things are not brought to passe nor made perfect but with patience and long suffering And let vs not despaire if so be things fall not out as we would wish at the first chop For he doth nothing but for our good for as he is Almightie so is he also only good and as he is only good so i◠he also only wise and that which we thinke many times to be most against vs is most profitable for vs and the wholesomest medecines are commonly most bitter Beleeue me it is a good thing for a man a little to be are the yoke in his youth that is to say to haue afflictions which may somewhat bow and bend his neck and abate his pride Iod. Let a wise man therefore which seeth him selfe fallen into any great calamine be quiet and say nothing but patiently beare his yoke and the more that his miserie encreaseth let him be the more couragious and yet neuerthelesse let him lift vp his eyes vnto heauen and cry God mercy and imagine thus with him selfe that it can not be but that he hath done amisse seeing that the hand of God doth so visit him Let him prostrate him selfe vpon the ground and clothe him selfe with sacke and cast ashes on his head to see if he can any way appease the wrath of God and although he hath no hope thereof yet let him quiet him selfe and let him patiently beare the iniuries that are done him offer his cheeke to him that will strike him and satisfie him selfe as well with reproch as another man would fill him selfe with bread Coph And why so forsooth because he right well knoweth that God will in the end appease his wrath and that after that men shall haue driuen him to the ground that God will take him vp in his lap and although he let him alone for once yet will he in the end haue compassion vpon him according to the greatnes and multitude of his mercies For God taketh no pleasure in seeing men afflicted and it is much against his heart to torment them yea euen when his iustice enforceth and strayneth him thereto And he doth it for the benefit of men because he feareth that his ouer-great indulgence will cast them downe so headlong into sinne as that they shall neuer be able to recouer them selues any more For he correcteth them as a good father doth who in chastising his sonne weepeth with griefe that he driueth him thereunto not meaning thereby to do him any hurt but rather good Lamed It is not beleeue me the purpose of God to tread men vnder his feet and to triumph ouer them in their afflictions much lesse to hold them fast bound and posternd as the trophees of his power Neither is it his meaning to throw them into miscrie pouertie and there to leaue them for he knoweth best what they haue need of and iudgeth aright what is most profitable for them He is nothing like vnto those wicked Iudges which take pleasure in nothing but in cuffing and boxing of men and to haue occasion to hang and torture them vpon the wheele He neuer beholdeth our sinnes but with sorrow of heart neither hateth he any thing so much as to punish And so all the calamities which he layeth vpon vs are but as threatning words to aduertise vs to runne vnto his grace before he enter into iudgement with vs to the end that whē he would cōdemne vs we might plead the pardon and remission of our sins which he shall haue graunted vs. Mem. It may be ye will say vnto me what is it then that so tormēteth men seeing ye say that it commeth not frō God who is altogether good and that it is not hee which commanded it Commeth not both good and ill from the most high Doth not he distribute the same vnto vs in such manner and measure as pleaseth him selfe O wretched poore man why murmurest thou against God Is it not enough that he hath geuen thee life and that without him thou shouldest be nothing Thou wilt contest against him euen thou a creature against thy creator thou a vile sinner against him that is altogether iust thou that art altogether weake against him that is Almightie Nun. Our miseries come not from God but from our selues let vs examine our liues and lay open our actions and if we search well we shall finde the cause of them to proceede from our selues For the roote of them is in our owne hearts which being infected corrupt and marre what so euer commeth out of them Let vs therefore cut off sinne by the stumps let vs teare and pull in pieces the hart strings of iniquitie and in stead of this concupiscence which buddeth and bringeth forth naught else but sinne and damnation replant therein the liuely and pure loue of God which flourisheth and fructifieth vnder the husbandrie of his discipline Let our hearts lift vp them selues straight vnto heauen as noble and vpright plants and put foorth their thoughts as the branches and lift vp their motions thither as the slowres or blossoms and place their words as leaues let them bring foorth their good workes as their fruites and in looking vp alwayes vnto heauen make thern selues worthie thereof and from thence looke for the growing and ripening of them And as yong plants in the hoatest time of sommer when as the yawning earth chappeth through drinesse looke for rayne from aboue to be refreshed euen so let vs also in the extremitie of our necessitie looke and call for the sweet milke of the grace of God to be deaw our lips and sustayne our selues Now to the end that we might obtaine this grace let vs lift vp our hearts hands vnto him bowe our knees and prostrate our selues before his face in cōfessing our sins beseeching him of mercy And let vs say vnto him It is true ô Lord that we haue sinned and do protest that we haue kindled thy wrath against vs and this is the iust occasion for which thou hast vnto this day made thy selfe inexorable vnto our prayers Samech But how inexorable Forsooth euen thus farre that when we haue thought to haue lifted vp our eyes vnto thee thy fury hath bleared them like thunder lightning Thou hast beaten and broken vs without all pitie or mercy All the world hath miserably forsaken vs we are like vnto the loppings and shreddings of trees and vnto the beesoms of an house which serue for none other purpose but to be cast into the fire To be short we haue bene thrust out amongst all the nations of the earth as a matter of opprobie and wrong Phe. Which of our enemies ô Lord is there that haue not had their mouths open to rayle against vs and looke which way soeuer we haue turned our selues we haue alwaves found that which we most eschued Our ruine and desolation lyeth wayting for vs like traps and snares set in the wayes where we might haue escaped and as one being in
other rocks as we must sayle and flote by in this voyage that we may feare And let vs consider that we are now so wounded and brused as that if an especiall fauour from heauen saue vs not we shall be hardly able to auoyd shipwracke This is the contritiō which should be in our souls this is that bitter repentance which shoulde drawe bloudie teares euen frō out of the bottome of our bowels This is it that should make vs hate euēn our own selues for the recōciling of vs vnto our God to renue our life of sin and wickednes into puritie and cleannesse This is it that should cause vs to enter into iudgement with our selues that we might not be reserued vnto the day of that most heauy iudgemēt For what man is he that is able at that day to iustifie himselfe Now it is not enough that we haue had this compunction and repentance in our harts but we must also lay open our sinnes and the iustice of God that we might receiue from him his mercy and comfort And it is he that must accept of our sorrow and griefe and he vnto whome we must make an honorable amends and simply and plainely confesse our errors For seeing it is his pleasure that his goodnes which he is able to keepe and reserue vnto himselfe should be poured out vpon all his creatures and that he hath made all things to manifest his glorie and bestowed the vse of our life only to glorifie him neither are we any way able to repare the offence which we commit against him by the corrupting of the vse of our life but in manifesting that he hath created vs to do good that we our selues haue conuerted our selues only to do ill And therefore we must of necessitie vndoubtedly declare that he is liberall we most vnthankfull we must say that he is good our selues to be most wicked we must also pronounce his righteousnesse and our sinne we must set forth our own griefs and his mercy we must protest that all the euill which is in vs commeth of our selues and all the good which we hope after to proceed from him alone For if so be we shall be silent after that we haue once acknowledged our euill it is to be belieued that we will perseuere with this silēce all the daies of our life past and so approue by this silēce that we cannot freely be found fault withall And Tertullian exhorting vs vnto this confession telleth vs that we do not confesse our selues vnto God as if he knew not our sinnes before hād but because confession is a counsel vnto satisfaction and maketh vs apt vnto reconciliation and reconciliation vnto mercy and mercy vnto euerlasting life Now the satisfaction which we looke for commeth from his fauour and grace by which only we must and may be restored vnto immortalitie and this grace is not geuen vnto any but vnto such as acknowledge themselues to be miserable sinners and not geuen by any but by him that is chiefe in power It must needs therefore be that the word which he hath bestowed vpon vs to glorifie him withall must be employed to the manifestation of our misery because the confession of our sinnes iustifieth the goodnes of God which we haue as much as in vs lieth vtterly peruerted We must therefore pray vnto him to forgiue vs as if we should say that he may and ought to punish vs and so thereby testifie his power and righteousnes For this cause it is why the Prophet Isaiah calleth vs when as he sayth Goe your waye◠with those that are sanctified and present your Confession vnto God with the liuing O sayth Ecclesiastes it is a good thing when as he that is found in a fault will manifest his repentance And truly it were a great glorie for vs if we would be once so couragious as openly to confesse our sinnes and shew that as we haue been the first that haue sinned so also we are the first that do repent Howbeit there remaineth in vs a foolish shame which abideth with vs as the skarre of sinne and causeth vs the slowlier and hardlier to do it This was the cause why the auntient Fathers in fitting them selues vnto this our infirmitie and vnto the weakenesse of such also which might be offended in the reciting sometimes of very strange sinnes of ours were contented that we should put downe and poure out the secrets of our consciences into the bosoms of those vnto whome they had geuen power to binde and lose and apply vnto vs the grace by which we are redeemed And from this misterie we receiue a maruelous fruite when as it is worthely administred vnto vs. For first he that is appointed to the dispensation of this grace being made vnto vs the father of the spirit is to bring the same