not HeaueÌ„s beautifull vault the braue seeming comelie boult of the mountaines the sea 's armes the earth's bosome the bottomlesse deepes and the measure and extent of the vniuerse insomuch with thee let trespasses be vvhatsoeuer possiblie they may be they are lesse then a litle pointe in the midst of a circle of great capacitie of marvailous compasse euen poison vvhich in it selfe engendreth sinne sometimes maketh it svvell in such manner that it though mouing thee to disdaine boldlie lifteth it selfe vp in such sorte that it seemeth it vvould aspire to the top of the height of that thy mercie But for that I am sure that thy mercy ouercommeth the seueritie of thy justice I finde not my sin 's so desperate which heretofore feared to come too late to finde pardon for thou vvillest that a contrite heart say onelie I haue sinned And so much onelie said from a contrite heart thou endovvest them vvith such plentie of thy grace that their hearts yea and their very soules ioynt ie bevvaile bitterlie bemoane themselues for the iniuries that their hardnes their such peruersenes vvrought to their miserable preiudâ—…e and to their vnspeakable greife against thee my hardnes my peruersnes differeth not a vvhit from vvhat is spoken of vvherewith hetherto I haue offended thee ah but alas vvhatsoeuer poore vvretch I am I seeke to hide me vnder the braue ample shrovvding-vvings of thy mercifull indulgencie and pittie by it's goodnes I beseech thee most humblie that thou succour me O Lord help me and according to the multitude the infinite reach large extent of thy mercie thy commiserations vvhich are more then are the flakes of the snow then are the drops of the raine blott out cancell mine iniquities my crimes which although iustlie acknowledged to be infinite yet they arriue not to the number of thy pitties of thy commiserations by vvhich thou sauest trespassers And the bridles the restraints vvherevvith fasting courbeth gluttonie vvherewith chastitie curbeth luxurie humilitie checketh and restraineth pride charitie coueteousnes and true good-nature vvell disposed humanitie envie and the spurres the liuelie stirrers vp awaken and chase avvay sloth and lazines are the guifts vvhich these compassions doe giue which thou hast on distressed miserie and ignoraÌ„t errors which daylie are donne in thy sight thy clemencie mercifullie shineth vvith more fauorable and cheerefull aspect on him vvho after transgression reasumeth himselfe then on any one vvho hath neuer tâ—…espassed and there is nothing to be farâ—…her herein deliuered for true it is that there aâ—…e more acts of vertue as more resignanations to thy vvill more earnest endeauours and more merit it amendment after sinne then is there for such to haue abstained from sinne and the feare vvhich a man is sensible of vvhilst hee is contristated deeplie sad extremelie afflicted for his sinâ—…e his such like heart's deepe compunction is more availeable then the securie of him vvhosoeuer hee be of Paradise reioycing in his not hauing trespassed And for that ô Lord my mercifull God I vvould tender such a sorrovv as might be ansvverable to my greiuous offences and that I knovv all to be in vaine of no validitie vvithout the fauour of thy grace I the same coniure thee call thee to accounte on that ground that tenent of the ioy known that thou hast of the moanes lamentions and hearts-griâ—…fes of sinners that thou cleanse me in the font and euer-flovving-cleere spring of thy infinite mercie Wash me and vvash me againe cleane vvich the vvater of that mercifull spring in all and all fully wholesome full of grace full of health vvhose least channells whose least veines bedew besprinckle the heads of the just vvith grace and health Let the earnest petitioÌ„s of me a poore distressed man soe farre take place vvith thee my Lord my God that I may bathe my selfe wash my selfe cleanse my selfe in vvater of such qualitie vvhich is good against rustines and mire which my sin's and imperfections haue vvrought and contracted on me euen as drops of raine of a sweet gentle shower powred froÌ„ HeaueÌ„ do please marvailously comfort yea conferre to the better being of a bird after it hath suffered the Sunn's heate Here is the full state of vvhat I humblie craue that thou wash and cleanse me from sinnes for the blotts blurres staines they haue made on me are foule filthie to abhomination vvhilst they are seene on this my flesh my soule that abhotreth theÌ„ as those things which prompt vnto it the danger of it's health can neuer enjoy the tranquilitie the entire peace vvhich they enjoy vvho serue thee vvith a pure cleane heart But be it so that thou vvash me and cleanse mo often my soule each hower be comming more pure more vnspotted vvhite hence vvill receiue that comfort vvhich vvill the limbs of one euen now releiued released from an infirmitie in vvashing himselfe in a bath of costlie and odoriferous spices For that lastly I haue opened the eyes of my minde closing those of my body I know that my sinne vvhich I cast behinde me and vvas carelesse of hauing taken the world's