of by most censured by some Which cannot iudge yet will not be refusde Where wants are pride into and soone accused If shape attire grace skill be not the best Where curious conceits will seeme abused If euery word phrase period bide not test Least that this worke too rashly be supprest Vntried halfe vnderstood disgraced quight I needfull thinke it be to some addrest VVho can and will protect from causelesse spight Which that you will vouchsafe I nothing feare Since to the matter you such zeale do beare To the vertuous Lady the Lady Woollie FArre fet deare bought doth fit a Lady best Such you deserue such would my will bestow Good things are rare rare things esteem'd you know Rare should yours be as you rare of the rest Such hold this gift fetcht from a forraine land Which wisest King as pretious did prouide Who viewing all the earth hath nought espide Whose worth herewith cōpar'd may longer stand The price I dare assure is very deare As puchasd by your merit and my care Whose trauell would a better gift prepare If any better worthy might appeare Then this accept as I the same intend Which dutie to the dead would will me send To the vertuous Lady the Lady Carey IF any thing might in this worke appeare Worthy the reading fit for to content I should then hold it best bestowed here Where most my time in frame thereof was spent By view of your rare vertues I was bent To meditate of heauen and heauenly thing By comfort of your counsell forward went My halting muse this heauenly note to sing And now that time doth forth this haruest bring Which must till need be layed vp in store As medicine meet to cure cares deadliest sting And to restore healths comfort weake before You Lady who of right best int'rest haue Must here receiue and keepe what first ye gaue To the vertuous Lady the Lady D IF kinred be the neerenesse of the blood Or likenesse of the mind in kind consent Or if it be like pronenesse vnto good Or mutuall liking by two parties ment If kindnesse be in truth a firme intent With open heart to testifie good-will If true good will be to contentment bent If true contentment cannot be in ill I know you will repute this token still A pledge of kinsmans loue in ech degree Which though it do your treasure litle fill Yet way to perfect wealth will let you see My selfe in kindnesse wish and hope in you Profit of mind and soules content t'insue To the vertuous Gentlewoman Mistresse E. Bowes AMong the many profits which do rise Vnto the faithfull which the truth do loue A greater comfort can I not deuise Then is the sweet societie they proue When each doth seeke for others best behoue To strengthen that which flesh and bloud doth shake Their weakned soules I meane which sorows moue Through feare of sin and guilty thoughts to quake Whereof by you since I experience make Whose mild and kind accord with neighbours woe Doth cause them oft the crosse with patience take And forward still in hope and courage goe I were vngrate if I should not indeuer To nourish that your grace I honord euer To the Honorable Ladies and Gentlewomen attendants in the Court. YE worthy Nymphes of chast Dyanaes traine Who with our Soueraignes presence blessed bee Whereby ye perfect beauty shall attaine If ye affect the gifts in her you see Scorne not to yeeld your mild aspects to mee Who with you do attend her high behest It can no whit disparage your degree To looke on that is liked of the best This worke for style inferiour to the rest Which many worthier wits to you present Craues welcome yet as some no common guest Whom best to greet your greatest care is spent For kings words these do guide to blisse you craue The fruit of fauour which you striue to haue To all other his Honorable and beloued friends in generall WHat shall I do proceed or stay my pen To either side great reason vrg'd my mind Vnto most powrefull would I yeeld but then Defect of powre makes hand to stay behind Of well deseruing friends I many find Of worthy persons vnsaluted more Those I neglect may hold my heart vnkind And some my iudgement partiall hold therefore Yet as I find so they must graunt the store Of happy Englands well deseruing state Exceeds the bounds my worke prescribd before And doth restraine my mind to stricter rate But if one word may shew a world of loues Vse this and me to all your best behoues
straight and that which faileâ—â— can not be numbred For when I sought to practise what I knew My mind distracted diuersly was led In looking to preuent things to insew Much care in vaine I tooke no fruit it bred To know the worlds amis serues to small sted When no man can make straight the crooked tree Or mend the chance that is ordaind to bee To number forth mans miseries and woe Is hard to doe and litle would auaile To stay the Oceans course he should but goe That would support where nature meanes to faile It makes vs but our weaknesse more bewaile If any way our wisedome stood in sted It would suppresse the vices in vs bred 16. I thought in mine heart and said Behold I am become great and excell in wisedom all them that haue bene before me in lerusalem and mine hart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge And though alas I might of all men best