseverant love, purposing by the help of thy holy Grace, and assistance never to be separated from thee by sin.  
4. And if I were to live for millions of years yet would I ever remain thy faithful servant, and lover.  
5. I wish all Creatures would Adore and serve thee; and that infidels may be converted to thy faith, and all sinners to good life; and All this only for thy supreme Honour, and Glory.  
6. I wish that neither myself, nor any other, had ever offended thee my God, and that in particular I myself had ever served thee faithfully from the instant of my Nativity.  
7. I wish, and desire that both I myself, and all others may hereafter serve and love thee most faithfully, and this for the love, and good will I bear thee.  
8. I rejoice, and congratulate that thou my Lord God art so rich and happy, that all creatùres can add no more to thy happiness then already thou hast.  
9 Nevertheless because thou mayst have external honour, and worship from thy creatures: I do wish, I do wish that All of them may accordingly perform their service, and the worship dew unto thee the best they can.  
10. I am sorry for all the sins and indignities that are, have, or shall be done unto thee, by myself, or by All, or any others.  
11. And this principally, and only I am sorry for; because these sins are injuries done to thy divine Majesty, who only is worthy to be honoured, and served by all thy creatures.  
12. I do joyfully accept, and am glad of all that is pleasing to God, be it Prosperity, or Adversity, sweet, or bitter; and this merely for the love I bear him.  
13. I am sorry for all that doth displease God, or is contrary to his divine will, or Commandments; and all this only for the love of him, and his Glory.   

THE III. EXERCISE.  
1. I Congratule thee, o my God, and am glad that thou art God; and for the blessedness, and all the Perfections that are in thee; and which for all Eternity thou hast ever had as thy omnipotency, wisdom, goodnesses, and the like.  
2. I congratulate thee alsoe, and am glad that thou hast need of no extrinsecall thing, but art in thyself most rich and fullye sufficient both for thyself, and all Other Creatures.  
3. I likewise with thee, o my Lord, rejoice in the sweet ordinance, and disposition of heaven, and earth; & for all the things which are in the marvelous Creation of this world, and for all the works which thou hast made, or shalt yet make unto the end of the world.  
4. I congratulate, approve, and rejoice in all the judgements of my Lord God, aswell manifest, as secret: concerning the Devils, the souls of the damned, the vnbaptised children in Limbo, the souls that be in Purgatory, and the wicked men that live in this world.  
5. I congratulate, end rejoice with thee, o my God in all the Laud, and praises which the Angels, & Saints in heaven, and thy servants of the earth do give thee, and for all the worship they yield unto thee.  
6. Because I find myself altogether insufficient to praise my God I do for my help and assistance therein invite, and call upon the holy Angels, and all creatures.  
7. And withal my own soul with all the powers of it, that all of them together may glorify my God for his infinitt excellency.  
8. I am sorry I am not perfect, and wish that (so fare as it may please my God to grant itt) I may be perfect the more worthylie to praise thee;  
9 And not out of any commodity by it to myself, but purely for the Love I bear thy Divine Majesty who is infinitely worthy of more love, and honour: then all Creatures that are, or can be, are able to perform towards thee.  
10. Exult, and rejoice: and be thou delighted o my soul for all the excellencies, and good things that are in thy God.  
11. If it lay in my power, and were lawful for me to choose what God I would have; I would not choose any other God but thee Alone, saying with David. Dixi Domino, Deus meus es Tu. I said unto my Lord, thou art my God.  
12. I rejoice in the Dignity that our Sawiour Christ now hath in Heaven, and congratulate him in it.  
It is continued.   

THE iv EXERCISE.  
1. BLISSED be thy eternal Father who so abundantly bestowed these felicities on thee. Do thou blissedly, and gloriously enjoy them for all Eternity.  
2. I congratulate the most Blissed Virgin Marie; and all the Angels, and Saints in Heaven for the glory and happiness which they now enjoy.  
3. And I praise, and exalt my God for his great goodness, and liberality therein showed towards those thy most faithful, and elect friends.  
4. I do exceedingly rejoice; that since all Creatures together are in no sort able to praise thee my God according to the very lest worth that is in thee; yet thou thyself, and thou only art able sufficiently, and perfectly to praise, and glorify thyself.  
5. I do rejoice indeed at this, and do heartily desire thee to do it ever more.  
6. Yea I do heartily crave of thee that thou may incessantly, and most intensively praise thyself since thou only art Able to do itt, and deserveth to have it done.  
7. I do congratulate, and rejoice with thee, o my Lord God in all the works which thou hast done; and this only because they are thy works.  
8. As for the Creation of the world, thy Providence about itt, thy Redemption of it. Wonderfully esteeming all these works; because they are thine.  
9 An I rejoice aswell in that thou hast made a hell for the punishment of the wicked; as a heaven for the Reward of the good.  
10. I wish, and desire out of my love to God that he may be praised and known of all Men, and I do invite all Creatures to do the same with myself.  
11. I offer myself (for the love of my God) to bear, and suffer all things which may be to his honour, and Glory: though no manner of commodity accurre to me thereby; but purely to do it out of the free love I bear, and desire to bear, towards my God.  
12. Lastlye I profess that if I could device any thing wherein I might show, or Exercise my love towards my God; I hope (with the help of his Grace) I should, and would do it most cheerefullye, and readily out of the pure, and sincere love that I bear, and wish to bear toward my God without respect of any commodity by it to myself, which God grant me to do for his Glory, and my happiness. Amen.   
FINIS.   

CERTAIN AMOROUS Aspirations, to be used according to the Direstions, and the Disposition of the soul.  
O Et Praesidium, & dulce Decus meum!  
1. O thou art both my safeguard, and my sweet Ornament!  
Da quod iubes, & jube quod vis!  
2. Grant me to do what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt!  
O vita Animae meae!  
3. O life of my soul!  
O lumen oculorum meorum!  
4. O light of mine eyes!  
In manus tuas Domine commend● Spiritum meum.  
5. Into thy hands o Lord, I do commend my Spirit.  
Ecce Ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.  
6. Lo the hand maid of our Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.  
Paratum cor meum Deus, paratum cor meum.  
7. My hart is ready, o God, my hart is ready.  
Ecce ego, mitte me?  
8. Lo here I am, send me?  
Tolle quod tuum est, & vade.  
9 Take what is, thine, & be gone.  
Dominus meus, & Deus meus.  
10. My Lord, and my God.  
Domine quid mihi est in caelo, & à te quid volui super terram?  
11. O Lord what is there in Heaven, or what upon earth that I would have besides thee?  
Domine quid me vis facere?  
12. Lord what wilt thou have me to do?  
Hei mihi quia incolatus meus prolongatus est!  
13. O woo is me that my seiorninge is prolonged!  
In ditione tua Domine cuncta sunt posita.  
14. All things o Lord are in thy power, and Dominion.  
Domine tu scis quia amo Te, & animam meam ponam pro Te.  
15. Thou know'st, o Lord, that I love thee, and will bestow my life for thee.  
Quemadmodum desiderat ceruus ad fontes aquaaum, ita desiderat Anima mea ad Te Deus.  
16. Even as the hart doth thirst after the Fountain of Water; so doth my soul thirst after thee o God.  
Infaelix Homo quis me liberabit de corpore mortis huius!  
17. O unhappy Man that I am; who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death?  
Cupio dissolui, & esse cum Christo.  
18. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.  
Quando veniam, & apparebo ante faciem Domini!  
19 When shall I come, and appear● before the face of our Lord?  
Argentum, & Aurum non est mihi, quod autem habeo hoc tibi Do.  
20. I have neither gold nor silver; but what I have, that I give unto thee.  
Praecor celestem Regem, ut me dolentem nimium faciat eum cernere.  
21. I beseech the heavenly King to cause me (who am very much grieved for want of it) to come to the sight of Him whom I so much love.  
Domine si inveni gratiam in oculi● tuis, ostend mihi faciem tuam?  
22. Lord if I have found favour in thy sight; show unto me thy face?  
Noverim Te, noverim me?  
23. Let me know thee, let me know myself?  
Te Deum landamus, Te Dominum confitemur.  
24. We praise thee o God, we acknowledge thee o Lord.  
Benedic Anima mea Domino, & omnia quae intra me sunt nomini sancto eius.  
25. O my soul, and all that is within me, bliss ye our Lord, and praise his holy name.  
Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore, semper laus eius in ori meo.  
26. I will bliss our Lord at all times, his praise shall ever be in my mouth.  
Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino.  
27. Bliss ye our Lord, All the works of our Lord.  
O vos omnes qui transitis per viam attendite, & videte, si sit Dolour sicu● Dolour meus!  
28. O All ye that pass by the way look, and see, if ever there were grief, like my grief!  
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli, & terra Maiestatis gloriae tuae.  
29. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven, and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory.  
Deus, Deus meus ad te de luce vigilo!  
30. O God, ● my God to thee I wake in the morning!  
Deus, Deus meus respice in me, quare me dereliquisti?  
31. O my God, my God look upon me, why hast thou forsaken me?  
Deus meus, Adiutor meus sperabo in Te!  
32. O my God my helper I will hope in thee!  
Domine in caelo misericordia tua; & veritas tua usque ad nubes.  
33. O Lord thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth to the clouds.  
Ad te levaui oculos meos qui habitas in caelis.  
34. To thee have I lifted up mine eyes who dwellest in Heaven.  
Fili Dei, miserere mei.  
35. O Son of God, have mercy upon me.  
Dilectus meus mihi, & ego illi.  
36. My beloved to me, and to I him.  
Regnum tuum regnum omnium saeculorum, & domenatio tua in omni generatione, & generatione.  
37. Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom for ever; and thy reign is for all Generations, and generations.  
O quam pulchra es Amica mea, quam puchra es?  
38. O how fair art thou my beloved, how fair art thou?  
Tota pulchra es amica mea, & macula non est in te.  
39 Thou art all fair o my Love, & there is not a spot in thee.  
Vulnerasti cor meum, sponsa mea, vulnerasti cor m●um?  
40. Thou hast wounded my hart my Spouse, thou hast wounded my hart?  
Adiuro vos filiae jerusalem, si inveneritis dilectum meum, ut nuntietis ei, quia amore langueo.  
41. I adjure you o daughters of jerusalem, if you shall find my beloved, you tell him that I languish with Love..  
Pulchra es Amica mea, suavis, & decora.  
4●. Thou art fair o my love, sweet, and comely.  
Veni Dilecte mi, Veni?  
43. Come thou my beloved, come?  
Dilectus meus candidatus, & rubicundus, electus ex milibus.  
44. My beloved is white, and ruddy; chosen out of thousand.  
Quo abijt Dilectus tuus? Quo declinavit Dilectus tuus? & qu●remus eum tecum.  
45. Whither is thy beloved gone? whither is thy beloved turned aside? And we will seek Him with thee.  
Revertere, reuerter● Sunamitis, v● intue amur te?  
46. Return, return o Sunamitenesse, that we may behold thee?  
Quam pulcra es, & qnam decora charissima in delicijs?  
47. How beautiful, and how comely art thou my dearest in delights?  
Quis mihi det ut inveniam Te, & deosouler Te?  
48.. Who shall procure unto me that I may find thee, and kiss thee.  
Osculetur me osculo oris sui?  
48. Let him kiss me, with a kis●e of his month?  
Fac me audire vocem tuam?  
49. Cause me to hear thy voice?  
Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea, ecce tu pulchra es?  
50. Behold thou art fair my beloved; behold thou art fair?  
Trahe me post te, curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum?  
51. Draw me after thee, we shall run in the odour of thine ointments?  
Exultabimus, & laetabimur in te●  
52. We shall exult, and rejoice in thee.  
Indica mihi quem diligit Anim● mea, ubi pascas, ubi c●bes?  
53. Thou whom my soul loveth, show unto me, where thou dost eat, where thou dost lodge?  
Surge, propera Amica mea, columba mea, formosa mea, & veni?  
54. Arise, hasten my beloved, my dove, my fair One, and come unto me?  
ostend mihi faciem tuam, sone● vox tua in auribus meis?  
55. Show me thy face, let thy voice sound in mine ears?  
Vox enim tua dulcis, & facies tua decora.  
56. For thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely.  
Quaesivi quem diligit anima mea, quaesivi illum, & non inveni.  
57 I have sought for him whom my soul loveth; I have sought for him, and have not found him.  
Surgam, & circuibo civitatem per●vicos, & plate as, & quaeram quem diligit anima mea.  
58. I will rise, and go about the city in all the streets, and lanes; I will seek after Him whom my soul loveth.  
Num vidisti quem diligit Anima mea?  
59 Have you seen whom my soul loveth?  
Paululum cum pertransissem, inveni quem diligit Anima mea.  
60. When I had gone a little farther, I found him whom my soul loveth.  
Tenui ●um nec dimittam.  
61. I laid hold of him, and will not let him go.  
Vox Dilecti mei pulsantis, aperi mihi soror mea, Amica mea, columba mea immaculata mea?  
62. The voice of my beloved knocking, open to me my sister, my love, my dove, mine immaculate?  
Pessulam Ostij mei aperui dilecto meo.  
63. I opened the bar of my door to my beloved.  
Anima mea liquefacta est, ut locuta est mihi.  
64. My soul melted, as he spoke to me.  
Diligam te Domine fortitudo mea, firmamentum meum, & Refugium, meum, & liberator meus.  
65. I will love thee o Lord, my strength, my firm foundation, my Refuge, and my Deliverer.  
Illumina oculo● meos ne unquam obdormiam in morte, ne quando dic●t inimicus meus praevalui adversus eum.  
66. Enlighten mine eyes that I may never sleep in Death, lest mine enemy may come at length to say I have prevailed against him.  
Dignus es tu Domine Deus accipere Gloriam, & Honorem, & virtutem, & Benedictionem.  
67. Thou art worthy o Lord God to have Glory, and Honour, and power, and praising.  
Confite antur tibi Domine omnia operatua, & sancti tui benedicant tibi.  
68 Let thy works o Lord confess unto thee, and let thy Saints praise thee.  
Si oportuerit me mori, non te negabo.  
69. Though I were to die for it, yet I would not deny thee.  
70. jesus, jesus, jesus, etc.  
Non aemittam Te, nisi Benedixeris mihi.  
71. I will not let thee go, till thou hast Blissed me.  
72. Lord when shall I be wholly thine, and thou mine?  
73. O my secure Refuge!  
74. O life of my Soul, my Maker, my Redeemer, and my conserver!  
75. O joy of my soul! when shall I love thee with all my Hart, with all my soul, and with all my might?  
76. When shall I enjoy thee?  
77. When shall I possess thee?  
78. O that I were buried in thee?  
79. When shall I fullye please thee?  
80. My Consolation.  
81. My Life.  
82. My Love..  
83. My Desire.  
84. My Delight.  
86. My Riches.  
87. My Treasure, and all my good.  
88 O when shall my soul be according to thy heart's desire!  
89. O that my soul were as clean, and pure, as it was when it first proceeded from thee!  
90. O that I could perfectly obey thee!  
91. O that I could always serve thee!  
92. O Treasure of my soul!  
93. O that I had never offended thee  
94. O that I could see myself free from this, or that imperfection.  
95. O that I could obtain this, or that necessary virtue!  
96. When shall I perfectly love thee?  
97. When shall this earthly Tabernacle be dissolved, and my soul be made one with thee?  
98. Replenish me o Lord with thy love.  
99 Give unto me sweet jesus purity of Hart, and poverty of Spirit?  
100 O sweet jesus that I knew thee, and knew myself?  
101. Grant me o sweet jesus that I may entirely love thee?  
102. Grant me o my only love that I may continually reverence, and adore thee?  
103. O Bottomless sea of Mercy pardon me all my sins, & offences?  
104. Permit me not o my Lord jesus ever to be separated from thee?  
105. Possess me o sweet jesus; & unite me wholly unto thee?  
106. I am nothing, I can nothing, I desire nothing, but thee o jesus, jesus, jesus!  
107. Grant me o Lord the holy hatred of myself; and the perfect love of thee.  
108. O my God quench thou the thirst of my soul!  
108. Thou only pleasest me, and thee only I desire.  
109. For thy love, I utterly renounce all other Love's.  
111. For thy love I wholly yield up myself into thy hands.  
112. O All my Glory!  
113. O All my Delight!  
114. O All my Comfort!  
115. With thyself comfort me, whom nothing else can comfort, or satisfy.  
1●6. O what do I love, o what do I intent, or seek for, save only thee!  
117. Feed, and satisfy me o Lord with thy Grace, and presence in my soul?  
118. Thee only doth my soul relish jesus, jesus, jesus?  
119. My Hart longeth after thee, and with none but thee Alone can it be satisfied?  
120. Quench my thirst o jesus, jesus, jesus!  
121. When shall my soul be plunged, swallowed up, and buried in the infinite depth of thy Eternity?  
122. O my Happiness!  
123. O my only delight!  
124. O joy of my hart!  
125. O my Hope, my solace, my beginning, and end!  
126. O Lord jesus!  
127. O Emanuel!  
128. O Messiah!  
129. O Christ the anointed of our Lord!  
130. O most sweet, and most loving Lord God  
131. When shall I be united unto thee?  
132. When shall I be drowned in thee?  
133. When shall I be fullye mortified?  
134. When shall I embrace thee?  
135. When shall I be inflamed with thy love?  
136. When shall I be one with thee according to thy heart's desire?  
Confitebor tibi Domine in toto cord● meo, & glorificabo nomen tuum in aeternum.  
137. I will confess unto thee o Lord with my whole hart, and will glorify thy name for ever.  
Miserere mei Deus, miserere mei, quoniam in te confidit Anima mea.  
138. Have Mercy on me o Lord● have on me, because my soul doth confide in thee.  
Beati qui habitant in domo tua Domine in saecula saeculorum laudabunt te  
139. Blissed are they who dwell in thy House o Lord, they praise thee for ever and ever.  
Quia est melior est dies una in atrijs tuis super millia.  
140. Because one day within thy Gates is b●●●●r than a thousand without.  
141. O All my Hope?  
142. O All my Glory?  
143. O All my Refuge; And All my joy?  
144. O the most Beloved of Beleivers?  
145. O Flourishing spouse!  
146. O sweet spouse?  
147. O Comfort of my Hart?  
148. O life of my soul, and the pleasant repose of my Spirit?  
149. Mortify in me whatsoever displeaseth thy sight, and make me a Man according to thy hart.  
150. Wound me o Lord, wound the most inward part of my soul with the darts of thy Love?  
151. And make me drunk with the wine of thy perfect Charity.  
152. O when shall this be!  
153. When shall I please thee in all things?  
154. When shall all die in me, which is contrary to thee?  
155. When shall I be altogether thine?  
156. When shall I live to be no more mine own?  
157. When shall nothing else live in me, but thou o jesus?  
158. When shall I love thee most fervently?  
159. When shall the flames of thy love wholly consume me?  
160. When shall I be altogether melted & pierced through with the wonderful efficacy of thy sweetness?  
161. When wilt thou take me hence by force, drown me, transport me, and hid me in thyself, where I may never more be seen?  
162. When wilt thou free me from all these impediments, and distractions, and make me one Spirit with thee, that I may not any more departed from thee?  
163. O Dear, Beloved! O Dear Beloved of my soul?  
164. O sweetness of my Hart?  
165. Hear me o Lord not for my merits, but for thy infinitt Goodness, and Mercy?  
166. Teach me, enlighten me direct me, and assist me in all things, that I may do, or say nothing but what is agreeable to thy blissed will, and pleasure?  
167. O my God, my well beloved, my dearest Hart, and the very God of my soul!  
168. O my sweet love!  
169. O my great Delight!  
170. O my strength Help me!  
171. O my light guide me towards thee!  
172. O God of my soul, why givest not thou thyself to thy poor Creature?  
17●. Thou fillest Heaven, and earth; and wilt thou leave my hart empty.  
17●. Thou bathest the Lilies of the field, givest meat to the little birds, and feedest the worms of the earth: why then dost thou forget me who endeavours to forget all others for thy sake.  
175. Too late have I have I known● thee o infinitt Goodness?  
176. Too late have I loved, thee o Beauty so ancient, and so new!  
177. Woo to the time I loved thee not!  
178. Blind I was, that I saw thee not.  
179. Thou wert within me, and I went seeking thee abroad?  
180. But now that I have found thee though late, suffer not Good Lord that I ever leave thee. Amen, Amen, Amen.  
FINIS.   

