place The multitude of yeares but multiply To the vnhappie multitude of cares Two thousand yeares to him that dead doth ly Are but one moment all alike he fares But hours seem days daies yeres yeres millions seeme In care griefe agony that spent we deeme Then how vnhappy is that hated man Whose long and wealthy life in boorlesse blis In life no peace or ioy enioy he can In death not honor haue that proper is To such as by their liues do merit well Who dead in sacred tombe do famous dwell verse 7 All toyle man takes is for the mouth his mind yet neuer easd verse 8 The foole wise caÌ„ both but liue the wise thogh poore is pleasd 7. All the labour of man is for his mouth yet the soule is not â—â—lled Alas what gaineth man by all his paine Which in his pilgrimage on earth he takes Sure nothing but a life he doth maintaine And as his state permits he dyet makes For which our backes and bellies nutriment Our times our cares our hopes and feares are spent And yet this food so carefully attaynd Cannot sustaine our life one longer day Then God by prouidence hath it ordaynd And when our time is come we must away And though a little food will life sustaine Yet long without supply we not remaine 8. For what hath the wise man more then the foole what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the 〈◊〉 What hath the wise in all he doth possesse More then the foole whereof he may reioyce The vse of needfull things he hath no lesse That simple is then who of wit hath choyce Both do but eat to liue and liue to die Both like afflictions in their fortunes trie What doth the misers care increase his state More then free spenders honest thrift doth his Yet th' one by wretchednesse doth purchase hate The others bountie alwayes praysed is Both care to liue both can but liue thereby And both of force must yeeld ere long to dy verse 9 To take thy share and wish no more is best desire is vaine verse 10 What art thou maÌ„ to striue with God his wil thou must sustain 9. The sight of of the eye is better then to walke in the lusts this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit And therefore sure whilst we are here to liue It is the best to liue with chearefull hart And cause of good report the world to giue And not for vs to breed our proper smart Our daies consume vnpleasing to our selues Offensiuely to such as with vs dwels Yet both in end are vaine and soone haue end No constancie or permanence in either The one or other can not life defend Both to the graue are like to go togither Vaine and inconstant is the fruit of all Wise fond sad glad into the earth must fall 10. What is that that hath bin the name therof is now named and it is knowne that it is man and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he What can a man attaine by any thing Which he on earth atchieueth any way But euen a name and fame the which doth bring A swelling Eccho of his prayse a day But is assoone forgotten as is gaynd And with a thousand slaunders may be staynd His prayse cannot exceed nor soone attaine The like that many worthies had before Their fame is gone thine cannot long remaine If thou be wise expect not any more For God thy maker hath ordayned so When he sayth yea flesh may not answere no. Chap. 7. verse 1 Sure many vaine things do increase which mans wit cannot mend verse 2 Who knowes his best in life or what God afterward will send 1. Surely there be many things that encrease vanitie what auayleth it maÌ„ SVre many things besides do yet remaine Our vanitie appeares in euery thing But they best knowledge of the fame attaine To whom a prosperous state did plentie bring For plenty best affoords to feed our will And will most soone to folly runneth still Which folly is the vanitie I meane A fruitlesse trauell of a carefull hart When midst the choyce of good the ill we gleane And weaue vnto our selues our proper smart When wit is captiuated vnto fense Which doth produce both Gods and mans offence 2. For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the number of the dayes of the life of his vaâ—itie seeing he maketh theÌ„ as a shadow for who can shew vnto man what shall be after him vnder the 〈◊〉 And sure in this sense foolish are we all For who discernes aright twixt good and ill Whose knowledge truly can you perfect call Who knowing good effectuates goodnes still Mans dayes are few and like a shadow fly In which small good he many woes doth try The wisest men themselues do scarcely know Of others minds their knowledge is but blind Their present actions do them foolish show How should man then a solyde knowledge find Of future things which after him shall bee Since he conceaues not what his eye doth fee verse 3 A good name sweeter is then oyle deaths day then day of birth verse 4 In mourning house more good is learnd then in the house of mirth 3. A good name is better then a good oyntmeÌ„t and the day of death then the day that one is borne Then let man cease his wisedome to bestow In seeking foorth on earth a happy state Let him endeuour rather good to grow The fruit and fame whereof cannot abate Through age or death but like a sweet perfume Will follow man vnto his day of doome The trust wherein shall make him death desire As path to leade him vnto blisse prepard And loath this life whose cares him so do tyre Where vanitie and death is sole reward Yea he shall farre preferre the day of death Before the houre he first drew liuing breath 4. It is better to go to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting because this is the end of all men and the liuing shall lay it to his hart For better preparation whereunto The wise will exercise their eyes and mind In contemplation of their states who do By death forerun their corse not farre behind And by the view thereof resolued grow The worlds contempt in rest of life to show The feasts and sports which do his senses charme With deepe forgetfulnesse of woes approch He will refraine and rather thinke it harme That vnprepared death should him incroch For euils looked for lesse euill seeme And ioyes expected long we doubled deeme verse 5 Sharp lookes then smyling shows more soone the euil mind correct verse 6 The wise delight in grauitie whilst fooles the same reiect 5. Anger is better then laughten for by a sad looke the hart is made better And though awhile our minds therewith distract We feele a conflict twixt the flesh and spright Which lothly would dissolue the old compact Which flesh and world contracted
feareth euery cloud that is in sky But little corne shall sow or reape to sell If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby So giue thou when thou maist and thinke thy store Increast thereby no whit impaird the more verse 5 As child in wombe so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee verse 6 TheÌ„ morn euen sow thou thy seed God knows which best shal be 5. As thou knowest not which is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the wombe of her that is with child so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all Thinke this that euen that God which gaue to thee The present blessings that thou dost possesse Thy charitable workes from heauen doth see And will thy labours in due season blesse If thou thy faith by neighbours loue expresse And thinke that as the infants borne that bee Conceiued are do grow do liue do feed And be by birth in time from prison free By meanes vnknowne to mothers them that breed Se be assur'd that God which it hath wrought Can wealth restore by meanes to thee vnthought 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall be a like good Both rath and late at euery time and tide Then do vnto thy power some almes deed Without some others good let no day slide So oft as thou canst find aman hath need And who this can performe is blest indeed For man can not his worke so wisely guide To know to whom and when to giue is best But who for pittie giues and not for pride Though needlesly some fall among the rest Yet some no doubt is blessedly bestowd And in thy will of good good worke is showd verse 7 Sure life is sweete and all desire long time to see the sunne verse 8 Though long life last yet death maks hast times do vainly run 7. Surely the light is a pleasant thing and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne And since but whilst thou liu'st thy goods are thine And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse Giue while thou mayst so mayst thou find in fine Well sau'd what well was spent in liuing dayes For godly worke with God aye present stayes Long mayst thou liue but must in end decline To death the end of euery liuing thing To yeeld to death yet needst thou not repine If liuing thou to man no good canst bring And hauing left some good by life to men More welcome death may be vnto thee then 8. Though a man liue many yeares and in them all he reioyce yet he shal remember the dayes of darknesse because they are many all that commeth is vanitie For death thou knowest vnto life is due And life doth but prepare a man to die Liues cares a daily death in vs renue To worke in vs consent to death thereby Which else no flesh with patience sure would try The many dayes or yeares which do insue Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight Cannot perswade him but that this is true That lightsome day will turne to darksome night That times most long haue end and what doth vade Is little better then a very shade verse 9 Reioyce in youth fulfill desire yet know God iudgeth all verse 10 To clense thy hart wicked flesh graue age vain youth doth cal 9. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thine hâ—rt chere thee in the dayes of thy youth and waâ—ke in the wayes of thine hâ—rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Delight he then in what so ere he please In youth in beauty strength or wealthy store Let him delight himselfe in vse of these And cheare his hart as cause he hath therefore Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore And that they all do vanish with their wayes That God alone remayneth euer â—ure That only vertue with vs longest stayes And can eternall blessednesse procure When to the iudgement of a God seuere Our workes must come who all in mind doth beare 10. Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Let him and all the wise whilst yet they may Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind The fierce assaults in death that for vs stay And but by faith can strong resistance find Since all our other workes come short behind Let vs abandon euery wicked way And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine Chap. 12. verse 1 Remember thy creator then in these thy youthfull dayes Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes 1. Remember now thy creator in the daies of thy youth whilst the euill dayes come not ANd since thou canst not shun deaths fatall day And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise Whilst yet thou mayst prepare a quiet way Vnto thy soule which in such danger lies If thou in time reliefe do not deuise The earth and earthly things do helpe denay Heauen is the harbor where thy soule doth dwell Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay But it and workes thereof from hart expell Delay no time in hope long life to haue Youth may age must ere long time go to graue Nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To heauen thy progresse thou dost wish to make Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake And thinke them burdens to thee euermore And in thy life haue lights of vertue store Let thought of thy creator thee awake From sinnes of youth hart burdensome in age Remember God account of thee will take If thy repentance not his wrath asswage Yea leaue thou sinne ere lust leaue tempting thee Thy abstinence else can not vertue bee verse 2 Whilst sunne moone stars seeme light and rayny clouds are farre verse 3 Whilst keepers of thy house are strong whose pillers stedfast are 2. Whâ—les the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the clouds returne after the raine The feeble members which haue lost their might Through which their senses did affection proue No maruell now if they take lesse delight In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue The sunne moone stars heauens ornameÌ„t earths light Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse When all thy ioynts begin by day and night Do tyre thy life and breed the soules remorse No maruell if thou then proue continent But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent 3. When the keepers of the house shall treÌ„ble
glorious beames of brightnesse doth display Suprasseth darkest nights that winter weares In frozen Zone for light some face he beares So farre and more the wise do fooles surpasse Or more then precious stones doe brickle glasse 14. For the wise mans eyes are in hâ—s head but the foole walketh in darknesse yet I know also that the same condition falleth 〈…〉 For why the wise call passed things to mind Obserue the present future doe fore-see Compare effects whereby they courses find And make their actions to best rules agree Like Eagle eyes and Linxes sights theirs bee Where fooles as blind-fold groping misse the way And vnto euery daunger are a pray Although in deede one end befalleth all The wise and foolish begger and the king All made of earth againe to dust doe fall And euery state is crossed with some thing Wisedome breedes care and folly want doth bring Wealth liues in feare and pouertie in wo Honor enuide base bloud contemn'd doth go verse 15 If so thought I then is it vaine more wisedome to aspire verse 16 All is forgot in time to come like death haue all for hire 15. TheÌ„ I thought in mine heart it befalleth vnto me as it befalleth to the foole why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise and I said in mine hart that this also is vanitie I therefore in my heart beganne to thinke If all estates some miserie must haue If wise and foolish both of one cup drinke If all by death must draw vnto the graue If wisedome may not man from daunger saue If sicknesse be the common guide to death If death the end of all that draweth breath Why then do I contend for wisedomes prayse With studious trauell why do I applie My time and spend away youthes pleasant dayes With paine and toyle why serues seueritie And temperance of life since all must die It is meere madnesse to be too precise Though fooles be vaine vaine also be the wise 16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise nor of the foole for euer for that that now is in the dayes to come shall all be forgotten and how dieth the wise man as doth the foole Vaine in the highest point of vanitie If they suppose on earth true blisse to find As on a stage each step they tred awrie Is markt and fame defamd by slaunderous kind And their best name that they do leaue behind Is soone forgot as fooles facts also bee As we by daily proofe full well may see Alas is there no difference at all In length of dayes betwixt the fond and wise Can nought protect from death but must all fall As basest sort so those in honour rise Can man no way to lengthen life deuise Then vaine is he in them reposeth trust Whose ioyes with them so soone determine must verse 17 Then lothd I life all life bred griefe and did the mind torment verse 18 My owne workes were vnpleasing then possest by one vnment 17. Therefore I hated life for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me for all is vanitie vexation of the Spirit The thought whereof made me the world to hate And euery circumstance of life to blame The day of birth as day of cursed fate The length of life as heape of woe and shame The dayly looke for death as rotten frame Of natures weakest building earth doth beare Bred vp and nourished with care and feare Conceiu'd in sinne brought into world with paine With iust laments bewayling future case Who impotent doth hopelesse still remaine If pitie in the parents had not place Or foster mothers did him not embrace Whose youth sharpe tutors age the lawes restraine Whose vexed soule still carkes and cares in vaine 18. I hated also all my labor wherin I had trauelled vnder the Sunne which I shall leaue to the man that shall be after me Yea though my selfe was free from sundry things By reason of the greatnesse of my state With which the meaner sort full often wrings As want and suffering stroke of mighties hate Yet I my cares had in an other rate And far more forcible in me they were For prosperous states doe worst afflictions beare As feare of chaunge care of the common good Desire to eternize my name on earth Yet nothing more me thought my ioy withstood Then that I traueld for an others mirth For whom my fruits were gathred ere his birth Which made me all my workes of most desert Hate and disdaine euen from the very heart verse 19 Vnknowne if fond or wise who yet shall all enioy leaue verse 20 Which as most vain made me abhor my works which me deceaue 19. And who knoweth whether he shall be wise or foolish yet shal he haue rule euer all my labour wherein I haue trauelled wherein I haue shewed my selfe wise vnder the sun This is also vanitie For what knew I who should to me succeed In vse of all the wealth and pompe I left An infant of mine owne and proper breed Or else a stranger creeping in by theft I knew how easly crownes might be bereft If kings were Orphanes lacking yeares or wit Ne knew I if my child for rule were fit The proofe he yeelds and sentence God did giue Prognosticateth little good at all Yet as vnto mine heire in whom I liue I giue what wast he may and feare he shall The fruit euen of my wisest trauels all So that the world which witnessed my paine May hap record my trauels meerely vaine 20. Therefore I went about to make mine hart abhorre all the labour wherein I had trauelled vnder the Sunne This made me oft aide reason to contend With my affections and my pleased sence And gainst my selfe my selfe my wits to bend The loue of all my workes expulsing thence And taking on me truths sincere defence Said perturbations which affections guyde Should not giue iudgement where her cause is tryde I made my mind confesse the studie vaine Which was imployd on transitory thing I made my body graunt too great the paine Bestowd on any pleasure life doth bring My senses to conclude there was a sting And bitter tast attended on delight And so resolu'd worlds loue to banish quight verse 21 One toyles to get with right and skill a stocke for one most vaine verse 22 And no reward himselfe doth find for all his trauell ' and paine 21. For there is a man whose trauell is in wisedome and in knowledge in equitie yet to a man that hath not trauelled herein shall he giue 〈◊〉 portion this 〈◊〉 vanitie and a great 〈◊〉 For could there be a greater griefe beâ—ide Or iuster cause to make a man repent The paines and perils that he did abide In honest trade to purchase his intent Whereto his wits and diligence was bent Then for to thinke he doth for others toyle Manures the ground where others reape the soyle Who buildeth but in hope to dwell therein Who planteh but in hope
