with heauenly grace My comfort wealth that hell cannot rebate In such a rate Thy fauour do I finde As bindes me loue a father found so kinde SON XXVIII WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare For all the gifts thou doest on me bestowe Whose gracious measure so doth ouerflow As power of recompence cannot appeare I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare And to thy alter speedily do runne To follow forth thy praise but new begunne Till all thy people may thy mercies heare Thy glorious image shineth in thy Sonne Thy loue to man did his obedience show His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace whence faith and comfort grow Where through we know That we are thy elect And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect SON XXIX THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise O Lord of life hath many volumes made Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade Which aye increase as growing are my dayes Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes In multitude they number do exceed In glorie they do admiration breed Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed Thy fauour to thy creatures doth not fade The more in view of all thy works I wade The more I finde my sense confound indeed But yet in steed Of Eccho to thy fame I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name SON XXX THis stately stage wherein we players stande To represent the part to vs assignde Was built by God that he might pleasure finde In beautie of the works of his owne hand All creatures of the ayre the sea and land Are players at his appointment of some thing Which to the world a proper vse may bring And may not breake assigned bownds or band Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing Some mourne make their mone with heauy mind Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling God like a King Beholds Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape their states require SON XXXI WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye The fauour and perfection of my choyce He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie All earthly beautie he will straight defie As thing too base to occupie his braine Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine That they true tast of pleasure do denie But who so can this perfect sight attaine Cannot containe but yeeld with cheerfull voyce An Eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse Who to his praise do singing still remaine They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low That such a glorious God they will not know SON XXXII O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule With such a zeale as former thoughts controll And drawes heart powre and will thee to insue Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine To whom alone perfection faire is due Thou mak'st earths bewteous shadow seeme but vain Thy works of glorie and of powre remain Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll Which to our dying soules true life did gain Thy loue doth wain My thoughts frō baser loue And mak'st my heart and mind to soare aboue SON XXXIII IF beautie be as men on earth suppose The comely shape and colours which agree In true proportion to the thing we see Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose If white and red be borrowd from the Rose If bright and shining to the sunne compar'd If high and straight to goodlinesse w'award And beautie haue such base descriptions chose Then let the wise this beautie true regard Where all perfections in one subiect be Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree Which but to tast man suffred deaths reward Which is prepard And offred to our sight In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night SON XXXIIII HOw may this be that men of searching mind Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight In outward shape and colour comfort find And yet the better beautie leaue behind Vnsought or vnregarded of at all Compard to which none can it beautie call Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti apall Thus wise men fall Whom camall eies do guide Whose iudgement may not vertues sight abide SON XXXV O Heauenly loue with God thou dwelst for aye Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie Thou keepst the law thy feet step not awrie In all mens danger thou the surest stay To our request thou neuer sayest nay Ne wrath ne enuy moue thee ere a whit Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit Thou law and Gospell both dost ouer sway Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit With God in counsell thou art alwaies by Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply And makest vs receiue the frute of it And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue Loue made him send who loue therfore doth craue SON XXXVI THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare Whose glorie doth eclipse each other light Presents himselfe vnto worlds open sight Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare But sluggish so the greater sort appeare That sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure The cleare aspect of truth they not indure Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare But so my sences do his beautie allure To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright That therein onely haue I may delight Where is all happinesse I do assure He doth procure A plentifull increase Vnto my soule of perfect loue and peace SON XXXVII AVaunt base thoughts incomber me no more By laying forth these earthly wants of mine As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store If thou didst know thy nakednesse before He cloth'd thy soule and fed thy fainting minde With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore And then confesse the comfort thou doest finde By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine Is greatest riches truly to define So that contentment be not left behinde These gifts me binde To praise his holy name And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same SON XXXVIII I Will not feare with feruency of zeale To follow forth this faire affect of mine To loue of thee which doth my soule incline O Sauiour deare who sure my griefe wilt heale Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee And promisedst I should thy darling bee Made free within thy Church and common weale Disparagement there is not now in mee Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine But faith shall flie aloft to thee in
fine Where all thy treasures safely I may see And happie hee Bestows his loue so well Whose hope is payd with pleasures that excell SON XXXIX LOue then I will and loue thee Lord alone For fellowship in loue there may not bee Loue for thy loue ô Lord shall be thy â—ee For other recompence thou crauest none My vowes and deeds they shall be alwaies one All dedicated to adorne thy name My heart my soule my strength shall do the same Thy loue shall be my faiths true corner stone The loue of thee shall my affections frame To follow that may pleasing be to thee My eyes no beautie but in thee shall see And thy regard my wandring will shall tame Yea I will blame And scorne each other thing Saue what shall me vnto thy fauour bring SON XL. FAine would I praise thee Lord with such a zeale And feruencie as might my loue expresse Faine would my loue yeeld vnto thee no lesse Due praise then thou didst loue to me reueale But wanting power thereto I yet appeale To that thy goodnesse which thee first did moue In fragill flesh of mine the strength to proue Whose weaknes thou by heaueÌ„ly powre didst heale Mans wit in words comes short in this behoue To recompence nay onely to confesse The many waies thou doest our bodies blesse Much more our soules which freely thou didst loue Thy trustie doue Thy holy spright of grace Makes yet our weaknesse stand before thy face SON XLI O Perfect Sunne whereof this shadow is A slender light though it some beautie show On whom thy influence thou doest bestow Whose constant course still shines in endlesse blisse To scan thy glorie wit of man doth misse How far thy mercies beames abroad extend Tong cannot speake nor wit can comprehend And humane frailtie is bewrayd in this The fire ayre water earth they wholly bend The host of heauen and creatures belowe To pay their dutie vnto thee they owe Which didst their being and their vertue send And I intend With them in what I may To witnesse forth thy laud and praise for aye SON XLII WHat present should I bring of worthie prise To witnesse well the loue to thee I owe I nothing haue but what thou didst bestow Ne likest thou the toyes of mans deuise I would not spare my powre in any wise No treasure seemes to me for thee too deare The pleasures of the world the which are here Too base they are how ere wit them disguise To yeeld thee faith it doth the best appeare But mine is very weake alas I know To yeeld thee praise doth make a decent show But to thy merit neither doth come neare With garment cleare Yet clothd of righteous son My selfe to offer vnto thee I run SON XLIII WHo so beholds the works ô Lord of thine The stretched heaueÌ„s the seat where thou doest dwel The earth thy footstoole which dares not rebell Which all vnto thy will do still incline The Sunne and Moone by day and night which shine The changing flouds the firme and frutefull land The Planets which do firme for euer stand All which gainst thy behest dare not repine The host of Angels in thy heauenly band Th' infernall fiends with Lucifar which fell The fish the foule the beast agreeing well And all obedient to thy heauenly hand May vnderstand Thy glorie loue and powre Without whose help maÌ„ could not liue an howre SON XLIIII AS doth the Moone by daily change of hew By growing or decreasing beautie show The influence the greater lights bestow Whose absence or whose presence her renue So must all flesh confesse and thinke most true The faith or feare they haue for to proceed From heauenly grace which heaueÌ„ly gifts doth feed Without whose face blind darknesse doth insue Mans proper powre is so obâ—curde indeed With shades which rise froÌ„ earthly thoughts below That nothing but blinde ignorance would grow Vnlesse this sunne did shining comfort breed Which serues in steed Of fire vnto the same Fro whence this light of faith receiues his flame SON XLV IF Saba Queene a iourney tooke in hand From South to North wise Salomon to heare If humane wisedome was to her so deare That she did visit thus his holy land Then do I muse why men do idle stand In pride of youth when wit and meanes abound Their tender braines to feed with wisedome sound Far passing that this Queene for trauell found This error is the scarre of Adams wound Who sought his knowledge not in fountain cleare To whom forbidden skill did best appeare Neglecting graces him inclosing round But on the sound And written word I build Not Salomon such Oracles could yeeld SON XLVI HOw fond a thing it is which men do vse To beat their braines and so torment their hart In compassing the thing which breeds their smart And do not know what is the thing they chuse They childishly the name of loue abuse And would define the nature of the same By passions which belong to hatreds name Wherein to pine with pleasure they do chuse Who euer saw that figs on thorne-tree came Or thistels roses beare by any art With pain with grief with shame with losse impart Their passions which they for their loue do frame With iudgment lame Loue is a heauenly thing Where being plast it perfect loue doth bring SON XLVII LEt earthly things in earth their loue repose For flesh and bloud on faith they cannot feed It is a frute indeed of heauenly seed Which who disgesteth well life cannot lose The soule fro out of other matter growes And vnto other matter turnes againe Immortally to liue in ioy or paine As grace to sundry vses it hath chose Then is it time my thoughts at length to waine From laying vp my treasure for my need Where mothes and canker do so common breed As in the world whose wealth is meerely vaine If I attaine But faith layd vp in store In Christ my Sauious I desire no more SON XLVIII FYe fainting faith disswade me not so much From following of my louely heauenly choyce To thinke on whom I cannot but reioyce Whose name or memorie my heart doth touch What trauell ere befall I will not grutch Through fire and water I will him pursue Whose sight my fainting soule doth straight renue His loue and mercy both to me are such If I should dye for him it were but due By him I liue and follow will his voyce Regarding lightly fame or common noyse Which threaten paine and trauell to insue There are but few That passe the narrow way But crowne of honor doth their trauell pay SON XLIX I Find my heart is bent for to amend And follow thee forsaking wicked way From wickednesse my foâ—tsteps for to stay And to thy will my works henceforth to bend But yet the cause which makes me this intend I finde is rather feare then loue of right Yet free-will offrings do thee more delight And to such works thou doest thy
temptations fall And daily need assistance gainst the same In such respect this worke you well may call An Antidote a happie life to frame Whereto since hitherto your vertues bend You will accept I trust the gift I send To the vertuous gentleman Robert Bowes Esquire Embassador for her Maiestie in Scotland AS Painters vse their Tables set to show Of euery sight ere they perfected bee By others better skill the truth to know Of faults which they themselues could hardly see And as best drugs on meanest shrub and tree By skilfull Simplers gathred are sometime As gold in sand as pearles in shell-fish wee Do find and amber in the sea shore slime So vnder this ill-couched ragged rime Which to your clearer sight I do present It may appeare how high his thoughts did clime That first to frame the same his studie bent And I excusd who only do bestow What I to you by auncient promise owe. To the vertuous Gentleman Fulke Greuill Esquire VVHo can of learning treat and you forget Who may of vertue talke and you neglect Who would true fame from your due praises let Who should not knowing you your loue affect I therefore forced am in this respect To offer publikely for you to reed The thing the which vncrau'd you would protect If by malignors blame it stood in need In diuerse diuersly this worke will breed I know an humor in the censurers braine The wisest on the best contents will feed The curious for some scapes count all but vaine But of the better sort true prayse must grow The prayse of some is meere disprayse I know To the reuerend Doctor Andrews professor in Diuinitie I Would not flatter Court the Church much lesse But honouring both I would them homage yeeld In Courts I liu'd in Church I do confesse I wish to die and on that hope to build Then maruell not I also seeke to shield My bold attempt with fauour of your wing Since your diuine conceit can easliest wield The burden which this waighty theame can bring I meant in English dittie only sing The tragike notes of humane well away But waightie matter of so wise a king Compeld me yet a greater part to play Wherewith halfe fainting for your aide I craue Well meaning mind from feared blame to saue To his especiall friend Richard Carew of Anthony Esquire AS parents of their children fond appeare Oft times because with trauell them they bare Which makes them prise thē sometimes ouer deare When other see small cause for them to care As such likewise are often times to spare In care of children that themselues haue none So is it like with this my worke to fare With many readers when they are alone Who senslesse of my trauell like a stone As neuer hauing yet so tride their braine Will thinke I cocker this my brood as one Growne proud that I some issue do attaine But you whose painfull pen hath shown your skill Can iudge my part and it well conster will To his louing brother in law Robert Moyle of Bake Esquire and Anne his wife IF like the world a while I seeme to you Forgetfull and vnkind for kindnesse showne Thinke it not strange their natures I ensue Where most I liue whose proofe is dearly knowne The world to me vnkind and carelesse growne Conuerts my nature to her temperature My youth with loue of her puft vp and blowne Is cause that I now iustly this endure Yet worlds delights nor cares nere alter'd sure So farre my mind that I ingrate did proue Heauens faith earths friendship doth my soule inure To take far greater paines where once I loue You then by bloud and friendships holy vow Right deare take this and for loues seale allow To the Gentlemen Courtiers in generall REiect me not ye Peares of gentle spright Because I do appeare in plaine array Sometimes for change the curious do delight In meane attyres and homely food we say They are not limbd the best that go most gay Nor soundest meats that most the tast do please With Shepheards russets shield from cold ye May With hungry meales preuent oft times disease Such home-wouen robes such wholesome dyet these Euen these rude lines of my compiled frame Do offer you your iudgements to appease As may him nourish that doth vse the same Not mine but wisest Salomons recait To gaine the blessed state we all await To the Right Ho. the Lady Marquesse of Northampton THe part which I haue taken now in hand To represent on stage to common sight With my true nature seemes at strife to stand And on an actor farre vnfit to light Accustom'd more on vainer theames to write Then with the taske which now I do pretend Which being to be view'd by iudgements bright Makes me to seeke your fauour it defend Vouchsafe a gracious glose thereto to lend I then beseech you worthy Patronesse To whose applause full many more will bend Because they know you vertue do professe And vertue is this theame and that diuine With grace consent then to my sute incline To the Right Honourable the Countesse of Darby WHen this my bold attempt to mind I call VVho Phaëton like would Phebus Chariot guide From doubtfull thoughts into dispaire I fall How such cleare light my weake sight may abide From one presumption vnto more I slide And giue the raigne so much to rash desire That I make publike what I ought to hide And seeke my sanctuary in that heauenly fire VVhose Image of perfection I admire In our rare Goddesse wisdomes clearest light VVhose grate aspect my many wants require To clense the clouds which blind my iudgmēts sight And such faire starres as you who influence haue Of her bright Beames to giue some light I craue To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Cumberland AS one whose rashnesse once hath made him bold To breake the bands of vsed modestie If of his error he shold hap be told VVill hardly yeeld that he hath gone awrye So worthie Lady I confesse that I Vnworthie scribe of such a heauenly stile Now that I needs my boldnesse must espie VVould couer from iust blame my selfe a while VVith borrowed grace therefore I seeke beguile The cōmon sights who least would spare my name If worthie you therefore but kindly smile I know that many more will do the same For wisest sort on vertuous do depend And vertuous ones will vertues cause defend To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Warwicke IN Courtly life to keepe a conscience pure In youngest yeares to shew a matrons stay In honours type a lowly mind t'inure No doubt a hart regenerate doth bewray Such you are held of such as rightly way The practise of your life to your great praise Whose vertues all temptations ouersway And your rare gifts vnto the heauens raise No common thing it is in these our dayes To see such starres in our darke firmament Your worth your soueraignes influence wel bewraies Which so transformes where
