side where the law iudgeth rightly Neither doth auarice make his hand shake nor fauour to hold vp his hand to take but keepeth him selfe alwayes equall and vpright and faithfull and iust vnto all others geuing by his wisedome authoritie vnto his iudgements 7 He that shall thus liue shall without doubt ascend vnto the height of this happy hill The Angels shall carry him vp in their armes guide his feet for feare of stumbling and in the end place him before the face of the eternall truth where he shall for euer enioy the pleasant abiding place of this most excellent hill lifted vp aboue the heauens to be the habitation of glorified innocencie and be reunited vnto the principall of his being which is that euerlasting Deitie and diuine eternitie All things here below altâ—… and change haue an end and are consâ—med but he whose vertue shall haue lifted him vp vnto this heauenly blessednes shall continue in most glorious estate and vanquish all times and ages Strengthen therefore ô Lord our courages and comfort vs in these worldly afflictions And seeing it is thy good will and pleasure that good men shall goe this way through the insolencies and iniuries of the wicked susteine thou their hope which is shaken by their afflictions and by the prosperitie of the wicked and graunt them constancie to continue vnto the end that they may see the repayment both of the good and of the bad A MEDITATION OF THE Lords Prayer ANCHORA SPEI 1594. A MEDITATION of the Lords Prayer I Come vnto thee my God as vnto the common Father of the whole world I come vnto thee I say who in the creation and conseruation of all thy works hast witnessed thy selfe to be a most affectioned louing Father To thee I come as to my right Father who hast not contented thy selfe with the geuing me of my being life and feeling as thou hast done vnto the rest of thy liuing creatures but hast sent downe on me thine holy spirit filled my soule with an heauenly light and beaâ—e of thy Diuinitie I come vnto thee my God regenerated reincorporated into thy familie by a new grace I come by reason I have appeased the wrath of my Father through the satisfaction of my Redeemer I come because thou thy selfe-hast called me vnto thee and holdest forth thine armes Receyue me therefore my God not after the austeritie of a iust Iudge but according to the compassion of a pitifull father and accept this mine earnest prayer which being conceyued in the bottome of mine hart hath disclosed it selfe by my lips â—nd flyeth with my voyce vnto the fauourable eare of mine heauenly Father seeing it hath pleased thee ô Lord to suffer me so to call thee Cause it ô Lord my God to pierce the heauens where thou thy selfe art I know right well that thy Throne is aboue and that thou keepest vnder thy feet both the Sunne and the Starres and the earth to be but a very tittle and my selfe being the least part thereof am a great deale lesse then nothing Who then shall dare to make me so saucy â—s to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee It is euen thou my God who fittest on hye to behold at once all the works of thine hands the better to vnderstand our wants and dayly to poure vpon vs thy grace as a most sweet showre Euen thou who hast thy selfe sayd Aske and yee shall be heard But thou wilt be prayed vnto with a constant faith cause it therefore to be borne and growe in my soule for it is a gift that cannot come but from the Treasure of thy grace and as at other times thou hast addressed the lips of infants to glorilye thee gouerne now the infancie and infirmitie of mine hart that it may deliuer vnto my mouth such a prayer as may very well like and please thee And because thou mayest know my God that my prayer is sooner conceyued in my soule then in my lips and that although the binden of my â—…esh greeueth and vexeth my spirit yet breatheth it out as much as it can thine honor and prayse And the first petition that I make vnto thee is this Hallowed be thy name or rather let thy name hallow and sanctifie me that I may be after able to blesse glorifie thee But which of thy names shall I blesse that wherwith thou hast confouded cast down the enemies of thy people or else that wherewith thou hast blessed all the nations of the earth Wilt thou be praysed as the God of hosts ô Lord God of all battailes or as the Sauiour and Redeemer of the world Shall I tell abroad how thou hast made all things of nothing how thou hast sowen the heauens with starres couered the earth with flowres fruites riuers and with all liuing creatures and Man like vnto thy selfe Or shall I speake but of that incredible loue by which thou hast deliuered thine owne only Sonne vnto death to purchase for vs life euerlasting I have not breath inough ô Lord for such an enterprise but let it content thee that I sanctifie thy name with an humble and chast thought and that my meditation be alwayes fixed vppon all the benefits wherwith it pleaseth thee continually to fauour me so as both my selfe and as many as thou hast placed here in this world as in the middest of a ritch Temple for the beholding and admiring on euery side the excellency of thy Deitie we neuer turne our vnderstandings vnto any other thing but to the comprehending and learning of thy will to the end that we being reunited in one and the selfe same desire to serue thee Thy kingdome may come and that after we shall haue cast off the yoke of sinne which so long time hath thralled and captiued vs thy loue alone may reigne in our consciences A most blessed and prosperous reigne for to obey thee is to commaund our vnruly appetites and to command them is for a man to be master of his owne selfe and for a man to be master of him selfe is the most souereigne principalitie It is an easy matter my God to obey thee thy yoke is gratious and the tribute which thou exactest on vs is nothing else but to haue vs to be blessed Confirme vs therefore ô Lord in this thy will and assist the zeale of thy good seruants repressing the insolencie of all such as blaspheme against thy Maiestie because that thy lawe and thy truth do reigne throughout the world O King of kings which hast the dominion of our hearts who by our humilitie and obedience hast established thine Empire bend our wills vnder thy law to the end that we looking all to one end aspire not but to the aduancing of thy glory and that our good actions may testifie the good discipline of the King of heauen vnto whome we do homage and who alloweth vs for his subiects of whome we hold so many benefits and graces as that we can not possibly
