Elizabetham REgia Virgineae soboles dicata parenti Virgo animo patriaemater Regina quid quid optas Chara domi metuenda foris Regina quid optas Pulchra piaes princeps foelix Regina quid optas Coelum est Certò at serò sit Regina quod optas Ioh. Lily Ad Lockum eiusdem INgenio genio locuples dic Locke quid addam Addo quod ingenium quondam preciosius auro Ad Authorem NOn vane vanos sapiens perstringit abusus Nec vano enarras regalem carmine mentem Nec qui suasit opus fuerat vanúsve malúsve Nec vanum diuae sacrum dicare laborem Cuius quid vani quid non memorabile dictu Non vanumest sceptro populum rexisse potentem Non iusto regem bello superasse superbum Non Antichristi virès fregisse furentis Non armis miseros vicináque regna fouere Si vanus repeto ignosce ô regia virgo Vano Pergetamen Sola haec vera putato L. P. To the worke THee Princes pen now present to a Prince And poeme to a princely sprited Muse Ye full sound Ethicks of the sweet essence Of heauenly truth which all ought to peruse View all reape good leaue ill without excuse H. A. To the Author FOr me to praise this worke it were no praise Whil'st thou doest publish it it prayseth thee Thing once cald perfect further praise denayes Because all other words inferior bee With happie sight thy muse appeares to see That could select a subiect of such choyce Which hath enforced many more then mee With silence for thy blist attempt reioyce Thy former vaine no vaine conceipt bewrayes By Passions patternes of a Christian fight But for this worke yet highest honor stayes And therefore henceforth feare no others flight Thy Zeale thy theame thy gift thy fame to staine Which imitate they may but not attaine M. C. TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE TO you thrise sacred Princesse of this I le By God By countrie By true wisdomes praise Elect Annointed Soueraigne is the stile Religous Empresse Beautie of our dayes His Church you cherish that your state did raise Our peace you purchase where your throne is plast Eternall glorie on your actions stayes Rare Crowned Vertue Holy Humble Chast Whom all heauens high perfections fully grac't Whom all earth honors should do will adorne VVhom all the Muses haue with loue embrac't VVho doth pale Enuie and blind Fortune scorne To you wise kings discourse of blisse I bring Renowned Queene true type of happiest King Chap. 1. verse 1 Those sacred words king Dauids son did preach who Israel taught verse 2 All vanitie of vanities he calls more light then thought 1. The words of the Preacher the sonne of Dauid king in Ierusalem THe heauenly words of holy Dauids sonne Who ouer Israels race sometimes did raigne Wherewith to vertue he his subiects wonne Whilst in Ierusalem he did remaine And to instruct them thus did not disdaine Those words no vaine discourse it is I write Pend by a Prince as God did them indite Strange doctrines which some paradoxes call But yet the quintessence of holy creed Liues pure Elixer which is sought of all T' asswage cares corasiues in heart that breed Of happinesse the generatiue seed Of morall speculation practise sound Of constant faith the quiet fruit he found 2. Vanitie of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanitie The farre fet happinesse which some propound In minds in bodies and in fortunes gifts Which all conioyned seeldome times are found But to a vaine conceit the fancie lifts And their best Sectaries do lose their drifts The crowne it is of heauens most glorious state Earths fruites all vaine care folly and debate Yea vaine all vaine saith he mans soule well proues What euer on earths spatious Orbe below Hath breath life being sense or what so moues By vegetatiue kind or which doth ow To nature a declyning state to grow Vaine in the roote in bud in flower all vaine Vaine fruit whose of-springs vainly vades againe verse 3 What solid fruite finds tyred man of trauell vnder Sunne verse 4 The earth is firme whilst mans age past another age doth runne 3. What remaineth vnto man in all his trauel which he suffereth vnder the Sunne What if some one amids a multitude More happie in many points then others be Yet truly can you not thereby conclude That perfect happie in all respects is he Nor long time can enioy the same we see Vpon a tickle point earths blessings stand And come and go in turning of a hand All must confesse that nothing long remaines To man for all the trauels of his mynd Sustained in this life with bodies paines Since earth and earthly things all vade by kynd As doth a shadow or a puffe of wynd No prouidence preuenteth destinie Earth and her fruites do liue but for to die 4. One generatiō passeth and an other generatiō succeedeth but the earth remaineth for euer Mans life like to a burning lampe doth wast And like the ship on sea all stormes abyde Flies swift as thought which straight is come and past Whose memorie as soone away doth slyde As trace which soaring fowle through aire did guyde Whose entercourse of change so swift doth go That sence can scarce discerne that it was so And as on stage new actors issue still Vntill each part expir'd the play be done So generations newe the world do fill And ages newe past ages ouer-runne And shall till this worlds end haue new begun That other world which neuer shall haue end To which we posting thus our hopes should bend verse 5 The mouing sun doth rise and set and turnes from whence it came verse 6 The wind frō north to south blows roūd calmeth with the same 5. The sunne riseth and the sunne goeth downe and draweth to his place where he riseth Yea all heauens elements full well we see Though farre more durable then man by kind Yet for our vse in motion still to bee And by their change of change put vs in mind As in the lightsome sunne we proofe may find Whose time in measuring out our time is spent Whilst we to marke his motion onely ment This glorious Bride in loue of earth his spouse From his Starchambered pallace of the sky Drawne on by mornings wings betimes doth rouse Through either Hemi-sphere and passing by Th' Antipodes from East to East doth fly With euery step Horizons making new Wherewith the earth new bewties doth indew 6. The wind goeth toward the South and cōpasseth toward the North the wind goeth round about and returneth by his circuit This pure sweete aire wherein things breathing liue Th'all filling essence of vacuitie He vnto life the very spright doth giue And neuer rests his presence to applie To our behoofe who languishing would lie If long he should retire his flagrant breath Whose vse from vs restraind doth menace death He being speedie guide to motions all In tender care and
straight and that which faileâ—â— can not be numbred For when I sought to practise what I knew My mind distracted diuersly was led In looking to preuent things to insew Much care in vaine I tooke no fruit it bred To know the worlds amis serues to small sted When no man can make straight the crooked tree Or mend the chance that is ordaind to bee To number forth mans miseries and woe Is hard to doe and litle would auaile To stay the Oceans course he should but goe That would support where nature meanes to faile It makes vs but our weaknesse more bewaile If any way our wisedome stood in sted It would suppresse the vices in vs bred 16. I thought in mine heart and said Behold I am become great and excell in wisedom all them that haue bene before me in lerusalem and mine hart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge And though alas I might of all men best For wisedome be reputed mongst the great Whose knowledge farre surpassed all the rest Before me euer were in Israels seate Or any others whom Records repeat Yea then was Chalcoll Darda or Ethan Heman Maholl or any liuing man Yet I for all my knowledge must confesse That childish blindnesse raigneth ouer all The more I knew I thought I knew the lesse My knowledge ignorance I seem'd to call When to the skanning of it I did fall As farre to weake true wisedome to behold As man vnfit Gods secrets to vnfold verse 17 I studied all both good and bad to know in all I found verse 18 Much grief as much wisedom grew new cares woes abouÌ„d 17. And I gaue 〈◊〉 heart to knowe wisedome and knowledge madnesse and foolishnesse I knew also that this is a vexatioÌ„ of the spirit And that I might the better others iudge I bent my selfe to euery students vaine To reade each friuolous worke I did not grudge As well as writers of more pregnant braine The rules of obseruations I did gaine Which long experience maketh many see And to the vulgar sort instructions bee I put in practise what these arts did teach And tasted euerie toy for my delight Fond actions made in modest mind a breach For will with reason I did arme to fight Yet all in fine did but torment my spright In wisdoms graue restraint my bouÌ„ds seeme straight On follie shame and sorow to awaight 18. For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth griefe So wisedome proues a style of small auaile Which cannot yeeld a man one happie day His infant studies seruile feares do quaile His youthfull yeares with wantonnesse decay His manly thoughts worlds combers weare away His yeares of iudgement for true wisedome fit Deuoyd of powre through weakned limbs do sit And yet suppose some one in ripened time In bodie and in mind haue some delight Yet he shall find when he doth seeme in prime A world of woes to march before his sight Which past or presently shall with him fight Which if he scape yet many thousands beare Whereof whilst yet he liues he stands in feare Chap. 2. verse 1 Then did I ioy proue at full which also proued vaine verse 2 Mad laughter and short ioy what ease do ye yeeld to my paine 1. I said in mine heart goe to now I will proue thee with ioy therfore take thou pleasure in pleasant things and behold this 〈◊〉 vanitie THus tired with these studies I repinde And in my heart I said no more of this Now will I try if pleasure I may find To cheare my fainting soule in worlds amis Perhaps in mirth and ioy is plast true blis Let me to counsell my affections take And let them to their likings frolike make From reasons bonds thus set at large awhile They ech of them their appetites doe fit Each seuerall sense himselfe seekes to beguile And all conspire the wished prise to git But ouer gorg'd full soone they all do surfit For lust complete sacietie doth breed And vaine the fruite that growes from such a seed 2. I said of laughter thou art mad and of ioy what is this that thou 〈◊〉 Then did I first begin indeed to know The vanitie of these vnconstant ioyes For while the foggie myst of lust doth grow As through a cloud we see it so annoyes Our purest iudgement euen with childish toyes But then as safe on shore the storme I saw Whose raging billowes did soules perill draw Then cald I laughter a deformed grace More fit for fooles then temp'rate men to try Graue maiestie expelling from the face And antike wise disguizing men whereby As madnesse I beganne it to defy As forced mirth which no sweet fruit doth bring But to relenting soule a poysned sting verse 3 With wine I wit and folly fed to find mans liues content verse 4 In stately workes of houses and of vineyards study spent 3. I sought in mine hart to giue my selfe to wine and to lead mine hart in wisedome to take hold of folly till I might see wheâ— is that goodnes of the children of men which they enioy vnder the sunne the whole number of the daies of their life The Antidote of hearts with care opprest Earths bloud wits bane wines best delighting tast I gaue my selfe to proue in my vnrest To quicken so my sprights with care defast Not glutton like with drunkennesse disgrast But as in prickly bush men Roses take So in my plentie I not measure brake For why the obiect of my actions were So limited by wisedomes happy guyde That I in them did Gods offence forbeare And in the bounds of temperance firme abyde I onely sought by all things to haue tryde Where and what is that good mans of-spring finds In life on earth which so inchaunts their minds 4. I haue made my great workes I haue built me houses I haue planted me vineyardes And for I held magnificence to bee A vertue fitting well a princely mind I built and dedicated Lord to thee A Temple where thy Arke a rest might find A worthlesse present for a God so kind Yet best that skilfull Hyrams art could frame In seauen yeares time and cost vpon the same I raysed and reedified beside Full many cities to withstand the foes And Libanus whose beautie farre and wide In fame before all other cities goes Besides a Pallace for my Queene like those Where mightiest Monarks courts haue erst bin plast Which was with many vineyards greatly grast verse 5 I gardens had and Orchards faire of euery fruitfull tree verse 6 And Aqueducts to water them the purest that might bee 5. I haue made me gardens orchards and planted in theÌ„ trees of all 〈◊〉 I made me spacious gardens therewithall Wherein to solace both my Queenes and mee In which all kind of herbes both great and small And all such flowers as either pleasing bee To sight or smell you there might plentie see Or which for health of man had any prayse Or
