O let her be repos'd none outherwise then as they fashion her To harbor Thee that 's make her well dispos'd els let her rest be restlesse euer there My Sonne saith thou deare Lord giue me thy heart ô small request my Heart Lord what is it But one poore bit of wormes-meate can no Part of me delight thee but so vile a bit Why thou didst wholy giue thy selfe to me shall I returne thee then but that alone O t is sweet Sauiour most vnworthy Thee for which thou know'st it's meekly wo-begon Yet gladly would I giue it but it is so small vncleane vnquiet and accurst That I doe feare to giue it so amisse sith of all gifts it 's worser than the worst Yet take it Lord of Loue it is thine owne how e'er I haue abus'd it make it such As thou wouldst haue it let it still be knowne fit for thy Stampe vpon thy Trials Touch. O glorious King what grace is 't to our Hearts to be accepted and desir'd of thee Then take my Heart yea all mine other parts for they are safe in thee but lost in me And is this all thy gaine ô kindest Lord and is this all our gift one wretched Heart And for the same dost thou thy selfe afford then take it to thee Lord through ioy or smart For nothing can I giue thee but the same augments my gaine and glory endlesly Then take it wholy set me all on flame to melt me into thee by Charitie For were my Heart as great as is the Heau'n that all includes and that past price it were It should to thee desiring it be giu'n sith I haue thee for it who hast no Peere Then World be silent call it not againe Flesh be as still permit it still to goe And Diuell striue not for it is in vaine my God will haue it then it shall be so Vade vade for all you cannot fill my Heart my God alone can doe it and He must Haue it to fill then from me all depart that seeke to fill it but with winde or dust And sole Sufficer chaine it still to Thee with Adamantine Linckes of endlesse Loue That through those Straites which thou hast past for me it may be drawne to thee if slow it moue Let it attend thee to the Iudgement-Hall where thou wast doom'd to death and to the Hill Whereon thou suffer'dst let it taste thy Gall and on thy Crosse let it be fixed still That be'ing with thee thus plagu'd disgrac'd slaine It may with thee be rais'd and crown'd and raigne A soueraigne Salue against Sinne and Despaire out of S. Augustine DEare Lord when sinfull thoughts doe me assaile to thy deare Wounds then let me hye with speed When burning lust against my thoughts preuaile quench it by minding me how long they bleede In all Extreames I finde no Meane so good as thy wide Wounds to keepe my Soule still whole They cannot dye that drown'd are in thy bloud for that is Aqua vitae to the Soule Thy Death is my desert then doe I not lacke merits sith thy Death destroyes my Sinne Thy Mercy is my merit and my Lot is glories Crowne through my firme hope therein For if thy grace be great then is it cleare my glory shall be great and the more pow'r Thou hast to saue the lesse I ruine feare for Grace abounding makes Loues hope secure Yet I acknowledge mine iniquities and Conscience with her thousand Witnesses Accuse me of extreame impieties yet will I hope of mercy ne'erthelesse For where Sinne hath abounded there hath grace abounded more so loue enflaming in The grieu'd delinquent who doth enterlace sweete teares of Ioy with bitter Teares for Sinne. For who dispaires God vtterly denyes deny his Attributes himselfe deny His Iustice we prouoke his mercies rise but from him selfe who is selfe Clemencie Then let my thoughts still murmure while they will and aske why such a Sinner grace should seeke Yet in firme hope I will continue still sith he hath promised that cannot breake Who can doe what he will and he will doe what he hath sworne which is he will make whole The broken Heart for sinne and grace it too yea help contrition in the willing Soule My Sinnes though great then me no whit dismay when his deare Death I minde for all my Crimes Can ne'er o'er-match his Mercies if I pray for grace to hope in his sure help betimes His Thorny Crowne and Naylâ—s that him transpierc'd assures my hope that He and I are One Which haue his Iudgemeuts gainst my sinnes reuerst if I but grieue for what I haue misdone Longius hath clear'd the sad coast to his Heart with his fell Speare that kinde to me made way There rest I now in Ioy and ioyfull smart of safety sure while there in hope I stay Vpon the Crosse he doth his Armes extend t' embrace the Contrite then betweene those armes Deuoutly will I throw me till mine end so safe I shall be there from foes and harmes He bow'd his Head before Death brake his Heart to kisse his Louers with the kisse of Peace Then still I le kisse him so shall I depart in peace to him that is my Sinnes release Sweet Christ embrace me then and kisse me till I dye to liue to clip and kisse thee still The crazed Soule being almost in dispaire desireth Grace to hope in Gods mercy LOrd in thy Loue let me be none of them that loue but in a Calme a time beleeue But when a Storme ariseth doe blaspheme and with infernall S'prits thy Sp'rit doe grieue Thus what I need I craue but what I feare thou know'st deare Lord I feare I am too bold To seeke thy loue because I doe appeare no correspondence with thy loue to hold For he that merits hate Lord how can he straight looke for loue who hath shame deseru'd Seeke for immortall glory or to be from shame and paine which he deserues preseru'd He moueth but his Iudge to iustest wrath that being faulty lookes he him should cleare Without meete satisfaction for the scath which he hath done all these my hopes doe feare For he that is to shame and death condemn'd small reason hath to looke for high'st respect If but his death by grace might be redeem'd in sense it should be all he could expect But why ô why doe I now call to minde what I haue done to make my feares more rife Death I deserue yet seeke I life to finde that liue but to offend the Lord of life Can I still vexe my Iudge yet looke for grace and still prouoke my King yet seeke his loue Nay still but buffet my sweete Iesus face and yet expect he should my Iesus proue Alas how should he much lesse how can I such fauour seeke that so his Fauour wrongs Can wrong expect such right in equitie ô no for vengeance to the same belongs Vengeance belongs to wrongs so great so plaine as so to wrong a MAIESTIE so
Which tho most glorious both thou mad'st of noght and if thou would'st a thought againe would spill Help Lord for I am in a groundlesse DEEPE or endlesse Maze that hath no comming out My Wits from drowning and distraction keepe and let me goe no more this Gulph about For he that goes about to tell with Words what one thou art doth eu'n as if he would Quite drowne the Sea within the shallow'st Foords nay more sith thou art much more manifold Who ere assisted thee or thee aduis'd who brought thee vp in Lore or gaue thee Wit And who thy Pow'r at any time surpris'd or what Foe was not dasht to Dust by It With whom the Sea seemes scarse a Water-drop the Islands and maine Lands a little Dust The highest Heau'n is but thy Foot-stooles Top and but into a Pricke thou Earth dost thrust The Woods of Libanus cannot suffice to make Religious Altars fume to Thee Nor all the Beasts can serue for Sacrifice that on a thousand thousand Mountaines be All Nations nay all Creatures whatsoe'er be they Celestiall or Terrestriall Stand in thy sight as if they Nothing were and in respect of thee are not at all For if in the bright presence of the Sunne the Stars seeme not to be although they are Then in thy sight must All to nothing runne sith in the same the Sunne cannot appeare Therefore with all created Essences ô holy blest and glorious TRINITIE I doe adore with all obseruances the Scepter of thy dread Diuinitie Thy Being's vniuersall most exact then being such what should my homage be And being Grace and Goodnesse most abstract how can I wanting both serenize thee Agnizing then the Wonders of thy Worth prostrate before thy sacred Mercies seate With whatsoe'er Loues feare can vtter forth I more then celebrate thy glory great With those thrice blessed Spirits who laying downe their Crownes of Glory at thy sacred Feete Prostrate adore thee loe I vaile the Crowne of all my Glory to thee blessed SWEET My Glory Lord alas what doe I giue if I haue any it is more than vaine Then maist thou not that Gift of me receiue sith it must needes thy sacred Glory staine Returne It then deare Lord my gift put backe and I will giue thee what thou gau'st to me That 's Loue and Feare thou dost no Glory lacke yet if thou giue it mee I le giue it thee But not to vs deare Lord ô not to vs but to thy gracious NAME all glory giue Which was and is and shall be glorious as long as God is God or LIFE doth liue But vnto vs Confusion onely's due for Flesh and Bloud hath nought to glory in But that which may decayed shame renue a bleeding Conscience and a world of Sinne But why doth Sol giue Light the Fire giue Heate why's Water cold Earth thicke or Aire so thinne The reason 's cleare by kinde they doe that feate so thou by kinde kinde Lord forgiuest Sinne. Where Sin abounds there Grace doth oe'er-abound for t is thy glory God Sinnes to forgiue For should'st thou Sinners with the Sinne confound then none should liue so none should glory giue For in the nether Hell they praise thee not sith t is the Hold of hedious Blasphemy There is the Land where all things are forgot saue sad Despaire and Death which cannot dye But in thine euer-blessed Hierarchy the holy holy holy Lord of Hoasts In Soule-inchanting Heauenly Harmony is euer heard through those Celestiall Coasts Then make me such that in the Life of grace I temp'raâ—â—ly may glorifie thy Name And in the Life of glory face to face I may for euer much more doe the same Consume the cloudy Fancies of my Minde with sacred flames of thine eternall Loue That being by that purging fire refinde thou maist if on thy Trials Touch approue Then let thy Glories zeale quite eate me vp that all my Being may consist therein So I le carowse thy bitter Passions Cup sith to my Health kinde Lord thou didst begin O let my life poore life nought else appeare but a sweet-smelling Sacrifice to thee Or rather let it be an Offring here that with thy Loues fire may consumed be Then metamorphose me into thy Loue let me be quite transmuted to the same That I may euer vpwards flaming moue as doth by Nature a materiall flame O! bottomlesse Abysse of Charitie engulph me in thy Bowels let thy Wombe Receiue Sinnes seede that longs for sanctitie Then let it still