giue me grace to see and feare To pray in faith and thou thy hand forbeare SON XXVIII POlluted with the curelesse leprosie Of sin which is heriditarie now So lothsome growne that I dare not come nie Thy holy temple where my heart doth bow I craue ô Lord it please thee to allow The high Priest Christ thy sonne to view my sore Whose holy hand may guide and teach me how To cure this griefe it may returne no more I know ô Lord thou hast of mercy store And only thou doest pitie mans estate Which though my stubburne heart refusde before Repentance yet and faith comes not too late These sparrowes of repentance I present An offering through this worldly desert sent SON XXIX A Virgine pure ô Lord by birth I was The daughter of thy church adopt by grace But lothâ—ome lust foule feend did me alas Pursue and sought with me his dwelling place As many vertues as did seeke my grace By weddingâ— band to me to be vnight So many did this seend first night deface So oft I was depriu'd of my delight Seuen times a widow I with shame and spight Am left and liue now hopelesse of redresse Till thou with Raphaell send that medicine bright Of God to giue me grace sinne to suppresse Thy sonne my spouse shalbe who shall restore Tobias sight wealth comfort lost before SON XXX OF sinfull rase of mans licentious seed Whilst heauenly ofspring with faire humane kinde Do ioyne affects where wicked lusts do breed And so pollute the frutes of vertuous minde A bastard brood my selfe alas I finde Whose nature doth in tyrannie consist Of grace and reason growne so dull and blinde That I in wrong with stubburnesse persist Who seeing father Nature ere he wist A sleepe with sottish wine of worldly loue To hide his shame by wisedome had no list Which iustly curse of God on me did moue A slaue to sin therefore I did pursue Like Nymrod grace of God which now I rue SON XXXI AS oft as thou by grace wouldst draw me backe From sin whereto I am by nature thrall So oft alas I finde my will to lacke And power to follow thee when thou doest call From sin to sin I headlong thus do fall And quench repentance by a peruerse will I see my fall but haue no feare at all And to my vomit dog-like turne I still My frailtie doth thy wrathfull cup fulfill With flowing measure of reuenge and wo When I returne a litle backe from ill To wallow in the myre againe I go No power is in me Lord my life to mend Vnlesse thy hand from heau'n me comfort send SON XXXII FAine would I fence this feeble flesh of mine From Satans furie who me thus assailes Which doth besiege my soule and meanes to pine My conscience which my sin so sore bewailes His busie braine to win me neuer failes And leaues no stratagem at all vntride My fainting hope I know not what it ailes But it doth feare the battery to abide The safest way must be what ere betide To set a watch to looke vnto my waies Lest pride or lust or wrath do let him slide Into my heart which yet vnyeelded staies But like a theefe he stealeth me vpon Watch thou me Lord ech houre else I am gon SON XXXIII MY sinnes behold ô Lord are manifold Which do incamp my soule each houre about Still me intrenched with distrust they hold So that no frutes of faith can issue out Their fleshly champion is a soldiar stout Who is assist by world and Satans aide And foule affections readie are in rout To further force to lust but hardly staide The earthly treasures are with pleasure paide The hatefull Army which doth hast to hell My natiue power their passage not denaide Which makes their pride and peruerse wil to swell I see no way to helpe to shun decaie But on thy graces rescue Lord to staie SON XXXIIII THe greedinesse of this my corrupt minde Which tasteth not but of the earthly gaine And in thy glorie can no profit finde But seekes with symonie my soule to staine Makes me alas for carnall treasor vaine Like Elizeus seruant to desire A present of worldes pleasure mixt with paine As recompence of heauenly comforts hire I sorcerer like do also oft require Like marchandise thy graces for to buye Supposing morall vertues may aspire To saue my soule and sin to mortifie But lo I see soules leprosie herein And craue that praiers may my pardon win SON XXXV VOyd of true life and buried in the graue Of wicked flesh alas I long haue bin No earthly comfort can my conscience haue Which was corrupted with all lothsome sin My sister vertues to dispaire begin Of euer seeing once my lifes restore Ne is there any other way to win True life indeed which shall decay no more But prostrate Lord thy helpe for to implore And craue thy gratious presence at the last To aide the soule thy sonne hath lou'd before For time of grace with thee is neuer past Roll backe hard stonie heart bid him arise Who slaue to sin in earthly coffin lies SON XXXVI MY bodie Lord the house which hath bene long Possest with spirits to ruine of the same Which forst me forward vnto open wrong Of conscience by defacing of thy name Hath found some comfort since thy message came Vnto my soule which in thy word was sent Whose powerfull truth hath bound seeks to tame The furious lusts which to my ruine bent Graunt Lord from heart I may indeed repent And thereby chase these feends fro out of me Sweep cleane my house fro out of which they went And garnished with graces let it be Let puissant faith henceforth possesse the place Lest sin returne with legions of disgrace SON XXXVII AMidst this famine of Sarepta soile Where I a widow dwell poore and abiect Compeld by sin by sweat of browes to toile To gather stickes from cold me to protect Behold me Lord a caitiue thus neglect Whom sin hath banished thy blessed land Who yet in heart thy Prophets do affect And with thy church to life and death will stand I offer all my treasures here in hand That litle sparke of grace yet left behinde Increase it Lord vnto a great fire-brand Of faith which may a frutefull haruest finde My meale and Oyle ô Lord do thou encrease My selfe sonne shall praise thee so in pease SON XXXVIII BOrne blind I was through sinfull Adams fall And neuer since could see with carnall eies Ne know I where or how for helpe to call From out of sin to holie life to rise It pleased thee ô Lord that in this wise Thy power and glorie might to man appeare Who gracelesse groueling in earths darknesse lies And wants the eies of faith his soule to cheare But since thou sentst thy sonne my Sauiour deare To shine in light to those in darknesse weare To dvm the worldly wisedome seeming cleare And sinfull soules from hell to
my share Though many dishes to the guests I bare SON C. FOrtune and chance blind guides to blisse farewell Vpon your leasures I no more attend I not regard what good or ill you send Not in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell A greater blisse then ere through you befell Ye made me to neglect I now do see Whose hope from feare could neare continue free But aye distrust did gainst my faith rebell The earths delight the which ye promist me Could not my soule from sorrow ought defend Your sweet with sower was mixed in the end So vaine and variable both they be Then happie he That seeketh blessed rest In Christ alone and doth the world detest CONCLVSION WOrds may well want both Inke and paper faile Wits may grow dull and will may weary grow And worlds attaires may make my pen more slow But yet my heart and courage shall not quaile Though cares and troubles do my peace assaile And driue me to delay thy praise awhile Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile Thy mercies Lord by which my plaints preuaile And though the world with face should gratefull smile And me her pedlers packe of pleasures show No heartie loue on her I will bestow Because I know she seekes me to beguile Ne will defile My happie peace of minde For all the solace I in earth may finde FINIS A TABLE DIRECTING by part of the first verse of each to the A.  Booke Sonet A Base borne 1. 54 According to thy 1. 41 A husbandman 1. 53 Although the world 2. 70 Although these 2. 86 Amidst the graues 1. 42 A merchant 1. 21 Among the prease 1. 22 Among thy sheepe 1. 9 Amidst this famine 1. 37 A Moabite 1. 80 Amidst this pilgrimage 2. 80 A poore Arabian 1. 20 A tenant 1. 50 As thou art pure 1. 24 As oft as thou 1. 31 A sinfull Syrian 1. 98 A seruant Lord 1. 73 A seruant sold 1. 75 As through a mist 2. 