to repent That wrong on wrong vpon the iust they lade Euen whilst they able are no more to beare So voide they are of any kind of feare 12. Though a sinner do euill an hundreth times and God prolongeth his dayes yet I know that it shall be well with them that feare the Lord and do reueâ—ence before him But though they scape vnpunished awhile For hundred yeares are but a while with God Though flatteringly them selues they do beguile And feele no smart of Gods correcting rod But rather find their dayes prolongd with peace As though their happinesse should neuer cease Yet sure I am it one day shall be well With such as in the feare of God do liue As in his holy lawes and Church do dwell And proofe of their beliefe in life do giue That they exempted farre from tyrants rage Shall liue and rest in peace an endlesse age verse 13 Who feares not God shall not escape his daies as shadows paâ— verse 14 Though wicked men triumph sometimes iust men waile alas 13. But it shall not be well to the wicked neither shal he prolong his dayes he shall be like a shadow because he feareth not before God When as contrariwise the wicked one Shall be dismounted from his seat of trust Dismayd and desolate forlorne alone Pursu'd by heauen and earth by iudgement iust Of God and man forsaken and contemnd As he the innocent before condemnd The pompe and glory of his passed pride Like to a flowre shall vanish and decay His life like ruines downe shall headlong slide His fame like to a shadow vade away Because he feared not the God of might In iustice shall these woes vpon him light 14. There is a vanitie which is done vpon the earth that ther be righteous men to whom it commeth according to the worke of the wicked and there be wicked men to whom it commeth according to the worke of the iust I thought also that this is vanitie And yet in truth it is a wondrous case To see the iust so many woes sustaine Not that I thinke that pitie can haue place With wicked ones to make them wrong refraine But that the God of iustice doth permit His seruants to be subiect vnto it For you shall lightly see the better man The more afflicted in his worldly state The vilest person worst that find you can Most wealthy'and loued most though worthy hate But it is vaine to search Gods mind herein Thereof to descant I will not begin verse 15 I best commend a ioyfull vse of blessings falne to share verse 16 For wisedome made me but behold mans life more full of care 15. And I praysed ioy for there is no goodnesse to man vnder the sunne saue to eat and to drinke and to reioyce for this is adioined to his labour the daies of his life that God hath giuen him vnder the sunne But drawing this discourse vnto an end Concluding it as I the former did I say that in this life who doth intend Himselfe of many combers well to rid And to enioy the blisse that earth can giue Must cast off care and seeke in peace to liue I meane those curious studies fore-reprou'd Which do but multiply a bootlesse care And ioy himselfe when ioy may best be mou'd With vse of euery creature and prepare To take a plenteous part of them as gaine Of all his trauels to him shall remaine 16. When I applyed mine heart to know wisedome and to behold the businesse that is done on earth that neither day nor night the eies of man take sleepe For though it be a thing some wisemen vse And man by nature is thereto inclind And I my selfe the same did not refuse Euen studies trauell to inrich my mind Who knew thereby what studie might attaine Or which a forward wit and will might gaine Who searched had mens actions curiously And all the accident that world doth yeeld Who in my selfe great part of them did try On others proofe did likewise knowledge build Both day and night applying thereunto My busie braines as many others do verse 17 I see therby Gods works profound beyond mans reach to sound Be'he nere so wise toile nere so much their depth cannot be found 17. Then I beheld the whole works of God that man can not find out the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne for the which man laboureth to seeke it and cannot find it yea though the wise man thinke to know it he cannot find it Yet loe I found that I much time had lost That all my studie was imployd in vaine That I in vaine my bookes had turnd and tost That my experience did small knowledge gaine That out the meanest creature God did make I might a new full many a lesson take That all we know but meere supposall is That we know not the least of truth of them That in the principles of art we mis That we vniustly name of knowledge claime Who only truely know we nothing know As wise men in the end to see do grow Chap. 9. verse 1 All this I know that wise iust are Gods whose loue showes not verse 2 By hap they haue wise fooles good bad are subiect to like lot 1. I haue surely giuen mine hart to all this and to declare all this that the iust and the wise and their workes are in the hand of God and no man knoweth either loue or hatred of all that is before them IT resteth now my part to perfect that I in my former speeches haue begunne That I may hit the marke I aymed at And so my course vnto your comfort runne That I may see that some haue profit wonne Which I will do by laying plaine to thee The proofes which both by good and bad I make Their weale nor woe no perfect markes to bee Of loue or hate of God from whom we take All powre and all successe and vaine are they That mens intentions by their issue way 2. Al things come a like to all and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked to the good and to the pure to the polluted and to him that sacriâ—iceth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner he that sweareth as he that feareth an oth For much a like you all mens states shall find And like euents to good and bad befall To wisest men as men most grossely blind To rich as poore and wretchedst man of all For in this life you none can happie call Obserue the man that is of honest mind And marke the most deceitfull man aliue Looke on the Athiest most profane by kind And holy man and you shall see them thriue Both oft a like the foule blaspheming wight As he that prayes and serues God day and night verse 3 All during life to folly sold a like all go to graue verse 4 In life is hope liue dogs more price then once dead Lyons haue 3. This
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
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
Then this no fiction that man doth deuise But built on best experience life can bring With patience reade and do it not despise Yâ—â— wise experience can confirme each thing It is not rated as Sibillaes were But priz'd by you it will the value reare To the Ri. Ho. the Earle of Esseâ— Great Master of the Horse to her Highnesse and one of the most Noble order of the c. NOt Neptunes child or Triton I you name Not Mars not Perseus though a Pere to all Such word I would find out or newly frame By sea and land might you triumphant call Yet were such word for your desert too small You Englands ioy you en'mies terror are You vices scourge you vertues fenced wall To Church a shield to Antichrist a barre I need not feare my words should stretch to farre Your deedes out-fly the swiftest soaring pen You praise of peace th' vndaunted powre of warre Of heauens elect the happieloue of men Not knowing then How to expresse my mind Let silence craue this gift may fauour find To the Ri. Ho. the Lord Charles Howard of 〈…〉 Admirall of England one of the most Noble order of the garter c. VVHen as wise Salomons most happie raigne Is registred in bookes of holy writ His greatnesse seemes increase of honour gaine By store of worthy Peeres his state which fit Whose excellence of courage and of wit His Impery'causd with wealth and peace abound Whose heads and hands did neuer idle sit But seeking commons good through world around By sea and land their swords free passage found Which subiects safetie bred and feare to foe Like fame vnto our Prince you cause to sound Both farre and neare whilst you victorious goe For which her trust our loue to you is due As pledge whereof I this present to you To the Right Ho. the Lord Cobham Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties houshold Lord Warden of the Sink ports and of the Noble order of the Gaâ—ter c. GIftes are not measur'd by the outward show Nor by the price of Peeres of Noble kind They shadowes are the harts intent to know And simple figures of a faithfull mind Then since your vertues high all hearts do bind To striue to testifie their grate intent Vouchsafe suppose my powre cannot yet find A present fit as will and heart was bent And what king writing once thought time well spent That reade you once as thing of some regard His mind ment well that it vnto you sent Time not spent ill in view thereof is spard If it more worth I more loue could expresse My due regard of you should yeeld no lesse To the Right Ho. the Lord North Treasurer of her Maiesties houshould I May not say I shun to shew my want Before your selfe whom I true noble hold Since I to others haue not made them scant And may of meaner men be well controld This common guilt of mine makes me more bold To prosecute the error I begunne Who craue your fauour not my faults vnfold Although my folly ouer-rashly runne If with the best they haue a pardon wonne They may the boldlier passe the common view What Princes like the people hold well done And fame in passage doth her force renew Which good or bad your censure is to make When now first flight it in the world doth take To the Right Honorable the Lord of Buckhurst AS you of right impart with Peeres in sway Of common weale wherein by you we rest So hold I fit to yeeld you euery way That due the which my powre affoordeth best But when I call to mind your pen so blest With flowing liquor of the Muses spring I feare your daintie eare can ill digest The harsh tun'd notes which on my pipe I sing Yet since the ditties of so wise a king Can not so lose their grace by my rude hand But that your wisedome can conforme the thing Vnto the modell doth in margent stand I you beseech blame not though you not prayse This worke my gift which on your fauour stayes To the Right Honor. Knight Sir William Knowles Controller of her Maiesties houshold OF auncient vertues honor'd ofsprings race Of true religions you blest progeny On which two pillers vertue built your grace And court by gracing you is grast thereby Of such since this worke treates such worke do I Well fitting hold for you to reade and shield Whose wisedome honor vertue doth apply To true religion on the which you build My selfe too weake so heauy a taske to wield As was the treating of so high a stile At first attempt began to fly the field Till some which lik't the theame bid pause awhile And not dismay the title would suffise To daunt the vaine and to allure the wise To the Right honorable knight Sir Iohn Fortescue Chauncellor of the Exchequor HE who in dutie much to you doth owe In power is little able to present For pledge of gratefull mind is forst bestow These ill limd lines best signes of hearts intent The scope whereof by Salomon was bent To teach the way to perfect happinesse By me transformed thus and to you sent To shew that I do wish to you no lesse To wish well is small cost I do confesse But such a heart as truly it intends Is better worth esteeme then many gesse And for all other wants makes halfe amends Such is my heart such be therfore your mind Then shall my mite a millions welcome find To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Cecill Knight principall Secretary to her Maiestie TO you my hopes sweet life nurse to my muse Kind foster father of deseruing sprights This Poem comes which you will not refuse I trust because of blessednes it wrights Your aged youth so waind from vaine delights Your growing iudgment farre beyond your yeares Your painefull daies your many watchfull nights Wherein your care of Common good appears Assureth him that of your fame once hears That you some heauenly obiect do aspire The sweet conceit whereof your soule so chears That earth 's bred vanities you not admire Such is this theame such was first writers mind For whose sakes I do craue it fauour find To other Lords Ladies and aproued friends To the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxford Lord great Chamberlaine of England IF Endors widdow-hâ—â—d had powre to raise A perfect bodie of true temperature I would coniure you by your wonted prayse Awhile my song to heare and trueth indure Your passed noble proofe doth well assure Your blouds your minds your bodis excellence If their due reuerence may this paines procure Your pacience with my boldnesse will dispence I onely craue high wisdoms true defence Not at my suit but for works proper sake Which treats of true felicities essence As wisest king most happiest proofe did make Whereof your owne experience much might say Would you vouchsafe your knowledge to bewray To the right Honorable the Earle of Northumberland VVHo would intreat of earthly happinesse