lie buryed in this Tombe That so I may quite dead to Sinne and Shame Still liue in LOVE to loue and praise thy NAME A Repetition of Gods many Benefits and Preseruations with desire of the continuance thereof VPon the bended knees of my poore Sp'rit made poor by thy rich Mercies showr'd theron Thy Vertue I adore with all my might ô diuine VERTVE Israels Holy ONE Sith thou of thy vnlimitable grace hast deign'd to make me know thy grace and pow'r Nay show'd to me the splendor of thy face which doth my loue much more then much allure For giuing me my Being being nought before and since and since for mending me Though yet deare Lord I am not as I ought yet as I am I am most bound to thee For that thou dost conserue me in such case that as a liuely Member I doe feele Thy liuely Members dolor or disgrace and sinck in Soule when they neere falling reele For that thou dost my Natures essence keepe from running to the wracke of grace and nature And of a Wolfe for making me a Sheepe and of a Cast-away a costly Creature A costly Creature I right well may say sith it thy Heart-bloud cost to make me such Euen then when I was worse then cast away for I was damn'd before I knew so much By thee I am in sinfull state preseru'd from sinfull state which stands where Sin doth raign By thee I am from prides contrect conseru'd that faine would take out of thy hand thy raigne If I doe fall it 's when Thou stai'st me not if I doe rise it 's by thy helping Hand But I ne'er fall but when I haue forgot that by thy Rod and Staffe I rise and stand As many good thoughts as my heart ere held he held in Capite of Thee his Head If well my little-World I ere did weild I did it with thy Pow'r but in thy stead If none can say Lord Iesu but by Thee much lesse without thee thee can any serue No more then Boughs yeeld Fruit cut from the tree then what we worke for Lord thou dost deserue Therefore if I haue fasted watcht or praid if I haue Crosses borne with Backe vnbroke If I haue shed Contritions Teares vnstaid or crost my Will or vp thy Crosse haue tooke If in my prayers I haue thought on Thee or that they haue preuail'd or I relieu'd Or if my Will to Vertue hath beene free all these as gifts from Thee I haue receiu'd How many vertuous
Friends and Ghostly Guides how many good Examples Lights of life What like Bookes hast thou sent me these besides as Loue-signes whilst thou woo'dst me for thy Wife All which to thee I freely doe referre that they from thee more freely may reflow For sith thou didst all these on me conferre ere I was thine now all Thine I doe owe. But to recount the Perils I haue past thou being present pointing out the way Is more then well Arithmetick can cast which doe thy mercies numberlesse bewray And into what more than prodigious Crimes I might haue fall'n hadst thou not me vpheld Yea hadst thou not preuented me be times appeares by those that haue in sinne excell'd For neuer did the Diuell sinne so much but that a fraile Man may commit as great If with thy grace his Heart thou doe not touch and with thy Pow'r the pow'r of Sinne defeate As many Meanes then as I had to sinne and fit Occasions as I had to fall So many might my Sinnes and Fals haue bin if I by thee had had no help at all Occasions are so violent in Pow'r that they could Giant-foyling Dauid fall For they once tooke him vp into his Tow'r from whence he fell in part and after all Occasion is a Ianus which doth looke to Vice and Vertue most indifferently But by Sinnes watching him he oft is tooke and made the meane of much Impietie Hee 's fain'd to stand vpon an vpright Bowle to show his course is most indifferent Except he meetes with rubs which make him roule out of the way which way those Rubs are bent But ô how often hast thou with strong hand â—ane him out of my way lest I should fall By reason he in my way right did stand for oft I stumble at Occasion small How oft hast Thou the FOES hand manacled because he should not fight or if he should I should be Victor and not vanquished and so get Grace sith tride I held my Hold How often haue I march'd vpon my Foes the Adder Viper and the Cocatrice And neuer was once stung or hurt by those thou had'st so charm'd the malice of their vice How oft hast thou walk'd hand in hand with me through Fire and Water all vntoucht of eyther Nay so their Pow'rs were tempered by thee that they wrought for my comfort altogether And how oft haue they quite consumed bin who for not worshipping their senslesse Sawes Haue in Afflictions Furnace kept me in the whiles I sang for ioy in Sorrowes Iawes That with the Psalmist I may iustly say I was sore thrust at that I so might fall But thou o'er-threw'st my thrusters with my stay as Bals quite breake throwne hard against a wall How oft haue my Sinnes sold me to thy wrath how often haue I fall'n yet neuer fell For in thy Mercy which no measure hath though I did passing ill I haue done well Though I gaue that to Nature due to Grace and to my selfe that which belong'd to Thee Who might'st haue grac'd Thee then with my disgrace yet gau'st thou grace not shame eu'n then to me And though the Angels fell for lesse offence and that proud Babel-Monarch for the same Yet I as one of more preheminence escap'd vnskarr'd in Body Goods and Name I Perils lou'd yet perisht not therein by many by-wayes I found out the right With Grace familiar was I made by Sinne so foild I Sinne by Sinne and not by fight Was euer Loue so wonne was euer Man so woo'd by GOD or can my Soule conceiue How much thy Mercies may that so much can or can I thee of Loue deare Loue deceiue O rather of my Being quite bereaue me and turne me to my pristrinâ— Nihil-hood Then I should so of but meere Loue deceiue thee that mak'st mine Euils doe me so much good Burne me kinde LOVE to Nothing that of nought thou mai'st in Loue make some-thing good for thee Of nought thou mad'st me good mine Ill I wrought then now of nought good make me euer be Perfect great Master-builder of mine All thy Worke begunne and let my Nothing be Apt to be-come in Forme materiall and be conform'd to matter lou'd of Thee Breathe on this CHAOS Lord and let thy Spirit walke on the Waters of my Humors vaine My Darknesse palpable couert to Light so my Confusion shall in Order raigne O'er Sinne and Death and darke-darke Ignorance in datelesse Tearmes of all Eternities The value of thy Vertue to aduance which of thy selfe aboue all Heights doth rise This is my Hope which is because thou ART Iust in thy Word and Deede in All and Part For Power and Grace to withstand the Flesh the World and the Diuell WHen I looke vp and see the Heau'nly Spheares roule on my Time and my Lifes Line therin Thus say I to my Soule Vaine Soule thy yeares are nothing sith thou nothing dost but sinne Yet art thou made eternall like thy Sire and all conceiu'st like him beneath the Sunne Th' art in my Whole and Parts like him intire and hast like him right Reason Ill to shunne And yet ô yet thou dost but Ill withall so all that good thou turn'st to Euill still Who through Infirmitie to Sinne dost fall when thou stand'st highest in grace of Pow'rs good-will Then Lord of Pow'r and Grace with both so arme my falling Soule that she thereby may stand Against th' Assaults of all that would her harme for she can foile but with thy Forces Band. Great Lord of Hostes Iehouah God of Pow'r then leaue me not alone among my Foes But strengthen me from thy Strengths trusty Tow'r that I by Thee may euer vanquish those The Flesh the World the Diuell with their Bands of strong as fraudfull Foes me still assaile While all my Pow'r lyes onely in thy Hands which when I hold I foile with-held I faile If then thou wouldst I still should Victor be giue me those helps that in thy hand still lye Flesh fights not with it selfe but thou in me canst foile it quite and make it Mercy cry The World doth loue it selfe and so her Owne too well t'endamage eyther and doth charge Too strongly on me to be ouerthrowne by my small pow'r if thou it not enlarge And Sathan in himselfe is not diuided though in himselfe still turbulent he be He is too crafty strong and well-prouided for me t' encounter if thou help not me Then ô estsoones againe and still againe I thine assistance humbly doe inuoke That so I may still vanquish so still raigne o'er these our Foes that euer vs prouoke So will I yeeld the glory vnto Thee That foilst such strength by Weaknesse that 's by me The Sinner confessing his sinne striueth with God by importunitie of Prayer for Grace GReat God! from whoÌ„ no thought can be concea'ld sith it thou know'st ere thoght searched hast All Hearts ere they in Nature are reueal'd forgiue my thoughts that giue thee but distaste To my Confusion needes I must confesse
Gods Note-Booke cleane are crost Whose sins are couer'd so with Clemencie that they are hid so seeme they to be lost And blest is he to whom the God of Grace imputes no Sinne for so he shall be cleare How e'er defil'd and in whose sp'rit no base deceit shall once so much as but appeare For while I held my peace that caus'd my Warre for Death with Silence in such passion striues My bodies Props my Bones consumed are while all the day I grone in Sorrowes Giues For day and night thy Hand great God doth lye like Lead vpon my weaknesse who haue bin Conuerted into selfe Calamitie whiles the Thorne prickt me or my stinging sin But lo my faults to thee I haue reueal'd haue not clockt my crimes which thou dost hide But I confesse those Sinnes thou hast conceal'd sith my misdeedes shall so be iustifide Thus shall each pious person pray to thee in fitting time yer Mercies Gate be sparr'd But when the Inundations swelling be of many Waters they from Him are barr'd My fence ô Lord lies onely in thy Hands when troubles me assaile with fiercest woe Then ô preserue me from the impious Bands that me inclose in death to close me so I will saist thou deare Sweete instruct thee still and guide thee in thy way ô homed Words Thine Eye thou saist shall me defend from ill and watch to guard me from my foe-mens Swords Then be ô be not like an Horse or Mule that are as rude as vnintelligent Lord bridle them thy Snafle will not rule till they be rul'd or else be made repent The Plagues are great most great and manifold that doe the Sinner euermore attend But who with Hands oâ— Hope on God layes hold his boundlesse Mercy him will comprehend In Him therefore yee Righteous still be glad for he in Griefe still glads the righteous Soule Exult all ye that for your Sinnes are sad and all true Hearts that stoupe to his controule To God the Father glory be