Christs birth-right some of our Ladies dowry King Lucius by thy secret motion inclined his hart to search thy truth Animated by thee O Soueraigne Sanctifier to Rome as the fountayne he sent for water of life Thy high Steward Lieutenant Eleutherius assigned Priests for execution of his holy desires The light of thy word was soone spred through Britaine to the saluation of many soules The Prophecy was so fulfilled that from the Islāds our Lord should beginne his raigne In this thy garden grewe vvhite Lillies without number and integrity of life adorned the Realme But neither was the red Rose wanting purpled with the bloud of thy Saintes Alban the Prothomartir for harbouring a Priest lost his life Amphiabel thy consecrated seruant was slaine for thy sake Iulius Aaron with many more When the Saxons inuaded with fire and sword thou laiedst not aside the care of thy land But pittying that Infidels should possesse the jewell which thou louedst so well Thou broughtest to passe by incomprehensible wisdome that they also were by Gregory conuerted Thus from the holy City from Peters Seate both the conquerour and conquered receiued Religion And being otherwise mortall enemies yet in points of beliefe consented in one Neither did the Brittaine argue the Saxon of heresie or reproach him to haue receiued an vpstart and falsified faith As likewise neither did the Dane chaunge the Saxons beliefe nor the victorious Norman bring in newe opinions For they found no other then all Christendome at that time professed Of the faith Catholike vvhich in this Island thou O eternal truth hadest in this wise planted watred and established Who is able to comprehend the successe what tongue can expresse the encrease All quarters of the earth talked of her fruit all corners of this Realme testifie it So many Churches Chappels so many Colledges and Hospitals so many sundry foundations of charity So many thousandes of vowed Religious among whome night nor day thy prayses neuer ceassed Who spent their time in praying for their Country putting themselues as a wall betweene thy wrath and the people Watching vvhilst others slept liuing in penance whilst others past their time in pleasures No Country yealded more Kings Canonized for their liues or Martirs by their deaths More that visited in Pilgrimage the Temples and Monuments of the chiefe Apostles More Princes which laying aside their Crowne and Scepter in Religious habite and Cloisters finished their age Or more Queenes and Kinges Daughters who renouncing worldly pompe chose Christ for their Spouse Holy Bishops in whome thy hart was well pleased were very many some of which lost their liues for their flocke Thou hadst here also Eremites Anchorets many equall in perfection to the Fathers of Aegipt Both sanctity and wisdome thou didst powre aboundantly vpon diuers of thy seruantes This Isle as a nource of learning sent teachers into straunge landes As a Seminary of Religion it did spread abroade the Christian faith No Country but boasteth of some English Saint honouring his reliques whose life they had in admiration Germany acknowledgeth from Enland her first Apostles and Euangelistes Who founded there thy faith O Lord by word workes and by their bloud By one of our nation were the Noruegians reclaymed from their superstitions And the frosen nations of the North-pole beganne to be enflamed with thy loue Our Kinges also in honour of thy sacred name and in signe of perfect vnion to thy Church Offered vp their protestation of obedient Children and made the Realme tributary to Peters chaire They erected a Colledge at Rome thy holy City that from whence their faith first proceeded it might still be conserued The deuotion of all to thy holy and dreadfull Sacrifices it is not my tongue thou knowest can expresse It vvas thou vvhich gauest them both ability and will to crect so many stately Temples with towres aspiring to the cloudes To adorne the same with such rich furniture Crosses Chalices and shrines of pretious mettall So that neither sparing labour nor cost they left examples of deuotion to all posterity Religious zeale being well grounded in all mens hartes other fruits of good life followed accordingly The vine yealdeth not Scamony the Pomegranate beareth not Coloquintida Neither could good Doctrine bring forth euill fruits It delighted thee to looke vpon this Realme and to regard the state thereof To see howe parentes loued their children more to thee then to the world more by reason then fond affection Howe children obeyed their parents not to the eye only but from the hart not for their owne behoofe but for thy commaundement Howe Masters to their seruants seruants to their Masters the Prince to the people the people to the Prince Each obserued to other their duty inuiolable The Clergy to the laity the laity toward the Clergy Howe all Superiors to their Inferiors bare themselues vpright and receiued likevvise of them their due Howe each man had just care of his soule and fewe gaue themselues ouer to iniquity How sinners hastned by penance and teares to reconcile themselues to thy mercifull Majesty All thinges went in order and the sweet cōsort of the common wealth was as the harmony of a wel-tuned instrument A DEPLORATION OF THE REVOLT OF ENgland from the receiued faith THE FOVRTH PSALME MY God O my God O God of our Auncestors vvhere is the goodly tree of thy planting become Which prospered and grewe so mightily which flourished so beautifully Whose shade was most pleasant and recreatiue whose armes streatched to the foure Seas The Cedars of Libanus vvere not taller the Palmes of Palestina fairer nor the Okes of the forrest stronger I heard of the glory and fame thereof and I wondred I looked about to see it and it is not to be found Alas O Lord that thou hast suffered a parching wind to blow from the North which made the boughs thereof to wither and the flourish thereof to decay The leaues first fell away by one and by one other followed by ten and by twenty As when the Sunne draweth to his farthest point and the cold nipping winter prepareth his recourse The smaller boughes beganne to fall to the ground being become dry stickes without sappe The contagion at length possessing the hart maine branches brake away The trunke all rotten fell downe the fall thereof was very great The cracke vvas heard into all landes and made Nations quake for feare Peeuish shrubs whome her shade oppressed inferiour trees whome her glory disgraced Such triumphed at her fall and rejoyced at her ruine But the other goodly trees of the wood pittied her calamity and feared their owne estate Yet just art thou O judge of all the world and there is no iniquity in thy wayes Before thou didst thus abase our Nation they sinned and before thou didst so chastise our Country it deserued the rodde Our forefathers were vnmindfull of the multitude of thy mercies and kept not the couenant of thy commaundements But beginning to vvauer at
