in Arts fairest Founts thy Feathers wash to flye to him that Heau'n and Earth adores Thy Raptures else are but such Rauishments as are reproachfull penall lewde and light But Raptures farre aboue the Elements doe shew thy Vertue in the fairest â—light O then thou great vnlimitable Muse that rests in motion in th'ETERNALS Breast Inspire my Muse with grace her pow'r to vse in nought but what to thee shall be addrest So shall that Spirit that made thy Dauid sing Make Dauies too a Begger like a King THE MVSES SACRIFICE A Confession of sinnes with petition for grace O Trinall Vnion God creating Gods O sole resistles all-effecting Pow'r When wilt attone twixt mee and thee the ods Till when eternall I account each how'r I am O Lord thy Creature re-created Made marr'd re-made by Loue by Sinne by Grace Shall Loue and Grace by Sinne be so defeated That Loue should lose her labor Grace her place Thou art the Salue and I the mortall Sore Yet with one touch thy vertue can reuiue me To heale this Sore a Speare thy heart did gore Kinde Pelican that thy Bloud might relieue me Thy Hands that form'd reform'd and me conform'd Were to a Crosse transfixed for my sake To help my hatefull hands that sinne inorm'd Then can those helping Hands their Cure forsake Thy Head was crown'd with Thorny Diadem To cure mine crown'd with Sinnes sweet-pricking Roses Thy body ah did bloud water streame To wash away Sinnes soile which mine encloses Thy Feete was crosse-wise nailed to a Crosse To heale mine swolne with running into vice On thy saire Skin whips did my Crimes engrosse So freedst thou me from them with bloudy price Then can such Loue now leaue the thing it lou'd Is Sinne so sowre to turne sweete Loue to Hate To dye for Sinne it thee alone behou'd And yet shall Sinne thy Deaths desert abate O God forbid sith Sinne and Death and Hell Thou on the Crosse didst conquer throgh thy death And by the pow'r thereof their pow'r didst quell To lowest deepes and it restrain'd beneath Besides thou saist but Truth what canst thou say A Gulph is set the two Extreames betweene Twixt Heauen and Hell no entercourses may By meanes thereof at any time be seene I am in Heauen for in thy glorious Wounds By Faith I hide me from Sinne Death and Hell If Sathan for my plague would breake his bounds Those Gulphes of grace to stay will him compell Then keep me in thy Wounds my soules sole heau'n From whence if out-cast I to Hell must fall Where out-cast-like of Hope shall be bereau'n If reft of Hope then reft of Help withall But help me Lord else hopelesse shall I be Thy help the hopefull neuer faild at need Then sith my hope of help alone 's in thee Let speedy help my ready hope succeed Vpon thine Hand thine hand hath writ my Name Then reade thy Hand and saue me by the same A Sinners acknowledgement of his Vilenesse and Mutabilitie SPare me deare Lord my daies as nothing be Consum'd in Sin then which is nothing worse Yet Sinne is nothing yet can well agree With nothing but thy vengeance and thy curse Yet is it that without which none can liue Sprong from our Proto-parents rootes of strife Linckt to that Curse that Life a crosse doth giue not crosse of Life but crosse in Booke of Life Then happy that that Life yet neuer had Life that still subiect is to such a crosse And haplesse I that liue in life so bad Where life is found with lifes eternall losse Ah what am I but slime durt dounge and dust Graue-monsteâ—s food Wormes pittance most impure Sprong froÌ„ the earth vnto earth that must How where or when I sure am most vnsure Abortiue Brat of damn'd Concupiscence Hels heire Heau'ns hate eternall food for Fire A Gulph of griefe and Sincke of foule offence Scum of vaine Pride and froth of damn'd Desire Copesmate of Beasts and to a Beast transform'd A Dungeon darke a loathsome Lumpe of Earth Fardle of filth prodigious foule deform'd Dishonours vassaile cursed childe of Wrath Patterne of Vice and Mould of Vanitie Made of the Molde that marres what ere it makes Errors misse-maze where lost is Veritie Or blinded so that still wrong course it takes A Bramble Bryer an vse-lesse barren Plant A Dogge a Hogge a Viper most vnkinde A Rocke of wracke dry Well of eu'ry Want A Weather-cocke more wau'ring then the winde A thing of naught a naughtie thing that marres What Goodnesse makes a damn'd incarnate Deuill Contentions Source Loues hate still causing iarres A banefull weede and Roote of eu'ry euill What shall I say A Map of miserie Confusions Chaos Frailties Spectacle The Worlds disease Times vgliâ—â—â— Prodigie Th' abuse of Men and Sh 〈…〉 â—btectacle Mortall and to a Bubble suteable Whose slesh as Flowres whose life as Houres consumes Of matter made more then most mutable Yet sure of certaine death of life presumes Fraile life which more it lasts the sooner worne The longer drawne the shorter is the date Hedg'd in with cares as with an Hedge of Thorne Whose piercing prickes the minde doe vulnerate If merry now anone with woe I weepe If lustie now forth-with am water-weake If now aliue anone am buried deepe That houre that glads the heart the heart doth breake One while I laugh another while I lowre Now ioy in Griefe and then in Ioy I grieue Now wake in Care then sleepe I straight secure Now I dispaire then Hope doth me relieue Now sigh for sinne then sinne so sigh in vaine Now minde I Heau'n then Earth excogitate Now fast and pray then feast and prate againe Now labours end then labours renouate Now am I loose then lose I libertie Now sound then sicke now vp then downe I fall Now am I safe and then in ieopardie Now ouerco 〈…〉 then put to the wall Now I discourse then mute againe I muse Now seek the World then search I for thy Waies Now am abus'd and then I doe abuse Now hate then loue now praise then straight dispraise Now This I long for by and by for That This now delights me then with that am cloid Now would haue this and then I wot not what And thus with This and That am still annoid To count the count-lesse vaine varieties Wherewith this mortall life surrounded is Or to recite our vaines in vanities I may as of the Starres the reck'ning misse All that this earthy Boowle on breast doth beare Is subiect most to most vnconstant state One moment makes as if they neuer were And eu'ry minute drawes them to their date The heate the cold the hunger thirst and all The miseries that life fraile life annoy Which swarming hide this Globe terrestriall No Tongue can tell thogh all their pow'rs employ Death seconds these if not the second Death Who with his fatall Fanne sweepes all away At All saith he whose nostrils bound their breath Thus carelesly at All with All
Traitor worse then hee that solde thee it will for Meede or Dread the Soule betray Nor in fire is it willing to behold thee in fiery tryals then it shrinckes away Therefore when it a Champion of such might betraid to feare I dare not say I will No that 's Presumption but I wish I might for willing well without thee we doe ill Then be with me strong Pow'r and I will say I will and will performe that will in Deed For where thou art by Pow'r it 's but a play in greatest torments then to burne or bleed Now as thy Body grew so grew thy griefes for who deare Lord can possibly expresse Thy Persecutions void of all reliefe saue Praying Fasting Watching Wearinesse They spake against thee who sate in the Gate and common Drunkards ballads made of thee That thou might'st say in worse then Dauids state being poore I labour from mine Infancie These were the griefs dear Loue thy life did brook but in thy Death what Sense ere vnderstood What paines thou felt'st when like a rising brooke thy body more and more o'erflow'd with bloud Freedome made Captiue Mercy Miserie Grace quite disgraced beauty vilifide Innocence strooken Iustice doom'd to dye Glory quite shamed and Life crucifide O Heau'ns what can amaze with Wonderment the Sense of Man more then this what shall I Call this so strange vnheard of Loues extent that ouer-fils all Names Capacitie In few now Grace alone seemes Sinne alone Life dyes State 's whipt and Pow'r bound to a Poast The Glory of the Father spet vpon and in a word God seemeth to be lost In this Deepe further may my Soule not wade my strength is spent for my heart bleedes in me O glorious Grace O Maiestie vnmade is this for me O boundlesse Charitie If I for my Redemption am so tide to loue and honour thee What shall I bee For that thou did'st so many Deaths abide when one wold serue to make me more than free With what loue shall I quite this more then Loue with what life shall I imitate thy life With what teares shall I my repose reproue and with what Peace shall I conclude my strife I owe thee more for my redeeming Lord sith in the same thou Death of deaths didst proue Then for my Making which was with a Word for more much more thy Passion showde thy loue For if for Cherubins or Seraphins thou had'st thus di'd t 'had beene lesse meruellous But thou hast di'd for me a Sincke of sinnes which of all Wonders is most wonderous What are we Lord or what our Fathers House we Sons of wretched Men that Gods deere Senne Doth in such loue and mercie visit vs as through Death to re-make vs quite vndone If in the ballance of thy Sanctuary thou weigh our body t' will be found more light Than Vanitie more graue then Misery as if It did consist in Natures spight And if our Conuersation thou respect what is it but a Chaos of Offence The Goodnesse of whose All is all Defect whose very Souâ—'s but Hell of Conscience Dost thou ô God then for such Diuels die the Sonnes of Sathan most oppos'd to thee For the Subuerters of all Honestie for breakers of good Lawes that blessed be For thy Contemners for thy Gloryes Clouds for thy Deprauers for the worst of Ils For meere cuâ—st Thwarts of all Beatitudes for thy Tormentors that thy Soule would kill Whose Hearts no gifts can once allure to loue much lesse with Menaces are terrifide Nor mou'd with heauy Plagues that Rockes would moue nor yet with sweet'st Indulgence mollifide For Fiends who not suffic'd with their owne vice the Earth doe compasse so to compasse more And not contented others to intice diue to the Diuels to augment their store Where robbing those Egyptians of their wealth to weet Pride Enuy Malice blasphemie Away they steale so all they doe by stealth to make them Idols for their Fantasie Who when they haue rak'â— Hell for eu'ry Euill and got as much as Hell can hold or yeeld They then deuise themselues worse then the Diuel new kindes of sinnes that Hell yet neuer held Adding thereto obduracie of Heart and doe their Conscience more then cauterize Pleasing themselues like Fiends in others smart and for that end doe many meanes deuise Are these deare Lord the things for which thou the things I say for no Name is so ill As they deserue What onely must the Highest diest dye for vile Vipers that their Maker kill My Heart doth faile my Spirit is extinct when thus I weigh thy Mercies with my Sinne And wert not for thy graces meere instinct I should despaire deare Lord and dye therein Yet sith I haue begun to speake to thee O be not angry if I yet doe speake Let Dust and Ashes once so saucie be to aske their God what He hereby doth seeke Seek'st thou the loue of such meere Lumps of Hate or else the seruice of such Vermine vile Alas great Lord it stands not with thy State sith where they come by nature they defile If thy desire of Marriage did so burne that Thou thy Creatures would'st needes espouse Why then did Seraphins not serue thy turne that are more Noble and thee better vse Why of a prepuce Nation took'st a Wife which afterwards did Thee betray and kill So marriedst as it were the very Knife that cut thy throate so seem'dst thy selfe to spill What answer'st Lord to these too high Demands I would haue this because I would have this This is thine Answere and the reason stands vpon thy Will which cannot will amisse Then be it Lord according to thy Will for so it muâ—â— be be it how so ere By life or death then let me It fulfill that dost by both thee so to mee endeere For since Mans fall none passe to Paradise but by the dreadfull burning Cherubins To Canaan none but by where Marah lies sith there th' inheritance of ioy begins And none vnto the happy Citie goes that goes not by the Babel-Riuers side And none Ierusalem or sees or knowes that through the vale of Teares nor goe â—orride The way to Heau'n is by the Gates of Hell and Wormwood-wine thogh bitter wholsome is Thy Crosse ô Christ doth Heau'ns strong 〈◊〉 compell to open wide for t is the Key of blisse And sith for me so well thou loud'st that Crosse Let me for thee count all things else but losse A Thanksgiuing for our Vocation WIth all the pow'r and vertues of my Soule I doe adore thee holy Lord of All That when I had no name in thy check-rowle thou wrat'st it on thy Palme and me didst call I dwelt sometimes in blacke Obliuions Land where in the shade of Death I sadly sate But thou kind Lord didst reach me then thy hand which from thence drew me to a glorious state When as I wandred in the crooked wayes that too directly led to endlesse paine Thou didst thy forces then against me raise to put me in thy
procures the Fathers loue and grace and so gets glory by such gracelesse scarres So God desirous more to haue vs kinde than comely Children thrusts vs in his Warres As we were but to fire and sword assign'd He takes more pleasure in the great'st annoyes We haue for him then in our ghostly ioyes Each Danger for our Mistresse vnder-tane seemes most secure and pleasant deadli'st paine The Wounds both for from her though but bane seeme honied-sweet and losse for her is gaine The colours that she likes we most doe loue her words meere Oracles her spot no staine Her actions Patternes ours to shape and proue All her perfections past Superlatiues And imperfections least Diminutiues And shall we doe and thinke all this and more but for a shade of Beautie and endure Nothing for Beauties Substance nor adore the CREATOR but in the Creäture O! t is a shame that Reas'n should be so mad in men of minde for loue if it be true Will most affect what 's rarest to be had The Obiect of true Loue is greatest GOOD If lesse she loues it ill is vnderstood With our Soules Eye if Christ our peace be view'd true loue shall see a Soule-afflicting sight His head with bloud that thornes do broach imbrude his Eares with Blasphemies his Eyes with Spight His Mouth with gall his Members all with wounds his Heart with griefe and all in all vnright Yea so vnright as Iustice quite confounds Yet mans Ingratitude doth griue him more Then all these Plagues as manifold as sore And ô for whom doth he the same endure for Man begot in filth in darkenesse form'd With throwes brought forth brought forth most vnpure whose child-hood's but a dreame with pains enorm'd His youth but rage his man-hood ceaselesse fight his Age meere sicknesse all his life vnsure And worst of all his death is full of fright This this is he for whom Heau'ns God endures All shame and paine that paine and shame procures W' are no where safe where we may fall to sinne in Heau'n nor Paradise with men much lesse In Heau'n fell Angels Paradise within the first man fell throgh whom all men transgresse In the World Iudas from his Lord did fall so no place can defend from Wretchednesse But he that place confines and holds vp All For who from worse to better fals he may From better fall to worse without his stay If Crosses trauerse not our Comforts then we ought to crosse our selues as many did That were Men Angel-like or Gods with men who hardly liu'd in Dens and Deserts hid Fed little and slept lesse in Sacke-cloth clad to minde them that to mourne they here were bid So chose foâ—d place and suite as suites the sad To sing in Babilon being Abrahams Seede Is to forget our Bondage and our Creede Heau'n is our natiue Home our Canaan Earth's but the shade of Death or vale of Teares Then mirth in place of moaue but kils a man at point of Death hee 's mad that Musicke neares Therefore those Saints discreete sad â—obâ—r Soules reiected all that Sense to Life endeâ—râ—s And liue as buried quicke in â—aues likâ— Moâ—es Iâ— Weapons lâ—sâ—e doe wâ—und thâ—n sâ—arpeâ—t praise Lesâ—e huâ—ts lamenting then the Syrens â—ayes And as Men longing at Noone-day to see the Lamps of Heau'n descend into a Well As deepe as darke that so their sight may be the more contracted smallest Stars to tell So pious mâ—n that faine would fixe their Eyes still on the Stars the Saints in Heauen that dwell Descend in Earth to low'st Obscurities For to a louing Soule all labour 's sweet That tends although in Hell her Loue to meet Low is our Way but our Home most sublime if home we wouâ—d thâ—n this low Way is best Which yet growes steepe â—omewhere and hard to climbe yet Loue o'ercomes it eternall Rest Vaine pleasures are like Gold throwne in our Way and while to gather it we stoupe at least It let 's vs and our Iudgements doth betray But if on Heau'n our mindes be altogether Nothing shall let our Bodyes going thither Which way goe you saith Christ to those that stray I am the WAY and whither will you wend I am the TRVTH or else where will you stay I am the LIFE that is your Iournyes end Now if this Way doe lead o'er steepes and plaines If this Truth teach vs rising to descend If this Life be not got but with our paines Then wo to them that laugh sith weepe should al And blessed they that weepe for laugh they shall We should be therefore like th' Egytian Dogs that drinke of Nilus running lest they should By staying much to drinke like greedy Hogs the Crocodile might haue them so in hold Nature doth teach them reas'nlesse what to doe then shall not grace worke much more manifold With humane Creatures that diuine are too It should then we are mad or reason lacke to quench our thirst of hauing with our wracke What is 't to haue much more than Nature needes but to haue more then Nature well can beare Like one that 's deadly drunke or ouer-feedes whose excesse makes his Death excessiue cheare Enough then should be better then a feast sith more is mortall howsoeuer deare For Nature cannot well so much digest Much lesse then little onely makes her grutch Enough maintaines her better than too much Besides in vs Sinne is more odious growne then in the Diuell for his was but one sinne Ours numberlesse his yer Reuenge was knowne ours when we knew it and might fauor winne In Innocence created sinned he but we when to 't we had restored bin In malice he of God forsooke but we when GOD recall'd vs to his sauing Grace He damn'd we sau'd yet were in worser Case For we were sau'd in possibilitie but he condemn'd so could not saued be He sinn'd gainst one that him did straitly tye but we worse fâ—ends gainst one that made vs free Against one he that doom'd him second-death but we gainst one that dide for vs so he Sinn'd lesse than we which Hope quite banisheth Did not the time we liue in stirre vs thrals To call for Grace that comes if griefe but cals He that of Sinne doth know the large extent and Hell of Hels the Soule incurres thereby Shall little feele his Bodyes punishment though he in life a thousand dâ—athes should dye Which borne with Patience for his Sauiours loue quite abrogate his pass'd impietie And future sinnes and paines from him doth shoue Immortall paines extreame in qualitie Annihilate all mortals quantitie Our Faith in the beginning thinne was sowne in the afflicti'on shame and death of Christ And then with Martyrs Bloud t' was ouer-flowne nor can it grow or prosper to the high'st Without showres ceaslesse gushing from their wounds then what art thou that soone thy Faith deni'st For feare of death that but thy Iudge confounds O! I am he the frail'st of flesh and bloud That liues for ill and