ACTS OF RESIGNATION To be used according TO THE DIRECTIONS. ACTS OF RESIGNATION in things concerning the Body.  

THE FIRST EXERCISE.  
1. I Resign myself for the Love of my God my dear Lord, to undergo these ensuing Pains, or Difficulties in my Body; so fare as God hath already laid them, or any of them upon me; or shall be pleased hereafter to say, or permit them, or any of them to fall upon me. To wit: Agues, Fevers, falling-sickness, cramp, colic, Consumption, or other bodily sickness whatsoever. Especially such sickness, or infirmity, as troubles me at this present, or to which through my nature or Bodily complexion, and constitution I am most disposed, and inclined.  
2. As weakness, feebleness, lameness, Toothache, or any other ache, or pain in my head, or any other part of my Body.  
3. Deformity, or ugliness in the sight of others, as it was in the case of holy job, Lazarus, and others that were full of Biles, botches, and other more odious external defects in Body.  
4. Extremity of Heat such as we feel, or may feel in some time of the summer: extremity of cold such as we feel, or may feel in some time of the winter. And in time of summer to be driven to wear, and bear perhaps out of Obedience, or other necessity more clothes then our nature needeth, or is willing to bear. And in the cold of winter, to be contented to want clothes which we conceive our nature needs, when that obedience, or necessity denies them us.  
5. Want of sleep, as when being in bed one cannot ●leepe through ●ome bodily indisposition, or other; or when obedience will not permit me to have so much time for sleep, as my nature would desire to have, or may seem needful to have.  
6. Hunger, thirst, the difficulties of fasting, and Abstinence, scarcity in meat, or drink, as not having so much in Quantity as my nature would have, or perchance requireth, or less than I see some others have. Or when the quality of the meat, or drink doth not please my nature, and yet obedience will yield me no better; or when my meat is not so well dressed, as I could wish it were; or when I have it not in such a season as in my nature I could wish, but is delayed me for some tyme.  
7. I am resigned, and contented to see others better served, or provided for, in, meat, drink, cloth, lodging, and beddinge then I am: though I conceive, and imagine that I deserve, and need as much as they do, and yet obedience will not allow it me. Likewise when it seemeth to me that others are more spared from corporal labours than I am; & yet it seemeth to me that they need, or deserve no more indulgence, or sparing, than I do.  
8. Indisgestion, vomiting, or other pain, or defect in the stomach, not to be able to get down some meat that is ungrateful to the stomach, or palate; And yet obedience, or poverty will perhaps afford me no better.  
9 Pains, or Defects about the 5. external senses. As bitter, or unsavoury Tastes; ungrateful smells; hideous, and horrible sights, or representations to the eyes, as the sight of Devils, or damned souls. Hideous and fearful noises, as thunder etc. and noises displeasing to the ear, and so of the Rest.  
It is continued.   

THE II. EXERCISE.  
1. AS to the fift sense of feeling. I Resign myself to suffer, and endure scorging, buffet, beat, as our Sawiour endured; or stoneings as S. Stephen: or incisions, and lancings, or c●ttinge of the flesh, or any other corporal pains, or torments, be they external, or internal. To the loss of eyes, or pains in them; to deafness, or dumbness; to undergo alsoe some external work, or labour from which I am naturally averted: when that obedience appoints itt, albeit I should conceive it prejudicial to my health.  
3. To attend, and watch with the sick when that obedience appoints it.  
4. I am resigned to lose any member of my Body when God shall permit, or will have me to lose itt, be it feet, legs, hands etc.  
5. To undergo all sort of corporal labours, and that with feebleness, and indisposition of Body: so fare as the will of God shall require.  
6. I am resigned to lose all pleasure, delight, and Gust in the sense of Taste so that I may find no more taste in the pleasantest meat, than I should do in eating a chipp, or a stone: or in drinking of a thing that hath no taste, or is of a very ungrateful Tast.  
7. I am resigned to any disfiguringe in the face, or other part of the Body: come it naturally, or by any chance, or accident.  
8. To lose my life by sudden death, or else by long sickness as it shall please God.  
9 To receive harm in my Imagination: whereby I may have my brains cracked, or become a very fool, or mad man; And to be content with all this if God permit the case to befall me.  
10. That my Body putrify, and corrupt slowly, and with length of time; and that others observe, and take notice of such putrifyinge, and in their natures abhor it, and me for itt.  
11. To endure, and suffer the agony of Death, and the unwillingness, and horror that nature hath in the separation of the soul from the Body.  
I● is continued.   

THE III. EXERCISE.  
1. I am resigned to die a natural death; or otherwise a violent, and painful death procured by others; which of them may best please thee my Lord.  
2. To die when, where, and in what manner it shall best please God, and that without the help of any of the Sacraments; if I cannot come by them.  
3. Being dead to want not only honourable, but even Christian Burial; And my Body to be a prey, and food to beasts, and fowls: as hath been, and often is the case of Martyrs.  
4. In the agony of death to endure such terrors, Afflictions, & temptations as the devil doth then usually raise, and procure, or my dear God permit.  

Hear follow Resignations about external Goods.  
5. To be deprived of the clothes I have, or may have, be they never so necessary for me The like for good books, convenient lodgings, and to have these things bestowed upon one whom in my nature I am most averted from.  
6. To be driven to wear clothes that seem base, or insufficient, or unfit for the body● as over heavy & overhott for the summer; or over thin, and light for the cold winter; or else clothes that are of hair, rugged, and painful to the Body.  
7. To be straightened, or otherwise ilaccomodated for chamber, or lodging, & hard beddinge, & to want necessaries in my lodging, and beddinge.  
8. To want necessary clothes so as to be brought to that poverty that I am not only barely, and basely clothed, but hardly able to cover my nakedness; whereby I may be wonderfully contemned, and despised by others.  
9 To be turned out of doors, and to be deprived of all certain, and proper place of Habitation, and thrust into the wide world; and so entirely left to such destiny as God shall permit to fall upon me.  
10. To have all the temporal goods whereof I have the propriety, or use, taken from me: and to be left as poor, naked, and desolate as ever job was, or any man, or weoman can be.  
11. To endure the Crosses that in any sort spiritual, or corporal may fall upon my friends, or kindred, or upon those who in my nature I most affect: as to endure their deaths, imprisonments, dishonours, loss of their lands, or goods, their extreme poverty, or whatsoever else may happen unto them.  
12. And on the other side to forbear, and restrain myself from all inordinate joy, and complacence that I may take in their prosperities.  
13. I am resigned alsoe, and hope to be well content that my friends, and kindred, lovers, and well wishers, do alienate, and withdraw their affections from me; do forget, and neglect me: yea and come to be averted from me; and to conceive, and speak evil of me, and do me evil offices; yet so as I commit no sin, or give no just occasion of such aversion from me.  
14. And further I resign myself to be left, and forsaken of all creatures in the world; so that I have no Man, or any thing to cleave unto, save thee only my jesus who will abundantly suffice me.  
15. I am resigned, and indifferent in what place, and in what company I live, and in particular to live with them from whom my nature is most averted, and to live with strangers aswell as with my familiars.  
16. And to live with them with whom, and from whom I shall find, and receive most contradictions, discourtesies, and hard usages, if it shall be the blessed will, and pleasure of thee my Lord to allot, or ordain me to live in such company.  
17. I am resigned to abide in this life in all sorts of Afflictions for so long time as it shall please God though it were to the end of the world.  
18. And not to yield to the Motion, or inclination of my nature that would perhaps out of wearisomeness fain have life at an end. But in this I wholly submit my will to the will of God. Amen.  
Hear follow Resignations about good name, Honour, and Estimation.    

THE iv EXERCISE.  
1. I Am resigned not only not to be beloved, or well thought of by Superiors, Brothers, sisters, or others: but even hated, and evil thought of by them. Yet will I take heed (through God's Grace) not by any sin to give just Occasion of such hatred, or evil opinion of me.  
2. And I am resigned that all others yea mine enemies be in greater Grace, favour, love, and good opinion with superiors, and all others than I am.  
3. To undergo all manner of disgraces, Reproaches, slanders, infamyes, Dishonours, Taunts, contempts, neglects, scoffs, backbitings, and injuries in my fame. And to endure all these, be they done to my face, or behind my Back: whither I have just occasion for them or Noah, and I am sorry for the sin, (so fare as there was a sin in it) and I am glad of the occasion grown by it, of my Resignation, and Mortification.  
4. And whither they be done me by my Superiors, or betters, or by mine equals, or else by such as in the condition of the world are inferior to me.  
5. And whither they be done by such as I esteemed my friends, and of whom I had better deserved: or by any professed foes, or as such behave themselves towards me, though I esteem them to be in charity with me, and all the world.  
6. I am resigned that my life, or manner of my death be execrable, odious, and hateful to others, and being dead to be evil thought of, and evil spoken of by others, and to have no man that will vouchsafe to pray for me being dead, but to be either clean forgotten, or to have an ill memory, and esteem.  
7. Yea thought by all the world to have died out of the state of Salvation, and so damned for ever. Yea moreover to have it so set down, and expressed in a printed book, or Chronicle: not only to my own everlasting shame, but to the shame, and confusion of my kindred, and family.  
8. And finally in this life to be held for the scum, and outcast of all the race of Mankind, and forsaken by All both as to their do, and to their Affections towards me.  
9 In sickness, and other occasions, and necessities to be chargeable, and troublesome to others, and myself, to be profitable to none at all, nor in any sort to be able to steed others.  
10. So that the whole world grow weary of me, and of my life, and Being: and daily long to be rid of me by death, or some other way they care not how; and in this case to remain divers years, yea for my whole life time though never so long.  
11. I am resigned that dying in the Grace of God (which I hope, and earnestly pray I may always do) and of a natural death: I be for all that, through some occasion, or other by the permission of God, esteemed to have killed, or destroyed myself and thereupon to be according to the custom of our country pierced through the midst of my Body with a stake, and buried in the high way; and every one that passeth by, to cast a stone on my Grave in detestation of me to the unspeakable shame, confusion, and damnation of my own fame, and to the fowl Aspersion of my Family.  
Resignations of and concerning the soul.   

THE V EXERCISE.  
1. I Am resigned to undergo all sorts of temptations which may please thy Divine Majesty to lay, or permit to fall upon me for mine exercise, and Trial: And to endure them to the end: ever adheringe to thee; and not yeildinge to sin by occasion of them, so fare as thy holy Grace shall enable me.  
2. To endure all manner of desolations, Privations, Aridities, Drynesses, and indevotion. All darkness in mine understanding, and all dullness, and coldness of Affection in my will towards my God; so fare as I am not able to help it; And will not for my comfort convert me to external solaces.  
3. To want all manner of gifts, & Graces that are not absolutely necessary to my Salvation; as all supernatural contemplations, sweetenesses, and extraordinary divine visits, and favours.  
4. To resign myself in all things be they never so contrary to nature, and its inclination; to sensuality, and its affections.  
5. To resign myself to bear with the repugnance which I find in my sensuality until by the Grace of God (sooner, or later; ever, or never) in this life, it may be brought to perfect subjection to the soul: and in the mean time to bear with the labour, and difficulty: that is in fighting against it, or in resisting the desires of itt.  
6. To resign myself to die before that I can reach to perfection, and to live, and die in that state, or degree of perfection which shall be pleasing to God, and not according to my own will, or way: yet ever wishing, and endeavouringe that I may not be wanting in cooperatinge with His Graces, and Calls.  
7. To resign myself to be content to serve my God according to that manner which He preordained, and not according to mine own proper will, desires, or ways. Having regard notwithstanding to my natural talents, and complexion, or corporal constitution: And according to the measure of wit, or understanding that is in me, and according to the supernatural helps, and Graces that God shall afford unto me: and not according to the talents, gifts, and graces which God hath given, and imparted unto others.  
8. I am resigned, and well pleased that God hath given, and hereafter at his pleasure may give to others fare greater Graces, and Talents, or perfections than he hath given, or shall give unto me.  
9 And that all others make greater progress in Spirit, and perfection than I do: albeit I should use greater diligence, and industry than they.  
10. I am resigned to understand learn, or know no more, or otherwise then God would have me to know, and to remain ignorant in what He would have me to remain ignorant of.  
It is continued.   

THE VI EXERCISE.  
1. AND for what I do, or shall know: I do resign, and yield up to God (whose it is by due) all the Honour, contentment, satisfaction, and commodity that can come to me by such knowledge.  
2. I am resigned to know no more than is absolutely necessary to salvation, and to want the knowledge of all other things, and especially of all curiosities, and impertinencies.  
3. I am resigned, yea desire to follow God by all ways whatsoever that He shall call me, seem they never so strange, or unreasonable (so they have no sin in them: I mean both for internal, and external ways) though I cannot understand the reasons of them, or perceive how they can lead, or bring to a good end, or issue. And so to be contented to walk as it were blindfold, and in darkness, as to the use of my natural understanding.  
4. I am resigned, and contented that others do excel me in virtues, and perfections, yet ever desiring that I may not be wanting in my endeavours: And am resigned that they be fare more than myself esteemed, loved, and honoured by all others for virtues, and perfection.  
5. I am resigned not to know in what case I am, as to my soul; nor in what degree of Perfection: and not to know whither I go backward, or forward in perfection.  
6. I am resigned not know whither I am in the state of Grace, or no: as no man (without special revelation) doth know himself to be. I crave notwithstanding, and desire that I may be industrious, and do my part, and cooperate with my Grace.  
7. I am resigned that God may give, and bestow on Him who of all creatures living most hateth me: all those gifts, Graces, and Favours which my soul, my nature, or my hart could crave, or wish of thee my God for myself: and am resigned to want them myself, and to have no more than thy will is to bestow on me.  
8. And I am moreover contented, and resigned that in the end of my life thou my Lord may bestow upon him that hateth me most, the fruit, Benefit, and reward of all the labours, afflictions, and mortifications which in my life time I have undergone, albeit they were so great, and so many as hath been all the labours, Afflictions, and Mortifications, of all the Martyr's, Confessors, and Virgins, all put together that ever lived, or hereafter shall live in the Church of God. So purely, and freely do I desire to serve my God.  
9 I am resigned willingly to endure all manner of contempts, and yet to be esteemed by others that I endure them merely against my will, and not out of Humility; and that I would be revenged if I could without further discredit, or damage to myself.   