surpasse them farre As Henok Babell Troy true patterns are 4. A time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance Though nothing be more needfull to our kind The rigors to alay of worldly care Though nothing better for the health we find Then mirth at times we may well for it spare Yet in the vse of it we must beware And vse it so as if we readie were The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare For times there are when dutie doth require We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe For partners in distresse doe all desire And men suppose thereby they find reliefe For sinne so should we mourne as cause most chiefe When Gods offended face doth threat his rod Thus mirth and woe are both requir'd by God verse 5 To scatter stones and gather them t' embrace and thrust away verse 6 A season is to seeke to loose to keepe to wast I say 5. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones a time to imbrace and a time to be far from imbracing There is a time when we the quarries draw And from the bowels of the earth full deepe Rayse vp her bones the stones which neuer saw The lightsome aire and them we carued keepe To rayse with them our towers to heauen which peepe Which afterward decay and we are faine Their ruines to transport abrode againe Euen so in youthfull yeares it seemeth fit As nature made it apt for loues imbrace So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it With due respect of person time and place Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case As when decrepit age creepes to the graue To dote in loue and seeke a wife to haue 6. A time to seeke and a time to loose a time to keepe and a time to cast away There is a time when man with reason may With diligence indeuour for to gaine A portion fit his family to stay Although with sweat of browes and daily paine But it were folly to torment his braine If losses happe for there will losses fall Vnto most wise if they haue ought at all Then he that 's wise knowes when to spend and spare For who hath most before he die may need And he must spend sometimes that is most bare And he may thriue that doth the needie feed Bountie doth loue and neighbour liking breed It is a vertue placed in a meane Although it rather doe to giuing leane verse 7 A time to reape and sow againe for silence and to speake verse 8 To loue to hate to talke of peace and peace with war to breake 7. A time to reap and a time to sow a time to keepe silence and a time to 〈◊〉 The rich attyres ordaynd by craft mans hand To couer shame which sinne made man to see Be not so comely held in any land But that in other lands dislikt they bee So what one sowes the other reapes for thee Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are None make more fast then others mending marre What speake we of such common things as this Not speech it selfe the Eccho to the hart May be so free but it restrained is To ciuill rules and lawes of very art The tongues misuse ofâ— breedes the bodie smart We therefore learne both how and when to speake And when we modest silence may not breake 8. A time to loue and a time to hate a time of warre and a time of peace Yea though that kindled heate of beauties fire And sympathy of natures liking good Chast loue be founded on a iust desire And beare such sway as hardly is withstood Infecting by the eye both spirit and blood Yet such incounters grow in some respect That loue findes hate best merit base neglect Yea bloudie warre the scourge of peace misusd The fire-brand of ambition hels owne chyld The wracke of iustice value oft abusd From common wealth may not be well exyld Though peace breed welth welth yet with pride defyld Produceth warre which pouertie doth breed To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed verse 9 What profit finds the toyle some man of all his carke and care verse 10 To humble mans ambitious mind God did these pames prepare 9. What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he trauelleth Which if so be as so it is indeed Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise The Magy Druides and Stoicks breed The Sophis and most wise of all Rabbies And all Philosophers of euery guise Who morall rules and naturall skill did know Or iudgements supernaturall did show Them would I haue to tell to me in briefe What profit man most properly may say He hath of all his dayes consumde in griefe Which he assured is with him shall stay The goods of fortune subiect to decay The strength of bodie fayling euery houre the minds much more which worldly cares deuour 10. I haue seene the trauell that God hath giueÌ„ to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby I see me thinkes a laborinth of woes Enuiron man about from day of birth Till houre of death what so about he goes With sower sauce seasoning still his fained mirth Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth For needfull things for life yet foolish he With needlesse studies still will medling be And God hath iustly giuen this plague to all For our forefather Adams clyming mind That humbled so we might before him fall Confessing that we are poore wormes most blind And fly to him where we may comfort find Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest As thing whereby we onely may be blest All beautious desird God made though al things maÌ„ not know This only good know I with ioy good works in life to show 11. 〈…〉 made eâ—ery thing beautiful in his time also he hath â—et the world in their heart 〈◊〉 can not man 〈◊〉 out the worke that 〈◊〉 hath 〈…〉 from the beginning 〈◊〉 to the end Indeede God so his creatures beautified And marshald so their musters euery one That in them his great wisedome is espied And in their season is their beautie showne Defect vnto their kind they suffer none No maruell then if heart of man desire To see and know their vertue and admire And God hath giuen to man a speciall will To search for knowledge euer while he liues Who therefore beates his braines about it still And vseth all endeuour nature giues But he in vaine about the matter striues He neuer can or shall the depth attaine Of Gods decree his labours are but vaine 12. 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 is â—Sthing good in them but to reioyce and â— do good in his life Let wise men therefore learne to be content With knowledge of such things as vs befit Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent And with contented mind in quiet sit His paine and trauell may not farther git Then God hath limited of that be sure With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure For I no other good
and shall Yet we as they one common end do find One dissolution of this earthly frame Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind From whence at first creation forth it came The memory whereof the mind should tame Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will Which whilst they liue the world with comber fill verse 21 Who knows mans soule ascends or beasts vnto the earth desceÌ„ds verse 22 Best then say I ioy in thy owne which thee thy knowledge ends 21. Who knoweth whether the Spirit of man ascend vpward and the Spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth And though indeed the soules immortall seed Which had his being from a cause more pure Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed And shall in all eternitie endure Yet to the eye of man who can assure The same if faith the light vnto the soule Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule For euen the selfe same instruments of life The same necessities of nutriment The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife The same abhorred death hath nature lent To euery creature that on earth she sent And at and after parting of the spright The carkasses of both seeme like to sight 22. Therfore I see that there is nothing better then that a maÌ„ should reioyse in his affayres because that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him So that I see no vse of earths increase Fit for our bodies but whilst here we liue With them to cheere our sprights and purchase peace And vnto God for them due praise to giue Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue For he and they are subiect as you see To chaunge and to earths fraile mortalitee As for the care the wise and goodly haue Of their successors competent estate It is but due and nature doth it craue But for their loue our selues we ought not hate And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate What they will proue or what in time may grow We know not nor should curious be to know Chap. 4. verse 1 TheÌ„ earths vnrights I viewd tears of wroÌ„gd by worthles iudg verse 2 And therwith thought theÌ„ blessed dead need not the liuing grudge 1. So I turned conâ—idereâ— all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne and behold the teares of the oppressed and none conforteth them and â—o the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them and none comforteth him BVt whither doth this passion me transport My thoghts with thinking haue forgot my thought Whilst earthly I with earthly worlds consort And to the bodies cares haue comfort brought My meditations haue the heauens sought And those eternities which passe my skill But now descend to earth againe I will And of more humaine actions will intreat Where we a tragedie of woes shall see Whilst weaker ones oppressed by the great Are destitute of place whereto to flee For succour since their foes their Iudges bee And farre too powrefull wherewith to contend And most men backward poore men to defend 2. Wherefore I prayied the dead which now are dead aboue the liuing which are yet aliue Which makes me thinke though nature it deny That much more happie is the dead mans state Then those that in this life such troubles try And life like death my heart begins to hate Death vnto endlesse life is but the gate But life is vnto death a longsome way Where tyresome troubles vexe vs day by day And death that lothsome state which life doth shun By life itselfe with care and toyle is sought Through perils men to purchase death do run And with lifes scorne holde death but cheaply bought Which honour to them selues or countrey brought For life could not exempted be from wo Whilst dying they all worldly cares forgo verse 3 The vnhorne better then them both who such ill daies not saw verse 4 It vexed me the spight to see that vertuous workes do draw 3. And I count him better theÌ„ them both which hath not yet bin for he hath not seene the euill works which are wrought vnder the suune But yet indeed since both by life and death The state of many men is wretched still They may most happie seeme which nere drew breath Or infants dyed neuer knowing ill And reason good for both produce I will The ones not being making them to bee Incapable of vengeance wicked see The other cleane exempt from humane care As being dead now needing nothing more Whose actuall crimes hels doome could not prepare Originall sinnes by grace were cleansd before And mercie guiding them to high heau'ns dore Whose want of reason liuing knew no wo But voyd of feare to death did mildly go 4. Also I beheld all trauell and all perfection of workes that this is the enuy of a maÌ„ against his neighbour this also is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit This other plague besides doth follow man A vice alas too common in this age The more of vertue that he glory can The more the baser sort repine and rage And with reprochfull slander malice swage Depriuing or deprauing best desart Or it Eclipsing with some guilefull art No foe to learning like the ignorant Nor to the good like to the bad we say Gods kingdome Beliall seeketh to supplant And vertue fayling his another way Euen viciously they vertue would betray Who herein yet themselues do but disgrace For slander can not iust deserts deface verse 5 The slothfull foole he folds his hands but hunger staru'd he pines verse 6 Whilst to a poore but lasie life his chosen course inclines 5. The foole foldeth his hands and eateth vp his owne flesh Themselues like fooles and feeble helplesse wights Vnable or vnwilling to attaine The trauell which belongs to vertues rights Doe poore disgracefull liue and so remaine And caterpiller like on others paine Doe feed and liue to world improfitable Driuen to depend on scraps of others table Nay well it were with some if so it were Who foodlesse are compeld to begge or starue Because their idle fingers doe forbeare The honest trades which might their liuing serue Whose folded hands no better doth deserue But as they to themselues do proue vnkind So they of others should no better find 6. Better is an handfull with quietnes then two handfuls with Iâ—bor and vexation of the Spirit Yet which is lamentable to be told They senselesse so in idlenesse delight That they their course of life to prayse are bold And all virilitie excluding quight Their base borne humours glose so well in sight As though an humble thought and peace of mind From all industrie did the honest bind As though that peace and plentie neuer met As if wealth were attain'd with bare desire As though they carelesse were that liue in debt As if they grieselesse who not wealth aspire As though God did not trauell'of vs require As though an humble mind appeard not best In modest vse of plentie and of rest verse
groueling is his resting place Then shall my soule with Debora imbrace In thankfull wise thy mercies I receiue And so pursue the fleshly Canaans race Till I the furie of the same bereaue And with my song thy seruants shall accord To yeeld due praise to thee the liuing Lord. SON LXXVI MY soule like silly Ioseph Lord was sold By fleshly brethren his vnkind alas To vanities the merchants which behold From far they saw to Egipt which do passe A seruant vnto Ismaels seed it was And sold from sin to death and so to hell Of humane frailtie Lord a looking glasse In which all foule affections long did dwell Yet lo alas when sin seekes most t' excell And haue my mind consent to traitrous lust With grace ô Lord that enemy repell And heare my praiers who in thee do trust Who though a space in bodies prison staies Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heauen to raise SON XXVII SO blinde ô Lord haue my affections bin And so deceitfull hath bin Satans slight That to giue credit I did first begin To pride and lust as heauenly powers of might I offred all my sences with delight A sacrifice to feed those Idols vaine Of all the presents proffred day and night Nought vnconsumde I saw there did remaine Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plaine The falshood by the which I was deceiued How Satans kingdome made here of a gaine And wickednesse my hope and faith bereaued But now the sifted ashes of thy word Bewraies Bels Prists slaies dragon without sword SON LXXVIII A Wicked theefe that oft haue robd and slaine Thy graces of their frute my selfe of blisse Now on the crosse of conscience I remaine To die the death the which eternall is I see no way to quit my selfe of this Vnlesse thou Lord whose kingdome is aboue Remember me and cansell life amisse Out of thy memorie through Christ thy loue Who in my flesh with me like death did proue That guiltlesse he might guilties ransome bee Loue to my soule it was that did him moue The bands of death to bide to make vs free Blesse thou my tong increase thou faith in mee This night to be in paradise with thee SON LXXIX IN bondage long to Satan haue I bin A maker of the bricke of Babell towre By birth a thrall to grosse and filthie sin Whom lusts taskmasters doth attend ech houre Affection to the flesh doth cleane defloure The memorie and loue of promist lands The fiend euen Pharo seeketh to deuoure My soule and chaine me to his dreadfulll bands But Lord receiue me safe into thy hands Protect me from the rigor of his might Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands In my defence giue me true faith to fight Send Moyses Lord with powre of heauenly sword And Aaron to direct me by thy word SON LXXX A Moabit I was of cursed kinde Vnkinde vnto thy Church Lord and to thee Who sought by ayde of foolish Balaam blinde To captiuate the soule that should be free Incestuous frutes of that high climing tree Which doth subdue all reason and all grace A carnall kinsman by a neare degree Vnto the soule the which I haue in chase Whom I with lothsome sin sought to deface And bastardise with carnall fond affect Whose ofspring thou vnto the tenth mans race Didst once out of thy sanctuary reiect Yet now by faith made free of Iury land A suter here before thy throne do