For wisedome be reputed mongst the great Whose knowledge farre surpassed all the rest Before me euer were in Israels seate Or any others whom Records repeat Yea then was Chalcoll Darda or Ethan Heman Maholl or any liuing man Yet I for all my knowledge must confesse That childish blindnesse raigneth ouer all The more I knew I thought I knew the lesse My knowledge ignorance I seem'd to call When to the skanning of it I did fall As farre to weake true wisedome to behold As man vnfit Gods secrets to vnfold verse 17 I studied all both good and bad to know in all I found verse 18 Much grief as much wisedom grew new cares woes abouÌ„d 17. And I gaue 〈◊〉 heart to knowe wisedome and knowledge madnesse and foolishnesse I knew also that this is a vexatioÌ„ of the spirit And that I might the better others iudge I bent my selfe to euery students vaine To reade each friuolous worke I did not grudge As well as writers of more pregnant braine The rules of obseruations I did gaine Which long experience maketh many see And to the vulgar sort instructions bee I put in practise what these arts did teach And tasted euerie toy for my delight Fond actions made in modest mind a breach For will with reason I did arme to fight Yet all in fine did but torment my spright In wisdoms graue restraint my bouÌ„ds seeme straight On follie shame and sorow to awaight 18. For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth griefe So wisedome proues a style of small auaile Which cannot yeeld a man one happie day His infant studies seruile feares do quaile His youthfull yeares with wantonnesse decay His manly thoughts worlds combers weare away His yeares of iudgement for true wisedome fit Deuoyd of powre through weakned limbs do sit And yet suppose some one in ripened time In bodie and in mind haue some delight Yet he shall find when he doth seeme in prime A world of woes to march before his sight Which past or presently shall with him fight Which if he scape yet many thousands beare Whereof whilst yet he liues he stands in feare Chap. 2. verse 1 Then did I ioy proue at full which also proued vaine verse 2 Mad laughter and short ioy what ease do ye yeeld to my paine 1. I said in mine heart goe to now I will proue thee with ioy therfore take thou pleasure in pleasant things and behold this 〈◊〉 vanitie THus tired with these studies I repinde And in my heart I said no more of this Now will I try if pleasure I may find To cheare my fainting soule in worlds amis Perhaps in mirth and ioy is plast true blis Let me to counsell my affections take And let them to their likings frolike make From reasons bonds thus set at large awhile They ech of them their appetites doe fit Each seuerall sense himselfe seekes to beguile And all conspire the wished prise to git But ouer gorg'd full soone they all do surfit For lust complete sacietie doth breed And vaine the fruite that growes from such a seed 2. I said of laughter thou art mad and of ioy what is this that thou 〈◊〉 Then did I first begin indeed to know The vanitie of these vnconstant ioyes For while the foggie myst of lust doth grow As through a cloud we see it so annoyes Our purest iudgement euen with childish toyes But then as safe on shore the storme I saw Whose raging billowes did soules perill draw Then cald I laughter a deformed grace More fit for fooles then temp'rate men to try Graue maiestie expelling from the face And antike wise disguizing men whereby As madnesse I beganne it to defy As forced mirth which no sweet fruit doth bring But to relenting soule a poysned sting verse 3 With wine I wit and folly fed to find mans liues content verse 4 In stately workes of houses and of vineyards study spent 3. I sought in mine hart to giue my selfe to wine and to lead mine hart in wisedome to take hold of folly till I might see wheâ— is that goodnes of the children of men which they enioy vnder the sunne the whole number of the daies of their life The Antidote of hearts with care opprest Earths bloud wits bane wines best delighting tast I gaue my selfe to proue in my vnrest To quicken so my sprights with care defast Not glutton like with drunkennesse disgrast But as in prickly bush men Roses take So in my plentie I not measure brake For why the obiect of my actions were So limited by wisedomes happy guyde That I in them did Gods offence forbeare And in the bounds of temperance firme abyde I onely sought by all things to haue tryde Where and what is that good mans of-spring finds In life on earth which so inchaunts their minds 4. I haue made my great workes I haue built me houses I haue planted me vineyardes And for I held magnificence to bee A vertue fitting well a princely mind I built and dedicated Lord to thee A Temple where thy Arke a rest might find A worthlesse present for a God so kind Yet best that skilfull Hyrams art could frame In seauen yeares time and cost vpon the same I raysed and reedified beside Full many cities to withstand the foes And Libanus whose beautie farre and wide In fame before all other cities goes Besides a Pallace for my Queene like those Where mightiest Monarks courts haue erst bin plast Which was with many vineyards greatly grast verse 5 I gardens had and Orchards faire of euery fruitfull tree verse 6 And Aqueducts to water them the purest that might bee 5. I haue made me gardens orchards and planted in theÌ„ trees of all 〈◊〉 I made me spacious gardens therewithall Wherein to solace both my Queenes and mee In which all kind of herbes both great and small And all such flowers as either pleasing bee To sight or smell you there might plentie see Or which for health of man had any prayse Or
