the riuers of the valleys nor al the showres of heauen are able to wash away the stayne and shame No sope nor scowring can clense the crime no darknesse nor death it selfe can hide it No continuance of time nor the age of the world shall make it forgotten Other nations heare of it hardly beleeue it because such cruelty hath scarse seemed possible Posterity shall read of it and wonder all generations to come shall detest the fact Our Persecutors owne issue shall blush to heare the outragious actes of their auncestors Barbarous death of innocentes is much yet to misreporte the cause augmenteth the despite Refusall to commit an act against conscience call they rebellion not to deny the Catholike faith they tearme felony and treason Traytors indeed such as were thy chosen Apostles when forbidden to preach the truth Such as the Primitiue Christians when by Heathen statutes impugned was Religion Manifest is our guilt and great is our offence vvhen by going to Church all is pardoned All this we endure for thy sake O thou fountayne of grace not reuolting from thy beliefe We haue not forsaken thee least we should be forsaken of thee at the last howre Not denied thee before men least we should be denied of thee before thine Angels Turne therefore vnto vs thy gratious countenance wherewith thou cheerest the world Giue eare to our prayers consider of our complaint Heare the voyce of thy Martirs bloud or at least wise heare their supplication and intercession Whome spoyled of their garment of flesh thou hast clad with robes of immortality The fourth Lamentation THE garland of glory is fallen from our head the beauty of thy City is defaced O God the beholder of our combatte be mindfull of our abasement vnder the heauy hand of those which hate vs. We hope in thee because we haue knowne thee professed thy name Thou exaltest the humble and regardest a contrite hart Streatch out thy hand to our aide for thou art the buckler and defence of Israell Father of orphans Husband of widowes piller of the poore Teach men not to lift vp themselues vpon earth against thee and thy Saints Let not the memory of thy afflicted be laid aside forget not his patience for euer Cheere vp his just desire ease the mourning of his hart Chastise vs no longer in thy rage nor correct vs with indignation Heale vs for we are bruised haue mercy vpon vs for we are brought exceeding lowe In silence we expect thy long-desired consolation True it is that we deserue more of thy rodde then we feele and before thine anger we sinned If we sinne are our foes righteous if Iacob offend is Esau innocent If Hierusalem please thee not shall Babilon delight thee Wilt thou euermore be angry O Supreame Iudge or canst thou forget mercy Wilt thou serue this Realme as thou hast serued Afrike and Syria To let misbeliefe prepare the way to Infidelity suffering to enter an eternall Apostasie Let not the name of thy Christ Church be exiled let not a faithlesse generation roote vs out Not so O Lord for thy tender kindnesse and mercy pull vs violently out of cruell handes Rouse vp thy selfe like a Giant reuenge the bloud of thy Saints Let not the scourge of the vngodly be alwayes vpon the backs of the just Least they presume saying thou maintaynest their cause and that saluation is on their side Chastise vs with thine owne rod as children and not with the rodde of the vncircumcised Pull the speare out of the enemies rest knappe his launce in sunder and breake his sword Thou dwellest still vvhere thou didst thou art the same God and glory of Israell To thee our forefathers called oppressed by Heathen and thou redeemedst them To thee Catholikes made their moane vnder the yoke of Arrian heretikes and thou didst redresse their bondage So vtterly annihilating the aduerse sect that scant their name remayned vpon earth Euils innumerable compasse vs about howe long wilt thou turne away thy face Not for euer O Lord not for euer we beseech thee Shall so many ignorants yet zealous neuer haue thy light reuealed So many which for want of instruction perish shall they neuer haue true teachers Because diuers which liued in the flourish of thy Church haue set it at naught shall those neuer see it who if they sawe it would neuer forsake it Because many by yealding deserue such a yoke shall they which are constant be alwaies vnder it Shall the few sparkles which thou hast left in the lande be extinguished for lacke of cherishing What if the fathers did eate a soure grape shall the teeth of their children for euer be on edge The wicked wil not worship thee aright shall they therefore be alwayes vexed which worship thee in spirit and truth If thou haue decreed O wisdome incomprehensible concerning that generation which enjoyed the highest glory of thy sanctuary And forsaking their Pastors stood not stedfastly for their Religion in the time of contradiction That they shal pine away by fourty yeares trauaile in the desert neuer enter into the land of promise Nor see the glory of thy second Temple in all Royall magnificence If this be thy holy pleasure the secret counsaile of thy long delayes Or if the number of thy designed Martirs be not yet accomplished