whose liuely image I do acknowledge in my selfe for I am he that hath most vniustly forsaken thee my louing father and haue riotously consumed my substance and by obeying the appetites of my flesh haue disobeyed thy commandements and by breaking of them haue fallen into the most filthie prison of sinne being brought to extreame miserie out of which I know none other that can helpe me but onely thou my Almighty God whom I haue forsaken Receiue therefore O Lord mercifully the humble that desireth pardon of thee whom thou hast so patiently looked for euen vntill this present houre Alas I am not worthy to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee nor once to call thee father but for so much as thou art a true father in deed may it please thee to view me with thy fatherly compassionate eyes for thy onely sight is powerfull to raise the dead and it is that which causeth all those that wander out of the way to returne againe to themselues For this repentance and sorrow for my sinnes I had not had if thou hadst not beheld me with thy mercies eye When I went wandring afarre off from thee thou didst looke downe euen from heauen vpon me and didst open mine eyes that I might see my selfe and take a view how full fraught I was with infinite sinnes and euen at this instant thou commest to receiue me againe giuing me knowledge and mindfulnesse of mine innocencie which I haue lost I do not request thy most sweete embracings and kisses nor the rich garment that was wont to cloth me neither yet the ring of mine ancient dignitie I sue not to be receiued againe into the state and dignitie of thy sonnes but thou shalt do very much for me in case it may please thee to number me amongest thy bondslaues and so to marke me with thy signe and to fetter me with thy chaines that I may neuer after runne away from thee Againe it shall neuer grieue me to be in this life one of the most abiect slaues in thy house so that I may neuer be separated from thee Suffer me not gracious Lord to runne the erring steps that I haue formerly done for thou didst consecrate me for thy temple and I made my selfe an habitation for the Diuell Thou gauest me armour and didst bind me to be thy true knight and I haue gone traiterously to thy enemies side vsing thine owne weapons against thee thou didst espouse my soule vnto thee in perpetuall charitie and I haue proued disloyall following the loue of vanities more then thy truth and esteemed a creature more then the Creator But now Lord incline thee vnto me I beseech thee O father of mercy graunting me the fauour of thine onely begotten Sonne and the remedie of his most grieuous passion and death graunt me also thy holy spirit that it may cleanse my heart and confirme it in thy grace any fauour that through mine ignorance I do neuer runne againe into my late banishment from whence thy louing kindnesse hath called me backe but that I may continue in thy obedience euen from this present houre of my repentance vnto the last houre of my transitorie life To thee O my Lord be perpetuall glorie honour power and dominion world without end OF THE THREE SORTS OF MEN ALL DIVERSLY affected in things concerning God Men are either OPEN WICKED Licentious and prophane liuers professed enemies of the Law of the Lord Iob 21.14.15 These are borne but after the flesh therefore sauour they onely the things of the flesh and remaine as they are by nature childreÌ„ of wrath Ioh. 3.6 1. Cor. 2.16 Ephe. 2.3 These are neither chosen of God nor called being neither of the Church nor in the same Psal 11.5 Reu. 22.14 1. Cor. 5.12 In these sinne daily increaseth inwardly and outwardly till righteousnesse in theÌ„ be vtterly extinct Psal 36.1.2.3.4 To these the law if it be sent cometh in tables of stone for such is the nature of hearts but they receiue it not the tables are broken before they come at them for these dance as it were about the golden calfe of their owne impietie know not what is become of Moses they breake and violate all Exod. 32. Yet vnto such the Law is giuen and lieth vpon them as a curse and condemnation 1. Tim. 1.9 Deut. 27.15 26. These keepe not the Law neither are they kept by the Law but breake forth into all sinne and wickednesse Iob 24.13 c. Psal 73.8 9. These hate the Law and professe their hatred Psal 2.3 Iob 22.17 These are naked yet without shame though all men see their filthinesse they hide it not Ier. 6.15 and 8.12 These call not vpon God Psal 14.4 These accustomed to do euill neither change â—hemselues nor â—heir actions Ier. 13.23 These are strangers not children â—or yet seruants â—n the houshold â—f faith Ephes 2.12 Psal 58 3. These go not out â—o meete the â—ridegroome â—either come to â—â—e wedding â—â—ough they be â—uited Mat. 22. â—5 