pleasing accepted of gratefull to God is a spirit a soule contribulated a troubled and afflicted heart not vnlike to a beast brought to be sacrificed vvhich is killed on the Altar vvhich bleateth belovveth and kicketh strugleth in his fall vvhich is vvrought by the sharpe violent instrument of knife and fire suffering in the same manner as vvill thy most blessed Sonne and hence is it that the lamentions the heauy teares of an heart contribulated much greiued ruminating seriouslie on it's offences in meane while praising our good Lord demandeth craueth his grace is accepted by him in place in lievv of a beast victimed offered vp in sacrifice The simple pure cleane sincere and sanctlie minde is alwaies readie through it's loue to suffer martyrdom death and that sacrifice vvhich God vvilleth such a readines of a sincere minde and purelie taken fullie enamored vvith true repentance not farther ouervvhelmed in vvickednes is that host that sacrifice vvhich doth reconcile man vvith God from a contrite and an humble heart God will neuer looke of or despiset but vvill not reguard oxen sheepe and lambes offered vnto him vvithout zeale and vvithout the teares and sorrovv of the heart And assure as anie thing can be true foretold infalliblie it vvill come to passe that the Messias to come shall say vvith a loud voice shall giue notice to the vniuerse to all the vvorld Bulls and beasts I haue at times receiued as sacrifices to me offered but the hearts and minds their pure and sincere meanings not alvvaies then my Lord since that I sacrifice my heart and my minde enritch me vvith thy mercie Through thy infinite goodnes be bountifull gratious and mercifull to Sion vvhich such name haue I giuen to the contemplation and speculation of them vvho though their desire of trueth will obtaine will arriue to the knovvledg of thy Sonne Alas my Lord let it be so I humblie craue at thy mercifull hands that the walls of Hierusalem may be built vvhich I conceiue as a shevv of peace and vnion which ought to be with human kind in human kinde to the praising honoring and adoring thee onelie Stay not delaie not to performe this thy benignitie heretofore within thy selfe resolued of fullie decreed and send thy Sonne by vvhom on vvhom this our new Church must be instructed taught built and grounded and in such manner building raising the vvalls of Hierusalem there vvill be built raised in their soules the excellencie the vertue of thy sapience thy wisedome which will improue them so much enl◅ghtē them will so build and frame in themselues that such vnderstāding which giueth the perceiuance the cleare light and euen the verie vision of eternall peace vvithout vvhich their soules would perish together with their bodyes aswell through the generall ingratitude as also by reason of the sinne of the first father vvhose faults would haue proued Hell damnation to all human kinde vvere it that with thee thy bounteous decree mercifull benignitie had not otherwise stated a supplie a redresse to this inexpressably wofull misery through the hands of that thy selfe-same clemencie and of thy proper bountie who art more inclinable to shevv benignity to Sion then that of the raising of the walls of Hierusalem which I craue not vvho am all teares all penicencie and all scourge of repentance to confirme and assure my selfe in the grace of my Lord and God who when he shall haue sent his Sonne to the vvorld vvill verifie vvith his trueth my wordes When so thy sonne shall descend into the world thou vvilt accept the sacrifice of iustice for it vvill be iustly expedient and it shal be offered vp vnto thee in memorie of his passion and of his death I say that thou vvilt accept holocausts sacrifices laid on the Altar and oblations guifts by which meanes God is acknowledged rendring him glorie apparantlie most euidentlie not without the singular and inexpressible ioy of heares comfort vvhich oftentimes made all cheerefull doth visiblie appeare in the sight of it's sacrifice Lord then vvorthilie calues shal be laid on thine Altar for that they vvho then shall sacrifice to thee may become illuminated by thy trueth hence thou shalt receiue from them not onelie victimes beasts killed for sacrifice oblations and holocausts but likewise the sacrifice of a sincere heart the entire loue of a pure soule and the holocaust that the light yea fire of charitie and true zeale of faith together with the other perfect and holie vertues vvill offer vp to thee and all those externall demonstrations those outward workes wil be receiued frō thy goodnes in signe of those inte◅nall and true ones of the minde and heart These wil be the sacrifices and presents wherevvith thou shalt be honored vvhere with thy Majest◅e shal be glorified and appeased here I end for that thy sprit doth not dictate or prompt me with more which hitherto hath caused me to speake The end of the fourth Psalme THE FIFTH PROLOGVE AFTER that the Prophet had earnesily importuned yea e◅en conjured the great mercy of God to take compassion of him to haue ◅ercy on his trespasses hee was yet on his knees moued not place and fearing that he ◅ght yet againe see the image of his sinne whi◅h gaue signe of punishment euen poin◅ed at the place thereof Hell hee durst not ◅ift vp his head his countena◅ce to heauen ◅hich hee contemplated more with hidden ◅hen hee did vvith open eyes and standing without any motion h◅e recited recorded with his heart to God his lips mouing not ◅t all the forevvritten fore deliuered Psalme and who liuing had seen him and obserued his posture in that venerable gesture vvould not onely haue beheld a sinner truely penitent but he might likewise haue learned how one ought sincerely to repent being burthened vvith sinne and for that it seemed to him that he was vnworthy of pardon in such sort his thoughts on his trespasses did greeueously oppresse him that hee bewailed piteously groned sighed and sobbed deeply Imagin the inexpressible