A MOST HEAuenly and plentifull Treasure Or A rich Minerall full of sweetest comforts The Contents the next page will shewe Printed at London by H.L. for Henrie Fetherstone at the signe of the Rose in Paules Church-yard 1609. The Contents of this masse of holy Treatises 1 The holy loue of heauenly wisedome for instruction and institution of a Christian life aright pag. 1. 2. Heauenly Meditations of the seauen penitentiall Psalmes of the holy Prophet Dauid for stirring vp in euerie godly hart true remorse and sacred sorrow for sin pag. 131. 3 Most comfortable Meditations of the seauen Psalmes of Dauids consolation likewise for raising vp the humbled sinner and curing of the woūded soule pag. 211 4 A powerfull Meditatiō of the Lords prayer for holy instructiō and more certain direction how to pray aright and so to obtaine pag. 329 5 Most fruitfull Meditations of the Lamentations of Jeremie for stirring vp of Repentance in time of sin abounding Gods hand for sin striking as now by visitatiō pag. 349 6 The sweete song of holy Ezechias Isa 38. for assuring of euerie penitent sinner that GOD will neuer reiecte them but in greatest extremities send them comfort and turne their teares into Ioye pag. 439. 7 A most Christian and profitable exhortation vnto a sanctified and ciuill life pag. 112. 8 The learned and most worthie Epistle of Saint Basile vnto Saint Gregorie the Diuine pag. 97. TO THE TRVly Noble and Right Honourable EDVVARD Lord DENNIE Barron of Waltham c. To his most worthy and thrise-noble son in Law IAMES Lord HAYE c. S. RIGHT HONOVRABLE AS Man who was created at first to the Jmage of God perfitly hauing breathed in his face the breath of life in that earthly Eden and is now regenerate or created anew to the same Image albeit imperfectly hauing breathed in the face of his soule the breath of the life of grace in this spirituall Eden of Gods Church doth Image-like heerein resemble God plainely in respecting or desiring not so much external and eye-offices or offerings as the integritie of affection and vnfained internall loue of the heart which is the roote frō whence the fruit proceedes the spring frō whence the streame doth flowe the ground from whence the offices arise and altar on which the oblation is made And if the ground be found to be found the spring seene cleare the roote good and the Altar cleane and vpright albeit a mite of penurie bee cast in or a drop of water issue out the one is more accepted then the superfluitie of plentie and the other then a puddle Ocean Euen so likewise let your Honours adumbrate type and resemble the Image both of God true Nobility herin so to accept of this small gift as being offered with a duetifull hand proceeding also frō an affectionat and officious heart and tending to the tēdring and encouraging eies hands of al vertue and piety euē your Honours the patrons and patterns therof So the God of al grace and glory plētifull in the one and all beutiful by the other encrease the measure of his graces in you heer and beautifie you also with the fulnes of his glorie heereafter Your Honours in all dutie WILLIAM GVILDE To the Reader CHristian Reader Drinke heere of the waters of the heauēly Cisterne ouer-flowing with the water of life smell of the pleasāt fruit of the tree of life placed in Paradise and taste thereby how good the Lord is gather heere the pleasaunt flowers and reap if not the haruest yet the gleanings of comfort with iudgement humility learne wisedome of the spirit of true wisedome and suffer thy eyes to behold the beames of cōsolatiō life light and loue proceeding from that eternall Sun of safetie the onely beloued of God the true light and life of the world and longed-for ioye of men And for al be thākful to him to whom al praise belōgeth So the Lord giue thee vnderstāding in all things Farewell In Christ W. G. The holy loue of heauenly Wisedome WE are like vnto that kinde of people who hauing bene led captiue into some farre countrey when they were yong haue not onely lost their time but haue forgotten also both their countrey naturall language and the amitie of their own kindred For we are no sooner out of our cradle and swadling cloutes as it were but that our peruerse and froward affections surprize vs as a man would say like violent windes and filling the sayles of our desires with a thousand delicat gales make vs mightely degenerate from our owne naturall inclination driuing vs therby from all true and right reason For let our soule continue neuer so litle a while in this banishment she by and by forgetteth her originall being leeseth the remembrance of her principall benefite and good and in the end which is a farre greater mischiefe she forgetteth likewise the knowledge of her self Now then there remaineth nothing why we are not altogether like vnto these miserable captiues For if they after their long captiuitie haue neuer so little hope of their returne or do but heare their countrie spoken of a man shall perceiue their hearts to leape with ioye in their bodies so greatly doth this kinde of newes please and like them But contrariwise we vtterly mislike those men who labour to call vs home againe vnto the place where we had our first being and abhorre nothing more then when we see them marke out vnto vs the ready way to come thereto These men will leaue the fortunate Islands and returne vnto the Ithaque set fast like a neast built vpon the very top of a sharpe steepie rocke And we will not onely leaue the mire and dirte wherein we sit fast mortrized rather then we would possesse and enioy most assured and euerlasting felicitie Now some man may peraduenture say vnto me I beseech you Sir where is that felicity which you talke of shew it vnto vs for that is it that we desire for what man is he that would refuse to be happie and blessed Alas my good friends I know that the worde liketh you well but without doubt yee flie from the thing it selfe or at least yee follow naught else but the shadow and leaue the bodie flying from you and hunting after a vaine cloude of delight reiect the true sound and incomparable pleasure Where then is it say you shew vnto vs the way and tract that we may speedely take hold thereof Shall I tell you my good friends one thing and that is this would it not thinke you make you laugh to see a pore or sand blinded man come vnto Pylo◠a most excellent counterfeitor in painting and importune him to shew him his pictures and exquisite paintings or to see a deaffe man presse in to heare the sweet musicke and hermonie of Bayf a most excellent musition would not the first man say vnto the sand blinded man go thy way and remoue first from thee that running humor