1 As fareth with 2. 9 As is the treasure 2. 15 As but vaine 2. 66 As doth the starres 2. 53 As doth the Mâ—one 2. 44 A virgin pure 1. 29 Auant base thoughts 2. 37 A wiâ—ked Pharisie 1. 16 A wicked theefe 1. 78 A wiâ—ked soule 1. 19 B. BEhold ô Lord the Citie 1. 10 Behold ô Lord a tree 1. 14 Behold a midst worlds 1. 92 Betwixt two strong 2. 17 By many gifts 2. 62 Borne blinde I was 1. 38 C. CAll me ô Lord 2. 54 Cleansde are the 2. 2 F. FAine would I fence 1. 32 Faine would I follow thee 2. 52 Faine would I praise 2. 40 Fiue foolish virgins 1. 17 Fâ—e fainting faith 2. â—8 For common matter 2. 77 Fortune and chance 2. 100 Fro out the darkenesse 1. 2 From Iuda wandering 8. 81 From farre I see 2. 18 G. GReat are the 2. 67 Great is thy 2. 65 H. HE is vnworthie 2. 21 How should my soule 1. 1 HOw hard it is 1. 48 How oft ô Lord 1. 63 How drunken are 1. 39 How precious 2. 21 How can I limit 2. 26 How may this be 2. 34 How fond a thing 2. 46 How many priuiledges 2. 61 How should the quiet 2. 63 How happily 2. 78 How is it that 2. 82 How loth this 2. 96 How should my 2. 85 How should I 2. 89 How do Gods blessings 2. 91 I. I Follow thee 1. 25 I seeke ô Lord 1. 13 I will not feare 2. 38 I iustly am 1. 52 I see alas 1. 99 I finde my heart 2. 49 I haue bene blinde 2. 68 I haue begunne 2. 6 I see a storme 2. 81 I shame to see 2. 13 I know not 2. 92 In humble wise 1. 4 Into thy vineyard 1. 23 In bondage long 1. 79 In famine great 1. 89 In deadly sleepe 1. 43 In pride of youâ—h 1. 6 If thou vouchsafest 1. 45 If he to whom 2. 11 If Saba Queene 2. 45 If beautie be 2. 33 If Paradise 2. 59 If he vnworthie be 2. 73 If I did hope 2. 93 If I can speake 2. 99 It is not Lord 1. Preface It were vnfit 2. 71 It is no light 2. 76 L. LAme of my limbs 1. 7 Let earthly things 2. 47 Like pined childe 1. 27 Like silly babes 2. 55 Lo how I groueling 1. 81 Loue then I will 2. 39 M MY bodie Lord the house 1. 36 My bodie Lord infected 1. 60 My soule like 1. 76 My sinnes behold 1. 33 My wicked flesh 1. 44 Mourne thou no more 1. 101 My traytrous heart 1. 49 N. NO recompence 2. 20 No sooner loue 2. 50 Not that my faith 1. 84 Not euerâ—e one 2. 88 Now that thou hast 1. 12 Now that I see 1. 61 Now that it pleaseth 1. 69 Now that I haue 2. 12 Now will I daunce 2. 19 Now that thy mercies 2. 27 O O Heauenly beautie 2. 32 O heauenly loue 2. 35 O perfect sonne 2. 41 Of sinfull race 1. 30 Of euerie creature 1. 47 Of parents first 1. 26 Of sweet and sauorie 1. 90 Out of the fountaine 1. 18 Out of thy 1. 92 P Polluted with 1. 28 S SInce it hath pleased 1. 46 Since with Goliath 1. 11 Since thou hast raisd 1. 65 Since thou by grace 1. 100 Since that it pleaseth 1. 88 Since to so holy 2. 3 Since thou ô Lord 2. 10 Since thou hast 2. 25 So blinde ô Lord 1. 77 So foolish Lord 1. 97 Some men do mourne 2. 1 Sometimes my nature 2. 72 T. THe temple Lord 1. 67 The silly babâ—s 1. â—7 The greedinesse 1. 34 The many trials 1. 85 The dreame which thou 1. 93 The seed which thou 1. 94 The malice of 1. 96 The talents which 1. 87 The onely daughter 1. 56 The more I seeke 2. 8 The end vvhereto 2. 14 The pleasures of 2. 16 The povverfull penne 2. 29 The shining face 2. 36 The chastisements 2. 84 Thy thundring voice 1. 8 The slender Citie 1. 83 This stately stage 2. 30 Thou formedst me 1. 72 Though vvith thy Saints 1. 40 Thou hast ô Lord 1. 86 Thanks vvill I 2. 22 To shun the rocks 2. 74 V. VNto thy princely 1. 5 Voyd of true life 1. 35 W. WEre it not straunge 2. 75 Where shall I build 1. 58 Where shall I finde 2. 9 What am I else 1. 71 Whilst in this world 1. 70 Whilst with the vvholesome 1. 64 Whilst in the garden 1. 51 Whereso I cast about 2. 23 When thou vouchsafest 1. 55 Whilst in the vaile 1. 59 Whilst that the chosen 1. 62 Whilst that in vvealth 1. 66 What strength hath 1. 95 When I begin 2. 83 When as my 2. 3 What tong or pen 2. 94 What should I render 2. 42 What present 2. 42 What vvealth 2 58 What is felicitie 2. 60 When I began 2. 87 When I vvith griefe 2. 98 When desolate I vvas 2. 79 Who so beholds 2. 43 Whilst in the plentie 1. 74 Whilst I do studie 2. 24 Why should be faeint 2. 69 Why should this 2. 95 Why should I 2. 90 Within this Arke 1. 3 Within thy garden 1. 15 Within thy house 1. 68 Who vvill beâ—old 2. 31 Who so could 2. 56 Who seeketh not 2. 57 Who so of perfect 2. 64 Who so would liue 2. 97 Would God 2. 5 Words may vvell vvant 2. ConclusioÌ„ FINIS
I no more offending health insue Thy vertue Lord which bidding me be cleane To yeeld me health of soule is readie meane SON LXI NOw that I see ô Lord my open shame Conuict of sin and voyd of clothing pure Which couer might my soule which naked came Of grace and me from storme of world assure I do mistrust my selfe long to endure The heate and cold which feare and frailtie bring And clothing of my owne workes to procure I finde in deed to be a frutelesse thing To hide my selfe vnder thy mercies wing I therefore hasten now in hope of grace Grant I beseech the world no more me wring Out of thy handes but let me see thy face With faith and comfort clothed by thy hand And Christ thy sonne in my defence to stand SON LXII WHilst that the chosen chieftaines of thy word Do bend their power by preaching to subdue The fleshly Canaan and put sin to sword And giue the soule to be possest a new With righteous Israel vnto whom of due Those earthly blessings rather do pertaine They send two spies my secret thoughts to vew The law and Gospell which discouer plaine My fainting force in feare for to remaine Where yet repentant Rahab readie is To lodge them safe whilst Satan seekes in vaine To slaie these messengers of heauenly blis I craue therefore sweet Sauiour for a sine Faith bearing frutes as pledge of safetie mine SON LXIII HOw oft ô Lord with more then tender care Hast thou by Prophets cald me to repent How great thy loue by sonne which didst not spare To staie me backe from hell whereto I went Who to that end from heauen to earth was sent Whose graces daily preached offred peace And sought to stop my course to ruine bent And me from guilt of death for to release Like as the henne whose voice doth neuer cease To clocke her chickens close vnder her wings When furious soules on silly pray do prease And would deuour alas the helplesse things O Lord thy care I feele and loue of me That thrall to Satan wouldst not haue me be SON LXIIII. WHilst with the wholesome food of heauenly truth The Manna which thy written word doth giue Thou soughts ô Lord to feed my wandring youth That it in plenteous peace by grace might liue By lust to Satan sought my soule to giue To breake obedient bandes vnto thy law Which my offences I protest do grieue My helplesse heart the which delight did draw The memory of Egypts store I saw Of vanities which carnall senses feed And wisht at length to fill againe my maw With dishes such as to destruction lead Thou in thy wrath with quailes didst cloy me so That plagu'd with sin my error now I know SON LXV SInce thou hast raysd my poore abiected spright From threshing floore where captiue I did stand And callest me thy battels for to fight Gainst sin the Madianite which wasts thy land Giue me a token by thy mightie hand O Lord whereby my faith may be assurde And be to me a pledge of former band That victorie by me shall be procurde Let heauenly dew by praier be allurde To moysten this my freewill fleece of wooll Then dry the dregs thereof to sin inurde Whose heauy waight makes grace and vertue dull And offring mine of praiers to thy name Accâ—â—t and with a holy zeale inflame SON LXVI WHilst that in wealth and ease I did possesse The Empire of thy many blessings sent I tooke in hand poore vertue to suppresse And pride with lust my powers they wholly bent To conquere reason which thy grace had lent And quite forgetting worlds late floud for sin To build a tower of trust wherein I spent The strength of flesh bloud high heauen to win As though in natures strength the force had bin To shield themselues from floud or heauenly fire But now confusion iust my soule is in Makes labouring flesh from folly such retire And craues alone within thy church to dwell Whose wals of faith truth may death expell SON LXVII THe Temple Lord of this my bodie base Where thou vouchsafdst to place my soule to dwell And promisest to make thy chosen place Whence sacrifice of praises thou