superlatiue degree But so foolish and new-fangled are our desires that wishing we wot not what and seeking it we know not how nor where we come all farre short of the same and some runne headlong to the despised contrary looking for it on earth and therby groping for it to their graues they are there cut off of their hopes and die discontented with their haps Whereas if they acknowledged it to be the tree of life planted in the heauenly paradise they wold lesse labor their bodies for attaining these transitorie shadowes of pleasure and more exercise the faculties of the soule for atchiuing the same so much the more despising these instable imperfect happinesses of this life as they found their foolish affections of the flesh doting on thē to worke neglect of the nutriment of their soule slacknes in the constant trauell in religion and vertue which is requisit for the long iorney we haue to passe through life and death thereunto But this hauing bin the sicknes of all ages specially of the Iewes in Salomons time which induced him as it should appeare to take so great paines in remouing thē from that error I the lesse maruell that our age florishing in the pride of like long peace and plentie vnder her Maiesties most happie raigne be also sotted with the world as they were dreaming of that perfection and perpetuity here which God by nature hath denied vnto vs but by her Highnes raigne we could hope for And since it is the dutie of euery part and member of the body to ioyne in the assistance cure of the whole if any particular of it shold suffer I haue in a dutiful compassiō of this cōmon calamity endeuored to seeke forth some mithridate for this poyson by which so many perish and haue here brought thee a Doses of the wisest Physitions cōposition that euer had practise of that cure who did not for th' experimēt of his potions qualitie first kill many patients in triall thereof but applying it to his owne wound first dares confidently write probatum est and by the seale of the holy spirit and consent of the Church doth warrant thee to tast of the same It is a receipt so oldly composed perhaps that thou respectest it the lesse or of so small price that thou shamest to take it or perhaps knowing the bitternesse of the tast thou hadst as liue continue sicke as to trie it But deceiue not thy selfe it is of the nature of the perfectest drogs which with age increase in strength of the kind of Sibillaes works which refused grow higher prized and of the herbe called woodroofe which onely handled hath an euill smell but more forcibly rubbed yeeldeth a sweet sauour Receiue it therefore as confidently as he assureth it and as kindly as I intend it who in respect that the obscuritie of many places the contrarietie as at first would appeare of some points and strange dependancie of the whole together haue done my carefull studious iudeuor by consideration imitation of the best interpreters hereof to explane the true sense accord the different places to ioine by probable cōnexion the whole discourse together which aswel to distinguish the seuerall arguments as to varie the verse and pawse the reader I haue not altogether vnfitly distributed into three Sermons each one containing foure Chapters a peece The first especially shewing the vaine opinion of felicitie which is not in earth to be found The second pointing more directly by the lawfull vse of this life the true way vnto her The last teaching her residence to be in heauen and perswading the speedie pursute of her fauor And that you might truly consider of the cariage of the matter according to the scope of the Text I haue caused the same to be quoted in the margent reducing for memorie sake into two abstract lines of verse set in the top of euerie leafe the substance of euery pages content which afterward as thou seest is paraphrastically dilated page by page in the plainest forme I can deuise Who in respect of the grauitie of the argument did restraine my pen frō the helpes of much profane learning and in consideration of the antiquity of the worke and maiestie of the author could not without great indecencie haue vsed the authorities of men or of so late times as since the learnings florished whence we now receiue our common light Like naked truth therefore I pray thee receiue it for it owne if not for my sake if in any thing I seeme to swarne from thy conceit of many points I pray thee confer farther therin with D. Gregorius Neocerasiensis Epis. Olimpioderus D. Salonius Epis. Viennēsis Theod. Beza Ioh. Serranus Anth. Corranus Tremelius all interpreters and paraphrasers in prose vpon this worke and I. Lectius Ro. Lemmannus I. Viuianus reducers thereof into Latin poesie or any other thou likest better of so shal my errors be couered or excused whilst their different formes distributiōs of method interpretatiōs wil leaue thee I am perswaded in some points as litle satisfied as this my labor shall do who in some things was forced to digresse from them all when either too much in one place or too litle in an other they followed the forme of a Paraphrasis which they vndertooke into which error also it is not vnlike but I haue sometimes fallen my selfe and I doubt not but many things more might haue bin said perhaps to more purpose then I haue done but non omnia possumus omnes According to my sufficiencie I haue discharged my self faithfully vnto thee and therfore I trust in these dayes wherein some pernitious many vnciuil and a swarme of superfluous and vnprofitable books passe from the presse it shall not be needfull for me to vse great insinuation for thy fauour since it lyeth not in the bounds of a Preface to prepare a peruerse mind or in the nature of such a worke to go a begging for a grace I will therfore cut off that labor only signifie vnto thee the excellency of this worke compiled by the wisest man and mightiest king of Israell euen Salomon the king of peace Ydida the beloued of God Ecclesiastes the preacher who in his Prouerbs instructeth thee as a child to a ciuill and honest life in this worke instituteth thy manly thoughts to the inquisition of the highest good To the end that by his last song of heauenly loue thy ripened thoughts might be inflamed with that glorious bride Christ Iesus to whose holy direction I hartily cōmend thee H. L. Certaine poems to the Authour of the worke TErra ferax vatum est Brittannia non tamen omnes Aut vno aut sacro flamine Phoebus agit Hic canit obscuri certaminis arma virosve Alter lasciui ludicra amoris alit Hos genio vt superas sic carmine argumento AEquum Reginae est cedere Regis opus A. H. S. Ad Serenissimam Reginam
Elizabetham REgia Virgineae soboles dicata parenti Virgo animo patriaemater Regina quid quid optas Chara domi metuenda foris Regina quid optas Pulchra piaes princeps foelix Regina quid optas Coelum est Certò at serò sit Regina quod optas Ioh. Lily Ad Lockum eiusdem INgenio genio locuples dic Locke quid addam Addo quod ingenium quondam preciosius auro Ad Authorem NOn vane vanos sapiens perstringit abusus Nec vano enarras regalem carmine mentem Nec qui suasit opus fuerat vanúsve malúsve Nec vanum diuae sacrum dicare laborem Cuius quid vani quid non memorabile dictu Non vanumest sceptro populum rexisse potentem Non iusto regem bello superasse superbum Non Antichristi virès fregisse furentis Non armis miseros vicináque regna fouere Si vanus repeto ignosce ô regia virgo Vano Pergetamen Sola haec vera putato L. P. To the worke THee Princes pen now present to a Prince And poeme to a princely sprited Muse Ye full sound Ethicks of the sweet essence Of heauenly truth which all ought to peruse View all reape good leaue ill without excuse H. A. To the Author FOr me to praise this worke it were no praise Whil'st thou doest publish it it prayseth thee Thing once cald perfect further praise denayes Because all other words inferior bee With happie sight thy muse appeares to see That could select a subiect of such choyce Which hath enforced many more then mee With silence for thy blist attempt reioyce Thy former vaine no vaine conceipt bewrayes By Passions patternes of a Christian fight But for this worke yet highest honor stayes And therefore henceforth feare no others flight Thy Zeale thy theame thy gift thy fame to staine Which imitate they may but not attaine M. C. TO THE QVEENES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE TO you thrise sacred Princesse of this I le By God By countrie By true wisdomes praise Elect Annointed Soueraigne is the stile Religous Empresse Beautie of our dayes His Church you cherish that your state did raise Our peace you purchase where your throne is plast Eternall glorie on your actions stayes Rare Crowned Vertue Holy Humble Chast Whom all heauens high perfections fully grac't Whom all earth honors should do will adorne VVhom all the Muses haue with loue embrac't VVho doth pale Enuie and blind Fortune scorne To you wise kings discourse of blisse I bring Renowned Queene true type of happiest King Chap. 1. verse 1 Those sacred words king Dauids son did preach who Israel taught verse 2 All vanitie of vanities he calls more light then thought 1. The words of the Preacher the sonne of Dauid king in Ierusalem THe heauenly words of holy Dauids sonne Who ouer Israels race sometimes did raigne Wherewith to vertue he his subiects wonne Whilst in Ierusalem he did remaine And to instruct them thus did not disdaine Those words no vaine discourse it is I write Pend by a Prince as God did them indite Strange doctrines which some paradoxes call But yet the quintessence of holy creed Liues pure Elixer which is sought of all T' asswage cares corasiues in heart that breed Of happinesse the generatiue seed Of morall speculation practise sound Of constant faith the quiet fruit he found 2. Vanitie of vanities saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanitie The farre fet happinesse which some propound In minds in bodies and in fortunes gifts Which all conioyned seeldome times are found But to a vaine conceit the fancie lifts And their best Sectaries do lose their drifts The crowne it is of heauens most glorious state Earths fruites all vaine care folly and debate Yea vaine all vaine saith he mans soule well proues What euer on earths spatious Orbe below Hath breath life being sense or what so moues By vegetatiue kind or which doth ow To nature a declyning state to grow Vaine in the roote in bud in flower all vaine Vaine fruit whose of-springs vainly vades againe verse 3 What solid fruite finds tyred man of trauell vnder Sunne verse 4 The earth is firme whilst mans age past another age doth runne 3. What remaineth vnto man in all his trauel which he suffereth vnder the Sunne What if some one amids a multitude More happie in many points then others be Yet truly can you not thereby conclude That perfect happie in all respects is he Nor long time can enioy the same we see Vpon a tickle point earths blessings stand And come and go in turning of a hand All must confesse that nothing long remaines To man for all the trauels of his mynd Sustained in this life with bodies paines Since earth and earthly things all vade by kynd As doth a shadow or a puffe of wynd No prouidence preuenteth destinie Earth and her fruites do liue but for to die 4. One generatiō passeth and an other generatiō succeedeth but the earth remaineth for euer Mans life like to a burning lampe doth wast And like the ship on sea all stormes abyde Flies swift as thought which straight is come and past Whose memorie as soone away doth slyde As trace which soaring fowle through aire did guyde Whose entercourse of change so swift doth go That sence can scarce discerne that it was so And as on stage new actors issue still Vntill each part expir'd the play be done So generations newe the world do fill And ages newe past ages ouer-runne And shall till this worlds end haue new begun That other world which neuer shall haue end To which we posting thus our hopes should bend verse 5 The mouing sun doth rise and set and turnes from whence it came verse 6 The wind frō north to south blows roūd calmeth with the same 5. The sunne riseth and the sunne goeth downe and draweth to his place where he riseth Yea all heauens elements full well we see Though farre more durable then man by kind Yet for our vse in motion still to bee And by their change of change put vs in mind As in the lightsome sunne we proofe may find Whose time in measuring out our time is spent Whilst we to marke his motion onely ment This glorious Bride in loue of earth his spouse From his Starchambered pallace of the sky Drawne on by mornings wings betimes doth rouse Through either Hemi-sphere and passing by Th' Antipodes from East to East doth fly With euery step Horizons making new Wherewith the earth new bewties doth indew 6. The wind goeth toward the South and cōpasseth toward the North the wind goeth round about and returneth by his circuit This pure sweete aire wherein things breathing liue Th'all filling essence of vacuitie He vnto life the very spright doth giue And neuer rests his presence to applie To our behoofe who languishing would lie If long he should retire his flagrant breath Whose vse from vs restraind doth menace death He being speedie guide to motions all In tender care and