to whome by these times thou furnishest a Crowne Or if thou wilt needes haue the secrets of all harts to be opened and rippe vp all dissemblers by long probation That the vvhole vvorld vvorld may behold vvho serued thee from their hart and who followe thee with corrupt intention Or whatsoeuer else the depth of thy designments intendeth by this so long persecution Yet hasten the times for thy deare mercy sake O liuing Lord. Calme the tempest alay the raging wanes Saue vs vvho are daungerously tossed vnite vs who are dispersed and commaunded a-sunder That as one in hart so with one voice in free assemblies we may laude thy holy name extoll thy praises all the day long Giue vs in the meane space patience in our afflictions and ghostly profit by these our temptations Let them neither vvinne vs by vvordes nor vveary vs by cruell deedes O thou which art the saluation of thy people Aide vs O Sauiour glorifie thy selfe in our deliuerance Thou art the God of our forefathers thee only we will magnifie Thou art a zealous God we will not partake in thy dishonour Prepare the feete of thy forerunners let vs heare the noise of their steps approching Reueale the treasures of thy kingdome vvhich haue beene so long suppressed Graunt vs to reape at length with joy who haue a great space sowed in teares In expectation whereof our life vanisheth in griefe our yeares consume in sobs While we powre forth our soules before thee crauing at thy handes saluation Arise O Lord visit thy flocke raise vp the rased walles of Hierusalem Neglect not the vvasting of thy heritage Renewe thy truth vvhich hath beene so long a time without fruit let faith flourish againe like an oliue Then shall all nations feare thy name the Kings of the earth shall haue thy mercy in admiration We shall all vvith one harmony sing glory in thy Temple and sanctifie thy Altars with Sacrifice All generations to come shall prayse thee and make honourable mention of thy great goodnesse Thy Angels of heauen shall magnifie thee the Saints and blessed Spirits shall fall at thy feete and giue thankes Euery soule pray that this may soone come to passe and euery tongue say Amen Come O sweete IESV come FINIS
worship him More pretious are your soules in his sight then the Phoenix or the Vnicornes fole He hath raised vnto you a seate of mercy whither to haue recourse for remission of sinnes And prepared a table for your refection wherein himselfe is the banquet and feast O howe delectable are thy dainties O Lord howe acceptable are thy holy Altars Much better are the reliques there of then the exquisite cates of princes Much better is it to be an abject in thy houshold then a great man in Kings Courtes The meanest in thy Church is noble the poorest in thy Church is rich Who is able to expresse the magnificence of thy Church or the one halfe of her glory We haue Priestes rightly consecrated and anointed in sacred wise Orderly accomplishing thy dread full misteries in vestments of holynesse and honour Monkes and other Religious persons persisting day and night in prayer With fasting and disciplines afflicting themselues in sackcloath and hayre for the sinnes of the people Vowed Virgins veiled handmaides of thy Christ by like order of life contend for like Crowne And fixing him profoundly in hart whome they haue chosen as celestiall Spouse Endeauour nothing else then to be perfect in his sight and serue him without distraction Vpon the society of thy faithfull legions of Angels attend for their defence Vpon them thy eyes are perpetually open to consider their wants and heare their prayers Who liueth in their vnity is in the communion of Saintes partaker of their assistance and patronage Hath his part in euery good deed and is daylie prayd for throughout the world Who dieth a liuely member of this holy body misticall by prayers of the liuing hath remission of payne Happy art thou O flocke of Peter blessed are all nations subject to his chaire Where sit the judges of the house of Iacob the rodde and scepter of thy Kingdome O Redeemer Thy selfe art a watchman ouer it who neuer sleepest a protector who neuer slumbrest Whosoeuer impugne it shall rotte as they liue their eyes shall sinke and their tongue shall be eaten out They shall perish in thy fury and melt like waxe before the fire None shall resist thy Church and be innocent No man fighteth against her without foile he dasheth his fist against a Rocke Her enemies shall licke the dust of her feete and those which oppugned her kisse her steps Such as will not shall be called a reprobate company vvith vvhome thou wilt exercise eternall wrath Aboundance of blessinges vpon all them which honour her and curses eternally will followe them which vexe her Her loue and mercy is more then the tender hart of a Mother Her anger more to be feared then a Princes rage In her remayneth knowledge vvhich can not erre power vvhich may not be contradicted In her is the treasure of thy Sons merits reposed In her possession are the Keyes of thy heauenly Kingdome Thou art her teacher that shee may not be ignorant The holy Ghost is her sanctifier to preserue her from iniquity As the Moone from the