beseeme in euery case And how to walke to win our soueraignes grace It will aduise thee as I also do To be attentiue to thy Prince behest To be obsequious also thereunto So farre as may accord with all the rest Of lawes of God of nature and of state And to attend his pleasure rare and late verse 3 In ill persist not but giue place Princes their pleasure craue verse 4 His word of power who may withstand the thing he likes to haue 3. Hast not to go forth of his sight stand not in an euil thing for he will do whatsoeuer pleaseth him If so his liking did of thee require A thing vnfit not pleasing vnto thee I would not wish thee there withall retyre Or discontent in count'nance ought to bee But yeeld with patience rather to the same For to obedience subiects ought to frame But if thy selfe by indiscretion haue Offended him persist not in thy wrong Of him it is no shame thy pardon craue For vnto Princes homage doth belong They haue the power of subiects to dispose Thy life and goods to saue or else to loose 4. Where the word of the king is there is power and who shall say vnto him what dost thou The Princes wrath is messenger of death His will a law his words are firme decrees Their instruments are readie at a breath To pull the proudest rebels on their knees Such Maiestie and power in them is found With euery frowne a loyall hart they wound Who dare vnto account his soueraigne call Who to no power in earth inferiour is Who will not at his feet all prostrate fall Who hath the power to punish his amis As deputies to God on earth they raigne And by his sword of Iustice state maintaine verse 5 Who keepes the law is free from blame the wise they times do know verse 6 The wise with iudgement chuseth time for things lest trouble grow 5. He that keepeth the commaundements shal know none euill thing and the hart of the wise shal know the time and iudgement Whose lawes the godly wise both must and will Indeuour most exactly to obserue In euery point and tittle to fulfill And wittingly in nothing much to swarue So shall he for himselfe best safety find And leaue the better name to world behind And for they hardly can discharge aright Their duetie that their natiue lawes not know And that their ignorance cannot acquight Who may and will not learne more wise to grow The wise will therefore learne their duties furst The good refraine th' euill they might and durst 6. For to euery purpose there is a time and iudgement because the miserie of man is great vpon him And as in publike causes wise men vse To guide their actions warily and well And proper times and seasons euer chuse For all they do before therewith they mell For proper times there are for euery thing Which good or ill successe with it doth bring So in their priuate life they do obserue Expediencie of that they take in hand From care whereof whilst some do rashly swarue Because true wisedome they not vnderstand They into many mischiefes headlong fall Which afterwards too late they would recall verse 7 For what knowes he what shall succeed he can not mend his fate verse 8 In life death battell sinne cannot protect the wickeds state 7. For he knowes not that which shal be for who can tell him when it shal be For it lies not no doubt in powre of man To iudge aright of sequels and euents Though by obseruance of things past we can Sometimes right neere coniecture of intents As like to haue successe as we desire But none can iudge the truth that they require It is but chance not iudgement if they hit So many errors do incounter them Those future knowledges for God are fit And none but he that priuileage can claime For as for Reuelations few are now And diuelish arts Gods word will not allow 8. Man is not Lord ouer the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death nor deliuerance in battell neither shall wickednesse deliuer the possessors thereof And how should he be able to foretell An others haps or actions can you thinke That not foresaw what to himselfe befell Nor knew his perill being at pits brinke Nor could deferre his death or destiny With all the care he did thereto apply That could not tell the place the dart should light That he in battell flong against his foe That cannot saue himselfe amidst the fight But beares the brunt perhaps of ouerthroe No wicked slight or art can sinners saue But that they sure in fine their merits haue verse 9 All these I note and find sometime mans powre his ouerthrow verse 10 These wicked die yet worse succeed the godly none to know 9. All this haue I seen◠and giuē mine heart to euery worke which is wrought vnder the sunne and I saw a time that man ruleth ouer man to his owne hurt How farre alas doth all our skill come short Of that great knowledge we pretend to haue My selfe haue tryed the same in