vs and abhorred our company Our friendes haue forsaken vs our kindred haue no wil to know vs. Our brethren of the same wombe passed by vs as a streame vvhich stayeth for no mans talke Swifter then Swallowes fled they from vs for dread of the nets which are round about vs. They to vvhome vve should be deare despise vs they which should helpe followe in the chase Like sole Camels in the wildernes are we become like solitary birdes which haue lost their company Outcastes of no body regarded as broaken potsherdes were we trodden vnder foote At meetings men deuised against vs at tauernes and banquets made they songes vpon vs. Neither ceasseth their rage to repine that the milder minded drawe backe from persecuting Without committing folly are we scorned slaundred without desert Tongues are sharpned against vs like swordes malice is bent against vs as a bowe Arrowes are in secret let flie to wound vs snares are laied to intrap vs. The children of this world seeke nothing more then our destruction This their assemblies forget not this is their busines all the day long Lawes laied they earst for stumbling blockes crossed thy edictes the pathes of innocency Beset by them as thicke as bees wee liue inclosed amidest an armed hoast They raged among vs as a riuer vvhich swelleth vvith raine bearing downe the bankes vvith violence Their insolent fury as a flame which catcheth hold vpon a pile of thornes Oppressed thus by our aduersaries we lay groueling on the ground and by strong hand were our neckes kept downe Oh that at length they would not kicke against our litle redresse present for of the passed time who can record the calamity Euen so O heauenly Father for it hath pleased thee to compasse vs with payne and perill Our bowels are filled with worme wood our hartes long since inebriated with gall To what shall I compare our sorrowe and resemble the misery many yeares sustayned Our woes as waues of the Sea our aduersities as the sandes thereof Persecution followeth vs like thunder and lightning fire haile and brimstone More cruell are our foes then Vnicornes more outragious then swift Tigres As Dauid sought to death by Saul as the Israelites in the bondage of Egipt As innocēt Susanna in the handes of her accusers as Daniel in the Lions Den such is our case O Lord. Vnder vs is the appaling pitte aboue vs the brandishing sword Within vs feares vvithout vs terrours No meane left to escape but only thy diuine assistance Were it not for thy great mercy long since had we beene wasted and gone Our Fathers sinned and we beare their iniquities but vnto howe many generations will thy wrath be extended Howe long vvilt thou shut thy eyes from the oppression of thy poore and bannish their cry from thine eares A greate space haue our soules thirsted after thee expecting the day of their redemption As trauaylers in a dry vncouth way as children weaned from their Mothers breast Our hartes are replenished vvith sorrowe and heauines to see thine anger so confirmed against vs. Hold not thy peace but answere vs nowe we lift vp our handes before thy holy Seate Consider at length of our complaint O Protector of thy holy Church looke dovvne from thy throne of Majesty Regard the daylie Sacrifices and turne not thy face frō thine anointed Iniquity hath preuayled gotten the vpper hand and proceeded with all extreamity Because of this we groane by day and at midnight powre forth our soules in teares Memory of our tribulation commeth into our lippes at table of refection and busieth our thoughtes vpon the bed of our rest At our rising it is in our first prayers at our going to bed we againe commend our cause to thy mercy Diuers times in the day we bowe our knees beseeching thee at length to relent Our eyes droppe continually vnto thy Godhead and our sighes are euery moment sent vp towarde thy throne We haue put on sackcloath and hayre and humbled our selues in fasting and abstinence Girt our loynes with corde abased our heades to the earth and multiplied our prayers Arise therefore O God of hoastes stand for thy people giue thy maligners to vnderstand that their Doctrines are of flesh and bloud Heale the crushed and brused set captiues at liberty Thy might is not abridged thy wisdome is no whit diminished Make therefore the yron rodde quite to cease from our shoulders binde vp the woundes of the guiltlesse Spare vs for thy name sake O benigne Lord release thy congregation from their affliction Conuert the hartes of people to thee and they shall be conuerted Send forth thy grace and put vp thy sword Thou hast powred forth thine indignation like a streame and laide thy habitation like a waste plotte Ierusalem hath streatched out her hand and findeth no helpe shee bewayleth her children vvithout all consolation Nowe therefore arise vntwist the twine of our tribulation and breake the exactors staffe Preuent the appointed time O fountayne of mercy abridge the dayes to the saluation of many If thousandes wilfully run astray yet thousandes finde their ruine by ignorance Most part of this haruest perisheth for wante of reaping though much be blighted before the sickle Many which shined in thy church like starres are fallen as from heauen into the bottomelesse pit Many bredde vp in thy fragrant garden vvallowe novve vvithout doores vpon filth with swine Whome thy Spouse fostered vp with her owne breastes those haue sauage beastes raught from betweene her armes and deuoured So that shee is become as a tree blasted and casting her blossomes with the frost Her faire ones are altered to Aethiopians her stronge ones changed to weakelinges They which seemed strōgest haue shrunke vnder the burdē they which seemed soundest are consumed Hell hath widned his entrailles and opened his mouth beyond all measure So that almost as many soules are swallowed in his gulfe as bodies are carried to the graue The fainter sort are tyred in this long probation blaspheamously say in their hartes where is our God become Scarce the just elect haue beene able to endure Respect therefore at last O Lord our oppression desolation For thy loue and for defence of our faith it is that we haue taken so hard a course For righteousnes we sustayne reproofe for not violating our alleageance to thy soueraigne Majesty Who art the only Lord of Lordes and Monarch of the whole world Before whose face the mountayns tremble to whome Angels bowe Whose slaues and vassals are all the Princes of the earth When thou list thou pluckest away their chaynes of gold and tiest a rope about their neckes For thy seruice we suffer hating the profane Church and refusing to sit in the congregation of the wicked Vngodly assemblies we haue detested and held in abhomination the Doctrine of the chaire of pestilence Conceale therefore no longer our innocency the mouth of the vngodly is opened against vs. And that without our fault thou
knowest who quietly seeke to direct our liues They say to vs talke not of conscience meddle not of Religion and you shall be free Yeald to vs in shewe and giue outward consent to our lawes and actions Come reuerently to our rites and prayers be one of vs at least in profession Forsake your accustomed Sacramentes renounce the society and communion of Catholikes Then beleeue in hart howe you lift we admit you good subjectes and no enemies of our Religion Misery hangeth ouer our heads if we yeald not to this suggestion but a thousand miseries if we doe relent If we forsake thy Tabernacle hell claymeth interest in vs the fiend taketh seyzion of our soules Standing stedfast vve are consumed to nothing neither finde end of trouble but by death A CONSOLATORIE PSALME ANSWEring to the former THE SECOND PSALME LIFT vp thy head O Virgin Sion receiue comfort yee children of Hierusalem Yee zealous soules who groane vnder sore persecution and sit in heauines for your conscience sake Who haue beene tried by fire and found pure peysed in ballance and found sufficient Your constancy our Lord maker hath beheld accepting the same as a most gratefull Sacrifice Confirme your hartes in hope for your redemption is not farre off The yeare of visitation draweth to an end and Iubilation is at hand Albeit yee be as drops fallen into the Sea and as graines of gold among the mountaynes Yet are yee respected from on high as loyall and louing children the reliques of Israell shall bee saued Hierusalem shall be built vp againe and the second glory thereof shal be greater then the first The Church purged in the fornace of tribulation