Sunne fetcheth her light so is she illuminated from Christ her Spouse In her only dost thou raigne with magnificence in her only thou art to be found Not so the Sinagogue of the wicked not so the congregation of Heretikes Among whome as in his Kingdome sitteth the Prince of pride who hath dominion ouer all children of darknesse Presuming as though they were thy counsailors or as if the holy Ghost spake in their eare As though they were the lampes of the world with whome Religion was borne with whome it should die They say to the auncient Fathers hold your peace and to the Doctors of the Church we will teach you wisedome But their pride is more then their power for thou dwellest not in harts subject to sinfulnesse Swelling in cogitations of their harts they proudly tosse vp their heddes as vntamed coltes As childrē of Belial without yoke they challenge liberty without obedience Priestes they make to themselues for their newe lawe and put vpon them authority which they cannot giue Like Apostata children they haue made assemblies not in thy name begonne a webbe and not in thy spirit False Prophets sell them follies and lies and set cushions of ease vnder sinners elbowes For a little lucre they justifie the wicked vpon confidence of faith they assure saluation Peoples sores they close vvith a false skinne vvhen the vvound festreth they say all is well Eating in effect the peoples sinnes and cloathing themselues vvith their iniquities In steede of the supersubstantiall Bread of life they giue them Serpents for the Chalice of saluation poyson of Adders Making thee more vnjust then any Tyrant they teach that thou punishest all sinnes with equall payne And that vvithout difference of desertes thou rewardest all vvith equall glory They say thou canst not make thy Saints and Angels to vnderstand our prayers nor shewe to them thinges done in earth They foolishly say that thou wilt not haue vs honour thy friendes and that thou settest litle by their intercession Denying that vvhose sinnes the Church forgiueth are forgiuen in heauen they say thou canst not giue such authority to man Doubting of thy Omnipotency they say with the Capharnaits howe can Christ giue vs his body for food With the faithlesse they sticke not to say his wordes are hard and who can beleeue him His promise of being vvith his Church to the end of the vvorld they contemne And that the Holy Ghost shall teach her all truth they credit not Wanting the band of vnity vnder seuerall heades they make seuerall companies and sects Hauing no certayne rule of faith each is author of his owne beliefe framing a Religion by priuate fancy Both in Doctrine and life all disorder is among them eternall horrour and confusion Oh with how great difference most supereminent light hast thou seperated Israell from the Aegyptians So plaine hast thou made the high way of truth that a very foole neede not misse the path Our enemies giue testimony to our faith and confesse that we may be saued therein They which oppugne it doe justifie it in confessing the primitiue Doctors to haue erred with vs. And thy Church not vnmindefull of her great priuiledge nor vngratefull for thy benefits Honoureth thee alwaies with inward purity worthy of thy holines and with outward ornaments worthy of thy Majesty Seauen times in the day shee singeth thy prayses and prayeth for Catholikes throughout the world Heare her prayers O enemy of falshood and giue all the earth to vnderstand That Heresie is a tempest raging only for a time but the foundation of thy Church endureth for euer A PSALME WHEREIN THE CATHOLIKE CALleth to minde his conuersion giuing thankes to God for the same THE SIXT PSALME MEDITATE O my soule a newe song open my lips to a psalme of thanksgiuing Rejoyce in him that made thee rejoyce in him that redeemed thee Rejoyce in him that conserueth thee rejoyce in him that
the counsaile of the sage He buildeth breaketh scepters and bringeth wisardes to their wittes end Pharao was by his plagues compelled to let the children of Israell Sacrifice in liberty Cyrus by his aide conquered the Oppressor dissolued by his instinct the long captiuity of Iuda A second Cyrus hath he stirred vp confirming his scepter for the good of his people He shal likewise bring the Infants of Sion from all quarters of their banishment joyfully shall they returne from forraigne landes And those Countries where now they harbour shall finde succour in this Isle to their ovvne necessities Thrise happy are yee who shall see those dayes your hartes shall be replenished with joy There shal not be any more grief misery and tribulation But persecution shal be recoumpted with mirth as persons arriued discourse of shipwracke The arme of the malignant being broaken our LORD shall raigne in mens hartes for euer and euer The tempestuous night being passed a perpetuall day shall be our comfort Which if we liue to see to haue suffered for Christ shall be a joy during life If we die before we rest in assured confidence of a happy resurrection And alwayes an immaculate conscience shall bee a svveete odour to the Almighty and a banquet to our selues By affliction our soules are purged