repentance but to condemne my selfe if my tongue hath not liuely expressed my desire alasse Lord thou knowest what wee would haue before we haue thought thereon It is sufficient to lift vp our harts vnto thee and forthwith thou grantest our petitions 10. But wherefore ô Lord dost thou delay to giue me the holy comfort which thou hast promised me alasse I am hable to do no more my hart faileth me my sences are troubled my strength forsaketh mee my sight waxeth dimme and my run away soule is already vpon the brinkes of my lippes 11. All my friends stand about me and doe already bewaile my death they haue no hope of my health they take care for my buriall and question with them-selues where is the helpe he expected from his God wher is the fauor which he promised to himselfe from him 12. Flatterers are departed from me they did thinke to deuide my spoiles they would haue preuented my fatal houre so troblesome am I to the whole world in the state wherin I stād 13. They rounded one another in the eare and made a thousand tales of me they did daily inuent new practises against me and thought on nothing so much as to betray me he is said they vpon his death bed he wil neuer rise vp againe what doe we feare wil the shaddow of his bones bite vs 14 And I as if I had beene deafe made as though I heard nothing and like a dumbe man I answered not a word my patience was my buckler and my constancy my rampier 15 Euery one that sawe me so patient in mine aduersity did say this man for a certaine is dumbe when he is taunted hee replies not could he indure all these indignities if any feeling of courage or reputation were left him Hee must needs bee guilty for innocence is euer bold in her owne defence yet all this did not mooue me 16. Wherefore I trusted in my God and am assured that he will helpe me Let the world bend it selfe against me let heauen and earth conspire my downefall so long as I haue his aide I shall alwaies conquer By the breath of his mouth hee created all things and by his breath if he please he can destroy them I will fight vnder his banner and I am assured of victory 17 I haue often-times saide vnto them reioyce not at my misery though I am tormented and afflicted braue me not for the Lord is long enough to reach you trust not to his long patience for though hee hath feete of woll his armes bee of Iron If he once lift them ouer your heads ô yee impenitent soules he will crush you in such sort as there shal bee no more remembrance of you 18. As for my selfe I haue handled the rod I haue imprinted vpon my shoulders the condemnation of my sinne I haue O Lord appeared before thee with teares in mine eyes repentance in my mouth and sorrow in my heart I haue fought with my selfe for feare least myne enemies should triumph ouer me 19. I haue openly confessed my fault I made my sinne manifest in time I tooke care to run vnto thy mercy in due season 20. But the more I humble my selfe before thee to draw of this running water out of the fountaine of thy grace which streameth from thy goodnesse the more doe mine enemies oppresse mee their number doth daily encrease they strengthen them-selues on euery side and foresee not the tempest which will crush them in peeces They kindle by their pride the furnace of thy wrath they despite thy power which to their destruction they shall soone make proofe of In a word they being secured against heauen and earth doe wallow in their filthy pleasures and rase out as much as in them is the marke of diuinity which thou hast imprinted in their soules and shut their eyes at the hope of saluation which shineth on them out of thy word 21. I do not ceasse ô my God to admonish them but they pay me euil for good and turne into laughter all that which I doe to please thee and to giue them good example they doe slanderously traduce mee vp and downe the streets and lay a thousand wickednesses to my charge I confesse ô Lord that I beginne to loose my patience 22 But my God strengthen mine infirmity and forsake mee not by any meanes otherwise I should fall like a little childe into the first pitte I come at Encrease strength and courage in mee ô Lord as much as thou hast afflicted mee giuing mee firme constancie as often as I shall stand in need thereof no lesse then a charitable mother who so soone as shee heareth her childe crye doth straight wayes giue it the dugge 23. Nourish me then ô Lord with the milke of thine holy charity to the end that beeing in some sort strengthened I may day and night run on in thy paths to attaine saluation the hope whereof shineth in thy promises And if sinne come and stand in my way I will open the floud-gates of mine eyes and will not close them againe till I haue drowned it in my teares Miserere mei Deus Psalme 50. HAue pitty vpon me ô my GOD according to the greatnesse of thy louing kindnesse and by thine immense mercy pardon the punishment which I most iustly haue deserued For if thou expectest that my fasts watchings and prayers should make satisfaction for my sinnes alas ô Lord that wil neuer be Mine offence beeing measured by the compasse of heauen and earth surpasseth the greatnesse of the whole world who then can enuiron and wholy blot it out but only thy holy mercy which is by so much greater as thy righteousnesse exceedeth ours It is thy mercy ô Lord which cricleth the whole vniuerse which keepeth fast together the parts of the world which shake and are ready to fall vpon our heads to bury with vs in their ruine the memory of our sinnes to turne away thy sight from our ingratefull disloyall and disobedient generation which disadvoweth her birth creation and conseruation frō thee Let then this mercifull goodnesse which shineth in thy diuinity aboue al thy other vertues spred it selfe now vpon me not in a sparing manner but prodigally and without measure And as thou diddest once cause the waters to ouer-runne the tops of the highest mountaines for to smother and ouer-whelme the wicked cause in like manner a torrent of mercy to ouer-flowe me not O Lord to drowne but to bathe and purifie mee 2. And be not satisfied with once clensing mee doe not tell mee that thou hast regenerated and washed mee in the bloud of the chaste and innocent lambe for notwithstanding my purenesse then thou shalt now finde mee foule and deformed I did plunge my selfe in a deep filthy vault and am so durty and disfigured as thou wilt no more know mee I doe sometimes question with my selfe whether I am hee whom thou diddest create with thine owne hands or no but my heart beeing confounded and ashamed