stand SON LXXXI LO how I groueling vnder burden lie Of sin of shame of feare Lord of thy sight My guilt so manifold dare not come nie Thy throne of mercy mirror of thy might With hidden and with ignorant sinnes I fight Dispairing and presumptuous faults also All fleshly frailtie on my backe doth light Originall and actuall with me go Against a streame of lusts my will would roe To gaine the shoare of grace the port of peace But flouds of foule affections ouerfloe And sinke I must I see now no release Vnlesse my Sauior deare this burden take And faith a ship of safetie for me make SON LXXXII FRom Iuda wandring Lord to Iericho From holie law of thine to carnall lust Whilst midst the prease of lewd affects I go I robbed am of rayment pure and iust And wounded lye Lord groueling in the dust Not any passer by can giue me aide In fleshly strength or friendship is no trust By highway seene to helpe me few haue staide But since my Sauior Christ on crosse hath paide A ransome rich to cure my bleeding sore By faith to craue the frutes I 'am not affraide In hope my health thereby for to restore Bind vp my wounds with balme leade me to rest Giue me such gifts of grace as like thee best SON LXXXIII THis slender Citie Lord of strength behold Wherein I dwell Bethulia my bower Of flesh whereto sin laies a battry bold And seeks with sword dearth my soules deuower Suppresse thou hellish Holofernes power Who prides himselfe in praie of children thine I haue no trust in mountaines wals nor tower For want of faithes true fountaine we shall pine Raise vp this female couragde heart of mine Strengthen my hand to reue this monsters hed Let me not tast deceiptfull follies wine Nor be polluted with worlds sinfull bed But constantly by faith fight in defence Of feeble flesh and driue thy enemies thence SON LXXXIIII NOt that my faith doth faint a whit is cause That I so instant am on thee to call O God of life but yeelding to thy lawes Before thy sight my soule these teares lets fall Which in thy bottle kept I know are all And quench the fury of thy burning ire Which sin enflamde and qualifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire If feruently the childe due food desire Of father he will not giue him a stone If of the wicked iustice man require Importunely some iustice will be showne More righteous iudge and father thou to mee Art Lord indeed and far more kind wilt bee SON LXXXV THe many trials Lord that I haue found Since out of Egipt darknesse I am brought Might witnesse well how in thee still abound Powre mercy truth wherby thy workes are wrought But foule dispaire against my faith hath fought Amidst the wildernesse wherein I stay And daintier food my fond affections sought Then Manna which thou sentst me euerie day The desert Zyn doth fountaine pure denay Of grace wherewith to quench my fainting ghost Eternall death expects my soule as pray And lust assaults me with a hideous host Stretch forth hād Lord smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance griefe and mone SON LXIII THou hast ô Lord of mercy me enricht With flocks of fauour and of graces great Since I in Bethell first the pillar pitcht Of praises to thy name and mercies seat Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat A ruine to the frute faith forth should bring With pleasing humors him for to intreat
is none SON XCIII IF I did hope by pen to patterne out The many merits of thy Maiestie Which of thy mercies we do daily trie And endlesse matter I should go about But I alas my strength so much do doubt That nothing lesse then such a thought I haue To point foorth others to a thought I craue Whose confidence in skill is much more stout Yet dare I say that nature neuer gaue The power to flesh and bloud to looke so hye Nor gifts of grace full few there are apply To giue him laud aright that did them saue How to behaue My selfe herein I learne And wish my will might others likewise warne SON XCIIII VVHat tongue or pen can shew it selfe vnkind Vnto a father full of mercy so Who freely doth such benefits besto And of our case hath such a carefull mind Before we were a way he forth did find Whereby to purchase vs in heauen a place When natiue strength our glory should deface A remedie therefore his loue assignd He giues vs knowledge of the same by grace Which offered is to them the which will go Vnto the word where sauing health doth grow And faith through which our Sauiour we imbrace And being base By birth and thrall to hell He vs adopts in childrens roome to dwell SON XCV VVHy should this worldly care haue now such power To quench the comfort which the soule shall find In this our God who is to vs so kind The memorie of which should feare deuoure If faith were watred well with heauenly shower Of grace and knowledge of our happie state It would the force of all assaults abate And be a bulwarke strong at trials hower If we the world and flesh did truly hate And made his will a law vnto our mind If doubt of power or will did not vs blind Which to distrust sets open wide the gate Then would this rate Of worldly care be lesse And he our faith with fauour more would blesse SON XCVI HOw loath this flesh of mine remaineth still To part from sinne his old companion deare Of death or of a change he would not heare But would imbrace him aye with his good will The very thought of death his thought doth kill The very feare thereof his sorrow brings So sweet the pleasures seeme of earthly things That nought else can our fond affections fill But who is wise fro out the snare he wrings Before perforce death doth approch him neare That abstinence no vertue doth appeare When want of power subdues affections stings But who so flings From them when they pursue To him pure name of vertue indeed is due SON XCVII VVHo so would liue of force he first must die Death is the doore which leadeth vnto life Life which shall be deuoyd of change and strife Whose comfort shall our teares of sorrow drie The way is straight the which man must go by If to the heauens he purpose to ascend His grosse corruption must to graue descend And dead the power of sinne therein must lye If he to be regenerate intend First must he mortifie the motions rife Of lust which kill the soule with cruell knife And eke his ruine presently pretend For God will send A happie change indeed As haruest paies with plentie plow-mans seed SON XCVIII VVHen I with griefe sometimes to mind do call The wofull losse that sinne to man hath brought And want which to all creatures it hath wrought By Satans slight and Adams fearefull fall I find no comfort in worlds vse at all But wish to be dissolu'd with Christ to dwell From whom all blessings flow and do excell In thought whereof my comfort is not small Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well Into a doubt if that in truth I ought More sorrow parents fall which death hath brought Or ioy the life through Christ to me befell Yet truth to tell I find the change so good Our state is better now then when we stood SON XCIX IF I can speake and like a coward crake If I can tell the thing the which is best If I in muster seeme to battell prest And yet shrinke backe when I should triall make If I indeuour others to awake Fro out the deadly slumber they are in And yet my selfe cannot reuolt from sin But in the pride thereof do pleasure take By all my trauell I no gaine shall win Although my paine might proue to others blest But as the Symbals sound doth to the rest I mâ—ght haps morne when others mirth begin The feast but thin Would be vnto my share Though many dishes to the guests I bare SON C. FOrtune and chance blind guides to blisse farewell Vpon your leasures I no more attend I not regard what good or ill you send Nor in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell A greater blisse then ere through you befell Ye made me to neglect I now do see Whose hope from feare could nere continue free But aye distrust did gainst my faith rebell The earths delight the which ye promist me Could not my soule from sorrow ought defend Your sweete with sower was mixed in the end So vaine and variable both they be Then happie he That seeketh blessed rest In Christ alone and doth the world detest CONCLVSION VVOrds may well want both inke and paper faile Wits may grow dull and will may weary grow And worlds affaires may make my pen more slow But yet my heart and courage shall not quaile Though cares and troubles do my peace assaile And driue me to delay thy prayse awhile Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile Thy mercies Lord by which my plaints preuaile And though the world with face should gratefull smile And me her pedlers packe of pleasures show No heartie loue on her I would bestow Because I know she seekes me to beguile Ne will defile My happie peace of mind For all the solace I in earth may find FINIS SVNDRY AFFECTIONATE SONETS OF A FEELING CONSCIENCE PREFACE VVHere hast thou rangd my retchles soul so long How too securely hast thou luld my mind In so long space no cause or meanes to find To once againe renue thy vowed song Be not too bold thinke not thy perill past May be thy iourney is but new begun Pleasures do vanish dangers fly as fast To stop thy course if slowly thou do runne Thy vowes are made they may not be vndonne And cause thou hast if blessings not thee blind To keepe thy promise to a God so kind By whom alone thou freedomes rest hast wonne To him nay to thy selfe then do not wrong To whom thy hart powre will by vow belong SON I. OF thee and of thy prayse Lord will I sing Who rid'st on winged Chariot of the skie Whose throne is plast aboue the thrones most hie Whose will doth forme change ech formed thing To thee the offerings of thy bounties gift To thee the due of my attaynd desire I will present and with a voice
in the doer though our mind And common sense some reason so pretend The deed which meriteth for vertue prayse Must be premeditate in will before Indeuour'd lawfully and which bewrayes No priuate obiect or respect we bore And God himselfe things iudgeth euer more Not by effects as men of wisedome blind But by intentions faithfull honest kind Of such as doing them his aide implore He issue doth to actions different send As he to greater good euer ill will bend SON XCIX IF God should measure vs as we deserue For each offence requiting equally His iustice we with horror should espie From which excuse to shield vs could not serue But iustice his by holy bound restraind Of mercie which doth waighour weake estate A proper counterpoise for vs hath gaind Whilst iustis wrath Christs mercy doth abate His Sonne our Sauiour doth set ope a gate To safetie by the pardon he did bye With bloud most innocent lest we should die Guilty of sin which iustice needs must hate Thus we by faith cannot be sayd to swarue Our faults are his of merits his we carue SON XC IT is a custome that deserueth blame And ouer common with vs now adayes That euery man his fault on other layes And some excuse for euery euill frame And rather then we will the burden beare We lay on God whose prouidence rules all The cause of what our wicked natures were Producers of with wilfull bitter gall Thus from one sin to other we do fall And haires herein our nature vs bewrayes Of parent first who his offence denaies And rather God wife serpent guilty call Then to confesse his proper free will lame And by repentance praise Gods holy name SON XCI HOw can he be the author held of ill Who goodnesse is it selfe and onely true To whom alone perfection still is due And all the world with goodly workes doth fill It is not God it is our selues alas That doth produce these foule affects of sin Our sickly nature first infected was And lacking tast of truth delights therein Our deeds in vs how fowle so'ere they haue bin What good soeuer of them doth insue That part is Gods our corrupt nature drue The worser part and flesh death snares did spin And euen our deeds the which our soules do kill Are good to God and worke his glorie still SON XCII DOth any man desire his life to mend And that of sin he might a lothing finde Let him but on his actions looke behinde Forepast and see where to they most did bend Let him on others looke with equall view And note deformitie of lothfull sin Let reason not affections tell him true The brickle state himselfe to fore was in As doctrine that to penitence doth win And true repentance one of honest mind When he in other sees affects so blind As he in reason thinks could not haue bin Such as him selfe ashameth to defend And to be guiltlese off he would pretend SON XCIII I Haue desir'd and held as chiefe delight To lead my life where mirth did alwaies dwell From soule so sorrow thinking to repell In feast and sport so past I day and night But if as oft there did a dismall chance Befall whereby I found some cause of griefe I was amaz'd dispair'd and as in trance No comfort found or meanes to giue reliefe My former ioyes prouoked sorrow chiefe I loathd the thoughts before did please so well My meditations then of death befell And of worlds pleasures which were vaine chiefe Which made me chaÌ„ge my former humor quight For teares cares sorrows still to be in sight SON XCIIII SInce we are found if we our selues do know To be a barren ground and good for nought Vnlesse by husbandrie we will be brought To aptnesse for some good whereon to growe Since preachers are the husbandmen ordaind And preaching of the Prophets is the seed By whose indeuors onely frute is gaind Of holy life the which our faith doth feed Me thiâ—kes it should a greater aptnesse breed In tennants to this soule which Christ hath bought To haue it so manurde and daily wrought As it might grow to betterd state indeed And yeeld some crop of goodnesse which might show The thankfull hearts which we to God do owe. SON XCV WHen I behold the trauell and the payne Which wicked men in euill actions bide What hazards they assay to goe aside When with more ease they vertue might attaine How theeues and murtherers such boldnesse vse Such watchfull painefull meanes their wills to win As euen religious men do oft refuse To tast of like though they would faine begin I finde too true that we are sold to sin And that the bodie doth the spirit guide That reason yeelds to sense and sense doth hide Lust in his liking which doth forward slide From ill to worse and neuer doth refraine Sin which may sin nor paine which paine may gain SON XCI SInce nothing is more certaine then to dye Nor more vncertaine then the time and howre Which how to know is not in Phisickes powre Yet nature teacheth it to be but nie For that death stealeth on vs like a thiefe And nothing liuing is exempt therefro His malice to preuent is wisedome chiefe That vnprouided he not take vs so As that on sodaine he appeare a foe And vs compulsiuely he do deuowre That God by him in wrath doe seme to lowre And that to death not life we seeme to goe Soe let vs liue that death we dare defie Since heauens eternall life we gaine thereby SON XCVII GReat are the graces God in man doth show All tending chiefly to soules proper gaine That by some meanes at length he might attaine To higher thoughts from earthly base and low Yet since no benefits we do receaue Can so assure vs of his loue indeed That loue of world and earth they can bereaue And make our minds on heauenly ioy to feed Much lesse a new desire in vs can breed To win the heauens by losse of life so vaine This common way by death he made remaine Ineuitable to all humane seed By force those heauenly ioyes to make vs know Which after death in lasting life shall grow SON XCVIII MIght Elizeus wish allow'd be And prayer blest which Salomon did make And canst thou then thy trauell vndertake For worthier prize then they haue showne to thee Sure heauenly wisedome earthly wisedome teacheth Such wisedome findeth grace with God and man Who seeks these first God plenteously him reacheth All other earthly gifts he wisht or can That will I seeke that will I studie than No plenty shall my thirst therafter slake With Elizeus will I alwayes wake And watch the Prophets wayes and manner whan My Sauiour doth ascend that I may see His glory â—and he his grace redouble'in mee SON XCIX LOng do the wicked runne a lawlesse race Vncrost and vncontrolled in their will Their appetites at pleasure they do fill And thinke themselues to be in happie
