force and desire vvhich I haue of my not hauing power and of my willingnes to be recoÌ„cilled to thee are full of vaine empty idle phantasies doe dote like one who is besides himselfe become such by the great affliction occasioned by his feauer in so much as he is one while hot not vnlike to fire another while cold as ice and the same heate which dryeth yea parcheth his lips is found in me who onelie desire to drinke of the fountaine of thy mercy which doth more comfort him who drinketh thereof then doth water prejudice the sick Alas my good Lord grant vnto me that I may moisten my mouth from thy grace and goodnes for that elswhere is not health for me I doubt Lord lest I heape offence on offences by my importunity being vnworthy to craue thy mercy but my sinne which pierceth me quite though in such sort that it hath seated it selfe in my bones and marrow maketh me ouerbold and indeed as it were impatient my bones troubled notably disquieted yea wasted through my insupportable griefe are vnknit their sinnewes are vntyed but peradueÌ„ture the danger is more greiueous theÌ„ the sicknes for that I being composed of flesh and sensible of it's suffering doe feare lest I proue not valiant in the combate in which if I faile my eternall losse of soule might follow and vndoubtedly I shall yeild to the force of it's assaults if so be thou defeÌ„d me not vnder the buckler of thy mercy Lord my soule is beyond measure troubled so many and such like are the temptations which asseige it It hath for a receptacle yea and castle weake human flesh the hostile armes of wordly vanities haue conspired vsed stratagems against it and the senses which reanswere to their flatteries corrupted by stately and most magnificent sights by hearing the harmony of flattery and selfepraise by sweet and most odoriferous smellings by tasting the delicacie of meates and by feeling sensibly voluptuousnes endeauour to render it a prey to the pleasure of the world Hence the miserable soule flyeth for refuge to and vnder the shade of the hope which it hath in thee euen as a child vnder the skirt of his mothers garment The Hart so much feareth not the cruell and mortall bitings of doggs vvho is euen then ready to be sharply nipt as my soule feareth my aduersaries vvho inveigle it Since so it is with me support it with thy mercy if not I shall faile yea euen fall into my irrecouerable and vtter destruction and though it vvere so that I cannot at present merit so farre that thou grant me my petition how long wilt thou please to deferre thy such gratious aspect with which thou doest fill with joy and blisle the Angells Thou moouest the Heauens assignest bounds to the ElemeÌ„ts giuest motion to the Planets makest the Sunne to shine giuest light to the Moone brightnes to the Starres Alas yea and alas ô Lord take in thy attentiue consideration the misery into which the not hauing known as I might haue donne through thee to bridle my proud will hath brought me to I say and the not hauing hetherto reflected on my selfe knowingly vvho being composed of earth must necessarily returne againe to my mother earth and hence restored to my flesh and bones for my greater confusion must appeare before thy IudgmeÌ„t in the presence of all such who haue been vvho are and vvho as yet not in being shall hereafter be Grant vnto me Lord that I may imagin but not see that thou forgettest me for by meanes of such imaginatioÌ„ I shall learne to put thee in minde of my exigents my great wants extreame necessities as well by fasting as prayer in seeing here of I might not vnlikely despaire of pardon mercy vvhich they finde vvho though they haue disobayed thee yet chastise theÌ„selues vvith the scourge working to amendment of life Looke againe on my soule my Lord vvith the selfe same benigne countenance vvith vvhich thou fauourably dost behold him vvho by long penitence is more worthy then am I poore wretch and consider it to haue more shame and confusion in it's trangresse of thy coÌ„mandements then in it's feare of eternall banishment and vtter losse vvhich attend's it for it's foule sinnes My hearts quelling heauines vvould bee singularly cheered if so be that thou wouldst with thy fauorable aspect appease the contestation afflicting it vvhich presents to my Phantasie to my minde thoughts raised from the day-booke of my sinnes Surely I shall henceforth be more solicitous to serue thee then heretofore I haue been as hauing been slow carelesse and altogether dully sottish O my Lord if without all feare and trembling I might call vpon thee vvould'st thou not vouchsafe an answere to me at least should my dayes proue long vvhich thou lendest me to liue I should truely hope that sack cloath teares sorrow vvatching fasting would obtaine yea vvinneso much in my behalfe that thy grace vvould shower on me in such manner that I should be receiued no otherwile then as they are vvho through their truely humbling themselues haue returned into thy grace their peace so made My sinnes indeed deserue any whatsoeuer paine may be inuented yea but it would not be conuenient it alas would be my vtter vndoing that thy benignity should retard it selfe be slow ought remisse to shew it selfe vnto me and that with plentifull mercy on my greiuous offences which I deny not I hide not but if sinne were not thy clemeÌ„cy would not appeare what it is admitt that there is no clemency by which way should sinners acknowledge their good God in his mercy Euen now Lord giue quiet to the soule which vvith an adueâ—…se eye of enemity troubledly gazeth on the body not vvithout iust cause of offence for that through it's inordinate appetites the soule is euâ—…n condeÌ„ned to the euerlasting punishments of Hell as for my body which dayly nightly incessantly is gnawne and worne by its consciences affliction soone vvill fall soone become ashes if thou be not to it it 's sustentacle it 's strength it 's full vigour alas my my soule dying in such state vvill goe to a place which I haue horror to name yea to thinke of But if I dy my Lord not being among the dead vvho can call thee to minde how shall I make mentioÌ„ of thee how shall I call on thy name on vvhose name neuer any called in vaine vnprofitably and most true it is that there is no comfort so fully consoling the heart so restoratiue to it as is the hearing voiced the harmonious sound thereof Thy name appeaseth the afflictedst vexations greifes and addeth increase of ioy yea euen to those vvho vvere before in state of comfort Hence let me not periâ—…h vntill I write of the great vertue the swetnes the ioy the povver the health vvhich is in it Let the world heare and vnderstand by my vvords vvith what coÌ„fident security vvith vvhat grace and vvith vvhat abundant felicitie