it to her first originall without euer nourishing any other thought then that which shall tend to the honour of thy seuice and aduancement of thy glory FINIS Meditations on seauen Consolatorie Psalmes of Dauid Dominus illuminatio mea Psalme 26. AFter that I had a long time bathed my heart in my teares and sighed forth a thousand sorrowes in bewailing my sinnes I thought ô Lord that I had appeased thy wrath and that my miseries should forth-with end But alas as I walke on in the world and determine with innocency of life to conuerse amongst men I perceiue their enuie to bee turned against me and all their enuie to be turned against me and all their endeuours bent to doe mee hurt So as I begin to doubt whether I am yet reconciled vnto thee and whether that this my penitence haue satisfied thâ— or no But when castinge myne eyes on euery side I perceiue that this affliction is common to me with all honest people when I behold euery where what practises are vsed against them how that their constancy is continually put to the tryall and on the contrary how that the wicked doe abound in delight pleasure and all manner of wealth I stand all amazed and confounded For on the one side I call to minde how thou art a great and a righteous GOD whose all-seeing eye pearceth the profoundest deepes whose almighty hand stretcheth it selfe foorth to the farthest parts of the world And on the other I perceiue how those that lift vp their heads against thee and oppresse thy poore and innocent seruants doe prosper in thy sight and waxe proud euery day for thy happy successe of their impiety I confesse ô Lord that in this contemplation I remaine as though I were dull and blinde not beeing able to pearce thorow this thick mist which did dazell the eyes of mine vnderstanding But at the last ô Father of light thou hast opened mine eye liddes and enlightning mee with the beames of thy wisedom thou hast made mee to vnderstand the reason thereof and freeing mee from the trauaile and doubt wherein I was thou hast filled mee with assurance of my saluation and giuen me a most certaine consolation so as now I not onely neglect the threats of the wicked and despise their insolencie but beeing armed with an admirable constancy and greatnesse of courage I of my selfe doe vndertake the combate and crye out with a lowd voyce Happen what will I now feare nothing For although God for a while doe exercise his faithfull seruants yet hee forsakes them not at their need but doth in such sort mixe their aduersity with their strength as they euer remaine victorious in this incounter And indeed so long as I shall put my trust and assurance in his mercy what occasion shall I euer haue to feare Hee hath now taken my life into his protection and couereth me on all sides with the wings of his power who is able to enforce him to forsake mee what shall I feare if hee defend mee whom all the world stands in feare and awe of his forces are not armies of men but legions of Angels Princes and Captaines are not his ministers but lightenings and tempests his displeasures are not stroakes and wounds but earthquakes swallowings vp of Citties inundations of Countries Thou hast already ô Lord taken all these weapons in hand and art ready to thunder vpon the pride of the wicked who haue conspired the destruction of good men But because ô my God thy mercy doth for a while hold back the arme of thy diuine vengeance thou comfortest mee in the meane time with a firme hope that thou wilt neuer forsake mee And I seeme dayly to heare thee speaking thus vnto mee Tarrie yet a little while the houre which I haue appointed is not yet come and build thou in the meane time on my promise and what affliction soeuer is prepared for thee assure thy selfe I will make thee to ouer-come it My courage ô LORD encreaseth when I feele thee thus to second mee and this thine exhortation doth more animate mee to patience then thee applaudes of the people doe the wrastler in the middest of his game Nothing dooth now any more astonish mee all these practises and conspiracies against my life and honour seeme like the tempestuous waues of the raging Sea who roaring a farre off come and breake them-selues against the foote of some rocke they are scattered at the first shock and the blow yeelds nothing but a vaine sound which is the end of these great menaces It is certaine that the conscience of an innocent person builded vpon thy fauour is stronger then the greatest rocks and no furious assault is able to shake it 3. What shall I now feare any more a sort of wicked people who compasse mee about seeking meanes to surprize mee they inuent sundry meanes to entrappe mee Behold how they looke at one side how they bend theyr browes and grinde their teeth at mee I doe verily beleeue that their cheefest desire is to teare mee in peeces with their teeth to glut themselues with my flesh to gnaw my bones and to drinke my bloud O cruell beasts how can yee thus change your natures how can yee thus abiure all humanitie Doe you thinke that because yee haue forgotten GOD that GOD hath forgotten his seruants Doe yee thinke that his seruâ—nts are as farre seperated from him as your selues are from righteousnesse 4. And though like cruell Tygers yee haue shedde your poyson vppon mee yee haue disquieted mee with your fearfull cryes and torne mee in peeces with your teeth and talents yet your stroakes haue none otherwise lighted on mee then on burnisht steele they would not pearce mee mine innocence is invulnerable and at the last beeing tyred and spent yee are constrained to make retreate and lying flatte on your bellyes yee barke and grinne in despight but yee haue no more power and yee haue none other weapons left but onely the will to doe euill But because your voyce is abhomination before God and that by your threatnings yee blaspheme him hee will wholy roote yee out and throwe downe those hills vppon you which your ambition and auarice haue heaped one vpon an other thinking thereby to scale his throne and to robbe him of his glory 5. O Lord what sight hast thou presented to mine eyes I am now so assured of thy mercy so comforted by the care which I perceiue thou hast of thy faithfull seruants as albeit I should see neuer so great an armie of men yet I would not feare them Let them bring against mee an Armie composed of all the nations of the earth let them place Scithyans on the right wing of the battaile Aethiopians on the left the East Indies and America in the rereward and place the rest of the world for the battaile in the middest adde there-vnto what so-euer the arte of killing men is able to inuent so as my GOD conduct mee I will
HOLY MEDITATIONS Vpon Seauen Penitentiall and seauen Consolatory Psalmes of the Kingly Prophet Dauid Written by the noble and learned G. D. V. Imprinted at London for Thomas Thorp 1612. TO SIR PETER Manwood Knight of the Honourable order of the Bath SIR NEITHER Seas nor Mountaines are so impassable a diuision in humain society as diuersity of language they seperate our bodies onely these our mindes making vs absent euen in presence while though our bodies meet together yet wee I meane our diuiner parts cannot If any one could open the backe doore of the Indies and let vs in a neerer way how would fame dwell on his memory and posterity gratifie his labour A sinceere cleere Translator dooth more for hee conducts our vnderstandings the next safest way to the ritchest intellectuall mines that are How many after a long trauaile bring forth onely some forraine deformitie their example making deeper impressions then their precepts where as these Bees bring vs home the honey leauing the poyson in the weede saue vs the labour of trauaile by transporting other countryes to vs and not exiling vs to them making remotest kingdomes as domestick and cheape as mapps greatest Princes as familiar as bookes and our farthest iourney but to Paules Church-yard For they reconcile and new tune iarring man-kind bringing back the harmony of speech from discord to vnisone For as originall writers are the spring-heads of knowledge so are these the conduit pipes bringing vs home what wee haue not strength or leysure to fetch abroad The vnhappy difference is that all waters are cleerd and purified by long conueyance writings corrupted and thickned How so nyce and delicate an