O let her be repos'd none outherwise then as they fashion her To harbor Thee that 's make her well dispos'd els let her rest be restlesse euer there My Sonne saith thou deare Lord giue me thy heart ô small request my Heart Lord what is it But one poore bit of wormes-meate can no Part of me delight thee but so vile a bit Why thou didst wholy giue thy selfe to me shall I returne thee then but that alone O t is sweet Sauiour most vnworthy Thee for which thou know'st it's meekly wo-begon Yet gladly would I giue it but it is so small vncleane vnquiet and accurst That I doe feare to giue it so amisse sith of all gifts it 's worser than the worst Yet take it Lord of Loue it is thine owne how e'er I haue abus'd it make it such As thou wouldst haue it let it still be knowne fit for thy Stampe vpon thy Trials Touch. O glorious King what grace is 't to our Hearts to be accepted and desir'd of thee Then take my Heart yea all mine other parts for they are safe in thee but lost in me And is this all thy gaine ô kindest Lord and is this all our gift one wretched Heart And for the same dost thou thy selfe afford then take it to thee Lord through ioy or smart For nothing can I giue thee but the same augments my gaine and glory endlesly Then take it wholy set me all on flame to melt me into thee by Charitie For were my Heart as great as is the Heau'n that all includes and that past price it were It should to thee desiring it be giu'n sith I haue thee for it who hast no Peere Then World be silent call it not againe Flesh be as still permit it still to goe And Diuell striue not for it is in vaine my God will haue it then it shall be so Vade vade for all you cannot fill my Heart my God alone can doe it and He must Haue it to fill then from me all depart that seeke to fill it but with winde or dust And sole Sufficer chaine it still to Thee with Adamantine Linckes of endlesse Loue That through those Straites which thou hast past for me it may be drawne to thee if slow it moue Let it attend thee to the Iudgement-Hall where thou wast doom'd to death and to the Hill Whereon thou suffer'dst let it taste thy Gall and on thy Crosse let it be fixed still That be'ing with thee thus plagu'd disgrac'd slaine It may with thee be rais'd and crown'd and raigne A soueraigne Salue against Sinne and Despaire out of S. Augustine DEare Lord when sinfull thoughts doe me assaile to thy deare Wounds then let me hye with speed When burning lust against my thoughts preuaile quench it by minding me how long they bleede In all Extreames I finde no Meane so good as thy wide Wounds to keepe my Soule still whole They cannot dye that drown'd are in thy bloud for that is Aqua vitae to the Soule Thy Death is my desert then doe I not lacke merits sith thy Death destroyes my Sinne Thy Mercy is my merit and my Lot is glories Crowne through my firme hope therein For if thy grace be great then is it cleare my glory shall be great and the more pow'r Thou hast to saue the lesse I ruine feare for Grace abounding makes Loues hope secure Yet I acknowledge mine iniquities and Conscience with her thousand Witnesses Accuse me of extreame impieties yet will I hope of mercy ne'erthelesse For where Sinne hath abounded there hath grace abounded more so loue enflaming in The grieu'd delinquent who doth enterlace sweete teares of Ioy with bitter Teares for Sinne. For who dispaires God vtterly denyes deny his Attributes himselfe deny His Iustice we prouoke his mercies rise but from him selfe who is selfe Clemencie Then let my thoughts still murmure while they will and aske why such a Sinner grace should seeke Yet in firme hope I will continue still sith he hath promised that cannot breake Who can doe what he will and he will doe what he hath sworne which is he will make whole The broken Heart for sinne and grace it too yea help contrition in the willing Soule My Sinnes though great then me no whit dismay when his deare Death I minde for all my Crimes Can ne'er o'er-match his Mercies if I pray for grace to hope in his sure help betimes His Thorny Crowne and Naylâ—s that him transpierc'd assures my hope that He and I are One Which haue his Iudgemeuts gainst my sinnes reuerst if I but grieue for what I haue misdone Longius hath clear'd the sad coast to his Heart with his fell Speare that kinde to me made way There rest I now in Ioy and ioyfull smart of safety sure while there in hope I stay Vpon the Crosse he doth his Armes extend t' embrace the Contrite then betweene those armes Deuoutly will I throw me till mine end so safe I shall be there from foes and harmes He bow'd his Head before Death brake his Heart to kisse his Louers with the kisse of Peace Then still I le kisse him so shall I depart in peace to him that is my Sinnes release Sweet Christ embrace me then and kisse me till I dye to liue to clip and kisse thee still The crazed Soule being almost in dispaire desireth Grace to hope in Gods mercy LOrd in thy Loue let me be none of them that loue but in a Calme a time beleeue But when a Storme ariseth doe blaspheme and with infernall S'prits thy Sp'rit doe grieue Thus what I need I craue but what I feare thou know'st deare Lord I feare I am too bold To seeke thy loue because I doe appeare no correspondence with thy loue to hold For he that merits hate Lord how can he straight looke for loue who hath shame deseru'd Seeke for immortall glory or to be from shame and paine which he deserues preseru'd He moueth but his Iudge to iustest wrath that being faulty lookes he him should cleare Without meete satisfaction for the scath which he hath done all these my hopes doe feare For he that is to shame and death condemn'd small reason hath to looke for high'st respect If but his death by grace might be redeem'd in sense it should be all he could expect But why ô why doe I now call to minde what I haue done to make my feares more rife Death I deserue yet seeke I life to finde that liue but to offend the Lord of life Can I still vexe my Iudge yet looke for grace and still prouoke my King yet seeke his loue Nay still but buffet my sweete Iesus face and yet expect he should my Iesus proue Alas how should he much lesse how can I such fauour seeke that so his Fauour wrongs Can wrong expect such right in equitie ô no for vengeance to the same belongs Vengeance belongs to wrongs so great so plaine as so to wrong a MAIESTIE so
nothing more then sinne Lord help me in this strange extremitie of crosse desires which in my Soule are found My Will is bound to Sinne but would be free then if it would how should my Will be bound Were it my Flesh alone desir'd to sinne my Soule resisting t' were not so amisse Such crosse desires in thy best Saints haue bin but in my Soule my Sinne conceiued is And yet shee 's barraine gauly and impure of emptinesse not emptie and thereby A soulelesse Soule so lifelesse doth endure yet liues in Death because she cannot dye Then empt mine empty Soule for Sinne doth fill with nought but vacuum her capatious thought For Sinne is nothing sith thou mad'st not Ill without whom nought was made then empt this nought For t is that Law though nought that still rebels against both grace and natures Gouernment This lawlesse Law my members still compels to bowe as Sinnes vnrighteous Rule is bent Lord I beleeue yet help mine vnbeliefe and well doe will yet better my desire Cure thou the Wound my Will receiu'd in chiefe through Adams Fall and make our Wils entire Giue me both Will and Pow'r to doe thy Will and let me neither haue to crosse the same For when I see my Will would thine fulfill yet doth it not I pine with griefe and shame I cannot will aright but right resist without thy grace preuent my crooked will And willing well without thy grace assist I cannot for my bloud my will fulfill So thy preuenting and assisting grace makes my Will worke for of my selfe I am So fraile by nature and so beastly base that my best thoghts are more then much too blame Then let thy Grace my wayward Will preuent and helpe me to performe it so preuented Yea make my thoughts and deedes most innocent else let me ioy in nought but them lamented Nay make my Heart deare Lord so apt to waile That it may weepe when I to weepe doe faile The Sinner desireth not to be as he is but as he ought to be TO be all nought is nought at all to be and to be sinfull still is to be nought Yet Sinners ARE though dead in sinne we see as Men ARE though they are not as thy ought Deliuer me deare Lord from being such such being take from me that sinfull is For better nothing be then be so much because so much is more then most amisse Then let me be not as I am but what I ought to Be or take me as I am Take me to Thee and then I will be that I ought to be thine owne in Deed and Name For then I am when I am wholy thine But I am not while I am Sinnes or Mine In respect of the breuitie and vncertaintie of mortall life the Sinner desires grace in time to prepare for Death MY stupid Soule now recollect thy pow'rs weigh in Iudgements Scales thy present state Thou in thy Iaile my Flesh but some few howres hast now to stay by nature neere her date My Pilgrimage is almost past ô then it thee behooues to looke with stedfast eyes Towards thy Countrey Home of Happy-men least ere thou looke in straying pathes thou dye Now faints my force my sense impaires my flesh like wither'd fruit now falleth with each breath Some Birds o'er-aged doe their youth refresh but Man growne Twâ—-childe is at doore of death The Young-man may dye quickely but the Olde can not liue long misse-haps may wracke the one But nought in Arte or Nature long can hold the other here for they are almost gone Then if green yeers should somtimes mind the graue the Gray must still that there are with a breath For Age to Death is but the Gally-slaue that on a moments fluxe whafts life to death To serue the World although I able were small cause haue I to will it sith it is The ground which nought but ranckest Ils doth beare and where men most esteemed are most amisse I long haue cultur'd this but flinty-field which yeelds but Crops of Cares Woes wrongs and spight Yeelding the more annoy the more they yeeld whose very Ioyes are Tares that pine the Spright Then it is time to change by heauenly Arte the thriftlesse course of so course Husbandry And with Remorse to furrow vp my Heart melting the Clods with teares that are too dry And so to sow Loues seedes that faire encrease to fat the Soule in vertue till shee melt In flames of Charitie till Faith doth cease to giue more taste of heauenly pleasures selt And sith my Spring is spent my Summer past and to the Fall of leafe my Tyme arriues Nay sith his frost Time on my Head hath cast I must prepare for cold that life depriues My negligence hath made sinnes Earth my Heart to yeeld but poysonous Weeds of thoughts impure Which doe but bane my Soule and get the start of Vertue in their growth by Customes pow'r Meane while my flesh with heat of youth bloud hath shrunke from cherishing their root yet lo The Marrow of my Bones doth yeeld them foode so thogh I shrink they through that compost grow And as one tost at Sea with Stormes and feares makes little way though much he be turmoild So he in vice that past hath many yeeres hath had long time but life as short as soild For Life is measur'd by the good we doe not dayes we spend sith some by many dayes Get many Deaths as some haue come vnto Eternall Life by short Life spent with praise What is a Soulelesse Body but a Clod and what 's the Soule without her cause and life But quicke to Sinne and dead to Grace and God Hell to it selfe selfe-Hell or Hell of strife He is the Way besides which all are wide the Truth against which all in errour dwell The Life without which all in death abide in whom to be is onely to be well O then deare Lord let me beginne to liue now in my dying though hard late it be Yet better late then neuer to reuiue me dead in sinne by mortifying me It 's hard I grant that after life's neere spent in mortall Sinne immortall life t' expect Yet Lord how euer late let me repent while Aire I breathe and doe it not reiect Yet Loue must cause remorse and hate of Sinne for true contrition which true life dorh giue Is caus'd by Loue sith we so bad haue beene t' a God so good that di'd to make vs liue Then loue my Soule for no ends but thine END By-purposes are purposelesse for ONE That knowes all Hearts Remorse doth but offend that is not for his Loue conceiu'd alone Then to be truely contrite hard it is sith it respects but Loue that Grace allures Whereof in but a scruple if we misse it 's but Attrition which lesse Grace procures O Death how sowre is thy rememberance to him whose Soule is swolne with sweetest Sinne And hath thereof a feeling I perchance haue so in shew but more
Had beene with Neroes much but monstrous the Muse alone then well renownes a Name Yet now her Agents are so poore become in Minde and state that for an abiect Fee They 'l honor to their shame but HONORS skum yea Deifie a Diu'll if he be free But strong Necessitie constraines the same as Israels Singer did the Shew-bread eate By like constraint yet they are Lords of FAME and where they charge with it there 's no retreit For though Time-present see it mis-bestow'd yet if Wits Engine it doe rarely raise Of Times to come It shall be so allow'd that both the prais'd and praiser they will praise Yet speake a Language â—ew doe apprehend so few affect it for wee nought affect But what our Vnderstandings comprehend no maruell then the most this Art neglect Nay were 't but so yet Poesie still should finde some grace with some whom Art makes great of vile But now such thinke it but distracts the Minde for broken-Braines such great-Ones Poets stile Vnfit for serious vse vnfit for all that tends to perfect Mans Felicitie Light idle vaine and what we worse may call yea though it were the Skumme of Vanitie And would these Truths were all true Falacies though Poets used to none of these incline For personall faults are not the Faculties that is not onely faultlesse but diuine But t is too true in many that professe the Art though Leaden Lumpes for none can swim In Helicon without that Happinesse which from his Mothers Wombe he brought with him And t is as true if Grace and Gouernment doe not containe the Minde in Raptures high But it of Wit may make so large extent as it may cracke the strongest Ingenie So may it doe in other Mysteries and that which we most praise may most impeach Diuinitie it selfe may soon'st doe this if Grace with-hold not from too high a Reach Then let this Arte which is the Angels speech for to the High'st they speake in nought but Hymnes Which in the Wombe they doe true Poets teach be freed from speech that but her glory dimmes Then let the ignorant-great-highly base reuile her ne'er so much they but bewray Their owne Defects therby and giue but grace to Folly darkned with Arts glorious Raie But no great Spirit whose temper is diuine and dwels in reall GREATNES but adores The Heau'nly MVSE that in Arts Heau'n doth shine like Phoebus lending Light to other Lores To you therefore that Arte predominate great in your Vertue Skill and Fortunes too My Muse held meet'st these Flights to consecrate sith you most grace the Muse in most you doe And as the Sunne doth glorifie each Thing how euer base on which he deignes to smile So your cleare Eyes doe giue resplendishing to all their Obiects be they ne'er so vile Then looke on These and Me with such a Glance That both may shine through your bright Countenance The vnfained louer honorer and admirer of your rare Perfections Iohn Dauies of Hereford The Sacrifices of God are a contrite Spirit A contrite and a broken Heart O God thou wilt not dispise Psal. 51.17 A Broken Heart deare LORD thy Grace respects as Loues best Sacrifice the breake my Heart To make it sound thereby in his Affects and Sinne that wounds It still from It to part How is it Lord that who so seekes thy Face must with the whole-heart seâ—ke the same to see Yet Broken-hearts as soone doe get thy Grace so whole or broken are all One to Thee Then breake my heart to make it whole that so being broken quite and made whole afterward It in thy Kingdome still may currant goe made flat to take thy Print with Pressures hard That though the Fiend abuse thy Forme in mee It through thy Test may currant passe to Thee Another of the same AS in the Sacrifices of the Law there was an Alter Priest Host Fire and Wood So This to That in likenesse neere doth draw and wants but holy Fire to make it good The Alter is my Hope the Host my Heart the Priest my Faith my Loue the Fuâ—ll is All these ô Lord are ready but the Art to fire the Fuell wants then doe thou This. I am but Passiue in this holy Act Thou the sole Agent yet ô make me fiâ— To worke with thee together in this Fact with all the Forces of my Will and Wit And sith deare â—oâ—d all things so ready be Giue Fire to sacrifice my Heart to Thee Another DEscend sweet hallowed Fire from that high FLAME that euer burnes in LOVES eternall Brest consume this Sacrifice and let the rest Licke vp my Teares for Sinne about the same That Mis-beleeuers thereby still may know There is no GOD but he that fir'd it so I am no Prophet Seër Saint nor ought that may expect such Fauour but a Wretch made meeke by Sinne yet Hands of Faith doe stretch To thee whom men prophane doe set at nought If Faith then with thee worke this wondrous Feate They will confesse my God as good as great To ouer-curious Critiques YEe ouer-curious Eyes that nought can please produc'd by Art or Nature ô auert Your All-deprauing-banefull lookes from these pure Flames that sacrifice our dying Heart Here are no Nouels which yee most dâ—sâ—re nor ought vnvsuall but here shall you see What hath beene said of old in new Attire with our Thoughts interlac'd so ours they be The Spider-webbe which in her Wombe is bred we prize no more for that nor estimate Pure Honie lesse for being gathered from many Sweets nay more much more for that What we haue gather'd is from others Flowres And what is added is from sweet'st of ours To the Indifferent Readers TO pray in measur'd Sillables is strange Familiars with peruersenesse may conceiue But PIETIE her selfe allowes this Change and for our Learning doth Example leaue Her Friend sweet Psalmist sung his Soules-Conceits in sacred Numbers and the Heau'ns did Charme With pow'rfull Verse so those commanding Heights he wanne but with his Muses mighty Arme All Christian Churches howsoe'er aâ— ods with Psalmes Hymnes beate Heau'ns resounding Wall Nay more the Pagans sing vnto their Gods and which is most the Angels most oâ— all Then sith both Heau'n aud Earth This still doe vse He shames himselfe that for this blames our Muse. The Author of and to his Muse. MY Muse is tirde with tyring but on Leaues that fruitlesse are yet leaue ill fruits behinde Shee onely workes for Ayre that but deceiues so workes for nothing but deceitfull Winde And what she seiseth as her Subiect is but vaine if it be light and lightly what Shee preyes vpon is such then now on This shee needes to pray for preying so on That O Muse didst thou but know thy natiue kinde being all diuine thou ne'er would'st waue thy wings In that which doth but onely marre the Mind but endlesly about Celestiall Things Th'wilt be deplum'd for pluming so on Trash and like a Flesh-â—lye lighting but on Sores Then
