He need but take a patterne of your state Borne noble learned bred whose acts expresse That honor cannot vertues force abate In home-kind loue abroad vnmenast hate In bodies value and in spright of mind You haue no cause to blame your aduerse fate Which such a great aspect hath you assignd Yet that you yet more happinesse might find The common loue your countrey you doth owe To offer you this meanes thereto doth bind My will which in this lowly gift I show Which yet accept for worthy Princes sake Who of each point a perfect proofe did make To the Right Ho. the Earle of Shrewsburie VVEll placed vertue in high honors seat Well bending honour to a Christians state Vouchsafe my pen your pardon may intreat Who this my vowed seruice offer late Your shining glory did my hope abate When first to seeke your sight my fancie ment Your fame for vertue yet did animate My pen which vnto you this present sent Your true nobilitie which seemeth bent To foster innocents from powrefull foe Doth promise me wisht fruit of hearts intent If vnder your protection it doth goe The rather since of honor I do wright And happinesse which is your soules delight To the right Honourable the Earle of Cumberland THe Crowned honor iustly which befell To valiant Iosua and wise Calebs race Whose faith to fainting people did foretell The fruitfull spoyle of proud resisters place Their natiue vertues which you haue by grace Whose sword doth fight the battels of the iust Which makes our Hemis-phere your fame imbrace And feebled hearts on your stout courage trust My confidence in you excuse they must Who do my Poems muster in your traine Whose theame hath bin by wisest king discust And in your practise do of proofe remaine Which leade the way vnto the holy land For which whilst here you liue you fighting stand To the Right honorable the Earle of Sussex THe skilfull Pilots that the Ocean haunt In stormes are found to be of merry cheare Whom fairest calmes with feare dread do daunt Because a signe of change doth seeme appeare The expert souldiers vsed to the warre In time of peace do arme them for the fight And carefull Christians will foresee from farre The fierce temptations may in pleasure light Then since no settled rule there can be here Whereby to know the issues growing are But change of times may comfort clips or cleare And so our present state amend or marre Learne here braue Chāpion noble vertuous wise To beare all brunts that may in life arise To the Right Ho. the Earle of Southampton AMongst most noble noble euery way Among the wise wise in a high degree Among the vertuous vertuous may I say You worthy seeme right worthy Lord to mee By bloud by value noble we you see By nature and by learnings trauell wise By loue of good ils hate you vertuous bee Hence publike honor priuate loue doth rise Which hath inuited me thus to deuise To shew my selfe not slacke to honour you By this meane gift since powre more fit denies Which let me craue be read and held for true Of honor wisedome vertue I delate Which you pursuing will aduance your state To the Right Honorable the Lord Zouch VVHat haue I done that I would take in hand To picke forth Patrons should my work defend When such a Lordly troope of Nobles stand As in the choyce of them I find no end But hauing thus begun I do intend To fawne on those whose fauours I haue found Amongst the which I trust you helpe will lend Because the building is on such a ground I know your learned skill and iudgement sound Which might deter it to approch your sight But whereas loue they say doth once abound There feare and all suspect is banisht quight Your vertues loue your honor force me yeeld To you on whose kind fauour I do build To the Right Honorable the Lord Willougbie of Ersbie MIght I forget the Comforts of my prime Might I neglect the matter which I wright Might I not know the hopes of present time Forgetting you I might my selfe acquight But parentes fauours once my youths delight Your selfe apatterne of a happie peere Whose proofes of vertue publike are to sight Might me vpbraid with peeuish silence here If I should hold so meane a gift too deare For one whose ancient debter yet I rest For whom my Poeme doth so fit appeare Since you our age recordes among the best Then thinke not I by slight would kindnes gaine But hold this due If honest I remaine To the Right Honourable the Lord Burrowes I Not intend by present of a booke Which for the title most men will allowe For equall praise with first true author looke Because I newly it transformed now Nor for my owne presume I it to'avow Vnworthie herald of that princes says Which duely to deliuer few know how And I of all most weake by many ways Yet since your high praisd bountie not denays A grate acceptance of a kindly gift Vpon that hope my present boldnesse stays Who in my purpose haue no other drift But let you see earths vaine heauens perfect blis Which with my heart I wish you tast in this To the Right Honorable the Lord Mountioy TO you the noble light of happie I le In whose most vertuous breast the holy fire Vnquenched liues when all the world the while Nigh drowned lyes in dreames of vaine desire Whose holy zeale the godly do admire Whose worthie constancie the wise commend For whom heauens glorie waights as vertuous hire To whom the hearts of men with honour bend Who do pure vertue to your powre defend Whom vaine delights of earth cannot defile Whom to protect religion God did send Vouchsafe to listen to my song a while Which right true tidings to the world doth bring Of what obserued was by wisest king To the Right Honorable the Lord of Hunsdon OF good king Dauids holy'and carefull bent Of wise and happie Salomons desire Their liuely patterns here I do present To you braue Lord as kind deserts require Your gifts of nature rare I not admire Since heire you were vnto so noble a father Whose wisdome to true honour did aspire But gifts of grace which by your life I gather And for the which you reuerenc't are the rather As heire to both those kings in common care Of God and realme gainst which most lewd deprauer Is forth his poysoned tongue for shame to spare As for that good to me by you hath flowne Was but one frute of many vertues knowne To the Right reuerend father in God To by Bishop of Duresme IF double cumber of the publike care Of Paules and Peters sword and keyes may rest I would intreat you some small time to spare To view the face of your inuited gest Of all men you haue cause to vse him best Because you more then halfe the father are To you therefore I haue him first addrest To haue his
but small For in those points the best knowe nought at all verse 15 He tyres himselfe in highest points yet knowes not common way verse 16 O wretched land ruld by such child whose peeres do feast by day 15. The labour of the foolish doth weary him for he knoweth not to go into the citie Thus do the foolish vainely take in hand To vexe their braines with things for them to hie They know that future things none vnderstand Yet they their faculties therein will try Such wise fooles fondly wise the world hath many It fares with them if it be rightly scand As with the blind that would the seeing guide As if one wandring in an vncouth land Would those instruct the way dwell hard beside They silly fooles know not their next way home And yet their wits would ouer all things rome 16. Wo to thee ô land when the king is a child and thy Princes eat in the morning Wo be to such that by such ruled are But speciall wo be to thee land where they Do beare the Scepter least they all do marre As ill as infants when they beare the sway Who not themselues much lesse thy state can stay And doubled is thy woe and mischiefe farre If that thy Magistrates who should aduise Their Prince in highest points of peace or warre To banqueting and surfets early rise Neglecting common good which first of all With temperate braine they should to counsell call verse 17 But blest ô land where honor rules where Nobles feed to liue verse 18 By sloth the house decays rain through top of roofe doth driue 17. â—lessed art thou â— land when thy king is the sonne of Nobles and thy Princes eat in time for strength and not for drunkennesse And thou thrice happy soyle whose Prince descends Of pedegree of Emp'rors and of Kings Of auncient honor which to vertue bends Whose rule both peace and plenty to thee brings Where through thy fame moÌ„gst forreÌ„ regions rings And happy Prince whom God a Councell sends Of noble Peeres and wise whose watchfull eyes Thy subiects from all forren foes defends And ciuill broyles that might at home arise Such do in temperate wise their plentie vse And feed for strength and plenty not abuse 18. By slothfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decay by the idlenes of the hand the house droppeth through They cause the Pesant in sweet peace manure The land the treasury of wealths encrease Vnto the needy they do worke procure And see the poore with wealthy liue in peace And all oppression in the land to cease Their waking eyes doth Princes state assure Doth to the people courage giue to toyle Gaines to themselues a fame shall aye indure Giues to the foe the most disgracefull foyle All this with paine and diligence is wonne Slouth ruines all makes all to hauock ronne verse 19 Bread streÌ„gthens hart wine cheers the mind but siluer al doth by verse 20 Curse not thy king or Peeres in thought lest birds the same descry 19. They prepare bread for laughter and wine comforteth the liuing but siluer answereth to all They giue the safetie for to vse thy owne And peace of plentie that thou mayest feed Thou feedst by them of best on earth hath growne Of fatlings which thy flocks and heards do breed To recreate thy soule at time of need And for by gold and siluer wealth is showne They do inrich the land with purest quine By which thy trafficke farre and neere is knowne And Indian gems and Arabian drugs are thine Gold gayneth all and Ophire gold thou hast Then happie thou if hap in wealth be plast 20. Curse not the king no not in thy thought neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the heauen shall carry thy voice and that which hath wings shall declare the matter Then slander not such Prince that counsell graue By whom so many benefits we find Their many merits many thankes do craue Each honest hart to reuerent loue they bind And base backbiters only are vnkind The lawes of God and nature willed haue The Magistrate should reuerenced bee The lawes of man the bounds vnto thee gaue Of words and deeds but God the thought doth see In deed then word and thought them honor aye Least flying fowles of ayre thy guilt bewray Chap. 11. verse 1 Cast bread on waters freely spend ere long thou shalt it find verse 2 To seuen seuen giue if they need earths wants are great behind 1. Cast thy bread vpoÌ„ the waters for after many days thou shalt find it NOw since no lesse discretion is requir'd In vsing wealth then getting of the same And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd Doth profit others most and gaines best name I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame I would not haue thy hand too quickly tyrde Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde An almes whom greatest need to craue might driue Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine Yet needlesse gift a gratefull hart may gaine 2. Giue a portion to seuen also to eight for thou knowest not what euill shall be vpon the earth Some giue in hope a gift to gaine thereby Such gifts I rather bribes then gifts do call Some feare to giue least they themselues may try Like want ere long and so giue nought at all Some sometimes giue but yet their gifts are small But I would haue thy almes giuen cheerefully Vnaskt sometimes if crau'd to none denide Let none lacke to thy powre in need that lye And to preuent their need some goods deuide For God all bountie is and so should we Dispose our goods if like him we would be verse 3 If clouds be full raine fals on earth and trees in north south verse 4 Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind but little land he plow'th 3. If the cloâ—des be full they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth and if the tree do fall toward the South or toward the North in the place that the tree falleth there it shal be Yea looke how plenteously thou seest the raine Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill So long as any drops in them remaine Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill So in thy almes be thou as forward still And as each soile some sap from heauen doth gaine And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine To whom or when so ere thou giuing art And if thy store be great more mayst thou spend If lesse yet some vnto more needy lend 4. He that obserueth the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the clouds shal not reape Take all occasions to be doing well Let euery season for it proper seeme The husbandmen that most in skill excell Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme Yet to be too precise vnfit esteeme Who marketh alwaies where the wind doth dwell And