couragiously died either for the honor of God or els for the seruice of their king or for the defence of their countrey Was there euer yet any nation so barbarous so voide of humanitie or as we commonly say so farre from the sunne as that commend not with great praise the valure and worthinesse of those that haue spent their liues for the common-wealths sake Hath not the memorie of posteritie taken them out of their graues to make them aliue againe in the remembrance of men And if we should come to number out the parts of the life of man shall we recken the time which they haue bestowed in eating drinking and sleeping or rather principally bring into a short accoumpt the dayes wherein they haue most valiantly fought for vertue And therefore that which we call life is but a death because it dyeth without leauing any memory therof for that which we call death iâ— in very deed life because it is that which maketh vs to be continue for euer Neither are we to regard how long we liue but how wel we liue neither commeth death too soone if he bring honor with him neither is it for the only opinion of another and for the honor which we shall get by well dying that ought to make vs contemne death but for the loue of that second life whereinto we must enter The Druydes had some forefeeling of the immortalitie of our soules which caused them to be more valiant then all the people of tho world for they made a skorne to saue their liues saying that they made no more accoumpt of them then of the head of a willow tree And the Philosophers who made a iest at them confessed yet that they held a blessed error Howbeit we say that their wisedome was blessed by tasting of this opinion whereby they found groping in the darke the very resting place of felicitie and had found out the counterpoyson which driueth away and slayeth feare the very poyson of our soules which drieth vp and feeblisheth our hearts and minds But we being brought vp and taught in a better Schoole then they were do not only know but constantly beleeue and not only beleeue but are glad also as a man would say of this second immortall life For we haue a spirit lodging in the inward part of our soule which sayeth and soundeth continually if so be we will heare it nothing else but this life to come And vnto this voyce it is that so many millions of Christians haue in the middest of their afflictions and torments followed the standard or ensigne of their Captaine spilling and sheading their bloud in all the corners of the earth as the true and pure seed os faith This is that Trompet which hath encouraged them to fight this combat from wheÌ„ce they haue returned very bloudy but yet haue bene triumphant and crowned victorers If ambitious honor driueth vs vnto most strange hazards of warre if this affection to be esteemed and honored of those before whome wee liue hastneth and kindleth the course of our actions what greater hope is there of these which haue obtayned this for they haue not onely bene honored whilst they liued but wee also reuerence theyr ashes after they are dead theyr bones are holie vnto vs the memorie of their liues is yeerely renued with deuout commemorations and prayers wee honor them in our verie thoughtes wee humble our cogitations before them as placed in a great degree of honor in the Church of God and as hauing found grace before the face of our Lorde and God And therefore wee must not bee voyde of courage for the effectuall bringing to passe of good and holie things seeing that the verie wicked them selues are the better part of theyr dayes so valiant in executing these wicked and most detestable things For with this patience and strength of courage must wee enter triumphing into the kingdome of glorie wee hauing bene told by Toby this goodly and holy Oracle That hee O Lord which serueth thee with all his heart if his life be put in hazard shall bee without doubt crowned And for this cause it is why the Scripture telleth vs that this good Father beeing brought into miserable captiuitie thraldome did neuer for all that forsake the voyce of the truth And to say truly we can no way iustly attribute vnto our selues the name of Christians if we reiect and forsake the Crosse which is left vnto vs in stead of all other maner of weapons and is the very sample paterne that Iesus Christ hath geuen vs to make vs vnderstand when we shall come vnto him and the watchword that witnesseth vnto vs that we are his For we haue no means that can make vs perceiue that we are instructed in his discipline but by this patience the very mother of all the other vertues And Theodoret also sayth That the Martyres run vnto â—orments as vnto the schoole exercise of vertue It now followeth that we see how we should behaue and carry our selues in the disposing of the benefits which it pleaseth God to bestow vpon vs. In very deede the rule which hereof is set before vs and the habit which we take vpon vs to vse them well is called Liberalitie Now the first precept which we are to learne is to acknowledge that all the benefits which we haue we hold of the goodnes grace of God the ordinary exercise whereof is to do good vnto all the world and to spread vpon vs his blessings albeit we no whit deserue them And the reason why he so bountifully destributeth them amongst vs is not to the end we should locke them vp and let the gold and siluer mould which are no way good nor profitable but when they are well vsed but to the end that as he hath created vs vnto his owne image so also we should imitate him in well doing vnto our neighbour according to our abilities And truly we haue farre greater occasion to do it then he For that which he geueth is his owne and he geueth it to such also as be no way able to do him good But we are another maÌ„s purse-bearers we geue the goods of our God we geue them to such as are not onely able to pay vs againe but also to lend vs as much when we stand in need And although they should be vnable to pay yet God by whose commaundement we geue them answereth vs the same for them and maketh it his owne debt and chargeth himselfe also not only to pay the principal but to geue vsury for it yea double treble and an hundreth fold And we are besides to consider that all these benefits should be dealt proportionnably for our necessties and that by the lawe of nature they belong not vnto vs no further then wee haue neede of them for the maintenance of our life The measure of our benefits are heate cold hunger and thirst and if the custome of the countrey wherein