inclined to sinne as fire to burne flaxe or vvhatsoeuer that fullie dry is as tinder and the rest the danger the alas great hazard of despaire vvhich attempteth to drovvn me in it's lake is as thou seest vvell knowest yet imminent hanging yea yet ouer me and vnhappie for me if thou doe not direct my feete by the said wayes Instruct me in the vvay dravv its lines for me demonstratiuelie by which I am to walke since I haue eleuated lifted vp my soule vnto thee my vvay ought to bee charitie simplicitie sinceritie pietie goodnes trueth pouertie and faith and when so thou shalt haue remitted my former transgressions teach me from thence forward how and in vvhat manner I may restraine my selfe courbe my selfe keepe my selfe from offending thee and sustaine be a sustentacle strength and a columne to my soule eleuated raised vp in thy seruice not now at all valuing vaine pleasures which vsuallie entice entangle yea enthrall the bodie and forsomuch as it is now fullie solicitous tenderlie vigilant in obeying thee confirme it enable it sprinkle it yea powre out on it thy fauonr that so assisted yea strengthned in it 's vpright and iust carriage in it 's vvell doing vice enter not nay come not nigh it but that it seeing it selfe in hope of its saluation it be farre more contented then it vvas in the ouer-weening delights of it's daÌ„nation that it may fly from them euen as the vvill to sinne hath left me is extinguished in me fled from me as also all the affections which I haue borne to the disports of sinne which gaue me vp a prey to it's associates and my enimies from whose hands free me ô Lord. Discharge mee of mine enimies free me from theÌ„ my Lord my God for that I vvho heretofore estranged my selfe alienated my selfe vvent farre from thee flying froÌ„ thee vntill this preseÌ„t through their alluremeÌ„ts I vvho conjured conspired against my safetie my saluation am now ô now my Lord altogether returnd to thee and from thee doe I expect my ioy my hearts gladnes and in thee solelie and onelie doe I hope confessing my sinne and my ingratitude and therfore free froÌ„ the haÌ„ds of the vvicked wretched aduersaries Dauid thy seruant and vvhen so that thou shalt haue endovved mee vvith so much abilitie so much fortitude that I may be able to defend my selfe from their assaults yet farther teach me to doe thy vvill to alleternitie instruct me to obeie thee to feare thee to serue thee for thou art my Maker and my God And for that thou hast created me conserue me in the obedience of thy will make me such that I may withdravv myselfe from the societie companie of my enimies vvho greiue for that I perseuer not in working iniquitie conformable to their maligne most malitious and vvretched desires vvhose perfidiousnes made mee lay â—…side yea forget my obligations my duetie to thee and as if there vvere â—…ot a â—…oule in me they enticed me to place all my care in giuing ease in giuing pleasure to my bodie which being of earthlie mould ought to be despised as dust striuing by all meanes to procure an eternall habitation for an immortall soule Thy good spirit shall conduct me into the right land for thy name sake Lord thou shalt reuiue me make me liue againe in thy equitie in thy justice thy vprightnes since that the peruerse spirit a vvhile since which had drawne meto the depths of Hell is passed of is gonne is no more to be found the pure and perfect spirit of God shall giue vnto me allotte me a place a degree in the congregation in the companie of the just and shall exalt me aduance me in the regions of the liuing and in such manner through thy bountifull goodnes not for any vpright office of mine thou shalt raise me make me liue though I be a sinner which is not to be enstyled other then a proper iustice annexed vvith the clemencie of the same diuinitie and for that eueÌ„ now I am extinguished put out through such desert of my greiuous transgressions reduce me into grace enlighten me with thy grace through thy mercie in â—…o doeing it will be euen a rendring me that life vvhich sinne hath bereaued me of which so often killeth the soule as often as it trusting to it giues it vvay povver and poâ—…ession of it selfe And to be vvilling to raise it againe it is necessarie that my contrition employ it selfe by meanes of equitie vvherevvith thy most benigne and clement minde vvithout preiudicating foreiudging the reasons the grounds of iustice dost forgâ—…ue vs and returne vs againe to life Thou shalt deliuer my sonle out of tribulation anguish griefe affliction and in thy mercie thou shalt disperse myne enimies WheÌ„ so thou shalt haue restored me againe in state of thy grace Lord ô my Lord deliuer my soule froÌ„ those heart-greifes and from the passions vvher with the sting of conscience doth quell it subdue it vtterlie ouerthroweth it at all howres at all times for there is no heauie burthensome greife which may be compared in anie proportion can anie waies yea euen seeme to arriue to the height of that inexpressible sorrovv alas deeplie and inlie conceiued meditating ruminating fully of the losse of so inestimable a iewell of that excellentlie sublime that incompâ—…ehensible and perpetuall felicitie and for vvhat for his demerit his iust desert contracted on himselfe for vvhich they are punished vvith the miserable depthes of Hell and damnation But yet looke on againe Ah! behold here vvhilst wee liue in this world we are recoÌ„soled vve take courage again so soone as we doe but euen so much as reflect on thy illimited thy bouÌ„dlesse mercy and goodnes into vvhose armes my repentance hath cast mee for vvhich thou shalt disperse cast of from mee acquit me of all my transgressions through thy clemeÌ„cie euen as winter shall let fall and scatter the leaues of trees and faire weather the vvaters of the Sea with it's billowes and so shall I be free from tentations and from molestations and vexations vvhich our commoÌ„ aduersarie machinateth and alwaies vvorketh against our soule his end being to conduct it to carrie it to eternall horrid punishment to Hell Strengthen mee against all those occurrences which disturbe disquiet put my soule out of frame disperse all my enimies who euermore molest mee and afflict mee for I am thy seruant nor am I affrighted or daunted although the number of them vvho lie in waite to molest to intrap me is infinite for that thy power thy arme onelie can with it's least motioÌ„ suppresse cast downe vtterlie destroie what army soeuer what force soeuer there be So that Lord haue care regard of thy seruant defending him protecting him froÌ„ the hostilitie that his enimies moue against him vvho are enimies likewise of thee Lord. It is the office of a true Lord and Maister so much the rather if so hee be powerfull as thou art not
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
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
and to ouerjoy 〈◊〉 such like as are they who are ascended to the height to the compleate fulnes of Beatitude vvhich they desired And in this his suddaine surprise of hearts salaâ—…e hearts inexpressible comfort his spirit attentiue nay fixed on diuine â—…ontemplations hee savv as it vvere in a vision the vvord of God to come dovvne from Heauen and to proceed from the mouth of the Angell incarnating it selfe in the blessed Virgin hee savv Christ borne hee savv him adored by the Magj The three Kings he savv him dispute in the Temple hee savv him fly vvith his Mother into Egipt hee savv him baptized in IordaÌ„ he savv him with his Apostles he saw him hâ—…ale the â—…ick raise the dead and cast out Dewills and traunced extased in a Propheticall vision he savv him anointed by Magdalen savv him at his last supper vvâ—…h his Disciples savv him pray in the gardeâ—… savv him betrayed savv him scourged savv him crowned with thornes savv him adjuged to death saw him nayled on the Crosse and in seeing him breake the gates of Limbus hee vvas taken and fully possessed with that joy that vnspeakabls hearts-comfort which hee was to feele a sâ—…oone as Christ should redeeme him out of the darkenes together vvith his ancestors his forefathers and hee being sanctified in his merits hee savv him rise againe and in seeing him ascend to Heauen and to sit at the right hand of his father anevv breake forth into these vvords THE SEAVENTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam auribus c. Psalme 142. LORD fauorably heare my suppliant petitions my humble prayer stitre vp thy selfe awakeÌ„ be thou moued to looke vvith the gratious eyes of thy