our selues they stand in steed And vs vnto repentant feare do call They are not alwayes worst who do sustaine The greatest plagues ne yet the others free Of guilt how be it vnpunisht they remaine But rather for the more part worse they bee Christs holy iudgement teacheth this to mee By fall of Sylo towre the which indeed Slue not the worst and euen the best had need Their due deserts in others doome to see Let one mans wo be warning then to all And life reformd amend sinnes great and small SON XXXV I Often times endeuour to prepare My mind to beare with patience natures due Death which though fearefull must perforce insue And which no humane flesh did euer spare I therefore when I see the many woes That others do sustaine by liuing long The sicknesse want dishonor spight of foes Which most men must sustaine by right or wrong The hazards which on earth to vs belong The doubtfull hopes and feares which aye renue Ten thousand fained pleasures for one true And care to compasse them we haue among I grow to graunt that life is but a snare Death way to life a life deuoyd of care SON XXXVI VVHo sees the seed that in the ground is cast Cleane frō all weeds without both chaffe straw Yet afterward when haruest neare doth draw Shall see the weeds increase therein so fast Who sees the trauell to receiue againe The corne from chaffe and stubble cleansed made May see corruption in the soule remaine Which so with drosse the slender crop doth lade And in the soule may see like daily trade By natures weakenesse which vs keepes in awe So much that though we heare and feare the law And Gospell and in them a while do wade We bring few fruits and them most bad at last Which Sathan world flesh with sin haue blast SON XXXVII THough lawfull many things indeed I find To such as do them with a conscience pure Yet like I not my selfe for to inure To things not pleasing to the weaker mind And many lawfull things there are beside Which be not yet expedient to be done A Christians actions must the tutch abide Of such as by example will be wonne For why the ignorant do blindfold runne The trade that others tread as way most sure And memory of ill doth more indure Then good wherefore we warily should shunne The action which may chance insnare the blind Although the wise from hazard safely wind SON XXXVIII VAine are the brags and faith but fruitlesse is Of such who bost of vertue and holinesse When as profaned speech doth yet expresse A hollow heart by tongue that talkes amisse The tongue declares th' abundance of the hart And by our speech we vse t' expresse our mind A truly touched soule with wound doth smart When vaine or fruitlesse speech to rise they find But nature forst will foone returne to kind And who his seemelesse speech will not suppresse Vaine and deceitfull must his brags confesse And that delight in sinne is yet behind Who therefore hath no care at all of this His knowledge zeale and life receiues no blis SON XXXIX I Often others heare lament and say They cannot see the fruit they do expect By prayer and my selfe feele like effect Because indeed I vnprepared pray Not that my knees with reuerence do not bow Or that my tongue it doth not craue reliefe Or that my heart my words doth not allow But charitie doth want and firme beliefe Which to true praiers are assistants chiefe Both which for most part man doth vse neglect For want of either of which we are reiect And to our weaknesse addeth double griefe Who doth till reconcilement offring stay His faithfull lawfull prayers find no nay SON XL. THe season of the yeare the natiue kind Of euery creature to produce some thing Into my conscience doth this motion bring To God and nature not to be vnkind Two soyles I haue and both vnfruitfull be Through weedes of sin which both them ouer grow The body barren and the soule I see Of vertuous fruits which God and world I owe. Vouchsafe yet Lord Phauonean breath to blow With heauenly grace inspiring so my mind That soule regenerate in body find Reformed life true life in me to show For fleshly fruits too rife to hell do fling Soules blessed seed ascends on Angels wing SON XLI ALl men by nature greedy are to know And knowing much the more they do contend To draw vnto true knowledge perfect end By practise to the world some fruits to show What knowledge is there then in heauen or earth For one of wisedome great so high and fit To trauell in euen from the day of birth As that is gathered out of holy writ Therein is matter for each kind of wit Strange ancient pleasing subtle for to spend The finest wits and make them stoope and bend Whilst weakest braines find skill and ioy in it Though high it reach it beareth fruit below Which tasted once makes stomack strōger grow SON XLII STrange are in truth the fruits that man doth win And plentifull by vse of studie indeed Which appetite and matter still doth breed If but to gather them we do begin But heauenly studie much more copious is Contayning all that humane art doth teach And not alone it feeds our minds with this But soules true solace it doth farther reach It doctrine supernaturall doth preach And doth diuinely sow the sacred seed Which shall our soules with lasting comfort feed And worldly skill of ignorance appeach That is the studie we should neuer lin To spell reade conster and to practise in SON XLIII DOwne let vs fling these battlements begonne Of sinne which in our soules so fast are built At first or not at all it must be spilt Or else his fort once made the field is wonne If we neglect our watch and not preuent His practises but euen a little while Our trauell afterward is vainely spent And he our best attempts will soone beguile If we at lusts assaults but seeme to smile Though lowly first he creepe yet straight on stilt He will vpstart and make vs yeeld to gilt And we our selues soules slaughter be the while Because we stay not sinne till it be donne But rather after it do fondly runne SON XLIIII THere is great ods we see and must confesse Betwixt the speakers and the doers faith Words well but deeds much better man bewraith And both conioynd do dutie best expresse One promiseth to come as was requir'd To feast the other it denyeth but went The first he did neglect what was desir'd The latters deedes do shew he did relent He had the prayse and feast who did repent His words his blame who breaking promise stayth Whose life doth not comfirme what tongue it sayth For all his brags in end shall sure be shent But who doth tongue and hart to God addresse His deeds be sure with grace he still will blesse SON XLV HAue we not
and shall Yet we as they one common end do find One dissolution of this earthly frame Whose matter doth returne vnto the kind From whence at first creation forth it came The memory whereof the mind should tame Of those ambitious braines vnbounded will Which whilst they liue the world with comber fill verse 21 Who knows mans soule ascends or beasts vnto the earth desceÌ„ds verse 22 Best then say I ioy in thy owne which thee thy knowledge ends 21. Who knoweth whether the Spirit of man ascend vpward and the Spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth And though indeed the soules immortall seed Which had his being from a cause more pure Vpon a higher hope doth iustly feed And shall in all eternitie endure Yet to the eye of man who can assure The same if faith the light vnto the soule Did not distrustfull fleshes thoughts controule For euen the selfe same instruments of life The same necessities of nutriment The same effects of sicknesse with vs rife The same abhorred death hath nature lent To euery creature that on earth she sent And at and after parting of the spright The carkasses of both seeme like to sight 22. Therfore I see that there is nothing better then that a maÌ„ should reioyse in his affayres because that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him So that I see no vse of earths increase Fit for our bodies but whilst here we liue With them to cheere our sprights and purchase peace And vnto God for them due praise to giue Mans wit no further can his pleasure driue For he and they are subiect as you see To chaunge and to earths fraile mortalitee As for the care the wise and goodly haue Of their successors competent estate It is but due and nature doth it craue But for their loue our selues we ought not hate And toyling vex our soules with worlds debate What they will proue or what in time may grow We know not nor should curious be to know Chap. 4. verse 1 TheÌ„ earths vnrights I viewd tears of wroÌ„gd by worthles iudg verse 2 And therwith thought theÌ„ blessed dead need not the liuing grudge 1. So I turned conâ—idereâ— all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne and behold the teares of the oppressed and none conforteth them and â—o the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them and none comforteth him BVt whither doth this passion me transport My thoghts with thinking haue forgot my thought Whilst earthly I with earthly worlds consort And to the bodies cares haue comfort brought My meditations haue the heauens sought And those eternities which passe my skill But now descend to earth againe I will And of more humaine actions will intreat Where we a tragedie of woes shall see Whilst weaker ones oppressed by the great Are destitute of place whereto to flee For succour since their foes their Iudges bee And farre too powrefull wherewith to contend And most men backward poore men to defend 2. Wherefore I prayied the dead which now are dead aboue the liuing which are yet aliue Which makes me thinke though nature it deny That much more happie is the dead mans state Then those that in this life such troubles try And life like death my heart begins to hate Death vnto endlesse life is but the gate But life is vnto death a longsome way Where tyresome troubles vexe vs day by day And death that lothsome state which life doth shun By life itselfe with care and toyle is sought Through perils men to purchase death do run And with lifes scorne holde death but cheaply bought Which honour to them selues or countrey brought For life could not exempted be from wo Whilst dying they all worldly cares forgo verse 3 The vnhorne better then them both who such ill daies not saw verse 4 It vexed me the spight to see that vertuous workes do draw 3. And I count him better theÌ„ them both which hath not yet bin for he hath not seene the euill works which are wrought vnder the suune But yet indeed since both by life and death The state of many men is wretched still They may most happie seeme which nere drew breath Or infants dyed neuer knowing ill And reason good for both produce I will The ones not being making them to bee Incapable of vengeance wicked see The other cleane exempt from humane care As being dead now needing nothing more Whose actuall crimes hels doome could not prepare Originall sinnes by grace were cleansd before And mercie guiding them to high heau'ns dore Whose want of reason liuing knew no wo But voyd of feare to death did mildly go 4. Also I beheld all trauell and all perfection of workes that this is the enuy of a maÌ„ against his neighbour this also is vanitie and vexation of the Spirit This other plague besides doth follow man A vice alas too common in this age The more of vertue that he glory can The more the baser sort repine and rage And with reprochfull slander malice swage Depriuing or deprauing best desart Or it Eclipsing with some guilefull art No foe to learning like the ignorant Nor to the good like to the bad we say Gods kingdome Beliall seeketh to supplant And vertue fayling his another way Euen viciously they vertue would betray Who herein yet themselues do but disgrace For slander can not iust deserts deface verse 5 The slothfull foole he folds his hands but hunger staru'd he pines verse 6 Whilst to a poore but lasie life his chosen course inclines 5. The foole foldeth his hands and eateth vp his owne flesh Themselues like fooles and feeble helplesse wights Vnable or vnwilling to attaine The trauell which belongs to vertues rights Doe poore disgracefull liue and so remaine And caterpiller like on others paine Doe feed and liue to world improfitable Driuen to depend on scraps of others table Nay well it were with some if so it were Who foodlesse are compeld to begge or starue Because their idle fingers doe forbeare The honest trades which might their liuing serue Whose folded hands no better doth deserue But as they to themselues do proue vnkind So they of others should no better find 6. Better is an handfull with quietnes then two handfuls with Iâ—bor and vexation of the Spirit Yet which is lamentable to be told They senselesse so in idlenesse delight That they their course of life to prayse are bold And all virilitie excluding quight Their base borne humours glose so well in sight As though an humble thought and peace of mind From all industrie did the honest bind As though that peace and plentie neuer met As if wealth were attain'd with bare desire As though they carelesse were that liue in debt As if they grieselesse who not wealth aspire As though God did not trauell'of vs require As though an humble mind appeard not best In modest vse of plentie and of rest verse