delights for my counsaile for my directions is alvvaies against my selfe and vvhatsoeuer at any time hath falleÌ„ out against me hath beeÌ„ drawne on me for my trespasses hence I to keepe of it 's heauy burthen from me to make it stand farre of and to secure my selfe of it haue made me a buckler a defence framed of the feare I haue of thee my Lord the perfidious and vvicked neuer cease to molest me vvith shrewd and importunate snares but because I am vvell aduised how to carry myselfe against them I am able assisted by thee held vp by thee to keepe my selfe from being ought deceiued by them and keepe my soule from their frauds their foule deceipts and vvith the hope that I conceiue and vnderstand more in God then in my teares I shall make them fly farre from my face as I desire to fly farre from it the vvhich sweet and faire though it seeme is both sharpe and brutish most horridlie vgly But thou yet Lord seest with what gestures and in what manner they they vvicked flatter me and endeauour to make me such as they are by their diuers waies of drawing me to be alike to them laughing at my teares shewing at the selfe same caue vvhere I praise giue laud and glorie to thee the pallace where thy despisers keepe in incessantlie vilâ—…fying scorning the patience of my penâ—…tencie whilst I crush euen burst my knees on the earth they lye at ease and pleasure on their downy coutches I vvho neither see them now heare them as earst I vvas vvont my thoughts entertained by my phantasie farre otherwise theÌ„ to giue attention to them strengthning my selfe vvith guifts of thy vertue hope with my spirit to transcend as farre my bodie as the bodie doth surmounte command and ouerâ—…ule the spirit for being oppresied burthened by it I was in immineÌ„t daÌ„ger there vvas litle
From vvhence my heart my soule which seeth in me nothing els but sinne would not be so conturbated so much out of frame by reason of the contemplation of the thought of the miserie of it's sinnes I haue reflected on other past and former times and recording them remembring my selfe of them I haue thought of the felicitie in which thy largesse thine infinite bountie stated our first Father and likewise shall I weigh how hee was punished by thee for the transgression of thy Commandement not onelie that hee should dye but also that liuing hee should sweat feare be a cold be hungry bashfull and should haue all other such like passions with vvhich each man is borne through sinne drawing on himselfe such thy disdeigne And further meditating on all thy vvorkes vvhich giue vnto vs health conserue our liues saue our soules heare fauourablie our prayers and make vs vvorthy of thy grace and ruminating also on the day night moone starrs sunne water aire fire Heauens deepes mountaines vallâ—…ys plaines woods birds brute beasts on the hot the cold the temperate season the vvinds the haile the snow the Clouds raine and on all that vvhich is apparent besides vvhat is vnder the phantasy and human imagination and knowing that such admirable mysteries are workes of thy hands to the end onelie that our soule to vvhich thou bearest an immense and vnspeakable loue for that it is made to thy likenes may enioie thy Paradise and among thy Angels in this knowledge I haue lamented the infelicitie the â—…nhappines into vvhich my sinne hath brought me and each day fearing the sword of thy iustice which hangeth ouer my head it vvas doubtfull that I had not been ruinated and vtterly ouerthrown in despaire but the sinne the stedfast hope of my safety which my desert leadeth mee to my desert through my most profouÌ„d my most deeply coÌ„ceiued greife which I haue for that sinne vvhich first drew mee from thee teacheth me to implore mercie at thy hands I haue vnfolded my hands to thee and in such manner and in such carriage in such act I haue demoÌ„strated the lowlines of my heart and the dispositioÌ„ the inclinatioÌ„ of my minde in so doing I haue made appeare that I vvas vnlike to brute beasts vvho haue their hearts fixed on the earth vvithout any spirit or sparke of reaâ—…on and in such remorse of it's se feâ—…l haue opened the mouth of it craâ—…g of thee calling vnto thee imploring remission of my transgressions and to shew vnto thee that I onelie desire and nothing so much as to be returned into thy fauour into thy grace behold here my Lord that euen now newly and againe I doe beseech thee vvith mine armes extended and with mâ—… tongue and vviâ—…h my lowly humble minde that thou please to shower poure downe on mee thy grace and mercy for my soule is euen yea and no otherwise then aâ—…d dry earth vvithout water in thy presence vvater mee I say shower on mee cast on me thy grace vvhich if so thou doe I shall bring forth to my saluation most plentifullie and abundantlie fruite as doth the earth replenished vvith it's moisture vvhen the heauens in it's due season povvre on it raine vvhence Aprill all jocund all delightfully pleasant taketh pleasure singular content to see it's meadovves it's gardens vvhich by meanes of the vvaters bring afterwards forth roses