apprehension will relish these euent will tell mee The Author can protect him-selfe who is yet liuing and famous for his singular learning and eloquence and you mee not by patronizing mine errors but in correcting them Some houres of melancholy I haue bestowed on these Holy Meditations with much satisfaction to my selfe if so to you I will thinke it a very fortunate idlenesse and striue hereafter to present you with matter of some other subiect Thus wishing you whatsoeuer may become your owne vertues or my desires I submit my selfe to your fauourable censure and rest Yours euer to be commanded W. SHVTE Meditations on the Penitentiall Psalmes of Dauid Domine ne in furore Psalme vi LAie not vpon me ô Lord the arme of thy seuere iudgement It wold throw me like a torrent into the depth of death and eternall damnation It would deuour mee like fier and the remander of my body would fly away into ashes what eye is able to endure without perrishing for feare the onely looke of thine angry countenance when casting thine eye vpon us thou percest the very bottome of our hearts and discouerest the secrets of our impure consciences our abhominable sinnes will draw downe thy iust anger vpon our heads and thy inkindeled wrath will throw vs head-long at once into the gulphe of paine torments and misery Before then that thy fury doth arise against mee and that thou commest with a iust disdaine to ouerthrow destroy me harken vnto the humble groning which my heart possessed with feare doth present vnto thee and receaue this weake and panting voyce which with tears cryeth thus vnto thee 2. Mercy mercy ô Lord alas my God what dost thou wilt thou make proofe of thy strength on my weakenesse dost thou thinke that I present my selfe before thee to wrastle against thy power it is thy clemency ô Lord which I run vnto I place my selfe vnder thy wing to the end it may defend mee from the rigor of the cōdemnatiō which I haue to much deserued Looke then vpon me with a milder countenance and seeing that I haue in a time conuenient called vpon thy goodnes helpe me deliuer me from so many euills which beseege me for behold my body doth languish it seemeth vnto me that all my bones are bruzed and broken 3. And my poore body is not onely thus cruelly aflicted but likewise my miserable soule is wholy dipped in sorrow this soule ô Lord which did determine with her voyce to glorifie the author of her life is beaten downe and desolate without strength and courage and as the fearefull Doue hideth her selfe at the voyce of thunder in some little hollow place euen so she perceauing thy fearefull indignation doth seeke out the most obscure darkenesse for retreat But vntill when my God shall thine anger last 4 Come come ô my God and turne vpon mee that looke of pitty where-with thou canst blot out not onely my sinnes but those of the whole world I feele my soule to sticke fast in a foule and deepe bogge of iniquity she sinketh she stretcheth out her hand vnto thee ô Lord alasse draw her forth of it bring her into the way of saluation Saue her ô Lord for she coniures thee by thine infinite goodnesse and vnspeakeable mercy It is most true that she deserues it not and ought not to hope for helpe from him whome shee hath so carelesly forsaken against whose honor she hath so wickedly conspired The reward of her offence ought not to be mercy but torment and eternall death 5. But ô Lord who is it that in the middest of hell in the bottomlese pit of death shall sing thy praises and sound forth thy name there is the dwelling place of sorrow there is nothing heard but howlings there is nothing seene but torments and thy prayse on the contrarie consisteth in the publication of thy infinite meekenesse goodnesse and mercy 6. And thenbehold on the one side humble penitence which intercedeth for me and which hath sworne not to leaue mee vntill it hath reconciled me vnto thee And on the other humble praier which importunes thee for me and hath sworne not to let thee rest till it hath reconciled me vnto thee Alas ô Lord thou hast so oftentimes seene my teares and heard my lamentations That I doe daily at the remembrance of mine offences wash my face with my teares I cause my bed to swim in the water with streameth from mine eyes what is it which commandeth mee to doe so is it not ô Lord penitence which I religiously obserue 7. I looke downe-ward and tremble with feare at the aspect of thine angry countenance I doe patiently endure the rebukes of mine enemies and take their reproches in good worth as the iust punishment of their offences I walke in their sight with sackcloth with ashes on my head and confession in my mouth I prostrate my selfe at the feete of thine Altars I make leane with scourges of affliction the flesh which deliuered ouer my body vnto sinne but my torments serue for matter of laughter vnto those that hate mee who swarme about mee to traduce me by scoffes and derision 8. But now that thou doost shew mercy vnto me I will bid them stand backe stand backe ô yee children of iniquity yee shall no more laugh at my misery
dares make mee none answer O my God thou hast created mee of dirt and clay and loe I am now such an one as I was before thou tookest me in hand I haue put off my beauty and comlinesse and put on dirt and filthinesse But my God wherefore doost thou not new make me is thine arme waxed short doost thou want will to doe good to thy creature alas thou art Almighty all good wherefore then dooest thou tarry Thy workemanship ô Lord grew obstinate against thee and tooke pleasure in diffiguring and deforming it selfe bee thou obstinate against thine handy-worke and make it faire and perfect yea euen in despight of it but my God I will bee no more stubborne hold mee take mee in hand turne mee as thou pleasest repayre this dirte renew it refresh it with new coullours it is ready to obey thy will But ô Lord when as thou shalt haue wholy renewed it forsake it not for all that put a bridle in his mouth which by abstinence may keepe it from gluttony wherevnto it is proane by chastitie it may quench the impudent heates of voluptuousnesse which warmeth it by humility it may beat downe pride which biting enuie raiseth vp in her let pittifull charity driue hatred and the hunger of couetousnesse farre from it let the care to serue and honor thee be a continuall spurre in the sides of her slothfull and blockish negligence 3. For otherwise my God I haue made too great proofe of these vices which enuiron mee they will in such sorte teare and dismember thy workmanship as at thy comming thou shalt find nothing but the fragments thereof all bruzed and broken I haue had such experience of them it is they who haue brought mee into the state wherein now I am and I now perceiue them standing round about mee to reproach mee with those blottes where with they themselues did defile me and to make me guilty of the wrongs which they haue done to mee How hast thou sinned say they how foule and deformed art thou become 4. Indeed I haue sinned I confesse it my God behold I offer the bottom of my heart vnto thee take notice of my whole life I haue sinned before heauen and earth and the whole world is witnesse of my misdeeds But if I had not sinned vnto whome wouldest thou shew mercy how wouldst thou discharge thy selfe of the promises of grace which thou hast so long declared by thy Prophets when thou shalt come to sit vpon the eternall throne of thy Iustice if wee were