feareth euery cloud that is in sky But little corne shall sow or reape to sell If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby So giue thou when thou maist and thinke thy store Increast thereby no whit impaird the more verse 5 As child in wombe so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee verse 6 TheÌ„ morn euen sow thou thy seed God knows which best shal be 5. As thou knowest not which is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the wombe of her that is with child so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all Thinke this that euen that God which gaue to thee The present blessings that thou dost possesse Thy charitable workes from heauen doth see And will thy labours in due season blesse If thou thy faith by neighbours loue expresse And thinke that as the infants borne that bee Conceiued are do grow do liue do feed And be by birth in time from prison free By meanes vnknowne to mothers them that breed Se be assur'd that God which it hath wrought Can wealth restore by meanes to thee vnthought 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall be a like good Both rath and late at euery time and tide Then do vnto thy power some almes deed Without some others good let no day slide So oft as thou canst find aman hath need And who this can performe is blest indeed For man can not his worke so wisely guide To know to whom and when to giue is best But who for pittie giues and not for pride Though needlesly some fall among the rest Yet some no doubt is blessedly bestowd And in thy will of good good worke is showd verse 7 Sure life is sweete and all desire long time to see the sunne verse 8 Though long life last yet death maks hast times do vainly run 7. Surely the light is a pleasant thing and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne And since but whilst thou liu'st thy goods are thine And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse Giue while thou mayst so mayst thou find in fine Well sau'd what well was spent in liuing dayes For godly worke with God aye present stayes Long mayst thou liue but must in end decline To death the end of euery liuing thing To yeeld to death yet needst thou not repine If liuing thou to man no good canst bring And hauing left some good by life to men More welcome death may be vnto thee then 8. Though a man liue many yeares and in them all he reioyce yet he shal remember the dayes of darknesse because they are many all that commeth is vanitie For death thou knowest vnto life is due And life doth but prepare a man to die Liues cares a daily death in vs renue To worke in vs consent to death thereby Which else no flesh with patience sure would try The many dayes or yeares which do insue Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight Cannot perswade him but that this is true That lightsome day will turne to darksome night That times most long haue end and what doth vade Is little better then a very shade verse 9 Reioyce in youth fulfill desire yet know God iudgeth all verse 10 To clense thy hart wicked flesh graue age vain youth doth cal 9. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thine hâ—rt chere thee in the dayes of thy youth and waâ—ke in the wayes of thine hâ—rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Delight he then in what so ere he please In youth in beauty strength or wealthy store Let him delight himselfe in vse of these And cheare his hart as cause he hath therefore Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore And that they all do vanish with their wayes That God alone remayneth euer â—ure That only vertue with vs longest stayes And can eternall blessednesse procure When to the iudgement of a God seuere Our workes must come who all in mind doth beare 10. Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Let him and all the wise whilst yet they may Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind The fierce assaults in death that for vs stay And but by faith can strong resistance find Since all our other workes come short behind Let vs abandon euery wicked way And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine Chap. 12. verse 1 Remember thy creator then in these thy youthfull dayes Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes 1. Remember now thy creator in the daies of thy youth whilst the euill dayes come not ANd since thou canst not shun deaths fatall day And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise Whilst yet thou mayst prepare a quiet way Vnto thy soule which in such danger lies If thou in time reliefe do not deuise The earth and earthly things do helpe denay Heauen is the harbor where thy soule doth dwell Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay But it and workes thereof from hart expell Delay no time in hope long life to haue Youth may age must ere long time go to graue Nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To heauen thy progresse thou dost wish to make Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake And thinke them burdens to thee euermore And in thy life haue lights of vertue store Let thought of thy creator thee awake From sinnes of youth hart burdensome in age Remember God account of thee will take If thy repentance not his wrath asswage Yea leaue thou sinne ere lust leaue tempting thee Thy abstinence else can not vertue bee verse 2 Whilst sunne moone stars seeme light and rayny clouds are farre verse 3 Whilst keepers of thy house are strong whose pillers stedfast are 2. Whâ—les the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the clouds returne after the raine The feeble members which haue lost their might Through which their senses did affection proue No maruell now if they take lesse delight In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue The sunne moone stars heauens ornameÌ„t earths light Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse When all thy ioynts begin by day and night Do tyre thy life and breed the soules remorse No maruell if thou then proue continent But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent 3. When the keepers of the house shall treÌ„ble
is none SON XCIII IF I did hope by pen to patterne out The many merits of thy Maiestie Which of thy mercies we do daily trie And endlesse matter I should go about But I alas my strength so much do doubt That nothing lesse then such a thought I haue To point foorth others to a thought I craue Whose confidence in skill is much more stout Yet dare I say that nature neuer gaue The power to flesh and bloud to looke so hye Nor gifts of grace full few there are apply To giue him laud aright that did them saue How to behaue My selfe herein I learne And wish my will might others likewise warne SON XCIIII VVHat tongue or pen can shew it selfe vnkind Vnto a father full of mercy so Who freely doth such benefits besto And of our case hath such a carefull mind Before we were a way he forth did find Whereby to purchase vs in heauen a place When natiue strength our glory should deface A remedie therefore his loue assignd He giues vs knowledge of the same by grace Which offered is to them the which will go Vnto the word where sauing health doth grow And faith through which our Sauiour we imbrace And being base By birth and thrall to hell He vs adopts in childrens roome to dwell SON XCV VVHy should this worldly care haue now such power To quench the comfort which the soule shall find In this our God who is to vs so kind The memorie of which should feare deuoure If faith were watred well with heauenly shower Of grace and knowledge of our happie state It would the force of all assaults abate And be a bulwarke strong at trials hower If we the world and flesh did truly hate And made his will a law vnto our mind If doubt of power or will did not vs blind Which to distrust sets open wide the gate Then would this rate Of worldly care be lesse And he our faith with fauour more would blesse SON XCVI HOw loath this flesh of mine remaineth still To part from sinne his old companion deare Of death or of a change he would not heare But would imbrace him aye with his good will The very thought of death his thought doth kill The very feare thereof his sorrow brings So sweet the pleasures seeme of earthly things That nought else can our fond affections fill But who is wise fro out the snare he wrings Before perforce death doth approch him neare That abstinence no vertue doth appeare When want of power subdues affections stings But who so flings From them when they pursue To him pure name of vertue indeed is due SON XCVII VVHo so would liue of force he first must die Death is the doore which leadeth vnto life Life which shall be deuoyd of change and strife Whose comfort shall our teares of sorrow drie The way is straight the which man must go by If to the heauens he purpose to ascend His grosse corruption must to graue descend And dead the power of sinne therein must lye If he to be regenerate intend First must he mortifie the motions rife Of lust which kill the soule with cruell knife And eke his ruine presently pretend For God will send A happie change indeed As haruest paies with plentie plow-mans seed SON XCVIII VVHen I with griefe sometimes to mind do call The wofull losse that sinne to man hath brought And want which to all creatures it hath wrought By Satans slight and Adams fearefull fall I find no comfort in worlds vse at all But wish to be dissolu'd with Christ to dwell From whom all blessings flow and do excell In thought whereof my comfort is not small Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well Into a doubt if that in truth I ought More sorrow parents fall which death hath brought Or ioy the life through Christ to me befell Yet truth to tell I find the change so good Our state is better now then when we stood SON XCIX IF I can speake and like a coward crake If I can tell the thing the which is best If I in muster seeme to battell prest And yet shrinke backe when I should triall make If I indeuour others to awake Fro out the deadly slumber they are in And yet my selfe cannot reuolt from sin But in the pride thereof do pleasure take By all my trauell I no gaine shall win Although my paine might proue to others blest But as the Symbals sound doth to the rest I mâ—ght haps morne when others mirth begin The feast but thin Would be vnto my share Though many dishes to the guests I bare SON C. FOrtune and chance blind guides to blisse farewell Vpon your leasures I no more attend I not regard what good or ill you send Nor in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell A greater blisse then ere through you befell Ye made me to neglect I now do see Whose hope from feare could nere continue free But aye distrust did gainst my faith rebell The earths delight the which ye promist me Could not my soule from sorrow ought defend Your sweete with sower was mixed in the end So vaine and variable both they be Then happie he That seeketh blessed rest In Christ alone and doth the world detest CONCLVSION VVOrds may well want both inke and paper faile Wits may grow dull and will may weary grow And worlds affaires may make my pen more slow But yet my heart and courage shall not quaile Though cares and troubles do my peace assaile And driue me to delay thy prayse awhile Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile Thy mercies Lord by which my plaints preuaile And though the world with face should gratefull smile And me her pedlers packe of pleasures show No heartie loue on her I would bestow Because I know she seekes me to beguile Ne will defile My happie peace of mind For all the solace I in earth may find FINIS SVNDRY AFFECTIONATE SONETS OF A FEELING CONSCIENCE PREFACE VVHere hast thou rangd my retchles soul so long How too securely hast thou luld my mind In so long space no cause or meanes to find To once againe renue thy vowed song Be not too bold thinke not thy perill past May be thy iourney is but new begun Pleasures do vanish dangers fly as fast To stop thy course if slowly thou do runne Thy vowes are made they may not be vndonne And cause thou hast if blessings not thee blind To keepe thy promise to a God so kind By whom alone thou freedomes rest hast wonne To him nay to thy selfe then do not wrong To whom thy hart powre will by vow belong SON I. OF thee and of thy prayse Lord will I sing Who rid'st on winged Chariot of the skie Whose throne is plast aboue the thrones most hie Whose will doth forme change ech formed thing To thee the offerings of thy bounties gift To thee the due of my attaynd desire I will present and with a voice
vplift Contend to cause the world thy name admire Thy prayses do not mortall praise require For lo alas they no way can come nye Vnto the holy hymnes thy Saints apply And Angels sing inflam'd with heauenly fire Yet shall my soule such zealous present bring As shall record my loue to heauens high king SON II. EXild be mortall cares raysd be my song To treat with stile condigne thy honor still O mighty Ioue who heauen and earth dost fill With myrror of thy power to thee belong All powers and wils of body and of mind Thou mak'st and blessest with thy prouidence Thy bountie to the needy is so kind As nought but mercieâ—and loue proceedeth thence At our right hand a readie safe defence If Satans practise once assaile vs will Thou holy motions dost in vs distill And dost illuminate our dulled sence Thou dost redeeme fro out the enemies throng The innocent whom worldlings vse to wrong SON III. VVRo out what dreame what sleepe what charmed rest Rouse I my selfe who too too long haue stayd With worldly cares and vanities dismayd And cleane forgot almost soules solace blest My greedy nature quaffed ouer much Restrained poyson potions of delight New libertie did former dyet grutch Though life the one death other show'd to sight Nature gainst grace prouoketh still this fight World to our wils doth yeeld accursed ayd Satan our senses dulles that not affrayd We worke our wracke with greedy force and might But waken me ô Lord I thee request With pleasure paine welth wo as likes thee best SON IIII. WHat is thy measure full dost thou suppose Of strength of perfectnesse of plenteous store Of frutes of faith profest that now no more Thou carest albeit thy tree true beautie lose It can not be whilst life and sap remaine That barren branch so holy plant should beare A faire greene tree of goodly leaues were vaine Vnlesse that kindly frute also there were Words are but leaues works fruits that should be there Shew that thou liu'st by charitie therefore True holinesse doth teach a righteous lore Whereby to neighbors good our thoughts we reare Vaine is our knowledge and our holy showes If in our life the fruite of loue not growes SON V. HOw can I hope for all my forward speed My fresh incounters of the riuals first My bold intent and zeale which venter dirst To runne so hard a race and long indeed To win the prize if past the greater paine I faint or do begin my speed delay Or trusting ouer much the goale to gaine Let euery leaden heele leade me the way In race of soule to heauen light many a stay And fainting body doth for pleasnre thurst The world strowes golden fruits of tast accurst Which toucht with loue we lose to soules decay Then let me still runne on so haue I need For constancie stands most the soule in steed SON VI. ALl will not serue the more I would beware The more I headlong fall and drowne in sinne So farre vnlike the victorie to winne That to his building morter I prepare One thing I say an other thing I do One show of worke I haue an other deed I runne cleane from the marke I looke vnto With one hand quench the fire with'other feed One error doth a hundred errors breed If one I cut to grow do ten begin This fleshly laberinth that I am in Is of the sinnefull race of Hydras seed But yet my trauell still I will not spare Because I know God hath on me a care SON VII FAine would I bring some fruit of sauorie tast For offering of freewill and of my zeale But I do feare my weakenesse to reueale Like new wine in a crazed vessell plast The vessell yet not liquor being mine And it fild in by master of the store I hope he will not at my gift repine But if it faile will it replenish more My weakenesse I do oftentimes deplore And for reliefe to him I do appeale Yet ioy the bounty that he daind to deale And halting hast to those that go before In hope that my nay his gifts shall be grast Through loue vnto his sonne whom he imbrast SON VIII I Maruell much sometimes to see my will Contraried by my selfe with harts consent To see me crosse the course my purpose ment And yet th' euent thereof proue better still I am by nature vnto euill prone And that pursue with forward fleshly ayd Straight way my mind is chaÌ„gd by means vnknown And heart consents my former will be stayd The cause hereof and issues I haue wayd And find them strange yet bending in intent Vnto my good sometimes though ill I ment And fayld of plots my greatest wisedome layd Which doth my soule in fine with comfort fill To see Gods prouidence my purpose spill SON IX I Now begin to doubt my present state For that I feele no conflict in my mind A settled concord needs must be vnkind Twixt flesh and spright which should ech other hate They neere agree but to their common woe And that through sin which luld them both a sleepe A warfare in this bodie would I goe Lest fraud or treason in through rest should creepe The practises of Sathan are so deepe Armed with flesh and lust whom prone we find That hardly can the soule his freedome keepe But that these fiendes would him with frailty bind Vnlesse with heauenly weapons at debate With them we stand and fight both rare and late SON X. VVHen I remember with what speed in post The Iewes return'd from bondage tooke in hand Their Temple to restore and armed stand In breach of wals to build what enemies crost When I their bountie note in offering store All freely giuen and more then they could vse How true their treasures were that would no more Their workmens faith accounts whilst Kings refuse How these our latter times which we accuse Of ignorance through fraud of Balaams band Did yet powre forth the plenty of the land To holy vse which other did abuse I sorrow much to see true zeale cleane lost And pure religion shakt for sauing cost SON XI VVHat loue is this whereof the world doth tell Which they to God professe and men admire Loue hath his lawes and doth effects require Of charitie to neighbour to excell For as the members of one bodie bee Partakers of the passion others haue And speedily concurre to helpe we see Because thereby the bodies good they craue So if their loue to God they freely gaue And held him head their zeale would burne like fire To serue his Saints the needy to attire And home the stray to call the lost to saue For how can they th'inuisible God loue well WheÌ„ they neglect their neighbors neer that dwel SON XII VVHo so will serue the Lord he must bestow The whole not part of body or of mind If in his heart dislike hereof he find His soule not yet regenerate we may know Betwixt two stooles no sitting
