repentauÌ„ce Plucke me out lorde from the hande of the maliciouse delyuer me from the bondes of sunne take me from the snare of death leade me out of the depnes of helle saue me from oppression and the harde bondage of heuynes that my mynde may ryse vp and ioye in the and that I may blysse the all the days of my lyfe I thanke the lorde in Iesu my sauiour for accordyng to the multitude of my sorowes in my herte thy coÌ„fortes haue reioysed my soule wherfore I wyll alwayes truste in the and I wyll for my parte adde vnto all thy prayse Thou lord bowe thin eare vnto me hasten that to plucke me out Alas wretche that I am lo agayne heuynes coÌ„meth instructed with terrible armours The banner of iustice goeth before her an innumerable hooste foloweth her feete eche hath a spere in his hande I beholde on euery syde instrumentes of deathe wo be to me I am vndone with an hyghe and horrible voyce she cryeth O wretche that same thy hope hath deceyued the. Lo thou haste laboured in vayne for thou saydest Bowe thyn eare to me hasten the to plucke me out Hath god bowed his eare vnto the Is thy prayer herde where is the delyueraunce where is the conforte Hath god hastened to plucke the out Yet arte thou bounde and a prisoner nothynge is altered If thou beleuest faythe to be trewe why doest onely enbrace hope Knoweste thou not that god is iuste Knowest not his iustice He spared not his angels he pitied not them nor wyll pitie them but for one only synne they be condempned for euermore Adam synned and the iustice of god punyshed the whole mankynde with deathe Thynkest that god doth not as wel loue rightwisenes as mercy Chyldren deê‘tynge in original synne shall neuer se the face of god so rygorous is the iustice of god that for the synne whiche they dyd not but receyued by nature they shall be punyshed with euerlastynge payne For in helle is no redeÌ„ption Knowest not that god spareth not the offender Dyd he not destroy in the tyme of Noe almoste all mankynde Dyd he not consume with fyre Sodoma and the other cities adioynynge vnto it Nor the diuine iustice hath not so moche as taken compassion of infauntes and innocentes Howe ofte punyshed he the Iewes offendynge was not Hierusalem vtterly destroyed by the handes of Nabugodonosor Neyther spared he his owne temple for it was also destroyed of Titus themperour of Rome where the Iues were so cruellye punyshed that there is no man that heareth of it but quaketh for feare But se how sharpe the iustice of god is the children for the fathers are punyshed euyn to this day Beholde the Iues be slaues and captiues in euery place and dyenge in theyr blyndnes are punyshed with euerlastynge paynes Troweste thou the mercye of god is greatter than his iustice Truely in god it is neyther greater nor lesse For what soeuer is in god is his substaunce But let vs consydre the workes of iustice mercy and we shall euidently espie that the workes of iustice do excede the workes of mercy God hym selfe is witnesse sayenge Many be called fewe elected Marke howe many infidels be dampned how many euyl christen men there be howe fewe lyue christianly and thou shalte perceyue anone that there be farre more vessels of iustice thaÌ„ of mercy The electe are the vessels of mercy the refuse the vessels of iustice Let not Mary Magdalen make the truste nor the thefe nor Peter nor Paule for there was but one Mary one thefe one Peter one Paule Trowest thou to be accompted amongest so fewe whiche haste coÌ„mitted so many and so hughe synnes whiche haste ben a sclaunder in the churche whiche haste offended heuen and erthe Lo thyn iyes hath wepte thy herte hath besought mercy and as yet thou haste obteyned none So many prayers of them that loued the be they herde no and why so Surely bicause thou arte reputed amonge the vessels of yre Thy hope hath made the to labour in vayne Folowe my couÌ„sell heuen hath caste the vp the earth receyue the not who can suffre this greate confusion Better it is for the to dye than to lyue chose deathe whiche yf no man wyll brynge vpon the lay handes vpon thy selfe sley thy selfe These wordê she with wonderfull importunitie layde on and all the whole hooste with loude voyces dyd reherse the same sayenge Deathe onely is thy refuge But I hearynge this was sore afrayde and sodeynly felle downe vpon my face cryenge out and sayenge Lorde helpe me lorde forsake me not come my hope come my hope Lo sodeynly hope glysterynge from heuen came downe and touched my syde and lifted me vp and dyd set me on my feete and sayde Howe longe yet shalte thou be a babe Howe longe wylte thou be anouice and a yonge souldier So ofte thou hast ben in batayle and haste walked in the myddes of the darkenes of deathe and hast not yet lerned to fyght Be thou not dismayed of the greate iustice of god be thou conforted thou fayntherted felowe Let them feare whiche