all iust who would stand in feare of thee But to the end thy greatnesse may bee knowne it behooueth vs when wee shall bee summoned before thee humbly to fall downe vpon our faces and to cry out Bee midle ô Lord for wee come not to excuse our selues before thee our fault is notorious but loe our pardon stands ready thou thy selfe hast giuen it vs behold it signed with thy bloud sealed with thine image which for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of the flesh 5. Diddest thou expect O my God that when I should present my selfe before thee I would make a rampier of mine innocencie or that I was so blinde of vnderstanding to go about to iustifie my selfe in thy presence Alas ô Lord I know that I was nothing but sinne before I was borne my mother thought to bring forth a childe and shee was deliuered of sinne it had been much better for her if so prodigious a burthen had prooued abortiue which shameth the tree which bare it the earth which nourished and heauen which ripened it I was fedde with sinne in my mothers wombe I suckt it with her milke and loe it grew vppe in such sort with mee as it ouer-shaddoweth mine head and blindeth mine eyes 6. But when I perceiue the eyes of my body to be dazeled I then open the eyes of my minde and begin to discerne a farre off the beame of thine infallible truth and to acknowledge the wonderfull secrets of thy wisedome which thou hast reuealed vnto mee Then my soule abandoning the impurity of my body liftteth her selfe vppe vnto heauen and pearceth thorowe his incredible light and lookking vpon the booke of Eternity shee therein readeth the treatye of the new allyance which thou wilt make with mankinde then returning into her wretched body shee filleth it with hope and ioy and promiseth it an assured victorie ouer his sinne 7. For shee learned in heauen how thou wouldest take the branch of odoriferous Hisope in hand and sprincle vpon mee the water of purification thou wilt wash mee and I shall become whiter then snowe there shall no one spotte of sinne bee seene on mee What manner of washing-lye will that bee ô LORD which shal be made with the ashes of my sinnes consumed by the fire of thy charity with the water of teares which my repentance shall distill from my hart and in the sun-shine of thy grace our laments shal be dried vp which shall cause new spirituall ioy to grow vp in vs and at the last will make vs so white in the purity of righteousnesse as we shall one day shine brighter then the starres in the firmament 8. We shall then heare the delectable sound of the trumpet of saluation which wil proclaime grace and mercy vnto all those who will receaue it Wee shall then see rotten and consumed bones to rise vp out of their graues to be partaker of this vniuersall ioye wherevnto thou hast inuited the whole world 9. Now to the end I may at that time appeare before thee in such honorable equipage as so noble a magnificence doth deserue put all my offences ô my God vnder thy feete bury them in the center of the earth to the end that noe eye may behold them seperate mee for euer from mine iniquitie from hence-forth I renounce it and sweare an irreconcileable diuorcement from her 10 Behold my soule which I offer vnto thee make it pure and cleane powre a new spirit into mine heart which may conceiue nothing but holinesse and righteousnesse Establish therein ô Lord God the mansion house of thy holy spirit to the end that hence-forth I may thinke wish nor breath any thing but thy praises let thy will bee alwayes imprinted in my minde and thy glory written in my lips 11. When thou shalt haue thus clothed decked me with pietie and integrity I shall then be assured that nothing shal be able to seperate mee from thy presence and then as the true bred Eagle looketh directly vpon the Sunne euen so will I fixe mine eye vppon the face of thine Eternitie and will beholde in thy wonderfull countenance all those perfections which now I can not conceaue thine holy spirit shall neuer more depart out of mine heart it shall carry me on the winges of zealous charity into thy bosome there to make mee an associate of that celestiall ioy 12. Let me then quickly tast the sweetnes of this immortall life saue me sodainly
from the rocks of this world which on euery side threaten shipwracke to my soule and as the Sailer when he is arriued in the hauen crownes the masts of his ship with garlands of flowers in token that he is in safty euen so crowne me ô my God with the precious guifts of thine holy spirit for pledges of the eternall blessednesse which thou promisest me I say of thy spirit which reigneth in thy faithfull ones which distributes faith to thine elect charity to thy beloued and hope to those whome thou hast predestinated 13. Now whilest my soule continues in this exile looking euery day when thou wilt call it to thy â—elfe I will teach sinners the way they ought to follow for to please thee I will direct them left that in the darknesse of this world they stumble vpon the blocks which shall he presented to them they will beleeue me and they shall returne to thee ô father of light turne to thee ô Father of light they shall with all their hearts imbrace thy law and walke in thine obedience 14. I know ô Lord that there bee some who will stoppe their eares at my words and will grow stubborne in their sinnes they will plot my death and willingly would die their barbarous cruelty with my bloud Deliuer mee my GOD forth of their hands and preserue mee that I may declare thy righteousnesse and pronounce their condemnation I will fore-tel them of their miseries and so soone as my speech is ended thine hand shall strike them and so soone as thine hand hath stricken them behold they shall bee for euer crusht in peeces and confounded 15. And then thou shalt open my lippes and my mouth shall declare thy victory the aire wil be cleere the winds will bee appeased and the flouds will stand still to heare mee sound forth the wonders of the eternall GOD. For thy praise ô LORD shal bee the sacrifice which I continually will offer vp vnto thee which at all times will bee pleasing vnto thee 16. I would willingly haue bloudied thine Altars with the slaughter of much cattell I would willingly haue sacrifized a thousand Oxen and as many sheepe in thine honor but bloud stinkes before thee and their flesh thou acceptest not the smoake of such offerings consumes it selfe in the arie like wind and it can not ascend where thou art the onely voyce of a iust man mounteth higher then the heauens and thine Angells present it vnto thee 17. O how acceptable vnto thee is the sacrifize of an hart pearced thorow with repentance an hart that is humbled in the knowledge of his sinne such an one wilt thou neuer reiect hee that will go vp vnto thee must descend downe into himselfe the way to touch heauen to lie groueling vpon earth hee that wil bee heard of thee must hold his peace and hee that will bee crowned in thy kingdome must be beaten and scourged in this world These are the sacrifices which can reconcile vs vnto thee and enter vs into the alliance which thou hast made with vs. 18. If thou wilt haue vs ô Lord to offer vp vnto thee bulls and oxen and that wee shall make thine Altars smoake with the bloud of Beasts if thou wilt haue vs by the death of an innocent oblation to represent before thee the death innocency of him whome thou hast destined for the redemption of our soules if the figure of that which