therefore and to the Sonne and their coequall Spirit As it was is and shall be euermore World without end for they are infinite Domine ne in furore Psal. 38. Dauid lying sicke of some grieuous disease acknowledgeth himselfe to be chastised of God for his sinnes and therefore prayeth God to turne away his wrath He vttereth the greatnesse of his griefes by many words and circumstances as wounded with the arrowes of Gods ire forsaken of his friends â—uill intreated of his enemies But in the end with firme confidence he commendeth his cause to God and hopeth for speedy help at his hand LOrd checke me not vntill thy rage be past nor chastise me in thine incensâ—d â—re For in my Flesh thy Shafts are fixed fast and thy Hand quels me that would faine aspire Thy Wrath hath fill'd my Flesh with all annoy for Sinne 's the sore the salue sore-sicknesse is And in my bones I can no rest enioy because their Marrow them hath mou'd amisse For mine ambitious Sinnes climbe o'er my Head and as a breake-necke Burden me oppresse My wounds which they haue made with filth are fed and ranckled sore through my worse foolishnesse I am made crooked vnderneath this loade deform'd and wretched yea it breakes my backe So all the day with griefe I make aboad or mourning goe as those that comfort lacke For ah my Ioynes that lodg'd but Sinne before now harbour nought but restlesse Malady No health is in my flesh for all is sore so sore that anguish makes me roaring cry But Lord thou know'st the Summe of my desires because my Plaints still tell it in thine eares My Heart is vext my strength from me retires nay more mine Eyes are blinded with my teares My friends in shew when thou didst fauour me like foes in deed now me poore me withstand Nay those in bloud that were my neerest be now furthest off and lend nor heart nor hand And they that seeke my life lay Traps to take that life or at the least me to vndoe And but of guile and spoile they euer speake and put in practise what they speake of too But I poore I as deafe would nothing heare for poore Soules must not hear what must offend And as one dumbe I still my selfe did beare that gaue no more reproofes then eare did lend Yet is my hope in thee that hearest all my sighes and grones sith they increase for Sinne. Then let mine Enemies ne'er see my fall who when I doe but trip triumph therein I am at point to perish and my Woes and cause thereof I euer beare in minde For I with griefe confesse mine ouerthrowes that lost thy Grace which now I seeke to finde But still my Foes doe liue and strong are made strong in their friends their places purse and armes And they that hate me causelesse and inuade me forcelesse many be the more my harmes They monsters likewise that doe ill for good oppose me still sith goodnesse I ensue Then haste thee Lord to help me so withstood and leaue me not among this cursed crue To God the Father which we doe adore and to the Sonne and to their blessed Spirit All glory be as it was heretofore is and still shall be through Worlds infinite Miserere mei Deus Psal. 51. When Dauid was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offences he did not onely acknowledge the same to God with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie but also left a memoriall thereof to his posteritie Therefore first he desireth God to forgiue his sinnes and to renue in him his holy Spirit with promise that he will not be vnmindfull of those great graces Finally fearing lest God would punish the whole Church for his fault he requireth that hee would rather increase his graces toward the same GReat God of Gods whose Mercy is as great haue mercy on me wretch whose Sin exceeds Yet after thy compassion so compleate wash out the blots of my too foule misdeedes O clense me from the filth of mine offence that ranckles in my Conscience all defilde With all that may depraue both Soule and Sense that purg'd I may to thee be reconcil'd For I acknowledge mine iniquitie sith still my Sinne 's the obiect of my sight And by the pow'r of mine impiety I wrong thy grace and still impugne thy Sp'rit Against thee onely I in sinne abide and done what doth condemne me in thy sight That in thy Words thou maist be iustifide and ouercome when thou art iudg'd vnright For nought but wickednesse prepar'd the way to my conception which to worse did passe Then ere I was I stood at sinfull stay and when I fell to Being worser was This Lord is true confessing which doth moue thy Grace to me thy Wisedome hid to show Then sprinckle me with Isop in thy Loue and so I shall be whiter farre than Snow Vnto mine Eares invred but to heare what Eares corrupts thou shalt but Ioy obiect So shall
doth play One dyes with Sicknesse Thought another kils With Hunger this with Thirst that man doth pine Some Water choakes an Halter others spils Some Fire consumes some Beasts deuoure in fine This man he murders with the ruthlesse Sword That man with Poyson he doth suffocate With Bullet this that with a bitter Word He ends and others end with worser Fate No Flesh though fram'd in height of Natures skill With composition more then halfe diuine But it is subiect made to death vntill Th' Immortall doe that mortall flesh refine Thus all he ends yet none their ends fore-know A secret t' is to Death himselfe vnknowne Whom he must strike thy finger Lord must show Nor dares he shoot til thou the Mark hast showne To some he is thy mercies Minister To other some the Engine of thy wrath This sadnesse to my Soule doth minister For bleeding Conscience many faintings hath But wash the same with thy sweet mercies dewe And it annoint with vnction spirituall Then health and rest and peace shall straight ensue Which to my Conscience will be cordiall I haue discourst to thine all-hearing Eares My dismall plight in dolefull Elegie With Tragick accents accents causing teares Sad teares attending matchlesse misery Thy pitties Eare therefore bowe downe O Lord To these most pensiue and most iust complaints Let mercies Eyes with pitties Eares accord To chear the conscience that with bleeding faints In hope were of my soule shall rest in peace Till thou vouchsafe to send her full release A Confession of a Sinner acknowledging the misery of humane frailtie CElestiall Lord Creator of this ALL Embracer Prop and Ruler of the same Whose vnseene Eye beholds the generall And singly seest at once this double Frame O vaile that Christall-cleere all-seeing eye On vtter-darknesse that Lord that am I. Mine Intellect is darke darke my soules sight My body darke darke dungeon of my soule Is opposite for darknesse to thy light What can be darker or more vgly foule Thus darknesse striuing much more darke to be Hell being too light infus'd it selfe in me O Iustice Sunne with Taper pointed beames Dart through this Darknesse open loopes for light By which the influence of thy lights leames Through my darke soule may be dispersed quight For what is that which extreame darknes cleares But extreame light of lights when it appeares Where extreame darknesse harbours there is Hell In me deare Lord of Heauen that hell is plac't My heart hard hart wherein all horrors dwell With vexing thoughts like Fiends away doth wast My Conscience quite confounded with my misse Is lowest Hell where highest Anguish is Descend sweet Christ and harrow with thy Crosse This hell of Conscience flee my soule from thence It is thine owne deare Lord it is thy losse If it doe perish through my sinnes offence Why sinne is nothing then for thing of nought Lose not my soule poore purchase dearly boght In Deaths dark shade o'er-shadowed with my sinne Vpon the black pit brinck of deepe Despaire I lye deare Lord halfe out but more halfe in Help help ô help Lord heare Lord heare my prayer Now now ô now if euer help me now I sincke I sincke help ere I sincke too low Remember Lord Lord call to minde againe The drops strange drops of Water mixt with Bloud Which from thy paine-prest Body ranne amaine What time on ground it lay in pensiue moode If then thou praid'st that Cup might passe froÌ„ thee I well may pray let this Cup passe from mee A Cup of cares confected by sowre sinne Baning my Soule with bitter operation Let this Cup passe before I doe beginne Least it effect my crazed soules damnation O thou that felt'st fraile mans infirmitie Respect fraile Me else in despaire I die Whose Faith too like a feather in the winde Is tossed with the least temptations blast With doubtings daunted when the faithfull finde A calme in conscience till such stormes are past But I vile wretch am tossed to and fro With eu'ry Storme that rise or Blast that blow See Lord ah see see see how all my Veynes Do pant with paine through sense of my misdeedes Behold my Heart wherein all sorrow raignes Griefe-wounded heart behold it how it bleedes O poure therein thy precious Balmes of grace That from thy wounded Heart doe runne apace Where 's Much forgiu'n Loue must there be much Forgiue me Much much more shall be my loueâ— I haue Much to forgiue no sinner such My Sinne surmounting Loue shall be aboue Forgiue me then and I in Loue will striue To match that more then Much thou dost forgiue Be thou for me vnto the Old of dayes My Daysman so to stay his angers heate That for thy sake he would vouchsafe to raise His vengeance siege which my Soules wrack doth threat O tel him to his Grace I weakling yeeld And giue him praise and glory of the Field O pray him bend his pu'sance on the proud Whose brazen Necks will rather breake then bowe I creeping on my knees doe seeke for shrowde Till Tempests of his fury ouer-blow And like a Spaniell at his Maisters threat In humble wise fall prostrate at his feete With eyes vp-lifted slowly by degrees And lifted so are throwne downe straight againe With face confounded on his humbled knees Inuoking mercy yet doth mute remaine O so euen so doe I poore wretched I At foote but of his Foote-stoole crowching lye If this may moue and mouing may prouoke Thy sans-beginning Sire in Loue to stay Of his iust vengeance the resistlesse stroke A touch whereof doth Rockes to poâ—der bray I will ascribe the praise ô Christ to thee Sith for thy sake alone he spareth me My strength 's not stony nor my flesh yet brasse O no then weaknesse much more weake it is Apt still to fall more brittle farre then glasse Compos'd of that that 's more then most amisse O how vnable then am I to beare His heauy vengeance stroke that rocks doth teare With hands of Mercie stay my sincking Soule Which were in mercy mercilesly wounded For me vile wretch and for my trespasse foule That Grace might o'er abound where Sin abounded They are not shortned since they racked were For Sinne that Sinne might sinnelesse so appeare With those same hands deare Lord my Soule sustain Opprest with Poâ—se that made thy man-hood grone My load 's as great though farre lesse be my paine Whose sinne 's as great as all the worlds alone Then Worlds of Sin when on my backe I beare What meruell is 't I faint if not despaire Froth of Infirmitie and Weaknesse skumme I am no other how then should I beare The heauy sentence of true Iustice doome If to this Load of Sinne it added were None but a God and Man can beare that waight Sith God Man bow'd vnder-neath that fraight I am farre spent ô be not farre from me I panting labour neere the latest gaspe My Soule dismai'd not knowing where to flee With hands of Hope wan