and flovvers and likevvise fruites of all kindes Heare me fauourablie yea and speedilie my Lord and let fall vpon me the irrigations the waterings of thy grace for I am prepared to receiue them in my soule and that hence onelie for that the intention of my extreame bad will is novv changed is not now wretchedlie bent and maligne desire teacheth me no more she weth me no more to flie into the bosome of vice it flyeth its inticements euen as sence flyeth reason and the bodie the scourge hence maist thou shovver on me thy diuine grace for I shall receiue it in my soule with that proper and euer seene greedines that dry and barren land and the aâ—…d and parched sands receiue drinke vp blesse the showers of raine vvhich fall from Heauen in the midâ—…t of sommer and the fruite which the land promiseth thus enabled thus notablie supplied by the vvaters which haue been verie singular helpes and vvelcome guests to their vvelfare slaking yea satisfying their thirsts doth my penitence promise to thee Lord so let it be that thy grace vvhich I so much call out for and with a lowd voice abundantlie fall on me for vvith earnestnes and fulnes of sinceritie I craue it I implore it Hide not thy face from me depriue me not of thy gratious aspect although I am vnworthie to coÌ„template it to be such a fauourite of thy benignitie for if so that I perceiue my selfe to be bereaued thereof I should then cleane loose my selfe I should then be out of my vvitts I should not knovv vvhat to judge aright euen as a Pilot vvhom the impetuous furious and outragious vvindes haue bereaued of helpe and all judgment and I should become like to those vvho goe dovvne into the Lakes Truelie Lord if I should once take notice that I were banished from thy sight I should be drovvned in desperation and so my wickednes my abhomination by vvhich I am insulted on as the Mariner by tempests and fearefull and terrible vvaters in vvhose furious merciles depthes hee is alvvaies yea euen readie to be svvalloued vp So that I humblie beseech thee withdravv not retire not no way hiâ—…e thy face thy gratious aspect froÌ„ me in which is seated the hope the helpe and the beatitude that blessing and the inexpressible ioy of each one vvho good is to the end that I fall not miserablie into the profound deepâ—… Center bottomlesse pit horride â—…ulfe of despaire I am sure that though my sinne through it's hainousnes hath passed the bouÌ„ds of anie remissioÌ„ yet is God inclinable disposed readie to pardon me for that I haue learned yea I knovv hovv to implore him for mercie farther I am vndoubtedlie ascertained that hee will neuer slake neuer deferre put of the forgiuing of anie vvho is not sluggish to craue vvho loytereth not to repeÌ„t himselfe for his clemencie hath such povver that it can in one moment in one instant cancell the sinnes of many long runne yeares In this euen now in this present morning let me know the nobility dignitie exceâ—…lencie of thy mercie and remitting all my greiuous offences shew vnto my repentance to my hearts sorrovv that it availeth any one to haue hoped in thee to haue put trust in thee but if so that thou heare me not fauourablie gratiouslie vvhat example vvould they patterne by vvho think resolue to returne into thy grace through meanes of punishing themselues for their former wickednes girding themselues vvith sackcloath so cloated Pardon me ô my Lord my God and retard not delay not prorogue not For besides that the vveake body is
owne state vnder pretext of scnding Vrias the Hittite husband of this his Idol to secure victory gaue him vp a prey to the enimies sword that he being made away he migh become husband to the others w◅fe vvhom he loued more then God or himselfe and such his desire obteined that lasciuious bed enioyed by vvhose like the vvorld's conceiued notable offence and heart-burning hath often turned Empires and Kingdomes Nathan the Prophet deeply vveighed his enormities yet compass◅onating him in plaine termes laid before his vnderstāding his iniustice asvvell in murder as also in adultery contrary to his Maker's commands The good old man astonished vvith the punishments vvhich Heauen prepared for his sinne felt asvvell from his soule heart as also his senses his desire his fire his ouer vveaning delight to for sake him to departe to vanish euen as heate from the limbs and the heart in the encounter of ought vvhich maketh it shake for feare yea miserably tremble sovvas he taken on the sodaine so liuely and sprightly vvas his apprehension that he forth vvith rent from his head and body his crovvne royall purple garment flung his scepter on the ground made an exchange of the great height pride of his dignity for an humble p◅nitency couering againe his euen naked body with sackeloth the haire of his head and venerable beard negligently disordered the one and other white in honor of his age thinking vvith himselfe that he vvas a sinner not a King he seemed in his countenance euen penitence it self ◅ He tooke to him his Harpe vvhich instrument euermore offered vp his lamentations sent from his heart