euery sort Of studie to the which my selfe I gaue And yet there is no knowledge so obscure Or easie but I did the same inure Nay of the things most common in my sight Which enery man can say and witnesse true I groped at as in obscurest night And could not see the reason how it grew That men euen to themselues most ruine bring And Magistrates their owne dependants wring 10. And likewise I saw the wicked buried they returned and they that came from the holy place were yet forgotten in the citie where they had done right this also is vanitie For which the foolish world become so farre From iust dislike of their iniust oppressions That liue and dead they fear'd and praysed are And whose posterities get more possessions They flourish rather most by doing wrong As if the earth did all to them belong But such as haue led long a holy life Deserued well of world and country all Haue bene pursued in life with hate and strife And euen at home forgot when death did call O vaine affection of the vulgar sort That maketh vice and vertue but a sport verse 11 Gods patience makes the wicked ones more bold to heap vp sin verse 12 Which long deferd is plagud in fine when iust men blessed bin 11. Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set on them to do euill These worldlings whilst they see the day deferd Of plague and iudgement of these wicked ones They do suppose their actions haue not erd But wisely were decreed for the nonce And so grew bold in practise of the same Till all the world therewith grew out of frame These wicked ones themselues grow insolent And pride their minds in their presumpteous trade They are so farre from meaning
least that the enemy 12 Preuaile against my life whose tongues intrap me trecherously 13 My heart would faint for feare vnlesse my faith did build on thee 14 My hope my God and comforts strength who will deliuer mee Psalme 71. 1 IN thee ô Lord I trust therefore from shame deliuer mee 2 Performe thy promise saue thou me who call for helpe to thee 3 Be thou my rocke of strength and shield whose powre is great might 4 Deliuer me from wicked men and put my foes to flight 5 For in thee onely from my youth haue I my trust reposd 6 Thou hast had care of me whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd 7 Thee will I praise who art my helpe when men at me do scorne 8 My mouth thy mercies still records who helpst the mind forlorne 9 In time of age forsake me not or when my strength doth faile 10 Least that the counsels of my foes against my soule preuaile 11 Who say my God hath me forgot they therefore me pursue 12 But be thou Lord at hand to me who canst my strength renue 13 Shame and reproch let be their share which my destruction seeke 14 But on thee alwayes will I waite with humble hart and meeke 15 My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse whose measure doth excell 16 And in thy trust my steps shall walke and tongue thy truth shall tell 17 Euen from my youth thou hast me taught thy wonders well I know 18 And whilst I liue if thou assist I will thy iudgements show 19 Thy iustice Lord I will exalt whose workes are like to thine 20 Who threw'st me downe and raisd me vp who else in dust had leine 21 Thou canst mans honor soone increase and shew thy chearefull faces 22 Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse ô God of grace 23 My lips shall ioy to talke of thee who hast my safety wrought 24 My freed soule shall still confesse who hath my safety bought Psalme 119. 1 BLessed are those whose wayes are right and in Gods lawes do walke 2 Whose heart obeyeth to his will and lips thereof do talke 3 Such do not worke iniquitie but so their wayes direct 4 That in their life by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect 5 O would to God my deedes therefore so straightly I might frame 6 That with regard of thy precepts I might be free from blame 7 Then shold I prayse with vpright hart thy righteous iudgemeÌ„ts known 8 Which whilst I study to obserue Lord let thy helpe be showne PART 2. 9 By looking to thy lawes most soone a man may perfect grow 10 Since then my heart hath sought the same astray let me not go 11 Thy promises in mind I beare which me from sinne withdraw 12 Thou gracious God and blessed guide teach me thy perfect law 13 My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse and iustice thou doest vse 14 To follow freely thy beheast I 'le worldly wealth refuse 15 For of thee will I meditate and studie whilst I liue 16 And to obey thy iust precepts my mind will wholly giue PART 3. 17 Be gracious to thy seruant Lord giue life and powre to mee 18 Open my eyes that of thy lawes I may the wonders see 19 I am a stranger vpon earth hide not from me thy will 20 My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still 21 Thou hast destroyd the proud and curst are they which go astray 22 Shame and contempt yet take from me who keepe thy lawes alway 23 Though Princes hate me for thy truth yet will I thee obay 24 Thy lawes shall be my studie still and comfort night and day PART 4. 