wouldst smell Behold against thy lawes doth now rebell By worldly vanities thereto allurde Where couetise and pride their packe doth sell. At such a price as flesh and sin affoord But since ô Lord thy promise hath assurde My soule that thou art alwaies prest to heare The plaints of penitents which hath procurde Thy sonne himselfe in temple this t'appeare Whip forth fling down this worldly wicked pack Fro out my soule repell thou satan back SON LXVIII WIthin thy house this bodie base of mine It pleased thee ô Lord my soule to plant A steward of the gifts the which were thine And nature fild with measure nothing scant Of bodie or of mind no blessings want And fortunes fauours sharde with me no lesse In such proportion Lord I needs must grant As thou doest giue when thou doest vse to blesse But wantonly I wasted I confesse Thy treasure put into my hands of trust And now alas though late I seeke redresse Wise steward like to liue when dye I must I cast my count by Christ my debt to paie And frutes of faith from hell my soule shall staie SON LXIX NOw that it pleaseth thee Lord of thy grace To plucke me forth of sinfull Sodoms lake Where I haue dwelt alas this life long space Since I of holie Abram leaue did take Vouchsafe I pray thee for thy mercies sake To graunt thy church be refuge for my life The Zoar where I may my dwelling make Safe from reuenging Angels bloudie knife And though the frailtie of Lots lingering wife Lookt back with loue on sinfull worlds delight Which common weaknesse to all flesh is rife Yet keepe me constant by thy heauenly might And let me not grow drunke with blessings thine To procreate sin on lustfull daughters mine SON LXX WHilst in this worldly wildernesse about For want of faith I backe am forst to go Affraid of sinnes which Giant-like are stout And soule affections which like cruell foe Of Esawes race their might and power bestow To stop my passage to the promist land I gin to saint and to repine also Against the power of thy most mightie hand For which the Serpent Satan now doth stand In readinesse my silly soule to sting And close me vp in deaths eternall band Vnlesse to me thy mercie succour bring That brasen Serpent Christ nayld on the tree Whose sight by faith alone is cure to mee SON LXXI WHat am I else Lord but a sinfull wretch In sin and in iniquitie begot In conscience guiltie of the common breach Of euerie law that may my honor spot Thy blessing giu'n me I regarded not Thy threatned iugdements I did not esteeme My vowes to thee I wholly haue forgot My sinnes no sinnes to hardned heart do seeme Like to my selfe I
minde Which is not blinde Or too much obstinate Which later natures chiefly thou doest hate SON XXIIII WHilst I do studie fitly to begin To vtter forth some part of my intent Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent Far freeing me from due reward of sin I finde a laberinth that I am in Of many merits which do me inclose Which as this holie motion in me role Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent In staying me the wandring course I went And feeling faith with knowledge where And though I lose Therwith the world Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight SOX. XXV SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde By holie spirit thine in time of need As Philip to the Eunuch came in deed Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde And what humilitie was in thy sonne Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne Vnto my soule for which he raunsome payde I see no earthly things should stay vndone The duties which requirde of me I reed By faith vpon thy promises I feed And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne And thus begunne I will continue still To learne thy lawes and to obey thy will SON XXVI HOw can I limit well my tong or pen Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose Whereon the more I muse more groweth it then It fares with me herein euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake When stāmering words the perfect sence do breake And makes vs not be vnderstood of men Such worthie matter in my mind there growes So plentifull and I of skill so weake 〈◊〉 pleasing to me and so proper cake 〈…〉 choyse of them I iudgement lose 〈…〉 euen as those Want matter silent be 〈…〉 plentie of thy praise confoundeth me SON XXVII NOw that thy mercies do so much abound As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found Since power thereof did sinfull Dagon wound And yet disdaineth not my humble state I freely open Lord my lowly gate Of lips and tong which may thy praises sound Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late Since in my soule thy word I did embrace My zeale refreshed is with heauenly grace My comfort wealth that hell cannot rebate In such a rate Thy fauour I do finde As bindes me loue a father found so kinde SON XXVIII WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare For all the gifts thou doest on me bestow Whose gratious measure so doth ouerflow As power of recompence cannot appeare I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare And to thy alter speedily will runne To follow forth thy praise but new begunne Till all thy people may thy mercies heare Thy glorious image shineth in the sonne Thy loue to man did his obedience show His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace whence faith comfort grow Where through we know That we are thy elect And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect SON XXIX THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise O Lord of life hath many volumes made Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade Which aye increase as growing are my dayes Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes In multitude thy numbers do exceed In glorie they do admiration breed Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed Thy sauour to thy creatures doth not fade The more in view of all thy works I wade The more I finde my sence confound indeed But yet insteed of Eccho to thy fame I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name SON XXX THis stately stage wherein we players stande To represent the part to vs assignde Was built by God that he might pleasure finde In beautie of the works of his owne band All creatures of the ayre the sea and land Are players at his appointment of some thing Which to the world a proper vse may bring And may not breake assigned bownds or band Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing Some mourne make their mone with heauy mind Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling God like a king Beholds Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape their states require SON XXXI WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye The fauour and perfection of my choyce He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie All earthly beautie he will straight defie As things too base to occupie his braine Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine That they true tast of pleasure do denie But who so can this perfect sight attaine Cannot containe but yeeld with cheerfull voyce An eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse Who to his praise do singing still remaine They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low That such a glorious God they will not know SON XXXII O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule With such a zeale as former thoughts controll And drawes heart power and will thee to insue Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine To whom alone perfection faire is due Thou mak'st earths bewtious shadow seeme but vain Thy works of glorie and of power remain Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll Which to our dying soules true life did gain Thy loue doth wain My thoughts frō baser loue And mak'st my heart and mind to sore aboue SON XXXIII IF beautie be as men on earth suppose The comely shape and colours which agree In true proportion to the thing we see Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose If white and red be borrowed from the Rose If bright and shining to the sonne compar'd If high and straight to godlinesse w'award And beautie haue such base descriptions chose Then let the wise this beautie true regard Where all perfections in one subiect be Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree Which but to tast man suffred deaths reward Which is prepard And offred to our sight In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night SON XXXIIII HOw may this be that men of searching mind Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight In outward shape and colour comfort find And yet the better beautie leaue behind Vnsought or vnregarded of at all Compard to which none can it beautie call Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti ' apall