be not coÌ„uerted to the lorde whiche walke in theyr owne ways whiche folowe vanities whiche knowe not the way of peace Let the wycked tremble whiche do greuously synne and saye what haue I done whiche be not conuerted to the herte whiche be called and refuse to come they knowe not god and wyll not vnderstaÌ„de that they may do well Let these feare what saythe the apostle It is a dredefull thynge to falle in to the handê of the lyuynge god Suche doubtles the iustice of god punysheth suche men ê‘teyne to her But synners whiche returnynge agayne to them selues do ryse agayne and runne to the father of mercies sayenge Father Luc. xv I haue synned agaynst heuen towardes the but be thou mercyfull vnto me synner Let suche haue truste in the lorde for he that hath drawen them vndoubtedly wyll receyue them iustifie them Let heuynes brynge forthe yf she can one synner were he neuer so greate whiche conuerted to the lorde was not receyued of hym iustified For although it be writen of Esau that he founde no place of repentauÌ„ce though he soughte it with teares This maketh nothynge agaynst vs for Esau dyd not wepe for his synnes that he had coÌ„mitted but for his temporall goodes that he had loste whiche he coulde not recouer Nor thynke not that iustice doth so pertayne to the wycked that it is clene seperate from mercy Nor agayne that mercy doth so belonge to ryghtwyse men that it is clene seuered from iustice For all the ways of the lorde is mercy and veritie For he sheweth mercy also to sinners in gyuynge them for the good dedes that they do teÌ„porally temporall rewardes and after this lyfe in punyshyng them not so moche as they deserued Lyke wyse his electe he pursueth with his iustice in punyshyng them temporally for theyr synnes that they be not punyshed euerlastyngly Thou therfore suffre pacieÌ„tly
the lorde thou hast synned be sory for it be content that thrugh his grace thy synnes is forgyuen the. My sonne despise not the correction of the lorde neyther faynt thou whan thou arte checked of hym for whom the lorde loueth he chastiseth he scourgeth euery chylde that he receyueth Continue than in affliction god shewethe hym selfe to the as vnto his sonne And though there be fewe chosen chyldren of god hauynge regarde to the disalowed yet there be innumerable that shal be saued Nor there is not only one Mary Magdalen one thefe one Peter one Paule for innumerable haue folowed theyr steppes doinge penauÌ„ce and are receyued of the lorde rewarded with many and great gyftes of grace nor mercye is no lesse in her workes than iustice For mercy gyueth so great good thyngê to rightwyse men that her workes do farre excede the workes of iustice Knowest not that the earthe is ful of the mercy of god what creature can glorie that he hath receiued any thyÌ„g whiche hath not taken it of the mercy of god And yf thou haste greuouslye offended god yet his mercye is greater than all the sinnes of the worlde Trouble not thy selfe for the multitude greuousnes of thy sinnes Hath not mercy now come reÌ„nyng met the Hath she not taken the vp and kyssed the Lo thou dydest falle and thou werte not hurte And why so Arte thou not afrayle vessell whiche yf it fall muste nedes be broused onles some body put vnder his hande why than whan thou fellest werte thou not hurte who dyd put vnder his hande who but the lorde This is a great signe that thou arte electe for the electe whan he falleth shall not be broused for the lorde wyll put vnder his hande Dothe not the apostle write that to them that loue god all thynges worke to good In so moche that the very synne worketh them to good Dothe not that falle worke them to good wherby they be made bothe humbler and warer Doth not the lorde receiue hym whiche is receyued of humilitie Thou hast loued the lorde many yeres for his loue thou haste laboured After thou dydest lyfte vp thy herte and walke in the vanite of thy wytte the lorde withdrewe his hande and thou fell and in to the depnes of the see thou dydest desceÌ„de Howe be it the goodnes of the lorde forthwith put vnder his haÌ„de and thou werte not broused Say than whan I was violently shoued forthe I was ouerturned that I mought fall and the lorde toke me vp Not so the wycked not so whom god hath reiected whan they falle they ryse not agayne but eyther with greate shame they excuse theyr synnes or elles they haue the boldenes of an harlot and after they neyther feare god nor man Aryse than be of a stronge herte be myghttie and valiaunt abyde the lorde and do manfully and let thy herte be enstreÌ„gthed and suffre the lorde Thou hast proued thyn owne prowesse howe it is of no force Than humble nowe thy selfe vnder the puissauÌ„t hande of god and henseforth be more ware Pacience is necessarie to the wtout ceassynge pray and the lorde shall heare the in due tyme. Aryse than and lay away al heuines