doth play One dyes with Sicknesse Thought another kils With Hunger this with Thirst that man doth pine Some Water choakes an Halter others spils Some Fire consumes some Beasts deuoure in fine This man he murders with the ruthlesse Sword That man with Poyson he doth suffocate With Bullet this that with a bitter Word He ends and others end with worser Fate No Flesh though fram'd in height of Natures skill With composition more then halfe diuine But it is subiect made to death vntill Th' Immortall doe that mortall flesh refine Thus all he ends yet none their ends fore-know A secret t' is to Death himselfe vnknowne Whom he must strike thy finger Lord must show Nor dares he shoot til thou the Mark hast showne To some he is thy mercies Minister To other some the Engine of thy wrath This sadnesse to my Soule doth minister For bleeding Conscience many faintings hath But wash the same with thy sweet mercies dewe And it annoint with vnction spirituall Then health and rest and peace shall straight ensue Which to my Conscience will be cordiall I haue discourst to thine all-hearing Eares My dismall plight in dolefull Elegie With Tragick accents accents causing teares Sad teares attending matchlesse misery Thy pitties Eare therefore bowe downe O Lord To these most pensiue and most iust complaints Let mercies Eyes with pitties Eares accord To chear the conscience that with bleeding faints In hope were of my soule shall rest in peace Till thou vouchsafe to send her full release A Confession of a Sinner acknowledging the misery of humane frailtie CElestiall Lord Creator of this ALL Embracer Prop and Ruler of the same Whose vnseene Eye beholds the generall And singly seest at once this double Frame O vaile that Christall-cleere all-seeing eye On vtter-darknesse that Lord that am I. Mine Intellect is darke darke my soules sight My body darke darke dungeon of my soule Is opposite for darknesse to thy light What can be darker or more vgly foule Thus darknesse striuing much more darke to be Hell being too light infus'd it selfe in me O Iustice Sunne with Taper pointed beames Dart through this Darknesse open loopes for light By which the influence of thy lights leames Through my darke soule may be dispersed quight For what is that which extreame darknes cleares But extreame light of lights when it appeares Where extreame darknesse harbours there is Hell In me deare Lord of Heauen that hell is plac't My heart hard hart wherein all horrors dwell With vexing thoughts like Fiends away doth wast My Conscience quite confounded with my misse Is lowest Hell where highest Anguish is Descend sweet Christ and harrow with thy Crosse This hell of Conscience flee my soule from thence It is thine owne deare Lord it is thy losse If it doe perish through my sinnes offence Why sinne is nothing then for thing of nought Lose not my soule poore purchase dearly boght In Deaths dark shade o'er-shadowed with my sinne Vpon the black pit brinck of deepe Despaire I lye deare Lord halfe out but more halfe in Help help ô help Lord heare Lord heare my prayer Now now ô now if euer help me now I sincke I sincke help ere I sincke too low Remember Lord Lord call to minde againe The drops strange drops of Water mixt with Bloud Which from thy paine-prest Body ranne amaine What time on ground it lay in pensiue moode If then thou praid'st that Cup might passe froÌ„ thee I well may pray let this Cup passe from mee A Cup of cares confected by sowre sinne Baning my Soule with bitter operation Let this Cup passe before I doe beginne Least it effect my crazed soules damnation O thou that felt'st fraile mans infirmitie Respect fraile Me else in despaire I die Whose Faith too like a feather in the winde Is tossed with the least temptations blast With doubtings daunted when the faithfull finde A calme in conscience till such stormes are past But I vile wretch am tossed to and fro With eu'ry Storme that rise or Blast that blow See Lord ah see see see how all my Veynes Do pant with paine through sense of my misdeedes Behold my Heart wherein all sorrow raignes Griefe-wounded heart behold it how it bleedes O poure therein thy precious Balmes of grace That from thy wounded Heart doe runne apace Where 's Much forgiu'n Loue must there be much Forgiue me Much much more shall be my loueâ— I haue Much to forgiue no sinner such My Sinne surmounting Loue shall be aboue Forgiue me then and I in Loue will striue To match that more then Much thou dost forgiue Be thou for me vnto the Old of dayes My Daysman so to stay his angers heate That for thy sake he would vouchsafe to raise His vengeance siege which my Soules wrack doth threat O tel him to his Grace I weakling yeeld And giue him praise and glory of the Field O pray him bend his pu'sance on the proud Whose brazen Necks will rather breake then bowe I creeping on my knees doe seeke for shrowde Till Tempests of his fury ouer-blow And like a Spaniell at his Maisters threat In humble wise fall prostrate at his feete With eyes vp-lifted slowly by degrees And lifted so are throwne downe straight againe With face confounded on his humbled knees Inuoking mercy yet doth mute remaine O so euen so doe I poore wretched I At foote but of his Foote-stoole crowching lye If this may moue and mouing may prouoke Thy sans-beginning Sire in Loue to stay Of his iust vengeance the resistlesse stroke A touch whereof doth Rockes to poâ—der bray I will ascribe the praise ô Christ to thee Sith for thy sake alone he spareth me My strength 's not stony nor my flesh yet brasse O no then weaknesse much more weake it is Apt still to fall more brittle farre then glasse Compos'd of that that 's more then most amisse O how vnable then am I to beare His heauy vengeance stroke that rocks doth teare With hands of Mercie stay my sincking Soule Which were in mercy mercilesly wounded For me vile wretch and for my trespasse foule That Grace might o'er abound where Sin abounded They are not shortned since they racked were For Sinne that Sinne might sinnelesse so appeare With those same hands deare Lord my Soule sustain Opprest with Poâ—se that made thy man-hood grone My load 's as great though farre lesse be my paine Whose sinne 's as great as all the worlds alone Then Worlds of Sin when on my backe I beare What meruell is 't I faint if not despaire Froth of Infirmitie and Weaknesse skumme I am no other how then should I beare The heauy sentence of true Iustice doome If to this Load of Sinne it added were None but a God and Man can beare that waight Sith God Man bow'd vnder-neath that fraight I am farre spent ô be not farre from me I panting labour neere the latest gaspe My Soule dismai'd not knowing where to flee With hands of Hope wan
knows loues thee loues his soule To see to know to loue thee grace must moue me For flesh doth fancie by-pathes filthy foule Who knowes thee shall of force himselfe forget Who loues thee as his life his life will loath Yea lose his life that he his life may get Immortall making Soule and Body both But I alas accursed that I am For externe ioy from interne blisse doth range My fairest sollace is my foulest shame My sense betraid the best for worst doth change Here-hence it is I like not that thou lou'st I wretch loue outward but thou inward Ioy I fleshly pleasures spirituall thou approu'st I abiect things which things thee most annoy Thou art in Heauen and I in Earth doe dwell Nay Heau'n of Heau'ns is thine abiding place But I in Earth as low as lowest Hell Remaine and ioy in paine in senselesse case Thou light I darke thou good I passing bad Thou Ioy I griefe thou loue I lump of hate Thou wise I fond thou meeke with pride I mad Thou rich most rich and I in staruing state Then how deare Lord should so great difference Be reconcil'd and linckt in vnitie Ah here 's my feare here 's all my diffidâ—nce Then help ô help help holy Trinitie In that all-doing powerfull power of thine Mend mine amisse and me to Thee combine The Complaint of a Sinner IN the vexation of an humbled Spirit Deuoured in the depth of wretched State With feare and trembling I approch thy fight As one deare Lord as poore as desolate Neare to thy mercies flouds my selfe I set Vpon the Banckes of thy rich Graces streames That my dry Soule may so therewith be wet Before the Sunne of Iustice scorching Beames Lo I a masse of rude vnformed Clay Present my selfe to thine All-making skill To doe all my deformities away And to informe my Wit reforme my Will Great is my boldnesse so to tempt thy Grace With such presumption but deare Lord let me Make bold thy loue still tendred to embrace Lest strange to It I might be strange to Thee Yet when I waigh mine owne vnworthinesse Together with thy Loues high dignitie I am too bold with It I doe confesse To entertaine It to such misery I am too vile to loue or to be lou'd Of thee deare Lord the life of dearest Loue Yet by thy Loue to loue I still am mou'd Though I thy loue to hate doe euer moue Thou dost command giue what coÌ„mand thou dost Then what thou wilt command It shall be done That I should loue beyond mine vttermost As thou dost loue beyond comparison In Loue thou mad'st me onely but to loue And me re-mad'st in loue to loue alone Thou threatnest me if I vnlouing proue And wouldst that we though two shold be as One. Yea for my loue thou ceaselesse so dost woo me That seeing me in loue quite dull and dead Thou giuest me Thee that I should giue me to thee In forme of Flesh as thou in forme of Bread Lord what am I that thou shouldst woo me so And seeke t' inflame my loue with thy Loues heat What am I to Thee but a world of woe A little World of Sinne past measure great A Crosse of Crosses for so crosse I am That eu'ry thing I doe is quite a thwart And that which is most crosse I blesse the same As that which most agrees with my curst-heart And what art thou to me but peace and rest Saluation Ioy and whatsoe'er is good By whom I most accursed most am blest Who mad'st me blamelesse in thy blessed bloud Then of such pledges of thy Loue possest And that but loue alone thy loue doth craue O giue me that which thy loue doth request And I will giue thee what thy Loue would haue Ill I can giue Thee that is onely mine But Good I haue from Thee thy gift it is If thou wilt none of mine then giue me thine Take that from me deare Lord and giue me this Thou art not pleas'd but with what 's onely thine Yet I am thine and yet not pleas'd thou art If thou haue nought with me but what is mine Although I gaue to thee me dearest heart For as it is my Heart it 's most vncleane And all vncleannesse thou dost most detest Then thou art both the cause effect and meane That thou dost loue it as thine interest Yet as mine owne I haue what haue I not with it that is not absolutely good My Christ but ah alas I haue forgot Thou gau'st him first bought'st me with his bloud But yet that 's all I haue that 's all in all To giue thee as goods common vs betwixt To me Hee came from Thee to thee Hee shall For me in passion with my passions mixt If mine be such as make his much the more They his are much more meritorious And yet if Mine be couer'd with his gore Then will deserue thy loue and fasten vs Then take him Lord I haue none other shift To show my Loue but with thine onely Gift The thirst of the Soule after God the Fountaine of Life MIne heau'nly Head giue me thy Member grace Thee to desire desiring thee to secke Seeking to finde finding to loue thy face And louing lothe what is thee most vnlike To my Heart Faith to mine Eyes flouds of teares To my Soule griefe to that griefe ioy of Spirit To my Faith Hope to my Hope Loue and Feare And vnto all giue all direction right O Loue essentiall increated Loue Loue infinite the Fount of Loue and Grace With pow'r o'erflowing all the powers aboue Or whatsoeuer is in blessed case How can I choose but loue thee how can I But with such flaming Loue be fired quite That fires the whole Worlds Vniuersitie Yea well-nigh burnes melts the same out-right O God! thou art the most abstracted GOOD Which yet abstracted art much more abstract Which is Loues Obiect and Lifes liuelihood Which doth my Loue to Loue in Loue coact How can I choose but flame so set on fire With loue which burns what ere in loue was made What but that Loue can quench my Loues desire Or me to Loue so pow'rfully perswade And if I cannot loue Thee for thy Loue Nor for thy goodnesse being more then GOOD Yet me thereto should Profit more then moue For of all Good th' art the boundlesse floud Youth loues the Eld from whom it Being drawes The Members loue the Head by whom they liue And all Effects by nature loue their Cause Sith It to those Effects doth Essence giue Then sith thou art my Cause my Head my Sirâ— Looke what Those owe to These by whom they be Nay more for thou art all in all intire That LORD and more then That I owe to Thee Thou gau'st me Being ere my Sire it gaue For with Thee was I ere I was of Thee And now preseru'st the Being which I haue Better then by the Head the Members be Thou dost effect what in me wanting is
thou and who am I that can moue Heau'ns God t'immure himselfe in misery That thou whose Glory Glory it selfe admires Sholdst deigne to dwel in durt more vile then dung Sith Holinesse sweet Lord thy House requires Which hardly rests where many vices throng Heau'n is thy Seate the Earth thy Footstoole is For Heau'n and Earth thy Maiestie doth fill Then why great God art thou well pleas'd with this That thou art made but Mud for mire so ill For if the Heau'n nay Heau'n of Heauens be But too too small thy greatnesse to containe Then how can my heart lesse then nought hold thee How in a Bit of Wormes-meate canst thou raigne O Wonder that all Maruels farre surmounts He that vpon the Cherubins doth ride And viewes all Deeps from thence himself dismounts That he may in my Heart deepe Hell abide It not suffiz'd thy glowing Charitie To giue me Angels for my Guards and Guides Nay wast not onely pleas'd for me to dye But dwelst in me to giue me life besides There dost thou visit in the kindest kinde The Sicke sore sicke to giue him health thereby Sore sick in Body but more sicke in Minde And raise the Dead that willingly did dye My Soule exulteth with ioy rauished When as I minde that Miracle how once A Prophets dead Bones rais'd to life the Dead Onely by touching those life-giuing Bones If those dead Bones had such reuiuing pow'r Then what shall not Gods liuing Body doe The liuing Body of Lifes Gouernour Must needes giue endlesse Life and Glory too And if dead Bones conceiued in Sinne haue might To giue life to a sinfull Bodie dead What shall that doe conceiued by thy Spirit That must needs life-inspire eu'n senselesse Bread My Soule though dead in Sinne yet touching Thee By Faith and in thy bloud being sanctifide Can it but more then liue in Thee and me When Thou therein dost more then still abide And sith that Corpes was rais'd that crau'd not life By touching those dead Bones then Lord let me That as my Husband clip thee as thy Wise Be rais'd to life that beg the same of thee I cannot thinke because I thinke of thee as more then Grace it selfe that thou hast borne My sinnes and in my sinnes dost beare with mee that of thy Grace I shall be quite forlorne O! can my Soule but melt to thinke how oft thou mightst haue slaine me yet didst vse thy knife To prune and make me grow in Grace aloft and â—lu'st my Foes therewith that sought my life How many thousand Soules now burne in Hell that haue perhaps sinn'd lesse then sinfull I Who held thy Hands when I did so rebell that I should liue when Soules lesse sinfull dye My sinnes cry to thee and thou stop'st thine Eares lest thou sholdst heare them the more they cry The more thy deafenesse to them still appeares as if thou didst their clamorous suite deny I doe but sinne and thou dost me but saue if I flye fast from thee thou followest faster Though I be tir'd with Sinne thy Mercies haue no meane to tire but meanes my Sinnes to master The more I sinne the more thou humblest mee so mak'st me know my selfe by knowing Sinne Nay more it puls me from my selfe to thee so though I lose my selfe yet thee I winne O strange disposing of the worst of Ill meere Concord of maine Contradiction That which puls from doth draw together still where loue drawes Discords to make Vnion So then my Faults as if they Vertues were wrought for my good by thee that hast the skill To beare with men to make them sinne forbeare and so through Grace to pull good out of Ill Yet didst thou whisper in my Soules right Eare that I should doe no ill for such good end But mad'st me sinning Sinne to hate and feare in loue for that it did thee LOVE offend With Thornes thou dost hedge-in my narrow Way that if I ere so little step awry They straight doe pricke me and so make me pray for help to thee in whom all help doth lye And as the Hunter stoppeth vp each Gap wher-through the wild Bore may escape vncaught So dost thou stop my way with each misse-hap when I would runne away from thee to nought Am I escapt from out thy mercies Hands thy Hand of Iustice puls me in againe So Mercy holds me by which Iustice stands to help to hold me safe by ease and paine Haue I a Will by Death to damne my Soule by desprate Death to damne not mine but thine Thou dost that Will with thy good Will controule And mak'st my Will thy Will in spight of mine Am I resolu'd to sinne presumptuously and that of purpose to despight thee too Thou mak'st the Will without the Deed to dye and mak'st me damne the Deed ere it I doe Would I for any indiuine respect sell Heau'n for Earth and God so for the Deuill Thou God dost make that Would worke good effect for when it proues the Ill it shuns the euill Is my Hand stretched out my faith to plight to blacke Perdition twixt my hand and It Thou putst thy hand of Iustice which doth smite away my hand before that knot be knit The Weapons me thou gau'st my selfe to saue I monster did against thy Goodnesse bend And with thy glorious gifts I thee did braue so did I shame my selfe and Thee offend The Tongue thou mouedst that blasphemed Thee thou rul'dst the limbes that did thy Members rend Thou gau'st Wit pow'r with Thee to disagree and gau'st Will force the giuer to offend So that not onely I ingrate haue bin for thy good gifts but haue the same imployd As weapons of vnrighteousnesse in Sinne and so with thine owne Grace haue thee annoid Thou mad'st all Creatures for mine onely vse t' allure me to thy gainfull Loue thereby But I abused thee by their abuse so with thy Good deeds did thee damnifie So that through whom the seeing of thy Face was to be tane through them I could not see For I as Gods did them in Loue embrace which thou had'st giu'n to guide me vnto Thee That I might serue thee me did all things serue I did command that me thou might'st intreat They did me Good when I did ill deserue and when I made thee small they made me great Thou gau'st me Faith and Hell the Fruites hath had thou gau'st me Grace and Sinne hath vs'd the same Thou gau'st me Wit which Will abus'd as mad thou gau'st me Sense wherewith my selfe I shame Thou gau'st me Health which sickely I haue vs'd in riot surfet and in all excesse Thou gau'st me Strength which I haue still abus'd in waging warre with thine owne Mightinesse Thou for my profit plaguedst other men that so from Sinne I might be kept with ease But I vnplagued plagu'd my Brethren so farre off was I from remorse by These These Gifts I most vngratefull gratis had which though abus'd I vsed when I would And being Gifts
