the fruit to tast Though birdes and Bees their nests and combs begin Though sheepe beare fleece Oxe the land haue trast In hope of profite which their masters wast Yet wise men grieue to spend in vaine their time For others sake the bush to beate or clime 22. For what hath man of all his trauell griefe of his heart wherin he hath trauelled vnder the sunne If man vncertaine be as sure he is This night if he the morrow day shall see If he do doubt his dayes cannot endure If he foresee his bed his graue may bee And yet of world haue care vnhappie hee I meane such care as doth his powers possesse And suffers not his soule some ioy expresse For what he leaueth him behind is lost What he enioyd that only was his owne What hath he gain'd by wealth that comfort cost If he not tast his fruits of trauell growne Possession best by vse of things is knowne Who doth not so but lost his trauels are A heauie burden bootlesse fetched farre verse 23 His dayes are few and spent in cares his nights in harts vnrest verse 24 If God yet grant to vse his wealth with ioy then is he blest 23. For all his daies are sorrowes his trauel grief his heart also taketh not rest in the night which also is vanitie He doth thereby but massaker himselfe And seeme vnkind to natures true intent Whose bodie feeds not on the view of pelfe But on the food the hands to mouth do lend Which freely to ech part doth portion send He well may thinke his wofull dayes too long And trauell grieuous thus requite with wrong If he the wished night ordain'd for rest Consume in carefull thoughts of greedie mind If he for others hoord his comforts best And to himselfe gainst kind do proue vnkind No blessednesse on earth then shall he find But like a bubble vanish soone away And in his life his vanitie bewray 24. There is no profit to man but that he eat and drinke and delight his soule with the profit of his labour I saw also this that it was of the hand of God For no true profit earth to earth can giue But whilst on earth man yet doth make his stay The frutes of earth to vse by which we liue And ech dayes care deferre vnto that day These Creatures plenteously enioy we may To needfull sustenance of bodies strength And to delight the mind waxt dull at length Man onely must in plentie plentie note Of Gods abundant blessing shewd therein And not forget him whilst they passe the throte And them abuse as instruments of sin But for his gifts with prayse to him begin With almes proceed the needy poore to feed And not repine though oft they stand in need verse 25 Who knowes the vse of plentie more then I yet this I find verse 26 God makes the iust know ioy the bad leaue welth for good behind 25. For who could eat and who could hast to outward things more then I. Of all that I do say I haue made proofe And therefore may the better thee aduise Which as I now set downe for thy behoofe So thereof make thy profit be thou wise He is a foole that counsell doth despise And I who counsell thee sure best could try Earths pleasures and the fruits that come thereby As being King I all things might commaund As being rich I ech thing might procure As being lou'd to please me all men fawnd As being feard I might my will make sure As being wise I could make choyse most pure If any earthlie thing might breed content Then may I say that God me part hath sent 26. Surely to a mā that is good in his sight God giueth wisdom and knowledg and ioy but to the sinner he giueth paine togather and to heap to giue to him that is good before God this is also vanitie and vexation of the spirit And for a full report of my conceit I briefly say as truth requires of mee That wisedome as a blessing doth awaight Vpon the godly who true knowledge see And perfect ioy alone in them can bee For God the author of all goodnesse is And with his feare associats endlesse blis But to the wicked he alotteth griefe In getting needfull things great wo and care In their possession little sweet reliefe In laying vp of wealth a life still bare Which for the godly they doe but prepare Rent gathrers for the good the wicked bee Vaine vexers of their soules themselues may see Chap. 3. verse 1 All purposes haue proper times all things fit seasons find verse 2 A time of birth and death to plant and supplant is assignd 1. To all things there is an appointed time and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen BVt for I see the wordly wise will say They haue iust cause to studie to attaine The hidden course which nature doth bewray In interchange of times which doth remaine Inrold in writ of many a learned braine I will with them awhile conferre and show To thee the depth of all the skill they know Most true it is I graunt that hidden are In knowledge of Philosophy indeede Such rules profound by learning fet so farre As in the mind doth admiration breed But yet that skill doth serue to little steed For God hath natures bounds prefixed so That from that course art cannot make them go 2. A time to be borne and a time to die a time to plant and a time to plucke vp that which is planted Begin we first where we begin and end With birth of man in mothers wombe conceiu'd Which fortie weekes expir'd needs forth must send And age compels to yeeld the breath receiu'd In both of which the wisest are deceiu'd The birth and death of diuerse diuersely Preuenting time of birth and time to dy And as of men so in increase of things The which the earth brings forth in growing kind Although we know the Moone fit seasons brings To planted things to prosper yet we find They oft miscarie and we chaunge our mind And be their fruits once ripe they gathered bee And stocke once rotten we stub vp the tree verse 3 A time to cure and kill there is to build and ouerthrow verse 4 To laugh and weepe a mournfull cheare and merry hart to show 3. A time to slay and a time to heale a time to break down and a time to build And though it be a thing vnnaturall And most repugnant to societie The life of man by hand of man to fall And to shed bloud wherein his life doth lie Yet iustice craues that male factors die Aswell as that the sicke should phisicke haue Or salues imployd the wounded corps to saue Yea though that cities first well founded were For safetie vnto men of ciuill sort Yet neuer Monarkes seat such fame did beare Or citie grow of much with great resort But time made cottages of small import Suruiue their greatnesse and
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
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
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