heauen to reare Touch thou my eies with faith wash me with grace In Sylo po◠〈◊〉 thy word which I embrace SON XXXIX HOw drunken are my humors all alasse With wine of vanitie and sensuall lust Which from one sin do to an other passe And after euill daily more do thurst Of force my faults for shame confesse I must My lauish vsage of thy graces sent My soules consent to action so vniust As death of Prophets teaching to repent Like Herod I about the matter went To please the follies of my flesh delight Incest'ous I to sin so much was bent That offred mercie pleased not my sight But Lord prepare my heart to see my sin That sorrow may away to mends begin SON XL. THough with thy Saints ô Lord I choise haue made To spend my daies in praising of thy name And in the studie of thy word to wade To feed my faith with portion of the same Yet can I not my choice so rightly frame Amidst the spatious fieldes where truth doth grow But whilst to gather healthfull hearbe I came A bitter bud I found of fearfull show Which threateth me with death and ouerthrow Vnto my soule which hungerly doth feed On sin the weed which Satan did bestow By poisoned tast thereof to pine in deed But Christ thy sonne by faith me helth shall bring Discharge the law and bruse this deadly sting SON XLI ACcording to the promise of thy word To giue the victorie ô Lord to those That fight thy battels with a faithfull sword Against the world flesh diuell and thy soes So seeke I Lord proud Ierico t'inclose Incouragde by thy graces from aboue My shoes of soule affects I pray thee lose Before on holy earth my path I moue Thy powerfull hand by praier let me proue Which daily seuen times I to thee direct Shake thou the walles of sin for my behoue And in this skirmish do thou me protect The frutes of flesh pride lust and error all So shall be wract sin shall not raise a wall SON XLII AMidst the graues of death these many a yeare My soule possessed with all sorts of sin Hath liu'd and held that frutefull place so deare That from the same no counsell could me win To beat my selfe my follies neuer lin No reason can with chaines binde so my will But to vnlose my lusts I do begin With helpe of furious feend who aides me still But since thy sonne appeareth me vntill I craue I may no more tormented bee Lest that my soule eternally he kill But from the force of Satan make me free These brutish sinnes in swine more fit to dwell Drowne in repentant seas of teares which swell SON XLIII IN deadly sleepe ô Lord sin hath me cast Wherein secure I lye and so remaine Raise me ô Lord out of this dreame at last And let me sight and light of heauen attaine The heauie humors which my iudgement staine And dazell so the reason of my minde Grant that they may their proper vse attaine And comfort in thy grace and promise finde All fleshly wisedome of it selfe is blinde Till thou by knowledge cleare their wandring sight Out of the snare of sin flesh cannot winde Vnlesse by faith they see thy sonne so bright Him let me still both see and eke admire And thee in him ô Lord I thee desire SON XLIIII MY wicked flesh ô Lord with sin full fraight Whose eye doth lust for euerie earthly thing By couetiâ—e allurde hath bit the baight That me to Satans seruitude will bring By violence I vertues right would wring Out of possession of the soule so weake Like vineyard which the wicked Acab king Possest by tyrants power which lawes do breake Let Prophets thine Lord to my soule so speake That in repentant sackcloth I may mone The murther of thy grace which I did wreake Whilst to my natiue strengh I trust alone And let my Sauiour so prolong my daies That henceforth I may turne from sinfull waies SON XLV IF thou vouchsafst Lord of thy goodnesse rare To sanctifie with holie presence thine The Cana marriage where thou doest not spare First miracle of water turnd to wine Then be thou present at this wedding mine Which twixt thy church and me by faith is ment To see the want in me thy eyes encline Whose wine of grace by wanton youth is spent But being toucht with view thereof repent And craue that water of earthes healthles well May issue forth from heart with sorrow rent And turnd to wine may so with grace excell That all that see and tast this change in me May grant this worke of thee alone to be SON XLVI SInce it hath pleased thee ô Lord to send Now in my barren age of hope and grace Repentant childe from ruine to defend My name and soule to liue before thy face Thy blessings I do thankfully embrace And in thy feare will frame his tender yeare The worldes regard in me shall haue no place If once thy word and will my heart do heare And when thou calst we both will then appeare Before thy Aulter in Moriath land To offer vp thy gift my sonne so deare Obedient childe to faithfull fathers hand Which sacrifice not worthie gift for thee With Christ my Sauior sufferings quit let bee SON XLVII OF euerie creature vncleane to fore Whereof thy holie people might not tast Thou didst present o Lord to Peter store Which were from heauen in sheet before him plast Which he at first refusde with mind most chast Not touching things polluted or defilde But afterward thy counsell he embrast And saw himselfe had bene before beguilde To thinke all sinners were for aye exilde From presence of thy mercies which abound Whom oft thou doest receiue as father milde If faith in Christ thy sonne in them be found By praiers faith by faith thy grace doth grow Cornelius blessing Lord on me bestow SON XLVIII HOw hard it is ô Lord for man to frame His minde corrupt to be preparde for thee With tongue vncleane to praise thy holie name With fleshly eies thy glorie for to see Homeward I bring thy blessings vnto me And make my soule their dwelling place to rest But so forgetfull of thy lawes we be That this my action Lord I see not blest Pride and contempt the waies haue so opprest That danger is the carriage ouerthrow Grant that thy grace to staie it may be prest That so my soule thy sauing health maâ—â—now Por to my flesh vnsanctified to trust Were aie to hasten death by iudgeâ—â—â—â— iust SON XLIX MY traitrous heart which long time hath rebeld Against thy spirit which should feed me still A secret counsell in it selfe hath held To contrarie thy knowne reuealed will Whose mutinie my sences so do fill With deeds repining to thy holie law That raging pride and lust lead me to ill Forgetting tokens of thy wrath they saw As Dathan and Abyram had no awe Of Moyses and of Aron thine elect But sought away
raunsome rich to cure my bleeding sore By faith to craue the frutes I'am not affraide In hope my health thereby for to restore Bind vp my wounds with balme lead me to rest Giue me such gifts of grace as like thee best SON LXXXIII THis slender Citie Lord of strength behold Wherein I dwell Bethulia my bower Of flesh whereto sin laies a battry bold And seeks with sword dearth my soules deuowen Suppresse thou hellish Holofernes power Who prides himselfe in praie of children thine I haue no trust in mountaines wals nor tower For want of faithes true fountaine we shall pine Raise vp this femalde couragde heart of mine Strengthen my hand to reue this monsters hed Let me not tast deceiptfull follies wine Nor be polluted with worlds sinfull bed But constantly by faith fight in defence Of feeble flesh and driue thy enemies thence SON LXXXIIII NOt that my faith doth faint a while is cause That I so instant am on thee to call O God of life but yeelding to thy lawes Before thy fight my soule these teares lets fall Which in thy bottle kept I know are all And quench the fury of thy burning ire Which sin enflamde and quallifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire If seruently the childe due food desire Of father he will not giue him a stone If of