glore To thee knee-bowd before thy face I fall Come help O help now I begin to call Most holy mighty high and glorious God! Most mercifull most gracious and kinde Most Ancient righteous patient and good Most wise most just most bountifull of minde Infuse thy grace enlarge thy love in mine Confirme my faith conforme my will to thine Eternall One Beginner unbegunne Thou first and last Heavens founder and Earths ball Container uncontaind Father and Sonne Thou All in All unruld yet ruling All Great Light of lights who moves all things unmovd Hearke help and heare for Christs sake thy belovd Sole Soveraigne Balme come heale my wounded soule Which fainting fals under thine heavie hand Regard my plaints remit mine errours foule Let mercy far above thy justice stand Be thou my Heaven place Heaven within mine heart Thy presence can make Heaven where e're thou art Come challenge me come claime me for thine owne Plead thou thy right take place in my possession Lord square my steps thy goodnesse may be knowne In pard'ning each defect of my transgression Arrest my sinnes but let my soule goe free Baile me from thrall let sinne deaths subject die Lord wing my love with feather'd faith to flee To thy all-burning Throne of endlesse glory Mercie is thine for mercy is with thee Lord write my name in thine eternall story O! help my strength farre weaker than a reed Accept my purpose for the reall deed The good I would alace I can not do The ill I would not that I follow still The more thou citst me I grow stubborn too Preferring base corruption to thy will For when thy Sprite to serve Thee doth perswade me The World the Flesh and Satan they disswade me What should I say no gift in me is left To doe to speak to think one godly motion Lord help my wants for why my soule is reft Twixt feare and hope 'twixt sinne and true devotion Faine would I flighter from this lust-lymd clay But more I strive the more I faster stay Lord with the sonne forlorne bring me againe And cloth me with the favour of thy face The swinish husks of sinne I loath and faine Would be thy childe adopt'd the childe of grace Thy Lambe was kill'd for my conversions sake Of which let me some food and comfort take Thy glorious Hierarchy and Martyres all Rejoyce at the returne of a lost sheep Lord in that number let my portion fall That I with them like melodie may keep So with thy Saints my happynesse shall be One and the same as they are blest in Thee Yet whilst I pause and duely do consider Thy will my wayes thy righteousnesse mine errours I cannot plead to flie I know not whidder So grievous are the mountains of my terrours My sinnes so ugly stand before thy face That I dare hardly claime or call for grace What am I in thine eyes if I could ponder But brickle trash compos'd of slyme and clay A wretch-worne worme erect'd for sinne a wonder Whilst my souls treason is thy judgements prey I have no health nor truth nor divine flashes So wicked is this Masse of dust and ashes Lord stretch thine arme put Satan to the flight Exile the world from me and me from it Curbe thou my flesh beat down my lusts delight Rule thou my heart my will guide with thy Sprit Infuse encrease confirme here from above Thy feare thy law in me thy light thy love So shall I through Heavens merit onely rise And kisse thy soule-sought Sonne thy Lambe thy Dove For whose sweet sake I shall thy sight surprise And lift my hope on his redeeming love Blest be the price of mine exalting good Who payd my ransome with his precious blood In Thee I trust Lord help my wavering faith And with thy merits my demerits cover Dispell my weaknesse strengthen my faint breath Renew my life and my past sinnes passe over Be thou my Pilot guide this barke of clay Safe to the Port of thy coelestiall stay Grant me obedience to thy blest desire Instruct my minde environe me with ruth Cleanse thou my heart with flames of sacred fire Fraught with the fulnesse of thy saving truth Build up mine Altar let mine offerings be Faith feare and hope love praise and thanks to Thee Lord spare me for his sake whom thou not spard For my sake even for him from Thee above Was sent down here and slaine O! what regard Bore thou to Man to send thy Sonne of Love To suffer for my guilt the fault being mine But ah good Lord the punishment was thine Thy love great God from everlasting flowes To everlasting Mans reach onely brings Forth the Creation but thy love forth showes From all eternitie eternall springs Of light unsearchable then praise we Thee That ere time was ordain'd our time to be God made all things and God was made a Man All things he made of nothing but come see Withoutten man all things the truth to scan Had turnd to nothing for from one degree God of himselfe made all things and what more He would not all things without Man restore He was of God begotten all things made And borne of woman all things did renew For without man all things had been a shade So nothing well without a Virgin true Thus God and Man conjoynd in one we feele Life of our life and soule of our souls wâ—le What was he made and what hath he made us I pause with joy with silence I admire This mystery I adore who can discusse That goodnesse great sprung from so good a Syre Can reason show more reasonable way Than leave to pry where reason can not swey The Sonne of God behold was made a Man To make us men th' adopted sonnes of God By which he made himself our brotherthen For in all kindes he keeps our brotherhood Though Judge save sinne and Intercessour see He brothers us we must his suppliants be With what assurance then may we all hope What feare can force despaire or yet distrust Since our salvation and our endlesse scope Hangs on our elder brother Christ the Just He 'le give us all the good which we desire And pardon all the sinnes on us engyre The burden of our miseries he bore And laid his merits weight on our sick soules A kindnesse beyond reach his goodnesse more Engross'd his name for us in shamefull scroules O! wondrous love that God should humble thus Himself and take Mans shape to rescue us He who in heavens was admirable set Became for us contemptible on earth And from the Towre of his Imperiall state Imbrac'd a Dungeon for angelick mirth And chang'd the name of Majestie in love To shelter us with mercy from above What eyes for grief should not dissolve in floods Whilst our vile sinnes procur'd his wofull paine He sought our well unsought when we in woods Of wickednesse lay wallowing amaine And daily yet by sinne distrust and strife We crucifie
againe the Lord of life As irne in fire cast takes fires nature And yet remaineth irne though fram'd what than So he who in Gods love doth burne that creature Partakes his holynesse abiding man For love seals up Gods counsels ends the law From which we sinners cords of mercy draw Love is the roote of vertue and the childe Of grace Truths mistresse and religions glasse The soule of goodnesse in perfection milde The crowne of Saints that conquer Paradise The joy of Angels O! what springs of love Flow from the Lamb for us and our behove Ingratefull Man contemner of thy good Can thou not back-bestow thy debt-bund love To him for thee did shed his precious blood And though rebuk'd yet would he not reprove Why did he fast weep watch and labour take In basenesse and contempt but for thy sake Then be not like that plant Ephemeron Which springs and growes and fades all in one day But plead remorse beg for contrition Mourne for thy sinnes make haste prevent delay In this my self shall to my self returne He best can weep that knowes the way to mourne I rather seem'd than been religious set Having Jacobs voice and Esau's rough hands I make profession practise I forget My better zeale hypocrisie commands I Serpent like do change my skinne but not Disgorge the poison lurkes within the throate Vice I have us'd under a vertuous seeming And like the sea though rivers in it fall Yet not the sweeter or like Pharaohs dreaming The leane kine yet were leane when eaten all Stay then dry soule where are thy Teares what springs Should thy pale eyne cast out when sorrow sings I meane not childrens teares when whipt for aw Nor mundane teares for losse of trash or geare Nor spightfull teares which would revenge downe draw Nor teares of grief for them concerne us neare Nor teares for death nor teares for what disasters Nor teares for friends nor wives teares for men wasters Nor drunken teares spent after sugred wine Which women waste to colour imperfection Nor Dalilahs fained teares to undermine The strong mans strength by way of fals detection Nor Sinons teares the Trojane state betrayde With the wooden horse