These are â—â—rknesse both before God and the world Pro 4.19 These though sicke vnto death yet like the mad man possessed of diuels Mar. 5 2 3 c. which raued and felt not nor diâ—cerned his owne miserie they seeke no remedie for their disease Prouerb 14.16 23.34 35. These do the euill which they loue and would do Iob 20 12.13 Prou 2.14 These expect no saluation either by themselues or by any other Isa 22.13 These die by Moses sword as the Idolaters Exod 32. the Madianites Numb 31. the Amorites Sihon Ogh and the like These both shall perish and be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord their portion shall be with the diuels in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death Mat. 25.30.41 24.51 Iob 13.16 2. Thes 1.8.9 Reue. 20.10.13.15 The wicked shall turne into hell Psal 9.17 The reioycing of the wicked is short the ioy of Hypocrites is but a moment Iob 20.5 HYPOCRITES Outwardly relâ—gious but inwardly wicked hating Gods Law and the true righteousnesse Isay 29.13 Mic. 3.11 These seeme to be renewed and born againe of the Spirit they are inlightned boast of heauenly grace yet continue they stil in their old naturall corruption vnwashed from their filthinesse Heb. 6 4. Isa 65.5 Ioh. 8 41.22 Pro. 30.12 These are called but not chosen are in the Church for a while but not of it Mat. 22.14 1. Ioh. 2.19 In these righteousnesse increaseth outwardly but sin liueth inwardly and aboundeth Isa 1.11 c. Ier. 3.4.5 To these God giueth the stonie tables and they receiue them but Moses face so shineth that they cannot looke vpon him vnlesse he veile his countenance They outwardly keepe the law rest therein they also teach others to keepe it yet are themselues transgressors of it the inward power and end thereof they cannot see Exod. 34.29 30 c. 2. Cor. 3.13 14. Rom. 2.17 22 23 c. These though they keepe not the Law yet
Father grant me pardon of all my sinnes through the death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life in the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen me kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparent that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy wil I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thankes in thy kingdome for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to God the Sonne O Thou maker and redeemer of mankind Iesus Christ who saidest I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakable charitie wherewith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer me neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest we should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to do what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learned how vnhappie we were borne through our first father Adam by thee we haue learned that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this wolrd coÌ„ducting them through the night of their minds from the Egyptian darknesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know from whence to seeke the remedie of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorance that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality and beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious and rough an easie and beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest we should be wearied thy bounty with great assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could be wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternall life prepared for him Therefore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby we might be sustained Neither was thy goodnesse coÌ„tented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit thou repairest our courages to the end that we may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becoming our truth thou takest away al distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy Spirit which quickeneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs all in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherefore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruant lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither be allured by the inticements of Satan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art rhe true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behind me I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glorying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to God the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our Aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpon thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charitie grace and wisedome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakable mercie and liberalitie that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou streÌ„gth of the fraile come thou remedie of sinnes come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroyer of the proud come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies fill me with the gifts of thy wisdome illuminate me with the benefit of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct me with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne inflame all my bowels with the sweete fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may be carried rauished into thee who art the center and finall end of all my good ô sweete louer of â—oly soules since thou art not ignorant that I can do nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauorable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe flie vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou mayest conforme me vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholly be consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace that I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon me ô Lord looke vpon me and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attaine thâ— house of my God When wiâ—â— thou fill me with the light of thâ— countenance When shall I bâ— satiate with the presence of thy glory When shall I by thâ—â— meanes be deliuered from aâ—â— temptations and when shall ouercome this frailty of my moâ—talitie O eternall fountaine oâ— light bring me backe againe 〈◊〉 the Abysse of eternall goodnesse by whom I am created that â—ere I may know thee euen as I am knowne of thee and may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen FINIS
I will not wrong him with so vniust a suspition sith his appearing improueth it his words ouerthrow it his countenance doth disswade it why then should I sucke so much sorrow out of so vaine a surmise Thus Maries trauelling fansies making long voyages in this short iourney and wauering betweene the ioy of her vision and the griefe of her deniall entertained her in the way and held her parley with such discourses as are incident vnto minds in which neither hope is full maister of the field nor feare hath receiued an vtter ouerthrow But as she was in this perplexed manner now falling now rising in her owne vncertainties she findeth on the way the other holy woman that first came with her to the graue whom the Angels had now assured of Christs resurection And as they passed all forwards towards the Disciples Behold Iesus met them saying All haile But they came neere and tooke hold of his feete and worshipped him Then Iesus said vnto them Feare not Go â—â—l my brethren that they go into Gallilee there they shall see me O Lord how profound are thy iudgements and vnsearchable thy counsels Doth her sorrow sit so neare thy heart or thy repulse rebound with such regret by seeing her wounded loue bleede so fast at her eyes that thy late refusall must so soone be requited with so free a graunt Is it thy pitty or her change which cannot allow that she should any longer fast from her earnest longing But ô most milde Phisition well knowest thou that thy sharp corrosiue with bitter smart angred her tender wound which being rather caused by vnwitting ignorance than wilfull errour was as soone cured as knowne And therefore thou quickely applyest a sweete lenitiue to asswage her paine that she might acknowledge her forbidding rather a fatherly checke to her vnsetled faith than an austere reiecting her for her fault and therefore thou admittest her to kisse thy feete the two conduits of grace and seales of our redemption renewing her a Charter of thy vnchanged loue and accepting of her the vowed sacrifice of her sanctified soule And thus gracious Lord hast thou finished her seares assured her hopes fulfilled her desires satisfied her loues stinted her teares perfected her ioyes and made the period of her expiring griefes the preamble to her now entring and neuer ending pleasures O how mercifull a Father thou art to left Orphanes how easie a Iudge to repentant sinners and how faithfull a friend to sincere louers It is vndoubtedly true that thou neuer leauest those that loue thee and thou louest such as rest their affiance in thee They shall finde thee liberall aboue desert and bountifull beyond hope a measure of thy gifts not by their merits but thine owne mercie O Christian soule take Mary for thy mirrour follow her affection that like effects may follow thine Learne ô sinfull man of this once a sinfull woman that sinners may finde Christ if their sinnes be amended Learne that whom sinne loseth loue recouereth whom faintnesse of faith chaseth away firmnesse of hope recalleth and that which no other mortall force fauour or pollicie can compasse the continued teares of a constant loue are