thou art great beyond all quantitie How good art thou thou goodnesse most compleate for thou art great beyond all qualitie Beyond all measure thou art onely wise thou art alone eternall without Time In pow'r almightie with all-seeing Eyes in Iudgement deepe in Counsailes most sublime But what goe I about to bring thee here within the compasse of description Thou art as farre past Compasse as past Peere being immense and infinite alone If Men or Angels could nay more couldst thou by deed or word thine Essence once define Thou art no more thy selfe in deed or show for thou all Bounds dost in thy selfe confine Of Thee therefore no search can notice giue further then that thou art most infinite And that to know is onely to beleeue that so thou art in wisedome grace and might The Sunne Moone Stars with bright beames glorifide in presence of thy glory lose their Light The Cherubins like Bastard Eaglets hide their Eyes that cannot brooke thy glories sight The sturdy Pillers of th' Etheriall Frame do trembling stand when thou but knitst thy brow Yea all the Pow'rs therein sâ—rincke at the same and with those Props with feare and reu'rence bow Whose Voyce doth make the Mountaines melt like whose Check confounds the order of this Allâ— waxe Whose Breath consumes thy foes as fire doth flaxe in few thou art what thou thy selfe canst call Then how dare I vile Clod of base Contempt approch the presence of such Maiesty That is from all impuritie exempt and I a Sincke of all sordiditie To touch the Arke was death and one did dye for touching It being at the point to fall Then woe is me how dare I wretch come nye they sacred selfe that standest staying All The Bethshamites receiu'd a mortall checke for prying on that Arke too curiously And many thousands for it went to wrecke then dare I Worme cling to thy Deity How can thy grace so vile a Vermine brooke much lesse embosome such a lothed Thing That leaues offence behinde but with a looke and like a Viper with a touch doth sting What Concord can there be twixt Contraries can good and euill be incorporate Then how shouldst thou selfe goodnesse me comprise that am selfe euill which thou most dost hate For I haue beene ô Lord I shame to say what in times past I did not shame to doe Who worse then Treas'n it selfe did ah betray God vnto Man and Man to Sathan too There was a Time I was that Franticke Foole that said at least in Heart there is no God But since thy grace my Heart did better schoole I thinke not so by reason of thy Rod. Thy Rod recou'red that my straying thought reducing It into the way of Truth I to my selfe and thee by force was brought and made repent that madnesse of my youth Thanks kindest Rod I kisse thee for thy grace which like a Potion did with Nature striue To conquere that which Nature did disgrace and made me dead in Sinne in grace to liue But Lord how blest and better had I bin if thy smooth Staffe had staid me in the Way For thy rough Rod doth Loue by terror win and Loue is lame that doth by terror stay But yet let terror as loues Harbinger make way to lodge thy Loue within my Heart Which of thy Loue would faine be Harbourer because thou mak'st it faine by force of smart But let thy loue be of my Heart embrac'd meerely for Loue and kept with louing feare Let not my Loue with terror be disgrac'd but let It free from terrors Let appeare O let me loue thee as thou louest mee thou lou'st me for my selfe and thy Loues sake Then for thy selfe alone let me loue thee without respect of what Loue lame doth make I now desire with more then hot desire to be new molt and cast into the Molde Of all perfection by Afflictions fire sith for thy Temple That refines the Golde Lord if thou wilt thou canst then make me cleane Draw me with Cords of Loue made fast by Feare Though my Sinnes measure passe thou hast no meane in mercy then let mercy make me cleare If thou requir'st contrition for my faults with Sinne and Sorrow lo I labour â—ore A iarring Twin each other that assaults within the wombe that breedes them more and more If Satisfaction thou of me require Lo here I offer vp my Flesh to thee To be consumed in Afflictions fire so thou vouchsafe to saue the Soule of me Poure out thy Vengeance Vials all there-on make it like Vapor to euaporate The Humors ill wherewith it 's ouer-gone that Flesh from flesh may so be separate O thou whose Loue enflames all good desires quench thou the thirst of my desire that flames To be consum'd in those thrice sacred fires which mend the formes of mind Spirits frames Giue me thy Loue and throw me into Hell for there thy Loue will pleasure me in paine Yea paines to bring me pleasures will compell and make me Heau'n by Hell so to obtaine This onely Boone I craue by Grace to be armed with Patience most inuincible In all thy fiery Tryals made of me that Sense make brooke them as insensible Which Patience still consociates constant Loue which can endure more then Paine can inflict O then let me that Loue in mercy proue then proue me with all proofes though ne'er so strict Thy will be mine and mine be euer thine giue me no pow'r to will or not to will But as thou wilt and let no will be mine but that which maugre Flesh may thine fulfill Thou know'st what 's best for me then is that best which thou what ere it be for me shalt doe Then let me locke my cares within thy Chest when they too strong wold my weake Chest vndo Be thou the Centre of my Soules desires and let them rest in Thee in all vnrest Be thou the Vnction still to feede those fires till of eternall Light they be possest To which as to the vtmost of their hope Bring thou them Lord that art their vtmost scope Of Lifes breuitie the Fleshes frailtie the Worlds vanitie and the Diuels tyranny THou Eld of Dayes teach me my dayes to count deare Lord mine End learn me mine end to know That of the same I may yeeld rust account These secrets Lord to me in secret show To thinke of long life is in death to liue To think of Death ' s long life which Death doth giue My Time is in thy hands then It display That I may know It so to vse It well A thousand yeeres with thee is scarse a day But they are more with me then Time can tell In twice fiue Ages Time can tell no more Then no Mans time thrice trebl'd tels such store Are not my Dayes few and mine end at hand Whose life is like the shadow of a Dreame What Substance is 't by which such shadowes stand Is 't ought but Nothing in the great'st extreame If lesse then Nothing then
Traitor worse then hee that solde thee it will for Meede or Dread the Soule betray Nor in fire is it willing to behold thee in fiery tryals then it shrinckes away Therefore when it a Champion of such might betraid to feare I dare not say I will No that 's Presumption but I wish I might for willing well without thee we doe ill Then be with me strong Pow'r and I will say I will and will performe that will in Deed For where thou art by Pow'r it 's but a play in greatest torments then to burne or bleed Now as thy Body grew so grew thy griefes for who deare Lord can possibly expresse Thy Persecutions void of all reliefe saue Praying Fasting Watching Wearinesse They spake against thee who sate in the Gate and common Drunkards ballads made of thee That thou might'st say in worse then Dauids state being poore I labour from mine Infancie These were the griefs dear Loue thy life did brook but in thy Death what Sense ere vnderstood What paines thou felt'st when like a rising brooke thy body more and more o'erflow'd with bloud Freedome made Captiue Mercy Miserie Grace quite disgraced beauty vilifide Innocence strooken Iustice doom'd to dye Glory quite shamed and Life crucifide O Heau'ns what can amaze with Wonderment the Sense of Man more then this what shall I Call this so strange vnheard of Loues extent that ouer-fils all Names Capacitie In few now Grace alone seemes Sinne alone Life dyes State 's whipt and Pow'r bound to a Poast The Glory of the Father spet vpon and in a word God seemeth to be lost In this Deepe further may my Soule not wade my strength is spent for my heart bleedes in me O glorious Grace O Maiestie vnmade is this for me O boundlesse Charitie If I for my Redemption am so tide to loue and honour thee What shall I bee For that thou did'st so many Deaths abide when one wold serue to make me more than free With what loue shall I quite this more then Loue with what life shall I imitate thy life With what teares shall I my repose reproue and with what Peace shall I conclude my strife I owe thee more for my redeeming Lord sith in the same thou Death of deaths didst proue Then for my Making which was with a Word for more much more thy Passion showde thy loue For if for Cherubins or Seraphins thou had'st thus di'd t 'had beene lesse meruellous But thou hast di'd for me a Sincke of sinnes which of all Wonders is most wonderous What are we Lord or what our Fathers House we Sons of wretched Men that Gods deere Senne Doth in such loue and mercie visit vs as through Death to re-make vs quite vndone If in the ballance of thy Sanctuary thou weigh our body t' will be found more light Than Vanitie more graue then Misery as if It did consist in Natures spight And if our Conuersation thou respect what is it but a Chaos of Offence The Goodnesse of whose All is all Defect whose very Souâ—'s but Hell of Conscience Dost thou ô God then for such Diuels die the Sonnes of Sathan most oppos'd to thee For the Subuerters of all Honestie for breakers of good Lawes that blessed be For thy Contemners for thy Gloryes Clouds for thy Deprauers for the worst of Ils For meere cuâ—st Thwarts of all Beatitudes for thy Tormentors that thy Soule would kill Whose Hearts no gifts can once allure to loue much lesse with Menaces are terrifide Nor mou'd with heauy Plagues that Rockes would