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
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
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
race Where flesh and bloud against the world must fight On heauenly kingdome gazing with my sight Where is appointed scope of resting place Wingd with the will of zeale of heauenly grace I do indeuor alwayes to proceed In constant course vnto the arke indeed Where in thy mercies I behold thy face A feruent faith it doth my courage feed And make my heauie limbs become more light When in thy sonne I see thy glorie bright The pledge vnto my soule that hope shall speed This blessed seed Thou hast Lord sowne in me And all the frutes shal to thee offred be SON VII VVHere shall I finde fit words or proper phrase Wherewith to witnesse all the loue I owe Whose gratefull minde in thankfulnesse doth grow And to the world thy worthinesse would blase Vnfrutefully the greater â—ort do gase Vpon thy workes and blessings they receiue And carelesly thy honor they bereaue And suffer chance or wit thy same to rase Whilst vnacknowledged thy loue they leaue Forgetting all the gifts thou doest bestow Whose blinded nature so doth ouerflow That most vnkind to thee themselues they show But since I know By grace thy blessing great My pen thy praises alwaies shall repeat SON VIII THe more I seeke to dedicate my power In celebrating of thy honour great Whose throne is fixed in thy mercies seat The more my dutie groweth euerie hower Some times with Eagles flight aloft I tower And seeme to see the glorie of thy sunne But ere my willing wings haue scarse begunne To mount they droop with clog of heauie shower Vpon the hill of truth I footing wonne By faith which laboureth with feruent heat Of worthie praises thine for to intreat But ere I haue begune my worke is donne So farre I runne In seeking to begin I cannot write such maze my muse is in SON IX AS fareth with the man the which hath bin I perilll but of late to haue bene drownd Though afterward he do recouer ground Knowes not at first the safetie he is in So when I thinke vpon the flouds of sin Wherein I was neare drenched ouer hed What time all hope of comfort cleane was fled And I into dispaire to sinke begin My fainting faith with feare euen well nigh dead My minde amazed it doth so confound That though thy mercies freely do abound In port of peace I am not free from dred But being led Fro out the perils sight I shall enioy more pleasure and delight SON X. SInce thou ô Lord hast giuen to me at last The victorie against the deadly foe Who like a Lyon roaring still doth goe My soule poore Lot my kinsman deare to wast Since grace at length his pride hath now defast And by the hand of faith he is subdude And that my strength by thee is so renude That his affections almost are displast Since thy high Priest with present me pursude Of bread and wine the which he did bestow And with the same the blessing gaue also Whence life whence libertie whence health insude I haue indude As proper vnto thee Thy Church with tyth of faith thou gau'st to me SON XI IF he to whom his Lord did but remit A silly debt was thankfull to him found And that the more the sinnes forgiuen abound The more he loues that pardond is of it Then sure it seemes it were good reason fit That I whose soule was sold to death and hell Whose sinnes in multitude did so excell With idle braine should not ingratefull sit But as the flowing fauours daily swell So should my voice thy praises euer sound And since thou hast powrde oyle into my wound I should not spare thy mercies forth to tell And so as well as thou shalt giue me grace I will thee laud each season time and place SON XII NOw that I haue some safetie Lord attaind Fro out the laberinth wherein I was Since grace as guide therein to me did passe And loue was line which me my issue gaind Since that my wandring steps faith hath refraind And that thy word was Sybils braunch to mee Through hell and death away to let me see To Elizian fields where blisse for aye remaind I must not Lord so much vnthankfull bee To breake the vowes which once I made alas But I will show thy mercies in a glas That by my words men may acknowledge thee The onely hee Hath any power to saue And raisd my soule fro out the verie graue SON XIII I Shame to see how large my promise are How slow my deeds that should performe the fame I know the constant meaning whence they came But will and power are falne at strife and iarre What soule begins to do doth bodie marre What loue would build distrust would ouerthrow A plenteous offring zeale doth bid bestow But fainting faith likes not to set it farre My will at least his good intent shall show Which thou ô Lord cause vnto better frame A free will offring Lord thou wilt not blame Of such weake frutes as are on earth below Which yet shal grow More fruteful by thy grace And as they be wilt in thy sonne imbrace SON XIIII THe end whereto we all created were And in this world were plast to liue and dwell If we with iudgment do obserue it well Was nothing else but God to serue and feare In which we badges of his glorie beare To yeeld him right the most our weaknesse may Which to our strength we ought not him denay Who out of earth to heauen this dust shall reare Which when within my selfe I deeply way I do condemne the dulnesse which befell To me whose gifts in nothing do excell By which I might his glorie great display On whom do stay All things that being haue Who to each creature all things freely gaue SON XV. AS is the treasure frutelesse which is hid And blisse no blisse a man doth not enioy But rather is a meane to worke annoy To him that carefully preserue it did So often times the wisest sort haue slid Into like error whilst they do conseale The gifts of grace which God did them reueale And hide the talent which is them forbid As frutelesse is it to the common weale That men respectiuely become too coy And triflingly their time away do toy And without good to others let it steale I therefore deale To world and do impart These silly frutes which grow on feeling hart SON XVI THe pleasures of this new possessed land Fore-promised long since to children thine Whereto I haue arriued safe in fine And to enioy the same assured stand To paint with praises I would take in hand That so I might incourage many more To follow forth the conquest where is store Of corne of wine and oyle for faithfull band Our Iesus Christ himselfe is gone before And showes the clusters of the healthfull wine Whereof who tasts shall not with famine pine Nor starue when plentie is at Citie dore Ne need deplore The strength of Anaks race For