able to attaine Learne of Mary for Christ to feare no encounters out of Christ to desire no comforts and with the loue of Christ to ouer-rule the loue of all things Râ—se early in the morning of thy good motions and let them not sleepe in sloth when diligence may performe them Runne with repentance to thy sinfull heart which should haue bene the Temple but through thy fault was no better than a Tombe for Christ sith hauing in thee no life to feele him he seemed vnto thee as if he had bene dead Role away the stone of thy former hardnesse remoue all thy heauy loads that oppresse thee in sinne and looke into thy soule whether thou canst there find the Lord. If he be not within thee stand weeping without and seeke him in other creatures sith being present in all he may be found in any Let faith be thine eye hope thy guide and loue thy light Seeke him and not his for himselfe and not for his gifts If thy faith haue found him in a cloud let thy hope seeke to him If hope haue led thee to see him let loue seek further into him To moue in thee a desire to finde his goods are precious and when he is found to keepe thee in a desire to seeke his treasures are infinit Absent he must be sought to be had being had he must be sought to be more enioyed Seeke him truly and no other for him Seeke him purely and no other thing with him Seeke him onely and nothing besides him And if at the first search he appeare not thinke it not much to perseuer in teares and to continue thy seeking Stand vpon the earth trending vnder thee all earthly vanities and touching them with no more than the soles of thy feete that is with the lowest and least part of thy affection To looke the better in the Tombe bow downe thy neeke to the yoke of humilitie and stoupe from loftie and proude conceits that with humbled and lowly lookes thou mayest finde whom swelling and haughtie thoughts haue driuen away A submitted soule soonest winneth his returne and the deeper it sinketh in a selfe contempt the higher it climeth in his highest fauours And if thou perceiuest in the Tombe of thy heart the presence of his two first Messengers that is at the feete sorrow for the bad that is past and at the head desire to a better that is to come entertaine them with sighes and welcome them with penitent teares yet reckoning them but as herbingers of thy Lord ceasse not thy seeking till thou findest himselfe And if he vouchsafe thee his glorious sight offering himselfe to thy inward eyes presume not of thy selfe to be able to know him but as his vnworthy suppliant prostrate thy petitions vnto him that thou maist truely discerne him and faithfully serue him Thus preparing thee with diligence comming with speed standing with high lifted hopes and stooping with inclined heart if with Mary thou crauest no other solace of Iesus but Iesus himselfe he will answere thy teares with his presence and assure thee of his presence with his owne words that hauing seene him thy selfe thou maiest make him knowne to others saying with Mary I haue seene our Lord and these things he said vnto me LAVS DEO FINIS THE TRIVMPHS OVER DEATH OR A Consolatorie Epistle for afflicted minds in the effects of dying friends First written for the consolation of one but now published for the generall good of all by R. S. AN CHO RA. SPEI LONDON Printed for W. Barret To the Worshipfull M. Richard Sackuile Edward Sackuile Cicilie Sackuile and Anne Sackuile the hopefull issues of the honorable Gentleman maister Robert Sackuile Esquire MOst lines do not the best conceit containe Few words well coucht may comprehend much matter Then as to vse
sory wight the obiect of disgrace The Monument of feare the Map of shame The mirror of mishap the staine of place The scorne of time the infamy of fame An excrement of earth to heauen hatefull Iniurious to man to God ingratefull Ambitious heads dreame you of Fortunes pride Fill Volumes with your forged goddesse praise You Fansies drudges plung'd in follies tide Deuote your fabling wits to louers layes Be you O sharpest griefes that euer wrong Text to my thoughts Theame to my playning tong Sad subiect of my sinne hath stoard my minde With euerlasting matter of complaint My threnes an endlesse Alphabet do finde Beyond the pangs which Ieremy doth paint That eyes with errors may iust measure keepe Most teares I wish that haue most cause to weepe All weeping eyes resigne your teares to me A sea will scantly rince my ordur'd soule Huge horrors in high tides must drowned be Of euery teare my crime exacteth tole These staines are deepe few drops take out no such Euen salue with sore and most is not too much I fear'd with life to die by death to liue I left my guide now left and leauing God To breathe in blisse I fear'd my