greife for no otherwise was it then as if hee had heard a c◅rtaine voice deliuer vnto him that God almighty had ranged him among the reprobate that hee had altogether abandoned him and had vtterly forsaken him in so much as that hee was for all eternity depriued of his grace and vvhilst thus hee vvas astonished confounded yea meruailously abstracted from himselfe hee measured with the arme of his phātasy of his deepe thoughts the largenes the extent of the body of his trespasses his diligent inquisition finding them immesurable insomuch as hee could not by any meanes giue accounte of the immensity thereof at once hee shooke and trembled all ouer and in that shaking and trembling hee seemed to be a si◅kman now being taken with quiuering shakings and the rigorous pangs of death and much fearing that his scattered and weake prayers through want of words and manner of their deliuery had no audience from God preparing his sorrovvfull and
alas wanting that it had not made me fall vnder thine anger thy heauy vvrath But here behold the propheticall spirit vvhich entreth into me againe I am hereof truely sensible I perfectlie know it Lord yea euen as the eyes of a dimme sight yea of a man almost blinde sensiblie distinguisheth the appearance and disappearance of light and therfore I acknovvledg perceiue that I haue sinned against thee in thy sight but the ill vvhich I haue donne in thy presence shall maintaine make good yea iustifie thy word vvhich thou hast so often sent forth spoken by the tongues of thy Prophets in which thou didst lay open all the sublime subiects the hidden the profound and vnsearchable mysteries of thy trueth hence thy Sonne all taken vp all enamored with loue to humane kinde descending of my lineall stocke will come to suffer cleansing yea purelie purifying by his death the foule spotts which Adam contracted on it And in the same instant that thou shalt be arraigned yea adiuged thou shalt ouercome thy persecutors being vvretched against thee in so much as that they astonished and altogether possessed vvith admiration with a cleare loude high strained voice shall deliuer this is the Sonne of God indeed And therfore my Lord pardon me who come to thee my onelie refuge in such manner let thy forgiuenes be as thy Sonne in his preaching teaching shall state shall ordaine Alas my good and gratious Lord pardon me my transgressions for that so loÌ„g as my heart is proÌ„pt most readie to repent and my tongue liuelie quicke nimble to pray to the and my eyes vvell disposed altogether bent to poure forth teares I am not in state euer to want faith in my well apprehended confidence of thy mercie Not to couer not to excuse my trespasses and crimes ô Lord but to demonstrate to vvhat exigent I am reduced vvhat neede I haue of thy mercie I say that I am conceiued in iniquitie vvhence it consequentlie follovveth that thy iustice truelie forget not my sinnes of frailtie vvhich are in numerable as also those of my Ancestors and hovvbeit in carnall delight vvherein each one is conceiued is no damnation yet from the same proceedeth our hereditarie stray our error euen such from the first of men for vvhich vvee are punished vvith coâ—…porall death and by reason of the vvorlds growing worse and vvorse there and worse there vvould also follovv vs that of the soule if thou hadst not prescribed by foredecree the comming of him vvhich by thy grace I haue spoken of before But vvhat miracle or wonder is there in a sinners transgression being borne in sinne my mother conceiued me in sinne hence sinned I before I was borne and comming into the worlds light sinne accompanied me vvhich is multiplied on me as my houres dayes monethes and yeeres in such sort that the haires of this my beard and the haires of this my head and tresses of it are very few compared with the number of my sinnes and to attempt to disburthen my selse without the assistance and fauour of thy grace is for one man's strength one man's force to make mountaines euen to lay mountaines flat to roote to grubbe vp the vvoods and make the Seas dâ—…y Behold for that thou hast alvvaies loued trueth and iustice yet hast not thou made me knovv that no sinne and that no desert is euer without its punishment or without it's reward from thee but by thy makeing me returne to the vnderstaÌ„ding of my selfe which is sounde verie difficult in a man invested with humane flesh thou hast declared to me the vnknown obscure and the altogether hidden things and the misteryes of thy wisedome deigning to enroll me among the Prophets I haue foretold and vvill Prophecy that which cannot be otherwise that vvhich cannot faile to be so and what sometimes taketh not effect by the meanes of grace granted by God to the desert of repentance Truelie my Lord the apprehension the vnderstanding I haue of the state of thy juslice hath made me lament weepe on and for my sinnes which transgression I doe bewaile and will inceâ—…antlie yet so long as I may haue leaue and license so doe and this my holie resolution hath made me and further will make me worthie of thy mercie and of thy wisdome and hence issueth ariseth springeth that constancie for which I alwaies besoúght thee onelie to be enabled in the perseuerance of thy seruice and in abstaining from Sinne. Therfore that I may keepe my selfe from all that vvhich moueth and with great temptations inciteth a man to forget thee thou shalt cast all ouer me hysope the meanest of herbes to the end that I through example of it's meanesse and vertuous lowlines may correct by such a patterne my pride or giue me it to drinke as doth the â—…hisitiaÌ„ in forme of potion who knoweth that the infirmitie is inward I shall be purged released of any defect whatsoeuer shall be found about my heart and after thou shalt haue purged away my such inward infirmities with the juice expressed by the presse of thy pious hands and gathered from the same herbe growing and nourished in the garden