Elizabetham REgia Virgineae soboles dicata parenti Virgo animo patriaemater Regina quid quid optas Chara domi metuenda foris Regina quid optas Pulchra piaes princeps foelix Regina quid optas Coelum est Certò at serò sit Regina quod optas Ioh. Lily Ad Lockum eiusdem INgenio genio locuples dic Locke quid addam Addo quod ingenium quondam preciosius auro Ad Authorem NOn vane vanos sapiens perstringit abusus Nec vano enarras regalem carmine mentem Nec qui suasit opus fuerat vanúsve malúsve Nec vanum diuae sacrum dicare laborem Cuius quid vani quid non memorabile dictu Non vanumest sceptro populum rexisse potentem Non iusto regem bello superasse superbum Non Antichristi virès fregisse furentis Non armis miseros vicináque regna fouere Si vanus repeto ignosce ô regia virgo Vano Pergetamen Sola haec vera putato L. P. To the worke THee Princes pen now present to a Prince And poeme to a princely sprited Muse Ye full sound Ethicks of the sweet essence Of heauenly truth which all ought to peruse View all reape good leaue ill without excuse H. A. To the Author FOr me to praise this worke it were no praise Whil'st thou doest publish it it prayseth thee Thing once cald perfect further praise denayes Because all other words inferior bee With happie sight thy muse appeares to see That could select a subiect of such choyce Which hath enforced many more then mee With silence for thy blist attempt reioyce Thy former vaine no vaine conceipt bewrayes By Passions patternes of a Christian fight But for this worke yet highest honor stayes And therefore henceforth feare no others flight Thy Zeale thy theame thy gift thy fame to staine Which imitate they may but not attaine M. C. TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE TO you thrise sacred Princesse of this I le By God By countrie By true wisdomes praise Elect Annointed Soueraigne is the stile Religous Empresse Beautie of our dayes His Church you cherish that your state did raise Our peace you purchase where your throne is plast Eternall glorie on your actions stayes Rare Crowned Vertue Holy Humble Chast Whom all heauens high perfections fully grac't Whom all earth honors should do will adorne VVhom all the Muses haue with loue embrac't VVho doth pale Enuie and blind Fortune scorne To you wise kings discourse of blisse I bring Renowned Queene true type of happiest King Chap. 1. verse 1 Those sacred words king Dauids son did preach who Israel taught verse 2 All vanitie of vanities he calls more light then thought 1. The words of the Preacher the sonne of Dauid king in Ierusalem THe heauenly words of holy Dauids sonne Who ouer Israels race sometimes did raigne Wherewith to vertue he his subiects wonne Whilst in Ierusalem he did remaine And to instruct them thus did not disdaine Those words no vaine discourse it is I write Pend by a Prince as God did them indite Strange doctrines which some paradoxes call But yet the quintessence of holy creed Liues pure Elixer which is sought of all T' asswage cares corasiues in heart that breed Of happinesse the generatiue seed Of morall speculation practise sound Of constant faith the quiet fruit he found 2. Vanitie of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanitie The farre fet happinesse which some propound In minds in bodies and in fortunes gifts Which all conioyned seeldome times are found But to a vaine conceit the fancie lifts And their best Sectaries do lose their drifts The crowne it is of heauens most glorious state Earths fruites all vaine care folly and debate Yea vaine all vaine saith he mans soule well proues What euer on earths spatious Orbe below Hath breath life being sense or what so moues By vegetatiue kind or which doth ow To nature a declyning state to grow Vaine in the roote in bud in flower all vaine Vaine fruit whose of-springs vainly vades againe verse 3 What solid fruite finds tyred man of trauell vnder Sunne verse 4 The earth is firme whilst mans age past another age doth runne 3. What remaineth vnto man in all his trauel which he suffereth vnder the Sunne What if some one amids a multitude More happie in many points then others be Yet truly can you not thereby conclude That perfect happie in all respects is he Nor long time can enioy the same we see Vpon a tickle point earths blessings stand And come and go in turning of a hand All must confesse that nothing long remaines To man for all the trauels of his mynd Sustained in this life with bodies paines Since earth and earthly things all vade by kynd As doth a shadow or a puffe of wynd No prouidence preuenteth destinie Earth and her fruites do liue but for to die 4. One generatiō passeth and an other generatiō succeedeth but the earth remaineth for euer Mans life like to a burning lampe doth wast And like the ship on sea all stormes abyde Flies swift as thought which straight is come and past Whose memorie as soone away doth slyde As trace which soaring fowle through aire did guyde Whose entercourse of change so swift doth go That sence can scarce discerne that it was so And as on stage new actors issue still Vntill each part expir'd the play be done So generations newe the world do fill And ages newe past ages ouer-runne And shall till this worlds end haue new begun That other world which neuer shall haue end To which we posting thus our hopes should bend verse 5 The mouing sun doth rise and set and turnes from whence it came verse 6 The wind frō north to south blows roūd calmeth with the same 5. The sunne riseth and the sunne goeth downe and draweth to his place where he riseth Yea all heauens elements full well we see Though farre more durable then man by kind Yet for our vse in motion still to bee And by their change of change put vs in mind As in the lightsome sunne we proofe may find Whose time in measuring out our time is spent Whilst we to marke his motion onely ment This glorious Bride in loue of earth his spouse From his Starchambered pallace of the sky Drawne on by mornings wings betimes doth rouse Through either Hemi-sphere and passing by Th' Antipodes from East to East doth fly With euery step Horizons making new Wherewith the earth new bewties doth indew 6. The wind goeth toward the South and cōpasseth toward the North the wind goeth round about and returneth by his circuit This pure sweete aire wherein things breathing liue Th'all filling essence of vacuitie He vnto life the very spright doth giue And neuer rests his presence to applie To our behoofe who languishing would lie If long he should retire his flagrant breath Whose vse from vs restraind doth menace death He being speedie guide to motions all In tender care and
neighbour loue he owes Vnto those lower regions forth doth call From hils and dales exhaled breaths whence growes As many winds as on earths compasse blowes Which cleansing clouds and drying dampish soile Do whistling through earths hollow vaults recoile verse 7 Fresh waters from the sea thence flowes their ebs yet fill not it verse 8 All is but toyle man sees or heares with his insatiat wit 7. 〈…〉 The liquid streames of waters which arise Fro out the Cesterne of the Centors deepe Whose winding channels in a wondrous wise Through hils and dales in curbed wise do creepe A constant progresse do by nature keepe Till they the Ocean their deere mother meet Whose brackish tears for thē their drops make sweet Whose fruitfull wombe in gratefull wise repaies The yeelding earth the tribute of her loue By sending strayned springs through forced waies And Porus passages for mans behoue That so her selfe in bounds might mildly moue Who yeelds likewise to beare earths heauy brood And breeds her selfe some store of humaine food 8. All things are full of labour man can not vtter it the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the eare filled with hearing And not these compound elements alone Are subiect to this intercourse of change But euen the foure pure elements ech one Doe from themselues to th' others natures range Though contrary by kind with motion strange Earth into water turnes moist into aire Pure aire to fire Condenst they backe repaire So all things labour euermore and tend Vnto their end which when they once attaine That forme doth chaunge and to another bend Which likewise in his time hath end againe And nothing in one state doth long remaine Whose wondrous frame in vaine man seekes to find Whilst no mans studie can suffise his mind verse 9 What euer hath bene shall be done for there is nothing new verse 10 What may we say is now the which was not before thinke you 9. What is it that hath bene that that shall be and what is it that hath bene done that which shall be done and there is no new thing vnder the Sun For proofe let me demaund but this of you Who most haue searched natures secret powre And you who are conuerst in stories true And you obseruers of ech day and howre Haue ye not found that time doth all deuour And that new times the like things doth produce As any former ages had in vse We dreame of secrets daily newly found And of inuentions passing former wits We thinke our world with wisedome doth abound And fame for knowledge vs much rather fits But ouer-weening thoughts this toy begits Their longer liues more temperately led In holy studie sure more knowledge bred 10. Is there any thing whereof one may say behold this it is new it hath bene already in the old time that was before vs. What one thing can we say is new indeed Excepting time it selfe which still renewes New sinnes perhaps this wicked age would breed Yet can not other then first age did vse The name of new indeede we do abuse By calling new the thing we newly know Which rather ignorance of skill doth show Those elder times no doubt in golden age When natures strength was in her youthfull prime When Will on Wisedome tended as a Page And loue of vertue banisht many a crime When humble thoughts did not for glory clime Then all things flourisht sure that now we see And actions all that are or that may bee verse 11 Things past forgotten are we see and future so shal bee verse 12 In Ierusalem Israels king I was who teacheth thee 11. There is no memorie of the former neither shall there be a remembrance of the latter that shall be with them that shal come after But they forgotten are as ours once shall Mans few and euill dayes with cares of mind Make many worthy things to dust to fall And vs to predecessors grow vnkind Whose fames with theirs shall vanish with the wind And as our stealing wits would clips their fame Deuouring time shall desolate our name For what more equall recompence is due To such as others merits doe depraue Then that like base contempt do them insue And of successors they like guerdon haue And so we see fame leaues vs at the graue Build then his happinesse on earth who will He but himselfe with care and scorne shall fill 12. I the Preacher haue bene king ouer Israell in Ierusalem By proofe I speake who once a mighty King Did sway the Scepter of the holy seed Whose blessed name of peace true peace did bring And publike wealth which happinesse did breed And all delights whereon the world doth feed From Dan to Bersaba there bound before And from Euphrates vnto Nylus shore My seat in Centor of earths Paradice In blest Ierusalem Gods dwelling place Neare to whereas mount Sion doth arise The holy hill which doth the countrey grace Wherein I ruled not a litle space For fortie yeares I raigned still in peace And in a ripened age I did decease verse 13 I gaue my heart God gaue this care true wisedome out to find verse 14 My studie found all vnder sunne to be but griefe of mind 13. And I haue giuen mine heart to search and find out wisedome by all things that are done vnder the heauen this sore trauell hath God giue to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby And all this time I bent my power and will To find faire wisedomes pallace that I there My homage due might pay vnto her still And trophes to her in my heart might reare Her loue made me all other loue forbeare Welth I and honour health and euery thing Disdaind that did not me true wisedome bring I therefore first did God most humbly craue To guide my steps in such a holy care Who thenceforth thereof such a measure gaue As none for wisedome might with me compare To proue all things I did my heart prepare Insatiat still as man by nature is Of skill so doomd for Adams first amis 14. I haue considered all the works that are done vnder the sunne and behold all is vanitie vexation of the Spirit What euer nature of her selfe brings forth Or skilfull Art by practise could produce What euer did to any seeme of worth Or for necessitie might seeme of vse Was still the obiect of my studious Muse Which out of all to gather did desire That happinesse whereto we would aspire But for my paines on earth did nought attaine But losse of time and agony of Spright A vaine desire replete with skill more vaine A carefull life disguisd with vaine delight A puft vp braine with dreames of wisedomes sight But to my heart vnfruitfull of content To wearied life a lode of time mispent verse 15 The crooked thing can none make straight or nūber things amis verse 16 I thought and said in power or wit none like me was or is 15. That which is crooked can none make
surpasse them farre As Henok Babell Troy true patterns are 4. A time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance Though nothing be more needfull to our kind The rigors to alay of worldly care Though nothing better for the health we find Then mirth at times we may well for it spare Yet in the vse of it we must beware And vse it so as if we readie were The brunt of greatest crosses straight to beare For times there are when dutie doth require We should impart with neighbours woe and griefe For partners in distresse doe all desire And men suppose thereby they find reliefe For sinne so should we mourne as cause most chiefe When Gods offended face doth threat his rod Thus mirth and woe are both requir'd by God verse 5 To scatter stones and gather them t' embrace and thrust away verse 6 A season is to seeke to loose to keepe to wast I say 5. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones a time to imbrace and a time to be far from imbracing There is a time when we the quarries draw And from the bowels of the earth full deepe Rayse vp her bones the stones which neuer saw The lightsome aire and them we carued keepe To rayse with them our towers to heauen which peepe Which afterward decay and we are faine Their ruines to transport abrode againe Euen so in youthfull yeares it seemeth fit As nature made it apt for loues imbrace So for the worlds increase to yeeld to it With due respect of person time and place Yet nothing more vnseemely in such case As when decrepit age creepes to the graue To dote in loue and seeke a wife to haue 6. A time to seeke and a time to loose a time to keepe and a time to cast away There is a time when man with reason may With diligence indeuour for to gaine A portion fit his family to stay Although with sweat of browes and daily paine But it were folly to torment his braine If losses happe for there will losses fall Vnto most wise if they haue ought at all Then he that 's wise knowes when to spend and spare For who hath most before he die may need And he must spend sometimes that is most bare And he may thriue that doth the needie feed Bountie doth loue and neighbour liking breed It is a vertue placed in a meane Although it rather doe to giuing leane verse 7 A time to reape and sow againe for silence and to speake verse 8 To loue to hate to talke of peace and peace with war to breake 7. A time to reap and a time to sow a time to keepe silence and a time to 〈◊〉 The rich attyres ordaynd by craft mans hand To couer shame which sinne made man to see Be not so comely held in any land But that in other lands dislikt they bee So what one sowes the other reapes for thee Good workes for Taylers that new-fangled are None make more fast then others mending marre What speake we of such common things as this Not speech it selfe the Eccho to the hart May be so free but it restrained is To ciuill rules and lawes of very art The tongues misuse ofâ— breedes the bodie smart We therefore learne both how and when to speake And when we modest silence may not breake 8. A time to loue and a time to hate a time of warre and a time of peace Yea though that kindled heate of beauties fire And sympathy of natures liking good Chast loue be founded on a iust desire And beare such sway as hardly is withstood Infecting by the eye both spirit and blood Yet such incounters grow in some respect That loue findes hate best merit base neglect Yea bloudie warre the scourge of peace misusd The fire-brand of ambition hels owne chyld The wracke of iustice value oft abusd From common wealth may not be well exyld Though peace breed welth welth yet with pride defyld Produceth warre which pouertie doth breed To which heauens blessed peace doth yet succeed verse 9 What profit finds the toyle some man of all his carke and care verse 10 To humble mans ambitious mind God did these pames prepare 9. What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he trauelleth Which if so be as so it is indeed Then would I haue the Gimnosophists wise The Magy Druides and Stoicks breed The Sophis and most wise of all Rabbies And all Philosophers of euery guise Who morall rules and naturall skill did know Or iudgements supernaturall did show Them would I haue to tell to me in briefe What profit man most properly may say He hath of all his dayes consumde in griefe Which he assured is with him shall stay The goods of fortune subiect to decay The strength of bodie fayling euery houre the minds much more which worldly cares deuour 10. I haue seene the trauell that God hath giueÌ„ to the sonnes of men to humble them thereby I see me thinkes a laborinth of woes Enuiron man about from day of birth Till houre of death what so about he goes With sower sauce seasoning still his fained mirth Cares him accompan'ing vpon the earth For needfull things for life yet foolish he With needlesse studies still will medling be And God hath iustly giuen this plague to all For our forefather Adams clyming mind That humbled so we might before him fall Confessing that we are poore wormes most blind And fly to him where we may comfort find Vpon his prouidence our selues to rest As thing whereby we onely may be blest All beautious desird God made though al things maÌ„ not know This only good know I with ioy good works in life to show 11. 〈…〉 made eâ—ery thing beautiful in his time also he hath â—et the world in their heart 〈◊〉 can not man 〈◊〉 out the worke that 〈◊〉 hath 〈…〉 from the beginning 〈◊〉 to the end Indeede God so his creatures beautified And marshald so their musters euery one That in them his great wisedome is espied And in their season is their beautie showne Defect vnto their kind they suffer none No maruell then if heart of man desire To see and know their vertue and admire And God hath giuen to man a speciall will To search for knowledge euer while he liues Who therefore beates his braines about it still And vseth all endeuour nature giues But he in vaine about the matter striues He neuer can or shall the depth attaine Of Gods decree his labours are but vaine 12. 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 is â—Sthing good in them but to reioyce and â— do good in his life Let wise men therefore learne to be content With knowledge of such things as vs befit Enioy the blessing God to vs hath sent And with contented mind in quiet sit His paine and trauell may not farther git Then God hath limited of that be sure With patience therefore doe thy selfe indure For I no other good