place The multitude of yeares but multiply To the vnhappie multitude of cares Two thousand yeares to him that dead doth ly Are but one moment all alike he fares But hours seem days daies yeres yeres millions seeme In care griefe agony that spent we deeme Then how vnhappy is that hated man Whose long and wealthy life in boorlesse blis In life no peace or ioy enioy he can In death not honor haue that proper is To such as by their liues do merit well Who dead in sacred tombe do famous dwell verse 7 All toyle man takes is for the mouth his mind yet neuer easd verse 8 The foole wise caÌ„ both but liue the wise thogh poore is pleasd 7. All the labour of man is for his mouth yet the soule is not â—â—lled Alas what gaineth man by all his paine Which in his pilgrimage on earth he takes Sure nothing but a life he doth maintaine And as his state permits he dyet makes For which our backes and bellies nutriment Our times our cares our hopes and feares are spent And yet this food so carefully attaynd Cannot sustaine our life one longer day Then God by prouidence hath it ordaynd And when our time is come we must away And though a little food will life sustaine Yet long without supply we not remaine 8. For what hath the wise man more then the foole what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the 〈◊〉 What hath the wise in all he doth possesse More then the foole whereof he may reioyce The vse of needfull things he hath no lesse That simple is then who of wit hath choyce Both do but eat to liue and liue to die Both like afflictions in their fortunes trie What doth the misers care increase his state More then free spenders honest thrift doth his Yet th' one by wretchednesse doth purchase hate The others bountie alwayes praysed is Both care to liue both can but liue thereby And both of force must yeeld ere long to dy verse 9 To take thy share and wish no more is best desire is vaine verse 10 What art thou maÌ„ to striue with God his wil thou must sustain 9. The sight of of the eye is better then to walke in the lusts this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit And therefore sure whilst we are here to liue It is the best to liue with chearefull hart And cause of good report the world to giue And not for vs to breed our proper smart Our daies consume vnpleasing to our selues Offensiuely to such as with vs dwels Yet both in end are vaine and soone haue end No constancie or permanence in either The one or other can not life defend Both to the graue are like to go togither Vaine and inconstant is the fruit of all Wise fond sad glad into the earth must fall 10. What is that that hath bin the name therof is now named and it is knowne that it is man and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he What can a man attaine by any thing Which he on earth atchieueth any way But euen a name and fame the which doth bring A swelling Eccho of his prayse a day But is assoone forgotten as is gaynd And with a thousand slaunders may be staynd His prayse cannot exceed nor soone attaine The like that many worthies had before Their fame is gone thine cannot long remaine If thou be wise expect not any more For God thy maker hath ordayned so When he sayth yea flesh may not answere no. Chap. 7. verse 1 Sure many vaine things do increase which mans wit cannot mend verse 2 Who knowes his best in life or what God afterward will send 1. Surely there be many things that encrease vanitie what auayleth it maÌ„ SVre many things besides do yet remaine Our vanitie appeares in euery thing But they best knowledge of the fame attaine To whom a prosperous state did plentie bring For plenty best affoords to feed our will And will most soone to folly runneth still Which folly is the vanitie I meane A fruitlesse trauell of a carefull hart When midst the choyce of good the ill we gleane And weaue vnto our selues our proper smart When wit is captiuated vnto fense Which doth produce both Gods and mans offence 2. For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the number of the dayes of the life of his vaâ—itie seeing he maketh theÌ„ as a shadow for who can shew vnto man what shall be after him vnder the 〈◊〉 And sure in this sense foolish are we all For who discernes aright twixt good and ill Whose knowledge truly can you perfect call Who knowing good effectuates goodnes still Mans dayes are few and like a shadow fly In which small good he many woes doth try The wisest men themselues do scarcely know Of others minds their knowledge is but blind Their present actions do them foolish show How should man then a solyde knowledge find Of future things which after him shall bee Since he conceaues not what his eye doth fee verse 3 A good name sweeter is then oyle deaths day then day of birth verse 4 In mourning house more good is learnd then in the house of mirth 3. A good name is better then a good oyntmeÌ„t and the day of death then the day that one is borne Then let man cease his wisedome to bestow In seeking foorth on earth a happy state Let him endeuour rather good to grow The fruit and fame whereof cannot abate Through age or death but like a sweet perfume Will follow man vnto his day of doome The trust wherein shall make him death desire As path to leade him vnto blisse prepard And loath this life whose cares him so do tyre Where vanitie and death is sole reward Yea he shall farre preferre the day of death Before the houre he first drew liuing breath 4. It is better to go to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting because this is the end of all men and the liuing shall lay it to his hart For better preparation whereunto The wise will exercise their eyes and mind In contemplation of their states who do By death forerun their corse not farre behind And by the view thereof resolued grow The worlds contempt in rest of life to show The feasts and sports which do his senses charme With deepe forgetfulnesse of woes approch He will refraine and rather thinke it harme That vnprepared death should him incroch For euils looked for lesse euill seeme And ioyes expected long we doubled deeme verse 5 Sharp lookes then smyling shows more soone the euil mind correct verse 6 The wise delight in grauitie whilst fooles the same reiect 5. Anger is better then laughten for by a sad looke the hart is made better And though awhile our minds therewith distract We feele a conflict twixt the flesh and spright Which lothly would dissolue the old compact Which flesh and world contracted
feareth euery cloud that is in sky But little corne shall sow or reape to sell If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby So giue thou when thou maist and thinke thy store Increast thereby no whit impaird the more verse 5 As child in wombe so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee verse 6 TheÌ„ morn euen sow thou thy seed God knows which best shal be 5. As thou knowest not which is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the wombe of her that is with child so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all Thinke this that euen that God which gaue to thee The present blessings that thou dost possesse Thy charitable workes from heauen doth see And will thy labours in due season blesse If thou thy faith by neighbours loue expresse And thinke that as the infants borne that bee Conceiued are do grow do liue do feed And be by birth in time from prison free By meanes vnknowne to mothers them that breed Se be assur'd that God which it hath wrought Can wealth restore by meanes to thee vnthought 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall be a like good Both rath and late at euery time and tide Then do vnto thy power some almes deed Without some others good let no day slide So oft as thou canst find aman hath need And who this can performe is blest indeed For man can not his worke so wisely guide To know to whom and when to giue is best But who for pittie giues and not for pride Though needlesly some fall among the rest Yet some no doubt is blessedly bestowd And in thy will of good good worke is showd verse 7 Sure life is sweete and all desire long time to see the sunne verse 8 Though long life last yet death maks hast times do vainly run 7. Surely the light is a pleasant thing and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne And since but whilst thou liu'st thy goods are thine And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse Giue while thou mayst so mayst thou find in fine Well sau'd what well was spent in liuing dayes For godly worke with God aye present stayes Long mayst thou liue but must in end decline To death the end of euery liuing thing To yeeld to death yet needst thou not repine If liuing thou to man no good canst bring And hauing left some good by life to men More welcome death may be vnto thee then 8. Though a man liue many yeares and in them all he reioyce yet he shal remember the dayes of darknesse because they are many all that commeth is vanitie For death thou knowest vnto life is due And life doth but prepare a man to die Liues cares a daily death in vs renue To worke in vs consent to death thereby Which else no flesh with patience sure would try The many dayes or yeares which do insue Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight Cannot perswade him but that this is true That lightsome day will turne to darksome night That times most long haue end and what doth vade Is little better then a very shade verse 9 Reioyce in youth fulfill desire yet know God iudgeth all verse 10 To clense thy hart wicked flesh graue age vain youth doth cal 9. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thine hâ—rt chere thee in the dayes of thy youth and waâ—ke in the wayes of thine hâ—rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Delight he then in what so ere he please In youth in beauty strength or wealthy store Let him delight himselfe in vse of these And cheare his hart as cause he hath therefore Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore And that they all do vanish with their wayes That God alone remayneth euer â—ure That only vertue with vs longest stayes And can eternall blessednesse procure When to the iudgement of a God seuere Our workes must come who all in mind doth beare 10. Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Let him and all the wise whilst yet they may Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind The fierce assaults in death that for vs stay And but by faith can strong resistance find Since all our other workes come short behind Let vs abandon euery wicked way And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine Chap. 12. verse 1 Remember thy creator then in these thy youthfull dayes Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes 1. Remember now thy creator in the daies of thy youth whilst the euill dayes come not ANd since thou canst not shun deaths fatall day And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise Whilst yet thou mayst prepare a quiet way Vnto thy soule which in such danger lies If thou in time reliefe do not deuise The earth and earthly things do helpe denay Heauen is the harbor where thy soule doth dwell Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay But it and workes thereof from hart expell Delay no time in hope long life to haue Youth may age must ere long time go to graue Nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To heauen thy progresse thou dost wish to make Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake And thinke them burdens to thee euermore And in thy life haue lights of vertue store Let thought of thy creator thee awake From sinnes of youth hart burdensome in age Remember God account of thee will take If thy repentance not his wrath asswage Yea leaue thou sinne ere lust leaue tempting thee Thy abstinence else can not vertue bee verse 2 Whilst sunne moone stars seeme light and rayny clouds are farre verse 3 Whilst keepers of thy house are strong whose pillers stedfast are 2. Whâ—les the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the clouds returne after the raine The feeble members which haue lost their might Through which their senses did affection proue No maruell now if they take lesse delight In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue The sunne moone stars heauens ornameÌ„t earths light Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse When all thy ioynts begin by day and night Do tyre thy life and breed the soules remorse No maruell if thou then proue continent But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent 3. When the keepers of the house shall treÌ„ble