eye which seeth it goe out of the fire seeth it also forthwith consumed and in a moment accompanied both with his originall and his end and if any should aske what is become of it there is not one that can so much as tell where the trace only of it is to be found He that hath seene the loppings of wood wither in the sunne and loose their strength and verdure hath also seene my poore bones become both drye and consumed meeâ—e for none other thing but for the graue The graue yea surely the graue which is the happiest thing that can betide me if so be so small a pit may be able to stay the violent course of mine extreame misery 5 Who soeuer he be that hath seene grasse cut downe and tanned with the Sunne in the field and lose the coulor and wither and looke vppon my gâ—stly and deadly face he would thinke that I were able to make death afeard Mine hart is parched within mine entrailes and my bloud drieth vp within my vaines for I remember not to put bread into my mouth and do still forget to eate my meales 6 My mouth serueth me for none other purpose but to cry out lament and the ordinary voice of my griefe is so strong as that it draweth after it all the rest of my strength Now if so be that my body being so extreamely full of heauinesse consume it selfe by little and little and my bones horribly sticke through my skinne what cause haue I to take care for the sustayning of this miserable body of mine which is the matter and substance of all my miseries Wherefore should I be watchfull for the conseruing of this life of mine which wrestleth against so many enemies and is cast downe with so many afflictions Were it not much better for me in ending my life to make also therewith an end of all miseries 7 Is the Pellican more full of greefe then I who liuing in the most solitary deserts of Egipt tormenteth her selfe for the killing of her yong ones and washeth them in her owne bloud to restore them to life which she had taken from them Is her sorrow greater than mine Hath nor my sinne procured the death of the child whome I more dearly loued then my selfe And now that I haue dried vp all my teares the bloud will gush out of mine eyes for feare I should be voide of teares in so lamentable and cursed a case But the Pellican hath redeemed with her own bloud the price of her yong ones and I most miserable wretch that I am shall be depriued for euer of the child which I so tenderly loued And I will also abandon both the day and the light and confine and limit my selfe within the most darke places that I can finde out euen as a shritch owle dooth that commeth not out of his hole all the while it is day light 8 I am continually kept waking still dreaming of my miserie and seeking to hide my selfe before such time as the infelicitie which runneth vpon me enforceth me And being altogether mated and out of heart I seeke after some corner to hide my selfe in euen as the wilde sparrow that flieth out of the raine and winde seeketh after some couert or sunne shine place to bathe and drie her selfe in 9 Mine enemies seeing me in this case and with such a countenance stand mocking of me therewith and cast my miserie in my teeth and they which were wont to make a great accompt of me instead of sorrowing with me in mine afflictioÌ„ haue coniured against me What reckoning then should any man make of the wealth of this world and if he were able to get as great richesse and as many friends as were possible and then to haue his friends so traiterous and so double as to make little or no accompt of breaking their faith and promise 10 And surely my strength is decayed the flower beauty of my well coloured and smooth ruddy checkes is quite cleane gone for I haue sowne my bread vpon the ashes and moisted my drinke with my teares And shall I for all this become a laughing stock vnto this infidelous generation 11 It is very true that I haue bene met withall before thy face in the day of thy wrath thou hast laid againe vpon me the arme of thy vengeance and am become therewith frushed in peeces Men haue had me in great estimation and honour and loe how I am now drest and dealt withall O vaine presumption vnto what steepe break-neck hast thou lifted me vp to make me leape such a leape Alas what did I finde in my selfe why I should conceiue in mine heart such an opinion of my selfe 12 As we see the shadow of the body by little and little decrease when as the sunne is risen aboue the same and reduceth it as it were vnto a small point euen so all so soone O Lord as thine anger is vpon me my life my goods and my greatnesse is by little and little dispersed and come to nothing in such sort as that loe I am like vnto the grasse that is tedded abroade without grace and colour which men cock vp to giue vnto the cattle to feed on and like vnto a great many goodly sweete smelling flowers bound vp in a bottle amongst a sort of thistles 13 But do I for all this lose my hope No no my God for thy power is infinite and lasteth for euer and thy mercie immeasurable which will spred it selfe ouer all such as shall trust in thee One age shall passe after another but the remembrance of thy goodnesse shall neuer haue end one generation shall succeed another but it shall be alwaies for the setting forth of thy praise and good dealing 14 Thou wilt one day my God awaken to haue mercie vpon Sion for the time of mercie draweth neare And loe I see it euen at hand The flouds and riuers powre not out so much cleare water into the deepe sea as thy goodnesse will spred abroad thy fauour and grace vpon the face of this earth Open your hearts yee people open your hearts I say for the liberall hand of my God will fill them with an holy zeale which will make thee farre purer and cleaner then the gold in the fining pot 15 Now the house of Sion O Lord is the refuge which all thy seruants looke for it is it which they so greatly loue and which they so earnestly desire it is it where they looke to finde mercy it is the temple O Lord which thou wilt destroy in three daies and raise it vp againe in other three that it may be the house of euerlasting life the seat of saluation the treasure of grace and temple of eternitie 16 Then shall all the nations my God be afraide and all the kings of the earth tremble at the brightnesse of thy glorie What corner of the world shall be so secret where the noise of thy blessed comming shall not sound and be