25 My soule with sorrow is opprest giue me thy promist aide 26 Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse thy wrath makes me affraid 27 But teach thou me thy truth that I thy wonders may admire 28 For shame of sinne soâ—daunts my hope it dares not helpe desire 29 If thou redresse my blinded steps and teach to me thy will 30 Thy ordinances will I keepe and looke vpon them still 31 Thou are the portion I do chuse ô Lord confound me not 32 But guide my steps to run that race the which thy lawes alot PART 5. 33 Teach thou thy statutes vnto me that I may keepe them all 34 Giue thou the knowledge of thy will and turne my hart withall 35 Direct me in thy path ô Lord therein is my delight 36 Incline my mind vnto thy word and sinne put thou to flight 37 Turne thou my eyes from vanities and do thou quicken mee 38 Performe thy promise made to me whose hope depends on thee 39 Preuent the shame I feare because thy iudgements all are iust 40 Behold I would performe thy will thy grace relieue me must PART 6. 41 Then let thâ— promise kindly made O Lord fulfilled be 42 So shall I sâ—â—se my iust rebuke and giue the praise to thee 43 Take not away from me thy truth for on thee I attend 44 But let my lips speake of thy praise vntill my life doe end 45 My feete shall freely follow thee vntill the truth I find 46 I will not shame to Kings thy truth to preach with constant mind 47 Yea all my solace shall be still my loue of thee t' expresse 48 My lifted handes vnto the heauens thy glory shall confesse PART 7. 49 Remember then thy promise made wherein thy seruant trusts 50 In trouble iâ— doth comfort me my soule thereafter lusts 51 The wicked haue derided me thy lawes yet haue I kept 52 I cald to minde thy iudgements past whereby in peace I slept 53 Sorrow and feare afflicted me to see how wicked men 54 Thy lawes transgresse in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then 55 In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare 56 Which blessing thou bestoweâ—â— on me thy will in mind to beare PART 8. 57 O Lord thou art my portion I thy law will still obserue 58 My hearty prayers made to thee and promise thine preserue 59 I haue reform'd my wayes and will to thy behests obay 60 With speed I will my life amend and make no more delay 61 The wicked haue inticed me but I will turne againe 62 At midnight will I rise to pray till iustice I attaine 63 My company shall such be still as do thy precepts know 64 Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord to me thy pleasure show PART 9. 65 According to thy word ô Lord thou graciously hast dealt 66 Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord who in thy law hath dwelt 67 Before I felt thy scourge as then my â—eete did go astray 68 But gracious God direct me now that keepe thy lawes I may 69 The proud against me worke deceipt yet will I follow thee 70 Their hart on folly feedes thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee 71 This fruit affliction brought to me which made me learne thy law 72 A greater treasure to my mind then heretofore I saw
PART 10. 73 Thy hand hath fashioned me therefore teach me thy holy will 74 So shall thy seruants all reioyce and I obey thee still 75 Thy iudgements Lord I graunt are iust I did thy wrath deserue 76 Haue mercie yet and pardon me thy promise cannot swarue 77 Lord let me liue I thee beseech thy law is my delight 78 Bring thou to shame my foes and driue the wicked out of sight 79 And let thy seruants all behold thy mercies showd to me 80 Who walking in thy statutes iust shall not ashamed be PART 11. 81 My soule is almost faint for feare yet on thy word 〈◊〉 82 My eyes are dim with looking sore send me thy comfort iust 83 My bones are withered with despaire till thou thy promise pay 84 My life is short thy iustice on the wicked Lord beâ—ray 85 By fraud they seeke to take my life contrary vnto right 86 But thou art iust vniust are they therefore put them to flight 87 They had almost consumed me my faith yet did not faint 88 Reuiue thou me and with thy truth my mouth I will acquaint PART 12. 89 O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure 90 Thy truth from euer was thou laidst the earths foundation sure 91 All things continue at a stay and do thy people serue 92 Vnlesse thy word did comfort me my faith with griefe would sterue 93 I neuer therefore will forget thy lawes which quicken me 94 I am thy seruant saue thou me who vnto thee do flye 95 The wicked seeke me to destroy but in thâ—e will 〈◊〉 rust 96 Thy truth endures for aye but else all things returne to dust PART 13. 97 So much I loue thy law ô Lord I studie on it still 98 Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill 99 I better vnderstand thy will then they which do me teach 100 I better know thy lawes to keepe then they which should them preach 101 That I thy word might keepe my feete refraine each eâ—ill way 102 My iudgement grees vnto thy law which taught me what to say 103 Then hony combe vnto my tast thy word is far more sweet 104 Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun as most vnmeet PART 14. 