of thy mercie thou shalt wash me outwardlie with the water which leaping casteth forth twinckleth and gurgleth in the fountaine and euerlasting spring of thy mercie hence shall I be cleansed of any whatsoeuer least deformitie which my conscience might haue contracted on me through the feruour of my repentance which doÌ„ne I shall in whitenes surpasse farre exceede excell the snow which flaketh on the top on the bosome foote of a mountaine which is not forciblie carried by any vvinde and so cleansed purified in wardlie expurged and washed I vvill appeare in thy presence as a soule euen now come from Heauen and taking beames irradiations from the lampe of thy grace as a man who though ouer ioy keepeth no meane is become euen now not himselfe I vvill open my mouth and vvith al feruour thanke thee and praise thee with my voice and vvith the full straine of my hearts true affect I vvho ruminating on my losse my destruction am become humble in that pride and sad in that ioy in which to my great preiudice I was vnhapie vvhen as heretofore I was both proud and merrie in so much as I shall neuer be happie neuer merrie as it seemed to me I was in times past vntill thou cheerest me vp with that fauour that superabundant grace which may from thee proceede to the assuring me of my safetie of my saluation O then and not before my humbled bones vvill exult will take comfort will expresse their great ioy then truelie reallie all the spirits all the faculties of my soule shal be reioyced vvith a true and most vnfained gladnes lessened yea formerlie depressed though the fault of sinne by meanes whereof the sustentacles the maine columnes of my life are afflicted perplexed enfeebled euen as the stemmes of the flovver de-luces by winde and
owne state vnder pretext of scnding Vrias the Hittite husband of this his Idol to secure victory gaue him vp a prey to the enimies sword that he being made away he migh become husband to the others w◅fe vvhom he loued more then God or himselfe and such his desire obteined that lasciuious bed enioyed by vvhose like the vvorld's conceiued notable offence and heart-burning hath often turned Empires and Kingdomes Nathan the Prophet deeply vveighed his enormities yet compass◅onating him in plaine termes laid before his vnderstāding his iniustice asvvell in murder as also in adultery contrary to his Maker's commands The good old man astonished vvith the punishments vvhich Heauen prepared for his sinne felt asvvell from his soule heart as also his senses his desire his fire his ouer vveaning delight to for sake him to departe to vanish euen as heate from the limbs and the heart in the encounter of ought vvhich maketh it shake for feare yea miserably tremble sovvas he taken on the sodaine so liuely and sprightly vvas his apprehension that he forth vvith rent from his head and body his crovvne royall purple garment flung his scepter on the ground made an exchange of the great height pride of his dignity for an humble p◅nitency couering againe his euen naked body with sackeloth the haire of his head and venerable beard negligently disordered the one and other white in honor of his age thinking vvith himselfe that he vvas a sinner not a King he seemed in his countenance euen penitence it self ◅ He tooke to him his Harpe vvhich instrument euermore offered vp his lamentations sent from his heart to the happy blessing of his soule Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground as it vvere a prison of his sinne No sooner entred he but his thoughts vvere further affrighted by the darkenes of the caue He notvvithstanding neglecting these horrors vvithout any delay tooke deeply yea and to heart hovv he ought to doe to appease his God he humbly kneeled tooke his instrumēt aptely placing it to his breast rarely composing his countenāce erecting it to Heauen the sorrovvfull sound of his sighes acquieted touching the strings and most tenderly vvith a svveet feruour deliuered to God these follovving vvords THE FIRST PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 6. LORD since thou giuest leaue to me to pronounce thy name and that my tongue may call thee my Lord my heart hence taking an happy coniecture fauoureth my hope that it's penitēcy hath in thy clemency and mercy where with thou doest comfort those vvho are truely sad for their offences against thee Hēce I am emboldened with my voice and teares in such manner to conjure thee by thy goodnes that thou please not although th◅u art incensed against me for my sinnes to chastise me in thine anger O God I feare thee and repent me from the bottome of my heart that I haue not feared thee and am fully resolued to feare thee truely hence behold me not with that wrathfull aspect vvith vvhich thou lookedst on humane kinde when as the pride of their wickednes thought not onely to equalize but to trālcēd thy mercy for which cause thy then present will and command did scatter the clouds through the ai◅e and did breake the prisons of the winds laid open the cataracts or sluices of the heauē tooke dayes light away confounded all by whales and shooke it by thunder lightning trees crashing by stormes human kinde rooted out with all liuing creatures ouerthrowne beaten downe Thou did'st not onely drowne the face of the Earth but the brow of the Alpes and tops of the mountaines in like manner Hence tookest thou away the foule soile vvherevvith the common and generall vice had sullied and defiled all the parts of the vniuerse the most abominable ofspring of the people destroyed thou did'st in such sort purifie it as I desire by meanes of my penitency to cleanse yea purifie my soule lo as behold me not with the countenance vvherevvith thou lookedst on the rebells in that time vvhen Noah and the rest were saued in the A◅ke but reflect on me be mindefull of me as thou vvert of him vvhom thy diuine favour and singular benignity saued from the dreadfull deluge and cleare my minde too too