not doe 14 But as a naturall body doth consist Of quarters foure to make a man complete And if but one of all those foure be mist The other three lose all their life and heate Eu'n so it is with Truth whereof I treate If of these foure substantiall parts want one The other three are vainenesse or deceat For Truth of Iudgement Heart Speech Action Make but one Truth without dissimulation 15 But Truth of Iudgement ground is and foundation Of all the rest For be our Hearts sincere Our words and deeds without dissimulation If Errour in our Iudgements doth appeare With Paul we may eu'n persecute the deare And holy Seruants of the Sonne of Truth And thinke we doe to God good seruice here Fie then on Fooles that misse-spend their youth They neuer seeke to know or learne the way of Truth 16 But be our Iudgements eu'n as right and sound As Christs Disciples by their Master taught Yet if within vs Iudas hearts be found On vs the greater iudgement shall be wrought Who knowes his Masters will and doth it nought Oh what doth he by this his knowledge gayne But eu'n the sting of his owne conscience brought To desperation and infernall payne And to put out this sting puts on an hempen chayne 17 What shall we say of those that doe professe Truth of Religion and a Heart sincere Yet in their dealings nothing lesse expresse But for their gayne deceaue lie and forsweare Surely these men a double heart doe beare For were the Heart which is a liuely Spring Whence flow our words and deeds oh were that cleare Then all the streames from thence forth issuing Would be pure like the fountain from whence they do spring 18 But things we best of all by causes know God is the Cause of each good gift and grace But here more mediate Causes I may show Whereby he in the Truth doth guide our pace By 's Word we Truth of Iudgement doe embrace Which is to wandring Soules a guide and light His Spirit vpon our Hearts doth Truth enchase Then Truth of Iudgement makes vs speake aright And Truth of Heart makes all our actions true and right 19 Thus as Effects true Speech and Actions flow From Truth of Iudgement and the Truth of Heart As all Mankind from Eue and Adam grow But if the subtill Serpent can peruert Our Hearts or Iudgements as he did diuert Our two first Parents then as all their seede Defiled is with their corrupted part So from our Heart and Iudgement will proceede Corrupted words and actions which such fountaynes breede 20 Therefore to set our Iudgement true and right We to the ground and pillar ought to come Of Truth which is the Church of God so hight Because the treasures of all Truth there won Of all Gods Oracles which there haue rome From which all Truth of Iudgement we deriue The Church a carefull Keeper doth become There 's Truth that able is to saue aliue And away Errour Darknesse Superstition driue 21 O blessed Truth that holy Church preserues From Satans malice and the Moth of time O glorious Church whose soundnesse pure reserues Truth of Religion which doth make thee shine In Righteousnesse Faith Hope and Loue Diuine More then Pompe Wealth Vniuersalitie For Truth doth decke Christs Spouse more trim and fine Then Time Consent Succession Vnitie Now foild with Superstition and Idolatrie 22 With these false Ornaments the Church of Rome Like painted Harlot shuns the open Light Nor will vnto the Ground and Pillar come Of Truth to trie if shee bee wrong or right Therefore poore Laiks neuer must haue sight Of holy Writ to frame their Iudgement by Traditions and false Miracles them light And on the Churches word they must relie Thus Ignorance the Mother is of Poperie 23 But as sound Truth abhorres such Ignorance Eu'n so presumptuous curiositie Shee doth decline nor euer doth aduance Her purest thoughts to things that be too high Her subiect is no higher Mysterie Than Spirit of Truth is pleased to reueale Into Gods secret Counsell for to prie Is like the Thiefe that fire from Heau'n did steale To whom eu'n Heathen iudgements endlesse torments seale 24 So vniuersall is Truths glorious Fame That all things that the Heau'n and Earth contaynes Delight to be adorned by her Name Yea God himselfe Truths title not disdaynes Loe He Lord God of Truth for ay remaynes The Word of Truth the Spirit of Truth likewise Wayes iudgements works cōmandements Truth retaynes In this Saints Angels with God sympathize But Satan and his broode delight in contraries 25 Thus as shee is adorn'd by Titles high So with her Glorie shee doth all adorne