breath to giue I fear'd for heauenly raigne an earthly rod. These feares I fear'd feares feeling no mishaps O fond O faint O false O faulty lapse How can I liue that thus my life deni'd What can I hope that lost my hope in feare What trust to one that truth it selfe defi'd What good in him that did his God forsweare O sinne of sinnes of euils the very worst O matchlesse wretch O caytiffe most accurst Vaine in my vaunts I vowd if friends had fail'd Alone Christs hardest fortunes to abide Giant in talke like dwarfe in triall quaild Excelling none but in vntruth and pride Such distance is betweene high words and deeds In proofe the greatest vanter seldome speeds Ah rashnesse hasty rise to murdering leape Lauish in vowing blind in seeing what Soone sowing shames that long remorse must reape Nursing with teares that ouer-sight begat Scout of repentance harbinger of blame Treason to wisedome mother of ill name The borne-blind begger for receiued sight Fast in his faith and loue to Christ remain'd He stooped to no feare he fear'd no might No change his choice no threats his truth distain'd One wonder wrought him in his duty sure I after thousands did my Lord abiure Could seruile feare of rendring Natures due Which growth in yeares was shortly like to claime So thrall my loue that I should thus eschue A vowed death and misse so faire an ayme Die die disloyall wretch thy life detest For sauing thine thou hast forsworne the best Ah life sweet drop drownd in a sea of sowres A flying good posting to doubtfull end Still losing months and yeares to gaine new howres Faine time to haue and spare yet forc't to spend Thy growth decrease a moment all thou hast That gone ere knowne the rest to come or past Ah life the maze of countlesse straying wayes Open to erring steps and strew'd with baits To winde weake senses into endlesse strayes Aloofe from vertues rough vnbeaten straits A flower a play a blast a shade a dreame A liuing death a neuer turning streame And could I rate so high a life so base Did feare with loue cast so vneuen account That for this goale I should runne Iudas race And Caiphas rage in cruelty surmount Yet they esteemed thirty pence his price I worse then both for nought deny'd him thrice The mother Sea from ouerflowing deepe Sends forth her issue by deuided veines Yet backe her off-spring to their mother creeps To pay their purest streames with added gaines But I that drunke the drops of heauenly flud Bemyr'd the giuer with returning mud Is this the haruest of his sowing toile Did Christ manure thy heart to breed him briers Or doth it neede this vnaccustom'd soyle With hellish dung to fertile heauens desires No no the Marle that periuries doth yeeld May spoile a good not fat a barren field Was this for best deserts the duest meede Are highest worths well wag'd with spitefull hire Are stoutest vowes repeal'd in greatest neede Should frendship at the first affront retire Blush crauen sot lurke in eternall night Crouch in the darkest Caues from loathed light Ah wretch why was I nam'd sonne of a Doue Whose speeches voided spite and breathed gall No kinne I am vnto the bird of loue My stony name much better sutes my fall My othes were stones my cruell tongue the sling My God the marke at which my spite did fling Were all the Iewish tyrannies too few To glut thy hungry lookes with his disgrace That thou more hatefull tyrannies must shew And spot thy poyson in thy Makers face Didst thou to spare his foes put vp thy sword To brandish now thy tongue against thy Lord Ah tongue that didst his praise and God-head sound How wert thou stain'd with such detesting words That euery word was to his heart a wound And launc't him deeper then a thousand swords What rage of man yea what infernall Sprite Could haue disgorg'd more loathsome dregs of spite Why did the yeelding Sea like Marble way Support a wretch more wauering then the waues Whom doubt did plonge why did the waters stay Vnkind in kindnesse murthering while it saues O that this tongue had then beene fishes food And I deuour'd before this cursing mood There surges depths and Seas vnfirme by kinde Rough gusts and distance both from ship and shoare Were titles to excuse my staggering mind Stout feet might falter on that liquid floare But heere no Seas no Blasts no Billowes were A puffe of womans wind bred all my feare O Coward troupes farre better arm'd then harted Whom angrie words whom blowes could not prouoke Whom though I taught how sore my weapon smarted Yet none repaide me with a wounding stroke O no that stroke could but one moity kill I was reseru'd both halfes at once to spill Ah whither was forgotten loue exil'd Where did rhe truth of pledged promise sleepe What in my thoughts begat this vgly child That