Sackcloth and his Prayre Not faintly sent to heauen nor sparingly But piercing feruent and mightie cry ¶ Here maist thou see how Pray'r and true Repentance Doe striue with God preuaile and turne his sentence From strokes to stroking and from plagues infernall To boundlesse Mercies and to life Eternall ¶ Till Zepher lend my Bark a second Gale I flip mine Anchor and I strike my saile FINIS O Dulcis saluator Mundi vltima verba quae tu dixisti in Cruce sint vltima mea verba in Luce quando amplius affare non possum exaudi tu cordis mei desiderium A Hymne to God WHo giues me then an Adamantine Quill A Marble tablet And a Dauids skill To blazon foorth the praise of my dear Lord In deep grau'n letters aye vpon Record To last for times eternall processe suer So long as Sunne and Moone and Stars enduer Had I as many mouthes as Sands there are Had I a nimble tongue for euery Starre And euery word I speake a Caractere And euery minutes time ten ages were To chaunt foorth all thy praise it nought auaile For tongues and words and time and all would faile Much lesse can I poore Weakling tune my tongue To take a taske befits an Angels song Sing what thou canst when thou canst sing no more Weep then as fast that thou canst sing no more Be blurre thy booke with teares and goe thy wayes For euery blurre will proue a booke of praise Thine Eye that viewes the mouing Spheares aboue Let it giue praise to him that makes them moue Thou riches hast Thy Hands that hold and haue them Let them giue praise to him that freely gaue them Thine Armes defend thee then for recompence Let them praise him that gaue thee such defence Thy Tongue was giuen to praise thy Lord the giuer Then let thy Tongue praise highest God for euer Faith comes by hearing and thy faith will saue thee Then let thine Eares praise him that hearing gaue thee Thy heart is begg'd by him that first did make it My sonne giue me thy heart Lord freely take it Eyes hands and armes tongues eares and hearts of men Sing praise and let the people say Amen ¶ Tune you your Instruments and let them vary Praise him vpon them in his Sanctuary Praise him within the highest Firmament Which shewes his power and his gouernment Praise him for all his mighty Acts are knowne Praise him according to his high Renowne Praise him with Trump victorious shrill and sharp With Psaltry lowd and many-stringed Harp With sounding Tymbrell and delightfull Flute With Musicks full Interpreter the Lute Praise him vpon the Mayden Virginalls Vpon the clerick Organs and Cymballs Vpon the sweet maiestick Vyalls touch Double your ioyes and let your praise be such Let all in whom is life and breath giue praise To mighty God of Hosts in endlesse dayes Let euery Soule to whom a voyce is giuen Sing Holy Holy Holy Lord of heauen For loe a Lambe is found that vndertooke To breake the seuen-fold-seale and ope the Booke ¶ O let my life add number to my dayes To shew thy Glory and to sing thy praise Let euery minute in thy praise be spent Let euery head be bare and knee be bent To thee deare Lambe Who ere thy praises hide O let his lips be clos'd and tongue for euer ty'de Halelujah Gloria Deo in excelsis Eleuen Pious Meditations 1 ¶ WIthin the holy Writ I well discouer Three speciall Attributes of God His Power His Iustice and his Mercy All vncreated Eternall all and all Vnseparated From Gods pure Essence yet from thence proceeding All very God All perfect All exceeding And from that selfe-same Text three names I gather Of Great Iehoua Lord and God and Father The first denotes him mounted on his Throne In Power Maiesty Dominion The next descries him on his Kingly Bench Rewarding Euill with dreadfull punishments The third describes him on his Mercy-seate Full great in Grace and in his Mercy great ¶ All three I worship and before all three My heart shall humbly prostrate with my knee But in my priuate choice I fancie rather Then call him Lord or God to call him Father 2 ¶ IN Hell no Life in Heauen no Death there is In Earth both Life and Death both Bale and Blis In Heauen 's all Life no end nor new supplying In Hell 's all Death and yet there is no dying Earth like a partiall Ambidexter doth Prepare for Death or Life prepares for Both Who liues to sinne in Hell his portion 's giuen Who dyes to sinne shall after liue in Heauen ¶ Though Earth my Nurse be Heauen be thou my Father Ten thousand deaths let me enduer rather Within my Nurses armes then One to Thee Earths honor with thy frownes is death to mee I liue-on Earth as on a Stage of sorrow Lord if thou pleasest end the Play to morrow I liue on Earth as in a Dreame of pleasure Awake me when thou wilt I wait thy leisure I liue on Earth but as of life bereauen My life 's with thee for Lord thou art in Heauen 3 ¶ NOthing that e'r was made was made for nothing Beasts for thy food their skins were for thy clothing Flow'rs for thy smell and Herbs for Cuer good Trees for thy shade Their Fruit for pleasing Food The showers fall vpon the fruitfull ground Whose kindly Dew makes tender Grasse abound The Grasse is made for beasts to feed vpon And beasts are food for Man But Man alone Is made to serue his Lord in all his waies And be the Trumpet of his Makers praise ¶ Let Heau'n be then to me obdure as brasse The Earth as yron vnapt for graine or grasse Then let my Flocks consume and neuer steed me Let pinching Famine want wherewith to feed me When I forget to