too good made me too bad For they made me too proud and too too bold The rage of Lyons Tygers and the like Is lenified with gifts and turn'd to loue But with thy gifts to grieue thee I did seeke Yet still thou mad'st me their increase to proue Thou Man becam'st to make a God of mee at least a God that Heau'n and Earth doe serue And I became a Diuell in Deed to Thee that wrong'd thee more the more thou didst deserue High'st Iustice shining through thy Passions Cloud could not enforce me it to loue or dread Thou had'st no hole wherein thy head to shroud but all this All 's too little for my head Though thou art God Foes Fists thy face enorme if any touch my Coate I touch them home By word and deed that yet am but a Worme thou striu'st for lowest I for highest Roome Thou wouldst be slaine to slaughter Sinne in me but by thy death I life-inspir'd the same So thy great Mercy made me martyr Thee and with the Iewes I made thy griefes my game The Med'cine so thou gau'st to cure my Wounds I venomed to make my hurt the more Which both with Sinne shame my Soule confounds sith Sinne by Grace I made more sinfull sore If from the Law to take a cause to sinne is much more damn'd then sinne without the Law What is it then when Grace so vs'd hath bin and force to fight with Grace from grace to draw The wilde-fire of my Passions burned me my Thoughts Distractions did me quite deuide The Worme of Conscience rag'd where thou wouldst be yet these I did as one in thee abide For mine Affections cryed nought but Peace when those Affections most did Peace impunge And when I was in Hell they seem'd in ease so much the old misled Affections young And Fury-like towards hel I alwayes made but thou more wayes then all wayes broughtst me back The Trade of Vertue I held Vices Trade sith more then Vice she seem'd to liue in lacke How oft haue I beene at the gates of Hell and could not enter though I went about Thou didst the Diuell from his charge compell so Porter wast thy selfe to keepe me out Nay when I haue beene euen in his Iawes and that his Fangs were entring in my Soule Till thou didst pul me thence thou mad'st him pause so came I as from Heau'n as Meeke as Whole O! how can I such pow'rfull Grace requite that forceth Iustice with Her force to ioyne From wracke to saue me in mine owne despight and made restore who did my selfe purloyne Had I the liues of Angels and of Men and offer'd all to thee in sacrifice And if those liues were thrice resum'd agen and offer'd vp as oft t' would not suffice T' would not suffice to recompâ—â—ce thy loue it were too cheape to quite tâ—y deare deserâ— O then can I wretch so vngratefull proue as not to giue thee one poore wretched Heart Can I ô can I be so much besides Grace Faith Sense Mother-wit my selfe and all That hauing yet these gifts to be my guides doe yet but stand by these by these to fall If I be lost it must not be in Hell thogh ne'er so dark for there thou foundst me out It must be somewhere which no where can tell for where that is both Time and Place doe doubt It cannot be in Hell for thou art there then Heau'ns thy Seat ah would I there were lost Nay not in Place for thou art eu'ry where Then not in Time which ere It was thou knowst If then in Heau'n nor Hell in Time nor Place where then in my selfe lost I cannot be Yet lost I am if I doe lose thy grace which found me when I stole my selfe from thee But yet if needes I will be lost at last for grace at last saues none against their will No Lost-child euer was lockt halfe so fast from losing and deserueth halfe so ill The worst of Ill mâ—â—e worse with Ill made Whole is too too good for one made worse then That Too little he doth lose to lose his Soule that maugre grace still does he cares not what Therefore deare Lord let me not enter in this strict reuisall of my Sinne and grace The lesse to make excusable my Sinne but thereby more much more thy Loue embrace For these Confessions written by my Hand against my selfe against my selfe will goe To thy Tribunall and against me stand if now I doe not euer Sinne forgoe Then let thy Wâ—unds be once more opened deare Christ to wash me in thy reeking bloud Reuiue me by thy death that being dead still dead to Ill I may still liue to good O! iuycie Bunch of Soule-refreshing grapes hard pressed in the Wine-presse of the Crosse Make druncke my thirstie Soule that gasping gapes for thy pure bloud to purge mine being too grosse Mine Ire Pride Lust Presumption Hate and Scorne yea all my Sinnes which I can ne'er recite I cast into thy wounds which wide are torne O keepe them There then from thy Fathers sight As much as those confound these comfort me nay more much more sith more thou canst forgiue Then I can sinne although I quartred Thee if when the deed is done through grace I grieue Mellefluous Sea of Comforts most diuine Meridian Light whence springs true glories Day With both o'er whelme me till through both I shine in perfect glory by thy glories Ray. Let not my Deedes or inofficious Sloth doe or omit what should not or be done For both are cursed by thy blessed mouth sith Ill to doe and good omit is one But let this league be constant to the end For they but mend to marre that marre to mend And Wisedome at our wisedome doth but scoffe When we doe ill that good may come thereof The sighes of a Pensiue Soule groaning vnder the burden of sinne WHo art thou Lord thou Lord whose magnitude admits no Name and what or who am I That dare but thinke of such an Altitude farre past the reach of highest Angels Eye What am I but a Sacke of sickenesses Immodestie it selfe Dust Clay Durt Dung Slyme Food for Wormes lesse slymie Carkasses with filth much more vncleanly mixt among Meere gall of bitternesse true Heyre of Hell begot twixt Sinne and Sathan life of Death Rebellion in the abstract Vices Shell the breath of Sinne that baneth but with breath Gods griefe Mens plague and Angels sole annoy sith sad I make them by vncessant sinne Let to the sorrow which doth cause their Ioy sith mine example hinders some therein In Counsaile blinde in Actions most vnwise In thought vnstaid vnconstant in desire Then Nothing lesse yet great in mine owne Eyes for past my selfe my selfe would faine aspire In summe I am the totall summe of Ill ill in my flesh and euill in my sp'rit Worse in my Wit and worser in my Will this Lord is hee thou would'st to thee vnite But what and who art thou thou namelesse GREAT sith
thou art great beyond all quantitie How good art thou thou goodnesse most compleate for thou art great beyond all qualitie Beyond all measure thou art onely wise thou art alone eternall without Time In pow'r almightie with all-seeing Eyes in Iudgement deepe in Counsailes most sublime But what goe I about to bring thee here within the compasse of description Thou art as farre past Compasse as past Peere being immense and infinite alone If Men or Angels could nay more couldst thou by deed or word thine Essence once define Thou art no more thy selfe in deed or show for thou all Bounds dost in thy selfe confine Of Thee therefore no search can notice giue further then that thou art most infinite And that to know is onely to beleeue that so thou art in wisedome grace and might The Sunne Moone Stars with bright beames glorifide in presence of thy glory lose their Light The Cherubins like Bastard Eaglets hide their Eyes that cannot brooke thy glories sight The sturdy Pillers of th' Etheriall Frame do trembling stand when thou but knitst thy brow Yea all the Pow'rs therein sâ—rincke at the same and with those Props with feare and reu'rence bow Whose Voyce doth make the Mountaines melt like whose Check confounds the order of this Allâ— waxe Whose Breath consumes thy foes as fire doth flaxe in few thou art what thou thy selfe canst call Then how dare I vile Clod of base Contempt approch the presence of such Maiesty That is from all impuritie exempt and I a Sincke of all sordiditie To touch the Arke was death and one did dye for touching It being at the point to fall Then woe is me how dare I wretch come nye they sacred selfe that standest staying All The Bethshamites receiu'd a mortall checke for prying on that Arke too curiously And many thousands for it went to wrecke then dare I Worme cling to thy Deity How can thy grace so vile a Vermine brooke much lesse embosome such a lothed Thing That leaues offence behinde but with a looke and like a Viper with a touch doth sting What Concord can there be twixt Contraries can good and euill be incorporate Then how shouldst thou selfe goodnesse me comprise that am selfe euill which thou most dost hate For I haue beene ô Lord I shame to say what in times past I did not shame to doe Who worse then Treas'n it selfe did ah betray God vnto Man and Man to Sathan too There was a Time I was that Franticke Foole that said at least in Heart there is no God But since thy grace my Heart did better schoole I thinke not so by reason of thy Rod. Thy Rod recou'red that my straying thought reducing It into the way of Truth I to my selfe and thee by force was brought and made repent that madnesse of my youth Thanks kindest Rod I kisse thee for thy grace which like a Potion did with Nature striue To conquere that which Nature did disgrace and made me dead in Sinne in grace to liue But Lord how blest and better had I bin if thy smooth Staffe had staid me in the Way For thy rough Rod doth Loue by terror win and Loue is lame that doth by terror stay But yet let terror as loues Harbinger make way to lodge thy Loue within my Heart Which of thy Loue would faine be Harbourer because thou mak'st it faine by force of smart But let thy loue be of my Heart embrac'd meerely for Loue and kept with louing feare Let not my Loue with terror be disgrac'd but let It free from terrors Let appeare O let me loue thee as thou louest mee thou lou'st me for my selfe and thy Loues sake Then for thy selfe alone let me loue thee without respect of what Loue lame doth make I now desire with more then hot desire to be new molt and cast into the Molde Of all perfection by Afflictions fire sith for thy Temple That refines the Golde Lord if thou wilt thou canst then make me cleane Draw me with Cords of Loue made fast by Feare Though my Sinnes measure passe thou hast no meane in mercy then let mercy make me cleare If thou requir'st contrition for my faults with Sinne and Sorrow lo I labour â—ore A iarring Twin each other that assaults within the wombe that breedes them more and more If Satisfaction thou of me require Lo here I offer vp my Flesh to thee To be consumed in Afflictions fire so thou vouchsafe to saue the Soule of me Poure out thy Vengeance Vials all there-on make it like Vapor to euaporate The Humors ill wherewith it 's ouer-gone that Flesh from flesh may so be separate O thou whose Loue enflames all good desires quench thou the thirst of my desire that flames To be consum'd in those thrice sacred fires which mend the formes of mind Spirits frames Giue me thy Loue and throw me into Hell for there thy Loue will pleasure me in paine Yea paines to bring me pleasures will compell and make me Heau'n by Hell so to obtaine This onely Boone I craue by Grace to be armed with Patience most inuincible In all thy fiery Tryals made of me that Sense make brooke them as insensible Which Patience still consociates constant Loue which can endure more then Paine can inflict O then let me that Loue in mercy proue then proue me with all proofes though ne'er so strict Thy will be mine and mine be euer thine giue me no pow'r to will or not to will But as thou wilt and let no will be mine but that which maugre Flesh may thine fulfill Thou know'st what 's best for me then is that best which thou what ere it be for me shalt doe Then let me locke my cares within thy Chest when they too strong wold my weake Chest vndo Be thou the Centre of my Soules desires and let them rest in Thee in all vnrest Be thou the Vnction still to feede those fires till of eternall Light they be possest To which as to the vtmost of their hope Bring thou them Lord that art their vtmost scope Of Lifes breuitie the Fleshes frailtie the Worlds vanitie and the Diuels tyranny THou Eld of Dayes teach me my dayes to count deare Lord mine End learn me mine end to know That of the same I may yeeld rust account These secrets Lord to me in secret show To thinke of long life is in death to liue To think of Death ' s long life which Death doth giue My Time is in thy hands then It display That I may know It so to vse It well A thousand yeeres with thee is scarse a day But they are more with me then Time can tell In twice fiue Ages Time can tell no more Then no Mans time thrice trebl'd tels such store Are not my Dayes few and mine end at hand Whose life is like the shadow of a Dreame What Substance is 't by which such shadowes stand Is 't ought but Nothing in the great'st extreame If lesse then Nothing then
me still from all misse-fortunes and from so daine Death Which in this World that dangers ouer-fill is more then Fortune can to Man bequeath How many haue I seene the Warres to weare might haue seen hāg'd drown'd staru'd burnt torne How many poyson'd spill themselues with feare with Pox Plagues Pestilence how many worne The thousands blinde deafe dumbe lame leperous besides the Millions otherwise distrest In Minde and Body with griefes dolorous make me to see how much my State is blest For that which fell to any one of these might me befall be'ing euill as they be And that I haue more soundnesse ioy and ease it is to winne my loue thy loue to me If any mortall King should for one crime many condemne and saue but one or two And I of those condemnd should be the prime yet first of those two saued should be too How would my Heart be rauish'd with his Loue and how would all my Pow'rs striue him to serue Then no lesse Grace thy grace doth make me proue nay more much more thou dost my loue deserue For double thou deseru'st in treble kinde thou sau'dst my Soule and body doom'd to Death And from all franticke passions keep'st my Minde therefore I owe thee Minde Soule Body Breath For t is thy Grace we be not all consum'd but most of all my selfe that most doth sinne Sith on that Grace I haue to sinne presum'd yet still by grace seek'st me from sinne to win A Body thou hast giu'n me that doth lacke all that thou giu'st me to continue life And lest through want thereof It should to wrack with me those gifts are no lesse rich then rife All things thou mad'st for me and me for Thee for me Ground Graine Trees Fruit Mines Mettall bear Aire Fowle Seas Fish Fish Fowle for me produce most glorious Pearle and Plumes to weare For me Seas Ships Ships Sailes Sailes Winds endure to bring me Benefis from forraine Lands For me Flouds flow Wels spring Springs Water pure doe yeeld that I should yeeld to thy commands Sheepe Oxen Kine Goates Buckes and other Beasts yeeld Flesh Fleece Fels Milke Oile Hornes for me For me the Hound doth cry the Spaniell quests to teach me how to cry with hope to Thee The Hornes of Vnicornes that precious be are mine though they do weare them for my sake Plants Vertue haue not for themselues but me so things of eu'ry suite me Prime doe make What would I more there 's nought hath being got on or in Earth in Water or in Aire That eyther feedes or heales or sports me not so that this World doth nought but me repaire If I the Elementall World transcend to view the Heau'nly Orbes what Wonders There Sunne Moone and Stars I see who all attend but for my good for which they framed were For me alone they influence impart to these inferiour Bodies seruing mine For me doth Time himselfe in pieces part that I beyond Time might be wholy thine Nay let me passe the nine-fold Orbes of Heau'n and to thy sacred Mansion let me flee For whom had all thine Angels essence giu'n But for thy seruice and to waite on me To backe me and defend me from my Foes to hold me vp when ere I did decline To comfort me in Soule-afflicting Woes and to thy presence bring my Soule in fine Now if the Ends for which Things formed were be better then the Things for so they be Then better than the Angels Men