THE VII. EXERCISE.  
1. I Am resigned to serve my God in this life in all labours, and afflictions which are possible for me to undergo: though there were neither heaven, or Hell, or Purgatory, or any pain, or reward in the future life. So purely do I desire, and purpose to serve my God for his own sake without any manner of interest, or commodity thereby intended to myself.  
2. I am resigned, and contented to enjoy the very lowest place in Heaven, though God should enable me to merit as much as all the SS. in Heaven put together have done.  
3. I am resigned to do, and suffer both in soul, and Body what, and in what manner, and for so long time as shall be pleasing to God, and as it shall be his divine pleasure to lay upon me to be done, or suffered by me.  
4. For the love of my God I resign and renounce all manner of inordinate love towards myself, and towards all other Creatures.  
5. Even now, and ever I do renounce all inordinate Affection that I bear to the personal company, or society of any Persons, or to correspondence with them by letters, tokens, or messages: And I am contented to be deprived for ever of their company, and all manner of correspondence with them.  
6. And I will avoid such company, and correspondence so fare as by the will of God I may: where I do, or shall find it to be an occasion of falling into sins, or imperfections.  
7. And when I cannot avoid the company I will with God's assistance be more wary, and careful in my conversation with such persons. And I do resign myself, and heartily desire to be deprived of such company.  
8. For the love of God I do resign, and yield up all seeking to get the Loves, or good wills of others towards myself, and all solicitous seeking to please them further, or otherwise then shall be for Godsake.  
9 And I will be contented that they whose love in my nature I most look after, shall (no just cause given for it by me) withdraw all their Affections from me; yea Hate me, speak ill of me, and do me all manner of evil Offices.  
10. For the love of God I do renounce all manner of curiosities in dressing of myself, and all desire that other should affect, or esteem me for my exterior Habit, corporal array, or dressing; or for my personal visage, feature, comeliness, Grace, Beauty, or stature, or any other Quality Artificial, or natural that is in me; or generally for any gift, or Talon that I have. I say I do renounce all propriety in them & all affection to them. And would (if it so pleased God) for my mortification be deprived of them.  
11. And have them bestowed upon some other Man whom in my nature I do least affect, and most detest.  
It is continued.   

THE VIII. EXERCISE.  
1. AND as for such gifts Graces, and Talents as thou o my God wilt have still to abide in me; I desire, and intent that they may be employed, and made use of merely, and purely for thy Honour and Glory: and not for any Honour, or other end of mine own. And therefore I wholly resign, and give them up (as to any affection I retain to them) to thee my God, from whom all good things do proceed; and to thee, and thy service only do they belong.  
2. Likewise in particular I do renounce all complacence, love, and liking to elegancy, and Acuteness of wit, eloquence of tongue, and ability to express my mind perfectly by words, or by letters, or other writing. All Humour, ability, or facility to jest, recreate, or delight others. All affection I say to those talents, or qualities (so fare as I have any of them in me) I do for the love of God resign, relinquish, and abandon.  
3. In particular likewise for the lover of God I do freely renounce all complacence, and love that I have in the knowledge, or skill of any particular art either of reading, writing, speaking, enditinge, and generally all skill, and knowledge of any art, or science whatsoever. And alsoe all desire to be esteemed for nobility, Gentry, and gteate alliance. All things in a word (that are not for God, and in God) with the love, and Affection to them, I do for the present, and future, reject, and cast away.  
4. For the love of God I do freely renonnce all manner of affection to the occasions of sins, or imperfections: so that willingly I would utterly fly from them, be they of what kind they will. And will endeavour to avoid all such occasions as fare as well I may, and what I cannot (such being the necessity of our lives that we cannot avoid all manner of occasions) I will with the Grace of God be as wary in them as my frailty will permit me, and withdraw myself from those occasions so soon as well I may.  
5. I do for the love of God renounce all propriety I have or may have in any Kind of Office, Dignity, or employment. And am, and will be ever ready to resign, and yield itt up, when it shall please God: and in the mean time shall hold myself in itt out of Obedience to God, and for his service; and not for mine own turn, Honour, or interest.  
6. For the Love of God I do renounce all manner of propriety to spiritual Exercises (be they never so pleasing to me) so that there is, or shall be no Exercise so sweet, or pleasing which I would not give over, if I knew it were God's will that I should do itt.  
7. Neither is there any Kind of Exercise so ungrateful, or painful to my nature: but I would embrace it. If I knew, or thought itt to be God's will that I should; or otherwise could find it to be profitable to me.  
8. In the mean time I will for the love of God serve him in such kind of Exercises, as my poor knowledge shall inform me to be most for his Honour, and service: and my own souls good.  
9 I resign myself to undergo all manner of temptations be they corporal, or spiritual: as Blasphemies, despair, or any other manner of Temptation wherewith it would please God to exercise, and prove me: and will abide in them as long as he shall please that they continue, be it for never so many years, yea though it were for my whole life tyme.  
10. And I purpose with the Aid of his Grace not to be carried by any of of those temptations to offend his Majesty. But ever to adhere, and abide faithful to him.  
It is continued.   

THE IX. EXERCISE.  
1. AND if I should happen upon any of these temptations to fall, or prove defective: (as who is not frail) I will notwithstande by the Grace of God so soon as I can rise up again, reform what hath been amiss; and for the future time look better to myself, continuing in resistance to those temptations, so long as they continue.  
2. Nor will I seek to drive them away, or lessen the pain of them, but only as it shall be the will of God, and not according to the will of my nature, that is apt to free, or ease herself of all temptations merely out of sloth, and unwillingness to undergo the sharp and painful remedies provided by God for my souls good, by the means of these temptations.  
3. I alsoe resign me willingly to embrace, and entertain such defects or blemishes (so they be no sins) as are in me by nature, or by chance, in body, or in soul; and by which I am less esteemed by others, so fare as any such defects, or blemishes are in me, as Dullnesse, or slowness of wit, or judgement; disability to express my mind by word, or writing; ignorance, or unskilfulness in such Kind of things, as others of my calling usually can do; rawness, harshness, lowness, or unpleasantness of voice; Blemishes, or defects in face or favour, or in any other part of the body, or in stature: or in any other real or seeming defect in soul, or body. Or in being descended of poor, or less noble parents, or having poor or obscure kindred, or Friends. In these, and all other such like points I resign myself to God; and I do, and will still accept of my Condition such as it is, or may be: And do not desire any betteringe, lesseninge, or altering of itt. But that it may continue, and be published to all others, for my mortification, and humility.  
4. I resign myself all the time of my life (prove it never so long) for the Honour of God, and his divine pleasure, to labour all that I can both corporally, and spiritually for gayneinge of perfection (that is, the perfect love of God) albeit I never reach unto itt, or near unto itt. Therein, and in all other things resigninge, and wholly submitting myself to what the Majesty, Goodness, and Wisdom of God shall please to determine about me.  
5. I resign myself as to all propriety, and affections to books, and instructions printed, and written● which I either have had, now have, or hereafter may have. And do resign myself to be deprived of them, when, and by such means, as shall please God to deprive me of them. And for the love of God I do for the present, and for the future renounce, and give over all Affection to them.  
6. The like I do for all those things that I have for the use of my body, or Exercise of devotion, as chamber, beddinge, cassock, or any other clothing, and all other things appertaninge to the body.  
7. Beads Relics, Reliquaries, Agnus Dei, with their silver, gold, or other precious cases; pictures medals, and whatsoever other material things appertaining to Devotion; or that may be a recreation, solace, or pleasure to the mind.   

THE X. EXERCISE.  
1. I Do most willingly resign myself to be deprived of all instructors (I mean men, or women, that may, or do instruct me) and of all Confessors both in General, and particular, purposing with the Grace of God ever to serve him the best I can according to the natural talents which I have, as alsoe according to the supernatural talents, and Graces that he shall bestow on me hoping in his goodness that he will by one mean, or other supply me with all knowledge that shall be necessary for my soul: albeit I be deprived of all those ordinary helps of books, instructors, and confessors.  
2. I resign myself to have my superiors, and all others whom my nature would have to be most friendly unto me; to be in all things cross, and contrary unto me; yea, and to persecute me so fare as the providence of God shall permit, purposing through his Grace, and for his love to endure all.  
3. Since the tongue is an occasion of many sins, and imperfections, I do for the love of God renounce all affection to the use, and Exercise of the tongue, and to all manner of talking, and discoursing so that if it might please God I would be contented for his love to be made dumb, and to have no tongue at all, so that I could not speak.  
4. Because nevertheless the necessity of his life will not admit such mortification of absolute dumbness in practice; but that I must often speak either for mine own need, or for Charity's sake, or for my own● recreation, or for some other iu●t occasion, I purpose with the grace of God that all my words, and talk shall not be out of Affection to talking, but out of a reasonable necessity with a religious wariness that I offend not in the matter, or manner of my speaking; giving over so soon as conveniently I may; ever affecting (at least in my superior will, if not in my nature, or sensuality) to have no use of my tongue at all, nor wishing to have need, or just occasion for it, save only for praising, & Honouring God. So that by this means my errors, & escapes by occasion of talking do not proceed out of affection to talking itself: but that the talk itself be necessitated; and the which we could not well forbear.  
5. For the love, and Honour of God; I do renounce all manner of desire of Honour, and Honourable places; dignities, and Offices that are o● Authority, command, or Directions or whatsoever may breed me estimation with others, and thereby feed my proud nature.  
6. And in steed thereof I will undergo any office, place, or employment that my nature doth scorn, and abhor; if that obedience, charity, or the will of God do impose itt on me.  
7. For the love of God I do renounce all vain complyinge, conversation, and correspondance with the world by letters, tokens, messages, or otherwise. And all seekings to please the world, with which in affection I desire to have no more to do, then if I were really dead, and buried; desiring only to serve, and please God. Yea I desire so much to be forgotten by the world, that it may not remember, or know tha● there is, or ever was any such creature as I am; or as if I had never at all been borne.  
8. For the love of God I renounce all inordinate affection to my parents Friends, and kindred: as if I were another Melchisedec, whose parents and kindred were utterly unknown both to himself, and to all others. And do resign myself to be neglected, and forsaken by them all; yea, and to have them (without any just occasion given by me) averted from me; so that they abhor to hear me named, nor can endure so much● as to think of me.  
9 For the love of God I renounce all affection to meats, and drinks as to any pleasure, or delight that I willingly intent in them; and do rather (if it might please God to grant itt unto me) choose for the mortification of my sensuality, that I might never need to eat, or drink at all; but be delivered from the necessity of itt. And in such case would I desire to live so long as it shall please God that I abide in th●● lise. I mean without eating, or drinking: and without need to eat, or drink, or to take any thing that may be pleasing to my Body, or nature.  
10. But since it cannot be so but that I needs must eat, and drink, I will do it for the love, and service of God, and not merely, or at all for my own will, and pleasure.  
It is continued.   

THE XI. EXERCISE●  
1● IN the like manner I resign myself (as to the affection) for sleeping, Recreation, and all other corporal refreshments, and solaces; to take them only for God; and not for mine own will, or satisfaction. And to be willing altogether to forbear them, if that it could stand with the will of God according to true discretion.  
2. I do renounce all manner of Affection to created things be they corporal, or spiritual as to any affection I hear them for their own sakes merely de●iringe, and intending that all kind of created things spiritual, and corporal, and all that is not God, may be loved by me for God, and in God, and not otherwise.  
3. In particular I renounce all Affection to sensible g●st, and Devotion; to spiritual lights, to facility in praying; to elevated contemplations both Active, and Passive, Rapts, and extases, Visions, Apparitions, Extraordinary Illuminations, Revelations, knowledges of the de●ine secrets, the beholding, and conversinge with Glorious Angels, Saints, or other good Spirits. And to all other extraordinary gifts, and favours. I say I do resign all affection to them; so that if I chance to have them; yet by the Grace of God will I have no● adheringe Affection to them, but refer it to the goodness, and freewill of God to give, or not to give what He pleaseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
4. And with the Grace of God, I will never ●●st in any gift of God, not in any created thing be it never so noble; but only shall make use of itt, so fare as it may be of use for to pass further into that which is increated, illimited, and infinitt: which is God himself the Creator, and Giver: who is infinitely above all these, and other whatsoever gifts, Graces, and Creatures. And in him only will I place, and make my final Rest, love, and intention. Though I know well I shall not attain unto him, as He is in his true essence, while I ●m in this l●fe.  
5. And therefore I purpose with his Grace ever to labour more, and more to approach unto him, & never to give over: knowing well that I shall not perfectly come by him in this life. (It being reserved for the future) but yet with continual labour I may with his grace walking only in the light of faith draw nearer, and liker unto Him, and more please his divine eyes, which I desire, and intent seriously ever to do.  
6. I resign myself for the love of God to be deprived of all bodily necessaries, and to be as naked therein as when I was borne. And as for such necessaries as God shall afford me for the maintaining of my corporal life; I do, and will likewise resign all love, and affection even to those necessaries.  
7. For the love of God I resign myself to be by all that do know, or hereafter shall know me esteemed the most abject, unworthy, base, ignorant, foolish, wittlesse, and most contemptible of all human creatures: And therefore not only incapable of all Office, and employment; but alsoe unworthy to be admitted into the company, or conversation of any Others though of never so mean condition.  
8. For the love of God I do resign myself to be contented with the natural, and supernatural gifts, and talents that I have, or shall have wishing no more of them than it shall please God to give me, or continue in me, which I will employ in his service while I have them, and will not repine, or murmur ●o be deprived of them.  
9, I am resigned, and contented to undergo all such mortifications, Obediences, and difficulties whatsoever, which my superior mediate, or immediate shall deliberately require of me to be undergone, or performed.  
10. I am resigned after this life to abide in Purgatory in horrible pains, and torments, and for so long time, as it shall be the will of God, and to remain there even to the end of the world; if it shall so please God to ordain of me.   

THE XII. EXERCISE.  
1. I Am resigned not to know what will become o● me hereafter ●i●her for body, or soul: but therein to refer myself to the private, and secret judgement of God. And to be resigned, and contented that God do reserve, and conceals to himself those his knowledges, & judgements about me.  
2. And in particular not to know where, in what company, with what assistance, and in what manner, of what kind of sickness, and whither suddenly, or of a: long sickness, or in what case as to the state of my soul I shall die; as whither my soul shall go to Heaven, or to Hell, or to Purgatory. In all these cases I am to resign myself, and to be con●●nted that God only doth know what will become of me, and my 〈◊〉 to be Ignorant of itt.  
3. Nevertheless (as to my soul) I hope, and with the Grace of God ●uer will hope (because he is good, and commands me to hope) that I shall be a saved soul; and shall one day sooner, or later enjoy Him in Heaven for all Eternity.  
4. For the love I bear unto God, & purely for the love and excellency that is in him, I resign myself to serve him all the days of my life with all my soul, and body: without any regard to a reward for so doing. In so much as if there were neither Heaven, or hell, or Purgatory, or any Reward, or punishment, in this life, or the next. Yet would I serve him in the best manner I could, and this only in regard that his Goodness, and Other His excellencies do deserve infinitely greater loves, and services than I, yea or all the Angels, and Saints, and other creatures whatsoever are able to do●, or perform for him.  
5. For the love of God in whose sight I am, and upon whom all my being depends. I resign myself unto him with all that I have or can do, or suffer in soul, Body, Fame, Friends, or external goods: for time, and eternity. So that I do reserve to myself no manner of will: but in all things do make the will of God to be my will utterly neglecting my own will; as if I had none at all God by this means wholly reigninge in me, and doing by me, with me, and about me (as being but his instrument) whatsoever shall please him. And nothing as for, or to myself; or any end of mine own.  

An Act for a timorous, or scrupulous Conscience.  
6. For the love I bear unto God, I renounce, and give over all manner of self will, and self conceit, or opinion in all matters generally; and particularly in this; that I will henceforth stand to, and practise such advice, and direction as hath been given me by such as I have reason to give credit unto in spiritual matters, about the saying of my Office, or about Confessions, or about judging what is sin, and what not; and what I am to judge to be mortal, and what not. Neither will I in any point vary from such advice, or directions: But will tie myself (out of the love, and obedience I own to God) to ●●and to such advices as have been, or shall be given unto me, ●ither about the matter, manner, or frequency of Confession; or about the iteratinge, or saying of my office, or any part thereof, or about the Attention unto it; or about judging what to be s●nn●, and ●hat not: and what to b● moral, and what not. Or about any, other thing that shall concern my Confession, or saying my Office, or otherwise concerning my soul, and conscience.  
●. I ●es●gne myself to undergo, and performs whatsoeu●r my sup●●io●, shall deli●era●●lye, and Abso●utely● req●i●e of m●●, ●lb●i● neu●r ●oe ●●pugn●nt ●o ●yn● ow●● natural will or 〈◊〉 And though it s●●m●●●ue●●oe repugnant to my natural rea●on, a●d iudg●ment● and ●●●me to be ●ayne, and impertinent, or ag●●●st re●s●n● 〈◊〉 pro●● very p●●nefull to my body, or preiudiciou● to my Fame, and honour; yea, and though it seem a thing impossible to be done, yet will I attempt it, and endeavour to do it the best ● can. Provided always there be nothing commanded me (as without doubt I hope, there never will be) against the Laws of God, and His Church.  
9 I likewise resign myself willingly to undergo any penance public, or private that shall be enjoined me by my superior immediate, or mediate; yea though such a penance be never so great a confusion, or shame unto me; or stain ●o my honour, or credit; and ●hough I be never so innocent in the supposed crime for the which the p●●●an●e is imposed; and that ●ll Others do esteems, and judge me● guilty of the crime though ind●ed I am n●t.  
10. I resign myself so far to overcome the bashfulness, or other diffic●l●●●●●ha● i●, o● shall ●e in me, for the discovering of my secret bodily necessities, or other secrets of my interior: 
Especially to do this in matter of Confession.  That I will when there shall be cause for it therein mortify myself, and will with the Grace of God open my case to my superior, or Ghostly Father according to the nature of my cases, and as it shall require, albeit my natural will have never so great an aversion from such my discovery of my necessities, or of my interior state.    