shal shine brighter then euer before Righteousnes shall prosper and infidelity shall bee plucked vp by the rootes God wil arise as from a long slumber and establish againe the Arke of his sanctification Feare not little IACOB hee that is thy Redeemer from the Diuell will be thy deliuerer from all euill His thou art his flocke and fold Catholike is thy name To hurt thee is to hurt him to touch thee is to touch the apple of his eye Arise therefore from the earth shake off sorrowes thy confusion shall giue glace to glory The morning dewe is prest to fal and the night to be discharged of her course With the eye of pitty the Lord of hostes shall visit vs and send saluation to his people Turning their water into wine their wormewood into suger canes His scattered flocke he will vnite againe and reduce strayers into safety The roote which hath waxen old vnder ground shall shoote vp againe as a fresh plant by the riuer side No man shall vpbraid it vvith barrennes or say it vvas a cursed stocke False errour shall vanishe like smoake and they vvhich sawe it shall say where is it become Iust judgement and holy lawes shall be restored If a Woman can forget her child or if we can forget our right handes yet will not Christ be vnmindfull of Sion his heritage Sooner shall he forget his owne throne then her desolation For ashes hee shall giue her a Crowne for baths of teares vnction of joy Requiting her ignominy with honour her sackcloath of sorrowe with robes of festiuity His Tabernacle he will spred againe and dwell among vs as in time past Cladding his Priestes with holynes and his seruants with purity Sacred songes shall breake their long silence the lampe of our Lord shall be reuiued Preachers of saluation shall without feare lift vs their voice The Churches shall be hallowed againe no vncleane persons shall enter therein The forrests and rockes shal send thither their chiefest glory for beautifying of sacred workes Screetch-owles shall seeke newe habitation and resigne to the simple Doue With sweeter then milke hony seauen fountaynes shal spring afresh and flowe The resemblance of heauen shall be renewed the resemblance of hell shall be destroyed England shall bee called a happy Realme a blessed Country a Religious people Those which knewe the former glory of Religion shall lift vp their handes for joy to see it returned againe Those which neuer sawe it shall be stroaken with admiration VVishing that they had sooner knowne the truth and condemning their fathers which forsooke it Men shal say of it one to another here is indeede the house of God the gate of heauen Howe great diuersity is betweene truth and falshoode deuout solemnities and counterfeit ceremonies From the East point to the West men shall confesse their errours They which thought themselues wisest shall say they knew nothing Gladly shall people walke in their auncients steps of truth and equity beginning to learne howe to loue God aright Howe to loue him and serue him howe to honour him sincerely in a perfect hart Be no more apald O little flocke of Christ the Prince of peace vvill breake the exactors rodde Rescuing you from captiuity and bringing you vnto desirable pastures Take courage for he is with you his assistance neuer faileth To his glory he created you and for his name sake he wil protect and saue you No longer will he dissemble the oppression of his people he is bent to reuenge their cause The Daughters of Babilon shall be cast downe and in the dust lament their ruine Proude Heresie shall strike her saile and groane as a beast crushed vnder a cartwheele Though her hart be flint her neck yron her forhead brasse The Omnipotent hath sworne to make her stoope and that he vvill abase her haughtines Though shee fret his chosen vine neuer so much in despight of her it shall shoote vp and prosper Ten times if it be cut downe ten times it shall arise more glorious God hath planted it with his owne hand he hath vvatered it vvith the bloud of Martirs it shall flourish He hath considered the insolency of our enemies their cruell dealing hath not escaped his sight Howe arrogantly they walke before our face glorying in their wickednes But the memory of nouelties shall perish with a cracke as a ruinous house falling to the ground Repent yee seducers with speede and preuent the dreadfull wrath of the most powreable Least his ire tread vpon you like a conquerour Least sodainely he draw you forth out of your terrestriall Paradise as thornes vvhich are not pulled vp with handes We haue long tasted the cup of his indignation but for sinners he hath reserued the dregges thereof Greene and flourishing boughes haue not escaped his heauy hand and shall he be mercifull to rotten branches Let iniquity no longer lie deceiuing it selfe with vaine security For thus promiseth the defendor of Israell He will come as a flame that bursteth out beyond the fornace His enemies shall be like stubble in his way His fury shal flie forth as thunder and pitch vpon their tops which maligne him With him is both wisdome and strength he quaileth the world with a becke He knoweth how to dull the weapons of the mighty and to frustrate
cure her leprosie and to remedy her loathsomenesse She is proued a bastard vine and degenerated to a soure grape A froward bowe which will rather flie in peeces then come to the bent A fruitlesse and barren soile not answerable to the sowers hope Against thee her God she hath lifted vp her hand against the omnipotent she hath vaunted her feathers With a proude gate and lofty countenance she hath stalked against thee as though she would checke thee to thy face She saith I am safe in the midest of waters my shippes are my brasen wall Yet is she flesh and not a spirit a worme and not a God Be it that she soareth as high as an Eagle shee should be reached with thy arrowe but spare her O Lord. Be it she were as stronge as steele shee should bee dashed in peeces by thy fury but mittigate thy wrath She extolleth her selfe in conceipt of prosperity and vannteth her proceedinges in iniquity In a moment canst thou crush her bones and lay her pride in the dust but oh remember thy mercy VVhat-soeuer this people thinketh is meere iniquity all their communication is conspiracy against heauen and treason against thee They haue all made a league with death and concluded a couenant with hell Their feete are svvifte to euill and their handes stronge to doe mischiefe The earth it selfe is infected with wickednesse of the inhabitants and cryeth vnto thee for vengeance And possibly vvould svvallovve them as it did Chore and his company vvere it not for thy elect sake Reuenging fire of Sodome and Gomorrha might be justly feared if the faithfull stayed not thy rodde If any forsake iniquity he is made a pray our chanels flow with bloud Who did euer heare such horrible thinges as this people commit against thee their maker Degenerated is thy vineyarde and turned wilde yealding verjuce for wine Thy darling and vowed Virgin hath giuen ouer her selfe common to all adulteries To Luther and Caluin she hath opened her bosome and to whome so-euer else that would dishonour her She hath sought her louers farre and neere and hired teachers for her itching eares She careth not whome she admit so she admit not thee her first spouse nor whither she runne so she flie from thy face As a woman contemneth her husband so hath she contemned thee and with disdaine turned her backe Defending her iniquity vnder pretext of thy glory she dareth to say I am no adulteresse I am no Apostatrice Her brasen face cannot blush her impudent minde can conceiue no repentance But if she harden her face not to repent harden the face of thy messengers to reprehend If she harden her