honour thee my Lord Thy glorious Attributes thy Works thy Word O let the Trump of thine eternall Fame Sound euer Euer hallow'd be thy Name 4 ¶ GOd made the World and all that therein is Yet what a little part of it is his Quarter the Earth and see how small a roome Is stiled with the name of Christendome The rest through blinded ignorance rebels O're-run with Pagans Turks and Infidels Nor yet is all this little Quarter his For though all know him halfe know him amisse Professing Christ for lucre as they list And serue the triple Crowne of Antichrist Yet is this little handfull much made lesser Ther 's many Libertines for one Professor Nor doe Professors all professe aright 'Mong whom there often lurks an Hypocrite ¶ O where and what 's thy Kingdome blessed God Where is thy Scepter wher 's thine yron Rod Reduce thy reck'nings to their totall summe O let thy Power and thy Kingdome Come 5 ¶ MAN in himselfe 's a little World Alone His Soul 's the Court or high Imperiall Throne Wherein as Empresse sits the Vnderstanding Gently directing yet with awe Commanding Her Handmaid's WILL Affections
Maids of Honor All following close and duly wayting on her But Sin that alwaies enui'd mans Condition Within this kingdome raised vp Diuision Withdrawne mans Will and brib'd his false Affection That This no order hath nor That Election The Will proues traitor to the Vnderstanding Reason hath lost her power and left commanding She 's quite depos'd and put to foule disgrace And Tyrant Will vsurps her Empty place ¶ Vouchsafe Lord in this little World of mine To raigne that I may raigne with Thee in thine And since my will is quite of good bereauen Thy will be done in earth as 't is in heauen 6 ¶ WHo liue to sin they all are theeues to Heauen And Earth They steale frō God take vngiuen Good men they rob and such as liue vpright And being bastards share the free-mans Right They 're all as owners in the owners stead And like to Dogs deuoure the childrens bread They haue and lack and want what they possesse They 're most vnhappy in their most happinesse They are not goods but riches that thou hast And not be'ng goods to eu'ls they turne at last ¶ Lord what I haue let me enioy in thee And thee in it or else take it from mee My store or want make thou or fade or flourish So shall my comforts neither change nor perish That little I enioy Lord make it mine In making me that am a Sinner thine 'T is thou or none that shall supply my need O Lord Giue vs this day our daily bread 7 ¶ THe quick-conceited Schoole-men well approue A difference 'twixt Charitie and Loue Loue is a vertue whereby we explaine Our selues to God and God to vs againe But Charity 's imparted to our Brother Whereby we traffick one man with another The first extends to God The last belongs To man In giuing right and bearing wrongs In number they are twaine In vertue One For one not truly being t' others none ¶ In louing God if I neglect my Neighbour My loue hath lost his proofe and I my labour My Zeale my Faith my Hope that neuer failes me If Charitie be wanting nought auailes me ¶ Lord in my Soule a spirit of Loue create me And I will loue my Brother if he hate me In nought but loue le ts me enuy my betters And then Forgiue my debts as I may detters 8 ¶ I Finde a true resemblance in the growth Of Sin and Man Alike in breeding both The Soul 's the Mother and the Diuell Syer Who lusting long in mutuall hot desier Enioy their wils and ioyne in Copulation The Seed that fils her wombe is foule Tentation The sinnes Conception is the Soules Consent And then it quickens when it giues content The birth of Sin is finisht in the action And Custome brings it to its full perfection ¶ O let my fruitlesse Soule be barren rather Then bring foorth such a Child for such a Father Or if my Soule breed Sin not being wary O let it either dye or else miscarry She is thy Spouse O Lord doe thou aduise her Keepe thou her chaste Let not the Fiend entice her Trie thou my heart Thy Trials bring Saluation But let me not be led into Temptation 9 ¶ FOrtune that blind supposed Goddesse is Still rated at if ought succeed amisse 'T is she the vaine abuse of Prouidence That beares the blame when others make th' offence When this mans barne finds not her wonted store Fortune's condemn'd because she sent no more If this man dye or that man liue too long Fortune's accus'd and she hath done the wrong Ah foolish Dolts and like your Goddesse blind You make the fault and call your Saint vnkind For when the cause of Eu'll begins in Man Th' effect ensues from whence the cause began Then know the reason of thy discontent The eu'll of Sinne makes Eu'll of punishment ¶ Lord hold me vp or spurre me when I fall So shall my Eu'll be iust or not at all Defend me from the World the Flesh the Deuill And so thou shalt deliuer me from Euill 10 ¶ THe Priestly skirts of A'rons holy coate I kisse and to my morning Muse deuote Had neuer King in any age or Nation Such glorious Robes set foorth in such a fashion With Gold and Gemmes and Silks of Princely Dye And Stones befitting more then Maiestie The Persian Sophies and rich Shaeba's Queene Had ne'r the like nor e'r the like had seene Vpon the skirts in order as they fell First a Pomegranat was and then a Bell By each Pomegranat did a Bell appeare Many Pomegranats many Bels there were Pomegranats nourish Bels doe make a sound As blessings fall Thanksgiuings