THE XIII. EXERCISE.  
1. I Resign myself that when Charity, Obedience, discretion, or necessity shall require it: I will visit, and help any One lying sick though of the plague, or any other, infectious, odious, or horrid disease; and will attend serve, and comfort them according to my ability without flinchinge any way; and therein will regard neither life, nor health: nor will avoid itt for any horror, or loathsomeness that my nature shall find, or conceive in the disease, or employment. Yet it is not the will of God that I should without cause desperately put myself into the said employment, but it must be done according to the Rule of Discretion, and that good may come by it to the party that is infected, or otherwise sick.  
2. In like manner I resign myself to attend, serve, and watch with those that be sick, or need help according to their necessity, and as Charity, Obedience, and discretion shall require of me.  
3. I resign myself to undergo, and put in execution all manner of remedies that shall be deliberatelye advised me by the physician with the consent of my Superiors, for the betteringe of my health, or saving of my life: be those remedies never so harsh, bitter, painful, or odious to my nature. As the taking of mo●● bitter Potions, cutting of some of my limbs, or any other painful remedy, ordained and prescribed unto me.  
4. I am resigned to undergo the molestations of little but painfully pinching, biting, and troublesome creatures; as fleas, lice, eimises, and other such like v●rmine so fare as God will have me to be exercised by them, and that I cannot rid myself from them. Yea though they should so far●e prevail over me as to bereave me of my life. ●as they have done to divers] I will, and do s●●●he love of God therein re●●gne my self to his will, and prouiden●●●eerin.  
●. I resign myself, when Obedience, Charity, or necess●tie shall ●●quire it; to go to any House, room, or place: and lodge, and dwell ●here notwithstanding the fear of Devils, Hobgobbling, or other had Spirit● that are said to be there, 〈…〉 will (in th● name of God, and when it shall be his will] resort, and abide in such a place: albeit I should there really see a 1000 of those evil, and malicious Spirits; yea, and though God would permit them to beat, buffet, scratch and torment my Body, as he permitted them to do to the Bodies of S. Anthony, and other Saints for their Exercise. For I know well that all the Malice of the Devil will not be able to hurt my soul, so long as I continue my good will, and love to God, which the devil cannot take away by molestinge of my Body, but he doth thereby give me more, and better occasion to unite my soul to God, the which being done, it little importeth what he doth to my body, which [what harm soever he do in this life] I believe, and am assured will be well restored to me at the general day of judgement, and in perfect health, as I hope alsoe for the salvation, and perpetual felicity of my soul.  
6. And therefore, and in like manner I do resign myself that if God will permit, and have my body to be possessed by the Devil, or by millions of Devils, and to be vexed, and tormented by them: or to have witchcraft prevail on my body, & to vex, and torment me, I shall take it patiently, and resignedly as from the hand of God, and be contented that his, and mine enemies those Devils do perform their malice towards my Body, my soul being still untouched by them over which they shall have no more power than my freewill shall give way to, which by the Grace of God shall be in nothing at all. And some Saints there have been who for their Exercise, & humiliation have desired of God that they might in their bodies be possessed by the Devil, and have thereupon come to be possessed.  
7. For the love I bear unto God I do renounce all desire to any manner of Office, or employment that is of Authority, or Dignity, or in any sort grateful to my nature, or sensuality, and do purpose with the help of his Grace, for the keeping myself in humility, and for avoiding of occasions of distractions not only not to desire, or go about directly, or indirectly to procure the haveinge of any such Office, or employment.  
8. But alsoe by all the means that may be pleasing to God to pre●ent the having of them.  
9 And being offered unto me to refuse them vt●erlye, so fare as I may without displeasing God.  
It is continued.   

THE XIV. EXERCISE.  
1. AND further I will endeavour, and procure (so fare, as shall stand with the pleasure of God) that any other (rather than myself) though he be my junior, o● of talents never so inferior to mine: shall have the office, if he shall be judged fit, and sufficient for the place: yea though he be one, whom in my nature I have least affection for, or one who is most averted from me, and is like to be most contradictory, and troublesome to me. And of this mind with the Grace of God I purpose to be while I liu● though I live never so long. And shall by the grace of God be contented if not rejoice, that I am, and shall be held insufficient, and unworthy of any office, or employment of worth, or credit.  
2. And on the otherside there is not, or shall be any Office, or employment so mean, base, contemptible, painful, or otherwise ungrateful, but that I will accept of it, if it be the will of God, and abide i● it so long as it shall please God out of pure obedience to His holy will, though the Office, or employment were to continue all my life ●yme; & that I live, and die the most abie●●● neglected, and contemptible person not only of all the house, but even of all others that are in the whole world.  
This present matter of Resignation is very necessary to be used in Prayer but more necessary to be stood unto in practice when the occasion happens, 

Read consider, & practise.  
The virtue of prayer is Practise out of prayer.  
This is the rule of Rules, and the only advice.   as ●ften it doth. For God seeing the soul to have over much pride, and to want that humility he would have in her, will not perhaps have her to be chosen to such an office, or place of Authority, or dignity which he forseeth would increase pride in He●, at least would not work in her that Humility which were requisite for her. And therefore he provides out of his great love to her, that some other who perhaps seems to be much inferior in Worth, a●● talents; to be chosen to itt. And oftentimes God for her further Humiliation in lei● of the higher place doth cause her to be chosen to some Other l●w, or base place: which she in her nature contemneth. And a soul that means, or desires to be good doth observe the divine Ordinances, and dispositions about her, and doth thereunto conform, and subject herself though extremely perchance against the Inclination of her nature. But a soul that neither is humble, nor desires to be humble, but would exalt herself above, and against God's ●ill, by contradictinge his divine Providence, doth gro● and become wilful, impatient, and takes occasion by itt of much harm, yea perhaps of utter ruin, and Fall. As it appeareth by almost infinite Examples that heretofore have fall'n out, and do yet daily fall out. For this hath been the very cause of Apostatisinge of all Arch-hereti●es, as Luther, Be●nardinus● Ochinus, and Others. And in very deed if you observe itt, you shall find even at this day (and as it hath, so ever it will be) the causes, and roots of all the stirs, factions, and contests that are in all Relig●ous Conuents do most commonly, if not al●ayes arise out of Pride, Ambition, & Irresignation in the point of Offices, and places now last mentioned. Which is that either we covet places of Honour, or Credit for ourselves, or for our Friends; who being in the Places would favour us: or else we repine at the putting in of those whom our nature doth not affect for the place. Let us therefore with the Grace of God overcome ourselves in itt; and stand unto the most loving Providence of God : for our humiliation, and final Perfection in his love which is the proper cause, and end, of our being Religious, or our undertakinge a Spiritual course of life: 
The true end of our undertakinge a Religious life.  And if we do not heerin seek to subdue ourselves, but yield to Ambition, we do hereby resemble, and serve the most ambitious Lucifer, & shall without adherents be partakers with him, and his adh●●rents● in his unspeakable everlasting torments, from which God of his goodness preserve us. Amen.  
3. I resign myself to undergo not only such Crosses, and Difficulties as shall fall upon mine own person (of which kind are all the precedant acts of Resignations) but alsoe all such calamities, Crosses, Pestilence, famine, scandal, infamies, desolations, deuas●ations, disgraces, poverty, and Other Afflictions of what kind soever th● Divine Providence shall by any means permit to fall on this community, or upon any particular member or members thereof. And I purpose with the grace of God ever to serve, and adhere to him even in the midst of those calamities, or troublesome alterations.  
4. In like manner I resign myself upon all public scandals given by others, and upon all public calamities fall'n on the whole Church, or any member of it, or upon any particular Country, and namely upon our own, or upon the city or Country wherein this Monastery, College, or House is feared● and in all cases to continue my adhereinge love, and good will to God, as if such accidents had not at all happened.  
5. I resign myself to die when, and in what manner it shall please God; and in particular to live in a house (the like for any other Danger which hangs over my head) so long as God shall so ordain: that is very like to fall, and thereby oppress, and kill me, and that ●oe suddenly, that I shall not have the time, or space to say, or think so much as Lord have mercy upon me. Or perhaps I shall be fast a sleep when it shall fall upon me, and oppress me ere I be awake. Or peradventure the fall will not suddenly bereave me of my life, but will bruise my body, or my limbs, and make me live in such intolerable pain that death would be a great ●ase, and pleasure to my nature. I resign myself I say heerin, and the like; to the divine will, and Providence in all such like cases. Still craving, and begging of God that in whatsoever manner, time, or place my death may happen, that I may die in his Holy Grace, and favour for the salvation, and eternal weal of my soul.  
6. Finally I render, and resign myself to thee Alm● God (whose I am by justice, & from whom this my being depends) with all that I am, have, or can do, or suffer in soul, and Body, Fame, or external goods for time, and Eternity. So that I do reserve to myself no will at all; but in all do accept thy Will; utterly forsaking, neglecting, & contemning mine own will; as if I had no will at all. By which thou only dear God may reign in me, doing with me, and about me: as being but an instrument of thine: what thou best likest, and pleasest now, and ever more.  
Fiat, Fiat. Amen, Amen.  

An Exercise of Devotion to our Blissed Lady Mother of God.  
1. HAIL sweet Mary: hail most sacred Virgin; whom God before all ages did choose for his most Sacred Mother.  
2. Thou art betwixt God, and man: that Blissed Mediatrix by whom the highest things are joined to the lowest.  
3. Thou art the beginning of life, the Gate, or entry of Grace, the safe Haven of the world suffering shipwreck.  
4. Obtain for me I beseech thee perfect pardon of my sins, and the perfect Grace of the Holy Ghost.  
5. That I may diligently worship: chastely, and fervently love thy Son my Sawiour, and thee the Mother of Mercy.  
6. Hail sweet Marie, whom, forshewed in sundry figurative speeches, and promised in divers Oracles of the Prophets; the Ancient Fathers did coue● most earnestly.  
7. O my Lady receive me for thy poor servant: Adopt me O Mother for thy Son!  
8. Grant that I may be numbered among them whom thou dost love (whose names are written in thy Virginal breast) and whom thou dost teach, direct, help, cherish● and protect.  
9 Hail sweet Marie; whom God by a most Honourable Privilege did preserve from sin.  
10. And adorned with most singular Grace: and most excellent gifts.  
11. O Glorious Virgin, o Gracious Virgin, o mo●t pure Virgin chosen amongst thousand.  
12. Do● not repel me wicked sinner: do not despise, and reject me defiled with the filth of sin.  
13. But hear me miserable wretch drying unto thee, comfort me desiring thee, and help me trusting in thee. Amen.   

An Exercise to the Holy Angels, and especially the Angel Guardian.  
1. I Salute you o Holy Spirits, and with all mine Hart Congratulate your Happiness who continually contemplate, and behold the Divine Face, and Allsatiatinge goodness!  
2. You o Seraphin, Cherubin, and Thrones who are of the higher jerarchie! you o dominations, virtues and powers of the middle! you o Princes, archangels: and Angels of the lowest! who continually sing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth.  
3. Thou o my Lord hast made these holy Spirits, Angels, for my Benefitt, and hast commanded them to keep me in all my ways!  
4. They do therefore assist us with great care, and with watchful endeavour at all times, and in all places succouringe us.  
5. They present our sighs, and sobs to thee o Lord: they inflame our will, illuminate our understanding, and replenish our mind with holy thoughts.  
6. They walk with us in all our ways, rejoicing at our virtues, and contristated at our vices.  
7. Their love is great, and excessive towards us.  
8. They help such as are taking pains, they protect such as are at rest, they encourage such as fight, they crown the conquerors: they rejoice with such as joy, (I mean such as joy in thee) and they suffer with such as suffer: (I mean such as are in sufferance for thee.)  
9 Great, and very great is the Honour done, to man, to have Angels to wait on, and assist him.  
10. O my Dear Angel Guardian govern, protect, and defend me: illuminate, comfort, and direct me now, and ever more.  
11. O Blissed Angels be you ever blissed, and praised for all, and every Favour, and benefit you have most lovingly, and powrefullye bestowed on me, and vouchsafed me; and one (on my own experience) a most singular one.  
12. Grant o Father of Heaven, and Earth that they may ever rejoice concerning us, [that is: by our practice of virtue] and that thou mayst ever be praised by them, and us, and that both they, and we may be brought into one sheepefould, that together we may confess to thy holy name; O Thou Cr●atsr of men, and Angels! Amen.    

AN EXERCISE OF Devotion.  

Towards our Holy Father, and Religious founder S. Bennet.  
1. HAIL most blissed, ●and glorius Father: I congratulate with all my hart thy glory, and grace with God.  
2. I praise likewise, and thank the divine goodness that made thee worthy, and brought thee to the same.  
3. Bestowing on thee, in this life very great natural, and supernatural gifts, and graces by means whereof thou hast obtained thy present most glorious, and happy condition.  
4. In particular I praise, and magnify the same divine goodness for that it gave thee the grace in the very flower, or prime of thy youth with a thristye mind to seek after the sole felicity of the future life.  
5. And for that end to forsake all the vain pleasures of this life, the solaces of thy Parents, kindred, and Country, the desire of humane sciences and learning: and [generally] all things that might not be needful for thee towards attaining the foresaid felicity.  
6. And I praise, and magnify the same divine goodness for that by such calling, and taking of thee so tymelye out of the world, and the snares of it: he freed and secured thee from worse habits, and multitudes of sins which the world [if tho● hadst remained longer in it] had bee●e apt to breed, and cause in thee.  
7. I praise, and magnify the same divine goodness for leading thee to a place of solitude, and there providing for thee all corporal necessaries towards his holy service, and thine own souls good.  
8. And especially for that the same divine goodness itself vouchsafed to become thy immediate Master, and Director: inspiringe thee, and teaching thee what to do continually.  
9 And gave thee Grace, and strength to perform, and accomplish the things necessary, and expedient to the end He called thee to.  
10. And namely to live in mortification of body, and will; And as it were in continual prayer, and high Contemplation.  
11. I praise, and glorify the same divine Goodness for bestowing on thee the most necessary gift of perseverance by which thou didst remain constant in such perfect divine service from thy first call to the very period of thy life.  
11. That comeinge to die, even ripe for a most holy death, thou didst as it were pass from life to life: as one tha● feels not what corporal death means.  
13. So that thy expiration was Aspiration according to what S. Gregory the great saith of thee. Vltimum Spiritum inter verba Orationis efflavit. To wit. His last breath was Prayer. Passing forth of the faithful Contemplation of this life, to the real, and beatificke contemplation of the other.  
1●. I now cordiallye congratulate the perfect felicity thou enjoyest.  
15. And since I am called by the divine Grace (as I truly hope) to live according to thy holy Rule for my Salvation, and Perfection; vouchsafe thy Holy intercession for that end that I may through God's Grace live accordingly, and die consummated, and perfect therein, and thereby for without his Grace I can do nothing.  
16. And as the said S. Gregory saith thou framedst thy Rule according to thy holy life, sweet jesus give me grace interiorlye, and exteriorlye to be a faithful Imitator thereof.  
17. That I may be led by the same Guide the Holy Ghost.  
18. And Exercise true Spiritual Prayer the only means to all virtues.  
19 That I may in all things abandon myself with all purity of Intention.  
20. And do all good, and abstain from all evil which interiorlye, and exteriorly may concern me.  
21. Especially in all things occurringe, patiently to suffer all injuries, ●●d Crosses.  
22. And that all may be accomplished; God grant me, as he did to thee, the gift of perseverance.  
23. That I expiringe may be admitted into the happy society of thee, and thy faithful followers. Which God grant Father Son, and holy Ghost. Amen.  
This Exercise to S. Bennet was the Devotion of the Venerable Father ●ake● before mentioned ●o gi●e God thinks for the happiness of his Religious v●c●tion, which I have ●eere inserted, as being grateful to those of the same profession, and not ungrateful to any devout soul.     

HAIL JESUS. Or Acts upon the life, and Passion of our Sau●iour I●sus-Christ.  
Which are indeed instar Omnium, & do contain in them Acts of all kind● of Prayer, as Contrition, Resignation, love, or what else-soever. As a devout soul in her Mental Exercises●therevpon may easily experience.  

THE FIRST EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet● jesus, Praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ: who for ●y s●●e ha●t vouchsafed to come down from the Royal seats, and from the mellifluous Bosom of thy Divine Father into this valley of misery; And to be conceived, and incarnated, and made Man by the Holy Ghost in the most chaste womb of the most sacred Virgin Mary.  
2. Choose I beseech thee my Hart for thy dwelling place; Adorn itt, replenish it, with Spiritual gifts, and wholly possess itt.  
3. O that I were able by profound humility to invite thee to itt: and with an ardent Affection to receive thee, and after having received thee, to retain thee with me!  
4. O that I were so fastened unto thee that I might never departed, or turn away my mind from thee!  
5. Hail skeete jesus, Praise, Honour. and Glory be to thee ● Christ: Who wouldst that the Virgin Marie having conceived thee: should make haste to visit her Cousin Elizabeth, & didst inspire her, that she should salute, and assist Her.  
6. And thou hast vouchsafed o Christ to lie hid for nine months together in the most chaste womb of the sacred Virgin Mary.  
7. Pour into my soul o jesus the Grace of perfect humility, and imprint it most deeply in my Hart● that I may be found ready always to serve, and obey thee.  
8. Grant that my Hart may loathe all transitory things, and may incessantly perceive that thou dost possess, and duel in itt.  
9 Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory, be to thee o Christ who hast vouchsafed to be borne of thy Virgin Mother, poor, and passable without any pain, or detriment to her Virginity, in a poor stable.  
10. Whom being borne she humbly adored.  
11. O that it were thy will to be continually borne in me by a new fervour of Spirit!  
12. And that I may be wholly burnt with the fire of thy love.  
13. O that thou wert the only comfort, desire, and solace of my Hart!  
14. O that I did seek after thee Alone, t●inke on thee Alone, and love thee Alone!   