much busied with phantasies and those yea such most vaine euen as sometymes thou clearedst the heauens troubled by clouds vvhich lay ouerthwart before the lampe of the vvorld and let it please thee to secure me frō the punishmēt vvhich is euen ready to be inflicted on my sinne the reflecting on which mooueth in me a quiuering not vnlike to a twigge in y e water Let it suffice that I cōfesse my errors my greiueous offences the feare which I apprehend of thine anger at the day of Iudgmēt at vvhich time the teares and sighes of the culpable of the vvicked shall haue no more place in thy mercy nor vvilt thou in their behalfe be further for them as novv benignely thou art and thou wilt be for euer and euer our good and pious Lord. Lord euen for feare meditating on thy iudgment vvhich possesseth me yea euen all my spirits keepe back retaine altogether thy vvord in that dire◅ull day Vouchsafe not onely not to chastise me but also not too seuerely inflict on me punihment conformable to the tenor of thy iust ire prouoked by our greiueous faults vvhich although thou pardonest vs whilst thou correctest vs for our offēces make me yet not withstanding trēble For the correctiōs of the sinne of makinde are cōflicts banishmēts plagues stripes hūger wāts bondage dishonor hostility losse of children and stings of conscience Pacifie thine ire good Lord vvith vvhich my greiueous trespasses haue inflamed thee for the good that I am ready to worke by thy pitty haue mercy on me for that I alas am sick My very heart is wounded by that selfsame arrovv vvhich the bow of feare of damnation hath shott at it my soule bewailing languisheth for that my infirme body giueth it an inckling yea as it vvere a notable signe of estrangeing it selfe from it not ought reguarding the state of my disgrace vvich thee My senses are not sensible my tast hath no tast mine eyes see not my sense of feeling doth not apprehēd it's obiect my smelling doth not distinguish odors nay smell at all my hearing heareth not my infirmity is such as that it is not content vvith the help of plants nor the force of charmes Earthly physiek cannot be a salue to my sores in it there is no validity to cure my such heauy suffrances for thou onely cāst cure them and if thou composest not remedies for my maladies I cannot recouer my health hence lament I and with the teares which euen come from my heartes veines I beseech thee my Lord that thou deigne to heale me fully and compleatly My senses and my soule vvhi◅h are in their hot and cold fitts promooued by the
not foode to thy hunger nor vvater to thy thirst nor cloathes to thy vncloathed nakednes nor visited thee sick nor lodged thee a stranger thee a Pilgrim nor releiued thee a prisoner nor gaue any comfort to thee comfortles and afflicted But let all thine anger conuert it selfe into thy mercy what say I I firmely ackowledg that thou vvert alvvaies that thou novv art and euer wilt be mercifull and that which they giue to thee as attributes of anger is no other then a punctuall and an exact iustice in all respects prescribed fore-determined so destined by the infinity of thy goodnes for their punishments who first dye and then repent My Lord I ought to haue satisfied thy seruants hunger vvith foode vvith drinke their thirst I should haue supplyed their wants releiued their sufferaÌ„ces asvvell in cold in vveakenesses in want of repose in imprisonings as also in all their aduersities and tribulations and reflecting that I haue not donne herein my duty I finde my selfe euen to the quieâ—… vvonnded by the compunction of my penitency and by the feare that I haue deeply conceiued to be swallowed vp into the whirle poole of the bottomelesse pitt of Hell and since such is my hearts greife for my transgressions accept me a penitent let my complaints and my distressed lamentable moane makings make me worthy of pardon let it neuer come to passe that I feele what is that anger which our sinnes in offending thee operate in thee Hence thou punishest vs with thy scourges for that vve doe not chastise our selues vvith our owne inflictions in such sort as I correct my selfe euen now who am not vnlike to such a bondmon to such a slaue whose trangressions haue disquieted his maisters minde yea farre aversed it from him who being in such state in such disgrace redoubling aswell with humble sorrow as also his solicitously attentiue seruice vvith all earnestnes commandeth yea euen forcibly compelleth himselfe to vvorke in such sort that he may procure to himselfe a selfe forgetfulnes of his passed offences through the goodnes of his euen theÌ„ painfull solicitous and faithfull seruice by which hee striueth to winne in him hope of himselfe to proue a singular good seruant in time ensueing For that thy darts for that thy disdeignes and thy affrights which terrifie vvhich amate one as lightning for these haue the rayes the sprightly beames of fire of sword of sicknes of dearth of hearts-greife of death haue deeply struck me I haue raised my selfe through their scourges from the miserable sinck of sinne euen as a horse plunged in a durty heauy bogge is by the sharpe incitements of spurres released fully acquited thereof And knowing that the calamities thou inflictest on man kinde is for that thou vvouldst it should learne to forsake sinne to returne to better to liue vvell I am fully resolued that the seeming shadovved beautie of pleasure vvhich dureth much lesse is more momentary then is the continuance of a gentle and spetious flower a rose it selfe shall not depâ—…iue me the winning the possession of that eternall blessing that eternall reall good which he enjoyeth euerlastingly who taketh the course and hence well apprehendeth the vvay yea feareth and loueth God whose mercie is of so great extent as euen the sinner could wish it to be Hence the hope that reuiueth me deepely meditating on thee my Lord doth take vigour and hopeth though I am burthened with sinne to acquire