Ulysses wit bewrayde Nor faigned teares the Crocodilean sexe Do spend I meane their husbands to deceave Nor these Courtegian teares that love to vexe Their sottish Palliards and their meanes bereave Nor teares of pitty mercy beg from men That 's not the drift of my obsequious pen Looke to thy lapses and quotidian falling Then try thy conscience if remorse creeps in Which if it doe thou art brought to this calling Of godly weeping for the guilt of sinne These tears are blest and such mine eyes would borrow But not these tears which melt for worldly sorrow Lord strengthen me with knowledge of thy word Square thou my judgement I may walk upright An intellective Heart my soule aford Endue my sprite with supernatrall light Faine would I slaughter sinne that would me slay And learne thy truth Lord teach me thy right way Confound in me this all-predominant sinne Which overrules my reason sense and will One head-strong vice that lurkes and lyth within The inmost center of mine utmost ill Lord curbe its force and purifie my soule From such uncleannesse for its wondrous foule Grant grant remorse let godly sorrow show My full-swolne sight my brinish tears my sadnesse Come sowre repentance let sweet contrition know The mourning woes of my rejoycing gladnesse What though that grief at morne worke me annoy Yet long ere night thou'le turne my grief in joy The best man lives hath one predominant ill Oppos'd to the best good he can effect The worst man breaths though curs'd pervers'd of will Hath some predominant good he doth affect Even either answering contrare to their kinde Seeme to resemble what they never finde Lord what am I whose best is even accurst Who with thy Convert is of sinners chief A sharde unsav'rie of thy works the worst Unlesse thy grace renew me with reliefe Lord will my well prepare my heart give eare If faith can call O! thou canst quickly heare The poore which almes seeks he gets not aide For any need the giver hath of him But even because he hath of us great need So we by faith on Christian steps must clim For God of his great love he freely gives us And without need of man he still relieves us A Cynick came and ask'd the Syrian king Antigonus a dram of silver coyne But he reply'd it was too base a thing For kings to give or lend so small aloane Said Cynick then I would a talent crave But that 's too much for thee said he to have Thus two extreams were both extreamly met But it s not so with God and sinfull men The more we seeke the more we 're sure to get God of his bounty is so good that when We mercy crave he grants it gives us grace Our wills and wayes may in his precepts trace Lift up my falling minde Lord knit my heart With cords of love and chaines of grace to thee As Jonathans three arrows did impart To Davids woes true signes of amitie So rouze my sprite let grace and goodnesse spell Mine Annagram I LOVE ALMIGHTY WEL O! if I could byte off the head of sinne As the shee Viper doth the male confound But not like her whose brood conceiv'd within Cut forth her wombe leave her dead on the ground Lord grant I sinne may slay ere sinne slay me The wounds are deep my health consists in Thee Lord when I ponder on this worldly pride Vaine glory riches honour noble birth Great lands and rents faire palaces beside Pastimes and pleasures fit-thought things on earth Without thy love and in regard of thee They 're nought but shaddows of meere vanitie All under sunne are Emblems of deceit Link'd snares to trap blind man in ev'ry vice They 're feather'd baits prest grines that lye in wait To catch the buyer unvaluing their pryce Then carelesse soule take heed prevent this danger Lay hold on Christ and be no more a stranger Gods will allots that my past curious sights In painfull prime all where the world abroad Should be repaid with as darke cloudie nights Of sorrows sad for now I finde the rod Sicknesse and crosses compasse me about Whence none but Christ can help or rid me out Listen to me as to thy Lazar poore That 's overstamp'd with seals of scabs and sores Both vile and wretch'd lyth at thy mercies doore Begging for crummes of pitie and implores That thou wouldst open with Lydia my heart And make me Sauls dear second thy Convert Thy lengthning hand is now no more cut short Than in old times of wonder-working dayes But thou canst turne and safely bring to Port The wilsome Wandrer from his sinfull wayes O then great Sheepherd pitie a lost sheep And bring me home safe in thy fold me keep Thou art the vine I am the
here Be thou my Pilot safely loofe and steere Conduct me straight to thy Coelestiall Port That in the Sabboth of eternall rest My soule may reigne And with the Angels court Thy face with joyes that cannot be exprest Where all content in fulnesse of rich pleasures Shall them attend in overjoying measures Who here within this Domicile of dust And boggy baggage of a stinking lump Would stay to eat the excrements of lust And feed on filthinesse that rotten stump Nay none but Abjects holy Ones rejoyce To be dissolvd make happynesse their choice But some heart-sunke in worldly greed and cares Would build their Paradise in this base life And by extreames involve them selves in snares Hating the truth in falshood spend their strife And what envy can not accomplish they Will make extortion all their hatred swey Can thou forgivenesse crave for thy misdeeds And will not first forgive anothers wrongs How can thou pray or thinke thy prayer speeds When in thy heart thou malice keeps and long To be revengde This is no Christian life To pray and praise when sunke in spite and strife Away with envy malice pride and hate Let not the Sunne go downe upon thy wrath Live to the Lord and live in holy state Love one another there 's the marke of faith Live and live holy whom thou serves regard He 'le come and come in haste with thy reward Then be not Spider-like that doth exhaust It selfe in workes of little use and time Nor like the Indians rude absurd devast That will give gold for glasse rich gemmes for slime And precious stones for toyes and trifling things Which strangers bring knives whistles beeds brasse rings All smell of greed though not of perfect wit Then hang not downe thy head for lack of trash Let Craesus be thy Lydian Mappe he 'le fit Thy greedy humours with a falling dash All which are shades of floating vanities Mans onely constant in unconstancies Shall rich Saturnia with her cramming gold Deceive my heart and move my minde to swell Or with false lookes vaine hopes to me unfold To snare my thoughts which vertue may expell A figge for worldly baits a tush for greed For being poore I me rich in having need And why 'cause povertie that is so light As being weigh'd in ballance with the winde Doth hang aloft Then can not seeme no weight Nor dare to sit as sad on my free minde Say if it should it were some fainting thought Would me deject for povertie is nought Then all my riches is content I see A stock more sure than Wealth can Worldlings lend Poore was I borne and as poore must I die Unlesse good luck a chest to death extend Get I a sheet to wrappe up my dead bones I 'me richer far than gold or precious stones Seven foot of ground and three foot deep I crave The passing bell to sound mine obsequie Gold lands and rents the living world I leave Else if I smart by streames by flouds or sea Then shall some fishes belly be my grave No winding sheet my Corps shall need to have But stay what passion thus diverts my minde Dust shall to dust and earth to earth returne If I can here true peace of conscience finde What losse what trash what crosse can make me mourne For when laid low and having lost this frame My soule shall mount to Heaven from whence it came The soule it is of heavenly substance fram'd Breathd in at mans nostrils by his Maker A sprit invisible Gods image nam'd With whom of Essence infinite partaker Will mem'rie knowledge faculties divine Are my soules socialls reasondo confyne Will is to rule and knowledge to conceave And memorie a locall power assumes Knowledge as chief makes understanding crave A league with love whose worke true blesse resumes Lo there 's the fruit of this coelestiall mould Which never here shall rot nor hence grow old Then teach me Lord to count my slyding dayes That I to wisedome may my heart apply So shall thy statutes guyde my slipprie wayes And circumspection all my actions try Who knew his date of life and might attaine it Would learne to live well else he would disdaine it We 're apt to note the lives of other men But not our owne self-selfe-love our sense divides Like two ships under saile and one course ken Both sailers think each other swifter