must abound ¶ If thou wilt clothe my heart with A'rons tyer My tongue shall praise as well as heart desier My tongue and pen shall dwell vpon thy Story O Lord for thine is Kingdome Power Glory ¶ THe Ancient Sophists that were so precise And often-times perchance too curious nice Auerre that Nature hath bestow'd on Man Three perfect Soules When this I truly scan Me thinks their Learning swath'd in Errour lyes They were not wise enough and yet too wise Too curious wise because they mention more Then one Not wise enough because not foure Nature not Grace is Mistres of their Schooles Grace counts them wisest that are veriest Fooles Three Soules in man Grace doth a fourth allow The Soule of Faith But this is Greeke to you 'T is Faith that makes man truly wise 'T is Faith Makes him possesse that thing he neuer hath ¶ This Glorious Soule of Faith bestow on mee O Lord or else take thou the other three Faith makes men lesse then Children more then Men It makes the Soule crie Abba and Amen FINIS PENTELOGIA Or THE QVINTESSENCE OF MEDITATION Mors tua Mors Christi Fraus Mundi Gloria Coeli Et Dolor Inferni sunt meditanda tibi Thy Death the Death of Christ the Worlds Tentation Heauens Ioy Hells Torment be thy Meditation AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Richard Moore and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard 1620. Mors tua 1 ¶ ME thinks I see the nimble-aged Syre Passe by amaine with feete vnapt to tyre Vpon his head an Hower-glasse he weares And in his wrinkled hand a Sithe he beares Both Instruments to take the liues from Men Th' one shewes with what the other sheweth when Me thinkes I heare the Dolefull Passing-bell Setting an onset to his lowder knell This moody musick of impartiall Death Who daunces after daunces out of breath Me thinkes I see my dearest friends lament With sighs and teares and wofull dryriment My tender Wife and Children standing by Dewing the Death-bed whereupon I lye Me thinkes I heare a Voyce in secret say Thy Glasse is runne and thou must dye to day Mors Christi 2 ¶ ANd am I here and my Redeemer gone Can He be dead and is not my life done Was he tormented in excesse of measure And doe I
liue yet And yet liue in pleasure Alas could Sinners finde out ne'r a one More fit then Thee for them to spit vpon Did thy cheekes entertaine a Traytors lips Was thy deare body scourg'd and torne with whips So that the guiltlesse blood came trickling after And did thy fainting browes sweat blood and water Wert thou Lord hang'd vpon the Cursed Tree O world of Griefe And was all this for mee ¶ Burst foorth my teares into a world of sorrow And let my nights of griefe ne'r finde a morrow Since thou art dead Lord grant thy seruant roome Within his heart to build thy heart a Tombe Fraus Mundi 3 ¶ WHat is the World A great Exchange of ware Wherein all sorts and sexes cheapning are The Flesh the Diuell sit and cry What lack ye When most they fawne they most intend to rack ye The wares are Cups of Ioy and Beds of Pleasure There 's goodly choice downe weight and flowing measure A Soul 's the price but they giue time to pay Vpon the Death-bed on the dying Day ¶ Hard is the Bargaine and vniust the Measure When as the Price so much out-lasts the Pleasure The Ioyes that are on earth are Counterfeits If ought be true 't is this Th' are true Deceits They flatter fawne and like the Crocadile Kill where they laugh and murther where they smile They daily dip within thy Dish and Cry Who hath betray'd thee Mastre Is it I Gloria Coeli 4 ¶ WHen I behold and well aduise vpon The Wisemans speech There 's nought beneath the Sun But vanitie my Soule rebells within And loaths the Dunghill-prison she is in But when I looke to new Ierusalem Wherein 's reseru'd my Crowne my Diadem O what a Heauen of blisse my Soule enioyes On sudden rapt into that heauen of Ioyes Where rauisht in the depth of meditation She well discernes with Eye of Contemplation The Glory of God in his Imperiall Seat Full strong in Might in Maiestie compleat Where troups of Powers Vertues Cherubins Angels Archangels Saints and Seraphins Are chaunting praises to their heauenly King Where Halelujah they for euer sing Dolor Inferni 5 ¶ LEt Poets please to torture Tantalus Let gryping Vultures gnaw Prometheus And let Ixion turne his endlesse Wheele Let Nemesis torment with whips of Steele They far come short t' expresse the paines of those That rage in Hell enwrapt in endlesse woes Where time no end nor plagues finde no exemption Where cryes admit no helpe nor place redemption Where fier lacks no flame the flame no heate To make their torments sharp and plagues compleat Where wretched Soules to tortures bound shall bee Seruing a world of yeeres and not be Free Where nothing's heard but yells and sudden cryes Where fier neuer slakes nor Worme e'r dyes But where this Hell is plac'd my Muse stop there Lord shew me what it is but neuer where 1 Mors tua ¶ CAn he be Faire that withers at a Blast Or he be Strong that Ayery Breath can cast Can he be Wise that knowes not how to liue Or he be Rich that nothing hath to giue Can he be Yong that 's Feeble Weake and Wan So Faire so Strong so Wise so Rich so Yong is Man So Faire is Man that Death a parting Blast Crops his faire Flow'r and makes him Earth at last So Strong is Man that with a Gasping Breath He totters and bequeaths his Strength to Death So Wise is Man that if