to the happy blessing of his soule Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground as it vvere a prison of his sinne No sooner entred he but his thoughts vvere further affrighted by the darkenes of the caue He notvvithstanding neglecting these horrors vvithout any delay tooke deeply yea and to heart hovv he ought to doe to appease his God he humbly kneeled tooke his instrumēt aptely placing it to his breast rarely composing his countenāce erecting it to Heauen the sorrovvfull sound of his sighes acquieted touching the strings and most tenderly vvith a svveet feruour deliuered to God these follovving vvords THE FIRST PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 6. LORD since thou giuest leaue to me to pronounce thy name and that my tongue may call thee my Lord my heart hence taking an happy coniecture fauoureth my hope that it's penitēcy hath in thy clemency and mercy where with thou doest comfort those vvho are truely sad for their offences against thee Hēce I am emboldened with my voice and teares in such manner to conjure thee by thy goodnes that thou please not although th◅u art incensed against me for my sinnes to chastise me in thine anger O God I feare thee and repent me from the bottome of my heart that I haue not feared thee and am fully resolued to feare thee truely hence behold me not with that wrathfull aspect vvith vvhich thou lookedst on humane kinde when as the pride of their wickednes thought not onely to equalize but to trālcēd thy mercy for which cause thy then present will and command did scatter the clouds through the ai◅e and did breake the prisons of the winds laid open the cataracts or sluices of the heauē tooke dayes light away confounded all by whales and shooke it by thunder lightning trees crashing by stormes human kinde rooted out with all liuing creatures ouerthrowne beaten downe Thou did'st not onely drowne the face of the Earth but the brow of the Alpes and tops of the mountaines in like manner Hence tookest thou away the foule soile vvherevvith the common and generall vice had sullied and defiled all the parts of the vniuerse the most abominable ofspring of the people destroyed thou did'st in such sort purifie it as I desire by meanes of my penitency to cleanse yea purifie my soule lo as behold me not with the countenance vvherevvith thou lookedst on the rebells in that time vvhen Noah and the rest were saued in the A◅ke but reflect on me be mindefull of me as thou vvert of him vvhom thy diuine favour and singular benignity saued from the dreadfull deluge and cleare my minde too too much busied with phantasies and those yea such most vaine euen as sometymes thou clearedst the heauens troubled by clouds vvhich lay ouerthwart before the lampe of the vvorld and let it please thee to secure me frō the punishmēt vvhich is euen ready to be inflicted on my sinne the reflecting on which mooueth in me a quiuering not vnlike to a twigge in y e water Let it suffice that I cōfesse my errors my greiueous offences the feare which I apprehend of thine anger at the day of Iudgmēt at vvhich time the teares and sighes of the culpable of the vvicked shall haue no more place in thy mercy nor vvilt thou in their behalfe be further for them as novv benignely thou art and thou wilt be for euer and euer our good and pious Lord. Lord euen for feare meditating on thy iudgment vvhich possesseth me yea euen all my spirits keepe back retaine altogether thy vvord in that dire◅ull day Vouchsafe not onely not to chastise me but also not too seuerely inflict on me punihment conformable to the tenor of thy iust ire prouoked by our greiueous faults vvhich although thou pardonest vs whilst thou correctest vs for our offēces make me yet not withstanding trēble For the correctiōs of the sinne of makinde are cōflicts banishmēts plagues stripes hūger wāts bondage dishonor hostility losse of children and stings of conscience Pacifie thine ire good Lord vvith vvhich my greiueous trespasses haue inflamed thee for the good that I am ready to worke by thy pitty haue mercy on me for that I alas am sick My very heart is wounded by that selfsame arrovv vvhich the bow of feare of damnation hath shott at it my soule bewailing languisheth for that my infirme body giueth it an inckling yea as it vvere a notable signe of estrangeing it selfe from it not ought reguarding the state of my disgrace vvich thee My senses are not sensible my tast hath no tast mine eyes see not my sense of feeling doth not apprehēd it's obiect my smelling doth not distinguish odors nay smell at all my hearing heareth not my infirmity is such as that it is not content vvith the help of plants nor the force of charmes Earthly physiek cannot be a salue to my sores in it there is no validity to cure my such heauy suffrances for thou onely cāst cure them and if thou composest not remedies for my maladies I cannot recouer my health hence lament I and with the teares which euen come from my heartes veines I beseech thee my Lord that thou deigne to heale me fully and compleatly My senses and my soule vvhi◅h are in their hot and cold fitts promooued by the