appeare sith they it seemes for men were made by Thee And Men and Angels fell through onely Pride but for deare Mans Redemption thou didd'st die Yet for no one of th' Angels hast thou di'd which much augments mans hope and dignitie O then what Heart can once but thought-conceiue in what strict Tearmes I stand obleig'd to thee Sith me thou mad'st most Glory to receiue through mee as through the Eye Men glory see Wake wake thy selfe my Soule why sleep'st thou stil see who it is that hath thus done for whom Not for the Angels which obey his Will but for thee sinfull Soule his choisest Home Cast if thou canst a Number numberlesse and count his gifts with Stars or with Sea-sand The bottome gage of his Grace bottomlesse Or if thou canst not wonder-mazed stand Yet stand thou with and for Him while thou art that is as long as he himselfe exists That is while GOD hath but an humane Heart which is but while Eternitie consists As God is GOD he hath no Heart at all but as true Man he is he hath Mans Heart Then GOD and MAN can ne'er asunder fall though Men from GOD themselues too often part But GOD that hast Mans Heart and so hast mine sith I am Man although a sinfull one Still let thy Heart be mine and mine be thine that I may haue no Heart to grieue our owne I greatly doe desire with great desire to praise and loue thee GOD Mans harts repose But Praise and Loue in Mouth and Heart of mire through foulenes of that filth their grace do lose But sith all Creaetures thou hast made for mee for whatsoe'er is made I owe the same I le call on them with me to call on THEE to giue me grace to loue and praise thy Name Then ô yee all his Workes your voyces reare with man his master-piece that He would grant To me his Grace to sound his praises cleare and to supply in Loue my louings want To make my Mouth pure fit to hold his praise and make my Heart cleane meete to lodge his loue That Heart and mouth may so his glory raise while I his Grace in grace or glory proue That I in Grace and Glory may be knowne To liue but for that praise and loue alone A Meditation gratulatory for our redemption WHen I excogitate the great Good-turnes thou hast done for me ô extreamest Good With heate of Zeale my seathing Marrow burnes and flames of seruent Loue doe boile my bloud Especially for that when thou had'st form'd my Soule and body I deforming each Thou with thine own dierewrack hast me reform'd and with thy precious bloud becam'st my Leach Thou mightst for e'er haue banish'd me thy sight with the proud Angel and his cursed Crue For my fault was like his but more vnright then to the same a greater Plague was due And that thou hast not onely spar'd my Paine but therewithall bought endlesse blisse for me So that my Fall doth fall out to my gaine I am in straightest bonds oblieg'd to Thee And for thou mad'st me me to thee I owe sith thou redeem'd me much more owe I thee And would ô would I could my selfe bestovv to pay that More that 's lesse then due from me And so much more thou ought'st to be belou'd by how much greater were thy griefes and state And how much lesse then ought'st to be reprou'd whose life was more then most immaculate Who What and Wherefore dost thou suffer Lord and who
my Vocation most did moue but that that Iustifide me past the rest The gift of Glory still to Saints assign'd is great so great that none may greater be Yet to be iustified is in his kinde as great a gift and no lesse laudeth thee To make Men iust that are in sinfull case is more then to make iust Men glorious Sith greater ods there is twixt Sinn and Grace then is twixt Grace and Glory God and Vs. My Making and Redemption had but made m'excuse the lesse and my Damnation more Except my Soule thou hadst made iustly glad in iustifying me that sinned sore Whiles therefore on these things I meditate my Soule entranced lies as if she were No more my Senses or my bodies Mate but were transform'd to Admiration here What shall I render Lord ô how shall I remunerate ô that can ne'er be done Or how shall I but praise thee worthily but such praise doth my pow'r no lesse out-runne O that the Organs of my Soule were such as with thy praise they Heau'n and Earth might fill I would therein reioyce much more then much but Lord accept the freedome of my Will For could it make thee more then what thou art thogh more cannot be wisht much lesse conceiu'd I would performe a right Well-willers part and make thee what it could for Grace receiu'd Then let my Will be aided by thy Might That Will in Deed may praise thy Name aright Of Gods vnutterable Being with desire of the Soule to be swallowed vp with the loue of his Maiestie O Past-beginning and immortall Sp'rit eternall and incomprehensible Incircumscrib'd in Maiestie and Might seene all in All yet most insensible Immutable impassible most iust inscrutable in mercy most compleate From whom they came and vnto whom they must that doe beleeue thou art as good as great Who by thy ne'er-too-much applauded Word hast framed whatsoe'er created is One blessed TRINITIE in true accord of perfect Vnitie and boundlesse blisse If that great Patriarcke Father of the Iust who albeit thou deign'dst to call thy Friend Yet in respect He Ashes was and Dust did feare to speake to Thee that Eare did lend Nay if the highest Orders of those Sprights that in thy presence burne through loue of thee Dare not vpon thine Essence fixe their sights lest they through glory should confounded be If these so pure so deare so holy Ones so fearefull are to speake or looke on thee Who albeit they sit themselues on Thrones yet in thy sight through loue so awfull be How shall a Shorelesse Sea of Misery a Sincke of Sinne a Sacke of filthiest dung All which ah woe therefore deare Lord am I once dare to thee to stirre or Eye or Tongue But sith sweet Lord I can no way obtaine that awfull reu'rence which is due to thee Vnlesse mine Eyes still fixt on thee remaine and made amazed with thy Maiestie Vouchsafe me leaue dread God vouchsafe me leaue to lift mine Eyes vnto thy Throne of Grace O let thy brightnesse mine Eyes splendor giue and blinde them not that long to see thy Face I see dread Lord thou onely thou art Hee that dost transcend our vnderstandings reach And yet by vnderstanding well I see they see thee best to whom thy beames doe stretch Then ô most bright faire wise kinde liberall most stable simple subtile gracious Secret yet knowne vnscene yet seeing All vnmou'd yet mouing in rest making vs Whom Latitudes dilate nor Bounds restraine Varietie doth change nor Passions moue Rest makes not idle nor Worke puts to paine who art not hurt by Hate nor holp by Loue. From whom Obliuion nothing can detract to whom Remembrance can as little adde Who art Dilated most yet most Compact not grieu'd in Sorrow nor in Solace glad To whom there 's nothing past much lesse to come sith Time and Place still present be with thee Of all this All thou art the totall Summe beyond which nothing is much lesse can be For th' art in all things yet art not included but yet in all things art thou by sufficing Thou art without all yet art not excluded but without all things thou art by comprising Th' art vnder All yet subiect vnto none but vnder All that All might rest on thee And farre aboue All yet not proud thereon but All aboue that All might gouern'd be Perfect in All in none deficient Great without bounds Good without compare Present in each Place yet in no Place pent yet whole in All and parts in All that are In Pow'r and Wisedome most-most infinite in Counsaile wonderfull in Iudgement iust Secret in thoughts in word and Promise right glorious in Deedes which glorifie our Dust Past all extent thy Loue doth farre extend whose Mercie 's more then most indefinite Thy Patience more than Pow'r can comprehend because it is no lesse then is thy Might What shall I say great-good good-great-great Lord I feare in these my Words I doe offend To seeme to circumscribe thee in a Word that art without all measure meane or end Thou art ô sacred Sp'rits Angelicall that haue fruition of Him face to face Lend me a Name by which I Him may call and may expresse some measure of his Grace Thou art too great for GREATNES ne'er so GREAT and far too good for GOODNES e'er so GOOD Who were it possible art more compleate in GOODNESSE then thine owne Trin-vnion-hood Yet thou thou nameles Good who thogh thus great dost bid vs seeke thee for who seeketh findes Who though not to be seene vpon thy Seate yet sitt'st thou seene in Eyes of humble Mindes Thou thou art He whom to forsake is death and for whom life to leaue is life alone In whom to breathe is to breathe blessed Breath and for whom to contend is Vnion No man fosakes thee but the forlorne Foole and no one seekes thee but whom thou dost seeke Nor none can find thee but whom thou dost schoole thou school'st none but whom thy Lessons like What should I say of thee or how shall I thy Goodnesse praise how shall I celebrate The glory of thy back parts Maiestie though ne'er so much thou it extenuate I le say as those whom thou taugh'st what to say thou measurest the Waters with thine Hand Vpon thy Palme thou dost the Heau'ns weigh and on thy Finger all the Earth doth stand Thou art that Ancient ancienter then Dayes whose Throne is like a bright ay-burning Flame The Wheeles wherof like Fire that Sparks doth raise vpon whose Thigh is writ a glorious Name Thy Body like a beaming Chrisolite thy Face like Lightning thine Eyes Lampes of Fire Thine Armes Feete like Brasse all burnisht bright thy Voyce like Thunder but It soundeth high'r A fiery Streame still floweth from thy Throne a thousand thousand minister to thee Ten thousand thousand waite on thee alone and Millions by the Thousands ready be Who with a Beck nay lesse but with a Thought rul'st Heau'n and Earth according to thy Will
Which tho most glorious both thou mad'st of noght and if thou would'st a thought againe would spill Help Lord for I am in a groundlesse DEEPE or endlesse Maze that hath no comming out My Wits from drowning and distraction keepe and let me goe no more this Gulph about For he that goes about to tell with Words what one thou art doth eu'n as if he would Quite drowne the Sea within the shallow'st Foords nay more sith thou art much more manifold Who ere assisted thee or thee aduis'd who brought thee vp in Lore or gaue thee Wit And who thy Pow'r at any time surpris'd or what Foe was not dasht to Dust by It With whom the Sea seemes scarse a Water-drop the Islands and maine Lands a little Dust The highest Heau'n is but thy Foot-stooles Top and but into a Pricke thou Earth dost thrust The Woods of Libanus cannot suffice to make Religious Altars fume to Thee Nor all the Beasts can serue for Sacrifice that on a thousand thousand Mountaines be All Nations nay all Creatures whatsoe'er be they Celestiall or Terrestriall Stand in thy sight as if they Nothing were and in respect of thee are not at all For if in the bright presence of the Sunne the Stars seeme not to be although they are Then in thy sight must All to nothing runne sith in the same the Sunne cannot appeare Therefore with all created Essences ô holy blest and glorious TRINITIE I doe adore with all obseruances the Scepter of thy dread Diuinitie Thy Being's vniuersall most exact then being such what should my homage be And being Grace and Goodnesse most abstract how can I wanting both serenize thee Agnizing then the Wonders of thy Worth prostrate before thy sacred Mercies seate With whatsoe'er Loues feare can vtter forth I more then celebrate thy glory great With those thrice blessed Spirits who laying downe their Crownes of Glory at thy sacred Feete Prostrate adore thee loe I vaile the Crowne of all my Glory to thee blessed SWEET My Glory Lord alas what doe I giue if I haue any it is more than vaine Then maist thou not that Gift of me receiue sith it must needes thy sacred Glory staine Returne It then deare Lord my gift put backe and I will giue thee what thou gau'st to me That 's Loue and Feare thou dost no Glory lacke yet if thou giue it mee I le giue it thee But not to vs deare Lord ô not to vs but to thy gracious NAME all glory giue Which was and is and shall be glorious as long as God is God or LIFE doth liue But vnto vs Confusion onely's due for Flesh and Bloud hath nought to glory in But that which may decayed shame renue a bleeding Conscience and a world of Sinne But why doth Sol giue Light the Fire giue Heate why's Water cold Earth thicke or Aire so thinne The reason 's cleare by kinde they doe that feate so thou by kinde kinde Lord forgiuest Sinne. Where Sin abounds there Grace doth oe'er-abound for t is thy glory God Sinnes to forgiue For should'st thou Sinners with the Sinne confound then none should liue so none should glory giue For in the nether Hell they praise thee not sith t is the Hold of hedious Blasphemy There is the Land where all things are forgot saue sad Despaire and Death which cannot dye But in thine euer-blessed Hierarchy the holy holy holy Lord of Hoasts In Soule-inchanting Heauenly Harmony is euer heard through those Celestiall Coasts Then make me such that in the Life of grace I temp'raâ—â—ly may glorifie thy Name And in the Life of glory face to face I may for euer much more doe the same Consume the cloudy Fancies of my Minde with sacred flames of thine eternall Loue That being by that purging fire refinde thou maist if on thy Trials Touch approue Then let thy Glories zeale quite eate me vp that all my Being may consist therein So I le carowse thy bitter Passions Cup sith to my Health kinde Lord thou didst begin O let my life poore life nought else appeare but a sweet-smelling Sacrifice to thee Or rather let it be an Offring here that with thy Loues fire may consumed be Then metamorphose me into thy Loue let me be quite transmuted to the same That I may euer vpwards flaming moue as doth by Nature a materiall flame O! bottomlesse Abysse of Charitie engulph me in thy Bowels let thy Wombe Receiue Sinnes seede that longs for sanctitie Then let it still lie buryed in this Tombe That so I may quite dead to Sinne and Shame Still liue in LOVE to loue and praise thy NAME A Repetition of Gods many Benefits and Preseruations with desire of the continuance thereof VPon the bended knees of my poore Sp'rit made poor by thy rich Mercies showr'd theron Thy Vertue I adore with all my might ô diuine VERTVE Israels Holy ONE Sith thou of thy vnlimitable grace hast deign'd to make me know thy grace and pow'r Nay show'd to me the splendor of thy face which doth my loue much more then much allure For giuing me my Being being nought before and since and since for mending me Though yet deare Lord I am not as I ought yet as I am I am most bound to thee For that thou dost conserue me in such case that as a liuely Member I doe feele Thy liuely Members dolor or disgrace and sinck in Soule when they neere falling reele For that thou dost my Natures essence keepe from running to the wracke of grace and nature And of a Wolfe for making me a Sheepe and of a Cast-away a costly Creature A costly Creature I right well may say sith it thy Heart-bloud cost to make me such Euen then when I was worse then cast away for I was damn'd before I knew so much By thee I am in sinfull state preseru'd from sinfull state which stands where Sin doth raign By thee I am from prides contrect conseru'd that faine would take out of thy hand thy raigne If I doe fall it 's when Thou stai'st me not if I doe rise it 's by thy helping Hand But I ne'er fall but when I haue forgot that by thy Rod and Staffe I rise and stand As many good thoughts as my heart ere held he held in Capite of Thee his Head If well my little-World I ere did weild I did it with thy Pow'r but in thy stead If none can say Lord Iesu but by Thee much lesse without thee thee can any serue No more then Boughs yeeld Fruit cut from the tree then what we worke for Lord thou dost deserue Therefore if I haue fasted watcht or praid if I haue Crosses borne with Backe vnbroke If I haue shed Contritions Teares vnstaid or crost my Will or vp thy Crosse haue tooke If in my prayers I haue thought on Thee or that they haue preuail'd or I relieu'd Or if my Will to Vertue hath beene free all these as gifts from Thee I haue receiu'd How many vertuous