with Death he striue His Wisdome cannot teach him how to liue So Rich is Man that all his Debts b'ing pay'd His wealth 's the Winding-sheet wherein hee 's lay'd So Yong is Man that broke with Care and Sorrow Hee 's old enough to Day to Dye to Morrow Why bragg'st thou then Thou Worme of Fiue foot-long Th' art neither Faire nor Strong nor Wise nor Rich nor Yong. 2 Mors Christi I Thurst And who shall quench this Eager Thurst I Grieue And with my griefe my Heart will Burst I Grieue because I thurst without Reliefe I Thurst because my Soule is burnt with Griefe I thurst And dri'd with Griefe my Heart will Dye I Grieue and thurst the more For Sorrow's drie The more I grieue the more my thurst appeares Would God! I had not grieu'd out all my teares I Thurst And yet my Griefes haue made a Floud But Teares are salt I Grieue and Thurst for Bloud I Grieue for Bloud for Bloud must send Reliefe I Thurst for Bloud for Bloud must ease my Griefe I Thurst for sacred Bloud of a Deare Lambe I Grieue to thinke from whence that Deare Blood came 'T was shed for Mee O let me drinke my fill Although my Griefe remaine Entier still O soueraigne Pow'r of that Vermilion SPRING Whose Vertue neither Heart conceiues nor Tongue can sing 3 Fraus Mundi I Loue the World as Clients loue the Lawes To manage the vprightnes of my Cause The World loues me as Sheepheards doe their Flocks To Rob and spoyle them of their fleecy Locks I loue the World and vse it as mine Inne To bait and rest my tyred Carkasse in The World loues me For what To make her Game For filthy Sinne she sels me timely Shame Foorth from her Eyes doe Springs of Venome burst But like a Basiliske I 'le see her first And this my firme intended Course shall be To poyson her or she will poyson me We liue at Iarres as froward Gamesters doe Still guarding not Regarding others Foe I loue the World to serue my turne and leaue her 'T is no Deceit to Coozen a Deceiuer Shee 'l not misse me I lesse the World shall misse To lose a World of Griefe t' enioy a World of Blisse 4 Gloria Coeli EArth stands immou'd and Fixt Her Cituation Admits no locall Change no Alteration HEAVEN alway moues renuing still his place And euer sees vs with another Face EARTH standeth Fixt yet there I liue opprests HEAVEN alway moues yet there is all my Rest Enlarge thy selfe my SOVLE with Meditation Mount there and there bespeake thy Habitation Where Ioyes are full and pure not mixt with mourning All Endlesse and from which is no returning No Theft no Cruell Murther harbours there No Hoary-headed Care no sudden Feare No pinching Want no Griping fast Oppression Nor Death the stipend of our soule Transgression But dearest Friendship Loue and lasting Pleasure Aye there abides withouten stin◠or Measure Fulnesse of Riches Comfort sempeternall Excesse without a surfeiting And Life Eternall 5 Dolor Inferni THe Trump shall blow The Dead awak'd shall rise And to the Clouds shall turne their wondring Eyes The Heauen shall ope The Bridegroome foorth shall come To iudge the World and giue the World her Doome Ioy to the IVST to others Endlesse SMART To those the Voyce bids COME to these DEPART DEPART from LIFE yet dying liue for Euer For Euer dying be and yet Dye Neuer DEPART like Dogs with DIVELS take your lot DEPART like DIVELS for I know you not Like
DOGS like DIVELS goe Goe Howle and Barke DEPART in DARKNES for your deeds were Darke Let roring be your MVSICK And your Food Be flesh of VIPERS And your Drinke their BLOOD Let FIENDS afflict thee with REPROCH and SHAME DEPART DEPART into Eternall FLAME If HELL the Guerdon then of Sinners bee Lord giue me HEL on Earth Lord giue me HEAVEN with thee vv vv I am Define Tibia versus FINIS * Assyria Diodor Siculus lib. 3. rerum antiqu 6.4 Pliny lib. 6. cap. 26. Strabo lib. 16. princip * Assur Genes cap. 10.11 St. August lib. 15. de ciuit Dei Diod. Sic. cap. 1. rerum antiqu The Cituation of the City The height of the Walls The Breadth Ptolimaeus lib. 6. Geograph cap. 1. The Circuit of the City The number of ber Towers Diod. Siculus cap. 3. rerum antiquarum Her beauty and strength The number of ber workmen Radulf Volateranus Nab. 3.15 The sinnes of Niniueh a Chap. 1. 1.2 b 1.3 c 1.4 d 1.5 e 1.6 f 1 1â— g 1.17 h Chap. 2.2 i 2.10 k Chap. 3.1.2 l 3.3 m 3.4 n 3.5 o 3.7 p 3.10 q Chap. 4. â— r 4.5 s 4. â— t 4. â— u 4.6 * 4.7 x 4.8 y 4.9 z 4.10 * 4.11 Historia Ionae incipit Chap. 1. vers 1. * Jonah interp is a Doue * Amittai interp is Truth Vers 2. Gods charge to Ionah Ier. 20.3 Explicit Hist Hist Chap. 1. vers 3. Prima occasio fugae 2. Occasio 3. Occasio Simile * Ciuitas Palest The Tempest Vers 5. Explicit Hist Obiect Deus regnat in Coelis per gloriaÌ„ In terris per gratiam Apud inferos per institiam Resolue Hist. Chap. 1. vers 6. The Pylot awakes Ionah The Pylots speech to Jonab Verse 7. Exp. Hist Consuetudo peccandi tollit seasum peccati Math. 13.41 Histor Cap. 1. v. 8. Simile The Mariners speech to Ionas Ionahs speech to the Mariners * Hebraei quasi Abrahaei S. Aug lib. 1. super Gen. Vers 10. Simile The Mariners speech Interrogatio Admiratio Neprehensio Expl. Hist Obiect Resolutio Chap. 1. ve 12. Iona's last will Vers 13. Vers 14. The Mariners prayer Expl. Hist Obiect Homicida in se insepultus abijciatur Seneca Resolu Non ideo sine scelere facit alter c. S. Aug. lib. 1. de ciuitat Dei cap. 26. Iudg. 16.30 Spiritus latenter hoc iusserat S. Aug. Cum Deus iubet se iubere sine vllis ambagibus intimat quis inobedientiam in crimen vocat S. Aug. Caritas est infans sine pannis dans mel api sine pennis * Dea Litis Simile Hist Chap 1. ve 15. Simile Simile Vers 16. Vers 17. Explicit Hist Simile Hist Chap. 2. ver 1. Verse 2. The prayer of Ionas out of the Whales belly Vers 3. Vers 4. Vers 5. Vers 6. Vers 7. Vers 8. Vers 9. Vers 10. Explicit Hist Quitimidè oraâ— docet negare Luke 11.9 * The Common-wealth * The Church * Charity * Feare * Wisedome * Faith * Iustice * Prayer * Math. 21.21 * John 15.16 Oratio feruens velox Oratio fides comites indiuidui Hist Chap. 3. ver 1. Vers 2. Gods second charge to Ionah Simile vers 3. Vers 4. Iona's prophecy to the Niniuites Explicit Hist Obiect Resolut Aliud mutare voluntatem aliud velle mutationem Aquin. 