105 Thy word is light vnto my feete and guides me in my way 106 My hart hath sworne I will performe thy 〈◊〉 â—ight and day 107 My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send 108 Teach me thy will to my request a gratefull â—earing 〈◊〉 109 Though I in daunger daily be thy lawes I not forget 110 But keepe them still while me to snare the prowd a bayâ— haue seâ— 111 They are the portion I haue chose they are my harts delight 112 My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and â—â—ight PART 15. 113 Thy word I loue but do detest the vanities of minde 114 My shield thou art my refuge safe in whom I trust do finde 115 Away from me ye wicked men my God alone I serue 116 He will performe my hope his word from truth doth neuer swerue 117 Support thou me then am I safe in thee is all my trust 118 Thou hast supprest the proud and such as follow worldly lust 119 I loue thee Lord because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue 120 Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord which shall my sinnes reproue PART 16. 121 Let me not then oppressed be I iustice do obserue 122 Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men which froÌ„ thy will do swerue 123 My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde 124 Teach me my God and let thy seruant be with mercy payd 125 I wait on thee let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part 126 Helpe Lord in time for all the world do from thy lawes depart 127 Yet do I thy precepts esteeme more then the richest gold 128 Most iust are they but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold. PART 17. 129 Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse 130 The wayes thereto do shine so bright the simple it may chuse 131 The zeale I bare vnto thy law did make my hast to moue 132 Looke on me then in mercy Lord because thy law I loue 133 Direct my deedes so that no sinne may beare in me asway 134 I keepe thy will to wicked men let me not be a pray 135 Thy shining face vnto me turne thy statutes teach thou mee 136 With teares my eyes do daily flow because they trespasse thee PART 18. 137 Thou righteous God most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found 138 To truth aâ—d equitie alone thy lawes thy seruants bound 139 My zeale doth burne because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot 140 Thy word we finde most pure and I haue chose it to my lot 141 Though I be poore and in contempt I do remember well 142 Thy righteous precepts which for aye in glorious truth excell 143 Anguish and eares vpon me come thy law yet do I loue 144 Teach me thy truth that I may liue eternally aboue PART 19. 145 Heare me ô Lord to thee â— cry thy â—â—atutes I will keepe 146 Saue me and graunt that in thy house I may in safetie sleepe 147 Before the 〈…〉 to thee I call and wait thy wâ—ll 148 By night I watch to meditate and studie of thee still 149 Heare me ô gracious God in time and quicken thou my spright 150 They are at hand that hate thy law and me pursue with spight 151 Thy promises assure me Lord that thou arâ— nigh at hand 152 I knew 〈◊〉 since thy high decree should firme for euer stand PART 20. 153 Behold my sorrowes then and helpe â—â—y pleasure I obay 154 Plead thou 〈…〉 me vpon thy word I stay 155 The wicked they are farre from helpe which do not thee regard 156 But for thy seruants we do know thy mercy is prepard 157 Many they are thaâ— me pursue yet will I follow thee 158 I see the wicked scorne thy â—ord and much it grieueth mee 159 Consider Lord my 〈◊〉 too thee so quicke 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 160 For from for aye thy word of truth and righteousnesse I finde PART 21. 161 Princes of might do me pursue yet onely thee I feare 162 Thy word delights my hart as if my richesse great it weare 163 Thy law I loue but do abhorte all falshood and deceit 164 Seauen times a day I praise thy name and on thee alwayes wait 165 The keepers of thy law shall stand from danger alwayes free 166 I keepe thy heasts because I hope thy sauing health to see 167 Yea for the loue I beare to them I will them not transgresse 168 Thou seest ô Lord in all my wayes thy name I do confesse PART 22. 169 Let then my plaint before thee come and be thou still my guide 170 Giue â—are vnto my sute and let thy promise firme abide 171 When thou hast me thy statutes taught my lips
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
he the power of hell will cleane deface SON XVII BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie Twixt heat and cold twixt heigth and depth below And both of them from one desire do flow The surest way to sauing health to trie Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie Vpon the merits of my sauior deare A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare Lest in consuming Iealousie I die A heart contrite doth will me to appeare With works of righteousnesse true faith which show Faith saies that god my streÌ„gth power doth know And that I cannot finde saluation here But bids me cheere My soule nothing feare Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare SON XVIII FRom far I see the stars which guide the way From East to West to finde my sauiour out I well might wander all the world about To seeke saluation and in one place stay I shining truth did not his house bewray Which in his word points forth his dwelling place By which directed I will walke a pace Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day