vnto vs for the comfort of the mistery which he findeth in vs by the trial of our life euen the very selfe same affection which a louing father in the behalfe of his very sick son vnto whom he bringeth besides help remedy the hope of health wherewith he feedeth him For he should in the fellow feeling of our misery and taking vpō him the burden of our sins help to relieue vs euē then whē we faint in the middest of our course This example which God hath set before vs who as Isaiah sayth came himselfe first and hath layd vpon his owne backe all our miseries and borne vpon his shoulders all our diseases After he hath thus imparted vnto vs this comfort he is to direct vs vnto the way of truth and with the instrumēt of the word of God wherin he is exercised to till the faith which he hath sowed in vs which by reason of the barrennesse of the ground wherein it is cast had always neede to haue the help and care of the husbandman For we are properly like vnto a small Boate which is forcibly rowed with ores against the streame but if the watermen neuer so litle leaue rowing she fleeteth back more in an hour then she did in a whole dayes rowing The end and consummation of this holy action is this that when we call vpon the holy Ghost our grace is pronounced vnto vs and confirmed as it were by the iudgement of the church which is a certaine pawne and testimonie that as we are heere in this world kept fine and cleane by him or them vpon whom such graces are bestowed so should we also be in the other by him vpon whom he hath appointed them There resteth thē nothing after this but that we humble our selues in acknowledging the grace which we haue receiued a thing that we hardly can obtaine at our own hands Now we will not greatlie stick to admire at this but we will neuer follow the example of our fathers which at that time vsed this holy repentance Yee should haue seene of these men saith this Tertullian kneeling at the feete of the Aulters
side of me but sinne which inuironeth me round about and mine iniquities which presse and ouer throwe me They lye heaped vpon my head as a very heauy burden and loe how ready they are to throttle and strangle me 5 How shall I be euer able to resist them What strength haue I to defend me from them seeing that my body is ready to fall in peeces The very filthinesse of them flowe on euery side me my vlcers and sores are no sooner closed vp but that they breake out againe and if my body be ill can my soule be well Must not she be altogether ashamed and tremble with horror and feare 6 After the same maner that a disease vndermineth my body maketh it stoope to death sorrow vndermineth my soule bereaueth her of her strength and as great cold congealeth in the bud the tender blossom withereth drieth it vp euen so dooth the finger of the Lord which hath touched my soule cause it to languish and to be out of heart 7 But alas my God what courage can I haue when as I see my selfe thus couered ouer with wounds and no part of my body free from paine and ouer and besides this my miserie the remembrance of my dissolute pleasures is still before my face and reproch me with my sinne laugh at my vanitie Then say I thus vnto my selfe must I season my life with the honie of so many delights and afterward kneade them with the gall of so bitter anguishes Where now art thou ô thou deceitfull voluptuousnesse which drownest my soule in the sweet licour of thy pleasures Oh what drinke is that that thou leauest me 8 Haue not I ô Lord endured enough hath not mine humilitie sufficiently chastized mine arrogancie If I haue through fond presumption sinned alas I haue sithence that crept vpon the earth I haue couered mine head with ashes and with mine arme haue I preuented my payne I haue cut through mine heart with crying out I haue drowned mine eyes in teares and yet thine anger continueth still 9 Is it of set purpose ô Lord that thou hast not perceiued my teares Is it thou I say who with the twinkle of thine eye trauersest both heauen and earth euen thou I meane whose sight goeth beyond the depth of our harts It is thou ô Lord that hast read euen my very thoughts and knowne mine intent What haue I desired but thy mercie Wherin haue I trusted but in thy goodnes Why haue I made open profession of repentance but to condemne my selfe If my toong hath not throughly expressed my minde and caused my desier to be vnderstood alas ô Lord thou knowest what we would haue before we once thinke of it It is enough for vs to lift vp our harts vnto thee and thou forthwith grauntest our petitions 10 Why stayest thou ô Lord so long before thou geuest me that holie coÌ„solation which thou hast promised me I am quite spent my hart is gone my senses are troubled my streÌ„gth faileth my sight waxeth dim my soule is vpoÌ„ the shore of my lips ready to fly away 11 All my friends are now about me bewailing my death they are out of all hope of my health they dreame of nothing but of my funerall saying where is now that help which he looked for to come froÌ„ his God where is his fauour which he so promised to himselfe 12 The flatterers are gon away from me they thought to haue parted my goods they meant to haue preuented my fatall houre I am noisome to the whole world in the case that I now staÌ„d 13 They whisper in mine eare and tell me a thousand tales They dayly bring me in new acquaintances and thinke of nothing but to betray me He lieth say they on his death-bed and will neuer rise vp aliue againe What do we feare that the shadowe of his bones will bite vs 14 And I as if I had bin deafe made shew that I heard them nor and as if I had bin dumb spake not one word vnto them for my patieÌ„ce was my buckler and my constancy my rampart 15 And euery man seing me so patieÌ„t said surely this man is dumb for when he is touched he saith not a word would he abide all these indignities if he had any feeling of his honor and credit or yet the least courage in the world And therefore it may well be said that he is very guilty for an innocent man is alwayes bold in his owne defence And yet all this could neuer â—oue mee 16 And why so verely because I trusted in my God and fully assured my selfe that he would assist me For although the whole world banded against me and heauen and earth coniured my ruine and ouerthrow yet if he be mine ayder and defendor I am sure alwayes to conquer For with the breath of his mouth hee made all things and in breathing againe vpon them he will destroy them all if it please him and therefore I will fight vnder his cloth and liuerie because I shall be sure to haue the victorie 17 I haue sayd vnto them many times Reioyce not at my miserie and although I be neuer so much tormented and afflicted yet braue not your selues vpon me for the hand of the Lord is able euen to reach you and therefore trust not his patience ouer much for as his feet are of wooll so are his armes also of iron For if he once lay them vpon your heads ô ye impotent soules he will so crush you together as that a man would thinke that you had neuer bene 18 And I haue taken the rods in my hand and imprinted with them vpon my shoulders the condemnation of my sinne I haue appeared before thee ô Lord with weeping teares with repentance in my mouth and with a sorrowfull hart and haue fought with my selfe that mine enemie might not triumph ouer me 19 I haue openly confessed my fault I haue in an happie houre shewed foorth my sinne and I had great care to runne vnto thy mercy whilst time and season serued 20 But the more I humble my selfe before thee to drawe the running water out of this founraine of thy grace which floweth from thy goodnes the more mine enemies glut me and deale cruelly and butcherlike with me their troupe dayly encreaseth and ioyne them selues together on euery side neuer foreseeing the tempest that will shake them in a thousand pecces They through their pride blow the hote burning coles of thine ire they despite thy power which they will too too soone make try all of to their great destruction To be short in setting most confidently their brasen faces against heauen and earth they wallow and welter them selues in their filthie pleasures and blot out as much as in them lye the mark of the deitie which thou hast sealed in their soules close vp their eyes against the hope of saluatioÌ„ which shineth brightly in thy word 21 I cease not ô Lord to admonish them of
it but they repay me ill for good and laugh at that which I by my good example do to please thee They walke at the corners of the streetes slaÌ„derously to accuse me burden me with a thousand villanies I confesse ô Lord that heereby I lose my patience 22 But I beseech thee ô Lord to strengthen my weaknes and in no wise forsake me for else I shall stumble as a yong child at the first headlong break-neck which shall offer it selfe vnto me Increase in me ô Lord strength courage equall vnto mine afflictioÌ„ hold me vnder thy wing geuing me alwayes that coÌ„stancy firmnesse which I shal haue need of for that purpose neither more nor lesse then a louing mother doth when as she geueth the teat vnto her sucking child so soone as she perceiueth it beginneth to cry 23 Nourish me therfore ô Lord with the milke of thy holy loue to the end that I being some-what able to stand may day night walke the trace of thy paths that I may come vnto saluation the hope wherof shineth in thy promises so as if my sin shall go about to cut me off in the way I may vnclose mine eyes neuer shut them againe vntill such time as I haue drowned swallowed them vp in my teares Haue mercy on me ô Lord Psalme 50. Haue pitie on me ô my God according to the greatnesse of thy clemencie and in the multitude of thy mercy forgeue me the punishment which I haue iustly deserued For if thou â—bokest that my fastings watchings and prayers should make satisfaction for my sinne Alas ô Lorde when would that be Mine offence exceedeth heauen and earth and hath surpassed as farre as it can the greatnesse of the whole world Who can then bring it to passe for the vtterly blotting of it out saue only thine holy mercy which is somuch the greater by how much thy righteousnes excedeth ours It is thy mercy ô Lord that enuironeth the vniuersall world and which vpholdeth all the staggering corners thereof that are readie to fall vpon our heads to burie in the ruine of it with vs the remembrance of ouâ— sinnes to turne away thine eyes from our vnthankfull disloyall vnmercifull and stiffenecked race and generation which disauoweth thee her being creation and conseruation Let this mercifull goodnes of thine therefore ô Lord which shineth in thy deitie aboue all the rest of thy vertueâ— spread it selfe now ouer me not thinâ—… and sparingly but flowingly and bountifully And as thou diddest once let the waters ouerflowe the tops of the hyest mountaines to extinguish and swallow vp the wicked so also make thou a brooke of mercy ô Lord to disgorge and poure it selfe forth vpon me not to drowne ô Lord but to wath and cleanse me 2 Howbeit thou art not concented to purge me for