from thy selfe embrace the feete of the lorde and he shall saue and delyuer the. These wordes sayd she was rauyshed in to heuen leauynge me enstrengthed and wonderfully conforted whom forthwith with all my herte ensuenge I stode before god fallyng downe before my sauiours feete I sayd with a bolde confidence ¶ â—to mihi in deum ê“tectorem in domuni retugii vt saluum me facias ¶ That is to say Be vnto me a god protectour and an house of refuge that thou mayst saue me ¶ For thou god arte of all the greatest and the strongest thou the redemer sauiour of all thou the ê“tectour of the faythfull to the I flee boldely Hope hath brought me in hope whiche thou so dearely doste loue whom thou haste alwayes coÌ„mended vnto vs with her haue I not feared to come before thy face I graunte I am vnworthy but she drew me I feared to approche nere for my manyfolde sinnes but she hath encouraged me Lo she standethe before the she beareth wytnesse I speake to my lorde being my selfe flesshe and a synner hope taughte me and sayd to me that boldely I shuld open my mouthe Swete and gentle ê™ she is the lord he wyll not dryue the away he wyll not be angrye he wyl gladly heare what soeuer thou desirest he wyl gyue I beleued for whiche cause I spake But coÌ„syderyng thy maiestie I was greately humbled and I sayd in my traunce euery man is a lyar I wyll neuer more truste in man but in the onely thou onely arte faythefull in all thy wordes and euery man is a lyar what shall I yelde the oh lorde for all that thou hast gyuen vnto me The cuppe of saluatioÌ„ I wyll take for from henseforthe I wyll lyue not vnto me but vnto the doinge good for thy loue I wyll suffre all euyls I wyll not do this thrugh myn owne myghte but I wyll call on the name of the lorde My vowes I wyll yelde to all thy people For in the syght of god the deathe of his sayntes is precious Be than vnto me a god ê“tectour defende me from myn enemies Myn enemies are my synnes whiche ê“uoke thy ryghtwysenes agaynst me I shall not be able to stande agaynst them yf thou dost not protecte me Let thy mercy be my shylde lorde with the shylde of thy good wyll crowne me I haue nothing to offre vnto him wherw t I may teÌ„pre his furour al that I bryng with me accuse me wherfore I wyl offre thy passion lorde Be not displeased lord god but rather be vnto me god ê“tectour vnder thy wyngê ê“tecte me with thy shulders shadow me vnder thy fethers I wyl trust what shal iustice do to me if thou kepest me vnder thy protection She wyll holde her peace lorde and put vp the swerde of her furie she shall be made tame and gentle seinge the goodnes of thy incarnation beholdyng the woundes of thy passion consyderyng the bloude of thy charitie she wyll departe fro me say Be mery sonne thou haste founde me eate in peace slepe reste together with me Be therfore lorde to me a god protectour an house of refuge that in the tyme of rayne and storme in tyme of teÌ„ptations I may flee vnto the for in the onely is my helth be thou vnto me a house of refuge open vnto me thy syde persed with the speare that I may entre the breste of so tender loue in whiche I may be safe from the feblenes of spirite from teÌ„pest hyde me in thy tabernacle in the day of euyls protecte me in an angle of thy tabernacle let it be the house of my refuge that thou mayste make me safe for I can not be but safe in the house of thy refuge for thou hast put thy
Be it knowen to al◠〈…〉 â—â—â—â—entes that it is prohibited by oâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 the kynge by his letters p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—ers boke sellers and 〈…〉 â—thers that with 〈…〉 â—ym that at 〈…〉 â—es printe◠〈…〉 no 〈…〉 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—uer◠〈…〉 â—â—â—nions 〈…〉 callâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—â—er 〈…〉 nexte th 〈…〉 priâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ey wyll answere at the 〈…〉 â—yde the penalties mentioned 〈…〉 unto graunted ¶ Imprynted 〈…〉 â—letestrete by IohnÌ„ Byddâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 â—t the signe of the Sorâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 â—â—cundite for wyâ—◠〈…〉 the yere 〈…〉 ¶ A goodly exposition vpon the .xxx. psalme In te domine spetaui HEuynes hath beseged me with a greate and stronge hooste she hath enclosed me she hath oppressed my hert with clamours and ceasseth not with weapons nyghte and day to fyghte agaynst me My frendes be in her tentes and are become myn enemyes what soeuer I se what soeuer I heare brynge the banners of heuines the memorie of my frendê maketh me sadde the recordynge of my chyldren greueth me the consyderyng of my cloyster and cell vexeth me the reuoluynge of my studies maketh me pensyfe the thynkyng of my synnes oppresseth me For lyke as to them whiche be sycke of the axesse all swete thynges