a litle backe from ill To wallow in the myre againe I go No powre is in me Lord my life to mend Vnlesse thy hand from heau'n me comfort send SON XXXII FAine would I fence this feeble flesh of mine From Satans furie who me thus assailes Which doth besiege my soule and meanes to pine My conscience which my sin so sore bewailes His busie braine to win me neuer failes And leaues no stratagem at all vntride My fainting hope I know not what it ailes But it doth feare the batt'ry to abide The safest way must be what ere betide To set a watch to looke vnto my waies Lest pride or lust or wrath do let him slide Into my hart which yet vnyeelded staies But like a theefe he stealeth me vpon Watch thou me Lord ech houre else I am gon SON XXXIII MY sinnes behold ô Lord are manifold VVhich do incamp my soule each houre about Still me intrenched with distrust they hold So that no frutes of faith can issue out Their fleshly champion is a soldiar stout VVho is assist by world and Satans aide And foule affections readie are in rout To further force to lust but hardly staide The earthly treasures haue with pleasure paide The hatefull Army which doth hast to hell My natiue powre their passage not denaide VVhich makes their pride and peruerse wil to swel I see no way to helpe to shun decaie But on thy graces rescue Lord to staie SON XXXIIII THe greedinesse of this my corrupt minde VVhich tasteth not but of the earthly gaine And in thy glorie can no profit finde But seekes with symonie my soule to staine Makes me alas for carnall treasor vaine Like Elizeus seruant to desire A present of worldes pleasure mixt with paine As recompence of heauenly comforts hire I sorcerer like do also oft require Like marchandise thy graces for to buye Supposing morall vertues may aspire To saue my soule and sin to mortifie But lo I see soules leprosie herein And craue that praiers may my pardon win SON XXXV VOyd of true life and buried in the graue Of wicked flesh alas I long haue bin No earthly comfort can my conscience haue VVhich was corrupted with all lothsome sin My sister vertues to despaire begin Of euer seeing once my lifes restore Ne is there any other way to win True life indeed which shall decay no more But prostrate Lord thy helpe for to implore And craue thy gracious presence at the last To aide the soule thy sonne hath lou'd before For time of grace with thee is neuer past Roll backe hard stone from heart bid him arise VVho slaue to sin in earthly coffin lies SON XXXVI MY bodie Lord the house which hath bene long Possest with spirits to ruine of the same VVhich forst me forward vnto open wrong Of conscience by defacing of thy name Hath found some comfort since thy message came Vnto my soule which in thy word was sent VVhose powerfull truth hath bound seeks to tame The furious lust which to my ruine bent Grant Lord from heart I may indeed repent And therewith chase these fiends fro out of me Sweep cleane my house fro out of which they went And garnished with graces let it be Let puissant faith henceforth possesse the place Lest sin returne with legions of disgrace SON XXXVII AMidst this famine of Sarepta soile Where I a widow dwell poore and abiect Compeld by sin with sweat of browes to toile To gather stickes from cold me to protect Behold me Lord a caitiue thus neglect Whom sin hath banished thy blessed land Who yet in heart thy Prophers do affect And with thy church to life and death wold stand I offer all my treasures here in hand That litle sparke of grace yet left behinde Increase it Lord vnto a great fire-brand Of faith which may a frutefull haruest finde My meale and Oyle ô Lord do thou increase My selfe sonne shall praise thee so in pease SON XXXVIII BOrne blinde I was through sinfull Adams fall And neuer since could see with carnall eyes Ne know I where or how for helpe to call From out of sin to holie life to rise It pleased thee ô Lord that in this wise Thy powre and glorie might to man appeare Who gracelesse groueling in earths darknesse lies And wants the eyes of faith his soule to cheare But since thou sentst thy sonne my Sauiour deare To shine in light to those in darknesse weare To dym the worldly wisdome seeming cleare And sinfull soules froÌ„ hell to heauen to reare Touch thou my eyes with faith wash me with grace In Sylo poole thy word which I embrace SON XXXIX HOw drunken are my humors all alasse With wine of vanitie and sensuall lust Which from one sin do to an other passe And after euill daily more do thrust Of force my faults for shame confesse I must My lauish vsage of thy graces sent My soules consent to action so vniust As death of Prophets teaching to repent Like Herod I about the matter went To please the follies of my flesh delight Incest'ous I to sin so much was bent That offred mercie pleased not my sight But Lord prepare my heart to see my sin That sorrow may a way to mends bigin SON XL. THough with thy Saints ô Lord I choise haue made To spend my daies in praising of thy name And in the studie of thy word to wade To feed my faith with portion of the same Yet can I not my choice so rightly frame Aâ—midst the spacious fields where truth doth grow But whilst to gather healthfull herbe I came A bitter bud I found of fearefull show Which threatneth me with death and ouerthrow Vnto my soule which feedeth greedely On sin the weed which Satan did bestow By poisoned tast thereof I pined lie But Christ thy sonne by faith me helth shall bring Discharge the law and bruse this deadly sting SON XLI ACcording to the promise of thy word To giue the victorie ô Lord to those That fight thy battels with a faithfull sword Against the world flesh diuell and thy foes I seeke ô Lord proud Iericho t' inclose Incouragde by thy graces from aboue My shooes of foule affects I pray thee lose Before on holy earth my path I moue Thy powerfull hand by prayers let me proue Which daily seu'n times I to thee direct Shake thou the walles of sin for my behoue And in this skirmish do thou me protect The frutes of flesh pride lust and error all So shall be wract and sin not raise a wall SON XLII AMidst the graues of death this many a yeare My soule possessed with all sorts of sin Hath liu'd and held that frutefull place so deare That from the same no counsell could me win To beate my selfe my follies neuer lin No reason can with chaines binde so my will But to vnlose my lust I do begin With helpe of furious fiend who aides me still But since thy sonne appeareth me vntill I craue I
The memory of Egypts store I saw Of vanities which carnall senses feed Made me to wish to fill againe my maw With dishes such as to destruction lead Wherfore inwrath with quailes thou cloidst me so That plagu'd with sin my error now I know SON LXV SInce thou hast raysd my poore abiected spright From threshing floore where captiue I did stand And callest me thy battels for to fight Gainst sin the Madianite which wasts thy land Giue me a token by thy mightie hand O Lord whereby my faith may be assurde And be to me a pledge of former band That victorie by me shall be procurde Let heauenly deaw by prayer be allurde To moysten this my freewill fleece of wooll Then dry the dâ—regs thereof to sin inurde Whose heauy waight makes grace and vertue dull And offring mine of prayers to thy name Accept and with a holy zeale inflame SON LXVI WHilst that in wealth and ease I did possesse The Empire of thy many blessings sent I tooke in hand pure vertue to suppresse And pride with lust my powres they wholly bent To conquere reason which thy grace had lent And quite forgetting worlds late floud for sin To build a tower of trust wherein I spent The strength of flesh bloud high heauen to win As though in natures strength the force had bin To shield themselues from floud or heauenly fire But now confusion iust my soule is in Makes labouring flesh from folly such retire And craues alone within thy Church to dwell Whose wals of faith truth may death expell SON LXVII THe Temple Lord of this my bodie base Where thou vouchsafdst to place my soule to dwell And promisedst to make thy chosen place Whence sacrifice of praises thou wouldst smell Behold against thy lawes doth now rebell By worldly vanities thereto allurde Where couetise and pride their packe doth sell At such a price as flesh and sin affoord But since ô Lord thy promise hath assurde My soule that thou art alwaies prest to heare The plaints of penitents which hath procurde Thy Sonne himselfe in temple this t' appeare Whip forth fling down this worldly wicked pack Fro out my soule repell thou Satan back SON LXVIII WIthin thy house this bodie base of mine It pleased thee ô Lord my soule to plant A steward of the gifts the which were thine And nature fild with measure nothing scant Of bodie or of mind no blessings want And fortunes fauours sharde with me no lesse In such proportion Lord I needs must grant As thou doest giue when thou doest vse to blesse But wantonly I wested I confesse Thy treasure put into my hands of trust And now alas though late I seeke redresse Wise steward-like to liue when dye I must I cast my count by Christ my debt to pay And frutes of faith from hell my soule shall stay SON LXIX NOw that it pleaseth thee Lord of thy grace To plucke me forth of sinfull Sodoms lake Where I haue dwelt alas this life long space Since I of holie Abram leaue did take Vouchsafe I pray thee for thy mercies sake To graunt thy Church be refuge for my life The Zoar where I may my dwelling make Safe from reuenging Angels bloudie knife And though the frailtie of Lots lingring wife Looke back with loue on sinfull worlds delight Which common weaknesse to all flesh is rife Yet keepe me constant by thy heauenly might And let me not grow drunke with blessings thine To procreate sin on lustfull daughters mine SON LXX WHilst in this worldly wildernesse about For want of faith I backe am forst to go Affraid of sinnes which Giant-like are stout And foule affections which like cruell foe Of Esawes race their might and powre bestow To stop my passage to the promist land I gin to faint and to repine also Against the powre of thy most mightie hand For which the Serpent Satan now doth stand In readinesse my silly soule to sting And close me vp in deaths eternall band Vnlesse to me thy mercie succour bring That brasen Serpent Christ nayld on the tree Whose sight by faith alone is cure to mee SON LXXI WHat am I else Lord but a sinfull wretch In sin and in iniquitie begot In conscience guiltie of the common breach Of euerie law that may my honor spot Thy blessings giu'n me I regarded not Thy threatned iudgments I did not esteeme My vowes to thee I almost had forgot My sinnes no sinnes to hardned heart do seeme Like to my selfe I did thy power deeme Because thou didst