once neither doest thou say vnto me that thou hast regenerated and washed me in the bloud of the vndefiled innocent lamb for how pure and cleane soeuer thou once hast made me thou shalt now finde me as foule and filthie For I am now fallen into so deepe a filthie sinke and am so bemired and besmeared as that thou wouldest neuer know me by reason that I am so disfigured For I sometimes question with my selfe and aske my selfe whether I be he or no whome thy hands creared but mine heart is so confounded and ashamed as that it dareth not geue me any answere O my God thou createdst me of the clay and slime of the earth and loe ô Lord I am euen the very selfe and same that I was before thou diddest put thy hand vnto me I haue quite and cleane marred my shape countenance by cloathing my selfe with clay and dirt But why doest thou not ô Lord reforme me anew Is thine hand shortned Is thy will in doing good to thy creature abated Alas thou art Almightie thou art altogether good why then makest thou not haste O Lord my God the worke of thine own hand setteth it selfe against thee and taketh pleasure in disfiguring and deforming of it selfe but set thou ô Lord thy selfe against thy workmanship and make it glorious perfect in despite of it selfe But I ô Lord will no more peruersely deale against thee take me hold me turne me which way soeuer thou wilt knead mould make new againe this lump of earth for it is ready to follow thy will But wheÌ„ thou ô Lord shalt throughly haue renued it do not then I beseech thâ—… forsake it but put a bridle in the mouth therof to the end that by abstinence iâ— may keepe it selfe froÌ„ surfetting which pricketh it forward thereunto that 〈◊〉 may by a chaste life keepe in a good temper vnchaste and hote burning lusts that by humilitie it may abâ—… the pride which biting enuie stirreâ—… vp in her that pitifull charitie maâ— chase from her hatred and greedy couetousnesse and that a godly care â—…serue honor thee may coÌ„tinually sâ—… spur to the flanks of her slothfulnesse and filthie negligence 3 For I haue already ô Lord maâ—… ouer-great a triall of this troupe of sins which enuiron me so as they will in such sort pull downe and teare in pieces thy workmanship as that wheÌ„ thou shalt come thou shalt finde nothing there but the shreds thereof shiuered broken all to fitters I haue had experieÌ„ce enough of them and these are they that haue brought me into that estate wherein now I am and neuerthelesse see yet at the tayle of these a coÌ„pany placed about me which cast in my teeth the spels blemishes wherewith they them-selues haue defiled me and make me culpable of the iniuries which theÌ„-selues haue done vnto me For thus they say It is thou that hast sinned and it is thou that art so foule and filthy 4 It is true in very deed that I haue sinned ô my God I lay open vnto thee the very bottom of my hart thou knowest my whole life I haue sinned in the sight of heauen earth all the world can beare witnes of mine iniquities But if I had not sinned vnto whome shouldest thou haue been mercifull How wouldest thou haue discharged thy selfe of the promises of grace which thou haddest so long agoe announced by thy Prophets And when as thou shalt come to sit vpon the eternall Throne of thy Iustice who is he that would not be afeard of thee yea although we were euen all rightâ—ous Howbeit to the end that thy greatnes might be knowne we must when we shall be assigned a day to come before thee humbly fall downe vpon our faces before thy maiestie and cry out and say Most mercifuâ—… Lord we will not stand in defence before thee because our fault is manifestly knowne but loe our grace anâ— pardon is in thy hand for thou thy self hast graunted it vs behold a token of thine owne bloud sealed in ouâ— image which for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of our flesh 5 Doest thou
tenderly loued And I will also abandon both the day and the light and confine and limit my selfe within the most darke places that I can finde out euen as a shritch owle dooth that commeth not out of his hole all the while it is day light 8 I am continually kept waking still dreaming of my miserie and seeking to hide my selfe before such time as the in felicitie which runneth vpon me enforceth me And being altogether mated and out of heart I seeke after some corner to hide my selfe in euen as the wilde sparrow that flieth out of the raine and winde seeketh after some couert or sunne shine place to bathe and drie her selfe in 9 Mine enemies seeing me in this case and with such a countenance stand mocking of me therewith and cast my miserie in my teeth and they which were wont to make a great accompt of me in stead of sorrowing with me in mine afflictiō haue coniured against me What reckoning then should any man make of the wealth of this world and if he were able to get as great richesse and as many friends as were possible and then to haue his friends so traiterous and so double as to make little or no accompt of breaking their faith and promise 10 And surely my strength is decayed the flower beauty of my well coloured and smooth ruddy cheekes is quite cleane gone for I haue sowne my bread vpon the ashes and moisted my drinke with my teares And shall I for all this become a laughing stock vnto this infidelous generation 11 It is very true that I haue bene met withall before thy face in the day of thy wrath thou hast laid againe vpon me the arme of thy vengeance and am become therewith frushed in peeces Men haue had me in great estimation and honour and loe how I am now drest and dealt withall O vaine presumption vnto what steepe break-neck hast thou lifted me vp to make me leape such a leape Alas what did I finde in my selfe why I should conceiue in mine heart such an opinion of my selfe 12 As we see the shadow of the body by little and little decrease when as the sunne is risen aboue the same and reduceth it as it were vnto a small point euen so all so soone O Lord as thine anger is vpon me my life my goods and my greatnesse is by little and little dispersed and come to nothing in such sort as that loe I am like vnto the grasse that is tedded abroade without grace and colour which men cock vp to giue vnto the cattle to feed on and like vnto a great many goodly sweete smelling flowers bound vp in a bottle amongst a sort of thistles 13 But do I for all this lose my hope No no my God for thy power is infinite and lasteth for euer and thy mercie immeasurable which will spred it selfe ouer all such as shall trust in thee One age shall passe after another but the remembrance of thy goodnesse shall neuer haue end one generation shall succeed another but it shall be alwaies for the setting forth of thy praise and good dealing 14 Thou wilt one day my God awaken to haue mercie vpon Sion for the time of mercie draweth neare And loe I see it euen at hand The flouds and riuers powre not out so much clears water into the deepe sea as thy goodnesse will spred abroad thy fauour and grace vpon the face of this earth Open your hearts yee people open your hearts I say for the liberall hand of my God will fill them with an holy zeale which will make thee farre purer and cleaner then the gold in the fining pot 15 Now the house of Sion O Lord is the refuge which all thy seruants looke for it is it which they so greatly loue and which they so earnestly desire it is it where they looke to finde mercy it is the temple O Lord which thou wilt destroy in three daies and raise it vp againe mother three that it may be the house of euerlasting life the seat of saluation the treasure of grace and temple of eternitie 16 Then shall all the nations my God be afraide and all the kings of the earth tremble at the brightnesse of thy glorie What corner of the world shall be so secret where the noise of thy blessed comming shall not sound and be heard where shall that people be so farre from the sunne so confined and limitted in darknesse as will not vnseele their eyes to behold the cleare burning brightnesse of saluation which will shine vpon them Yea heauen it selfe shall encrease his flames to giue light vnto this thine entrance into the world and the kings shall run from all places to do homage vnto the king of kings vnto the gouernor both of heauen and earth 17 For he hath set vp and aduanced his kingly throne vpon Sion in great costly array there shall he be seene wholy encompassed with glory darkning the Sunne and Moone with the brightnesse of his face 18 But why hast thou O Lord so highly exalted the throne of thy glory hast thou done it because thou wouldest not vouchsafe to heare the praiers of thy faithfull seruants And because thou wouldest make no reckoning of the whole world which in deed is nothing in respect of thy greatnesse Alas no my God Thou hast lifted vp thy self vpon an eminent place that all the inhabitants of the earth might see acknowledge thee and so run vnto thy grace and mercy for thou shouldest be alwaies ready to come at the humble summons of thy seruants neuer disdaine their pittifull petitions And behold them also standing as miserable offenders condemned vnto bolts shackles looking for the comming of some king that should set them free at the entrance into his kingdome Euen so ô Lord deliuer thou them who haue giuen themselues vp into the bondage of sinne and with the onely twinke of thine eye the mainacles shall fall from their wristes 19 Then shall they be all heard to sing a glorious song vnto the victorious king their voices shall be heard throughout al the corners of the earth and the remembrance of thy singular bountie and infinite mercy shall be engraued within the memory of men and so passe from age to age euen vnto the last posteritie The earth shall then be consumed all the waters dryed vp the ayre vanished and the heauens haue an end which shall as yet sing the glory of the eternall God 20 The eternall God who hath vouchsafed merely and ioyfully to cast downe his eyes from the highest hauens into the very deepest place of the bowels of the earth for the acknowledging of the torments of the miserable detained captiues in hell heard their groanes is himselfe suddenly runne thither to vnbinde and set at libertie his poore captiue prisoners and all their posteritie where death with the weapons of sinne had ouercome them and confined them in his most darke prisons But the God of