affections free And in that world no vaine delights shall bee verse 9 These things and more he spake for more he knew the more he taught His people knowledge for their good in all his words he sought 9. And the more wise the Preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge Full many other learned workes beside He wrote for more he knew the more he taught Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought And he with care and study dearely bought Three thousand morall rules in writ abide In prouerbs and in adages for skill So sound that they worlds censure may abide And to a ciuill life reduce thee will Without offence of lawes and with content Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent And caused them to heare Of natures workes with supernaturall skill He many volumes did compose likewise Not curious workes as some profanely will Of Alcumy or iudgements which arise By heauenly motions farre aboue the skies But he his knowledge hath contained still Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree And therefore many volumes he did fill With medcinable vse of things which bee Abstracted out of tree shrub mettall stone Of beast fish fowle and creatures euery one He sought by parables to giue them precepts how to liue verse 10 And with adorned words to them he doubly grace did giue 10. And searched forth and prepared many parables His heauenly Muse with wings of zeale did fly Aboue the common pitch of earthly men And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby With holy liking of his loue as then That he could not containe his gratefull pen. In thousand songs and fiue his powers did try The prayses of his sacred soules delight In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy Which from him loue of world did banish quight Among the which that song of songs by name Describes her beautie did him so inflame The preacher sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing euen the words of truth But this his large discourse was chiefly ment To teach the world to know how farre they stray That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent To leade their liues vnto a happie day Since nature wholy doth the same denay Which for it crosseth carnall mens content And hardly may amongst most wise haue place By this most pleasant stile about he went To giue to naked truth a comely grace For hardly can corrupted man digest Right wholesome food vnlesse it well be drest verse 11 For wise words are like goades and nailes which workmens hands do ding verse 12 Vaine bookes and reading shun they wearinesse of flesh do bring 11. The words of the wise are like goades like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies which are giuē by one Pastor And wise mens sayings spoken to the wise Well fraught with matter couched well by art Adornd with words and figures whence arise Content vnto the eare and moue the hart Most soone do worke impressions in each part And as they sooner pierce so firmlier lies The mind resolued in such fownded ground Than any planke or post you can deuise With nayle by hammers forced nere to sound And such this princely Prophets words esteeme Which are more waighty far thē thou woulst deeme 12. And of other things besides these my sonne take thou heed for there is none end in making many bookes and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh And let this graue aduice of father mild Which louingly he wrote I bring to thee Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild That with the world againe sedust thou bee Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see And striue to practise as you knowledge build Else is your learning vnto little end These many bookes wherewith this world is fild Do slender profit to the readers lend Which stuft with words of superficiall show But little fruit by them to world doth grow verse 13 Heare th' end of all feare God keepe his law this is mans dew verse 14 For God wil iudge ech work bring our secret thoghts to vew 13. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commaundements for this is the whole dutie of a man The end of all true wisedome is in this To know the will of God and it obserue To know his will and yet to walke amis A double chastisement must needs deserue Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue No seruile feare which I perswade it is But such as gratefull child to parent owes VVho though he feele the smart the rod will kisse Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes And this doth God require of man indeed That our obedience should from loue proceed 14. For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgment with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The breach whereof will heauie iudgement call VVhen God the searcher of the heart and raines Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines O happie then shall they be most of all VVhose heedfull liues in holy workes were spent The gaine of this their trauell is not small For blessed they the narrow path that went And though this narrow gate few enter in Yet who runs on this race the prize shall win FINIS Adue to worlds vaine delight YE worlds delights blind guides to blisse adue VVeake helpes which fit a carnall vaine desire My soule can find but comfort small in you Though as true blisse profane sort you admire My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire In faith to place my hope of firmer stay To gaine true blisse lesse toyle it doth require Then worlds vaine pleasure doth by farre away Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray Your liking base effect of fond desire The earth your seat doth perfectnesse denay My soules true hope inspir'd with heauenly fire There seekes to liue where blisse is firme and true And by reformed life would heauen pursue Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer by the same Author Psalme 27. 1 THe Lord he is my sauing light whom should I therefore feare 2 He makes my foes to fall whose teeth would me in sunder teare 3 Though hosts of men besiege my soule my heart shall neuer dread 4 So that within his Court and sight my life may still be lead 5 For in his Church from trouble free he shall me keepe in hold 6 In spight of foes his wondrous prayse my song shall still vnfold 7 Haue mercie Lord therefore on me and heare me when I cry 8 Thou badst me looke with hope on thee for helpe to thee I fly 9 In wrath therefore hide not thy face but be thou still my aide 10 Though parents fayle thou wilt assist thy promise so hath said 11 Teach me thy truth and thy right path
shal speake thy praise 172 My tongue shall tell thy word of truth and walke thy righteoâ—s wayes 173 Helpe with thy hand for I entend thy precepts to pursue 174 Thy sauing helpe and law I seeke Lord do my faith renue 175 Let liue my soule to praise thy name thy mercie me vphold 176 I feare thy law then clense my sinnes and bring me to thy fold Psalme 121. 1 VNto the hils I lift my eye from whence my helpe shall grow 2 EueÌ„ to the Lord which fram'd the heauens made the deeps below 3 He will not let my feete to slip my watchman neither sleepes 4 Behold the Lord of Israell still his flocke in safety keepes 5 The Lord is my defence he doth about me shadow cast 6 By day nor night the Sunne nor Moone my limbs shall burne or blast 7 He shall preserue me from all ill and me from sinne protect 8 My going in and comming forth he euer shall direct Psalme 130. 1 FRom pit of deepe perplexities to thee for helpe I cry 2 O Lord giue â—are vnto my plaâ—â—t and 〈◊〉 me speedily 3 If strictly thou my sinnes behold ô Lord what â—â—esh is iust 4 But mercy proper is to thee and thereto dâ— we trust 5 Vpon thy promise I attend thy word is alwayes true 6 With morning and with euening watch I will my sute renue 7 Thy seruant must depend on thee in thee iâ— mercie found 8 Thou wilt redeeme their â—oules from death thy grace doth so abound Lords Prayer OVr Father which in heauen art Lord halowed be thy name Thy knigdome come thy will be done in heauen and earth the same Giue vs this day our daily bread our trespasses forgiue As we for other mens offence do freely pardon giue Into temptation leade vs not but liuer vs from ill For thine all kingdome glory powre is now and euer will SVNDRY CHRISTIAN PASSIONS CONTAINED in two hundred Sonnets Diuided into two equall parts The first consisting chiefly of Meditations Humiliations and Prayers The second of Comfort Ioy and Thankesgiuing By H. L. Call vpon me in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me LONDON Printed by Richard Field 1597. To the rIght renoVVneD VertVoVs VIrgin ELIzabeth VVorthy QVeene of happIe EngLanD her hIghnesse falthfVL subleCâ— Henry Lok VVIsheth Long Lyfe VVIth eternaL bLIsse IVne VII MY worthlesse pen To eternize In holy flame VVhich doth dispise Thee sacred dame That should protect VVhose Phoenix quil And those hath dect Heauens do distill As come from thence Ioue long you saue For whose defence Venus would craue VVhich Pallas wils Presumeth to deuise Your peerles vertuous fame Of zeale my hart doth rise A theame of vulgar frame The graces haue select The holy Muses hill Doth heauenly Crowne affect VVhich Romane Trophies fill Their happie influence You there your portion haue VVhose Scepters you dispence True English hearts he gaue And Dain doth that due Me yeeld alone to you The obseruations of the square following 1 A Saint Georges crosse of two collumbs in discription of her Maiestie beginning at A. and B. in the middle to be read downward and crossing at C. and D. to be read either single or double 2 A S. Andrews crosse beginning at E. read thwartwaies and ending with F. containing the description of our happie age by her highnesse 3 Two Pillers in the right and left side of the square in verse reaching from E. and F. perpendicularly containing the sum of the whole the latter columbe hauing the words placed counterchangeably to rime to the whole square 4 The first last two verses or the third and fourth with seuenth and eighth are sense in them selues containing also sense of the whole 5 The whole square of 100. containing in it self fiue squares the angles of each of them are sense particularly and vnited depend each on other beginning at the center 6 The out-angles are to be read 8. seuerall waies in sense and verse 7 The eight words placed also in the ends of the S. Georges crosse are sense and verse alluding to the whole crosse 8 The two third words in the bend deaeter of the S. Andrews crosse being the middle from the angles to the center haue in their first letters T. and A. for the Author and H. L. in their second for his name which to be true the words of the angles in that square confirme 9 The direction to her Maiestie in prose aboue containeth onely of numerall letters the yeare and day of the composition as thus DD. C LL LL LL LL. VV VV VV VV VV VV VV VV. IIIIIIIIIIIII For 1593. Iune V. A Square in verse of a hundred monasillables only Describing the cause of Englands happinesse  Haec   ◠   A B    F  In           â—oc  God 5 hath pourd forth Rare Grace On this Iâ—â—e And   Makes Cround 4 your rule Queene In the same so 4 still   Kings lawd THis 3 saint Faire that with truth 3 doth stand   Rule so long time 2 milde Prince ioy 2 land it will  C Forma For proofe you showes 1 wise 1 of earths race whome There Quadrata  HeaueÌ„s haue vp held Iust 1 choice 1 whome God thus sheilds   Your stocke of Kings 2 worlds rich of 2 spring and feare   States fame Known 3 farre Praise Isle which ALl 3 blisse yeilds   Hold God 4 there fore sure stay of all the 4 Bâ—st  Vinces Blâ—st 5 is your raigne Here Builds sweet Peace true Rest 5 Signâ—â— Â Fiâ—â—â— Â The Square plainely set downe GOd hath powr'd forth rare grace on this I le and Makes crown'd your rule Queene in the same so still Kings laud this Saint faire that with truth doth stand Rule so long time mild Prince ioy land it will For proofe you showes wise of earths race whom there Heauens haue vpheld lust choyce whom God thus shields Your stocke of kings worlds rich ofspring and feare States fame knowne farre praise I le which all blisse yeelds Hold God therefore sure stay and port the best Blest is your raigne here builds sweet peace true rest To the Christian Reader WHo so shall duly consider the whole progresse of mans estate from life to death shall find it gentle Reader to be nothing else but a very pilgrimage through this earth to another world for whether we obserue the common course of all flesh which from the mothers wombe to the graue is still trauelling with change of bodily constitution from youth to age from health to sicknesse so from one estate to another Or if we behold the particular incounters which each man findeth in himselfe in the variable change of hopes and crossing of his purposes in both it shall by a generall experieÌ„ce of all mens calamities be assuredly confirmed to be too true But
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
superlatiue degree But so foolish and new-fangled are our desires that wishing we wot not what and seeking it we know not how nor where we come all farre short of the same and some runne headlong to the despised contrary looking for it on earth and therby groping for it to their graues they are there cut off of their hopes and die discontented with their haps Whereas if they acknowledged it to be the tree of life planted in the heauenly paradise they wold lesse labor their bodies for attaining these transitorie shadowes of pleasure and more exercise the faculties of the soule for atchiuing the same so much the more despising these instable imperfect happinesses of this life as they found their foolish affections of the flesh doting on thē to worke neglect of the nutriment of their soule slacknes in the constant trauell in religion and vertue which is requisit for the long iorney we haue to passe through life and death thereunto But this hauing bin the sicknes of all ages specially of the Iewes in Salomons time which induced him as it should appeare to take so great paines in remouing thē from that error I the lesse maruell that our age florishing in the pride of like long peace and plentie vnder her Maiesties most happie raigne be also sotted with the world as they were dreaming of that perfection and perpetuity here which God by nature hath denied vnto vs but by her Highnes raigne we could hope for And since it is the dutie of euery part and member of the body to ioyne in the assistance cure of the whole if any particular of it shold suffer I haue in a dutiful compassiō of this cōmon calamity endeuored to seeke forth some mithridate for this poyson by which so many perish and haue here brought thee a Doses of the wisest Physitions cōposition that euer had practise of that cure who did not for th' experimēt of his potions qualitie first kill many patients in triall thereof but applying it to his owne wound first dares confidently write probatum est and by the seale of the holy spirit and consent of the Church doth warrant thee to tast of the same It is a receipt so oldly composed perhaps that thou respectest it the lesse or of so small price that thou shamest to take it or perhaps knowing the bitternesse of the tast thou hadst as liue continue sicke as to trie it But deceiue not thy selfe it is of the nature of the perfectest drogs which with age increase in strength of the kind of Sibillaes works which refused grow higher prized and of the herbe called woodroofe which onely handled hath an euill smell but more forcibly rubbed yeeldeth a sweet sauour Receiue it therefore as confidently as he assureth it and as kindly as I intend it who in respect that the obscuritie of many places the contrarietie as at first would appeare of some points and strange dependancie of the whole together haue done my carefull studious iudeuor by consideration imitation of the best interpreters hereof to explane the true sense accord the different places to ioine by probable cōnexion the whole discourse together which aswel to distinguish the seuerall arguments as to varie the verse and pawse the reader I haue not altogether vnfitly distributed into three Sermons each one containing foure Chapters a peece The first especially shewing the vaine opinion of felicitie which is not in earth to be found The second pointing more directly by the lawfull vse of this life the true way vnto her The last teaching her residence to be in heauen and perswading the speedie pursute of her fauor And that you might truly consider of the cariage of the matter according to the scope of the Text