my thoughts and Sinne are One and so most base And though so base they be yet n'erthelesse oft Grace they mind so Sinne presumes on Grace Lord how am I deprau'd by Sinne that can scarse thinke a thought but I doe sinne therein Then blessed Lord how canst thou chose but banne so vile a Slaue so subiect vnto Sinne I must not leaue Thee thus no though my Heart be well-neere Flint I must not leaue thee so With thee for Grace I le wrastle ere we part then let me finde it in mine Ouer-throw And if such Sinne thou dost forgiue by Grace and that where much is pardon'd Loue is much My Loue shall ouer-fill all Time and Place such is my Sinne my Loue shall then be such Deny me not deare Lord for I will take no nay of thee no thou dost me inuite Being heauy laden to thee ô then make me free there-from lest it doe quell me quite And learne me Lord to woo thee for thy Grace and winne it by my wooing to relieue me Thou canst soone lighten this my heauy case then thy Will 's good with good will then forgiue mee Make my Heart feele although the while it ake some Signe of Grace that thereby I may know Thou lou'st such wooers as no nay will take and Wrastlers such as will not let thee goe Though speake I cannot as I would my Spright stil woos thy grace with sighs then words more deep Thou know'st her speech and dost therein delight then ô let thy kinde Answere make mee weepe Thy Louing-kindnesse hath the pow'r to strike her dumbe with ioy and after make her shrill In thine applause for whom thou Lord dost like thou still mak'st drunke with ioy through thy good-will Then if I haue found Fauour in thy sight or els wilt giue me any hope of Grace Make druncke my Soule with thy sweet loues-delight and let her so ioy-rauisht thee embrace I sue to thee for that I needes must haue I cannot be without It sith within It 's all mine All then It I still will craue vntill by ceasely begging it I winne Then grant me grace from Sinne me still to free Else by thy grace I le cry for 't still to thee The Sinner confessing he can neyther will thinke nor doe any good thing without Gods preuenting and assisting Grace importunes the same O Thou that from the Bottome of Not-being didst raise me to BEE thus a MAN like Thee And ere I WAS through thy diuine Fore-seeing didst more then see what would become of me Giue giue me leaue thou God of endlesse Grace to enterplead with Thee without thine ire Why AM I if thou turn'st from me thy Face sith so a Brand I am but for Hell-Fire I could not choose but Be when thou would'st haue me for how could nothing crosse Almightinesse And now I Am am lost vnlesse thou saue me but none thou sau'st that still thy Will transgresse Nor can I doe thy Will without thou wilt and if thou wilt thy Will no Pow'r can crosse Much lesse my Weaknesse then if I be spilt it seemes thy Will although my blame and losse And yet thou sai'st thou wilt no Sinners Death thy Word is Truth it selfe then if thou would'st That I should liue ô let me spend my Breath as those whom thou by Grace from sin with-hold'st So in thy Will which no Pow'r e'er impugnes consists mine euerlasting Weale or Woe Then not to me so much as thee belongs to saue me from eternall ouerthrow I can but Will but well I cannot Will if thou first will it not nor euer shall Then will it first for I can will but Ill without thy Grace so Grace doth all in All. I cannot thinke then much lesse can I doe ought pleasing thee without thy Grace first got And yet to doe it still thou me dost woo which yet I cannot if thou doe it not For looke what good I doe it is not I but thou that dost it in and by me still Then still I can doe all things in and by thee Lord of Pow'r agreeing with thy Will O then incline my Will thy Will to doe and giue me Pow'r with Will else Will will faile Will thou but this then me thou need'st not woo because thy Will with mine must needes prâ—uaile So shall there be but one Will twixt vs two Graunt this deare Lord for this I thee doe woo The Sinner because of the darknesse of his vnderstanding confesseth his inabilitie to come to the knowledge of Gods will by his Word and desireth to be holp and enlightened by Gods spirit therin THou hast commanded Lord in eu'ry Want that Man thy Creature still should call on thee And thou his iust desires hast said to grant then now ô now thy Promise keepe with mee For now eu'n from the Bottome of the Deepe I cry to thee that art all Heights aboue I crying call or rather calling weepe for what I want that is thy Grace and Loue. Then as thou art still soothfast grant them me that by them still I may thy Heasts performe Then if thou would'st I should obedient be let Loue and Grace my will to thine conforme Lo I entend and by thy holy Grace will still contend thy holy Will to doe Then through the luster of thy brightest Face shew it that I may know and doe it too Giue that which thou hast giu'n me Pow'r to craue and Promise to obtaine thy guiding Spirit Thou still dost tender that which I would haue yet cannot take it if I lacke thy light A Chaos Lord of Darknesse still I am without th'inlightning Spirit still moue thereon Then let thy Spirit with light so cleare the same that it may be an Heau'n for thee alone Vnseele mine Eyes that long thy Light to see for they are blinded with black Ignorance Then Light of Lights to Heau'n direct thou me the rightest way with thy bright Countenance Men are of various mindes about this Way some this some say that way the way doth lie And to it Scripture Truths right Rule doe lay but Truth ne'er lay in such diuersitie For Truth is one but these are manifold then lead me in this way else stray I shall Incline my Will this rightest way to hold how euer strait and in it neuer fall O trade me in thy Paths I begge of thee with all the forces of my minde and mouth And when I step awry straight shew it me by inspiration of thy Spirit of Truth If in thy Word I looke for help herein from all Presumption keepe my priuate Spright For many Doctors so deceiu'd haue beene then make my Soule still see and take the right Thy Word 's a Lanthorne to direct their steps that are as humble as intelligent Yet oft the Wise thy meaning ouer-leapes while it 's reuealed to the innocent Thou spak'st therein to all Capacities and lispst to Babes to make them know thy minde Yet if thou guide them not and ope their eyes the
Wonders of thy Law they cannot finde Thy Will then shewne and hidden in thy Word is hid though shewne from those not prompt by thee Though Camels there may swim and Gnats may ford yet both may drowne if there too bold they be In shallow'st places there great Clarkes haue suncke into the depth of Heresie and drew Whole Nations after them yea made Kings drunke therewith while they Beleeuers-right pursue So then as none could euer see the Sunne but by the Sunne so none can rightly see Thee in thy Word but by reflexion of that pure Light of Lights that comes from thee If so then light me in that Light thy Word sith thou art Light of lights else may mine Eyes Be daz'led and so drowne me in each Ford of those pure Riuers of thy Paradise Thy Word is Truth but those it doth misguide that know not well thy Language nor will know Sith they will learne but of them selues and Pride so not thy Word but they are erring so None can be sau'd without they doe thy Will which none can doe vnlesse the same they know And none can know it much lesse it fulfill if it by speciall grace thou doe not show Then if thou wilt that I shall saued be for thou wilt no mans Death that seekes thy face Let me be taught to know thy Will by thee and made to doe it by thy Pow'r and Grace So shall I finde what I am seeking still To know Thee well and well to doe thy Will An Inuocation against vse of offending or bad Custome DEare Lord while I bethinke me of the Ils that me surround and waigh the Woes I feele Through mine owne fault which me with Sorrow fils from Life to Death I ready am to reele The Sunne of my Care-clouded life hath past his full Meridian and doth now decline To Seas of griefes where Age doth sincke at last and at each breath Death seekes it to define Vse of offending in my passed Dayes doth passe my strēgth to change thogh faine I wold Custome to Nature turn'd my Nature swayes and of my selfe the while I haue no hold Yet if I dye ere so bad vse I leaue my life must leaue me hopelesse at my death For what I giue to GOD I shall receiue and as I spend so shall I yeeld my Breath I minde to mend but still procrastinate for my Familiar Sinne is loth to part And doth my halfe-dead body animate to vse her still so wounds and heales my Heart But sith I am not sure to breath once more and that my life and death are well-neere met And Death t'eternall Weale or woe 's the Doore why sinne I now my lifes Sunne neere is set What is in Sinne that it should so be witch A bitter-sweete if Sweete it be and makes The Body glad but still the Soule to grutch and eu'n from life the vitall-vertue takes The wisest yet that euer breath'd this Aire of Humane Race well tride it to be so Whose equall Wealth and Wisedome did repaire to all in Nature but this Sweete to know And yet he found the Sow'r excell'd the Sweet the Sweet but short the Sow'r surmounting Time Wee want his Meanes his high Delights to meete yet hazard we our soules to them to climbe Lord make me wise by his experience who in great wealth and Wisedome plaid the Foole And for meere Folly was at huge expence then let his follies me still wisely schoole Yea let me learne of Him that all doth teach of whom the wisest learne Sinnes snares to shunne He was a King and Preacher and did preach that All is vanitie beneath the Sunne If all be vaine beneath and true he sayes let me aboue the Sunne seeke true delight Which I shall finde by walking in thy Wayes so thou deare Lord consort me with thy Spright O then consort me so and with his pow'r enable me all lets to ouer-runne Let me not stay one Minute of an How'r to ioy in any thing beneath the Sunne But in thy Sunne of Iustice let me ioy which fils the Heau'ns and Earth with purest light Then let all other ioyes my soule annoy that so in him I may alone delight Thou canst doe this then doubt I not thy Will Which still is good then my good-will fulfill The Sinner refers his Will to Gods will in all things desiring helpe for perseuerance therein DEare Lord and God true Louer of my Soule in my desires I wholy doe resigne vnto thy blessed Will this Will of mine To forme reforme direct and still controule And as my Soule my body moues alone without whose motion it would still be still so let thy Sp'rit still moue my soule and will Else let them haue no motion of their owne Let me forsake my selfe for thy deare sake yea truely hate my selfe for loue of thee and let no pleasures please or profit me If thou deare Lord at them displeasure take I offer vnto thee mine All and more had I much more than All to mortifie my senses and affections that thereby I may so mortifide liue euermore My selfe I likewise offer to the lack of sensible deuotion grace and loue so it may humble me and make me proue Thy might the more in my sinnes vtter wracke I offer too my selfe with prompt desire t' indure all losse in name fame goods and friends all pleasure paine and what else flesh offends That by their waight my sp'rit may mount the higher In summe I offer vp my selfe aboue my selfe to all mischance that can befall saue sinne alone yet if thy goodnesse shall Put me in Hell I le brooke it for thy Loue. And though it be impossible for Flesh to suffer it yet should my Will be prest If thou would'st haue it so in Hell to rest For Loue in quenchlesse flames can sense refresh Then loue me Lord and still my loue enflame then put me where thou wilt I le there abide without repining ire or ghostly pride With Martyrs that in torments laud thy Name But sith by reason of my Flesh too fraile I cannot be so prompt these paines to brooke then help me Lord but with a louing looke And ouer Death and Hell I shall preuaile Looke kindly on me then deare Lord and so Our Wils shall still be one in weale and woe The Sinner desires fruition of the Deitie and that his Soule should be euer the habitation thereof ETernall LORD who art more prompt to heare then Faith to pray of that great grace of thine Regard the Boone I aske in Loue and Feare and to mine humble suite thine eares incline Grant me fruition of thy DEITIE that all my Soule may so be satisfied For lesse then that can her not satisfie though all els boundlesse were still amplifide Those gifts and graces that thy Grace may moue t' inhabit my poore Soule vouchsafe thou me That with thy gifts thy grace may be in Loue and loue my Soule for harbring them and thee But in those gifts
or else of good depriu'd so both accurst And if my best be nought but cloaked sinne what are my worst but worse than what is worst Not for committing odious sinnes in act but for omitting deedes of Charitie Which Iustice at her Iudgement will exact the Reprobate are damn'd and so may I For t is but halfe the duty of my whole to doe no ill but still I good should doe With all the care and forces of my Soule else ill I may be doom'd and damned too God gaue me life but for his Seruice than I must account how I each moment spend And sinn'd I not yet sith I am a Man that doth no good it 's damned in the end And were my deeds vnited and withall clear'd from pollution and from all defect Yet are they nought to gifts meere corporall which I haue had and yet haue in effect So that too like an idle beast I am that still deuoureth more then he doth earne And lookes for food ere he deserues the same nor doth the giuers gifts from Fates discerne O! out vpon me most vngratefull beast abusing Reason as if I had it not What shall I say deare Lord I must at least confesse I haue thy goodnesse most forgot O! with what Marble Eyes or flintie Front shall I the glory of thy presence brooke Who art both Iudge of me to take account and Witnesse too as witnesse will thy Booke And yet alas lesse pow'r I haue to shunne thy presence then haue heart the same t' abide For thou art all in All then can I runne from thee when thou dost compasse all beside Yet haue I bin but in Ciuilitie more loath t' offend my meanest mortall Friend Then in good Conscience so great maiestie that filleth All and All doth comprehend And haue I shame to say 't more sham'd to sinne in sight of men then in thy dread aspect My Soule is blinde so saw thee not within and mortall Eyes but mortall things respect And for the Graces which thou gau'st to mee to glorifie the Giuer I vile wretch Haue to my selfe the glory tane from thee so with thy gifts I doe thee still impeach I haue not lou'd thee for thy mercy nor haue fear'd thee for thy Iustice yea thy might Though most almighty I did most abhorre when it in Iustice on me wretch did light Thou hast to me reueal'd thy Will but looke how often I haue glost it with mine owne Were it within or else without thy Booke so oft hath thine by mine bin ouerthrowne And if I reckon right betweene thy Law and mine obseruance though I feare thy Rod I must confesse neere Dauids foole I draw that said in Soule at least There is no God I haue obserued nought but what my sense depraued sense being Ill did hold for good Which Ill with all the Stormes of foule Offence still wrought vpon the Current of my Bloud Mine Eyes are sharpe as eager still to pry into mens worst parts rather than their best And wrench that little much that is awry and what 's most right to make it lesse at least Apt to detract from others and exact praise to my selfe from others this is it That makes me enuy eu'ry witty Tract vnlesse it be composed by my Wit As apt most apt to giue as take offence hard to be pleas'd displeas'd too easily As prompt to Choler as to violence but fearing death yet desperate prest to dye In reasoning rash and yet soone rudely round to compasse Faith to falshood soone thereby And where Truth stands to throw her on her ground in beastly rage vntill shee seeme to lye False in Humilitie and true in pride in iesting rough and rash in censuring To gouerne I haue made my Heart too wide t' obey too straite through griefes straite gouerning More then the Mount Vesuuius haue I burn'd in vaine Ambitions euer-raging flame And all good gifts and graces haue I turn'd to Fewell burning in desire of fame Thou gau'st me gifts where of the praise I sought so robb'd thee Lord of glory and with speede I wages seeke for that which thou hast wrought for for thy Workes in me I looke for meede More proud than Lucifer the Fount of Pride for he being glorious mac'e might soone o'erweene But I being bred of but Slime-putrifide vsurpt thy praise so much more proud haue beene Wherein if thou hast crost me I haue storm'd worse than that Hell-hound for he fell to Hell Then easily might fume being so enorm'd but I on Earth at ease against thee swell The lightest pleasures make me lighter doate but easiest paines doe presse me downe to death If Fates but smile in pleasures Seas I floate and if but frowne it eu'n expires my breath I foulest Vices vnder vertuous Names doe patronize as extreame Crueltie For vpright Iustice Loue of lightest Dames for perfect Zeale Selfe-â—oue for Charitie Craft for true Wisedome Pride for Cleanlinesse Basenesse for Meeknesse Doubt for Holy Feare Meere Cowardize for discreet Warinesse Râ—shnâ—sse for Manhood Couetize for Care And so of others in none other sort I vaunt their vice with vertuous tearmes inuolu'd And haue an eye but onely to Report while I but right to seeme am wrong resolu'd All good Instructions fall into my Soule as Aprill-showres into the Sea doe fall Whose swelling surges doe their drops controule and euer turne their sweetnesse into Gall. When I haue beene reprou'd for ought vnright I would deny excuse or it defend Or else reproch my iust reprouers straight and so without offence would faine offend If I haue vow'd deuotion and withall haue taskt my selfe with holy Exercise I soone infring'd it were it ne'er so small so loath'd I Manna Leekes to gurmandize And looke how one that taketh fire in hand but out of hand straight thowes it cannot hold The heate thereof so I doe vnderstand but small effect of Prayer made so cold As Cates vnchewed haue they past from me without concoction not without annoy For when I thinke they went away so free my Soule is sicke with griefe and grieu'd with ioy Thus lose I still my time in going on and comming off from eu'ry good attempt So purpose without prosecution leaues my best actions idle in contempt With but beginnings haue I worne my dayes and oft haue fail'd but in the meere assay Yet for but failing haue I lookt for praise ô shame sith I good motions did obey I likewise haue beene light in my Dsiere now this now that and then the other face Sparkes of thy beauty set my Heart on fire with Beauties grace to sinne for want of grace So could not walke abroad but that anon my wandring sight would giue thy sight offence For eu'ry sparkling Eye mine lighted on through mine straight kindled my Concupiscence For this too oft I haue abus'd the Muse thou gau'st me but to woo thee for thy Loue But I lewde Louer did her Measures vse to mete fraile motions strongly so to moue Thus Beauty