thee with confessioÌ„ of the mouâ—… and contrition of the heart He hath 〈◊〉 sooner looked towards thy mercy but that he feeleth it working in him and breaketh destroieth the sinne which freeseth his heart with feare horror And the punishment which hangeth ouer his head recoyleth farre away from him and caryeth with it this miserable carefulnesse which tormeÌ„teth the consciences defiled with iniquitie And therefore O Lord haue I not forsaken thy lawes but haue alwaies waited to see when it would please thee to graunt me fauour and grace for the vnwise man that despaireth by reason of his sinne and giueth ouer his soule as condemned is like vnto the abhominable vsurer who hauing susteined some losse in his goods by and by bereaueth himselfe of his life also 5 My soule hath not done so my God for although she hath felt thine hand lying most heauily vpon me executing part of the punishment which my sinnes haue deserued yet hath she alwaies conserued in her selfe that sound hope which she hath had in thy promises Euen as the blowes light vpon my backe I crie out and say vnto thee O Lord my God thy will be done and giue me as great strength as thou layest affliction on me Measure my punishment by my strength and as my torment encreaseth euen so augment my courage and so hast thou done O Lord. 6 Let Israell therefore looke vp and trust in his God euen from the day breake vnto the shutting in of the euening looke for none other helpe but from him For his helpe is ready sure for him that calleth vpon him with a sincere conscience and a pure will And although the miserie hath beene neuer so great and extreame yet so soone as the Lord hath vnderstood the crie of his seruants they haue all so soone felt also their deliuerance 7 For he most bountifully powreth out his mercy and is infinitely helpfull to all those that come vnto him Insomuch as that his goodnesse putteth out as it were the sorrow which we haue for our sinnes maketh vs as it were reioyce in our fall as being the cause whereby we haue made triall of his louing kindnesse For if our sinnes surpasse all measure his grace exceedeth all our thoughts We haue deserued long and hard captiuitie and loe who it is that freeth vs and hath brought vs a most sweete libertie We haue blinded the eyes of our spirite and loe who commeth to enlighten them 8 O Israell thou hast offended the Lord thou hast scorned his lawes thou hast made a iest at his commandements thou hast forgotten the good turnes which he fauourably hath bestowed vpon thee He hath drawne thee out of most miserable captiuitie fed thee with the bread of heauen made purposely streames flow out of hard rocks to make thee drinke hath chosen for thy dwelling place the most delitious garden in the world made a couenant with thee giuen thee his will to keepe and thou hast coniured against his honour gone an whoring vnto strange goddes troden his lawes vnder thy ferre To be short thou hast deserued more punishment then there is to be had in hell And yet notwithstanding he offereth to graunt thee grace and with the price of his own bloud would redeeme thee from the bondage of sinne whervnto thou most voluntarily boundest thy selfe Behold him who hath himselfe paide their ransome that betraid him who tooke vpon him the punishment which we deserued and satisfied for our transgressions With what wordes then are we any way able to thanke him for all these mercies Open my lips therefore my God my Creator and redeemer that my voice may be heard and mine heart enflamed with a boiling affection to praise and thanke thee and humble me also in the acknowledging of my self to the end thou maiest heare me in the knowledge of the holy mysterie bâ— which we are reincorporate into thee and renued in thy couenant that we may enter into that blessed fellowship of glorie in which all they shall triumph which shall be partakers of the merit of the passion of thy best beloued sonne the true and onely Sauiour of the world Lord heare my prayer Psalm 142. O Lord man in the end is weary of all things a continuall course bringeth him out of breath ouermuch staring dimmeth the eies and a shrill sound deaffeth the eares but the more my voice cryeth vnto thee the stronger it is my courage encreaseth more and my praier better pleaseth me And therefore do I begin againe daily to crie vpon thee Lord heare my praier giue eare vnto my complaint for in praying to thee my God consisteth all mine whole comfort It is my praier O Lord which coniureth thy louing kindnesse to purge my sinnes not by reason of the seueritie of the punishment but by the meanes of the effect of the grace which thou hast graunted vnto vs by which thou doest abolish by thy souereigne and absolute power the remembrance of our sinnes 2 And therefore enter not O Lord into iudgement with thy seruant ne yet leaue him vnto the rigour of thy lawes for no man liuing that shall appeare before thee at thy iudgement seate shall be iustified No man shall escape this fearefull condemnation the punishment whereof is not onely cruell but immortally rigorous also Alas O Lord who can be saued before thee It is thou that art offended it is thou that wilt accuse vs It is thou that hast seene our iniquities and wilt attest them and it is thou that shalt iudge vs. When the accuser shall be witnesse and the witnesse Iudge what shall become of the offendor What defence can he make to iustifie himselfe O Lord my God I will not tarrie vntill this blowe light vpon me I will defend me with thy fauour and grace to oppose it vnto thy Iustice And thy grace is obtained by the acknowleding and confessing of our sinnes and the humbling and submitting of our mindes Loe I here cast downe my selfe prostrate before thee and lay open my sinnes and therefore I beseech thee O Lord to haue mercy vpon me 3 My sinnes my God the capitall enemie vnto my soule haue so terrified me and cast me downe as that I now lie crawling vpon the ground daring not once to looke vp vnto heauen For so soone as I lift vp mine eyes I see the light which shineth vpon me discouer on the day a great many of sinnes which accuse my conscience And then I feele forthwith shame take holde on my guiltie face and to make me cast downe my countenance vnto the ground a countenance vnworthy to behold the heauens the maister wherof she hath so grieuously offended too too cowardly a face to cast the eyes thereof vpon such places which haue so many thunder-bolts prepared to roote out the guiltie 4 My spirit therefore hath led me into darke places and buried me as a dead man in the crannies of obscuritie My soule is made very sad in me and mine
that his spirit descended into me and as a strong and mighty winde driueth the cloudes before it euen so did it driue from round about me all manner of griefes and afflictions 4 Come therefore and runne vnto him come then for the way is easie and open on euery side he sheweth himself in all places and in what place soeuer we are he calleth vs vnto him He is so afeard of vs that we would go astray as that he commeth downe from heauen to carry a lampe before vs to giue light vnto our feet he is also the father of lights which more cleerly and purely lighteth our soules then our bodies For the light which lighteth our eyes is to cause vs to see that which we are either to follow or to eschew but this light of all goodnesse and bountie enlighteneth our soules and of it selfe putteth farre from vs and driueth away whatsoeuer may hurt and offend vs. Come therefore and draw neere therevnto for so long as it shineth vpon vs you shall be sure to go vpright and nothing shall be able to do you hurt your strength shall renew in you and nothing shall confound you for if your sinnes shall appeare it shal disperse them and if your enemies come thither it will send them back and ouerthrow them 5 Will you see a most excellent proofe of his aide and singular mercy Behold then this poore and miserable caitife who is held to be an especiall vnhappy man yea such a one as is thought to be a man without all hope of recouerie the onely comfort of all miseries who hath but a very little cried out vnto God and he forthwith heard him and deliuered him out of the misery wherein he was he hath brought him to the port and setled him in a place of safety 6 He sendeth his angels to helpe his seruants who compasse them about as a most sure guarde and will not suffer them to stirre a foote from them before such time as they haue rid them out of danger For as he himselfe is great so hath he also mighty strong ministers and although he of himselfe is able to do all things and yet notwithstanding all his greatnesse he executeth his will by his creatures gouerning the lesser by the meaner the meaner by he higher and the higher by himselfe 7 Taste thou and consider a little how kinde and fauourable his goodnesse and mercy is and how blessed he is that putteth his trust in him The Swallow is very carefull of her yong ones and yet she oftentimes leaueth theÌ„ to cry by reason of hunger somtimes she giueth them the sower with the sweet but our God commeth at the first call nay at the first signe we make yea at our first wish so soone as he seeth vs thirst for his helpe he putteth his most sweet delicate dugs and breasts of his bounty vnto our mouthes streameth the sweet milke of his grace into our lips which stancheth cooleth the thirstinesse of our infirmity quencheth the heat which our sin as foule filthy vlcers sores haue engendred in our consciences 8 And therfore seeing he is so good gratious vnto vs and denieth vs nothing that we aske looke somwhat vnto your selues I beseech you I speake vnto you vpon whom he hath bestowed so many benefits whom he hath sanctified with his holy blessings and whome he hath set a part to be his elect and partakers of his loue And beware yee offend him not with your vnthankfulnesse thereby make you vnwortthie of his benefites through distrust and incredulitie of his beneficence For they that feare him waâ—… nothing in fearing him they trut iâ— him and they feare him with a feare that proceedeth of loue not with a feare that he will do them some ill but with a feare not to offend him but rather with a fatherly reuerence who is farre readier to do vs good then we are carefull to demaund of him For he knoweth of himselfe what is most necessary for vs and preuenteth forthwith our desires if they be agreeable vnto his will and enricheth vs when we are most poore and maketh vs valiant when we are most weake 9 And contrariwise the richmenâ— of the world whose goods he hath not blessed they I say are not worthy of their riches but starue with their aboundance their goods melt into pouerty their great magnificences vanish away into smoake and become like vnto a streame whose spring-heaâ— is dammed vp his bed becommeth parched with drinesse the skirts of his garments lose their beauty and his trees which he hath planted on a row wither and drive vp But such as haue recourse vnto God and forsake him not and referre all vnto his honour shall neuer want any good thing because the spring head of all goodnesse which is the loue of God floweth ouer their soules and spreddeth it selfe throughout all the parts of their bodies 10 Now sith that you see that the feare of the Lord bringeth so great profit and that his feare is it which reconcileth vs vnto him his conciliation getteth vs grace enlargeth our felicity come ye vnto me that I may learne yee how yee shall feare him as a most good merciful father who neuer denieth mercy vnto him which acknowledgeth his sinnes and giueth himselfe to walke in the way of well doing 11 Desire ye to please him and by that meanes to liue in his grace that is to say to liue blessedly and passe your dayes with a quiet minde and aboundance of whatsoeuer is necessary for this life and yet to go forward on the way of this immortall life which attendeth vs after we shall be departed from hence To be short desire ye his blessing that is to say firme and assired prosperitie which engendreth iâ— you spirituall reioycing which laiâ—… your heart continually open to breaâ—… out his honor coÌ„tentedly to vse tâ—… benefits which he lendeth vnto yoâ— here in this world I will deliuer 〈◊〉 vnto you in few words how yee shaâ—… attaine vnto this meanes For I know wherewith he is pleased and what aâ—…ons of ours they are that are agreeable vnto his liking 12 The first thing that ye shall do 〈◊〉 this Keepe your tongue that it speakâ— nothing to the dishonor of God noâ—â—…ter any bitter angry talke Mark whâ—… a small and little thin member this iâ— yet it is the sterne of our life which turneth and windeth our spirit which way soeuer it pleaseth For when it iâ— once filled with corrupt filthy speeâ—… it carrieth the passions of our hearâ— from whence they are conceiued euâ—… into the bottom of our vnderstanding and in such sort watereth them as thaâ— they are like vnto an earthen potouâ—… much soaked in water so loseth theâ—…by the forme and shape of the reasâ—… which God had breathed into it Sâ—ty not that one sparke of fire setteth an whole house on a burning flame Euen so the tongue as the