seme bytter so to me all thynges be turned in to sorowe and heuynes Vndoubtedly a great burthen vpon the herte is this heuynes The venyme of a deadly pestilence grudgeth agaynste god seaseth not to blaspheme and exhorteth to desperation Oh vnhappy man that I am who shall delyuer me from her cursed handes If all that I se and heare folowe her banners and fyghte agaynst me who shal be my ê“tectour who shall helpe me whyther shall I go whyther shall I flee I wote what I shall do I wyll turne me to thynges inuisible brynge them agaynst the visible And who shall be the guyde of so hyghe and terrible an hooste Hope whiche is of thiÌ„ges inuisible Hope I say shall come agaynst heuines and vaynquyshe her who can stande agaynst hope Heare what the prophete sayth Thou arte lorde my hope thou haste set thy refuge moste hygh who shall stande agaynst the lorde who can wynne his towre of refuge whiche is most hygh wherfore I wyll call her doubtles she wyll come nor she wyll not confoundeme Lo nowe she commeth she hath broughte gladnes she hath taughte me to fyghte she sayd to me Crye cease not And I sayde what shall I crye Crye quod she boldely and with all thy whole herte say In te domine speraui non coÌ„funder in eternum et in iustitia tua libera me ¶ That is to saye In the oh lorde I haue trusted I shall not be confounded for euermore and in thy iustice delyuer me ¶ Oh the wonderful power of hope whose face heuines can not abyde Nowe coÌ„meth conforte Let heuynes cry nowe and struggle agayÌ„st me with her armie Let the worlde thrust downe let the enemies make insurrection I feare nothynge for I trust lorde in the for thou arte my hope for thou haste put my refuge moste hygh I haue alredy entered it hope hath led me in I my selfe entered not vnshamefastly she shall excuse me before the. Beholde ê™ hope o man the moste hygh refuge of god open thyn iyes and se it is god alone it is onely he an infinite see of substaunce Other thinges so be as though they were not For all thingê depende of hym and onelesse he sustayned them they shulde sodeynly retourne to noughte for of noughte were they made Consydre the power of hym whiche in the begynnyng created heuen earthe Doth not he worke all in all thynges who can moue his hande without hym who can thynke any thynge of hym selfe Ponder his wysedome whiche in tranquilitie gouerneth all for he seeth all and to his iyes all thynges be naked and open This is he whiche onely knowethe howe to delyuer the and onely can conforte saue the. Put not thy truste in the chyldren of men in whom is no saluation The herte of men is in his power whyther soeuer he lusteth he wyll turne it This is he whiche may can helpe the. Doest thou suspecte his wyll Ponder his goodnes consydre his tender loue Is not he the louer of men which for men became man and for synners was crucified This is thy trewe father whiche created the whiche redemed the which alwayes hath done good vnto the. Can the father forsake his sonne Caste thy selfe on hym he wyll take the vp and saue the. Serche the scriptures and thou shalte fynde howe busely his great tender loue moueth the to truste in hym And why dothe he that 〈◊〉 bicause he coueteth to saue For what saythe 〈◊〉 ê“phete Bicause he trusted in me I wyl deliuer 〈◊〉 Lo for none other cause he wyll delyuer hym but bicause he trusted in hym And what other thyng hath the prophetes the apostles yea he hym selfe the lorde of the apostles preached but that men shulde truste in the lorde Sacrifice therfore ye men the sacrifice of iustice and truste in the lorde and he shall delyuer you and plucke you out of all tribulation Oh the greate vertue of hope truely she is spred abrode For grace is spred abrode in her lyppes Oh this is truely thy refuge so hygh good lorde to whiche the euyll of heuynes can not approche This I knewe and vnderstode therfore I trusted lorde in the. For though the weight of syn dothe greuously presse me yet I can not despaire for thy goodnes so gently prouoked me to hope that I can not be confouÌ„ded for euermore For a tyme I may well be confouÌ„ded but for euermore surely I can not For hope whiche hath ledde me in to thy moste hyghe refuge hath taught me to hope not temporall thyngê but euerlastynge For hope is of thynges inuisible But tho thynges that be sene are temporall And the thyÌ„ges that be not sene are euerlastyng wherfore I hearyng the wordes of hope whiche coÌ„meth to plucke me out from the handes of heuines haue trusted lorde in the couetyng before all thyngê to be delyuered from my synnes and thrugh thy mercy and grace to come to thynges euerlastynge whiche be inuisible This is my fyrste and chiefe desyre for my synnes be a greate tribulation vnto me For from this all other tribulation issueth Take awaye lorde my synnes and I am free from all tribulation For tribulation pensyâ—nes of mynde procede from the fountayn of the herte For euery heuynes coÌ„meth of loue If I loue my sonne and he dyeth I am troubled bicause I haue loste that I loued If I loue not my seruaunt and he dyeth I am not heuy bycause I haue loste that I loued not Take away therfore lord my sinnes thrugh thy grace what remayneth but that I shall loue the with al my whole herte despise all temporal thynges as vayne If than I haue the by fayth of whom also I hope to haue that whiche neither iye hath sene nor eare hath herde nor hath not ascended in