of their drosse and their imperfections consumed By persecution we are tried as by the fanne whether we will be carried away with euery wind They which nowe stand shall be planted afresh as a glorious generation and be as principall stones in restauration of the Temple Aboundantly shall Gods mercies recompence their losses gladnesse shal exceede their sorrowes an hundred-fold All that shall see them shall know and say these are they which would not bowe to Baall Constant Confessors of Christ Iesus the only glory of our nation Iust is God in his judgementes and hath ordayned a time wherein to remember vs. His comming shall be as a sweete showre to the parched ground and as a labourers vvages at the vveekes end Cease shall our bondage and he shall blesse vs vvith an eternall liberty His truth his justice his Priestes his Sacrifice shal no more be taken away For a moment he afflicted vs but for euer shall his consolation endure Nowe therefore shew your selues men yee that endure for justifying your faith Runne forward without wearines atchieue vvithout fainting a happy course A Crowne hangeth ouer your heades vnspeakeable blisse is prepared for you God himselfe shall be your great reward your hope is full of immortality A DEEPE RECOGITATION OF THE FIRST conuersion of the English nation to the faith of Christ and the continuance thereof THE THIRD PSALME MY hart melteth and my bowels tremble while I conferre the times O my God The times of this our miserable age with the golden dayes of our forefathers We haue heard with our eares and thy Scribes haue commended to eternall memory The worke that thou wroughtest one thousand yeares past in conuerting our Auncestors to the faith To a people that sate in darknesse and shadowe of death it pleased thee to shew the light of thy countenance That the reliques of an Heathen nation should be saued that no people should be exempt from knowledge of thy lawe and title to thy glory Thou preparedst thine elect seruant Gregory to gouerne the Apostolike Sea A Pastor like Dauid according to thine owne hart Who vvith great care executing his charge fulfilled perfectly the name and office of a watchman Thou stirredst vp his hart to enterprise the conuersion of the English And enflamedst his minde with zeale of dilating thy name vnto the endes of the world While he was yet priuate thou hadst sent of our youth to be sold at Rome Intending thereby the accomplishment of thy purposed mercy They were brought to the Market-place to be cheapned as beastes price was set vpon them as slaues Endevved yet vvith reasonable soules and such visages as commended the excellency of thy beautifull workmanship Iust neuerthelesse was their present condition vvho vvere bruite beastes by sinne and slaues of the Diuell by infidelity Thy holy seruant sawe them and his hart yearned at their calamity But thou inspiredst him that their saluation was neare and that himselfe should be the instrumēt thereof Thou placedst thy wordes in his lips and hearing that they were called Angles he said To Angels this nation must be vnited whome in countenance they so resemble Vnderstāding their Prouince was called Deira and their King Aëlle He inferred that deliuered from Gods ire indignation they shortly should sing Alleluia After this O Lord thou diddest raise vp Gregory to be supreame Pastor of thy vniuersall flocke Thou gauest him both ability and will to compasse that which he had before thirsted And to finish the worke which thou secretly hadst in hand He sent Augustine thy approoued Priest with a chosen company fit for so great and holy an enterprise A long and weary some way they passed but thou easedst their trauaile with daylie consolation In the midst of their journey their courage languished but thou confirmedst them afresh Through straunge landes and vncouth wayes they passed but thy hand euermore protected them They crossed the Seas and came to an Island whose tongue they vnderstood not Thou didest alwayes assist them and wert a present aide to their necessities Thou art Lord of the Isles no lesse then of the continent neither doth distance of places abridge thy power Thus thou broughtest Monkes from beyond the high insuperable Alpes to kindle in Infidels hartes the fire of thy loue At their entrance they bare before them the triumphant signe of the Crosse the badge of Christians the memory of our Redemption A token that they preached the Sonne of Man crucified a protestation of their faith and profession They sange the sacred Litanies with loude voice inuocating Saints and Angels to their assistance Grace thou gauest them in the sight of Princes and our Country beganne to yeald her fruits The seede vvhich they sovved tooke roote and yealded encrease apace Through many tempestes and stormes it preuailed through contradictions it augmented the more They conquered this land to thy CHRIST and subdued all mens hartes to thy Gospell Possessing the Prouinces not by the sword but in thy word not in their arme but in thy spirit They established the function of thy holy Altar wherein thy Sonne is both Priest and Sacrifice They administred the seauen SACRAMENTES and planted the vvhole Doctrine of the Catholike Church They laide a firme foundation of their forefathers faith with the honourable rites thereunto appertayning And once more this Island flourished afresh recouering her auncient glory Which many yeares before shee had attayned by embracing the Christian faith Vaunting her selfe to be the first Christian Prouince of the world the eldest child of the Church The faithful throughout the earth rejoyced at her Religious example Singing her happy choice and celebrating her with Titles some of