mercie on my heart's sincere repentance which through the desert of prayers vvhich is tendred vnto thee is not vnworthy of thy gratious and fauorable audience thy trueth and thy iustice vvell weighed not according to the trueth iustice of thy Lawes vvhich condemne and inflict sharpe punishments sodainelie on sinne according to the qualitie the greatnes the hainousnes of the demerit but according to thy trueth and â—…ustice with which is ioyned that thy mercy vvhich is absolutelie and â—…olely in thee for thou being the author of the Law thou onelie through the height of thy bounâ—…ie caâ—…st forgiue the traÌ„sgressors acquit them of it There are many valued by thee iust vvho are accounted by the iudges of the world delinquents but the coÌ„trary seemeth to be in me for by the people I am deemed iust and in thy sight I know my selfe so burthened vvith trespâ—…sses that vntill I perceiue thou hast forgâ—…en me acquitted me of them I will neuer dry mine eyes they shall alwaies vvepe and I vvill neuer close vp my month I vvill alvvaies call on thee and I vvill neuer be at repose of heart vvhich imploreth it's Lord that hee Enter not into Iudgement on his seruant for to take notice of each fault trespasâ—…e on a seruant is not a vvorke vvorthy of a maister and to take animaduersion strict accounâ—…e of each our trippings our stumblings vvould be to make vs all despaire for if thou weigh the multitude of the fault we commit the vveight of them vvould be such that nothing would be found so burâ—…nsome hence vvee should be all lost and therefore forgâ—…t patcell of our trespasses let them not be brought and laid open before the Tribunall of thy most iust iudgment for that all those vvho hold themselues iust in the other life vvhen all human generation shall bee iudged thy shall not be iustified by thee Enlarge me be bountifull vnto me and make me vvorthy of the guâ—…fts of thy grace whereof by thy goodnes and thy bountie euerie man is made worthie vvho offereth the purenes and innocencie of his soule by tâ—…e meanes of a contrite heaâ—…t so shalt thou our God as it were substitute thy goodnes to my correction in reguard that it maketh for my saluation and thy glorie Nor for this cause shall thy iustice be impaired or lessened which were it not in so gâ—…eat a Majestie so greate is the presumption of mankinde that they vvould receiue as from a firme deed that the infinite benefits which they receiued of thee were due to theÌ„ by obligation whence it would follow that there were no way whereby those that are vvicked might come to amendment of themselues to correct themselues and those vvho are incorrigible vvho neuer wil be good but are peruerse and refractory who liuing haue not beleeued in thee shall in nothing be difâ—…erent from the good and those who haue recouered goodnes for as much as workes are not paid according to deserts herein it is necessary that thy justice faile not but whilst wee are in this life which is the place of our race which we must runne ouer to come to thee for this cause ought wee each one the reward being certaine and eternall extending it selfe beyond the bonds of sinne alwaies to determime time to abtaine the sett downe price which is not allotted to one onelie but to all those who shall come the goale to the bounds of the race Let damnation fall on them vvho haue depised so great a gaine so great a reward which thou hâ—…st published to be run for and to be revvarded though yet for their so small so slender desert when the time coÌ„meth of each one's receiuing râ—…vvard they doe not onelie finde themselues farreâ—… of from receiuing ought of valuation ought of price ought of reward but euidentlie they perceiue that they haue â—…rayed yea that they are altogether out of their way and hence so it happeneth for that they pursued lesse worthie ends and lesie honorable O Lord and my God the effects the fruits of sinne haue reduced me haue plunged me in obscuritie in darke places euen as are they vvho are dead for time and ages My sinne Lord hath seated me in darkenes for there is no greater obscurity then that vvhich is interposed betvvâ—…ene the vvay of good and the eye of our perceiuance Hence strayed vve and lost the light which directeth vs shevveth vs the vvay the meanes to come to our true end And certaine it is that a maâ—… blinded in the night the obscuritie the darkenes of sinne parteth not yet from day from light of vertue and trueth but hauing coÌ„tracted custome and habit in the clouds the mists and foggs of vice he is best and onelie pleased vvith them and onelie hateth the Sonne the light vvhich ariseth from the bosome of vertue and liuing well on vvhich if I had contemplated my spirit had neuer proued anxious full of greiuous care and my heart would neuer haue so much alas for me been troubled coÌ„tribulated Truely if I had opened mine eyes to the light of trueth â—…hutting them from the obscurities the darkenesses of falsenes of lyes contribulations and those anxious rising taking grouÌ„d from feare of damnation had not moued my spirit to reflect on it selfe
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
â—…naffle vvith headstall and reines to the end that they bite not and that they kick not that they hurt nâ—…t their masters who vâ—…uallv punish their resty tricks vvith rough and smarty cudgellings thus handled they are restrayned courbed in despight of their ill condition alvvell of heeles as of biâ—…ings euen as vvee are who â—…ffend our Lord by our maledictions our traÌ„sgressions and by our perâ—…dious stubbornes yea stony hardnes of heart asâ—…oone as hee smiteth vs with crosses vvith feares with dâ—…structions with deepe Melancholies vvith being more infortunate from day to day from ill state to vvorse making our treasures of no benefit no profit to vs nor our ranâ—…ks our seruants our delights as also the glory of them who are the proud fauourers of the world not without the great offence to Heauen Euen as the Starres the sands of the Sea and the leaues are vvithout the compasse of number so are the punishmeÌ„ts innumerable to sinners In the tread of a foote in the mouing of a hand in the very straining to expectorate from the lungs ought in sleepe in meate in walking in standing still theâ—…e is danger ready at hand to encounter vvith for any one to stumble at who so failes in punishing himselfe and the affliction the mortifying the body the soâ—…row yea languishing of heart and the earnest attention of the minde foreteller of it's ill neuer cease to molest him vvho liueth in sinne But they vvho confide in our Lord vvhose bountifull goodnes is a spring euer florishing euer floridly greene to the leauy branches of our hopes are environed fully endowed plentifully enlarged by his mercy and gratious benefits and his benignities are alvvaies vvatchfull tenderly solicitous on their necessities their vrgent and pressing vvants and whether they sleepe or wake yet doth his fauour accompany them to their conseruation be it vvhatsoeuer they doe the benignity of our Lord is clearly shewen on them vvho conserueth them in traÌ„quilitie in peace in ouerflowing most-abundant heâ—…rts comfort they being such vvho keepe themselues in the loue of God vvho is the onelie comfort the onelie free distributer of the hearts consolation of those vvho vnderualiew yea vilifie all vainelie esteemed happines in coÌ„parison of his seruice Reioyce yee in our Lord let your hearts consolation adde lustre make serene and cheerefull your countenance O to yee doe I addâ—…esse my speech vvho euermore walke in the right vvay in the vvell directed path and vvith vpright heart