moue nor yet with sweet'st Indulgence mollifide For Fiends who not suffic'd with their owne vice the Earth doe compasse so to compasse more And not contented others to intice diue to the Diuels to augment their store Where robbing those Egyptians of their wealth to weet Pride Enuy Malice blasphemie Away they steale so all they doe by stealth to make them Idols for their Fantasie Who when they haue rak'â— Hell for eu'ry Euill and got as much as Hell can hold or yeeld They then deuise themselues worse then the Diuel new kindes of sinnes that Hell yet neuer held Adding thereto obduracie of Heart and doe their Conscience more then cauterize Pleasing themselues like Fiends in others smart and for that end doe many meanes deuise Are these deare Lord the things for which thou the things I say for no Name is so ill As they deserue What onely must the Highest diest dye for vile Vipers that their Maker kill My Heart doth faile my Spirit is extinct when thus I weigh thy Mercies with my Sinne And wert not for thy graces meere instinct I should despaire deare Lord and dye therein Yet sith I haue begun to speake to thee O be not angry if I yet doe speake Let Dust and Ashes once so saucie be to aske their God what He hereby doth seeke Seek'st thou the loue of such meere Lumps of Hate or else the seruice of such Vermine vile Alas great Lord it stands not with thy State sith where they come by nature they defile If thy desire of Marriage did so burne that Thou thy Creatures would'st needes espouse Why then did Seraphins not serue thy turne that are more Noble and thee better vse Why of a prepuce Nation took'st a Wife which afterwards did Thee betray and kill So marriedst as it were the very Knife that cut thy throate so seem'dst thy selfe to spill What answer'st Lord to these too high Demands I would haue this because I would have this This is thine Answere and the reason stands vpon thy Will which cannot will amisse Then be it Lord according to thy Will for so it muâ—â— be be it how so ere By life or death then let me It fulfill that dost by both thee so to mee endeere For since Mans fall none passe to Paradise but by the dreadfull burning Cherubins To Canaan none but by where Marah lies sith there th' inheritance of ioy begins And none vnto the happy Citie goes that goes not by the Babel-Riuers side And none Ierusalem or sees or knowes that through the vale of Teares nor goe â—orride The way to Heau'n is by the Gates of Hell and Wormwood-wine thogh bitter wholsome is Thy Crosse ô Christ doth Heau'ns strong 〈◊〉 compell to open wide for t is the Key of blisse And sith for me so well thou loud'st that Crosse Let me for thee count all things else but losse A Thanksgiuing for our Vocation WIth all the pow'r and vertues of my Soule I doe adore thee holy Lord of All That when I had no name in thy check-rowle thou wrat'st it on thy Palme and me didst call I dwelt sometimes in blacke Obliuions Land where in the shade of Death I sadly sate But thou kind Lord didst reach me then thy hand which from thence drew me to a glorious state When as I wandred in the crooked wayes that too directly led to endlesse paine Thou didst thy forces then against me raise to put me in thy
way perforce againe When thou hadst plung'd me in the Font of Grace so clens'd the filth I was conceiued in Though there I vow'd to keepe me in that case I brake my vow and me re-suncke in sinne So that sweet Temple which thou sanctifi'dst in me for thee I cursedly did blesse Raising therein that which thou least abid'st namely the Idoll of Voluptuousnesse Then liu'd I as an Out-law when it seem'd by Law or Fiend or Foe might me surprise But I of thee yet then was so esteem'd that thou by Law didst quit me in this wise The Law requir'd Death or Obedience then thou for me didst more then Law requir'd Which di'dst for sinne yet liu'dst in innocence so thou thereby didst more then It desir'd Yet ere I once did thinke vpon thy Grace I liu'd as loose as if I had beene bound To nothing but to Persons Time and Place that sought my Soule and body to confound So past my Dayes that rather lookt like Night nay rather like the Darke that may be felt Wherein my selfe ne'er came within my sight although I might mine vnsweet life haue smelt Then like blinde Baiard being bold as blinde I ranne as Fancy led me eu'ry where To doe the Deedes of darknesse in their kinde and with me others blinded so did beare Then what was it the Diuell could deuise to clog a Soule with Sinne exceeding Sinne But I to doe it was as quicke as wise the rather sith my Soule did ioy therein Then carnall beautie was the onely Sunne that warm'd me at the heart and lent me light A Light and Heate by which were quite vndone mine Eyes Heart nay Body Soule Spright For all confounded were as they had bin no more themselues but beauties shadowes vaine Attending her in whatsoeuer Sinne as Toyes that had bin stitched to her Traine Then were my Feete as swift as swiftest Roes Mans bloud to shed and so thy Forme deface My friends to wrong and treble wrong my foes to shunne the good and bad men to embrace Then those things onely pleased best my taste that were distastiue to thy sacred Sense And that time onely I esteemed waste that to thy Seruice had most reference Thy Name to my vncircumcized Eare was harsh and fill'd the same with all offence Which I did deadly hate through seruile feare but seru'd thy Foes with treble diligence The World the Flesh and thy Competitor that for my Soule with Thee do aye contend Made me their Slaue and seruil'dst Seruitor so gaue my Minde thy Kindome to the Fiend Thy Word to me seeem'd most ridiculous as full of Crackes as Contradiction And no lesse witlesse then most barberous so made I it a Ground to play vpon The fairest Church then seem'd the fowlest Iaile a Preacher like an Headsman kill'd me quite Words least diuine with me did most preuaile and Peace of Conscience still in me did fight In briefe I was for which my selfe I hate such as on whom VICE show'd what she could do When she did light but on a low estate for what Deedes shee deuis'd my Hand was to In this time of my young yet doating Age thou didst expect me Lord and lent'st me breath Yea didst attend me like that Princes Page that alwayes put his Lord in minde of Death O altitude of Grace surmounting Grace ô magnitude of Mercy most extreame How many settings-out in such a Race haue beene o'er-taken with thy Furies Streame Yet I most blessed-cursed-blessed I haue by the Mercy more then most diuine Beene suffer'd to be tir'd with vanitie and yet preseru'd till brought to Grace in fine Had Iustice hands which then still vrged were drawne me before her High Tribunall Throne And by a Quest of Angels tride me there I had beene cast and more then ouerthrowne But blest be thine vnconquer'd Patience that me forbore till I to sinne forbare And blessed be thy Mercies prepotence by which I warded was and bid beware Forcing into my Soule the feare of Hell the sight of Sinne Lifes vaine and short expence With thy Lawes strictnesse all which still impell my Heart though Steele to melt in penitence Yea when my feet were fast in Follies Stockes thou didst by Grace past Grace extort from me Whole Flouds of Teares from two most flintie Rockes my Heart and Eyes for so offending thee And when I fled from thee as if it had beene matter of small moment Thee to flee Thou follow'dst me I being worse then mad to keepe me from the Furies following mee Thus long we straue and striuing long at length thou didst preuaile and tam'd my Coltish Will Yet t was by holy Fraud and mightie Strength which claw'd me while they did restraine me still For no lesse was thy Mercies skill herein then thy Pow'rs force for sinfull Soules to cure Showes skilfull Grace and Men that most doe sinne to iustifie bewraies almightie Pow'r And ô how many Graces giu'st thou me with this meere guilt of my Vocation Firme Faith sure Hope and perfect Charitie with all the Vertues that attend thereon And though I cannot be assured Lord to serue thee to the end and meeke withall Yet doe my Faith and Hope rest on thy Word which sure doth stand though oft vnsure I fall Thy Sp'rit likewise doth witnesse to my Sp'rit that thou dost loue me more than tenderly Sith in thy Loue thou mak'st my Loue delight which loue erst lothed thy Loue mortally Blessed be thou therefore great Lord of Grace for giuing me thy deare adopting Spirit To nurse and teach and rule me in my Race and thee and me vnioynde to re-vnite And blessed be that euer-blessed DAY wherein that Ghest did make my Soule his Inne And be that Houre and Moment blessed aye wherein my Will gaue way to let him in That Day was the true Sabboth of my rest that Day I left th' Egyptian seruitude That was my second Birth-day truely blest who then was borne to all Beatitude It was mine Easter-day wherein I rose from Death of Sinne vnto the Life of Grace It was the Day my Heau'nly Husband chose to marry me and Coort me face to face Let Iob and Ieremy ban their birth-Day this will I blesse with Heart Mind Mouth Pen Sith then the Angels in their best aray saluted me as their Co-cittizen Wherein God call'd me Son and Christ dear Spouse the Holy-Ghost his Temple and when all The Holy TRINITIE did trimme the House of my poore Soule that teady was to fall Deare Lord with what deare Words or dearer Deedes no dearest Words and Deeds are all too weake To match thy Mercies but my Soule must needs quite breake if not into thy Praises breake I le sing to thee as Dauid once did sing O Lord how glorious are thy Workes of Grace And as the Angels Peales of Praises ring so will I praise thee though my voyce be base The worke of my Creation show'd great Loue and that of my Redemption more exprest Yet that of