He need but take a patterne of your state Borne noble learned bred whose acts expresse That honor cannot vertues force abate In home-kind loue abroad vnmenast hate In bodies value and in spright of mind You haue no cause to blame your aduerse fate Which such a great aspect hath you assignd Yet that you yet more happinesse might find The common loue your countrey you doth owe To offer you this meanes thereto doth bind My will which in this lowly gift I show Which yet accept for worthy Princes sake Who of each point a perfect proofe did make To the Right Ho. the Earle of Shrewsburie VVEll placed vertue in high honors seat Well bending honour to a Christians state Vouchsafe my pen your pardon may intreat Who this my vowed seruice offer late Your shining glory did my hope abate When first to seeke your sight my fancie ment Your fame for vertue yet did animate My pen which vnto you this present sent Your true nobilitie which seemeth bent To foster innocents from powrefull foe Doth promise me wisht fruit of hearts intent If vnder your protection it doth goe The rather since of honor I do wright And happinesse which is your soules delight To the right Honourable the Earle of Cumberland THe Crowned honor iustly which befell To valiant Iosua and wise Calebs race Whose faith to fainting people did foretell The fruitfull spoyle of proud resisters place Their natiue vertues which you haue by grace Whose sword doth fight the battels of the iust Which makes our Hemis-phere your fame imbrace And feebled hearts on your stout courage trust My confidence in you excuse they must Who do my Poems muster in your traine Whose theame hath bin by wisest king discust And in your practise do of proofe remaine Which leade the way vnto the holy land For which whilst here you liue you fighting stand To the Right honorable the Earle of Sussex THe skilfull Pilots that the Ocean haunt In stormes are found to be of merry cheare Whom fairest calmes with feare dread do daunt Because a signe of change doth seeme appeare The expert souldiers vsed to the warre In time of peace do arme them for the fight And carefull Christians will foresee from farre The fierce temptations may in pleasure light Then since no settled rule there can be here Whereby to know the issues growing are But change of times may comfort clips or cleare And so our present state amend or marre Learne here braue Chāpion noble vertuous wise To beare all brunts that may in life arise To the Right Ho. the Earle of Southampton AMongst most noble noble euery way Among the wise wise in a high degree Among the vertuous vertuous may I say You worthy seeme right worthy Lord to mee By bloud by value noble we you see By nature and by learnings trauell wise By loue of good ils hate you vertuous bee Hence publike honor priuate loue doth rise Which hath inuited me thus to deuise To shew my selfe not slacke to honour you By this meane gift since powre more fit denies Which let me craue be read and held for true Of honor wisedome vertue I delate Which you pursuing will aduance your state To the Right Honorable the Lord Zouch VVHat haue I done that I would take in hand To picke forth Patrons should my work defend When such a Lordly troope of Nobles stand As in the choyce of them I find no end But hauing thus begun I do intend To fawne on those whose fauours I haue found Amongst the which I trust you helpe will lend Because the building is on such a ground I know your learned skill and iudgement sound Which might deter it to approch your sight But whereas loue they say doth once abound There feare and all suspect is banisht quight Your vertues loue your honor force me yeeld To you on whose kind fauour I do build To the Right Honorable the Lord Willougbie of Ersbie MIght I forget the Comforts of my prime Might I neglect the matter which I wright Might I not know the hopes of present time Forgetting you I might my selfe acquight But parentes fauours once my youths delight Your selfe apatterne of a happie peere Whose proofes of vertue publike are to sight Might me vpbraid with peeuish silence here If I should hold so meane a gift too deare For one whose ancient debter yet I rest For whom my Poeme doth so fit appeare Since you our age recordes among the best Then thinke not I by slight would kindnes gaine But hold this due If honest I remaine To the Right Honourable the Lord Burrowes I Not intend by present of a booke Which for the title most men will allowe For equall praise with first true author looke Because I newly it transformed now Nor for my owne presume I it to'avow Vnworthie herald of that princes says Which duely to deliuer few know how And I of all most weake by many ways Yet since your high praisd bountie not denays A grate acceptance of a kindly gift Vpon that hope my present boldnesse stays Who in my purpose haue no other drift But let you see earths vaine heauens perfect blis Which with my heart I wish you tast in this To the Right Honorable the Lord Mountioy TO you the noble light of happie I le In whose most vertuous breast the holy fire Vnquenched liues when all the world the while Nigh drowned lyes in dreames of vaine desire Whose holy zeale the godly do admire Whose worthie constancie the wise commend For whom heauens glorie waights as vertuous hire To whom the hearts of men with honour bend Who do pure vertue to your powre defend Whom vaine delights of earth cannot defile Whom to protect religion God did send Vouchsafe to listen to my song a while Which right true tidings to the world doth bring Of what obserued was by wisest king To the Right Honorable the Lord of Hunsdon OF good king Dauids holy'and carefull bent Of wise and happie Salomons desire Their liuely patterns here I do present To you braue Lord as kind deserts require Your gifts of nature rare I not admire Since heire you were vnto so noble a father Whose wisdome to true honour did aspire But gifts of grace which by your life I gather And for the which you reuerenc't are the rather As heire to both those kings in common care Of God and realme gainst which most lewd deprauer Is forth his poysoned tongue for shame to spare As for that good to me by you hath flowne Was but one frute of many vertues knowne To the Right reuerend father in God To by Bishop of Duresme IF double cumber of the publike care Of Paules and Peters sword and keyes may rest I would intreat you some small time to spare To view the face of your inuited gest Of all men you haue cause to vse him best Because you more then halfe the father are To you therefore I haue him first addrest To haue his
glorious beames of brightnesse doth display Suprasseth darkest nights that winter weares In frozen Zone for light some face he beares So farre and more the wise do fooles surpasse Or more then precious stones doe brickle glasse 14. For the wise mans eyes are in hâ—s head but the foole walketh in darknesse yet I know also that the same condition falleth 〈…〉 For why the wise call passed things to mind Obserue the present future doe fore-see Compare effects whereby they courses find And make their actions to best rules agree Like Eagle eyes and Linxes sights theirs bee Where fooles as blind-fold groping misse the way And vnto euery daunger are a pray Although in deede one end befalleth all The wise and foolish begger and the king All made of earth againe to dust doe fall And euery state is crossed with some thing Wisedome breedes care and folly want doth bring Wealth liues in feare and pouertie in wo Honor enuide base bloud contemn'd doth go verse 15 If so thought I then is it vaine more wisedome to aspire verse 16 All is forgot in time to come like death haue all for hire 15. TheÌ„ I thought in mine heart it befalleth vnto me as it befalleth to the foole why therefore doe I then labour to be more wise and I said in mine hart that this also is vanitie I therefore in my heart beganne to thinke If all estates some miserie must haue If wise and foolish both of one cup drinke If all by death must draw vnto the graue If wisedome may not man from daunger saue If sicknesse be the common guide to death If death the end of all that draweth breath Why then do I contend for wisedomes prayse With studious trauell why do I applie My time and spend away youthes pleasant dayes With paine and toyle why serues seueritie And temperance of life since all must die It is meere madnesse to be too precise Though fooles be vaine vaine also be the wise 16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise nor of the foole for euer for that that now is in the dayes to come shall all be forgotten and how dieth the wise man as doth the foole Vaine in the highest point of vanitie If they suppose on earth true blisse to find As on a stage each step they tred awrie Is markt and fame defamd by slaunderous kind And their best name that they do leaue behind Is soone forgot as fooles facts also bee As we by daily proofe full well may see Alas is there no difference at all In length of dayes betwixt the fond and wise Can nought protect from death but must all fall As basest sort so those in honour rise Can man no way to lengthen life deuise Then vaine is he in them reposeth trust Whose ioyes with them so soone determine must verse 17 Then lothd I life all life bred griefe and did the mind torment verse 18 My owne workes were vnpleasing then possest by one vnment 17. Therefore I hated life for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me for all is vanitie vexation of the Spirit The thought whereof made me the world to hate And euery circumstance of life to blame The day of birth as day of cursed fate The length of life as heape of woe and shame The dayly looke for death as rotten frame Of natures weakest building earth doth beare Bred vp and nourished with care and feare Conceiu'd in sinne brought into world with paine With iust laments bewayling future case Who impotent doth hopelesse still remaine If pitie in the parents had not place Or foster mothers did him not embrace Whose youth sharpe tutors age the lawes restraine Whose vexed soule still carkes and cares in vaine 18. I hated also all my labor wherin I had trauelled vnder the Sunne which I shall leaue to the man that shall be after me Yea though my selfe was free from sundry things By reason of the greatnesse of my state With which the meaner sort full often wrings As want and suffering stroke of mighties hate Yet I my cares had in an other rate And far more forcible in me they were For prosperous states doe worst afflictions beare As feare of chaunge care of the common good Desire to eternize my name on earth Yet nothing more me thought my ioy withstood Then that I traueld for an others mirth For whom my fruits were gathred ere his birth Which made me all my workes of most desert Hate and disdaine euen from the very heart verse 19 Vnknowne if fond or wise who yet shall all enioy leaue verse 20 Which as most vain made me abhor my works which me deceaue 19. And who knoweth whether he shall be wise or foolish yet shal he haue rule euer all my labour wherein I haue trauelled wherein I haue shewed my selfe wise vnder the sun This is also vanitie For what knew I who should to me succeed In vse of all the wealth and pompe I left An infant of mine owne and proper breed Or else a stranger creeping in by theft I knew how easly crownes might be bereft If kings were Orphanes lacking yeares or wit Ne knew I if my child for rule were fit The proofe he yeelds and sentence God did giue Prognosticateth little good at all Yet as vnto mine heire in whom I liue I giue what wast he may and feare he shall The fruit euen of my wisest trauels all So that the world which witnessed my paine May hap record my trauels meerely vaine 20. Therefore I went about to make mine hart abhorre all the labour wherein I had trauelled vnder the Sunne This made me oft aide reason to contend With my affections and my pleased sence And gainst my selfe my selfe my wits to bend The loue of all my workes expulsing thence And taking on me truths sincere defence Said perturbations which affections guyde Should not giue iudgement where her cause is tryde I made my mind confesse the studie vaine Which was imployd on transitory thing I made my body graunt too great the paine Bestowd on any pleasure life doth bring My senses to conclude there was a sting And bitter tast attended on delight And so resolu'd worlds loue to banish quight verse 21 One toyles to get with right and skill a stocke for one most vaine verse 22 And no reward himselfe doth find for all his trauell ' and paine 21. For there is a man whose trauell is in wisedome and in knowledge in equitie yet to a man that hath not trauelled herein shall he giue 〈◊〉 portion this 〈◊〉 vanitie and a great 〈◊〉 For could there be a greater griefe beâ—ide Or iuster cause to make a man repent The paines and perils that he did abide In honest trade to purchase his intent Whereto his wits and diligence was bent Then for to thinke he doth for others toyle Manures the ground where others reape the soyle Who buildeth but in hope to dwell therein Who planteh but in hope