to the herte of man what thynge can trouble me That whiche I haue loste besyde god I haue loste that I loue not In the oh lorde I haue trusted lyke as my hope hath taught me to truste therfore I shall not be confouÌ„ded for euer for thou shalte gyue me euerlastynge thynges who trusteth not in the but in his owne vanitie shal be confounded for euermore For he shall descende to eternall confusion I may be confounded temporally bothe of the of all men but I shall not be confounded for euermore For of the I may be confouÌ„ded whyle I desyre to be delyuered from temporal vexation and perauenture thou wylte not heare me Truely than I am confounded temporally For it is not expedient for me sith that vertue is made ê‘fecte in infirmitie And of men I am temporally confounded they preuayle agaynst me whaÌ„ they pursue me But this also thou suffrest them to do that I shulde not be confounded for euermore wherfore yf before that a thousaÌ„de yeres be but as yesterday whiche is passed away I wyll gladly suffre temporal coÌ„fusions that I be not confouÌ„ded for euermore I wyll truste in the lorde for hope hath taughte me to truste and shortely I shal be delyuered from all tribulation By what merites shall I be delyuered Not by myn lord but by thy iustice deliuer me By thy iustice I say not by min. I seke mercy I offre not my iustice But yf by thy grace thou wylte make me ryghtwyse nowe I haue thy iustice For thy grace in vs is thy iustice The pharisees trusted in workes of iustice they trusted in theyr owne iustice and therfore they were not subiecte to the iustice of god For of the workes of the lawe shall no creature be iustified with the. But the iustice of god appered by the grace of Iesu Christ yea wtout the workes of the lawe The philosophers gloried in theyr iustice and therfore they fouÌ„de not thy iustice bicause they entred not in at the dore They were theues and robbers whiche came not to saue but to destroy and sley the sheepe wherfore thy grace is thy iustice lorde it were no lenger grace yf it were giuen of the merites wherfore not in my iustice but in thy iustice delyuer me from my synnes Or surely delyuer me in thy iustice that is to wit in thy sonne whiche onely amongest men is founde iuste what is thy son but the very iustice in whiche men be iustified wherfore in thy iustice iustifie me and delyuer me from my synnes that I may be also delyuered from other afflictions whiche I suffre therfore so that the cause taken away the effecte myghte also be taken away Lo the oh lorde haue I besoughte I am conforted hope hath so taught me I am replenyshed with ioye bicause I truste in the therfore I shall not be coÌ„fouÌ„ded for euermore Heuynes coÌ„meth agayne with greate purueyaunce she is returned with swerdê and speres on euery syde she is defended with greate violence she walketh she hath beseged our citie The crye of her horsemen hath feared me Standynge without she coÌ„maunded silence and a farreof she spake sayenge Oh ê™ she lo yonder is he the trusted in the lorde which sayde I shall not be confounded for euermore whiche hath folowed hope his confortatrice And whan she perceyued me at these wordê to waxe ashamed approchyng me nyghe she sayde where be the promyses of thy hope where is the conforte where is the delyueraunce what haue thy teares ê“fited the what haue thy prayers brought that from heuen Thou hast cryed and no man hath answered the thou haste wepte and no man hath ben moued with pitie vpon that thou haste called vpon thy god he holdeth his peace thou haste desyred the helpe of the saintes and none of them hath regarded the. Lo what profite haue the wordes of hope brought the Thou haste laboured and thou fyndest nothynge in thy handes Thynkest thou the god regardeth the inhabitantes of the earthe Nay he walketh aboute the limittes of heuen and consydereth not our maters Thus she blasphemynge spake And whan I shoke for feare at her wordes approchyng she spake in myn eare sayenge Trowest thou tho thynges be trewe that faythe sheweth wylte thou se that they be but mennes fantasies Thou shalte knowe hereby For if god became man as they say and was crucified for men it coulde not be but that so greate loue shulde coÌ„forte a man neuer so moche oppressed with heuines wepynge cryenge vnto hym yf as they say infinite goodnes