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THou o Lord, art my God and my Lord, and ye•• I haue neuer beheld thee; thou hast created and redeemed me, and bestowed almost infinite benefits vpō me and ye•• I haue not hitherto either sene or knowen thee. Finally I was made to be∣holde thee, & yet I haue not hitherto per∣med
that, for which I was created.
O how much is mans misfortune to be lamēted, seing he hath lost that for which he was created! O cruell and harde happe! Alas what hath he lost, and what hath he founde? What hath departed, and what hath remained? He hath lost felicity, vnto which he was created, and founde mis••ry, vnto which he was not ordained. That hath departed, without which nothing is happy, and that hath remained, which of itselfe is nothing but meere misery. Man heerefore did eare the breade of An∣gells, which now he would gladly eate if he coulde get it; but now he eateth the breade of anguishe, being then ignorant of it.
How longe (o Lord) wilt thou forget vs, how longe wilt thou turne away thy face from vs? when wilt thou vouchsafe to looke vpon vs, and heare vs? When wilt thou illuminate our eies, and shewe vs thy countenance? When wilt thou shewe thy selfe fauourable vnto vs? Looke vpon vs (o Lord) and heare vs, enlighten vs, and shewe thy selfe fauourable vnto vs. Returne vnto vs, that it may goe well with vs, because without thee, it ••areth amisse with vs.
Call vs vnto thee (o Lord I beseech thee) and helpe vs to come vnto thee. My
harte is growen bitter throughe o••er∣much desolation, sweeten it therfore with thy consolation. I haue b••gunne to seeke thee as one hungry, permit me not to de∣part away empty. I approache vnto thee as one hūger-starued, let me not goe away vnfedd. Being poore and needy I present my selfe before thee, who art wealthie, being in miserie I cast my selfe at the feete of thy mercy, humbly crauing, that I may not be sent away as an abiect without re∣ceiuing something. I am become croo∣ked (o Lord) soe that I am not able to see any other thinges but those that are heere beneathe in this vale of miserie; raise me and holde me vpright, that I may looke vpwarde, and attēde vnto thinges that are heauenlie. Mine iniquities haue gone ouer mine heade, they haue ouer whelmed me, and as a heauie burden doe oppresse me. Deliuer me, & vnloade me, least the infer∣nal pit of hel shut his mouthe vpon me.
Teache me to seeke thee, & shewe thy selfe vnto me, when I seeke thee: for that I cannot seeke thee vnlesse thou teache me, neither cā I finde thee vnlesse thou vouch∣safe to shew thy selfe vnto me. Graunt me grace therefore, that I may seeke thee by desiring thee, and desire thee by seeking thee. Graūt that I may finde thee by louing thee, and loue thee by finding thee.