shrinke though knowing this Thy wonderous power great mercies most infinite thy mercy is Yf mad'st the Rocke a water spring thy thirsty people to refresh Frō mine hard hearted foes can'st wring some comfort for my withered flesh Yf thou raind'st Manna from aboue meate by a Rauen thy saints to feede Thousands of men did feede with loue when their was little shew of bread Yf to thy people thou sendest Quailes in desert where all foode was scant And since thy goodnes neuer failes should I suppose that I should want ¶ The fift part of the ninth Lamentation COnfirme my faith for euermore that I most constantly belieue Thou can'st and wilt encrease my store and all good things thou wilt me giue All power belongeth vnto thee who can imagine or will say Thou can'st not in my neede helpe me or that thy loue is tane away Sith thou hast don such mighty things so freely for men in distresse Should not I fly with swiftest wings to thee in time of heauines But lo O Lord all things are thine the heauens are thine the earth also The Cattle Fowles the shrubs vine all things in heauen and earth belowe All things aboue all things beneath is thine who truely then can say Thou can'st not giue or them bequeath to whom thou wilt who can say nay Thou makest the corn to spring grow waterst th' earth with thy sweet showers Thou causest beasts with thankes to low with dewes thou water'st fragrāt flowers Since then thou art the Lord of all sith thou cōmaund'st do'st forbid The rich poore mak'st proud men fall that down can'st throvv raise at need Sith that thou tryest vvilt revvard sith thou dost vvhat shall please thy will And in what manner vvilt regard vvhom thou vvilt can'st saue or spill No liuing man commandeth thee not all the vvorld can thee controle O Lord I still vvill pray to thee for health of body and of soule Let it be thus O father deare for Christ his sake thy dearest sonne That dyed and rose my soule to cleare in all things Lord thy wil be done All glory to the Trinity to Father Sonne and holy Ghost Combind in holy vnity of power in might and glory most FINIS ⧠To God the Father WEll-spring of deity God God-head giuer who giu'st away yet kepest what was giuē A fountaine vndiminisht by thy riuer Riuer and fountaine both in fullnes euer Father by euerlasting generation Without precedence in paternity Whether it be of substance or relation For all things are togither in eternity Disclose the depth take frō my muse obscurity Thine hidden depth which makes my verse an oracle So shall I both attaine vnto thy purity And all that read my lines conceiue this miracle How God in getting of another yet Another not an other God did gett FINIS To God the Sonne GReat sonne of God but borne the sonne of man One subiect of a double substance fram'd wherein nor man-hood lost nor god-head wan But of thē both at once one Christ was nam'd Before all times begot in time created The Lord of Lords a seruant from retaining And yet no former forme thereby abated In seruāts forme the forme of God remaining Great sonn of God thē whō there is no greater No not the father in his great diuinitie As God creator and as aman a creature For more and lesse agree not in infinity Teach me to know how man by God assumed Ys both and yet not man by God consumed To God the holy Ghost O Spirit Diuine the cōmon knot whereby The father the sonne do loue together For sonne and father vniuersally Are loue though loue be proper vnto neither Thou that frō both Proceedest from none Vnequally but with the like authority As from one principall though from that one Principally yet without priority One all the first from two the last of three Sweete breath that ioyest euery pensiue heart Breathed from God O God breath into me Skill aboue skill and teach me how thou art The last of three and yet of three so cast As in them all is neither first nor last FINIS ¶ Diuers consolations that the life and time of affliction is short THe comfort that doth make vs bold is our afflictions transitory Cause wee of Christ do take sure hold the troubles short endlesse the glory Eye hath not seene eare hath not hard the ioyes that God for his elect In heauen already hath prepar'd though many troubles to effect Light are our troubles temporarie because Christ and his spirit diuine This waight and burthen helpe to carry and doth in yoake with vs conioyne We looke not on things seene vaine but on things vnseene cast our eie The blessed saints for Christ were slaine Christ answered when they did cry How long how long Lord wilt thou stay a little time though God doth lowre Stay till his wrath be past away t' is but a minute of an howre Christ calles the time of troubles little but Paule doth say the glori's great And in respect t' is but a tittle if 't be compar'd to heauens seate A while saith God I thee forsooke that is short time in misery But thee t'ernall mercy tooke that is to heauen's felicity I 'le feare no danger paine nor losse t' is but the twinckling of an eye I see the crowne I 'le beare the crosse for I shall liue eternally Good gratious God me patience send and then do send what send thou wilt Graunt me those ioyes that ne'r shall end for to that end Christ's bloud