THE II. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who being borne i● the depth of winter didst not refuse to be suaddled in poor clothes, and weeping to be laid in the manger, and as a little infant to suck milk from thy Mother's breasts.  
2. I adore thee most dear Redeemer, King of Angels.  
3. Hail Prince of Peace, light of the Gentiles, and most desired Sau●iour.  
4. Graunt● o Lord that I may always stand in thy sight, truly humble, and truly poor in Spirit.  
5. Grant that for thy Holy names-sake I may willingly endure all kind of Mortifications, and may love nothing in this world besides thee, nor wish to possess any thing but thee.  
6. Hail sweet jesus, whom the celestial legions of Angels did honour newly borne with joyful praises: And the shepherds devoutly seeking, and finding; adored with admiration.  
7. Grant that I may joyfully without tediousness persever in thy praises, and service.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, who wouldst upon the eight day like other childerens be circumcised, and being yet an infant shed thy precious Blood.  
9 And for our singular Comfort wouldst be ●aled jesus which signifieth a Sawiour.  
10. O that itt would, please thee to admit me being circumcised from all bad thoughts, words, and works into the number of thy childerens.  
11. Thou o Lord art called jesus, that is to say a Sawiour; be thou therefore my Sawiour, and save me.  
12. Hail skeete jesus, whom the sages with a devout seeking found by the direction of a star, and haninge found most humbly adored.  
13. Offering unto thee gifts of gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.  
14. Grant o Lord that with these blissed men I may always seek, and adore thee in Spirit, and Truth.  
15. Grant that I may offer daily unto thee the gold of bright shining Charity, the Frankincense of sweet smelling Devotion, and the Myrrh of perfect Mortification.  
16. Hail sweet jesus, who for our sakes wouldst be subject to the Law, and to give us an example of Humility wouldst be carried to the Temple by thy Mother, and be redeemed with an offering ordained for such as were poor.  
17. Where just Simeon, and Anne the Prophetess rejoicing greatly at thy presence gave very glorious Testimony of thy Dignity.  
18. O that all Pride were utterly thrown down in me!  
19 O that all desire of human Favour, and itch of self-love, were cooled, and cured in me!   

THE III. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ: Who staying in the Temple wert for the space of three days with great grief sought by thy devout Mother, and at lentgh with great joy found by Her sitting in the midst of the Doctors hearing them, and proposinge questions to them.  
2. Would to God thou wouldst give, and Communicate thyself in such sort unto me that I might never be separated from thee, not ever be dep●●ued of thy comfort.  
●. Hail sweet jesus, who for the space of thirty years remaining unknown haste vouchsafed to be reputed by the jews the son of joseph the Carpenter, and of his wife the blissed Virgin mary.  
4. Let thy Grace I beseech thee, pluck up, and utterly root out of the fund of my soul all pride, and Ambition.  
5. O that I may delight to be unknown, and to be esteemed vile, and Base!  
6. Hail sweet jesus, who hast not disdained to come to the river of jordan, and entering into i●t, there to be baptised by thy servant john the Baptist.  
7. I would through thy merits I might become most clean, and pure even in this life.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, who for ou● sakes abiding amongst wild beasts in the desert, & fasting forty days, and forty nights, and persevering in prayer hast permitted thy ●elfe to be tempted by Satan.  
9 And overcominge Him hast been honoured with the ministerre, and service of Angels.  
10. Give me Grace that I may chastise, and subdue my flesh with all the vicious affections thereof.  
11. Give me Grace that I may constantly persever in Prayer, and other spiritual exercises.  
12. Let no temptation I beseech thee defile me, but rather let temptations purge me, and join, and unite me unto thee.  
13. Hail sweet jesus, who to the end thou mightst gather together the dispersed children of God hast vouchsafed to preach Penance, to call Disciples, and out of them to choose twelve Apostles to be eminent preachers of thy Faith.  
14. Draw me after thee, and powerfully stir up my Hart to love thee.  
15. Grant that I may adhere to thee Alone. Amen.   

THE iv EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who for me hast suffered many afflictions, Heat, Cold, Hunger, Thirst, Labours, and miseries.  
2. Grant that I may receive from thy Hand cheerfully all Kind of Adversity.  
3. Hail sweet jesus. Who thirsting the conversion of souls, hast passed whole nights in Prayer.  
4. Hast been wearied with travellinge, hast passed from Country to Country, from City to City, from Town to Town, from Village to Village.  
5. Let thy love make me quick, and ready to all good things that I be never slothful in thy service.  
6. Grant that every where I may have zeal of thine Honour, and employ myself wholly in thy service.  
7. Hail sweet jesus praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who conversinge with men hast vouchsafed most willingly to comfort them● & by many miracles most mercifully to cure their Maladies, and diseases.  
8. Give me a devout hartfull of affection, and compassion: whereby I may pity other men's afflictions: and may have as great a feeling of their miseries, as if they were mine own.  
9 Whereby alsoe I may bear patiently with all men's imperfections, and chiefly to my ability secure them in their necessities.  
10. Hail sweet jesus praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who hast not shunned the company of Publicans, and sinners, but hast afforded them thy most loving Familiarity, and ready pardons of sins, to Matthew, Zacheus, Mary Magdelene, and to the weoman taken in Adultery, and to the rest that were repentant.  
1●. Grant that I may embrace all men with cheerful love, and Charity.  
12. May readily forgive those that offend me.  
13. May perfectly love those that hate me.  
1●. Hail sweet jesus, who for my soul's sake hast su●●ered many injuries, many Blasphemies, many reproaches, and infinitt abuses of those on whom thou hadst bestowed many Benefits.  
15. Give me a Hart truly innocent, and simple: that I may sincearely love mine enemies, and unfeignedly pity them.  
16. And Rendringe good for evil may through perfect charity, and meek patience perfectly please thee. Amen.   

THE V EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who coming to jerusalem, in a meek, and gentle manner didst ●ide upon an Ass: and amidst, the praises which were sung by the people that came to meet thee, didst pour forth tears bewailing the ●uine of the City, and destruction of those ungrateful souls.  
2. O that I might never be delighted with the praises, and Favours of Men!  
3. But always be profitably employed in internal tears of compunction, and Devotion.  
4. Hail sweet jesus, whom judas the treacherous Disciple sold for a little Money to the jews who did persecute thee, and conspire thy death.  
5. Root out of my Hart all evil desires of transitory things.  
6. Grant that I may never prefer any thing before thee.  
7. Hail sweet jesus, praise. honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who in jerusalem according to the Law didst eat the Paschall Lamb which thy Disciples, and giving them an Example of Humility, and Holy Charity kneeling upon the ground didst wash their feet, and having washed them didst wipe them with a toll.  
8. Would to God this example might pierce my Hart, and utterly throw down in me all pride, and loftiness.  
9 Give me o Lord a most profound Humility by which I may without difficulty, cast myself at all men's feet.  
10. Hail sweet jesus, who with an unspeakable Charity hast instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist, And with a wonderful liberality hast in it, given thyself to us.  
11. Stir up in me a Desire, and enkindle in the intymme of my soul a most vehement hunger of this most Venerable Sacrament●  
12. Grant that when I come to that Table of life, I may with a chaste Affection, singular humility, and perfect purity of Hart receive thee.  
13. Hail sweet jesus, who being about to leave this world didst exhort, and comfort with words full of unspeakable sweetness thy elect Disciples, and with most ardent prayer didst recommend them to thy Father.  
14. Givinge testimony thereby how tenderly thou lovedst them, and us alsoe who were to receive thy faith by them.  
15. Grant that thy word may be truly pleasing to me, and sweeter than the Honey, and the Honey comb to my soul.  
16. O that the Spirit of that fiery Exhortation might enter into my Hart, whereby I might wholly be transformed into love! Amen.   

THE VI EXERCISE●  
1. Hail sweet jesus, praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ. Who going forth with thy Disciples beyond the river Cedron didst enter into a garden where thou forsawest thou shouldst be taken.  
2. O that I could utterly forsake my own will, and always love, and follow thine!  
3. O that (for thy Honour, and for the valuation of my Brothers) I could with an undaunted mind undergo any adversity whatsoever!  
4. Yea that I might not fear (if it pleased God) to expose my life for them.  
5. Hail sweet jesus, who immediately before thy Passion didst begin to fear, to grieve, and be sad; taking upon thyself our weakness.  
6. That by this thy infirmity thou might'st comfort, and strengthen those that tr●mble at the expectation of Death.  
7. Preserve me I beseech thee aswell from vicious sadness, as from foolish joy.  
8. Grant that all the grief I have hitherto sustained may redound to thy Glory, and the remission of my sins.  
9 Hail sweet jesus, who falling upon the ground prayedst unto thy Father, and humbly offeredst up thyself wholly unto Him saying Father thy will be done.  
10. Grant that in all necessities, and Tribulations I may have recourse unto thee by Prayer.  
11. And that I may give, and resign myself wholly to thy Will.  
12. That I may with a quiet mind receive all things as from thy hands.  
13. Hail sweet jesus, who being touched with a compassionate Affection towards thy beloved Disciples didst prefer their sorrow before thy Grief.  
14. And interruptinge thy Prayer (to which thou was most Attentive) coming the third time unto them didst raise up their dejected minds, and drowsy Spirits to the Exercise of Prayer.  
15. Grant that in all my Works, & Exercises I may fly all vicious sluggishness.  
15. Grant that with a vigilant mind, I may cheerfully serve thee.  
17. That I may ever for thy sake on all Occasions forsake myself, & prefer the good of my neighbour before my private devotions. Amen.   

THE VII. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ. Who being in an Agony didst pray very long.  
2. And being Creator of Heaven, and Earth; the King of Kings, and Lord of Angels didst not disdain to be comforted by an Angel.  
3. Grant in all adversity, & desolation; in all tribulation, and Affliction, that I may seek comfort from thee only.  
4. And that I may find help, and assistance at thy hands.  
5. O that I could in all Events wholly rely on thee!  
6. And leave myself wholly to thy fatherly care.  
7. Hail sweet jesus, who by reason of thy greatness, and vehemency of grief hadst thy Body moistened all over with a bloody sweat.  
8. O that all the parts of my interior Man would sweat out holy tears of Contrition!  
9 Hail sweet jesus, who of thy own accord offeredst thyself to be taken by judas the Traitor, & other thine enemies thirsting after thy Blood, and desiring thy death.  
10. Grant that for the honour of of thy name I may not fly adversities.  
11. But may cheerefullye go to meet them.  
1●. And joyfully receive them, as precious tokens sent from thee.  
13. And humbly, and constantly endure them, as long● as it shall please thee.  
14. Hail sweet jesus, who didst lovingly kiss the traitor judas coming deceitefullye to thee.  
15. Show by the calmness of thy countenance, and sweetness of thy words, that thou didst love him.  
16. Grant I may show myself lo●inge, and mild to All mine enemies.  
17. That I may pardon them from my hart, howsoever they shall offend me.  
18. And tolerate, and love them, as the Ministers of thy will, and promoters of my Salvation.  
19 Hail sweet jesus, who didst permit thine enemy's most furiously to lay th●ir Sacrilegous hands upon thee.  
20. And being cruelly bound by them, didst not revenge, but mildly endure the reproaches, Blasphemies, and injuries wherewith they did most wickedly affront thee.  
21. O that being freed from the bonds of vices I may be fast tied to thee, with she sweet chains of Love!  
22. O that thou wouldst bestow upon me the grace of true patience. Amen.   

THE VIII. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ. Who did restore, and heal the ear of Malchas one of thy furious Persecutors cut of by Peter thy chief Disciple.  
2. That rendringe good for evils, the riches of thy mercy, and mildness might shine forth to us.  
3. Grant I beseech thee that the desire of Revenge may never hau place in my hart.  
4. Grant that I may bear intimate compassion, and Affection towards all such as offend me.  
5. Hail sweet jesus, who like a Lamb amongst ravenous Wolves didst remain in the hand of reprobates.  
6. Thy Disciples, & all friends running away, and forsakeinge thee.  
7. Strengthen my too too great weakness, and make steadfast my too too great Inconstancy, with the most strong support of thy Grace.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, who suffered'st thyself to be led bound as a Malefactor, and thief by a troop of soldiers unto Annas, and to be presented before him.  
9 O unspeakable mildness of my Redeemer!  
10. Behold whilst thou art taken; whilst thou art drawn, whilst thou art haled: Thou dost not complain, Thou dost not murmur, thou makest no resistance.  
11. Grant o Lord that these examples of thy virtues may shine in me to my Good, and thy everlasting Glory.  
1●. Haeyle sweet jesus, King of heaven, and earth: who standing humbly like a base, and abject person before the proud Bishop didst with great modesty receive a cruel blow given thee upon the face by one of his servants.  
13. Suppress I beseech thee in me all Motions of Anger, and wrath; dull all the stings of Indignation, and extinguish all desire of revenge.  
14. That even provoked with injuries, I may not be troubled.  
15. I may not strive, or make any Tumult.  
16. But suffering all things with a meek, and patiented mind, I may render good for evil, and ever be ready to Favour those, who most Cross, and molest me. Amen.   

THE IX. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee ● Christ. Who didst suffer thyself to be shamefully led bound to Caïphas that thou might'st restore us to true Liberty, freeinge us from the bonds of everlasting Death.  
2. Grant that in the very midst of Derisions, and contumelies; I may give thee thanks with all my hart.  
3. And that by them I may be advanced, and increased in thy love.  
4. Hail sweet jesus, whom Peter the chief of thy Apostles thrice denied, and yet thou most mercifully lookedst upon him, and provokedst Him to repentance, and holy tears for his offence.  
5. O that it might please thee in like manner to look upon me with that lovely eye of thy Mercy.  
6. That with due tears of Repentance, I may bewail my sins past.  
7. And having bewailed them, may not hereafter any more return to them again.  
8. Hail sweet jefus, who with a pleasing countenance, and modest look standing before the Bishops, and the elders of the people of the jews didst not disdain to be falsely accused, and suffer many injuries.  
9 Grant that I may never utter any falsity, or calumniate any Man.  
10. But may suffer such calumnies as are laid against me, with great tranquillity of hart.  
11. And referring all difficulties to thee, with silence I may expect thy Grace, and comfort.  
12. Hail sweet jesus; who whilst thou mad'st profession of the Truth affirming thyself to be son of God, adjured by Caïphas in the name of God; yet didst thou not disdain to be esteemed a blasphemer by the said Caïphas, and his assistants.  
13. Grant in all places, and before all men I may stand to the Truth, and in awe of the presence of thy Divinity, and Majesty; not to fear the censures, and judgements of Men.  
14. Hail sweet jesus; who by the wicked jews wast proclaimed guilty of Death, and without cause condemned.  
15. That by thy unjust condemnation thou might'st deliver us form the guilt of our sins wherewith we were justly attainted.  
16. Grant that I may reject all sinister, and rash suspicions.  
17. That I may suffer without any bitterness of hart all such wrongful detractions, and wicked judgements as others shall device against me.  
18. And that on all occasions I may retain by the help of thy Grace a quiet, and untroubled mind.   

THE X. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ: Who for my sake waste made the disgrace, and scorn of men and the out cast of the people.  
2. And didst not turn away thy sacred face (which the Angels desire to behold) from the filthy spittle of thy Adversaries.  
3. Grant that I may imitate thy meekness, and patience.  
4. Hail sweet jesus, who didst vouchsafe to be most cruelly beaten, and buffeted, and most unworthily reproached, and reviled for my sake.  
5. Grant I beseech thee, that I may never refuse to be despised, and to be reputed base, and vile.  
6. And according to thy permission be contented to be exercised with all kind of injuries.  
7. That I may receive them not as from men; but from the hand of thy fatherly mercy.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, who didst permit thyself to be mocked, and scoffed; and thy lovely face (which to behold is the chiefest happiness) for thy greater derision to be blindfolded.  
9 Grant that the veil of ignorance being taken a way I may be endued with the knowledge of thy Will.  
10. Imprint in my hart a continual remembrance of thee.  
11. Hail sweet jesus, who for my sake wert diversely afflicted by the jews for a whole night together.  
12. Thou knowest o Lord how hard a thing it is for me to suffer though never so small a matter.  
13. Out of thy Mercy therefore assist my frailty, and grant that I may not cowardly fall, or faint at the coming of any adversity.  
14. Hail sweet jesus, who didst permit thyself (being mocked, & bound) to be led ●o the Profane Tribunal of Pilate the judge, and in a disdainful manner to be presented before him; thou thyself being the judge of the living, and the dead.  
15. Grant that I may be truly subject to my Superiors, and all Powers over me ordained by thee.  
16. That I may obey my Equals, and love, and honour all Men.  
17. Grant that I may not fear other men's judgements of me, but may receive them with a ready, and meek mind. Amen.   