this treasure none shall finde VVhose pleasures quickly vanish out of sight The earth doth chaunge as seas do rise with tyde And stormes insue the calme before that went This happinesse but for a time is lent And payd oft times with penance more vnkinde By fortune blinde True blisse consists herein To loue the Lord and to abandon sin SON LXI HOw many priuiledges great and rare Do we enioy that do thy name professe Euen many more by far I do confesse Then we obserue or how to vse be ware To giue thy onely Sonne thou didst not spare Vs to redeeme from deaths eternall wound The sting of hell and sin he did confound And way to heauen for vs he did prepare Yea so his mercies do to vs abound That all the worldly creatures more and lesse Yea heauenly Angels do themselues addresse To serue mans needfull vse are readie found He doth propound In Christ all these to man And hauing him no want annoy vs can SON LXII BY many gifts ô Lord thou doest declare Thy mercies vnto man whom thou wilt saue The vse of all the which in Christ we haue By hand of faith that precious blessing rare That doth his righteousnesse for vs prepare Our stubburnnesse with his obedience hide His patience doth our grosse impatience guide His temperance with our intemperance share His continence our frailtie lets not slide For changing nature ours his strength it gaue Our pride it hides and hopes which faithlesse waue And shades our hart with loue which still shall bide Thus euery tide It readie is at hand For our defence a buckler safe to stand SON LXIII HOw should the quiet mind in peace and rest Possessed of the thing it most desirde A thing so precious none durst haue aspirde To gaine vnlesse the giuer had him blest How may it morne how may she be opprest Who hath the bridegrome alwaies in her sight Who in her loue doth take so great delight As by his bountie hourely is exprest The dolefull darknesse fitteth blinded night The shining Sunne hath cloudes of care retirde With heauenly heate my heart it hath inspirde Since in thy sunne I saw thy fauour bright The which did fight As champioÌ„ strong for mee From cloudes of darknesse and from sin to free SON LXIIII. WHo so of perfect temprature is framde Must needs delight in heauenly harmony His sences so shall be renewd thereby As sauage beasts by Orpheus harpe were tamde Yong Dauids harpe Sauls furious spirit shamde And Dolfins did Aryons musicke heare Such sympathie in all things doth appeare That neuer musicke was by wisedome blamde But he that could conceiue with iudgement cleare The sweet records that heauenly motions cry Their constant course that neuer swarues awry But by discords whose concords after cheare Would hold so deare The mouer of the same That loue of him should base affections tame SON LXV GReat is thy powre and more then we conceiue Thy glorie more then can discerned be Mans greatest gift is this that he may see Or know that vertue thine doth his bereaue His dazeling eyes each shadow doth deceaue His iudgement builded on inconstant ground His strength but weaknesse in it selfe is found His glorie greater glorie must receiue From thee in whom all glorie doth abound What maiestie dare man compare with thee To whom all creatures bow obedient knee Whose contemplations thou doest cleane confound Vpon this ground True blisse wisdome stand To know our wisedome floweth from thy hand SON LXVI AS but vaine hope it is for man to trust To thing not promised or not in powre Of speaker to performe at pointed howre Which is the case of flesh and bloud vniust So call that hope no wise man can or must Which is performance of expected thing When as possession doth assurance bring Of thing whereafter we tofore did lust The Saints in heauen in ioyfull rest do sing Whom hope nor feare do raise or yet deuower But men on earth haue hope a resting tower To shield them from despightfull Satans sting Faith is the wing Makes me to hope ascend And truth in Christ will make my hope haue end SON LXVII GReat are the gifts ô Lord thou doest bestow On sinfull man by thy abounding grace Who when they want doest neuer hide thy face But still a patron of thy bountie show Which makes vs both thy powre and mercy know And so with shame and sorow to repent Our thanklesse natures so vnkindly bent So slacke to pay the praises which we owe But when I do consider thou hast sent Thy Sonne himselfe for to supply our place Whose patience did the death on crosse imbrace Those to acquite who did with faith assent All speeches spent Seeme then to me in vaine And onely I admyring do remaine SON LXVIII I Haue bene blind and yet I thought I saw And now I see yet feare that I am blind No blindnesse like to that is of the mind Which doth the soule to deadly danger draw My carelesse steps did stumble at a straw And yet supposd my walke had bene so ware That to haue err'd had bene a matter rare When euery thought did violate thy law But since to search my felfe I do prepare So darke of sight my soule and sence I find That if thy Christ my loue were not more kind Eternall death I see should be my share But now I dare In spight of wicked foe A better course with constant courage goe SON LXIX WHy should he faint or thinke his burden great That hath a partner to support the same Why coward-like should he his honour shame That hath a champion readie at intreat Who can and doth death and confusion threat To all impediments which stop our way On whom repose our trust we boldly may He being iudge and plast in mercies seat He sees our thoughts and knows what we would say He doth our mouthes to fit petitions frame He hides our errors if our faith be lame And he himselfe doth also for vs pray We need but stay And trust to his good will And we are sure he will our want fulfill SON LXX ALthough the world do seek to stop my way By many stumbling blocks of feare and doubt And bid me seeke a farther way about And on the staffe of carnall strength to stay Though sin though hell though death do me denay That any powre shall bridle their intent But would compell me walke as worldlings went The headlong path of pleasure to decay Yet will I not this purpose mine repent So long as faith will be my souldier stout To ouerthrow this fearefull thronging rout Whom to subdue this grace was to me sent No shall be spent In vaine this paine of mine Hope against hope shall win the field in fine SON LXXI IT were vnfit a concubine to keepe Or that her children should possession haue Among the frutes which lawfull wedding gaue By vetuous spowse which in the soule doth â—leepe And yet behold how shamefully