Nothing vnto perfection commeth nigh Except by them the badge of Truth be borne And though some Worldlings doe her Liuerie scorne As things against their pleasure ease and gayne For that plaine dealing is a Iewell worne But he that weares it beggerie shall gayne Yet Truth her credit still doth with the best retayne 26 Yea Truth amongst the Writers of all times Hath beene in such great honour and account As without Truth yet neuer Prose or Rimes To any Praise or Honour vp did mount The holy Writ wherein Truth doth surmount Shee safely doth'gainst all her Foes defend How oft doth Dauids muse Gods Truth recount Whereby her glorie lasts to the Worlds end Ah my poore Muse see thou alwayes on Truth attend 27 There 's not one Vertue that with Loue doth dwell But honours Truth and seekes her company Begin eu'n at Humilities low Cell And mount to Mercy that doth sit on high All seeke the companie of Veritie Eu'n Loue must be without dissimulation And Righteousnesse without Hypocrisie Vnfaigned Faith true constant Expectation No Vertue without Truth comes neare Loues habitation 28 Faire glosing shewes without Dame Veritie Are but as falsely feigned Holinesse Which surely doubles the iniquitie And neuer leades the way to Happinesse My Muse is farre vnable to expresse The prayses all of Peeres that Truth attends Whom shee adornes with wondrous Noblenesse But Righteousnesse vpon her most depends And Mercy now and Truth haue met growne great friends 29 But surely Truth hath not so many Friends But shee doth find as many Enemies For Satan all his malice 'gainst her bends Supplanting Her by force or subtilties He father is of errours and of lyes And seekes herewith Truths glorie to distaine And therefore they maliciously deuise Interpretations false and glosses vaine Traditions mens inuentions 'gainst her to maintaine 30 As Purgatorie first they did deuise Purses for Pardon of mens sinnes to gleane So Limbo's they for Writers haue likewise Wherein to purge and make their Writings clean◠Index expurgatorius I meane In which if any Writer disagree From their Traditions whereupon they leane They in this Limbo Patrum purg'd must bee Or falsely else condemned to burne for Heresie 31 Thus moderne Writs sacred Antiquitie The Fathers Schoole-men Doctors Histories They all of them in Purgatorie frie And
for ay 2 Whom as we loue ' boue all things by him wrought So all his glorious Workes in him we loue And eu'n that Word whereby to passe he brought This all in whom eu'n all doe liue bee moue The same is Authour Finisher of Loue The Sea from which all streames of Loue doe flow Which here refresh the tender plants and proue Most soueraigne medicine to the Saints below Whereby in goodnesse loue and vertue they may grow 3 And as the Brookes their tribute-streames doe send Vnto the boundlesse Ocean whence they moue So though on Saints and Poore we freely spend What we receiue yet to this Sea of Loue We must tend alwayes as the steele doth moue With Load-stone touched to the Arctique Pole All other motions violent doe proue This is the obiect of true Loue this sâ—le The Center is of Loue on which all Loue doth roll 4 Authour and Finisher Thou Word of power Center and Load-stone Obiect Sea of Loue Sweet drops of Grace vpon mine heart downe shower Attract my steely thoughts tow'rds heau'n to moue Teach me the complement of man true Loue O helpe me to expresse what I conceaue Of thine affection which thee from aboue Made to descend and all thy Glorie leaue And to the cursed Crosse for loue of man to cleaue 5 Of that dread loue by which the Trinitie Ineffably doth in it selfe delight Of Persons three making one Vnitie I dare not vndertake so high to write My Muse here onely labours to indite Of that free Loue which doth from thence descend That Loue which from the head on members light And that which from them ought againe ascend Lastly that Christian loue we each on other spend 6 But as th' eternall Godhead is but one Yet is by Persons three distinguished The Sonne is of the Father all alone The Spirit from Sonne and Father doth proceede So though a threefold kind of Loue we reade Yet is this true and heau'nly Loue but one For with that Loue from Father doth proceede Christ loueth those he chooseth for his owne And we the selfe-same loue to Head and Members showne 7 Thou that did'st in thy Fathers bosome wun Eternally begotten vncreate Let me begin where first thy Loue begun To be vnto vs manifest when Hate And Pride the Dam of