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charity, and bridle my wilful carnal affections, and follow the truth, which is only in thee, and contained in the doctrine of thy holy Evangelists. Who livest.

OUR FATHER.

AGAINST ALL EVIL THOUGHTS.

MERCIFUL Lord, who always showest pity upon us, I humbly pray thee to hear my prayers. Though I have been a sinner I am now sorry for it, and purpose no more to have pleasure therein, but gladly and willingly to follow after the truth, and to forsake all vanity. And herein I humbly pray thee to fortify me with thy grace, that I may withstand my secret enemy in all temptations, and that thy most holy Spirit of patience and understanding may have continual dwelling within me, to thy pleasure and will. Who livest. OUR FATHER.

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FOR A FRIEND LIVING IN SIN.

LORD God, who of thy mercy daily preservest the wicked and sinful, and wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live; I intreat thee, for the sure hope and faith which I have in thee, to have pity upon my friend, who is a sinner, and to preserve him in thy grace, that he endanger not his soul, which thou, with thy precious Blood, hast redeemed; but that he may lovingly, and with penitent heart, return again to thee, and by thy grace withstand our mortal enemy

in all temptation; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end.

Amen.

A DEVOUT CONTEMPLATION.

JESU, very Son of Almighty God and of the pure Virgin Mary, who sufferedst the bitter pains of death for my sake and for all mankind; I beseech thee, Lord, have mercy upon me, who am a miserable sinner and yet thy creature, and for thy precious Passion save me, and keep me, from dangers both bodily and spiritual, and especially from all which may turn me away from thy love. With all my heart I thank thee, Lord Jesu, for thy mercies which thou hast showed me in many dangers which I have been in, both in my soul and in my body; and that thy grace hath hitherto preserved and saved me from the hour of my birth until now. And I humbly beseech thee, O Lord, henceforth to lead me out of all darkness of error and of dangerous sin; and for my offences I implore thy mercy with all my whole heart, and especially for unkindness toward thee, and because I cannot lead my life as thy servant. For all this I crave thy mercy as the poor Publican, saying Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Moreover, I thank thee with all my heart for the plentiful graces and gifts which thou hast given me in this world, before many others who have deserved them far more than L. For I know that of

thee alone, O Lord, come all these benefits; wherefore, with my whole soul I thank thee, and worship thee, and praise thee, and none other but thee alone. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise.

O my sovereign Lord and Creator of all things on earth, very Son of the eternal Father, thou tookest human nature for my sake, who live as a miserable sinner here in thy Presence, where thy holy eyes ever behold me. Thou, O Lord, observest my dulness in devotion, the coldness of my love, the darkness of my blind errors, the absence of all hearty desire for thee, my slothfulness in thanking thee for coming down into the lowly dwelling of our humanity. Dear Lord, the hearts of all the world suffice not to thank thee for the bounty of thine infinite love; who didst come from thine eternal glory into this vale of misery, for the pure love and pity which thou barest to us sinners. Wherefore I humbly beseech of thee grace to praise and worship thee, all my life. O Blessed Lord God, look not on my defects, for they are without number, but rather upon thy superabundant pity, and mercy, and gentleness, which alone caused thee to descend from thy glorious palaces above, and to take our nature upon thee, and here to suffer thy blessed Passion for us; and even yet, most glorious Lord, by thine inestimable power, to be with us alway, in the form of Bread and Wine consecrated into thy flesh and

blood, in a wonderful mystery, for our continual comfort and consolation and our very healthful medicine for the healing of our sins and trespasses, whereby our souls are sore wounded and distressed. For by this most Holy Sacrament we ever plead the merits of thy Sacrifice and appease the wrath of the Eternal Father; and thus, good Lord, art thou our spiritual food to strengthen us in body and in soul. Amen.

CONTEMPLATION OF CHRIST THE SA-
VIOUR.

I.

BLESSED Lord God Almighty, by whose wisdom all things are created and ordained for us, by whom the good are saved and the evil are condemned; I humbly pray thee to give me wisdom to perceive, to follow, and to understand, thy inspirations to do that which shall be profitable for the saving of my soul, and in them only to have delight and pleasure. Amen. OUR FATHER

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II.

MOST high and gentle Lord, who by thy goodness alone didst vouchsafe to come and visit us, as a pilgrim, in this poor and miserable world, in the form and similitude of our humanity, and therein to suffer pain and sorrow for all mankind; I humbly beseech thee, good Jesu, that I may give thee duly praise and honour whilst I am here

living, so that I may hereafter enjoy the merits whereby thou hast redeemed me. OUR FATHER.

Amen.

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III.

MEEK and merciful Lord God, I humbly pray thee that, like as thou chosest Peter, and James, and John, to go up with thee to Mount Tabor, there to see and bear witness of thy glorious Transfiguration, whereby thou didst show that thou art here both God and Man; even so it may please thee, of thine infinite mercy and goodness, to accept me to be one of thine elect and chosen; that I, who am a sinner, may ever desire to be thy servant, with all earnestness and diligence. Amen. OUR FATHER.

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IV.

MOST gentle Lord and Saviour, who kneltest at the feet of thy disciples, and didst wash their feet; who in thy bloody sweat wast taken, bound, beaten, mocked, and led before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate, accused, bound naked to a pillar, scourged, clothed again, crowned with a garland of thorns, and condemned to death; who barest thy cross and wast nailed thereto between two thieves; who, in thy thirst, wast served with vinegar and gall; wast mocked and blasphemed, pierced in the side with a spear, to thy heart; wast dead and buried: Í beseech thee that, like as thou hast willingly and meekly suffered all this, thou wilt excuse me by thy grace to be meek and patient in

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