I haue caused the same to be quoted in the margent reducing for memorie sake into two abstract lines of verse set in the top of euerie leafe the substance of euery pages content which afterward as thou seest is paraphrastically dilated page by page in the plainest forme I can deuise Who in respect of the grauitie of the argument did restraine my pen frō the helpes of much profane learning and in consideration of the antiquity of the worke and maiestie of the author could not without great indecencie haue vsed the authorities of men or of so late times as since the learnings florished whence we now receiue our common light Like naked truth therefore I pray thee receiue it for it owne if not for my sake if in any thing I seeme to swarne from thy conceit of many points I pray thee confer farther therin with D. Gregorius Neocerasiensis Epis. Olimpioderus D. Salonius Epis. Viennēsis Theod. Beza Ioh. Serranus Anth. Corranus Tremelius all interpreters and paraphrasers in prose vpon this worke and I. Lectius Ro. Lemmannus I. Viuianus reducers thereof into Latin poesie or any other thou likest better of so shal my errors be couered or excused whilst their different formes distributiōs of method interpretatiōs wil leaue thee I am perswaded in some points as litle satisfied as this my labor shall do who in some things was forced to digresse from them all when either too much in one place or too litle in an other they followed the forme of a Paraphrasis which they vndertooke into which error also it is not vnlike but I haue sometimes fallen my selfe and I doubt not but many things more might haue bin said perhaps to more purpose then I haue done but non omnia possumus omnes According to my sufficiencie I haue discharged my self faithfully vnto thee and therfore I trust in these dayes wherein some pernitious many vnciuil and a swarme of superfluous and vnprofitable books passe from the presse it shall not be needfull for me to vse great insinuation for thy fauour since it lyeth not in the bounds of a Preface to prepare a peruerse mind or in the nature of such a worke to go a begging for a grace I will therfore cut off that labor only signifie vnto thee the excellency of this worke compiled by the wisest man and mightiest king of Israell euen Salomon the king of peace Ydida the beloued of God Ecclesiastes the preacher who in his Prouerbs instructeth thee as a child to a ciuill and honest life in this worke instituteth thy manly thoughts to the inquisition of the highest good To the end that by his last song of heauenly loue thy ripened thoughts might be inflamed with that glorious bride Christ Iesus to whose holy direction I hartily cōmend thee H. L. Certaine poems to the Authour of the worke TErra ferax vatum est Brittannia non tamen omnes Aut vno aut sacro flamine Phoebus agit Hic canit obscuri certaminis arma virosve Alter lasciui ludicra amoris alit Hos genio vt superas sic carmine argumento AEquum Reginae est cedere Regis opus A. H. S. Ad Serenissimam Reginam
surpasse them farre As Henok Babell Troy true patterns are 4. A time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance Though nothing be more needfull to our kind The rigors to alay of worldly care Though nothing better for the health we find Then mirth at times we may well for it spare Yet in the vse of it we must beware And vse it so as if we readie were The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare For times there are when dutie doth require We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe For partners in distresse doe all desire And men suppose thereby they find reliefe For sinne so should we mourne as cause most chiefe When Gods offended face doth threat his rod Thus mirth and woe are both requir'd by God verse 5 To scatter stones and gather them t' embrace and thrust away verse 6 A season is to seeke to loose to keepe to wast I say 5. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones a time to imbrace and a time to be far from imbracing There is a time when we the quarries draw And from the bowels of the earth full deepe Rayse vp her bones the stones which neuer saw The lightsome aire and them we carued keepe To rayse with them our towers to heauen which peepe Which afterward decay and we are faine Their ruines to transport abrode againe Euen so in youthfull yeares it seemeth fit As nature made it apt for loues imbrace So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it With due respect of person time and place Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case As when decrepit age creepes to the graue To dote in loue and seeke a wife to haue 6. A time to seeke and a time to loose a time to keepe and a time to cast away There is a time when man with reason may With diligence indeuour for to gaine A portion fit his family to stay Although with sweat of browes and daily paine But it were folly to torment his braine If losses happe for there will losses fall Vnto most wise if they haue ought at all Then he that 's wise knowes when to spend and spare For who hath most before he die may need And he must spend sometimes that is most bare And he may thriue that doth the needie feed Bountie doth loue and neighbour liking breed It is a vertue placed in a meane Although it rather doe to giuing leane verse 7 A time to reape and sow againe for silence and to speake verse 8 To loue to hate to talke of peace and peace with war to breake 7. A time to reap and a time to sow a time to keepe silence and a time to 〈◊〉 The rich attyres ordaynd by craft mans hand To couer shame which sinne made man to see Be not so comely held in any land But that in other lands dislikt they bee So what one sowes the other reapes for thee Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are None make more fast then others mending marre What speake we of such common things as this Not speech it selfe the Eccho to the hart May be so free but it restrained is To ciuill rules and lawes of very art The tongues misuse ofâ— breedes the bodie smart We therefore learne both how and when to speake And when we modest silence may not breake 8. A time to loue and a time to hate a time of warre and a time of peace Yea though that kindled heate of beauties fire And sympathy of natures liking good Chast loue be founded on a iust desire And beare such sway as hardly is withstood Infecting by the eye both spirit and blood Yet such incounters grow in some respect That loue findes hate best merit base neglect Yea bloudie warre the scourge of peace misusd The fire-brand of ambition hels owne chyld The wracke of iustice value oft abusd From common wealth may not be well exyld Though peace breed welth welth yet with pride defyld Produceth warre which pouertie doth breed To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed verse 9 What profit finds the toyle some man of all his carke and care verse 10 To humble mans ambitious mind God did these pames prepare 9. What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he trauelleth Which if so be as so it is indeed Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise The Magy Druides and Stoicks breed The Sophis and most wise of all Rabbies And all Philosophers of euery guise Who morall rules and naturall skill did know Or iudgements supernaturall did show Them would I haue to tell to me in briefe What profit man most properly may say He hath of all his dayes consumde in griefe Which he assured is with him shall stay The goods of fortune subiect to decay The strength of bodie fayling euery houre the minds much more which worldly cares deuour 10. I haue seene the trauell that God hath giueÌ„ to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby I see me thinkes a laborinth of woes Enuiron man about from day of birth Till houre of death what so about he goes With sower sauce seasoning still his fained mirth Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth For needfull things for life yet foolish he With needlesse studies still will medling be And God hath iustly giuen this plague to all For our forefather Adams clyming mind That humbled so we might before him fall Confessing that we are poore wormes most blind And fly to him where we may comfort find Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest As thing whereby we onely may be blest All beautious desird God made though al things maÌ„ not know This only good know I with ioy good works in life to show 11. 〈…〉 made eâ—ery thing beautiful in his time also he hath â—et the world in their heart 〈◊〉 can not man 〈◊〉 out the worke that 〈◊〉 hath 〈…〉 from the beginning 〈◊〉 to the end Indeede God so his creatures beautified And marshald so their musters euery one That in them his great wisedome is espied And in their season is their beautie showne Defect vnto their kind they suffer none No maruell then if heart of man desire To see and know their vertue and admire And God hath giuen to man a speciall will To search for knowledge euer while he liues Who therefore beates his braines about it still And vseth all endeuour nature giues But he in vaine about the matter striues He neuer can or shall the depth attaine Of Gods decree his labours are but vaine 12. 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 is â—Sthing good in them but to reioyce and â— do good in his life Let wise men therefore learne to be content With knowledge of such things as vs befit Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent And with contented mind in quiet sit His paine and trauell may not farther git Then God hath limited of that be sure With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure For I no other good
below That as they well or ill their flocke intreat He moueth so their subiects harts to grow He maketh fierce Adonebesock know Himselfe of mightie Prince most wretch aliue And captiu'd Ioseph by his bondage thriue Yea so vnstable are mens minds withall That nothing can long time their minds content Vnhappy are those men who vnder-fall The vulgar censure which is lightly bent Vnto new-fangled liking And who rent The right of rule from father to bestow On child ofttimes before he merit show 16. There is none end of all the people nor of all that were before them and they that come after shal not reioice in him surely this is also vanitie and vexation of the spirit So doth man gaze vpon the rising sunne So soone we surfet feeding on the best So fast the multitude to mischiefe runne So hardly can the fonder sort digest Obedience where their safest state should rest That monster like they many heads do reare And euery head ten thousand fancies beare In which their choice by chance if they attaine Vnto a worthy guyder of their state He in their likings can not long remaine Whilst causelesse malcontents turne loue to hate Which cares with many more their ioyes abate And makes their raysed state more deeply way That wo which nature doth on all men lay verse 17 For all is vaine saue to serue God which wheÌ„ thou dost prepare Heare ere thou speake of sacrifice of babbling foole beware 17. Take heed to thy foot when thou enterest into the house of God and be more neare to heare then to giue the sacrifice of fooles for they know not that they do euill Now least my speech which tended to thy cure Should in thy mind worlds meere misliking breed Which yet perforce a space thou must indure I will thee now with wholesome counsell feed With God and man instructing thee the way To liue in peace and worldly cares alay And first as chiefest comfort of the rest I will direct they steps to God aboue Vnto whose seruice when thou art addrest Let reuerent feare thy whole affection moue Come thou to learne thy schoole his Temple make And fond prescriptious of thy owne forsake Chap. 5. verse 1 Vse few and pithy words to God from heauen full well he heares verse 2 As busied braine by dreames so want of wit by words appeares 1. Be not tasâ—â— with thy mouth not let thine heart be hastie to vtter a thing before God for God is in the heauens and thou art on the earth therfore let thy wordes be few BEthinke thee well ere thou begin to pray And so prepare thy humble soule thereto That thou thy worthlesse state do duely way Gods power beleeue and will thee good to do And then thy needfull wants craue and commend To his best pleasure to restraine or send For he inthronized in mercies seat All-seeing is all-powerfull alwayes prest To view our wants to yeeld what we intreat If as they ought our prayers be addrest Few words if feruent will to heauen ascend He knowes our thoughts ere hart to pray we bend 2. For as a dream commeth by the multitude of businesse so the voice of a foole is in the multitude of words The multitude of numbred words we heare Some vse in prayer sheweth want of faith Like Balaams Priests their passions do appeare Whose hope on their enchaunting fury stayeth And doth not as it should on God depend Who knoâ—wes the fittest time thy cares to end For looke how cares of passed day do cause A swarme of aparitions in the night Which on the sleeping senses terror drawes And doth the tyred body oft affright So folly moues the tongue which vainely speakes And vaine that is which modest measure breakes verse 3 If ought thou vow performe it soone God likes not fond delâ—y verse 4 It better were vow were not made then deede should it denay 3. 〈…〉 And as in prayer so aduise thee well When vnto God thou any thing wilt vow Earth is his footstoole heau'n his throne to dwell What need hath he then of thy presents now Yet free will offrings he doth kindly take If gratefull heart a lawfull promise make Be therefore sure thou dally not therein But if thou vow such things performe the same Vntruth with men but foule defame doth win â— With God it can not then but purchase blame Ne ignorance ne rashnesse may excuse So foule a fault refraine it then to vse 4. It is better that thou shouldest not vow then that thou shouldest vâ—w and not pay it Thou hadst bene better farre to haue with-held Thy promise when thou first the same didst make Thou wast not then by any law compeld Thereto but freely didst it vndertake Compulsiue promises no promise bee But vow premeditate it bindeth thee It bindeth thee euen by the highest band That heauen and earth affordeth vnto man Thy hart as spokes-man for thee long doth stand And God the hearer who conceiue it can Thy selfe faith breaker vnto God art found If thou performe not then what vow hath bound verse 5 Sin not by words ne ignorance plead least God thy works coÌ„found verse 6 But feare thou God count as dreams those vaine words which abound 5. Suffer not thy mouth to make thy flesh to sin neither say before the Angel that this is ignorance wherfore shall God be angry by thy voice and destroy the worke of thine hand Yet if thy promise were to do the thing Which is contrary to his holy law I rather wish thee it forbeare then bring The price of sinne that should more iudgements draw Of euils two the least the wise do chuse If vow were wicked rather it refuse And first beware as I before did say That thou no euill thing in vow pretend Then how thou canst performe it see thou way And freely then with speed performe intend Least God and Angels witnesse thee vntrew And thou and thine with vengeance for it rew 6. For in the multitude of dreames and vanities are also many words but feare thou God Thus in a word I haue informed thee How vaine a rash and foolish prayer is How daungerous a heape of words that bee Impertinent and vowes that are amisse Euen fruitlesse vapors of corrupted braine Which like vaine dreames the rest of soule do staine Leaue them therefore and do thou wholly bend Thy holy thoughts to please thy God aright In word and deed and pray him grace to send That thy weake workes be pleasing in his sight So though the world with wrong and woe abound Thy faith and peace of conscience shall be sound verse 7 If poore oppressed be feare not one sits in heauen it seeth verse 8 Earths plenty passeth all the rest and kings are fed therewith 7. If in a countrie thou seest the oppression of the poore and the defrauding of iudgement and iustice be not astonied at the matter for he that is higher theÌ„ the highest regardeth and there be higher then