mischiefe and debate Had caused those celestiall Lamps of light The Angels that kept not their first estate To be deiected from thy Palace bright Reseru'd in euerlasting chaines of darkest night 8 Then first thy free Loue did to Man appeare Whom after thine owne Image thou didst frame And blessedst him to multiply and reare Much fruit on Earth and gau'st him power to tame Thy handie workes to which he gaue a name Which they receiu'd as Vassalls of their Lord Adam then Lord of all thy workes became Each herbe fruit seede thou gau'st him for his board Thus Lord of all Hee 's onely subiect to thy Word 9 God saw that all he made was very good Yet 't was not good that Man should be alone I dare not thinke Man could alone haue stood In his integritie thou gau'st him one To be his helpe of his owne flesh and bone For whom he should Father and Mother leaue Behold now Adam with his Paragon Walke in the Garden where they haue good leaue The fruit of euery tree there growing to receaue 10 Hadst thou him set in Gardens ready planted With all vâ—â—etie of rich delight And for his care to keepe them had but granted He might take pleasure onely in their sight And foode from one to feede his appetite Nature had beene content with competence Thou gau'st him leaue of all the trees to bite Thou onely one tree from his lips didst fence To shew thy Lordship and proue his obedience 11 But loe that pride which mischiefe did conceaue First in the Court of Heau'n brings forth below And in disdaine such exc'llent Spirits must leaue Their glorious Mansions vnto one they know Was fram'd of slimy earth Behold they grow To tempt the weaker by a false pretence You shall not die saith he for God doth know What day you eate you shall be gods from thence Loe thus was all mankind made guiltie of offence 12 Adam where art What art Hid naked vile Now thou hast eate of the forbidden Tree My Wife did me a Serpent her beguile Cannot excuse thee nor thy Progenie Curst is the Serpeat for his subtiltie The Ground is curst and all that on it goes Serpents and Womans seede at enmitie The earth from whence thou cam'st thee vp must close Thy Garden 's lost thy Subiects now become thy Fâ—es. 13 O miserable Man in losse in paine Looke but from whence and whither thou dost fall Who now hath power to raise thee vp againe Breach of one Law thee guiltie makes of all Hell is thy Guerdon miserable thrall Driu'n from the presence sweet of God aboue Which thee to such a height of blisse did call The Serpents speech thou now too true dost proue And to thy cost know'st Good and Euill Hate and Loue. 14 God is most mercifull yet True and Iust His Mercy shined in thy first Creation His Law is broken now he punish must Here Loue behold beyond all expectation Will draw them both to reconciliation God becomes Man Iustice to satisfie His Death shall pay the price of our damnation No height of Verse this great Loue can desâ—ry This Sunne is too resplendent for my Muses eye 15 Most glorious God Wise Happy Vncreate Absolute Perfect Pure Omnipotent Here humbly to conuerse in meane estate And as a Malefactor to be rent To saue eu'n those that sought him to torment Captiuitie thus Captiue for to lâ—ade And giue such gifts to Men and Hell preuent Thy workes of power Lord can 〈◊〉 Creature reade But this of Loue and Mercy doth them all exceede 16 Three sorts of Loue wise Sages haue obseru'd Loue of true Friends of Kindred Coniugall Of which amongst them friendship hath deseru'd To be first rank'd this Loue surmounts them all These Starres doe rise these Starres againe doe fall But when this Sunne of heau'nly Loue doth shine Once in our hearts it is perpetuall And when it lowest seemes and to decline It then is highest rays'd and nearest to Diuine 17 This Loue 's an vndiuided Vnitie A concord that diuision will admit Diuided yet to all abundantly And doth this all into one body knit The Head that eu'n aboue in heau'n doth sit It ioyneth to the Members on the ground And all those Members in one Body knit Loue like her selfe the same is euer found Though in one Member more than other shee abound 18 As Soule of Man doth from the Head to Heart And all the Members life and motion send Being â—l in all and all in eu'ry part Eu'n so doth Loue her Power diuine extend On eu'ry part that on the Head depend And as the Members soone rot and decay To which the Soule her