could through rented soule thus fiercely creepe O Viper feare their death by whom thou liuest All good thy ruines wrecke all euils thou giuest Threats threw me not torments I none assayd My fray with shades conceites did make me yeeld Wounding my thoughts with feares selfely dismayd I neither fought nor lost I gaue the field Infamous foyle a Maidens easie breath Did blow me downe and blast my soule to death Titles I make vntruths am I a rocke That with so soft a gale was ouerthrowne Am I fit Pastor for the faithfull Flocke To guide their soules that murdred thus mine owne A rocke of ruine not a rest to stay A Pastor not to feed but to betray Fidelity was flowne when feare was hatched Incompatible brood in vertues nest Courage can lesse with Cowardise be matched Prowesse nor loue lodg'd in diuided brest O Adams Child cast by a
silly Eue Heire to thy Fathers foyles and borne to grieue In Thabors ioyes I eager was to dwell An earnest friend while pleasures light did shine But when eclipsed glory prostrate fell These zealous heates to sleepe I did resigne And now my mouth hath thrice his name defil'd That cry'd so loude three dwellings there to build When Christ attending the distressefull hower With his surcharged breast did blesse the ground Prostrate in pangs rayning a bleeding shower Me like my selfe a drowsie friend he found Thrice in his care sleepe clos'd by carelesse eye Presage how him my tongue should thrice deny Parting from Christ my fainting force declin'd With lingring foot I followed him aloofe Base feare out of my heart his loue vnshrin'd Huge in high words but impotent in proofe My vaunts did seeme hatcht vnder Sampsons locks Yet womans words did giue me murdering knocks So farre luke warme desires in crazie loue Farre off in neede with feeble foot they traine In tides they swim low ebbes they scorne to proue They seeke their friends delights but shun their paine Hire of an hireling minde is earned shame Take now thy due beare thy begotten blame Ah coole remisnesse vertues quartaine feuer Pyning of loue consumption of grace Old in the cradle languor dying euer Soules wilfull famine sinnes soft stealing pace The vndermining euill of zealous thought Seeming to bring no harmes till all be brought O portresse of the doore of my disgrace Whose tongue vnlockt the truth of vowed minde Whose words from Cowards heart did courage chase And let in death-full feares my soule to blind O hadst thou beene the portresse to my toombe When thou wert portresse to that cursed roome Yet loue was loth to part feare loth to die Stay danger life did counterpleade their causes I fauouring stay and life bad danger flie But danger did except against these clauses Yet stay and liue I would and danger shunne And lost my selfe while I my verdict wonne I stayd yet did my staying farthest part I liu'd but so that sauing life I lost it Danger I shunn'd but to my sorer smart I gained nought but deeper dammage crost it What danger distance death is worse then this That runnes from God and spoyles his soule of blisse O Iohn my guide into this earthly hell Too well acquainted in so ill a Court Where rayling mouthes with blasphemies did swell With tainted breath infecting all resort Why didst thou leade me to this hell of euils To shew my selfe a Fiend among the Deuils Euill president the tide that wafts to vice Dumme-Orator that wooes with silent deeds Writing in workes lessons of ill aduice The doing tale that eye in practice reeds Taster of ioyes to vnacquainted hunger With leauen of the old seasoning the yonger It seemes no fault to do that all haue done The number of offenders hide the sinne Coach drawne with many horse doth easely runne Soone followeth one where multitudes begin O had I in that Court much stronger bin Or not so strong as first to enter in Sharpe was the weather in that stormy place Best suting hearts benum'd with hellish frost Whos 's crusted malice could admit no grace Where coales are kindled to the warmers cost Where feare my thoughts canded with ycie cold Heate did my tongue to periuries vnfold O hatefull fire ah that I neuer saw it Too hard my heart was frozen for thy force Farre hotter flames it did require to thaw it Thy hell-resembling heate did freeze it worse O that I rather had congeal'd to yce Then bought thy warmth at such a damning price O wakefull bird proclaimer of the day Whose piercing note doth daunt the Lions rage Thy crowing did my selfe to me bewray My frights and brutish heates it did asswage But ô in this alone vnhappy Cocke That thou to count my foyles wert made the clocke O bird the iust rebuker of my crime The faithfull waker of my sleeping feares Be now the daily clocke to strike the time When stinted eyes shall pay their taske