caused him to come downe from heuen to take vpon hym the crosse howe shulde he not nowe come downe to miserable men that he myght coÌ„forte them Surely this is more easie and with lyke loue oughte to be holpen why do not the angelles and sayntes yf they be so pitefull come to conforte the Howe many men trowest thou wolde if they myghte come to the and with theyr wordes and workê as moche as they myght wolde conforte the whiche wolde also delyuer the from all vexation why do not the sayntes this whiche are thoughte to be farre better than men Beleue me all thingê are gouerned by casualte There be no thynges but tho that be sene your spirite shall vanishe away like smoke who euer came agayn from helle or heuen and tolde vs suche thynges as they saye do chauÌ„ce to soules after this lyfe These are but fables of folyshe women Aryse therfore and flee to the maÌ„nes helpe that thou mayst be losened from prison and lyue in pleasure and not be deceyued falsely of this thy hope and alwayes be in payne and trouble These thynges sayde so greate crye was herde in her tentes so greate dynne of the harneis and noyse of the trompettes that vnneth I coulde stande on my feete And yf my welbeloued hope had not the soner holpen heuines had led me bouÌ„de with chaines to her region wherfore hope came shynynge with a certayne diuine bryghtnes and smylyng sayd O souldiour of Christ what herte what mynde haste thou in this batayle whiche I hearyng forthwith was ashamed And she sayde feare thou not this euyll shall not take the thou shalte not peryshe lo I am with the to delyuer the. Knowest thou not that it is wryten The vnwyse man sayd in his herte there is no god This heuines hath spoken lyke one of the folysshe women Can she ê‘swade the that there is no god or that god hath not the prouidence of all thynges Canst thou doubte of fayth whiche with so many argumeÌ„tes and reasons hast confirmed it I wonder that thou arte so felled to the grounde at her wordes Tell me I praye the begannest thou to doubte in thy herte of faythe O my swete mother the lyuynge god is my witnesse and also my coÌ„science that I felte no maner prycke of infidelitie for by the grace of Christe I beleue no lesse tho thiÌ„ges to be true whiche be appertaynyng to faythe than tho thinges whiche
power I plucked vp my selfe and stode vpon my feete lyftynge vp myn iyes to heuen from whens I hoped for helpe And lo hope with a cherefull countenaunce furnyshed with diuine beames desceÌ„dyng from aboue sayde who is that that enuolueth sentences with vnlerned wordê which setteth bouÌ„des to infinite mercy whiche folyshe persone thinkest to beare the waters of the see in her handê Hast thou not herde the lorde sayeng In what houre soeuer the sinner bewayleth his sinnes none of all his inquities I wyll recorde what man is he that synneth not who can saye my herte is clene The Pater noster belongeth to all in whiche all men are coÌ„pelled to say Dimitte nobis debita nostra Forgyue vs our sinnes Our lorde taught the apostles thus to praye Dothe not than this prayer beloÌ„ge to other Thapostles receyued fyrste the holy ghoste And why taughte he them thus to praye yf they had no synne and yf they had who can glorifie that he is no synner Heare the beloued disciple of the lord Yf we say ê™ he that we haue no sinnes we begyle our selues trouth is not in vs. Iames the apostle In many thiÌ„gê ê™ he we all offende wherfore all haue synned and nede the mercy of god yea the holy men of god For it is writen Seuen tymes a day fall the iuste man and he shal ryse agayne wherfore mercy hath no limittes nor bouÌ„des But so ofte as the synner lameÌ„teth his gylte so ofte he obteyneth mercye Nor it skillethe not whether we speake of greate or of lytle offences Thou hast fallen aryse and mercye shall take the vp Thou shrynkest calle and mercy shall come vnto the. Agayne thou falleste agayne thou shrynkeste turne the to the lorde and the bowelles of his pitie shall open to the. Thou falleste the thyrde tyme and the fourthe Knocke crye and mercye wyll not forsake the. As ofte as thou synnest so ofte ryse agayne mercy shall haue none ende why dost thou vpbrayde the benefites that thou haste taken o thou wretched woman heuynes Dyd not Dauid the greate prophete receyue many greate benefites Of whom the lorde sayde I haue founde a man accordynge to my herte and yet he synned that greuously as well in aduoutrie as in the murderyng of a good and innocent persone and yet the lorde ended not his mercy in hym what bryngest thou the synne of pryde Dyd not Dauid lyfte vp his herte caused to nuÌ„bre the people of Israel For he gloried as though he had ben a greate kynge and a myghtye in his owne strengthe and puissauÌ„ce and yet he was not reiecte for this why For he dyd not hyde his syn he dyd not bost it as Sodoma dyd but he sayd I wyll coÌ„fesse