and open your eares that I may open the spirit close vp the eyes of your bodies that I may make your soules so clearely forsake this stepmother of earth that I may make you know your heauenly father Come ye therefore together both poore rich for ye are vnworthy of the goods that I meane largely to bestow vpon you 3 Come for I go about to discouer lay wide opeÌ„ vnto you the treasures of eternal wisdom And in opening my mouth being inspired with the grace of Almighty God I meane to vnfold vnto you in my words his wonderfull wisedome I haue long held my soule in a deep thought and after I had a great while dreamed I conceiued in the end of a strange discourse of Gods wisedome by which I vnderstood his goodnesse and mercie in all things and the folly misery infirmitie of mankinde 4 Whereupon I being as it were beside my selfe about the wondring at his greatnes the feeling of our own infirmitie I was forthwith desirous to geue eare vnto that which my spirit taught me and began carefully to consider of those things which it couertly shewed me vnder a disguised maner the knowledge the truth And after I had carefully vnderstood examined the same I tooke my harp in my hand according my voyce vnto the sweet tune of my harp I was ready to put abroad my conceits and to make my meditations to be heard vnto all those that would heare them that they might be acceptable vnto God the author of so holie thoughts and wholesome instruction vnto the fauourable hearer of my discourses 5 If thou wilt then know what I sayd within my selfe this I sayd what shall I feare in the hardest time of my life Why should I feare when death shall come to lay hold on me and to cause me to get me out of this world Alas deat is a strange busibody I know not who should not feare him seeing no man can keepe him-selfe from him How shall I be able to defend my selfe from his arrowes What armour shall I put on against his pick-axe which ouerthroweth and razeth Castels Cities Kingdomes and Empires yea which threatneth to bring the world to an end and who at last shall make an end of him-selfe I shall need no kinde of weapons but innocencie that is able to be a steely an assured buckler for me for if I take not good heed vnto it that traytor sinne whome death hath appoynted will neuer be from my heeles will lodge in my concupisceÌ„ce and deliuer me presently at an assault into the hands of damnation 6 O deare and wholesome innocencie in thee alone resteth all our assurance vnder thy faith we constantly abide whatsoeuer shall come vppon vs and we beleeue that thou art strong inough to defende vs from death O foolish and mad men who leauing this faithfull protection assure them-selues in their greatnesse and mightinesse make an accompt of their ritches and magnificences They accompt the Nations which are vnder their gouernments and recken vp the treasure which they keepe vnder lock and key and to what purpose serueth all this against death 7 If one brother can not redeeme the life of another for money nay and if one would dye for another yet inexorable death will not receyue him what then shall man geue vnto death for his owne ransome Shall he geue the goods that are none of his or his dominions which he loseth as soone as he is dead No no there is nothing which hee hath left vnto him-selfe wherewith God is appaised and pacified when his iudgement is once pronounced against mortall men He â—ill not compound with him for any thing whatsoeuer This is his creature this is the slime of the earth out of â—hich hee will take when it pleaseth him the spirit of life whcih he breathed into him and therefore man can no way gaynsay nor yet reply against him 8 Let vs I beseech thee a little value the soule of man and let vs see what he will offer vnto God for his ransoming of him let him trauell a little all his life long let him go and trauell awhile all the dayes of his life let him goe and ferrit out all the corners of the earth let him go and draâ— out the bowels of the mines let him draw dry the golden dugs of both the Indies let him dispeople the Easterne parts of the world of all her pearles and when he hath heaped vp all this geare let him then come and bargain with God for the prolonging of his life and wee shall heare his reasons What other thing shall he be but like vnto a prisoner which offreth to cast off his bolts and shackles if he might haue libertie geuen him O miserable man that thou art for that thing which thou thinkest should serue thee for thy safegard is the very window whereat death must enter For death commeth by reason of sin 〈◊〉 by reason of concupiscence and thâ— concupiscence is nourished encreased and kindled by all these For God will speake all naked vnto thee euen aâ— â—e placed thee here in the world and will before he begin to capitulate with thee haue thee deliuer vnto him that which thou hast robbed him of I meane those graces and benefits whcih thou hast misused then shalt thou thinke with thy self whether thou hast of thine owne to pay him double yea quadruple for the punishment due vnto thee for thine ill life 9 Alasse poore senselesse thing if thou once commest to that what shalt thou be able to say against death seeing that the wisest and valiantest men are enforced to be courbed vnder his yoke Shalt thou who hast made no accompt but of corruptible and perishing ritches shalt thou I say be preserued from corruption and the wise man who sought by all the meanes possible he could to immortalize himselfe here in this life conuersed with the Angels cannot warrant himselfe from him Thou thy selfe seest him come to an end and hopest thou to be immortall No no for both wise men fooles dye but after a diuerse sundry manner for the death of the wise man shal be but a passage he shal fâ—nd at his returne his talent infinitely multiplied and encreased and the glorie which he hath sowne shal encrease aboundantly and ouershadow the generation of his children 10 Howbeit all these poore wretched blind soules who continually hold down their heads vnto the earth and whose spirits are shut vp in their purses who haue none other vnderstanding but to loue those things which are not to be beloued who neglect and contemne both Sunne and Moone the verie principall works of nature to admire stones and marble gold and siluer which vainely scatter and disperse the vertues of intelligeÌ„ce and vnderstanding for the getting together and heaping vp of the excrements of the earth shall forgoe the ritches which they haue so greatly loued and for which they hated all
in sorrow griefe dolor anguish pouertie and miserie and cast them into Mercuries heape 19 And is it not great reason that it should be thus for they haue taken their pleasures here in this life and haue had their felicitie in this world and whatsoeuer they haue desired hath falne vnto them goods haue come rolling in by heapes vnto them the felicitie of their greatnesse was a burden vnto them they esteemed of none but of such as did help to enrich them neither loued they any but such as gaue them and made much of none saue of those that encreased their reuenues They are like to those meÌ„ who because they would haue a great stock sell the proprietie of their goods vnto others they dye leauing nothing behinde for the world to come hauing made no prouision for any goods that are there in request but content them selues with the goods that serue for this earthlie life which being ended they are left verie poore They haue desired honor but a vaine and slipperie honor which hangeth and resteth but vpon the opinion of fooles they had it but they could not tell well how to keep it They would gladly haue sit vppon the top of the wheel that being turned about they are now downe in the bottome therof but blessed and happy are they which can keepe them sure and immoueable vpon the scaffold and see them selues safe both aboue and below 20 But these miserable caytifes haue done nothing so for they haue made the leape them selues they haue voluntarily climbed vp to the steepest place from whence they haue bene cast downe backward euen vnto hell they are at this day in the number of their forefathers there haue they found their Auncesters from whome they receyued their birth and conditions they were imitators of theyr sinnes and when they are dead they shall be also partakers of their punishment for when repentance commeth too late they then learne but out of season what it is to lift them selues vp against God and oppose them selues vnto his glorie then they learne what it is to afflict the iust to oppresse the poore and to scorne the afflicted They are confined in the darke and the light geueth no more sâ—ght vnto their eyes They hare nothing but horror and gnashing of teeth they breath out nothing but sighes and groanes and they neuer stirre but with trembling and fretting 21 When these poore senselesse people were in honor they could not vnderstand it but became like vnto brute beasts which haue neyther sense nor iudgement But yet alasse they are farre vnlike for death in bereauing the beasts of their liues taketh from them aswell the feeling of their paine as of their pleasure but as for these poore fooles who would neuer vnderstand wherein their chiefe blessednes consisted but closed vp their eyes against the eternall light and stopped their eares against the spirituall word shall haue their sense as an argument or subiect of torments and their spirit shall liue continually to conceiue and eternally to languish their miseries O how good is God c. Psalme 73. O How great is the goodnes of our God and how assured is his