1. quaest 19 art 7. Mutat sententiam sed non mutat consiliuÌ„ lib. 20. mor. c. 29 Tempus vitae tempus poenitentiae Hist Chap. 3. ver 5. Vers 5. 〈◊〉 Hist Matth. 6 Hist Chap. 3.7 The Proclamation of the Niniuites Vers 8. Vers 9. Vers 10. Explicit Hist Hist Chap. 4.1 Vers 2. Ionas speech to God Vers 3. Vers 4. Explicit Hist Virgil Aeneid 8. Hinc metuunt cupiunt dotent gaudentque nec auras Respiciunt clausae tenebris carcere caeco Hist Chap. 4. ver 5. Vers 6. Simile Vers â— Explicit Hist Voluptas Vita Voluptas Vita Voluptas quale Vita quale Boctius Philos consol * Folia vanitatis * Lilâ—a terrae Hist Chap. 4. â— Vers 9. Gods speech to Ionah Iob. 2 â— King 21.15 2. Sam. 12.3 Ionahs answer Vers 10. Gods reply Vers 11. Explicit Hist Fac quod potes quod non pates pete Ionah Chap. 2. chap 3.10 Application Chap. 1.17 Application Chap. 3.5 Application Chap. 3.10 Chap. 4. Application Chap. 1.2 Chap. 3.4 Chap. 3.5 Chap. 3.6 Chap. 3.10 Psal 150. Sapere est insipere Eccles 1. Ex infernis nulla redemp
purse for bargaine finds no leisure Where sin delights ther 's no account of treasure Nor did he know nor aske how much his Fare He gaue They tooke all parties pleased are How thriftlesse of our cost and paines are we O blessed God of heauen to fly from thee Now haue the Pilots drunke their parting cup And some with Sailors tune are hoysting vp Others the while the faithfull Anchor wey The Ship as loth to leaue her quiet key Creepes easly off and with directed course She glides along the shore with gentle force And now the whistling wind begins to dally With Aura's fanne Now stronger gusts doe fally Forth rudely playing on the hollow saile And from the Mountaines blowes a lusty Gale She mounts the billowes with a lofty grace And now she cuts the Deepe and scuds apace From land from whence vnwilling she was driuen Nothing 's perceiued now but Sea and heauen Betwixt them both the blustring winds doe play The waues know not which Master to obey For now the East wind mutin's with the West And now the West wind counterbuffes the East And now the hollow Boreas roares amaine And vexed Notus thwarts the North againe Thus crossely crost they threaten in reuenge To force the world from off his stedfast henge The Guide's perplext and knowes not what to doe His Art 's amaz'd in such a maze of woe The Welkin stormes and rages more and more The Raine powr s downe the Heauens begin to roare As they would split the massie earth in sunder From them that liue aboue to those liue vnder The restlesse waues and rolling billowes beate As they would shoulder Neptune from his feate The billowes seeme to mount the clouds or higher The dusky clouds did flash with often fier Now doth the Ship as high as heauen swell And now o'rwhelm'd with waues as low as hell The Barke no lesse doth yeeld to Neptunes sway Than lofty Tow'rs when thundring Ordnance play The hardy Mariners begin to quaile They vere their maine sheet and they strike their saile Their haire bolts vp pale Death vsurps their cheekes Their mouthes are ful of cryes their tongues of shreeks They sound with endlesse line and sound againe They pumpe and still they pumpe but all in vaine They row and breake their Oares At last th' assay Each Mariner vnto his god to pray They prai'd but winds did snatch their words away And lets their pray'rs not goe to whom they pray But still they pray but still the wind and wether Do turne both pray'rs sayles they know not whither Their gods were deafe their danger waxed greater They cast their wares out and yet ne're the better But all this while was Ionah drown'd in sleep And in the lower Decke was buried deepe Meditatio secunda BVt stay This was a strange and vncouth word Did Ionah fly the presence of the Lord What mister word is that He that repleats The mighty Vniuerse whose lofty seat's Th' imperiall Heauen whose footstoole is the face Of massy Earth Can he from any place Be spar'd or yet by any meanes excluded That is in all things and yet not included Could Ionah find a resting any where So void or secret that God was not there I stand amaz'd and frighted at this word Did Ionah fly the presence of the Lord Mount vp to heauen aboue and there he is Swaying the Scepter of his Kingly blisse Bestride the earth beneath with weary pace And there he beares the Oliue branch of Grace Diue downe into th' extreme Abysse of Hell And there in Iustice doth th' Almighty dwell What vncouth Cloyster could there then affoord A screene 'twixt faithlesse Ionah and his Lord ¶ Ionah was charg'd to take a charge in hand But Ionah turn'd his backe on Gods command Shooke off his yoke and