feareth euery cloud that is in sky But little corne shall sow or reape to sell If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby So giue thou when thou maist and thinke thy store Increast thereby no whit impaird the more verse 5 As child in wombe so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee verse 6 TheÌ„ morn euen sow thou thy seed God knows which best shal be 5. As thou knowest not which is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the wombe of her that is with child so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all Thinke this that euen that God which gaue to thee The present blessings that thou dost possesse Thy charitable workes from heauen doth see And will thy labours in due season blesse If thou thy faith by neighbours loue expresse And thinke that as the infants borne that bee Conceiued are do grow do liue do feed And be by birth in time from prison free By meanes vnknowne to mothers them that breed Se be assur'd that God which it hath wrought Can wealth restore by meanes to thee vnthought 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall be a like good Both rath and late at euery time and tide Then do vnto thy power some almes deed Without some others good let no day slide So oft as thou canst find aman hath need And who this can performe is blest indeed For man can not his worke so wisely guide To know to whom and when to giue is best But who for pittie giues and not for pride Though needlesly some fall among the rest Yet some no doubt is blessedly bestowd And in thy will of good good worke is showd verse 7 Sure life is sweete and all desire long time to see the sunne verse 8 Though long life last yet death maks hast times do vainly run 7. Surely the light is a pleasant thing and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne And since but whilst thou liu'st thy goods are thine And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse Giue while thou mayst so mayst thou find in fine Well sau'd what well was spent in liuing dayes For godly worke with God aye present stayes Long mayst thou liue but must in end decline To death the end of euery liuing thing To yeeld to death yet needst thou not repine If liuing thou to man no good canst bring And hauing left some good by life to men More welcome death may be vnto thee then 8. Though a man liue many yeares and in them all he reioyce yet he shal remember the dayes of darknesse because they are many all that commeth is vanitie For death thou knowest vnto life is due And life doth but prepare a man to die Liues cares a daily death in vs renue To worke in vs consent to death thereby Which else no flesh with patience sure would try The many dayes or yeares which do insue Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight Cannot perswade him but that this is true That lightsome day will turne to darksome night That times most long haue end and what doth vade Is little better then a very shade verse 9 Reioyce in youth fulfill desire yet know God iudgeth all verse 10 To clense thy hart wicked flesh graue age vain youth doth cal 9. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thine hâ—rt chere thee in the dayes of thy youth and waâ—ke in the wayes of thine hâ—rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Delight he then in what so ere he please In youth in beauty strength or wealthy store Let him delight himselfe in vse of these And cheare his hart as cause he hath therefore Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore And that they all do vanish with their wayes That God alone remayneth euer â—ure That only vertue with vs longest stayes And can eternall blessednesse procure When to the iudgement of a God seuere Our workes must come who all in mind doth beare 10. Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Let him and all the wise whilst yet they may Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind The fierce assaults in death that for vs stay And but by faith can strong resistance find Since all our other workes come short behind Let vs abandon euery wicked way And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine Chap. 12. verse 1 Remember thy creator then in these thy youthfull dayes Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes 1. Remember now thy creator in the daies of thy youth whilst the euill dayes come not ANd since thou canst not shun deaths fatall day And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise Whilst yet thou mayst prepare a quiet way Vnto thy soule which in such danger lies If thou in time reliefe do not deuise The earth and earthly things do helpe denay Heauen is the harbor where thy soule doth dwell Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay But it and workes thereof from hart expell Delay no time in hope long life to haue Youth may age must ere long time go to graue Nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To heauen thy progresse thou dost wish to make Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake And thinke them burdens to thee euermore And in thy life haue lights of vertue store Let thought of thy creator thee awake From sinnes of youth hart burdensome in age Remember God account of thee will take If thy repentance not his wrath asswage Yea leaue thou sinne ere lust leaue tempting thee Thy abstinence else can not vertue bee verse 2 Whilst sunne moone stars seeme light and rayny clouds are farre verse 3 Whilst keepers of thy house are strong whose pillers stedfast are 2. Whâ—les the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the clouds returne after the raine The feeble members which haue lost their might Through which their senses did affection proue No maruell now if they take lesse delight In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue The sunne moone stars heauens ornameÌ„t earths light Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse When all thy ioynts begin by day and night Do tyre thy life and breed the soules remorse No maruell if thou then proue continent But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent 3. When the keepers of the house shall treÌ„ble
and the strong meÌ„ shall â—ow theÌ„selues Before this glorious building do decay Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest Thy comely body which erecteth aye The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest Grow feeble and therein thou find no rest When trembling hand his duety doth denay And brainefalne thighes and legs bend vnder thee When lamed limbs on others strength must stay And crouches in their steed of force must bee What time thou twise a child shalt weary grow That thou the strength of youth didst euer kuow Ere teeth wax few and windowes closd deny thy eyes the light verse 4 And dore shut vp thy grinding iaws to chaw haue lost their might 4. And the grinders shal cease because they are few they wax darke that looke out by the windowes Before the Cators of thy diet fayle Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare Which lost or loose their labours not auayle But broths and minst-meats must become thy share And sharpned knife thy toothlesse gums must spare Before that darksome mists thy eyes assayle Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee When christall humor failing they shall quayle And spectacles must teach them now to see Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue Of worlds vaine shades which did the soule deceaue And the dores shall be shut out by the base sound of the grinding Before thy wanny cheekes sinke hollowed in In which well formed words should fashion haue And corrall lips which haue their portall bin And plyant tongue which elocution gaue Now faltering signes for interpretors do craue Whilst those white cliffes the bounders which begin The repercussion causing sweet resound Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin Through which they gracious passage somtimes found And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence The root of sweet content and sharp offence Ere sleeplesse braine at birds voice start and singing pipes be base verse 5 And high assents do make thee feard and almonds bud on face 5. And he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of singing shall be abased Before thy dryed braynes doe rest denye Vnto thy tyred bones and carefull mind And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye In bed thy graue for ease tofore assignd And starts at each birds chirpe or puffe of wind Before thy organe pypes with horcenesse dry Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce Wherewith resembling heauens true harmony Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed Also they shall be affraid of the hie thing and feare shall be in the way and the Almond tree shall flourish Before thou tyr'd at euery step must stay And clamber small assents on hand and knee And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way A spectacle of feeble nature bee To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see Before the harbengers of age I say Euen grieâ—ly haires do blossome on thy chin Which for most part declyning state bewray As Almond bud showes sommer to begin Prepare thy selfe for death the haruest due Which after spring time must of course insue Ere weaknesse make the grashopper a burden seeme and lust Consume for sure concupiscence with age doth weare to dust 5 cont And the Grashopper shall be a burden Before the childish toyes of infants lust Begin to want the wings of warmed blood And that thy body yeeld as once it must To age by which that humor is withstood To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good For looke how of May deaw and sommers dust The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know Like to Ephemeris that Tanaish flie Morne bred noone borne that very night to die And concupiscence shall be driuen away Not those faire frutes which by Gemorra grow Which touched once straight vnto dust do fall Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all Although regard thereof we haue but small Lust like a Torrent soone doth ouerflow If that accesse of nutriment abound But in a moment straight it waxeth low As by experience hath bene euer found Not Ammons of faire Thamor foule desyre So fierce but quencht with loathing did retyre Before in ages â—ed thy graue thou he whilst thee they morne verse 6 Thy siluer cord and golden ewre and liues pure cesterne worne 6. For a maÌ„ goeth to the house of his age and the mourners go about in the streete Then leaue that lothsome snare of humane kind The common cankor of the best concait Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind And to more brutish sins th'alluring bait And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight Suppose each ringing knell puts thee in mind That thou art in the way vnto thy graue Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find But so in all thy life thy selfe behaue As if thou were the man whose turne is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext Whiles the siluer cord is not lengthened nor the golden ewre broken nor the pitcher broken at the well nor the whele broken at the cesterne Before I say the vitall spirits faile Or that thy radick humors all be spent That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile And natures intercourse no more be sent From liuer hart and braine as earst it went Before warme bloud with I sey fleame do quaile And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine Before the cesterne made for liues auaile Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine But all the wheles of nature lacking strength To giue them motion they do faile at length verse 7 And flesh to dust thy spright to God returne that it did make verse 8 For all is vaine the preacher saith and all will vs forsake 7. And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gaue it For then be sure thy dayes are neere an end And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust Then yeeld thereto before perforce thou bend And in thy strength of youth repose no trust Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust Thy nobler part thy soule it did descend From God first mouer of all life and grace Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend In thee and it and will thy soule imbrace Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest 8. Vanitie of vanities sayth the Preacher all is vanitie Thus haue I sayth this Preacher proued true The proposition that I first did make That earthly things are vaine in vse and view That in them we can not sound comfort take And that in th' end we must them all forsake That wisedome only vertue should insue And vertue is the way to happinesse Which after death doth life againe renue A life more happie then the world can gesse When we shall liue from lewd