looke on those heauenlie lights those his eyes and liue vvithout furious oâ—…trages vvithout enuy and vvithout fraudulency vvhose life is prolonged by him vvho is infinitelie pleased with such perfections of the good and the vertuous and no lesse is appaied and rejoyceth at the iust punishment of the vvicked And yee each one of true and sincere heart glorie in that yee are iust and that you feare our Lord more then correctioÌ„ yea death it selfe for the sweat the intensiue paines of your seruice tendred to God is of more worth then the quiet possession full enioying of all the free Monarchicall Kingdomes and Empires of the Vniuerse But I pray what comfort what hearts delightfull rapture may that bee said to bee wherewith they are possessed nay therein dissolued and seasoned yea vvholy fermeÌ„ted with vvho to obey the soule to serue it to giue it it's satisfaction alvvayes and incessantlie displease yea totally and euermore abridge the bodie 's inclination and vvill It cannot be esteemed a litle while for the revvard which wel-doing hath from God caÌ„not be measured by the capacitie of humane imagination and euermore vvhen vvee exalt our spirits vvith joy vvith vvhich our heart abuÌ„deth so soone as it is purified gratiouslie looked on by God's illumination vvee doe not onelie participate of the joy of the heauenlie troopes of the heauenly Army but of that very selfe â—…ame in expressible ioy vvhich is in the countenance of our Loâ—…d vvhilst he beholdeth the sonnes of men truâ—…y feruent to their procuring and vvinning of grace The end of the Second Psalme THE THIRD PROLOGVE NO sooner had David harmoniously with great feruour breathed forth the aboue writte words but that for a time he imposed deepe silence to his voice and in this his holy suppresson of his speech his silence seemed as if it enterchanged discourse vvith the dungeon or grott vvherein hee vvas inclosed and namely of the peace which hee had made vvith God and he euen as a bondman vvho perceiueth in the eyes of him to whom hee is slaue the forgiuenes of his fault vvherein hee transgressed formerly hee povvred forth some teares vvhich ouerflovving ioy through the merit of his penitency swetely extracted from his heart Here might you vvith astonishment behold a strang spectacle for he seemed in one posture in one scituation as well vvith his hands devoutly lifted vp to Heauen as also his eyes the figure the statue of an old man to vvhom nothing more could be added to delineate reuerence and fulnes of honor cut in stone vvhich by art is made seeme to breath and vveepe expressing most intensiue greife In the meane time vvhile hee was in this rapture a ray of the suÌ„ne which neuer goeth dovvne penetrated the Caue and vvith such a splendor enlightned it that it made the place delightfully cheerefull euen as Aprill doth it's spring and faire vveather the aire and glimpsing on the strings of his Harpe vvhich he bad placed to his breast made them send forth irradiations glistering beames in like manner as doth pure gold exquisitely burnish't by vvhose splendor the light begetteth light and his eyes strucken vvith the lampe his soule hence felt comfort yea as vve may say it was oueriored for that his Royall heart in an extaâ—…y rapt infulnes of piety deuotion and fâ—…uent zeale was now more inflamâ—…d with the loue of God then was he erst with the fond and wretched loue of Bersabe Hence fully possest with a certaine hope of his safety setling his right knee vpon the ground his left foote on the 〈◊〉 his boay inclining to the left side his instâ—…ument well tuned euen as it often happeneth with one vvho delightâ—…th and pleaseth himselfe vvith diuers a câ—…rds hee meditateth in the meane vvhile and wistly lâ—…oketh oâ—… the record of his memory to finde vvhat hee vvould sing vvhich at the present hee hath forgott clearing his voice remembring himselfe againe lovvly sang thus THE THIRD PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 37. OH alas as I haue besought thee and euen as vvith all humble petition I doe novv againe earnestly craue of thee that thou rebuke me not in thâ—…ne anger vvhich euermore is eternall damnation to the vvicked for it will import Hellvnto them Ah! farre be it othervvise vvith thee that thy mercie looke on my teares my plaintes my hearts deepe greife with alike disdaine vvith vvhich the selfe same mercy will looke on them with scorne and derision vvho gaue
raine and onelie for that the power of sense weakeneth the minde the power comming f◅om the minde represseth the sense and subdueth the body hence is it that vertue ouercome by vice of sense can onelie be sustained can onelie and solely be releiued through the helpe of thy grace which no sooner commeth to anie body but that the soule maistereth the body in all his reasons auersions and fullest powers so that pronūce aswell ioy to me as also sprightly and fully possessing comfort and exceeding gladnes by the tongue of that thy grace thy mercie vvithout vvhich each repentance is of no effect is altogether in vain vvere it not for that litle comfort vvhich the teares of my penitencie affordeth me vvhich vvere it turned into despaire vvill be to my vtter losse yea both death and Hell to me Looke not on my sinnes hide not thy face from me for my humbled bones are rejovced haue taken comfort and since that hysope hauing been vsed in my behalfe hath had the effect of a wholesome medicine to me and that I am vvashed yea cleansed vvith the vvaters of thy grace grant I humbly beseech thee my Lord that so it be For thy presence vvhilst it looketh on a sinner iudgeth his sinnes his greiuous trāsgressions and adiudging them likevvise inflicteth on them condigne punishmēt Hēce be it that thou take no farther notice of them for if thou dost not marke them thou vvilt neuer call them to thy memorie nor record at all their iniquities which are so greiuous vvhensoeuer they are laid open and displaied before thy sight that though thy mercie haue forgiuē thē thy iustice might punish them O yeild my Lord so much vnto me though a miserablie distressed wretch that thou not onelie not looke on my transgressions but looke not at all on them turne aside thy eyes frō my peruerse vvill doeing me such like fauour such indulgence my trespasses all vvhich are registred before thee may become cancelled Hence they vvill be no more seene hence not adiudged hence not punished and I haue not a wauering but a confident hope that thou wilt entirelie and most compleatlie fulfill these my ardent desires for that I haue chāged my selfe I am transformed for that I now am become a new man another man nor am more hee vvho hath so much sinned alas no! farre othervvise is it now vvith me my being other then formerly I vvas my being better is through the ptiuiledge the prerogatiue of thy grace vvhich hath so inexpressible a qualitie and force that no sooner hath it inclined it selfe euen sprinckled it selfe on any vvho craue it humblie but that it so rectifieth him yea in such vvaies in such inclinations as that hee hence becommeth a man of good vvill a man vvho desireth nothing more then to take vp thy commands to obserue them to honour and loue thee yea for thy goodnes as a contrite doth Lord now yea euen now newlie create me make vnto me euen now a cleane heart and propitiouslie grant that I may make my selfe such an one that I may become through the meanes of sorrow for my transgressions such an one that standing by thee I may seeme like to a litle boy by his father side vvho laughing and vveping is full of deuises in his mi◅nardizing tricks daliances which puritie and innocentie moueth in him