and name of Religion not like thy lawe O Lord. I found thy faith to be vnspotted without stayne of any folly Conuerting soules from their sinfull wayes and giuing wisdome to the ignorant Pearcing to the very hart and comfortable to a single spirit Quickly was my desolation turned to joy thou claddedst me vvith consolation as with a robe Nowe therefore being redeemed by my Maker from the hands of the enemy I confesse that he is gentle good and exceeding bountifull and his mercy endureth for euer I sate in darknesse and in the shadowe of death and there vvas none to helpe me I cried vnto him he ayded me breaking my fetters in sunder Had he not assisted me the enemy had euen swallowed me quicke Blessed be his holy name vvho gaue me not for a pray to the Dragons jawes As a litle bird I escaped the fowlers net as the silly hare from the pursuing gray-hound By the old aduersary of mankinde I had beene seduced and supplanted by his malice My God streatched out his potent hand deliuering me from the violent streame Who caught me in his armes as if a father should catch his child from the deuouring beare Because he loued me he sought my saluation not suffering the enemy to triumph Prayse him therefore O my soule be not vngratefull for his benefits Forget not what he hath done for thee preuenting thee in his blessinges He hath made thee flourish afresh as in the yeares of thy first regeneration Restoring thy innocency againe and renewing thy youth as an Eagle As farre as heauen is from earth or East from West so farre hath he remooued from thee thine iniquities He hath crowned thee with better then pretious stones all parts and povvers vvithin mee magnifie his mercy I staggered in attempting my saluation the difficulties of the time amazed me Thou girdedst me with vertue vnder thy protection I ouercame those tentations I was slowe and weake thou madest me swift like an Hart that I ran forwardes without impediment Thou hast taught me to fight māfully against the enemy and confirmed my hart to be thy champion Thou hast raised me from vvorse then the dunghill and placed me amōgst thy holy princely people Out of the lake of misery thou hast pulled me and from the dirty dregs of sinne heresie thou hast drawne me forth From Deaths dore thou reuiuedst me from Hel-gates thou broughtest me backe Oft to the barrē thou sendest children to me an orphane thou gauest thy Spouse for a Mother Many vvonderfull thinges thou bring est to passe none more strange doe I knowe then the conuersion of my hard hart Many wayes thy mercy sheweth it selfe but neuer more then in pardoning my offences What should I say O Lord thou hast engraffed thy name in my hart and enroled my name in thy booke of life Thou hast shrowded mee in thy tabernacle against the day of wrath Opening to me the gates where none but the just enter In vaine haue the fiends like foxes sought my soule departing voide of their expectation I will loue thee therefore O my aide and refuge my strength and the foundation of my hope The new tune which thou hast giuen to my mouth I wil alwayes sing I will offer before thy Altar a Sacrifice of prayse in the sight of thy Angels Saints I will giue thankes The cup of thy Crosse I will expect desiring to suffer for thy sake What other way can I be answerable to thy giftes or how can I doe this also except thou giue it Thou needest neither me nor my good deedes thou hast chosen me and not I thee O Redeemer My conuersion vvas thy handy-worke without whose assistance I can not thinke a good thought Who am I O Fountayne of goodnesse that thou thus shouldest manifest thy selfe vnto me That suffering thousandes to wallowe still in wickednesse thou chosest me on whome to shewe mercy Neither tookest me out of this life in time of blindnesse in midest of mine iniquities To thy selfe O Lord to thy selfe bee the glory of this thy mercifull kindnesse Let the heauens prayse thee for it and in earth others be conuerted by my example Let my daylie endeauours be to further thy faith and drawe others to the delectable spring wherewith my selfe haue beene refreshed So shall thy graces in some sort redound to thee againe as floodes returne to the Sea So shall I not perish like an vnfruitfull tree which leaueth not his like behinde Prayse yee meane-space your Creator and mine O yee his Angels who rejoyce at conuersion of euery sinner Who perpetually execute his wil without declining at any time from his hests Prayse yee him O his holy Priests messengers of his will shepherdes of his folde by whose handes he reconcileth sinners Prayse yee him O al yee my Brethren partakers of like saluation