and shall Yet we as they one common end do find One dissolution of this earthly frame Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind From whence at first creation forth it came The memory whereof the mind should tame Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will Which whilst they liue the world with comber fill verse 21 Who knows mans soule ascends or beasts vnto the earth desceÌ„ds verse 22 Best then say I ioy in thy owne which thee thy knowledge ends 21. Who knoweth whether the Spirit of man ascend vpward and the Spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth And though indeed the soules immortall seed Which had his being from a cause more pure Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed And shall in all eternitie endure Yet to the eye of man who can assure The same if faith the light vnto the soule Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule For euen the selfe same instruments of life The same necessities of nutriment The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife The same abhorred death hath nature lent To euery creature that on earth she sent And at and after parting of the spright The carkasses of both seeme like to sight 22. Therfore I see that there is nothing better then that a maÌ„ should reioyse in his affayres because that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him So that I see no vse of earths increase Fit for our bodies but whilst here we liue With them to cheere our sprights and purchase peace And vnto God for them due praise to giue Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue For he and they are subiect as you see To chaunge and to earths fraile mortalitee As for the care the wise and goodly haue Of their successors competent estate It is but due and nature doth it craue But for their loue our selues we ought not hate And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate What they will proue or what in time may grow We know not nor should curious be to know Chap. 4. verse 1 TheÌ„ earths vnrights I viewd tears of wroÌ„gd by worthles iudg verse 2 And therwith thought theÌ„ blessed dead need not the liuing grudge 1. So I turned conâ—idereâ— all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne and behold the teares of the oppressed and none conforteth them and â—o the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them and none comforteth him BVt whither doth this passion me transport My thoghts with thinking haue forgot my thought Whilst earthly I with earthly worlds consort And to the bodies cares haue comfort brought My meditations haue the heauens sought And those eternities which passe my skill But now descend to earth againe I will And of more humaine actions will intreat Where we a tragedie of woes shall see Whilst weaker ones oppressed by the great Are destitute of place whereto to flee For succour since their foes their Iudges bee And farre too powrefull wherewith to contend And most men backward poore men to defend 2. Wherefore I prayied the dead which now are dead aboue the liuing which are yet aliue Which makes me thinke though nature it deny That much more happie is the dead mans state Then those that in this life such troubles try And life like death my heart begins to hate Death vnto endlesse life is but the gate But life is vnto death a longsome way Where tyresome troubles vexe vs day by day And death that lothsome state which life doth shun By life itselfe with care and toyle is sought Through perils men to purchase death do run And with lifes scorne holde death but cheaply bought Which honour to them selues or countrey brought For life could not exempted be from wo Whilst dying they all worldly cares forgo verse 3 The vnhorne better then them both who such ill daies not saw verse 4 It vexed me the spight to see that vertuous workes do draw 3. And I count him better theÌ„ them both which hath not yet bin for he hath not seene the euill works which are wrought vnder the suune But yet indeed since both by life and death The state of many men is wretched still They may most happie seeme which nere drew breath Or infants dyed neuer knowing ill And reason good for both produce I will The ones not being making them to bee Incapable of vengeance wicked see The other cleane exempt from humane care As being dead now needing nothing more Whose actuall crimes hels doome could not prepare Originall sinnes by grace were cleansd before And mercie guiding them to high heau'ns dore Whose want of reason liuing knew no wo But voyd of feare to death did mildly go 4. Also I beheld all trauell and all perfection of workes that this is the enuy of a maÌ„ against his neighbour this also is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit This other plague besides doth follow man A vice alas too common in this age The more of vertue that he glory can The more the baser sort repine and rage And with reprochfull slander malice swage Depriuing or deprauing best desart Or it Eclipsing with some guilefull art No foe to learning like the ignorant Nor to the good like to the bad we say Gods kingdome Beliall seeketh to supplant And vertue fayling his another way Euen viciously they vertue would betray Who herein yet themselues do but disgrace For slander can not iust deserts deface verse 5 The slothfull foole he folds his hands but hunger staru'd he pines verse 6 Whilst to a poore but lasie life his chosen course inclines 5. The foole foldeth his hands and eateth vp his owne flesh Themselues like fooles and feeble helplesse wights Vnable or vnwilling to attaine The trauell which belongs to vertues rights Doe poore disgracefull liue and so remaine And caterpiller like on others paine Doe feed and liue to world improfitable Driuen to depend on scraps of others table Nay well it were with some if so it were Who foodlesse are compeld to begge or starue Because their idle fingers doe forbeare The honest trades which might their liuing serue Whose folded hands no better doth deserue But as they to themselues do proue vnkind So they of others should no better find 6. Better is an handfull with quietnes then two handfuls with Iâ—bor and vexation of the Spirit Yet which is lamentable to be told They senselesse so in idlenesse delight That they their course of life to prayse are bold And all virilitie excluding quight Their base borne humours glose so well in sight As though an humble thought and peace of mind From all industrie did the honest bind As though that peace and plentie neuer met As if wealth were attain'd with bare desire As though they carelesse were that liue in debt As if they grieselesse who not wealth aspire As though God did not trauell'of vs require As though an humble mind appeard not best In modest vse of plentie and of rest verse
he his state bewrayes For contraries by contraries are showne As blacke from white so good by ill is knowne As one that for some passed publike crime Is scandaled and pointed at of all With shame retyres himselfe in future time Least into more disgrace he yet should fall And hanging downe his head doth sigh alas And rage with griefe so he his dayes doth pas verse 17 These hold I good with ioy to feed on portion God doth giue verse 18 And whom God giues with this his grace he in Gods loue doth liue 17. Behold then what I haue seene good that it is comely to eat and to drinke and to take pleasure in all his labour wherein he trauelleth vnder the sunne the whole number of the dayes of his life which God giueth him for this is his portion Then this for earthly good I count the best For other good I scarcely any know That with those goods thou hast thou pleased rest And for thy owne behoofe thou them bestow Such part I meane as nature craues to vse Euen plenteously so thou it not abuse And hold this all thou hast of that is thine For that is left thou seest may be lost God gaue the plentie of both corne and wine To cheere mans troubled soule with combers tost This if thou hast and grace to vse it right Thou hast earths good the most on thee may light 18. Also to euery man to whom God hath giueÌ„ riches and treasures giueth him power to eat thereof to take his part and to enioy his labour this is the gift of God And they are rightly vsde when vsde they bee As he ordaines that did them first bestow God was the author of all good to thee To him thy life all thankfulnesse doth owe So vsing them they to thee blessings are Else wealth breeds woe peace proues as ill as warre Thou seest many starue in plenteous place Thou seest lusty youth suruyn'd by age Thou seest honour stoope to foule disgrace And heauy cheere the greatest ioyes asswage And for men do not yeeld the praise of all To God these mischiefes do vpon them fall verse 19 He need not sure thinke long his daies of pilgrimage on earth Since God doth answere harts desire to him with ioy and myrth 19. Surely he will not much remember the daies of his life because God answereth to the ioy of his heart O rare and happie they that God doth blesse With grace to know and vse his gifts aright Sure they more easly may support I gesse The common cares that do to all men light For present comforts cancell passed care As pleasures past do way to woe prepare Such season so the actions of their life That common cares seeme but the needfull sauce To quicken tast as peace insuing strife More gratefull is and hath the more applause They God in wealth and woe a father find And vnto him will not appeare vnkind Chap. 6. verse 1 This mischief more moÌ„gst meÌ„ I find some haue their wish at will verse 2 Of honor and wealth yet liue in lacke a strangers mouth to fill 1. There is an euill which I saw vnder the sunne and it is much among men BVt not one woe alone I must disclose For many woes do follow humane kind Great were these griefes but not more great then those That vnrecorded yet do rest behind One mischiefe seldome time alone doth fall One care or other sure doth follow all To speake of woes will lesse vnpleasing bee To such as heare not feele thereof the smart Thou who so happie art mayst better see By others harme thy happie peace of hart Then heare and learne more happinesse to gaine If thou from others ill thy selfe refraine 2. A man to whoÌ„ God hath giueÌ„ riches treasures honor he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth but God giueth him not power to eat thereof but a strange man shall eat it vp this is vanitie and this is an euill sicknes Thou mayst well see full oft a man enioy In show all blessings nature can bestow Lands honors wealth whose wants breeds thee annoy Whilst he to world doth happy seeme in show Not wanting any thing that thou wouldst craue Yet some one want makes him small comfort haue He hath no wife or else he hath no child Or hath them both but both vngracious proue He wants his health imprisond or exild Or cares of common weale his ioyes remoue His restlesse mind thus thirsting midst the streame He pines in care and finds his blisse a dreame verse 3 And more if hundreth sonnes yeares he haue if lack content verse 4 If die contemnd worse then abortiue child to graue he went 3. If a man beget a hundred children and liue many yeares and the dayes of his yeares be multiplied and his soule be not satisfied with good things and he be not buried I say that an vntimely frute is better then he Suppose a hundreth children he begot And liuâ—d as long as old Methusalem Yet if defame his family do spot And he do lack the common loue of men And want the honor of his funerall How can you any wayes him happie call True happinesse on vertue hath his ground And only measurd is by peace of mind What though all earthly blessings do abound If that the soule no inward comfort find Is not th' abortiue child more happie farre Then those that liuing thus perplexed are 4. For he coÌ„meth into vanitie goeth into darknesse and his name shall be couered with darknesse In farre more happie state in very deed Is he whose timelesse birth his life denyes Whose mothers wombe vnable him to feed Vnperfect him reiects and doth despise Vnprofitable burden also long To beare that nature hath compounded wrong For being he is not the same he seemes The others seeming proues not so indeed This liuelesse humane shape a man none deemes That deemed man with dreames our eyes doth feed This neuer being knowen none knoweth not Of all men this admyrd of all forgot verse 5 That neuer saw nor knew this life this did the worse his state verse 6 Two thousand yeres spent void of ioy makes death seeme ouer late 5. 〈◊〉 he hath not seene the sunne nor known it therfore this hath more rest then the other How much it better is in true account To be a happie man or so esteemd So farre th' abortiue th' other doth surmount Though naught it seeme the other much is deemd For hauing nothing good it hath no ill But his expected good all woes do fill His closed eyes which neuer saw this light Those woes nere saw which th' other saw and felt His senslesse braine which knoweth no delight Incapable of cares with th' other dwelt Makes his estate lesse ill much better held Than his that thus in wretchednesse exceld 6. And if he had liued a thousand yeares twise told and had seene no good shall not all go to one
If that thy speech had not bene vttered soft Or not conceald by such as heard the same Which will thee make another lesse to blame For it were meere iniustice to condemne Our vnderlings for lauish speech of vs When we our betters farre do more contemne Yet lothly would therefore be serued thus The rule of Charitie doth will thee do As thou thy selfe wouldst faine be done vnto verse 25 This haue I prou'd wisdom sought to know which fled froÌ„me verse 26 It is too high and deepe my reach cannot her secrets see 25. All this haue I proued by wisedome I thought I will be wise but it went farre from me All this haue I found by experience true And so mayst thou if that thou way it well Apply thy selfe the same then to ensue And let her lawes within thy actions dwell And of thy wisedome do not ouerweene For many times the wise are ouerseene My selfe by nature was inclynd to skill By education was instructed much A heauenly gift did more my knowledge fill And all the world supposd my wisedome such As few attaynd and I supposd no lesse But found my folly great I must confesse 26. It is farre of what may it be and it is a profound deepnesse who can find it For of three things all worthy to be knowne The past the present and the future things Whose first in writs record in part is showne Whose last with deepe obscurenesse blindnesse brings In th' one I had but euen a very tast In seeking th' other out I time did wast That vulgar knowledge which by moderne view I did obserue to make my profit by Did somewhat me instruct and much more trew Then passed things forgotten presently Or dreamd supposals of succeeding time Which for to fetch to heauen my thoughts should clime verse 27 My hart mind hath wisely searcht both good bad to know verse 28 And worse theÌ„ death a womans snares I found God sheld theÌ„ fro 27. I haue compassed about both I mine heart to know and to enquire and to search wisedome and reason and to know the wickednesse of folly and the foolishnesse of madnesse That knowledge which I had I did bestow With heart and mind in searching round about The true effect of euery thing to know And of effects the causes out of doubt For happie they are held that can define Of causes and effect how they incline And chiefly I obseru'd whence good and ill Haue their originall and nutriment What bounds they haue and how the soule they kill And in the vse of them sought mans intent And so of mirth of folly and delight And what so seemd most pleasant vnto sight 28. And I find more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares and her hands as bands he that is good before God shall be deliuered from her but the sinner shall be taken by her And loe I found all sinne to end with shame Yea euen the sinne which doth most men allure The lawlesse loue of women of defame Who bitterer plagues then death to vs procure Insnaring in their bands of beauties gift The wretched soules which yeeld vnto their drift A fatall furie of the flesh alasse In idle braine begot with plentie fed Whose smallest sparckles to a flame do passe If by the eye the fancie will be led But such as God doth loue shall lust refraine Whilst wicked ones intrapped do remaine verse 29 The wicked fall by her faire bayts this I the preacher find verse 30 Of thousand men scarce one proue good of women none by kind 29. Behold â—â—â—th the Preacher this haue I found seeking one by one to find the count Beleeue me well I know it ouer well By many a one my selfe haue found it true I teach thee this who best the same could tell And for the same with all my hart do rue And wish thee by my harme the like beware And for their new assaults thy selfe prepare For few or none but do assaults abide At first or last and ouer many fall Thou doest not know thy strength what may betide The wisest sort fall herein most of all In any case then trust not to thy strength Some dally with the fire but burne at length 30. And yet my soule seeketh but I find it not I haue found one man of a thousand but a woman among them all haue I not found I must confesse I would not men acquit From equall blame in this so grosse a sinne Beseeming not in truth their stronger wit To yeeld to them whom they from ill should winne And in this point mongst thousands that I know One wise and perfect man I scarce could show But of a world of women that this day Do prostrate their affections to their lust By my experience sure I cannot say Though others can perchance and will I trust That one hath so reclaymd her life to good As that a new assault would be withstood verse 31 This only haue I found that God did man most righteous make But men for their originall grace their owne inuentions take 31. Onely loe this haue I found that God hath made man righteous but they haue sought many inuentions So we and they as wofull president Of parents fall to euill do incline He 'is best at ease that doth his sins repent And not of others sinnes too much define Nor yet his owne excuse bad is the best This sinne is but one sinne among the rest For though God made vs holy pure and iust And gaue vs powre in righteousnesse to dwell Yet did our wils so to our senses trust That it the vse of reason did expell Since which a swarme of hatefull sinnes increase On thought word deed and all our actions prease Chap. 8. verse 1 Who is like the wise who al things knows his face with fauor shines verse 2 The wise his Princes hests obserues and to Gods word inclines 1. Who is as the wise man and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing the wisedome of a man doth make his face to shine the strength of his face shall be changed IT stands him then vpon who would withstand This great calamitie of humane kind Another course of life to take in hand Then in the practise of the most we find And arm'd with wisedome gainst the flesh to fight Not yeelding cowardlike to lewd delight That is true wisedome worthy lasting fame That doth adorne with honor and with prayse Such as sincerely do imbrace the same That will transforme their life to better wayes And giue them grace with Prince and people still And in the end aduance their state it will 2. I aduertise thee to take heede 〈◊〉 the mouth of the king and to the word of the oth of God It teacheth man his dutie vnto God And how with ciuill men he should conuerse With neighbours how to haue a kind abode Or with a people that are most peruerse To know what doth
but small For in those points the best knowe nought at all verse 15 He tyres himselfe in highest points yet knowes not common way verse 16 O wretched land ruld by such child whose peeres do feast by day 15. The labour of the foolish doth weary him for he knoweth not to go into the citie Thus do the foolish vainely take in hand To vexe their braines with things for them to hie They know that future things none vnderstand Yet they their faculties therein will try Such wise fooles fondly wise the world hath many It fares with them if it be rightly scand As with the blind that would the seeing guide As if one wandring in an vncouth land Would those instruct the way dwell hard beside They silly fooles know not their next way home And yet their wits would ouer all things rome 16. Wo to thee ô land when the king is a child and thy Princes eat in the morning Wo be to such that by such ruled are But speciall wo be to thee land where they Do beare the Scepter least they all do marre As ill as infants when they beare the sway Who not themselues much lesse thy state can stay And doubled is thy woe and mischiefe farre If that thy Magistrates who should aduise Their Prince in highest points of peace or warre To banqueting and surfets early rise Neglecting common good which first of all With temperate braine they should to counsell call verse 17 But blest ô land where honor rules where Nobles feed to liue verse 18 By sloth the house decays rain through top of roofe doth driue 17. â—lessed art thou â— land when thy king is the sonne of Nobles and thy Princes eat in time for strength and not for drunkennesse And thou thrice happy soyle whose Prince descends Of pedegree of Emp'rors and of Kings Of auncient honor which to vertue bends Whose rule both peace and plenty to thee brings Where through thy fame moÌ„gst forreÌ„ regions rings And happy Prince whom God a Councell sends Of noble Peeres and wise whose watchfull eyes Thy subiects from all forren foes defends And ciuill broyles that might at home arise Such do in temperate wise their plentie vse And feed for strength and plenty not abuse 18. By slothfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decay by the idlenes of the hand the house droppeth through They cause the Pesant in sweet peace manure The land the treasury of wealths encrease Vnto the needy they do worke procure And see the poore with wealthy liue in peace And all oppression in the land to cease Their waking eyes doth Princes state assure Doth to the people courage giue to toyle Gaines to themselues a fame shall aye indure Giues to the foe the most disgracefull foyle All this with paine and diligence is wonne Slouth ruines all makes all to hauock ronne verse 19 Bread streÌ„gthens hart wine cheers the mind but siluer al doth by verse 20 Curse not thy king or Peeres in thought lest birds the same descry 19. They prepare bread for laughter and wine comforteth the liuing but siluer answereth to all They giue the safetie for to vse thy owne And peace of plentie that thou mayest feed Thou feedst by them of best on earth hath growne Of fatlings which thy flocks and heards do breed To recreate thy soule at time of need And for by gold and siluer wealth is showne They do inrich the land with purest quine By which thy trafficke farre and neere is knowne And Indian gems and Arabian drugs are thine Gold gayneth all and Ophire gold thou hast Then happie thou if hap in wealth be plast 20. Curse not the king no not in thy thought neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber for the heauen shall carry thy voice and that which hath wings shall declare the matter Then slander not such Prince that counsell graue By whom so many benefits we find Their many merits many thankes do craue Each honest hart to reuerent loue they bind And base backbiters only are vnkind The lawes of God and nature willed haue The Magistrate should reuerenced bee The lawes of man the bounds vnto thee gaue Of words and deeds but God the thought doth see In deed then word and thought them honor aye Least flying fowles of ayre thy guilt bewray Chap. 11. verse 1 Cast bread on waters freely spend ere long thou shalt it find verse 2 To seuen seuen giue if they need earths wants are great behind 1. Cast thy bread vpoÌ„ the waters for after many days thou shalt find it NOw since no lesse discretion is requir'd In vsing wealth then getting of the same And that the bounteous mind is most admir'd Doth profit others most and gaines best name I therefore wish thereto thy hart to frame I would not haue thy hand too quickly tyrde Nor too respectiue vnto whom to giue Some I haue seene for shame haue not desyrde An almes whom greatest need to craue might driue Though water powred in the sea seeme vaine Yet needlesse gift a gratefull hart may gaine 2. Giue a portion to seuen also to eight for thou knowest not what euill shall be vpon the earth Some giue in hope a gift to gaine thereby Such gifts I rather bribes then gifts do call Some feare to giue least they themselues may try Like want ere long and so giue nought at all Some sometimes giue but yet their gifts are small But I would haue thy almes giuen cheerefully Vnaskt sometimes if crau'd to none denide Let none lacke to thy powre in need that lye And to preuent their need some goods deuide For God all bountie is and so should we Dispose our goods if like him we would be verse 3 If clouds be full raine fals on earth and trees in north south verse 4 Who sowes and reapes by rules of wind but little land he plow'th 3. If the cloâ—des be full they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth and if the tree do fall toward the South or toward the North in the place that the tree falleth there it shal be Yea looke how plenteously thou seest the raine Fro out the deaw-fild clouds on earth distill So long as any drops in them remaine Wherewith earths dryed cesterns vp to fill So in thy almes be thou as forward still And as each soile some sap from heauen doth gaine And euery tree and shrub of deaw hath part So thinke thou not thy gift bestowd in vaine To whom or when so ere thou giuing art And if thy store be great more mayst thou spend If lesse yet some vnto more needy lend 4. He that obserueth the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the clouds shal not reape Take all occasions to be doing well Let euery season for it proper seeme The husbandmen that most in skill excell Though sometimes they to sow more fit do deeme Yet to be too precise vnfit esteeme Who marketh alwaies where the wind doth dwell And