his place vaine-gloriously aspire Till Boreas brasen wings him throwes downe in the mire 26 Thus vaine fond youth left his sage Fathers lore And by his borrowed wings did soare so high Loe here their end that seeke so high to soare The Sunne beames heate his waxen wings did frie. Proud Bryar that safe and secure did lie Vnder stout Oakes most safe protecting armes Supplanted him by treason cunningly Then to Sunnes heate expos'd and Winters stormes He 's trod downe by wild beasts and eaten vp of wormes 27 Once had the feete the noble Head defide Grieuing to beare his burthen any more And Brawny armes their helping hands denide To feede the belly with conuenient store But hands and armes forthwith grew weake and poore For want of stomacks strength'ning nourishment And now the legs that able were before To beare both Head and Bodies wonderment Became wrang stumbling lame for want of gouernment 28 When Iothâ—ms trees went out t'annoint a King They first besought the Oliue tree to raigne But he his fatnesse highly valewing Refus'd to leaue it for a Kingdomes gaine Next Fig-tree sweet to rule they would constraine Who nould his sweetnesse leaue for Kingdomes glee Last to the fertile Vine they doe complaine Who fruitfulnesse loues more than Sou'raigntee But Bryar base will raigne and the anointed bee 29 Like as on Mountaynes which doe breake the clouds Sand grauell and vnfruitfull earth doe lye But in the fruitfull Valleyes lowly shrowds Fruit good for meate and to delight the eye And as the brackish Waues doe mount on high Whilst fresher Waters silent slide away Eu'n so it fares with sweet Humilitie Which like the fruitfull Meadow's fruitfull ay And like fresh Brookes whose sweetnesse neuer doth decay 30 And as tall ships which beare too high a saile Are soone o'returned by a boystrous wind Whilst smaller Vessels 'gainst the Waues preuaile Arriuing safely at the Port assign'd So they that to ambition are enclin'd And Phaeton-like to guide the Sunne aspire All things consume that vnder them they find Till from their Coach they tumble in the mire Till fewell failes Ambition neuer slakes her fire 31 And as mans eye the higher he doth stand The things which are beneath doth lesser deeme So he that doth Gods greatnesse vnderstand In his owne eyes doth vile and nothing seeme An humble man 's a gemme of high esteeme Which ignorant men doe trample in the mire Vntill the skilfull Ieweller redeeme It from the dust and clense it in the fire Then those that trod on it before doe it admire 32 Those that in Princes seruice purchase fame And thereby would raise their posteritie Seeke great allyance to confirme the same And of the Heralds get a Pedigree But they that would gaine true nobilitie To doe Christ's heau'nly Fathers will must seeke For such his Mother Brother Sister bee No honour or allyance can be like To this yet sure such are the humble and the meeke 33 Humilitie's the Basis and foundation Of Vertues all into one building brought Which for to raise on high by contemplation Must deepe and low within the ground be wrought If one desire to mount his house aloft And workes his vnder-pinning slight below He builds vpon the sands all comes to nought For if the floods doe come or wind doe blow Affliction Persecution all doth ouerthrow 34 The thing which God or Nature doth decree In secret Man oft b' innate augurie Vnwittingly foretells which shewes to bee Betweene our soules and heau'n a sympathie Hence is it that this Dame * Humilitie Hath her denomination from the ground For though as shee is spirituall shee can flie Aboue the highest heau'ns yet shee is found The lowliest wight on earth though highly to be crown'd 35 The ancient Latines Homo Man did name By deriuation from Humilitie To teach him that he should become the same In Truth as in names Etymologie And let a man looke through Antiquitie Loe all the Men whose vertues are commended For paternes good vnto posteritie In humblenesse they haue begun and ended When Pride as basest sinne is alwayes reprehended 36 Abel and Cain firstlings of humane â—eede Ambitious Cain but Abel meeke and mild His offring was accepted which did breede Such wrath in Cain that he the ground defil'd With his owne brothers blood which he hath spoil'd Moses is call'd the meekest man aliue Abram himselfe but dust and ashes styl'd When he besought his Maker for twice â—iue Iust men there found to saue the Sodomites aliue 37 Iacob fed Labans sheepe the Patriarchs all Like trade of husbandrie did exercise The Iudges with the Prophets great and small And all good Kings were low in their