forbeare thy rod a while I sought by Idols ayd to heauen to clime Whilst worlds delight my sences did beguile But helplesse now alas I turne to thee To stay my race let grace Lord succour mee SON LXXII THou formedst me at first out of the clay Vnto the image of thy glorious frame O Lord of might thou shewdst to me the way To magnifie thy pure and holie name Like Potters vessell first my modell came Out of a rude vnformed lumpe of earth To holy vse it pleasd thee me reclaime Before my life tooke vse of carnall breath Thou fedst me in the common humane dearth Of knowledge of thy will with such a tast Of pleasing frute as fild my soule with mirth And readie makes me now no more to wast Thy offred mercies which so blesse in me Of glorie that I may a vessell be SON LXXIII A Seruant Lord euen from my day of byrth I vowed was by parents vnto thee A Nazarit I liued on the earth And kept thy vowes as grace did strengthen mee Till Satan made me worlds deceipt to see And trapt my senses with forbiden lust As Eue did tast of the restrained tree So fond affections did me forward thrust A sinfull Philistine of faith vniust To like to loue to craue to wed to wife Thy grace my strength to her reueale I must Till she to Satan sell my slumbring life A prisoner I thus scornd and voyd of sight Sinnes house to ouerthrow craue heaueÌ„ly might SON LXXIIII WHilst in the plentie of thy blessings sent I sought to solace Lord my selfe secure And gazing on worlds beautie long I went In pridefull tower which did prospect procure I saw the baytes of sin which did allure My idle thoughts to follow wicked lust My kindled passions could not long endure But vnto furious flames breake forth they must I did pollute my soule by fraude vniust And reft thy grace from his true wedded wife And that I might away all mendment thrust I did bereaue my knowledge of this life Whose bastard frutes slaie Lord but let her liue That penitent we may thee prayses giue SON LXXV A Seruant sold to sin ô Lord I am Whom Satan Syrian proud doth sore assaile Nine hundted Chariors of desire there came Armed with lust which sought for to preuaile And to subdue by strength they cannot faile Vnlesse thou raise my fainting strength by grace Let constant faith the flying furie naile To ground where
with heauenly grace My comfort wealth that hell cannot rebate In such a rate Thy fauour do I finde As bindes me loue a father found so kinde SON XXVIII WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare For all the gifts thou doest on me bestowe Whose gracious measure so doth ouerflow As power of recompence cannot appeare I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare And to thy alter speedily do runne To follow forth thy praise but new begunne Till all thy people may thy mercies heare Thy glorious image shineth in thy Sonne Thy loue to man did his obedience show His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace whence faith and comfort grow Where through we know That we are thy elect And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect SON XXIX THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise O Lord of life hath many volumes made Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade Which aye increase as growing are my dayes Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes In multitude they number do exceed In glorie they do admiration breed Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed Thy fauour to thy creatures doth not fade The more in view of all thy works I wade The more I finde my sense confound indeed But yet in steed Of Eccho to thy fame I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name SON XXX THis stately stage wherein we players stande To represent the part to vs assignde Was built by God that he might pleasure finde In beautie of the works of his owne hand All creatures of the ayre the sea and land Are players at his appointment of some thing Which to the world a proper vse may bring And may not breake assigned bownds or band Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing Some mourne make their mone with heauy mind Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling God like a King Beholds Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape their states require SON XXXI WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye The fauour and perfection of my choyce He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie All earthly beautie he will straight defie As thing too base to occupie his braine Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine That they true tast of pleasure do denie But who so can this perfect sight attaine Cannot containe but yeeld with cheerfull voyce An Eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse Who to his praise do singing still remaine They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low That such a glorious God they will not know SON XXXII O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule With such a zeale as former thoughts controll And drawes heart powre and will thee to insue Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine To whom alone perfection faire is due Thou mak'st earths bewteous shadow seeme but vain Thy works of glorie and of powre remain Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll Which to our dying soules true life did gain Thy loue doth wain My thoughts frō baser loue And mak'st my heart and mind to soare aboue SON XXXIII IF beautie be as men on earth suppose The comely shape and colours which agree In true proportion to the thing we see Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose If white and red be borrowd from the Rose If bright and shining to the sunne compar'd If high and straight to goodlinesse w'award And beautie haue such base descriptions chose Then let the wise this beautie true regard Where all perfections in one subiect be Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree Which but to tast man suffred deaths reward Which is prepard And offred to our sight In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night SON XXXIIII HOw may this be that men of searching mind Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight In outward shape and colour comfort find And yet the better beautie leaue behind Vnsought or vnregarded of at all Compard to which none can it beautie call Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti apall Thus wise men fall Whom camall eies do guide Whose iudgement may not vertues sight abide SON XXXV O Heauenly loue with God thou dwelst for aye Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie Thou keepst the law thy feet step not awrie In all mens danger thou the surest stay To our request thou neuer sayest nay Ne wrath ne enuy moue thee ere a whit Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit Thou law and Gospell both dost ouer sway Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit With God in counsell thou art alwaies by Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply And makest vs receiue the frute of it And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue Loue made him send who loue therfore doth craue SON XXXVI THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare Whose glorie doth eclipse each other light Presents himselfe vnto worlds open sight Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare But sluggish so the greater sort appeare That sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure The cleare aspect of truth they not indure Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare But so my sences do his beautie allure To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright That therein onely haue I may delight Where is all happinesse I do assure He doth procure A plentifull increase Vnto my soule of perfect loue and peace SON XXXVII AVaunt base thoughts incomber me no more By laying forth these earthly wants of mine As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store If thou didst know thy nakednesse before He cloth'd thy soule and fed thy fainting minde With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore And then confesse the comfort thou doest finde By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine Is greatest riches truly to define So that contentment be not left behinde These gifts me binde To praise his holy name And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same SON XXXVIII I Will not feare with feruency of zeale To follow forth this faire affect of mine To loue of thee which doth my soule incline O Sauiour deare who sure my griefe wilt heale Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee And promisedst I should thy darling bee Made free within thy Church and common weale Disparagement there is not now in mee Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine But faith shall flie aloft to thee in
vplift Contend to cause the world thy name admire Thy prayses do not mortall praise require For lo alas they no way can come nye Vnto the holy hymnes thy Saints apply And Angels sing inflam'd with heauenly fire Yet shall my soule such zealous present bring As shall record my loue to heauens high king SON II. EXild be mortall cares raysd be my song To treat with stile condigne thy honor still O mighty Ioue who heauen and earth dost fill With myrror of thy power to thee belong All powers and wils of body and of mind Thou mak'st and blessest with thy prouidence Thy bountie to the needy is so kind As nought but mercieâ—and loue proceedeth thence At our right hand a readie safe defence If Satans practise once assaile vs will Thou holy motions dost in vs distill And dost illuminate our dulled sence Thou dost redeeme fro out the enemies throng The innocent whom worldlings vse to wrong SON III. VVRo out what dreame what sleepe what charmed rest Rouse I my selfe who too too long haue stayd With worldly cares and vanities dismayd And cleane forgot almost soules solace blest My greedy nature quaffed ouer much Restrained poyson potions of delight New libertie did former dyet grutch Though life the one death other show'd to sight Nature gainst grace prouoketh still this fight World to our wils doth yeeld accursed ayd Satan our senses dulles that not affrayd We worke our wracke with greedy force and might But waken me ô Lord I thee request With pleasure paine welth wo as likes thee best SON IIII. WHat is thy measure full dost thou suppose Of strength of perfectnesse of plenteous store Of frutes of faith profest that now no more Thou carest albeit thy tree true beautie lose It can not be whilst life and sap remaine That barren branch so holy plant should beare A faire greene tree of goodly leaues were vaine Vnlesse that kindly frute also there were Words are but leaues works fruits that should be there Shew that thou liu'st by charitie therefore True holinesse doth teach a righteous lore Whereby to neighbors good our thoughts we reare Vaine is our knowledge and our holy showes If in our life the fruite of loue not growes SON V. HOw can I hope for all my forward speed My fresh incounters of the riuals first My bold intent and zeale which venter dirst To runne so hard a race and long indeed To win the prize if past the greater paine I faint or do begin my speed delay Or trusting ouer much the goale to gaine Let euery leaden heele leade me the way In race of soule to heauen light many a stay And fainting body doth for pleasnre thurst The world strowes golden fruits of tast accurst Which toucht with loue we lose to soules decay Then let me still runne on so haue I need For constancie stands most the soule in steed SON VI. ALl will not serue the more I would beware The more I headlong fall and drowne in sinne So farre vnlike the victorie to winne That to his building morter I prepare One thing I say an other thing I do One show of worke I haue an other deed I runne cleane from the marke I looke vnto With one hand quench the fire with'other feed One error doth a hundred errors breed If one I cut to grow do ten begin This fleshly laberinth that I am in Is of the sinnefull race of Hydras seed But yet my trauell still I will not spare Because I know God hath on me a care SON VII FAine would I bring some fruit of sauorie tast For offering of freewill and of my zeale But I do feare my weakenesse to reueale Like new wine in a crazed vessell plast The vessell yet not liquor being mine And it fild in by master of the store I hope he will not at