Whome of caytiues plunged in like errours he hath justified and made righteous Prayse yee him O all his seruants neuer yet entangled with like misery Prayse him O my soule whilst thou quicknest my body when thou partest by death ceasse not to doe the same And when thou receiuest the body againe prayse him perfectly without end AN IMPLORATION OF DIVINE GRACE against temptations of Religion THE SEAVENTH PSALME THOV taughtest me perfect wisdome in my first conuersion O Lord and I verily trusted neuer more to be shaken In the day of her reconciliation thou saidst vnto my soule nowe art thou my faire Spouse this day haue I assumed thee Why then doth the tempter whisper in my eare and say hovve long vvilt thou serue thy GOD in vaine Why doe the speeches of those mooue my minde who saying they loue me well vpbraide me to my face of follie Objecting that I spend my age in wilfull calamity neither reape the pleasure of my life Remember O Lord the comfortable word that thou spakest to my hart Preserue me still among the generation which seeketh thee which alone enjoyeth thy presence protection Which with vndefiled lippes and cleane hart offer vp day lie sacrifices and magnifie thy holy name Among whome only is saluation to be hoped for and thy true honour to be found Let mee alwayes put my trust in thee and neuer be ashamed of the God of my forefathers Nor deny my selfe to be of his holy chosen company Keepe me O my maker that neuer in thought word or deede I consent to rites of a straunge Religion or partake in their actions Neither openly nor priuily in speech nor silence by action nor omission or any signe whatsoeuer Least I bee enwrapped in their plagues because of their company and drinke the cup of their damnation Let neither friendship nor hatred profit nor losse Payne nor pleasure life nor death separate me from thy Church Suffer not that my brethren and fellowe seruants stumble by my example to their ruine Or say of me see howe he hath lost his part in Israell his inheritance aboue the starres Loe howe he was not
built vpon a rocke but vpon sand great and shamefull is his fall Permit not that my ghostly enemies scorne at me and point me out this is he whose soule we haue seduced Who beganne a worke and could not finish it satisfying our eyes with his disgrace Let not the aduersaries of thy law and testament triumph ouer me as of a conquest Conceiuing by my example that more will yeald and fewe resist a cruell assault And that we esteeme no more of our faith then they of theirs nor haue assured certainty of our Religion Forbidde the fowles of the ayre the fiendes of hell to take from my hart the seede which thou hast sowen Forbidde that either riches and cares choke it or the heate of persecution wither it Forbidde that perswasions of carnall friends should corrupt it or any thing else hinder the encrease thereof Fie that wealth should be dearer to me then my faith or worldlie friendes then my God Heretofore I comforted other and when I am touched my selfe shall I tremble Where is then my awe and loue where is sortitude and patience Where is the dutie of a Christian man become The constancie and seruice which I owe to thee my GOD I vvill alwaies keepe to thee my life shall liue The word of truth take not out of my mouth for in thee is all my confidence Cursed are they which decline from thy Commandements All iniquity therefore bee farre from me still may I cleaue to thy lawe Dilate my hart comfort my spirit that I may cheerefully runne my race and gayne my crowne Shall I not loue thee whome only I ought to serue Shall I joyne with thy enemies in their prouocations and blasphemies Or shall I lie with my lippes and say I loue thee when I doe not followe thee No no I vvill confesse thy Religion neither before people or Magistrate will I be ashamed Least thou deny me likewise at the latter day and before thy Angels and Saints put me to confusion If they vrge me with obedience I will not let to tell them that God must be obeyed before man If they threaten paynes I will set before mine eyes the euerlasting torments prepared for rennegats I will tell them that whatsoeuer they can doe must haue a short end Happy man who escapeth paines which neuer cease If they punish me I will with thy Apostles rejoyce that thou hast vouchsafed me to suffer for thy sake If they kill me it is the vtmost of their power and the beginning of my glory Yet know I that Satan is chayned and can not hurt a hayre but by thy permission Thou art my light and my saluation whome should I feare thou art my protector whereat should I quake Heauen fall the earth sinke the whole frame of the world turne vpside downe All that is therein runne to confufusion chaunce vvhatsoeuer may chaunce Rather then that I forsake my faith by renouncing to be of thy holy congregation One thing only is necessary O my Lord and my God to serue thee stedfastly and all thinges else are vaine In this happy course begonne graunt that I faint not during my life The zeale which thou once didst in me kindle suffer not to waxe cold Let not the spirit of thy loue be in me extinguished Though I forsake all for the pretious