on earth can praise But present vse of blessings I possesse With chearefull heart to exercise my dayes To good of such to whom I loue professe And deedes which charitie doe best expresse And that is all this world to thee can lend And vse why God did them vnto thee send verse 13 To eat drinke pains gained store as gifts Gods blessings were verse 14 His wil most firme man may not change but it admire with fere 13. And also that euery man eateth and drinketh and seeth the commodity of all his labo◠this is the gift of God And to speake truth what man with all his paine And to speake truth what man with all his paine Can promise to himselfe the vse to haue Of what with greatest trauell he doth gaine To yeeld the sustenance his life doth craue What prouidence so wisely can it saue But in a moment it may vade away Twixt cup and lip fall many a slip we say Then let man learne that Gods good gifts they are And lent but for a time whereof to yeeld Account how they are vsed and how farre Our confidence and trust on them we build For wealth cannot from heauenly iudgement shield Let God therefore haue part the poore haue his With temp'rance do thou spend remaine that is 14. I know that whatsoeuer God shall doe it shall be for euer to it can no man adde and from it can none diminish for God hath done it that they should feare before him For well I know God all things doth foresee And seeing doth foreknow their issues all Whose knowledge when he will makes things to bee In such estate as vnto vs they fall Whose prouidence herein some fortune call Because effects of cause to vs vnknowne By chance as we suppose hath to vs growne But they in his decree immutable From all beginnings were and firme must stand Examples be mans frustrate labours still If God assist not with his helping hand A haire from head a bird falles not on land But with his heauenly will which is a law And should vs to his feare and reu'rence draw verse 15 Things past are now what is shal be for God will haue it so verse 16 Yet on the earth wrong rules for right and all peruerse doth go 15. What is that that hath bin that is now that that shall be hath now bene for God requireth that which is past Hence nature hath this interchange of things This spring times clothing of delightfull greene That scorched yellow colour sommer brings That tawney hew in new spent haruest seene Those withered pale prospects in winter beene When trees and plants to root liues sap retyre And euery change that seasons doe require This well deuided kingdome of the light Twixt Sunne and Moone so needfull to our life Of th' one by day th' other by the night Wherein they louingly like man and wife With equall care doe trauell voyd of strife By Gods almightie hand were framed so Things past and those to come in order go 16. And moreouer I haue seene vnder the Sun the place of iudgement where was wickednesse and the place of Iustice where was iniquitie Yea though God be not author of our ill Whereto by nature onely we are prone Yet for our tryall or our scourge he will Permit sometimes as I full oft haue knowne That euen his Magistrates by whom alone He leaues his lawes of Iustice to be tryde Into most foule enormities to slyde So wicked Tyrants vnto kingdomes rise And Iudges sit in holy Iustice seat Whose offices ordain'd to beat downe vice It fosters and the Iust do worst intreat Which of all plagues to kingdomes is most great Yet God who it permits can it redresse Whose wondrous works therein we must confesse verse 17 My hart yet giues both good bad in due time God wil find verse 18 Who made mā pure gaue him wit though brutish wil be blind 17. I thought in mine hart God will iudge the iust and the wicked for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke For God the great law-giuer wise and iust Who sees the thoughts and secrets of the raynes Though he a while permit them in their lust To range in pride of their malicious braynes Yet when he please their progresse he restraynes And makes them stand before his iudgement seat Whose sway on earth doth seeme most powrful great He cals each creature in his time at will To wreke the wrongs that innocents abyde Plague famine sword attend vpon him still And all mishaps the wicked doe betyde Fro out the snares the iust he safe doth guyde In his due time and them with honour crowne But their oppressors headlong plucketh downe 18. I considered in mine heart the state of the children of mē that God had purged them yet to see to they are in thēselues as beasts Thus mayst thou see as I do truly say By deepe consideration of the thing To humaine state on earth each houre and day Some chaunge or alteration new to bring To all estates to subiects as to King And that albeit in creation we Were holy and pure we now corrupted be Through which corruption death did first creepe in And death with it all plagues and wants hath brought The heauie recompence of parents sin By them infusd to vs by vs still wrought Corrupt throughout in word in deed in thought With more then brutish sins which in vs raigne And in our of-spring alwayes will remaine verse 19 Man beast like liues dies both breath liue and die in vaine verse 20 Of dust at first all passe by death vnto the earth againe 19. For the condition of the children of men the condition of beasts are euen as one cōdition vnto thē as the one dyeth 〈◊〉 dieth the other for they haue all one breath there is no excellencie of man aboue the beast for all is vanity And as with brutish kind our liues pertake Or rather doth out passe them farre in ill For Tygers Wolues Gotes Swine our sins vs make When wrath deceit lust glut'ny rule our will So to our end with them we hasten still Foreseeing nothing deaths approching houre Which vs like them is readie to deuour In care and trauell we like them doe liue We liue vncertaine of the houre of death Vncertaine thus securely we doe giue Our selues to pleasure till it stop our breath When time is come no art the houre prolongeth When we as they againe returne to dust In earth no more then they may we haue trust 20. All goe to one place and all was of the dust and all shall returne to the dust One common matter was our stuffe and mould Euen earth and slime the Element most vylde Which though our maker for our honour would With his owne hands vouchsafe to frame and bylde And with infused breath adopt as chyld Whilst by his word alone the others all Take essence in the forme they were
they What if the wicked age wherein we liue Or lawlesse place wherein thou hapst to dwell Do sacred Iustice from her Scepter driue And make the poore mans life seeme worse then hell As though there were no God nor prouidence To punish sinne or yeeld the iust defence Yet be thou sure God seeth all full well And though he pacient be yet moued long He will dismount from heauen where he doth dwell To do thee right and wreke thee of their wrong With hoast of Angels and earths meanes beside To powre his wrath on them for lawlesse pride 8. And the abouÌ„dance of the earth is ouer all the king also consisteth by the field that is tilled When happie shall be held their blessed state Who humbly yeelded vnto Gods decree Who with the sweat of browes their liuing gate And with liues needfull food contented bee Whose trauell on this earth of mans vnrest With fruitfull crop from God aboue is blest Thrise blest thou silly swaine that tilst the ground Voide of the crafts and cares in Courts that bee More honest profit or content not found In Princes pallace then in cot with thee Kings without thee ne liue ne can be kings Thy paine to Court and Countrey plently brings verse 9 Who loueth gold shall lacke and he who couets much want store verse 10 With wealth charge growes the owner but moreaseth paine the more 9. He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer and he that loueth riches shall be without the fruit thereof this also is vanitie What though the world through hateful lust of gold Be thus transported with a greedy mind To purchase wealth which makes the coward bold To search land sea and hell the same to find Yet as it doth increase so doth desire And soone consume as oyle amidst the fire A iust reward of so vnworthy trade As doth debase nobilitie of soule Which made immortal scornes those things that vade And in the wise should earthly'affects controule But mouldwarp like these blindfold grope in vaine Vaine their desires more vaine the fruit they gaine 10. When goods increase they are increased that eat them and what good commeth to the owners thereof but the beholding therof with their eyes If honor wealth and calling do excell The common sort so charge doth grow with all Few with a litle sure may liue as well As many may though greater wealth befall It is not wealth to haue of goods great store But wealth to be suffisd and need no more Who hath aboundance and it vseth well Is but a steward to his family A purse-bearer for such as neare him dwell An Amner to the poore that helplessely He but his share doth spend though somwhat better And what he leaues he is to world a detter verse 11 Poore labourers empty mawd sleep sound whilst gluttons want their sleepe verse 12 This plague I see some with their wealth their proper mischiefe keepe 11. The sleepe of him that trauelleth is sweet whether he eat litle or much but the societie of the rich will not suffer him 〈◊〉 sleepe The labouring man that in his lawfull trade Hath past the toylesome day to gaine to liue No surfet hath his stomacke to vpbrayd Nor fearefull dreames which into horror driue His fraudlesse soule whilst he the longsome night Doth rest and rise to worke as day doth light When as the glutton after crammed gorge Whose surfets vpon surfets buried bee In his insatiat maw of hellish forge In bed no rest can find but slumbering see A swarme of visions breed by vapours vaine Which from a putride stomacke rise to braine 12. There is an euil sicknesse that I haue seene vnder the sun to wit riches reserued to the â—wners thereof for their euill And which I further see doth oft ensew The wealthier sort and which I much lament Is that they often times themselues do rew Their euill gotten wealth with time mispent As meanes for so it proues of greater care And which in end doth leaue them poore and bare Like to a spunge which store of sap hath suckt Or to the Bee that hony hath in hyue Their wealth is wrong their hony combe is pluckt Out of their hord by which they thought to thryue Their liues do for their goods fare oft the worse For enuious eyes pursue the plenteous purse verse 13 Their riches perish with their pains their childreÌ„ poore remaine verse 14 As naked buried as were borne leaue all their trauels gaine 13. And these riches perish by euil trauell and he begetteth a sonne and in his hand is nothing Which though they hap to scape yet many wayes There are besides which doth their ioyes bereaue Ill gotten goods we say not long time stayes And hastie wealth few heires to heires do leaue The getters faults or follies all may lose And chance or change of times it new dispose So that the of-spring of these mightie men By due vicisitude do oft descend From their aspired greatnesse hoped then Vnto the meanest ranke from whence they wend Each Crow his feather hath and naked they Their parents sinnes by their mishaps bewray 14. As he came forth of his mothers belly he shall returne naked to go as he came and shall beare away nothing of his labor which he hath caused to passe by his hand The Father he all naked went before Vnto the earth whence first he naked came The sonne as readie standeth at the dore To follow fathers steps and with the same Poore naked helplesse state that borne he was From all his pompe vnto his graue to pas Not any thing with him from hence to beare Of earthly substance that he did possesse The soule immortall is and may not weare Nor any vertues that our way addresse To heauen they shall suruiue vs after death WheÌ„ death shal liue by liues soone smothred breath verse 15 Gone as they came ô griefe of griefes his trauels paid with wind verse 16 His daies in darknes spent his bread consumd with grief of mind 15. And this also is an euill sicknes that in al points as he came so 〈◊〉 he go and what profit hath he that he â—â—th trauelled 〈◊〉 the windâ— If so it be alas what woe is this That not alone as poorest man beside All naked vnto graue he posting is But euen the common pangs must him betide That to all flesh at houre of death is rife When soule and bodie parting finish life And that with him his trauels fruits do end Who hath no share in all his former gaine But what soeuer blisse he did pretend His haps as others chance do voide remaine His hopes like dust dispersed with the wind Or sownd on sea where they no root could find 16. Also all his daies he eateth in darknesse with much griefe and in his sorrow and anger Which when he doth fore-think with heauy cheare He pines away the remnant of his dayes How much the more he happie did appeare The more vnhappy
in delight Yet sweeter in the end we shall digest Deathes bitter pill which nature doth detest Yea though we in a sort offended wax With euils which we see so much abound Within our selues and for the good that lacks In vs and others which the good doth wound Yet this a cheerefull mendment will procure And rayse our hearts in sinne to fore secure 6. The hart of the wise is in the house of mourning but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth The wise they will like heedfull watchmen keepe A curious Sentinell in all their wayes Least death and ruine should vpon them creepe And turne to mournfull night their merry dayes They do obserue the frailtie of their state And rather fawne on death then feare too late Whilst foolish worldlings surfet with the ioy Which they vnfitly plast in earths vaine sweet And are surprisd with euery small annoy So sore that it to beare they are not meet And vnder euery aduerse cause do sinke Whilst others hope and ioy at perils brinke verse 7 More sweet are wise rebukes then notes which flattering fooles do sing verse 8 As blase of thornes so vainely passe the pleasures they do bring 7. Better it is to heare the rebuke of a wise man then that a man should heare the song of fooles And for we hardly see our owne amisse And each in others eyes a mote can spy My best aduice to do thee good is this That to thy friends reproofe thou do apply Yea such a friend as knoweth good from ill And thy misdeeds in thee reproue that will For better are the blowes that friends do giue Then smoothed actions flatt'rers do bestow Those to amendment do the wiser driue By th' others fooles from ill to worse do grow There Syrens songs do make thee sleepe in sin These rougher words thy soule from ruine win 8. For like the noyse of the thornes vnder the pot so is the laughter of the foole this also is vanitie And what delight indeed can wise men take In foolish tattle of the lewder sort Like crackling bushes in the fire they make A blast and blase foorth straight in their disport An outward show of mirth which ends with smart And laugh with mouth that haue a heauie hart The wise in ioy and myrth are temperate They ground their mirth on greater cause of ioy They are not so raysd vp with good estate Or beaten downe with any'aduerse annoy But that they can beare either state aswell As time or chaunce can make them ebbe or swell verse 9 Sure wise men wax with wrongs nere mad to see brybs so preuaile verse 10 But th' end is al who patient stayes shal thriue best without faile 9. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and the reward destroyeth the hart And yet it is I graunt a heauie thing And hardly is digested of the best To see how some the lawes to lust do wring And how thereby the weaker are opprest How wrong for right sometimes doth freely pas And no man will or dare say bad it was And to behold how bribes are busie still To blind the eyes that else would wisely see That Lay and Clergie great and small most will Giue take buy sell things that most holy bee Would make a man of sob'rest spright halfe mad And any good man be perplex'd and sad 10. The end of a thing is better then the beginning thereof the patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit But men that note Gods iudgemēts for these things And can as sure they ought his pleasure stay Shall see the plagues that sinne vpon them brings And shall according to the prouerbe say That that is onely good and doth excell Which doth begin and also endeth well And therefore will with patience long expect The issue which God hath decreed before And as he limits times his will t' effect So till that time be silent euermore The rather since their agony and griefe Might wo increase not yeeld one iot reliefe verse 11 Be thou therefore to anger slow it fooles doth best befit verse 12 Muse not why tunes are chang'd it doth import but want of wit 11. Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles Then be not thou with worlds peruerse euent Disquieted or moued vnto yre No though with malice men against thee bent With iust offence might kindle cholers fyre It is a passion that aboundant is In fooles and not reformes the thing amis If thou with reason be as be thou may Offended with the euils that abound Thou mayst reproue them sure I say not nay And hate the place whereas such sinnes are found For fooles they are and dog-like bite the stone That blame offence yet doer let alone 12. Say not thou why is it that the former daies were better then these for thou dost not enquire wisely of this thing But yet withall beware thou do not blame Thy God in gouernment of present age By calling him t' account why not the same Most hatefull vices which with vs do rage Did not in former times so much excell And we with them compare in doing well For it were folly and offensiue much To God and man and signe of hatefull pride In weale or woe we may at nothing grutch For through our sinnes those scourges vs betide And God that sends the ill can it amend Vpon his will our liking must depend verse 13 Wisedome with welth grees euer best of all things vnder sunne verse 14 They calme the mind yet quiet heart by wisedome best is wonne 13. Wisedome is good with an inheritance excellent to them that see the sunne Sure well is he that wisedome hath and grace To vse it alwayes well in weale and wo But who hath wealth withall in better case By farre I do confesse though few are so Few though there be yet some such may you find Though many more with worldly wealth are blind Wealth giueth meanes for exercise of good Wealth the temptations wants to many a sin By wealth mens faults are hid their foes withstood Wealth may performe such workes as fauour win Which wealth if by dissent not care we haue And wisedome both what can we farther craue 14. For man shall rest in the shadow of wisedome and in the shadow of siluer but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessors thereof This wisedome armed thus with worldly powers For pleasant shadow may compared bee Vnto an Arbour deckt with fragrant flowers Which sweetly from sunne beames protecteth thee From wind and raine that can thee well defend And sweet repast vnto thy bodie lend For wisedome teacheth thee thy wealth to vse Vnto the needfull ends they were ordaynd And as vnwise you may them well accuse That will reiect the goods may well be gaynd But wisedome wealth can get and spends it well And wisedome therefore chiefly doth excell verse 15 Behold