face to persecute harden thou their face to withstand Confirme the hartes of those thy labourers endue them with strength from aboue and giue successe vnto their endeauours Whose only presence representeth in some sort the state of former times And maintayneth thy holy fire that it goe not out Diminish not their number because of our sinnes and vnworthynesse but encrease it for our better comfort That the daylie foode of our soules we may receiue at their hands and not want their assistance in our extreamities Protect them night and day from their enemies wheresoeuer thy busines detayneth them Embolden our harts with courage from heauen to concurre with them freely in furthering thy seruice Fully thereby to discharge our Christian duty and be partaker of their reward and Crowne So may they build apace the wales of thy Hierusalem and winne innumerable soules to thy Kingdome So may they speedily bring to passe that auncient happinesse may returne So may thy Temples be clensed of their abhominations returning to the vse whereunto they were builded No longer be dennes of Diuels and instruments of thy dishonour Be it so O mighty Patron of thy afflicted be it so And all that loue their Country let this be their daylie teares A CONTEMPLATION OF THE BLESsed state of a Catholike THE FIPT PSALME COME and consider vvith me the sweetnesse of our Lord O all yee that be of his holy congregation Come and consider with me the glory of his Spouse O all yee that dwell in her Tabernacle Come and consider with me the happinesse of your owne soules yee which haue entred into the sanctuary of our God Meditate his goodnes in the night in the day time lift vp your handes vnto his holy Seate Great is he and vvorthy of all prayse thy workes beare witnesse of thee O Lord. Thou hast erected thy Church as thy Kingdome vpon earth her glory shall not depart from the lippes of thy Saintes In thy only Sonne it was founded from the beginning and to the end of the world it shall endure For faithfull art thou in all thy wordes and holy in all thy workes Iust righteous in all thy wayes and perfect in thy determinations As in the sunne-beames thou hast placed this thy Tabernacle that the vertue thereof might comfort the world Vpon an hill thou hast situated thy City whither all people should repaire for lawes and doctrine This is the Queene standing at thy right hand glittering in gold and rich attire Thy Spouse vvhome thou canst not but loue thy turtle which can not but be chast and true The piller of truth whereupon thy faith is builded The rocke against vvhich hell gates shall not preuaile The ship which thou permittest to be tossed but neuer sufferest to be ouerwhelmed The arke ordayned to saue the elect out of which who so is found perisheth euerlastingly The sanctuary of refuge whither to flie from the anger to come The mount of thy sanctification which the right hand hath cōquered The inheritance which thou hast purchased with thy Sonnes bloud A pauilion immoueable vvhose pinnes can neuer bee pulled out whose cordes can neuer be broaken A high and strong Castle vvhose vvalles are Adamant against which no strength can preuaile A massy hard stone vpō whome it lighteth it crusheth him in peeces All benediction thou hast bestowed vpon thy Church vvho hath not her for Mother shall not haue thee for Father In her only thou hast established thy true worship and confirmed it neuer to faile As other people haue Gods none the true God but Christians So may factions adore the also none truly and fruitfully but thy Catholike Church alone Among all trees thou hast chosen one Palme amōg al birds one Doue Among all flowres thou hast preferred one Lilly among all hilles one Sion All nations are thy subjectes and creatures but we thine inheritance Rejoyce and be glad yee inhabitants of Hierusalem among whome is the great and holy one of Israell Yee are all like Gods the true children of the Highest Happy are the eyes vvhich see that yee see and enjoy the presence of him whome yee adore Happy are the eares that heare what yee heare and the harts which are partakers of your instructions No nation vnder heauen hath a God so potent so louing so neere to them which
worship him More pretious are your soules in his sight then the Phoenix or the Vnicornes fole He hath raised vnto you a seate of mercy whither to haue recourse for remission of sinnes And prepared a table for your refection wherein himselfe is the banquet and feast O howe delectable are thy dainties O Lord howe acceptable are thy holy Altars Much better are the reliques there of then the exquisite cates of princes Much better is it to be an abject in thy houshold then a great man in Kings Courtes The meanest in thy Church is noble the poorest in thy Church is rich Who is able to expresse the magnificence of thy Church or the one halfe of her glory We haue Priestes rightly consecrated and anointed in sacred wise Orderly accomplishing thy dread full misteries in vestments of holynesse and honour Monkes and other Religious persons persisting day and night in prayer With fasting and disciplines afflicting themselues in sackcloath and hayre for the sinnes of the people Vowed Virgins veiled handmaides of thy Christ by like order of life contend for like Crowne And fixing him profoundly in hart whome they haue chosen as celestiall Spouse Endeauour nothing else then to be perfect in his sight and serue him without distraction Vpon the society of thy faithfull legions of Angels attend for their defence Vpon them thy eyes are perpetually open to consider their wants and heare their prayers Who liueth in their vnity is in the communion of Saintes partaker of their assistance and patronage Hath his part in euery good deed and is daylie prayd for throughout the world Who dieth a liuely member of this holy body misticall by prayers of the liuing hath remission of payne Happy art thou O flocke of Peter blessed are all nations subject to his chaire Where sit the judges of the house of Iacob the rodde and scepter of thy Kingdome O Redeemer Thy selfe art a watchman ouer it who neuer sleepest a protector who neuer slumbrest Whosoeuer impugne it shall rotte as they liue their eyes shall sinke and their tongue shall be eaten out They shall perish in thy fury and melt like waxe before the fire None shall resist thy Church and be innocent No man fighteth against her without foile he dasheth his fist against a Rocke Her enemies shall licke the dust of her feete and those which oppugned her kisse her steps Such as will not shall be called a reprobate company vvith vvhome thou wilt exercise eternall wrath Aboundance of blessinges vpon all them which honour her and curses eternally will followe them which vexe her Her loue and mercy is more then the tender hart of a Mother Her anger more to be feared then a Princes rage In her remayneth knowledge vvhich can not erre power vvhich may not be contradicted In her is the treasure of thy Sons merits reposed In her possession are the Keyes of thy heauenly Kingdome Thou art her teacher that shee may not be ignorant The holy Ghost is her sanctifier to preserue her from iniquity As the Moone from the Sunne fetcheth her light so is she illuminated from Christ her Spouse In her only dost thou raigne with magnificence in her only thou art to be found Not so the Sinagogue of the wicked not so the congregation of Heretikes Among whome as in his Kingdome sitteth the Prince of pride who hath dominion ouer all children of darknesse Presuming as though they were thy counsailors or as if the holy Ghost spake in their eare As though they were the lampes of the world with whome Religion was borne with whome it should die They say to the auncient Fathers