God which dwellest in light that no man can attaine , God which art hid & canst not be seene with bodily eyes , nor comprehended with any vnderstanding that euer was made , neither expressed with the tongues of men or Angels . My God , the which art incomprehensible doe I seeke , the which canst not be expressed doe I call vpon , what thing so euer thou art which art in euerie place , I knowe that thou art the most high and excellent thing , if thou be a thing , & not rather the cause of all thinges , if I may so call thee : for I find no name , by the which I may name and expresse thine vnspeakable maiestie . God ( I say ) which art all thinges that are in thee , for thou arte euen thine owne wisedome , thy power , and thy most glorious felicitie . Seeing therefore that thou art mercifull : what arte thou but euen verie mercie it selfe ? And what am I but verie miserie ? Beholde therefore ( O God ) which arte mercie , beholde miserie is before thee . What shalt thou do mercie ? Truly thy work ? Canst thou do otherwise than thy nature is ? And what is thy work ? Verily to take away miserie , and to lift vp them that are in wretched condition . Therefore haue mercie on me ( O God : ) God ( I saye ) which arte mercie , take away my miserie , take away my sinnes , for they are mine extreme miserie . Lift me vp which am so miserable , shewe thy worke in me , and exercise thy power vpon me . One depth requireth another : the depth of miserie requireth the depth of mercie , the depth of sinne asketh the depth of grace and of fauour : greater is the depth of mercie , than the depth of miserie : let therfore the one depth swallowe vp the other : let the bottomlesse depth of mercie , swallowe vp the profounde depth of miserie .

Haue mercie on me ( O God ) according to thy great mercie . Not after the mercy of men , whiche is but small : but after thine owne mercie , which is greate , which is vnmeasurable , which is incomprehensible , which passeth all sinnes without comparison . According to that thy great mercie , with the which thou hast so loued the world , that thou wouldest giue thine only sonne . What mercie can be greater ? What loue can be more ? Who can despaire ? Who shoulde not haue good confidence ? God was made man , and crucified for men . Therfore haue mercie on me , O God , accordinge to this thy greate mercy , by the which thou hast geuen thy sonne for vs , by the which through him thou hast taken away the sinnes of the world , by the whiche , ( through his crosse ) thou hast lightened all men , by the which through him thou haste redressed all thinges in heauen and earth . Washe me ( O Lord ) in his bloude , lighten me in his humilitie , redresse me in his resurrection . Haue mercie on me ( O God ) not after thy small mercie , for that is but thy small mercie , ( in comparison ) when thou helpest men of their bodilie euilles : but it is great when thou forgeuest sinners , and dost raise men alofte by thy fauoure aboue the toppe of the earth . Euen so ( Lorde ) haue mercie on me , according to this thy greate mercie that thou turne me vnto thee , that thou put out my sinnes , and that thou iustifie me by thy grace and fauoure . And according to the multitude of thy compassions : wipe away mine iniquities . Thy mercie Lorde is the aboundaunce of thy pitie , by the which thou lookest gently on the poore and wretched . Thy compassions are the workes and proceedings of thy mercie . Marie Magdalen came vnto thy feete ( good Iesu : ) she washed them with her teares , and wiped them with her haire , thou forgauest her , and diddest send her away in peace . This was ( Lord ) one of thy compassions . Peter denied thee , and forsooke thee with an othe , thou lookedst vpon him , and he wept bitterly , thou forgauest him , and madest him one of the cheefe among thine Apostles . This was ( Lorde ) another of thy compassions . The theefe on the crosse was saued with one word . Paule in the furious woodnesse of persecution was called : and by and by fulfilled with the holy Ghost . These are Lord thy compassions . The time should faile me , if I should number all thy mercifull compassions . For looke how many righteous men there be , so manie are thy godly compassions . There is none that can glorie in himselfe . Let them all come that are righteous , either in earth , or in heauen , and let vs ask them before thee , Whether they be saued by their owne power and vertue ? And surely , they all will answere with one heart , and one mouth , saying : Not vnto vs ( Lorde ) not vnto vs , but vnto thy name giue all the praise , for thy mercie and for thy trueths sake . For they in their own sword possessed not the land , & their owne arme or power saued thē not : but thy right hand , and thine arme , and the lightning of thy countenaunce : For thou delightest in them , that is , They are not saued for their owne deseruings , lest any man should boast himselfe : but because it pleased thee so to be . Which thing the Prophet doth also more expressely witnesse of thee , when he saith : He saued me , because he would haue me . Sith therefore thou art the one God , with whom is no alteration , or variablenesse , neither art thou changed vnto darknesse , and we thy creaturs , as well as our fathers , which were borne vnder concupiscence , sinners as well as we . And sith there is but one mediatour and attonement betweene God and man , that is , Christ Iesus , which endureth for euer : why doest thou not powre out thy plentious compassions vpon vs , as well as thou diddest vpon our fathers ? Haste thou forgotten vs ? Or are we onely sinners ? Did not Christ die for vs ? Are all thy merits spente , and none left ? Lorde our God , I desire and heartily beseeche thee , to put out mine iniquitie , according vnto the multitude of thy compassions : For many , yea and infinite are thy compassions , that according ( I saye ) to the multitude of thy compassions , thou vouchsafe to quench my sinnes , that as thou hast drawne and receiued innumerable sinners , and haste made them righteous : euen so that thou wilt draw and take me , and make me righteous , through thy grace and fauour . Therefore , according to the multitude of thy compassions wipe awaye mine iniquitie . Cleanse and purifie my heart , that after all mine iniquitie is put out , and all my vncleannes cleansed , it may be as a cleane table , in which the finger of God may write the lawe of his loue and charitie , with the which can none iniquitie continue .