it selfe to them made Sugar-sweet Then what but Gall it selfe will Honey seeke besides the Honey of thy sweetest Loue For who are more exalted then the meeke sith Heau'n and Earth of them doe most approue Then if thou make me meeke thou mak'st me more Then Heau'n and Earth for both will me adore For perfect Vnion with God and Grace to shunne all Lets that may hinder it WHen I sweet Sauiour minde the Orison thou mad'st thy Maundy-night with strong effect When as thou praid'st for perfect vnion betweene thy Father thee and thine elect I am thereby encouraged to pray that in that Vnion though too base I be I may b'included if so be I may being so vile so inward be with thee Which can be hardly if at all it can without my Soule forsake the Flesh and Fiend And all besides thee be it Angell Man or what soe'er for Thee her onely END But this shee cannot doe without thy Grace thy grace preuenting and assisting both Then grace her so that she may thee embrace and in respect of thee all others lothe By that deare vnexampled Loue that made thee hang all naked on the Crosse vouchsafe That I may liue with thee as nought I had besides though I the World besides should haue And if it may be Lord ô let me liue without the least Sinne for the least that is Doth let our Vnion and doth euer striue to seuer me for euer from thy Blisse Then grant that I my body so may keepe from all transgrâ—ssing that I may not moue One Ioynt t'vnioyne vs but my Soule to sweepe from all Pollution that doth let thy Loue. That from offending it may be as cleare as it was made by thee in Thee to rest And though she cannot be so perfect here yet make Her still desire the same at least Yea make me will no Ioy for that is none that is not in thee and the Bread I eate Let it no more delight me than a Stone but onely but to serue Thee take my meate And when my Palate proues some Foode too sweet then let me thinke how much more sweet thou art That mad'st it such so make me make it meete to make me taste thy Sweetnesse in my Heart So let me vse all Creatures pleasing Sense to send me to Thee Cause of that Effect So in them still taste but thine Excellence and by them still the more the same affect Yea let no Sweet of whatsoeuer kinde that 's but created once my Soule allure From thee sweet Lord or from continuall minde of thy deare Sweetnesse that all Sweetes procures But Loue and Meeknesse are the onely two to mâ—ke vs one â—eare Sweet that diuers be Then let high'st Loue and lowest Meeknesse too make one of twâ— that 's one of thee and mee And meeke to make me let me euer minde I am nought haue nought know nought nought can do And nought desire nor seâ—ke but Grace to finde to loue thee highly and be lowly too Then make me rich in Soule and poore in spirit rich in good deeds and yet most poore in thought When I doe best to weene I worst doe merâ—â— and when most good to thinke I am most nought So by the By-path that but Fooles doe finde of true Simplicitie that 's iust and free To runne to Thee and leaue the World behinde to thinke me mad for running so to Thee But let me so be still besides my selfe and still besides the Way the World doth roame Though it with Flowers be strowde and pau'd 〈…〉 yet set me flie it in my hying home The Heau'n-rapt Saint was so himselfe beside for hee all eartly Dainties held as Doung And while as mad the most did him deride he went to Thee a narrow way and long Nay thou thy selfe dear Lord that all dost schoole because thou didst elect this Way to goe And that reiect attir'd wast like a Foole and so esteem'd then let me foole it so But hide my life in thee so shall I liue a light to all that walke in wayward moode For them thou hid'st that good example giue from eu'ry Ill then let me giue this good But when I giue it let me thinke I giue the good thou gau'st for all good gifts are thine So shall I rightly thinke while â—o I liue and all the praise thereof to thee resigne So let me doe and thinke so shall I gaine True Vnitie with thee in Ioy and Paine The Sinner in great sorrow for Sinne relyeth on God for grace and comfort ON thy help Lord I relye then poore I Perish must if thou restraine it O then stretch thy helping-hand or command That I may with speede obtaine it For as one forgotten quite out of sight I forlorne in sorrow languish Help ô help me then with speede for I feed As on Bread on nought but Anguish If I sinne I sigh therefore and deplore That I haue in ought offended Yea my Soule doth waste with woe sith I know Sinne doth marre what Thâ—â—s hast mended Faine I would then cease to sinne and beginne Now to liue as thou hast willed But if by Thee that didst fire that desire It be not of me fulfilled I at best but well shall will doing ill Then I shall for it be vexed So shall I but sinne and grieue while I liue And in Conscience be perplexed It is tedious to my Sp'rit day and night Thus to sinne then pine in passion For being staid yet still to fall is no small Signe of death or reprobation Help then help me Lord lest I doubtfull dye Make my sorrowes passe my sinning That I may so cease to sinne so to winne Better end then my beginning For in sinne conceiu'd I was so alas Sinnefull am sith so conceiued Then of force sith I am such doe not grutch I should be to Grace receiued With more griefe my Sinne I wound than I found Pleasure in the sinne committing O then let my sorrowes still sinning kill While thy Graces vs be knitting Blessed God then make me grieue while I liue For my grieuing thee so blessed Let my Teares still quench the fire of thine Ire Till I be of Grace possessed So shall I to shunne thy wrath tread the Path Of thy Biddings till my dying Or on winges of Loues desire still aspire To thee then ô take me flying The Sinner acknowledging repugnant desires in himselfe desireth to be enabled to performe his good desires I Would be thine and I would haue thee mine deare Lord and yet I crosse mine owne desires For still I sinne then cannot I be thine yet faine I would with thee be still entire Then I desire what my desires resist ô strange repugnance would I thee enioy And yet in that which seuers vs persist then my desires doe my desires destroy True Lord how euer false this seemes to be it false but seemes but it 's too true herein For my poore Soule would nothing more then thee and yet my Soule doth
well And while I liue I le be the leading-Bell That shall thy lowdest Peales of prayses ring Which in the Clouds shall ne'er leaue ecchoing Or be the Trumpet of thy Fame to fill Th' Aetheriall Lofts with Straines more lofty still That when Times wings his Funerall flame consumes Thy Fame shall soare with faire vnsinged Plumes An Epitaph on the death of the right vertuous Lady Liegh sole Daughter of the same right Honourable Lord Elesmere Lord Chancellor of England which Lady deceased the third day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1612. HEre dead shee lies who while aliue she was was Graces Inne Wits Home and Vertues Rest Whose WORTH was of true Worthinesse a Masse yet well proportion'd for her humble Brest A Wise and Mother as it 's hard to say whose losse was great'st her childrens or her phoares To eyther wisely kinde to each a stay that made one loue the other loue and feare To her all-honour'd Sire she was as deare as she was vertuous which was as the bloud In his Hearts Center which to him is neare yet dearer held his flesh in one so good Who dide as liue she did in grace and peace more laden with good-deeds then idle-dayes Leauing her worth for worthinesse increase for Wiues vnborne to imitate and praise Who had at once two Husbands yet she liu'd of Wisely truth a constant Paragon One Husband heauenly was who hath depriu'd the Earthly of her for himselfe alone Yet yer he had her bought her with his Bloud But with her bought a World of Womanhood Then maugre Time Death these Lines tho weake May leade all Times all good of her to speake Here Muse now close the Paper-tombes of these Two vertuous Soules and Bodyes Aunt and Neece with this A good Name is better then a good Ointment and the day of death then the day that one is borne Eccles. 7.3 The Picture of an happy Man HOw blest is he though euer crost that can all Crosses Blessings make That findes himselfe ere he be lost and lose that found for Vertues sake Yea blest is he in life and death that feares not Death nor loues this Life That sets his Will his Wit beneath and hath continuall peace in strife That striueth but with fraile-Desire desiring nothing that is ill That rules his Soule by Reasons Squire and workes by Wisedomes Compasse still That nought obserues but what preserues his minde and body from offence That neyther Courts nor Seasons serues and learnes without experience That hath a Name as free from blot as Vertues Brow or as his life Is from the least suspect or spot although he liues without a Wife That doth in spight of all debate possesse his Soule in Patience And pray in loue for all that hate and hate but what doth giue Offence Whose Soule is like a Sea too still that rests though mou'd yet mou'd at least With loue and hate of good and ill to whaft the Minde the more to Rest. That singly doth and doubles not but is the same he seemes and is Still simply so and yet no Sot but yet not knowing ought amisse That neuer Sinne concealed keepes but shewes the same to God or moe Then euer for it sighes and weepes and ioyes in Soule for grieuing so That by himselfe doth others mete and of himselfe still meekely deemes That neuer sate in Scorners Seate but as himselfe the worst esteemes That loues his body for his Soule Soule for his Minde his Minde for God God for himselfe and doth controule CONTENT if It with him be odde That to his Soule his Sense subdues his Soule to Reas'n and Reas'n to Faith That Vice in Vertues shape eschewes and both by Wisedome rightly waigt'h That rests in action acting nought but what is good in deed and shew That seekes but God within his thought and thinkes but God to loue and know That all vnseene sees All like Him and makes good vse of what he sees That notes the tracts and trickes of Time and flees with th' one the other flees That liues too low for Enuies lookes and yet too high for loth'd Contempt Who makes his Friends Good-men and Bookes and nought without them doth attempt That liues as dying liuing yet in death for life he hath in hope As far from State as sinne and debt of happie life the meanes and scope That feares no frownes nor cares for fawnes of Fortunes fauorits or foes That neither checkes with Kings nor Pawnes and yet still winnes what Checkers lose That euer liues a light to All though oft obscured like the Sunne And though his Fortunes be but small yet Fortune doth not seeke nor shunne That neuer lookes but grace to finde nor seekes for knowledge to be knowne That makes a Kingdome of his Minde wherein with God he raignes alone This Man is great with little state Lord of the World Epitomiz'd Who with staid Front out-faceth Fate and being emptie is suffic'd Or is suffic'd with little sith at least He makes his Conscience a continuall Feast This Life is but Death THogh Fire by warmth cheers life great heat brings death though good Aire life detaines bad life defines Though Water stayes our thirst it stops our breath though fruitfull Earth doth feede the barren pines Too-much o'er-fils too-little feebles life Wealth wants not Cares Want wants all but Cares Solenesse brings sadnesse Company but strife and sodaine Ioyes doe kill as well as feares Meane mirth is rationall extreame is mad no good so good but here it 's mixt with ill Nay too much goodnesse is exceeding bad yea bad if blinde it be is true Good-will And saue the High'st our highest gaine is losse Then life 's but death where al things are so crosse True Wealth THat Grace that neyther wonders grieues nor ioyes at Fortunes vtmost seeking but to finde What Bounty still in action best imployes nor wailes the want that beggers not the Minde That neyther grieuing sighes nor ioying sings that shines most glorious in most gloomy dayes Pleas'd with the state her owne endeuour brings that droupes not with defame nor swels with praise That scornes Disdaine disdaining nought but vice and Greatnesse rates by Goodnesse doing nought But good for ill and that for auarice of goodnesse onely by her onely sought That Time and Wealth well spent doth not deplore This is that Wealth without which Wealth is poore An Angel-like Man HE which prouokt endures as borne to beare and lookes alike in greatest weale and woe That so loues good that ill he nought doth feare and ebbes in Minde when Fortunes most doe slow That bounds Desire with lesse than he enioyes for onely nothing's lesse then Nature needes That holds all Vertues deare all else but toyes and meekely scowres Prides rust from his bright deeds That 's better than hee seemes yet seemes the best but without scandall seekes to seeme the worst That quell'd with Crosses thinkes him highly blest and for the Blisse of all would dye accurst In
doâ— bestow a Wise-mans â—ee Which thâ—se wise Seers onely doe fore-see Sinfull Curiositie had rather be acquainted with the Diuell then with God or his Saints HAue any made a Cou'nant with blacke Hell and are Familiar with infernall Sprights They shall be sought to wheresoe'er they dwell for many Soules desire to see those sights But liues Elias most familiar with GOD and Heau'n where great ones most frequent He liues as in his firie Câ—ach he were for none comes neere so meere an Innocent Thus doth the Diuell Lord it o'er the Aire and those that most doe prize It while his slaues Are more sought to then Saints or Angels faire though such Fiends bideing be among the graues Then what so senselesse as the World to take Delight in Diu'ls and in Hell for their sake Againe of the same WEre Bacon and that Vandermast aliue Aire if liue they did where Men might draw but They with a mischieâ—e wold much more than thriue for they would smothred be with Mens repaire Some Bladuds would inuest them with their Robes nay Crowne them too to learne them but to flye That so they might but glide about the Globes to be admir'd for Iack-dawes qualitie So much Men singularitie affect that to be singular though but in Toyes They 'l freâ—ly giue what they doe most respect so much their inward Man loues outward Ioyes Nay Men to Hell will creep from out the Croude Ere they 'l be drowned in the Multitude That Persecutors of Truth are their owne Tormentors IF Vertues Sonnes be plagu'd with Vices Broode sith they by Nature still doe disagree It 's for the vicious plague and vertuous good which both shall here or else-where shortly see If our good life our Enemies encrease that bad encrease in that great good is drown'd Who fight against themselues but for our Peace and through our Weeds their Hearts and Soules do wound Our Sauiour through his Death did Death subdue to make vs conquer by enduring strife Then what though They to Death doe vs pursue when through our Death they dye to giue vs liâ—e But with such proofes none but such Saints are prou'd That of his Iudge in death was fear'd and lou'd The righteous in Ioy or Griefe Life or Death GOD keepes as his Treasure FEll Malice most of her owne Poison drinkes for them she plagues doe sippe but of the toppe But she of that which to the Bottome sinckes to worke in Her Perdition without Hope Impietie and Plagues are of an age being burnt not in the Hand but in the Heart For who against the good doe battaile wage shall perish through his pow'r that takes their part And if for vertue Men are made away GOD takes for sacrifice their sufferings But when by course of Nature they decay he then receiues them as Peace-offerings So that in life and death the righteous rest As th' Apple of his Eye as safe as blest That mens Deuotions towards God and Goodnesse are most mutable NOught in our Life endures so many Turnes as our Deuotion off on in and out Now cold as Yce and by and by It burnes scarse in one moode while we can turne about If good we heare perhaps we thinke thereon but be it ill ill past perhaps we minde Thus rowle we euer like a thriftlesse stone till Death vs stay by force or Course of kinde From Sinne to Sinne as Flies from sore to sore we still doe shift the best Men Men are still The worst are worse than Beasts to kill or store for they are leaue in good but fat in ill Then blest are they that neyther fat nor leaue Haue rowl'd to Rest but with the Golden-meane To my most honored and approued best Friend and Alye Sr. Fran Louell Knâ—ght God takes the Will for the Deede ALthough we doe not all the good we loue but still in loue desire to doe â—he same Nor leaue the Sinnes we hate but â—â—â—ing moue our Soule and Bodyes Pow'rs their forcâ— to tame The good wee doe GOD takes as done aright that we desire to doe He takes as done The Sinne we shunne He will with Grace requiâ—e and not impute the Sinne we seeke to shunne But good Desires produce no worser Deedes for GOD doth both together lightly giue Because He knowes a righteous Man must needes by Faith that workes by Loue for euer liue then to doe nought but onely in desire Is Loue that burnes but burnes like painted fire The Vertuous liue well for Vertues sake the Vicious for feare of Punishment THree things in Iudgement haue obserued bin to woâ—k with wicked ones shame griefe feare And yet without shame griefe or feare they sinne till Iudgement strict beginneth to appeare If Iudgement then haue force t'extort these three they haue no Iudgement that will not preuent This sore Extortion with an easie fee that is liue well if not then well repent But are these two performed with such ease Gods Yâ—ake is easie and his burden light And such as cannot well away with these can neyther liue well nor repent aright But if they cannot much lesse can they beare What Iudgement wil extort shame griefe feare That there is no peace to the Wicked THe Wickeds rest is like the raging Deepe whose smoothest Peace is rough intestine War With whose Alar'ms they often start in sleepe whose Heart-strings with such fretting Stops doe iarre Yet as the Sea seemes calme as other Brookes till Windes arise wherewith they rage as mad So oft the Wicked-man as smoothly lookes in prosperous state as he whom GOD doth glad And in this plight he Saint it can aswell at least in shew as can the holiest Saint Yea can for glory in Good-workes excell and Pietie in Word and Deed depaint But when Afflictions flawes beginne to blow He playes the Diuell both in Deed and Show That a vexed Conscience is the onely Hell on Earth THe Bodies rest doth most disease the Soule that is diseased with Sinnes sorest Sting For then the Thoughts about that Pricke doe roule and to the Soule an Hell of Horror bring The Minde then looking into Fancies Mirrour sees nothing there but Sinne that sits a-Broode On grimme Chimaeraes and sights full of horror so to confound the Minde or mad her mood For when Sinne onely fronts the Phantasie that Glasse reflects these horrid Formes by kinde Then when the body most alone doth lye these Monsters muster most about the Minde O! Plague of plagues when Sense nor Reas'n can spye A Reall Obiect from a Phantasie Phantasie a great Comforter or Tormenter GIue me Iobs Botches Naamans Leprosie nay giue me All that plagues the outward sense Rather then Terrors of the Phantasie crawling from out an Hell of Conscience And giue me all the Hels the Damn'd endure this Hell alone excepted I will be Able to make them Heau'ns in Conscience pure through Operations of the Phantasie Asleepe awake in Company alone past-vnderstanding Peace and Ioyes past Ioy In our Mindes Kingdome