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
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
If that thy speech had not bene vttered soft Or not conceald by such as heard the same Which will thee make another lesse to blame For it were meere iniustice to condemne Our vnderlings for lauish speech of vs When we our betters farre do more contemne Yet lothly would therefore be serued thus The rule of Charitie doth will thee do As thou thy selfe wouldst faine be done vnto verse 25 This haue I prou'd wisdom sought to know which fled froÌ„me verse 26 It is too high and deepe my reach cannot her secrets see 25. All this haue I proued by wisedome I thought I will be wise but it went farre from me All this haue I found by experience true And so mayst thou if that thou way it well Apply thy selfe the same then to ensue And let her lawes within thy actions dwell And of thy wisedome do not ouerweene For many times the wise are ouerseene My selfe by nature was inclynd to skill By education was instructed much A heauenly gift did more my knowledge fill And all the world supposd my wisedome such As few attaynd and I supposd no lesse But found my folly great I must confesse 26. It is farre of what may it be and it is a profound deepnesse who can find it For of three things all worthy to be knowne The past the present and the future things Whose first in writs record in part is showne Whose last with deepe obscurenesse blindnesse brings In th' one I had but euen a very tast In seeking th' other out I time did wast That vulgar knowledge which by moderne view I did obserue to make my profit by Did somewhat me instruct and much more trew Then passed things forgotten presently Or dreamd supposals of succeeding time Which for to fetch to heauen my thoughts should clime verse 27 My hart mind hath wisely searcht both good bad to know verse 28 And worse theÌ„ death a womans snares I found God sheld theÌ„ fro 27. I haue compassed about both I mine heart to know and to enquire and to search wisedome and reason and to know the wickednesse of folly and the foolishnesse of madnesse That knowledge which I had I did bestow With heart and mind in searching round about The true effect of euery thing to know And of effects the causes out of doubt For happie they are held that can define Of causes and effect how they incline And chiefly I obseru'd whence good and ill Haue their originall and nutriment What bounds they haue and how the soule they kill And in the vse of them sought mans intent And so of mirth of folly and delight And what so seemd most pleasant vnto sight 28. And I find more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares and her hands as bands he that is good before God shall be deliuered from her but the sinner shall be taken by her And loe I found all sinne to end with shame Yea euen the sinne which doth most men allure The lawlesse loue of women of defame Who bitterer plagues then death to vs procure Insnaring in their bands of beauties gift The wretched soules which yeeld vnto their drift A fatall furie of the flesh alasse In idle braine begot with plentie fed Whose smallest sparckles to a flame do passe If by the eye the fancie will be led But such as God doth loue shall lust refraine Whilst wicked ones intrapped do remaine verse 29 The wicked fall by her faire bayts this I the preacher find verse 30 Of thousand men scarce one proue good of women none by kind 29. Behold â—â—â—th the Preacher this haue I found seeking one by one to find the count Beleeue me well I know it ouer well By many a one my selfe haue found it true I teach thee this who best the same could tell And for the same with all my hart do rue And wish thee by my harme the like beware And for their new assaults thy selfe prepare For few or none but do assaults abide At first or last and ouer many fall Thou doest not know thy strength what may betide The wisest sort fall herein most of all In any case then trust not to thy strength Some dally with the fire but burne at length 30. And yet my soule seeketh but I find it not I haue found one man of a thousand but a woman among them all haue I not found I must confesse I would not men acquit From equall blame in this so grosse a sinne Beseeming not in truth their stronger wit To yeeld to them whom they from ill should winne And in this point mongst thousands that I know One wise and perfect man I scarce could show But of a world of women that this day Do prostrate their affections to their lust By my experience sure I cannot say Though others can perchance and will I trust That one hath so reclaymd her life to good As that a new assault would be withstood verse 31 This only haue I found that God did man most righteous make But men for their originall grace their owne inuentions take 31. Onely loe this haue I found that God hath made man righteous but they haue sought many inuentions So we and they as wofull president Of parents fall to euill do incline He 'is best at ease that doth his sins repent And not of others sinnes too much define Nor yet his owne excuse bad is the best This sinne is but one sinne among the rest For though God made vs holy pure and iust And gaue vs powre in righteousnesse to dwell Yet did our wils so to our senses trust That it the vse of reason did expell Since which a swarme of hatefull sinnes increase On thought word deed and all our actions prease Chap. 8. verse 1 Who is like the wise who al things knows his face with fauor shines verse 2 The wise his Princes hests obserues and to Gods word inclines 1. Who is as the wise man and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing the wisedome of a man doth make his face to shine the strength of his face shall be changed IT stands him then vpon who would withstand This great calamitie of humane kind Another course of life to take in hand Then in the practise of the most we find And arm'd with wisedome gainst the flesh to fight Not yeelding cowardlike to lewd delight That is true wisedome worthy lasting fame That doth adorne with honor and with prayse Such as sincerely do imbrace the same That will transforme their life to better wayes And giue them grace with Prince and people still And in the end aduance their state it will 2. I aduertise thee to take heede 〈◊〉 the mouth of the king and to the word of the oth of God It teacheth man his dutie vnto God And how with ciuill men he should conuerse With neighbours how to haue a kind abode Or with a people that are most peruerse To know what doth