the wicked iustice man require Importunely some iustice will be showne More righteous iudge and father thou to mee Art Lord indeed and far more kind wilt bee SON LXXXV THe many trials Lord that I haue found Since out of Egipt darknesse I am brought Might witnesse well how in thee still abound Power mercy truth wherby thy workes are wrough◠But soule dispaire against my faith hath fought Amidst the wildernesse wherein I stay And daintier food my fond affections sought Then Manna which thou sentst me euery day The desert Zyn doth fountaine pure denay Of grace wherewith to quench my fainting ghost Eternall death expects my soule as pray And lust assalts me with a hideous host Stretch forth hād lord smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance griefe and mone SON LXXXVI THou hast ô Lord of mercy me enricht With flocks of fauour and of graces great Since I in Bethell first the piller pitcht Of praises to thy name and mercies seat Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat A ruine to the frute faith should forth bring With pleasing humors him for to intreat I feare it be too soule a dangerous thing Shield me Lord vnder thy protecting wing Of mercy which may saue from Satans rage My heart and voyce shall still thy praises sing If thou the malice of my foes asswage In Sychem shall my heart an alter reare The mightie God to loue to serue to feare SON LXXXVII THe talent which thou pleasest Lord to giue To me thy seruant that I should bestow Whilst in thy seruice on the earth I liue My diligent increase thereof to show I haue abused Lord too long I know And feare thy comming to be nigh at hand I see for breach of dutie what I owe And of thy iudgements do in terror stand Thy grace hath left me in a forreine land Where vnexpert of vertue I do straie I shall be throwne to Satans thralfull band Voyd of thy heauenly ioy and blisse for aye Vnlesse thou helpe for thou doest vse to giue Grace vnto grace and faith from faithlesse driue SON LXXXVIII SInce that it pleaseth thee thy selfe to show A iust reuenger Lord of Heath'nish sin And bring the pride of bold Philistines low Who thee defame when holy Arke they win Now that to fetch it home I do begin And in the temple of my heart to place Grant so I may thy secrets see therein That plagues for my presumption do not chase It so from me as they that fled the face Of glorie thine which therein did appeare Let faith and loue draw home by trustie trace The constant cart whose carriage is so deare And let me order so this holie worke That dregs of sin not in my deeds may lurke SON LXXXIX IN famine great of grace and comfortlesse Thy seruant Lord doth in Samaria dwell For Lord fierce Aram doth with sin oppresse The citie where my soule to harbour fell I want the strength his armies to repell Of lust and of affections most vncleane My mind whose loue doth mother like excell Her childrēs thoughts of mēdment sees so leaue That forst by famine she can find no meane To feed them long her faith so poore is growne That natiue pitie now secluding cleane Her greedie nature doth deuour her owne Releeue in time this siege Lord cause a feare Of thee this camp of cruell sin to reare SON XC ON sweet and sauorie bread of wholesome kinde Which in thy word thou offrest store to mee To feed vpon the flesh doth lothing finde And leaues to leane ô Lord only on thee The leauen of the Pharisies will bee The surfet to my soule and death in fine Which coueting to tast forbidden tree To carnall rules and reasons do incline So lauishly my lusts do tast the wine Which sowrest grapes of sin filles in my cup That lo my teeth now set on edge I pine Not able wholesome food to swallow vp Vnlesse thou mend my tast and heart doest frame To loue thy lawes and praise thy holy name SON XCI OVt of thy flock ô Lord through my defect A silly sheepe my selfe behold am lost To seeke me forth in time do not neglect Since I so precious price to thee haue cost By many by-paths Lord my seete haue crost And cannot find the way vnto thy fold Through many stormes of deep despaire thus tost To craue thy aide at last I now am bold If thou of silly groat that count doest hold That thou doest search the house to find the same No doubt my soule to sin by nature sold May mercy find by calling on thy name The Saints in heauen conuertits gaine reioyce On earth thy praise is song in heart and voice SON XCII BEhold amidst worlds desert all alone Seduced by the frailtie of the sprite Accompanied with fleshly comfort none My soule with sin compelled is to fight Where suddenly alas before my sight I Satan see me ready to assaile By two his seruants which are most of might Presumption and dispaire which seldome faile The best perfection of mans strength to quaile By pride or want of faith or couetise By lust or gluttony or fained vaile Of vertue which doth many sinnes disguise But chase him Lord away by written word Which is more sharpe then his two edged sword SON XCIII THe dreame which thou to Pharo didst reueale Thou in my selfe hast made me see in deed The state alas of mans weake common weale Whereas affections of all sorts do feed The frutefull soyle of grace some whiles did breed Full faire effects in truth of heauenly kinde But many barren thoughts alas succeed And
my deeds that should performe the samâ— I know the constant meanings whence they came But will and power are falne at strife and iarre What soule begins to do doth bodie marre What loue would build distrust would ouerthrow A plenteous offring zeale doth bid bestow But fainting faith likes not to set it farre My will at least his good intent shall show Which thou ô Lord cause vnto better frame A free will offring Lord thou wilt not blame Of such weake frutes as are on earth below Which yet shal grow More fruteful by thy grace And as they be wilt in thy sonne imbrace SON XIIII THe end whereto we all created were And in this world were plast to liue and dwell If we with iudgement do obserue it well Was nothing else but God to serue and feare In which we bâ—dges of his glorie beare To yeeld him right the most our weaknesse may Which to our strength we ought not him denay Who out of earth to heauen this dust shall reaâ—e Which when within my selfe I deeply way I do condemne the dulnesse which befell To me whose gifts in nothing do excell By which I might his glorie great display On whom do stay All things that being haue Who to each creature all things freely gaue SON XV. AS is the treasure frutelesse which is hid And blisse no blisse a man doth not enioy But rather is a meane to worke annoy To him that carefully preserue it did So often times the wisest sort haue slid Into like error whilst they do conseale The gifts of grace which God did them reueale And hide the talent which is them forbid As frutelesse is it to the common weale That men respectiuely become too coy And triflingly their time away do toy And without good to others let it steale I therefore deale To world and do impart These silly frutes which grow on feeling hart SON XVI THe pleasures of this new possessed land Fore-promised long since to children thine Whereto I haue arriued safe in fine And to enioy the same assured stand To paint with praises I would take in hand That so I might incourage many more To follow forth the conquest where is store Of corne of wine and oyle for faithfull band Our Iosua Christ himselfe is gone before And showes the clusters of the healthfull wine Whereof who tasts shall not with famine pine Nor starue when plentie is at Citie dore Ne need deplore The strength of Anaks race For he the power of hell will cleane deface SON XVII BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie Twixt heat and cold twixt heigth and depth below And bâ—â—h of them from one desire do flow The sâ—rest way to sauing health to trie Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie Vpon the merits of my sauior deare A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare Lest in consuming iealousie I die A heart contrite doth will me to appeare With works of righteousnesse true faith which show Faith saies that god my streÌ„gth power doth know And that I cannot finde saluation heere But bids me cheere My soule nothing feare Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare SON XVIII FRom far I see the stars which