2 Yet washe me more from mine iniquitie , and cleanse me from my sinne .

I graunt and acknowledge ( O Lord , ) thou hast once put out mine iniquitie , thou hast put it out againe , and hast washed me a thousande times : Howbeit , yet washe me from mine iniquitie : for I am fallen againe . Doest thou vse to spare a sinfull man , vntill a certeine number of his sinnes ? Which when Peter inquired , How ofte shall my brother offend against me , & I shall forgeue him : whether seuen times ? Thou answeredst , I say not seuen times , but seuentie times seuen times ? Taking the certein number for an infinite number . Sith then that a man must forgiue often , shalt thou in pardoning and forgeuing be passed of man ? Is not God more then man . Yea , rather God is the great Lord , and euerie man liuing is nothing but vanitie . And only God is good , and euery man a lier . Hast thou not said ? In what houre soeuer the sinner doeth repent , I will not remember any of his iniquities . Behold , I a sinner do repent and mourne for mine old priuie sores festred within , and now are they broken forth for mine own folishnes . I am sore brused & broken , I walke in continual moourning , I am feeble and verie weake , I rored for the sorow of my hart . Lord all my desires are before thee , and my sorowfull sighes are not vnknowne vnto thee . Mine heart trembleth and panteth for sorowe , my strength faileth me , and euen the verie sight of mine eyes cease from their office . Wherfore then ( O Lorde ) doest thou not put away mine iniquitie ? And if thou put it out , according to the multitude of thy mercies , yet washe me from mine iniquitie . For yet am I not perfectly purified . Finishe thy worke , take away the whole offence , and also the paine that is due vnto the crime , increase thy light within me . Kindle my heart with thy loue and charitie , put out all feare , for perfect loue sendeth away feare . Let the loue of the worlde , the loue of the fleshe , the loue of vaine glorie , and the loue of my selfe vtterly departe from me . Yet still more and more washe me from mine iniquitie , by the which I haue offended against my neighboure , & cleanse me from my sinne , that I haue committed against thee . I would haue thee put away , not onely the fault , and paine that foloweth it , but also the occasion and nourishement of sinne . Wash me ( I say ) with the water of thy gratious fauour , of which water he that drinketh , shall not thirste for euer , but it shall be made in him a fountaine of liuing water , running into euerlasting life . Washe me with the comfortable waters of thy holy Scriptures , that I may be numbred among thē , vnto whom thou saiedst , Nowe are ye cleane , for my wordes which I haue spoken vnto you .