shall come to passe in the person of the Immaculate Lambe bee pleasing vnto thee in the slaughter of sheepe and rams pittifully then beehold thy poore people comforte desolate Sion encourage her poore inhabitants to the end that they may repaire the walls of thine holy citty and re-edifie thy teÌ„ple not in equall measure to thy deserts ô Lord but according to the riches and industry that the world can attaine vnto 19. Thither from all parts shall thy faithfull people come in heapes to offer sacrifize vnto thee there onely shalt thou accept the expiation for their sins But my God neither the bloud nor death of beasts can wash out their filthinesse the expiation of their sinne and disobedience is prepared before all eternity It is an inestimable sacrifize an immaculate burnt-offering that must draw away the vaile dissipate the darkenesse and breake downe the partition-wall for to make vs behold the truth of our saluation face to face which must cause the beames of the diuine mercy to shine vpon vs and reassociate vs to the communion of the eternall blessednes which we haue willingly renounced O must pittiful God which hast cleered the eies of mine vnderstanding made me to see the mistery of my saluatioÌ„ cause me ô Lord to tast the excellent frute which budding on the tree of the crosse shall quicken with his iuyce our mortified soules shall for euer keepe and preserue vs from the ruine and calamity which hath so miserably attainted man-kind hath spred it selfe all ouer them by their owne disobedience Domine exaudi Psalme 110. O Lord how long haue I cried out for thy mercy yet I am still expecting thine aide The aire is filled with my lamentations the winds haue carried the voyce of my complaint to the farthest parts of the earth and thine eare which vnderstandeth what is done in the deepest bottoÌ„ of hell harkeÌ„s not vnto my praier which pierceth the very heauens Thou art onely deafe ô Lord in my respect and the whole world will sooner then thy selfe giue eare to my laments No no my God thou hast too long stretched out thine arme vnto me to reiect me now when I come vnto thee for refuge 2. Now that I feele a thousand and a thousand griefes and that euills assaile mee on euery side turne not thy face away from mee ô Lord. Alas I haue placed all my comfort in the milde aspect of thy countenance I haue left the world and retired my selfe vnto thee I haue forsaken the children of the earth to the end to allie my selfe to the maister of heauen can'st thou now cast mee of doe not so ô Lord but all the dayes of my life helpe my infirmitie 3. So soone as my voice shall cry out vnto thee ô my God so soone let me feele thee let thy grace come downe as swiftly vpon mee as an Eagle to the succour of her yong ones For if thou assist mee not what combate can I wage against the enemies of my soule 4. My strength and my life doth continually vanish away like to a light smoake which in flying abroad looseth it selfe that eye which sees it come forth of the fire doth as quickly see it dispersed and accompanieth it in a moment from his originall to his end and they that aske what is become of it cannot so much as discerne the trace thereof Who hath seene peeces of wood lye drying in the sunne loose both their vigor and verdure let them behold my poore bones which are become drye and withered and craue nothing but a
graue A graue in deed too happy for mee if so small a pitte may bee able to stay the violent course of mine extreame misery 5. Hee that hath seene the mowed grasse to turne coulor and wither in the field let him looke vpon my pale and leane visage which seemeth to make death it selfe afraid Mine heart waxeth drie in the midest of my intrailes my bloud withereth within my veines for I no more remember to giue bread to my mouth and euery day I forget to eate meate 6. My mouth serueth me for none other vse but to crie out and lament and the vsuall voice of my sorrow is of such force as it carries away with it all the remainder of my strength so as my sorrowfull body doth by little and little consume it selfe and my boanes doe already pierce my skinne why then should I bee carefull to pamper this wretched body which is the subiect of my miseries wherefore should I study to preserue this life which wrestleth with so many discontents and is tormented with so many afflictions were it not better for mee by ending my life to giue an end to my miseries 7. The Pellican which in the most solitarie deserts of Aegipt torments her selfe for killing her yong ones and bathes them with her bloud to restore them to life which shee berest them of is shee more sorrowfull then I dooth shee feele more griese then my selfe hath not my sinne procured the death of that child whom I loued better then my selfe and now that all my teares are drawne dry bloud will gush foorth of mine eyes for feare that weeping should faile mee in such a lamentable misfortune But the Pellican with the price of her bloud redeemes the life of her yong ones and my wretched self shal for euer bee depriued of that child whom I so deerely loued Therefore will I abandon the light of the day and will confine my selfe in the thick darknesse like vnto the fatall Owle which stirreth not foorth of some hollow place vntill the night hath spred his obscure mantle ouer the earth 8. I am continually awake alwayes rauing vpon my mishap and seeking to hide my selfe from the miserie which followes me apace I seeke nothing so much as some corner to bestow my selfe in like to the wilde Sparrow who beaten with the winde and raine searcheth out some place of couert to keepe her from the storme 9. Mine enemies seeing me in this plight haue derided mee they haue reproched mee with my misery and those which were wont highly to esteeme mee in steed of bewailing mine afflictiō haue conspired against mee Of what worth then are the goods of this world if friends bee the most pretious richesse that a man can purchase and if they prooue treacherous and disloyall and make so small account of violating their faith 10. My strength is indeed diminished the floure of my complexion is withered for I haue strewed my bread with ashes I haue tempered my drinke with teares but therfore shal this vnbeleeuing race make mee the argument of their laughter 11. It is true that I met with thine angrie countenance in the day of thy wrath thou hast laide on mee the arme of thy vengeance it hath crusht mee to peeces I was glorious among men and behold I am now cast downe to the ground O vaine presumption vnto what height hast thou raised mee to giue mee so terrible a downefall Alas what matter could I finde in my selfe that might beget such a selfe-conceit in mee 12. Euen as wee see the shaddow of a body to decrease by little and little when as the sunne stands right ouer it and at last becometh a small point in like manner so soone as thy wrath did ascend ouer mee ô Lord my life my wealth and my greatnesse did consume away by little and little in such sort as I seeme like to the withered haye without sap and beauty it is gathered for the fodder of cattell and so many faire sweet and odoriferous flowers are made vp in bottels among weedes and thistles 13. But shall I therefore despaire not so my God for thy power is infinite and lasteth for euer thy mercy is immense which spreds it selfe ouer all those which trust in thee Ages shall passe away one after an other but the memory of thy goodnesse shall