And for so much as thou knowest my heart vvhich cannot be said to be cleane respect had to the old sinne notwithstanding through thy grace do thou please to let it be so that it be enobled made worthy to be the place of abiding yea euen the lodge of thy grace and the organ or instrument of thy profound secrets and roote of those branches from vvhence must spring the fruite of vniuersall redemption of mankinde Forme shape make in me a nevv heart such an one as is cleane most candide in manner of such of theirs vvho neuer transgressed against thee for I am now another manner of man then earst I vvas for so much as concernes my particular hee vvho is a sinner hee vvho is loaden with sinne is no cōpanion for me I desire to haue no conversation with him hee is not fit for me to conuerse with Ah! since so it is most expedient it is that the hand of thy mercie alone doe not onelie create in me a nevv and cleane heart but that also with the selfe-same act thou do newlie make in me a spirit a soule iust vpright and clearlie purelie good vvhich voide and free from the enthralments the miserable subiection slauerie of sense may be enabled become hence fully and compleatly endovved with guifts with vndoubted abilities to preach to teach forth to the people of the world vvhat and of vvhat condition of vvhat rare nature is thy grace thy bountie and thy mercie Oh! alas my Lord euen as thou art pleased to digne me through thy singular fauour to hide thy face from my transgressions disdeigne not also yea voutchsafe gratiouslie not to chase me from thy aspect from the glorious sight of thee let thy animaduersion thy taking notice fall more attentiuelie on my good will my good-meanings my zealous desires then on my vvicked transgressions and for the fault of my sinne bereaue me not depriue me not of that thy blessed presence thy blessed aspect from the lights of vvhose irradiations euen showers of inexpressible consolation are powred on the lust thy saints let me not be a cast of an abandoned of God let not thy holie spirit be taken from me which through thy goodnes thou hast enlarged me with hast freelie giuen me vvhich is that remorse of conscience which maketh me lament and bitterly vveepe for my sinnes and that perce◅uance I haue knowing how to confesse them interceding for my selfe through thy great mercie But be it so thou doe not giue me leaue to see thy countenance shutting thy eares in so much as that thou heare not my voice I shal be reduced into such an estate that I shall proue to haue no remorse of conscience nor ought of knowledg which hath made me haue recourse to thee hence should I become the miserablest of men alas a prey of desperation the case altred changing holie spirit into a peruerse wicked and reprobate spirit So that my Lord take tender care of me for my case is full of danger Turne thy gratious benignitie tovvards me my Lord grant vnto me that I may affixe myne eyes on those thine eyes rare lāpes euen as the Eagle looketh on the Sunne and let me contemplate in thee that thy countenance thy blessed vision my safetie Giue vnto me againe the ioy of my being saued which through sinne I had lost Be it so that thou doe not gratiouslie giue it me againe I am more then assured that I shall neuer recouer it When thou shall through thy bountie haue giuen it me make good make safe confirme in me that principall spirit that is that spirit which is novv full entertainer
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
cast headlong downe to a miserable state through such my lamentable fall And so is it that the magnificent aduancement vvhich v◅ithout any merit of mine I receiued from thy bountie through fault of my ill and peruerse malitious will and ingratitude hath been my vtter and laft ouerthrovv and ruine but thy mercie will not that the punishment of my trangression of my gre◅ueous faults if vve will not our se◅ues prouoking thy displeasure th◅ne anger by new trespasses be the losse of the soule but onelie of the bodie hence may I say that My daies are declined as the Sunne vvhen it goeth dovvne tovvards the Euening and they are become euen as shadovves And vvell deliuereth hee the trueth For if there had not been transgression in our first farher our daies that is asmuch to say our liues vvho haue our descent from him would haue been eternall and not short not suddainlie past ouer as a shadovv vvhence the sonnes of men vvould not liue vvith that care and vvith that feare vvhich they inceslantlie haue of their graues and of death and I Dauid should not haue come vnder the yoke of time of yeares arid dry as hay vvho before ouercome in grenenes the Emeralds and if so it vvere I should not haue to expect the sacrifice of the sonne of my Lord nor vvere I to suffer to participate of the punishment of this transgression through vvhich thou hast not onelie shortned our life but vvee are subject and lyable to the scourge of pennance and sigthe of death But thou my Lord shalt not faile nor come to nothing as a shadovv thou shalt neuer be lessened thou shalt neuer be changed be otherwise then thou art rather thou shalt be and remaine for euer and euer and euen as then thou vvert powerfull to punish vs so likevvise thou shalt vvithout end be powerfull to free vs and the memorie of thee shall remaine from generation to generation in all ages and times nor shall the Heauen euer be beheld be gazed on nor Sea nor Earth but that each one shall vvonder at the povver of thy vertue and for that thou art that mercifull God the memorie of whō ought to last together with thy power to all times and ages thou will deigne to recouer vs againe to receiue vs gratiouslie being the workes of thy hands into the bosome of thy mercie to the end that through all ages all times in the hearts of people susteined and made happie therevvith the memorie of thy goodnes and of thy povver vvhich is infinite as art thou shall remaine vvho Rising againe shalt haue mercie on Sion although the trespasses of our first father and of vs are infinite When thou shalt rise againe I am assured that thou vvilt pittie commiserate and haue mercie on Sion vvhich I figure for human generation for human ki◅de and for that at length the time is come to haue mercie thereon let sinners reioyce vvho through the comming of thy Sonne into this vvorld doe rise and come forth from the place of their sepulchers through the hand of the povver of thy merits mercifullie cōferred on them Let them reioyce vvho vvill knovv to suffer the persecution of the vvicked Giue them courage my Lord and comfort them vvith the hope of arriuing to thy kingdome for that thou hast laid open to them the gates vvherebie they may ascend thether through the vertue of faith and their endurance their sufferance their patience and vvell deserue they to be vvith thee pertakers of Paradice since that Martyrdomes for thy sake are dearly vvellcome to them I say Lord that there vvill arise manie Apostles and seruants of thy sonne resuscitated risen againe to vvhom the stonnes of mountaines shal be more pleasing thē the iewells then the gemmes of the East an◅ these such enamored altogethe◅ taken vp fullie possessed rapt vvit◅ Marty◅domes by vvhich meane◅ they may haue place in thy grace they may please thee winne thee t◅ them despising sword stones gallovves crosse and prisons will divulge will preach the trueth dictated deliuered appointed to be in th◅ tongue of the Gospell and after their passions suffered and at an end to exalt thy name moued through example which thou our Lord wilt giue them praying for their Crucifiers they shall haue compassion of the countreys wherein they