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
surpasse them farre As Henok Babell Troy true patterns are 4. A time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance Though nothing be more needfull to our kind The rigors to alay of worldly care Though nothing better for the health we find Then mirth at times we may well for it spare Yet in the vse of it we must beware And vse it so as if we readie were The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare For times there are when dutie doth require We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe For partners in distresse doe all desire And men suppose thereby they find reliefe For sinne so should we mourne as cause most chiefe When Gods offended face doth threat his rod Thus mirth and woe are both requir'd by God verse 5 To scatter stones and gather them t' embrace and thrust away verse 6 A season is to seeke to loose to keepe to wast I say 5. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones a time to imbrace and a time to be far from imbracing There is a time when we the quarries draw And from the bowels of the earth full deepe Rayse vp her bones the stones which neuer saw The lightsome aire and them we carued keepe To rayse with them our towers to heauen which peepe Which afterward decay and we are faine Their ruines to transport abrode againe Euen so in youthfull yeares it seemeth fit As nature made it apt for loues imbrace So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it With due respect of person time and place Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case As when decrepit age creepes to the graue To dote in loue and seeke a wife to haue 6. A time to seeke and a time to loose a time to keepe and a time to cast away There is a time when man with reason may With diligence indeuour for to gaine A portion fit his family to stay Although with sweat of browes and daily paine But it were folly to torment his braine If losses happe for there will losses fall Vnto most wise if they haue ought at all Then he that 's wise knowes when to spend and spare For who hath most before he die may need And he must spend sometimes that is most bare And he may thriue that doth the needie feed Bountie doth loue and neighbour liking breed It is a vertue placed in a meane Although it rather doe to giuing leane verse 7 A time to reape and sow againe for silence and to speake verse 8 To loue to hate to talke of peace and peace with war to breake 7. A time to reap and a time to sow a time to keepe silence and a time to 〈◊〉 The rich attyres ordaynd by craft mans hand To couer shame which sinne made man to see Be not so comely held in any land But that in other lands dislikt they bee So what one sowes the other reapes for thee Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are None make more fast then others mending marre What speake we of such common things as this Not speech it selfe the Eccho to the hart May be so free but it restrained is To ciuill rules and lawes of very art The tongues misuse ofâ— breedes the bodie smart We therefore learne both how and when to speake And when we modest silence may not breake 8. A time to loue and a time to hate a time of warre and a time of peace Yea though that kindled heate of beauties fire And sympathy of natures liking good Chast loue be founded on a iust desire And beare such sway as hardly is withstood Infecting by the eye both spirit and blood Yet such incounters grow in some respect That loue findes hate best merit base neglect Yea bloudie warre the scourge of peace misusd The fire-brand of ambition hels owne chyld The wracke of iustice value oft abusd From common wealth may not be well exyld Though peace breed welth welth yet with pride defyld Produceth warre which pouertie doth breed To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed verse 9 What profit finds the toyle some man of all his carke and care verse 10 To humble mans ambitious mind God did these pames prepare 9. What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he trauelleth Which if so be as so it is indeed Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise The Magy Druides and Stoicks breed The Sophis and most wise of all Rabbies And all Philosophers of euery guise Who morall rules and naturall skill did know Or iudgements supernaturall did show Them would I haue to tell to me in briefe What profit man most properly may say He hath of all his dayes consumde in griefe Which he assured is with him shall stay The goods of fortune subiect to decay The strength of bodie fayling euery houre the minds much more which worldly cares deuour 10. I haue seene the trauell that God hath giueÌ„ to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby I see me thinkes a laborinth of woes Enuiron man about from day of birth Till houre of death what so about he goes With sower sauce seasoning still his fained mirth Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth For needfull things for life yet foolish he With needlesse studies still will medling be And God hath iustly giuen this plague to all For our forefather Adams clyming mind That humbled so we might before him fall Confessing that we are poore wormes most blind And fly to him where we may comfort find Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest As thing whereby we onely may be blest All beautious desird God made though al things maÌ„ not know This only good know I with ioy good works in life to show 11. 〈…〉 made eâ—ery thing beautiful in his time also he hath â—et the world in their heart 〈◊〉 can not man 〈◊〉 out the worke that 〈◊〉 hath 〈…〉 from the beginning 〈◊〉 to the end Indeede God so his creatures beautified And marshald so their musters euery one That in them his great wisedome is espied And in their season is their beautie showne Defect vnto their kind they suffer none No maruell then if heart of man desire To see and know their vertue and admire And God hath giuen to man a speciall will To search for knowledge euer while he liues Who therefore beates his braines about it still And vseth all endeuour nature giues But he in vaine about the matter striues He neuer can or shall the depth attaine Of Gods decree his labours are but vaine 12. 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 is â—Sthing good in them but to reioyce and â— do good in his life Let wise men therefore learne to be content With knowledge of such things as vs befit Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent And with contented mind in quiet sit His paine and trauell may not farther git Then God hath limited of that be sure With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure For I no other good
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
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
and the strong meÌ„ shall â—ow theÌ„selues Before this glorious building do decay Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest Thy comely body which erecteth aye The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest Grow feeble and therein thou find no rest When trembling hand his duety doth denay And brainefalne thighes and legs bend vnder thee When lamed limbs on others strength must stay And crouches in their steed of force must bee What time thou twise a child shalt weary grow That thou the strength of youth didst euer kuow Ere teeth wax few and windowes closd deny thy eyes the light verse 4 And dore shut vp thy grinding iaws to chaw haue lost their might 4. And the grinders shal cease because they are few they wax darke that looke out by the windowes Before the Cators of thy diet fayle Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare Which lost or loose their labours not auayle But broths and minst-meats must become thy share And sharpned knife thy toothlesse gums must spare Before that darksome mists thy eyes assayle Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee When christall humor failing they shall quayle And spectacles must teach them now to see Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue Of worlds vaine shades which did the soule deceaue And the dores shall be shut out by the base sound of the grinding Before thy wanny cheekes sinke hollowed in In which well formed words should fashion haue And corrall lips which haue their portall bin And plyant tongue which elocution gaue Now faltering signes for interpretors do craue Whilst those white cliffes the bounders which begin The repercussion causing sweet resound Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin Through which they gracious passage somtimes found And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence The root of sweet content and sharp offence Ere sleeplesse braine at birds voice start and singing pipes be base verse 5 And high assents do make thee feard and almonds bud on face 5. And he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of singing shall be abased Before thy dryed braynes doe rest denye Vnto thy tyred bones and carefull mind And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye In bed thy graue for ease tofore assignd And starts at each birds chirpe or puffe of wind Before thy organe pypes with horcenesse dry Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce Wherewith resembling heauens true harmony Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed Also they shall be affraid of the hie thing and feare shall be in the way and the Almond tree shall flourish Before thou tyr'd at euery step must stay And clamber small assents on hand and knee And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way A spectacle of feeble nature bee To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see Before the harbengers of age I say Euen grieâ—ly haires do blossome on thy chin Which for most part declyning state bewray As Almond bud showes sommer to begin Prepare thy selfe for death the haruest due Which after spring time must of course insue Ere weaknesse make the grashopper a burden seeme and lust Consume for sure concupiscence with age doth weare to dust 5 cont And the Grashopper shall be a burden Before the childish toyes of infants lust Begin to want the wings of warmed blood And that thy body yeeld as once it must To age by which that humor is withstood To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good For looke how of May deaw and sommers dust The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know Like to Ephemeris that Tanaish flie Morne bred noone borne that very night to die And concupiscence shall be driuen away Not those faire frutes which by Gemorra grow Which touched once straight vnto dust do fall Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all Although regard thereof we haue but small Lust like a Torrent soone doth ouerflow If that accesse of nutriment abound But in a moment straight it waxeth low As by experience hath bene euer found Not Ammons of faire Thamor foule desyre So fierce but quencht with loathing did retyre Before in ages â—ed thy graue thou he whilst thee they morne verse 6 Thy siluer cord and golden ewre and liues pure cesterne worne 6. For a maÌ„ goeth to the house of his age and the mourners go about in the streete Then leaue that lothsome snare of humane kind The common cankor of the best concait Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind And to more brutish sins th'alluring bait And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight Suppose each ringing knell puts thee in mind That thou art in the way vnto thy graue Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find But so in all thy life thy selfe behaue As if thou were the man whose turne is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext Whiles the siluer cord is not lengthened nor the golden ewre broken nor the pitcher broken at the well nor the whele broken at the cesterne Before I say the vitall spirits faile Or that thy radick humors all be spent That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile And natures intercourse no more be sent From liuer hart and braine as earst it went Before warme bloud with I sey fleame do quaile And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine Before the cesterne made for liues auaile Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine But all the wheles of nature lacking strength To giue them motion they do faile at length verse 7 And flesh to dust thy spright to God returne that it did make verse 8 For all is vaine the preacher saith and all will vs forsake 7. And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gaue it For then be sure thy dayes are neere an end And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust Then yeeld thereto before perforce thou bend And in thy strength of youth repose no trust Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust Thy nobler part thy soule it did descend From God first mouer of all life and grace Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend In thee and it and will thy soule imbrace Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest 8. Vanitie of vanities sayth the Preacher all is vanitie Thus haue I sayth this Preacher proued true The proposition that I first did make That earthly things are vaine in vse and view That in them we can not sound comfort take And that in th' end we must them all forsake That wisedome only vertue should insue And vertue is the way to happinesse Which after death doth life againe renue A life more happie then the world can gesse When we shall liue from lewd