neuer haue end for euer one generation shall succeed an other and they shall continually set forth thy praise and louing kindnesse 14. Thou wilt one day awake ô my God and shew fauor vnto Sion for the time of mercy is at hand It is already come behold I see it The riuers send not so many cleere waters into the large bozome of the Ocean as thy goodnesse shall shed foorth fauours and mercies vppon the earth Open your hearts oh yee people open your hearts for the liberall hand of my GOD will fill them with an holy heate which shall cleanse and purifie them more then gold is in the furnace 15. Now the building of Sion is ô Lord the refuge which thy seruants waite for that it may become the dwelling place of eternall life the seate of saluation the treasury of grace and the temple of eternitie 16. Then my God shall the nations bee astonished and all the Kings of the earth shall tremble at the brightnesse of thy glory What remotest corner is there in the world but shall resound thy happy comming what people are there vnder the sunne so confined in darkenesse but will open their eyes to behold the glistering brightnesse of saluation which shall shine vpon them Heauen it selfe shall encrease the number of his torches to giue light to this thine entrie into the world and Kings shall runne from all parts to doe homage to the King of Kings and to the Lord of Heauen and Earth 17. For in Syon hath hee erected his royall throne in magnificent and sumptuous manner there shall men behold him all enuironed with glory darkning the Sunne and Moone with the brightnesse of his countenance 18. But what is the cause ô Lord that thou hast so highly exalted the throne of thy glorie Is it because thou wilt contemne the humble prayers of thy faithfull seruants and neglect the whole world which is nothing in comparison of this thy greatnesse Alas not so my God Thou hast lifted vp thy selfe in an eminent place to the end that all the inhabitants of the earth may see and acknowledge thee to haue recourse to thy grace mercy for thou wilt be alwayes ready to come at the humble summons of thy seruants and thou wilt neuer scorne their pittifull requests Behold they are all set in order like poore galley slaues condemned to the chaine which waite for the arriuall of some King to set them at liberty on the day of his coronation In this manner ó Lord dooest thou deliuer those which haue giuen them-selues ouer to the bondage of sinne at the onely twinckling of thine eye their Irons shall fall from
my confession and the humble petition for fauor which I present vnto thee For I come not into thy presence to boast of mine owne righteousnesse but of thy mercy and louing kindnesse 3. If thou shouldest keepe a register of our offences and shouldest call vs to an account who were able ô my God to endure the rigour of thy iustice What day of my life is there but would deserue an age of torment Thou mayest in a maner inflict all the paines of hell vppon mee and yet the greatest part of mine offences will remaine vnpunished 4. But notwithstanding that men doe offend thee yet thou lettest not to receiue the sinner which comes vnto thee with confession in his mouth and contrition in his heart He hath no sooner looked towards thy mercy but hee feeles it to worke in him to breakâ— and dissolue sinne which had frozen his heart with feare and horror The punishment which did hang ouer his head runnes backward from him and carries away with it this wretched carefulnesse which tormenteth the consciences inflicted with sinne This is the reason ô Lord why I would neuer forsake thy law but haue alwayes waighted till it might please thee to shew mercy vpon mee For hee who ill aduised doth despaire in his sinne and abandons his soule as lost dooes like the abhominable vsurer who because hee hath susteined some losse in his goods doth therefore depriue himselfe of life 5. My soule hath not done so for so soone as shee hath felt thy heauie hand vpon mee which exacted a part of the punishment which my sinnes had merited shee did still for all that keepe whole the hope which shee had in thy promise Euen when thy blowes fell heauie on my back I cryed out vnto thee Lord God thy will bee done yet giue mee as much strength as affliction Measure my punishmeÌ„t by my strength and my torments encreasing augment my courage thou hast ô Lord done so 6. Let all Israell then from the day breake vntill darke night hope in his God let them expect succor from him alone For his helpe is ready vnto those which call vpon him in integrity of conscience and purity of heart It matters not how great and fearfull the misery is for so soone as the Lord hath vnderstood the cry of his seruants euen so soone do they feele themselues deliuered 7. For hee aboundeth in mercy hee is infinitely good to those which haue recourse vnto him For if our sinnes surpasse all measure his mercy exceeds all thoughts We haue deserued a long and greeuous captiuity loe he deliuers vs and sets vs at liberty We haue blinded the eies of our vnderstanding behold he comes and enlightens them O Israell thou hast offended the Lord thou hast derided his law thou hast played with his commandements thou hast forgotten his benefits which he hath bestowed vpon thee He hath drawne thee forth of a miserable bondage he hath fed thee with the bread of heauen hee hath caused fountains of water to gush forth of the barraine rocks only to giue thee drinke he chose the most delicious garden of the earth for thy dwelling place he made his couenant with thee hee gaue thee his wil in keeping and thou hast conspired against his honour committed whoredome with strange Gods troden his lawe vnder thy feete thou hast in a word deserued more punishments then hell can affoord And hee neuerthelesse offereth himselfe fauourably vnto thee he will redeeme thee from the bondage of sinne where-vnto thou wert willingly bound with the price of his owne bloud Behold hee himselfe payes their ransome which did betray him and takes vpon himselfe the punishment for our sinnes and payes the forfeiture of our offences With what wordes shall wee giue thee thankes Open then my lippes my God my Creator my Redeemer to the end that my voyce may bee spent and mine heart enflamed with a burning affection to praise and thanke thee and cast me downe in the knowledge of my selfe to the end to exalt mee in the knowledge of that holy mysterie whereby wee are re-incorporated into thee and re-integrated into thy allyance for to enter into this blessed societie of glory in the which all those shall triumph which shall bee pertakers in the merite of the passion of thy well beeloued Sonne the true and onely Sauiour of the world Domine exaudi vocem meam Psalme 142. MAn ô Lord is at the last weary of all things continuall running puts him out of breath too much looking vpon a thing dazels the eyes a thundring noyce troubles the hearing but the more my voyce cryeth vnto thee the stronger it is my courage is the more encreased and my praier is the more pleasing vnto mee Therefore do I euery day begin a fresh to cry out ô Lord hearken vnto my prayer and giue eare to my supplication for all my comfort consisteth in praying vnto thee ô my God It is my prayer ó Lord which coniures thy clemencie to expiate my sinnes not by the rigor of the punishment but by the effect of grace which thou hast granted vs by the which thou abollishest by thy soueraigne and absolute power the memory