and the strong meÌ„ shall â—ow theÌ„selues Before this glorious building do decay Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest Thy comely body which erecteth aye The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest Grow feeble and therein thou find no rest When trembling hand his duety doth denay And brainefalne thighes and legs bend vnder thee When lamed limbs on others strength must stay And crouches in their steed of force must bee What time thou twise a child shalt weary grow That thou the strength of youth didst euer kuow Ere teeth wax few and windowes closd deny thy eyes the light verse 4 And dore shut vp thy grinding iaws to chaw haue lost their might 4. And the grinders shal cease because they are few they wax darke that looke out by the windowes Before the Cators of thy diet fayle Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare Which lost or loose their labours not auayle But broths and minst-meats must become thy share And sharpned knife thy toothlesse gums must spare Before that darksome mists thy eyes assayle Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee When christall humor failing they shall quayle And spectacles must teach them now to see Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue Of worlds vaine shades which did the soule deceaue And the dores shall be shut out by the base sound of the grinding Before thy wanny cheekes sinke hollowed in In which well formed words should fashion haue And corrall lips which haue their portall bin And plyant tongue which elocution gaue Now faltering signes for interpretors do craue Whilst those white cliffes the bounders which begin The repercussion causing sweet resound Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin Through which they gracious passage somtimes found And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence The root of sweet content and sharp offence Ere sleeplesse braine at birds voice start and singing pipes be base verse 5 And high assents do make thee feard and almonds bud on face 5. And he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of singing shall be abased Before thy dryed braynes doe rest denye Vnto thy tyred bones and carefull mind And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye In bed thy graue for ease tofore assignd And starts at each birds chirpe or puffe of wind Before thy organe pypes with horcenesse dry Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce Wherewith resembling heauens true harmony Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed Also they shall be affraid of the hie thing and feare shall be in the way and the Almond tree shall flourish Before thou tyr'd at euery step must stay And clamber small assents on hand and knee And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way A spectacle of feeble nature bee To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see Before the harbengers of age I say Euen grieâ—ly haires do blossome on thy chin Which for most part declyning state bewray As Almond bud showes sommer to begin Prepare thy selfe for death the haruest due Which after spring time must of course insue Ere weaknesse make the grashopper a burden seeme and lust Consume for sure concupiscence with age doth weare to dust 5 cont And the Grashopper shall be a burden Before the childish toyes of infants lust Begin to want the wings of warmed blood And that thy body yeeld as once it must To age by which that humor is withstood To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good For looke how of May deaw and sommers dust The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know Like to Ephemeris that Tanaish flie Morne bred noone borne that very night to die And concupiscence shall be driuen away Not those faire frutes which by Gemorra grow Which touched once straight vnto dust do fall Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all Although regard thereof we haue but small Lust like a Torrent soone doth ouerflow If that accesse of nutriment abound But in a moment straight it waxeth low As by experience hath bene euer found Not Ammons of faire Thamor foule desyre So fierce but quencht with loathing did retyre Before in ages â—ed thy graue thou he whilst thee they morne verse 6 Thy siluer cord and golden ewre and liues pure cesterne worne 6. For a maÌ„ goeth to the house of his age and the mourners go about in the streete Then leaue that lothsome snare of humane kind The common cankor of the best concait Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind And to more brutish sins th'alluring bait And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight Suppose each ringing knell puts thee in mind That thou art in the way vnto thy graue Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find But so in all thy life thy selfe behaue As if thou were the man whose turne is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext Whiles the siluer cord is not lengthened nor the golden ewre broken nor the pitcher broken at the well nor the whele broken at the cesterne Before I say the vitall spirits faile Or that thy radick humors all be spent That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile And natures intercourse no more be sent From liuer hart and braine as earst it went Before warme bloud with I sey fleame do quaile And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine Before the cesterne made for liues auaile Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine But all the wheles of nature lacking strength To giue them motion they do faile at length verse 7 And flesh to dust thy spright to God returne that it did make verse 8 For all is vaine the preacher saith and all will vs forsake 7. And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gaue it For then be sure thy dayes are neere an end And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust Then yeeld thereto before perforce thou bend And in thy strength of youth repose no trust Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust Thy nobler part thy soule it did descend From God first mouer of all life and grace Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend In thee and it and will thy soule imbrace Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest 8. Vanitie of vanities sayth the Preacher all is vanitie Thus haue I sayth this Preacher proued true The proposition that I first did make That earthly things are vaine in vse and view That in them we can not sound comfort take And that in th' end we must them all forsake That wisedome only vertue should insue And vertue is the way to happinesse Which after death doth life againe renue A life more happie then the world can gesse When we shall liue from lewd
affections free And in that world no vaine delights shall bee verse 9 These things and more he spake for more he knew the more he taught His people knowledge for their good in all his words he sought 9. And the more wise the Preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge Full many other learned workes beside He wrote for more he knew the more he taught Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought And he with care and study dearely bought Three thousand morall rules in writ abide In prouerbs and in adages for skill So sound that they worlds censure may abide And to a ciuill life reduce thee will Without offence of lawes and with content Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent And caused them to heare Of natures workes with supernaturall skill He many volumes did compose likewise Not curious workes as some profanely will Of Alcumy or iudgements which arise By heauenly motions farre aboue the skies But he his knowledge hath contained still Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree And therefore many volumes he did fill With medcinable vse of things which bee Abstracted out of tree shrub mettall stone Of beast fish fowle and creatures euery one He sought by parables to giue them precepts how to liue verse 10 And with adorned words to them he doubly grace did giue 10. And searched forth and prepared many parables His heauenly Muse with wings of zeale did fly Aboue the common pitch of earthly men And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby With holy liking of his loue as then That he could not containe his gratefull pen. In thousand songs and fiue his powers did try The prayses of his sacred soules delight In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy Which from him loue of world did banish quight Among the which that song of songs by name Describes her beautie did him so inflame The preacher sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing euen the words of truth But this his large discourse was chiefly ment To teach the world to know how farre they stray That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent To leade their liues vnto a happie day Since nature wholy doth the same denay Which for it crosseth carnall mens content And hardly may amongst most wise haue place By this most pleasant stile about he went To giue to naked truth a comely grace For hardly can corrupted man digest Right wholesome food vnlesse it well be drest verse 11 For wise words are like goades and nailes which workmens hands do ding verse 12 Vaine bookes and reading shun they wearinesse of flesh do bring 11. The words of the wise are like goades like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies which are giuē by one Pastor And wise mens sayings spoken to the wise Well fraught with matter couched well by art Adornd with words and figures whence arise Content vnto the eare and moue the hart Most soone do worke impressions in each part And as they sooner pierce so firmlier lies The mind resolued in such fownded ground Than any planke or post you can deuise With nayle by hammers forced nere to sound And such this princely Prophets words esteeme Which are more waighty far thē thou woulst deeme 12. And of other things besides these my sonne take thou heed for there is none end in making many bookes and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh And let this graue aduice of father mild Which louingly he wrote I bring to thee Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild That with the world againe sedust thou bee Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see And striue to practise as you knowledge build Else is your learning vnto little end These many bookes wherewith this world is fild Do slender profit to the readers lend Which stuft with words of superficiall show But little fruit by them to world doth grow verse 13 Heare th' end of all feare God keepe his law this is mans dew verse 14 For God wil iudge ech work bring our secret thoghts to vew 13. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commaundements for this is the whole dutie of a man The end of all true wisedome is in this To know the will of God and it obserue To know his will and yet to walke amis A double chastisement must needs deserue Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue No seruile feare which I perswade it is But such as gratefull child to parent owes VVho though he feele the smart the rod will kisse Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes And this doth God require of man indeed That our obedience should from loue proceed 14. For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgment with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The breach whereof will heauie iudgement call VVhen God the searcher of the heart and raines Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines O happie then shall they be most of all VVhose heedfull liues in holy workes were spent The gaine of this their trauell is not small For blessed they the narrow path that went And though this narrow gate few enter in Yet who runs on this race the prize shall win FINIS Adue to worlds vaine delight YE worlds delights blind guides to blisse adue VVeake helpes which fit a carnall vaine desire My soule can find but comfort small in you Though as true blisse profane sort you admire My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire In faith to place my hope of firmer stay To gaine true blisse lesse toyle it doth require Then worlds vaine pleasure doth by farre away Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray Your liking base effect of fond desire The earth your seat doth perfectnesse denay My soules true hope inspir'd with heauenly fire There seekes to liue where blisse is firme and true And by reformed life would heauen pursue Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer by the same Author Psalme 27. 1 THe Lord he is my sauing light whom should I therefore feare 2 He makes my foes to fall whose teeth would me in sunder teare 3 Though hosts of men besiege my soule my heart shall neuer dread 4 So that within his Court and sight my life may still be lead 5 For in his Church from trouble free he shall me keepe in hold 6 In spight of foes his wondrous prayse my song shall still vnfold 7 Haue mercie Lord therefore on me and heare me when I cry 8 Thou badst me looke with hope on thee for helpe to thee I fly 9 In wrath therefore hide not thy face but be thou still my aide 10 Though parents fayle thou wilt assist thy promise so hath said 11 Teach me thy truth and thy right path
least that the enemy 12 Preuaile against my life whose tongues intrap me trecherously 13 My heart would faint for feare vnlesse my faith did build on thee 14 My hope my God and comforts strength who will deliuer mee Psalme 71. 1 IN thee ô Lord I trust therefore from shame deliuer mee 2 Performe thy promise saue thou me who call for helpe to thee 3 Be thou my rocke of strength and shield whose powre is great might 4 Deliuer me from wicked men and put my foes to flight 5 For in thee onely from my youth haue I my trust reposd 6 Thou hast had care of me whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd 7 Thee will I praise who art my helpe when men at me do scorne 8 My mouth thy mercies still records who helpst the mind forlorne 9 In time of age forsake me not or when my strength doth faile 10 Least that the counsels of my foes against my soule preuaile 11 Who say my God hath me forgot they therefore me pursue 12 But be thou Lord at hand to me who canst my strength renue 13 Shame and reproch let be their share which my destruction seeke 14 But on thee alwayes will I waite with humble hart and meeke 15 My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse whose measure doth excell 16 And in thy trust my steps shall walke and tongue thy truth shall tell 17 Euen from my youth thou hast me taught thy wonders well I know 18 And whilst I liue if thou assist I will thy iudgements show 19 Thy iustice Lord I will exalt whose workes are like to thine 20 Who threw'st me downe and raisd me vp who else in dust had leine 21 Thou canst mans honor soone increase and shew thy chearefull faces 22 Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse ô God of grace 23 My lips shall ioy to talke of thee who hast my safety wrought 24 My freed soule shall still confesse who hath my safety bought Psalme 119. 1 BLessed are those whose wayes are right and in Gods lawes do walke 2 Whose heart obeyeth to his will and lips thereof do talke 3 Such do not worke iniquitie but so their wayes direct 4 That in their life by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect 5 O would to God my deedes therefore so straightly I might frame 6 That with regard of thy precepts I might be free from blame 7 Then shold I prayse with vpright hart thy righteous iudgemeÌ„ts known 8 Which whilst I study to obserue Lord let thy helpe be showne PART 2. 9 By looking to thy lawes most soone a man may perfect grow 10 Since then my heart hath sought the same astray let me not go 11 Thy promises in mind I beare which me from sinne withdraw 12 Thou gracious God and blessed guide teach me thy perfect law 13 My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse and iustice thou doest vse 14 To follow freely thy beheast I 'le worldly wealth refuse 15 For of thee will I meditate and studie whilst I liue 16 And to obey thy iust precepts my mind will wholly giue PART 3. 17 Be gracious to thy seruant Lord giue life and powre to mee 18 Open my eyes that of thy lawes I may the wonders see 19 I am a stranger vpon earth hide not from me thy will 20 My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still 21 Thou hast destroyd the proud and curst are they which go astray 22 Shame and contempt yet take from me who keepe thy lawes alway 23 Though Princes hate me for thy truth yet will I thee obay 24 Thy lawes shall be my studie still and comfort night and day PART 4. 25 My soule with sorrow is opprest giue me thy promist aide 26 Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse thy wrath makes me affraid 27 But teach thou me thy truth that I thy wonders may admire 28 For shame of sinne soâ—daunts my hope it dares not helpe desire 29 If thou redresse my blinded steps and teach to me thy will 30 Thy ordinances will I keepe and looke vpon them still 31 Thou are the portion I do chuse ô Lord confound me not 32 But guide my steps to run that race the which thy lawes alot PART 5. 33 Teach thou thy statutes vnto me that I may keepe them all 34 Giue thou the knowledge of thy will and turne my hart withall 35 Direct me in thy path ô Lord therein is my delight 36 Incline my mind vnto thy word and sinne put thou to flight 37 Turne thou my eyes from vanities and do thou quicken mee 38 Performe thy promise made to me whose hope depends on thee 39 Preuent the shame I feare because thy iudgements all are iust 40 Behold I would performe thy will thy grace relieue me must PART 6. 41 Then let thâ— promise kindly made O Lord fulfilled be 42 So shall I sâ—â—se my iust rebuke and giue the praise to thee 43 Take not away from me thy truth for on thee I attend 44 But let my lips speake of thy praise vntill my life doe end 45 My feete shall freely follow thee vntill the truth I find 46 I will not shame to Kings thy truth to preach with constant mind 47 Yea all my solace shall be still my loue of thee t' expresse 48 My lifted handes vnto the heauens thy glory shall confesse PART 7. 49 Remember then thy promise made wherein thy seruant trusts 50 In trouble iâ— doth comfort me my soule thereafter lusts 51 The wicked haue derided me thy lawes yet haue I kept 52 I cald to minde thy iudgements past whereby in peace I slept 53 Sorrow and feare afflicted me to see how wicked men 54 Thy lawes transgresse in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then 55 In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare 56 Which blessing thou bestoweâ—â— on me thy will in mind to beare PART 8. 57 O Lord thou art my portion I thy law will still obserue 58 My hearty prayers made to thee and promise thine preserue 59 I haue reform'd my wayes and will to thy behests obay 60 With speed I will my life amend and make no more delay 61 The wicked haue inticed me but I will turne againe 62 At midnight will I rise to pray till iustice I attaine 63 My company shall such be still as do thy precepts know 64 Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord to me thy pleasure show PART 9. 65 According to thy word ô Lord thou graciously hast dealt 66 Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord who in thy law hath dwelt 67 Before I felt thy scourge as then my â—eete did go astray 68 But gracious God direct me now that keepe thy lawes I may 69 The proud against me worke deceipt yet will I follow thee 70 Their hart on folly feedes thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee 71 This fruit affliction brought to me which made me learne thy law 72 A greater treasure to my mind then heretofore I saw