suffered I say that the Martyrs shall be moued to pittie to sensible commiseratiō of them who do put thē to death doe Martyrize them praying thee that the authors of their pesecutions be conuerted vvho although they are wicked were yet not vvithstan◅ing framed moulded of the same ◅arth vvhich vvere they themselues ◅amed of by thee And for that thou vvilt haue an ◅mcomprehensible compassion an ◅credible mercy on human kinde ◅r that thy most iust seruants shall ◅ke delight singular consolatiō in Martyrdome which shall be impo◅ed on them inflicted on them in thy ◅eruice Oh blessed truth to appeare ◅o shine in thee vvith more splēdour ◅nd vvith much more cleare light ◅nd countenance then doth the Sun ◅ake shew of vvhen it is euen newly ◅sen from the Ocean the maine ◅ea and through the faithfull meanes ◅f thy preachers all Nations shall ◅ot onelie honour thy name but ◅ey shall tremble at it and feare it ◅nd all the kings of the earth perceiing that their splendor and geeatnes compared to thine are farre lesse then the light of the starres vvhilst the beames of the Sun enlighten the firmament vvith their bright resplendent rayes vvhich imitating thy goodnes vvith the same bounty doth shine on the vvicked as on the good shall feare ◅hy glory more then their subiects their people shall feare them vnder whom they are in obedience in duetie vvhom they obey for that in it in that thy trueth is seated the height of iustice vvhich seuerelie doth execute iustice on all their transgressions vvhich vvithout ought fearing thee haue been hainouslie and mortallie committed in thy sight before or after the knowledg of trueth For our Lord hath built Sion in the pure and sincere hearts of men chosen elected by the holie Ghost thanks for Sion thanks for this ne◅ speculation and this new Church there wil be laid open a way an euen path by vvhich vvith fevver readier shorter steps Heauē may be arriued to Paradice acquired and that this is true hee vvilbe seene in his glory Hee shall euidentlie be seene in that direfull most dreadfull day of doome of vniuersall iudgment in vvhich vvill appeare as to his glorie hovv hee she vved himselfe vvhat hee did what hee suffered to redeeme vs it will be then seene how hee dyed for vs hovv hee dyed that wee might ◅ue and not dye it vvilbe also shewen that if it depend not on our obstinacie as to his glory the Deuill shal be ouercome and tyed vp in his proper chaines for that the mercie of redemption ought to extend it selfe to the sauing of vs all and so ought to be and is of such nature for that
he loueth vs each one eqnally and if so that yet not withstanding the desert of our vvicked wretched trespasses transgressions greiuous sinnes shall condemne vs to the pitt of Hell yea euen that is agreable conformable to his glory for herein shall his power be demonstrated cleerlie shewen to all and each one of those who would that so farre as concerne them his blood should be lost be of no worth spi◅t in vaine and remaining alwayes in perfidiousnes in peruersnes in wretchednes are neuer consoled comforted vvith liuelie hope of sauing themselues hence is it that God doth neuer turne the such eye of his mercie vvith which he looketh on them who are humble Hee hath respected the prayers of the humble and so hath hee donne for that the irrecouerable cause of losse is not the burthen the weight the greiuousnes nor the number of sinnes but the danger is placed hath his being and seate in the hardnes of minde hardnes of heart in that iniquitie that wretchednes of not being of good will to be conuerted and to remaine in such pride as not to haue recourse to God from hence ariseth it that they who liue in such like obstinacie are necessarilie damned for they lying dovvne wallowing in the dreggs the mire of sinne without euer turning themselues either with heart eyes or vvorkes to God it is all to nothing it is impossible to be otherwise thē that they dye in Gods disgrace as perfidious wretches and enimies of their ovvne safety and of their soules But they who looke not on the vveight the burthen nor on the number of their trespasses but rather rectifie and turne aright their mindes to his immense and inexhaustible mercie imploring humbly crauing pardon of their transgressiōs cōmitted against him procure vnto thēselues through teares through penitēt hearts-griefe that God neither will nor can refuse them deny them the grace of his mercie and be their sinnes as heauy burthesome greate as imagination can cōceiue as much as fully as farre as can be passibly he hath not onely not despi◅ed their prayers though coming from sinners voices but not hiding his face from them hath giuen full hearing full audience to them and fauorably hee heareth them he inclineth his gratious attentiue eare as hee doth to the benedictions and prayses vvhich those vvho are perfect in heart and spirit giue to his blessed name And such bounty of God shal be known to such an one vvho shal be vvorthy to know it These deliuered shall be written in another generation hereafter for the Ievves through their most vvicked and perfidious pertinacie obstinacie shall know them as the day is discouered by the Moles and the Sun by the ovvles and the wilfullie blind not seeing the lights of the new Testament shall not receiue the trueth preached by the word the Sonne to the justice of the first shall God's mercie assist nor hence can it be otherwise but that by the lewes hee suffer death whence the knowledg of this new law is taken away from them But the Gentiles which shall be certainlie thine faithfully thine on vvhom shall be transferred translated turned ouer this thy trueth vvill praise thee their Lord receiuing each part each parcell of it obseruing it as the lawes of diuine mercie ought to be obserued vvhich vvill neuer despise the prayers of what sinner soeuer who is contrite humbled euen as a people so farre as concernes the light of trueth new he created vvho heretofore were possessed altogether in beliefe of false Gods hence they vvill giue praise and thanks to thee Lord for that thou hast been to them boūtifull of those thy graces through which thy bounty man is made secure from death and from Hell and all this vvill come to passe wil be in it's time for that God hath vouchsafed to looke on them For our Lord hath looked downeward from on high for that he hath looked from Heauen on Earth ou◅ soules are made inhabitāts Citizens of his kingdome and this guift hath his goodnes bestowed on vs vvh◅ looking on the world foreseeth th◅ eternall danger on vs the woorkes o◅ his hands for that hee reguardet◅ those his workes loueth them with that affectiō vvith which God loueth him who alwaies loued him moued tenderlie to pitty commiseration of human kinde made his Sonne man and dying as man taking man out of the deepes hath receiued him in the bosome of his great mercie But I feare I tremble to thinke on vvhat vvill become of vs if God did not looke on vs from his residence on high if hee did not seriously affixe his eyes on the necessities of human kinde or if hee looked on vs vvith lesse affection then hee hath heretofore donne wo yea wo indeed to our soules nothing but los◅e vtter perdition for that vvould haue been another greife and torment another inexpressible-lamentable calamitie vvhich Hell vvould haue made for them then is that vvhich time vvorketh and the bringing to nothing these tresses this flesh and bones But in considering what thou hast donne from Heauen on Earth thou compleatlie finishedst gauest full effect to that vvhich thou thoughtest on decreedst on the day in vvhich thou createdst the vvorld and the miserable