3 For I knowledge mine iniquities , and my sinne is euer before mine eyes .

Although , through the beholding of thy mercy & compassions , I may be bold to flee vnto thee ( O Lorde , ) yet will I not come as the Pharisie which prayed not , but rather praised him selfe , and despised his neighbour : but I come vnto thee , as the Publicane , which durst not lift vp his eyes vnto heauen . For I also do acknowledge mine iniquitie , and whiles I ponder my sinnes , I dare not lift vp mine eyes , but humbling my selfe with the Publicane , I said : God be mercifull vnto me a sinner . My soule wauereth betweene hope and feare , and sometime for the feare of my sinnes , which I feare and knowledge to be in me , I am redie to despaire , sometime through the hope of thy mercie I am lifted vp and comforted . Neuerthelesse , because thy mercy is greter than my miserie , I will euer ( Lorde ) trust in thee , and will sing out thy plentious compassions for euer . For I knowe that thou desirest not the death of a sinner , but rather that he were conuerted , & that he would acknowledge his iniquitie , and forsake his sinne , and come to thee , that he may liue . My God , graunt me that I may liue in thee , for I acknowledge my wickednesse , I knowe what a greeuous burthen it is , how heauie & daungerous ? I am not ignorant of it , I hide it not , but set it euen before mine eyes , that I may wash it with my teares , and knowledge vnto thee ( Lord ) mine vnrighteousnes against my selfe . And also my sinne , which I haue proudly done against thee , is euer against me : & therefore it is against me , because I haue sinned against thee : it is truely against me , for it is euen against my soule , and accuseth me euer before thee my Iudge , and condenmeth me euer , and in euerie place , and it is so against me , that it is euer before my face , and standeth against me , that my praier may not perce through vnto thee , that it might take thy mercie from me , and hinder thy mercie , that it cannot come at me . Therefore doe I tremble , and therefore doe I meurne , beseeching thy mercie . Therefore ( O Lorde ) as thou hast geuen this grace to me , to knowe my wickednes , and to bewaile my sinne , euen so accomplish this thy beneuolence , geuing me perfect faith , & drawing me to thy sonne , which hath made a ful satisfaction for all my sinnes . Geue me ( Lorde ) this precious gift : For euerie good gift , and euerie perfect gifte is from aboue , comming from the father of light .

4 Against thee onely haue I sinned , and haue done that which is euill in thy sight , that thou maist be iustified in thy wordes , and haue the victorie when thou hast iudged .

I haue ouermuch sinned vnto thee alone , for thou commaundest me that I shoulde loue thee for thy selfe , and should loue all creatures for thy sake : but I haue loued a creature more than thee , louing it euen for it selfe . What is sinne , but to loue a creature for it selfe ? And what is that , but to doe against thee ? Surely , he that loueth a creature for it selfe , maketh that creature his God . And therefore haue I sinned against thee only , for I haue made a creature my God . So haue I cast thee away , and haue bene iniurious onely to thee : for I haue not offended against any creature , in that I haue put my trust or confidence in it . For it was not commaunded me , that I should loue any creature for it selfe . If thou haddest commaunded me , that I shoulde haue loued an Angel onely for it selfe , and I had loued money for it selfe , then no doubt I had offended against the Angel . But sith that thou only art to be loued for thy selfe , ( that is to say , without any respect of good and euil , ) & euerie creature is to be loued in thee , for thy sake : Therefore haue I surely offended onely against thee , for I haue loued a creature for it selfe .

But yet haue I worsse done , for I haue sinned euen in thy sight , I was nothing ashamed to sinne before thy face . O mercifull God , how many sinnes haue I done in thy sighte , which I would in no wise haue done before mortall men , yea that I woulde not in any case that men shoulde knowe ? I feared men more then thee , for I was blinde , and loued blindnesse , and so did I neuer see nor once consider thee . I had onely fleshlie eyes , therefore did I onely feare and looke on men which are flesh . But thou lookest on all my sinnes , and numberest them , therfore I can neither hide them from thee , neither turne my backe , and flee from thy face . Whither shall I goe from thy spirit ? And whither shall I flee from thy face ? What shall I then do ? Whither shall I turne me ? Whom shall I finde to be my defender ? Whom I pray thee , but thee my God ? Who is so good , who is so gentle , who is so mercifull ? For thou passest without comparison , all creatures in gentlenes . It is one of thy cheefest properties , to forgiue , and to be mercifull : for through mercie and forgiuenesse , thou declarest thy almightines . I graunt ( Lorde ) that I haue offended onely against thee , and haue done that which is euill in thy sight . Haue mercie therefore on me , and expresse thy puissance in me , that thou maist be iustified in thy words : for thou hast said , that Thou cammest not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentaunce . Iustifie me ( Lorde ) according to thy woordes : call me , receiue me , & geue me grace to doe true workes of repentance . For this cause wast thou crucified , dead , and buried . Thou sayedst also , Iohn . 3. When I am lifted vp from the earth , I will drawe all vnto my selfe . Verifie thy wordes , drawe me after thee , let vs runne together in the sweetnesse of thyne oyntmentes . Besides that thou saiedst . Matthaewe 11. Come vnto me all ye that laboure , and are laden , and I will ease you . Loe I come vnto thee laden with sinnes , labouring day and night in the sorowe of mine hearte , refreshe and ease me ( Lorde ) that thou maist be iustified & proued true in thy wordes , and maist ouercome when thou arte iudged : for there are manie that say : He shall haue no succour of his God , God hath forsaken him . Ouercome ( Lorde ) these persons , when thou arte thus iudged of them , and forsake me not at anie time . Geue me thy mercie , and wholsome succour , and then are they vanquished .