is euill among all that is done vnder the sunne that there is one coÌ„dition to all also the heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill and madnesse is in their hearts whilest they liue and after that they go to the dead And sure of all the things that I do know It is the thing that seemes most strange to me That maketh wise men most amazed grow And best men most discouraged to bee When they their states as hard as others see And that like others is their death in show As subiect vnto paine as wicked men Forgotten be they once in graue below Their vertues as not done vnthought of then So that their cares and fooles vnquiet dayes Both madnesse seeme both die deuoide of prayse 4. Surely who so euer is ioyned to al the liuing there is hope for it is better to a liuing dog then to a dead Lyon Hence doth proceede no doubt the prouerbe old That liuing dogge dead Lyon doth excell With princely beast of noble courage bold Then euery barking curre dare â—ausly mell That liuing durst not come within his smell The reason is right easie to be told Because he liuing could himselfe relieue Life doth in time new hopes and haps vnfold But death no hope or earthly hap doth giue Time worketh wonders if our time we take Occasion at our death doth vs forsake verse 5 The liuing know that they must die but dead things are forgot verse 6 Their loue hate is queÌ„cht the earth more fruit affords theÌ„ not 5. For the liuing know that they shall die but the dead know nothing at all neither haue they any more reward for their remembrance is forgotten And so accordingly do wise men vse Whilst yet they liue and liuing haue the powre To worke their wils they proper times do chuse To perfect their intent least death deflowre Their sweetest hopes who all things doth deuowre For well they see and may it is no newes The man that now triumphes to morne to die That dead the foole the wisest will abuse And that the wisest then do senslesse lie And what vnperfected they left behind Neglected and themselues soone out of mind 6. Also their loue and their hatred and their enuy is now perished and they haue no more portion for euer in all that is done vnder the sunne Their loue their solace and their chiefe delights Euen with their liues expired and at end Their hate their plots of high reuenge and spights And euery action that they did pretend Dead into graue with them each one descend Into that cabbin of eternall nights Where they no more the gladsome beames shall see Of shining sunne the comfort of the wights That in this mortall life yet lingring bee Those perturbations ryfe with humane kind Their now exchanged state no more shall find verse 7 With bread wine cheere then thy hart the pledges of gods loue verse 8 With comely'aray cloth thou thy corps thou pleasant balmes maist proue 7. Go eate thy bread with ioy and drinke thy wine with a cheereful hart for God now accepteâ—h thy workes Thy part of earthly things that lawfully Thou mayst inioy I therefore thee aduise Vse whilst thou mayest for death comes speedily And crosses vnsuspected oft arise As euery mans experience daily tries Vse thou thy owne with plentie'and cheerefully Hurt not but helpe thou others to thy powre And if God gaue thee meanes aboundantly Do not thy selfe the same alone deuoure But as God gaue so freely do thou giue Those almes best please we vse whilst yet we liue 8. At all times let thy garments be white and let not oyle be lacking vpon thine head Thou needst not in thy dyet be precise As some perswade and onely eat to liue Where choyse is set to chuse in thee it lies All things were made for man God all doth giue By bounty vs to thankfulnesse to driue Yea all the rich attyres thou canst deuise For different states of men ordayned were For Princes purples for to please the eyes And all the precious gems that earth doth beare Yea sweet perfumes for delicace ordaynd If thou mayst haue them need not be refraynd verse 9 Reioyce in thy chast spouses bed since God her to thee gaue verse 10 What so thou woldst atchiue dispatch no works are don in graue 9. Reioyce with thy wise whom thou hast loued all the dayes of the life of thy vanitie which God hath giueÌ„ thee vnder the sunne all the dayes of thy vanitie for this is thy portion in the life and in thy trauell wherein thou labourest vnder the sunne If that thy eyes behold a beautie rare Which doth delight thy hart and loue inflame If that in lawfull band she proue thy share And that vnto thy loue her loue she frame Thou mayst with comfort ioy thee in the same A comfort sure to mitigate the care Which worldly troubles may on thee inflict The sweetest God or nature could prepare Or out of all earths beauties could be pickt So great as none can iudge that are vnkind And on a single life do set their mind 10. All that thine hand shall find to do do it with all thy power for ther is neither work nor intention nor knowledg nor wisedom in the graue whither thou goest And at a word for all what else beside In all the world thou hast a mind vnto So that in vse thereof a measure guide Thou art no whit restraind the same to do But do it quickly least death all vndo For death diuerteth all who can abide The fury of his force if once he smight To do what thou woulst do then take thy tide For in the darkesome graue of deadly night No knowledge wisedom powre there doth remaine All is forgot all purposes are vaine verse 11 The worthy want the wise the stroÌ„g haue oft times guerdon smal verse 12 None knows his houre as birds in snare are caught so meÌ„ do fall 11. I returned and saw vnder the sunne that the race is not to the swift nor the battell to the strong nor yet bread to the wise nor also riches to men of vnderstanding neither yet fauor to meÌ„ of knowledge but time chance commeth to them all By these obseruances I sought to win The happinesse which I did in part attaine But all gaine not the goale the running bin Nor haue the spoyle that fight the field to gaine Nor to the wise doth alwayes wealth remaine Nay many needy sterne and new begin The world whose wits and industries were good Their best indeuours stand on tickle pin And consterd are as they are vnderstood By such on whom the common wealth doth stay And time and chance in each thing beares a sway 12. For neither doth maÌ„ know his time but as the fishes which are taken in an euill net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the children of meÌ„ snared in the euill time when it falleth vpon them suddenly