guide the way From East to West to finde my sauiour out I well might wander all the world about To seeke saluation and in no place stay If shining truth did not his house bewray Which in his word points forth his dwelling place By which directed I will walke a pace Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day And when I come before his blessed face To offer vp my presents will not doubt Although their basenesse all the world should flout So that by faith I may him once imbrace Which giueth grace And makes accepted well Mean works as much as those which more excell SON XIX NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke the treasor of thy law That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine I care not though the world my deed disdaine And thinke it not beseeming thing for me In such a worke an instrument to be Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine For so I Lord thy sauing health may see And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw Though all the scorners of the world me saw Yet would I not ashamed be of thee For being free Of holie promist land I care not how my stare on earth do stand SON XX. NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee If duly thy desert we do regard Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward At whose command all creatures readie bee Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow And in the vse of them obedience show Although alas it be in meane degree Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde Who to his power his present hath not sparde So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe And doest bestow More graces then we craue For which naught els but thiÌ„ks thou lookst to haue SON XXI HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay And make the sunne returne in pride of day When as Iosias heart for feare it faints Thy fauour vnto Abram vs acquaints Of how great force repentant heart is found When hauing viewd vile Sodom to confound To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints By praiers man hath power euen death to wound By praier he may moue a mount away A faithfull seruent praier finds no nay If that the thing we craue be pure and sound Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man Whose worthie praise no tongue forth vtter can SON XXII THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay To thee the giuer of all good and grace And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day My heart my mouth my pen they neuer stay To take occasion freshly to renue The memorie of praises to thee due Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie in this point indeed I rue Who till I see new blessings in the place Forget the fauours late before my face And mercies thine fro which such bountie grew For it is true So dull our sences are That oft thy blessings do our iudgements marre SON XXIII WHere so I cast about my wandring eye By chance or choice by hap or else by will Before my sight some obiect is there still Wherein thy power and loue I do espye In view whereof if I my thoughts do trye To raise my heart in ioy I matter finde And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde As patrons of the same the world doth fill Who mad'st not only but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the
Thus wise men fall Whom carnall eies do guide Whose iudgements may not vertues sight abide SON XXXV O Heauenly loue with God thou dwelst for aye Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie Thou keepst the law thy feet step not awrie In all mens danger thou the surest stay To our request thou neuer sayest nay Ne wrath ne enuy moue thee ere a whit Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit Thou law and Gospell both doest ouer sway Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit With God in counsell thou art alwaies by Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply And makest vs receiue the frute of it And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue Loue made him send who loue therfore doth craue SON XXXVI THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare Whose glory doth eclipse each other light Presents himselfe vnto worlds open fight Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare But sluggish so the greater sort appeare That sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure The cleare aspect of truth they not indure Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare But so my sences do his beautie allure To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright That therein only haue I my delight Where is all happinesse I do assure He doth procure A plenteous increase Vnto my soule of perfect loue and peacâ— SON XXXVII AVant base thoughts incomber me no more By laying forth these earthly wants of mine As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store If thou didst know thy nakednesse before He cloth'd thy soule and fed thy fainting minde With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore And then confesse the comfort thou doest finde By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine Is greatest riches truly to define So that contentment be not left behinde These gifts me binde To praise his holy name And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same SON XXXVIII I Will not feare with feruency of zeale To follow forth this faire affect of mine To loue of thee which doth my soule incline O Sauiour deare who sure my griefe wilt heale Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee And promisedst I should thy darling bee Made free within thy Church and common weale Disparidgement there is not now in mee Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine But faith shall flie aloft to thee in fine Where all thy treasures safely I may see And happie hee Bestows his loue so well Whose hope is payd with pleasures that excell SON XXXIX LOue then I will and loue thee Lord alone For fellowship in loue there may not bee Loue for thy loue ô Lord shall be thy see For other recompence thou crauest none My vowes and deeds they shall be alwaies one All dedicated to adore thy name My heart my soule my strength shall do the same Thy loue shall be my faithes true corner stone The loue of thee shall my affections frame To follow that may pleasing be to thee My eyes no beautie but in thee shall see And thy regard my wandring will shall tame Yea I will blame And scorne each other thing Saue what shall me vnto thy fauour bring SON XL. FAine would I praise thee Lord with such a zeale And feruencie as might my loue expresse Faine would my loue yeeld vnto thee no lesse Due praise then thou didst loue to me reueale But wanting power thereto I yet appeale To â—hat thy goodnesse which thee first did moue In fragill flesh of mine the strength to proue Whose weaknes thou by heaueÌ„ly power didst heale Mans wit in words comes short in this beâ—oue To recompence nay only to confesse The many waies thou doest our bodies blesse Much more our soules which freely thou didst loue Thy trustie done Thy holy spright of grace Makes yet our weaknesse stand before thy face SON XLI O Perfect Sunne whereof this shadow is A slender light though it some beautie show On whom thy influence thou doest bestow Whose constant course still shines in endlesse blisse To scan thy glorie wit of man doth misse How far thy mercies beames abroad extend Tong cannot speake nor wit can comprehend And humane frailtie is bewrayd in this The fire ayre water earth they wholly bend The host of heauen and creatures belowe To paye their dutie vnto thee they owe Which didst their being and their vertue send And I intend With them in what I may To witnesse forth thy laud and praise for aye SON XLII WHat present should I bring of worthie prise To witnesse well the loue to thee I owe I nothing haue but what thou didst bestow Ne likest thou the toyes of mans deuise I would not spare my power in any wise No treasure seemes to me for thee too deare The pleasures of the world the which are here Too base they are how ere wit them disguise To yeeld thee faith it doth the best appeare But it is very weake alas I know To yeeld thee praise doth make a decent show But to thy merit neither doth come neare With garment cleare