then themselues enthrone to ouer-sway the Paines that Flesh annoy Then is this Peace and War true Heau'n Hell Where Paine and Pleasure doe themselues excell A wounded Conscience who can beare SAlues Sores doe cure and Medicines Maladies Friendship Oppression Wâ—sed me poore Estate Fauour Restraint and Timâ— Captiuitiâ—s Good life Reproch and louing Manners Hate But these nor ought else that are â—â—st or best except the Highest grace hâ—uâ— pâ—w'r to cure A wounded spirit with Sadnesse stâ—â—l opprest but It doth Death out-liue and Hell oâ—â— dure Were our Meate Manna our Weâ—des Salomons Monarches our Friends and Eden our Free-hold Our Guardes Gâ—â—iaâ—s our Seatesâ— highst Thrones our Houses Siluer hung with Pearle and Gold All these and all what else can Sense delight Doe rather kill than cure a wounded Spirit Death makes Things appeare as they are ENuy and Anger haue some Wise-meâ— kil'd though in those Passions we hold no man wise As fauour and base flatt'ry Fooles haue spild for with them both we Fooles doe Nestorize But when these moodes are with the Parties dead then were they Fooles who wer so wise while-ere And Thâ—y most wise that Fooles were reckoned thus Death doth make Things as they are appeare Flatt'ry adornes Mens Fortunes not the Men and Enuy not their Persons but their Fames Doth seeke to wound so it appeareth then that Wise nor Fooles haue here their proper Names But in the Font of Death they doe receiue Their naked Names which their true Natures giue God and Conscience tels truely what we are and are not as we seeme WHat thou art aske thine Hart and it wil show or aske a Foe that Conscience makes to lie But aske thou noâ— self-Selfe-loue which cannot know noâ— aske a Friend which can no â—ault espie If we could see our selues then should we see that we are nothing lesse then what we seeme Yet some seeme farre worse than in Deed they be and therefore All this Some doe not esteeme For we know nothing wholy but in part and vnderstand but what we know by Sense We see the Face but cannot see the Heart then showes betray our best Intelligence This makes all wise men that such Secrets know To winne the World a Shadow with a Show That Truth being One and still the same is made by wicked mâ—n to countenance Falshood which is manifold and still vnlike WHen Peace Truth do iarre Peace is not peace then Peace in Truth is that we should ensue Now for this Truth what Warres and Iarres encrease these Times doe â—eele and After-times may rue Yet no Man 's so vniust that will auerre he fights for Falshood but for Truth and Right So iust some say is eu'ry vniust Warre thus Truth is made to countenance each Fight Who euer yet for Heresie hath dide but saith for Truth he dies and so beleeues Or what Sect saith not Truth is on their side so Truth is made a Diuell that deceiues But Truth is God vnmade who in the end Will damne them all that make him such a Fiend That we are naturally bent to Ill but supernaturally to Goodnesse TWixt Sinne and Grace I tost am to and fro as mine Affections please to bandy me From Grace to Sinne I flye but backe I goe and yet I goe as one that faine would flee Nature doth moue the Wings of my Desire to Sinne-wards nimbly but not so to Grace For then she limes them with my fleshes myre that I am forc'd to passe an heauy pace Yet still I stirre those Wings and seeke to breake faile fleshes Bands too strong for me too fraile Who though sometimes I faile of what I seeke yet seeke I what I finde and neuer faile For none seekes Grace that hath not Grace in hold Then Seekers find though oft lesse then they would Abuse is familiar with humane Flesh and Bloud MInding this World I muse at what I minde though It vnworthy be of Minde or Muse I muse that Men are to It so inclinde sith It mindes nought but how Men to abuse From high to low Abuse doth proudly raigne from which the Preist that leads all is not free The Holy hold the Holy in disdaine if with their state their states doe not agree Vertue or Vice are held or good or ill as in this World they thriue or ill or well For Vice is honor'd more then Vertue still if Vices Mannors Vertues doe excell If Manors good doe what good Maners ought That 's make men great great men are made of nought That it is farre better not Be then to be Ill. THe World the Wombe where all misdeeds are bred breedes in my little World such great offence That my Soule great with Sinne 's deliuered of Griefe that gaules my bleeding Conscience The Mid-wife Flesh that did the same produce giues it the Nurse curst Nature it to feede And fattens It with full-Breasts of Abuse so Griefe growes great with Natures grosse misdeeds O Nature Nurse of my Soules foule Disgrace ô World the Nurse of that Nurse grounds of grief Why doe you giue me being time and place sith you doe worse then kill me with reliefe For that reliâ—se that doth but nourish Sinne Makes our Case worse then if we ne'er had bin Sinne and Grace cannot dwell in one place IF Faith beleeu'd that Creede that Essence giues her then would she giue the Soule what that doth giue Faith 's made to know and doe that which relieues her for by her actiue knowledge she doth liue But oft the Soule though Faith be still her Ghest makes Sinne her Steward to prouide her Foode How then can Faith such banefull Bits digest which but contaminate her vitall Bloud Can Faith and Sinne if they be full in force dwell as if friends they were in one weake Heart No one will other from the same diuorce for Sou'raignes part with life ere Lordship part Then want of Faith with grosse Sin is supplide For Nature vacuum could ne'er abide In rainy-gloomy Weather THis Weather 's like my troubled Minde and Eyes the one being sad the other full of Teares And as Winde oft the often Showrings dryes so Sighes my Teares dry vp and kindle Cares Sighes please and paine the displeas'd painfull Heart they please in giuing vent to Griefes vp-pent And yet the Heart they ease they cause to smart so Griefes encrease as Sighes doe giue them vent But were my Minde thus sad but for my Crimes and mine Eyes turn'd to Teares for cause so deare Or did my Heart for that sith often times my Sighes my Teares my Sadnesse blessed were But t is sith Hope my Ship through Fates crosse-waue Now grates vpon the Grauell of my Graue Our Wits are vnable to please our Wils THis Life is but a Laborynth of Ils whose many Turnings so amaze our Mindes that out of Them our Wit no issue findes But what our Sense commands our Wit fulfils Yet Sense being tired with deceitfull Ioyes that fleete as soone as felt prouokes the
Gods Note-Booke cleane are crost Whose sins are couer'd so with Clemencie that they are hid so seeme they to be lost And blest is he to whom the God of Grace imputes no Sinne for so he shall be cleare How e'er defil'd and in whose sp'rit no base deceit shall once so much as but appeare For while I held my peace that caus'd my Warre for Death with Silence in such passion striues My bodies Props my Bones consumed are while all the day I grone in Sorrowes Giues For day and night thy Hand great God doth lye like Lead vpon my weaknesse who haue bin Conuerted into selfe Calamitie whiles the Thorne prickt me or my stinging sin But lo my faults to thee I haue reueal'd haue not clockt my crimes which thou dost hide But I confesse those Sinnes thou hast conceal'd sith my misdeedes shall so be iustifide Thus shall each pious person pray to thee in fitting time yer Mercies Gate be sparr'd But when the Inundations swelling be of many Waters they from Him are barr'd My fence ô Lord lies onely in thy Hands when troubles me assaile with fiercest woe Then ô preserue me from the impious Bands that me inclose in death to close me so I will saist thou deare Sweete instruct thee still and guide thee in thy way ô homed Words Thine Eye thou saist shall me defend from ill and watch to guard me from my foe-mens Swords Then be ô be not like an Horse or Mule that are as rude as vnintelligent Lord bridle them thy Snafle will not rule till they be rul'd or else be made repent The Plagues are great most great and manifold that doe the Sinner euermore attend But who with Hands oâ— Hope on God layes hold his boundlesse Mercy him will comprehend In Him therefore yee Righteous still be glad for he in Griefe still glads the righteous Soule Exult all ye that for your Sinnes are sad and all true Hearts that stoupe to his controule To God the Father glory be therefore and to the Sonne and their coequall Spirit As it was is and shall be euermore World without end for they are infinite Domine ne in furore Psal. 38. Dauid lying sicke of some grieuous disease acknowledgeth himselfe to be chastised of God for his sinnes and therefore prayeth God to turne away his wrath He vttereth the greatnesse of his griefes by many words and circumstances as wounded with the arrowes of Gods ire forsaken of his friends â—uill intreated of his enemies But in the end with firme confidence he commendeth his cause to God and hopeth for speedy help at his hand LOrd checke me not vntill thy rage be past nor chastise me in thine incensâ—d â—re For in my Flesh thy Shafts are fixed fast and thy Hand quels me that would faine aspire Thy Wrath hath fill'd my Flesh with all annoy for Sinne 's the sore the salue sore-sicknesse is And in my bones I can no rest enioy because their Marrow them hath mou'd amisse For mine ambitious Sinnes climbe o'er my Head and as a breake-necke Burden me oppresse My wounds which they haue made with filth are fed and ranckled sore through my worse foolishnesse I am made crooked vnderneath this loade deform'd and wretched yea it breakes my backe So all the day with griefe I make aboad or mourning goe as those that comfort lacke For ah my Ioynes that lodg'd but Sinne before now harbour nought but restlesse Malady No health is in my flesh for all is sore so sore that anguish makes me roaring cry But Lord thou know'st the Summe of my desires because my Plaints still tell it in thine eares My Heart is vext my strength from me retires nay more mine Eyes are blinded with my teares My friends in shew when thou didst fauour me like foes in deed now me poore me withstand Nay those in bloud that were my neerest be now furthest off and lend nor heart nor hand And they that seeke my life lay Traps to take that life or at the least me to vndoe And but of guile and spoile they euer speake and put in practise what they speake of too But I poore I as deafe would nothing heare for poore Soules must not hear what must offend And as one dumbe I still my selfe did beare that gaue no more reproofes then eare did lend Yet is my hope in thee that hearest all my sighes and grones sith they increase for Sinne. Then let mine Enemies ne'er see my fall who when I doe but trip triumph therein I am at point to perish and my Woes and cause thereof I euer beare in minde For I with griefe confesse mine ouerthrowes that lost thy Grace which now I seeke to finde But still my Foes doe liue and strong are made strong in their friends their places purse and armes And they that hate me causelesse and inuade me forcelesse many be the more my harmes They monsters likewise that doe ill for good oppose me still sith goodnesse I ensue Then haste thee Lord to help me so withstood and leaue me not among this cursed crue To God the Father which we doe adore and to the Sonne and to their blessed Spirit All glory be as it was heretofore is and still shall be through Worlds infinite Miserere mei Deus Psal. 51. When Dauid was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offences he did not onely acknowledge the same to God with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie but also left a memoriall thereof to his posteritie Therefore first he desireth God to forgiue his sinnes and to renue in him his holy Spirit with promise that he will not be vnmindfull of those great graces Finally fearing lest God would punish the whole Church for his fault he requireth that hee would rather increase his graces toward the same GReat God of Gods whose Mercy is as great haue mercy on me wretch whose Sin exceeds Yet after thy compassion so compleate wash out the blots of my too foule misdeedes O clense me from the filth of mine offence that ranckles in my Conscience all defilde With all that may depraue both Soule and Sense that purg'd I may to thee be reconcil'd For I acknowledge mine iniquitie sith still my Sinne 's the obiect of my sight And by the pow'r of mine impiety I wrong thy grace and still impugne thy Sp'rit Against thee onely I in sinne abide and done what doth condemne me in thy sight That in thy Words thou maist be iustifide and ouercome when thou art iudg'd vnright For nought but wickednesse prepar'd the way to my conception which to worse did passe Then ere I was I stood at sinfull stay and when I fell to Being worser was This Lord is true confessing which doth moue thy Grace to me thy Wisedome hid to show Then sprinckle me with Isop in thy Loue and so I shall be whiter farre than Snow Vnto mine Eares invred but to heare what Eares corrupts thou shalt but Ioy obiect So shall
the bones which by thee broken were reioyce and sinne wherein it ioy'd reiect O then from my foule sinnes thy Face auert and wash me from the filth they cast on me In me create an vndefiled Heart with such a spirit as may be iust to thee And cast me not ô cast me not away out of the Way still brightned by thy beames Nor from me take thy Spirit my Guide and Stay in hardest passages of all Extreames Restore to me the gladnesse of thy blisse and with thy chiefest Spirit still strengthen me Then those I le teach that now thy wayes doe misse so Sinners shall conuerted be to thee Saue me from bloud that vengeance doth implore so shall my Tongue thy Iustice highly raise But more thy Mercy sith it glads me more Then ope my Lips and they shall shew thy praise Had'st thou desired Sacrifice I had offer'd it to thee but thou tak'st delight In no burnt Offrings but art euer glad to take the Offer of a contrite Spirit A Broken Heart with sorrow but for Sinne thou wilt nor canst thou for thy Word despise Then let mine broken so thy Mercy win and from it still auert thine Anger 's Eyes With Sion ô deale gently that the Wals of raz'd Ierusalem rebuilt may be And still withstand Hels fiery darts and Bals to keepe thy Foes out onely but for thee Then shalt thou take the Sacrifice in gree of Iustice in thy Mercy then shall they Offer Oblations still in flames to thee and Calues vpon thine holy Alter lay To God the Father praise and glory be and to the Sonne and to their blessed Sp'rit A Trinitie in strictest Vnitie as it was is and shall be infinite Domine exaudi Psal. 102. It seemeth that this Prayer was appointed to the faithfull to pray in the Captiuitie of Babilon A Consolation for the building of the Church whereof followeth the praise of God to be published vnto all Posteritie The Conversion of the Gentiles and the stabilitie of the Church ATtend my Prayer Lord and let my Cry ascend to thee from whom all grace descends From my distresse turne not thy Mercies Eye but bowe thine Eare to me that downward bends When e'er I call make answere for my dayes like Vapor vanish and my parched bones Waxe weake and dry as is the flame that playes about the Snuffe at point to quench at ones Th' hast smitten me as Grasse by Lightning smit so that my Heart is wither'd quite away And through my griefe for that I further it for I forget to eate for Natures stay And through my groning voice my bones that burne to my consuming flesh will hardly cleaue And like a Pelican alone I mourne or like an Owle I liue while life I leaue I weare out Time in strictest vigilance and as a Sparrow on the Houses Crest I sit alone to minde my sinnes mischance so idly resting in the most vnrest The while my Foes backbiting me reuile yea he that praised me against me sweares But I as Bread did Ashes eate the while and still my Drinke did mingle with my Teares Because thy Wrath grew hot against my sinne for thou hast rais'd me vp to cast me downe My dayes are past as if they ne'er had bin and like Hay wither'd I from thee am mowne But thou immortall Spirit dost still endure and thy Memoriall euer lasts in prime Thou shalt arise and downe thy Mercies poure by showers on Sion in this promis'd time For eu'n the Stones of that faire Edifice delight thy Seruants and her sacred Ground They pitty as they doe her preiudice which with the sharpest griefe their hearts doth wound So shall the Heathen feare thine awfull NAME and all the Kings on Earth thy glory feare For Sions Fabricke thou dost still re-frame and in thy fullest Glory shalt appeare Our Lord the prayers of the meeke approues and not dispie their Suites in wretched case So future times to write this this doth moue that Babes vnborne may praise this God of Grace Who from his high as holy Place doth vaile his Eyes to Earth whereon they still remaine To heare poore Captiues plaints and such as waile and loose the Sonnes of them vniustly slaine That they in Sion should diuulge his NAME and in Ierusalem his earned Praise Yea in th' Assemblies celebrate the same when Kings consorted sing sweet Sions Layes He in the way of his great pow'r and grace â—hath answer'd them but shew Lord shew to me How long or short shall be my mortall Race that so for thee I still may ready be And take me not ô take me not away at vnawares yer halfe my Dayes be done As for thy yeeres they stand still at a stay but mine more swift then thought away doe runne In the Beginning thou the Earth didst found the highest Heauens thy glorious Hands did reare But they shall perish thou continue sound while they waxe old and like a Garment weare And as a Vesture thou shalt change their Frame and they shall changed be but thou alone Dost still continue One and aye the same whose yeeres remaine the same and euer One Thy Seruants sonnes inhabit shall the Land their seede shall be directed in thy Wayes And while they walke therein they fixt shall stand in Heau'n and Earth to celebrate thy praise To God the Father then all glory be t' his Sonne and to their Spirit which wee adore Coequall in their Essence and Degree as it was is and shall be euermore De profundis clamaui Psal. 130. The people of God from their bottomlesse misery doe cry vnto God and are heard They confesse their sins and flye vnto Gods mercy FRom depth of Griefe wherein my Soule doth lye I doe and will deare Lord still call on thee Then let thine eares attend mine inward Cry and listen to my Prayers and to me If thou fraile Flesh wilt call to strict account what flesh and bloud then in thy sight shall stand But Mercy is with thee as in the Fount then I expect thy Mercyes Helping-hand My Soule vpon the Faith which thou hast plight hath euer staid and still doth hope in thee Then from the Morning-watch till that of Night let Israel still relie on Thee with me For with this God of Glory and of Grace is Grace as much as Glory and therein He will redeeme the sad in sinfull Case with his true Israel from all their sinne To God the Father which we doe adore and to the Sonne and to their blessed Spirit All glory be as it was heretofore is and still shall be through Worlds infinite Domine exaudi Psal. 143. An earnest Prayer for remission of sinnes acknowledging that the enemies did thus cruelly persecute him by Gods iust iudgement He desireth to be restored to grace To be gouerned by his holy Spirit that hee may spend the remnant of his life in the true feare and seruice of God LOrd heare my pray'r with thine all-hearing ears and for thy truths sake