through meanes of contrition eternall beatitude vvhich all those soules attaine to vvhich feruentlie desire to be invested therevvith and I confesse thy darts thy thunderbolts sensible warnings to me haue been the meanes to stirre me vp to contrition and that thou hast pleased to lay thy hands on me as the good Surgeon doth on the sick I am beyond measure comforted for I haue the same need vvhich hath a body vvhose vvounds haue not been for three dayes continuance opened the emplaisters of the first day as yet there remayning Alas in what state am I there is not the least portion of health in my bodie and for that it remaines onely in thee to cure me I am bold to haue recourse to thy goodnes and from thee doe I onelie expect my health which will so consolate me as day is made happie by the Sun and to declare my selfe yet farther my infirmities are not to be enstyled nauseousnes or loathing of foode they are not feuers are not paine of spleene but in summe there is not in me any health I am all ouer distempered yea sick to the death How so Ah! sinne vvhich euen breketh my heart hath euen thus depriued me brought me vnto this state and through the feare vvhich my considerations of thine anger draweth on me I laÌ„guish no otherwise then a maÌ„ whom human remedies cannot availe and for that my bones are 〈◊〉 vvhich are sustentacles to my body euen as are the mightie columnes the great pillers to Theaters ah poore wretch that I am so farre is it that I am at quiet that euen as yet y feare that I am not reconciled to thee I am afraid to fall into the pit of Hell through my transgressions the vnspeakable monstruslie-he adlong peruersenes of vvhich doeth euen call on themselues thy justice thine anger thine implacâ—…ble wrath For that all mine iniquities and all the occurrents the causes vvhich haue induced me to transgresse thy lavves are on my head alvvaies threatning to hurt it and vtterly to spoile it I am reduced to such an exigent as that I cannot lift vp my deiected face to Heauen and by hovv much the more I endeauour to lift it vp by so much more doth it incline downeward and those things are wrought by my sinnes vvhich euenly heauy on my head as if thy vvere an immoueable lumpy vveight in so much as I yeild and bovv vnder the burthen euen as a bovv drawne by a strong arme and for that there is no vveight vvhich equalizeth the heauines of sinne to vvhich gold and lead must in vveight giue place in me there is left no health nor strength for vnder the heape of my heauy sinnes my faculties and my strength is euen spent vvith vveary somnes euen as a Pilgrim through the long vvay and roughnes of his iourney is enfeebled vvorne out and in such sorte vveake through the tediousnes of his trauaile The scarres which on my liuing body are found testimonies of the vvoundes vvhich sinne inflicted on me reliques of my foule offences are putrified a new euen as vlcers to soone skinned and hence it comes for that my contrition my truely hearts deepe sorrow vvhich I make my buckler against it's blowes hath not bin able so to defend me as that I doe not feare that my vvounds wil be opened againe vvhich through voluptuousnes I drew vpon me and that vvhich doth greiue me more and whiâ—…h vvith more inwaâ—…d sorrovv doth contristate me is that their corruption is so putrified so extremely rotten that none but good
deeply aggreiued heart yea making it redouble it's contrition touching againe the strings now newly reviving and quickning his voice clearing his pipes which had already moued to commiseration of his case the seate of his penitency humbly vttered THE FIFTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam Psalme 101. FAVORABLâ—… heare my prayer 〈◊〉 my Lord my gratious Lord in which thou sees the contrition of 〈◊〉 heart contribulated contristated aggreiued to the height the full extent and vttermost period of a sad ah 〈◊〉 sad soule for it 's hauing sinned against thee Alas let it be so that my lamentations my moanes my dolefull cryes may come to thee in such their state nor let for thy goodneâ—… sake that distance of place be an obstacle to them nor let windes transferre them or violentlie carrie them away let there not be any impediment which may haue power to interpose it selfe betweene thine eares and my voice any thing vvhich may disuiate turne another way thy hearing from my oh such lamentations rather receiue the prayers I send forth to thee conâ—…ormable to the nature of thy mercie and obserue me looke on me how it is for I pray more with my heart theÌ„ call I loudly out with my tongue For I right well know that who turneth himselfe to God with sincere with vnfained intention fulfilleth accomplisheth his prayer before the wordes are vttered thy goodnes not expecting that the words appeare before thee So that let the clouds be dispersed which through this aire haue made the foggs of the pride of my transgressions and let my cry through-passe vp thither vvhere thou abidest that I may vvith it testimonie giue thee assurance of my minde most attentiuelie seriously and vvith fulnes of spirit contrite Oh! my Lord hide not thy face from me as those Maâ—…sters hide their faces from their seruants vvho trespasse against them vvho for that they take themselues to be iniured by such their transgressions doe not onelie denie their countenaÌ„ce which they humbly craue but also denie the hearing of them speake and to giue them leaue to aske for pardon for mercie therfore doe they so to the end that they may learne to correct themselues of their neglects of duety euen as I haue learned vvho deseruedlie should haue inflicted on me my selfe onelie for my not fearing of thy chastisements all the scourges vvherewith God punisheth the infinite coute of the wicked But though so it be though I deserue such inflictions doe not hide thy selfe from me rather at vvhat time soeuer I am oppressed encline thine eare to me not ansvverablie to my peruersenes but