Yet clothd of righteous son My selfe to offer vnto thee I run SON XLIII WHo so beholds the works ô Lord of thine The stretched heauens the seat where thou doest dwel the earth thy footstoole which dares not rebel Which all vnto thy will do aye incline The Sunne and Moone by day night which shine The changing flouds the firme and frutefull land The Planets which do firme for euer stand All which gainst thy behest dare not repine The host of Angels in thy heauenly band Th' infernall feends with Lucifar which fell The fish the fowle the beast agreeing well And all obedient to thy heauenly hand May vnderstand Thy glorie loue and power Without whose help ma could not liue one houre SON XLIIII AS doth the Moone by daily change of hew By growing or decreasing beautie show The influence the greater lights bestow Whose absence or whose presence her renue So must all flesh confesse and thinke most true The faith or feare they haue for to proceed From heauenly grace which heaueÌ„ly gifts doth feed Without whose face blind darknesse doth insue Mans proper power is so obscurde indeed With shades which rise froÌ„ earthly thoughts below That nothing but blind ignorance would grow Vnlesse this sonne did shining comfort breed Which serues in steed Of fire vnto the same Fro whence this light of faith receiues his flame SON XLV IF Saba Queene a iourney tooke in hand From South to North wise Salomon to heare If humane wisedome was to her so deare That she did visit thus this holy land Then do I muse why men so idle stand In pride of youth when wit and meanes abound Their tender braines to feed with wisedome sound Far passing that this Queene for trauell found This error is the scarre of Adamâ— wound Who sought his knowledge not in fountain cleare
regard This transitorie honour which so flits Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits And yet so niggardly to man is shard And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde Of care of conscience and of griefe of minde SON LVII WHo seeketh not with all his power and might To eternize vnto himselfe his states That chance or time may not his blisse rebate Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy To make them famous in this vaine worlds sight Which is the readiest way they do espye To keep their name from death which so they hate Yea all suppose posteritie the gate T'immortalize this flesh whose floure must dye But all go wry wealth honor wit haue end And children passe faith only life doth lend SON LVIII WHat wealth may be to this alone comparde To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue To haue 〈◊〉 â—arthly thoughts so raysd aboue That world and worldly things we not regard To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs which shall eternally remaine Aye free from worldly cares and troubles vaine Which is for children his a due reward Who can discouragde be with earthly paine Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue To share our griefes his ioy to vs to gaine Which thoughts should waine Our wils froÌ„ base desire And vs incourage higher to aspire SON LIX IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle Where all things flourished and prospered aye Wherein who liued neuer could decaye Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle And left man naked in reproach and shame To dust to turne againe from whence he came On barren earth to liue with sweat and toyle Then is our state much better then that fame Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye Our Sauiour Abrams bosome doth displaye Wherein our soules shall rest free from all blame Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life To be exempt from feare of care or strife SON LX. WHat is felicitie whereof men wright Which to attaine our studies still are beat Which to procure such time and paine is spent By endlesse trauell therein day and night Sure if it be nought else but firme delight And that delight consist in peace of minde Then here on earth this treasure none shall finde Whose pleasures quickly vanish out of sight The earth doth chaunge as seas do rise with tyde And stormes insue the calme before that went This happinesse but for a time is lent And payd oft times with penance more vnkinde By fortune blinde Tâ—ue blisse consists herein To loue the Lord and to abandon sin SON LXI HOw many priuiledges great and rare Do we enioy that do thy name professe Euen many more by far I do confesse Then we obserue or how to vse be ware To giue thy onely sonne thou didst not spare Vs to redeeme from deaths eternall wound The sting of hell and sin he did confound And way to heauen for vs he did prepare Yea so his mercies do to vs abound That all the worldly creatures more and lesse Yea heauenly Angels do themselues addresse To serue mans needfull vse are readie found He doth propound In Christ all these to man And hauing him no want annoy vs can SON LXII BY many gifts ô Lord thou doest declare Thy mercies vnto man whom thou wilt saue The vse of all the which in Christ we haue By hand of faith that precious blessing rare That doth his righteousnesse for vs prepare Our stubbornnesse with his obedience hide His patience doth our grosse impatience guide His temperance with our intemperance share His continence our frailtie lets not slide For changing nature ours his strength it gaue Our pride it hides and hopes with faithlesse waue And shades our hart with loue which stil shal bide Thus euery tide It readie is at hand For our defence a buckler for to stand SON LXIII HOw should the quiet mind in peace and rest Possessed of the thing it most desirde A thing so precious none durst haue aspirde To gaine vnlesse the giuer had him blest How may she mourne how may she be opprest Who hath the bridegrome alwaies in her sight Who in her loue doth take so great delight As by his bountie hourely is exprest The dolefull darknesse fitteth blinded night The shining Sunne hath cloudes of care retirde O heauenly heare my heart it hath aspirde Since in thy sonne I saw thy fauour bright The which did fight As champion strong for mee From cloudes of darknesse and from sin to free SON LXIIII. WHo so of perfect temperature is framde Must needs delight in heauenly harmony His sences so shall be renude thereby As sauage beasts by Orpheus harpe were tamde Yong Dauids harpe Sauls furious spirit shamde And Dolfins did Aryons musicke beare Such sympathie in all things doth appeare That neuer musicke was by wisedome blamde But he that could conceiue with iudgement cleare The sweet records that heauenly motions cry Their constant course that neuer swarues awry But by discords whose concords after cheate Would hold so deare The mouer of the same That loue of him should base affections tame SON LXV GReat is thy power and more then we conceiue Thy glorie more then can discerned bee Mans greatest gift is yet that he may see Or know that vertue thine doth his bereaue His dazeling eyes each shadow doth deceiue His iudgement builded on inconstant ground His strength but weaknesse in it selfe is found His glorie greater glorie must receiue From thee in whom all glorie doth abound What maiestie dare man compare with thee To whom all creatures bow obedient knee Whose contemplations thou doest cleane confound Vpon this ground True blisse wisdome stand To know our wisedome floweth from thy hand SON LXVI AS but vaine hope it is for man to trust To thing not promised or not in power Of speaker to performe at pointed hower Which is the case of flesh and bloud vniust So call that hope no wise man can or must Which is performance of expected thing When as possession doth assurance bring Of thing whereafter we tofore did lust The Saints in heauen in ioyfull rest do sing Whom hope nor feare do raise or yet deuower But men on earth haue hope a resting tower To shield them from despightfull Satans sting Faith is the wing Makes me to hope ascend And truth in Christ shall make my hope haue end SON LXVII GReat are the gifts ô Lord thou doest bestow On sinfull man by thy abounding grace Who when they want doest neuer hide thy face But still a patron of thy bountie show Which makes vs both thy power and mercy know And so with shame and sorrow to repent Our thanklesse natures so vnkindly bent So slacke to pay the praises which we owe.