their great magnificences vanish away into smoake and become like vnto a streame whose spring-head is dammed vp his bed becommeth parched with drinesse the skirts of his garments lose their beauty and his trees which he hath planted on a row wither and drie vp But such as haue recourse vnto God and forsake him not and referre all vnto his honour shall neuer want any good thing because the spring head of all goodnesse which is the loue of God floweth ouer their soules and spreddeth it selfe throughout all the parts of their bodies 10 Now sith that you see that the feare of the Lord bringeth so great profit and that his feare is it which reconcileth vs vnto him his conciliation getteth vs grace enlargeth our felicity come ye vnto me that I may learne yee how yee shall feare him as a most good merciful father who neuer denieth mercy vnto him which acknowledgeth his sinnes and giueth himselfe to walke in the way of well doing 11 Desire ye to please him and by that meanes to liue in his grace that is to say to liue blessedly and passe your dayes with a quiet minde and aboundance of whatsoeuer is necessary for this life and yet to go forward on the way of this immortall life which attendeth vs after we shall be departed from hence To be short desire ye his blessing that is to say firme and assured prosperitie which engendreth in you spirituall reioycing which laieth your heart continually open to breath out his honor cōtentedly to vse the benefits which he lendeth vnto you here in this world I will deliuer out vnto you in few words how yee shall attaine vnto this meanes For I know wherewith he is pleased and what actions of ours they are that are agreeable vnto his liking 12 The first thing that ye shall do is this Keepe your tongue that it speake nothing to the dishonor of God nor vtter any bitter angry talke Mark what a small and little thin member this is yet it is the sterne of our life which turneth and windeth our spirit which way soeuer it pleaseth For when it is once filled with corrupt filthy speech it carrieth the passions of our hearts from whence they are conceiued euen into the bottom of our vnderstanding and in such sort watereth them as that they are like vnto an earthen pot ouer much soaked in water so loseth therby the forme and shape of the reason which God had breathed into it See ye not that one sparke of fire setteth an whole house on a burning flame Euen so the tongue as the baite of sinne giueth it an entrance into vs bringeth it deafly in setting by that means our soules on fire wasteth and consumeth whatsoeuer good thing is within vs. Let vs then commaund our lips to receiue nothing but the bare and simple truth and banish lying deceit for euer from them For if we keepe in fast shut the wicked thoughts which may arise in our hearts without giuing thē vent they will in the end choke themselues euen as fire that hath no ayre 13 And therfore let vs first of all put all lying deceit farre away from vs for the true praise which God looketh for at our hands is that we should imitate him as much as our nature will permit Now he is the God of truth and of iustice who can neither loue not make much of vs so long as lying which is contrary to him shall dwell in vs. Secondarily we must estrāge our selues frō all sin whatsoeuer for to eschue ill is the beginning to do well and alwaies prouided that if God findeth vs void of wicked intents he will fill vs with good ones and teach vs that which we ought to wish and procure and the thing which we ought principallest to desire he teacheth vs. And that is peace which he would haue vs desire with all our hearts First peace with him which is the store-house of all goodnesse which we can neuer haue except we yeeld him that obedience which we owe him And then peace amongst our selues without the which we can neuer haue hi◠For he hath commanded vs to loue our neighbours as our selues so as if in stead of this we breath out nothing but bloud spoiles what peace would we haue with him whose lawes and commaundements we infringe and breake And withall that warre is no better then the blossome of iniustice which is abhominable before God 14 His eye which is this well framed and louing eye beholdeth none but the iust and righteous his light enlighteneth none but them neither are his miracles shewed but in fauour of them and his eares are not open but vnto their praiers and we may properly say that his iustice is on his side that examineth the life of those which offer themselues vnto him and to him recommendeth their praiers which are of an vpright heart 15 And as for those that take pleasure in ill dooing he looketh vpon them indeed but it is with a furious burning eye whose beames are like the arrowes of paines and miserie wherewith he woundeth their soules filling them with feare and astonishment besides a thousand other miseries which he laieth on them as earnests of torments which attend them He dreameth not of them otherwise then of the rooting out of their memorie from the ◅ce of the earth and by iustice to wash the arrowes of their polution which are left for he sufficiently knoweth their impenitent hearts which haue insolently neglected his holy mercy 16 Now the righteous haue not so done for they haue in good time returned vnto God and calling vpon his clemencie haue in the end obtained it they reioyced therein and it remained with them as it were their portion he hath deliuered them out of all their troubles wherein they were plunged and receiued them vnder his grace as vnder a brasen wall so as no violent mischiefe what soeuer can be able to make them false hearted 17 Vndoubtedly God is maruelous good fauourable thou mightest say that he is alwaies fauourable vnto the afflicted which call vpon him and forsaketh him not day nor night For no sooner hath our griefe sorrow humbled vs and made vs know what need we haue of him but that he is by and by ready at hand to saue vs. 18 In very deed the righteous are afflicted with strange calamities and a man might properly say that they are the very subiect and matter of miseries to worke on there are so many mischiefes come tumbling in one in anothers necke to oppresse them But this is not to any other end saue to make the mercy of God shine more gloriously in them For the greater that the tribulation is the more doth the pitty and compassion shine in the preseruing of them 19 For he keepeth euen the very least bone they haue nay there shall not one haire of their heads fall not be pluckt in sunder but by his expresse