of teares Vpbraid mine eares with thine accusing crow To make me rue that first it made me know O milde reuenger of aspiring Pride Thou canst dismount high thoughts to low effects Thou mad'st a Cocke me for my fault to chide My lofty boasts this lowly bird corrects Well might a Cocke correct me with a crowe Whom hennish cackling first did ouerthrowe Weake weapons did Goliahs fumes abate Whose storming rage did thunder threats in vaine His body huge harnest with massie plate Yet Dauids stone brought death into his braine With staffe and sling as to a dog he came And with contempt did boasting furie tame Yet Dauid had with Beare and Lion fought His skilfull might excus'd Goliahs foile The death is eas'd that worthy hand hath wrought Some honour liues in honorable spoile But I on whom all infamies must light Was hist to death with words of womans spight Small gnats enforst th' Egyptian King to stoupe Yet they in swarmes and arm'd with piercing stings Smart noyse annoyance made his courage droupe No small incombrance such small vermine brings I quaild at words that neither bit nor stong And those deliuerd from a womans tong Ah feare abortiue impe of drouping minde Selfe ouerthrowe false friend roote of remorse Sighted in seeing euils in shunning blinde Foyld without field by fancie not by force Ague of valour phrensie of the wise True honours staine loues frost the mint of lies Can vertue wisedome strength by women spild In Dauids Salomons and Sampsons falls With semblance of excuse my errour guild Or lend a marble glosse to muddy walls O no their fault had shew of some pretence No veyle can hide the shame of my offence The blaze of beauties beames allur'd their lookes Their lookes by seeing oft conceiued loue Loue by effecting swallowed pleasures hookes Thus beauty loue and pleasure them did moue These Syrens sugred tunes rockt them asleepe Inough to damne yet not to damne so deepe But gracious features dazled not mine eyes Two homely Droyles were authors of my death Not loue but feare my senses did surprize Not feare of force but feare of womans breath And those vnarm'd ill grac'd despis'd vnknowne So base a blast my truth hath ouerthrowne O women woe to men traps for their falls Still actors in all Tragicall mischances Earths necessary euils captiuing thralls Now murdering with your tongues now with your glances Parents of life and loue spoylers of both The theeues of hearts false do you loue or loth In time O Lord thine eyes with mine did meete In them I read the ruines of my fall Their cheering rayes that made misfortune sweet Into my guilty thoughts powrd flouds of gall Their heauenly lookes that blest where they beheld Darts of disdaine and angrie checks did yeeld O sacred eyes the springs of liuing light The earthly heauens where Angels ioy to dwell How could you deigne to view my deathfull plight Or let your heauenly beames looke on my hell But
are kept by the Law and restrained by terrour thereof from open wickednesse Math. 23.13.16.23.25 These hate the Law but professe to loue it Psal 78.36 37. These ashamed of their nakednes couer it with fig-leaues or spiders webs of their own externall righteousnesse Isa 59.5.6 These crie but God heareth them not Isa 1.15 These change their words and workes but not themselues Gen. 4.3 28.8.9 Hos 7.16 These are in the house but as seruants not as children Iohn 8.35.36 Galat. 4.22 c. These go with their lampes but without oile they come to the feast but want the wedding garment Mat. 25 3. 22 11.1◠These are light before the world but darknesse before God Mat. 6.2 5.16 Isa 58.2.3.8 These though they see and know their sicknesse yet like to King Asa they seeke not the Lord in their disease but to the Physitians or with salues and medicines of their own making thinke to cure themselues 2. Chro. 16 12. Ioh 5.40 Hos 5.13 These do not the euill which they loue but the good which they loue not Nū 14.2.4.40 These expect saluation by themselues and their owne righteousnes Rō 10 3. Ier. 2.35 These vnder Moses conduct perish by Gods hand in the desert and come not into the Land of promise These both shall perish and be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord their portion shall be with the diuels in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death Mat. 25.30.41 24.51 Iob 13.16 2. Thes 1.8.9 Reue. 20.10.13.15 The Hypocrites hope shall perish Iob 8.13 The reioycing of the wicked is short the ioy of Hypocrites is but a moment Iob 20.5 SAINTS that rightly beleeue and obey Gods word with their vtmost power the friends of the Lord. Psal 119.3.5 10.11 c. These are borne anew not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh or of man but of God therefore they sauour the things of God mind heauenly