glides Than their owne ship So we can check and show The lives of others and our owne misknow Our haires growne gray our desires then grow greene And after earthly things we hunt amaine We love this world so well as oft it s seene That we are dead with grief ere death hath slaine Us with destruction Age would faine be young To nurse the serpent that his soule hath stung Man lives like him who fell into a pit Yet caught a grippe by a branch'd tree and hung Above his head a hony Combe did sit Whence his deep appetite delight had wrung Below two gnawing wormes razing its roote The treefals downe and greed devourd the fruit The pit our grave the Tree this mortall life This hony combe vaine pleasures of the world Two gnawing wormes the speedy thiftu'ous strife Of night and day wherein our dayes are hurld Timeclouds our light the glasse is runne we fall Downe to the dust where death triumphs o're all Then darknesse covers Man he mouldring rots Earth gluts him in her wombe away he goes His better part resumes one of two lots No shade nor sepulchre can it enclose It either mounts above or falls beneath There is no midst can stop or stay its path Each course is violent faith conquers Heaven By force and wrestling in the way of light VVhich strait is and few enter Most are driven Downe to the gulfe of ever-sorrowing night That way is broad where numbers numberlesse Fall in earths Cell plungd in cursd wofullnesse Such as the life's so frequently the death The Divels deceit prolongs us in delay Then wouldst thou flee that pestilence set faith Against temptation Runne the happy way That leads to life Make thy confession cleare And beg for peace then mercy will draw neare Yet ah how fraile am I how weak how wretchd That even my conscience trembles at my cace Alas poore sleeping soule how art thou stretchd In drousie dulnesse void of good and grace Pluck up thy selfe condole confesse convert And strive to stand although thy steps divert The Compasse stands not solide to the Pole Though with the Loadstone any point is touchd But hath some variation we controle To the East or West as hourely is avouchd So none of our best deeds though touchd with grace Points God amaine deflection marres our pace Which made Saint Paul ingenuously confesse That by himselfe he nothing knew nor could Be thereby justify'd 'cause his digresse Was judg'd by God the Loadstone true that would Point forth each point and yet forget forgive The least the maine the guilt for
stings I le lay about the Ruther of my minde To keep a safer loofe and thirle the winde What rapt coelestiall forceth my desire To be dissolv'd my soule may mount aboue To see these joyes that blesse that glorious hyre Which Saints enjoy lifes ever-springing love My hope resumes I might as happy rest In pleasures there as they are happy blest Now I returne good God turne thou to me As Travellers who have been long abroad Are forc'd by love their soile and friends to see No rest till then their hearts the way have trode So I 'me estrangd my Countrie is above Heaven is the place thou Lord my light my love Great is the glory of thy glorious face Enstall'd with Angels Saints and Martyres gone Set fore the Throne with legions of each race Singing applauses to that blessed One The Lambe of Love our Advocate thy Sonne Who by his death wrought our Salvation Fixe fast my thoughts to the tree of thy crosse Draw all the forces of my soule to Thee Lift up my heart let me renounce the drosse And dregs of ill let me aspire on hie And walke 'twixt feare and love in all my deeds As thou 'twixt justice and mercy proceeds Thy vertues are for us sufficient great Like as the Sunne it shines the World all where Yet ev'ry man enjoyeth so much heat As if it shinde to him in proper share So are thy graces infinite and we Enjoy the fruits of their felicitie But what our lives are short so are our dayes Except in troubles miseries alace Our continuance certaine in uncertaine wayes No time of death is knowne to us nor place Gods will is so to have us still prepard And set on watch lest that our steps be snard Each minutes life steps forward to sterne death And ev'ry act robs some part of our life Like him who sailes in ships and action hath In toylesome paines yet forward flees his strife We can not twice returne in Natures state 'Cause time runs post and can make no retreat My Sunne of life hath his Meridian past And plungd I am in th' after-noone of age The night of Nature fastens on me fast And death waits closse to pull me from this stage But Lord thou wilt not leave my soule in grave Let ly the Corps they 'le once conjunction have Now having sung of deep remorse and teares Lord save me from these weeping teares of Hell Which grief declares and ever-gnashing feares For losse of joy and sense of horrours fell Who would not here a few spent teares disclose Shall there be waile in floods of bitter woes As sea-bred fishes never saltnesse wed But still their bodies stay both sweet and fresh So grant my soule that 's with corruption cled May live as pure not medling with the flesh But sinne begins first in the sillie soule And ends into the body base and soule What shall I say when mans rot in disease And ulserd sore the Phisitian draws neare To give him pills and potions worke his ease And lets him blood he may his health endure Much more Christs bloud can purge and cleanse the soule Of all uncleannesse pardon what is foule Then to great Jove the mighty King of kings I le prostrate fall on my low bended knees To beg for mercy mercy comfort brings And joy of sprit works peace from gushing eyes So Lord of Lords sweet Christ what I would have Is knowne and showne I call I cry I crave Now by these words whom seek you and confession By thy breath made the Sergeants backward fall By that care rouzd thine slumbring in digression By thy pangs in Gethsemane one and all By that power and patience fore Anne exprest By that prophecie of Cajaphas the Priest By that deep agony of bloud and sweat By these sore scourgings spittings on thy face By these rough nailes piercd thy hands and feet By all these mockings done thee for disgrace By that sharpe speare which smote thy tender heart By that Viniger thou drunk and gall of smart By that crowne of thornes thrust on thy bare head By these blood sprinklings downe thy face that fell By that heavy Crosse on thy shoulders spread By thy descending downe in earths dark Cell By that great power of thy great resurrection By thine ascension O profound election By thy five bleeding wounds I thee implore And by the vertue of thy death and passion By that purple Roabe forc'd in scorne thou wore By all these taunts these Ruffians spent for fashion Nay by that superscription wrote for news Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews By thy nativitie and incarnation Yea by these words Mother behold thy Sonne And Sonne Behold there thy consolation Go live and live in peace live both as one Nay by this moode for heavie was thy load Why thus forsakst thou me my God my God By thy baptisme fasting humiliation By all thy miracles and wonders done By these teares thou shed and transfiguration On Tabor seene As thou art Christ Gods sonne Save shield and shelter my designes my wayes For my souls health and thine eternall praise Nay by and for and from thy selfe I beg For pittie grace and pardon free remission Of all my sinnes O cleanse me the least dreg That lurkes within my Temple thy possession Let all be cleane Lo there 's the totall summe My soule implores come now Lord Jesus come Great King of ages Monarch of all times Thou first and last is was and ever blest Redeemer unredeemd Purger of crymes Thou Light of lights thou Mans sole-soveraigne rest Encrease in me thy Sprit infuse thy grace Confirme my heart show forth thy loving face Sweeter than hony or the hony Combe Life light and love all goodnesse peace and grace Sonne of Mercy that in blest Maries wombe Incarnate was left Heaven thy Mansion place Where now thou art and art all where Come see My heart my help my health depend on Thee In Thee I rest Lord sanctifie my hope In Thee I trust Lord fortifie my faith In Thee I grow Lord fructifie my scope In Thee I walk Lord rectifie my path In Thee I stay in Thee I live and die In Thee I move in Thee above I flie Lord grant thy grace may make these TEARES so blest And blesse them all shall them peruse for blis That godly griefe may in their blessings rest Remorsefull soules whose teares implore for this LORD pittie me LORD pardon my TRANSGRESSION Lord cleanse my HEART Lord blesse thou this CONFESSION FINIS Applicâ— on anâ— vocatiâ— â—mble 〈◊〉 The Creators