least that the enemy 12 Preuaile against my life whose tongues intrap me trecherously 13 My heart would faint for feare vnlesse my faith did build on thee 14 My hope my God and comforts strength who will deliuer mee Psalme 71. 1 IN thee ô Lord I trust therefore from shame deliuer mee 2 Performe thy promise saue thou me who call for helpe to thee 3 Be thou my rocke of strength and shield whose powre is great might 4 Deliuer me from wicked men and put my foes to flight 5 For in thee onely from my youth haue I my trust reposd 6 Thou hast had care of me whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd 7 Thee will I praise who art my helpe when men at me do scorne 8 My mouth thy mercies still records who helpst the mind forlorne 9 In time of age forsake me not or when my strength doth faile 10 Least that the counsels of my foes against my soule preuaile 11 Who say my God hath me forgot they therefore me pursue 12 But be thou Lord at hand to me who canst my strength renue 13 Shame and reproch let be their share which my destruction seeke 14 But on thee alwayes will I waite with humble hart and meeke 15 My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse whose measure doth excell 16 And in thy trust my steps shall walke and tongue thy truth shall tell 17 Euen from my youth thou hast me taught thy wonders well I know 18 And whilst I liue if thou assist I will thy iudgements show 19 Thy iustice Lord I will exalt whose workes are like to thine 20 Who threw'st me downe and raisd me vp who else in dust had leine 21 Thou canst mans honor soone increase and shew thy chearefull faces 22 Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse ô God of grace 23 My lips shall ioy to talke of thee who hast my safety wrought 24 My freed soule shall still confesse who hath my safety bought Psalme 119. 1 BLessed are those whose wayes are right and in Gods lawes do walke 2 Whose heart obeyeth to his will and lips thereof do talke 3 Such do not worke iniquitie but so their wayes direct 4 That in their life by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect 5 O would to God my deedes therefore so straightly I might frame 6 That with regard of thy precepts I might be free from blame 7 Then shold I prayse with vpright hart thy righteous iudgemeÌ„ts known 8 Which whilst I study to obserue Lord let thy helpe be showne PART 2. 9 By looking to thy lawes most soone a man may perfect grow 10 Since then my heart hath sought the same astray let me not go 11 Thy promises in mind I beare which me from sinne withdraw 12 Thou gracious God and blessed guide teach me thy perfect law 13 My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse and iustice thou doest vse 14 To follow freely thy beheast I 'le worldly wealth refuse 15 For of thee will I meditate and studie whilst I liue 16 And to obey thy iust precepts my mind will wholly giue PART 3. 17 Be gracious to thy seruant Lord giue life and powre to mee 18 Open my eyes that of thy lawes I may the wonders see 19 I am a stranger vpon earth hide not from me thy will 20 My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still 21 Thou hast destroyd the proud and curst are they which go astray 22 Shame and contempt yet take from me who keepe thy lawes alway 23 Though Princes hate me for thy truth yet will I thee obay 24 Thy lawes shall be my studie still and comfort night and day PART 4. 25 My soule with sorrow is opprest giue me thy promist aide 26 Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse thy wrath makes me affraid 27 But teach thou me thy truth that I thy wonders may admire 28 For shame of sinne soâ—daunts my hope it dares not helpe desire 29 If thou redresse my blinded steps and teach to me thy will 30 Thy ordinances will I keepe and looke vpon them still 31 Thou are the portion I do chuse ô Lord confound me not 32 But guide my steps to run that race the which thy lawes alot PART 5. 33 Teach thou thy statutes vnto me that I may keepe them all 34 Giue thou the knowledge of thy will and turne my hart withall 35 Direct me in thy path ô Lord therein is my delight 36 Incline my mind vnto thy word and sinne put thou to flight 37 Turne thou my eyes from vanities and do thou quicken mee 38 Performe thy promise made to me whose hope depends on thee 39 Preuent the shame I feare because thy iudgements all are iust 40 Behold I would performe thy will thy grace relieue me must PART 6. 41 Then let thâ— promise kindly made O Lord fulfilled be 42 So shall I sâ—â—se my iust rebuke and giue the praise to thee 43 Take not away from me thy truth for on thee I attend 44 But let my lips speake of thy praise vntill my life doe end 45 My feete shall freely follow thee vntill the truth I find 46 I will not shame to Kings thy truth to preach with constant mind 47 Yea all my solace shall be still my loue of thee t' expresse 48 My lifted handes vnto the heauens thy glory shall confesse PART 7. 49 Remember then thy promise made wherein thy seruant trusts 50 In trouble iâ— doth comfort me my soule thereafter lusts 51 The wicked haue derided me thy lawes yet haue I kept 52 I cald to minde thy iudgements past whereby in peace I slept 53 Sorrow and feare afflicted me to see how wicked men 54 Thy lawes transgresse in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then 55 In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare 56 Which blessing thou bestoweâ—â— on me thy will in mind to beare PART 8. 57 O Lord thou art my portion I thy law will still obserue 58 My hearty prayers made to thee and promise thine preserue 59 I haue reform'd my wayes and will to thy behests obay 60 With speed I will my life amend and make no more delay 61 The wicked haue inticed me but I will turne againe 62 At midnight will I rise to pray till iustice I attaine 63 My company shall such be still as do thy precepts know 64 Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord to me thy pleasure show PART 9. 65 According to thy word ô Lord thou graciously hast dealt 66 Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord who in thy law hath dwelt 67 Before I felt thy scourge as then my â—eete did go astray 68 But gracious God direct me now that keepe thy lawes I may 69 The proud against me worke deceipt yet will I follow thee 70 Their hart on folly feedes thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee 71 This fruit affliction brought to me which made me learne thy law 72 A greater treasure to my mind then heretofore I saw
PART 10. 73 Thy hand hath fashioned me therefore teach me thy holy will 74 So shall thy seruants all reioyce and I obey thee still 75 Thy iudgements Lord I graunt are iust I did thy wrath deserue 76 Haue mercie yet and pardon me thy promise cannot swarue 77 Lord let me liue I thee beseech thy law is my delight 78 Bring thou to shame my foes and driue the wicked out of sight 79 And let thy seruants all behold thy mercies showd to me 80 Who walking in thy statutes iust shall not ashamed be PART 11. 81 My soule is almost faint for feare yet on thy word 〈◊〉 82 My eyes are dim with looking sore send me thy comfort iust 83 My bones are withered with despaire till thou thy promise pay 84 My life is short thy iustice on the wicked Lord beâ—ray 85 By fraud they seeke to take my life contrary vnto right 86 But thou art iust vniust are they therefore put them to flight 87 They had almost consumed me my faith yet did not faint 88 Reuiue thou me and with thy truth my mouth I will acquaint PART 12. 89 O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure 90 Thy truth from euer was thou laidst the earths foundation sure 91 All things continue at a stay and do thy people serue 92 Vnlesse thy word did comfort me my faith with griefe would sterue 93 I neuer therefore will forget thy lawes which quicken me 94 I am thy seruant saue thou me who vnto thee do flye 95 The wicked seeke me to destroy but in thâ—e will 〈◊〉 rust 96 Thy truth endures for aye but else all things returne to dust PART 13. 97 So much I loue thy law ô Lord I studie on it still 98 Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill 99 I better vnderstand thy will then they which do me teach 100 I better know thy lawes to keepe then they which should them preach 101 That I thy word might keepe my feete refraine each eâ—ill way 102 My iudgement grees vnto thy law which taught me what to say 103 Then hony combe vnto my tast thy word is far more sweet 104 Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun as most vnmeet PART 14. 105 Thy word is light vnto my feete and guides me in my way 106 My hart hath sworne I will performe thy 〈◊〉 â—ight and day 107 My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send 108 Teach me thy will to my request a gratefull â—earing 〈◊〉 109 Though I in daunger daily be thy lawes I not forget 110 But keepe them still while me to snare the prowd a bayâ— haue seâ— 111 They are the portion I haue chose they are my harts delight 112 My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and â—â—ight PART 15. 113 Thy word I loue but do detest the vanities of minde 114 My shield thou art my refuge safe in whom I trust do finde 115 Away from me ye wicked men my God alone I serue 116 He will performe my hope his word from truth doth neuer swerue 117 Support thou me then am I safe in thee is all my trust 118 Thou hast supprest the proud and such as follow worldly lust 119 I loue thee Lord because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue 120 Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord which shall my sinnes reproue PART 16. 121 Let me not then oppressed be I iustice do obserue 122 Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men which froÌ„ thy will do swerue 123 My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde 124 Teach me my God and let thy seruant be with mercy payd 125 I wait on thee let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part 126 Helpe Lord in time for all the world do from thy lawes depart 127 Yet do I thy precepts esteeme more then the richest gold 128 Most iust are they but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold. PART 17. 129 Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse 130 The wayes thereto do shine so bright the simple it may chuse 131 The zeale I bare vnto thy law did make my hast to moue 132 Looke on me then in mercy Lord because thy law I loue 133 Direct my deedes so that no sinne may beare in me asway 134 I keepe thy will to wicked men let me not be a pray 135 Thy shining face vnto me turne thy statutes teach thou mee 136 With teares my eyes do daily flow because they trespasse thee PART 18. 137 Thou righteous God most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found 138 To truth aâ—d equitie alone thy lawes thy seruants bound 139 My zeale doth burne because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot 140 Thy word we finde most pure and I haue chose it to my lot 141 Though I be poore and in contempt I do remember well 142 Thy righteous precepts which for aye in glorious truth excell 143 Anguish and eares vpon me come thy law yet do I loue 144 Teach me thy truth that I may liue eternally aboue PART 19. 145 Heare me ô Lord to thee â— cry thy â—â—atutes I will keepe 146 Saue me and graunt that in thy house I may in safetie sleepe 147 Before the 〈…〉 to thee I call and wait thy wâ—ll 148 By night I watch to meditate and studie of thee still 149 Heare me ô gracious God in time and quicken thou my spright 150 They are at hand that hate thy law and me pursue with spight 151 Thy promises assure me Lord that thou arâ— nigh at hand 152 I knew 〈◊〉 since thy high decree should firme for euer stand PART 20. 153 Behold my sorrowes then and helpe â—â—y pleasure I obay 154 Plead thou 〈…〉 me vpon thy word I stay 155 The wicked they are farre from helpe which do not thee regard 156 But for thy seruants we do know thy mercy is prepard 157 Many they are thaâ— me pursue yet will I follow thee 158 I see the wicked scorne thy â—ord and much it grieueth mee 159 Consider Lord my 〈◊〉 too thee so quicke 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 160 For from for aye thy word of truth and righteousnesse I finde PART 21. 161 Princes of might do me pursue yet onely thee I feare 162 Thy word delights my hart as if my richesse great it weare 163 Thy law I loue but do abhorte all falshood and deceit 164 Seauen times a day I praise thy name and on thee alwayes wait 165 The keepers of thy law shall stand from danger alwayes free 166 I keepe thy heasts because I hope thy sauing health to see 167 Yea for the loue I beare to them I will them not transgresse 168 Thou seest ô Lord in all my wayes thy name I do confesse PART 22. 169 Let then my plaint before thee come and be thou still my guide 170 Giue â—are vnto my sute and let thy promise firme abide 171 When thou hast me thy statutes taught my lips