beseeme in euery case And how to walke to win our soueraignes grace It will aduise thee as I also do To be attentiue to thy Prince behest To be obsequious also thereunto So farre as may accord with all the rest Of lawes of God of nature and of state And to attend his pleasure rare and late verse 3 In ill persist not but giue place Princes their pleasure craue verse 4 His word of power who may withstand the thing he likes to haue 3. Hast not to go forth of his sight stand not in an euil thing for he will do whatsoeuer pleaseth him If so his liking did of thee require A thing vnfit not pleasing vnto thee I would not wish thee there withall retyre Or discontent in count'nance ought to bee But yeeld with patience rather to the same For to obedience subiects ought to frame But if thy selfe by indiscretion haue Offended him persist not in thy wrong Of him it is no shame thy pardon craue For vnto Princes homage doth belong They haue the power of subiects to dispose Thy life and goods to saue or else to loose 4. Where the word of the king is there is power and who shall say vnto him what dost thou The Princes wrath is messenger of death His will a law his words are firme decrees Their instruments are readie at a breath To pull the proudest rebels on their knees Such Maiestie and power in them is found With euery frowne a loyall hart they wound Who dare vnto account his soueraigne call Who to no power in earth inferiour is Who will not at his feet all prostrate fall Who hath the power to punish his amis As deputies to God on earth they raigne And by his sword of Iustice state maintaine verse 5 Who keepes the law is free from blame the wise they times do know verse 6 The wise with iudgement chuseth time for things lest trouble grow 5. He that keepeth the commaundements shal know none euill thing and the hart of the wise shal know the time and iudgement Whose lawes the godly wise both must and will Indeuour most exactly to obserue In euery point and tittle to fulfill And wittingly in nothing much to swarue So shall he for himselfe best safety find And leaue the better name to world behind And for they hardly can discharge aright Their duetie that their natiue lawes not know And that their ignorance cannot acquight Who may and will not learne more wise to grow The wise will therefore learne their duties furst The good refraine th' euill they might and durst 6. For to euery purpose there is a time and iudgement because the miserie of man is great vpon him And as in publike causes wise men vse To guide their actions warily and well And proper times and seasons euer chuse For all they do before therewith they mell For proper times there are for euery thing Which good or ill successe with it doth bring So in their priuate life they do obserue Expediencie of that they take in hand From care whereof whilst some do rashly swarue Because true wisedome they not vnderstand They into many mischiefes headlong fall Which afterwards too late they would recall verse 7 For what knowes he what shall succeed he can not mend his fate verse 8 In life death battell sinne cannot protect the wickeds state 7. For he knowes not that which shal be for who can tell him when it shal be For it lies not no doubt in powre of man To iudge aright of sequels and euents Though by obseruance of things past we can Sometimes right neere coniecture of intents As like to haue successe as we desire But none can iudge the truth that they require It is but chance not iudgement if they hit So many errors do incounter them Those future knowledges for God are fit And none but he that priuileage can claime For as for Reuelations few are now And diuelish arts Gods word will not allow 8. Man is not Lord ouer the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death nor deliuerance in battell neither shall wickednesse deliuer the possessors thereof And how should he be able to foretell An others haps or actions can you thinke That not foresaw what to himselfe befell Nor knew his perill being at pits brinke Nor could deferre his death or destiny With all the care he did thereto apply That could not tell the place the dart should light That he in battell flong against his foe That cannot saue himselfe amidst the fight But beares the brunt perhaps of ouerthroe No wicked slight or art can sinners saue But that they sure in fine their merits haue verse 9 All these I note and find sometime mans powre his ouerthrow verse 10 These wicked die yet worse succeed the godly none to know 9. All this haue I seen◠and giuē mine heart to euery worke which is wrought vnder the sunne and I saw a time that man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt How farre alas doth all our skill come short Of that great knowledge we pretend to haue My selfe haue tryed the same in euery sort Of studie to the which my selfe I gaue And yet there is no knowledge so obscure Or easie but I did the same inure Nay of the things most common in my sight Which enery man can say and witnesse true I groped at as in obscurest night And could not see the reason how it grew That men euen to themselues most ruine bring And Magistrates their owne dependants wring 10. And likewise I saw the wicked buried they returned and they that came from the holy place were yet forgotten in the citie where they had done right this also is vanitie For which the foolish world become so farre From iust dislike of their iniust oppressions That liue and dead they fear'd and praysed are And whose posterities get more possessions They flourish rather most by doing wrong As if the earth did all to them belong But such as haue led long a holy life Deserued well of world and country all Haue bene pursued in life with hate and strife And euen at home forgot when death did call O vaine affection of the vulgar sort That maketh vice and vertue but a sport verse 11 Gods patience makes the wicked ones more bold to heap vp sin verse 12 Which long deferd is plagud in fine when iust men blessed bin 11. Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set on them to do euill These worldlings whilst they see the day deferd Of plague and iudgement of these wicked ones They do suppose their actions haue not erd But wisely were decreed for the nonce And so grew bold in practise of the same Till all the world therewith grew out of frame These wicked ones themselues grow insolent And pride their minds in their presumpteous trade They are so farre from meaning
and the strong meÌ„ shall â—ow theÌ„selues Before this glorious building do decay Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest Thy comely body which erecteth aye The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest Grow feeble and therein thou find no rest When trembling hand his duety doth denay And brainefalne thighes and legs bend vnder thee When lamed limbs on others strength must stay And crouches in their steed of force must bee What time thou twise a child shalt weary grow That thou the strength of youth didst euer kuow Ere teeth wax few and windowes closd deny thy eyes the light verse 4 And dore shut vp thy grinding iaws to chaw haue lost their might 4. And the grinders shal cease because they are few they wax darke that looke out by the windowes Before the Cators of thy diet fayle Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare Which lost or loose their labours not auayle But broths and minst-meats must become thy share And sharpned knife thy toothlesse gums must spare Before that darksome mists thy eyes assayle Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee When christall humor failing they shall quayle And spectacles must teach them now to see Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue Of worlds vaine shades which did the soule deceaue And the dores shall be shut out by the base sound of the grinding Before thy wanny cheekes sinke hollowed in In which well formed words should fashion haue And corrall lips which haue their portall bin And plyant tongue which elocution gaue Now faltering signes for interpretors do craue Whilst those white cliffes the bounders which begin The repercussion causing sweet resound Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin Through which they gracious passage somtimes found And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence The root of sweet content and sharp offence Ere sleeplesse braine at birds voice start and singing pipes be base verse 5 And high assents do make thee feard and almonds bud on face 5. And he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of singing shall be abased Before thy dryed braynes doe rest denye Vnto thy tyred bones and carefull mind And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye In bed thy graue for ease tofore assignd And starts at each birds chirpe or puffe of wind Before thy organe pypes with horcenesse dry Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce Wherewith resembling heauens true harmony Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed Also they shall be affraid of the hie thing and feare shall be in the way and the Almond tree shall flourish Before thou tyr'd at euery step must stay And clamber small assents on hand and knee And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way A spectacle of feeble nature bee To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see Before the harbengers of age I say Euen grieâ—ly haires do blossome on thy chin Which for most part declyning state bewray As Almond bud showes sommer to begin Prepare thy selfe for death the haruest due Which after spring time must of course insue Ere weaknesse make the grashopper a burden seeme and lust Consume for sure concupiscence with age doth weare to dust 5 cont And the Grashopper shall be a burden Before the childish toyes of infants lust Begin to want the wings of warmed blood And that thy body yeeld as once it must To age by which that humor is withstood To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good For looke how of May deaw and sommers dust The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know Like to Ephemeris that Tanaish flie Morne bred noone borne that very night to die And concupiscence shall be driuen away Not those faire frutes which by Gemorra grow Which touched once straight vnto dust do fall Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all Although regard thereof we haue but small Lust like a Torrent soone doth ouerflow If that accesse of nutriment abound But in a moment straight it waxeth low As by experience hath bene euer found Not Ammons of faire Thamor foule desyre So fierce but quencht with loathing did retyre Before in ages â—ed thy graue thou he whilst thee they morne verse 6 Thy siluer cord and golden ewre and liues pure cesterne worne 6. For a maÌ„ goeth to the house of his age and the mourners go about in the streete Then leaue that lothsome snare of humane kind The common cankor of the best concait Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind And to more brutish sins th'alluring bait And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight Suppose each ringing knell puts thee in mind That thou art in the way vnto thy graue Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find But so in all thy life thy selfe behaue As if thou were the man whose turne is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext Whiles the siluer cord is not lengthened nor the golden ewre broken nor the pitcher broken at the well nor the whele broken at the cesterne Before I say the vitall spirits faile Or that thy radick humors all be spent That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile And natures intercourse no more be sent From liuer hart and braine as earst it went Before warme bloud with I sey fleame do quaile And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine Before the cesterne made for liues auaile Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine But all the wheles of nature lacking strength To giue them motion they do faile at length verse 7 And flesh to dust thy spright to God returne that it did make verse 8 For all is vaine the preacher saith and all will vs forsake 7. And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gaue it For then be sure thy dayes are neere an end And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust Then yeeld thereto before perforce thou bend And in thy strength of youth repose no trust Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust Thy nobler part thy soule it did descend From God first mouer of all life and grace Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend In thee and it and will thy soule imbrace Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest 8. Vanitie of vanities sayth the Preacher all is vanitie Thus haue I sayth this Preacher proued true The proposition that I first did make That earthly things are vaine in vse and view That in them we can not sound comfort take And that in th' end we must them all forsake That wisedome only vertue should insue And vertue is the way to happinesse Which after death doth life againe renue A life more happie then the world can gesse When we shall liue from lewd
rau'ning woolfe in fearefull wise I call to thee sweet Sauiour shepheard true Teach me to know thy voice and thee insue SONET X. BEhold ô Lord the Citie thou hast built Ierusalem this fleshly frame of mine By sin Assyrians sword is almost spilt And like to yeeld to Rabsake in fine Yet lo alas my soule doth much repine To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name To threaten ruine to this temple thine Since thou art praysd and honord in the same Thou able art the rage of lust to tame The force of pride and furie to subdue Against Senacherib thy Angell came And all his host in one night ouerthrew So let thy holie spirit me defend And to my plaints and praiers comfort send SON XI SInce with Goliah I am now to fight And lacke the slight of holie Dauids sling Arme thou me Lord with heauenly armor bright Which power of flesh world to foile may bring Thy righteous brest-plate gird on me with truth Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace The shield of faith which firie dartes beare forth Of wicked Satan whose assaults not sease The helmet of saluation and the sword Of spirit which is founded on thy law All these my praiers are that thou afford To make me stedfast spight of lyons claw Who roaring daily seekes as wished pray My silly soule from thee to take away SON XII NOw that thou hast prepard me to confesse Thy seruice Lord the which I vndertake I thee beseech my purpose so to blesse That I a good account to thee may make A Nazarit I am who do forsake The delicacies of the worlds delight Whose thirst thy purest fountaine still shall slake With faith and truth the which with sin shall fight I will not tast the wine of Satans slight Which doth confound all reason and all sence My vow shall be to serue thee day and night And trust in thee shall be my true defence Till death dissolue this promise made to thee Whose strength herein thy heauenly graces bee SON XIII I Seeeke ô Lord to shew thy powrefull hand Which hath conuerted this my sinfull hart Into a rod of strength which still might stand Strong in thy truth who powrefull onely art But Iannes pride and Iambres lustfull hart By â—light imposture of slie Satans might Two Serpents frame which will not thence dâ—paert But seeke against thy powrefull hand to fight But let my faith their fury put to flight And vertue thine deuour these imps of sin Let not these fleshly frutes appeare in sight Of truth which only can the conquest win Let faith shew forth the finger of thy hand And cleane consume ech power doth it withstand SON XIIII BEhold ô Lord a tree by high way side Vnfrutefull yet of any food for thee In high way side as yet I do abide Where passers to Ierusalem I see Though sommer grow I cannot frutefull be Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine I do confesse I am a wild fig tree For want of moisture which am like to pine Vnto my praiers Lord do thou incline Remoue me home into thy garden faire Let me behold the face of thy sunne shine Which may my withered leaues with life repaire So maist thou tast a frute of wholesome kinde And leaue a marke of mercy great behinde SON XV. VVIthin thy garden Lord I planted was And watred well with thy most carefull hand But yet vâ—frutefull I remaind alas And these thy blessings did not vnderstand In vaine I did employ possessed land Ten times three yeares thy seruants did replant My stocke and sought to bend my crooked wand And did supply ech aide I seem'd to want At length my frutes which daily grew more scant Wild thee resolue to haue me weeded out My foule affections were with folly brant My roote of faith was shakt with feare and doubt And lo I pine sweet Sauiour water me Paul and Apollos worke else lost will be SON XVI A Wicked Pharisie I long haue bene Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee A shamed Lord of my faire clothed sinne In secret night I seeke thy face to see That thou art God thy woâ—kes reueale to me That thou art mine thy sonne doth me assure Vouchsafe that I regenerate may be And that my praiers pardon may procure Purge by thy sprite and faith faire fountaine pure The senses dull that cannot vnderstand The heauenly birth which shall in blisse endure Not subiect vnto Satans sinfull band And with thy sonne let worlds affections die My soule from hell with him ascend on hie SON XVII FIue foolish virgins in my senses dwell And seeke to make me slumber ouer long They dreame that all my deeds do fall out well Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong To vanities their humors do belong And sin who doth their fancie chiefly feed They cheined are to linkes of lust so strong That their best foile brings forth but bitter weed They lacke the oyle which should be vsde indeed To lead them to the euerlasting light It growes not Lord in frute of humane seed Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night Vnlesse thou lend thy hand and fill our lampes Our light goes forth with smothering sinful daÌ„ps SON XVIII OVt of the fountaine of eternall life I poore Samaritan here readie stand To sinfull lustan old betrothed wife With pitcher readie in my trembling hand To wraw a draught of liquor most diuine To quench the thirst of my inflamed hart With heauenly deaw ere that my soule do pine And qualiâ—ie the rigor of my smart A Prophet true thou art I vnderstand Or rather father of all truth thou art A stranger I from faire Iudaea land With these thy blessings craue for to impart Then guide my hand and teach my soule to tast True faith the fountaine where all blisse is plast SON XIX A Wicked soule sold to all fleshly sin Lord here I prostrate at thy feete do lie To gather crummes of grace soules health to win Which Lord to giue me do thou not denie The precious oyle of penitence will I Powre forth with teares fro out my melting eyes To bath thy feete and after will I drie Them with my haires which balms no treasure bies Though worldly loue when he my fact espies Repine to see my soule so well inclind To my defence ô Lord vouchsafe to rise And fructifie this first frute of my minde Vouchsafe to sup with humble seruant thine And that of seruice better choyse be mine SON XX. A Poore Arabian whom base Agar bare First borne of flesh but last of promist grace Of bastard kind bred vp with mothers care In wildernesse of world for a long space And famishing before my parents face Whose workes vnable were to lend me aide A bond man vnto sin as fleshly race To whom heauens heritage thy lawes denaide Amidst my wandring course by thee am staide And haue a promise not to die but liue Thy couenant Lord abundantly is paide If grace