hold your peace and to the Doctors of the Church we will teach you wisedome But their pride is more then their power for thou dwellest not in harts subject to sinfulnesse Swelling in cogitations of their harts they proudly tosse vp their heddes as vntamed coltes As childrē of Belial without yoke they challenge liberty without obedience Priestes they make to themselues for their newe lawe and put vpon them authority which they cannot giue Like Apostata children they haue made assemblies not in thy name begonne a webbe and not in thy spirit False Prophets sell them follies and lies and set cushions of ease vnder sinners elbowes For a little lucre they justifie the wicked vpon confidence of faith they assure saluation Peoples sores they close vvith a false skinne vvhen the vvound festreth they say all is well Eating in effect the peoples sinnes and cloathing themselues vvith their iniquities In steede of the supersubstantiall Bread of life they giue them Serpents for the Chalice of saluation poyson of Adders Making thee more vnjust then any Tyrant they teach that thou punishest all sinnes with equall payne And that vvithout difference of desertes thou rewardest all vvith equall glory They say thou canst not make thy Saints and Angels to vnderstand our prayers nor shewe to them thinges done in earth They foolishly say that thou wilt not haue vs honour thy friendes and that thou settest litle by their intercession Denying that vvhose sinnes the Church forgiueth are forgiuen in heauen they say thou canst not giue such authority to man Doubting of thy Omnipotency they say with the Capharnaits howe can Christ giue vs his body for food With the faithlesse they sticke not to say his wordes are hard and who can beleeue him His promise of being vvith his Church to the end of the vvorld they contemne And that the Holy Ghost shall teach her all truth they credit not Wanting the band of vnity vnder seuerall heades they make seuerall companies and sects Hauing no certayne rule of faith each is author of his owne beliefe framing a Religion by priuate fancy Both in Doctrine and life all disorder is among them eternall horrour and confusion Oh with how great difference most supereminent light hast thou seperated Israell from the Aegyptians So plaine hast thou made the high way of truth that a very foole neede not misse the path Our enemies giue testimony to our faith and confesse that we may be saued therein They which oppugne it doe justifie it in confessing the primitiue Doctors to haue erred with vs. And thy Church not vnmindefull of her great priuiledge nor vngratefull for thy benefits Honoureth thee alwaies with inward purity worthy of thy holines and with outward ornaments worthy of thy Majesty Seauen times in the day shee singeth thy prayses and prayeth for Catholikes throughout the world Heare her prayers O enemy of falshood and giue all the earth to vnderstand That Heresie is a tempest raging only for a time but the foundation of thy Church endureth for euer A PSALME WHEREIN THE CATHOLIKE CALleth to minde his conuersion giuing thankes to God for the same THE SIXT PSALME MEDITATE O my soule a newe song open my lips to a psalme of thanksgiuing Rejoyce in him that made thee rejoyce in him that redeemed thee Rejoyce in him that conserueth thee rejoyce in him that
sanctifieth thee Rejoyce in thy Lord thy God rejoyce in thy King and Captayne He hath delighted in thee and loued thee and exalted thee to saluation Lifted vp thy head and awaked thee from sleepe of death Broaken thy bondes asunder and set thee at liberty that thou shouldst liue acceptably before him in the land of the liuing VVhilst thou walkedst peruerse paths he regarding thy misery determined better of thee then thou didst deserue From thee not ceassing to offend him daylie hee turned avvay his anger and kindled not all his wrath His eye of pitie hee fixed vpon thee when thou wert vtterly vnmindfull of him By secreet and sundry meanes he drewe thee to his seruice Cleane he hath wiped thee from al filth placed thee in a faire way and bid thee walke therein As the potter frameth his vessell or the jueller polisheth his pretious stone so laboured he thee to his holy purpose By open examples by priuie inspirations By threats and allurements by prosperity and aduersity he ceassed not to call thee Aproach therefore O yee which feare our Lord herken what great mercy hee hath performed in my soule I will sing vnto him for his abundant clemency I vvill prayse the name of the Highest He who from a-loft watreth the hilles with sweete showres that the earth may bring forth her encrease Hath refreshed my barraine soule with heauenly dewes of grace that it may waxe fruitfull to righteousnesse Hee who prouideth wherewith the beastes of the desert may quench their thirst Hath not suffered my soule to perish in a desolate lande He which neasteth the birdes in trees and fowles in the rockes hath placed me in the tree of his owne planting and in the rocke of his owne foundation Thou gauest me knowledge O my God to seeke remission of sins and inckling to flie from the wrath to come As the day-starre arising from the East thou shalt chase darknes from my hart I heard thy voyce as a whispering in mine eare and trembled thereat I felt thy knocking as of one desirous to be let in So had I often donne before but still was obstinate exasperating too too much thy long patience Pardon me O Lord that I was so dull to heare thee pardon me and I will redeeme those dayes with great diligence Pardon me for thou knowest we are flesh and bloud prone to euill and slowe to piety At last thou calledst me with an effectuall voice and I answered I am ready For why thou knewest what was fittest to mooue me and gauest me thy hand to helpe me vp I cast off my former damnable sloath and set forward my feete to the pathes of peace I saide to my selfe hie thee O wreatch into the house of God into the lappe of his holy Spouse I resolued to take no repast nor enter into the bed of my repose vntill my soule were made the Temple of the Holy ghost Vntill shee had made her peace with the Almighty and were purged of her iniquities Wherby endued with grace I might securely go to rest sleep in saluatiō I bowed my knees and lifting vp my handes humbly besought thee Author of all goodnesse Happily to accomplish the worke which thou hadst begone in me and to set me in state of grace Thou heardst my prayer and I atchieued the just desire of my hart I sought earnestly to finde one of thine anointed for discharge of my conscience One of those vvhome thou hast chosen and sent to guide people to thy Kingdome To whome Christ bequeathed the exercise of his function as he before had receiued it of his Father To vvhome hee gaue the Holy Ghost promising that in forgiuing or loosing sinners their judgement he would ratifie In vvhome hee hath placed the word of reconciliation and the administration of his holy Testament Sending them as Embassadors to declare his will and commaunding to receiue them as representers of his owne person Hard was it for me to finde such one of thy seruants for the dayes of Elias are returned when the Prophets were hidden in caues Yet thou gauest me fauour in the sight of thy Sunamite I was admitted to speech of the heauenly Physician Embracing his spirituall exhortatiō in solitarynes I began to prepare I sate downe streightly examined my soule as he which is to render account of most weighty matters Our aduersary the Diuel stood on my left side and said wilt thou confesse thy secrets to a sinnefull man I answered auant Satan who hauing made me impudent to sinne suggestest shame of repentance He wished me to differ till a fitter time and said there was no hast