rau'ning woolfe in fearefull wise I call to thee sweet Sauiour shepheard true Teach me to know thy voice and thee insue SONET X. BEhold ô Lord the Citie thou hast built Ierusalem this fleshly frame of mine By sin Assyrians sword is almost spilt And like to yeeld to Rabsake in fine Yet lo alas my soule doth much repine To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name To threaten ruine to this temple thine Since thou art praysd and honord in the same Thou able art the rage of lust to tame The force of pride and furie to subdue Against Senacherib thy Angell came And all his host in one night ouerthrew So let thy holie spirit me defend And to my plaints and praiers comfort send SON XI SInce with Goliah I am now to fight And lacke the slight of holie Dauids sling Arme thou me Lord with heauenly armor bright Which power of flesh world to foile may bring Thy righteous brest-plate gird on me with truth Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace The shield of faith which firie dartes beare forth Of wicked Satan whose assaults not sease The helmet of saluation and the sword Of spirit which is founded on thy law All these my praiers are that thou afford To make me stedfast spight of lyons claw Who roaring daily seekes as wished pray My silly soule from thee to take away SON XII NOw that thou hast prepard me to confesse Thy seruice Lord the which I vndertake I thee beseech my purpose so to blesse That I a good account to thee may make A Nazarit I am who do forsake The delicacies of the worlds delight Whose thirst thy purest fountaine still shall slake With faith and truth the which with sin shall fight I will not tast the wine of Satans slight Which doth confound all reason and all sence My vow shall be to serue thee day and night And trust in thee shall be my true defence Till death dissolue this promise made to thee Whose strength herein thy heauenly graces bee SON XIII I Seeeke ô Lord to shew thy powrefull hand Which hath conuerted this my sinfull hart Into a rod of strength which still might stand Strong in thy truth who powrefull onely art But Iannes pride and Iambres lustfull hart By â—light imposture of slie Satans might Two Serpents frame which will not thence dâ—paert But seeke against thy powrefull hand to fight But let my faith their fury put to flight And vertue thine deuour these imps of sin Let not these fleshly frutes appeare in sight Of truth which only can the conquest win Let faith shew forth the finger of thy hand And cleane consume ech power doth it withstand SON XIIII BEhold ô Lord a tree by high way side Vnfrutefull yet of any food for thee In high way side as yet I do abide Where passers to Ierusalem I see Though sommer grow I cannot frutefull be Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine I do confesse I am a wild fig tree For want of moisture which am like to pine Vnto my praiers Lord do thou incline Remoue me home into thy garden faire Let me behold the face of thy sunne shine Which may my withered leaues with life repaire So maist thou tast a frute of wholesome kinde And leaue a marke of mercy great behinde SON XV. VVIthin thy garden Lord I planted was And watred well with thy most carefull hand But yet vâ—frutefull I remaind alas And these thy blessings did not vnderstand In vaine I did employ possessed land Ten times three yeares thy seruants did replant My stocke and sought to bend my crooked wand And did supply ech aide I seem'd to want At length my frutes which daily grew more scant Wild thee resolue to haue me weeded out My foule affections were with folly brant My roote of faith was shakt with feare and doubt And lo I pine sweet Sauiour water me Paul and Apollos worke else lost will be SON XVI A Wicked Pharisie I long haue bene Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee A shamed Lord of my faire clothed sinne In secret night I seeke thy face to see That thou art God thy woâ—kes reueale to me That thou art mine thy sonne doth me assure Vouchsafe that I regenerate may be And that my praiers pardon may procure Purge by thy sprite and faith faire fountaine pure The senses dull that cannot vnderstand The heauenly birth which shall in blisse endure Not subiect vnto Satans sinfull band And with thy sonne let worlds affections die My soule from hell with him ascend on hie SON XVII FIue foolish virgins in my senses dwell And seeke to make me slumber ouer long They dreame that all my deeds do fall out well Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong To vanities their humors do belong And sin who doth their fancie chiefly feed They cheined are to linkes of lust so strong That their best foile brings forth but bitter weed They lacke the oyle which should be vsde indeed To lead them to the euerlasting light It growes not Lord in frute of humane seed Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night Vnlesse thou lend thy hand and fill our lampes Our light goes forth with smothering sinful daÌ„ps SON XVIII OVt of the fountaine of eternall life I poore Samaritan here readie stand To sinfull lustan old betrothed wife With pitcher readie in my trembling hand To wraw a draught of liquor most diuine To quench the thirst of my inflamed hart With heauenly deaw ere that my soule do pine And qualiâ—ie the rigor of my smart A Prophet true thou art I vnderstand Or rather father of all truth thou art A stranger I from faire Iudaea land With these thy blessings craue for to impart Then guide my hand and teach my soule to tast True faith the fountaine where all blisse is plast SON XIX A Wicked soule sold to all fleshly sin Lord here I prostrate at thy feete do lie To gather crummes of grace soules health to win Which Lord to giue me do thou not denie The precious oyle of penitence will I Powre forth with teares fro out my melting eyes To bath thy feete and after will I drie Them with my haires which balms no treasure bies Though worldly loue when he my fact espies Repine to see my soule so well inclind To my defence ô Lord vouchsafe to rise And fructifie this first frute of my minde Vouchsafe to sup with humble seruant thine And that of seruice better choyse be mine SON XX. A Poore Arabian whom base Agar bare First borne of flesh but last of promist grace Of bastard kind bred vp with mothers care In wildernesse of world for a long space And famishing before my parents face Whose workes vnable were to lend me aide A bond man vnto sin as fleshly race To whom heauens heritage thy lawes denaide Amidst my wandring course by thee am staide And haue a promise not to die but liue Thy couenant Lord abundantly is paide If grace
a litle backe from ill To wallow in the myre againe I go No powre 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 batt'ry 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 hart 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 VVhich 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 VVho 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 haue with pleasure paide The hatefull Army which doth hast to hell My natiue powre their passage not denaide VVhich makes their pride and peruerse wil to swel 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 VVhich 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 VVhich was corrupted with all lothsome sin My sister vertues to despaire 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 gracious 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 stone from heart bid him arise VVho 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 VVhich 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 VVhose powerfull truth hath bound seeks to tame The furious lust which to my ruine bent Grant Lord from heart I may indeed repent And therewith chase these fiends 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 with 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 Prophers do affect And with thy church to life and death wold 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 increase My selfe sonne shall praise thee so in pease SON XXXVIII BOrne blinde I was through sinfull Adams fall And neuer since could see with carnall eyes 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 powre and glorie might to man appeare Who gracelesse groueling in earths darknesse lies And wants the eyes 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 dym the worldly wisdome seeming cleare And sinfull soules froÌ„ hell to heauen to reare Touch thou my eyes with faith wash me with grace In Sylo poole 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 thrust 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 a way to mends bigin 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 Aâ—midst the spacious fields where truth doth grow But whilst to gather healthfull herbe I came A bitter bud I found of fearefull show Which threatneth me with death and ouerthrow Vnto my soule which feedeth greedely On sin the weed which Satan did bestow By poisoned tast thereof I pined lie 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 foes I seeke ô Lord proud Iericho t' inclose Incouragde by thy graces from aboue My shooes of foule affects I pray thee lose Before on holy earth my path I moue Thy powerfull hand by prayers let me proue Which daily seu'n 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 and sin not raise a wall SON XLII AMidst the graues of death this 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 beate my selfe my follies neuer lin No reason can with chaines binde so my will But to vnlose my lust I do begin With helpe of furious fiend who aides me still But since thy sonne appeareth me vntill I craue I
The memory of Egypts store I saw Of vanities which carnall senses feed Made me to wish to fill againe my maw With dishes such as to destruction lead Wherfore inwrath with quailes thou cloidst 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 deaw by prayer be allurde To moysten this my freewill fleece of wooll Then dry the dâ—regs thereof to sin inurde Whose heauy waight makes grace and vertue dull And offring mine of prayers to thy name Accept 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 pure vertue to suppresse And pride with lust my powres 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 promisedst 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 wested 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 pay And frutes of faith from hell my soule shall stay 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 lingring wife Looke 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 foule affections which like cruell foe Of Esawes race their might and powre bestow To stop my passage to the promist land I gin to faint and to repine also Against the powre 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 blessings giu'n me I regarded not Thy threatned iudgments I did not esteeme My vowes to thee I almost had forgot My sinnes no sinnes to hardned heart do seeme Like to my selfe I did thy power deeme Because thou didst forbeare thy rod a while I sought by Idols ayd to heauen to clime Whilst worlds delight my sences did beguile But helplesse now alas I turne to thee To stay my race let grace Lord succour mee SON LXXII THou formedst me at first out of the clay Vnto the image of thy glorious frame O Lord of might thou shewdst to me the way To magnifie thy pure and holie name Like Potters vessell first my modell came Out of a rude vnformed lumpe of earth To holy vse it pleasd thee me reclaime Before my life tooke vse of carnall breath Thou fedst me in the common humane dearth Of knowledge of thy will with such a tast Of pleasing frute as fild my soule with mirth And readie makes me now no more to wast Thy offred mercies which so blesse in me Of glorie that I may a vessell be SON LXXIII A Seruant Lord euen from my day of byrth I vowed was by parents vnto thee A Nazarit I liued on the earth And kept thy vowes as grace did strengthen mee Till Satan made me worlds deceipt to see And trapt my senses with forbiden lust As Eue did tast of the restrained tree So fond affections did me forward thrust A sinfull Philistine of faith vniust To like to loue to craue to wed to wife Thy grace my strength to her reueale I must Till she to Satan sell my slumbring life A prisoner I thus scornd and voyd of sight Sinnes house to ouerthrow craue heaueÌ„ly might SON LXXIIII WHilst in the plentie of thy blessings sent I sought to solace Lord my selfe secure And gazing on worlds beautie long I went In pridefull tower which did prospect procure I saw the baytes of sin which did allure My idle thoughts to follow wicked lust My kindled passions could not long endure But vnto furious flames breake forth they must I did pollute my soule by fraude vniust And reft thy grace from his true wedded wife And that I might away all mendment thrust I did bereaue my knowledge of this life Whose bastard frutes slaie Lord but let her liue That penitent we may thee prayses giue SON LXXV A Seruant sold to sin ô Lord I am Whom Satan Syrian proud doth sore assaile Nine hundted Chariors of desire there came Armed with lust which sought for to preuaile And to subdue by strength they cannot faile Vnlesse thou raise my fainting strength by grace Let constant faith the flying furie naile To ground where
groueling is his resting place Then shall my soule with Debora imbrace In thankfull wise thy mercies I receiue And so pursue the fleshly Canaans race Till I the furie of the same bereaue And with my song thy seruants shall accord To yeeld due praise to thee the liuing Lord. SON LXXVI MY soule like silly Ioseph Lord was sold By fleshly brethren his vnkind alas To vanities the merchants which behold From far they saw to Egipt which do passe A seruant vnto Ismaels seed it was And sold from sin to death and so to hell Of humane frailtie Lord a looking glasse In which all foule affections long did dwell Yet lo alas when sin seekes most t' excell And haue my mind consent to traitrous lust With grace ô Lord that enemy repell And heare my praiers who in thee do trust Who though a space in bodies prison staies Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heauen to raise SON XXVII SO blinde ô Lord haue my affections bin And so deceitfull hath bin Satans slight That to giue credit I did first begin To pride and lust as heauenly powers of might I offred all my sences with delight A sacrifice to feed those Idols vaine Of all the presents proffred day and night Nought vnconsumde I saw there did remaine Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plaine The falshood by the which I was deceiued How Satans kingdome made here of a gaine And wickednesse my hope and faith bereaued But now the sifted ashes of thy word Bewraies Bels Prists slaies dragon without sword SON LXXVIII A Wicked theefe that oft haue robd and slaine Thy graces of their frute my selfe of blisse Now on the crosse of conscience I remaine To die the death the which eternall is I see no way to quit my selfe of this Vnlesse thou Lord whose kingdome is aboue Remember me and cansell life amisse Out of thy memorie through Christ thy loue Who in my flesh with me like death did proue That guiltlesse he might guilties ransome bee Loue to my soule it was that did him moue The bands of death to bide to make vs free Blesse thou my tong increase thou faith in mee This night to be in paradise with thee SON LXXIX IN bondage long to Satan haue I bin A maker of the bricke of Babell towre By birth a thrall to grosse and filthie sin Whom lusts taskmasters doth attend ech houre Affection to the flesh doth cleane