he the power of hell will cleane deface SON XVII BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie Twixt heat and cold twixt heigth and depth below And both of them from one desire do flow The surest way to sauing health to trie Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie Vpon the merits of my sauior deare A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare Lest in consuming Iealousie I die A heart contrite doth will me to appeare With works of righteousnesse true faith which show Faith saies that god my streÌ„gth power doth know And that I cannot finde saluation here But bids me cheere My soule nothing feare Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare SON XVIII FRom far I see the stars which guide the way From East to West to finde my sauiour out I well might wander all the world about To seeke saluation and in one place stay I shining truth did not his house bewray Which in his word points forth his dwelling place By which directed I will walke a pace Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day And when I come before his blessed face To offer vp my presents will not doubt Although their basenesse all the world should flout So that my faith I may him once imbrace Which giueth grace And makes accepted well Mean works as much as those which more excell SON XIX NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke the treasor of thy law That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine I care not though the world my deede disdaine And thinke it not beseeming thing for me In such a worke an instrument to be Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine For so I Lord thy sauing heath may see And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw Though all the scorners of the world me saw Yet would I not ashamed be of thee For being free Of holie promist land I care not how my state on earth do stand SON XX. NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee If duly thy desert we do regard Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward At whose command all creatures readie bee Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow And in the vse of them obedience show Although alas it be in meane degree Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde Who to his power his present hath sparde So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe And doest bestow More graces then we craue For which naught els but thaÌ„ks thou lokst to haue SON XXI HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay And make the sunne returne in pride of day When as Iosias heart for feare it faints Thy fauour vnto Abram vs aquaints Of how great force repentant heart is found When hauing vowd vile Sodom to confound To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints By prayer man hath powre euen death to wound By praier he may moue amount away A faithfull feruent prayer finds no nay If that the thing we craue be pure and sound Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man Whose worthie praise no tongue well vtter can SON XXII THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay To thee the giuer of all good and grace And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day My heart my mouth my pen they neuer stay To take occasion freshly to renue The memorie of praises to thee due Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie in this point indeed I rue Who till I see new blessings in the place Forget the fauours late before my face And mercies thine from which such bountie grew For it is true So dull our sences are That oft thy blessings do our iudgments marre SON XXIII WHere so I cast about my wandring eye By chance or choice by hap or else by will Before my sight some obiect is there still Wherein thy power and loue I do espye In view whereof if I my thoughts do trye To raise my heart to Ioy I matter finde And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde As patrons of the same the world doth fill Who mad'st not onely but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the minde Which is not blinde Or too much obstinate Which later nature chiefly thou doest hate SON XXIIII VVHilst I do studie fitly to begin To vtter forth some part of my intent Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent For freeing me from due reward of sin I finde a laberinth that I am in Of many merits which do me inclose Which as this holie motion in me rose Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent In staying me the wandring course I went And feeling faith with knowledge where it growes And though I lose Therwith the worlds delight Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight SON XXV SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde By holie spirit thine in time of need As Philip to the Eunuch came indeed Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde And what humilitie was in thy Sonne Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne Vnto my soule for which he raunsome payde I see no earthly things should stay vndone The duties which requirde of me I reed By faith vpon thy promises I feed And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne And thus begunne I will continue still To learne thy lawes and to obay thy will SON XXVI HOw can I limit well my tong or pen Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose Whereon the more I muse more growth it then It fares with me herein euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake When staÌ„mering words the perfect sence do breake And makes vs not be vnderstood of men Such worthie matter in my mind there growes So plentifull and I of skill so weake So pleasing to me and so proper â—ake That in the choyce of them I iudgment lose And euen as those Want matter silent be So plentie of thy praise confoundeth me SON XXVII NOw that thy mercies do so much abound As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found Since power thereof did sinfull Dagon wound And yet disdaineth not my humble state I freely open Lord my lowly gate Of lips and tong which may thy praises sound Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late Since in my soule thy word I did embrace My zeale refreshed is
blessing send It is not ill to set before my sight Thy heauie plagues for sin from day to day But I had rather forth thy fauours lay And for their loue in quarrell thine to fight Which if I might By feruent zeale attaine Then should I hope the victorie to gaine SON L. NO sooner loue intirely me possest But see how iealousie doth me assaile She seekes with deepe distrust my faith to quaile And to remoue from conscience quiet guest She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest And that my deeds they too vnworthie are That from his fauour they will me debarre Whose loue is fixed only on the best Feare had begun to worke in me so farre That to amaze my minde it could not faile Till to my loue my state I did bewaile Who shining sweetly like the morning starre Did stay their iarre And bid my soule to rest In Christ by whom I surely shall be blest SON LI. HE is vnworthie to receiue a gift From any man that him mistrusts before I will not ought of thee Lord doubt therefore Although no reason can my hope vp lift I know in deed it is slye Satans drift To laie before me this my vile estate Which being sinfull thou of force must hate And I reiected be without all shift But when I with my selfe thy works debate Which haue examples of thy mercies store His reasons are of force with me no more Because that faith sets open wide the gate To me of late Which leades to treasure thine Where in thy sonne thou doest in mercy shine SON LII FAine would I follow thee through sea and land My louely Sauiour whom farre off I see Zeale makes my mind with speed to hast to thee But natiue weaknesse makes me doubtfull stand If to my ayde thou gau'st not forth thy hand And by thy word incourdgdst me to row I should so shun afflictions which do flow That feare should bend my faith like feeble wand But by thy offred grace now strong I grow And through the troubles of the world will be Bold to proceed and faith shall succour me To witnesse forth the thankfulnesse Iowe Thou doest bestow On me both power will And with them both I will thee honour still SON LIII AS do the starres amidst the firmament With borrowed light beare record vnto thee O Lord of might in which we men do see The image of thy power to them but lent So when our weake indeuors Lord are bent To publish forth thy praises which excell These silly sparkes of light which in vs dwell Do shew thy grace which vs this motion sent Although therefore no speech or tong can tell How infinite thy glorie ought to bee Which passeth humane sence by high degree As wisest men to grant they do compell Yet thou lik'st well We show herein our will Which I haue vowd vnto thy seruice still SON LIIII CAll me ô Lord for lo I do attend To follow thee where so thou doest direct I know thou wilt not my intent reiect Who gladly would proceed where so thou send I doubtfull stand which way my course to bend Because I finde such ignorance of skill To follow forth according to my will A frutefull course the which I did intend As thou with forward zeale my minde didst fill So shew me Lord whereto I am select And I shall carefully the same effect And feruently thereto go forward still Depend I will Vpon occasion fit That faithfully I may accomplish it SON LV. LIke silly babes such must thy seruants bee In innocencie and obedience still Vnto thy holy lawes ô Lord and will From wrath pride malice lust and enuy free With Serpents eyes of wisedome must they see And stop their eares which Sathan would deceaue With charmes of pleasure which a scar do leaue And onely lend obedient eare to thee Yet with simplicitie of doue receaue The yoke of law whose rule they must fulfill And suffer patiently the word to kill The force of sin which would soules health bereaue Such thou wilt heaue And hold in heauēly arme And with protecting hand defend from harme SON LVI WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see The throne triumphant where our Sauior sits In Maiestie aloft as best him fits A Iudge and Sauiour to his Saints to be Coëquall with his father in degree Possessor of the place for vs prepard Who readie stands our weake works to reward And from the fury of the world to free He were but base if ought he did regard This transitorie honour which so flits Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits And yet so niggardly to man is shard And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde Of care of conscience and of griefe of minde SON LVII VVHo seeketh not with all his powre and might To eternize vnto himselfe his state That chance or time may not his blisse rebate Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy To make them famous seeme in vaine worlds sight Which is the readiest way they do espye To keep their name from death which so they hate Yea all suppose posteritie the gate T'immortalize this flesh whose floure must dye But all go wry wealth honor wit haue end And children passe faith onely life doth lend SON LVIII VVHat wealth may be to this alone comparde To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue To haue our earthly thoughts so raysd aboue That world and worldly things we not regard To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs which shall eternally remaine Made free from worldly cares and troubles vaine Which is for children his a due reward Who can discouragde be with earthly paine Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue To share our griefes his ioy for vs to gaine Which thoughts should waine Our wils frō base desire And vs incourage higher to aspire SON LIX IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle Where all things flourisht first and prosper daye Wherein who liued neuer could decaye Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle And left man naked in reproach and shame To dust to turne againe from whence he came On baren earth to liue with sweat and toyle Then is our state much better then that same Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye Our Sauiour Abrams bosome doth displaye Wherein our soules shall rest most free from blame Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life To be exempt from feare of care or strife SON LX. VVHat is felicitie whereof men wright Which to attaine our studies still are bent VVhich to procure such time paine is spent By endlesse trauell therein day and night Sure if it be nought else but firme delight And that delight consist in peace of minde Then here on earth
our selues they stand in steed And vs vnto repentant feare do call They are not alwayes worst who do sustaine The greatest plagues ne yet the others free Of guilt how be it vnpunisht they remaine But rather for the more part worse they bee Christs holy iudgement teacheth this to mee By fall of Sylo towre the which indeed Slue not the worst and euen the best had need Their due deserts in others doome to see Let one mans wo be warning then to all And life reformd amend sinnes great and small SON XXXV I Often times endeuour to prepare My mind to beare with patience natures due Death which though fearefull must perforce insue And which no humane flesh did euer spare I therefore when I see the many woes That others do sustaine by liuing long The sicknesse want dishonor spight of foes Which most men must sustaine by right or wrong The hazards which on earth to vs belong The doubtfull hopes and feares which aye renue Ten thousand fained pleasures for one true And care to compasse them we haue among I grow to graunt that life is but a snare Death way to life a life deuoyd of care SON XXXVI VVHo sees the seed that in the ground is cast Cleane frō all weeds without both chaffe straw Yet afterward when haruest neare doth draw Shall see the weeds increase therein so fast Who sees the trauell to receiue againe The corne from chaffe and stubble cleansed made May see corruption in the soule remaine Which so with drosse the slender crop doth lade And in the soule may see like daily trade By natures weakenesse which vs keepes in awe So much that though we heare and feare the law And Gospell and in them a while do wade We bring few fruits and them most bad at last Which Sathan world flesh with sin haue blast SON XXXVII THough lawfull many things indeed I find To such as do them with a conscience pure Yet like I not my selfe for to inure To things not pleasing to the weaker mind And many lawfull things there are beside Which be not yet expedient to be done A Christians actions must the tutch abide Of such as by example will be wonne For why the ignorant do blindfold runne The trade that others tread as way most sure And memory of ill doth more indure Then good wherefore we warily should shunne The action which may chance insnare the blind Although the wise from hazard safely wind SON XXXVIII VAine are the brags and faith but fruitlesse is Of such who bost of vertue and holinesse When as profaned speech doth yet expresse A hollow heart by tongue that talkes amisse The tongue declares th' abundance of the hart And by our speech we vse t' expresse our mind A truly touched soule with wound doth smart When vaine or fruitlesse speech to rise they find But nature forst will foone returne to kind And who his seemelesse speech will not suppresse Vaine and deceitfull must his brags confesse And that delight in sinne is yet behind Who therefore hath no care at all of this His knowledge zeale and life receiues no blis SON XXXIX I Often others heare lament and say They cannot see the fruit they do expect By prayer and my selfe feele like effect Because indeed I vnprepared pray Not that my knees with reuerence do not bow Or that my tongue it doth not craue reliefe Or that my heart my words doth not allow But charitie doth want and firme beliefe Which to true praiers are assistants chiefe Both which for most part man doth vse neglect For want of either