a litle backe from ill To wallow in the myre againe I go No powre is in me Lord my life to mend Vnlesse thy hand from heau'n me comfort send SON XXXII FAine would I fence this feeble flesh of mine From Satans furie who me thus assailes Which doth besiege my soule and meanes to pine My conscience which my sin so sore bewailes His busie braine to win me neuer failes And leaues no stratagem at all vntride My fainting hope I know not what it ailes But it doth feare the batt'ry to abide The safest way must be what ere betide To set a watch to looke vnto my waies Lest pride or lust or wrath do let him slide Into my hart which yet vnyeelded staies But like a theefe he stealeth me vpon Watch thou me Lord ech houre else I am gon SON XXXIII MY sinnes behold ô Lord are manifold VVhich do incamp my soule each houre about Still me intrenched with distrust they hold So that no frutes of faith can issue out Their fleshly champion is a soldiar stout VVho is assist by world and Satans aide And foule affections readie are in rout To further force to lust but hardly staide The earthly treasures haue with pleasure paide The hatefull Army which doth hast to hell My natiue powre their passage not denaide VVhich makes their pride and peruerse wil to swel I see no way to helpe to shun decaie But on thy graces rescue Lord to staie SON XXXIIII THe greedinesse of this my corrupt minde VVhich tasteth not but of the earthly gaine And in thy glorie can no profit finde But seekes with symonie my soule to staine Makes me alas for carnall treasor vaine Like Elizeus seruant to desire A present of worldes pleasure mixt with paine As recompence of heauenly comforts hire I sorcerer like do also oft require Like marchandise thy graces for to buye Supposing morall vertues may aspire To saue my soule and sin to mortifie But lo I see soules leprosie herein And craue that praiers may my pardon win SON XXXV VOyd of true life and buried in the graue Of wicked flesh alas I long haue bin No earthly comfort can my conscience haue VVhich was corrupted with all lothsome sin My sister vertues to despaire begin Of euer seeing once my lifes restore Ne is there any other way to win True life indeed which shall decay no more But prostrate Lord thy helpe for to implore And craue thy gracious presence at the last To aide the soule thy sonne hath lou'd before For time of grace with thee is neuer past Roll backe hard stone from heart bid him arise VVho slaue to sin in earthly coffin lies SON XXXVI MY bodie Lord the house which hath bene long Possest with spirits to ruine of the same VVhich forst me forward vnto open wrong Of conscience by defacing of thy name Hath found some comfort since thy message came Vnto my soule which in thy word was sent VVhose powerfull truth hath bound seeks to tame The furious lust which to my ruine bent Grant Lord from heart I may indeed repent And therewith chase these fiends fro out of me Sweep cleane my house fro out of which they went And garnished with graces let it be Let puissant faith henceforth possesse the place Lest sin returne with legions of disgrace SON XXXVII AMidst this famine of Sarepta soile Where I a widow dwell poore and abiect Compeld by sin with sweat of browes to toile To gather stickes from cold me to protect Behold me Lord a caitiue thus neglect Whom sin hath banished thy blessed land Who yet in heart thy Prophers do affect And with thy church to life and death wold stand I offer all my treasures here in hand That litle sparke of grace yet left behinde Increase it Lord vnto a great fire-brand Of faith which may a frutefull haruest finde My meale and Oyle ô Lord do thou increase My selfe sonne shall praise thee so in pease SON XXXVIII BOrne blinde I was through sinfull Adams fall And neuer since could see with carnall eyes Ne know I where or how for helpe to call From out of sin to holie life to rise It pleased thee ô Lord that in this wise Thy powre and glorie might to man appeare Who gracelesse groueling in earths darknesse lies And wants the eyes of faith his soule to cheare But since thou sentst thy sonne my Sauiour deare To shine in light to those in darknesse weare To dym the worldly wisdome seeming cleare And sinfull soules froÌ„ hell to heauen to reare Touch thou my eyes with faith wash me with grace In Sylo poole thy word which I embrace SON XXXIX HOw drunken are my humors all alasse With wine of vanitie and sensuall lust Which from one sin do to an other passe And after euill daily more do thrust Of force my faults for shame confesse I must My lauish vsage of thy graces sent My soules consent to action so vniust As death of Prophets teaching to repent Like Herod I about the matter went To please the follies of my flesh delight Incest'ous I to sin so much was bent That offred mercie pleased not my sight But Lord prepare my heart to see my sin That sorrow may a way to mends bigin SON XL. THough with thy Saints ô Lord I choise haue made To spend my daies in praising of thy name And in the studie of thy word to wade To feed my faith with portion of the same Yet can I not my choice so rightly frame Aâ—midst the spacious fields where truth doth grow But whilst to gather healthfull herbe I came A bitter bud I found of fearefull show Which threatneth me with death and ouerthrow Vnto my soule which feedeth greedely On sin the weed which Satan did bestow By poisoned tast thereof I pined lie But Christ thy sonne by faith me helth shall bring Discharge the law and bruse this deadly sting SON XLI ACcording to the promise of thy word To giue the victorie ô Lord to those That fight thy battels with a faithfull sword Against the world flesh diuell and thy foes I seeke ô Lord proud Iericho t' inclose Incouragde by thy graces from aboue My shooes of foule affects I pray thee lose Before on holy earth my path I moue Thy powerfull hand by prayers let me proue Which daily seu'n times I to thee direct Shake thou the walles of sin for my behoue And in this skirmish do thou me protect The frutes of flesh pride lust and error all So shall be wract and sin not raise a wall SON XLII AMidst the graues of death this many a yeare My soule possessed with all sorts of sin Hath liu'd and held that frutefull place so deare That from the same no counsell could me win To beate my selfe my follies neuer lin No reason can with chaines binde so my will But to vnlose my lust I do begin With helpe of furious fiend who aides me still But since thy sonne appeareth me vntill I craue I
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