cleane ouer for they haue no help but from them-selues and God hath long sithence geuen them ouer 42 For he helpeth only the righteous which put their trust in him For on him they attend and therefore it is reason that they should find comfort at his hands They gather them-selues together vnder his wing as poore chickens whome the kite pursueth there shall they finde couert defence and consolation 43 He will help them out of the strongest part of the battell yea and although they were enuironed on euery side yet will he come and deliuer them as it were by his miraculous power and might he will runne through the prease to pluck the righteous ouâ— of the hands of the wicked Why doest thou ô Lord after this manner so affectionately support the righteous Forsooth it is because that they haue put their whole trust and confidence in thee and not put their hope in the fraile and corruptible goods of this world but in thy infinit goodnesse and clemencie which is neuer voyd of help vnto all those that call vpon thy holy name Seeing then ô most righteous and mercifull Father it hath pleased thee for a time to endure the wicked to enioy the wealth and honor of this world and to set theyr feet vppon the throats of good and godly men and sufferest them by theyr cursed threats and craftie deuises to torment thy good and innocent seruants Frame we beseech thee our affections so as that we be not offended at their prosperitie and not enuie theyr deceytfull ritches but couragiously to beare whatsoeuer affliction thou shalt lay vppon vs paciently attending till thou shalt come to iudge theyr consciences and search out the bottoms of their counsels and with the seueritie of thy iustice imprint vppon theyr foreheads the shame which they haue iustly deserâ—ed abolishing their infamous meâ—… from aboue the earth destined 〈◊〉 the seruice of they glorie and in the â—…eaâ—e while so to keepe our harts as that we trust in none but in thee and make no reckning of whatsoeuer is here in this world to set our loue thereon but on thy grace and blessing Iudge me O Lord. c. Psalme 33. 1 LOrd be my Iudge take knowledge of my cause and bee thou iudge of all the sclanders wherof the wicked accuse mee Deliuer mee O Lord from the hands of the vnrighteous and from deceâ—…tfull lips For they haue assembled themselues together to imagine mischiefe against mee and haue set vp 〈◊〉 selues against mee to oppâ—… 〈◊〉 ouerthrowe mee They will 〈…〉 vp a cloake of righteousnesse befoâ—… theyr theeuish purposes and 〈◊〉 pretence of lawe vndoe 〈…〉 mee But ô thou diuine 〈…〉 with an all-seeing eye 〈…〉 clowdes of sclaunders 〈…〉 gâ—auntest day vnto the 〈…〉 shine vpoÌ„ me a little make 〈…〉 â—…derstand that truth pierce 〈…〉 and beholdeth all their craâ—ty 〈…〉 and maketh way to appeare before thee ô thou seueare and vncorrupt Iudge the only comfort of the afflicted 2 Thou art my strength and my defence and vppon thee alone resteth mine innocencie I made readie my selfe to fight against the craftie deuises of these deceiuers which assayle me and haue dreamed of a thousand arguments to conuince them withall and do make an accompt rightly to deduct my reasons But when as I had throughly considered that thou keepest in minde the knowledge of my cause as my God my gardian and protector I haue sayd alone to my selfe for what purpose serue all these goodly syllogismes for my Iudge knoweth the truth of the fact and vnderstandeth the equitie of my cause What can be hid from him who is present at all things and what can any man declare and shew vnto him that is righteousnesse him-selfe who hath established lawes and vnto whome it belongeth to interpret them I therefoâ—… pâ—t my selfe into thy armes my God my strength and refuge Iudge my cause and rid me from the sclaunders of the wicked But why reiectest thou me my God I haue a long while called vppon thee and yet thou hast not come vnto me In the meane while mine enemies oppresse me and I am no more able to abide But now thou my sweet yea my most sweet soule why art thou so heauie and sad and God be some-what slacke in comming to help thee all the while the wicked are afflicting of thee why losest thou thy courage thus and geuest thy selfe ouer vnto sorrow and griefe That thaâ— is deferred is not altogether lost for he will come seeing he hath promised it 3 Come therefore my Lord my God and spread our the beames of thy diuine light vppon me and seeing thou art the father of truth leaue not this thy poore captiued daughter in the wicked and vniust hands of her accusers If thou louest innocencie deliuer her then from the bonds of these false accusations For now O Lord malice lieth hidden in the darke and if thou let her haue day lighâ— she 〈◊〉 ouercome and if she be acknowledge 〈◊〉 she is vndone I beseech thee therefore O my God let thy light and truth assist my righteousnesse for I haue loued them all my life long and from my youth haue I made much of them They haue bene they my Lord which first led and guided me before thee and presented me vnto thee vppon thine holie mountaine set me in the middest of thy Tabernacle brought me iâ—to thy Church and gaue me an honorable place in thine house 4 There it is ô Lord where I haue chosen my mansion and mine aboad is with thee My rest ô Lord is onely in thee and all my glory is to serue thee Assuring my selfe then vpon thy support stay and trusting in thy grace I will present my selfe vnto thee who knowest my conscience and in knowing it iudgest it in iudging it esteemest it and in esteeming of it thou confoundest the common enemies of mine honor and of thy seruice I will 〈◊〉 vnto thine Aulter which I haue set vp to blesse sanctifie thy name and 〈◊〉 vppon thee my God which fillest 〈◊〉 youth with gladnesse and inspiring 〈…〉 heart the holie flame of thine holie loue doest heape vpon me pleasure delight and ioy 5 And therefore will I found out vpon mine harp in mine hand the confessing of thy magnificence and rune with my voyce the sweet notes of thy prayse one while I wil sing thy immeasurable power one while thy exceeding goodnesse and another while thy infinite clemency and in the end I wil finish with this wonderful iustice which hath saued me froÌ„ the oppressioÌ„ of the vngodly and made the shame of their wicked purposes rebound leape vpoÌ„ their owne faces Why wilt thou then be sad my soule why vexest thou mee thus and takest in ill part the opprobries and sclanders of the wicked as if their venomous tong could any way hurt an innocent conscience No no a burning torch thrust into the water can no sooner be extinquished then the sclanderous reports of a man that leadeth