was spilt FINIS ⧠Of Death WHat 's death a seperation of mortall body frō our breath What 's that but a Cessation from cares and from a liuing death What 's that Cessation it t' is a sleepe by which we wholie are refreshed Yea but in sleepe who shall vs keepe he that blest all and is most blessed But who made death t'vvas made by sinne what is sin the lawes transgression Of that how should I vauntage win all sinne is weakned by confession But by death's dynt t' is ouercome and whence came sin frō hell beneath Whē wa'st first bred in mothers wombe when will it end not till our death This seemeth strange but this is true by nature sinne is hatcht in vs Old Adams rules till God renue why then I see the case stands thus As sinne goes in soe life goes out as sinne goes out so life comes in So by the Lord t' is brought about sinne conquers life Life conquers sinne Though life by sinne be still anoyde sinne of death by strength sting Yet Viprous sinne by death's destroy'd life killeth death whē death kill'th sin The death of body or of nature is that where to all subiect be Cause sinne hath tainted euery creature according vnto Gods decree When bodies life doth fade away and we giue vp our dying ghost And this our Corps is clad in clay and vnto God
dispaire To thee O Lord I doe commit my selfe I neuer will repine For thou know'st best what is most fit in life and death let me be thine FINIS ¶ Precepts of duties HIgh mightie God of righteousnes in wrath a dread consuming fire Thou did'st in perfect happines make man that dard gain'st thee conspire And breake thy lawes with all dispight whē thou had'st made him pure holy Plac'd him in garden of delight so great and wicked was his folly That hauing leaue to take or leaue to chuse refuse or vse at pleasure He did himselfe by sinne deceaue of that Diuine surpassing treasure And by his mutabilitie regardles of thy sacred sawes He brought in instabillitie lost his free will made breach of lawes Thou God of iustice must doe right man wanting grace with want of grace By grace substraction did'st requite bannishe him that blessed place By meanes of which we are inclin'd from thy behests to runne astray Our tōgue our heart our soule our mind by sinne is carried cleane away Thine honor first is sted fast faith in Christ and in thine holy booke And in thy truth that thy spirit saith which in mine hart for faith doth looke The next obedience to thy will as thou cōmanded'st by thy sweet word From Syna and from Sions hill to teach vs do thine hests O Lord. Vs for thy children hast elected and vs adopted to inherit Thy blisse if thy blisse be respected and seal'd vs with thine holy spirit Thou mad'st vs free by thy sons bloud to th' end thou mayest be glorifi'd In soules and bodies for our good his passion hath vs purified thou freed'st vs to that end we mought serue thee in holy righteousnes Thou gau'st thy sonne and he vs bought from thraldome of our sinfullnes Thou would'st he should for al men die to make him liue in thine elect And they in him to fructifie and with his graces hast them deckt By grace and holy inspiration rebellious nature seek'st to tame With precepts for instruction leau'st vs lawes in thine owne name The readie way of seruing thee and profit to our neighboures bring And louing thee most zealously who art our father Lord and King Though by thy Gospell we be free from lawes of sinne and Punishment Yet rules of life and pietie thou hast prescrib'd and to vs lent Thereby to mannage all our deeds and guide vs least we stepp awry And rightly vse our natures seedes both well to liue and well to die These lawes did'st write in tables two with the pure finger of thine hand Deliuered them Moyses vnto that we thy will might vnderstand The first cóntaineth precepts foure of duties due vnto thy fear◠The second six commandements more of loue we should to neighbours beare The summe and substance of them all and that fulfilleth euery part Is thee to loue on thee to call with all our soule might minde heart To other men especially thine houshold that are firme in faith As to our selues to giue supply with all our helpe as scripture saith But we are weake our case thus stands in this fraile mortall life of ours No man can keepe these thy commaunds but breakes them at all times houres Yet thou thy children oft dost will them selues to comfort hopeingly Ther 's left for them some measure still t' approach to thee acceptablie Namely when they bend their whole strength dayly preuented by thy spirit And stand in hope t' attaine at length what now they want by Christ his merit Walking and dayly going on by stepps thereof to Paradice Praysing and lauding thee alone sighes yet for their infirmities The faithfull know all and beleeue with thee our father mercie is For with thy sonne do'st all thinges giue how can we then of mercy misse Therefore my God now giue to me all that thou giu'st to thine elect Of thine eternall clemencie let not thy spirit my soule reiect Illuminate my knowledge darke Possesse my heart the Lord to loue What 's don amisse Lord doe not marke but let thy spirit my spirit still moue That I most constantly may walke the steps path's of thy iust lawes And