But considering howe long I had prouoked thy patience I feared by sodain summos of death to be taught vnprouided He proposed danger of the lawe I replied that God was to be obeyed before Princes He objected that the Lord only forgiueth sinnes I answered that from him only I expected remission but by ministery of man As likewise in thy name O mighty of mightiest Physitions heale and thy Saintes worke miracles thou being the author of both I letted not therefore to disclose my sinnes to thy seruant that I might of him receiue absolution and counsaile I discouered euen my most secret sores as to a skilfull Chirurgion and obtayned with health holsome preseruatiues Recounting my sinnes in the bitternesse of my soule I accused my selfe with my owne lippes I sorrowed for all knowing that thou wilt not be serued by halues and that thou acceptest not him which renounceth not euery sinne I confessed all knowing that cursed is he who lieth to the holy ghost Abhominable is a dissembler in thy Sacraments his fruit as of him who layeth venime to his wound Or thinketh to be eased of his burden vvhen he foolishly addeth a mighty weight to his backe I ouercame shame and endured to blush that in the world to come I might not be confounded But oh howe soone did I receiue the reward of my labour vvho can expresse the sweetnesse that I found in my soule I tasted of thy dainties O Soueraigne sweetnesse vvhich thou hast reserued for them which feare thee The excellency whereof none can imagin but they only which proue it A droppe as it were I felt of the celestiall fountayne wherewith thou blessest thy Saints and Angels A testimony of thy inuisible grace a seale of the remission of my sinnes a pledge of eternall glory When shall the memory of that time be renewed by experiment of like joy Which while I tasted I could hunger nothing else then righteousnes nor thirst any thing but the Kingdome of heauen I said boldly come death nowe when thou wilt I haue vnburdned my soule and am ready Flie Satan I renounce thee for euer thou hast no part in me at all The bloud of our LORD hath washed me and the merit of his Passion hath made me hole Nowe finde I them lyers which slaundered our holy Mother terrifying me from her Paradise Sects haue a shadowe
and name of Religion not like thy lawe O Lord. I found thy faith to be vnspotted without stayne of any folly Conuerting soules from their sinfull wayes and giuing wisdome to the ignorant Pearcing to the very hart and comfortable to a single spirit Quickly was my desolation turned to joy thou claddedst me vvith consolation as with a robe Nowe therefore being redeemed by my Maker from the hands of the enemy I confesse that he is gentle good and exceeding bountifull and his mercy endureth for euer I sate in darknesse and in the shadowe of death and there vvas none to helpe me I cried vnto him he ayded me breaking my fetters in sunder Had he not assisted me the enemy had euen swallowed me quicke Blessed be his holy name vvho gaue me not for a pray to the Dragons jawes As a litle bird I escaped the fowlers net as the silly hare from the pursuing gray-hound By the old aduersary of mankinde I had beene seduced and supplanted by his malice My God streatched out his potent hand deliuering me from the violent streame Who caught me in his armes as if a father should catch his child from the deuouring beare Because he loued me he sought my saluation not suffering the enemy to triumph Prayse him therefore O my soule be not vngratefull for his benefits Forget not what he hath done for thee preuenting thee in his blessinges He hath made thee flourish afresh as in the yeares of thy first regeneration Restoring thy innocency againe and renewing thy youth as an Eagle As farre as heauen is from earth or East from West so farre hath he remooued from thee thine iniquities He hath crowned thee with better then pretious stones all parts and povvers vvithin mee magnifie his mercy I staggered in attempting my saluation the difficulties of the time amazed me Thou girdedst me with vertue vnder thy protection I ouercame those tentations I was slowe and weake thou madest me swift like an Hart that I ran forwardes without impediment Thou hast taught me to fight māfully against the enemy and confirmed my hart to be thy champion Thou hast raised me from vvorse then the dunghill and placed me amōgst thy holy princely people Out of the lake of misery thou hast pulled me and from the dirty dregs of sinne heresie thou hast drawne me forth From Deaths dore thou reuiuedst me from Hel-gates thou broughtest me backe Oft to the barrē thou sendest children to me an orphane thou gauest thy Spouse for a Mother Many vvonderfull thinges thou bring est to passe none more strange doe I knowe then the conuersion of my hard hart Many wayes thy mercy sheweth it selfe but neuer more then in pardoning my offences What should I say O Lord thou hast engraffed thy name in my hart and enroled my name in thy booke of life Thou hast shrowded mee in thy tabernacle against the day of wrath Opening to me the gates where none but the just enter In vaine haue the fiends like foxes sought my soule departing voide of their expectation I will loue thee therefore O my aide and refuge my strength and the foundation of my hope The new tune which thou hast giuen to my mouth I wil alwayes sing I will offer before thy Altar a Sacrifice of prayse in the sight of thy Angels Saints I will giue thankes The cup of thy Crosse I will expect desiring to suffer for thy sake What other way can I be answerable to thy giftes or how can I doe this also except thou giue it Thou needest neither me nor my good deedes thou hast chosen me and not I thee O Redeemer My conuersion vvas thy handy-worke without whose assistance I can not thinke a good thought Who am I O Fountayne of goodnesse that thou thus shouldest manifest thy selfe vnto me That suffering thousandes to wallowe still in wickednesse thou chosest me on whome to shewe mercy Neither tookest me out of this life in time of blindnesse in midest of mine iniquities To thy selfe O Lord to thy selfe bee the glory of this thy mercifull kindnesse Let the heauens prayse thee for it and in earth others be conuerted by my example Let my daylie endeauours be to further thy faith and drawe others to the delectable spring wherewith my selfe haue beene refreshed So shall thy graces in some sort redound to thee againe as floodes returne to the Sea So shall I not perish like an vnfruitfull tree which leaueth not his like behinde Prayse yee meane-space your Creator and mine O yee his Angels who rejoyce at conuersion of euery sinner Who perpetually execute his wil without declining at any time from his hests Prayse yee him O his holy Priests messengers of his will shepherdes of his folde by whose handes he reconcileth sinners Prayse yee him O al yee my Brethren partakers of like saluation Whome of caytiues plunged in like errours he hath justified and made righteous Prayse yee him O all his seruants neuer yet entangled with like misery Prayse him O my soule whilst thou quicknest my body when thou partest by death ceasse not to doe the same And when thou receiuest the body againe prayse him perfectly without end AN IMPLORATION OF DIVINE GRACE against temptations of Religion THE SEAVENTH PSALME THOV taughtest me perfect wisdome in my first conuersion O Lord and I verily trusted neuer more to be shaken In the day of her reconciliation thou saidst vnto my soule nowe art thou my faire Spouse this day haue I assumed thee Why then doth the tempter whisper in my eare and say hovve long vvilt thou serue thy GOD in vaine Why doe the speeches of those mooue my minde who saying they loue me well vpbraide me to my face