agayÌ„st my selfe myn iniustice to the lorde wherfore mercye hath set no limites nor boundes vnto her selfe but the wicked dampned ê‘sones do set endes to them selues that they may not passe vnto it for she coÌ„meth to them but they dryue her away wherfore it is writen Thy perdition Israel is of thy selfe of me only is thy helpe Open thy mouthe saythe mercy and I wyll fylle it Holde out thy bosome I wyll gyue the a good measure and heaped full and flowynge ouer Continue in prayers and wepynge For he that hath begon to loue the and prouoke the with benefites and graces to his loue wyl not leaue the but gyue the encreast and perfourme rather his worke what naturall cause begynneth a worke leaueth in the myd way The vertue of sede ceasseth not vntyll it hath broughte the frute to perfection what byrde leaueth her yonge before they be able to rule them selues why do they this what profite coÌ„meth vnto them of this None truelye but onely labour Loue than coÌ„pelleth the natural causes to brynge theyr effectes to ê‘fection goodnes coÌ„pelleth them whiche they couet to poure out for goodnes alwayes diffundeth it selfe If than the creatures do this what shall the creator do for he is the selfe loue he is infinite goodnes Shall not he make ê‘fecte his worke Heare the lorde Iesus It is my worke ê™ he to do the wyll of hym the sente me that I shulde make perfecte his worke He than that began to loue the with his giftes and free benefites to allure the vnto hym to â—â—ense the and also to pourge the from synne without doubte he wyll make perfecte his worke for these be the preparations of euerlastynge lyfe why therfore nowe whan thou fellest werte thou not broused was it not bicause the lorde dyd put vnder his hande And why dyd he put vnder his hande why dyd he turne to the thy herte why dyd he prouoke the to repentauÌ„ce why dyd he conforte the was it not bicause he wolde make the cleaue sticke vnto hym and make the worthy his grace brynge the to euerlastyng lyfe These be not illusions and thy imaginations but diuine inspirations But be it let them be imaginatioÌ„s be they not good Do they not come from the vertue of fayth wherfore syth all good issueth from god vndoubtedly these imaginations are diuine illuminations Reioyse therfore in these wordes At these wordes my herte was so coÌ„forted that for ioye I began to syng sayeng Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea quem timebo DnÌ„s protector vite mee a quo trepidabo ¶ That is to say The lorde is myn enlyghtnyng and my helthe whom shall I feare ¶ The lorde is the ê“tectour of my lyfe of whom shall I be abashed ¶ At the feete of the lorde prostrate with wepynge I sayd Lorde though a felde be pytched agaynst me my herte shall not feare for my fortitude my refuge arte thou and for thy names sake thou shalte bryng me out and nouryshe me ¶ An ende of the exsposition of Hierome of Ferrarie vpon the psalme of In te domine speraui whiche preuented by deathe he coulde not fynyshe Mens cujusque is est Quisque SP
refuge moste hyghe this place is well fensed no enemyes is there feared wolde god I myghte always abyde in it who dwelleth in it can not be wounded wherfore at all temptations at all tribulations at all necessities open lorde vnto me the house of thy refuge spreade abrode the bosome of thy tender loue shewe forthe the bowels of thy mercy that thou mayst make me safe let not the tempter come thyther let not the sclaunderer clyme vp let not that noughtie accuser of his brethern approche I shal be than sure without cure yea alredye me thynketh I am excedyngly well and quiete I thanke the good Iesu that thou hast sente thy hope vnto me whiche hath raysed me of duste and of donge lyfte me vp and set me before the that thou shuldest be god my protectour and the house of my refuge to th entent thou shuldest saue me My mynde is troubled Lo heuynes is at hande she coÌ„meth with the banner of iustice from yesterdays conflicte she departeth not but she is defended with other weapons for this nyghte she hath stolen away my weapoÌ„s and with my swerdê she hath gyrded her souldiers wherfore vnweapened weyke what shall I do Lo howe bytterly she cryethe with what assaute she setteth vpon me what a trust she hath of the victorie where ê™ she is thy protectour where is thy house of refuge wher is thy helthe Continuest styll in thy vayne hope Thy confortes procede but of imagination Thou ymagynest god mercyfull and thy protectour and the house of thy refuge and thou thynkest thou clymmest vp to heuen Surely thou arte illuded of thy fantasye and coÌ„forted with vayne hope Thynkest that thou werte rauished vp to the thyrd heuen These are but dreames RecouÌ„te with thy selfe howe greuous an offence is ingratitude Doth not this drye vp the fouÌ„tayn of mercy Remembre Christe wepte for the citie of Hierusalem and tolde afore