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
rau'ning woolfe in fearefull wise I call to thee sweet Sauiour shepheard true Teach me to know thy voice and thee insue SONET X. BEhold ô Lord the Citie thou hast built Ierusalem this fleshly frame of mine By sin Assyrians sword is almost spilt And like to yeeld to Rabsake in fine Yet lo alas my soule doth much repine To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name To threaten ruine to this temple thine Since thou art praysd and honord in the same Thou able art the rage of lust to tame The force of pride and furie to subdue Against Senacherib thy Angell came And all his host in one night ouerthrew So let thy holie spirit me defend And to my plaints and praiers comfort send SON XI SInce with Goliah I am now to fight And lacke the slight of holie Dauids sling Arme thou me Lord with heauenly armor bright Which power of flesh world to foile may bring Thy righteous brest-plate gird on me with truth Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace The shield of faith which firie dartes beare forth Of wicked Satan whose assaults not sease The helmet of saluation and the sword Of spirit which is founded on thy law All these my praiers are that thou afford To make me stedfast spight of lyons claw Who roaring daily seekes as wished pray My silly soule from thee to take away SON XII NOw that thou hast prepard me to confesse Thy seruice Lord the which I vndertake I thee beseech my purpose so to blesse That I a good account to thee may make A Nazarit I am who do forsake The delicacies of the worlds delight Whose thirst thy purest fountaine still shall slake With faith and truth the which with sin shall fight I will not tast the wine of Satans slight Which doth confound all reason and all sence My vow shall be to serue thee day and night And trust in thee shall be my true defence Till death dissolue this promise made to thee Whose strength herein thy heauenly graces bee SON XIII I Seeeke ô Lord to shew thy powrefull hand Which hath conuerted this my sinfull hart Into a rod of strength which still might stand Strong in thy truth who powrefull onely art But Iannes pride and Iambres lustfull hart By â—light imposture of slie Satans might Two Serpents frame which will not thence dâ—paert But seeke against thy powrefull hand to fight But let my faith their fury put to flight And vertue thine deuour these imps of sin Let not these fleshly frutes appeare in sight Of truth which only can the conquest win Let faith shew forth the finger of thy hand And cleane consume ech power doth it withstand SON XIIII BEhold ô Lord a tree by high way side Vnfrutefull yet of any food for thee In high way side as yet I do abide Where passers to Ierusalem I see Though sommer grow I cannot frutefull be Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine I do confesse I am a wild fig tree For want of moisture which am like to pine Vnto my praiers Lord do thou incline Remoue me home into thy garden faire Let me behold the face of thy sunne shine Which may my withered leaues with life repaire So maist thou tast a frute of wholesome kinde And leaue a marke of mercy great behinde SON XV. VVIthin thy garden Lord I planted was And watred well with thy most carefull hand But yet vâ—frutefull I remaind alas And these thy blessings did not vnderstand In vaine I did employ possessed land Ten times three yeares thy seruants did replant My stocke and sought to bend my crooked wand And did supply ech aide I seem'd to want At length my frutes which daily grew more scant Wild thee resolue to haue me weeded out My foule affections were with folly brant My roote of faith was shakt with feare and doubt And lo I pine sweet Sauiour water me Paul and Apollos worke else lost will be SON XVI A Wicked Pharisie I long haue bene Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee A shamed Lord of my faire clothed sinne In secret night I seeke thy face to see That thou art God thy woâ—kes reueale to me That thou art mine thy sonne doth me assure Vouchsafe that I regenerate may be And that my praiers pardon may procure Purge by thy sprite and faith faire fountaine pure The senses dull that cannot vnderstand The heauenly birth which shall in blisse endure Not subiect vnto Satans sinfull band And with thy sonne let worlds affections die My soule from hell with him ascend on hie SON XVII FIue foolish virgins in my senses dwell And seeke to make me slumber ouer long They dreame that all my deeds do fall out well Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong To vanities their humors do belong And sin who doth their fancie chiefly feed They cheined are to linkes of lust so strong That their best foile brings forth but bitter weed They lacke the oyle which should be vsde indeed To lead them to the euerlasting light It growes not Lord in frute of humane seed Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night Vnlesse thou lend thy hand and fill our lampes Our light goes forth with smothering sinful daÌ„ps SON XVIII OVt of the fountaine of eternall life I poore Samaritan here readie stand To sinfull lustan old betrothed wife With pitcher readie in my trembling hand To wraw a draught of liquor most diuine To quench the thirst of my inflamed hart With heauenly deaw ere that my soule do pine And qualiâ—ie the rigor of my smart A Prophet true thou art I vnderstand Or rather father of all truth thou art A stranger I from faire Iudaea land With these thy blessings craue for to impart Then guide my hand and teach my soule to tast True faith the fountaine where all blisse is plast SON XIX A Wicked soule sold to all fleshly sin Lord here I prostrate at thy feete do lie To gather crummes of grace soules health to win Which Lord to giue me do thou not denie The precious oyle of penitence will I Powre forth with teares fro out my melting eyes To bath thy feete and after will I drie Them with my haires which balms no treasure bies Though worldly loue when he my fact espies Repine to see my soule so well inclind To my defence ô Lord vouchsafe to rise And fructifie this first frute of my minde Vouchsafe to sup with humble seruant thine And that of seruice better choyse be mine SON XX. A Poore Arabian whom base Agar bare First borne of flesh but last of promist grace Of bastard kind bred vp with mothers care In wildernesse of world for a long space And famishing before my parents face Whose workes vnable were to lend me aide A bond man vnto sin as fleshly race To whom heauens heritage thy lawes denaide Amidst my wandring course by thee am staide And haue a promise not to die but liue Thy couenant Lord abundantly is paide If grace
may no more tormented bee Lest that my soule eternally he kill But from the force of Satan make me free These brutish sinnes in swine more fit to dwell Drowne in repentant seas of teares which swell SON XLIII IN deadly sleepe ô Lord sin hath me cast Wherein secure I lye and so remaine Raise me ô Lord out of this dreame at last And let me sight and light of heauen attaine The heauie humors which my iudgment staine And dazell so the reason of my minde Grant that they may their proper vse attaine And comfort in thy grace and promise finde All fleshly wisedome of it selfe is blinde Till thou by knowledge cleare their wandring sight Out of the snare of sin flesh cannot winde Vnlesse by faith they see thy Sonne so bright Him let me still both see and eke admire And thee in him ô Lord I thee desire SON XLIIII MY wicked flesh ô Lord with sin full fraight Whose eye doth lust for euerie earthly thing By couetise allurde hath bit the baight That me to Satans seruitude will bring By violence I vertues right would wring Out of possession of the soule so weake Like vineyard which the wicked Achab king Possest by tyrants power which lawes do breake Let Prophets thine Lord to my soule so speake That in repentant sackcloth I may mone The murther of thy grace which I did wreake Whilst to my natiue strength I trust alone And let my Sauiour so prolong my daies That henceforth I may turne from sinfull waies SON XLV IF thou vouchsafdst Lord of thy goodnesse rare To sanctifie with holie presence thine The Cana marriage where thou didst not spare First miracle of water turnd to wine Then be thou present at this wedding mine Which twixt thy Church and me by faith is ment To see the want in me thy eyes encline Whose wine of grace by wanton youth is spent But being toucht with view thereof repent And craue that water of earthes healthles well May issue forth from heart with sorrow rent And turnd to wine may so with grace excell That all that see and tast this change in me May grant this worke of thee alone to be SON XLVI SInce it hath pleased thee ô Lord to send Now in my barren age of hope and grace Repentant childe from ruine to defend My name and soule to liue before thy face Thy blessings I do thankfully embrace And in thy feare will frame his tender yeare The worlds regard in me shall haue no place If once thy word and will my heart do heare And when thou calst we both will then appeare Before thy Aulter in Moriath land To offer vp thy gift my sonne so deare Obedient childe to faithfull fathers hand Which sacrifice not worthie gift for thee With Christ my Sauiors suffrings quit let bee SON XLVII OF euerie creature vncleane to fore Whereof thy holy people might not tast Thou didst present ◠Lord to Peter store Which were from heauen in sheet before him plast Which he at first refusde with mind most chast Not touching things polluted or defilde But afterward thy counsell he embrast And saw himselfe had bene before beguilde To thinke all sinners were for aye exilde From presence of thy mercies which abound Whom oft thou doest receiue as father milde If faith in Christ thy sonne in them be found By praiers faith by faith thy grace doth grow Cornelius blessing Lord on me bestow SON XLVIII HOw hard it is ô Lord for man to frame His minde corrupt to be preparde for thee With tongue vncleane to praise thy holie name With fleshly eies thy glorie for to see Homeward I bring thy blessings vnto me And make my soule their dwelling place to rest But so forgetfull of thy lawes we be That this my action Lord I see not blest Pride and contempt the waies haue so opprest That danger is the carriage ouerthrow Grant that thy grace to staie it may be prest That so my soule thy sauing health may know For to my flesh vnsanctified to trust Were aie to hasten death by iudgement iust SON XLIX MY traitrous heart which long time hath rebeld Against thy spirit which should feed me still A secret counsell in it selfe hath held To contrarie thy knowne reuealed will Whose mutinie my sences so do fill With deeds repining to thy holie law That raging pride and lust lead me to ill Forgetting tokens of thy wrath they saw As Dathan and Abyram had no awe Of Moyses and of Aron thine elect But sought a way thy people how to drawe And Prophets thine by pride for to reiect So doth my soule alas thy grace resist And in the follies of the flesh persist SON L. A Tenant most vntrue ô Lord to thee In vineyard of my bodie haue I bin To craue thy rent thy seruants came to me But nothing but intreatie bad they win My trauell therein was to nourish sin And wast the wine of thy abounding plant The more to call me backe thou didst begin The more to thee my gratitude did want Ne would my lacke of grace let me recant When thou thy onely Sonne to me didst send For sin and Satan did me so supplant That to his ruine I did also bend But Lord me lend In time repentant hart That from this vineyard I may not depart SON LI. WHilst in the garden of this earthly soile My selfe to solace and to bath I bend And fain wold quench sins heat which seems to boile Amidst my secret thoughts which shadow lend My sence and reason which should me defend As iudges chosen to the common weale Allur'd by lust my ruine do pretend By force of sin which shamelesse they reueale They secretly on my affections steale When modestie my maides I sent away To whom for helpe I thought I might appeale But grace yet strengthens me to say them nay Yet they accuse me Lord and die I shall If Christ my Daniell be not iudge of all SON LII I Iustly am accusde and now am brought By law and gilt of conscience I confesse Before thy throne conuict by deed and thought Of sinfull lust which did me so possesse That quickning graces thine I did suppresse By fading loue of world procliue to ill Whose dome eternall death and nothing lesse My soule doth see to threaten to me still But since that frailtie so the world doth fill That no one fleshly wight thereof is free For mercy Lord to thee repaire I will Who seest the hart and canst best comfort me Quit me from death grant I may fall no more But remnant of my daies thy grace implore SON LIII A Husbandman within thy Church by grace I am ô Lord and labour at the plough My hand holds fast ne will I turne my face From following thee although the soile be rough The loue of world doth make it seeme more tough And burning lust doth scorch in heat of day Till fainting faith would seeke delightfull bough To shade my soule from danger of decay
groueling is his resting place Then shall my soule with Debora imbrace In thankfull wise thy mercies I receiue And so pursue the fleshly Canaans race Till I the furie of the same bereaue And with my song thy seruants shall accord To yeeld due praise to thee the liuing Lord. SON LXXVI MY soule like silly Ioseph Lord was sold By fleshly brethren his vnkind alas To vanities the merchants which behold From far they saw to Egipt which do passe A seruant vnto Ismaels seed it was And sold from sin to death and so to hell Of humane frailtie Lord a looking glasse In which all foule affections long did dwell Yet lo alas when sin seekes most t' excell And haue my mind consent to traitrous lust With grace ô Lord that enemy repell And heare my praiers who in thee do trust Who though a space in bodies prison staies Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heauen to raise SON XXVII SO blinde ô Lord haue my affections bin And so deceitfull hath bin Satans slight That to giue credit I did first begin To pride and lust as heauenly powers of might I offred all my sences with delight A sacrifice to feed those Idols vaine Of all the presents proffred day and night Nought vnconsumde I saw there did remaine Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plaine The falshood by the which I was deceiued How Satans kingdome made here of a gaine And wickednesse my hope and faith bereaued But now the sifted ashes of thy word Bewraies Bels Prists slaies dragon without sword SON LXXVIII A Wicked theefe that oft haue robd and slaine Thy graces of their frute my selfe of blisse Now on the crosse of conscience I remaine To die the death the which eternall is I see no way to quit my selfe of this Vnlesse thou Lord whose kingdome is aboue Remember me and cansell life amisse Out of thy memorie through Christ thy loue Who in my flesh with me like death did proue That guiltlesse he might guilties ransome bee Loue to my soule it was that did him moue The bands of death to bide to make vs free Blesse thou my tong increase thou faith in mee This night to be in paradise with thee SON LXXIX IN bondage long to Satan haue I bin A maker of the bricke of Babell towre By birth a thrall to grosse and filthie sin Whom lusts taskmasters doth attend ech houre Affection to the flesh doth cleane defloure The memorie and loue of promist lands The fiend euen Pharo seeketh to deuoure My soule and chaine me to his dreadfulll bands But Lord receiue me safe into thy hands Protect me from the rigor of his might Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands In my defence giue me true faith to fight Send Moyses Lord with powre of heauenly sword And Aaron to direct me by thy word SON LXXX A Moabit I was of cursed kinde Vnkinde vnto thy Church Lord and to thee Who sought by ayde of foolish Balaam blinde To captiuate the soule that should be free Incestuous frutes of that high climing tree Which doth subdue all reason and all grace A carnall kinsman by a neare degree Vnto the soule the which I haue in chase Whom I with lothsome sin sought to deface And bastardise with carnall fond affect Whose ofspring thou vnto the tenth mans race Didst once out of thy sanctuary reiect Yet now by faith made free of Iury land A suter here before thy throne do stand SON LXXXI LO how I groueling vnder burden lie Of sin of shame of feare Lord of thy sight My guilt so manifold dare not come nie Thy throne of mercy mirror of thy might With hidden and with ignorant sinnes I fight Dispairing and presumptuous faults also All fleshly frailtie on my backe doth light Originall and actuall with me go Against a streame of lusts my will would roe To gaine the shoare of grace the port of peace But flouds of foule affections ouerfloe And sinke I must I see now no release Vnlesse my Sauior deare this burden take And faith a ship of safetie for me make SON LXXXII FRom Iuda wandring Lord to Iericho From holie law of thine to carnall lust Whilst midst the prease of lewd affects I go I robbed am of rayment pure and iust And wounded lye Lord groueling in the dust Not any passer by can giue me aide In fleshly strength or friendship is no trust By highway seene to helpe me few haue staide But since my Sauior Christ on crosse hath paide A ransome rich to cure my bleeding sore By faith to craue the frutes I 'am not affraide In hope my health thereby for to restore Bind vp my wounds with balme leade me to rest Giue me such gifts of grace as like thee best SON LXXXIII THis slender Citie Lord of strength behold Wherein I dwell Bethulia my bower Of flesh whereto sin laies a battry bold And seeks with sword dearth my soules deuower Suppresse thou hellish Holofernes power Who prides himselfe in praie of children thine I haue no trust in mountaines wals nor tower For want of faithes true fountaine we shall pine Raise vp this female couragde heart of mine Strengthen my hand to reue this monsters hed Let me not tast deceiptfull follies wine Nor be polluted with worlds sinfull bed But constantly by faith fight in defence Of feeble flesh and driue thy enemies thence SON LXXXIIII NOt that my faith doth faint a whit is cause That I so instant am on thee to call O God of life but yeelding to thy lawes Before thy sight my soule these teares lets fall Which in thy bottle kept I know are all And quench the fury of thy burning ire Which sin enflamde and qualifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire If feruently the childe due food desire Of father he will not giue him a stone If of the wicked iustice man require Importunely some iustice will be showne More righteous iudge and father thou to mee Art Lord indeed and far more kind wilt bee SON LXXXV THe many trials Lord that I haue found Since out of Egipt darknesse I am brought Might witnesse well how in thee still abound Powre mercy truth wherby thy workes are wrought But foule dispaire against my faith hath fought Amidst the wildernesse wherein I stay And daintier food my fond affections sought Then Manna which thou sentst me euerie day The desert Zyn doth fountaine pure denay Of grace wherewith to quench my fainting ghost Eternall death expects my soule as pray And lust assaults me with a hideous host Stretch forth hād Lord smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance griefe and mone SON LXIII THou hast ô Lord of mercy me enricht With flocks of fauour and of graces great Since I in Bethell first the pillar pitcht Of praises to thy name and mercies seat Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat A ruine to the frute faith forth should bring With pleasing humors him for to intreat