of thy goodnes dayly talke with feare and loue and all applause To whom I wholie owe my selfe for thou hast Lord created me And bought me not with worldly pelfe but by thy sonne hast made me free Whence I doe also learne to loue all men in thee and for thy sake Who beare thy image from aboue and my vocation surer make O let me thus thy fauour finde and peace of consience vnderstand Thy blessings and thy mercies kinde to God the work 's of mine ill hand That fil'd with daies I leaue my life rest to inioy with all contents And liue eternally from strife and keepe thy ten Commaundements Finis ¶ An invocation to God humbly praying for remission of sinne WEll spring of bountie God of feare beginning that mak'st all begin With what oblation to appeare appease thy wrath that 's due for sinne I know not blood of Bulles and beast or sweetest incense that doth rise From earth of old they were the least and are not now of any prise O how should I be reconcil'd againe vnto thy louing fauour How long Lord shall I be exil'd from my sweete Lord only Sauiour How long O haue I cal'd to thee to thee in name of thy deere Sonne Yet what I ask'd thou gau'st not mee and what I would is left vndonne I long haue knocked at thy doore of mercy but none entrance finde Sorrowes and troubles more and more increase and vex my soule and minde I dayly waite most wofull mortall before thy seate of clement grace But may not peepe within thy portall nor see thy glorious beautious face I sigh and mourne my teares are seas I sincke vnder the burdnous loade Of sinne and shame and find none ease prouoke me forward with thy word Of castigation I desire to quench thy wrath with flouds of teares Yet still increase thy fearefull fire and so increase my frostie feares By prayers thee to presse who dares except by thy sonnes mediation To seeke thy glory 's all our cares and th' end of earthly mens creation what course should I poor wretch thē take to doe or aske that 's good iust But vnto thee my prayers make and onely in thy sonne put trust Yf that my sinnes shall thee offend then all thy creatures rage storme And all conspire by thy commaund to beate on me poore sillie worme Where shall I be or whether flie from sight of thine all seeing ey ne As Noahs doue on earth am I and cannot looke against thy shine But if thou show thy louing face all creatures on my seruice tend Men beasts and Angels doe me grace to helpe me all their powers doe bend What should I
fift part of the eight Lamentation SEnd helpe therefore O Lord and saue me from thē that would me quite deuoure And dayly grieue me and depraue me my soule 's with Lyons euery houre I wade as through the rageing sea I dwell amongst men set on fire whose teeth are speares whose tongs bear sway like two edg'd sword with wrath ire Thy mercy therefore and thy truth let be my bucklar and strong shield Hast bin mine hope euen from my youth let troubles cease new ioyes me yield Set me vpon thy rocke foreuer of perfect loue and true reliefe Let rest and refuge faile me neuer and thy protection saue from griefe Bring thou to passe what 's fit for me what thou dost know expedient That righteous men my end may see and how mine hope obtain'd content That they may of thy glory talke and speake of thy eternall praise All men shall say that see mee walke doubtlesse God will the righteous raise There is a God that 's gratious good to them that bee of perfect heart When he hath all their foes withstood heauen's ioyes to them he will impart Finis The first part of the ninth Lamentation in distresse ¶ The penitent acknowledgeth mans vildenes Gods mercies by faith and example of Gods prouidence relieth on his goodnes O Lord thy name 's most excellent in all the world thy glorie 's spred Through heauens and the firmament and by all creatures vttered In vniuersall harmony extold in heauen and in earth Exprese'st in Song and melody with all alacritie and mirth What thou bestow'st what man can number vpon vs slaues and sonnes of men Who by our sinnes are farre put vnder all Creatures we can name by pen. Forgetfull and so capeable of sinne as pouder is of fire In all our words and workes vnstable and know not what we should desire Aboue all Creatures we fotget thy grace are prone to disobey And if thy mercy did not let all Adams broude thou should'st destroy And I for my part me confesse guilty of all sinnes and all euilles And that I haue deseru'd no lesse then to be damn'd among'st the diuels The world for disobedience did'st punnish thou mought'st subuert But chiefely me for negligence mai'st plague with all plauges t' is desert I am not worthy breath in th' aire nor haue the vse of any creature Much lesse to the e to make my prayer cause gainst my God I am a traitor Thou worthily me do'st afflict at me thou takest iust offence All punnishments thou do'st inflict because thy wrath I did incense My trespasses do more offend then I can please with my best zeale The worthines I best intend I least performe my soule Lord heale ¶ The second part of the ninth Lamentation I Shame at mine vnworthines yet faine would be at one with thee Thou art a ioy in beauines a succour in necessitie To them that do their liues