greâ— love towards 〈◊〉 his creatures â—rists 〈◊〉 love Love co quers hâ— ven 〈◊〉 conâ—ions distinâ—ion twixt â—orldly â—d godly â—ares The repugnancâ— of ill and good â—ntrary 〈◊〉 Thewo is a map of evils â—hrists â—res over â—rusalem We shâ— not desâ— but hoâ— for meâ— Impeneâ— trable counsel the â—orks of â—ation 〈◊〉 of manâ— â—ds â—orks â—evv his â—odhead â—ns inâ—mities Mans beauty summers blossome â—elf-love â—ules the â—orld Sinne and the causes of sin Mans life awarfare Deceitful greed Jonah disâ—ered â—ul conâ—ed Gods omnipotency Repugnant comparisons The â—eaknesse â—nd â—hanges of â—ur nature An objection between man and beast The pang of Hell Prayer and meditation two heavenly exercises The effects of prayer Christs wounds our healtâ— The instabilitie 〈◊〉 man Wicked men delite to make the simple sinne Moments pleasures eternall paine Will overcomes reason Sighes anâ— teares are holy sacri fiâ—es The godly â—ometime all and â—e recalld Joshua's gratefulnâ— to Rachaâ— Jesus at Jericho saved Zacheus â—acelesse â—quence â—rd obduâ—nce Worldly wisedome â—nd pride 〈◊〉 Saikles erâ—vie retorâ— reply Wormes are sepulchrall mates Man headlong falls The lake Maronaâ— fathers Jordan Godly teares saving grace â—obs patiâ—ce and â—nstancy Love the Lord for his loves sake Gods loâ— our life The breâ—itie of life Corruption corrupteth all things The povver anâ— varieties 〈◊〉 corruptioâ— The vicissitude of fortune Noah first set vines and first was drunk with it Lots drunkennesse begot incest The shame full effects of drunkennesse Beasts and Philosophers condemne excesse No perfection in humane knowledge Great defects in greatest Saints Daniels dainties poore mens plenâ—es â—ges â—e better â—en bad â—ristians In prayer use few words and many teaâ— Christs silence and patience Davids teares wet his couch God accepts the will for the deed Christ is our Physician The insolencie of youth Delay in repentance is dangerous Youth and age are disagreeing Continencie by Pagans commended A brief tract of bitter repentance Peters confession Peter reprehending himself Peters tears consummated in peace The blessed fruits of godly tears Mortalitie is miserable Mans a pilgrime here Our heavenly Jerusalem Sions tears Sions beauty Sions crosses Sinfull â—ust suddain darknesse Plenty of mercy â—hrists â—ssion â—r salvaâ—on Magdalenâ— teares Christ reveals himself to Mary Magdalen Fire hath two properties Ther'si no flying from Gods presence God â—aves the heart Greed breeds enâ— A contempt of riches The immortall substance of the soul The misery and shortnesse of life Frailtie and falling follow man The varieties of vanitie â—gratefull â—ildren to â—ed paâ—ts Elemental changes The present miseries of Christendome The craftinesse aâ— cruelty of Rome Compariâ—ons of â—reedome â—om sin The Jewish tears on Babilons banks Correction begets awe Short and evil are our dayes Athens made the mother and miâ—our of miseries The inconstancie of worldly pride Ambitious Xerxes bewailing the brevitie of life This lifâ— is loaden with croâ—ses the flatâ—ry of â—ourts Sions prosperities prayed fâ— The Sun â—ines on â—e good â—d bad Our day nor time can never returne â—rist is â—r Phyâ—ian The sufferings and passion of Christ
which we grieve The Woman for adultrie been accusde Was brought to be adjudgd before our Lord Their thoughts he saw and what deceit they usde They fled she stood and found misericord Woman said he thine adversars are gone I le not condemne thee mercy is my Throne How good and gracious was the light of grace That purgd and pardond this Woman unrequested She 's gone and freed the law could take no place No roome for Moses when his Master feasted For why from double death he set her free The Judge was pleader he discuss'd the pleye Alas when I recall preteriat times What losse finde I in my lost dayes and deeds For morall slips a world of weightier crimes And to condemne me justice judgement pleads Yet stay sad soule conceive confesse condole With me my sinnes my frailties I le controule What frivole fancies flow from my flowne minde Which often blinde my judgement and divert My better aimes whilst reason can not finde The cause of such delusions for I smart In their velocitie abusing will They thrall combustion to assist their ill What foolish prancks in gesture deed or word What fond conceits in flash-flowne merryments What scoffing squibs which taunting mocks afford What idle straines in vaine spent complements Have I not done and in such actions quick To foole my fellows with a jeering trick This thought that surmise this flash that reglance Of suddaine motions else of flowne conceats More voluble they were than wide-wingd chance Which tops all things all where and at all dates There 's nought more swift than fancie nought more fond More light than winde which flees and is not found Then Lord ingraft in me a constant heart Sound grave and solid holy wise and just Prudent in much and provident in part That all my all may in thy mercies trust Rule thou the Ruther of my foggy minde Lest in dark mists I wander and turne blinde Bring me unto my selfe from outward things And from my selfe even to thy selfe bring me That I in chast will and pure desirings May be like Thee as I 'me in nature see Lord set me wholly â—on fire with thy love That my lights and delights in Thee may move This Worlds a Mappe of transitorie toyes Which to expostulate were labour lost A shaddow mask'd with hypocritick joyes Fals in the face and hollow in the cost And what 's our love or life when dead ere rotten Our short stay here is presently forgotten Man like to vapour melts wealth as the winde Doth flee away and honour like fond dreames Dissolves to nought so Parentage we finde Unnaturall oft Yea children by extreames Rebellious grow So mighty men grow meane And meane men great this change is daily seene Would God mens sonnes could learne how Storks they do Who when their old growne weake diseasde distrest Their young ones beare them on their backs and lo They flee with them all where from nest to nest With care they keep them bring them what they need Though they them selves have their owne young to feed It s strange aetheriall love should passe humane For our young brood would have their Parents die That they might get their goods and thereby gaine If poore so want they will them straight denie Nay slight them scorne them raile on their distresse Thus they decline and here their wretchednesse lovelesse age you might this fault amend And pittie Nature gave you life to live Be not like Vipers for to make an end Of these who did your blood and beeing give If not the Turtle play the Eagles part Since Parents are your Pelicanes in heart All thinges runne contrare in a head-strong change The world growes grim mens hearts grow false and double Twixt sonne and father this is nowayes strange To see each one forsake anothers trouble Nay friends familiars blood kinred mother Live most in strife no love 'twixt one another So elements are changd in part from nature But above all the earth growes bare and old The Moones prest influence failes in some Creature Short falls her force The Sunne growes tyrde and cold And seasons frozen the airie clouds convert In boistrous windes most Climes like tributes part Most grounds grow barren and their fruits are blasted And bestiall perish by depressing stormes The aire 's intemperate and the fields ly wasted With nipping frosts and canker spoiling wormes Nay mens conditions change and Christian love Growes worse then barbarous we hourely prove Mercy good Lord grant mercy for thy Name Is Mercy mercy Lord of kinde compunction Father of pittie compassion we claime Lover of love thou life of loves conjunction Come patient Syre O thou long suffring God! And slow to anger come spare thy threatning rod Looke downe on Christendome this Westerne world Whose lands with fatall sword are drunk with blood Where Kings and kingdomes in combustions hurld Turne spectacles of scorne to Pagans rude There is no Nation within Christian bounds That suffers not disasters threats or wounds The Infidell beholds and swearing sayes That our Religion is a bare profession For Christs dishonourd in our ambitious wayes No faith we show farre lesse of truth confession Pryde puft with malice is our Christian marke Deceit despight our daylie divelish wark Here wounds there bloud here death and there disasters Here Mothers mourning for their slaughterd sonnes There Widdows weeping servants for their Masters Here helplesse Orphanes bursting forth starv'd groanes There sisters for their brothers sorrowing sore Last fatall framelings one