defloure The memorie and loue of promist lands The fiend euen Pharo seeketh to deuoure My soule and chaine me to his dreadfulll bands But Lord receiue me safe into thy hands Protect me from the rigor of his might Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands In my defence giue me true faith to fight Send Moyses Lord with powre of heauenly sword And Aaron to direct me by thy word SON LXXX A Moabit I was of cursed kinde Vnkinde vnto thy Church Lord and to thee Who sought by ayde of foolish Balaam blinde To captiuate the soule that should be free Incestuous frutes of that high climing tree Which doth subdue all reason and all grace A carnall kinsman by a neare degree Vnto the soule the which I haue in chase Whom I with lothsome sin sought to deface And bastardise with carnall fond affect Whose ofspring thou vnto the tenth mans race Didst once out of thy sanctuary reiect Yet now by faith made free of Iury land A suter here before thy throne do stand SON LXXXI LO how I groueling vnder burden lie Of sin of shame of feare Lord of thy sight My guilt so manifold dare not come nie Thy throne of mercy mirror of thy might With hidden and with ignorant sinnes I fight Dispairing and presumptuous faults also All fleshly frailtie on my backe doth light Originall and actuall with me go Against a streame of lusts my will would roe To gaine the shoare of grace the port of peace But flouds of foule affections ouerfloe And sinke I must I see now no release Vnlesse my Sauior deare this burden take And faith a ship of safetie for me make SON LXXXII FRom Iuda wandring Lord to Iericho From holie law of thine to carnall lust Whilst midst the prease of lewd affects I go I robbed am of rayment pure and iust And wounded lye Lord groueling in the dust Not any passer by can giue me aide In fleshly strength or friendship is no trust By highway seene to helpe me few haue staide But since my Sauior Christ on crosse hath paide A ransome 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 leade 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 deuower 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 female 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 whit is cause That I so instant am on thee to call O God of life but yeelding to thy lawes Before thy sight 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 qualifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire If feruently 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 Powre mercy truth wherby thy workes are wrought But foule 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 euerie 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 assaults me with a hideous host Stretch forth hād Lord smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance griefe and mone SON LXIII THou hast ô Lord of mercy me enricht With flocks of fauour and of graces great Since I in Bethell first the pillar pitcht Of praises to thy name and mercies seat Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat A ruine to the frute faith forth should bring With pleasing humors him for to intreat
race Where flesh and bloud against the world must fight On heauenly kingdome gazing with my sight Where is appointed scope of resting place Wingd with the will of zeale of heauenly grace I do indeuor alwayes to proceed In constant course vnto the arke indeed Where in thy mercies I behold thy face A feruent faith it doth my courage feed And make my heauie limbs become more light When in thy sonne I see thy glorie bright The pledge vnto my soule that hope shall speed This blessed seed Thou hast Lord sowne in me And all the frutes shal to thee offred be SON VII VVHere shall I finde fit words or proper phrase Wherewith to witnesse all the loue I owe Whose gratefull minde in thankfulnesse doth grow And to the world thy worthinesse would blase Vnfrutefully the greater â—ort do gase Vpon thy workes and blessings they receiue And carelesly thy honor they bereaue And suffer chance or wit thy same to rase Whilst vnacknowledged thy loue they leaue Forgetting all the gifts thou doest bestow Whose blinded nature so doth ouerflow That most vnkind to thee themselues they show But since I know By grace thy blessing great My pen thy praises alwaies shall repeat SON VIII THe more I seeke to dedicate my power In celebrating of thy honour great Whose throne is fixed in thy mercies seat The more my dutie groweth euerie hower Some times with Eagles flight aloft I tower And seeme to see the glorie of thy sunne But ere my willing wings haue scarse begunne To mount they droop with clog of heauie shower Vpon the hill of truth I footing wonne By faith which laboureth with feruent heat Of worthie praises thine for to intreat But ere I haue begune my worke is donne So farre I runne In seeking to begin I cannot write such maze my muse is in SON IX AS fareth with the man the which hath bin I perilll but of late to haue bene drownd Though afterward he do recouer ground Knowes not at first the safetie he is in So when I thinke vpon the flouds of sin Wherein I was neare drenched ouer hed What time all hope of comfort cleane was fled And I into dispaire to sinke begin My fainting faith with feare euen well nigh dead My minde amazed it doth so confound That though thy mercies freely do abound In port of peace I am not free from dred But being led Fro out the perils sight I shall enioy more pleasure and delight SON X. SInce thou ô Lord hast giuen to me at last The victorie against the deadly foe Who like a Lyon roaring still doth goe My soule poore Lot my kinsman deare to wast Since grace at length his pride hath now defast And by the hand of faith he is subdude And that my strength by thee is so renude That his affections almost are displast Since thy high Priest with present me pursude Of bread and wine the which he did bestow And with the same the blessing gaue also Whence life whence libertie whence health insude I haue indude As proper vnto thee Thy Church with tyth of faith thou gau'st to me SON XI IF he to whom his Lord did but remit A silly debt was thankfull to him found And that the more the sinnes forgiuen abound The more he loues that pardond is of it Then sure it seemes it were good reason fit That I whose soule was sold to death and hell Whose sinnes in multitude did so excell With idle braine should not ingratefull sit But as the flowing fauours daily swell So should my voice thy praises euer sound And since thou hast powrde oyle into my wound I should not spare thy mercies forth to tell And so as well as thou shalt giue me grace I will thee laud each season time and place SON XII NOw that I haue some safetie Lord attaind Fro out the laberinth wherein I was Since grace as guide therein to me did passe And loue was line which me my issue gaind Since that my wandring steps faith hath refraind And that thy word was Sybils braunch to mee Through hell and death away to let me see To Elizian fields where blisse for aye remaind I must not Lord so much vnthankfull bee To breake the vowes which once I made alas But I will show thy mercies in a glas That by my words men may acknowledge thee The onely hee Hath any power to saue And raisd my soule fro out the verie graue SON XIII I Shame to see how large my promise are How slow my deeds that should performe the fame I know the constant meaning 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 iudgment do obserue it well Was nothing else but God to serue and feare In which we badges 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 reare 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 Iesus 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
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 â—ee For other recompence thou crauest none My vowes and deeds they shall be alwaies one All dedicated to adorne thy name My heart my soule my strength shall do the same Thy loue shall be my faiths 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 that thy goodnesse which thee first did moue In fragill flesh of mine the strength to proue Whose weaknes thou by heaueÌ„ly powre didst heale Mans wit in words comes short in this behoue To recompence nay onely to confesse The many waies thou doest our bodies blesse Much more our soules which freely thou didst loue Thy trustie doue 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 pay 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 powre 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 mine 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 heaueÌ„s the seat where thou doest dwel The earth thy footstoole which dares not rebell Which all vnto thy will do still incline The Sunne and Moone by day and 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 fiends with Lucifar which fell The fish the foule the beast agreeing well And all obedient to thy heauenly hand May vnderstand Thy glorie loue and powre Without whose help maÌ„ could not liue an howre 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 powre is so obâ—curde indeed With shades which rise froÌ„ earthly thoughts below That nothing but blinde ignorance would grow Vnlesse this sunne 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 his holy land Then do I muse why men do 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 Adams wound Who sought his knowledge not in fountain cleare To whom forbidden skill did best appeare Neglecting graces him inclosing round But on the sound And written word I build Not Salomon such Oracles could yeeld SON XLVI HOw fond a thing it is which men do vse To beat their braines and so torment their hart In compassing the thing which breeds their smart And do not know what is the thing they chuse They childishly the name of loue abuse And would define the nature of the same By passions which belong to hatreds name Wherein to pine with pleasure they do chuse Who euer saw that figs on thorne-tree came Or thistels roses beare by any art With pain with grief with shame with losse impart Their passions which they for their loue do frame With iudgment lame Loue is a heauenly thing Where being plast it perfect loue doth bring SON XLVII LEt earthly things in earth their loue repose For flesh and bloud on faith they cannot feed It is a frute indeed of heauenly seed Which who disgesteth well life cannot lose The soule fro out of other matter growes And vnto other matter turnes againe Immortally to liue in ioy or paine As grace to sundry vses it hath chose Then is it time my thoughts at length to waine From laying vp my treasure for my need Where mothes and canker do so common breed As in the world whose wealth is meerely vaine If I attaine But faith layd vp in store In Christ my Sauious I desire no more SON XLVIII FYe fainting faith disswade me not so much From following of my louely heauenly choyce To thinke on whom I cannot but reioyce Whose name or memorie my heart doth touch What trauell ere befall I will not grutch Through fire and water I will him pursue Whose sight my fainting soule doth straight renue His loue and mercy both to me are such If I should dye for him it were but due By him I liue and follow will his voyce Regarding lightly fame or common noyse Which threaten paine and trauell to insue There are but few That passe the narrow way But crowne of honor doth their trauell pay SON XLIX I Find my heart is bent for to amend And follow thee forsaking wicked way From wickednesse my foâ—tsteps for to stay And to thy will my works henceforth to bend But yet the cause which makes me this intend I finde is rather feare then loue of right Yet free-will offrings do thee more delight And to such works thou doest thy
do creepe Into possession of my powre and will These thoughts and works which motions are to ill And trench themselues in fleshly fortresse deepe Whose base societie will with vices fill The holy brood which grace would spotlesse saue In such a boubt my yong affections waue That they consent I should them foster still But that would spill More vertuous heritage Therefore exilde these be though hell do rage SON LXXII SOmetimes my nature seemeth to repine To see the pleasure and the plenteous store The wicked do enioy for euermore Abounding in their corne their oyle and wine But when I see my weakenesse so encline To the abuse of portion I possesse My heart with ioy full often doth confesse Thy loue doth much in earthly scarstie shine These things are good and bad as thou doest blesse Which I dare not directly craue therefore Such danger followes them euen at the dore That plentie lightly doth the â—oule oppresse And as I guesse Contentednesse doth grow In gratefull mind though state be neare so low SON LXXIII IF he vnworthie be the sweet to tast That shuns the sowre as we in prouerbe say To honor pleasure profit in the way Great perill paine and cost so often plast If as vnworthie health he be disgrast That will refuse a bitter purge to take When he doth know it will his feauer slake So do temptations proue the mind more chast If we with courage do the combat make And to the end immoueable do stay The more that Satan doth his spight display The more the pride and powre of him we shake And he will quake And sin shall haue a fall And faith in Christ shall triumph ouer all SON LXXIIII TO shun the rocks of dangers which appeare Amidst the troubled waues of worldly life Which in each company are alwaies rife Which with soules perill most men buy full deare I feare almost to keep my course so neare The conuersation of such tickle tides And thinke him blest that banished abides In desert where of sin he may not heare But when I note where so a man him hides That still affections breed an inward strife That nature beares about the bloudie knife And to the death the proper soule it guides That fancie slides Away and I prepare In combats of the world to fight my share SON LXXV WEre it not straunge that members of the same One liuiâ—g bodie and one parents childe Should by the other daily be defilde And of vnseemly thing should haue no shame And yet we which of Christ do beare the name And children of his father vs do call At discord with this parent daily fall And Christ our eldest brother do defame It seemeth well we be but bastards all Though stock be true we be but Oliues wilde Who thinks vs better he is but beguilde Our frutes are bitter and increase but small And who so shall Examine well his works Shall see that gall in purest thoughts there lurks SON LXXVI IT is no light or curious conceipt O Lord thou knowst that maketh me to straine My feeble powres which blindfold did remaine Vpon thy seruice now at length to waight But onely shame to see mans nature fraight So full of pregnant speech to litle vse Or rather oftentimes to thy abuse Whilst to deceiue they laie a golden baight And do not rather thinke it fit to chuse By praises thine true praise themselues to gaine And leaue those fond