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
The memory of Egypts store I saw Of vanities which carnall senses feed Made me to wish to fill againe my maw With dishes such as to destruction lead Wherfore inwrath with quailes thou cloidst me so That plagu'd with sin my error now I know SON LXV SInce thou hast raysd my poore abiected spright From threshing floore where captiue I did stand And callest me thy battels for to fight Gainst sin the Madianite which wasts thy land Giue me a token by thy mightie hand O Lord whereby my faith may be assurde And be to me a pledge of former band That victorie by me shall be procurde Let heauenly deaw by prayer be allurde To moysten this my freewill fleece of wooll Then dry the dâ—regs thereof to sin inurde Whose heauy waight makes grace and vertue dull And offring mine of prayers to thy name Accept and with a holy zeale inflame SON LXVI WHilst that in wealth and ease I did possesse The Empire of thy many blessings sent I tooke in hand pure vertue to suppresse And pride with lust my powres they wholly bent To conquere reason which thy grace had lent And quite forgetting worlds late floud for sin To build a tower of trust wherein I spent The strength of flesh bloud high heauen to win As though in natures strength the force had bin To shield themselues from floud or heauenly fire But now confusion iust my soule is in Makes labouring flesh from folly such retire And craues alone within thy Church to dwell Whose wals of faith truth may death expell SON LXVII THe Temple Lord of this my bodie base Where thou vouchsafdst to place my soule to dwell And promisedst to make thy chosen place Whence sacrifice of praises thou wouldst smell Behold against thy lawes doth now rebell By worldly vanities thereto allurde Where couetise and pride their packe doth sell At such a price as flesh and sin affoord But since ô Lord thy promise hath assurde My soule that thou art alwaies prest to heare The plaints of penitents which hath procurde Thy Sonne himselfe in temple this t' appeare Whip forth fling down this worldly wicked pack Fro out my soule repell thou Satan back SON LXVIII WIthin thy house this bodie base of mine It pleased thee ô Lord my soule to plant A steward of the gifts the which were thine And nature fild with measure nothing scant Of bodie or of mind no blessings want And fortunes fauours sharde with me no lesse In such proportion Lord I needs must grant As thou doest giue when thou doest vse to blesse But wantonly I wested I confesse Thy treasure put into my hands of trust And now alas though late I seeke redresse Wise steward-like to liue when dye I must I cast my count by Christ my debt to pay And frutes of faith from hell my soule shall stay SON LXIX NOw that it pleaseth thee Lord of thy grace To plucke me forth of sinfull Sodoms lake Where I haue dwelt alas this life long space Since I of holie Abram leaue did take Vouchsafe I pray thee for thy mercies sake To graunt thy Church be refuge for my life The Zoar where I may my dwelling make Safe from reuenging Angels bloudie knife And though the frailtie of Lots lingring wife Looke back with loue on sinfull worlds delight Which common weaknesse to all flesh is rife Yet keepe me constant by thy heauenly might And let me not grow drunke with blessings thine To procreate sin on lustfull daughters mine SON LXX WHilst in this worldly wildernesse about For want of faith I backe am forst to go Affraid of sinnes which Giant-like are stout And foule affections which like cruell foe Of Esawes race their might and powre bestow To stop my passage to the promist land I gin to faint and to repine also Against the powre of thy most mightie hand For which the Serpent Satan now doth stand In readinesse my silly soule to sting And close me vp in deaths eternall band Vnlesse to me thy mercie succour bring That brasen Serpent Christ nayld on the tree Whose sight by faith alone is cure to mee SON LXXI WHat am I else Lord but a sinfull wretch In sin and in iniquitie begot In conscience guiltie of the common breach Of euerie law that may my honor spot Thy blessings giu'n me I regarded not Thy threatned iudgments I did not esteeme My vowes to thee I almost had forgot My sinnes no sinnes to hardned heart do seeme Like to my selfe I did thy power deeme Because thou didst forbeare thy rod a while I sought by Idols ayd to heauen to clime Whilst worlds delight my sences did beguile But helplesse now alas I turne to thee To stay my race let grace Lord succour mee SON LXXII THou formedst me at first out of the clay Vnto the image of thy glorious frame O Lord of might thou shewdst to me the way To magnifie thy pure and holie name Like Potters vessell first my modell came Out of a rude vnformed lumpe of earth To holy vse it pleasd thee me reclaime Before my life tooke vse of carnall breath Thou fedst me in the common humane dearth Of knowledge of thy will with such a tast Of pleasing frute as fild my soule with mirth And readie makes me now no more to wast Thy offred mercies which so blesse in me Of glorie that I may a vessell be SON LXXIII A Seruant Lord euen from my day of byrth I vowed was by parents vnto thee A Nazarit I liued on the earth And kept thy vowes as grace did strengthen mee Till Satan made me worlds deceipt to see And trapt my senses with forbiden lust As Eue did tast of the restrained tree So fond affections did me forward thrust A sinfull Philistine of faith vniust To like to loue to craue to wed to wife Thy grace my strength to her reueale I must Till she to Satan sell my slumbring life A prisoner I thus scornd and voyd of sight Sinnes house to ouerthrow craue heaueÌ„ly might SON LXXIIII WHilst in the plentie of thy blessings sent I sought to solace Lord my selfe secure And gazing on worlds beautie long I went In pridefull tower which did prospect procure I saw the baytes of sin which did allure My idle thoughts to follow wicked lust My kindled passions could not long endure But vnto furious flames breake forth they must I did pollute my soule by fraude vniust And reft thy grace from his true wedded wife And that I might away all mendment thrust I did bereaue my knowledge of this life Whose bastard frutes slaie Lord but let her liue That penitent we may thee prayses giue SON LXXV A Seruant sold to sin ô Lord I am Whom Satan Syrian proud doth sore assaile Nine hundted Chariors of desire there came Armed with lust which sought for to preuaile And to subdue by strength they cannot faile Vnlesse thou raise my fainting strength by grace Let constant faith the flying furie naile To ground where
I feare it be to soule a dangerous thing Shield me Lord vnder thy protecting wing Of mercy which may saue from Satans rage My heart and voyce shall still thy prayses sing If thou the malice of my foes asswage In Sychem shall my heart an alter reare The mightie God to loue to serue to feare SON LXXXVII THe talent which thou pleasedst Lord to giue To me thy seruant that I should bestow Whilst in thy seruice on the earth I liue My diligent increase thereof to show I haue abused Lord too long I know And feare thy comming to be nigh at hand I see for breach of dutie what I owe And of thy iudgments do in terror stand Thy grace hath left me in a forreine land Where vnexpert of vertue I do straie I shall be throwne to Satans thralfull band Voyd of thy heauenly ioy and blisse for aye Vnlesse thou helpe for thou doest vse to giue Grace vnto grace and faith from faithlesse driue SON LXXXVIII SInce that it pleaseth thee thy selfe to show A iust reuenger Lord of Heath'nish sin And bring the pride of bold Philistines low Who thee defame when holy Arke they win Now that to fetch it home I do begin And in the temple of my heart to place Grant so I may thy secrets see therein That plagues for my presumption do not chase It so from me as they that fled the face Of glorie thine which therein did appeare Let faith and loue draw home by trustie trace The constant cart whose carriage is so deare And let me order so this holie worke That dregs of sin not in my deeds may lurke SON LXXXIX IN famine great of grace and comfortlesse Thy seruant Lord doth in Samaria dwell For Lord fierce Aram doth with sin oppresse The citie where my soule to harbour fell I want the strength his armies to repell Of lust and of affections most vncleane My mind whose loue doth motherlike excell Her children thoughts of mendment sees so leane That forst by famine she can find no meane To feed them long her faith so poore is growne That natiue pitie now secluding cleane Her greedie nature doth deuour her owne Beleeue in time this siege Lord cause a feare Of thee this camp of cruell sin to reare SON XC ON sweet and sauorie bread of wholesome kinde Which in thy word thou offrest store to mee To feed vpon the flesh doth lothing finde And leaues to leane ô Lord alone on thee The leauen of the Pharisies will bee The surfet of my soule and death in fine Which coueting to tast forbidden tree To carnall rules and reasons doth incline So lauishly my lusts do tast the wine Which sowrest grapes of sin filles in my cup That lo my teeth now set on edge I pine Not able wholesome food to swallow vp Vnlesse thou mend my tast and hart doest frame To loue thy lawes and praise thy holy name SON XCI OVt of thy flocke ô Lord through my defect A silly sheepe my selfe behold am lost To seeke me forth in time do not neglect Since I so precious price to thee haue cost By many by-paths Lord my feete haue crost And cannot find the way vnto thy fold Through many stormes of deep despaire thus tost To craue thy aide at last I now am bold If thou of silly groat that count doest hold That thou doest search the house to find the same No doubt my soule to sin by nature sold May mercy find by calling on thy name The Saints in heauen conuertids gaine reioyce On earth thy praise is song in heart and voice SON XCII BEhold amidst worlds desert all alone Seduced by the frailtie of the sprite Accompany'd with fleshly comfort none My soule with sin compelled is to fight Where suddenly alas before my sight I Satan see me ready to assaile By two his seruants which are most of might Presumption and dispaire which seldome faile The best perfections of mans strength to quaile By pride or want of faith or couetise By lust or gluttony or fained vaile Of vertue which doth mamy sinnes disguise But chase him Lord away by written word Which is more sharpe then his two edged sword SON XCIII THe dreame which thou to Pharo didst reueale Thou in my selfe hast made me see in deed The state alas of mans weake common weale Whereas affections of all sorts do feed The frutefull soyle of grace some whiles did breed Full faire effects in truth of heauenly kinde But many barren thoughts alas succeed And threaten famine to a vertuous minde Store of such yeares as yet I feare behinde Which Lord will starue the comfort of my faith Vnlesse thy mercy and thy wisedome finde A store house to laie vp what scripture saith In hope of which thy goodnesse lo I liue Which of thy grace Lord do thou to me giue SON XCIIII THe seed which thou the husbandman hast sowde Within my soule ô Lord by Prophets hand Hath taken roote at last by deaw bestowd Form heauenly grace which fructifies my land But lo I saw the worlds deceipt to stand In readinesse to mingle tares therein Whilst sleeping me in vanities he fand He made my frutes to ouerflow with sin But ere thy haruest to approach begin Vouchsafe to weed these frailties so away That when thy corne is to be gathered in I may be cleane and in thy garner stay Burne Lord with chastisement my fleshly lust And clense my life by faith both pure and iust SON XCV WHat strength hath man wherin may he repose A power to stay him in a vertuous way To loue thy flocke thou Lord my soule hast chose Whom to obey my vowes and words did say But in my power alas there is no stay For light temptations made me cleane forget My dutie to my Lord and to denay Him who thus long I haue too lightly set But now my heart with teares my cheekes doth wet In sorrow of my so inconstant faith Repentance hath my sin before me set And conscience now my error duly way'th Grant that thy word crow thrise thrise to mee And warne me of my dutie vnto thee SON XCVI THe malice of this monster auncient foe Of man and of the Church which thou didst plant Euen Satan Herod-like about doth goe To make my frutes of faith to grow more scant Whilst yet with weaknesse feeble youth doth pant And wanteth grace to strengthen their estate The motions of the mind doth straight recant To see soules safetie which sin faine would hate The counsels of affections do debate And do conclude to murder vertues breed Lust pride and enuy open wide the gate To furious flesh that doth the wicked deed My soule their mother mourns ô Lord their end My future frutes of grace do thou defend SON XCVII SO foolish Lord haue my affections bin So carelesse of the blessing thou doest giue So prone my nature vnto euerie sin So thanklesse of thy grace by which I liue That violently thy loue away I driue