another gore This universall scourge is grievous great For kinred nor alliance nought can swage Faith for performance breeds but greater hate Deep words and seales turne reason ragg'd in rage Kinde honesty is fled true love exyld And conscience with deceitfulnesse defyld Looke on this halfe Europian angry face And thou shalst see the mother of mischiefe Point forth at Rome that hollow hellish place Eye but her Prelats hatchers of our grief And thou shalft finde that Antichristian Whoore Would nought but Millions for one life devoure She hunts her hounds abroad and they obey Some worke some runne some plot some poyson Nobles Some treason hatch some murder what they say Is fac'd with Sophistrie perjurie doubles Their mentall muttrings The Jesuites their Trumpet Must sound the cruelties of that Babell Strumpet At home we have at home at home alace A world of woes and rogueries of like kinde I could I would I should bewray this cace I dare but dare not signifie my minde That faction is so strong and I so weake That thrice the Prison they my lodging make They bragge like Butchers of their beastly deeds And laugh at cruelty as at a play Their hornes they push and policie them leads Nought but mischief their head-strong course can stay And glutting gape to have old rotten Rome Erect'd our Mistresse else them selves consume What kinred can they claime to Tybers banks The river shallow and in Summer dry We have Gods
to their devouring plenties My bones shall rot then turne in mouldring dust This is the way of flesh both bad and just And yet vaine Man he little thinks or dreames Once of his death nor what his end may be His sense deludes him and the world it seemes A glasse to looke on for his sensuall eye He neither mournes for sinne nor sinne forsakes But from one ill another worser takes What surging follies overcloud my minde With vain-wing'd fancies and surmysing flashes Such fleering thoughts more lighter than the winde Breed nought but foolerie which opinion dashes My wish'd for wishes straight conceiv'd and done The care of carelesse dreams I scarce can shunne I posting runne in wayes of naughty ends Lord crook and stop my course with streames of grace Which flood can carry none that ill pretends Like Jordan that receives no barbarous face Unlesse they swim So sans remorse they 'le drowne Who hazard here quick sandie sins pull downe This saving grace the soule guards with strong hand And if it slip it can not fully fall It s like Maronahs full disgorging strand Hembes in Canaan from barbarian thrall Like keeps the Lord his owne and guards their wayes They perish not though chargd with fraile delayes As Jordan circuits the holy land Twixt Liban and that south-lake smoaking show From the Petreian soyle joynd with a strand Which tribute payes 'gainst Jericho I know To famous Jore One parts the Midian soyle The other sackt Samarias confynes coyle This is the march girds Canaans south-east side But more the Lord preserves and guards his owne From ghostly ill and from aetheriall pride From terrene sprites from Hell and what is knowne To plague the soule he is a bulwark strong Fens'd with good Angels free all his from wrong Then happy they can creep within this Tent And sheltrage seek under his mercies wings Sigh for thy sinnes O! let thy soule repent Thy misdemeanour to the King of kings First grieve then weep last seeke thy Saviours face Let teares implore for teares can plead for grace Kinde were these teares which Josephs love had spent When with his brethren he his brother saw His heart surchargd with joy it shrunke as shent To plunge that deep which Benjamin did draw But loe moe teares were shed one with another When Joseph said Behold I am your brother Feare not said he the strict Aegyptian law Though to the Ismaelites my life you sold For what was done was done by God I knaw No spight of yours his providence behold Foresaw your need and brought me here to be A father to my Fathers miserie There five yeares famine yet shall worke your woe Wherein ag'd Jacob and his race may starve Unlesse he flit then get you up and go To fetch him downe faile not in this nor swerve They went he came all met in melting joyes For passions have extreames as bairnes have toyes Since Nature then in floods of teares can melt For joy of sight to overjoy their love Much more our teares when we remorse have felt For sinne shall glade the powers in Heaven above These tears are blest and make us blest for ever For godly grief from grace no crosse can sever Let patient Job be paterne in like case Whose losse was such as never yet was none Yet shrunk he not sound stedfast love took place Faith forc'd his hope and both proclaim'd in one Sure my Redeemer lives and he is just Though he should kill me yet in him I 'le trust Mine eyes shall see him and he will me save As I am confident he will not faile Sterne rough calamitie would me deceave But that 's a shade my purpose must prevaile In God my soule is fixt nought can dismay me Nay death it selfe nor Satan can betray me See! here the Columne of a lively faith The type of Christ in meek and milde behaviour His friends they slight him he contemnes his death And in his miserie still avowd his Saviour This was a love excell'd all loves on earth For Christ he lov'd who lov'd him ere his birth Then how hate I my selfe if I love not My loving Lord who lov'd me from his love He truely loves who for thy sake I wot Loves thee and himselfe for thee this we prove All kindes of love without thy love breed loathing Unlesse we love them for thy sake they 're nothing Great king of glory all thy works invite Us to love thee since thou first loved us As starres do from the Sunne take light and heat For from that fulnesse we the like discusse How can our soules thine Jmage want the sight Of thy bright love whose love is perfect light Lord we do all depend upon thy love Because our being had of thee beginning Next thou preserves us as we rest or move And art our end controlls us when a sinning All what we have we have receiv'd from thee And what we want thou wilt the same supply O God of love thy nature is all love In love more glorious than the sunne in light Thou art an infinite fire from above Which here enlightens with its beames each wight A fire of love a loving fire we finde A light not burnes a flame not quels the minde O Lord if thou thy tender love withdraw And from us slips one step to turne thy back Are we not dead in sloth and sleep no awe But each temptation shall presage our wracke Then Lord uphold us since all worldly things Are ever changing tyme their ruine brings To day we live the morne to grave we 're sped We sight this world as birds by gazers glyde As dreams evanish so our dayes are fled Like water bubles as soone quelld as spyde Thus heart-grown man ingorgd with pryde and lust He posts and posts to death then turnes in dust To argue on corruption that subverts The good we would and choaks our best desires It is a senslesse appetite perverts The light of reason with entangling fires A head-strong blinde irregulary ill That captives wit and wounds both sense and will It s strong in all infirmities injust Still fraile in goodnesse weak in sound conception It s rull'd by nature and her daughter lust Which blinds the light of knowledge with deception Like pitch corruption blacks the purest soule And where it comes makes ev'ry clean thing foule It takes best hold on imbecillitie And where that fortitude deficient is It dare not wrestle with dexteritie Nor count with Temprance one defective misse Much like a Ruffian or a Theefe by night It loves and lives in darknesse more than light Corruption many wayes may be defind To be a Hydra neck'd Herculian snake Stop'd at the eye it compasseth the minde Barr'd from the soule the heart it soone will take Say if the eare be deafe the hand will feele And if it smell not it can taste too well Corruption rules most states and office places In Church and