my heart doth bleed To see that bountie of a God so kinde And note the dulnesse of my nature blinde That should forget the Lord who me doth feed When I was almost lost he me did finde When I forgat him cleane on me he thought When I was sold to sin then he me bought When I was wounded he my sores did binde Yea when I pinde He gaue me plenteous store Which gifts I will record for euermore SON XC WHy should I faint or feare or doubt at all How fierce so euer fleshly combat show Since I so sure a succour readie know To shield me safe what euer do befall If he haue such regard of sparrows small As none of them till God appoint do dye If to our haires which fall he haue an eye That none of them vnnumbred perish shall Why should I thinke him deaffe when I do crye As though he had no care of vs below As though he would not needfull things bestow Although our patience he delight to trye Who can denye But floures that grow in field In glorie staine the beautie pride doth yeeld SON XCI HOw do Gods blessings to his Saints abound Whose gifts of grace although they be but small At first yet more and more increase they shall As seed well watred in a frutefull ground The proofe whereof I sinfull wretch haue found Whose faith nigh famished he now hath fed From heauen with great increase of fish and bread Which strengthen dying soule with comfort sound His word for table he did open spred His seruants for to feed me he did call Their dole so free I find more fragments fall Then in my basket sences home haue led Yet he hath bed To such more to bestow As greatest store of former treasor show SON XCII I Know not Lord how to discharge aright The dutie that for graces great I owe No need thou hast of me at all I know Yet in thy seruice shall be my delight To publish forth thy praises day and night To serue thy Saints with gifts I shall possesse Thy wondrous works by all meanes to confesse I will imploy my substance wit and might The remnant of my life shall well expresse That dead to sin in Christ to life I grew Which shall to world my mind regenerate show Although that I cannot sin cleane suppresse And will adresse My thoughts to thee alone Because on earth true ioy or blisse is none SON XCIII IF I did hope by pen to patterne out The many merits of thy Maiestie Which of thy mercies we do daily trie An endlesse matter I should go about But I alas my strength so much do doubt That nothing lesse then such a thought I haue To point forth others to a thought I craue Whose confidence in skill is much more stout Yet dare I say that nature neuer gaue The power to flesh and bloud to looke so hye Nor gifts of grace full few there are apply To giue him laude aright that did them saue How to behaue My selfe herein I learne And wish my will might others likewise warne SON XCIIII WHat tong or pen can show it selfe vnkinde Vnto a father full of mercy so Who freely doth such benefits bestow And of your case hath such a carefull minde Before we were a way he forth did finde Whereby to purchase vs in heauen a place When natiue strength our glory should deface A remedie therefore his loue assignde He giues vs knowledge of the same by grace Which offered is to them the which will go Vnto the word where sauing health doth grow And saith through which our Sauiour we imbrace And being base By birth and thrall to hell He vs adopts in childrens roome to dwell SON XCV WHy should this worldly care haue now such power To quēch the comfort which the soule shall find In this our God who is to vs so kind The memorie of which should feare deuower If faith were watred well with heauenly shower Of grace and knowledge of our happie state It would the force of all assaults abate And be a bulwarke strong at trials hower If we the world and flesh did truly hate And made his will a law vnto our minde If doubt of power or will did not vs blinde Which to distrust sets open wide the gate Then would this rate Of worldly care be lesse And he our faith with fauour more would blesse SON XCVI HOw loth this flesh of mine remaineth still To part from sin his old companion deare Of death or of a change he would not heare But would imbrace him aye with his good will The verie thought of death his thought doth kill The verie feare thereof his sorrow brings So sweet the pleasures seeme of earthly things That nought else can our fond affections kill But who is wise fro out the snare he wrings Before perforce death doth approach him neare That abstinence no vertue doth appeare When want of power subdues affections stings But who so flings From them when they pursue To him pure name of vertue indeed is due SON XCVII WHo so would liue of force he first must dye Death is the doore which leadeth vnto life Life which shall be deuoyd of change and strife Whose comfort shall our teares of sorrow drye The way is straight the which man must go by If to the heauens he purpose to ascend His grosse corruption must to graue descend And dead the power of sin therein must lye If he to be regenerate intend First must he mortifie the motions rise Of lust which kill the soule with cruell knife And eke his ruine presently pretend For God will send A happie change indeed As haruest paies with plentie plow mans seed SON XCVIII WHen I with griefe sometimes to mind do call The wofull losse that sin to man hath brought And want which to all creatures it hath wrought By Satans slight and Adams fearfull fall I finde no comfort in worlds vse at all But wish to be dissolu'd with Christ to dwell From whom all blessings flow and do excell In thought whereof my comfort is not small Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well Into a doubt if that in truth I ought More sorrow parents fall which death hath brought Or ioy the life through Christ to me befell Yet truth to tell I finde the change so good Our state is better now then when we stood SON XCIX IF I can speake and like a coward crake If I can tell the thing the which is best If I in muster seeme to battell prest And yet shrinke backe when I should triall make If I indeuour others to awake Fro out the deadly slumber they are in And yet my selfe cannot reuolt from sin But in the pride thereof do pleasure take By all my trauell I no game shall win Although my paine might proue to others blest But as the Symball sound doth to the rest I might haps mourne when others mirth begin The feast but thin Would be vnto