helpe vnto all those that wait vpon him Vnto those I say who haue neuer turned away their thoughts from his iustice and mercie and who hauing the eyes of their soules alwayes fixed vpon his prouidence neuer gaue ouer the hope which they should haue in his grace And how greatly blessed are they whome the sundry ill haps of this world could neuer shake that constant assurance which they ought to haue of Gods righteousnesse O how greatly I say is the constancie of such men to be commended 2 For to say truly my foot oftentimes began to slip in the way and I glided oftentimes as it were euen readie to fall to the ground Much like vnto them that climbe vp a steepe thornie hill who so soone as they feele the briers and brambles begin to prick and raunch them or rub off the skinne against any flint stone lay hold with theyr hands for verie griefe vpon the crampons and rests which help them to climbe vp and then forthwith tumble quite cleane downe if they be not the sooner stayed Euen so my God whilst I would vnderstaÌ„d the iudgemeÌ„ts of thy works behold how thou dispensest thy graces as one pricked wounded to see the wicked prosper I make many false steps strides and am ready to fal into this steep breakeneck of not belieuing thy wisedome and righteousnesse 3 What say I shall become of the people which know not God otherwise then to blaspheme him who think that they haue taken a pawne to serue their lusts and peruerse affectioÌ„s who wil none of him but to haue him serue theÌ„ as a moment to serue their wicked doings for a maske to serue their iniquities for a lure to serue their deceits yet get together the fruit of his grace and possesse in peace rest the chreame of his benefits I confesse my God that I am iealous of their prosperitie and do enuie this their case and me thinketh it to be altogether against all reason 4 For who is he that seeth them that would say they should dye Who would not thinke but that they had bought of thee for a certaine summe the right of immortalitie here in this world Who would not say but that they were partakers with thee of euerlasting and constant felicitie Moreouer we see that all things alter and change here in this world which sheweth that in successe of time all these things must come to an end but we see their prosperitie to be so firme and of so great equalitie as that a man would thinke that if they continually encrease in such sort as they do they will grow at last to be as infinite as thy selfe and place them selues in thy heauenly Throne for there is no likelyhood that any thing can do them hurt neither yet that any the least and only mishap is able to rest vpon the skirt of this so glorious magnificence It is incredible that any thing can be able to hurt their pretious bodies enuironed with such aboundance of so excellent ritches 5 As for other men they are made crooked with labor and trauell is their ordinarie course of life they are borne with groanes they grow vp with sâ—ghs they waxe old with lamenting the Sea is oftner without wind then their liues are without torments a man shal not see so many shot about a white as he shall see miseries and afflictions fast tyed round about all other men But these men alone are shielded and exempt from all these and in an equall and constant course of life they swimme at pleasure in the delights of this world and make the calamities of good men and such as feare God their pastimes and sports Hast not thou seene a Tyrant vpon the top of a Theatre looking vpon poore slaues fighting against Lions and
horror and astonishment in their countenances For extreame famine hath dried vp their flesh cold hath bereaued them their ruddy and smooth checkes sorrow and griefe hath wrinkeled their faces and the flower of their chastitie by the souldier insolently defaced hath couered all their faces with shame and dishonor And these are now no more but euen so many dead liuing For they liue altogether in sorrow and griefe Neither is there any thing that encourageth them more to liue then the same dolor which killeth them with very heauinesse and awakeneth them out of their bitternesse He. A dolor truly too too bitter and in very deede more bitter then soote to see them-selues carried in triumph by their greatest enemies to see them braue by our spoyles ritch by our great pouertie and mightie by our ouerthrow Thou hast ô Lord poured out thy heauie wrath vppon vs and madest vs feele how heauie thy reuengefull hand is Thou hast I beleeue gathered together all our faults into a bundell once for all because that when thou sawest them to be so infinite and worthie the like payne and punishment thou awakenedst thy selfe and hast discharged the arrowes of thy seuere iustice against vs. But ô Lord oughtest not thou to stay the course of our punishment in our owne persons and consume all thy torments vpon vs but must we also be tormented in the persons of our children and for the making of our miserie the greater to cause vs also to see theirs For wee were spoyled of our goods put out of our houses and led away captiue Wee thought that there was nothing as it were to bee feared more then death and yet now wee feare it not for it is sweet to those that are in miserie But our speedie and quicke calamitie to our great payne and griefe hath now ouertaken vs with newe miseries For wee haue seene goe before vs whole bands of our children fettered and carried captiue into Babylon there to serue our enemyes as bond-slaues Vau. Euen so hath Syon lost the flower of her youth and all the honor of her City is cleane gone She hath bene miserably torne all to rags and there is no whole thing left in her but sorrow griefe For the greatest and ritchest of her inhabitants were caried away by troupes and led into strange Prouinces as flocks of sheepe are driuen by dayes iourneys from market to market without geuing them any leaue to feed as they go They go with their heads and their eyes looking downe to the ground sighing most piteously And the conqueror followeth them scourging them with rods and they which dwell by the hye wayes sides as they passe laugh at their affliction and most iniuriously cry out vpon them Zain And as a fresh wound openeth againe the old ones euen so were their harts throughly pierced whereby they remembred their old sinnes and the punishment which their fathers suffered because they had forsaken the true seruice of God and geuen them selues ouer vnto their foolish passions They called also to mind how often they were fallen into their enemies â—ands when as God had left them O â—hou too too ouer late remembrance â—hou shouldest haue come a great deale sooner to haue turned them from their wicked and abhominable â—ayes and if they would not haue done it for Gods sake yet they should â—aue done it at least for feare of his fury which they had so often felt O late repentance which commeth after punishment suffred They were very poreblind that could not foresee this great trayne of miseries which followed their offences But alasse ô blind sinne thou doest thus bleare the eyes of thy friends and wilt not put them in mind of their repentance but â—hen it is all past time For Ierusalem hath turned her back vpon God and followed her owne concupiscences she hath made her a God of her owne pleasure and worshipped her owne delights She neuer once turned her eyes towards heauen vntill such time as she sawe her magnificence cleane vnder foote the whole world laughing at her shame making a scorne of her Sabboths and translating and altering of her sacrifices wherein she had so great confidence which could in very deeâ— serue her to no purpose because they were done with such polluted hands Heth. For to say truly Ierusalem waâ— nothing else but a sinke of sinne and filthinesse for from the highest vnto the lowest they were all most abhominable for she began to forget her God that was so fauourable vnto her and thereupon as one that was blinde she stumbled fell into all maner of wickednesse And after that she had groped about here and there at all aduentures she fell into this strange calamitie and then as many as heretofore were wont to reuerence honor her began forthwith to disdaine and looke sourely vpoÌ„ her For her shame lay opeÌ„ vnto the eyes of al the world was seâ— before euery man as a laughing stocke some asking her what was become of all her wealth some what was become of all her honor and there was neuer an honest womaÌ„s child which had not a gird at her In so much that she could do nothing else but weepe and being all ashamed and comfortlesse she was driuen to goe hide her selfe Thet. And wheÌ„ she saw her self alone and in what estate she stood she found her self from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot to be most filthie and her garmeÌ„ts to be most beastly beâ—rayed with bloud and mire And as the Peacock when he hath spread abroad his tayle in looking at his feet letteth it fall downe agayne abating thereby his pride euen so hath she plucked downe her heart sorrowed within her selfe and cared no whit for death by reason that all things misliked her but chiefly and aboue all her poore and miserable life She was giuen to be altogether sad without hauing any bodie to comfort her For her friends had forsaken her or if they were neere about her it was to none other end but to afflict her Wherefore when as she found no help here vpon earth she lamentably lifted to her head vnto heauen with deep fighâ—s froÌ„ the bottome of her hart addressed her selfe vnto God and sayd O Lord hast thou not compassion vpon me in this my great affliction Seest thou not mine extreame misetie Surely there is none can saue me so well as thy selfe Come therefore if thou be the God of mercy and forsake not thine humble and old seruant for mine enemy setteth his foote vpon my throate and causeth me most shamefully to belch Come therefore ô Lord for my continuall iniury is thy shame and the outrage that is done vnto a seruant redoundeth to the mayster And therefore come ô Lord for mine enemy outrageth me beyond all measure and without all pitie Iod. He hath layd his bloudy hand vpon that which I accompted most deere and spared no whit of that which I made reckning off to be most