he the power of hell will cleane deface SON XVII BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie Twixt heat and cold twixt heigth and depth below And both of them from one desire do flow The surest way to sauing health to trie Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie Vpon the merits of my sauior deare A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare Lest in consuming Iealousie I die A heart contrite doth will me to appeare With works of righteousnesse true faith which show Faith saies that god my streÌ„gth power doth know And that I cannot finde saluation here But bids me cheere My soule nothing feare Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare SON XVIII FRom far I see the stars which guide the way From East to West to finde my sauiour out I well might wander all the world about To seeke saluation and in one place stay I shining truth did not his house bewray Which in his word points forth his dwelling place By which directed I will walke a pace Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day And when I come before his blessed face To offer vp my presents will not doubt Although their basenesse all the world should flout So that my faith I may him once imbrace Which giueth grace And makes accepted well Mean works as much as those which more excell SON XIX NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke the treasor of thy law That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine I care not though the world my deede disdaine And thinke it not beseeming thing for me In such a worke an instrument to be Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine For so I Lord thy sauing heath may see And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw Though all the scorners of the world me saw Yet would I not ashamed be of thee For being free Of holie promist land I care not how my state on earth do stand SON XX. NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee If duly thy desert we do regard Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward At whose command all creatures readie bee Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow And in the vse of them obedience show Although alas it be in meane degree Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde Who to his power his present hath sparde So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe And doest bestow More graces then we craue For which naught els but thaÌ„ks thou lokst to haue SON XXI HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay And make the sunne returne in pride of day When as Iosias heart for feare it faints Thy fauour vnto Abram vs aquaints Of how great force repentant heart is found When hauing vowd vile Sodom to confound To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints By prayer man hath powre euen death to wound By praier he may moue amount away A faithfull feruent prayer finds no nay If that the thing we craue be pure and sound Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man Whose worthie praise no tongue well vtter can SON XXII THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay To thee the giuer of all good and grace And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day My heart my mouth my pen they neuer stay To take occasion freshly to renue The memorie of praises to thee due Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie in this point indeed I rue Who till I see new blessings in the place Forget the fauours late before my face And mercies thine from which such bountie grew For it is true So dull our sences are That oft thy blessings do our iudgments marre SON XXIII WHere so I cast about my wandring eye By chance or choice by hap or else by will Before my sight some obiect is there still Wherein thy power and loue I do espye In view whereof if I my thoughts do trye To raise my heart to Ioy I matter finde And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde As patrons of the same the world doth fill Who mad'st not onely but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the minde Which is not blinde Or too much obstinate Which later nature chiefly thou doest hate SON XXIIII VVHilst I do studie fitly to begin To vtter forth some part of my intent Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent For freeing me from due reward of sin I finde a laberinth that I am in Of many merits which do me inclose Which as this holie motion in me rose Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent In staying me the wandring course I went And feeling faith with knowledge where it growes And though I lose Therwith the worlds delight Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight SON XXV SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde By holie spirit thine in time of need As Philip to the Eunuch came indeed Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde And what humilitie was in thy Sonne Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne Vnto my soule for which he raunsome payde I see no earthly things should stay vndone The duties which requirde of me I reed By faith vpon thy promises I feed And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne And thus begunne I will continue still To learne thy lawes and to obay thy will SON XXVI HOw can I limit well my tong or pen Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose Whereon the more I muse more growth it then It fares with me herein euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake When staÌ„mering words the perfect sence do breake And makes vs not be vnderstood of men Such worthie matter in my mind there growes So plentifull and I of skill so weake So pleasing to me and so proper â—ake That in the choyce of them I iudgment lose And euen as those Want matter silent be So plentie of thy praise confoundeth me SON XXVII NOw that thy mercies do so much abound As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found Since power thereof did sinfull Dagon wound And yet disdaineth not my humble state I freely open Lord my lowly gate Of lips and tong which may thy praises sound Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late Since in my soule thy word I did embrace My zeale refreshed is
blessing send It is not ill to set before my sight Thy heauie plagues for sin from day to day But I had rather forth thy fauours lay And for their loue in quarrell thine to fight Which if I might By feruent zeale attaine Then should I hope the victorie to gaine SON L. NO sooner loue intirely me possest But see how iealousie doth me assaile She seekes with deepe distrust my faith to quaile And to remoue from conscience quiet guest She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest And that my deeds they too vnworthie are That from his fauour they will me debarre Whose loue is fixed only on the best Feare had begun to worke in me so farre That to amaze my minde it could not faile Till to my loue my state I did bewaile Who shining sweetly like the morning starre Did stay their iarre And bid my soule to rest In Christ by whom I surely shall be blest SON LI. HE is vnworthie to receiue a gift From any man that him mistrusts before I will not ought of thee Lord doubt therefore Although no reason can my hope vp lift I know in deed it is slye Satans drift To laie before me this my vile estate Which being sinfull thou of force must hate And I reiected be without all shift But when I with my selfe thy works debate Which haue examples of thy mercies store His reasons are of force with me no more Because that faith sets open wide the gate To me of late Which leades to treasure thine Where in thy sonne thou doest in mercy shine SON LII FAine would I follow thee through sea and land My louely Sauiour whom farre off I see Zeale makes my mind with speed to hast to thee But natiue weaknesse makes me doubtfull stand If to my ayde thou gau'st not forth thy hand And by thy word incourdgdst me to row I should so shun afflictions which do flow That feare should bend my faith like feeble wand But by thy offred grace now strong I grow And through the troubles of the world will be Bold to proceed and faith shall succour me To witnesse forth the thankfulnesse Iowe Thou doest bestow On me both power will And with them both I will thee honour still SON LIII AS do the starres amidst the firmament With borrowed light beare record vnto thee O Lord of might in which we men do see The image of thy power to them but lent So when our weake indeuors Lord are bent To publish forth thy praises which excell These silly sparkes of light which in vs dwell Do shew thy grace which vs this motion sent Although therefore no speech or tong can tell How infinite thy glorie ought to bee Which passeth humane sence by high degree As wisest men to grant they do compell Yet thou lik'st well We show herein our will Which I haue vowd vnto thy seruice still SON LIIII CAll me ô Lord for lo I do attend To follow thee where so thou doest direct I know thou wilt not my intent reiect Who gladly would proceed where so thou send I doubtfull stand which way my course to bend Because I finde such ignorance of skill To follow forth according to my will A frutefull course the which I did intend As thou with forward zeale my minde didst fill So shew me Lord whereto I am select And I shall carefully the same effect And feruently thereto go forward still Depend I will Vpon occasion fit That faithfully I may accomplish it SON LV. LIke silly babes such must thy seruants bee In innocencie and obedience still Vnto thy holy lawes ô Lord and will From wrath pride malice lust and enuy free With Serpents eyes of wisedome must they see And stop their eares which Sathan would deceaue With charmes of pleasure which a scar do leaue And onely lend obedient eare to thee Yet with simplicitie of doue receaue The yoke of law whose rule they must fulfill And suffer patiently the word to kill The force of sin which would soules health bereaue Such thou wilt heaue And hold in heauēly arme And with protecting hand defend from harme SON LVI WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see The throne triumphant where our Sauior sits In Maiestie aloft as best him fits A Iudge and Sauiour to his Saints to be Coëquall with his father in degree Possessor of the place for vs prepard Who readie stands our weake works to reward And from the fury of the world to free He were but base if ought he did regard This transitorie honour which so flits Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits And yet so niggardly to man is shard And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde Of care of conscience and of griefe of minde SON LVII VVHo seeketh not with all his powre and might To eternize vnto himselfe his state That chance or time may not his blisse rebate Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy To make them famous seeme in vaine worlds sight Which is the readiest way they do espye To keep their name from death which so they hate Yea all suppose posteritie the gate T'immortalize this flesh whose floure must dye But all go wry wealth honor wit haue end And children passe faith onely life doth lend SON LVIII VVHat wealth may be to this alone comparde To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue To haue our earthly thoughts so raysd aboue That world and worldly things we not regard To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs which shall eternally remaine Made free from worldly cares and troubles vaine Which is for children his a due reward Who can discouragde be with earthly paine Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue To share our griefes his ioy for vs to gaine Which thoughts should waine Our wils frō base desire And vs incourage higher to aspire SON LIX IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle Where all things flourisht first and prosper daye Wherein who liued neuer could decaye Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle And left man naked in reproach and shame To dust to turne againe from whence he came On baren earth to liue with sweat and toyle Then is our state much better then that same Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye Our Sauiour Abrams bosome doth displaye Wherein our soules shall rest most free from blame Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life To be exempt from feare of care or strife SON LX. VVHat is felicitie whereof men wright Which to attaine our studies still are bent VVhich to procure such time paine is spent By endlesse trauell therein day and night Sure if it be nought else but firme delight And that delight consist in peace of minde Then here on earth
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