the euyls that shulde fall vpon it sayeng The days shall come vpon the and thyn enemies shall besege the and compasse the aboute and dryue the in to streytes and beate the downe to the grouÌ„de and thy chyldren that be in the and they shall not leaue in the a stone vpon a stone Nor the cause of so greate vengeaunce he kepte not close but added it sayeng Bicause thou knewest not the tyme of thy visitation Lo ingratitude deserueth not only to be depriued of benefitê but also greuously to be punyshed Dothe not this belonge to the soule Dothe not Hierusalem often tymes in scripture signifieth the soule whiche whan it wyll not knowe the visitation of the lorde is beseged with dyuels and with sondry temptations wherwith it is afflicte falleth downe to earthly thingê is ê“strate nor no good vertue nor no good dede is lefte in it whiche is not destroyed for it is spoyled of all grace neyther is it buylded agayne she knoweth not the tyme of her visitation Thou truely thou I say arte this citie enryched of god with many greate benefites and thou acknowlegest it not but werte vnkynde he created the to his owne lykelynes in myddes of his churche not amoÌ„ge the infidels he made the to be borne he dyd set the in a floryshyÌ„g citie with the water of baptisme he sanctified the in a religious house he brought the vp But thou rannest after thy lustes in the vanitie of thy brayne thou walkedest thou rannest downe in to depe synnes the lorde called the and thou answeredest not He ofte aduertised the and thou regardedst not his couÌ„sell Howe ofte dyd he lyghten the Howe ofte dyd he turne the to thy herte How ofte dyd he awake the fro slepe He inuited the and thou excusedest thy selfe he plucked and thou dydest resyst hym At last his ineffable goodnes ouercome the. Thou dydest offende and he visited the thou fellest and he plucte the vp thou werte ignoraunt and he taughte the thou werte blynde and he lyghtned the from the rumble of the worlde from the tempest of the see he broughte the to quietenes and to the porte of religion he gaue the the habite of holy conuersation he made the his preeste he brought that to the scholes of his wysedome and yet thou haste alwayes ben vnkynde and negligently thou hast done the wyll of the lorde whan yet thou knewest it wryten Cursed is he that dothe the worke of the lorde negligeÌ„tly Nor thus the goodnes of god dyd not leaue the but alwaye broughte the gently to better and whiche is moste of all garnyshed that with knowlege of scripture the worde of preachynge he put in thy mouthe and dyd set the in the myddes of his people as one of the greate famous men Thou this notwithstandyng taughteste other and regardest not thy selfe other thou healedest thy selfe thou sauedeste not thou lyftedest vp thy herte in thy worshyp and therfore thou hast loste thy wysedome in thy worshyp Nought werte thou made and nought shalte thou be for euermore Knoweste thou not that the seruaunt knowyng the wyll of the lorde and doing it not shal be beaten with many strypes Dost not knowe that god resisteth the proude Howe fellest thou Lucifer whiche dydest spring vp in the mornyng whiche dydest wounde the gentyls whiche saydeste in thy herte I wyll clym vp to heuen But thou werte plucked downe to helle in to the depe of the lake vnder the lyethe the mottes and thy hyllyng is wormes Thynkest thou nowe to fynde mercye whiche haste offended many whiche so ofte called and monyshed of god woldest not answere where were than the iustice of god where were than the equitie of iudgement Mercy doth not alway folowe synners she hath set her boundes Is it not wryten I haue called and ye haue becked away I haue spred abrode my handes and there was none that wolde loke vpon me ye haue despised my counsel and neglected my increpations I also in your decaye wyll laughe and ieste whan that thynge that ye feared come vnto you Lo not alwayes mercy gyueth pardone to the synner Doest not coÌ„sydre the degrees of mercy to haue an ende in the whiche being adourned with so many benefites of god dydest fall into the depe see whiche garnished with so many graces for thy pryde and vayneglory werte a sclaunder to the worlde Let not than vayne hope deceyue the whom thou folowest lyue henseforth after thy luste appetite be not punyshed bothe in this lyfe and in the other with eternall paynes Chose to dwell with them whiche leade theyr dayes in pleasure and in a momeÌ„t go downe to helle Nor let not shame holde the backe Take the foreheed of an harlot let vs eate and drynke for to morowe shall we dye Thy wounde is despayred on it is made incurable whan she had sayde these wordes all the hooste cryed out with horrible voyces and repeted her wordes sayenge Thy wounde is despayred on and made vncurable ¶ I remembryng the aduertisemeÌ„tes of my mother thoughe I was somwhat deiecte in mynde yet to my