inuentions which do staine Their name and cause them better works refuse Which doth abuse The gifts thou doest bestow And oftentimes thy high contempt do show SON LXXVII FOr common matter common speech may serue But for this theame both wit and words do want For he that heauen and earth and all did plant The frutes of all he iustly doth deserue No maruell then though oft my pen do swarue In middle of the matter I intend Since oft so high my thoughts seeke to ascend As want of wisedome makes my will to starue But thou ô Lord who clouen tongs didst send Vnto thy seruants when their skils were â—cant And such a zeale vnto thy praise that brant As made them fearelesse speake and neuer bend Vnto the end One iot from thy behest Shall guide my stile as fits thy glory best SON LXXVIII HOw happily my riches haue I found Which I no sooner sought but it is wonne Which to attaine my will had scarce begunne But I did finde it readie to abound The silly faith I had was setled sound In Christ although for feare it oft did pant Which I did wish more constantly to plant That it might all temptations so confound With feruency this little sparkle brant Till it inflamde my zeale and so did runne Vnto the fountaine of true light the sunne Whose gracious soyle to feed it was not scant Men finde more want The more they couet still But more man couets this it more doth fill SON LXXXIX WHen desolate I was of worldly ayde Vnable to releeue my selfe at need Thou hadst a care my fainting soule to feed Because my faith vpon thy fauour stayde My dying hope thou hast with mercy payde And as thou didst releeue thy seruant deare Elias whom the Rauens in desert cheare So am I comforted whom sin affrayde The cries of little Rauens thine eare doth heare And slakst their hunger kindly Lord indeed When parents do forsake deformed breed That so thy prouidence might more appeare Which shineth cleare In blessings euery day To me much more then I can duly way SON LXXX AMidst this pilgrimage where wandring I Do trace the steps which flesh and bloud doth tred My comfort is that aye mine eyes are led By gracious obiect which in faith I spy Whose brightnesse guides my steps which else awry Were like to slide through Satans subtil slight Gainst whom his holy Angels alwaies fight And suffer not my strength too farre to try By day his word and works are in my sight Like to a cloud to comfort me in dread By fire through deserts and the sea so red His hand doth gouerne me in dangerous night His fauour bright Conducting this my way An host of stops shall not my iourney stay SON LXXXI I See a storme me thinks approach a farre In darkned skie which threatens woe at hand Vnto my tackle I had need to stand Lest sudden puffs my purposd course debarre These tempting thoughts full oft forerunners are Of fierce affections which do moue the minde VVhich if resistance not in time they finde The strongest tackling they do stretch or marre I closely therefore will my conscience binde And arme my vessell with couragious band Of skilfull saylers which do know the land VVhose harbors for my safetie are most kinde And in my minde Shall faith the Pylot bee VVhose skill shall make me wished port to see SON LXXXII HOw is it that my course so soone would stay Before I haue begun the thing I thought If ease or pleasure I herein had sought I
vnto his soule forthwith to craue Whereby it sleeping void of holy rayes Of grace in sinne doth spend away the dayes Which Christ our Sauiour died the same to saue Vnto thee Lord Creator powrefull king With birds by break of day they prayse shold sing SON LXVII I List not iudge nor censure other men As I do iudge so iudge me others will And God himselfe that part can best fulfill With others faults I will not meddle then Vnlesse so farre as dutie doth desire Which is with loue to warne them of the way Whose weaknesse doth our louing aide require To stay their steps wherein they are astray But I must iudge my selfe doth scripture say And that I will but not by natiue skill The law and Gospell they shall try me still And their true touch shall my estate bewray My conscience witnesse more then thousands ten My hart confesse my faults with tongue and pen. SON LXVIII I See sometimes a mischiefe me beset Which doth amaze me much and griefe procure I haue a hope or hap I wish t' endure But it doth vanish straight and I do fret I craue sometimes of God with feruencie A thing me thinkes which might worke to my ioy My prayers yet he seemeth to denie And by the contrary doth worke my'annoy I find at length the thing I scorn'd as coy Fall to my profit and doth me assure That God by this his goodnesse doth allure Me to depend on him and not to toy By natiue reason guided but to let His prouidence haue praise and honor get SON LXIX HOw should I vse my time henceforth the best The little that remaines ought well be spent Too much lost time cause haue I to repent Best mends must be well to imploy the rest To pray and prayse the Lord is fit for me To craue things needfull and his mercies tell My spirituall wants and carnall plenties be As many yet his blessings which excell But multitude of words please not so well He knowes the heart which righteously is bent All holy actions are as prayers ment And he is praysd when sinne we do repell Then if my life the world and flesh detest I pray and prayse and shall find actions blest SON LXX Good words are praisd but deeds are much more rare One shadow is the other substance right Of Christian faith which God and man delight Without which fruits our barren tree is bare Once well done is more comfort to the soule More profit to the world to God more prayse Then many learned words which sinne controule Or all lip-labour that vaine glorie sayes Who in a holy life doth spend his dayes And still maintaine gainst sinne a valiant fight He preacheth best his words are most of might He shall conuert men most from sinfull wayes Such shall haue honor most affirme I dare With God and man and lesse of worldly care SON LXXI SInce we by baptisme seruants are profest To Christ whose name we as an honor beare It is good reason we his liuery weare And not go ranging vainely with the rest Since we do feed by bountie of his hand On precious food which he doth giue and dresse Who at the well of life doth ready stand Vs to refresh if thirst do vs oppresse We are too slow our selues to him t' addresse To craue and vse these gifts in loue and feare His righteous liuery we do rather teare Then whom we serue by vse thereof expresse Little he got that was such bidden guest And how can thanklesse seruants then be blest SON LXXII SInce shame of men much more then godly feare Restraineth vs from sinne as proofe doth preach Since more we after name of vertue reach Then to the truth thereof we loue do beare It were a part of wisedome to deuise To vse our nature of it selfe so vaine From so base custome euen for shame to rise To actions good which might true honor gaine The best remede I therefore find remaine To purchase prayse and vertues habit teach Is to professe in speech the same whose breach In life we should refraine least we should staine Our name which would at length our liking reare To loue of God indeed and sinnes forbeare SON LXXIII THe difference is right great a man may see Twixt heauen and earth twixt soule and body ours Twixt God man heauens powre earthly towres As great the difference in their vse must bee By high ambitious and by wrathfull sword Are earthly transitory kingdomes gaynd Humilitie with patient deed and word To heauenly crowne and honour doth attaine Man will his conquest with vaine glory staine Heauens kingdom former pride forthwith deuowrs It equals all estates sects skils and powres And makes the bodie well vnite remaine Whereof the head is Christ the members we And held coheires of heauen with him we be SON LXXIIII FOr vs who do by nature still incline Vnto the worst and do the best forget Who do all passed benefits lightly set And so vnthankfully gainst God repine It were great wisedome dayly to obserue Such sundry haps as do to vs befall By which to learne how much God doth deserue Who those and passed benefits gaue vs all And since there is not any blisse so small But for the which we ought acknowledge debt On each occasion we should gladly get A meanes our minds to thankfulnesse to call For nought God craues newe can giue in fine But drinke with thankes his cup of sauing wine SON LXXV THe parable of seed well sowne on ground Which did according as the soyle did sarue Some neuer bud some bloome some straightway starue Some grow in his crop so much abound Doth well describe as Christ full well applyes The nature of the word the which is sent By written Gospell and by preachers cryes Into the heart which hearing it doth rent And as well tild sometimes begins relent And yeeldeth blessed fruit and prayse desarue As God the showres of grace doth freely carue And diligence in weeding it is spent For many times such sinfull tares are found As good had bin the seed in sea had drownd SON LXXVI I Cannot chuse but yet deuoyd of pride To note the happie and the glorious time Wherein we liue and flourish in the prime Of knowledge which those former dayes not tride For all preheminences which are read Forespoke of latter age by Prophets all As happily were perform'd as promised When Christ those mysteries did on earth vnfold And those accomplish which were long foretold The same yea more by farre we dust and slime Vnworthy wayers of thee high we clime Enioy through preached truth more worth thē gold But woe is me this grace is vs denyde We to our selues haue not the same applyde SON LXXVII IF thou do feele thy fleshly thoughts repine When thou doest beare the crosses God doth send And that thou vnder burden of them bend And out of due obedience wouldst vntwine Remember when as yet a child thou wast
in the doer though our mind And common sense some reason so pretend The deed which meriteth for vertue prayse Must be premeditate in will before Indeuour'd lawfully and which bewrayes No priuate obiect or respect we bore And God himselfe things iudgeth euer more Not by effects as men of wisedome blind But by intentions faithfull honest kind Of such as doing them his aide implore He issue doth to actions different send As he to greater good euer ill will bend SON XCIX IF God should measure vs as we deserue For each offence requiting equally His iustice we with horror should espie From which excuse to shield vs could not serue But iustice his by holy bound restraind Of mercie which doth waighour weake estate A proper counterpoise for vs hath gaind Whilst iustis wrath Christs mercy doth abate His Sonne our Sauiour doth set ope a gate To safetie by the pardon he did bye With bloud most innocent lest we should die Guilty of sin which iustice needs must hate Thus we by faith cannot be sayd to swarue Our faults are his of merits his we carue SON XC IT is a custome that deserueth blame And ouer common with vs now adayes That euery man his fault on other layes And some excuse for euery euill frame And rather then we will the burden beare We lay on God whose prouidence rules all The cause of what our wicked natures were Producers of with wilfull bitter gall Thus from one sin to other we do fall And haires herein our nature vs bewrayes Of parent first who his offence denaies And rather God wife serpent guilty call Then to confesse his proper free will lame And by repentance praise Gods holy name SON XCI HOw can he be the author held of ill Who goodnesse is it selfe and onely true To whom alone perfection still is due And all the world with goodly workes doth fill It is not God it is our selues alas That doth produce these foule affects of sin Our sickly nature first infected was And lacking tast of truth delights therein Our deeds in vs how fowle so'ere they haue bin What good soeuer of them doth insue That part is Gods our corrupt nature drue The worser part and flesh death snares did spin And euen our deeds the which our soules do kill Are good to God and worke his glorie still SON XCII DOth any man desire his life to mend And that of sin he might a lothing finde Let him but on his actions looke behinde Forepast and see where to they most did bend Let him on others looke with equall view And note deformitie of lothfull sin Let reason not affections tell him true The brickle state himselfe to fore was in As doctrine that to penitence doth win And true repentance one of honest mind When he in other sees affects so blind As he in reason thinks could not haue bin Such as him selfe ashameth to defend And to be guiltlese off he would pretend SON XCIII I Haue desir'd and held as chiefe delight To lead my life where mirth did alwaies dwell From soule so sorrow thinking to repell In feast and sport so past I day and night But if as oft there did a dismall chance Befall whereby I found some cause of griefe I was amaz'd dispair'd and as in trance No comfort found or meanes to giue reliefe My former ioyes prouoked sorrow chiefe I loathd the thoughts before did please so well My meditations then of death befell And of worlds pleasures which were vaine chiefe Which made me chaÌ„ge my former humor quight For teares cares sorrows still to be in sight SON XCIIII SInce we are found if we our selues do know To be a barren ground and good for nought Vnlesse by husbandrie we will be brought To aptnesse for some good whereon to growe Since preachers are the husbandmen ordaind And preaching of the Prophets is the seed By whose indeuors onely frute is gaind Of holy life the which our faith doth feed Me thiâ—kes it should a greater aptnesse breed In tennants to this soule which Christ hath bought To haue it so manurde and daily wrought As it might grow to betterd state indeed And yeeld some crop of goodnesse which might show The thankfull hearts which we to God do owe. SON XCV WHen I behold the trauell and the payne Which wicked men in euill actions bide What hazards they assay to goe aside When with more ease they vertue might attaine How theeues and murtherers such boldnesse vse Such watchfull painefull meanes their wills to win As euen religious men do oft refuse To tast of like though they would faine begin I finde too true that we are sold to sin And that the bodie doth the spirit guide That reason yeelds to sense and sense doth hide Lust in his liking which doth forward slide From ill to worse and neuer doth refraine Sin which may sin nor paine which paine may gain SON XCI SInce nothing is more certaine then to dye Nor more vncertaine then the time and howre Which how to know is not in Phisickes powre Yet nature teacheth it to be but nie For that death stealeth on vs like a thiefe And nothing liuing is exempt therefro His malice to preuent is wisedome chiefe That vnprouided he not take vs so As that on sodaine he appeare a foe And vs compulsiuely he do deuowre That God by him in wrath doe seme to lowre And that to death not life we seeme to goe Soe let vs liue that death we dare defie Since heauens eternall life we gaine thereby SON XCVII GReat are the graces God in man doth show All tending chiefly to soules proper gaine That by some meanes at length he might attaine To higher thoughts from earthly base and low Yet since no benefits we do receaue Can so assure vs of his loue indeed That loue of world and earth they can bereaue And make our minds on heauenly ioy to feed Much lesse a new desire in vs can breed To win the heauens by losse of life so vaine This common way by death he made remaine Ineuitable to all humane seed By force those heauenly ioyes to make vs know Which after death in lasting life shall grow SON XCVIII MIght Elizeus wish allow'd be And prayer blest which Salomon did make And canst thou then thy trauell vndertake For worthier prize then they haue showne to thee Sure heauenly wisedome earthly wisedome teacheth Such wisedome findeth grace with God and man Who seeks these first God plenteously him reacheth All other earthly gifts he wisht or can That will I seeke that will I studie than No plenty shall my thirst therafter slake With Elizeus will I alwayes wake And watch the Prophets wayes and manner whan My Sauiour doth ascend that I may see His glory â—and he his grace redouble'in mee SON XCIX LOng do the wicked runne a lawlesse race Vncrost and vncontrolled in their will Their appetites at pleasure they do fill And thinke themselues to be in happie