THE XI. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ: King of heaven, and Earth: who didst affirm that thy Kingdom was not of this world; that by this thy profession thou might'st avert our hearts from the Love of this present life.  
2. Grant I beseech thee that in Affection I may renounce all worldly, and transitory things; let my hart desire nothing that is subject to corruption.  
3. But let it love thee only, the true, and everlasting good.  
4. Hail sweet jesus, who standing before Pilate didst humbly hold thy Peace, whilst the jews did wrongfully accuse, and calumniate thee.  
5. Grant o Lord that I may never be troubled at other men's slandering me.  
6. But that I may with silence overcome all injuries.  
7. Give me the perfect Grace of humility by which I may neither desire to be praised, or refuse to be contemned.  
8. Hail sweet Iesus● Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ. Lamb without spot against whom the wicked Scribes, and Pharisees did rage with a most obstinate hatred.  
9 For though Pilate gave Testimony that he found in thee no cause deserving Death, yet they would not be appeased from seeking after thy Death.  
10. Grant that I may imitate thy Innocence, and Patience.  
11. That I may both live well, and living well be contented to be evil spoken of, and mispired.  
11. Hail sweet jesus, who with great exclamations, and much noise of people like a most heinous malefactor wast drawn from Tribunal to Tribunal; from Pilate, to Herod: through the midst of the City.  
13. Grant that I be not dejected with any injuries of mine enemies.  
14. And that I be not much ashamed of Contempt.  
15. To the end that by thy gracious assistance I may possess my soul in Patience.  
16. Hail sweet jesus; who being asked Vain Questions by Herod, & in sundry things falsely accused by the high Priests, and Scribes, didst humbly, and prudently hold thy peace.  
17. Give me that restraint of tongue, which may be acceptable to thee.  
18. That I may love to speak well, and think rightly of all Men. Amen.   

THE XII. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory b●●o thee o Christ: Who by thy silence condemning Herod's vain desire wouldst not without good cause, and for a good end delight his curious eyes by working a Miracle. And didst thereby give us a lesson to avoid ostentation in the presence of great men.  
2. Pour into my soul thy Spirit of profound humility.  
3. Mortify, and extinguish in me all ticklinge of vain Glory.  
4. Grant that I may not seek to gain the praises of Men; but to do all purely for thine only Honour, & Glory.  
5. Hail sweet jesus, who didst not disdain to be scoffed at by Herode, and his whole Army, and to be clothed in a white Garment like a fool, or a mad man.  
6. Grant that I may rather choose to be reputed base, and abject with thee then Glorious with the world.  
7. That I may esteem it better, and more worthy to suffer disgrace for thy love; then to shine in the vain honour of the world.  
8. Grant that knowing throughly mine own iniquity, and mine own unworthiness; I may grow base in mine own conceit; and despise reprehend, and bewail myself.  
9 Hail sweet jesus, who being compared with the notorious thief barabas wast judged more wicked, and more worthy of Death than he.  
10. The Murderer is set at libertie● and the envious jews demand thy death, who art the Author of life.  
11. Thou art indeed that living stone, rejected by Man, but chosen by God.  
12. O that I may prefer nothing before thee, or change thee for any Thing!  
13. O that I could esteem all things as dung, and filth; to the end I may gain, and esteem thee!  
14. Grant o Lord that the blot of envy may never stain my soul.  
1●. Hail sweet jesus, who being stripped naked in the palace, and bound to a pillar didst suffer thy most naked, and immaculate flesh to be rend with most cruel scourges; that with thy sores thou might'st heal out wounds.  
16. O amiable jesus; I make choice ●f thee covered with stripes for the spouse of my soul!  
17. desiring to be inflamed, and burned with the Fire of thy most sweet loue●  
18. Strip my hart naked I beseech thee from all indecent cogitations.  
19 Grant that I may now patiently suffer the scourges of thy Fatherly correction. Amen.   

THE XIII. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee ● Christ: upon whom all discharged unspeakable injuries, and contumelies.  
2. For they clothed thee King of Glory with a purple garment for thy greater affront.  
3. They fastened upon thy divine head a crown of thorns.  
4. They put into thy hands a sceptre of reed, and kneeling down in a scornful manner saluted thee saying: Hail king of the jews.  
5. Plant I beseech thee in my hart the memory of thy Passion.  
6. Let scorns for thy sake, be my Glory, and injuries, and affronts my Crown.  
7. Hail sueete jesus, who didst not refuse for my sake to be beaten with a reed, to be buffeted, to be spit upon, and to be the object of all kind of derisions.  
8. I beseech thee by thy wounds, by thy Blood, by thy Disgraces, and by all the grief, and sorrow which thou suffered'st for me, to endue my soul with all thy patience, and those Graces.  
9 That thou wilt convert me, and all I have to thine everlasting praise, and Glory.  
10. Hail sueete jesus, Who being defiled with spittle, rent, and disfigured with stripes, bound, and wholly miserable, wast brought forth as a spectacle to the enraged people wearing a crown of Thorns, and a robe of purple.  
11. Grant that with my hart I may utterly tread under foot, spit upon, and have in detestation all ambition, ostentation, worldly pomp, and vanity, and all earthly dignity.  
12. That by profound humilit●e, and true contempt of myself, I may incessantly ●unne towards the Glory of thy heavenly felicity.  
13. Hail surete jesus, Who being declared Innocent by Pilate the judge, didst not refuse to hear the furious outcries of the jews, by which they demanded that thou shouldst be crucified.  
14. Grant that I may live innocently, and not be troubled by reason of Other men's evil will towards me.  
15. Give me this Grace that I may neither backbite other Men, or willingly give ●are to those that do it.  
16. But that still I may have a good opinion of others, and bear other men's imperfections with a true compassion.  
17. And love all men for God, and in God with a pure, sincere, and cordial affection. Amen.   

The XIV. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sueete jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ: Who didst permit thyself in the presence of thy people to be uniustly condemned to the most ignominious Death of the Crosse.  
2. That thou might'st free us from the sentence of eternal Death.  
3. Grant that I may seek thy honour, and rather choose to be exercised with thee in Adversity then by forsaking thee to enjoy the commodities of this life.  
4. Hail sueete jesus, who being delivered over to the pleasure of those who did persecute thee, didst suffer great pain by putting of the purple garment which did stick unto thy sores, and putting on thine own again.  
5. Grant that after I have put of the garment of my Body, and am vested with the robe of perfect brightness I may appear adorned with thy merits.  
6. Hail skeete jesus, Who with many disgraces, and injuries offered thee didst carry thy Cross on with great pain upon thy sacred, and torn sholdiers.  
7. And being weary, and breathless didst languish under the burden.  
8● Grant that with fervent Devotion I may embrace the Cross of mine own Abnegation.  
9 And with an ardent charity imitate the Examples of thy virtues.  
10. And may humbly follow thee unto Death.  
11. Hail sueete jesus, Who in that lamentable journey in which thou went to thy death, didst meekly admonish the Women that did bewail thee, to bewail themselves, and their childerens.  
12. Give me accegtable tears of Compunction with which I ma● truly bewail my sins, and mine own ingratitude.  
13. Give me Tears of devout compunction, and of holy love which may melt my hard hart, and make it grateful unto thee.  
14. That I may love thee alone, and rest in thee only.  
15. Hail sweet jesus, Who being led out with two thiefs, didst not refuse to be driven forward, to be urged, and hastened, and in many other sundry manners to be afflicted.  
16. Draw me after thee, and let me cheerefullye follow thee.  
17. Grant that I may rejoice in thee Alone.  
18. Give me grace to love thee, and render Love for Love..   

THE XV. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, Praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ: Who having thy shoulders bruised with the weight of the Cross, didst at length arrive weary at the place of execution.  
2. Where Wine mingled with Gall was offered thee to refresh thy languishing forces.  
3. O that thou wouldst extinguish in me the allurements of Gluttony, and the Concupiscences of that flesh!  
4. And cause in me an aversion, & horror from all impure, and unlawful delight.  
5. And that I may eat, and drink soberly to the glory of thy name.  
6. That I may hunger, and thirst after thee alone.  
7. And in thee place my delight, & joy.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, Who didst not disdain to be stripped naked upon Mount Caluarie in the sight of the people.  
9 And to suffer a most bitter pain by thy sores renewed with the pullinge of thy clothes.  
10. Grant that I may love poverty of Spirit, and never be troubled for any worldly want.  
11. Grant that by thy example I may endure, and suffer any corporal necessities, or calamities whatsoeuer●  
12. Hail sweet jesus, Who being naked didst not refuse to be rudely stretched out upon the Wood of the Cross, and cruelly fastened with nails unto the same.  
13. In this manner didst thou suffer thine innocent hands, and delicate feet to be most greivously wounded, and all thy sacred joints to crack, and be put out of joint.  
14. Grant me o Lord that with a faithful, and grateful mind I may consider this thy unspeakable Charity with which of thine own accord thou didst stretch forth thine arms, and willingly offered thy hands, and feet to be pierced.  
15. Vouchsafe o Lord to enlarge, and extend my hart with the perfect love of thee.  
16. Pierce it, and fasten itt unto thyself with the most sueete nail of Charity.  
17. And all my senses, cogitations, and affections enclose only in thee. Amen.   

THE XVI. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ: Who didst hang (thy hands, & feet being pierced) three hours upon the shameful wood of the Cross, and shedding in great abundance thy precious Blood didst of thine own accord endure unspeakable torments through out thy whole Body.  
2. Lift up I pray thee upon the wood of thy Cross my miserable soul groveling on the ground.  
3. O healthful Blood! o reviuinge Blood!  
4. O that thou wouldst purge, and througlie heal me being washed with this thy precious Blood!  
5. O that thou would offer this thy Blood to thy father for a perfect satisfaction of all mine iniquities!  
6. Grant I beseech thee that mine inward Man may with ardent Affection mentally receive, and lick the lively drops of thy precious Blood, and may truly taste how suerte thy Spirit is.  
7. Hail sweet jesus: Who hanging upon the Cross in the midst betwixt two notorious theives wast reputed with the wicked.  
8. That by thy incomprehensible humility, and Patience, thou mights amend, and withal satisfy for mine immense impatient Pride.  
9 Lift up I beseech thee my Spirit aloft that from above I may despise all things transitory.  
10. That I may only admire thee my God Crucified for me.  
1●. Let me think, speak, and dream of thee.  
12. Hail sweet jesus, Who wast so good, even to those that were so wicked; that for the very same parties who did crucify thee thou didst pray unto thy father, saying Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.  
13. Give me I beseech thee the grace of true meekness, and Patience, by which I may according to thy Commandment, and example love mine enemies.  
1●. And do good to those that hate me.  
15. I heartily pray unto thee, for those that hurt, and persecute me.  
16. Hail sweet jesus, who wouldst that the Title written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (as it were the Trophy of thy Victory) should be fastened to the Cross: that we beholding it, might courageously fight against our invisible enemies.  
17. Protect me under this Title against the wiles, and deceits of the Devil.  
18. Teach me under this Title to overcome all Temptations, and to subdue all vices.  
19 That having by Grace conquered them, I may freely praise, and Glorify thy holy name. Amen.   

THE XVII. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sueete jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory be to thee o Christ. Whose garments the soldiers having divided amongst themselves did leave thy coat which was without seam (and signifieth the unity of the Church) undivided.  
2. Pour down into my hart, I beseech thee the Spirit of Peace, and Union.  
3. That I may never through my fault, deride, or trouble the concord, and union of my Brothers.  
4. But that I may always endeavour to repair divisions, and pacify troubles.  
5. Hail sweet jesus, Who suffering upon the Altar of the Cross incomprehensible torments, and ineffable lanquishes; wast shamefully reproached, and scorned by the jews, who vomited out of their wicked Mouths sundry Blasphemies against thee.  
6. Grant o Lord that being mindful of thy humility, and Patience, & mildness, I may quietly, and cheerfully suffer, pains, disgraces, Persecutions, infamy, and contempt of myself.  
7. And may remain with thee nailed to the Cross even to the end.  
8. Let no violence of temptation, no storms of Adversities, no tempest of contumelies hinder me from effecting my good purposes.  
9 Let not Death, or life, or things present, nor to come, nor any creature separate me from thy love.  
10. Hail sweet jesus, who didst tolerate one of the Theives to upbraid thee: and didst most mercifully, and bountifully promise the Glory of Paradise to the other who did humbly acknowledge his own injustice, and with a devout faith did confess thee to be his king, and God.  
11. Behold me I beseech thee with those eyes of mercy which thou didst cast upon the Thief repentant for his sins.  
12. O that by thy Holy Help, and Grace I may lead a life so innocent that I may so faithfully serve thee, and purely love thee!  
13. That at the end of my life I may deserve to hear from thee (most merciful Redeemer) that most desisired voice. This Day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.  
14. Hail sweet jesus: Who from the Cross beholding thy most sweet Mother full of grief, and tears with inward compassion didst commend Her to Thy Disciple john, and again john to Her, and us all in john unto thy said Mother.  
15. Grant that I may Love, and Honour Her with a most chaste, and ardent affection.  
1●. That having Her for my Mother I may deserve alsoe to be acknowledged by Her for her son.  
17. Grant that in all necessities, and especially at the hour of my death I may find Her present assistance. Amen.   

THE XVIII. EXERCISE.  
1. Hail sweet jesus, Praise, Honour, and Glory he to thee o Christ: Who in a most pitiful manner hanging upon the Cross with wide gaping wounds, didst profess thyself to be destitute of all all comfort.  
2. Grant that with a firm confidence I may always have recourse to thee my most merciful Father in all adversities, Temptations, and Desolations.  
3. And wholly distrustinge myself, I may trust in thee alone.  
4. And commit, and resign myself entirely to thee.  
5. Wound the intymme of my soul with the remembrance of thy wounds.  
6. Imprint, and character them in my Hart, and make my mind even drunk with thy sacred Blood.  
7. That I may attend to thee; and thee only seek, find, hold, and possess.  
8. Hail sweet jesus: Who pantinge upon the Cros●e thy Body being drawn dry for want of Blood becamst very thirsty, and didst burn with an unspeakable desire of our Salvation.  
9 Grant that I may most ardently thirst after thine Honour, and the Salvation of our souls.  
10. And may with courage employ myself in this affair.  
11. Grant that I may not be hindered, or entangled by any transitory thing.  
12. Hail sweet Ies●s, who wouldst that a sponge dipped in vinegar, and gall should be offered thee to drink thirsty even to death: that by tasting thereof thou might'st satisfy for our gluttony, and leave us an example of poverty.  
13. Give me grace to despise unlawful pleasures, and delights; and to avoid all excess in meat, and drink.  
14. Alsoe to use those things moderately which thou givest for the sustentation of the Body.  
15. Pacify the inordinateness of my desires that whatsoever doth please thee, may please me: and whatsoever displeaseth thee, may be displeasing alsoe to me.  
16. Hail sweet jesus: most enamoured of Mankind who duly performing the Work of our Redemption didst offer up thyself upon the Altar of the Cross: an Holy Sacrifice for the expiation of the sins of all Men.  
17. Be thou I beseech thee, the scope of all my thoughts, Words, and Works.  
18. That in all things I may With a right, and simple intention seek thy honour.  
19 Grant I may never grow cold, or Faint in thy service.  
20. But that the fervour of Spirit may be renewed in me, and that I may be daily more, and more inflamed to praise, and love th●●. Amen.   

THE XIX. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory ●e to o Christ. Who of thine own accord didst embrace Death; and recom●endinge thyself to thy Heavenly Father bowing down thy venerable Head yeildest up thy Spirit.  
2. Truly thus giving thy life up for thy sheep, thou hast showed thyself to be a good shepherd.  
3. Thou didst die, o the only begotten son of God Thou died'st o my beloved Sawiour, that I might live for ever!  
4. O How great Hope, How great confidence have I reposed in thy Death, and in thy Blood!  
5. I Glorify, and praise thy Holy name acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee.  
6. O good jesus for thy bitter death, and Passion: give me Grace, and Pardon!  
7. Give unto the faithful departed Rest, and life everlasting.  
8. Hail sweet jesus, at whose death the ●unne withdrew his light, the veil of the Temple rend in sunder, and the Monuments opened.  
9 O Sun of justice permit not I beseech thee, that the beams of thy grace at any time forsake me.  
10. But let them continually enlighten the inner parts of my soul.  
11. Withdraw wholly from me the veil of Hypocrisy.  
12. Shake the earth of my soul with wholesome repentance.  
13. Rend my stony hart.  
14. That being wholly renewed, I may contemn all things transitory, and love only that which is eternal.  
15. Hail sweet jesus; Who wouldst that thy side should be opened with a soldiers lance.  
16. And out of itt pour out blood, and water to revive, and wash our souls.  
17. Thou wouldst o my best beloved, that thy mellifluous Hart should be wounded for me.  
18. O that it might please thee to make a most deep wound in my Hart with the lance of thy Love!  
19 And unite itt to thy most sacred Hart.  
20. In such manner that I may have ●oe pour to will any thing bu● that which thou wilt.  
21. Bring in o my Lord, bring in my soul through the wound of thy side into the Bosom of thy Charity, and the treasure-howse of thy Divinity.  
22. That I may joyfully glorify thee my God Crucified, and dead for me. Amen.   