a strong excuse He knowes I know enough that can misknow The thing he knowes it s well in knowing so Well said Alphonso knowledge to expone That all what we could learne by sight or show By airts by science by books to study on Was the least part of that we did not know All what we know we know but in a part And that failes oft corruption rules the heart What thou canst know another doth know more And what he knowes is but a glimpsing glance Who perfect is nay none who can deplore His weaknesse ruld by counsell not by chance Mans knowledge like the shade is swallowed soone That hangs between its substance and the Moone He knowes the ill and in that knowledge rude And cleaves to vice as wooll and briers are knit Resolv'd to erre misknowing what is good Rejects his soule then in a frantick fit Neglecting God neglects his owne salvation And quaffing excesse drinks his owne damnation How Lord these faults behelpd teach me to mourne That being humbled I may call for grace Let men presumptuous gainst thy judgements spurne And in the pudle of their labours trace Save thou my soule for now my quivering heart 'Twixt feare and hope stands trembling at sinnes smart A second Jonah from thy voice I flee And with shrunke Peter I thy name deny I Ahab-like keep spoiles of sinne for me And harbour lust in Lots ebrietie These lookes that fell from Sion on a Pond Were not so foule as mine nor halfe so fond Unworthy I to lift mine eyes above Or that the earth should beare me undevour'd Nay nor my friends on me to cast their love Nor saints pray for me hath the truth deflourd Yet what God will it needs must come to passe He looks on what I am not what I was Let grace take roome that mercy soone may follow Renew my sprite O cleanse my heart from ill Thy blood can purge me though my guilt be hollow Faith and repentance have a piercing will Infuse thy power Lord strengthen me to turne Once to rejoyce and never more to mourne As Daniel with thy servants three forsooke To feed on Babels delicates and wine But water and poore pulse they gladly tooke And yet their faces did for beauty shine Lord grant with them all worldly snares I may Forsake and learne to trace thy law thy way That kingly beast or beastly king expos'd Seven yeares to fields nev'r faild so much as I Nor these five kings by Joshua enclos'd Brought forth and foot-neckd shamefully did die Nev'r vex'd him more for they their lands defended Than I am griev'd for having God offended That Goshan flight to a desartuous soile Through uncouth way deep seas laid up in heaps Nev'r reft from Egypt such a swallowed spoile With greater right for now my soule it weeps Then Gods just judgements might on me befall Unlesse his mercy soone prevent my fall These wandrings long which Israel did recoyle Tost to and fro in vast Arabian bounds Full fourty yeares they spent for twelve dayes toyle Starv'd slaine and quell'd still galld by savage wounds This crosse they bore for grieving God so oft But ah my sinnes for plagues do cry aloft Now having seene rude Lybians nak'd and bare Sterne barbrous Arabs savage Sabuncks od Sword-sweying Turkes and faithlesse Jews alwhere Base ruvid Berdoans godlesse of a God Yet when from me on them I cast mine eye My life I finde farre worse then theirs can be The rustick Moorish sterne promiscuous sexe Nor Garolines idolatrizing shame The Turcomans that even the Divell doe vexe In offring up their first-borne to his name Nor Jamnites with their foolish Garlick god Are worse then I nor more deserve thy rod Yet Lord with Thee there 's mercy and its true Thou art not wonne with multitude of words Its force of tears from us thy pitie sue Which thou regards and pardon us afords For words are formed by the tongue but tears Speak from the heart which thou most kindlie heares Use then few words O silly soule but weepe This is the heavenly language and strong voice That calls to God for he our teares shall keep Fast bottled in his pittie Makes the choise Of teares few words let sighs and sobs display Thine inward grief then tears beginne to pray Lord thou wouldst not to Herod speak nor yet Would answer Pilat urgd by humane power But soone thou spoke when weeping women set Their eyes on Thee and streames of teares did powre These Judges sought advantage for thy dittie But Sions daughters weept for Thee in pittie These great mens words did reach but to thine eares But their warme drops did pierce Thee to thine heart Lord thou takes care on them and on their teares Who mourne for others when the righteous smart But farre more pittie on the sinfull soule That mournes for sinne and wailes her errours foule Oh! that my head were waters and mine eyes A source of teares to weep both day and night The peoples sinnes with theirs mine owne disease Which greater growes than I to beare have might Such flouds of teares would then my grief disclose In airie vapours flanck'd with watrie woes This world 's a valley of perpetuall teares And what 's the Scripture but a springing well Of gushing teares flow'd from remorse and feareâ— For godly sorrow must with Mourners dwell And who can mourne unlesse that grace begin To worke repentance this grief expiats sin All night could David wet with tears his couch And Prophets for the faults of Israel mourne But ah good God when shall mine eyes avouch Such happy teares that may with Thee sojourne If not thy judgements yet thy gracious love Might melt mine eyes and Ponds of sorrow move Thou saidst I will compassion have on all That pleaseth me compassion for to show Be pleas'd thy love may me redeeme from thrall Free will to pardon thine the debt I owe How soone soev'ra sinner should repent him Thou swore in truth thou wouldst no longer shent him Lord grant my minde may second these my words And not invent more then I practice can If I deficient prove good will afords My sacrifice obedience is the man Did not Abraham this point paternize Whose purpose was held for a sacrifice David resolv'd on Sions lower flat To build a Temple for the living Lord A daughter cloure joynd with Jehosophat Benorthd with Moriahs squink devalling bord The Lord accept'd the minde his thought was to it And said Thy sonne but not thy selfe shall do it The widows myte was thankfully receiv'd Good wills a sacrifice this seldome failes The will although the purpose be deceiv'd Is not to blame the good intent prevailes The Lord accepts even of the least desire We have to serve him though we faint or tire When Jacob had twice ten yeares Laban serv'd Yet Laban would have sent him empty gone But he who serves the Lord though he hath swerv'd Shall not misse
turne a stumbling block We were but twelve and one hath him betraide And I as worst have sworne I knew him not Mov'd by the voice of a weake womans throat O! that a Drudge should thus prevaile 'gainst me Who serves for wage to him the Altar serv'd A slendrer weed could no poore Hireling be And yet o're me shee triumphs I have swerv'd This was Gods will and now it s come to passe To show my weaknesse with a weaker lasse It s strange two Drudges made me falter thrice With quivring oathes and shivring words deny The Lord of life How could such hounds surprise My sted fast love and not with him to die No Judge controll'd me yet two slavish snakes Fill'd me with feare with it my Lord forsakes How fraile was I and fragile to succumbe Mine hopes unto such Wranglers void of grace I might have silence kept and so sit dumbe Till Cajaphas had tryde me having place But I a Weakling to a stragling sound Forsooke my vow and did my selfe confound A silly fisher wretch no lesse he thought Was I when God from slaverie did me call And now to shrunke infirmitie am brought Worse then Judaick law from Christ to fall Who me select'd to leave my nets and when He said Thou shal'st a fisher be of men How shall I answer make what shall I doe His sighs thus sobd for groanes and melting eyes Were all his words Or what 's my kindred too So base neare Sydon borne that my degrees By birth were nought but fisher men and fooles The scumme of Nature liv'd by warbling tooles Was I a chosen Vessell thus to shrinke When erst in Gethsemane my sword I drew And now beginnes to flatter lye and winke Yea failes and falls with words and oathes untrue I might have with my fellow flyers fled But I would follow and forsake my Head Love bade me venter feare bade me stay back Faith forcelesse fled a farre I followed on him Poore fainting I though forward now falls slack I went to see what doome they gave upon him Where courting Cajaphs fire O snaring sinne Warming without too cold I grew within I might have fled to hide me in some cave But curious I would swallow shame and feare Could I sustaine his crosse his death and grave To suffer that which nature could not beare All helpfull he would he crave help unto it Nay fond was I to thinke that man could do it Alone would he O! all sufficient he Straight undergoe his fathers hote displeasure Both God and Man our Lord behovd to be So weighty was that wrath laid up in treasure For sinfull man but he all-conquering he Triumph'd o're Hell got us the victorie My Lord but spoke Whom seek yee O strong power And backwards fell the Sergeants on the ground He knew confess'd it was their time his houre For so his love to mankinde did abound That as by Man all flesh accursd should dye