reforme and rightly frame their penitence Sincearely follow and performe thy will without all negligence All this to doe I do desire and what thou sayest I do belieue Thy pardon graunt me I require release and pardon Lord me giue O be with them that doe thee seeke yeeld them helpe that hould by thee Instructing humble men and meeke that wisdome seeke by thy mercy Sith I so long haue to thee cride so long thee sought yet hope I will Though my sad soule in silent bide in constant patience I 'le waite still thou rightly hear'st my inward grones my sorrowes sighes wants desire And do'st respect the outward mones of men distrest that feare the fire Though in their lippes they mute do seeme do speake nothing with their tonges what they would haue thou doest deeme and present art to right their wrongs But loe the time is not expir'd of mine ordeined punishment Nor of that freedome I desir'd I 'le waite by hope in languishment My helpe my comfort and my life saluation mine depends on thee Within my conscience stint the strife and giue me grace and libertie ⧠The third part of the ninth Lamentation MY life my comfort helpe and all saluation on Christ dependeth T' is he doth raise me when I fall he all begins and he all endeth I will not murmure neither grudg nor feare nor faint but alwaies waite He is my Sauiour and my Iudge his grace decree'd who can retrait Is there not an appointed time for all things that by God be wrought Iob was brought low at last did clime to wealth and honor he was brought And Ioseph was afflicted long by brethren and by false accuse He was shut vp in prison strong did'st all his cause and wrongs peruse At length brought'st him to honor great and Dauid was at first cast downe And then inthron'd in princely seate and long enioy'd the royall Crowne Poore widdow of Sarepta shee and hirs were ready for to pine Hir barrell and hir cruise by thee were blest and by that Prophet thine Her meale and oyle did neuer faile thou send'st that Saint eu'n to that end That they in dearth should neuer quaile so did'st from famine hir defend Wherefore a little while I 'le waite I know th' appointed time will come I shal be freed from sinnes deceite wilt mercy send in miseries roome The fourth part of the ninth Lamentation THou art my portiō my strength my defence and saluation Thou seest my troubles and at length wil't giue me consolation Thou send'st them notas ignorant of thē thou know'st thou did'st me make Therefore what 's needfull God me grant good Lord do neuer me forsake I am brought to the very pit of all confusion men suppose Thou hast decreed the time most fit of my deliuery from my foes To me vnknowne that being seene I may attribute to thee then The praise who praised ere hast beene without the aide of mortall men Which I haue sought so long in vaine yea while I called thee vpon Let me acknowledge helpe againe to come from thee or else from none And all that the world can affoord bee but th' effects of thy deere loue Thy power thy prouidence and woord do send me comfort from aboue O blessed man whom thou dost chuse and call'st by crosses vnto thee Whom thou by death seem'st to refuse by secret sweetenes liues by thee With inward consolation fed with the Manna of thy loue Who dwels in thy protection with liuely hope can neuer moue He fainteth not at mightiest frowne so I O Lord assured rest Thou art my portion and my crowne to dignifie those loue thee best Thou tendrest me as a deare sonne though thou me visit with thy rod Yet sufferest not me for to runne with sinners and to fall from God Although I seeme of hope depriued and that my wonted comforts past Yet I O Lord shal be reuiued by thee and by thy grace at last For all my long and instant cries I will not
Gods workes haue none enormitie We are the workes deformitie all 's good that doth from God proceede He tempt'h to try not ouerthrow vs Yet needes not try for he doth know vs. but t' is that we our selues should know From him all 's good from vs all 's ill He makes all good wee all doe spill our selues our selues doe ouerthrow In punishments that t 'vs are ill What he doth doe he doth it still hee 's one the same and that same one Not doing ought but by not doing In him t' is good to good ensewing hee 'le see if we can stand alone Gods grace is not difficient Sinne hath not cause ifficient and thee to sinne God doth not make Suggestions by the deuill are sent And there vnto man giues consent why should not God that man forsake Our conscience is sent as a spiall Our punishments sent as a triall and oft times plagues sent as a curse God neuer was to vs a debter If all be sau'd hee 's neuer better if all be damn'd hee 's nere the worse God made all good that all good can Then looke into thy bosome man an Ambuscado there there doth lie Of hideous sinnes by good omitting And monstrous sinnes by ill committing t' is there plac't by mans enemy ¶ A comfor able Himne for the Children of God SAluation doth to God belong He blesseth all both old and young that are his chosen and elect He doth defend his Children all That are in danger griefe and thrall by his good meanes and kinde respect He hath meanes all sufficient And power all perills to