pearle which thou hast reuealed vnto the world Yea though I forsake my selfe also I buy it not too deare Thou hast shewed me a hidden treasure the price of the field I must and will pay This only with Dauid I aske of thy diuine Majesty to dwell in thy house all the dayes of my life To be a member of thy holy body mysticall a childe of thy Spouse for euer That I may be partaker of thy perpetuall Sacrifice Whereby thy Passion is applyed vnto vs and we reape the fruit of our redemption Giue me thy grace O thou which sanctifiest soules giue me strength and courage giue me wisdome and patience Then though a thousand fall on my right side and ten thousand on my left yet will I stand Though those which shine like the Sunne and Moone fall from thy kingdome yet will I be stedfast Thou forsakest none except they first forsake thee confirme therefore my heart that it may neuer quaile Confidence in mine owne power I haue none but what is it that in thee I dare not vndertake In thee who art the mightiest haue I placed my hope thou art my refuge to thee I commend my selfe Thou shalt deliuer mee from the open arrovve by day and from darke daungers of secret malice From the Day-diuell and temptations vvhich comming in their ovvne likenesse dare shewe their face And from the night spirits which shroude themselues vnder faire pretences Whatsoeuer become of me to thy blessed will I resigne vp my selfe my fortune is in thy hand Great O Lord art thou great is thy might and thy wisdome is incomprehensible Many perils our frailty is wont to fore-cast still we cry fearing to be drowned But if we delight in thee thou wilt thou wilt giue vs our desires and bring those feares to nothing Men will forge excuses to serue their turne And a thousand shiftes iniquity searcheth to build vnto it selfe a sinnefull and false security Thou searchest the harts peines discerning easily howe men flatter themselues Shall I as diuers doe blind mine eyes least I should see or when I see shall I not vnderstand Shall I seeke darknesse in the open Sunne and subject my conscience to my will Direct my paths according to thy lawe that vnrighteousnesse neuer subdue me Regard my affliction and combat dispose of me according to thy prouidence ouer the Elect. Keepe my feete from sliding and be still before mine eyes preserue my soule from the death of deadly sinne For those which so die inherit not with thee but with them in whose seruice they partake Thou hast once lightned my lāpe keepe me therefore euermore from darknesse Examples sometime doe giue me scandall prouoking my hart in like sort to ralent Ah wreatch that I were if I relied my soule vpon such shattered reedes And would as it were for company post forward to hell Whereas holy examples are plentifull of glorious Confessors which fill the prisons It hath come to my minde that I may be saued at the last and repent vvhen Death knocks at the doore A foole whosoeuer so ventureth eternall damnation not knowing hovve soone he shall be cited to appeare Thy grace is not alwayes at commaundement and vncertayne is the valewe of constrayned repentance The tempter hath suggested that thou art mercifull and wilt easily enough forgiue But thy mercy and clemency I haue already prooued in expecting me to saluation In not striking me in midst of my sinnes and taking me away in mine ignorance It is nowe time to thinke of thy judgementes and hazard no more to prouoke thy wrath Who assurest vs that thou art a seuere Iudge and comparest thy self to a soure
Bishop is a supposed enemy Prohibited it is to ascend vnto thy Holy hill to receiue any instructions from Sion To seeke exposition of the lawe at Peters chaire and direction from the piller of truth Neither are we permitted to enter into the Arke out of which is no saluation neither will they which forbidde vs enter themselues They presse vs continually to run with them towardes hell and to reuerence in shewe that which we detest in hart If they infatuate any man by faire wordes or threats they tread him vnder foote as salt which hath lost the sauour They triumph as of a conquest and hang vp flags of victory Glorying to finde a Catholike as cold as themselues and which will cast behind him the care of his soule Not for exercise of our faith only are we thus afflicted but for our conuersation also we are detested Vertue is accounted misdemeanour all thinges are lawfull except to liue well Who waxeth sober and graue suspected is he to intend somewhat He that in quaffing and gluttony is not forward is hated as a backward person Giue any man great almes deemed he is a corrupter of people a solliciter of mens harts to his Religion Our thoughts are examined what greater mischiefe could mans wit inuent against vs. As if it were a small matter to renoūce in words the supreame Pastor An oath is administred of vnbeliefe and abjuring in conscience his authority In such sort are our hartes sifted yet are we scorned with freedome of faith and that liberty of conscience is not impeached Vrged we are on al-sides and enclosed betweene streightes stand at the mercy of our armed enemy Open thy armes O God of our sanctification and receiue