according to vvhat becommeth thy mercie in such sort that in the tribulations extreame afflictions vvhich my soule shall feele through repentance and in these vvhich my body shall suffer in penitencie heare thou with a frieÌ„dlie eare and if so doing thou commiserate not thou be not moued to mercifull pitty on my prayers vvhich my miserie vvill desiuer vvill send vvill make knovvn to thee I am then eueÌ„ content to stand to my miserie to abide in this miserable state But if thou heare me for that thou art pitty it selfe I am then free from fetters from bonds in vvhich sinne made accounte to hold me for euer Though the great the ardent desire I haue to be free from the snares the entanglements of sinne I revnfold my selfe to thee and beseech thee againe my Lord that in vvhat day soeuer I shall inuoke thee call earnestlie on thee thou heare me fauourablie and that speedilie I say that thou please to grant vnto me thy grace at vvhat time soeuer the light of vvell knovving of vvell discerning distinguishing shal be with me my eyes being freed disincombred of obscurities obfuscations vvhich euen at noone day the vaine vvindes the puffes of vaine glorie doe blast doe blow on them And for that my daies faile vanish as smoke not producing not bringing forth in my seasons in my harnests any thing but fruite of damnation I might well doubt to finde peace and attonement with thee but still â—…auring confidence in my penitent sufferance and my contrition one vvhereof argueth my outward sorrovv the other giueth credit and testimonie of my invvard hearts greife my compunction of soule I doubt not I feare not ought For the strength of thy great mercie doth secure me But it greineth me verie much that pride hath conuerted them into such smcke into vvhich their thanklesnes their carelesâ—…es euen aiming to haue vvill to raise themselues to HeaueÌ„ are turned returning their puffe of vanitie into that nothing at all into vvhich are dissolued mists foggs and clouds the vvinds aduersaries enimies of their condensitie of their grossnes sharplie blovving And my daies being that is my vaine vvorkes my vaine deedes in vvhich I spent my time deficient ill pasâ—…ed ouer vnvvorthily consumed my bones inflamed by the fire of vvordlie pleasure are become no othervvise then a thing quite burnt for that the soule retired altogether recolâ—…ected into it â—…elfe hath bereft them of that nourishment hence they remained in continuall heate and in their last burning heare not vnlikely had they offended and notablie hurte the faculties and the vertues of the soule had not â—…eturnd to thee my Lord vvho helpest the poore the beggars supplyeâ—… them makest the strong feeble and exaltest and raisest vp the humble My heart hath been smitten and is dryed in me not vnlike hay and hence falleth on me all this for that I haue forgotten through my vvretched carelesnes to eate my bread The true bread of our life are the commandements of the Lavv the workes of mercie and other pious offices vvhich are spirituall foode on vvhich the soule is fed to the end it perish not it 's vtter losse and death follovv not vvhich hence commeth and hence onelie for that it eateth not of this foode for other nourisheth not but poysoneth But I who timelie haue reflected on my selfe in time make my recourse to thee confessing to haue fallen greiviously to haue offended mortallâ—…e for not hauing accustomed my selfe for not hauing vsed and made election of such forde yet despaire I not of my safetie of my saluation But rather like a man vvho hath druncke poyson vvhose heate extreamelie burneth his heart and all his bovveâ—…ls his entrailes and suddainlie hauing recourse to helpe hath put himselfe into the hands and skill of a learned expert and prudent Phisitian by vvhose presence hee findeâ—…h himselfe to be alleviated eased though the hope hee hath of the greatest part of his sufferance of his gâ—…iefe I requiring humbly crauing assistaÌ„ce cure helpe of thee finde promised vnto me through my pâ—…nitencie and through thy commiâ—…eration thy mercie the health the safety which I seeke for my soule vvhich recomforted newly reioyced in the compunction the deepe griefe of it's heart Through the continuall and incessant voice of my plaints my greiuous lamentations my bones are in such manner so clung to
the other Truelie there is not any who through his ovvne deserts and through his innocencie being in such state of sinne could sustaâ—…ne vndergoe thy judgment if so that on such an one thou hadst put in practise in execution thy iustice onelie But because thou knowest Lord vvhat and of vvhat qualitie what condition is human frailty of thou hast maâ—…e vs know thy mercie hence are vve confident hence are vve appeased hence rest vve sure in it thankes be to it through thee For with thee is mercie for thy lavv haue I sustained thee I say in demonstration hovv much yea and vvhat is the mercie of thy gratious commiserating goodnes thou shalt send downe thy SoÌ„ne into the world vvhence I vvho through thy grace and vertue know this new lavv and this nevv order this new disposition of things vvhereby each one vvho vvill may be saued in thy decreed mercie haue in sustaining supporting placed my hopes in thee and I am not coÌ„founded I am not in despaire but if thou so vvert not pleased that I knovv to recount the goodnes of thy grace vvhich thou hast giuen me as also that thou vvilt not pardon euerie one but yet vvilt send thy Sonne to dye for the saluation of sinners I should not haue been this present day to be confounded and to despaire of my selfe onelie thincking on the demerit of my most greiuious transgressions My soule hath sustained it selfe in thy vvorde my minde hath hoped in our Lord through the stable hope vvhich I haue had in God my soule is held vp lifted vp mainteined in thy vvord vvhich hath dictated vvhich hath spoken that vvhich thou hast vvilled I should speake of and concerning Christ vvho