of which we are reiect And to our weaknesse addeth double griefe Who doth till reconcilement offring stay His faithfull lawfull prayers find no nay SON XL. THe season of the yeare the natiue kind Of euery creature to produce some thing Into my conscience doth this motion bring To God and nature not to be vnkind Two soyles I haue and both vnfruitfull be Through weedes of sin which both them ouer grow The body barren and the soule I see Of vertuous fruits which God and world I owe. Vouchsafe yet Lord Phauonean breath to blow With heauenly grace inspiring so my mind That soule regenerate in body find Reformed life true life in me to show For fleshly fruits too rife to hell do fling Soules blessed seed ascends on Angels wing SON XLI ALl men by nature greedy are to know And knowing much the more they do contend To draw vnto true knowledge perfect end By practise to the world some fruits to show What knowledge is there then in heauen or earth For one of wisedome great so high and fit To trauell in euen from the day of birth As that is gathered out of holy writ Therein is matter for each kind of wit Strange ancient pleasing subtle for to spend The finest wits and make them stoope and bend Whilst weakest braines find skill and ioy in it Though high it reach it beareth fruit below Which tasted once makes stomack strōger grow SON XLII STrange are in truth the fruits that man doth win And plentifull by vse of studie indeed Which appetite and matter still doth breed If but to gather them we do begin But heauenly studie much more copious is Contayning all that humane art doth teach And not alone it feeds our minds with this But soules true solace it doth farther reach It doctrine supernaturall doth preach And doth diuinely sow the sacred seed Which shall our soules with lasting comfort feed And worldly skill of ignorance appeach That is the studie we should neuer lin To spell reade conster and to practise in SON XLIII DOwne let vs fling these battlements begonne Of sinne which in our soules so fast are built At first or not at all it must be spilt Or else his fort once made the field is wonne If we neglect our watch and not preuent His practises but euen a little while Our trauell afterward is vainely spent And he our best attempts will soone beguile If we at lusts assaults but seeme to smile Though lowly first he creepe yet straight on stilt He will vpstart and make vs yeeld to gilt And we our selues soules slaughter be the while Because we stay not sinne till it be donne But rather after it do fondly runne SON XLIIII THere is great ods we see and must confesse Betwixt the speakers and the doers faith Words well but deeds much better man bewraith And both conioynd do dutie best expresse One promiseth to come as was requir'd To feast the other it denyeth but went The first he did neglect what was desir'd The latters deedes do shew he did relent He had the prayse and feast who did repent His words his blame who breaking promise stayth Whose life doth not comfirme what tongue it sayth For all his brags in end shall sure be shent But who doth tongue and hart to God addresse His deeds be sure with grace he still will blesse SON XLV HAue we not
Thou sufferedst patiently thy parents rod Because thou knewst his hatred could not last Though he thee punisht doing thing forbod And wilt not thou much more yeeld vnto God Obedience who thy good doth still intend Whose fatherly protection doth defend Thee from his wrath when sinne had made thee od The father to thy soule he is in fine His wrath asswag'd his loue doth soone incline SON LXXVIII TRue is it sure and none will it denay That faith inableth man to be more fit For heauenly knowledge then a humane wit To which hid secrets God will not bewray But what is faith and how it may be knowne How best attaynd in that most men mistake In iudgement of the same would care be showne And of true faith from false this difference make If worldly strength and wisedome man forsake If he by humble prayers seeke for it If of Gods promises he doubt no whit In Christ but for his strength that rocke he take It builded is on ground which still shall stay From fleshly bondage free at latter day SON LXXIX VVHat high presumption is there growne of late In abiect shrubs of Sathans darnell seed That bramble-like sinne thus aspires indeed To top the Cedar that his pride doth hate I graunt the fault in suffering him so long In humble shape to creepe and clime so hie Sinne poyson-like with age becomes more strong And Crokadell-like doth slay with teares in eie But since therefore no other shift I spy I like and will my loftie top abate My prostate soule may so restraine the state Of his increasing powre whereby that I In building of Gods house may serue some steed And sinne confounded lie like lothsome weed SON LXXX VVHo sees in common view of humaine kind The exild captiue-state of sinfull man Sold vnto death which only ransome can Appease the wrath for fall of parents blind May if he be of faithfull number proue A greater comfort then he can expresse To see himselfe whose sinnes these plagues do moue Freed from th' eternall death whilst nerethelesse The wicked reprobate who not confesse Their fall nor feele the fauours Christians wan Headlong proceed in path first parents ran And to the double death themselues addresse But happier he ten thousand times shall find His weakest state then their great gifts of mind SON LXXXI VVho giues may take we ought not to repine Both wealth and ease yea life also by right God giueth all all things are in his might And he can send and will good end in fine Why should we then grudge any thing to beare That he doth send or nigardly bestow Our liues or goods since to that vse they were Giuen vs as nature teacheth vs to know The great increase of fruite the same doth show Which from one graine produced is in sight Which as thing cast away appeares to light Till he by blessing his doe make it grow Which should our hearts to faith in him incline And not distrusting seeke for farther signe SON LXXXII OVr blinded natures that cannot foresee Th' effect of nature or what may succeed Of actions ours this error forth doth breed That we th' euent by chance suppose to bee To vs they may in deed by hap befall As things beyond our skill or powre to stay But as Gods works chance can we not them call Or fortunes deed or hap as we vse say God doth foresee and guide each thing the way It shall proceede and he doth giue the speed That doth insue and present are indeed Things past and future as they stand or stray Him as true cause of all things wee agree To be and from all chance or fortune free SON LXXXIII IT is a thing we lightly do neglect And yet a thing me thinkes we most should feare As which within our conscience still doth beare A witnesse of our guilt and foule infect When we by fame do find our spotted name The greatest plague a man on earth may find The hardest witnesse of our worthy shame And sorest censurer of deed or mind Yet so selfe-loue doth iudgement often blind Or ignorance our natiue reason bleare That what is said or thought by whom or where We little care but let it passe as wind Though prouerbe truely say by fames affect Gods iudgement lightly doth a truth detect SON LXXXIIII IF common fame be lightly likely found And fame for ill be such vnhappinesse Then this me thinkes a man must needs confesse That ill report from persons good doth wound If by report much more if poore opprest If innocents if they to God complaine If vengeance they do call to haue redrest The griefes and agonies they do sustaine If God as so he hath hath witnest plaine That he will heare their cries whom men oppresse And will his care of them herein expresse That their complaints and cryes turne not in vaine What yron age is this that such a sound Of cryes against oppression doth abound SON LXXXV MY younger thoughts do wish me to withstand The graue aduise which grace with loue doth lend Their rash decrees to tyranny do bend These wish me wisely note the cause in hand The safe possession of a crowne in peace By abstinence a while and patience vsd Sinnes power to shew the others vrge ne cease To say that pleasures should not be refusd The worser part my soule had almost chusd And for the pleasures which an houre doth send And to eternall bondage after tend I bin by law and reason both accusd But since thy goodnesse Lord gaue blessed land Keepe in thy lawes my fleshly subiects band SON LXXXVI ALas how watchfull and how diligent We are to further euery fond desire How slow againe to thing God doth require And how against the haire good motions went Full many more solicitors we find To satisfie each trifle flesh doth craue Then to the things good conscience would vs bind And which as duties God in lawe vs gaue The wit will memorie we readie haue To blow the bellowes of affections fire The soule may drenched perish in the mire Of fleshly thoughts ere any seeke to saue Or spare one minute which is fondly spent To succour it though it to good were bent SON LXXXVII WE haue bene babes babes yet by nature we Vnskilfull ignorant of heauenly law And babe-like should be then in feare and awe To God by whom create and rulde we be Weake food best fits weake stomacks as is sayd And charitie would wish true weaknesse beare Like strength to all Gods wisedome hath denayd But by long sucking t' were fit we stronger weare Nothing to beare away though much we heare To speake of faith which forth no fruites can draw To feed with greedinesse the bodies maw And yet no spirituall strength to let appeare Is signe the soule is dead in thee or mee For liuing trees by kindly fruit we see SON LXXXVIII NOt euery action which to happie end A man doth bring is token as I find Of goodnesse
he his state bewrayes For contraries by contraries are showne As blacke from white so good by ill is knowne As one that for some passed publike crime Is scandaled and pointed at of all With shame retyres himselfe in future time Least into more disgrace he yet should fall And hanging downe his head doth sigh alas And rage with griefe so he his dayes doth pas verse 17 These hold I good with ioy to feed on portion God doth giue verse 18 And whom God giues with this his grace he in Gods loue doth liue 17. Behold then what I haue seene good that it is comely to eat and to drinke and to take pleasure in all his labour wherein he trauelleth vnder the sunne the whole number of the dayes of his life which God giueth him for this is his portion Then this for earthly good I count the best For other good I scarcely any know That with those goods thou hast thou pleased rest And for thy owne behoofe thou them bestow Such part I meane as nature craues to vse Euen plenteously so thou it not abuse And hold this all thou hast of that is thine For that is left thou seest may be lost God gaue the plentie of both corne and wine To cheere mans troubled soule with combers tost This if thou hast and grace to vse it right Thou hast earths good the most on thee may light 18. Also to euery man to whom God hath giueÌ„ riches and treasures giueth him power to eat thereof to take his part and to enioy his labour this is the gift of God And they are rightly vsde when vsde they bee As he ordaines that did them first bestow God was the author of all good to thee To him thy life all thankfulnesse doth owe So vsing them they to thee blessings are Else wealth breeds woe peace proues as ill as warre Thou seest many starue in plenteous place Thou seest lusty youth suruyn'd by age Thou seest honour stoope to foule disgrace And heauy cheere the greatest ioyes asswage And for men do not yeeld the praise of all To God these mischiefes do vpon them fall verse 19 He need not sure thinke long his daies of pilgrimage on earth Since God doth answere harts desire to him with ioy and myrth 19. Surely he will not much remember the daies of his life because God answereth to the ioy of his heart O rare and happie they that God doth blesse With grace to know and vse his gifts aright Sure they more easly may support I gesse The common cares that do to all men light For present comforts cancell passed care As pleasures past do way to woe prepare Such season so the actions of their life That common cares seeme but the needfull sauce To quicken tast as peace insuing strife More gratefull is and hath the more applause They God in wealth and woe a father find And vnto him will not appeare vnkind Chap. 6. verse 1 This mischief more moÌ„gst meÌ„ I find some haue their wish at will verse 2 Of honor and wealth yet liue in lacke a strangers mouth to fill 1. There is an euill which I saw vnder the sunne and it is much among men BVt not one woe alone I must disclose For many woes do follow humane kind Great were these griefes but not more great then those That vnrecorded yet do rest behind One mischiefe seldome time alone doth fall One care or other sure doth follow all To speake of woes will lesse vnpleasing bee To such as heare not feele thereof the smart Thou who so happie art mayst better see By others harme thy happie peace of hart Then heare and learne more happinesse to gaine If thou from others ill thy selfe refraine 2. A man to whoÌ„ God hath giueÌ„ riches treasures honor he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth but God giueth him not power to eat thereof but a strange man shall eat it vp this is vanitie and this is an euill sicknes Thou mayst well see full oft a man enioy In show all blessings nature can bestow Lands honors wealth whose wants breeds thee annoy Whilst he to world doth happy seeme in show Not wanting any thing that thou wouldst craue Yet some one want makes him small comfort haue He hath no wife or else he hath no child Or hath them both but both vngracious proue He wants his health imprisond or exild Or cares of common weale his ioyes remoue His restlesse mind thus thirsting midst the streame He pines in care and finds his blisse a dreame verse 3 And more if hundreth sonnes yeares he haue if lack content verse 4 If die contemnd worse then abortiue child to graue he went 3. If a man beget a hundred children and liue many yeares and the dayes of his yeares be multiplied and his soule be not satisfied with good things and he be not buried I say that an vntimely frute is better then he Suppose a hundreth children he begot And liuâ—d as long as old Methusalem Yet if defame his family do spot And he do lack the common loue of men And want the honor of his funerall How can you any wayes him happie call True happinesse on vertue hath his ground And only measurd is by peace of mind What though all earthly blessings do abound If that the soule no inward comfort find Is not th' abortiue child more happie farre Then those that liuing thus perplexed are 4. For he coÌ„meth into vanitie goeth into darknesse and his name shall be couered with darknesse In farre more happie state in very deed Is he whose timelesse birth his life denyes Whose mothers wombe vnable him to feed Vnperfect him reiects and doth despise Vnprofitable burden also long To beare that nature hath compounded wrong For being he is not the same he seemes The others seeming proues not so indeed This liuelesse humane shape a man none deemes That deemed man with dreames our eyes doth feed This neuer being knowen none knoweth not Of all men this admyrd of all forgot verse 5 That neuer saw nor knew this life this did the worse his state verse 6 Two thousand yeres spent void of ioy makes death seeme ouer late 5. 〈◊〉 he hath not seene the sunne nor known it therfore this hath more rest then the other How much it better is in true account To be a happie man or so esteemd So farre th' abortiue th' other doth surmount Though naught it seeme the other much is deemd For hauing nothing good it hath no ill But his expected good all woes do fill His closed eyes which neuer saw this light Those woes nere saw which th' other saw and felt His senslesse braine which knoweth no delight Incapable of cares with th' other dwelt Makes his estate lesse ill much better held Than his that thus in wretchednesse exceld 6. And if he had liued a thousand yeares twise told and had seene no good shall not all go to one