or else of good depriu'd so both accurst And if my best be nought but cloaked sinne what are my worst but worse than what is worst Not for committing odious sinnes in act but for omitting deedes of Charitie Which Iustice at her Iudgement will exact the Reprobate are damn'd and so may I For t is but halfe the duty of my whole to doe no ill but still I good should doe With all the care and forces of my Soule else ill I may be doom'd and damned too God gaue me life but for his Seruice than I must account how I each moment spend And sinn'd I not yet sith I am a Man that doth no good it 's damned in the end And were my deeds vnited and withall clear'd from pollution and from all defect Yet are they nought to gifts meere corporall which I haue had and yet haue in effect So that too like an idle beast I am that still deuoureth more then he doth earne And lookes for food ere he deserues the same nor doth the giuers gifts from Fates discerne O! out vpon me most vngratefull beast abusing Reason as if I had it not What shall I say deare Lord I must at least confesse I haue thy goodnesse most forgot O! with what Marble Eyes or flintie Front shall I the glory of thy presence brooke Who art both Iudge of me to take account and Witnesse too as witnesse will thy Booke And yet alas lesse pow'r I haue to shunne thy presence then haue heart the same t' abide For thou art all in All then can I runne from thee when thou dost compasse all beside Yet haue I bin but in Ciuilitie more loath t' offend my meanest mortall Friend Then in good Conscience so great maiestie that filleth All and All doth comprehend And haue I shame to say 't more sham'd to sinne in sight of men then in thy dread aspect My Soule is blinde so saw thee not within and mortall Eyes but mortall things respect And for the Graces which thou gau'st to mee to glorifie the Giuer I vile wretch Haue to my selfe the glory tane from thee so with thy gifts I doe thee still impeach I haue not lou'd thee for thy mercy nor haue fear'd thee for thy Iustice yea thy might Though most almighty I did most abhorre when it in Iustice on me wretch did light Thou hast to me reueal'd thy Will but looke how often I haue glost it with mine owne Were it within or else without thy Booke so oft hath thine by mine bin ouerthrowne And if I reckon right betweene thy Law and mine obseruance though I feare thy Rod I must confesse neere Dauids foole I draw that said in Soule at least There is no God I haue obserued nought but what my sense depraued sense being Ill did hold for good Which Ill with all the Stormes of foule Offence still wrought vpon the Current of my Bloud Mine Eyes are sharpe as eager still to pry into mens worst parts rather than their best And wrench that little much that is awry and what 's most right to make it lesse at least Apt to detract from others and exact praise to my selfe from others this is it That makes me enuy eu'ry witty Tract vnlesse it be composed by my Wit As apt most apt to giue as take offence hard to be pleas'd displeas'd too easily As prompt to Choler as to violence but fearing death yet desperate prest to dye In reasoning rash and yet soone rudely round to compasse Faith to falshood soone thereby And where Truth stands to throw her on her ground in beastly rage vntill shee seeme to lye False in Humilitie and true in pride in iesting rough and rash in censuring To gouerne I haue made my Heart too wide t' obey too straite through griefes straite gouerning More then the Mount Vesuuius haue I burn'd in vaine Ambitions euer-raging flame And all good gifts and graces haue I turn'd to Fewell burning in desire of fame Thou gau'st me gifts where of the praise I sought so robb'd thee Lord of glory and with speede I wages seeke for that which thou hast wrought for for thy Workes in me I looke for meede More proud than Lucifer the Fount of Pride for he being glorious mac'e might soone o'erweene But I being bred of but Slime-putrifide vsurpt thy praise so much more proud haue beene Wherein if thou hast crost me I haue storm'd worse than that Hell-hound for he fell to Hell Then easily might fume being so enorm'd but I on Earth at ease against thee swell The lightest pleasures make me lighter doate but easiest paines doe presse me downe to death If Fates but smile in pleasures Seas I floate and if but frowne it eu'n expires my breath I foulest Vices vnder vertuous Names doe patronize as extreame Crueltie For vpright Iustice Loue of lightest Dames for perfect Zeale Selfe-â—oue for Charitie Craft for true Wisedome Pride for Cleanlinesse Basenesse for Meeknesse Doubt for Holy Feare Meere Cowardize for discreet Warinesse Râ—shnâ—sse for Manhood Couetize for Care And so of others in none other sort I vaunt their vice with vertuous tearmes inuolu'd And haue an eye but onely to Report while I but right to seeme am wrong resolu'd All good Instructions fall into my Soule as Aprill-showres into the Sea doe fall Whose swelling surges doe their drops controule and euer turne their sweetnesse into Gall. When I haue beene reprou'd for ought vnright I would deny excuse or it defend Or else reproch my iust reprouers straight and so without offence would faine offend If I haue vow'd deuotion and withall haue taskt my selfe with holy Exercise I soone infring'd it were it ne'er so small so loath'd I Manna Leekes to gurmandize And looke how one that taketh fire in hand but out of hand straight thowes it cannot hold The heate thereof so I doe vnderstand but small effect of Prayer made so cold As Cates vnchewed haue they past from me without concoction not without annoy For when I thinke they went away so free my Soule is sicke with griefe and grieu'd with ioy Thus lose I still my time in going on and comming off from eu'ry good attempt So purpose without prosecution leaues my best actions idle in contempt With but beginnings haue I worne my dayes and oft haue fail'd but in the meere assay Yet for but failing haue I lookt for praise ô shame sith I good motions did obey I likewise haue beene light in my Dsiere now this now that and then the other face Sparkes of thy beauty set my Heart on fire with Beauties grace to sinne for want of grace So could not walke abroad but that anon my wandring sight would giue thy sight offence For eu'ry sparkling Eye mine lighted on through mine straight kindled my Concupiscence For this too oft I haue abus'd the Muse thou gau'st me but to woo thee for thy Loue But I lewde Louer did her Measures vse to mete fraile motions strongly so to moue Thus Beauty
that should make me loue thee more I made the wrest to rend my loue from thee So both with mine and others gifts did gore the Giuers heart erst split for loue of me And if I made as seldome so I did a Cou'nant with mine Eye that it should gaze No more on Beauty yet the more forbid the more thereby it glanc'd on Beauties Blaze Alas how brutish haue I bin the while that like a Beast haue swayed beene by sense And made my Reason obey Affections vile repugnant to mine owne Intelligence O life dead life depriu'd of life of grace how stirr'st thou so without that vitall pow'r Thou art too proud and yet too beastly base at highest height but like a fading Flowre O Lord of life a death it is to mee to minde my life so drown'd in deadly sinne Which though it Be and moue and liue in Thee yet as without thee it hath cursâ—d bin For I haue made no scruple to offend but with such boldnesse haue I sinn'd as it Had beene a meane but to a blessed end so seem'd to sinne with Will enforc'd by Wit Nay should I bring my best deeds to thy Test they 'le proue but drosse of mâ—eâ—e Hyâ—ocrisie Or Vice in Vertues habit at the best which is too bad for basâ—st Pietie With Iacobs voyce and Esaus hands I held my Soule to sinne and good opinion too The wicked so the World at will doe weild which faine I would but that I cannot doe The World 's t'vnweildy for my feeble gripe it still fals from me sith I cannot hold And at each fall thou giu'st me Lord a stripe sith though I cannot weild it yet I would Yea would much rather then my wilde affects or ought that holy men doe take in hand For my best doings my iust doubt suspects sith they in doubt of doing ill doe stand How tedious Time hath seem'd when I haue praid how wearisome the practise tir'd how soone How much distracted and how well apaid when it was done though done ere well begunne So was I like but one of Pilates Slaues that croucht to thee ô Christ but to offend So my best actions are but holy braues that haue more shew then strength to foile the Feend Haue I done good to any if I haue t' was but of debt and though it were but lent I prizde it more and bragd of what I gaue so all my good was done with ill intent Haue I discours'd of things that heauenly were In curious Questions lightly it was done As where Heau'n stands and Hell it locall where not how to come to Heau'n and Hell to shunne I haue beene prompt to learne what Wisedome would abhorre to teach and I haue Eares and Eyes To heare and see but what she scornes t' vnfold for I attend to nothing that is wise What shall I say that haue so much to say for endlesle plaint holds endlesse Sinne in chase My first was filth my progresse Sinne my stay is double death without Gods treble grace O Sinne the Soules death and of Death the life I would not shunne thee when at first I might And now I cannot without endlesse strife then help me Grace with strong sinne still to fight My Soule is tir'd with vanitie and Sinne I loath to liue and yet I feare to dye Then wretch what should I doe but now beginne to dye to liue sith liuing-death is nye But ah alas could I weepe endlesly it were but meete mine endlesse sinnes to cleare But though I should lament them ceaselesly in longest mortall life too short it were Yet will I not dispaire no God forbid seau'n times a day the iustest men doe fall And though from men the fall and bruise be hid yet thou dost see them both who seest All. At all houres no man's wise for sober Noah may be oe'er-come with Wine stout Abraham too Through terror lye Meeke Moses may destroy th' Egyptian in his ire and so misdo Religious Ioseph irreligiously sweare by the life of Pharaoh faith to binde Gods Darling Dauid hide Adultery with murther of his Seruant true as kinde Wise Salomon the veriest Foole became when Pharos Daughter and his Pagan wiues Through grosse Idolatrie made him defame Gods truth so Blots the clear'st haue in their liues Saints so are call'd as eu'ry thing is nam'd of whatsoe'er therein most worthy is As Golden-mines are stiled so though fram'd more full of Drosse then Golden rarities And so the best men though inherent Vice may ouer-weigh their Vertue yet we see Th' are called vertuous by their Vertues price that doth out-price the Vice though more it be Then giue me courage Lord t' aduance my Hope to thy great mercy that doth equall thee And let All couerd with the Heau'nly Cope for thy deare Loue be but as Doung to mee Vaine pleasures packe Preferments-vaine auaunt that would but make me quite forget to dye My Soule ye Syrens doe no more enchaunt for if you doe I le breake your strongest Tye. And all my ioy shall now but be in griefe griefe for the Ioy which I conceiu'd in sinne So nought but dying shall be my reliefe for life well lost immortall life doth winne Lord giue me strength to offer violence to wicked Custome till I breake it quite And still to striue with Nature Sinne and Sense vntill they striue no more in Peace nor fight And for my Sinnes come all annoyâ—s on me in royall-armies till you blow me vp Aboue the â—unne and all dispights that be fall freâ—ly on me from my Sauiours Cup. Scorne me proud World still looke on me ascance deride me Diuell plague me doe thy worst Nay Lord from me conceale thy Countenance so thou in fine wilt blesse me so accurst And for I haue despis'd thee Lord of All let all that Is despise me till I dye Nay let disgrace with death vpon me fall so I may rise to grace and life thereby O thou my cursed Nature swolne with Pride swell not against contempt though ne'er so vile Take all and more if more can be beside contempt of all and ioy therein the while For being nothing of my selfe but Sinne or else besides that But I Nothing am How can or sinne or Nothing Glory winne but through a World of woe contempt and shame Skill will and pow'r then giue me Lord to breake this head-strong Iade my Flesh and make it glad To beare a World of woe to make it meeke and but for falling vnder it be sad I am thy Workâ— then worke thy Will in mee And make my Carriage Lord from fallingâ—ree â—ree That the vertuous haue the Promises of this life as well as of that to come THy Friends deare Lord are too much honored thy Persecutor to thee reconcil'd Had Sacrifices to him tendered so much the World is forc'd t' adore thy Childe The People freely their possessions sell to lay the Price at thine Apâ—stles feete To whom the worst of Ils doe fall out well and Gall