do creepe Into possession of my powre and will These thoughts and works which motions are to ill And trench themselues in fleshly fortresse deepe Whose base societie will with vices fill The holy brood which grace would spotlesse saue In such a boubt my yong affections waue That they consent I should them foster still But that would spill More vertuous heritage Therefore exilde these be though hell do rage SON LXXII SOmetimes my nature seemeth to repine To see the pleasure and the plenteous store The wicked do enioy for euermore Abounding in their corne their oyle and wine But when I see my weakenesse so encline To the abuse of portion I possesse My heart with ioy full often doth confesse Thy loue doth much in earthly scarstie shine These things are good and bad as thou doest blesse Which I dare not directly craue therefore Such danger followes them euen at the dore That plentie lightly doth the â—oule oppresse And as I guesse Contentednesse doth grow In gratefull mind though state be neare so low SON LXXIII IF he vnworthie be the sweet to tast That shuns the sowre as we in prouerbe say To honor pleasure profit in the way Great perill paine and cost so often plast If as vnworthie health he be disgrast That will refuse a bitter purge to take When he doth know it will his feauer slake So do temptations proue the mind more chast If we with courage do the combat make And to the end immoueable do stay The more that Satan doth his spight display The more the pride and powre of him we shake And he will quake And sin shall haue a fall And faith in Christ shall triumph ouer all SON LXXIIII TO shun the rocks of dangers which appeare Amidst the troubled waues of worldly life Which in each company are alwaies rife Which with soules perill most men buy full deare I feare almost to keep my course so neare The conuersation of such tickle tides And thinke him blest that banished abides In desert where of sin he may not heare But when I note where so a man him hides That still affections breed an inward strife That nature beares about the bloudie knife And to the death the proper soule it guides That fancie slides Away and I prepare In combats of the world to fight my share SON LXXV WEre it not straunge that members of the same One liuiâ—g bodie and one parents childe Should by the other daily be defilde And of vnseemly thing should haue no shame And yet we which of Christ do beare the name And children of his father vs do call At discord with this parent daily fall And Christ our eldest brother do defame It seemeth well we be but bastards all Though stock be true we be but Oliues wilde Who thinks vs better he is but beguilde Our frutes are bitter and increase but small And who so shall Examine well his works Shall see that gall in purest thoughts there lurks SON LXXVI IT is no light or curious conceipt O Lord thou knowst that maketh me to straine My feeble powres which blindfold did remaine Vpon thy seruice now at length to waight But onely shame to see mans nature fraight So full of pregnant speech to litle vse Or rather oftentimes to thy abuse Whilst to deceiue they laie a golden baight And do not rather thinke it fit to chuse By praises thine true praise themselues to gaine And leaue those fond inuentions which do staine Their name and cause them better works refuse Which doth abuse The gifts thou doest bestow And oftentimes thy high contempt do show SON LXXVII FOr common matter common speech may serue But for this theame both wit and words do want For he that heauen and earth and all did plant The frutes of all he iustly doth deserue No maruell then though oft my pen do swarue In middle of the matter I intend Since oft so high my thoughts seeke to ascend As want of wisedome makes my will to starue But thou ô Lord who clouen tongs didst send Vnto thy seruants when their skils were â—cant And such a zeale vnto thy praise that brant As made them fearelesse speake and neuer bend Vnto the end One iot from thy behest Shall guide my stile as fits thy glory best SON LXXVIII HOw happily my riches haue I found Which I no sooner sought but it is wonne Which to attaine my will had scarce begunne But I did finde it readie to abound The silly faith I had was setled sound In Christ although for feare it oft did pant Which I did wish more constantly to plant That it might all temptations so confound With feruency this little sparkle brant Till it inflamde my zeale and so did runne Vnto the fountaine of true light the sunne Whose gracious soyle to feed it was not scant Men finde more want The more they couet still But more man couets this it more doth fill SON LXXXIX WHen desolate I was of worldly ayde Vnable to releeue my selfe at need Thou hadst a care my fainting soule to feed Because my faith vpon thy fauour stayde My dying hope thou hast with mercy payde And as thou didst releeue thy seruant deare Elias whom the Rauens in desert cheare So am I comforted whom sin affrayde The cries of little Rauens thine eare doth heare And slakst their hunger kindly Lord indeed When parents do forsake deformed breed That so thy prouidence might more appeare Which shineth cleare In blessings euery day To me much more then I can duly way SON LXXX AMidst this pilgrimage where wandring I Do trace the steps which flesh and bloud doth tred My comfort is that aye mine eyes are led By gracious obiect which in faith I spy Whose brightnesse guides my steps which else awry Were like to slide through Satans subtil slight Gainst whom his holy Angels alwaies fight And suffer not my strength too farre to try By day his word and works are in my sight Like to a cloud to comfort me in dread By fire through deserts and the sea so red His hand doth gouerne me in dangerous night His fauour bright Conducting this my way An host of stops shall not my iourney stay SON LXXXI I See a storme me thinks approach a farre In darkned skie which threatens woe at hand Vnto my tackle I had need to stand Lest sudden puffs my purposd course debarre These tempting thoughts full oft forerunners are Of fierce affections which do moue the minde VVhich if resistance not in time they finde The strongest tackling they do stretch or marre I closely therefore will my conscience binde And arme my vessell with couragious band Of skilfull saylers which do know the land VVhose harbors for my safetie are most kinde And in my minde Shall faith the Pylot bee VVhose skill shall make me wished port to see SON LXXXII HOw is it that my course so soone would stay Before I haue begun the thing I thought If ease or pleasure I herein had sought I
vnto his soule forthwith to craue Whereby it sleeping void of holy rayes Of grace in sinne doth spend away the dayes Which Christ our Sauiour died the same to saue Vnto thee Lord Creator powrefull king With birds by break of day they prayse shold sing SON LXVII I List not iudge nor censure other men As I do iudge so iudge me others will And God himselfe that part can best fulfill With others faults I will not meddle then Vnlesse so farre as dutie doth desire Which is with loue to warne them of the way Whose weaknesse doth our louing aide require To stay their steps wherein they are astray But I must iudge my selfe doth scripture say And that I will but not by natiue skill The law and Gospell they shall try me still And their true touch shall my estate bewray My conscience witnesse more then thousands ten My hart confesse my faults with tongue and pen. SON LXVIII I See sometimes a mischiefe me beset Which doth amaze me much and griefe procure I haue a hope or hap I wish t' endure But it doth vanish straight and I do fret I craue sometimes of God with feruencie A thing me thinkes which might worke to my ioy My prayers yet he seemeth to denie And by the contrary doth worke my'annoy I find at length the thing I scorn'd as coy Fall to my profit and doth me assure That God by this his goodnesse doth allure Me to depend on him and not to toy By natiue reason guided but to let His prouidence haue praise and honor get SON LXIX HOw should I vse my time henceforth the best The little that remaines ought well be spent Too much lost time cause haue I to repent Best mends must be well to imploy the rest To pray and prayse the Lord is fit for me To craue things needfull and his mercies tell My spirituall wants and carnall plenties be As many yet his blessings which excell But multitude of words please not so well He knowes the heart which righteously is bent All holy actions are as prayers ment And he is praysd when sinne we do repell Then if my life the world and flesh detest I pray and prayse and shall find actions blest SON LXX Good words are praisd but deeds are much more rare One shadow is the other substance right Of Christian faith which God and man delight Without which fruits our barren tree is bare Once well done is more comfort to the soule More profit to the world to God more prayse Then many learned words which sinne controule Or all lip-labour that vaine glorie sayes Who in a holy life doth spend his dayes And still maintaine gainst sinne a valiant fight He preacheth best his words are most of might He shall conuert men most from sinfull wayes Such shall haue honor most affirme I dare With God and man and lesse of worldly care SON LXXI SInce we by baptisme seruants are profest To Christ whose name we as an honor beare It is good reason we his liuery weare And not go ranging vainely with the rest Since we do feed by bountie of his hand On precious food which he doth giue and dresse Who at the well of life doth ready stand Vs to refresh if thirst do vs oppresse We are too slow our selues to him t' addresse To craue and vse these gifts in loue and feare His righteous liuery we do rather teare Then whom we serue by vse thereof expresse Little he got that was such bidden guest And how can thanklesse seruants then be blest SON LXXII SInce shame of men much more then godly feare Restraineth vs from sinne as proofe doth preach Since more we after name of vertue reach Then to the truth thereof we loue do beare It were a part of wisedome to deuise To vse our nature of it selfe so vaine From so base custome euen for shame to rise To actions good which might true honor gaine The best remede I therefore find remaine To purchase prayse and vertues habit teach Is to professe in speech the same whose breach In life we should refraine least we should staine Our name which would at length our liking reare To loue of God indeed and sinnes forbeare SON LXXIII THe difference is right great a man may see Twixt heauen and earth twixt soule and body ours Twixt God man heauens powre earthly towres As great the difference in their vse must bee By high ambitious and by wrathfull sword Are earthly transitory kingdomes gaynd Humilitie with patient deed and word To heauenly crowne and honour doth attaine Man will his conquest with vaine glory staine Heauens kingdom former pride forthwith deuowrs It equals all estates sects skils and powres And makes the bodie well vnite remaine Whereof the head is Christ the members we And held coheires of heauen with him we be SON LXXIIII FOr vs who do by nature still incline Vnto the worst and do the best forget Who do all passed benefits lightly set And so vnthankfully gainst God repine It were great wisedome dayly to obserue Such sundry haps as do to vs befall By which to learne how much God doth deserue Who those and passed benefits gaue vs all And since there is not any blisse so small But for the which we ought acknowledge debt On each occasion we should gladly get A meanes our minds to thankfulnesse to call For nought God craues newe can giue in fine But drinke with thankes his cup of sauing wine SON LXXV THe parable of seed well sowne on ground Which did according as the soyle did sarue Some neuer bud some bloome some straightway starue Some grow in his crop so much abound Doth well describe as Christ full well applyes The nature of the word the which is sent By written Gospell and by preachers cryes Into the heart which hearing it doth rent And as well tild sometimes begins relent And yeeldeth blessed fruit and prayse desarue As God the showres of grace doth freely carue And diligence in weeding it is spent For many times such sinfull tares are found As good had bin the seed in sea had drownd SON LXXVI I Cannot chuse but yet deuoyd of pride To note the happie and the glorious time Wherein we liue and flourish in the prime Of knowledge which those former dayes not tride For all preheminences which are read Forespoke of latter age by Prophets all As happily were perform'd as promised When Christ those mysteries did on earth vnfold And those accomplish which were long foretold The same yea more by farre we dust and slime Vnworthy wayers of thee high we clime Enioy through preached truth more worth thē gold But woe is me this grace is vs denyde We to our selues haue not the same applyde SON LXXVII IF thou do feele thy fleshly thoughts repine When thou doest beare the crosses God doth send And that thou vnder burden of them bend And out of due obedience wouldst vntwine Remember when as yet a child thou wast