of our offences 2. Enter not then into iudgement with thy seruant ô Lord giue him not ouer to the rigor of the law for of all liuing creatures which shall appeare before the face of thy rigorous iudgement not one shall bee iustified none shall escape that fearefull condemnation whose paine is not onely terrible but eternall in his terrour Alas ô Lord who is able to saue himselfe in thy presence It is thou who art offended it is thou who wilt accuse vs thou hast seene our offenâ—es and canst witnesse against them it is thou which shalt iudge vs. When the accuser shall bee the witnesse and the witnesse shall bee the Iudge what shall become of the offendor what excuse can serue to iustifie him But ô Lord I will not trust to that I will shield my selfe vnder thy fauour and oppose it to thy iustice Thy fauour is obteyned by the acknowledgment of our offences by the humiliation of our mindes loe I prostrate my selfe before thee laying open my sinne ô Lord haue pitty vppon mee 3. My sinne ó my COD the chiefe enemy to my soule hath in such sort hurried and beaten mee downe as I now grouell vpon the earth not daring to looke vppe vnto heauen for so soone as I lift vp mine eyes I see the light which presenteth to the day such and so many faults which doe accuse my conscience I also doe sodenly feele shame in my guiltie countenance which makes mee holde downe my face to the ground my face vnworthy to looke vppe to heauen the Lord whereof it hath so greeuously offended my face which is not valiant enough to cast vppe his eyes towards those places which haue so many lightning flashes prepared to roote out guilty offenders 4. My spirit then hath conducted mee into darknesse and hath buried
to haue in his fauour How happy are they whom the sundry encounters of this world could neuer shake in their assurance of the diuine iustice how great and praise-worthy is the constancie of such people 12. For to speake truth my foote did often-times slip in this way I did often slide and almost fell to the ground Like vnto those who ascend a sharpe and thornie passage when they feele them-selues pricked with some thorne or bryer doe presently with the paine let goe their hold whereby they went vp and forth with tumble down vnlesse they bee soone stayed euen so ô my God whilst I take vpon me to iudge of thy works and to behold how thou disposest thy graces being pricked grieued at the prosperity of the wicked I fetch many false steps and am ready to fall head-long downe and to iudge amisse of thy wisedome and iustice 13. How comes it to passe say I that people which know not God but to blaspheme him who thinke they haue hired him to serue their libidinous and peruerse affections who care not otherwise for him but only to haue him serue for a coulour to their wickednesse and for a maske to their iniquities that they should neuerthelesse reape the fruite of his fauor and possesse in peace and quiet the very creame of his blessings I confesse it ô my GOD that I am iealous of their prosperity and I enuy it and it seemeth vnto mee that it is altogether against reason 4. What man that beholds them will say that they should euer die who is it but would thinke that they had purchased of thee at a price immortality in this world and parted stakes with thee of an eternall continuance in all felicity In other matters of this world some change is seene which sheweth that of necessety an end must follow but in their happinesse is such firmnesse descerned as it seemeth that they still encreasing as they doe will at last attayne thy infinitenesse and seate them-selues in thine Heauenly throne for there is no manner of likely-hood to imagine that any thing should hurt them nor that the least misfortune should once draw neere the lustre of such magnificence It is a matter incredible to thinke that any euell should hurt their pretious bodies enuironed with such numbers of excellent riches 5. Other men waxe crooked with trauaile labour is their trade of life they are borne in teares and grow vp in sighs they waxe olde in lamentations the sea is oftener free from winde then their life from torment so many arrowes stick not about a white as miseries and aflictions are seene to encompasse other men But these men only are free and safe and with a firme and smooth course of life they bath themselues with ease in the pleasures of this world and make the calamities of honest people and such as feare God their only sport and pastime Who hath seene a tyrant from a theater to behold his slaues fighting with Tygers Lions and to feed his cruell eies and heart with the inhumane sight of those poore dismembred creatures in the selfe same manner doe these vile wretches feed their wishes with the sight of the aflictions which scourge the innocent 7. Oh how proud and arrogant it makes them they think that the earth was made only for them and that it is not bigge enough to hold them As for the other sort they behold them at one side and it seemeth that they enuie that they liue and they scornefully mutter these words shall we neuer be rid of these rascalls wil they still be in our sight Then they say among themselues what is this fellow but a varlet that man but a foole So in loue are they with themselues that they account nothing in this world goodlier then themselues they adore them-selues like Gods they serue their owne lusts reuerence their owne passions so as they are couered ouer head and eares with pride rapine and iniustice 7. They are fatte onely with mischeefe their bodies are not so larded with fatte as their soules with sinnes All manner of villainy and abhomination dwells in their consciences all their thoughts and wishes tend to filthinesse they fixe their eies onely therevpon their fingers itch at it they haue none other minde nor affection and mallice doth animate and giue motion to their bodies 8. Yee shall see them so soone as they haue a long time thought on their sinne chewed their euell plottes and executed some wicked enterprise how they will glorie in them braue the world and talke as though they had authority for whatsoeuer they did If there were any shame in them they would at leastwise satisfie them-selues with their licentious outrages exercized vpon men and not thus vilanously blaspheame and curse the sacred name of God 9. But what ô my God they haue listed vp their heads against Heauen they haue scornefully beheld the seate of thy greatnesse as if they should say what is there to bee compared vnto vs To vs who do what wee list in this world who haue aboundance of all things As for the earth they vouchsafe not to looke on it or if in pitty they cast their eyes on it they say what is this earth but that which cloyes vs with her aboundance wearies vs with hir fruitfulnesse 10. This is truely the reason ó Lord why all the people beeing amazed come together in heapes to view this prodigy and runne from all partes to behold this spectacle and they are mute to see this wonder they are there fixed and looke one vppon another 11. At the last they waxe impatient and beginne to murmur What doth not God who seeth all things perceiue this Is it not hee which hath this greate all-seeing eye who bath beheld things before they were created sees them in their beeing and force-sees their end Is not his prouidence saide to bee as great in the gouernment of the world as his goodnesse was wonderfull in the creation thereof If hee hath disposed all things in order if hee hath created by measure if his iustice bee present in the gouernement of the world what doth hee at this time where doth hee now sleepe 12. Behold the wicked haue seazed on his benefits and possesse the wealth of the world a man would thinke that al was made for them ritches raines downe vpon them honours enters their houses in heapes happinesse laies hold on them perforce they desire and haue they wish and obtaine 13. And at the last I my selfe haue likewise said my God how comes this to passe I haue in vaine iustified myne hart and ruled mine actions according to thy commandements I haue despoiled my selfe of al affections for to loue nothing but thee I haue circumcized my heart from all euill desires I haue fettered my will in thy law to the end it might only serue thy glory eschew sinne and sinners I kept company with the innocent and haue lifted vp my hands with them not