sp'rit But let my sp'rit how e'er I dye deare Lord Wade through thy deepest Iudgements on thy Word The Sinner acknowledges and admires his owne frailtie desiring Grace and strength to stand in Vâ—rtue and with-stand Vice AFfliction still lyes heauie on my Soule which makes her stupid dry and dull to pray Then Lord vnlesse thou doe her pow'r controule she needes must sinke to Hell beneath her sway O Sinne that with high Hand dost hurle so low thou art sole Cause of his so bad Effect Thou NOTHING that dost all things ouerthrow not staid by Grace why dost me thus deiect O had I beene abortiue and dead borne or if not so the Font had rest my breath Then had I made a quicke and safe returne that now must passe in perill to my death I can but sinne then Iustice can but scourge so Sinne and Scourges wheeling o'er me goe Yea Sinne being quiet I it oft doe vrge so on me with it pull a World of woe Lord what am I that am so rarely fraile that can doe nothing that is sinne I can For Sinne is Nothing yet it doth preuaile against me Something that is marres a Man When I doe minde the strange Austeritie familiar with some reclus'd from this life The watching praying fasting charitie the fights with Flesh with Sinne the endlesse strife I am amaz'd with wonder grieu'd with shame nay waighing theirs with mine my conscience bleeds To see the ods ô fie I am to blame to call it ods sith it all ods exceedes For white and blacke doe farre lesse disagree then theirs and mine mine being lighty darke Theirs darkly light and lights the darke to see notorious I for sinne they Saints of marke So that I am confounded but to minde the ods surmounting ods betweene the two For in my selfe with Pride all ill I finde in them all good and yet most humble too Then sith Comparisons are but too blame betweene things so repugnant for they doe But shew the ods vnto the worsers shame I will forbeare and beare the blemish too For all reproch though infinite it were comes short of endlesse sinne in foule offence Then may I well that All as nothing beare which Centers but my sinnes Circumference For weake as frailtie is my strongest force in fight with vices and in ghostly warres At best no better then a liuing Corse and that the Vrne that but my Soule interres I fight but faint the first Incounter trying yet oft by standing on my strength too much I quite am foil'd that might haue foil'd by flying such is my rashnesse and my weakenesse such If I o'er come as seldome so I doe my spirit growes proud and confident withall So this farre worse then that doth me vndoe for spirituall pride still takes the lowest fall But when I fall thy help Lord I inuoke to raise me rais'd I fall to worser ill So seeme but leaue to craue though it I cloke but still to fall and to be raised still But to thee knower of all thoughts it 's knowne such Boones are sinnes that beg but leaue to sinne My Boones no better be for being downe I craue to rise by Grace to fall therein And though my Prayers aime at no such end yet in the end sith I but rise and fall It seemes I did but by the same entend to make my selfe thy Mercies Racket-ball Which falling hardest highest doth rebound but to doe ill that good thereof might rise Is Ill so ill as may the Soule confound then all that good in Soule-confounding lies To sinne of purpose but to make vs meeke augments the fault for t is presumptuous Sinne And who by Error Heau'nly Truth shall seeke shall lose her quite and Hell with Error winne Then Lord of Truth when I haue tane a fall let me desire to rise to fall no more So though thou bandy me from wall to wall yet keepe me vp at least with beating sore And if by weakenesse I shall sometimes slippe so stay me then that downe I fall not quite Let me at most if so at least but trippe then take the faster footing through thy might So shall I praise that Pow'r that stayes me so And euer ouercome an Ouerthrow THE DOLEFVLL DOVE OR Dauids 7. Penitentiall Psalmes somewhere paraphrastically turned into Verse Domine ne in furore Psal. 6. When Dauid by his sinnes had prouoked Gods wrath and now felt not onely his hand against him but also conceiueth the horrors of death euerlasting he desireth fornesse bewailing that if God tooke him away in his indignation he shall lacke occasion to praise him as hee was wont to doe whiles he was among men Then sodainely feeling Gods mercie he sharply rebuketh his enemies which reioyced in his affliction IN thy iust rage deare Lord reproue me not for iust it is sith so vniust I am Nor chasten me when thy fierce Wrath is hot lest I should be extinguisht yer the Flame Let thy strong Grace against my Weaknesse stand thy Grace so strong as it vpholdeth All And heale me Lord with thine all-helping Hand for eu'n my bones are bruised with my fall My Soule 's afflicted more then griefes afflict for griefes but pine but this doth quite vndoe Then Lord how long shall I a poore Relict endure these plagues that paine and pine me too O turne thy now auerted Face to mee to me that fades as flowres for want of Sunne And let my Soule be safe and sau'd by thee through Grace that hath to thee most glory wonne For Deaths fell torments are so violent that they constraine the Sense to minde but them Who then in Hell through hellish discontent can once but minde thee in such paines extreame My sorrow hath my Soule so ouer-fed that it conuerts mine Eyes to founts of Teares For eu'ry night in teares I rince my Bed and drowne my Couch in streames of griefes feares Mine Eyes are so o'ercast with clouds of Cares that they see nought but through those Water-streames My beauty 's gone while I away do weare among my Foes and these confus'd extreames But yet I feele thy Grace Lord worke with me then leaue me leaue me yee too idle Crue That yet still worke but worke iniquitie for God hath seene my Teares and heard me rue You are my Foes that yet would seeme my friends but Foe-like friends and all mine enemies God will cut off by diuers fearefull ends and soone confound you and your Trecheries To God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost three Persons and one God all glory be As it was is and shall be in each Coast thoughout all worlds in all eternitie Beati quorum Psal. 32. Dauid punished with grieuous sicknesse for his sins counteth them blessed to whom God doth not impute their transgressions And after that he had confessed his sins and obtained pardon he exhorteth the wicked men to liue godly and the good to reioyce MOst blest are they how euer curst they be whose Crimes out of
the bones which by thee broken were reioyce and sinne wherein it ioy'd reiect O then from my foule sinnes thy Face auert and wash me from the filth they cast on me In me create an vndefiled Heart with such a spirit as may be iust to thee And cast me not ô cast me not away out of the Way still brightned by thy beames Nor from me take thy Spirit my Guide and Stay in hardest passages of all Extreames Restore to me the gladnesse of thy blisse and with thy chiefest Spirit still strengthen me Then those I le teach that now thy wayes doe misse so Sinners shall conuerted be to thee Saue me from bloud that vengeance doth implore so shall my Tongue thy Iustice highly raise But more thy Mercy sith it glads me more Then ope my Lips and they shall shew thy praise Had'st thou desired Sacrifice I had offer'd it to thee but thou tak'st delight In no burnt Offrings but art euer glad to take the Offer of a contrite Spirit A Broken Heart with sorrow but for Sinne thou wilt nor canst thou for thy Word despise Then let mine broken so thy Mercy win and from it still auert thine Anger 's Eyes With Sion ô deale gently that the Wals of raz'd Ierusalem rebuilt may be And still withstand Hels fiery darts and Bals to keepe thy Foes out onely but for thee Then shalt thou take the Sacrifice in gree of Iustice in thy Mercy then shall they Offer Oblations still in flames to thee and Calues vpon thine holy Alter lay To God the Father praise and glory be and to the Sonne and to their blessed Sp'rit A Trinitie in strictest Vnitie as it was is and shall be infinite Domine exaudi Psal. 102. It seemeth that this Prayer was appointed to the faithfull to pray in the Captiuitie of Babilon A Consolation for the building of the Church whereof followeth the praise of God to be published vnto all Posteritie The Conversion of the Gentiles and the stabilitie of the Church ATtend my Prayer Lord and let my Cry ascend to thee from whom all grace descends From my distresse turne not thy Mercies Eye but bowe thine Eare to me that downward bends When e'er I call make answere for my dayes like Vapor vanish and my parched bones Waxe weake and dry as is the flame that playes about the Snuffe at point to quench at ones Th' hast smitten me as Grasse by Lightning smit so that my Heart is wither'd quite away And through my griefe for that I further it for I forget to eate for Natures stay And through my groning voice my bones that burne to my consuming flesh will hardly cleaue And like a Pelican alone I