vvill not onelie come to preach his mercie to them vvho hope in it but hee vvill likevvise teach it to him vvho after him hath Commission command and is bound to make it knovvn in his name as I deliuer it cleare vvho am all consolated in the hope vvhich I haue alwayes had in thy mercy and it seemeth to me that I haue donne much hauing sustained on my selfe the burthen of these my such so great transgressions but I should not haue been able to vndergoe so much had not my soule hoped in it's Lord and had it been bent employed working in so feruent a penitencie which with thee is of some merit which thou so prisest thanks be to thy goodnes thy grace vvhich enlargest it vvith to the end it deserue but I hence forward will yet further bring forth fruite worthy of penitencie not onely repent me to haue been a trespasser to haue been vvreched From the morning watch vntill night let Israël hope in our Lord for that God is fullie mercifull and for that he loueth vs so much from the beginning to the end of our life let the elected people that is those who seeke for their health their safetie their saluation in God hope in our Lord vvho from the instant that a man is borne vntill the instant of his death is alwaies mercifull nor supporteth hee that the sinner shee l in vaine any of the teares proceeding from his repentance nor anie of the vvordes of his prayers no no for they are safelie laid vp in the Eschequer vvhere are carefullie conserued surelie kept the treasures heaped vp laid vp in store in Heauen to adorne with sempiternall vvith euerlasting magnificence and glorie the soules of the elected And let not the good onelie hope and sinners in God alwaies and at all times of their liues but let them hope watching euermore on their safetie their saluation euen as a seruant doth in the vvatch vvhich his maister hath appointed him to vvho not for that he began to execute his charge but for the hauing fullie discharged what hee was appointed to doe to the very time that hee called him from it atcheiueth winneth the revvard prepared appointed for him For that in our Lord is mercy and most copious most fully abundant redemption I haue alwaies hoped in him I haue euermore coÌ„fided put my sure and most vndoubted trust in my castigation in my reclaime in my amendment and in the health in the saluation which the coming of his Sonne shall bring to vs. And for that I without all vncertaintie know that I shall make attonement vvith him notvvithstanding I vvas masked vnder the disguise the vveed of sinne vvhich had so estranged me that I vndervvent imminent danger to haue neuer reassumed my selfe neuer reacknovvledged my selfe I will reioyce in the height in the depth of my pensivenesie of my greiuous heavines and vvhilst that I shall endeauour heartilie labour to praise my Lord and to render thanks to my Lord alwaies imploring pardon peace and tranquilitie thy ordinances ô God thy decrees will hasten to giue happie dispatch to the safetie of Israël which trustethin thee our Lord fulfilling accomplishing thy trueth as I by my voice haue deliuered Let the elect confide in our Lord and this our mercifull and gratious Lord vvill redeeme Israël vvill free Israël from all it's transgressions and sending into the vvorld his onelie begotten Sonne all the trespasses all the hainous sinnes of mankinde shal be bought out be redeemed by his most pretious blood and through the merit of it vvee shall not onelie reape the fruite the great benefit of hauing our old sinnes forgiueÌ„ vs but in like manner all our offences which by vs hauue been possibly able to be trespassed in in his sight vvho vvill alvvaies be indulgent fauourable cleare in aspect to any one who shall endeauour to behold vvith a pure minde and a feruent vvill of a contrite heart the peaceable mild and rarely fauorable cast of his admired and dreadfull countenance from vvhose eyebries raies beames are cast are sent forth of that glorie vvhich his mercy dispenseth to anie vvho desireth to glorifie himselâ—…e in him The end of the sixth Psalme THE SEAVENTH PROLOGVE IF so be that at any time the petitions the humble supplications the most feruent importuning prayers of his seruants vvere acceptable pleasing gratefull to God then vvere these of Dauid vvho pulled vp them by the rootes from the bottome of his heart no othervvise then doth the winde roote out grubbe vp from the Earth's deepes the roots of tâ—…es vvhich it by the great force the viâ—…ce of it 's tepestuous motion throweth downe And vvell made he shevv of it in him it vvas eâ—…idently seene that his prayers had fauour able hearing and were pleasing to God for hauing opened his benigne mercisull and most commiâ—…erating eares to his heartiest vvishes hee struck him with such an inexpressible joy in an instant sprâ—…g and framed in his heart hee being in a kind of an extaâ—…ie not knowing how so that hee seemed a man whose minde hath apprehended some vvhat such as hee cannot expresse giue a denomination to declare vvhat it is which not with â—…anding proceedeth so farre that it marvailously taketh him extreamely possessed by â—…ght of hearts-ioy yea