geuen them all power and â—…thoritie ouer thee Sade But God in the end began to waxe weary of their insolency because they carryed theÌ„selues too too proudly of their conquest for after they had troden vnder feet the greatnes of Ierusalem they meant againe to deale with his maiestie and blaspheme his name and hauing ouerthrowne the walles of this holy Citie they bragged that they would make warre against God him selfe and triumph ouer the spoyles of his Temple Let their example ô Ierusalem serue thy turne and take occasion to appease God by thy repentance that he may turne the punishment which he hath prepared for thee vpon thine enemies Let thine eyes forthwith burst into bloudy teares and weepe continually day and night geue no rest to thy sighes let thy pitifull eyes speake for thee and looking vp still vnto heauen attend thou thine ayde from thence Coniure by thine humble lookes this diuine mercy that it may ease thy weakenes and conuert his iustice vnto the chastising of the insolency of thine enemies Coph Lift vp lift vp I say both thy body and soule all at once and before it be day so soone as thou shalt awake put thy selfe in a readinesse to pray into God to prayse and thanke him for that he by the torments which he hath caused vs to abide hath brought thee back into the right way as men do oxen with the goade vnto the knowledge of his name and the acknowledging of thine iniquities And before his face that is to say when thou hast obtayned fauour at his hand to looke vpon thee and seest him to haue compassion on thee distill thine heart through thine eyes and melt it all into teares by thine earnest repentance euen as the Sunne would melt the snow newly fallen into water But if so that thy teares will not touch him and bring him to haue compassion of thy miserie lift vp thy hands yet at the least vnto him and beseech him to be contented with thy miseries and not extend them vnto thy poore innocent childreÌ„ who are there dispersed dying of hunger and weakenesse in corners saying vnto him Resch O Lord if thou haue any eyes behold this pitifull spectacle and if thou haue any eares harken vnto out prayers and consider how great our miserie is Behold how thou hast bene auenged of vs and see what a spoyle thou hast made of vs. And in very deed I must needs confesse that we haue deserued it and I do protest that we are vnworthie of thy mercy and do also vow that we our selues are the causes of our owne miserie But what haue these poore and wayling children done whom thou seest screaking out them selues faintly drawing their breath Why should the child whom hunger torment had drawne out before the time of the mothers womb was ready to deliuer it which is not as it were so great as a mans hand be rent in pieces by her which should bring it forth and so be eaten by her and the same to go downe by peece-meale into the body out of which it came whole and sound Surely happy and twise happy are the Tygres and Lyons whelps in comparison of these whose dammes will aduenture their own liues against whatsoeuer violence shall be offred their yong ones rather then they would suffer them to take any hurt at all O Lord how canst thou abide this horrible dealing Is it possible that thou which are altogether good gratious wouldest abide such great impietie to be wrought that thou which art so wise wouldest allow of such a cruell acte and that thou which art Almightie wouldest suffer such a strange outrage Shew thy selfe ô Lord shew thy selfe as thou art and although for a time thou art determined to exercise thy seueritie and iustice yet thinke vpon this also that thy mercy must reigne haue her course Content thy selfe that so much bloud is spilt for the appeasing of thine heauie wrath Thou hast not bene pleased with the bloud of our sheepe and oxen alone but wilt needs also haue thine Aulters couered with the bloud of thine owne Priests for they haue sacrificed their owne liues and thy Prophets likewise haue bene offred vp in oblation and yet thou art no whit appeased Syn. What more wouldest thou haue at our hands Thou hast scene abroad in the fields the gray haired and â—ecreped old men and women lye vpon the ground crying out groaning and â—eeping thou hast seene lying with 〈◊〉 our walles the slaughter of our youths our streetes strawed all ouer with legs and ames our riuers running ouer with bloud and neyther sexe or yet age spared Thou hast seene amongst the dead the yong and tender maydens with their haires sheueled about their heads hauing their breasts lying open with great wounds out of which gushed streames of bloud and thou hast seene them lying on their backs with their eyes vp vnto heauen beseeching thine ayde And thou ô Lord hast notwithstanding all this turned away thine eyes from them and as if thou haddest bene a God not to be intreated hast without either pitie or mercy run through them all with the sword of thy fury Tau Thou hast inuited all my neighbour nations round about me to come to my discomfiture as it were vnto a mariage and to take part of my spoiles Thou hast brought them in such great multitudes to take possession of me and to compasse me as that I can not deuise which way to escape theÌ„ Thou thy selfe hast sounded to the assault animated them to my destruction and stopped vp the passages for feare that any of vs should be saued And truly thy will hath bene done vpon all the children which I haue brought vp nay there is not one of them saued mine enemies haue made a shambles of theÌ„ they haue murdered and massacred them till they cryed hoe withall and lo seest thou them weary with killing yet carest thou not to see them do it to let them to do it and to cause them do it Hath the remembrance of our sins made thee forget the remembraÌ„ce of thy clemency Hast thou created vs in thy mercy to destroy vs in thy fury Be thou then no more Almightie if thou wilt not become both all curteous all kind To be short be thou no more God without thou wilt be likewise pitifull Ha ô Lord why hast thou called vs thy people if thou wilt be no more our protector Why hast thou called vs thy childreÌ„ if thou wilt not deale with vs as a father Haue therefore ô Lord compassion vpon vs and feeing thy mercy is infinite euer since before the world was cause that thine ire which was neuer vntill our sins were may take end and dye with them and that as our repeÌ„tance hath set vs againe into the especiall way of obedience godlinesse so also it may bring vs againe into thy fauour CHAPTER III. Aleph IT is I euen I my selfe that hath so many times foreseene and
foretold of the afflictions that should light vpon poore Ierusalem It is euen I that so often haue announced her misery and stirred her vp therewith vnto repentance but as my spirit of prophesie hath done her no good in her obstinacie no more hath it also done me For I my selfe am ouertaken with the common destruction as well as the rest For when the wrath of the liuing God commeth vppon a people it ordinarily cutteth downe the corne with the tares and darnell and bindeth vp as it were in one sheafe both the good and the bad For he hath suffred me sith it is so his pleasure to be led into a darke place of abode and hath bereaued me both of day and light I was confined and limited into a fearefull and darke prison where I saw neither sunne nor moone I may very well say that he hath borne an hard hand vpon me and that his grace was turned into an implacable indignation which had neither ease nor end Bet. He made me waxe old before my time my skinne wrinkled with sorrow and griefe my flesh fell away and my bones payned me as if they had bene broken in pieces Now the long continuance in prison made me thus feeble for I saw my selfe closed vp as I had bene walled in round about geuing me nothing but gall to feed on and torment to exercise my selfe withall But vnderstandest thou where they shut me vp verely euen in more obscure and darke places then those wherein the damned soules are Gimel What Must I haue such wide walles to keepe me in and must I haue such bolts and shackles at my heeles for feare of running away But alasse God was not pleased only thus to confine and limit me in such an hidious prison but after that the gates and windowes were shut he also closed vp his cares when I called vpon him In so much as that my soule was captiued as well as my body and was depriued of that sweet comfort which she was wonted to haue with God her comforter And this in very deed was the thing that astonyed me when as I sawe all my hope cut off at once For all my hope and trust was in God for when I had lost his fauour I then right well felt that I was in very deed a prisoner and that I had vtterly lost all my directions and that I was shut vp within a wall farre stronger then any stone or brasen wall for all the prisons in the world are nothing so cruell vnto a man as to be without the grace and fauour of God Daleth For he that should meete with an hungry Beare in the middest of a wildernesse could nor be in greater danger then my selfe nor he that should meete a roaring Lyon hunting after his pray could not be more afrayd then I. For I sawe my selfe vtterly vndone not knowing what way to take For the wrath of God cut off the way from me in euery place it went out more speedily then any Lyon and layd on farre more stoutly then any Beare and then what resistance was I able to make and what else remayned for me but vtterly to despaire Thou wouldest verely and properly haue sayd that God had bound and set me vp as a Butt for him to shoote all the arrowes of his fury at me He. He drew out of the Treasure of his wrath as out of a well furnished Quiuer his arrowes of affliction and torment where-with he shot mee through and through brake in sunder my loynes euen as a man would breake a dogs backe with a great leauer O poore miserable broken backt wretch that I am I am pulled strayned ioynâ— by ioynt and am left a laughing stocke vnto the whole world They made songs of me which they song euery day in the open streetes God gaue me most bitter drinke and made me very dronke with wormewood wine Vau. Alasse what a kinde of entertainement call ye this he made me eate bread that was halfe flintie and my poore teeth were brokeÌ„ with these dayntie morsels And me thought I was very well when as my bread was halfe â—noden with ashes and in the end I grew very impatieÌ„t for my soule could neither abide the present miserie wherein I was nor yet hope for any better hereafter to come and so descryed she her selfe so that the ayd which I looked for at Gods hand was lost in very deed all my hope was cut off that side I must no more make accompt of his grace for hee hath brought me sith it so liketh him vnto the end both of my miseries and also of my dayes Zain Neuerthelesse I straightway tooke my selfe with the manner said Our alasse poore Ieremiah canst thou tell what thou doest Is this all the benefit which thou hast reaped by thine afflictions haue not thy teares and bitternesse of thy sorrow otherwise mollified thine heart canst thou benefit thy selfe no whit by the remembrance of thy miseries past that thou mightest be humbled so as thy humilitie might entreat the iustice of God and conâ—ure his goodnes In the end I came to this and in reuoluing all these discourses in my brayne I began to rayse vp againe mine hope which the greatnesse of my sinne had vtterly benummed Het And thus I sayd within my selfe the Lord hath yet shewed me great fauour and grace in that he hath not vtterly cast me off but hath geuen me my voyce to call vpon him for mercy For a man shall at last finde alwayes pitie and compassion in him if so be he will patiently attend his good pleasure and leysure The Sunne neither riseth nor falleth but it seeth his mercy His goodnes spreddeth it selfe ouer all the earth neyther is there any corner thereof which beareth not his marke And furthermore I say that the Sunne shineth not but to be seene and to cause to see O Lord our God how great is thy goodnes how assured is thine ayd how certaine is thy word and how infallible thy promise As for my selfe I wil trust in none but in thee and if so be I may haue thy grace and fauour for my portion I care for none of the rest My soule is fully resolued hereof and do feele it say vnto my conscience that she putteth all her trust in thee and layeth vp her saluation in thy hands Thet. How can she do better For God neuer halted with them which put their trust in him for at one time or another either early or late he hath shewed them that his goodnes is infallible and that the hart which seeketh it findeth it farre or neere and that the soule which desireth it obtaineth it either soone or late We must therefore wayt for it patiently and not murmure if God come not vnto vs at the first call let vs hold our peace and let him do it and he will in the end do that which she shall see to be most for his glory most necessary for our saluation For great