They say that thou wilt haue no mercie on me , and that thou wilt cast me cleane out of thy fauoure , and no more receiue me . Thus arte thou iudged of men , and thus do men speake of thee , & these are their determinations : but thou which art meeke & mercifull , haue mercie on me , & ouercome their iudgements . Shewe thy mercie on me , & let thy godly pitie be praised in me . Make me taste of thy mercie , that thou maist be iustified in thy wordes , and haue the victorie when men do iudge thee to be fierce and inflexible . Ouercome their iudgement with meekenesse and beneuolence , so that men may learne to haue compassion on sinners , and that malefactours may be inflamed vnto repentance , seeing in me thy pitie and thy mercie .

5 Lo I was begotten in wickednesse : and my mother conceiued me polluted with sinne .

Beholde not ( Lorde ) the greeuousnesse of my sinnes : consider not the multitude , but looke mercifully on me , which am thy creature . Remember that I am dust , and that all fleshe is as withered hay : For loe , I am fashioned in wickednesse , & in sinne hath my mother conceiued me . My naturall mother ( I say ) hath conceiued me of concupiscence , in her am I polluted with original sinne . What is originall sinne , but the lacke of originall iustice , and of the righte and pure innocencie which man had at his creation ? Therefore , a man conceiued and borne in such sorte , is all crooked and out of frame .

The fleshe coueteth against the spirit . Reason is slender , and the will is weake : man is fraile and like vanitie , his senses deceiue him , his imaginations doe faile him , his ignoraunce leadeth him out of the right way , and he hath infinite impediments , which plucke him from goodnesse , and driue him into euill .

Therefore , originall sinne is the roote of all sinnes , and the nourse of all wickednesse : for albeit , that in euerie man , of his owne nature , it is but onely sinne , yet in power it is all sinnes . Thou seest therefore ( Lorde ) what I am , and whence I am : for in originall sinne ( which containeth all sinnes and iniquities in it ) I am fashioned , and in it hath my mother conceiued me . Seing then I am whole in sinnes , and enuironed with snares on euerie side , how shall I escape ? For what I would , that doe I not , but the euill that I would not , that doe I. For I finde another lawe in my members , rebelling against the lawe of my minde , and subduing me vnto the lawe of sinne and death . Therefore the more fraile and entangled thy godly beneuolence seeth me , so much the more let it lift vp and comforte me . Who woulde not pitie one that is sicke ? Who woulde not haue compassion on him that is diseased ? Come , come ( sweet Samaritane , ) and take vp the wounded and halfe dead , cure my woundes , powre in wine and oyle , set me vpon thy beast , bring me into the hoastrie , commit me vnto the hoast , take thou twopence , and saye vnto him , Whatsoeuer thou spendest aboue this , when I come againe , I will recompense thee .

6 Loe thou hast loued truth , the vnknowne and secreate thinges of thy wisedome , hast thou vttered vnto me .

Come ( most sweete Samaritane , ) for beholde thou hast loued truth , the truth I say of thy promises , which thou hast made vnto mankinde , them hast thou truly loued : for thou hast made and kept them , so that thy loue is nothing else , but euen to doe good , for in thy selfe thou art inuariable and immutable . Thou vsest not nowe to loue , and anon not to loue ( as men do ) neither doth thy loue so come and goe : but thou arte such a louer , as doeth neuer chaunge : for thy loue is very God . Thy loue therefore , wherewith thou louest a creature , it is to do it good , and whom thou most louest , to them art thou most beneficiall . Therefore , what meaneth this , that thou louest truth , but that of thy gratious mercie thou makest vs promises , and fulfillest them , for thy trueths sake ? Thou diddest promise vnto Abraham a sonne , when he was aged : thou fulfilledst thy promise in old barren Sara , because thou louest trueth . Thou promisedst vnto the children of Israel a lande that flowed with milk and honie , and at the last diddest geue it them , for thy trueths sake . Thou madest a promise to Dauid , saying : I shall set vpon thy seate royall , one of the fruite of thy bodie . And it came euen to passe , because thou wouldest be found true . There are other innumerable promises , in the which thou hast euer bene faithfull , because thou louest truth . Thou hast promised to sinners , which will come vnto thee , forgiuenes and fauour , and thou hast neuer defrauded any man , for thou hast loued truth . That vnthriftie sonne , Luke . 15. that tooke his iourney into a farre countrie , & wasted all his goods with riottous liuing , when hee came to him selfe , he returned vnto thee , saying : Father , I haue sinned against heauen , & before thee , now am not I worthie to be called thy sonne , make me as one of thy hired seruauntes .