preuent to those with thankes doe euer pray What comfort helpe or good soeuer Wee finde from him let vs parseuer and magnifie him night and day Let vs with humble hearts confesse His mercies loue and great kindenesse with heauenly himnes to God aboue With mirth and ioy sing euery one God heard our soules petition and sent his sonne to show his loue The Lord receaues and heares our prayer Hee heares and helpes vs in dispaire be glad my soule in him reioyce Oh spread abroad his holy fame With songes Melodious lawd his name with heart with minde with tongue voice O thou most high God art not prais'd Vnlesse from heart that praise be rais'd who onely knowst our thoughts and minde The glory all must be thine owne By prayers thy powers are euer showne to those by faith thou iust dost finde O hallowed be Gods holy name Who Heauens made and world did frame and man like to his Image pure He all his other Creatures blest Fish Cattle Foule and all the rest to comfort man while times indure FINIS A prayer against temptations especially fit for a man that findeth in himselfe a continuall Inclination to any particuler sinne OH gratious and most louing God who in beginning did'st Create Man to thy shape and image good and likenesse in most pure estate And did'st him place in holy place the garden sweete with all delight With mercies and abonnding grace dect heauenly with earthly sightes And did'st thy Creatures all ordaine in heauen and earth man for to serue Oh what was man that he should gaine Gods great respect him to preserue Yet Lord how soone he fell away from thee and from originall grace How gresly did he disobay thy secret will before thy face Which thou to him did'st then reueale by whose fall all corruption grew And sinne shut out true godly zeale and earthes corruptions did insue And all things in the earth began to disobay him instantly By God made good to comfort man who hated him forsaking thee By his transgression these proceedes of his pollutions Lyneall Haue all defild their waies and deedes and all men tainted by his fall Which first offence bred infinit sinnes in corruptions of mans nature As I my selfe both day and night doe feele know most wretched Creature Which I confesse oh Father deare to whom this chiefe offence was done How Sathans workes in me appeare who hourely into euills run Which are most vilde most meane base doe iudge my selfe of all the worst When I behold my wicked case considering how I am accurst I that confesse I cannot hide how most to sinne I am inclin'd Knowne vnto thee my God and guide who see'st the secrets of my minde Much more the deeds which I commit of darknes seene to thee aboue To whose bright eyes both darke and light at seasons all doe seeme as one And therefore find'st out all my sinne in thought in action or intent Though by each sinne death did begin yet thou do'st promise those repent That they shall be forgiuen all within which number Lord make me Who seest my sinnes for mercy call that raignes in me continually And as hit were commaund me goe drawne there vnto by violence By Sathan vilde our deadly foe that neuer ceaseth ill pretence Who workes in me corruptions corruptions more pollutions breeds Which draweth mine affections which minde inclines to wicked deeds And chiefely to that odious sinne which makes me weake for to fullfill Thy lawes and precepts iust wherein thou vs commaund'st to doe thy will Yet strong and apt for to effect those thinges forbidden by thy lawes Therefore to kill Lord sinnes conflict remoue from me the wicked cause Especially this hedious crime that hanges and stickes so fast on mee That hit doe raigne no longer time which feele it loathsome vnto me A heauy burthen to my soule which I cannot shake off at all By mine owne power or strength controule but by Gods workes parpetuall Who worketh all repentance true therefore Lord make me penitent With contrite heart my spirit renew let loathsome sinnes thy grace preuent For thou Lord seest I doe commit sinnes as hit were against my will Giue me therefore power strength and wit corrupt affections all to kill The thoughts whereof we vex and grieue and heapes of feare my soule possesse Dispaire Attemptes hopes to depriue me to deuour in all distresse FINIS ¶ An exhortation to praise God and to acknowledge our thankesgiuing to him without ceasing WE praise thee God we knowledge thee Our onely Lord and Christ to bee the earth and world doe worship thee Eternall father Heauenly King To whom aloud bright Angells sing the thrones and powers thee magnifie The Cherubins and Seraphin To cry to thee doe neuer linne holy holy most holy Lord Of Saboth God of Maiestie Heauens full and earth of thy glory all Nations laud thy name and word The glorious postles company The goodly prophets Vnitie the holy Marters noble army The holy Church the world through out Doth spread the Gospell all about the Father of true pietie Thy sacred true and onely sonne The Holy Ghost vs comfort wonne thou art of glory King oh Christ Thou art the euelasting sonne Of God whose blessed will was donne in the all people to deliuer Thou did'st not then the Virgins wombe Abhorre nor loath that sacred Tombe till thou wast borne