THE XX. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ: Grant that all other visible things may be blotted out of my memory, and that I may freely apply myself to thee Alone.  
2. Behold with as much Devotion as possibly I can, I salute the five principal wounds of thy most blissed body.  
3. Hail ruddy, glorious, and mellifluous Wounds of my Redeemer, of my King.  
4. Hail glorious seals of my Reconciliation, and Salvation.  
5. I humbly desire to abide, and be hid in you, and so by that means be secure from all evil.  
6. Hail sweet jesus, who being's with great lamentation of thy friēd● taken down from the Cross wouldst be anointed with precious ointments, wrapped in a winding sheet, and buried where no man was buried before.  
7. ●urie I beseech thee all my senses, all my forces, and all mine affections in thee.  
8. That being joined to thee through efficatious love, I may become as it were stupid, and unsensible in respect of all other things.  
9 Hail sweet jesus. Who hast vanguished the power of the Devil, & powrefullie, and lovingly in soul descending into Hell didst make joyful with thy presence the fathers there detained.  
10. And didst translate them thence ● thy Glorious Ascension to the delightful Guarden of the Celestial Paradise, and to the clear Vision of God.  
11. Let the virtue of thy Passion, & of thy Blood descend now I beseech thee into Purgatory upon the souls of my parents, knisfolkes, friends, benefactors, and all the faithful departed.  
12. That being delivered from pains they may be received into the Bosom of Eternal Rest.  
13. Hail sweet jesus: Who like a conqueror with glorious Triumph didst arise out of thy closed sepulchre  
14. And revested with thy lovely countenance didst replenish thy friends with new joy, and gladness.  
15. Grant o Lord that leaving the olds paths of my vicious conversation, I may walk in the newness of life.  
16. And seek, and Savour those things which are above in Heaven, & not those things which are here upon earth.  
17. To the end that when thou my life shall appear at the last Day, ● may appear with thee in Glory. Amen.   

THE XXI. EXERCISE.  
1. HAIL sweet Ie●us, praise, honour, and glory be to thee o Christ. Who forty days after thy Resurrection being expired didst gloriously Ascend into Heaven in the sight of thy Disciples, where thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father, blissed for ever.  
2. O that my soul might always languish on earth, and ascend, and aspire towards Heaven!  
3. Mai● hunger, and thirst always after thee.  
4. Hail sweet jesus: Who didst give thy Holy Ghost to thy elect Disciples persevering together with one mind in Prayer.  
5. And didst send them to teach all Nations through out the whole world.  
6. Cleanse I beseech thee the interior of my Hart.  
7. Give me true purity, and constancy of mind that the Holy Ghost may find a grateful Habitation in my soul.  
8. And may replenish me with● the special gifts of His Grace.  
9 May comfort, strengthen, fill, govern, and possess me.  
10. Hail sweet jesus; Who coming as a judge at the last Day wilt render unto every one according to his Works: either punishment, or Reward.  
11. O my most merciful Lord God grant that according to thy Will I may so innocently pass the course of this miserable life.  
12. That my soul departing, out of the Prison of my body, I may be vested with thy merits, and virtues.  
13. And be received into thy everlasting joy;  
14. And With all the Saints, I may bliss and praise thee for ever.  
15. Hail sweet jesus, Whom I have most grievously offended all the days of my life.  
16. Ala●! I have never ceased to be ungrateful to thee, resisting thy Grace in divers manners, and always adding new faults unto my ●ormer.  
17. Behold o my sweet Refuge, behold me the outcast of all Creatures, bringing with me nothing but bundles of sins.  
18. I prostrate myself at the feet of thy mercy, and humbly implore pardon, and remission.  
19 Pardon I beseech thee, and save me for thy names sa●e.  
20. For I believe, and am assured that no sins are so grievous, and heinous, but by the meri●s of thy most sacred Passion may be forgiven, and washed a way. Amen.  
These Exercises, and All Others may, and aught to be enlarged, and dilated according to everse one's Gr●ce. and Gift: which is the only infallible Guide, and rule of our Prayer, and no set, written, or printed form whatsoever; as the directions particularly, and pertinently teach us.  

A Ditty to the same subject.  
IN sorrow deep, I wa●e, I sleep● with grief my Hart oppressed;  
My Watery eyes like winter skies bedew my mournful breast.  
For when I see my love for me, in flames of love to burn.  
My Lord, my Love, my God above, and why should I not mourn?  
With feet, and hands transfixed he stands upon a fatal beam;  
And from his side a wound most wide powers out a bloody stream.  
A peircinge Crown his head pulls down, his face quite won doth turn.  
He for my sake these pains did take, and why should I not mourn?  
While i● this pain, he● did remain, his drink was mixed with Gall.  
His Corpse lay bare, his clothes they share, each as by lot did fall.  
His Foes about, did laugh, and flout, and at his virtues spurn.  
Thus was his breath shut up by death, and why should I not Mourn?  
The Earth did quake, the rocks did shake, and rent all in sunder.  
The Corpse from Graves, and hollow Caves, Arose to see this Wonder.  
The sun so bright forsook his light, and all most won did turn.  
Thus heaven, and earth laments his death, and why should I not mourn?  
Lo when I see upon a Tree his breathless Body lie.  
I grieve, I groan, I sigh, I moan, I pain, I Faint; I die.  
For thee Alone: my life being gone, until thou ba●ke return.  
In endless grief without relief, I'll never cease to mourn.    
FINIS.   

THE TOP OF THE HEAVENLY LADDER OR THE HIGHEST STEP of Prayer, and Perfection. And the progress, and compliment of the fore●aid Practices, and Devotions.  
My Throne in a Pillar of Cloud.  
Eccl. 24. 7.  
A life hidden with Christ in God.  
Coloss. 3. 3.  

TRUE HAPPINESS IN A Monastical life.  
Thy forces strained, 'boue ela raise,  
Yet ne'er condignly canst thou praise  
A State Monastical.  
Which if it be with learning stated,  
And to studies dedicated,  
Lord! how beneficial?  
But if it want this ornament  
And eke the Grace from Heaven sent,  
Sad! O sad imprisonment!  
Let fiery Mars blow up the scot,  
Or let the Britan's go to th'pot;  
The Col mean time regards it not.  
Or let some fierce, & foreign Host,  
The Spaniard, sweed, or Dane accost,  
Or, on the French men rush.  
Let Heaven, and Earth together fall;  
And crush the world's inconstant Ball.  
Yet Monks are out o th'Brush.  
He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace, because he hath lifted himself above himself. Lam. 3. 28.  
arrogatinge humane precepts, and inventions of mere Men. This Man of God I say having written such a Discreet Rule concludes it in this manner. Whosoever therefore thou art, who hastens to the heavenly Country observe this least Rule of Beginning: And then at length by the helpe● of God thou shalt come to those high perfections of doctrine, and virtues of which we have before spoken. To such as fulfil these things the kingdom of God shall lie open. Amen.  
According to the conclusion of this Holy Man I must truly declare these Exercises not to be perfect Prayer, but only the means thereunto; or the least Rule of beginning; if rightly exercised, and practised according to the Directions, and will bring us to that ineffable, and all sanctifying Prayer of which the Apostle speaketh in the 8. to the Romans, and 26. in these words. The Spirit asketh for us with unspeakable groan. This Prayer is the Hight of Perfection, and virtue, and the very quintessence of all. Not to be expressed, not to be understood, which none can know, but he that hath itt, 
A●oc. 2. 17.  a mere gracious gift of God, none can exercise this Prayer, none can have any glimpse of it, but those to whom God freely gives it. In vain therefore do they labour, who labour for it through their own industry; & high arrogancy it is for any to presume that they can conceive how it is done, or offer to teach Others how to do it. All that can be said of itt, is as the Divine Cloud of unknowinge expresses in these few words saying. It is a tendance to God in the dark cloud of unknowinge (that is Divine Faith) & blind feelings of Love. (That is divine Charity.) If you ask me what this is? I know not, and they shall know, and only they to whom God gives itt. Howsoever for those that hasten to this Heavenly Country, to this jerusalem, and sight of God in this pure Prayer. I shall set them in the way the best I can by the Example of a pilgrim going to jerusalem in the 21. 22. & 23. Chapters of that excellent Book called the Scale of perfection. To which in a distinct Character I shall add that which may perchance facilitate the finding out of the Way, and the true meaning of itt.  
The Spiritual Pilgrim going to  
jerusalem, or the sight of God.  
There is no Other way for our souls to tend to God, but by the Spiritual ●aces, or ascents, or ●spirings of the Mind; or to see Him in this life but in the dark Cloud of faith: no other sight can we have of him: and it is all delightful, and all sufficient for this life, if truly enjoyed.   

THE XXI. CHAPTER. An entry, and good beginning of a Spiritual journey, show how the soul is to be have herself interiorlye, and exteriorlye according to the Example of a pilgrim going to jerusalem.  
THough this, and the ensuing Chapters seem to have, and so indeed have dependence of the precedent, and subsequent Chapters: yet notwithstanding they are clear, full, and independent, as to the clear, and plain showing the way to the pilgrim, how to go to jerusalem. Which is all I aim att: and therefore very sufficient for my Turn, and purpose, and more I would not desire: Thus therefore it gins.  
Nevertheless because thou covetest to know some manner of working, and proceeding: By the which thou mayst the sooner and more securely attain to the said reforming I shall for thy satisfaction, and souls Good in that point by the Grace of God, and our Lord jesus set forth, and show unto thee the shorteft, and readiest help that I know for the said end.  
Me thinks this Author aims just at the same thing I do by the Exercises; to wit, perfect Prayer which he calls reforming. And therefore comes now in this, & the ensuing Chapters, the next way to it, or rather indeed to the practice of itt. If God heeruppon give itt.  
And that I shall do by an example of a good pilgrim after this manner. There was a man that would go on pilgrimage to jerusalem: and because he knew not the way; he went to another Man whom He had understood to be well acquainted with the way, and asked Him whither he might have any hope of being able to reach to that City that was so fare off; and was so perilous a journey, as he had heard it to be.  
The common, and most ordinary way that God taketh to put us in this course of ineffable. Prayer is by the means of an experienced instructor● who brings us to it, but God enables, and instructs us how to walk, and work, and persever in itt, yea sometimes immediately leads us himself to itt, and makes us walk in itt.  
That other man answered Him that He could not reach thither without much labour, and many sufferings. For the way (said he) is long, and perilous; and full of Villainous theives, and many other great let, & hindrances there be that fall out to a man in his going thitherwards, as alsoe the ways in many place are very craggy, and painful, and some times hard to find. And many men travailing thitherward are oftentimes killed, or rob of all they have, and in conclusion are hindered, and disabled to reach to the place whither they so desired to reach. Nevertheless there is one way, the which who so taketh it; I will undertake that he shall come to that city of jerusalem; and shall never be s●aine, or die for want, or otherwise lose his life. He shall indeed be rob, and well beaten, and shall suffer much scarcity, and many difficulties in the journey, but for all that his life shall be safe.  
The tediousness of the way, beatings, robbings, and the like are bu● necessary Mortifications which must be suffered, and born● with all.  
Then said the pilgrim so that I may have my life safe, and at length arrive to the place that I desire to arrive unto, I care not what pain, trouble, or mischief I suffer in going. And therefore tell me and advice me what you think necessary for me to do, or suffer in the journey, and I promise you for certain that I will follow your Counsel. That other man answered, and said. Lo; I will set thee in the right way, and see that thou well bear in mind, and fulfil in deed what I shall now tell thee. Whatsoever ●hou seest, hearest, or feelest that would stay thee, let thee, or hinder thee in thy way; do not willingly consent unto it, abide not willingly with itt, tarry not with itt, behold it not, or willingly gaze at it; or love, or like it: fear it, or be affrighted by it, but still go forward holding on thy way. And ever think, and say to thyself that thou wouldst feign be at jerusalem. For that thou covetest that thou desirest, and nought else, but that. And if men rob thee, scorn thee, and laugh at thee, neglect, and despise thee; do not thou strive against such their doing, if thou mean to have thy life safe, but content thee with the harm thou hast had, and hold on thy way, as if all were nothing, lest thou receive more harm. Alsoe if men would seek to tarry, or stay thee by telling thee tales, and feeding thee with lies, inventions, or conceits to draw thee to merriment, and to forsake, or prolong thy pilgrimage, give th● but a deaf ear, and answer not again, and say nothing else but thou wouldst fain be at jerusalem. Add● if men proffer thee gifts, and would make thee rich with worldly substance, do not regard or listen to their proffers, or persuasions, but ever think on jerusalem. And if thou wilt hold this course, and this way, and do as I have said: I undertake for thy life that thou shalt not be slain, but shalt at length come to the place, which thou so much covetest. And now to apply the said similitude of the pilgrim spiritually and to our purpose. I say that jerusalem, is as much as to say, a sight of Peace, and betokeneth Contemplation with perfect love. For Contemplation is nothing else but a sight of God which is true peace.  
This jerusalem, this Contemplation, this sight of God, this sight of Peace. Is the same thing which is termed by others a feeling of God in the dark Cloud of faith, 

Rom. 8. 2.  
Apoc. 2. 17.   and pure charity or perfect Prayer when the Spirit asketh for us. Or the hiddenmanna, or the white counter in which a new name is written that no Man knoweth, but he that receiveth it. It is an Holy Idleness so called because one seems to do nothing; yet in very deed a most secret inperceptible, efficatious activity. This is that which we know not whence it comes, or whither it goeth. In a word. It is the Good, and perfect gift of God descending from the father of lights. 

Io. 3. 8●  
jam. 1. 17.   A gracious gift by which we sweetly, and intimmelie aspire to God. A pure clean thought by which God seems to be All, and all things else Nothing. This is virtually all virtues; moral, and Theological; induinge the soul with infinitt blessings exteriorlie, and interiorlie. This is that which the simplest soul living may exercise, and become happy, and wise by it. And the learnedst clerk, and sublimest wit can do no more if assisted by God, and endued with the Spirit; and otherwise his learning, or wit availeth nothing. 
Wisd. 10.21.  This is that which makes the tongues of infants eloquent. This teacheth more in the twinklinge of an eye, than the schools can teach in a thousand years.  
If therefore thou covet for to come to this blissed sight of true Peace, and to be a true pilgrim to jerusalem, albeit, it be so, that I was never there, yet shall I so fare forth as I can set thee in the high way thitherward. Now than if thou desire to make good journeys, & to hold a secure way, it behooneth thee to hold these two virtues in thy soul, or in thy desires, and these two virtues are Humility, and love.  
By Humility is understood the ground wor●e, and foundation of all, with the real practice of all necessary mortification, by which we come to be truly dead to ourselves, and all things whatsoever. So that we may truly say, we are nothing, ●ee have nothing, & covet nothing. Love is all Kind of Prayer by which our soul tends towards God as her only All, and sa●iatinge end. Be it vocal, mental, or ●hat Kind soever by which this fire of Love is nouri●hed● and enkindled.  
And thereupon thou shalt often say to thyself in thy mind. I am nothing, I have nothing, I Covet nothing, but one. Thou shalt have the meaning, or effect of these words in thine intent, & in habit in thy soul perpetually though thou have them not always expressly in thy soul, or mind. For it is impossible thou shouldst have them actually: for sometimes thou must sleep, and be distracted about other necessary affairs, & canst not actually have the said good desires in thee, but yet hast thou them virtually, and habitually, nor is it necessary that thou always have actually in thy mind, and thoughts the said desires, but it is necessary thou ever have them virtually, or habitually in thee, and in thine intent be thou sleeping, or waking etc. Humility saith in thee. I am nothiuge, I have nothing. Love, saith, I covet but one, and that is jesus. For as in respect of jesus (that is God, and indeed All) certainly thou art nothing, but art as a vessel that standeth ever empty, and as if nought were therein. For do thou never so many good deeds external, or internal; yet till thou have, & feel that thou have the Love of jesus, thou hast right nothing. For with that precious liquor only (I mean the love of God) may thy soul be filled, and satisfied, and with none other.  