owne eyes Iohn Baptist the Messias-ship denyes And humbly doth himselfe vnworthy deeme To be him that stoopes and his shooe vntyes Christ did it no disparagement esteeme To wash their feete whom with his blood he would redeeme 38 Ah what an humble mind did Mary beare When with salt teares that flowed from her eyes Shee wash'd Christ's feet and wip'd them with her haire Great Volumes I suppose would not comprise Names of all humble Saints let it suffice Their names are written in the Booke of Life They here vaine worldly glorie did despise Free from Ambition Malice Enuie Strife And now by Faith and Hope in Loues Court leade their life 39 Oh! could we but this Vertue truely taste And as w' are dust and ashes apprehend How he that in the highest heau'n is plac't And did of nothing to vs Being lend And one condition vnto all men send Vouchsafes spirituall communication Calls vs his Spouâ—e his Children Host and Friend We n'ould despise the honest conuersation Of meanest brother that 's Coheire of like saluation 40 Dares dust and ashes thus expostulate Shall not the Lord of all the World doe right And yet dares dust and ashes in his state Denie his brother poore to come in sâ—ght Shall dogs licke Lazar's sores whilst thou no bite Or crummes which vnderneath thy table fall Wilt to him giue Behold he shall be site In Abrams bosome thou the Deuills thrall For thus the Humble rise and thus the Proud must fall 41 No better obiect of magnificence Can there be found here than an humble heart Who still ascribes all to beneficence That he receiues not to his owne desart Vnto thy humble brother then impart Part of thy substance with true courtesie Intreat the least The lowlier that thou art God will thee higher raise Humilitie Mounts vp to heau'n whilst Pride in hell doth burning lie 42 But ah Ambition still cryes for a name Like Giants proud that Babels Tower would raise Whence followes sure confusion losse and shame Alas how few there be now in our dayes That seeke by humblenesse anothers praise Humilitie no entertainment finds But poorely 'bout Court Citie Countrey strayes And in her roome faign'd complement her winds Who ne're minds as shee sayes nor e're sayes as shee minds 43 Base Complement hatcht
sore against the Truth doe tyrannize The ancient Fathers Truths antiquities That like Iohn Baptist beare to her record They doe behead or else them circumcise None scapes their Index but Gods holy Word And that must be translated with their Church t' accord 32 But Errour striueth not more to deface Our Truth of Iudgement than Iniquitie And proud prophanenesse seeketh to disgrace True Dealing Speech and Hearts sinceritie Them branding with foule Follies infamie As none could liue but those that can dissemble Reproching them for Truth and Puritie That seeke hereby their pure Head to resemble When eu'n in Gods pure sight the purest Angels tremble 33 Not that I goe about here to defend Those feigned pure Ones that most wickedly Much Truth and Puritie in words pretend But in their Actions deale dishonestly Nor those that like the boasting Pharisie Call to their brother farther off to stand Which soone discerne a Mote in Brothers eye But eu'n Beames in their owne not vnderstand These for some false pretended Spots leaue Church and Land 34 Such rau'ning Wolues oft in long clothing goe And therefore hard by outward shewes to find We best them by their fruits may learne and know 'T is dangerous to censure in this kind For those that haue a true pure Heart and Mind Make shew thereof as they that doe dissemble Therefore till all their Actions false I find To iudge them Hypocrites mine heart doth tremble Lest to the Wicked I the Righteous should resemble 35 For dealing true's like Touch-stone which doth trie The baser Mettall from the purest Gold Discernes a true Heart from Hypocrisie And fayned Puritie doth soone vnfold And as by Touch-stones touch is easily told What is pure Gold from what is gilt for show Although the Gilt's more glorious to behold So Truth of Heart by Truth of Words we know And by the Actions which from them doe daily flow 36 Truth 's like the Treasure whâ—ch the Huâ—bandman As he was digging in the Field did sound Which he keepes close and sells all that he can And with the Money goes and buyes the Ground Shee 's like the precious Pearle the Merchant found And then sold all this Gemme for to obtayne The wise Man heau'nly Counsell doth propound That wills vs vse all meanes her to obtayne And buy