obiects which of them selues offer them vnto vs without the which we shall be alwayes ouercome and by the which we shall continually be vaÌ„quishers in this wrestling against sinne for this prize and garland of victory is for none but for such a one as thou doest second in this fight Graunt vs therefore such grace as that when any extraordinary desire of getting worldly ritches assayle vs that thou wilt strengthen vs with a mind to obtaine heauenly ritches and valiantly contemne and despise the goods of this world and the vncertaine and frayle knowledge of them And let vs remember that they passe away as the cloudes in the ayre from one countrey vnto another and in the end melt and consume away to nothing and that for the most part the gold and siluer which we so greedely gather and heape vp together with so great toyling moyling serue vs to none other â—nd but to bring condemnation on our heads And if so be that thou of thine owne goodnes departest with more vnto vs then we any way deserue graunt vs eftsoones a will to vse them well and charitably communicate them vnto those that haue greater need of them then we haue For the earth is thine and we are but the gardiens and farmers thereof our goods are thine and we are but the dispensers and stewards of them And therefore if we refuse to geue them vnto those which aske them of vs in thy name thou wilt not only take them from vs but wilt also for our vnthankfulnes and infidelitie make vs pay double vsury for theÌ„ And graunt vs also this grace that the gloriousnes of the honors of this world blind not vs and draw vs on to desire more then is expedient for our saluation And let it alwayes be imprinted in our thoughts that there is no true honor in this world but to serue thee worthely and that for the seruing of thee the place of honor is too too base that the greatnes therof coÌ„sisteth in humilitie As for the rest which we so wonder at admire it is but a deceitful light after which we hunt with opeÌ„ mouth is like vnto those little fires which appeare in the night about the riuers They shine and cast light but in the dark and carry them which follow them euen to their drowning if they take not very great heed of them For our worldly pomps secular dignities neuer appeare but in this darke world wheÌ„ we haue winkingly cast our eyes vpon the heauenly light they seeme to vs to shine as bright as the fire their clearenesse is like vnto a basen of gold finely polished but in following of them we fall into the running brooks where we are incontinently lost and vndone We vncertainely flote amiddest the wills of Princes and the opinions of the common people so long as that we stumble at last at some scandale or offence which mightely shaketh and shiuereth vs. And therefore my God geue me coÌ„stancie that I be not shaken with beholding these vanities but make me only ambitious of thy glory and cause that my spirit in lifting vp it selfe towards immortalitie feed not it selfe with the smokes of this world Neyther let me enuy those which possesse all these frayle and transitorie goods and honors but let my desire be to approach as neere as I possibly can the example of good life which thou hast pictured out vnto vs with most liuely coulors in the table of thine owne life And this being done let all the violent passions of ire wrath and rancor be banished from my soule and let my desires be to do good vnto all the world and hurt to none and let my body and soule be euer waking and employed about good and commendable works without euer to be englutted with pale and ill fauoured slouthfulnesse And let this filthie and infamous gluttonie which abuseth thy gifts and which is drowned in wine and buried in superfluous eating and drinking be far away from me Quench also ô my heauenly Father all these shamelesse prickings of the flesh which allure vs to breake the chastitie of our bodies and puritie of our minds Beate backe from vs all obiects which may stirre vp in our soules any slippery and shamelesse affections And to be short Deliuer vs from all euill namely from all euill Angels not giuing them any power ouer vs. And if thou knowest that we are about to cast our selues headlong into euill make speed to pluck vs back and stretch out that fatherly had of thine which is alwayes more ready to shew mercy then iustice Saue vs ô Lord maugre our selues neither let our relaps and peruersenesse so sharpen and quicken thee against vs as that thou remember not thy selfe that thou art not only our God but our Father also MEDITATIONS VPON THE Lamentations of IEREMIAH Translated out of French into English by Tho. Sto. Gent. 1594. Vnto the Kingdome of France Guill du Vair greeting SEing most miserable and wretched Prouince that thy ouer great exceeding in thine auncient and wonted delights pleasures hath brought thee into this outragious fury and that thine ill hap hath caused thee to put to these thy rent and torne hands to plucke out thine owne bowels withall and to disfigure thine own face yet if there he any intermission of this hoâ—e broyling mischiefe see thou employ the same about the beholding and looking vpon thy miserie But if so be thou be too too fearefull of the miseries which thou best brought vpoÌ„ thy selfe or caust not abide the sight of them behold and looks vpoÌ„ the ruine destruction of these miserable Hebrewes because it is the truest glasse that thou canst looke in But whoÌ„ aâ— thine eyes shall haue borrowed their image and face to behold and see thy miseries therein let them also borrow teares of thee to wayle and mourne for them For the chiefest remedy to ease thy sorrow and griefe is for thee to acknowledge the same and then to haue compassion thereof And when will that be forsooth euen then when God who loueth thee more then thou louest thy selfe shall by his owne loue ouercome that desire of thine which thou hast to destroy thy selfe And in waiting for this good and praying for the same I do here prepare and make ready for thee holy teares that thou mightest thereby mollifie thine hard hart and extinguish therein the wrath of God enflamed against thee It may be that they will well like thee as a charitable remedy ought to do and it may be that they will mislike thee and then wilt thou do â—…en do who vtterly râ—iect whatsoeuer is offred them for their good And whether they please or displease thâ—… yet will I neuer cease both to loue and serue thee For what 〈◊〉 it that I should more vâ—…â—…ly and willingly loue and serue then 〈◊〉 â—…are and best beloued Countrey 〈◊〉 deare Countrey I say that maketh some 〈◊〉 of me The Lord my God saue and presence