had not then made choyse of such a way More facill is the course vnto decay More fauour with the world it will attaine But I mislike the ioy requit with paine And faining words not meaning as they say Men breake their sleeps some silly pelfe to gaine With losse of life small honour some haue bought Yea Philosophers pleasure set at nought To win a name of vertue to remaine Then I will waine My selfe from earthly rest With heauenly crowne and honour to be blest SON LXXXIII VVHen I begin to faint in my conceipt To see the little powre I haue to good How sin hath vertue in me still withstood And frailtie on my flesh doth alwaies waight I am confounded and amazed straight And readily could turne and flie the field And all my trauell to the tempter yeeld Before I would aduenture more to fight But when I duly note whereon I build My faith which watered is with Christ his bloud Of force sufficient to withstand the floud And me from perill and destruction shield I easily welde Each burden on me layd And of my safetie nothing am affrayd SON LXXXIIII THe chastisements which often do befall Vnto the most belou'd of God and blest Doth breed vnto their soules both peace and rest And home from wandring thoughts their mind doth call And sure are tokens not of fauour small Who father-like doth vs in time correct Who else the care of him would soone reiect And haue no heed vnto our wayes at all The good Phisition that would life protect Cuts of a limbe sometimes as it seemes best And yet the patient doth the same disgest Or any payne that worketh good effect Should God neglect Vs then to exercise With rods wherby to make vs grow more wise SON LXXXV HOw should my feare or sorrow long remaine Although the world did swell and ouerflow With danger which nought else but death do show When I by death do finde a present gaine Faith me assures that all assaults are vaine That seeke to seuer me from heauenly blis The loue of Christ assureth me of this That I with him shall safely still remaine What though of earthly pleasures I do misse And though the care of them vnpleasing grow Yet this by good experience I do know All things turne to the best to children his I therefore kis The crosse with ioyfull cheare Because in chastisement doth loue appeare SON LXXXVI ALthough those Gibeonites the natiue borne Of sinfull flesh haue slily me beguilde When as I thought all lust to haue exilde By showing faynd repentance raggd and torne Though flesh and bloud vnto this league haue sworne Not asking counsell of the Lord at all By which into a snare my soule did fall And deepe hypocrisie my powre did scorne Yet meane I them vnto account to call And since they haue my holy thoughts defilde Accursed I will hold them and as vilde Will hate their ofsprings all both great and small And be they shall But bondmen to my soule Who daily may their proud attemps controwle SON LXXXVII WHen I began a conquest of my will To make and yeeld it vnto reasons law My reason to the rule of God to draw And by that rule to guide my actions still It had bene wisedome first the flesh to kill Who breeds affections which do still withstand The building of the worke I haue in hand And thornes are in my sides to worke me ill But now my error I do vnderstannd And must by feare of wrath keepe them in aw And by the chastisements of sinne they saw Make them to yeeld vnto obedient band Then shall my land With faithfull souldiers be Replenished and armed strengthen me SON LXXXVIII NOt euery one that with his lips doth pray Or praise thy name is gratefull in thy sight Thy searching eyes haue not so much delight In those that cry Lord Lord each houre of day But such as in thy bounds obedient stay And make thy will a law vnto their mind That in thy promises do comfort find And follow not the worlds deceitfull way To such thou showest thy selfe a father kind And doest coroborat their heart with might Against all powers wherewith they daily fight Their sores thou tak'st to cure and doest vp bind Angels assignd Do them inuiron round And to their comfort mercies do abound SON LXXXIX HOw should I quicken vp my selfe indeed To true and faithfull loue euen as I ought Vnlesse I call to mind whence I was brought And by whose aide who did this kindnesse breed Which when I only waigh my heart doth bleed To see that bountie of a God so kind And note the dulnesse of my nature blind That should forget the Lord who me doth feed When I was almost lost he me did find When I forgat him cleane on me he thought When I was sold to sinne then he me bought When I was wounded he my sores bid bind Yea when I pind He gaue me plenteous store Which gifts I will record for euermore SON XC VVHy should I faint or feare or doubt at all How fierce so euer fleshly combat show Since I so sure a succour readie know To shield me safe what euer do befall If he haue such regard of sparrowes small As none of them till God appoint do dye If to our haires which fall he haue an eye That none of them vnnumbred perish shall Why should I thinke him deafe when I do cry As though he had no care of vs below As though he would not needfull things bestow Although our patience he delight to try Who can deny But flowres that grow in field In glory staine the beautie pride doth yeeld SON XCI HOw do Gods blessings to his Saints abound Whose gifts of grace although they be but small At first yet more and more increase they shall As seed well watred in a frutefull ground The proofe whereof I sinfull wretch haue found Whose faith nigh famished he now hath fed From heauen with great increase of fish and bread Which strengthen dying soule with comfort sound His word for table he did open spred His seruants for to feed me he did call Their dole so free I find more fragments fall Then in my basket sences home haue led Yet he hath bed To such more to bestow As greatest store of former treasure show SON XCII I Know not Lord how to discharge aright The dutie that for graces great I owe No need thou hast of me at all I know Yet in thy seruice shall be my delight To publish forth thy praises day and night To serue thy Saints with gifts I shall possesse Thy wondrous workes by all meanes to confesse I will imploy my substance wit and might The remnant of my life shall well expresse That dead to sin in Christ to life I grow Which shall to world my mind regenerate show Although that I cannot sinne cleane suppresse And will addresse My thoughts to thee alone Because on earth true ioy or blisse
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