lamentations of human kinde vvho seemed with loud voices to call out vpon thy Sonne to their helpe as it vvere enforced thee The hearing of the pittifull moanes of bondmen occasioned in thee caused in thee bred in thee the effect the issue of thy most sublime and most profound care hence thou vouch◅afedst to send thy sonne for our Redemption O my good and gratious Lord it being that all things that euer shal be are present to thee thou didst heare the vvaylings the moanes the compassionable outcryes and teares of Limbus vvhich shovvred like a tempest from their eyes vvho confined in darkenes vvere fauoured assisted by the goodnes of their workes vvhich they had donne in their liues time and deseruing pardon for the trespasses made by Eve's husband by Adam thou determinest thou decreest that they should taste of the fruite of ◅hy mercie as the sonnes of them vvho vvere dead likewise haue tasted I meane Christians whose ancestors dyed before that attonement v◅as made fully established betweene God and man vvho liued in thy disfauour in thy disgrace through the sinne of him vvho vvas the first who disobeyed thee and were it not that thou did'st humble thy selfe to incarnate thy diuinitie with thy humanitie neither from Limbus nor from Hell vvere they to be vntyed nor euer vvere they to be freed discharged no not thy friendes nor the sonnes of them that haue not known Christ. Thou shalt illuminate vvith thy grace the sonnes of them vvho are dead vvithout thy light to the end that they declare in Sion the name of thee our Lord and thy praises in Hierusalem vndoubtedlie these selfe same vvill preach thy name to the bene◅it to the safetie of soules for that from fruite of preaching
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
succeedeth praise and to Gods glorie the conuersion of Nations and to Hierusalem and Sion peace and the speculation the contemplation shall bring ioy singular hearts-comfort true faith obtained the true most perspicuous light of trueth by meanes of the seruants and friends of Christ then shall the world triumphe in it's perfect ioy for that God shal be accorded God shall haue made attonement vvith man in testimonie whereof hee shall forget the disobediēce of him that vvas expelled banished from terrestriall Paradice for hauing valued an aple at an higher rate then God's commandement But vvhen so the name of our Lord shal be preached through all the world congregating and gathering together contemplation speculation and peace in one both kings people to the end they may serue God the Christ ā Church into which shall be collected assembled the people as also Kings Maketh this ansvvere to God who in the vvay of his goodnes his vertue called it his spouse it pleased him to see it held in reuerēce much honored by the selected number of the good Shew me the length of my dayes sincel perceiue I clearlie see my accrease aduancement and glorie Kings and people coming to me for no other end but to serue thee And so much doth it say alvvaies beholding it's greatnes as if it had before it all Hereticks all Antichristians all false Apostles vvho vvill come to molest it to displease it to vvrong it to trespasse against it vvith the malitious peruersnes of their deuillish doctrines vvith the power and might of their abominablie vvretched vvorckes and vvith the deceipt of a fained goodnes And thus earnestly encited prouoked vvith a sensible feare conuerting it selfe to thee vvith all it's feruour possiblie yet againe thus proceedeth Let not thy goodnes call me away in the midst of my dayes Lord thy dayes thy yeares thy time shall out last all generations and shall transcend all ages but I vvho perceiue dangers to be hāging ouer me which tongues ill example and wretched mindes of wicked Christians will attempt to make me headlonglie fall into am in great feare lest I become les◅ened and faile in the midst of my dayes as doe the lambs of a flocke decrease in nūber trhough the rott For it seemeth to me alreadie to be gouerned by the rod of some pastors much more greedie desirous of my blood of the blood of my flocke then vvill they be of my firmenes my strength my constancie and their safetie their saluation hence trembling not vvithout reason not vvithout great cause I humblie craue that thou let not me become lesse faile in the fairest bloome yea flovver of my youth and remember reflect hereō that I am thine handmaid and thy spouse hence is there no reason that I faile to flourish Grāt vnto me that I may liue euer joyned to thee vvho shalt euer be alwaies liue at least as long as the vvorld and human generation lasteth and that shall so be if so thou from age to age from nation to natiō mainteine me in the hearts in the vnion of kings and people Thou Lord in the beginning didst make the Earth and the Heauens are workes of thy hands and in the labours of such operations of such vvorkes thou shevvedst thy povver thy glory thy eternitie so didst thou to the end that vvee might liue here below vntill that our workes might deserue there aboue their revvard so boundles is the loue that thou vvho art the maket of all things dost beare to vs who setting aside the priuiledge which wee haue of being of thy making wee are euē as things of nothing Thou my Lord God madst the Sunne the Moone the Starres vvith other Heauenly vvorkes of thy euerlasting hands and all for vs for our soules to speculate on to looke on to contemplate vvhose soules free in their election in their choise are able if vvilling to be accepted of admitted and to be receiued in the Colledge in the fellowship of Angels in the order in the state and ranke of Archāgels in the number of Cherubins in the quire of Seraphins and in the societie of all the military troopes of Heauen treading vnder our feete the Celestiall signes Planets vvhich shall haue an end if so it shall please thee They shall perish but thou shalt alvvaies be thou shalt alvvaies remaine and they shal be consumed come to nothing like garments It is true Lord that what participateth not in condition in qualitie and substance of thy eternitie shall become fume shall resolue it selfe into smoke shall come euē to nothing but those things vvhich haue measure haue quantitie and substance from thee shall remaine entire for that thou onelie art eternall and the Heauens participaters of thy vertue shall remaine together with all other things that thy omnipotēcie please remaine as our soules vvhich thou createdst for if that they through themselues be not deficient they eternally dwell with thee But each other thing shall decline be vvorse and vvorse euen as daylie worne cloathes are become at length through cōtinuall wearing nought vvorth altogether vvorne out consuming as doe all terrestriall things And in this secōd death wherevvith time armed vvith yeares beateth dovvne and maketh an end of all things thy power and eternity is demonstrated is clearly shevven vvhich can doe vvhat it vvill hence if it please thee thou vvilt likevvise change the Heauens So that it please thee if thou vvilt thou shalt remoue the heauens out of such their now place and thou shalt change them as a garment for the same power thou hast on the world thou hast on the Heauēs thou hast made them and thou canst destroy them thou canst pull them all to pieces vnioynt them remoue them from their proper spheres and in a moment thou canst make other axeltrees new Poles and other lights other Sunn 's other Starres other Moones and the Heauens vvith it's lights shal be subiect to change and increase of number if it so be thy will But thou art alwaies the same vvithout being vnder any other power but thine owne selfe-same and thy yeares vvill not faile for time hath nothing to doe vvith them they are not subjects to time hence they shall alvvaies haue being they shall neuer haue end nor though there pa◅e it importeth not hovv many lusters hovv many ages hovv many hūdred yeares to thee the accompte is euen of one day is not diminished is not vvanting for thou art hee vvho is author of the selfe same Eternitie vvhich ought necessarilie must be vvith thee alwaies in it's proper state in it's proper povver And for that thy pitty commiseration thy mercie is infinite answerable to the affection to the great loue thou bearest vnto vs the ofsprings the sonnes of thy seruant shall liue and inhabite vvith this thy eternity and the generation of them shall euer remaine be conserued for euer and from hence thy graces occasion that thy mercie dilate extend