only the hands of my body ô my God but those of my soule which are my affections the which I haue wash ed and purified in the torrent of my teares 14. I haue done pennance and haue all day long scourged my selfe beating my hart with continuall sighes peircing it with sharpe contrition and haue driuen away by force of my bloudy teares that viscuous humor which had ouerflowed my will with very bitter gall Euery morning when I arose I cryed thee mercy for my sinnes and I haue detested mine offences I did euery day awake with this purpose and with it I beganne my dayes worke 15. I said to my selfe lo this is al I can say those which feare God and serue him are aflicted those which blaspheme him are at their ease And therevpon I beganne to detest the condition of those which glory ô Lord in being thy children thy chosen and went foreward and said Are these they who are called the children of the Almighty God surely they are reprobate children seeing that others possesse the inheritance of theit father and they in the meane time are in extreame pouerty The other who ouerflow in wealth and vnto whom God is so fauourable and indulgent are his children this name belongs vnto them because they enioy his benefits and are next him masters ouer his workes 16. As for my selfe to speake truly I thought that the matter went thus I could not chuse but vexe and torment my selfe and said alasse my God how comes this to passe can it be thus seeing thou hast pronounced threatnings against the wicked and prepared punishment for them in a word I was in extreame perplexity 17. But at the last I perceiued what thy purpose was and I peirced to the bottome of thy sanctuary I entred as I thought into thy holy consistory and there learn'd thy meaning heerin For after that I had resolued my selfe to wait the end which thou hast prepared for such people I knew foorth with that thy iustice neuer lies though it be somtimes long ere it come it recompenceth her slownesse by the rigor of the punishmeÌ„t I then stedfastly determined to behold what would become of these people 18. Truly at the last thou didest pay them home thou didest giue them the reward of their mischeefe and deceit For when they thought themselues to be at the toppe of their greatnesse loe thou madest them leape downe into the pitte of misery All their pompe and magnificence all their ritches were in the end like to an high and lofty scaffold which they ascended to giue them the more shamefull downefall 19. Good God what discomfort what desolation there is nothing at all round about them but lamentations all their officers and vshers runne vp and downe beating their brests and alwaies hanging downe their heades like vnto a flower which is much beaten with the raine and is also pittyed of those men who were wont to enuy them They doe pittifully behold the ruines of their Idoll and perceiue how madde they were to make a wretched mortall man their God who was but smoake and winde For if a man consider their end hee may see how in a moment they are vanished there is nothing so short as the way from their greatnesse to their ruine the change was so sodaine as sight could not comprehend it They were heere they were there they were and are no more their foote-steps can hardly bee perceiued to this passe hath their finne brought them it layde snares a long time for them loe at the last they are fallen into it Whilest it vndermined the foundation of their house they went vp to the top thereof to the end their fall might bee the higher They still went vpwards and thought all beneath them to bee their owne but at the last they went vp so high as they lost themselues in the ayre before they could come downe to the ground and so vanished like the wind 20. They became like vnto dreames from which wee awake for as men say when they awake I did but dreame this or that euen so when such men are gone the people will say The greatnesse of these men was but a dreame it was a meere vanity and folly which had nothing in it sure and certaine For thou wilt in such sort abolish their memory as no man shall think of them but to deride their pride and to condemne their insolency It shall be said loe these are the ruines of their houses these places belonged to these proud sirs who cared neither for God nor men who tooke delight in all manner of euill and filthinesse who built them so many houses with the boanes of poore people and cimented their pallaces with the bloud of the needy behold there remaines nothing of what they haue heeretofore beene but the markes of their shame lightening fell vpon them and consumed them to nothing 21. We must not ô Lord iudge rashly of thy prouidence he that will consider rightly thereof must with patience attend the end must be directed by thy spirit and inuoke it for his guide and comfort For whilst my heart boyled with anger and that for very spâ—te I fetched great sighes from the bottome thereof and that all the partes of my body were in a sweate I had almost lost my selfe and yet neuerthelesse it was to no purpose at all for after all this vexation I was as wise and well resolued as before 22. I was so troubled as I could not tell whether I were a beast or a man nay verily I was like a beast and I could comprehend no more then if I had wholy lost mine vnderstanding But neuerthelesse I still held fast my hope in thee and the more I perceiued my sence and iudgement to faile the faster did I runne vnto thee and humbly besought thee to open my minde and to cause mee to vnderstand thy will 23. Thou diddest take mee by the hand and gently sette mee in the right way of thy will thou diddest acquaint mee with thy purpose Thou hast done more then that for as I thinke thou diddest open mine eyes and heauen at one instant where I did see the fulnesse of thy glory I say ô Lord that thou diddest cause mee to see it for it is a thing that without thee no mortall man canne attayne vnto 24. For alas what should such a poore and weake creature as I am seeke in heauen that cannot well see that which is vnder my feete nor perceiue but with much a doe that which is before mee on earth my bodyly eyes are very dim but those of my soule are much more The cogitations of men are full of weakenesse and vncertaintie for the earthly and corruptible body doth dull our spirits and staketh our sences to the ground So as without thee I can hope for nothing in this base world nor promise to my selfe certaine knowledge of any thing How can I beeing on earth iudge without thy helpe and vnlesse it please