Luk. 15.  This is the thing only necessary, & the best part: that is as in the other page I described, a clean thought of God as He is to be known in this world in t●e dark cloud of faith, and blind feelings of Love.. Wither it be done by an act of the understanding, or Will, or both; it matters not, for it is imperceptible to us, and so not to be examined.  
And for as much as that thing alone is so pretions, and noble: What therefore thou hast, or what thou dost hold, esteem it as nothing as to rest in it, without the sight and love of jesus. Even as a wise pilgrim going to jerusalem leaveth behind Him house, and land, wife and childerens, and makes Himself poor, and bare from all things that so he may go light, and without encumbrance. Even so if thou wilt be a Spiritual pilgrim thou must make thyself naked from all that thou hast that are either good deeds, or bad, and cast them all behind thee; so that thou become so poor in thy feeling; that there is nothing of thine own working that thou wilt restinglye lean on, or wherein thou wilt abide: but ever desiring more grace, & love, & ever seeking the Spiritual Presence of jesus.  
And if thou do thus then shal● thou resolve in thy hart fullye, and resolutelye that thou wouldst be at jerusalem, and at no other place but there. And that is; that thou shalt certainly determine in thy hart fully, & wholly that thou wouldst nothing have but the love of jesus, and the Spiritual sight of Him in such manner as he shall please to show Himself.  
This sight of jesus, This sighed of God we may dispose ourselves to, but have it we cannot, but how, and when He pleaseth, and if we think to do it by our own force of wit, learning, and understanding we delude ourselves by a vain Fancy, and Foolish species, and take the shadow for the substance, this is God's Wor●e, not ours.  
For to that end only art thou made, & redeemed, & He it is that is thy beginning, and thy end. Thy joy, and thy happiness, and who only can satisfy thy hungry soul. And therefore whatsoever thou have, and be thou never so rich in other deeds corporal, or spiritual unless thou have this Love that I speak of, and know, and feel that thou hast it, hold and esteem that thou hast right nothing. Imprint well in thy soul this desire of the love of jesus, & cleave fast thereunto, and itt shall save thee from all perils in thy journey, so that thou shalt never perish; and it shall save thee from theives, and robbers: which are the wicked Spirits so that though they bear, or torment, or vex thee by divers temptations yet shall the life of the soul ever be safe. And if thou thus hold on thy way, as I advice, thou shalt escape all perils, and mischiefs, and shalt in a short time come to the City of jerusalem.  
Passing, and transcendinge brings us to a good ending. That is, thus tending still to God, by slightinge all Creatures we shall attain to Him in this life by faith, in the next by Glory.  
Now thou art in the way, and know'st the place whither thou art to draw, and tend; begin then in the name of God to proceed, and go on in thy journey. Thy going forth, and thy proceeding in thy journey is nothing else; but a spiritual working, and a bodily alsoe when it shall be expedient; which thou shalt use with the Discretion following. That is to say. Look what work it be which thou dost according to the state of thy life thou art in, be the work spiritual, or corporal, if it help, increase, and cherish within thee this gracious desire thou hast to love jesus: or do make thy soul more strong, more ready, and more able for the practice of all virtues, & goodness: That work hold I best for thee, be it praying, be it reading, or be it corporal working. And as long as the said work, or exercise strenthneth most thy hart, and thy will to the love of jesus, and furthest draweth thine affection, and thoughts from worldly vanity; for so long hold thee still in that work. But if it prove so that through use of that same work, or Exercise; the savour, or good taste of it do grow less, and that it seemeth to thee that some other work, or Exercise, is, or would be more savourous, or rellishinge to thy Spirit, or that thou feelest more grace in another work, or Exercise, do thou take that other work, and leave that former, For though thy desire, or longing of thy hart to jesus, and to his love should be ever unchangeable, yet nevertheless thy Spiritual works which thou shalt use in praying, or considering; for to feed, and nourish thy said desire may be divers, and may well be changed according to that thou feelest thee disposed through Grace, and according to that thou feelest thy Spirit more to require, or relish. I mean what thou findest to be most comfortable, agreeable, and profitable to thy Spirit. For it fareth by works, and by desire of the love of God, as it doth by sticks, and by a fire. For the more sticks are laid to the f●e, the greater is the fire. Even so the more divers spiritual workings at divers times that a Man hath in his thoughts, for to keep whole, and sound his desire towards God the mightier, and more burning shall his desire be to God. Look therefore well what work thou canst best do, and that most helpeth to make well, & sound this Desire of jesus (in matters wherein thou art free, and not bound) that do thou. Bind not thyself to voluntary customs unchangeable, that would, hinder the liberty of thine hart for to correspond, or answer the motion, or invitation of jesus: if that his Grace should specially visit thee, by which thy love towards Him would be increased. For I will tell thee what customs are ever good, and needful to be kept. Lo such customs are good always to hold which consists in getting virtues, and in hindering, and resistinge sin. Such a custom thou must never leave. For thou shalt be ever humble, patiented, sober, and chaste etc. if thou do well; and so of other virtues. But the custom of another thing that hindereth a better is good to be laid aside giving place to that which would be better for us when that the time is for such laieinge aside, and that we may do it, without breach of our obligation otherways. As for example if a man have a custom to say so many beads, or to meditate of such, or such a matter, or for so long a time, or to watch, or kneel thus, or thus long, or to do any such bodily deed, this custom is sometimes to be let alone when reasonable cause requireth that we should leave it, or else that we find more Grace, or devotion some other way, or in some other exercise.  
This/ Holy writer delivereth the Truth so fullye, and clearly how we should walk, that a fool cannot err therein; leaving all to the queen of virtue's discretion by which we may so prudently order all our Works, & Actions; that we may still increase in us the divine Charity, and desire of God. So that every one according to his Vocation in which he is called: secular, or Religious, married or single, poor or rich, noble or ignoble, is made decible of God, lead by his Holy Inspiration, and brought into the true liberty of the Childerens of God, 
Gal. 5. 13.  not giving way to the liberty of the flesh.   

THE XXII. CHAPTER. Of certain temptations, and let, which souls have from their spiritual enemies in their journey to Spiritual jerusalem, and of the remedy against the same.  
NOW art thou in the way, and know'st how thou ought to travel, and go. Now beware of enemies that will be diligent, & busy to let thee if they can. For their intent is to put out of thy hart, the desire, and longing that thou hast to the love of jesus, and to draw thee home again to the love of worldly vanity. There is nothing that greiveth them so much as to see thee seek after, and labour for the love of jesus. Those enemies are principally fleshly desires, and vain fears that arise out of thine Hart through the corruption of thy corporal nature, and would let, and hinder thy desire of the love of God, that so they might fully, and restingly possess thy Hart; These are thy nearest enemies. Other enemies alsoe there are, and namely the wicked Spirits who are diligent, and busy with sleights, inventions, and deceits to deceive thee. But one remedy thou hast against them all, as before I have told thee, and that is, that whatsoever they say unto thee believe them not, but hold forth on thy way, and only desire the love of jesus. Ever answer thus; I am nothing, I covet nothing, but only the love of our Lord jesus.  
This is the best, securest, and easiest way of overcominge all temptations● and scruples whatsoever answer nothing to them, be not troubled with them; but still go on thy way, & tend to the love of thy God, which will overcome all, and make all right wit● thee.  
If thine enemies by suggestions to thy soul, say unto thee that thou hast not made thy Confession a right, or that there is some old sin or sins hid in thy hart that thou before knewst not; or that thou hast not as yet ever made thy Confessions a right, or as thou shouldst have made them, and therefore would have thee turn home again, and to give over thine earnest desire of the Love of God; and to go, and make a better confession. Believe not this their saying. For it is folly. For thou art rightly confessed, and so do thou surely hope, and trust thyself to be; and that thou art in the way, and that thou needest no further to look into thy conscience for confession of what is past. Hold on thy way, & ever think on jerusalem. If they say alsoe unto thee that thou art not worthy to have the Love of God; and therefore why shouldst thou covet that which thou wilt not be able to come by, or art worthy to have. Believe them not: but hold on thy way, and say thus. Not because I am worthy, but because I am unworthy, therefore would I love God. For if that I had His love, it would make me worthy. And since that I was created for that end (which is for the loving of God) though I should never come by it, yet will I covet it, and therefore will I pray, and think how I ma●e get itt, and will labour for itt. And then if thine enemies see that thou beginst to grow bold, courageous, and resolute in thy said purpose, they begin to grow afraid of thee. Nevertheless they will not cease, or giu● over to seek to stay, and hinder thee as much as they can: so long as thou art holding on thy way; what on the one side with fears, and threaten; and what on the otherside with false flattery, & vain pleasings for to make thee give over thy good purposes, and to turn thee home again. And for that end they will say thus unto thee. If thou thus hold on thy desire to jesus travellinge so fervently as thou now beginst; thou wilt fall into fancies, or into frenzy, or craze thy head, or fall into bodily sickness, as thou seest some do by going about that which thou now dost: or thou wilt fall into poverty, or some bodily harm, or mischief, and no man able to help thee; or thou mayst fall into secret, and inward temptations, or illusions of the enemy so ●hat thou wilt not be able to help thyself about them. For it is wondrous perilous for any man, or weoman to give him, or herself wholly, to the love of God, and to leave, and forsake all the world, and to covet nothing, but only the love of Him. For so many perill● may fall to a Man in such course of his, as he cannot so much as imagine them before hand. And therefore turn thee home again, and leave of this desire, for thou shalt never bring it to an end; and do thou as other worldly men, or the common sort of good Christians, or even of Religious do. Thus say thine enemies; but believe them not, but hold on in thy desire, & say, or answer nothing else, but that thou wouldst have jesus and be at jerusalem. And if they perceive that thou wilt not give over: neither for sickness, for fantasies, nor for frenzies, for doubts, nor for fears of any temptations corporal, or spiritual for poverty, nor for any mischief, or harm. For life, nor for death, but ever seekest, & longest after the said one thing, and nothing else but that one thing, and yeildst to them a deaf ear as if thou heardst them not, and hold'st on stiffly, & constantly, and perseverantly in Prayer, and in other thy spiritual works with discretion according to the counsel of thy superior; or the advice, or direction given thee by thy Spiritual Father, or director, then begin they to be very angry and to go a little more near thee. Then they begin to rob thee, and beat thee, and do thee all the shame, and mischief they can. And that they do when they cause all the deeds thou dost, be they never so well done, to be deemed, & judged by others to be evil, and turned, and taken in the worse sense, and meaning. And whatsoever it be thou wouldst do, or have done in help, relief or comfort of thy body, or of thy soul: it shall be let, or hindered by those other men, so that thou shalt be put from thy will, and contradicted in it, in all or most of those things which thou with reason desirest to have. And this thy said enemies do, to the end thou shouldst be stirred, and provoked to anger, impatience, or evil will towards thy Christian Brother, or sister, but against all these temptations, and vexations, and difficulties, and all other that may come upon thee or which thou mayst feel: use this remedy that I shall now again tell thee, as before I have told thee. Take jesus, or his love in thy mind, and trouble thyself no further with them but think on thy lesson. That thou art nothing, that thou hast nothing, that thou covetest nothing of earthly, or transitory things, that thou desirest nothing but the love of jesus. And in and with these exercises hold on thy way to jerusalem. And if thou happen sometimes through thy frailty or by the evil will of some other man, or through the malice of thine enemy to be tarried, or let in thy way. Yet assoon as thou canst come again to thyself, leave of thinking of what hath past, and proceed in thy good exercises, and hold on thy way, abide not long with those thy former defects, or difficulties, for fear of thine enemies who would still hold thee in them, and in discussing of them, thereby to hinder thee from going forwards in thy way.  
If in this our way to jerusalem, and Spiritual tendance towards God we chance to stray, and deviate, or stoppet rough any sin, or defect, we must presently get into the way against, and go on, as if we had never strayed, or stopped at all, & this is the only way to expiate the sins, or defects themselves, and to rid us of all scruples. For their is no such Contrition as this aspiring to God in the Clo●d of faith, and feelings of Love.. Yea if we fall into certain evident great sins let us meekly, and penitently confess them, and trouble ourselves no further: but walk on again, as if no such thing had happened, or been done.   

THE XXIII. CHAPTER. Of a general remedy against the temptation's, and troubles, proceeding from the flesh, the world, or the enemy.  
AND after this: when that thine enemies see that thou art so well willed that thou art not angry, nor much troubled; nor incensed against any creatures for any thing they can do, or speak against thee, but art fully resolved in thy hart for to suffer and undergo all that may happen to fall, be it easy, or uneasy; sour, or sweet; praise, or dispraise: scarcity, or plenty. And that thou dost esteem, or regard nothing so thou may keep whole and entire the desire that thou hast of the Love of jesus. Then are they much abashed, and daunted. But then they will try, and essay thee with flattery vain pleasing, and complacence. As when they do bring to the sight of thy soul all thy good deeds, and virtues, and would persuade thee that all men praise, and speak much of thy holiness, and virtues. And how that all men love thee, and reverence thee for thy virtuous, and holy living, and would therefore persuade thee to be solicitous of thy good name, and estimation with others. Thus do thine enemies that thou shouldst think their say to be true, and take willing delight, and pleasure in such vain joy, and complacence, and shouldst willingly rest thee therein. But if thou wilt do well, thou shalt hold, and esteem all such thoughts, and suggestions to be falsehood, and flattery of thine enemy that proffers thee to drink venom tempered with honey. And therefore refuse it, and say, that thou wilt not have it, but wouldst fayne be at jerusalem. Such offers, and let tho● shall find, & feel, or some other such let, or offers, what of thy flesh, what of the world, what of thine enemy: more in number (I mean of the temptations) and more divers in the kinds, and qualities of them; then I am able to tell thee of, or thou able before hand to imagine for a man so long as he suffereth his mind, and thoughts willingly to run about the world, or about worldly desires (as all do that do not seriously apply themselves to the service of God) in beholding, o● thinking of vain, or hurtful things; he perceiveth, or conceiveth but few let. But so soon as he draweth all his thoughts, and desires to the said one thing only; to have that, to know that, to love that, and that is only jesus, and his love. Then shall he well feel, and perceive many painful, and troublesome let. For every thing that he feeleth, and is not that he coveteth, or helpeth to the getting of it; is letting to Him Therefore I haverold thee of some temptations, or let in particular, as for some examples. And moreover I say in generality that whatsoever stirring, motion, or suggestion thou feelest from thy flesh, or from the enemy: be it pleasant, or sour; lovely, or dreadful; gladsome, or sorrowful that would draw down thy thoughts, and desire from the love of jesus, to worldly vanity; and would hinder, or cool the Spiritual covetousness that thou hast to the love of Him: and would have thy hart be occupied with that stirring restingly. Do thou set it at nought, receive it not willingly, or deliberately; tarry not therewith too long. But if it be an exterior business that behooveth needs to be done, either towards thyself, or towards thy Christian Brother or ●ister, dispatch it, and rid thee soon of it, and bring it to an end, that it hange not on thy Hart, and so distract thee more than needs: if it be another thing that may be spared, and needeth not to be done, or else concerns not thee, or belongeth to thee, heed it not, hearken not after it, nor trouble thyself about it, nor be angry for it, nor afraid of it, nor love it, but cast it presently out of thy mind, and hart, and say thus I am nothing, I have nothing, nothing do I feel, or covet, but the Love of jesus. Fasten thy mind, & thoúghts to this desire, and strengthen it, and maintain it with Prayer, and other Spiritual works that thou forget it not, and it shall lead, and guide thee in the right way, and save thee from all perils; and make no doubt but it will bring thee to the perfect love of our Lord jesus.  
This naked, and clean aspiring, and pure adheringe to God in the dark cloud of faith, and blind feelings of Love, is a way so secure, and safe that all the world, and all the devils of Hell; nor even the subtle craft of our own self seekeinge can mislead us, or deceive us; for we still aim at God, and nothing but pure God; so that we shall not rest in any thing but him, not his very gifts, and Graces, no relations, no Visions, no rapts, no ex●asies● But still pass, and make use of all to tend to Him above all.  
Nevertheless on the otherside; I alsoe say and advice thee; that look what work, or motion it be (be the same corporal, or spiritual) that may help, or further thy said desire, strengthen it, and nourish itt, & draw thy mind, and thoughts furthest from the loves, and desires of the world, or corrupt nature, and which makes thy love, and desire towards God more burning, more hearty, or more efficacious. Wither it be praying either mentally, or vocally, or for the nature, or manner of the Prayer, or be it meditation or silence, or speaking; solitariness, or being in company; sitting, or walking; keep it, and hold it for a time, and work therein, and therewith so long as the savour, or taste of itt lasteth.  
This discretion, and freedom to do any thing that feeds this Holy desire to God in us, is most necessary, and without this freedom, we can make no progress. Neither need we to scruple at anythinge that is not evil in itt self, or contrary to the evident extern will of God by ordination of holy Church, or our particular state, or profession.  
If it be so● thou take therewith (as needs thou must according to thy need) meat, drink, sleep, and rest, as a pilgrim doth, and hold discretion in such thy working; thou shalt do very well, and profitable in thy so doing. For have he never so great haste in his going, yet will he eat, drink, and sleepe● Do thou so likewise, for though it let thee for a time yet will itt further thee afterwards. Amen.  
FINIS.  
LAUS DEO, VIRGINI, Benedicto.  Hac est via, Ambulate in ea. Isa. 30. 21. This is the way, walk in itt. Isa. 30. 21.   

DEVOUT IDIOT.  
THY Devotions are so happily printed; that the faults escaped are such, as thou mayst easily take thy pen in the hand, & correct them thyself being sometimes one letter for another. As an a, for an e, or a n, for an u, or a letter too much, or a letter too little. All which the sense will soon tell thee; and I know thou endeavours to mend faults, not find faults, and for thee, and thy like it was set forth, and none other.  
ADIEV.   

TO THE V R MADAM CATHERINE GASCOIGNE MOST WORTHY ABBESS of the English Monastery of our Ladies of Comfort in Cambray.  
MADAM  
The same engagement which obliged me to set forth these simple, and pure Devotions, hath bound me to dedicate, and present them to your Ladp. who in very deed hath the most right, & title to them; being yours by the ●en le. Authors own gift, yours by Possession, but above all yours in the highest degree of practice. And truly they belong to such, and none but such as de facto & indeed practise them. All others may look on them, and perchance hardly censure them, but they have no right, and title to them. They have them not in their hart, and nothing else can possess them; these are treasures for the Hart: nothing else hath right to them. This Idiot, who to others seems ignorant, and foolish; to you is knowingly ignorant, and wisely unlearned. They persuade themselves (who present him unto you, as they have experienced themselves) that he hath taught you more high, and evident truths, more sapid, and fatisfactorie knowledge than all the subtle Scholasticks, and subtle politics put together could have done. We see; knowledge, Prudence, & virtue shine in all your Actions in an high measure; No other Master could have taught them you. This Idiot who to others appears so unhandsome, and insipid; to you shows himself most comely, and delightful. For you have given all that you have; 

Math. 13.  
Math. 19  
Phil. 3.  
Luk. 15.   or rather left all that you had; to converse with Him. You esteem all else, as nothing. You have choose this best part which shall never be taken away. Accept of Him then: and as hitherto let him be ever familiar, and grateful unto your Ladp. which they wish from their hearts who are: and he heartily by whom they make this humble address,  
MADAM, Your Lad ps, most devoted, humble, and obliged servants etc.