wilfully neglected And what was strictly charg'd he quite reiected And so he fled the power of his Word And so he fled the presence of his Lord. ¶ Good God! how poore a thing is wretched man So fraile that let him striue the best he can With euery little blast hee 's ouerdon If mighty Cedars of great Libanon Cannot the danger of the Axe withstand Lord how shall we that are but Bushes stand How fond corrupt and sencelesse is mankind How faining deafe is he How wilfull blind He stops his eares and sinnes he shuts his eyes And blindfold in the lap of danger flies He sinnes despaires and then to stint his griefe He chuses death to baulke the God of life ¶ Poore wretched sinner trauell where thou wilt Thy trauell shall be burthen'd with thy guilt Climbe tops of hils that prospects may delight thee There wil thy sins like Wolues Beares affright thee Fly to the Valleys that those frights may shun thee And there like Mountaines they will fall vpon thee Or to the raging seas with Ionah goe There will thy sinnes like stormy Neptune flow Poore shiftlesse Man what shall become of thee Wher'ere thou fly'st thy gryping sinne will fly ¶ But all this while the Ship where Ionah sleepes Is vexed sore and batter'd on the Deeps And well-nigh split vpon the threatning Rocke With many a boystrous brush and churly knocke God send the comfortlesse an happy howre And shield all good men from such stormy stowre THE ARGVMENT The Pilot thumps on Ionah's brest And rowzeth Ionah from his Rest They al cast Lots being sore affrighted The sacred Lot on Ionah lighted Sect. 3. THe haplesse Pylot finding no successe But that the storme grew rather more than lesse For all their toylesome paynes and needlesse pray'rs Dispairing both of life and goods repaires To Ionahs drowzie Cabbin mainly calls Calls Ionah Ionah and yet lowder yawles Yet Ionah sleepes and giues a shrug or two And snores as greedy sleepers vse to doe The wofull Pylot iogs him but in vaine Perchance he dreames an idle word or twaine At length he tugs and puls his heauie course And thunders on his brest with all his force But after many yawns he did awake him And being both affrighted thus bespake him Arise O Sleeper O arise and see Ther 's not a twiny thrid 'twixt death and thee This darksome place thou measur'st is thy graue And suddaine Death rides proud on yonder waue Arise O Sleeper O arise and pray Perchance thy God will heare and not say Nay Perchance thy God's more powerfull then our's Arise Arise and pray with all thy pow'rs If so be God will haue compassion on vs And turne away this mischiefe he hath done vs The sturdy Saylers weary of their paine Finding their bootlesse labour lost and vaine Forbare their toylesome taske and wrought no more But wisht for Death for which they look'd before They call a parley and consult together They count their sinnes accusing one another That for his sinne or his this euill was wrought In fine they all prooue guilty of the fault But yet the
and rankles griefe And fruitlesse falls vnlesse it yeeld reliefe Cheare vp I haue a Messenger in store Whose speed is much but faithfull trust is more Whose nimble wings shall cleaue the flitting skies And scorne the terrour of your enemies Oratio hight well knowne vnto your King Your message she shall doe and tydings bring Prouided that Fidissa trauaile with her And so on Christs name let them goe together With that Fidissa hauing ta'ne her errant And good Oratio with Iustitia's Warrant In silence of the midnight tooke their flight Arriuing at the Court that very night But they were both as any fier hot For they did flie as swift as Cannon shot But they left suddaine cold should doe them harme Together clung and kept each other warme But lo the Kingly gates were sparr'd and lockt They call'd but none made answere then they knockt Together ioyning both their force in one They knockt amaine Yet answere there was none But they that neuer learn'd to take deniall With importunity made further triall The King heard well although he list not speake Till they with strokes the gate did wel-nie breake In fine the brazen gates flew open wide Oratio moou'd her suit The King replide Oratio was a faire and welcome ghest So heard her suit so graunted her request Fraile Man obserue In thee the practice lies Let sacred Meditation moralize Let Pray'r be feruent and thy Faith intire And God will graunt thee more then thy desire THE ARGVMENT The second time was Ionah sent To Niniuy so Ionah went Against her crying sinnes he cri'd And her destruction propheci'd Sect. 8. ONce more the voyce of heau'ns-high-Cōmander Like horrid claps of heau'ns-diuiding-thunder Or like the fall of waters breach the noyse B'ing heard farre distant off such was the voyce Came downe from heau'n to Ionah new-borne-Man To re-baptized Ionah and thus began Am I a God Or art thou ought but Dust More then a man Or are my Lawes vniust Am I a God and shall I not command Art thou a man and dar'st my Lawes withstand Shall I the motion of whose breath shall make Both Earth and Sea and Hell and Heauen quake By thee fond man shall I be thus neglected And thy presumption scape vncorrected Thy Faith hath sau'd thee Ionah Sinne no more Lest worse things happen after then before Arise let all th' assembled pow'rs agree To doe the message I impose on thee Trifle no more and to auoyd my sight Thinke not to baulke me with a second flight