the Truth with losse of honour pleasure gayne 37 Truth is like Salt that seasons eu'ry thing And makes it sauoury to God and Man Preserues our Soules from Breath putrifying Of busie Flies that labour what they can To breede corruption in the inward Man Shee leauens all the whole Lumps preparation The Soule and Body Flower and the Bran Affection Reason Will Communication Heart Mind Opinion Iudgement Life and Conuersation 38 As precious Ointment powr'd on Aarons head Ran downe vpon his Beard and did not stay Till all the Skirts it of his clothing spread So sacred Truth her vigour doth display From head whereas our Iudgement makes her stay Vnto the Beard and Tongue where speech haue place Then to the Heart and Hands shee holds her way From whence our Actions all haue life and grace Thus to the Skirts of our long clothing Truth doth trace 39 Gods Truth compares her to a Belt or Zone Which Souldiers vse for strength and ornament Whose golden Studs most gloriously shone And ioyne the Armour in faire complementâ— Loe whilst this Girdle is about vs pent Christians whole Armour hangs on fast and sure But if this Girdle from our Loynes be rent Off falls our Armes and Satan or Worlds lure Then wounds vs desperately or makes vs sleepe secure 40 Diuinest 〈◊〉 thou didst shadow well In Legend of true Loue and Chastitie By girdle faire of fairest Florimell This sacred Belt of Truth and Veritie Which none on looser Ladies loynes could tie Yet their faire Limbs that had liâ—'d true and chaste It did adorne most rich and gloriously And was most fitting for their slender waste But they Vngirt vnblest were that had beene vnchaste 41 For as the girdle doth inclose around Mans body where our soules high powers doe dwell Wherein as good or euill doe abound Eu'n all our actions flow thence ill or well So Truth about our soules keepes Centinell And eu'ry act we doe shee doth make knowne To that iust Iudge from whom we can conceale Not eu'n the secret thoughts that in vs growne For nought so close or secret is to Truth vnknowne 42 Thus Touch-stone Treasure Pearle Salt Leauen Zone Doe all fall short with faire Truth to compare For Truth in all 's compar'd to God alone And none but God her glorie can declare Who for Truths sake his owne Sonne did not spare But offerd him false man to reconcile That Truth and Mercy might meete and prepare Strict Iustice on poore wretched Man to smile Whom Satan with false lyes and errour did beguile 43 What doth the Word of Truth to vs commend More than this inward Truth and Singlenesse Abram for this is styl'd by God a Friend And Iob 〈◊〉 of Truth and Perfectnesse If I should here the Readers patience presse With all examples therein to be found Surely my Verses should be numberlesse Wherefore a few I for the Truth propound That you like men of Berâ—a may the Scripture found 44 Where you shall fiâ—d of Truth examples store Eu'n Christ himselfe for Truth was crucifide Baptist beheaded Paul endured more For Truth than the Apostles all beside When Peter had the Lord of Truth denide He went out and did weepe more bitterly Than when his Master to him signifide By girding him what death he ought to die Whereby he should the Truth of God much glorifie 45 And this hath made the Martyrs of all Ages Till death their Truth of Iudgement to maintayne Sealing with blood the Truth of sacred pages And whilst they here endur'd most cruell payne They ioyfull were in hope of glorious gayne Yea many haue embraced losse and shame In singlenesse of heart Truth to maintayne But what though here they doe endure some blame The true in heart shall gayne an euerlasting name 46 Dauid a man call'd after Gods owne heart For inward Truth and Singlenesse within No beautie eloquence or outward part Can so commend a man For Truth doth winne The loue of God and Man But that foule sinne Of lying Lips and a deceitfull Heart Is an abomination vnto him In eu'ry triall Truth maintaynes her part But all dissemblers Adam-like aside doe start 47 Loe many Daughters haue done vertuously But glorious Truth doth farre surmount them all Yet if I onely sing of Veritie And labour not to practise it at all But from my Loynes her Girdle loosen shall It had beene better I had neuer knowne The way of Truth than afterwards to fall And leaue the Light that vnto me was showne Choking those seeds of Grace the Spirit of Truth had sowne 48 But ah the Deuill and his Instruments Continually doe seeke our Truth to spoile And by feare force and Worlds