my flesh that I seeme to be a bodie hunger-starued cōsumeth for want of foode in vvhich is shutt vp a spirit so weake so ouertyred vvith faintnesse that vvith much difficultie can it send forth so much vitall breath that may shevv that it liueth and to this state am I reduced to this passe am I come for that I haue not nourished my soule vvith thy foode hence is it that my bones are destroyed my strength gonne and the forces the vertue of my soule each day more and more consuming through my faults my trespasses I am reduced to such an estate that I am as it were a man who lying on the earth can hardlie be thought either to be aliue or dead and through thus such like vveaknes I haue so litle breath so litle strēgth in me that I fere I cannot open my mouth to comfort me vvith the bread of health vvhich the hope giueth me vvhich my teares haue in thee I say those teares vvhich my heart powreth forth to make thee fo◅get my transgressions I am become like a Pellican saist thou by my tongue I apprehēd it I vnderstand it right well for that in enlightning me and giuing me grace that I may conceiue it thou dost througlie purifie my spirit dost giue light force to such a tenor to such being to such an height that I returne reassume to speake in thy name in thy person and hence thus doe I speake I am like a Pellican I vvill open my breast with the bill of my mercifull vvill and in the sollitude of the vvorld vvhich vvell may be so termed for that in it respect had to thee relation to thee vveighed each one is dead vvith my bloud will I resuscitate raise againe Nations the Gentiles as doth the Pelcan his young ones vvho dead reassume life in the blood of the bird which hath brought them forth but euen as the Ovvle in his place of abiding in his perching place seeth nothing but darknes so I in the vvorld shall see no other but obscuritie heauy gloomy darkenes of sinne fogḡs mists of pride and smokes of vanity Yea yet and againe thou speakest my Lord saying I avvaked watched and am become like a sollitarie sparovv vpon the roofe of an house thy vvord meaning that when others shall esteeme thee dead thou wilt vvatch thou wilt avvake vvhich is asmuch to say that to our seeming resuscitating rising againe the third day thou shalt haue seemed to haue slept but in the dayes that thou shalt sleepe imposing end making completion of thy miraculous workes vvhich thy vvill hath decreed to expedite to finish compleatile vvith thy vvorkes thou shalt euen sweat take heauie paines for the common good the common safetie of all the Vniuerse of all the vvorld and breaking rending a sunder and in peices the gates of Hell vvith the force of thy pitty thy tender mercie binding banishing and to euerlasting fire condemning our old aduersary thou shalt demonstrate in this such like slumber in this such like sleepe that thou vvert attentiue that thou wert alvvaies watchfull that thou didst fully vvatch for the publique benefit of thy creatures And in so doing thou vv◅lt resemble a louelie retired solitarie sparrow who after his flight from el◅vvhere strangerlike alone one onelie pitcheth himselfe allighteth and remayneth as in a place of rest in a house vvherein are manie people allodged I say that thou hauing disposed consummated those affaires vvhich thou hast to doe on the earth thou shalt aduance thy selfe and moūte to Heauen remayning euer after in Paradice with the Angels and among the soules as one onelie God and one onely Sauiour of the vvorld But thou procedest further in my vvordes At all times euen they vvho most especially should remember themselues of the benefits they haue receiued from my larges from my greate bounty calumniated me laid to my charge falslly malitiously crimes in such sort as if my good workes were vvicked and those vvho praised me in my presence speaking ill of me behinde my backe yea tearing me to pieces with their spightfull malitious tongues conspired against me as if I vvere not a Sauiour but a Tyrant of their vvell-being their safetie their saluation and it shal be true Lord that the vnfaithfull and they vvhose hearts are perfidious and blinde at the light of thy miracles taking in ill part thy vvonders which they cannot infringe cannot denie height of the vvorst of damnable vvretches then whom none exceede will come vvill arise against thee as vvol◅es doe against a simple most innocent lambe hauing no vvill to take notice to remēber themselues to haue knovvn the trueth of those thy misteryes in thy presence which they praised they extolled and farre othervvise farre from that trueth they made a head they made a congregation and sect against thy most just thy most precious blood yet shed for them so that they confesse and penitentlie acknovvledge that they vvrongfullie iniured thy innocencie vvith their enuie their malitious heart burning vvhich vvas invented against thee vpon those their false grounds vvhich one day thou vvilt deliuer and expresse thy selfe For I most humbly did eate ashes as bread I mingled my drinke with teares thanking them