affections free And in that world no vaine delights shall bee verse 9 These things and more he spake for more he knew the more he taught His people knowledge for their good in all his words he sought 9. And the more wise the Preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge Full many other learned workes beside He wrote for more he knew the more he taught Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought And he with care and study dearely bought Three thousand morall rules in writ abide In prouerbs and in adages for skill So sound that they worlds censure may abide And to a ciuill life reduce thee will Without offence of lawes and with content Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent And caused them to heare Of natures workes with supernaturall skill He many volumes did compose likewise Not curious workes as some profanely will Of Alcumy or iudgements which arise By heauenly motions farre aboue the skies But he his knowledge hath contained still Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree And therefore many volumes he did fill With medcinable vse of things which bee Abstracted out of tree shrub mettall stone Of beast fish fowle and creatures euery one He sought by parables to giue them precepts how to liue verse 10 And with adorned words to them he doubly grace did giue 10. And searched forth and prepared many parables His heauenly Muse with wings of zeale did fly Aboue the common pitch of earthly men And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby With holy liking of his loue as then That he could not containe his gratefull pen. In thousand songs and fiue his powers did try The prayses of his sacred soules delight In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy Which from him loue of world did banish quight Among the which that song of songs by name Describes her beautie did him so inflame The preacher sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing euen the words of truth But this his large discourse was chiefly ment To teach the world to know how farre they stray That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent To leade their liues vnto a happie day Since nature wholy doth the same denay Which for it crosseth carnall mens content And hardly may amongst most wise haue place By this most pleasant stile about he went To giue to naked truth a comely grace For hardly can corrupted man digest Right wholesome food vnlesse it well be drest verse 11 For wise words are like goades and nailes which workmens hands do ding verse 12 Vaine bookes and reading shun they wearinesse of flesh do bring 11. The words of the wise are like goades like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies which are giuē by one Pastor And wise mens sayings spoken to the wise Well fraught with matter couched well by art Adornd with words and figures whence arise Content vnto the eare and moue the hart Most soone do worke impressions in each part And as they sooner pierce so firmlier lies The mind resolued in such fownded ground Than any planke or post you can deuise With nayle by hammers forced nere to sound And such this princely Prophets words esteeme Which are more waighty far thē thou woulst deeme 12. And of other things besides these my sonne take thou heed for there is none end in making many bookes and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh And let this graue aduice of father mild Which louingly he wrote I bring to thee Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild That with the world againe sedust thou bee Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see And striue to practise as you knowledge build Else is your learning vnto little end These many bookes wherewith this world is fild Do slender profit to the readers lend Which stuft with words of superficiall show But little fruit by them to world doth grow verse 13 Heare th' end of all feare God keepe his law this is mans dew verse 14 For God wil iudge ech work bring our secret thoghts to vew 13. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commaundements for this is the whole dutie of a man The end of all true wisedome is in this To know the will of God and it obserue To know his will and yet to walke amis A double chastisement must needs deserue Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue No seruile feare which I perswade it is But such as gratefull child to parent owes VVho though he feele the smart the rod will kisse Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes And this doth God require of man indeed That our obedience should from loue proceed 14. For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgment with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The breach whereof will heauie iudgement call VVhen God the searcher of the heart and raines Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines O happie then shall they be most of all VVhose heedfull liues in holy workes were spent The gaine of this their trauell is not small For blessed they the narrow path that went And though this narrow gate few enter in Yet who runs on this race the prize shall win FINIS Adue to worlds vaine delight YE worlds delights blind guides to blisse adue VVeake helpes which fit a carnall vaine desire My soule can find but comfort small in you Though as true blisse profane sort you admire My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire In faith to place my hope of firmer stay To gaine true blisse lesse toyle it doth require Then worlds vaine pleasure doth by farre away Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray Your liking base effect of fond desire The earth your seat doth perfectnesse denay My soules true hope inspir'd with heauenly fire There seekes to liue where blisse is firme and true And by reformed life would heauen pursue Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer by the same Author Psalme 27. 1 THe Lord he is my sauing light whom should I therefore feare 2 He makes my foes to fall whose teeth would me in sunder teare 3 Though hosts of men besiege my soule my heart shall neuer dread 4 So that within his Court and sight my life may still be lead 5 For in his Church from trouble free he shall me keepe in hold 6 In spight of foes his wondrous prayse my song shall still vnfold 7 Haue mercie Lord therefore on me and heare me when I cry 8 Thou badst me looke with hope on thee for helpe to thee I fly 9 In wrath therefore hide not thy face but be thou still my aide 10 Though parents fayle thou wilt assist thy promise so hath said 11 Teach me thy truth and thy right path
may no more tormented bee Lest that my soule eternally he kill But from the force of Satan make me free These brutish sinnes in swine more fit to dwell Drowne in repentant seas of teares which swell SON XLIII IN deadly sleepe ô Lord sin hath me cast Wherein secure I lye and so remaine Raise me ô Lord out of this dreame at last And let me sight and light of heauen attaine The heauie humors which my iudgment staine And dazell so the reason of my minde Grant that they may their proper vse attaine And comfort in thy grace and promise finde All fleshly wisedome of it selfe is blinde Till thou by knowledge cleare their wandring sight Out of the snare of sin flesh cannot winde Vnlesse by faith they see thy Sonne so bright Him let me still both see and eke admire And thee in him ô Lord I thee desire SON XLIIII MY wicked flesh ô Lord with sin full fraight Whose eye doth lust for euerie earthly thing By couetise allurde hath bit the baight That me to Satans seruitude will bring By violence I vertues right would wring Out of possession of the soule so weake Like vineyard which the wicked Achab king Possest by tyrants power which lawes do breake Let Prophets thine Lord to my soule so speake That in repentant sackcloth I may mone The murther of thy grace which I did wreake Whilst to my natiue strength I trust alone And let my Sauiour so prolong my daies That henceforth I may turne from sinfull waies SON XLV IF thou vouchsafdst Lord of thy goodnesse rare To sanctifie with holie presence thine The Cana marriage where thou didst not spare First miracle of water turnd to wine Then be thou present at this wedding mine Which twixt thy Church and me by faith is ment To see the want in me thy eyes encline Whose wine of grace by wanton youth is spent But being toucht with view thereof repent And craue that water of earthes healthles well May issue forth from heart with sorrow rent And turnd to wine may so with grace excell That all that see and tast this change in me May grant this worke of thee alone to be SON XLVI SInce it hath pleased thee ô Lord to send Now in my barren age of hope and grace Repentant childe from ruine to defend My name and soule to liue before thy face Thy blessings I do thankfully embrace And in thy feare will frame his tender yeare The worlds regard in me shall haue no place If once thy word and will my heart do heare And when thou calst we both will then appeare Before thy Aulter in Moriath land To offer vp thy gift my sonne so deare Obedient childe to faithfull fathers hand Which sacrifice not worthie gift for thee With Christ my Sauiors suffrings quit let bee SON XLVII OF euerie creature vncleane to fore Whereof thy holy people might not tast Thou didst present ◠Lord to Peter store Which were from heauen in sheet before him plast Which he at first refusde with mind most chast Not touching things polluted or defilde But afterward thy counsell he embrast And saw himselfe had bene before beguilde To thinke all sinners were for aye exilde From presence of thy mercies which abound Whom oft thou doest receiue as father milde If faith in Christ thy sonne in them be found By praiers faith by faith thy grace doth grow Cornelius blessing Lord on me bestow SON XLVIII HOw hard it is ô Lord for man to frame His minde corrupt to be preparde for thee With tongue vncleane to praise thy holie name With fleshly eies thy glorie for to see Homeward I bring thy blessings vnto me And make my soule their dwelling place to rest But so forgetfull of thy lawes we be That this my action Lord I see not blest Pride and contempt the waies haue so opprest That danger is the carriage ouerthrow Grant that thy grace to staie it may be prest That so my soule thy sauing health may know For to my flesh vnsanctified to trust Were aie to hasten death by iudgement iust SON XLIX MY traitrous heart which long time hath rebeld Against thy spirit which should feed me still A secret counsell in it selfe hath held To contrarie thy knowne reuealed will Whose mutinie my sences so do fill With deeds repining to thy holie law That raging pride and lust lead me to ill Forgetting tokens of thy wrath they saw As Dathan and Abyram had no awe Of Moyses and of Aron thine elect But sought a way thy people how to drawe And Prophets thine by pride for to reiect So doth my soule alas thy grace resist And in the follies of the flesh persist SON L. A Tenant most vntrue ô Lord to thee In vineyard of my bodie haue I bin To craue thy rent thy seruants came to me But nothing but intreatie bad they win My trauell therein was to nourish sin And wast the wine of thy abounding plant The more to call me backe thou didst begin The more to thee my gratitude did want Ne would my lacke of grace let me recant When thou thy onely Sonne to me didst send For sin and Satan did me so supplant That to his ruine I did also bend But Lord me lend In time repentant hart That from this vineyard I may not depart SON LI. WHilst in the garden of this earthly soile My selfe to solace and to bath I bend And fain wold quench sins heat which seems to boile Amidst my secret thoughts which shadow lend My sence and reason which should me defend As iudges chosen to the common weale Allur'd by lust my ruine do pretend By force of sin which shamelesse they reueale They secretly on my affections steale When modestie my maides I sent away To whom for helpe I thought I might appeale But grace yet strengthens me to say them nay Yet they accuse me Lord and die I shall If Christ my Daniell be not iudge of all SON LII I Iustly am accusde and now am brought By law and gilt of conscience I confesse Before thy throne conuict by deed and thought Of sinfull lust which did me so possesse That quickning graces thine I did suppresse By fading loue of world procliue to ill Whose dome eternall death and nothing lesse My soule doth see to threaten to me still But since that frailtie so the world doth fill That no one fleshly wight thereof is free For mercy Lord to thee repaire I will Who seest the hart and canst best comfort me Quit me from death grant I may fall no more But remnant of my daies thy grace implore SON LIII A Husbandman within thy Church by grace I am ô Lord and labour at the plough My hand holds fast ne will I turne my face From following thee although the soile be rough The loue of world doth make it seeme more tough And burning lust doth scorch in heat of day Till fainting faith would seeke delightfull bough To shade my soule from danger of decay
But yet in hope of grace from thee I stay And do not yeeld although my courage quaile To rescue me be'prest I do thee pray If sinfull death do seeke me to assaile Let me runne forth my race vnto the end Which by thy helpe ô Lord I do intend SON LIIII ABase borne sonne to sin by kinde I am From natiue soile by want of grace exilde Of idle fances captaine I became Whilst I in Tob my resting place did bilde With worldly vanities I was defilde Till home thou caldst me by thy heauenly word Who trusting to my selfe was soone beguilde When I sought workes to be a conquering sword Whose vowes did seeme a present to afford Of frute of victorie at my returne Which rashnesse hath a mischiefe great incurd Compelling me my owne deserts to burne And now I mourne and better frute do craue The blessing of thy sonne Lord let me haue SON LV. WHen thou vouchsafedst Lord to raise my state From base degree of common humane kinde And gau'st me knowledge and a will to hate Each wickednesse contrarie to thy minde By promise thou didst me most strictly binde To slaye each wicked seed which doth possesse My sinfull flesh Amalekite most blinde Which vertue and thy grace seekes to suppresse But wretched I alas I do confesse Haue kept a part of that accursed spoile Vndaunted which thou seest nere the lesse And therefore wilt accurse my sinfull soile And take from me the kingdome thou didst giue Except thy mercy do my soule relieue SON LVI THe onelie daughter Lord of my delight Dina the vertue of my iudgment best Is rauished alas by Satans might Whil'st I secure in Hiuits countrie rest In worldlie vanities a wandring guest Amongst the wicked I remainde a while Where sillie she by foolish will addrest Gazde on those godlesse youths which her beguile For lustfull Sichem sonne to sin most vile Did lay a traine of loue which led to shame Whose flattering speech did modestie exile And left a spot of guilt and foule defame But faith zeale the first frutes of my strength By grace shall venge my honour iust at length SON LVII THe silly babes the motions of the minde Which natiue vertue seeketh forth to bring Concupiscence the midwife most vnkinde To deadly sin and Satan straight doth fling The mothers power suffiseth not to wring Out of this tyrants hands her dying childe Her mone to see it is a piteous thing When reasons lawes so lewdly are defilde But if thy fauour Lord be reconcilde By loue vnto thy sonne by him to mee Then though my hope of grace be neare exilde Yet thou a childe Of faith wilt let me see A coffin Lord of comfort for me make Where safe I may swim in the words wilde lake SON LVIII VVHere shall I build ô Lord a quiet rest To bring forth birds of turtle Pigeons kinde My wearied wings do wander without rest And cannot gaine a harbour to my minde The Swallow Lord a setling place doth finde Within thy temple free from Eagles claw Not moued with tempestuous stormes of winde Or dangers which their kind doth stand in awe A place as fit for me my faith once saw VVheras my soule might safely be inclosd Thy Church inuisible to which I draw My life retirde therein to be reposd Make frutefull Lord my barren heart therein Shield me from storme of still assailing sin SON LIX VVHilst in the vale of carnall sense I dwell Foule Sodome sinke of sin and badge of shame Of whose polluted nature I do smell And aptly bend my selfe to them to frame Sent by thy mercie Lord thy Angels came And did vouchsafe a harbor to accept Within my soule which did professe thy name But Satan who a watch on me had kept When as these guests within my conscience slept Inuironed with lust my harbor weake For sorrow of this sin my soule it wept Whilst violently my bodies bands they breake But strike thou blinde their fury them expell Take me Lord from the flame of burning hell SON LX. MY bodie Lord infected long with sin Whose running issue is almost past cure Which helpe my humane phisicke cannot win And without comfort cannot long endure By viewing mercies thine becommeth sure If but thy gracious hem my hand may reach That loue in Christ my pardon shall procure And reunite in strength healths former breach Through presse of worldly lets faith shall me teach To seeke my safetie in thy promise true Vouchsafe thou eke repentance so to preach That I no more offending health insue Thy vertue Lord which bidding me be cleane To yeeld me health of soule is readie meane SON LXI NOw that I see ô Lord my open shame Conuict of sin and voyd of clothing pure Which couer might my soule which naked came Of grace and me from storme of world assure I do mistrust my selfe long to endure The heat and cold which feare and frailtie bring And clothing of my owne workes to procure I finde in deed to be a frutelesse thing To hide my selfe vnder thy mercies wing I therefore hasten now in hope of grace Grant I beseech the world no more me wring Out of thy hands but let me see thy face With faith and comfort clothed by thy hand And Christ thy Sonne in my defence to stand SON LXII VVHilst that the chosen chieftaines of thy word Do bend their power by preaching to subdue The fleshly Canaan and put sin to sword And giue the soule to be possest a new With righteous Israel vnto whom of due Those earthly blessings rather do pertaine They send two spies my secret thoughts to vew The law and Gospell which discouer plaine My fainting force in feare for to remaine Where yet repentant Rahab readie is To lodge them safe whilst Satan seekes in vaine To slaie these messengers of heauenly blis I craue therefore sweet Sauiour for a sine Faith bearing frutes as pledge of safetie mine SON LXIII HOw oft ô Lord with more then tender care Hast thou by Prophets cald me to repent How great thy loue by sonne which didst not spare To staie me backe from hell whereto I went Who to that end from heauen to earth was sent Whose graces daily preached offred peace And sought to stop my course to ruine bent And me from guilt of death for to release Like as the henne whose voice doth neuer cease To clocke her tender chickens vnder wings When furious foules on silly pray do prease And would deuour alas the helplesse things Such Lord thy care I feele and loue of me That thrall to Satan wouldst not haue me be SON LXIIII. VVHilst with the wholesome food of heauēly truth The Manna which thy written word doth giue Thou soughtst ô Lord to feed my wandring youth That it in plenteous peace by grace might liue By lust lo Satan sought my soule to driue To breake obedient bands vnto thy law Which my offences I protest do griue My helplesse heart the which delight did draw