of follie Objecting that I spend my age in wilfull calamity neither reape the pleasure of my life Remember O Lord the comfortable word that thou spakest to my hart Preserue me still among the generation which seeketh thee which alone enjoyeth thy presence protection Which with vndefiled lippes and cleane hart offer vp day lie sacrifices and magnifie thy holy name Among whome only is saluation to be hoped for and thy true honour to be found Let mee alwayes put my trust in thee and neuer be ashamed of the God of my forefathers Nor deny my selfe to be of his holy chosen company Keepe me O my maker that neuer in thought word or deede I consent to rites of a straunge Religion or partake in their actions Neither openly nor priuily in speech nor silence by action nor omission or any signe whatsoeuer Least I bee enwrapped in their plagues because of their company and drinke the cup of their damnation Let neither friendship nor hatred profit nor losse Payne nor pleasure life nor death separate me from thy Church Suffer not that my brethren and fellowe seruants stumble by my example to their ruine Or say of me see howe he hath lost his part in Israell his inheritance aboue the starres Loe howe he was not
safe on the land see others suffer shipwracke Had we stolne ordinary fauour might be found appeached of murder we might be succoured But now for our conscience vvee finde no mercy neither can supplication finde grace To prison we are drawne laid vp close Rods are made ready for vs racks and other engins of torture are prepared He that escapeth best lieth long forgotten enduring the designments of his Keepers fury Thus are we become like outcasts of this world like vile ragges which are throwne out of dores Euery day bringeth his load of affliction no place can recline our heades in safety Comfort we haue none but only this thou art on high and in thy handes lieth the lotte of our fortune We are brought exceeding lowe as lowe as wormes of the earth Vpon which passengers treade and bigger creatures make their pray Neyther haue wee at any time rest neyther finde we in any place security If for a space our Persecutors relent it is to reenforce their cruelty If a calme arise in one place the sword rageth in many others vvith double seuerity If they pretend any fauourable remission it is only in regard of farther policy Who is yet free can not warrant himselfe any little vvhile from their fingers And who thinketh himself secure is often times in most daunger The day layeth vs open the night can giue vs no assurance At home we are caught by searches in the wayes we are apprehended by watches False brethren are mingled among vs and by fayned friendes we are oft betrayed No wit is equall to the malice of our foes hardly can any fore-sight frustrate their diligence No not their sinfull subtilty who seldome seeke thy gratious Sacramentes more trusting their ovvne policy then thy diuine prouidence In this wise while prisons are filled with thy seruants or that otherwise they are had in pursuit Families runne to ruine and children want necessary education Of this fathers feele in their harts the griefe and mothers doe often complayne But better is thy grace then great wealth and a cleane soule then exquisite learning To this and all other tribulations giue an end O blessed Father of heauen Ioyfully that we may serue thee in holynesse and piety in peace and security The second Lamentation WHY number we our temporall detrimeÌ„ts O most bounfull Lord which are the least part of our present calamity And lament not rather our spirituall losses the diminishing of thy glory Not our priuate damages not our earthly discommodities so much vexe and torment vs. But the zeale of thy faith consumeth vs thy dishonour is the great corasiue Reproches against thy Religion wee repute as our owne daylie they light vpon vs as a tempest of stones We pine away to see thy lawe forgotten and die for griefe that thy ordinances are despised Mourning to consider the kingdome of darknesse so enlarged and impiety so deepely rooted In our captiuity we weep amaine calling to minde the calamity of thy Church For neither can we sing thy notes hauing lost our Temple Nor with worthy magnificence celebrate thy Mysteries being so impouerished and spoyled Nor haue any harty gladnesse being abridged of thy most honourable Seruice Because of this our VIRGINE mourne our young-men lament our aged wring their handes Our Priests girt with haire offer Sacrifice as in the dayes of Iudith For why our lightes are fewe in number our solemne Seruice is impared Organs musicke are laid aside the melody of Sion is out of vse Our glory is in captiuity our ornaments are in the enemies hand Susteinance of our soules is barred from the conduits of saluation we are excluded Pretious and rare in these dayes is thy worde thy holies are seldome seene No otherwise liue thy Priests with the rest of thy seruants then as in the time of Elias when they were hidden in caues They are put to silence who would raise vp Iacob to remorse and conuert Israell from her Apostasie Few are left to instruct people in the way of justice and teach wreatches to shunne sinne With grones people seeke the supersubstantiall foode Neither without danger of death search they spirituall refection The pathes are beset with enuious eyes in passage to thy holy rites our steps are watched Little ones craue the bread which came from heauen and there is none to giue it them They which had sometime the celestiall Manna at wil die in the streets for hunger He which feedeth thereon liueth for euer and hee which doth not can haue in him no life yet is it taken from vs. Abolished are Confirmation and holy Chrisme principall armour vnto Christian constancie The reuerent rites of Baptisme are quite rejected as vnprofitable The Diuell rejoyceth that hee is not adjured but may dwell in infants from their first natiuity Matrimony is concluded to be a prophane bargaine neither blessing nor grace belonging thereunto Orders are none at all where thy Priestes sate enstalled raigne those whose persons are not sacred Blinde guides vnfaithfull watchmen dogges dumbe to the theefe barking at the houshold Hirelinges they peele the woole suffering the sheepe to perish They runne and were not sent take charge of soules without vocation In at the windowe they came and not at the dore they cry The Lord the Lord he spake not vnto them Worne out in prison are al thy true Bishops no one is aliue to sustayne thy flocke Prophecies miracles and visions are taken away rarely reuealest thou the secrets of thy Kingdome No publike Altar incense or oblation either resembled or verified is the time of Antichrist Ah howe are golden times turned to drosse our plate to pewter To adore thee in spirit and truth is heynous to be present at thy Altar is a grieuous penalty To vnburden conscience at feete of a spiritual father is a matter of life At the houre of death it selfe absolution is denied the extreamity auaileth not to pardon The holy Vnction ordayned for our better passage is not permitted So that without just preparation vvee must enter combate vvith our deadly enemy Bookes for edification and prayer are committed to the flame whatsoeuer serueth vs to deuotion is destroyed If they finde thy holy Mysteries they tread them vnder feete the furniture of thy glory is their pray Ornaments and vesselles consecrated to thy seruice are prophaned to priuate vses as in the captiuity of Babylon At monuments of thy Sonnes passion or representation of thy Saints they vpbraid vs with Gods and Idolatry Defacing thy memories they pretend thy honour and blaspheming thy friends they alleadge thine owne Commaundement Lighting vpon reliques they reuile them if they finde the memoriall of thy death about vs they pronounce vs Traytors If they catch a Priest a hundred Dâ—â—egs are at hand vvhich dare lay violent hand vpon thine anointed Who concealeth the guide of his soule is not Caesars friend Abdias is not innocent If any deuout Sunamite harbour Elias her offence is vnpardonable Who reuerenceth the highest