things being children of Wisedome Ioh. 6.13 3.3 Luke 7.35 These are called and chosen of God are both in of the Church and so continue Ephes 1.4 c. Iob 17.9 In these sinne dieth and righteousnesse reuiueth daily both inwardly and outwardly Rom. 6.2 3 4 c. To these the law is not giuen or it lyeth not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on them 1. Tim. 1.9 for they haue the Gospell the Law and Ministerie of the Spirit and Gods word is written in fleshly tables of their hearts within and without by the finger of God and they all behold as in a mirrour the glorie of the Lord with open face and are changed into the same image frō glorie to glorie as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2. Cor 33.18 Eze. 11 19 Heb 8.10 These are the right keepers of the Law in spirit which sometime also were kept of the Law til Faith came Psal 119.33 34. Gal. 3.23 25. These loue the Law and professe their loue Psalme 119.97 Rom. 7.22 These haue their nakednesse couered of Christ and by the garments of his righteousnes Reuel 3.18 and 16.15 These call vpon God and he answereth them Ier. 29.12.13 These change both their actions and themselues or rather are changed of the Lord Rom. 12.2 These are no more strangers but children of Gods familie wherein they abide for euer Gal. 4.28 1. Ioh 3 These go to meete the bridegroom with oyle in their lamps are arrayed with the wedding robe Mat. 25.4 These are light both before God and the world Ephes 5.8 Mat. ◠16 Phil. 2.15 These see their sinnes and feele thēselues wounded by those fierie serpents but lift vp their eyes to the serpent of brasse they seek to Christ onely the Physitian of their soules Nūbers 21.8 9. Ioh. 3.14 15. These loue good and desire to do it yet do the euill which they hate Rom. 7.15 These expect saluation onely by Christs righteousnesse not by themselues Phil. 3.9 Rō 3 24.28 These after Moses death are brought by Iesus into the rest of Canaan the rest that remaineth for the people of God Heb. 4.8.9 These shall enter into the ioy of their Lord shall liue and reigne with him in heauen and with his holy Angels for euermore Amen Mat. 25.21.34.46 The Saints shall be preserued for euer Psal 37.28 And men shall say Verily there is fruite for the righteous doubtlesse there is a God that iudgeth in the earth Psal 58.11 A prayer vnto God the Father THou that rulest in the highest reignest for euer onely canst do all things God the gouernor of heauen and earth at whose becke all creatures tremble and the pillars of heauen shake O heauenly God perfect workman and Potter I wretch made out of clay or rather of filthy mudde with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie I acknowledge and confesse my wickednesse I know that I am nothing yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight if thy grace and mercie do faile me without thee I thinke no goodnesse without thee I do no good thing without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme I cannot be saued without thine assistance my saluation dependeth on thy hands I giue thee thanks O God and in especiall for this for that thou hast giuen me that knowledge that I may see and know that I am nothing vnable to do any thing without thee Thou art the Potter I the clay such as thou wilt haue me be such canst thou forme and fashion me if thou makest me blessed thou shewest thy mercy and grace if thou castest me into perdition thou shewest thy iustice and executest thy iudgement neither is it my duty to contradict thee why or for what reason thou doest it For thou hast mercy vpon him whō thou louest these things I meditate with my selfe ô Lord and I feare thy iudgements Since therefore all my safetie and saluation dependeth on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull and long-suffering God to the whole world and hast testified the same indeed in that thou wouldest thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ the innocent should die for our offences and expiate our sinnes with his bloud on the Crosse Finally since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to call vpon thee and aske thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs all things which we shall aske in the name of thy Sonne I come vnto thee being drosse and a lumpe of day O mercifull and celestiall Potter beseeching thee most humbly that thou wilt vse thy mercie and make of this vnworthy matter a vessell of eternall glorie Vouchsafe also of thy meere grace to fixe my mind on perfect faith assured hope and chaste and holy loue that being iustified by these thy gifts I may become vpright perfect good and holy according to thy good will both in the midst and end of my life as also at the latter day of iudgement O mercifull