Arise and goe to Niniuy the great Where broods of Gentiles haue ta'ne vp their seat The Great-Queene-regent-mother of the Land That multiplies in people like the sand Away with wings of time I 'le not essoine thee Denounce these fiery Iudgements I enioyne thee Like as a yongling that to schoole is set Scarce weaned from his dandling mothers tet Where he was cockerd with a stroking hand With stubborne heart denyes the Iust command His Tutor will's But being once corrected His home-bred stomack 's curb'd or quite eiected His crooked nature 's chang'd and mollified And humbly seeks what stoutly he deny'd So Iona's stout peruerse and stubborne hart Was hardned once but when it felt the smart Of Gods auenging wrath it strait dissolu'd And what it once auoyded now resolu'd T' effect with speed and with a carefull hand Fully replenish'd with his Lords Command To Niniueh he flyeth like a Roe Each step the other striues to ouergoe And as an arrow to the mark does fly So bent to flight flyes he to Niniuy Now Niniuy a mighty Citty was And all the Citties of the world did passe A Citty which o're all the rest aspires Like midnight Phoebé 'mong the lesser fyers A Citty which although to men was giuen Better beseem'd the mighty King of Heauen A Citty Great to God whose ample wall Who vndertakes to mete with paces shall Bring Phoebus thrice a-bed e're it be dun Although with dawning Lucifer begun When Ionas had approacht the City gate He made no stay to rest ne yet to baite Nor yet with oyle his fainting head he ' noynts Nor stayes to bathe his weather-beaten ioynts Nor smooth'd his countenance nor slick't his skinne Ne craued he the Hostage of an Inne To ease his aking bones with trauell sore But went as speedy as he fled before The Cities greatnes made him not refuse To be the trump of that vnwelcome newes His tongue was great with But like thunders noyse His mouth flew ope and out there rusht a voyce When dewy-cheek't Aurora shall display Her golden locks and summon vp the Day Twice twentie times and rest her drowzy head Twice twentie more in aged Tithons bed Then Niniueh this place of high renowne Shall be destroy'd and sackt and batterd downe He sate not down to take deliberation What manner people were they or what Nation Or Gent or Saluage nor did he enquier What place were most conuenient for a Cryer Nor like a sweet-lipt Orator did steare Or tune his language to the peoples eare But bold and rough yet full of maiesty Lift vp his trumpet and began to Cry When forty times Dan Phoebus shall fulfill His Iournall course vpon th' Olympian Hill Then Niniueh the Worlds great wonder shall Startle the Worlds foundation with her fall The dreadfull Prophet stands not to admire The Cities pomp or peoples quaint attire Nor yet with fond affection doth pitty Th' approching downfall of so braue a City But freely lifts his dismall voyce on high Not caring who excepts against the Cry When fortie Dayes shall be expir'd and run And that poore Inch of time drawne out and dun Then Niniueh the Worlds Imperiall throne Shall not be left a stone vpon a stone Meditatio octaua BVt stay Is God like one of vs Can hee When he hath said it alter his Decree Can he that is the God of Truth dispence With what he vow'd or offer violence Vpon his sacred Iustice Can his minde Reuolt at all or vary like the winde How comes it then to passe How mought it bee That hauing limited his iust Decree Vpon the expiring date of fortie dayes He then performes it not But still delayes His plagues denounc't and Iudgement still forbeares And stead of fortie Dayes giues many yeares Yet fortie Dayes and Niniueh shall perish Yet fortie yeeres and Niniueh doth flourish A change in man's infirme in God 't is strange In God to change his Will and will a Change Are diuers things When God repents from ill He wills a change he changes not his Will The subiect 's chang'd which secret he kept close But not the mind that so did it dispose Denounced Iudgement God doth oft preuent But neither changes counsell nor intent Moreo're He seldome threatens a perdition But with expresse or an impli'd condition So that if Niniuey do turne from ill God turns his hand he doth not turne his Will ¶
are Of sumptuous beautie and of glorious show Let him disrobe and put on sackcloth too The Oxe ordain'd for yoke the Asse for load The Horse as well for race as for the road The burthen-bearing Cammell strong and great The fruitfull Kine and eu'ry kind of Neate Let all put sackcloth on and spare no voyce But crie amaine to heau'n with mightie noyse Let all men turne the Byas of their wayes And change their fiercer hands to force of praise For who can tell if God whose angrie face Hath long bin wayning from vs will embrace This slender pittance of our best endeuour Who knowes if God will his intent perseuer Or who can tell if He whose tender loue And mercy ' extends his Iudgements farre aboue Will change his high Decree and turne his sentence Vpon a timely and vnfain'd Repentance And who can tell if God will change the lot That we and ours may liue and perish not So God perceiu'd their works and saw their wayes Approu'd the faith that in their works did blaze Approu'd their works approu'd their works the rather Because their faith and works went both together He saw their faith because their faith abounded He saw their works because on faith they grounded H' approu'd