blessing send It is not ill to set before my sight Thy heauie plagues for sin from day to day But I had rather forth thy fauours lay And for their loue in quarrell thine to fight Which if I might By feruent zeale attaine Then should I hope the victorie to gaine SON L. NO sooner loue intirely me possest But see how iealousie doth me assaile She seekes with deepe distrust my faith to quaile And to remoue from conscience quiet guest She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest And that my deeds they too vnworthie are That from his fauour they will me debarre Whose loue is fixed only on the best Feare had begun to worke in me so farre That to amaze my minde it could not faile Till to my loue my state I did bewaile Who shining sweetly like the morning starre Did stay their iarre And bid my soule to rest In Christ by whom I surely shall be blest SON LI. HE is vnworthie to receiue a gift From any man that him mistrusts before I will not ought of thee Lord doubt therefore Although no reason can my hope vp lift I know in deed it is slye Satans drift To laie before me this my vile estate Which being sinfull thou of force must hate And I reiected be without all shift But when I with my selfe thy works debate Which haue examples of thy mercies store His reasons are of force with me no more Because that faith sets open wide the gate To me of late Which leades to treasure thine Where in thy sonne thou doest in mercy shine SON LII FAine would I follow thee through sea and land My louely Sauiour whom farre off I see Zeale makes my mind with speed to hast to thee But natiue weaknesse makes me doubtfull stand If to my ayde thou gau'st not forth thy hand And by thy word incourdgdst me to row I should so shun afflictions which do flow That feare should bend my faith like feeble wand But by thy offred grace now strong I grow And through the troubles of the world will be Bold to proceed and faith shall succour me To witnesse forth the thankfulnesse Iowe Thou doest bestow On me both power will And with them both I will thee honour still SON LIII AS do the starres amidst the firmament With borrowed light beare record vnto thee O Lord of might in which we men do see The image of thy power to them but lent So when our weake indeuors Lord are bent To publish forth thy praises which excell These silly sparkes of light which in vs dwell Do shew thy grace which vs this motion sent Although therefore no speech or tong can tell How infinite thy glorie ought to bee Which passeth humane sence by high degree As wisest men to grant they do compell Yet thou lik'st well We show herein our will Which I haue vowd vnto thy seruice still SON LIIII CAll me ô Lord for lo I do attend To follow thee where so thou doest direct I know thou wilt not my intent reiect Who gladly would proceed where so thou send I doubtfull stand which way my course to bend Because I finde such ignorance of skill To follow forth according to my will A frutefull course the which I did intend As thou with forward zeale my minde didst fill So shew me Lord whereto I am select And I shall carefully the same effect And feruently thereto go forward still Depend I will Vpon occasion fit That faithfully I may accomplish it SON LV. LIke silly babes such must thy seruants bee In innocencie and obedience still Vnto thy holy lawes ô Lord and will From wrath pride malice lust and enuy free With Serpents eyes of wisedome must they see And stop their eares which Sathan would deceaue With charmes of pleasure which a scar do leaue And onely lend obedient eare to thee Yet with simplicitie of doue receaue The yoke of law whose rule they must fulfill And suffer patiently the word to kill The force of sin which would soules health bereaue Such thou wilt heaue And hold in heauēly arme And with protecting hand defend from harme SON LVI WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see The throne triumphant where our Sauior sits In Maiestie aloft as best him fits A Iudge and Sauiour to his Saints to be Coëquall with his father in degree Possessor of the place for vs prepard Who readie stands our weake works to reward And from the fury of the world to free He were but base if ought he did regard This transitorie honour which so flits Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits And yet so niggardly to man is shard And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde Of care of conscience and of griefe of minde SON LVII VVHo seeketh not with all his powre and might To eternize vnto himselfe his state That chance or time may not his blisse rebate Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy To make them famous seeme in vaine worlds sight Which is the readiest way they do espye To keep their name from death which so they hate Yea all suppose posteritie the gate T'immortalize this flesh whose floure must dye But all go wry wealth honor wit haue end And children passe faith onely life doth lend SON LVIII VVHat wealth may be to this alone comparde To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue To haue our earthly thoughts so raysd aboue That world and worldly things we not regard To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs which shall eternally remaine Made free from worldly cares and troubles vaine Which is for children his a due reward Who can discouragde be with earthly paine Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue To share our griefes his ioy for vs to gaine Which thoughts should waine Our wils frō base desire And vs incourage higher to aspire SON LIX IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle Where all things flourisht first and prosper daye Wherein who liued neuer could decaye Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle And left man naked in reproach and shame To dust to turne againe from whence he came On baren earth to liue with sweat and toyle Then is our state much better then that same Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye Our Sauiour Abrams bosome doth displaye Wherein our soules shall rest most free from blame Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life To be exempt from feare of care or strife SON LX. VVHat is felicitie whereof men wright Which to attaine our studies still are bent VVhich to procure such time paine is spent By endlesse trauell therein day and night Sure if it be nought else but firme delight And that delight consist in peace of minde Then here on earth
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
case But stay a while and let me see the end Which crowneth euery good and perfect deed And you shall find their slipperie way to bend To ruine if in time they take not heed For earthly ease securitie doth breed Securitie the soule doth lightly kill It breeds forgetfulnesse of God and still Doth quench the spright and body pampering feed Who therefore doth delights too much imbrace Among the blest may hap to lose his place SON C. LIke as the sunne whose heat so needfull is Produceth daily different effects According to the nature of obiects Which hardneth that yet molifieth this So doth the Gospell preached euen the same It makes some to repent and melt in teares Some stubborne hearts repine and cauils frame To quarrell at and scorne such needlesse feares The lowly heart in ioy and hope it reares The haughty mind as low assoone deiects In zealous hearts it neighbour-loue reflects Whiles other conscience spight and rankor beares The natiue powre it keepes of perfect blisse And holy heat consuming all amisse EPIL TEmpt me no more to dwell in Cedar tents Pauilions of Princes and of pride My tickle strength is dayly like to slide And makes my bodie do what soule repents My yeares forwarne me to forbeare annoy In liked things which do the senses feed In costly colours gems or games to ioy Or stately troopes or honors fruitlesse seed For passed vanities my heart doth bleed And vowed hath the resting time I bide If God in constancie my heart shall guide Some ryper fruits on former soyle to breed Which graunt me Lord that so thy seruant I May in thy Courts remaine and flesh defye AN INTRODVCTION TO PECVLIAR PRAYERS TO thee ô Lord who only knowst my sin And only able art my state redresse To thee alone my plaints directed bin To thee my guilt alone I do confesse In hope thy gracious aide at need to win Who giuest me grace these prayers to addresse My words can not expresse My inward griefe My deedes declare too well my true disease Yet doubt I not to craue of thee reliefe Because thy Sonne did first thy wrath appease These are my wants and many more then these But of them all vnfaithfulnesse is chiefe Yet as repentant thiefe On crosse found grace Vouchsafe my plaints with mercie to imbrace SON CI. Craues grace to pray O Powrefull God in Christ our father deare Who mad'st and rul'st all things euen by thy will Whose truth and loue the heauens and earth do fill Vouchsafe my will to frame and prayers heare Touch thou my heart my blinded iudgement cleare That sorrow for my sinnes may teares distill Let true repentance kill All carnall lust Let purpose to amend my soule direct To craue thy aide who only canst protect Mans feeble strength from thoughts words deeds vniust Fraile is mans powre and will his substance dust His purest actions hourely it detect Yet do thou not reiect Thy worke in me Who craue a will to pray and faithfull be SON CII Salutation of the Church HAile sacred seat of Gods eternall peace Where all his blessings kept in treasure are Twixt soule and bodie which accords the iarre And causest cumbers of discord to cease From wandring worldly thoughts thou doest release My doubtfull hope which sought for help from farre In Sathans fiercest warre A bulwarke strong In natures hote assault a sure defence An Arke of safety for our feeble sence A watchmans towre to those to thee belong A harmony of heauenly musicks song Kind shepherd to the soule which strayes not thence For still with sweet insence Thy lights do flame And Christ thy Priest Captaine gards the same SON CIII For constancie ALas ô Lord how fraile the flesh I find How readie to reuolt vnto distrust How willing to seeke helpe in flesh vniust Vngratefull fruit of gracelesse humane kind Which harboreth such monsters in the mind As soule and bodie both needs ruine must Like wauering sand or dust With winds which moue From good to ill from ill to worse we fall We haue not sooner grace for helpe to call And budding faith thy mercies for to proue But weary long to seeke our ioyes aboue We quench this spright and haue no helpe at all The perill is not small Lord I am in Inflame the faith and zeale thou didst begin SON CIIII. For faith SInce thus myselfe I find to be vncleane Vnfit to bide before Gods iustice throne Who recompence for sinne accepteth none But to the rigor of desert doth leane To fly to thee my Sauiour Christ I meane Who paydst my debt sufficiently alone I need but make my mone To thee I know For thou art readie to relieue my want Thy fathers loue and thy obedience brant With zeale thy mercies on vs to bestow Whereof since faith the vse to vs must show And as it is more feruent or more scant More powrefull is to dant Deaths bitter sting craunt faith may prayers frame comfort bring SON CV For grace to iudge of good euill AMidst these dangerous dayes wherein I liue Poore silly Orphane distitute of skill By parents fall forlorne by nature ill Craue grace of thee ô Lord and therwith giue Powre to my weaknesse sin away to driue That so I may thee serue and honour still Reforme my feeble will And it incline To haue henceforth a wise and solide tast Of truth and falshod let my choyse be plast On perfect patterne drawne with vertuous line With serpents wisedome let my iudgment shine To shun the snares whereto my lust would hast Vouchsafe my sute be grast With help from thee Thy word the lampe of light vnto me bee SON CVI. For innocencie in euill SInce so simplicitie thy word doth prayse O Lord as that thy Sonne example gaue By all his life and workes that he did craue His seruants wherein to direct their wayes Like to the babe on mothers breast that stayes And sylly Lambes and doues which no guile haue Since he is prest to faue And to imbrace The lame blind naked leaporous reiect Since to yeeld health to all and such protect As simply do with faith approch the place When he in mercies seat doth shew his face And prayers heare and needfull suites effect Lord do me not neglect Poore silly blind Who meritelesse yet mercy hope to find SON CVII Shame of sinne HOw could I Lord but be asham'd indeed To lift my eyes to thee to craue for ayde When I of thought word deed haue sins displayd With multitude of monstrous of springs breed The true portrait of Adams carnall seed Which made him hide himselfe when he it wayd I therefore am affrayd And shun to show Vnto the world the shamefull brood I beare Which thoughts do hatch and vile affections reare Too hatefull for a Christian soule to know And do so hastily to hugenesse grow As vaine it is a figge-tree leafe to weare I know no other where My shame to hide But with thy merits or thy
which did transgresse By parents fall and workes in vs no lesse On whom by iust succession sindoth cease Yet since Christ doth appease The penance due By bearing burden on his backe for me And faith herein sufficeth me to free Which faith must fruitfull be if it be true And workes of grace regenerate insue Which perfect pledge of safetie ought to bee I craue ô Lord of thee From day to day To guide my steps vnto a righteous way SON CXIX Aide in conflict with sin VVEake are my ChaÌ„pions Lord which fight with sin I meane my will and powre which take in hand The furie of their assaults for to withstand And victory of him do hope to win Some signe it is of courage to begin To fight but cowards part to leaue the land I faine would come in band And leige would make With thee my Sauiour ere I be assayld No other comfort euer man auayld But trust in thee when troubles them did take Thou helpst thy flocke thou dost not them forsake If so their faith in thee be nothing quayld No sillable is fayld Of all thy word Thy truth sub dues the force of wrathfull sword SON CXX Comfort in affliction VVHy do we not reioyce whilst Christ we haue Our bridgrome wedded sure to faithfull band His owne free liking made our merit stand And by his word his loue to vs he gaue First pledge wherof was Baptisme which forth draue Our feare and lent a gracious helping hand And that in sacred land We might be free And there possession haue of endlesse rest His Testament he made and with the blest Our heritage by faith he made vs see He signd the writ with his assurance best Of bread and wine which might a Simboll bee His corps nayld on the tree For our discharge From sin hell death which sets our soule at large CONCLVSION THough long my soule thou banished hast bin From place of thy repose by tyrants might By world and worldly cares by flesh wherein Thy wandring thoghts haue dazeld iudgemeÌ„ts sight Learne yet at length to guide thy course aright Vnto that end which must begin thy rest Learne once for shame so constantly to fight Against affections which please fancie best That all vnfruitfull thoughts thou maist detest And hold those common pleasures combers great Whose issue age and time with ruine threat VVhen death vnlookt for seemes a fearefull guest Retire thy selfe as wise Barzilla did From worldly cares thy purer thoughts to rid A TABLE DIRECTING BY PART of the first verse of each to the A Booke Sonet A Base borne 1. 54 According to thy 1. 41 A husband man 1. 53 Although the world 2. 70 Although these 2. 86 Amidst the graues 1. 42 A marchant 1. 21 Among the prease 1. 22 Among thy sheepe 1. 9 Amidst this famine 1. 37 A Moabite 1. 80 Amidst this pilgrimage 2. 80 A poore Arabian 1. 20 A tenant 1. 50 As thou art pure 1. 24 As oft as thou 1. 31 A sinfull Syrian 1. 98 A seruant Lord 1. 73 A seâ—uant sold 1. 75 As through a mist 2. 1 As fareth with 2. 9 As is the treasure 2. 15 As but vaine 2. 66 As doth the starres 2. 53 As doth the Moone 2. 44 A virgin pure 1. 29 Auant base thoughts 2. 37 A wicked Pharisie 1. 16 A wicked theefe 1. 78 A wicked soule 1. 19 B   BEhold ô Lord the city 1. 10 Behold ô Lord a tree 1. 14 Behold amidst worlds 1. 92 Betwixt two strong 2. 17 By many gifts 2. 62 Borne blind I was 1. 38 C   CAll me ô Lord 2. 58 Cleansd are the 2. 2 F   FAine would I fence 1. 32 Faine would follow 2. 52 Faine would I prayse 2. 40 Fiue foolish virgins 1. 17 Fâ—e fainting faith 2. 48 For common matter 2. 77 Fortune and chaunce 2. 100 For out of darknesse 1. 2 From luda wandring 8. 82 From farre I see 2. 18 G   GReat are the 2. 67 Great is thy 2. 65 H   HE is vnworthy 2. 21 How should my 1. 1 How hard it is 1. 48 How oft ô Lord 1. 63 How drunken are 1. 39 How precious 2. 21 How can I limit 2. 26 How may this be 2. 34 How fond a thing 2. 46 How many priuiledges 2. 61 How should the quiet 2. 63 How happily 2. 78 How is it that 2. 82 How loth this 2. 96 How should my 2. 85 How should I 2. 89 How do Gods blessings 2. 91 I   I Follow thee 1. 25 I seeke ô Lord 1. 13 I will not feare 2. 38 I iustly am 1. 52 I see alas 1. 99 I finde my heart 2. 49 I haue bene blind 2. 68 I haue begun 2. 6 I see a storme 2. 81 I shame to see 2. 13 I know not 2. â—2 In humble wise 1. 4 Into thy vineyard 2. 23 In bondage long 1. 79 In famine great 1. 89 In deadly sleepe 1. 43 In pride of youth 1. 6 If thou vouchsafest 1. 45 If he to whom 2. 11 If Saba Queene 2. 45 If beautie be 2. 33 If Paradise 2. 59 If he vnworthie be 2. 73 If I did hope 2. 93 If I can speake 2. 99 It is not Lord 1. Pref. It were vnfit 2. 71 It is no light 2. 76 L   LAme of my limbs 1. 7 Let earthly things 2. 47 Like pined child 1. 27 Like silly babes 2. 55 Lo how I groueling 1. 81 Loue then I will 2. 39 M   MY body Lord the house 1. 36 My body Lord infect 1. 60 My soule like 1. 76 My sinnes behold 1. 33 My wicked flesh 1. 44 Mourne thou no more 1. 101 My traiterous heart 1. 49 N   NO recompence 2. 20 No sooner loue 2. 50 Not that my faith 1. 84 Not euery one 2. 88 Now that thou hast 1. 12 Now that I see 1. 61 Now that it pleaseth 1. 69 Now that I haue 2. 12 Now will I daunce 2. 19 Now that thy mercies 2. 27 O   O Heauenly beautie 2. 32 O heauenly loue 2. 35 O perfect sonne 2. 41 Of sinfull race 1. 30 Of euery creature 1. 47 Of parents first 1. 26 Of sweet and sauorie 1. 90 Out of the fountaine 1. 18 Out of thy 1. 92 P   POlluted with 1. 28 S   SInce it hath 1. 46 Since with Goliath 1. 11 Since thou hast raisd 1. 65 Since thou by grace 1. 100 Since that it pleaseth 1. 88 Since to so holy 2. 3 Since thou ô Lord 2. 10 Since hou hast 2. 25 So blind ô Lord. 1. 77 So foolish Lord 1. 97 Some men do mourne 2. Pref. Sometimes my nature 2. 72 T   THe temple Lord 1. 67 The selly babes 1. 57 The greedinesse 1. 34 The many trials 1. 85 The dreame which thou 1. 93 The seede which thou 1. 94 The malice of 1. 96 The talents which 1. 87 The onely daughter 1. 56 The more I seeke 2.