mourne or like an Owle I liue while life I leaue I weare out Time in strictest vigilance and as a Sparrow on the Houses Crest I sit alone to minde my sinnes mischance so idly resting in the most vnrest The while my Foes backbiting me reuile yea he that praised me against me sweares But I as Bread did Ashes eate the while and still my Drinke did mingle with my Teares Because thy Wrath grew hot against my sinne for thou hast rais'd me vp to cast me downe My dayes are past as if they ne'er had bin and like Hay wither'd I from thee am mowne But thou immortall Spirit dost still endure and thy Memoriall euer lasts in prime Thou shalt arise and downe thy Mercies poure by showers on Sion in this promis'd time For eu'n the Stones of that faire Edifice delight thy Seruants and her sacred Ground They pitty as they doe her preiudice which with the sharpest griefe their hearts doth wound So shall the Heathen feare thine awfull NAME and all the Kings on Earth thy glory feare For Sions Fabricke thou dost still re-frame and in thy fullest Glory shalt appeare Our Lord the prayers of the meeke approues and not dispie their Suites in wretched case So future times to write this this doth moue that Babes vnborne may praise this God of Grace Who from his high as holy Place doth vaile his Eyes to Earth whereon they still remaine To heare poore Captiues plaints and such as waile and loose the Sonnes of them vniustly slaine That they in Sion should diuulge his NAME and in Ierusalem his earned Praise Yea in th' Assemblies celebrate the same when Kings consorted sing sweet Sions Layes He in the way of his great pow'r and grace â—hath answer'd them but shew Lord shew to me How long or short shall be my mortall Race that so for thee I still may ready be And take me not ô take me not away at vnawares yer halfe my Dayes be done As for thy yeeres they stand still at a stay but mine more swift then thought away doe runne In the Beginning thou the Earth didst found the highest Heauens thy glorious Hands did reare But they shall perish thou continue sound while they waxe old and like a Garment weare And as a Vesture thou shalt change their Frame and they shall changed be but thou alone Dost still continue One and aye the same whose yeeres remaine the same and euer One Thy Seruants sonnes inhabit shall the Land their seede shall be directed in thy Wayes And while they walke therein they fixt shall stand in Heau'n and Earth to celebrate thy praise To God the Father then all glory be t' his Sonne and to their Spirit which wee adore Coequall in their Essence and Degree as it was is and shall be euermore De profundis clamaui Psal. 130. The people of God from their bottomlesse misery doe cry vnto God and are heard They confesse their sins and flye vnto Gods mercy FRom depth of Griefe wherein my Soule doth lye I doe and will deare Lord still call on thee Then let thine eares attend mine inward Cry and listen to my Prayers and to me If thou fraile Flesh wilt call to strict account what flesh and bloud then in thy sight shall stand But Mercy is with thee as in the Fount then I expect thy Mercyes Helping-hand My Soule vpon the Faith which thou hast plight hath euer staid and still doth hope in thee Then from the Morning-watch till that of Night let Israel still relie on Thee with me For with this God of Glory and of Grace is Grace as much as Glory and therein He will redeeme the sad in sinfull Case with his true Israel from all their sinne To God the Father which we doe adore and to the Sonne and to their blessed Spirit All glory be as it was heretofore is and still shall be through Worlds infinite Domine exaudi Psal. 143. An earnest Prayer for remission of sinnes acknowledging that the enemies did thus cruelly persecute him by Gods iust iudgement He desireth to be restored to grace To be gouerned by his holy Spirit that hee may spend the remnant of his life in the true feare and seruice of God LOrd heare my pray'r with thine all-hearing ears and for thy truths sake
note mine humble suite O heare me in thy Righteousnesse which heares All those that mourne although they still be mute And into Iudgement enter not O Lord with me fraile man for I nor none beside Because of sinne which we haue all incurr'd in thy cleare sight shall then be iustifide For th' enemie the Fiend our common Foe hath long pursu'd my Soule that flesh misse-led My Life in Earth his Fury hath brought low and hid the same in darknesse with the dead My Spirit therefore is vext my Minde and Heart are greatly troubled yet I minded still Thy dayes of old thy Workes and thy Desert which did my Muse with Ioy and Wonder fill My hands to thee haue still out-stretched bin my Soule that thirsts as earth that water wants For drops of grace to quench her flames of sinne I lift to thee the while for grace she pants Then kindest Lord with speede attend my cryes because my fainting spirit hath failed me Auert not from me thy conuerting Eyes lest I be like to those that burying be And in the dawning of the long'd-for Day the Day when Iustice Sonne shall Comfort giue Let me the voyce of mercy heare I pray sith still I hope that thou wilt me relieue And sith so many Heads so many Wayes are said to lead to thee by Heads of Sects Shew me the Way that straight to thee conueyes sith my poore Soule both thee and it affects And from my Foes preserue me weakling still to thee alone I flye in all distresse Then teach me to performe thy blessed Will for thou art onely all my blessednesse Thy Spirit that cannot erre nor yet deceiue shall bring me to the Land that Iustice beares And for thy Names sake thou shalt me receiue according to thy grace that neuer weares From Trouble thou shalt bring my Soule to rest and through thy Mercy shalt destroy my Foes Yea all annoy that doe my Soule molest sith as thy Seruant I on thee repose To God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost three Persons and one God all glory be As it was is and shall be in each Coast thoughout all worlds in all eternitie FINIS RIGHTS OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD Being A proper Appendix to the precedent Meditations OBIT-RIGHTS A Funerall Elegie on the death of the most vertuous and no lesse louely M irs Elizabeth Dutton eldest Daughter of the Worthy and generally beloued Sir Thomas Egerton Knight eldest Sonne to the right Honorable Thomas Lord Elesmere Lord Chancellor of England which Elizabeth was at the age of eleuen yeeres married to Iohn Dutton of the age of fifteene yeeres Sonne and Heyre of Thomas Dutton of Dutton in the Countie of Chester Esquier which Iohn deceased about the age of seauenteene yeeres and left the said Elizabeth a Virgin-Widow who so liued till shee died the first of October at the age of six teene yeeres and a halfe in Anno 1611. A Virgin Wife and Widow three that One Held rarely perfect in like Vnion Incites my Muse nay more doth her coÌ„strain To empt my Pen of Praise of Wit my Braine In her deserued honor she whose all Was nought but good yet so as we may call That good but nought and iustly if the same Giue not her goodnesse glory more than fame A Maide in whom Virginitie gaue place Though most exact to Modestie and Grace A Wife who like old Iosephs blessed Bride Though wedded but vnbedded till she dide Yet from her came on her by Grace begot Faith Feare and Dutie in a True-loue knot Till his decease to whom these three she bare And after for him nurst them still with care She liu'd a Widow but t' was hard to know Whether she liu'd or dide when she was so Sith when she lost her Pheare she lost her Breath For Turtle-like she mourn'd and droupt to death But while t' was losing she such Patience wanne By his Death mortifide as she beganne Before her end her Heau'n on Earth thereby In hope to liue with Him when Life should die So in her Patience she her Soule possest Her God in whom her Soule with his did rest Yet rested so that still vnseene she mou'd to both deuoutly whom so much she lou'd Poets can shape of things that grace forsakes Farre rarer things than grace or nature makes But let all Poets all their Arte vnite To fable praise the morall is her right Nature profusely had on her bestow'd Borrowing of grace more grace then e'er she ow'd And grace as enuying Natures Gifts so rare Vnlockt the Heau'ns where all her Treasures are And showr'd them downe so on this deerest Maide As she for worth an Angell should haue waide Wit for her worth can ne'er hiperbolize Much lesse a Poet in it Poetize Sith what or Wit or Poetry can praise With their best Arte was found in her then raise Her vp my Muse ere she be rais'd at last And her enthrone in glory high as fast That when the Virgin whom all Virgins blesse Shall for her graces see her gloriousnesse In Heau'n and Earth she may as worthy her Enbozome her or fixe her in a Starre Whose Name and Fame while mortall Virgins liue To them with hers may Light and Vertue giue For this her Soule still labour'd to be gone T'returne her Errand of Creation As fiery Matter working in a Cloud Breakes through for want of Matter it to shrowde So Soules with stirring much are said to fire The best Complexions and so home retire But Sicknesse ah too sweet-lipt suckt her Bloud That she had none to fire in likelihood And so her vitall-flame vnnourished Her Soule through coldnesse left her body dead A short life made her Virgin Widow Wife But well she lâ—u'd which is the Well of life This old World was vnworthy such a Iemme Therefore she shines in new Ierusalem I best can witnesse how her time she spent Who taught her hand to shew her hearts entent Then may I best renowne for knowne desert The Pupill of my Hand that had my Heart Thou hadst my Heart deare Pupill sith in thee Was all that might intirely master me And did my Pow'r but equall halfe my Will Laura should be thy Foile for I by skill Would set thee so aboue her that thy light With poynant Beames should thrust through Earth and Night For when Formositie and Vertue striue In one sole Subiect for Prerogatiue That Subiects praise must raigne all Tearmes aboue In height of Glory Memory and Loue The Grand-sire of thy Flesh in Earth's renown'd And thy spirits Grand-sire King of Heau'n is crown'd Thou liuing then as comming from such Sires Our Songs must answere the Celestiall Quires That chant the praise of Vertue in their King In whom thou art then we on earth must sing Thy praise in his sith his all praise containes So thine in his eternall glory gaines To thee then sing I as I sing of Thee Who art sole Base of this high Harmony For knowing Tombes haue ends as