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
wrath to bide SON CVIII Against defection VVHen I ô Lord vnto my mind do call The fearefull records of the Patriarkes best In whom great gifts of grace did seeme to rest And yet to foule and fearefull sinnes did fall I do deplore the frailty of vs all And feare defection euen in those are blest And since I am the least O Lord alas Of many that in word professe thy name And I some feeling tast haue of the same Which doth not forward to perfection pas It makes me see as in a looking glasse The feeble strength of this my present frame Which clogd with sin is lame And wold look back To hell from which I fly if grace should lack SON CIX Not to trust in flesh WHat trust may I ô Lord on flesh repose Whose mould is earth whose substance is but dust His thoughts vncleane his actions all vniust As is the stocke of parents whence it growes Whome fraud vntruth pride lust distrust inclose By which by nature rul'd wee are and must I know the feeble trust I may expect And safety which on such a frame is found Where weake foundation is the sand vnsound Which may â—â—t byde the brunt of stormie day When as temptations shall their powre display Or yet afflictions vs enuiron round Vpon a surer ground Faith must me build And Christ my sauiour so my soule may shield SON CX Praye for humilitie SInce thou ô Lord and Sauiour doest confesse Thy selfe a true Phiâ—ition vnto those Who with humilitie their griefes disclose And vnto thee for ayd by prayers presse Vouchsafe thou so my heart to thee addresse That on thy helpe alone my faith repose Vouchsafe my sight vnlose Make me to see The naked show of natures powre and shame Let me behold my workes weake lewd and lame And let my heart with sorrow pierced be And pressed downe procure such mone in me As may in fine repentance truely frame That humbly so thy name I may adore And faithfully in fine thy helpe implore SON CXI For Comfort in affliction LEaue me not Lord most humbly I thee craue In this distresse whereto my sinsme bring VVhich headlong vnto hell my soule would fling And make me thinke there were no powre could â—aue My wretched state from deaths eternall graue Which poysoned is by Satans deadly sting But teach thou me to sing O Lord thy praise Amids thy saints which see thy mercies still With ioy and comfort do my courage fill Once Lord my soule which yet in terror staies Make me to bend vnto thy will my waies And frame my powers vnto thy holy will The powre of Satan kill And so increase My soule with comfort of thy lasting peace SON CXII Iâ— prosperity not to forsake God THe more ô Lord I see before my face The daily blessings which thow doest bestow On me vnworthie wretch who well do know How farre affections vile in me haue place The more I see iust cause to call for grace Lest for abuse of them thou vengance sâ—ow For then most soone we grow For to forget The giuer when the giftes we once haue gaind Ingratitude our natures so hath staind Thy greatest blessing we most lightly set So far we are from paying praise for debt VVe do forget the nurse vs fed and wainde As Israell not refraind Thee most t' offend VVhen most thou them didst feed comfort send SON CXIII Mans Sorrow for sin I Must commend the thing the world doth hate And like the thing that flesh and bloud detest The cares and griefes by which I was opprest Which made me see and know my wretched state Wisdome is dearely bought but not too late Who tasts true frute of care knowes cumfort best Make me then Lord disgest each bitter pill Which for correction of my sin is sent Purge thou thereby my drosse make me repent Each lewd affect offensiue to thy will A new and better nature Lord in still Which to thy seruice alwaies may be bent With sorrow often rent My hardoned heart And let repentance purchase cure of smart SON CXIIII For true feare FEare is a frailtie knowne to humane kind Which witnesseth a guilt where it doth dwell Since Adams fall his ofspring knew it well And euery man in conscience doth it find It takes possession in atroubled mind And if grace want dispaire driues downe to hell Yet these thy praises tell O Lord they shall Who danted for their frailties do require Grace to resist their lustes and doe aspire For strength of true perfection for to call And haue a feare of sin though neare so small For loue of right as well as shunning ire Kindle their loue with fire Sprinkle it with feare That incense of obedient smoke it reare SON CXV Sorow for coldnesse of compassion I Feele ô Lord and sorrow for the same The slender feeling and compassion small The which I haue of neighbours case at all Which to assist their states my heart should frame Who with my lips professe a Christian name But stop my eares when they for help do call So easily we fall And do forgett The lesson which our Maister Christ vs gaue Who vs with mourners to lament would haue And on our brothers good chiefe care should set But selfe-loue and cold charitie doth let No frute of faith proceed though neighbour craue Yet thou didst freely saue Me wretch cleane lost Whose life the blud of thy deare Sonne hath cost SON CXVI For Patience WHen I ô Lord in troubles sore opprest My heauie state with carefull thoughts do way Which hope of happie issue doth denay Aâ—d frailtie of the flesh can scarse digest I onely find here in at length some rest When on thy mercy promised I stay And when from day to day I see with shame My new offences which do trespasse thee And note how long thy iudgements spared me Which iustly might burst forth in vengeance flame Ye when my Sauiours sufferings show the same Which ought a rule to his elect to be I craue that I might see Like fruites of grace So that impatience hold in me no place SON CXVII For continuance of Gods word THe greatest plague that I see cause to feare To such as I who haue so carelesse bin By reading and by preaching for to win True knowledg which our harts to thee might reare Is lest thy Prophets sound should so forbeare To preach thy word that we should dwell in sin And wallowing therein We should delight In ignorance the headlong path to hell And wickedly in carnall tents to dwell And so surcease with sinne or lust to fight Grant therfore Lord thy sword may alwaies smight My soule till sinne it from me cleane expell Let Prophets alwaies tell To vs thy will And keepe vs vnder thy obedience still SON CXVIII For grace to bring forth fruits ALthough ô Lord I do as truth confesse No powre in humane art that can thee please That all polluted are with first disease Of sinne originall