Even so by Man all should redeemed bee Was I not witnes to his word and deed His miracles and mercies workes of loue The Dumbe did speake the Deaf did heare the dead Hee raysd to lyfe the Criples straight did moue The Palseyes Paraliticks withred hands Hee helpd and heald the blynd their sight commands Was hee not Christ the Lambe the sonne of God! Whom I confessd even face to face afore My soules Messias who bore that heavy loade Of Indignation sinners to restore Both sacrifice and Sacrificer plight A wondrous mercy set before my sight For which vile worme how could my lips deny The Lord of glore my life my love my light VVas he not there and was not I hard by VVhen that his looke gave me this sorrowing night Yet when my soules sharpe eyne saw what was done My carnall eyes in floods of teares did runne Faith wrought repentance grace laid hold on grace My bitter streames like brine extreamly gush'd I wrung my hands and knock'd my breast apace VVhilst sighes sad sobs from deep-fetchd groanings rushd Then joy appeard my conscience was assurd The fault was pardond and my soule securd Thus Peter shrunke his soule was humbled low Not like to Popes who his succession claime He sorrowing fell and made contrition show That he had faild So did himself disclaime From first election and from former grace And causd remorse give sad repentance place Then teares O bitter teares relenting woes And airie vapours from salt-raining eyes Made windy sighes and trembling groanes disclose His lip-lost fall the cause of his unease Thus teares are blest which godly sorrow brings Each drop doth serve thy soule to heaven for wings Though teares distill and trickle downe thy cheeks So vanish quite and seeme to thee as lost Their aire ascends thy heart to God then speaks He harbours all and is a gracious host The Font he loves and that 's remorse for sinne VVhich his grace works before thou canst beginne Lord frame my vvill to thine and forme my heart To serve and feare thee magnifie thy name In this obedience thou mayst grace impart For from thy favour I must comfort claime Grant me thine invvard peace refresh my minde With sparkes of love let sighs thy mercy finde All Mortals are by nature miserable Then mourning is the habit vve should vveare Who sinne deplores his case is comfortable Yet none can shunne prest natures sorrovving feare Flee vvhere thou vvilt thou shalt not finde reliefe Though thou changst place thou canst not change thy grief This life is but a Font of springing teares Weeping vvee come into this vvorld vvith cryes And vveeping vve go out fraught full of feares There 's nought but sorrovv in our journey lyes For vvhilst vvithin this vaile of teares vve bide We 're load vvith mourning griefe is Natures guide Jacob been ask'd by Pharo of his age Reply'd that fevv and evill vvere the dayes Of his abode in fleshly pilgrimage He gave this life no better stile nor praise Then sure vve're strangers vvandring here and there On this vvorlds stage each acting lesse or mair Nay vve are pilgrimes here tost to and fro There 's no place permanent on earth belovv Our dvvelling is above then let us goe To th' heavenly Canaan vvhere all joyes flovv Jerusalem Jerusalems above A glorious staunce vvhere sits the King of love It s not Judeas citie built with hands The holy grave and Calvarie containes With Moriah where Sal'mons Temple stands Nor Sions seat where Davids Towre remaines Nor Pilats Hall with farre moe relicks rare This City is eternall great and faire Nor is it compass'd with Jehosophat â—nd on the south with strait Gehinnons valley Nor on the north with Ennons den halfe flat Nor wall'd about lest Arabs it assaillie This Citie is impregnable and more It s fenc'd about with everlasting power â—deed like Olivet it overtops â—his squink Hebraick citie and excells â—llearthly Mansions which destruction lops â—ith fatall ruine O what sounding knells Fall from this
fabrick Angels singing musick To lure our soules to take coelestiall physick â—hen come stress'd thou who loaden is and weary â—nd here refresh thy fatigating soule â—ake haste and come and now no longer tarry â—est others barre Thee from Bethesdaes Poole When grace would touch thy sprite thy heart is troubled But be not slow lest losse on losse be doubled â—onsider Lord these times wherein we live â—d harken to thy chosen deare Elect â—t Israel joy and thine enemies grieve â—o time good God their sacrifice neglect But heare and help them guard them round about With heavenly hosts and thine Angelick rout Looke downe on thy stress'd Sion and her teares And bottle up her woes within the Urne Of thy remembrance Grievous grow her feares By Wolves in Lambskins topsolturvie turne Most fearfull seeme these whirlewindes of time Bred from the base seditious dregs of slime Such wound her sides but can not dimme her light The blood of Saints is her espousall seed When darkest stormes would theat to bring downe night Thy Spouse triumphs in Christ her soveraigne head No winde so high nor wave so great but grace Can calme sterne blasts when thou seest time and place When Man is snard by sinne and seemes as lost Then God drawes neare and makes his Sprite prepare The soule for grace So when forlorne or crost Christs Church appeares that even her Saints despaire Then comfort comes the Lord will not exile her Nor let the spight and craft of men defile her Pure like the gold is she and christall cleare White as the snow and sweeter than the hony Thy virgine Spouse most neare to Thee and deare Is farre more precious than ten Worlds of money The silver-fornace tryde is not so fine Nor halfe so sweet tasts Rethimosean wine Lord looke upon her crosses and relieve Her troubled Saints for Thee and for thy Sonne She springs through briers and mongst sharpe thorns doth livâ— Like to the Rose in midst of thistles wonne Her bloudy foes confound protect her Saints Erect maintaine their zeale Lord heare their plaints Faire is thy sister sweet thy Spousall love Her sent is bundled Myrrhe fixt on her breasts She 's thine cled with thy power thine harmelesse Dove For in the Garden of thy grace she feasts Come clasp her in thine armes come gracious Lord And shew thy Virgin Queene misericord Red shines the blush of Sions fragrant flowres Greene spring her boughs like Liban Cedars tall Swift flee her wings to court her Paramours Knowne to her friends but never knowne to all Whose purple Roabes are pure and finer farre Then Tyrians wore ere they were sackt by warre Like the Apple in midst of Forrest trees Thy Welbeloveds so 'mongst sonnes of Men The fairest 'mongst Women with radiant eyes Would succour have to save her from the Den Of darknesse black Lift up thy face and see The spices and ripe fruit of her fig-tree Whose breasts are like two twinnes 'mongst Lillies fed Her rosie cheeks more brighter than the Sunne One marke she beares that in the soule is bred Another badge lasts till our glasse be runne The thirds a sparke that mounts to Heaven above The light of Saints the love of endlesse Love Her richest garment truth and righteousnesse And that 's broudred with mercy grace and peace â—aithfull in all and patient in distresse Constant to stand unchangeable of pace And yet her beauty Heavens no fairer fixe Than mens tradition would the same ecclipse She 's Catholick now not ty'd to a place As Jewrie land where God was onely knowne Christs Church points forth the Universe for grace Came with th' Evangel peace to Pagans showne The Gentiles then were call'd as well as Jews For mercy came with Jesus Gospell news And yet there many darknesse love than light For sinne craves silence and umbragious places The cloud 's their covert and their friend the night The day their foe their Darling obscure faces Thus blinde inveigling vice turnes darknesse darke For jet-black sin can dim their foggy warke Too many darknesse love so sinne provides That blinded eyes must follow blinde tradition Blinde are they bred but blinder far their guides Who maske poore Ignorants with superstition Whose Church maintaines false miracles and treason Blood murther incest powder plots and poyson Besides this Church idolatrous and drunk With indulgence and pardons Policies At Limbus forgd Absurd for gaine and sunk In Purgatories avarice and lyes There other orient Churches erre and fall From Gospell truth they know it not at all The Aethiopian Abbasins the Moore Aegyptian Gopties Chelfanes Georgians Greeks Nostrans Syriacks Jacobines what more Grosse Armenians th' Amaronite that seeks Talp-drawne ignorance all of which do swerve Tradition is the mistresse whom they serve I could dive here in their distract'd