an ineuitable mischiefe I had none other recourse but vnto mine eyes My teares haue trickled downe aboundantly and haue bitterly bewayled my mishap and the misery of my fellow citizens and of thee my best beloued Ierusalem Ain And as our miseries neuer ceased no more also did mine eyes so as a man would haue verely sayd that through affliction mine heart was in the presse to squeeze teares out of it as men squeeze water out of a spunge Thus did I leade my life continually vntill such time as I had enforced thee ô Lord to haue pitie on me and had with my teares quenched the heat of thine anger What other thing should I haue done when as I sawe before mine eyes so many Cities destroyed so many houses burnt so many Templs cast downe so many men slayne and so many mayds forced and defloured And surely I had had a very steely hart if I could haue held my self from weeping and although it had bene of steele yet had my dolor bene strong and able inough to haue molten it into weeping Sade Ha what a thing is this they draue vs before them as men driue cattle We fled from our enemies and yet they pursued vs we yelded our selues vnto them and yet they massacred vs and all this they did not geuing them any occasion of offence They led me into the bottome of the arse of a ditch and tyed a stone about my necke as they do about a dogs necke when they meane to drowne him And verely I had like to haue bene drowned for mine afflictions had aboundantly runne ouer the very crowne of mine head and had almost choked me and all the help that I had was to cry out and say O Lord I dye haue mercy vpon me Coph I was as it were in a bottomlesse depth in the hole of a prison I knew not but by my memorie whether there had bene eyther Stye or Sunne in the world so monstrous darke was the place wherein I was And yet ceased I not to call vpon thee my Lord my God and sent vp my faith whither my senses could by no meanes reach And thou neuer reiectedst me but receiuedst my prayer for my sobs in the end moued thee and made thee turne againe vnto thy first resolution I felt thee forthwith to assist and help me yea euen at the very first instant I say that I began to pray vnto thee And still me thought I heard thee say vnto my soule be of good courage feare not Resch And so ô Lord thou canst tell that as great a sinner as I am that thou wilt help and succour me euen for thy Christ his sake and for thy mercy promise and truth sake For thou that vnderstandest the very bottoms of our harts canst truly iudge that my soule hath bene carryed away vnto sinne by her senses and concupiscence but as soone as she felt thy rods she conuerted vnto thee her creator and redeemer from whom alone as she hath had life so also aduoweth she the restauration thereof after sinne For the question ô Lord is of the iudging betweene mine enemies and me whether it be reasonable that my misery should serue them for a sport or whether it be hye time that they should beare part of the punishmēt Iudge it ô Lord thou that knowest the righteousnes of my cause For thou knowest their thoughts their cruell purposes the plagues which they haue prepared for me I haue mine health by reason of their inhabilitie for if they had as great power as they haue will I had abidden as much as they had bene able to haue layd vpon me Syn. Thou hast sufficiently seene ô Lord that they haue dealt with me as farre as they might and thou knowest also that there is no iniury which they haue not committed and spoken against me And I do be short thou hast very well knowne their counsels and thoughts And I do verely thinke that there was neuer word came out of their lips wherwith they purposed not to hurt me and beleeue me their minds were neuer vnoccupied in finding out some cunning deuise or other to hurt me And cōsider I beseech thee whether euer they arose or lay downe that their talke was not on me neyther had they euer any other matter to sing on but to speake euil of me Tau Go to then ô Lord seeing they haue ouer come thy patience wilt thou not daunt their malice and sith nothing can driue them to repentance wilt thou not punish them And seeing they take so great pleasure in ill doing shall they not feele and abide thy displeasure by course For once I am sure that thou art iust and sith thou art so thou must needs pay them home according to the works of their owne hands And seeing that through their pride and arrogancie they haue forsaken thee to follow their own presumption thou must needs leaue them in their error and they must needs perseuere in their sinne and this hard scale of impenitencie must of force couer ouer their whole hearts and a greater curse canst thou not lay vpon them then this then to blinde their minds and take away from them their senses For when thou shalt come at once in the day of vengeance with a rod of iron in thine hand and breake them all in shards like a potters vessell there shall be nothing vnder the heauens by many thousands of degrees so miserable as they for they shall find no mercy at all because they themselues were mercylesse they shall be poore and there shall be none to helpe them and they shall be afflicted and none shall comfort them In the meane while ô Lord haue thou an eye vnto vs and second our patience with thine holy mercy to the end that as long as thou shalt please to exercise vs with the iniuries and opprobries of the wicked our hearts fayle vs not and that our soules may alwayes be able to lift them selues vp vnto thee and looke for thine ayde taking the miseries which it pleaseth thee to send vs for a tryall of our faith hoping that after our long patiēce thou wilt crowne vs as victorious wrastlers and cause vs triumphantly leade the wicked against whome we continually wrastle here in this life CHAPTER IIII. Aleph I Knowe O Lord right well that we must yeeld vnto thy will and that we do but kicke against the pricke in complayning of thee Neuerthelesse I can not keepe in my griefes much lesse my sighs when as I behold this strange desolation And although my soule biddeth me hold my peace yet can not mine heart keepe it selfe from sighing For who ô Lord would not haue pitie of this to see all the beawtifull golden walls of thy temple bescrabled and scraped all the goodly golden vessels so finely wought now melted and clipt in pieces all the ritch Iasper Porphirie of thy sanctuary brokē layd in gobbets cast about all the corners of the Citie in so
about O how wonderfull great is thy mercy which blindfoldeth the eyes of thy Deitie which hideth from thee that euery one seeth and maketh thee forget that which thou knewest before such time as it was done 13 From whence ô Lord commeth this great change and alteration in thee whence commeth it that to do me fauour thou puttest so farre from thee thy iustice which is naturally in thee I wonder but yet cannot I tell from whence this thy so great clemency and louing kindnesse proceedeth It is yea it is ô Lord because thou wilt saue vs whether we wil or no and to draw vs as it were by force out of that condemnation which we most iustly haue deserued For thou art the God of glory iealous of honour and praise for thou art alone worthy therof Thou knowest right well that very hell shall praise thee and thou knowest also ô Lord that death it selfe shall set forth thy praise Seeing that thou hast created all things to testifie thine infinite goodnesse and power shall death which is one of thy works make an end of thy praise Yea and seeing thou hast here placed man to lift vp his eyes vnto heauen and to behold thy glory and to sing both with the heart and mouth a continually hymne therof and if thou take away his life is not that a breache of one of the organes of thine honour And if thou send him to hell is not that to defame thy workmanship Thou hast ô Lord sowne by the mouthes of thy Prophets the truth of thy promises Shall they that are pent vp in the earth gather together the fruite thereof shall they whome the death of the body hath closed vp the eye liddes and whome the death of the soule engendred through their impenitence hath sealed vp the eyes of the spirit making them go groping to hell wandring and stumbling from paine to paine and from torment to torment No no it shall be the liuing man that shall publish and set forth thy praise the man I say that liueth and that liuing life which is maintained by those blessings which thou bestowest vpon vs here on the earth and that life which is nourished by the beholding of thy Deitie and by the blessings which thou hast laide vppe in heauen Euen so O Lorde do I at this day with them seeing it hath pleased thee to conuert my miseries into grace and blessing and to turne away from me death and dolors which brought them vnto mee Mine infirmitie is at this day seeing it so pleaseth thee an argument of thy glory thou workest such miracles in me as are able to astonish an whole world To the end ô Lord that the fathers may tell vnto their children what the effects of thy mercies are how sure the effect of thy promises and how vndoubted the truth of thy word And so wâ—…soeuer the lasâ— and hindermost posteritie shall vnderstand what hath be fallen vnto my person it will praise and blesse thy holy name 15 Seeing then my God that â—hou hast assured me this life I meane this earthly and corporall life graunt me also assurance of this heauenly and diuine life to the end that I being most full of all hope and strength may passe the rest of my daies in praising and seruing of thee continually Mine aboade ô Lorde shall be alwaies at the feete of thine aulâ—eâ—s mine action shall â—ee a song of thy praise and goodnesse and so will goe day and night into thy church lifâ—ing vp mine eyes vnto thee and hauing my thoughts fixed on thee I will openmine heart and thou shalt fill it with thy grace that it may sanctifie all mine affections and so I thereby may set forth nothing more then thy glory FINIS