vs into thy bosome Whither else to flie we haue not neyther art thou farre from them which call vpon thee The third Lamentation END our misery O Father of pupilles or take vs vnto thee least malice of the time subuert vs. Better it is to die then to see the enormity and desolation of our Country In euery corner wee heare thy name blasphemed constrayned to lay our hand vpon our mouthes Reprehension is not endured thy Angels are forbidden to denounce the truth Commandement is giuen to those which preach to speake plausible things and conformable to the time The sinner sinneth and is commended wicked men are magnified in their doinges Godlinesse is quite gone piety hath taken her leaue Banished are truth and vertue into forraigne landes All mouthes are full of leasinges guilefull lippes yealding the abundance of their double hartes Euery head searcheth a pillowe to his iniquity and euery elbowe a cushion of ease That without al remorse they may swallowe sinne as dainties and wallowe in bloud as in a pleasant bath They winke least they should see and will needes beleeue what sensuality suggesteth Inspirations are rejected as temptations perswaders to perfect Christianity are condemned for seducers Howe long wilt thou endure thy faith to be thus neglected and thy holies to be prophaned Thy Saints to be persecuted thy truth to be troden vnder foote No persecution like vnto our oppression no griefe comparable vnto our sorrowes From the East to the West ouer all the face of this earthly globe no where is the Catholike faith so pursued Amongst the Turks Saracens is greater liberty of Religion the Moores and Infidels restrayne not Christian rites with such seuerity Since we deserue not release of affliction yet for thy owne glory let thy name no longer be prophaned See howe thy enemies haue stroken out alarme and thy professed foes lifted vp their hornes Saying openly roote we out the nation of the faithfull that the name Catholike may be no more heard of They haue inuaded thine inheritance as it were with fire sword Polluted thy Tabernacle with their abhominations contaminated thy sanctuary Thy Churches are pulled downe with the ruines whereof are built vnhappy pallaces of pride Those vvhich stand either serue for euery vile office or are worse abused to the table cup and seruice of Diuels Such possesse the temple as should be scourged forth and whome thou forbadest to set foot within thy gates Men haue there placed their owne signes in steede of thine and for thy Sacraments their owne inuentions Translating thy glory to their superstition thy solemnities feasts to the Idoll of their owne imagination Houses of prayer are dennes of theeues places sanctified are become abhominable From whence the sweetincense of deuotion ascended to heauen ariseth now the stench of the bottomles pit Where Angels sung frequēted the Diuels nowe daunce triumph For a newe faith is set vp against the auncient beliefe a newe table and seruice in defiance of thy holy Altar and Sacrifice Thy high steward is quite rejected they say we will not heare his voice If he call vs home we will not returne if he commaund vs we vvill runne farther off Let vs breake the bands of his law and cast off his yoke from our necke The bands O Lord of thy religiō they haue cast of which were so pleasant thy yoke which was so sweet They haue left thee the fountaine of life and digged to themselues pits which beare no water They haue setled their malice against thee and contriue that which they shall neuer accomplish The name yet of heresie they reject from their sect and the penalties of it they returne vpon vs. Lawes of the first Christian Princes they vsurpe and abuse against the Church ordayned by them for her defence Their Superintendents cite vs concerning our faith as if they held the chaire which can not erre They excommunicate vs from their congregation and banne vs in their malignant Synagogue Whither to goe is to bee accursed indeede and worse then to enter into a flaming fornace As fast as they curse thou wilt blesse and our reward shall redound into our bosome When they are disposed our life is their pastime in testimony of thy truth we are daylie slaine The Magistrate rageth on his bench the Ministers from their pulpits clappe their hands The people mutter against vs Baals false Prophets as fire-brandes of mischiefe sound to the slaughter For our faith we are as sheepe ready for the butchery streetes are dyed with martyrdomes of thy Saints Their flesh is giuen for food to the fowles of the ayre their bloud batneth the earth being shed like water Ripped vp they are aliue which to sheepe oxen men abhor to doe With bloudy gripe are their trembling and breathing bowels drawne forth In most execrable sort cast into the fire euen before their face Their quarters least thou shouldest not see it playne enough deforme the gates of euery Citie and vpbraide thy patience Their heades are raysed on high to the terrour of the simple Serued thus are thy Priests whom thou hast giuen charge of not to be once injuriously touched The earth couereth not the bloud that is shedde neither stoppeth the ayre the cry thereof All