the riuers of the valleys nor al the showres of heauen are able to wash away the stayne and shame No sope nor scowring can clense the crime no darknesse nor death it selfe can hide it No continuance of time nor the age of the world shall make it forgotten Other nations heare of it hardly beleeue it because such cruelty hath scarse seemed possible Posterity shall read of it and wonder all generations to come shall detest the fact Our Persecutors owne issue shall blush to heare the outragious actes of their auncestors Barbarous death of innocentes is much yet to misreporte the cause augmenteth the despite Refusall to commit an act against conscience call they rebellion not to deny the Catholike faith they tearme felony and treason Traytors indeed such as were thy chosen Apostles when forbidden to preach the truth Such as the Primitiue Christians when by Heathen statutes impugned was Religion Manifest is our guilt and great is our offence vvhen by going to Church all is pardoned All this we endure for thy sake O thou fountayne of grace not reuolting from thy beliefe We haue not forsaken thee least we should be forsaken of thee at the last howre Not denied thee before men least we should be denied of thee before thine Angels Turne therefore vnto vs thy gratious countenance wherewith thou cheerest the world Giue eare to our prayers consider of our complaint Heare the voyce of thy Martirs bloud or at least wise heare their supplication and intercession Whome spoyled of their garment of flesh thou hast clad with robes of immortality The fourth Lamentation THE garland of glory is fallen from our head the beauty of thy City is defaced O God the beholder of our combatte be mindfull of our abasement vnder the heauy hand of those which hate vs. We hope in thee because we haue knowne thee professed thy name Thou exaltest the humble and regardest a contrite hart Streatch out thy hand to our aide for thou art the buckler and defence of Israell Father of orphans Husband of widowes piller of the poore Teach men not to lift vp themselues vpon earth against thee and thy Saints Let not the memory of thy afflicted be laid aside forget not his patience for euer Cheere vp his just desire ease the mourning of his hart Chastise vs no longer in thy rage nor correct vs with indignation Heale vs for we are bruised haue mercy vpon vs for we are brought exceeding lowe In silence we expect thy long-desired consolation True it is that we deserue more of thy rodde then we feele and before thine anger we sinned If we sinne are our foes righteous if Iacob offend is Esau innocent If Hierusalem please thee not shall Babilon delight thee Wilt thou euermore be angry O Supreame Iudge or canst thou forget mercy Wilt thou serue this Realme as thou hast serued Afrike and Syria To let misbeliefe prepare the way to Infidelity suffering to enter an eternall Apostasie Let not the name of thy Christ Church be exiled let not a faithlesse generation roote vs out Not so O Lord for thy tender kindnesse and mercy pull vs violently out of cruell handes Rouse vp thy selfe like a Giant reuenge the bloud of thy Saints Let not the scourge of the vngodly be alwayes vpon the backs of the just Least they presume saying thou maintaynest their cause and that saluation is on their side Chastise vs with thine owne rod as children and not with the rodde of the vncircumcised Pull the speare out of the enemies rest knappe his launce in sunder and breake his sword Thou dwellest still vvhere thou didst thou art the same God and glory of Israell To thee our forefathers called oppressed by Heathen and thou redeemedst them To thee Catholikes made their moane vnder the yoke of Arrian heretikes and thou didst redresse their bondage So vtterly annihilating the aduerse sect that scant their name remayned vpon earth Euils innumerable compasse vs about howe long wilt thou turne away thy face Not for euer O Lord not for euer we beseech thee Shall so many ignorants yet zealous neuer haue thy light reuealed So many which for want of instruction perish shall they neuer haue true teachers Because diuers which liued in the flourish of thy Church haue set it at naught shall those neuer see it who if they sawe it would neuer forsake it Because many by yealding deserue such a yoke shall they which are constant be alwaies vnder it Shall the few sparkles which thou hast left in the lande be extinguished for lacke of cherishing What if the fathers did eate a soure grape shall the teeth of their children for euer be on edge The wicked wil not worship thee aright shall they therefore be alwayes vexed which worship thee in spirit and truth If thou haue decreed O wisdome incomprehensible concerning that generation which enjoyed the highest glory of thy sanctuary And forsaking their Pastors stood not stedfastly for their Religion in the time of contradiction That they shal pine away by fourty yeares trauaile in the desert neuer enter into the land of promise Nor see the glory of thy second Temple in all Royall magnificence If this be thy holy pleasure the secret counsaile of thy long delayes Or if the number of thy designed Martirs be not yet accomplished to whome by these times thou furnishest a Crowne Or if thou wilt needes haue the secrets of all harts to be opened and rippe vp all dissemblers by long probation That the vvhole vvorld vvorld may behold vvho serued thee from their hart and who followe thee with corrupt intention Or whatsoeuer else the depth of thy designments intendeth by this so long persecution Yet hasten the times for thy deare mercy sake O liuing Lord. Calme the tempest alay the raging wanes Saue vs vvho are daungerously tossed vnite vs who are dispersed and commaunded a-sunder That as one in hart so with one voice in free assemblies we may laude thy holy name extoll thy praises all the day long Giue vs in the meane space patience in our afflictions and ghostly profit by these our temptations Let them neither vvinne vs by vvordes nor vveary vs by cruell deedes O thou which art the saluation of thy people Aide vs O Sauiour glorifie thy selfe in our deliuerance Thou art the God of our forefathers thee only we will magnifie Thou art a zealous God we will not partake in thy dishonour Prepare the feete of thy forerunners let vs heare the noise of their steps approching Reueale the treasures of thy kingdome vvhich haue beene so long suppressed Graunt vs to reape at length with joy who haue a great space sowed in teares In expectation whereof our life vanisheth in griefe our yeares consume in sobs While we powre forth our soules before thee crauing at thy handes saluation Arise O Lord visit thy flocke raise vp the rased walles of Hierusalem Neglect not the vvasting of thy heritage Renewe thy truth vvhich hath beene so long a time without fruit let faith flourish againe like an oliue Then shall all nations feare thy name the Kings of the earth shall haue thy mercy in admiration We shall all vvith one harmony sing glory in thy Temple and sanctifie thy Altars with Sacrifice All generations to come shall prayse thee and make honourable mention of thy great goodnesse Thy Angels of heauen shall magnifie thee the Saints and blessed Spirits shall fall at thy feete and giue thankes Euery soule pray that this may soone come to passe and euery tongue say Amen Come O sweete IESV come FINIS