of by most censured by some Which cannot iudge yet will not be refusde Where wants are pride into and soone accused If shape attire grace skill be not the best Where curious conceits will seeme abused If euery word phrase period bide not test Least that this worke too rashly be supprest Vntried halfe vnderstood disgraced quight I needfull thinke it be to some addrest VVho can and will protect from causelesse spight Which that you will vouchsafe I nothing feare Since to the matter you such zeale do beare To the vertuous Lady the Lady Woollie FArre fet deare bought doth fit a Lady best Such you deserue such would my will bestow Good things are rare rare things esteem'd you know Rare should yours be as you rare of the rest Such hold this gift fetcht from a forraine land Which wisest King as pretious did prouide Who viewing all the earth hath nought espide Whose worth herewith cōpar'd may longer stand The price I dare assure is very deare As puchasd by your merit and my care Whose trauell would a better gift prepare If any better worthy might appeare Then this accept as I the same intend Which dutie to the dead would will me send To the vertuous Lady the Lady Carey IF any thing might in this worke appeare Worthy the reading fit for to content I should then hold it best bestowed here Where most my time in frame thereof was spent By view of your rare vertues I was bent To meditate of heauen and heauenly thing By comfort of your counsell forward went My halting muse this heauenly note to sing And now that time doth forth this haruest bring Which must till need be layed vp in store As medicine meet to cure cares deadliest sting And to restore healths comfort weake before You Lady who of right best int'rest haue Must here receiue and keepe what first ye gaue To the vertuous Lady the Lady D IF kinred be the neerenesse of the blood Or likenesse of the mind in kind consent Or if it be like pronenesse vnto good Or mutuall liking by two parties ment If kindnesse be in truth a firme intent With open heart to testifie good-will If true good will be to contentment bent If true contentment cannot be in ill I know you will repute this token still A pledge of kinsmans loue in ech degree Which though it do your treasure litle fill Yet way to perfect wealth will let you see My selfe in kindnesse wish and hope in you Profit of mind and soules content t'insue To the vertuous Gentlewoman Mistresse E. Bowes AMong the many profits which do rise Vnto the faithfull which the truth do loue A greater comfort can I not deuise Then is the sweet societie they proue When each doth seeke for others best behoue To strengthen that which flesh and bloud doth shake Their weakned soules I meane which sorows moue Through feare of sin and guilty thoughts to quake Whereof by you since I experience make Whose mild and kind accord with neighbours woe Doth cause them oft the crosse with patience take And forward still in hope and courage goe I were vngrate if I should not indeuer To nourish that your grace I honord euer To the Honorable Ladies and Gentlewomen attendants in the Court. YE worthy Nymphes of chast Dyanaes traine Who with our Soueraignes presence blessed bee Whereby ye perfect beauty shall attaine If ye affect the gifts in her you see Scorne not to yeeld your mild aspects to mee Who with you do attend her high behest It can no whit disparage your degree To looke on that is liked of the best This worke for style inferiour to the rest Which many worthier wits to you present Craues welcome yet as some no common guest Whom best to greet your greatest care is spent For kings words these do guide to blisse you craue The fruit of fauour which you striue to haue To all other his Honorable and beloued friends in generall WHat shall I do proceed or stay my pen To either side great reason vrg'd my mind Vnto most powrefull would I yeeld but then Defect of powre makes hand to stay behind Of well deseruing friends I many find Of worthy persons vnsaluted more Those I neglect may hold my heart vnkind And some my iudgement partiall hold therefore Yet as I find so they must graunt the store Of happy Englands well deseruing state Exceeds the bounds my worke prescribd before And doth restraine my mind to stricter rate But if one word may shew a world of loues Vse this and me to all your best behoues
I feare it be to soule a dangerous thing Shield me Lord vnder thy protecting wing Of mercy which may saue from Satans rage My heart and voyce shall still thy prayses sing If thou the malice of my foes asswage In Sychem shall my heart an alter reare The mightie God to loue to serue to feare SON LXXXVII THe talent which thou pleasedst Lord to giue To me thy seruant that I should bestow Whilst in thy seruice on the earth I liue My diligent increase thereof to show I haue abused Lord too long I know And feare thy comming to be nigh at hand I see for breach of dutie what I owe And of thy iudgments do in terror stand Thy grace hath left me in a forreine land Where vnexpert of vertue I do straie I shall be throwne to Satans thralfull band Voyd of thy heauenly ioy and blisse for aye Vnlesse thou helpe for thou doest vse to giue Grace vnto grace and faith from faithlesse driue SON LXXXVIII SInce that it pleaseth thee thy selfe to show A iust reuenger Lord of Heath'nish sin And bring the pride of bold Philistines low Who thee defame when holy Arke they win Now that to fetch it home I do begin And in the temple of my heart to place Grant so I may thy secrets see therein That plagues for my presumption do not chase It so from me as they that fled the face Of glorie thine which therein did appeare Let faith and loue draw home by trustie trace The constant cart whose carriage is so deare And let me order so this holie worke That dregs of sin not in my deeds may lurke SON LXXXIX IN famine great of grace and comfortlesse Thy seruant Lord doth in Samaria dwell For Lord fierce Aram doth with sin oppresse The citie where my soule to harbour fell I want the strength his armies to repell Of lust and of affections most vncleane My mind whose loue doth motherlike excell Her children thoughts of mendment sees so leane That forst by famine she can find no meane To feed them long her faith so poore is growne That natiue pitie now secluding cleane Her greedie nature doth deuour her owne Beleeue in time this siege Lord cause a feare Of thee this camp of cruell sin to reare SON XC ON sweet and sauorie bread of wholesome kinde Which in thy word thou offrest store to mee To feed vpon the flesh doth lothing finde And leaues to leane ô Lord alone on thee The leauen of the Pharisies will bee The surfet of my soule and death in fine Which coueting to tast forbidden tree To carnall rules and reasons doth incline So lauishly my lusts do tast the wine Which sowrest grapes of sin filles in my cup That lo my teeth now set on edge I pine Not able wholesome food to swallow vp Vnlesse thou mend my tast and hart doest frame To loue thy lawes and praise thy holy name SON XCI OVt of thy flocke ô Lord through my defect A silly sheepe my selfe behold am lost To seeke me forth in time do not neglect Since I so precious price to thee haue cost By many by-paths Lord my feete haue crost And cannot find the way vnto thy fold Through many stormes of deep despaire thus tost To craue thy aide at last I now am bold If thou of silly groat that count doest hold That thou doest search the house to find the same No doubt my soule to sin by nature sold May mercy find by calling on thy name The Saints in heauen conuertids gaine reioyce On earth thy praise is song in heart and voice SON XCII BEhold amidst worlds desert all alone Seduced by the frailtie of the sprite Accompany'd with fleshly comfort none My soule with sin compelled is to fight Where suddenly alas before my sight I Satan see me ready to assaile By two his seruants which are most of might Presumption and dispaire which seldome faile The best perfections of mans strength to quaile By pride or want of faith or couetise By lust or gluttony or fained vaile Of vertue which doth mamy sinnes disguise But chase him Lord away by written word Which is more sharpe then his two edged sword SON XCIII THe dreame which thou to Pharo didst reueale Thou in my selfe hast made me see in deed The state alas of mans weake common weale Whereas affections of all sorts do feed The frutefull soyle of grace some whiles did breed Full faire effects in truth of heauenly kinde But many barren thoughts alas succeed And threaten famine to a vertuous minde Store of such yeares as yet I feare behinde Which Lord will starue the comfort of my faith Vnlesse thy mercy and thy wisedome finde A store house to laie vp what scripture saith In hope of which thy goodnesse lo I liue Which of thy grace Lord do thou to me giue SON XCIIII THe seed which thou the husbandman hast sowde Within my soule ô Lord by Prophets hand Hath taken roote at last by deaw bestowd Form heauenly grace which fructifies my land But lo I saw the worlds deceipt to stand In readinesse to mingle tares therein Whilst sleeping me in vanities he fand He made my frutes to ouerflow with sin But ere thy haruest to approach begin Vouchsafe to weed these frailties so away That when thy corne is to be gathered in I may be cleane and in thy garner stay Burne Lord with chastisement my fleshly lust And clense my life by faith both pure and iust SON XCV WHat strength hath man wherin may he repose A power to stay him in a vertuous way To loue thy flocke thou Lord my soule hast chose Whom to obey my vowes and words did say But in my power alas there is no stay For light temptations made me cleane forget My dutie to my Lord and to denay Him who thus long I haue too lightly set But now my heart with teares my cheekes doth wet In sorrow of my so inconstant faith Repentance hath my sin before me set And conscience now my error duly way'th Grant that thy word crow thrise thrise to mee And warne me of my dutie vnto thee SON XCVI THe malice of this monster auncient foe Of man and of the Church which thou didst plant Euen Satan Herod-like about doth goe To make my frutes of faith to grow more scant Whilst yet with weaknesse feeble youth doth pant And wanteth grace to strengthen their estate The motions of the mind doth straight recant To see soules safetie which sin faine would hate The counsels of affections do debate And do conclude to murder vertues breed Lust pride and enuy open wide the gate To furious flesh that doth the wicked deed My soule their mother mourns ô Lord their end My future frutes of grace do thou defend SON XCVII SO foolish Lord haue my affections bin So carelesse of the blessing thou doest giue So prone my nature vnto euerie sin So thanklesse of thy grace by which I liue That violently thy loue away I driue
And sell the patrimony to ensue I carry water in an open siue And change for lentil pottage birth-right due Too late alas my folly I do rue Who worlds delight preferred haue so long Reiecting heauenly knowledge treasure true Vnto my soule imposing open wrong Yet not so late ô Lord I pardon craue But yet one blessing thou for me wilt haue SON XCVIII A Sinfull Syrian Lord my father was Exilde from Paradise by iust desart I wandred into Egipt there alas To finde in world some food to please my hart Where seruile bondage vnto sin and smart I suffered so long through Satans rage That heauenly aide I crau'd thence to depart Which only able was my griefe t' asswage From silly seruant and an abiect page Thou broughtst me forth to knowledge of thy truth The blessed land and showdst me on a stage A patterne how to guide my wandring youth Such frutes therfore as faithfull soile doth yeeld I offer here first crop of blessed field SON XCIX I See alas proud Satan hath too long Defrauded thee ô Lord of that is thine And loue of world hath drawne me vnto wrong Whose heart thy offrings to bestow repine My outward knees vnto thee do incline My tong doth promise present of my store I say these gracious gifts are none of mine But will them all thy Aulter laie before But vanities doth presse me euermore And want of faith to leaue some part behinde Although I see death readie at the dore My hollow heart and lewd deceipt to finde Grant that I may my soule my power my will Present ô Lord to serue thee onely still SON C. SInce thou by grace out of wilde Oliue stocke Hast pleasd me Lord within thy Church to plant And reckon me as of thy proper flocke Who else all pleasant frute by nature went Vouchsafe my thankfull frutes be not so scant As cause thee to reiect me backe againe Of former bountie Lord do not recant But let me in thy garden still remaine By mercy not by merit I attaine This blessing promised so long before Let not this gift of thine returne in vaine But let thy goodnesse multiply the more Make sweet the frutes which bitter are by kinde Increase thy grace in bodie and in minde CONCLVSION MOurne thou no more my soule thy plaint is heard The bill is canseld of the debt it owes The vaile is rent which thee before debard And Christ his righteousnesse on thee bestowes Thus comfort to the patient alwaies growes If they attend the time God hath assignde Our strength to beare our maker best he knowes And at a need is readie for to finde Our Sauiour is so mercifull and kinde Vnto our selues he will not leaue vs long He castes our faults through loue his back behinde And turnes our plaints into more pleasant song And when we are euen at the gates of hell His glorie mercie power doth most excell THE SECOND PART OF CHRISTIAN PASsions Containing a hundred Sonets of Comfort Ioy and thankesgiuing PREFACE SOme men do mourne for suddeine ioy they say And some likewise in midst of sorrow sing Such diuers frutes do passion often bring As reason cannot course of Nature stay And happie sure he is I not denay That both these motions hath from heart contrit When frailtie of his flesh appeares to sight And mercy calling him backe from decay Who can behold the flesh and spirit fight The doubtfull issue and danger of the thing The losse whereto our nature might vs fling And gaine which grace doth giue through Sauiors might And not delight To glorifie his name And yet lament his proper natiue shame SON I. AS through a mist or in a cloud a farre I see a glimse of heauenly grace to shine And to reuiue the fainting faith of mine And spirits which with darknesse shadowed are The fleshly fog of sin did iudgment barre Of proper vse of power of reason sound Which in first parents franckly did abound And better part of natures strength did marre But since my eyes of grace a sight haue found Of that eternall light which doth incline Fro out these fogs of feare I hope t' vntwine And force of fainting faith for to confound And on a ground More firme wil build my trust And that in Christ whose promises are iust SON II. CLeng'd are the cloudes and darknesse fled away And now in triumph doth my Sauiour ride Sin hell nor death dare not his sight abide The world nor Satan can his progresse stay This piercing light of truth shall so bewray Ech stratagem their practise doth deuise Against my soule that there shall not arise One cloud of care to darken this my day But that my thoughts like to the Pilate wise Shall looke about lest that my heart should slide And by this sunne my course so constant guide That all their slightes shall not my soule disguise Which now espies The malice they me owe Which lōg they clothd with shade of plesāt show SON III. WHen as my conscience layeth forth before My thoughts the sinnes which daily I commit I thinke my selfe an instrument vnfit To witnesse forth thy glory any more But when I see that sin was first the dore By which death entred and such hold did take That death did first our want apparant make And want first cause that man did ayd implore That praiers first thy mercies do awake That mercies do renue our dulled wit That ioyed heart should not vnthankfull sit And thanks to thee doth fleshly glory shake It straight doth slake The fear which bad me stay And bids me still proceed to praise and pray SON IIII. SInce to so holy vse I consecrate The silly talent Lord thou lentst to me That it a trumpe vnto thy praise might be And witnesse of their woe that thou doest hate Doe thou ô Lord forget the abiect state Of flesh and bloud base mettle of my frame And since that thou hast sanctified the same Vouchsafe thy grace my weaknesse may abate Thou that my former wandring will didst tame And me prepare in minde to honour thee Canst giue me gifts the which thereto agree How ere my proper power be weake and lame So shall thy name Be precious in my sight And in thy praise shall be my whole delight SON V. VVOuld God I were as readie to confesse And yeeld thee praise sweet Sauiour day by day As to craue my wants I am forward ay And feruently at need to thee to presse To beg of thee alone thou wilst no lesse Because thou onely able art to giue And with each needfull thing by which we liue Thou promisest our prayers thou wilt blesse But we with vse of them should not so stay And onely seeke to thee when need doth driue Whose blessings running through an open siue No praise for recompence vnto thee pay But when we pray We should thee laud also Our thankfull harts with bountie thine should go SON VI. I Haue begun ô Lord to run the