heartilie yea further enriching them vvith my fauours whosoeuer made me hott with the fire of charitie and sprinkled and dropped on me these ashes and these teares giuing me them to dinner to supper The enuie and vvickednes of the vnjust disquieted me molested me vvith the iniuries of reprehension rebuke controll it displeasing them that I should re ceiue into my grace sinners by reason of the vertue of their repentance And not onelie vvill they seeke in such manner by such ill offices to calumniate me to detract from me and to forge crimes against me but they vvill machinate vvorke prepare death to me innocent for my innocencie And as sure as ought can haue infallibilitie this shall follovv shall happen for that thou sayst it and for the falsenes the perfidiousnes and heighth of disloyaltie of the mindes of Princes of this people in their knovving that the preaching letting be divulged and declaring thy trueth is the end of destroying vvicked custome vvhich they vvill bring in practise to thy Church to depriue the poore ef their meanes vnder pretext of great deuotion greate zeale to sacrifice their guifts to thee by charge vvhereof their purses emptied they shabe open enimies of thy iustice and of thy trueth And for that that vvill be that thou vvillest be I speake in the person of human kinde vvho speaketh vvith the tongue of the first father Through thine anger and thy disdeigne thy wrath moued in thee through my sinne vvhich I Adam transcending the bounds of obedience committed I was depriued be◅eft of the principallest state of happines of felicitie and beatitude of the blessed yision of all goodnes of God and I was through mine error my fault my sinne cast dovvne into ruines from a precipice I vvas
succeedeth praise and to Gods glorie the conuersion of Nations and to Hierusalem and Sion peace and the speculation the contemplation shall bring ioy singular hearts-comfort true faith obtained the true most perspicuous light of trueth by meanes of the seruants and friends of Christ then shall the world triumphe in it's perfect ioy for that God shal be accorded God shall haue made attonement vvith man in testimonie whereof hee shall forget the disobediēce of him that vvas expelled banished from terrestriall Paradice for hauing valued an aple at an higher rate then God's commandement But vvhen so the name of our Lord shal be preached through all the world congregating and gathering together contemplation speculation and peace in one both kings people to the end they may serue God the Christ ā Church into which shall be collected assembled the people as also Kings Maketh this ansvvere to God who in the vvay of his goodnes his vertue called it his spouse it pleased him to see it held in reuerēce much honored by the selected number of the good Shew me the length of my dayes sincel perceiue I clearlie see my accrease aduancement and glorie Kings and people coming to me for no other end but to serue thee And so much doth it say alvvaies beholding it's greatnes as if it had before it all Hereticks all Antichristians all false Apostles vvho vvill come to molest it to displease it to vvrong it to trespasse against it vvith the malitious peruersnes of their deuillish doctrines vvith the power and might of their abominablie vvretched vvorckes and vvith the deceipt of a fained goodnes And thus earnestly encited prouoked vvith a sensible feare conuerting it selfe to thee vvith all it's feruour possiblie yet againe thus proceedeth Let not thy goodnes call me away in the midst of my dayes Lord thy dayes thy yeares thy time shall out last all generations and shall transcend all ages but I vvho perceiue dangers to be hāging ouer me which tongues ill example and wretched mindes of wicked Christians will attempt to make me headlonglie fall into am in great feare lest I become les◅ened and faile in the midst of my dayes as doe the lambs of a flocke decrease in nūber trhough the rott For it seemeth to me alreadie to be gouerned by the rod of some pastors much more greedie desirous of my blood of the blood of my flocke then vvill they be of my firmenes my strength my constancie and their safetie their saluation hence trembling not vvithout reason not vvithout great cause I humblie craue that thou let not me become lesse faile in the fairest bloome yea flovver of my youth and remember reflect hereō that I am thine handmaid and thy spouse hence is there no reason that I faile to flourish Grāt vnto me that I may liue euer joyned to thee vvho shalt euer be alwaies liue at least as long as the vvorld and human generation lasteth and that shall so be if so thou from age to age from nation to natiō mainteine me in the hearts in the vnion of kings and people Thou Lord in the beginning didst make the Earth and the Heauens are workes of thy hands and in the labours of such operations of such vvorkes thou shevvedst thy povver thy glory thy eternitie so didst thou to the end that vvee might liue here below vntill that our workes might deserue there aboue their revvard so boundles is the loue that thou vvho art the