my gift repine But if it faile will it replenish more My weakenesse I do oftentimes deplore And for reliefe to him I do appeale Yet ioy the bounty that he daind to deale And halting hast to those that go before In hope that my nay his gifts shall be grast Through loue vnto his sonne whom he imbrast SON VIII I Maruell much sometimes to see my will Contraried by my selfe with harts consent To see me crosse the course my purpose ment And yet th' euent thereof proue better still I am by nature vnto euill prone And that pursue with forward fleshly ayd Straight way my mind is chaÌ„gd by means vnknown And heart consents my former will be stayd The cause hereof and issues I haue wayd And find them strange yet bending in intent Vnto my good sometimes though ill I ment And fayld of plots my greatest wisedome layd Which doth my soule in fine with comfort fill To see Gods prouidence my purpose spill SON IX I Now begin to doubt my present state For that I feele no conflict in my mind A settled concord needs must be vnkind Twixt flesh and spright which should ech other hate They neere agree but to their common woe And that through sin which luld them both a sleepe A warfare in this bodie would I goe Lest fraud or treason in through rest should creepe The practises of Sathan are so deepe Armed with flesh and lust whom prone we find That hardly can the soule his freedome keepe But that these fiendes would him with frailty bind Vnlesse with heauenly weapons at debate With them we stand and fight both rare and late SON X. VVHen I remember with what speed in post The Iewes return'd from bondage tooke in hand Their Temple to restore and armed stand In breach of wals to build what enemies crost When I their bountie note in offering store All freely giuen and more then they could vse How true their treasures were that would no more Their workmens faith accounts whilst Kings refuse How these our latter times which we accuse Of ignorance through fraud of Balaams band Did yet powre forth the plenty of the land To holy vse which other did abuse I sorrow much to see true zeale cleane lost And pure religion shakt for sauing cost SON XI VVHat loue is this whereof the world doth tell Which they to God professe and men admire Loue hath his lawes and doth effects require Of charitie to neighbour to excell For as the members of one bodie bee Partakers of the passion others haue And speedily concurre to helpe we see Because thereby the bodies good they craue So if their loue to God they freely gaue And held him head their zeale would burne like fire To serue his Saints the needy to attire And home the stray to call the lost to saue For how can they th'inuisible God loue well WheÌ„ they neglect their neighbors neer that dwel SON XII VVHo so will serue the Lord he must bestow The whole not part of body or of mind If in his heart dislike hereof he find His soule not yet regenerate we may know Betwixt two stooles no sitting
straight and that which faileâ—â— can not be numbred For when I sought to practise what I knew My mind distracted diuersly was led In looking to preuent things to insew Much care in vaine I tooke no fruit it bred To know the worlds amis serues to small sted When no man can make straight the crooked tree Or mend the chance that is ordaind to bee To number forth mans miseries and woe Is hard to doe and litle would auaile To stay the Oceans course he should but goe That would support where nature meanes to faile It makes vs but our weaknesse more bewaile If any way our wisedome stood in sted It would suppresse the vices in vs bred 16. I thought in mine heart and said Behold I am become great and excell in wisedom all them that haue bene before me in lerusalem and mine hart hath seene much wisedome and knowledge And though alas I might of all men best For wisedome be reputed mongst the great Whose knowledge farre surpassed all the rest Before me euer were in Israels seate Or any others whom Records repeat Yea then was Chalcoll Darda or Ethan Heman Maholl or any liuing man Yet I for all my knowledge must confesse That childish blindnesse raigneth ouer all The more I knew I thought I knew the lesse My knowledge ignorance I seem'd to call When to the skanning of it I did fall As farre to weake true wisedome to behold As man vnfit Gods secrets to vnfold verse 17 I studied all both good and bad to know in all I found verse 18 Much grief as much wisedom grew new cares woes abouÌ„d 17. And I gaue 〈◊〉 heart to knowe wisedome and knowledge madnesse and foolishnesse I knew also that this is a vexatioÌ„ of the spirit And that I might the better others iudge I bent my selfe to euery students vaine To reade each friuolous worke I did not grudge As well as writers of more pregnant braine The rules of obseruations I did gaine Which long experience maketh many see And to the vulgar sort instructions bee I put in practise what these arts did teach And tasted euerie toy for my delight Fond actions made in modest mind a breach For will with reason I did arme to fight Yet all in fine did but torment my spright In wisdoms graue restraint my bouÌ„ds seeme straight On follie shame and sorow to awaight 18. For in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth griefe So wisedome proues a style of small auaile Which cannot yeeld a man one happie day His infant studies seruile feares do quaile His youthfull yeares with wantonnesse decay His manly thoughts worlds combers weare away His yeares of iudgement for true wisedome fit Deuoyd of powre through weakned limbs do sit And yet suppose some one in ripened time In bodie and in mind haue some delight Yet he shall find when he doth seeme in prime A world of woes to march before his sight Which past or presently shall with him fight Which if he scape yet many thousands beare Whereof whilst yet he liues he stands in feare Chap. 2. verse 1 Then did I ioy proue at full which also proued vaine verse 2 Mad laughter and short ioy what ease do ye yeeld to my paine 1. I said in mine heart goe to now I will proue thee with ioy therfore take thou pleasure in pleasant things and behold this 〈◊〉 vanitie THus tired with these studies I repinde And in my heart I said no more of this Now will I try if pleasure I may find To cheare my fainting soule in worlds amis Perhaps in mirth and ioy is plast true blis Let me to counsell my affections take And let them to their likings frolike make From reasons bonds thus set at large awhile They ech of them their appetites doe fit Each seuerall sense himselfe seekes to beguile And all conspire the wished prise to git But ouer gorg'd full soone they all do surfit For lust complete sacietie doth breed And vaine the fruite that growes from such a seed 2. I said of laughter thou art mad and of ioy what is this that thou 〈◊〉 Then did I first begin indeed to know The vanitie of these vnconstant ioyes For while the foggie myst of lust doth grow As through a cloud we see it so annoyes Our purest iudgement euen with childish toyes But then as safe on shore the storme I saw Whose raging billowes did soules perill draw Then cald I laughter a deformed grace More fit for fooles then temp'rate men to try Graue maiestie expelling from the face And antike wise disguizing men whereby As madnesse I beganne it to defy As forced mirth which no sweet fruit doth bring But to relenting soule a poysned sting verse 3 With wine I wit and folly fed to find mans liues content verse 4 In stately workes of houses and of vineyards study spent 3. I sought in mine hart to giue my selfe to wine and to lead mine hart in wisedome to take hold of folly till I might see wheâ— is that goodnes of the children of men which they enioy vnder the sunne the whole number of the daies of their life The Antidote of hearts with care opprest Earths bloud wits bane wines best delighting tast I gaue my selfe to proue in my vnrest To quicken so my sprights with care defast Not glutton like with drunkennesse disgrast But as in prickly bush men Roses take So in my plentie I not measure brake For why the obiect of my actions were So limited by wisedomes happy guyde That I in them did Gods offence forbeare And in the bounds of temperance firme abyde I onely sought by all things to haue tryde Where and what is that good mans of-spring finds In life on earth which so inchaunts their minds 4. I haue made my great workes I haue built me houses I haue planted me vineyardes And for I held magnificence to bee A vertue fitting well a princely mind I built and dedicated Lord to thee A Temple where thy Arke a rest might find A worthlesse present for a God so kind Yet best that skilfull Hyrams art could frame In seauen yeares time and cost vpon the same I raysed and reedified beside Full many cities to withstand the foes And Libanus whose beautie farre and wide In fame before all other cities goes Besides a Pallace for my Queene like those Where mightiest Monarks courts haue erst bin plast Which was with many vineyards greatly grast verse 5 I gardens had and Orchards faire of euery fruitfull tree verse 6 And Aqueducts to water them the purest that might bee 5. I haue made me gardens orchards and planted in theÌ„ trees of all 〈◊〉 I made me spacious gardens therewithall Wherein to solace both my Queenes and mee In which all kind of herbes both great and small And all such flowers as either pleasing bee To sight or smell you there might plentie see Or which for health of man had any prayse Or
they What if the wicked age wherein we liue Or lawlesse place wherein thou hapst to dwell Do sacred Iustice from her Scepter driue And make the poore mans life seeme worse then hell As though there were no God nor prouidence To punish sinne or yeeld the iust defence Yet be thou sure God seeth all full well And though he pacient be yet moued long He will dismount from heauen where he doth dwell To do thee right and wreke thee of their wrong With hoast of Angels and earths meanes beside To powre his wrath on them for lawlesse pride 8. And the abouÌ„dance of the earth is ouer all the king also consisteth by the field that is tilled When happie shall be held their blessed state Who humbly yeelded vnto Gods decree Who with the sweat of browes their liuing gate And with liues needfull food contented bee Whose trauell on this earth of mans vnrest With fruitfull crop from God aboue is blest Thrise blest thou silly swaine that tilst the ground Voide of the crafts and cares in Courts that bee More honest profit or content not found In Princes pallace then in cot with thee Kings without thee ne liue ne can be kings Thy paine to Court and Countrey plently brings verse 9 Who loueth gold shall lacke and he who couets much want store verse 10 With wealth charge growes the owner but moreaseth paine the more 9. He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer and he that loueth riches shall be without the fruit thereof this also is vanitie What though the world through hateful lust of gold Be thus transported with a greedy mind To purchase wealth which makes the coward bold To search land sea and hell the same to find Yet as it doth increase so doth desire And soone consume as oyle amidst the fire A iust reward of so vnworthy trade As doth debase nobilitie of soule Which made immortal scornes those things that vade And in the wise should earthly'affects controule But mouldwarp like these blindfold grope in vaine Vaine their desires more vaine the fruit they gaine 10. When goods increase they are increased that eat them and what good commeth to the owners thereof but the beholding therof with their eyes If honor wealth and calling do excell The common sort so charge doth grow with all Few with a litle sure may liue as well As many may though greater wealth befall It is not wealth to haue of goods great store But wealth to be suffisd and need no more Who hath aboundance and it vseth well Is but a steward to his family A purse-bearer for such as neare him dwell An Amner to the poore that helplessely He but his share doth spend though somwhat better And what he leaues he is to world a detter verse 11 Poore labourers empty mawd sleep sound whilst gluttons want their sleepe verse 12 This plague I see some with their wealth their proper mischiefe keepe 11. The sleepe of him that trauelleth is sweet whether he eat litle or much but the societie of the rich will not suffer him 〈◊〉 sleepe The labouring man that in his lawfull trade Hath past the toylesome day to gaine to liue No surfet hath