Then this no fiction that man doth deuise But built on best experience life can bring With patience reade and do it not despise Yâ—â— wise experience can confirme each thing It is not rated as Sibillaes were But priz'd by you it will the value reare To the Ri. Ho. the Earle of Esseâ— Great Master of the Horse to her Highnesse and one of the most Noble order of the c. NOt Neptunes child or Triton I you name Not Mars not Perseus though a Pere to all Such word I would find out or newly frame By sea and land might you triumphant call Yet were such word for your desert too small You Englands ioy you en'mies terror are You vices scourge you vertues fenced wall To Church a shield to Antichrist a barre I need not feare my words should stretch to farre Your deedes out-fly the swiftest soaring pen You praise of peace th' vndaunted powre of warre Of heauens elect the happieloue of men Not knowing then How to expresse my mind Let silence craue this gift may fauour find To the Ri. Ho. the Lord Charles Howard of 〈…〉 Admirall of England one of the most Noble order of the garter c. VVHen as wise Salomons most happie raigne Is registred in bookes of holy writ His greatnesse seemes increase of honour gaine By store of worthy Peeres his state which fit Whose excellence of courage and of wit His Impery'causd with wealth and peace abound Whose heads and hands did neuer idle sit But seeking commons good through world around By sea and land their swords free passage found Which subiects safetie bred and feare to foe Like fame vnto our Prince you cause to sound Both farre and neare whilst you victorious goe For which her trust our loue to you is due As pledge whereof I this present to you To the Right Ho. the Lord Cobham Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties houshold Lord Warden of the Sink ports and of the Noble order of the Gaâ—ter c. GIftes are not measur'd by the outward show Nor by the price of Peeres of Noble kind They shadowes are the harts intent to know And simple figures of a faithfull mind Then since your vertues high all hearts do bind To striue to testifie their grate intent Vouchsafe suppose my powre cannot yet find A present fit as will and heart was bent And what king writing once thought time well spent That reade you once as thing of some regard His mind ment well that it vnto you sent Time not spent ill in view thereof is spard If it more worth I more loue could expresse My due regard of you should yeeld no lesse To the Right Ho. the Lord North Treasurer of her Maiesties houshould I May not say I shun to shew my want Before your selfe whom I true noble hold Since I to others haue not made them scant And may of meaner men be well controld This common guilt of mine makes me more bold To prosecute the error I begunne Who craue your fauour not my faults vnfold Although my folly ouer-rashly runne If with the best they haue a pardon wonne They may the boldlier passe the common view What Princes like the people hold well done And fame in passage doth her force renew Which good or bad your censure is to make When now first flight it in the world doth take To the Right Honorable the Lord of Buckhurst AS you of right impart with Peeres in sway Of common weale wherein by you we rest So hold I fit to yeeld you euery way That due the which my powre affoordeth best But when I call to mind your pen so blest With flowing liquor of the Muses spring I feare your daintie eare can ill digest The harsh tun'd notes which on my pipe I sing Yet since the ditties of so wise a king Can not so lose their grace by my rude hand But that your wisedome can conforme the thing Vnto the modell doth in margent stand I you beseech blame not though you not prayse This worke my gift which on your fauour stayes To the Right Honor. Knight Sir William Knowles Controller of her Maiesties houshold OF auncient vertues honor'd ofsprings race Of true religions you blest progeny On which two pillers vertue built your grace And court by gracing you is grast thereby Of such since this worke treates such worke do I Well fitting hold for you to reade and shield Whose wisedome honor vertue doth apply To true religion on the which you build My selfe too weake so heauy a taske to wield As was the treating of so high a stile At first attempt began to fly the field Till some which lik't the theame bid pause awhile And not dismay the title would suffise To daunt the vaine and to allure the wise To the Right honorable knight Sir Iohn Fortescue Chauncellor of the Exchequor HE who in dutie much to you doth owe In power is little able to present For pledge of gratefull mind is forst bestow These ill limd lines best signes of hearts intent The scope whereof by Salomon was bent To teach the way to perfect happinesse By me transformed thus and to you sent To shew that I do wish to you no lesse To wish well is small cost I do confesse But such a heart as truly it intends Is better worth esteeme then many gesse And for all other wants makes halfe amends Such is my heart such be therfore your mind Then shall my mite a millions welcome find To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Cecill Knight principall Secretary to her Maiestie TO you my hopes sweet life nurse to my muse Kind foster father of deseruing sprights This Poem comes which you will not refuse I trust because of blessednes it wrights Your aged youth so waind from vaine delights Your growing iudgment farre beyond your yeares Your painefull daies your many watchfull nights Wherein your care of Common good appears Assureth him that of your fame once hears That you some heauenly obiect do aspire The sweet conceit whereof your soule so chears That earth 's bred vanities you not admire Such is this theame such was first writers mind For whose sakes I do craue it fauour find To other Lords Ladies and aproued friends To the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxford Lord great Chamberlaine of England IF Endors widdow-hâ—â—d had powre to raise A perfect bodie of true temperature I would coniure you by your wonted prayse Awhile my song to heare and trueth indure Your passed noble proofe doth well assure Your blouds your minds your bodis excellence If their due reuerence may this paines procure Your pacience with my boldnesse will dispence I onely craue high wisdoms true defence Not at my suit but for works proper sake Which treats of true felicities essence As wisest king most happiest proofe did make Whereof your owne experience much might say Would you vouchsafe your knowledge to bewray To the right Honorable the Earle of Northumberland VVHo would intreat of earthly happinesse
so her vigor went Your birth your mariage natures gifts most rare With gift of grace herein may not compare To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Pembrooke OF all the Nymphes of fruitfull Braitaines race Of all the troopes in our Dianaes traine You seeme not least the Muses Trophes grace In whom true honour spotlesse doth remaine Your name your match your vertues honour gaine But not the least that pregnancie of spright Whereby you equall honour do attaine To that extinguisht Lampe of heauenly light Who now no doubt doth shine midst Angels bright VVhile you faire starre make cleare our darkned sky He heauens earthes comfort you are and delight Whose more then mortall gifts you do apply To serue their giuer and your guiders grace Whose share in this my worke hath greatest place To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Essex THese Oracles by holy spright distild Into the hart of wisest happie king To you most vertuous Ladie here are wild As heire to parent worthie in euerie thing His carefull trauell countries peace did bring His solide wisedome vertue did pursue His bountie to the poore the world doth sing Whose honour him suruiueth crownd in you So nobles if to God they yeeld his due So people ought to Nobles render fame So shall succeeding ages still renue By old records his euer reuerent name Wherein your double blessed spousall bed Shall wreath an Oliue garland on his head To the Right Honourable Ladie the Ladie Scroope THe bountie which your vertues do pretend The vertues which your wisdome hath imbrast The wisdome which both grace and nature lend The gracious nature which so well is plast Doth witnesse well the heauens your beauty grast With borrowed wisdome not of humane kind Which so hath fostred vertues mild and chast As benigne beautie might a dwelling find Fit to receiue such presents as in mind Are consecrated to that sacred shrine VVhereon as vestall Virgin you assignd Do worthie waight whose eye vouchsafe incline To take in worth reade iudge of and defend This worke weake record of my hearts intend To the Honourable Ladie the Ladie Rich. THe perfect beautie which doth most reclaime The purest thoughts from base and vaine desire Not seene nor leuied is by common aime Of eies whom coullers vse to set on fire The rare seene beautie men on earth admire Doth rather dazell then content the sight For grace and wisdome soonest do retire A wandring heart to feed on true delight Seldome all gifts do in one subiect light But all are crownd with double honour then And shine the more adornd with vertue bright But with Religion grast adord of men These gifts of nature since they meet with grace In you haue powre more then faire Venus face To the Right Honourable the Ladie of Hunsdon OF soule and bodie both since men consist Of diuers humors since our bodies be Since sundry affects do one selfe thought resist Since body soule thought will are all in me Thinke you not strange these passions new to see VVhich to my wonted humors different seeme They both are frute of one and selfe same tree The first for yonger hold this elder deeme If you of my indeuors well esteeme VVhom well the world doth know can iudge the best VVhose course of life a happie pitch doth cleeme In verteous proues wherein your fame is blest Then shall I haue a part of my desire VVho for my trauell craue but likings hire To the Honourable gentlewomen Mistresse Elizabeth and Anne Russels THe double giftes of nature and of grace Redoubled in you both with equall share VVhilst beautie shineth in the modest face And learning in your mindes with vertue rare Do well expresse of what discent ye are Of heauens immortall seed of blessed kind Of earths twise honord stock which ye declare In noble parts composd of eithers mind Them both in you rare gems we blessed find Ye both by them are honord happily Then both vouchfafe what I to both assignd To read and to conceiue of graciously So ye like to your kind the world shall know And to your selues frō hence some fruit shal grow To the Honourable Gentlewoman Mistresse Elizabeth Bridges SInce I haue growne so bold to take in hand A theame so farre indeed vnfit for me As by the reading you will vnderstand Whereto my style in no sort doth agree I cannot chuse but feare lest you should see Some signe of high presumption in my mind Which cause of iust reproch to me might be And for my sake the worke lesse fauour find Vnto you therfore haue I this assignd To craue for me remission at your hand VVhose vertues show you cannot be vnkind If kindnesse may with modest vertues stand And of and for true vertue do I pleade Which to desired blisse and honour leade To the Honorable Lady the Lady Southwell TO you the vowed seruice of my mind Faire Mistresse of the purest thoughts I bred As youths conceit could best inuention find I dedicated with affection fed My elder thoughts with your high honor led Haue often stroue to shew continued zeale But was discourag'd through mistrust and dred Of my defects which did my will conceale Yet now compeld my weaknesse to reueale Vnto a world of worthy witnesses I craue to be excusd if I appeale To you for grace to whom I guilt confesse And hope you will for auncient seruice sake Excuse my wants and this in worth will take To the Honorable Lady the Lady Cecill IN counter-poise of your right high desart My dutie made my gratefull mind consent To straine my braine to equall with my hart In finding forth for you some fit present Which to performe thus will and powre first bent Was checkt by iust regard of your esteeme Which me preuented of my hopes intent Since for your worth vain things not pleasing seeme Yet least a meere excuse you that might deeme To cloke a thanklesse heart with idle hand With more then natiue strength a pitch I cleeme To treat of blisse which I not vnderstand But Gods inspiring grace to king once tought I here as pawne of dutie haue you brought To the Honorable Ladie the Ladie Hobbye LEst that this change of style at first might breed A doubt in you whose worke it were and gift I thinke it fit your searching thoughts to feed With truth who writ it and therein his drift When scorne of hap did force my hope to shift The place wherein felicitie I sought As tyr'd on earth to heauen my thoughts I lift Which in me this strange Metamorphos wrought But so vnperfect fruit of what it ought Mixt with the dregs of old imprinted phrase Require a fauour in the Readers thought With kind construction frailties forth to raze To you my wants to me your vertues tryde Giues me good hope this sute is not denyde To the vertuous Lady the Lady Layton SInce stranger like to Court but newly come This home-bred child may hap for to be vsde Inquired