A paradise of prayers containing the purity of deuotion and meditation / gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of Levves of Granado ; and Englished for the benefit of the Christian reader.

At our vprising.

GOd the Father, that saidst in the beginning, Let light be made, & it was made: lighten my eies, that I sleepe not in death, lest at any time mine e∣nemie say vnto me, I haue pre∣uailed against him.

God the sonne, light of light, the great & truest light, from whence this light both of sunne and day a∣riseth, thou light shining in darke∣nesse, and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde: driue from me all darknes of igno∣rance: and giue me vnderstanding, that in thee, and by thee I may know the Father: to know whom, is to liue: and to serue whom, is to reigne.

God the holy Ghost, thou fire both illuminating, and warming,

kindle in me thy light, that I may know the deceitful delights of this world, and the true ioyes of hea∣uen: Enlighten my minde, that I may see how great a good our ene∣my soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow. Grant that I may onely see those things y^t are thine, and be blinde to the rest: infuse al∣so into my minde the gift of thy charity, that forsaking those tran∣sitorie things, I may with a fer∣uent zeale and continuel desire, en∣deuour to attaine those things, which are eternall.

Holy Trinity, one God, defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell: keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death. Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō, assistance in temptation, and in death a pleasant refuge.

Thou hest raised my body (O Lord) which was drowned in sleep, I beseech thee that thou wilt deli∣uer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins, & the darknes of this world: and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking,

may it please thee after death to re∣store to the same life: for sleepe is to thee, as death to vs. To thee be praise & cleernes, wildome, thanks∣giuing, honor, vertue, & fortitude, for euer and-euer. Amen.

When we rise.

RIse, O my soule that sleepest, arise from death, & Christ shal shine vnto thee: Arise O thou daughter of Sion, O my soule re∣deemed by Christs blood, shake off the dust of sinnes, & set in thee the peace of Christ, purchased for thee by his merits.

Christ, thou mercifull aduocate of mankind, as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit, so lift vp our minds to the knowledge & loue of thy Ma∣iesty: and grant that the body may be a companion & Minister of pie∣tie to the soule in this life, to the end that in the life to come, it may be partaker of that eternal blessed∣nes, where thou liuest & reignest, with God the Father, and the holy Ghost, world without end

Amen.

A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past, together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day.

OMnipotent & eternall Lord, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ: I praise thee. I blesse thee, and with my whole heart giue thee thanks, that according to thy vn∣measurable goodnes, thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence, preserued me this night: that it hath pleased thee to be present with me, so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me: that thou hast protec∣ted me from all euill, both of soule and body; that thou hast defended me (being drowned in profound sleepe) by the assistance of thy holy Angels, as it were with an im∣pregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary, who neuer letteth slip any oppor∣tunity to hurt vs: Finally, for that thou hast sweetly raised me from

sleepe, (the true image of death) lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins, to the end I might haue space and time (yet at the length) to recollect, and earnest∣ly repent my selfe.

Now likewise (O father of mer∣cy and God of all consolation) I beseech thee (and from the bot∣tome of my heart intreat thee) that this day thou wilt take me also in∣to thy fatherly protection, and be∣hold me with thy mercifull eies, di∣rect me in the way of thy commaun∣dments, and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit, by whose means I may begin, continue, and end this day likewise to the praise and glo∣ry of thy holy name, to the profit of my neighbors, and the saluation of my soule: endeuouring my selfe e∣uery where and in all things, with∣out neglect of my duty, to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called.

Keep me (O Lord) from all sin; restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie, and friend and mi∣nister to that old Adam: coole, by the dewe of thy spirit, the heate of

concupiscence, that reigneth in my members, lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne, and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me. Grant O mercifull father, and vouch safe (O deere Lord) that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue.

Direct this day my heart and my body, my senses, speeches, and my actions in thy law, & in the workes of thy commaundements. Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal: that for∣saking the riches and delights of this world, I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome.

Curb and restraine the power of the diuell, our old and sworne ene∣mie, that although hee rangeth a∣bout like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may deuoure, he may not yet hurt, or any wayes hinder mee. But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard, behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son, who is the propi∣tiation for my sins: behold him O mercifull father, and for the iustice sake of thy Son, forgiue the sins

of thy seruant: grant mee that by thy mercy, which is not my due in iustice: who liuest & reignest God for euer and euer.

Amen.

Notes

• Psalm. 12.
• Iohn 1.
• Apoc. 7.
• Ephe. 5.
• Esay 52.
• 2 Cor. 1.