on the earth to deliuer oracles vnto men and by their mouthes to forme the voice of iustice and call to mind the magnificence of our iusts and â—…ies and draw out as it were by line and by leuell our fine and pleasant dances where all the youth shined and glistered like the starres in a cleare and bright night 15 O good God what a griefe and sorrow is this Can we take any pleasure and delight after all this Must not wee sweare a perpetuall mourning and condemne our eyes vnto euerlasting teares 16 Is it possible that we should be able to liue after all this Is our griefe so small as that it is not sufficient to make vs dye Is our miserie so cruell as that it hath left vs eyes so long time to behold it and condemned vs to be so long while afflicted with so strange a miserie Must wee see at our feete the pieces of the Crowne which fell from our heads and tread vppon the shiuers of the Scepter which wee were wont to carrie in our hands and see our kingly ornaments puld in pieces before our faces Cursed bee wee who haue caused by our sinnes this desolation who haue enforced the iustice of God to visite vs in his 〈◊〉 and to poure vpon vs the fire of his wrath and anger 17 This is it that we must bewayle this must be heere the springhead of our teares for this is the fountaine of all our miseries These are yea these are our iniquities which haue changed the face of what soeuer we see to be before vs which haue made our champion grounds deserts wildernesses of our Cities rubbish of our houses and left nothing vnto our selues but an obiect of sadnesse and dolor to bleare our eyes with so monstrous a spectacle and to kill our hearts with so pitifull thoughts 18 For who is he that would not put out his eyes with much weeping and what is he whose spirit would not be dulled with very dotage when as he shall see this beautifull Syon the Garden of the world and the eye of all Palestine to be made now a Warren of Foxes where nothing vse and haunt but wilde beasts 19 But these ô Lord are the â—lowes of thine owne hand who makest great things that thou mightest pull them downe which settest vp Cities and Kingdomes vpon the face of the earth as a ladder to shew that they are nothing but the execrement of thy other more excellent workes and wouldest haue the ouerthrowe of all earthly things beare witnesse of thine eternitie and infinitenesse Thou art ô Lord only eternall exempt from all course and change for no times are able to measure thy greatnesse for they serue thee and are but as Stewards and dispensers of thy will Thy Throne is farre aboue all corruptible things and there thou sittest making all generations to passe before thee one after another changing when it pleaseth thee the enhabitants of the earth euen as men do their garments 20 But seeing ô Lord that thou art thus altogether good iust and Almightie wilt thou wholie forget thy goodnesse and louing kindnesse towards vs thou that canst forget nothing Wilt thou which euer â—…pest thy word and promise forget the righteousnesse of thy promises which thou hast euer made vnto thy chosen people Wilt thou let slip the occasion which offereth it selfe vnto thee to haue pitie on vs and helpe vs who art not Almightie but for to do good and ayd the afflicted and as soone shouldest thou forget to be God as to forget to pardon and forgeue Very well thou hast for a time dealt seuearely with vs and sent vs calamities to make vs feele that we haue offended thee and we haue perceyued it right well and wee haue returned vnto thee with broken hearts and dolorously groaned before thee and therefore what more wouldest thou haue of vs What other sacrifice may we offer vp vnto thee then our teares All the rest is thine and there is nothing in our disposition but our wills and the same we present vnto thee washed in our teares pressed and squeezed by the sorrowe of our repentance and purged and cleansed with the zeale of thy liuely loue and therefore why reiectest thou vs Why causest thou vs to waxe old in our miseries 21 No no ô Lord thou art too good and fauourable for so long as wee shall call vppon thee with sound hearts thou wilt neuer forsake vs. But because ô Lord there is no more force nor strength in vs and that our miserie hath knockt our spirits in the head quicken thou them in vs and let all our affections be set vppon thee And to the end wee may continually cleaue vnto thee and not haue thy grace disdayne to dwell in vs renue our spirits and liues and reestablish vs againe in our first integritie and purenesse wherein thou createdst vs. 22 Thou hast heretofore reproued vs and in reprouing vs hast reiected vs and to say truly thou haddest reason so to doo for our too too intollerable iniquities had most strongly prouoked thee But sith that wee haue now humbled our selâ—es before thee and haue done what so euer we might bethinke vs of to appease thee with all receiue vs to thy grace poure vppon vs thy benefits embrace vs louingly as lost children which come agayne with weeping teares to cast them selues into the armes of their father and mercifully receyue our prayers and vowes for they come not now ô Lord from our lips alone but euen from the very bottomes of our harts The song of Ezechias taken out of the Prophesie of Isaiah Chap. 38. I Am dryed vp with very sorrowe and griefe and I breath out the very last sighes of my life and when my spirit launched out with dolor me thought it began to cry out after this manner What must I in the middest of my dayes descend into the pit Is the flower of my youth no sooner hatched but that death must by and by come to gather me vp And shall my brightest and most cleare shining dayes be conuerted into darkenesse O farewell then farewell I say most sweet light which hidest thee from mine eyes for loe the night trayneth me into darke and vnknowne caues and â—ens and sendeth me a great way vpon the earth euen vnto hell gates 2 But tell me I beseech thee what shall become of the rest of my life Whither shall the rest of my yeares flye O vayne and deceytfull hope which nourishest our minds and purposes and afterward leauest them in the middest of their course I hoped to haue had a faire and white old age and disposed of mine houshold to mitigate the discommodities thereof I builded palaces deuised garden plots got riches together to pleasure my childreÌ„ withall tâ— make merry with my friends and so 〈◊〉 and easily to spend the rest of mine age in seruing of God and doing good vnto men But I must now change my note and sing another song and