their faith because their faith was true H' approu'd their works because on faith they grew He saw their faith and works and so relented H◠approu'd their faith and works and so repented Repented of the plagues they apprehended Repented of the Euill that he intended So God the vengeance of his hand with-drew He tooke no forfeiture although 't were due The Euill that once he meant he now forgot Cancell'd the forfeit bond and did it not Meditatio decima ¶ LO into what an ebbe of low estate The Soule that seekes to be regenerate Must first decline Before the Ball rebound It must be throwne with force against the ground The Seed cannot encrease in fruitfull eares Nor can she reare the goodly stalke she beares Vnlesse bestrow'd vpon a mould of earth And made more glorious by a second birth So fares with Man Before he can bring forth The braue exploits of truly noble Worth Or hope the granting of his sinnes remission He must be humbl'd first in sad contrition The plant through want of skill or by neglect If it be planted from the Sunnes reflect Or lack the dew of seasonable showres Decayes and beareth neither Fruit or Flowres So wretched Man if his repentance hath No quickning Sunne-shine of a liuely Faith Or not bedew'd with show'rs of timely teares Or works of mercy wherein Faith appeares His pray'rs and deeds and all his forged grones Are like the howles of Dogs and works of Drones The skilfull Surgeon first by letting blood Weakens his Patient ere he does him good Before the Soule can a true comfort finde The Body must be prostrate and the Minde Truly repentiue and contrite within And loath the fawning of a bosome Sin But Lord Can MAN deserue Or can his Best Doe Iustice equall right which he transgrest When Dust and Ashes mortally offends Can Dust and Ashes make Eternall mends Is Heau'n vniust Must not the Recompence Be full Equiualent to the Offence What mends by mortall Man can then be giu'n To the offended Maiestie of heau'n O Mercie Mercie on thee my Soule relyes On thee we build our Faith we bend our eyes Thou fill'st my empty straine thou fil'st my tongue Thou art the subiect of my Swan-like song Like pinion'd pris'ners at the dying Tree Our lingring hopes attend and wayte on thee Arraign'd at Iustice barre preuent our doome To thee with ioyfull hearts we cheerely come Thou art our Clergie Thou that dearest Booke Wherein our fainting eyes desire to looke In thee we trust to reade what will release vs In bloudy Caracters that name of IESVS ¶ What shall we then returne to God of Heau'n Where nothing is Lord nothing can be giu'n Our soules our bodies strength and all our pow'rs Alas were all too little were they ours Or shall we burne vntill our life expires An endlesse Sacrifice in Holy fires ¶ My Sacrifice shall be my HEART entire My Christ the Altar and my Zeale the Fire THE ARGVMENT The Prophet discontented prayes To God that he would end his dayes God blames his wrath so vnreprest Reproues his vnaduis'd Request Sect. 11. BVt this displeasing was in Iona's eyes His heart grew hot his blood began to rise His eyes did sparkle and his teeth struck fire His veines did boyle his heart was full of yre At last brake foorth into a strange request These words he pray'd and mumbl'd out the rest Was not O was not this my thought O Lord Before I fled Nay was not this my Word The very Word that these my lips had shaped When this mis-hap mought well haue bin escaped Was there O was there not a iust suspect My preaching would procuer this effect For loe I knew of old they tender loue I knew the pow'r thou gau'st my Tongue would moue Their Adamantine hearts I knew 't would thaw Their frozen spirits and breed relenting awe I knew moreo're vpon their true repentance That thou determin'dst to reuerse thy sentence For lo I knew thou wert a Gracious God Of long forbearance slow to vse the Rod I knew the power of thy Mercies bent The strength of all thy other works out-went I knew thy tender kindnes and how loth Thou wert to punish and how slow to wrath Turning thy Iudgements and thy plagues preuenting Thy mind reuersing and of Eu'll repenting Therefore O therefore through this perswasion I fled to Tarsish there to make euasion To saue thy credit Lord to saue mine owne For when this blast of zeale is ouer-blowne And sackloth left and they left off to mourne When they like dogs shall to their vomit turne They 'l vilipend thy sacred Word and scoffe it Saying Was that a God or this a Prophet They 'l scorne thy Iudgements thy threats despise And call thy Prophets Messengers of lyes Now therefore Lord bow downe attentiue eare For lo my burthen's more then I can beare Make speed O Lord and banish all delayes T' extinguish now the tapour of my dayes Let not the minutes of my time extend But let my wretched howers find an end Let not my fainting sprite thus long aby In her fraile mansion of mortality The thrid's but weake my life depends vpon O cut that thrid and let my life be done My brest stands faire O strike and strike againe For nought but dying can asswage my paine For liefer 'tis to dye then liue in shame For better 't is to leaue and yeeld the game Then toyle for what at length must needs be lost O kill me for my heart is sore imbost This latter boone vnto thy seruant giue For better 't is for me to dye then liue So wretched Ionah But Iehoua thus What boot's it so to storme out-ragious Does it become