And when I come before his blessed face To offer vp my presents will not doubt Although their basenesse all the world should flout So that my faith I may him once imbrace Which giueth grace And makes accepted well Mean works as much as those which more excell SON XIX NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke the treasor of thy law That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine I care not though the world my deede disdaine And thinke it not beseeming thing for me In such a worke an instrument to be Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine For so I Lord thy sauing heath may see And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw Though all the scorners of the world me saw Yet would I not ashamed be of thee For being free Of holie promist land I care not how my state on earth do stand SON XX. NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee If duly thy desert we do regard Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward At whose command all creatures readie bee Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow And in the vse of them obedience show Although alas it be in meane degree Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde Who to his power his present hath sparde So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe And doest bestow More graces then we craue For which naught els but thaÌ„ks thou lokst to haue SON XXI HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay And make the sunne returne in pride of day When as Iosias heart for feare it faints Thy fauour vnto Abram vs aquaints Of how great force repentant heart is found When hauing vowd vile Sodom to confound To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints By prayer man hath powre euen death to wound By praier he may moue amount away A faithfull feruent prayer finds no nay If that the thing we craue be pure and sound Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man Whose worthie praise no tongue well vtter can SON XXII THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay To thee the giuer of all good and grace And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day My heart my mouth my pen they neuer stay To take occasion freshly to renue The memorie of praises to thee due Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie in this point indeed I rue Who till I see new blessings in the place Forget the fauours late before my face And mercies thine from which such bountie grew For it is true So dull our sences are That oft thy blessings do our iudgments marre SON XXIII WHere so I cast about my wandring eye By chance or choice by hap or else by will Before my sight some obiect is there still Wherein thy power and loue I do espye In view whereof if I my thoughts do trye To raise my heart to Ioy I matter finde And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde As patrons of the same the world doth fill Who mad'st not onely but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the minde Which is not blinde Or too much obstinate Which later nature chiefly thou doest hate SON XXIIII VVHilst I do studie fitly to begin To vtter forth some part of my intent Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent For freeing me from due reward of sin I finde a laberinth that I am in Of many merits which do me inclose Which as this holie motion in me rose Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent In staying me the wandring course I went And feeling faith with knowledge where it growes And though I lose Therwith the worlds delight Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight SON XXV SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde By holie spirit thine in time of need As Philip to the Eunuch came indeed Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde And what humilitie was in thy Sonne Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne Vnto my soule for which he raunsome payde I see no earthly things should stay vndone The duties which requirde of me I reed By faith vpon thy promises I feed And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne And thus begunne I will continue still To learne thy lawes and to obay thy will SON XXVI HOw can I limit well my tong or pen Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose Whereon the more I muse more growth it then It fares with me herein euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake When staÌ„mering words the perfect sence do breake And makes vs not be vnderstood of men Such worthie matter in my mind there growes So plentifull and I of skill so weake So pleasing to me and so proper â—ake That in the choyce of them I iudgment lose And euen as those Want matter silent be So plentie of thy praise confoundeth me SON XXVII NOw that thy mercies do so much abound As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found Since power thereof did sinfull Dagon wound And yet disdaineth not my humble state I freely open Lord my lowly gate Of lips and tong which may thy praises sound Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late Since in my soule thy word I did embrace My zeale refreshed is