maket of all things dost beare to vs who setting aside the priuiledge which wee haue of being of thy making wee are euē as things of nothing Thou my Lord God madst the Sunne the Moone the Starres vvith other Heauenly vvorkes of thy euerlasting hands and all for vs for our soules to speculate on to looke on to contemplate vvhose soules free in their election in their choise are able if vvilling to be accepted of admitted and to be receiued in the Colledge in the fellowship of Angels in the order in the state and ranke of Archāgels in the number of Cherubins in the quire of Seraphins and in the societie of all the military troopes of Heauen treading vnder our feete the Celestiall signes Planets vvhich shall haue an end if so it shall please thee They shall perish but thou shalt alvvaies be thou shalt alvvaies remaine and they shal be consumed come to nothing like garments It is true Lord that what participateth not in condition in qualitie and substance of thy eternitie shall become fume shall resolue it selfe into smoke shall come euē to nothing but those things vvhich haue measure haue quantitie and substance from thee shall remaine entire for that thou onelie art eternall and the Heauens participaters of thy vertue shall remaine together with all other things that thy omnipotēcie please remaine as our soules vvhich thou createdst for if that they through themselues be not deficient they eternally dwell with thee But each other thing shall decline be vvorse and vvorse euen as daylie worne cloathes are become at length through cōtinuall wearing nought vvorth altogether vvorne out consuming as doe all terrestriall things And in this secōd death wherevvith time armed vvith yeares beateth dovvne and maketh an end of all things thy power and eternity is demonstrated is clearly shevven vvhich can doe vvhat it vvill hence if it please thee thou vvilt likevvise change the Heauens So that it please thee if thou vvilt thou shalt remoue the heauens out of such their now place and thou shalt change them as a garment for the same power thou hast on the world thou hast on the Heauēs thou hast made them and thou canst destroy them thou canst pull them all to pieces vnioynt them remoue them from their proper spheres and in a moment thou canst make other axeltrees new Poles and other lights other Sunn 's other Starres other Moones and the Heauens vvith it's lights shal be subiect to change and increase of number if it so be thy will But thou art alwaies the same vvithout being vnder any other power but thine owne selfe-same and thy yeares vvill not faile for time hath nothing to doe vvith them they are not subjects to time hence they shall alvvaies haue being they shall neuer haue end nor though there pa◅e it importeth not hovv many lusters hovv many ages hovv many hūdred yeares to thee the accompte is euen of one day is not diminished is not vvanting for thou art hee vvho is author of the selfe same Eternitie vvhich ought necessarilie must be vvith thee alwaies in it's proper state in it's proper povver And for that thy pitty commiseration thy mercie is infinite answerable to the affection to the great loue thou bearest vnto vs the ofsprings the sonnes of thy seruant shall liue and inhabite vvith this thy eternity and the generation of them shall euer remaine be conserued for euer and from hence thy graces occasion that thy mercie dilate extend
the other Truelie there is not any who through his ovvne deserts and through his innocencie being in such state of sinne could sustaâ—…ne vndergoe thy judgment if so that on such an one thou hadst put in practise in execution thy iustice onelie But because thou knowest Lord vvhat and of vvhat qualitie what condition is human frailty of thou hast maâ—…e vs know thy mercie hence are vve confident hence are vve appeased hence rest vve sure in it thankes be to it through thee For with thee is mercie for thy lavv haue I sustained thee I say in demonstration hovv much yea and vvhat is the mercie of thy gratious commiserating goodnes thou shalt send downe thy SoÌ„ne into the world vvhence I vvho through thy grace and vertue know this new lavv and this nevv order this new disposition of things vvhereby each one vvho vvill may be saued in thy decreed mercie haue in sustaining supporting placed my hopes in thee and I am not coÌ„founded I am not in despaire but if thou so vvert not pleased that I knovv to recount the goodnes of thy grace vvhich thou hast giuen me as also that thou vvilt not pardon euerie one but yet vvilt send thy Sonne to dye for the saluation of sinners I should not haue been this present day to be confounded and to despaire of my selfe onelie thincking on the demerit of my most greiuious transgressions My soule hath sustained it selfe in thy vvorde my minde hath hoped in our Lord through the stable hope vvhich I haue had in God my soule is held vp lifted vp mainteined in thy vvord vvhich hath dictated vvhich hath spoken that vvhich thou hast vvilled I should speake of and concerning Christ vvho vvill not onelie come to preach his mercie to them vvho