From vvhence my heart my soule which seeth in me nothing els but sinne would not be so conturbated so much out of frame by reason of the contemplation of the thought of the miserie of it's sinnes I haue reflected on other past and former times and recording them remembring my selfe of them I haue thought of the felicitie in which thy largesse thine infinite bountie stated our first Father and likewise shall I weigh how hee was punished by thee for the transgression of thy Commandement not onelie that hee should dye but also that liuing hee should sweat feare be a cold be hungry bashfull and should haue all other such like passions with vvhich each man is borne through sinne drawing on himselfe such thy disdeigne And further meditating on all thy vvorkes vvhich giue vnto vs health conserue our liues saue our soules heare fauourablie our prayers and make vs vvorthy of thy grace and ruminating also on the day night moone starrs sunne water aire fire Heauens deepes mountaines vallâ—…ys plaines woods birds brute beasts on the hot the cold the temperate season the vvinds the haile the snow the Clouds raine and on all that vvhich is apparent besides vvhat is vnder the phantasy and human imagination and knowing that such admirable mysteries are workes of thy hands to the end onelie that our soule to vvhich thou bearest an immense and vnspeakable loue for that it is made to thy likenes may enioie thy Paradise and among thy Angels in this knowledge I haue lamented the infelicitie the â—…nhappines into vvhich my sinne hath brought me and each day fearing the sword of thy iustice which hangeth ouer my head it vvas doubtfull that I had not been ruinated and vtterly ouerthrown in despaire but the sinne the stedfast hope of my safety which my desert leadeth mee to my desert through my most profouÌ„d my most deeply coÌ„ceiued greife which I haue for that sinne vvhich first drew mee from thee teacheth me to implore mercie at thy hands I haue vnfolded my hands to thee and in such manner and in such carriage in such act I haue demoÌ„strated the lowlines of my heart and the dispositioÌ„ the inclinatioÌ„ of my minde in so doing I haue made appeare that I vvas vnlike to brute beasts vvho haue their hearts fixed on the earth vvithout any spirit or sparke of reaâ—…on and in such remorse of it's se feâ—…l haue opened the mouth of it craâ—…g of thee calling vnto thee imploring remission of my transgressions and to shew vnto thee that I onelie desire and nothing so much as to be returned into thy fauour into thy grace behold here my Lord that euen now newly and againe I doe beseech thee vvith mine armes extended and with mâ—… tongue and vviâ—…h my lowly humble minde that thou please to shower poure downe on mee thy grace and mercy for my soule is euen yea and no otherwise then aâ—…d dry earth vvithout water in thy presence vvater mee I say shower on mee cast on me thy grace vvhich if so thou doe I shall bring forth to my saluation most plentifullie and abundantlie fruite as doth the earth replenished vvith it's moisture vvhen the heauens in it's due season povvre on it raine vvhence Aprill all jocund all delightfully pleasant taketh pleasure singular content to see it's meadovves it's gardens vvhich by meanes of the vvaters bring afterwards forth roses and flovvers and likevvise fruites of all kindes Heare me fauourablie yea and speedilie my Lord and let fall vpon me the irrigations the waterings of thy grace for I am prepared to receiue them in my soule and that hence onelie for that the intention of my extreame bad will is novv changed is not now wretchedlie bent and maligne desire teacheth me no more she weth me no more to flie into the bosome of vice it flyeth its inticements euen as sence flyeth reason and the bodie the scourge hence maist thou shovver on me thy diuine grace for I shall receiue it in my soule with that proper and euer seene greedines that dry and barren land and the aâ—…d and parched sands receiue drinke vp blesse the showers of raine vvhich fall from Heauen in the midâ—…t of sommer and the fruite which the land promiseth thus enabled thus notablie supplied by the vvaters which haue been verie singular helpes and vvelcome guests to their vvelfare slaking yea satisfying their thirsts doth my penitence promise to thee Lord so let it be that thy grace vvhich I so much call out for and with a lowd voice abundantlie fall on me for vvith earnestnes and fulnes of sinceritie I craue it I implore it Hide not thy face from me depriue me not of thy gratious aspect although I am vnworthie to coÌ„template it to be such a fauourite of thy benignitie for if so that I perceiue my selfe to be bereaued thereof I should then cleane loose my selfe I should then be out of my vvitts I should not knovv vvhat to judge aright euen as a Pilot vvhom the impetuous furious and outragious vvindes haue bereaued of helpe and all judgment and I should become like to those vvho goe dovvne into the Lakes Truelie Lord if I should once take notice that I were banished from thy sight I should be drovvned in desperation and so my wickednes my abhomination by vvhich I am insulted on as the Mariner by tempests and fearefull and terrible vvaters in vvhose furious merciles depthes hee is alvvaies yea euen readie to be svvalloued vp So that I humblie beseech thee withdravv not retire not no way hiâ—…e thy face thy gratious aspect froÌ„ me in which is seated the hope the helpe and the beatitude that blessing and the inexpressible ioy of each one vvho good is to the end that I fall not miserablie into the profound deepâ—… Center bottomlesse pit horride â—…ulfe of despaire I am sure that though my sinne through it's hainousnes hath passed the bouÌ„ds of anie remissioÌ„ yet is God inclinable disposed readie to pardon me for that I haue learned yea I knovv hovv to implore him for mercie farther I am vndoubtedlie ascertained that hee will neuer slake neuer deferre put of the forgiuing of anie vvho is not sluggish to craue vvho loytereth not to repeÌ„t himselfe for his clemencie hath such povver that it can in one moment in one instant cancell the sinnes of many long runne yeares In this euen now in this present morning let me know the nobility dignitie exceâ—…lencie of thy mercie and remitting all my greiuous offences shew vnto my repentance to my hearts sorrovv that it availeth any one to haue hoped in thee to haue put trust in thee but if so that thou heare me not fauourablie gratiouslie vvhat example vvould they patterne by vvho think resolue to returne into thy grace through meanes of punishing themselues for their former wickednes girding themselues vvith sackcloath so cloated Pardon me ô my Lord my God and retard not delay not prorogue not For besides that the vveake body is