it selfe to iust men and to such persons vvho vvill employ all their time and labours in obeying thee both fearing thee and louing thee from vvhence the good soules alvvaies remaining shall haue more felicity theÌ„ the Heauens themselues which thou peraduenture wilt make a new but these shall alwaies liue with thee and this hath not onelie been largesse of thy bounty to thy seruants but also to their childrens children for euer if so be by their default they faile not to make election at all to liue vvell The end of the fifth Psalme THE SIXTH PROLOGVE AFTER Dauid had vttered the aforesaid prayer the last sound of his voice of his harmonious tunes made a murmuring a like to vvhat is heard in the Heauens and in the aire vvhen it beginneth to thunder and falling of breaking of by a seeming stealth by litle and litle as it were insensensibly no otherwise then doth the last enclining lowly and couert sound in the silent murmure of instruments of musique vvhenas the skilfull art of the Musitià n leaueth to touch them the penitent King receiued into his soule an vnvsuall consolation an vnspeakable comfort vvhich denoted to him gaue him so cleare vnderstanding as that he found in himselfe an infallible and most vndoubted certainty that God had opened his eares to his prayers and receiued him by them vvith that clemency wherewith the prayers of his true and faithfull seruants finde entertaiment But not withstanding it not seeming apparantly vnto him that his penitency was yet arriued to the completion and period of the remission of his sinnes not abstracting a jott not turning of his minde a vvhitt from serious and most attentiue contemplation consideration of the mercy of God he was astonished and in deepe suspence reâ—…apitulating in his minde taking into his thoughts againe casting vp againe the accounts of his first life how formerly he had liued and thinking within himselfe of his good and just enlightning thoughts which moued him to giue credit to the vvholesome and sound Counsailes and threats of Nathan for from hence came it that hee entombed enterred aliue enclosed within the horride darkenes of the Caue deploring his greiuous transgressions with such like affect and feruency which God requireth at the hands of a siuner hauing been all time takeÌ„ vp with such pleasures which the vvorld willingly giueth vs for that wee loue it as we ought to loue Heauen yet reposing some vvhat his right hand on his beard and his fore-finger ouerth wart his lips he vvell knowing being most ascertained that onely breathing forth yea pathetically singing hymnes of his penitency could set him againe in state of well being in the grace of God returned to him with his heart with his face lifted vp with the countenance of a penitent vvith vvords vvell and harmoniously deliuered straight vtered these THE SIXTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID De profundis clamaui ad te Psalme 129. FROM the deepes I haue called out to thee my Lord ô Lord my Lord fauorably heare my prayers for now I beseech thee as I haue many times â—…arnestly implored thee and this my petition my supplicatioÌ„ my humble prayers which I ofter at thy feete arise from the depth of my hainous transgressions and for that they haue as it vvere ouer cast ouer whelmed yea euen buried my soule in the bottomlesse pitt of Hell I come to thee alas I haue recourse to thee vvith a voice rendring forth vvords dravvne sent from the bottome of my heart and framed in the bottome of this Caue this dungeon onely to mooue thy mercies pardon vnto me for all the sinnes I haue miserably and vvretchedly trespassed in vvhich I haue humbly acknowledged from the houre from the moment of my reassuming my selfe euen to this verie instant In such sort that my prayer may be registred in the booke vvhere are recorded the transgressions forgiuen to them vvho know to sinne and who knew to repent themselues vvho hauing sinned yet ran the course to recouer themselues by repentance Let thy eares be attentiue to the voice of my supplicaâ—…ions for there is no center so discost so farre of so deepe vvhich controlls thy hearing of them vvho invoke thee call vpon thee for helpe for aide from their hearts The words my Lord framed by them vvho haue some diffidence doubt mistrust in thy grace are not blown avvay by winde or dissolued into vvinde through the distance vvhich is from thy height to our low deepe places it is farre otherwise for thou hearest them in such sorte as if they vvho send them vp to thee vvere at hand present and so being it that vve are in thy sight in thy presence through the infinitenes of thy bounty although vve are most vnworthy to be nigh thee thou dost saue vs. And therfore good God heare me attentiuely vvho call on thee vvith my heart vvhilst also I vvaile I moane I weepe in this obscure and darke Caue Heare me with such fauourable audience as thou didst hearken and lend thine eare to Ionas vvho from the bottome of the Whales belly called on thee his Lord earnestly fervently and with a truely contrite heart O then my Lord let me also be heard fauourably heare me yea and heare me in such manner that hearing me thou grant me my requests my humble petitions for ô my Lord now it is loÌ„g sithence that I haue vvith my prayers invocated thee called vnto thee vvith a loud and earnest voice and though so it be that thou art in the height of thy glory and 〈◊〉 in the Center of my sinne let it please thee deigne that thy eares heare me coÌ„passionatly to whose eares it is euen harmony to heare their prayer vvho in this life pray with their hearts as is delectably svveet in that other life other state and being the hearing the lauds the thanks vvhich the Angells tune to thee and melodiouslie send forth with exalted voices But if so that thou shalt take stricte notice of iniquities of trespasses Lord ô my Lord vvho soyled with them vvho so burthened shall be able to sustaine thee vvho such can looke on thee not any such vndoubtedly will there be who can support thy justice if thou doest not forget lay aside the taking notice of the sinnes of such for that there is not any so just nor so perfect in this horrible sea of tribulation vvho can if so be it thou dost adiuge him vvith the seueritie the rigour of thy justice onelie sustaine beare the burthen although hee doe couer himselfe defeÌ„d himselfe vnder the buckler of the vertâ—…e of heart fortitude of minde of his trespasses for on the head of him that transgresseth thou doest inflict thy terrible punishments thy horrible scourges But for that thou hast made thy mercie companion of thy juâ—…ice and for that each of them is infinite I being not able to haue accesse reâ—…ourse to thee by meanes of this make me vvorthy that I may arriue to thee by meanes of