hope in it but hee vvill likevvise teach it to him vvho after him hath Commission command and is bound to make it knovvn in his name as I deliuer it cleare vvho am all consolated in the hope vvhich I haue alwayes had in thy mercy and it seemeth to me that I haue donne much hauing sustained on my selfe the burthen of these my such so great transgressions but I should not haue been able to vndergoe so much had not my soule hoped in it's Lord and had it been bent employed working in so feruent a penitencie which with thee is of some merit which thou so prisest thanks be to thy goodnes thy grace vvhich enlargest it vvith to the end it deserue but I hence forward will yet further bring forth fruite worthy of penitencie not onely repent me to haue been a trespasser to haue been vvreched From the morning watch vntill night let Israël hope in our Lord for that God is fullie mercifull and for that he loueth vs so much from the beginning to the end of our life let the elected people that is those who seeke for their health their safetie their saluation in God hope in our Lord vvho from the instant that a man is borne vntill the instant of his death is alwaies mercifull nor supporteth hee that the sinner shee l in vaine any of the teares proceeding from his repentance nor anie of the vvordes of his prayers no no for they are safelie laid vp in the Eschequer vvhere are carefullie conserued surelie kept the treasures heaped vp laid vp in store in Heauen to adorne with sempiternall vvith euerlasting magnificence and glorie the soules of the elected And let not the good onelie hope and sinners in God alwaies and at all times of their liues but let them hope watching euermore on their safetie their saluation euen as a seruant doth in the vvatch vvhich his maister hath appointed him to vvho not for that he began to execute his charge but for the hauing fullie discharged what hee was appointed to doe to the very time that hee called him from it atcheiueth winneth the revvard prepared appointed for him For that in our Lord is mercy and most copious most fully abundant redemption I haue alwaies hoped in him I haue euermore coÌ„fided put my sure and most vndoubted trust in my castigation in my reclaime in my amendment and in the health in the saluation which the coming of his Sonne shall bring to vs. And for that I without all vncertaintie know that I shall make attonement vvith him notvvithstanding I vvas masked vnder the disguise the vveed of sinne vvhich had so estranged me that I vndervvent imminent danger to haue neuer reassumed my selfe neuer reacknovvledged my selfe I will reioyce in the height in the depth of my pensivenesie of my greiuous heavines and vvhilst that I shall endeauour heartilie labour to praise my Lord and to render thanks to my Lord alwaies imploring pardon peace and tranquilitie thy ordinances ô God thy decrees will hasten to giue happie dispatch to the safetie of Israël which trustethin thee our Lord fulfilling accomplishing thy trueth as I by my voice haue deliuered Let the elect confide in our Lord and this our mercifull and gratious Lord vvill redeeme Israël vvill free Israël from all it's transgressions and sending into the vvorld his onelie begotten Sonne all the trespasses all the hainous sinnes of mankinde shal be bought out be redeemed by his most pretious blood and through the merit of it vvee shall not onelie reape the fruite the great benefit of hauing our old sinnes forgiueÌ„ vs but in like manner all our offences which by vs hauue been possibly able to be trespassed in in his sight vvho vvill alvvaies be indulgent fauourable cleare in aspect to any one who shall endeauour to behold vvith a pure minde and a feruent vvill of a contrite heart the peaceable mild and rarely fauorable cast of his admired and dreadfull countenance from vvhose eyebries raies beames are cast are sent forth of that glorie vvhich his mercy dispenseth to anie vvho desireth to glorifie himselâ—…e in him The end of the sixth Psalme THE SEAVENTH PROLOGVE IF so be that at any time the petitions the humble supplications the most feruent importuning prayers of his seruants vvere acceptable pleasing gratefull to God then vvere these of Dauid vvho pulled vp them by the rootes from the bottome of his heart no othervvise then doth the winde roote out grubbe vp from the Earth's deepes the roots of tâ—…es vvhich it by the great force the viâ—…ce of it 's tepestuous motion throweth downe And vvell made he shevv of it in him it vvas eâ—…idently seene that his prayers had fauour able hearing and were pleasing to God for hauing opened his benigne mercisull and most commiâ—…erating eares to his heartiest vvishes hee struck him with such an inexpressible joy in an instant sprâ—…g and framed in his heart hee being in a kind of an extaâ—…ie not knowing how so that hee seemed a man whose minde hath apprehended some vvhat such as hee cannot expresse giue a denomination to declare vvhat it is which not with â—…anding proceedeth so farre that it marvailously taketh him extreamely possessed by â—…ght of hearts-ioy yea