conceit And blinde surmises sowne these parts abroad But I suspend yet here 's a dangerous state To cast opinions on the face of God Their Patriarchs like themselves do play the foole That will not square Religion with Christs rule O! if I could with Jeremie lament The worlds great errours and my fallings too And with grievd Ninivie in time repent Lest with my slippings justice me undo Thrice happy were I in this resolution Ere death enhaunce my life bring dissolution Yet soule despaire not God is mercifull Long suffring patient full of kinde compassion His love to Man is passing plentifull Whose grace and mercy flow on our confession For if one teare for sinne fall from our eyes He 's pleas'd to pardon our infirmities How gracious then is God how rich I say Is Christs redemption fraught with saving bloud If we have faith in him if we can pray And lift our eyes fixt on the holy Rude And then to suffer in our zeale those pangs Our Saviour thold in this our welfare hangs My merit is thy mercy that 's the end Although good works they are the way to heaven Yet not the cause why I may there ascend That in thy love remaines makes mine oddes eaven For if thou hadst not dyed what had I beene And if not risen what had my soule seene Thou wilt not gracious God break the bruisde reed Nor quench the smoaking flaxe for said thou hast That if our sinnes were dy'd in scarlet red Thou'le make them white as snow to let us taste Of grace and gladnesse 'Cause the broken heart Thou'le not reject contrition would convert Lord thou ordaind that death no flesh should shunne Cause why it was the doome and curse of sinne And so the punishment of thy deare Sonne Which for our sakes thy judgements cast him in That as the Divell prevailed by a Tree So by a Tree his power should vanquish'd be Then let the sight of thy transgressions rude Draw drops of teares from thine inunding eyes Since they did draw so many drops of bloud From thy Redeemers wounds thy soule to ease And looke what David said in faith and feare His sinnes were heavier
then his back could beare Then great was that sad burden Jesus bore In soule and body to exstirpe this curse His Fathers wrath our punishment therefore Our endlesse doome eternall his secourse His agonies our happinesse implord His bloody sweet our detriments restord As in a garden first our sinne began So in a Garden our redemption sprung That in like place where Adam the first Man Was by the Serpents craft exactly stung So so in Gethsemaine the Lord of light Triumph'd o're sinne put Satan to the flight Then Christ is that pure glasse wherein we spie Our wants our faults or what amisse is done Within instruction without examples lye Here death proclaimd and there salvation The lists are set then how can we come in But by repentance sorrowing for sin How precious were these tears of Magdalen Who washt Christs feet with eye-repenting drops Yea with her haire did dry these feet agen And kiss'd them with her lip-bepearled chops Last did anoint them with a costly oyle For which the Traitour Judas checkd such spoile Thrice sacred worke but more blest oyle and teares Spent in the presence of her soules Redeemer To expiat sinne Whom now the dead endeares To be a Saint for so did Christ esteeme her And for which love its memorie should last From age to age till all ages be past Besides her owne salvation she became A dayly follower to her Lord and Master Yea ministred things needfull fed zeales flame With heavenly food whereof she was a taster Nay to his death and grave she never left him And witnesse bore how thence his Godhead reft him Came not kinde Mary weeping to this grave To looke for Christ but could not finde him there The Angell spoke and ask'd Whom would you have Said she To see my Lord is all my care But he 's not here alas he 's stolne away And where he 's laid I know not nor what way The winding-sheet she found clos'd at both ends And close by the Tombe side she sate her downe She sought she felt she search'd and still suspends He was and was not there back to the towne She bends her face yet staid and cry'd and wept My Lord is stolne whom souldiers watch'd and kept The heavie stone roll'd back which fourty men Could scarce advance yet where 's my loving Lord I 'le runne and tell let the Apostles ken What villanies this night the Jews afford Yet gone she soone turnd back love masterd heart For from the Sepulchre she would not part Nor did darke midnight fright her nor the sight Of two bright Angels set at either end Of his interrement nor their words afright Her mourning zeale whose scope did deeper tend To seeke the Lord who gave her light and grace And till she found him would not leave the place At last Christ in a humane shape appear'd Whom she mistooke and for a Gardner deemd Said he Why wepst thou whom seekst thou she feard Said Tell me if thou stole him us redeemd Then Jesus nam'd Mary she turnes about And cry'd Rabboni with a joyfull shout This lessons us that when we fast or pray We should not faint but hope our suite shall speed He 'le come and come in time though he delay Our suite he 'le grant though we mistake the deed Then Mary-like let faith charge hope and do it Faile not be instant grace shall bring thee to it Christ from the worldly wise and great kept back These mysteries which silly ones did see And why his will did this poore woman take To witnesse that he rose and rose on hie That by his resurrection we might rise To cut the clouds and rent the azure skies As mines of gold and silver still are found On barren Hills and scurrile fruitlesse parts So faith so feare so zeale Religion sound Are chiefly plac'd and fixt in pooremens hearts Did not Christs wisedome this foresee and choosd The scummes of Nature whom the world refusd Lord grant with Magdalen I spend my teares With sighing sadnesse to implore thy pittie That when my conscience shall be void of feares I then may know thou hast destroy'd my dittie Speake peace I pray thee to this soule of mine Since what I have is all and onely thine As fire reserves two properties well mixt The one to warme the other light to shoe So mercy hath two branches better fixt Love to give peace and pardon to forgoe For pittie rules the helme and Mans distresse Craves calme in midst of stormie wickednesse Like so are troubles th' whetstone that doth square Stress'd hearts with prayer humble them most low Why cause adversities they still prepare The soule with patience to sustaine the blow All crosses to the just their well intend The cause being Christs their suffrings in him end Thou Joy of joyes sweeter farre than sweetnesse Thy mercy is that balme which heales my sores Thou peace and pittie oynt my wounds with wetnesse No drouth of sinne can chink my weeping gores Why cause each sinne begets a source of teares When sinne evapourats then grace appeares Then pardon fraught with pittie stops the Font Lest sorrow melt the soule in anxious sadnesse Deep sobs and windy sighes above they mount Whence they returne surcharged with godly gladnesse No finne so sterne but mercy can suppresse it If with repenting grief we but confesse it Lord save me from presumptuous sinnes and save My soule from sinnes desert mercy is thine All my transgressions kinde remission crave They lye before thee though the fault is mine Begging for pardon pardon they implore And in my frailnesse guiltinesse deplore A wounded conscience who can beare that load O racking sting that galles the quivring soule All sweet chastisements of thy gentle rod Are cleansers for to purge our errours foule But this mad grief contracts a gnawing worme Tempestuous whirlewindes of an endlesse storme What quick evasion shall my flight contrive To hide me from thy face what way or where If in the depths I drench lo thou canst dive If to the utmost coasts lo thou art there What umbrage Cell or Cave the world about Can menascond but thou wilt finde me out Above else deep beneath or here below Thy presence is Then whither shall I flee There is no point but that point thou dost know Though smaller than the smallest haire can bee No rocks nor hills nor darknesse can me night Nor blacknesse vaile from thy all-seeing sight Then in a word there 's no refuge for me But flye to thee whose sight I can not shunne To beg for peace and grace to mortifie My sinfull lusts before my glasse be runne Lord let mine eyes distill like melting sleet Or Marie-like who washd with teares thy feet It is the minde and not the Masse thou seeks My sprit is thine and longs to be refinde By it thou knowst my secreet wayes and creeks Whether I be to good or ill inclinde My soule 's the Ruther of my journey