his stomacke to vpbrayd Nor fearefull dreames which into horror driue His fraudlesse soule whilst he the longsome night Doth rest and rise to worke as day doth light When as the glutton after crammed gorge Whose surfets vpon surfets buried bee In his insatiat maw of hellish forge In bed no rest can find but slumbering see A swarme of visions breed by vapours vaine Which from a putride stomacke rise to braine 12. There is an euil sicknesse that I haue seene vnder the sun to wit riches reserued to the â—wners thereof for their euill And which I further see doth oft ensew The wealthier sort and which I much lament Is that they often times themselues do rew Their euill gotten wealth with time mispent As meanes for so it proues of greater care And which in end doth leaue them poore and bare Like to a spunge which store of sap hath suckt Or to the Bee that hony hath in hyue Their wealth is wrong their hony combe is pluckt Out of their hord by which they thought to thryue Their liues do for their goods fare oft the worse For enuious eyes pursue the plenteous purse verse 13 Their riches perish with their pains their childreÌ„ poore remaine verse 14 As naked buried as were borne leaue all their trauels gaine 13. And these riches perish by euil trauell and he begetteth a sonne and in his hand is nothing Which though they hap to scape yet many wayes There are besides which doth their ioyes bereaue Ill gotten goods we say not long time stayes And hastie wealth few heires to heires do leaue The getters faults or follies all may lose And chance or change of times it new dispose So that the of-spring of these mightie men By due vicisitude do oft descend From their aspired greatnesse hoped then Vnto the meanest ranke from whence they wend Each Crow his feather hath and naked they Their parents sinnes by their mishaps bewray 14. As he came forth of his mothers belly he shall returne naked to go as he came and shall beare away nothing of his labor which he hath caused to passe by his hand The Father he all naked went before Vnto the earth whence first he naked came The sonne as readie standeth at the dore To follow fathers steps and with the same Poore naked helplesse state that borne he was From all his pompe vnto his graue to pas Not any thing with him from hence to beare Of earthly substance that he did possesse The soule immortall is and may not weare Nor any vertues that our way addresse To heauen they shall suruiue vs after death WheÌ„ death shal liue by liues soone smothred breath verse 15 Gone as they came ô griefe of griefes his trauels paid with wind verse 16 His daies in darknes spent his bread consumd with grief of mind 15. And this also is an euill sicknes that in al points as he came so 〈◊〉 he go and what profit hath he that he â—â—th trauelled 〈◊〉 the windâ— If so it be alas what woe is this That not alone as poorest man beside All naked vnto graue he posting is But euen the common pangs must him betide That to all flesh at houre of death is rife When soule and bodie parting finish life And that with him his trauels fruits do end Who hath no share in all his former gaine But what soeuer blisse he did pretend His haps as others chance do voide remaine His hopes like dust dispersed with the wind Or sownd on sea where they no root could find 16. Also all his daies he eateth in darknesse with much griefe and in his sorrow and anger Which when he doth fore-think with heauy cheare He pines away the remnant of his dayes How much the more he happie did appeare The more vnhappy
and the strong meÌ„ shall â—ow theÌ„selues Before this glorious building do decay Wherein thy soule doth soiourne as a guest Thy comely body which erecteth aye The thought and eyes to heauen as mansion blest Grow feeble and therein thou find no rest When trembling hand his duety doth denay And brainefalne thighes and legs bend vnder thee When lamed limbs on others strength must stay And crouches in their steed of force must bee What time thou twise a child shalt weary grow That thou the strength of youth didst euer kuow Ere teeth wax few and windowes closd deny thy eyes the light verse 4 And dore shut vp thy grinding iaws to chaw haue lost their might 4. And the grinders shal cease because they are few they wax darke that looke out by the windowes Before the Cators of thy diet fayle Those Iuorie teeth which do thy food prepare Which lost or loose their labours not auayle But broths and minst-meats must become thy share And sharpned knife thy toothlesse gums must spare Before that darksome mists thy eyes assayle Whose watchfull sight thy Centinell should bee When christall humor failing they shall quayle And spectacles must teach them now to see Or closed windowes force thee take thy leaue Of worlds vaine shades which did the soule deceaue And the dores shall be shut out by the base sound of the grinding Before thy wanny cheekes sinke hollowed in In which well formed words should fashion haue And corrall lips which haue their portall bin And plyant tongue which elocution gaue Now faltering signes for interpretors do craue Whilst those white cliffes the bounders which begin The repercussion causing sweet resound Stand firme on rocke of their iaw ioyning chin Through which they gracious passage somtimes found And form'd that powrefull gift of eloquence The root of sweet content and sharp offence Ere sleeplesse braine at birds voice start and singing pipes be base verse 5 And high assents do make thee feard and almonds bud on face 5. And he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of singing shall be abased Before thy dryed braynes doe rest denye Vnto thy tyred bones and carefull mind And comfortlesse the longsome night thou lye In bed thy graue for ease tofore assignd And starts at each birds chirpe or puffe of wind Before thy organe pypes with horcenesse dry Restraine the passage of thy breathing voyce Wherewith resembling heauens true harmony Thy musicke notes vsed eares and hearts reioyce In liew whereof should hollow coffes succeede Which in corrupted loongs obstructions breed Also they shall be affraid of the hie thing and feare shall be in the way and the Almond tree shall flourish Before thou tyr'd at euery step must stay And clamber small assents on hand and knee And stumbling at each straw lyes in the way A spectacle of feeble nature bee To all that doth thy fearefull fashion see Before the harbengers of age I say Euen grieâ—ly haires do blossome on thy chin Which for most part declyning state bewray As Almond bud showes sommer to begin Prepare thy selfe for death the haruest due Which after spring time must of course insue Ere weaknesse make the grashopper a burden seeme and lust Consume for sure concupiscence with age doth weare to dust 5 cont And the Grashopper shall be a burden Before the childish toyes of infants lust Begin to want the wings of warmed blood And that thy body yeeld as once it must To age by which that humor is withstood To leaue the vse thereof I thinke it good For looke how of May deaw and sommers dust The wanton Grashopper doth quickly grow And singes in haruest tide vntill he brust So doth lusts pleasure vanish ere you know Like to Ephemeris that Tanaish flie Morne bred noone borne that very night to die And concupiscence shall be driuen away Not those faire frutes which by Gemorra grow Which touched once straight vnto dust do fall Are more deceitfull then this sinne in show Nor yet that fruit which first deceiu'd vs all Although regard thereof we haue but small Lust like a Torrent soone doth ouerflow If that accesse of nutriment abound But in a moment straight it waxeth low As by experience hath bene euer found Not Ammons of faire Thamor foule desyre So fierce but quencht with loathing did retyre Before in ages â—ed thy graue thou he whilst thee they morne verse 6 Thy siluer cord and golden ewre and liues pure cesterne worne 6. For a maÌ„ goeth to the house of his age and the mourners go about in the streete Then leaue that lothsome snare of humane kind The common cankor of the best concait Most powrefull passion that doth reason blind And to more brutish sins th'alluring bait And thinke on death which doth on thee awaight Suppose each ringing knell puts thee in mind That thou art in the way vnto thy graue Take heed that death thee vnprepar'd not find But so in all thy life thy selfe behaue As if thou were the man whose turne is next And wouldst not with a sudden death be vext Whiles the siluer cord is not lengthened nor the golden ewre broken nor the pitcher broken at the well nor the whele broken at the cesterne Before I say the vitall spirits faile Or that thy radick humors all be spent That cramps do siluer cords of raynes assaile And natures intercourse no more be sent From liuer hart and braine as earst it went Before warme bloud with I sey fleame do quaile And pulslesse leaue thy ouer emptie vaine Before the cesterne made for liues auaile Thy stomake now no sustenance retaine But all the wheles of nature lacking strength To giue them motion they do faile at length verse 7 And flesh to dust thy spright to God returne that it did make verse 8 For all is vaine the preacher saith and all will vs forsake 7. And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gaue it For then be sure thy dayes are neere an end And flesh dissolued turneth vnto dust Then yeeld thereto before perforce thou bend And in thy strength of youth repose no trust Nor place thy ioy in earth or earthly lust Thy nobler part thy soule it did descend From God first mouer of all life and grace Who therefore doth chiefe interest pretend In thee and it and will thy soule imbrace Amidst the heauens of his eternall rest If faith and loue haue once thy way adrest 8. Vanitie of vanities sayth the Preacher all is vanitie Thus haue I sayth this Preacher proued true The proposition that I first did make That earthly things are vaine in vse and view That in them we can not sound comfort take And that in th' end we must them all forsake That wisedome only vertue should insue And vertue is the way to happinesse Which after death doth life againe renue A life more happie then the world can gesse When we shall liue from lewd
affections free And in that world no vaine delights shall bee verse 9 These things and more he spake for more he knew the more he taught His people knowledge for their good in all his words he sought 9. And the more wise the Preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge Full many other learned workes beside He wrote for more he knew the more he taught Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought And he with care and study dearely bought Three thousand morall rules in writ abide In prouerbs and in adages for skill So sound that they worlds censure may abide And to a ciuill life reduce thee will Without offence of lawes and with content Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent And caused them to heare Of natures workes with supernaturall skill He many volumes did compose likewise Not curious workes as some profanely will Of Alcumy or iudgements which arise By heauenly motions farre aboue the skies But he his knowledge hath contained still Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree And therefore many volumes he did fill With medcinable vse of things which bee Abstracted out of tree shrub mettall stone Of beast fish fowle and creatures euery one He sought by parables to giue them precepts how to liue verse 10 And with adorned words to them he doubly grace did giue 10. And searched forth and prepared many parables His heauenly Muse with wings of zeale did fly Aboue the common pitch of earthly men And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby With holy liking of his loue as then That he could not containe his gratefull pen. In thousand songs and fiue his powers did try The prayses of his sacred soules delight In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy Which from him loue of world did banish quight Among the which that song of songs by name Describes her beautie did him so inflame The preacher sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing euen the words of truth But this his large discourse was chiefly ment To teach the world to know how farre they stray That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent To leade their liues vnto a happie day Since nature wholy doth the same denay Which for it crosseth carnall mens content And hardly may amongst most wise haue place By this most pleasant stile about he went To giue to naked truth a comely grace For hardly can corrupted man digest Right wholesome food vnlesse it well be drest verse 11 For wise words are like goades and nailes which workmens hands do ding verse 12 Vaine bookes and reading shun they wearinesse of flesh do bring 11. The words of the wise are like goades like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies which are giuē by one Pastor And wise mens sayings spoken to the wise Well fraught with matter couched well by art Adornd with words and figures whence arise Content vnto the eare and moue the hart Most soone do worke impressions in each part And as they sooner pierce so firmlier lies The mind resolued in such fownded ground Than any planke or post you can deuise With nayle by hammers forced nere to sound And such this princely Prophets words esteeme Which are more waighty far thē thou woulst deeme 12. And of other things besides these my sonne take thou heed for there is none end in making many bookes and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh And let this graue aduice of father mild Which louingly he wrote I bring to thee Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild That with the world againe sedust thou bee Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see And striue to practise as you knowledge build Else is your learning vnto little end These many bookes wherewith this world is fild Do slender profit to the readers lend Which stuft with words of superficiall show But little fruit by them to world doth grow verse 13 Heare th' end of all feare God keepe his law this is mans dew verse 14 For God wil iudge ech work bring our secret thoghts to vew 13. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commaundements for this is the whole dutie of a man The end of all true wisedome is in this To know the will of God and it obserue To know his will and yet to walke amis A double chastisement must needs deserue Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue No seruile feare which I perswade it is But such as gratefull child to parent owes VVho though he feele the smart the rod will kisse Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes And this doth God require of man indeed That our obedience should from loue proceed 14. For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgment with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The breach whereof will heauie iudgement call VVhen God the searcher of the heart and raines Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines O happie then shall they be most of all VVhose heedfull liues in holy workes were spent The gaine of this their trauell is not small For blessed they the narrow path that went And though this narrow gate few enter in Yet who runs on this race the prize shall win FINIS Adue to worlds vaine delight YE worlds delights blind guides to blisse adue VVeake helpes which fit a carnall vaine desire My soule can find but comfort small in you Though as true blisse profane sort you admire My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire In faith to place my hope of firmer stay To gaine true blisse lesse toyle it doth require Then worlds vaine pleasure doth by farre away Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray Your liking base effect of fond desire The earth your seat doth perfectnesse denay My soules true hope inspir'd with heauenly fire There seekes to liue where blisse is firme and true And by reformed life would heauen pursue Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer by the same Author Psalme 27. 1 THe Lord he is my sauing light whom should I therefore feare 2 He makes my foes to fall whose teeth would me in sunder teare 3 Though hosts of men besiege my soule my heart shall neuer dread 4 So that within his Court and sight my life may still be lead 5 For in his Church from trouble free he shall me keepe in hold 6 In spight of foes his wondrous prayse my song shall still vnfold 7 Haue mercie Lord therefore on me and heare me when I cry 8 Thou badst me looke with hope on thee for helpe to thee I fly 9 In wrath therefore hide not thy face but be thou still my aide 10 Though parents fayle thou wilt assist thy promise so hath said 11 Teach me thy truth and thy right path
least that the enemy 12 Preuaile against my life whose tongues intrap me trecherously 13 My heart would faint for feare vnlesse my faith did build on thee 14 My hope my God and comforts strength who will deliuer mee Psalme 71. 1 IN thee ô Lord I trust therefore from shame deliuer mee 2 Performe thy promise saue thou me who call for helpe to thee 3 Be thou my rocke of strength and shield whose powre is great might 4 Deliuer me from wicked men and put my foes to flight 5 For in thee onely from my youth haue I my trust reposd 6 Thou hast had care of me whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd 7 Thee will I praise who art my helpe when men at me do scorne 8 My mouth thy mercies still records who helpst the mind forlorne 9 In time of age forsake me not or when my strength doth faile 10 Least that the counsels of my foes against my soule preuaile 11 Who say my God hath me forgot they therefore me pursue 12 But be thou Lord at hand to me who canst my strength renue 13 Shame and reproch let be their share which my destruction seeke 14 But on thee alwayes will I waite with humble hart and meeke 15 My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse whose measure doth excell 16 And in thy trust my steps shall walke and tongue thy truth shall tell 17 Euen from my youth thou hast me taught thy wonders well I know 18 And whilst I liue if thou assist I will thy iudgements show 19 Thy iustice Lord I will exalt whose workes are like to thine 20 Who threw'st me downe and raisd me vp who else in dust had leine 21 Thou canst mans honor soone increase and shew thy chearefull faces 22 Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse ô God of grace 23 My lips shall ioy to talke of thee who hast my safety wrought 24 My freed soule shall still confesse who hath my safety bought Psalme 119. 1 BLessed are those whose wayes are right and in Gods lawes do walke 2 Whose heart obeyeth to his will and lips thereof do talke 3 Such do not worke iniquitie but so their wayes direct 4 That in their life by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect 5 O would to God my deedes therefore so straightly I might frame 6 That with regard of thy precepts I might be free from blame 7 Then shold I prayse with vpright hart thy righteous iudgemeÌ„ts known 8 Which whilst I study to obserue Lord let thy helpe be showne PART 2. 9 By looking to thy lawes most soone a man may perfect grow 10 Since then my heart hath sought the same astray let me not go 11 Thy promises in mind I beare which me from sinne withdraw 12 Thou gracious God and blessed guide teach me thy perfect law 13 My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse and iustice thou doest vse 14 To follow freely thy beheast I 'le worldly wealth refuse 15 For of thee will I meditate and studie whilst I liue 16 And to obey thy iust precepts my mind will wholly giue PART 3. 17 Be gracious to thy seruant Lord giue life and powre to mee 18 Open my eyes that of thy lawes I may the wonders see 19 I am a stranger vpon earth hide not from me thy will 20 My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still 21 Thou hast destroyd the proud and curst are they which go astray 22 Shame and contempt yet take from me who keepe thy lawes alway 23 Though Princes hate me for thy truth yet will I thee obay 24 Thy lawes shall be my studie still and comfort night and day PART 4. 25 My soule with sorrow is opprest giue me thy promist aide 26 Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse thy wrath makes me affraid 27 But teach thou me thy truth that I thy wonders may admire 28 For shame of sinne soâ—daunts my hope it dares not helpe desire 29 If thou redresse my blinded steps and teach to me thy will 30 Thy ordinances will I keepe and looke vpon them still 31 Thou are the portion I do chuse ô Lord confound me not 32 But guide my steps to run that race the which thy lawes alot PART 5. 33 Teach thou thy statutes vnto me that I may keepe them all 34 Giue thou the knowledge of thy will and turne my hart withall 35 Direct me in thy path ô Lord therein is my delight 36 Incline my mind vnto thy word and sinne put thou to flight 37 Turne thou my eyes from vanities and do thou quicken mee 38 Performe thy promise made to me whose hope depends on thee 39 Preuent the shame I feare because thy iudgements all are iust 40 Behold I would performe thy will thy grace relieue me must PART 6. 41 Then let thâ— promise kindly made O Lord fulfilled be 42 So shall I sâ—â—se my iust rebuke and giue the praise to thee 43 Take not away from me thy truth for on thee I attend 44 But let my lips speake of thy praise vntill my life doe end 45 My feete shall freely follow thee vntill the truth I find 46 I will not shame to Kings thy truth to preach with constant mind 47 Yea all my solace shall be still my loue of thee t' expresse 48 My lifted handes vnto the heauens thy glory shall confesse PART 7. 49 Remember then thy promise made wherein thy seruant trusts 50 In trouble iâ— doth comfort me my soule thereafter lusts 51 The wicked haue derided me thy lawes yet haue I kept 52 I cald to minde thy iudgements past whereby in peace I slept 53 Sorrow and feare afflicted me to see how wicked men 54 Thy lawes transgresse in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then 55 In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare 56 Which blessing thou bestoweâ—â— on me thy will in mind to beare PART 8. 57 O Lord thou art my portion I thy law will still obserue 58 My hearty prayers made to thee and promise thine preserue 59 I haue reform'd my wayes and will to thy behests obay 60 With speed I will my life amend and make no more delay 61 The wicked haue inticed me but I will turne againe 62 At midnight will I rise to pray till iustice I attaine 63 My company shall such be still as do thy precepts know 64 Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord to me thy pleasure show PART 9. 65 According to thy word ô Lord thou graciously hast dealt 66 Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord who in thy law hath dwelt 67 Before I felt thy scourge as then my â—eete did go astray 68 But gracious God direct me now that keepe thy lawes I may 69 The proud against me worke deceipt yet will I follow thee 70 Their hart on folly feedes thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee 71 This fruit affliction brought to me which made me learne thy law 72 A greater treasure to my mind then heretofore I saw
PART 10. 73 Thy hand hath fashioned me therefore teach me thy holy will 74 So shall thy seruants all reioyce and I obey thee still 75 Thy iudgements Lord I graunt are iust I did thy wrath deserue 76 Haue mercie yet and pardon me thy promise cannot swarue 77 Lord let me liue I thee beseech thy law is my delight 78 Bring thou to shame my foes and driue the wicked out of sight 79 And let thy seruants all behold thy mercies showd to me 80 Who walking in thy statutes iust shall not ashamed be PART 11. 81 My soule is almost faint for feare yet on thy word 〈◊〉 82 My eyes are dim with looking sore send me thy comfort iust 83 My bones are withered with despaire till thou thy promise pay 84 My life is short thy iustice on the wicked Lord beâ—ray 85 By fraud they seeke to take my life contrary vnto right 86 But thou art iust vniust are they therefore put them to flight 87 They had almost consumed me my faith yet did not faint 88 Reuiue thou me and with thy truth my mouth I will acquaint PART 12. 89 O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure 90 Thy truth from euer was thou laidst the earths foundation sure 91 All things continue at a stay and do thy people serue 92 Vnlesse thy word did comfort me my faith with griefe would sterue 93 I neuer therefore will forget thy lawes which quicken me 94 I am thy seruant saue thou me who vnto thee do flye 95 The wicked seeke me to destroy but in thâ—e will 〈◊〉 rust 96 Thy truth endures for aye but else all things returne to dust PART 13. 97 So much I loue thy law ô Lord I studie on it still 98 Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill 99 I better vnderstand thy will then they which do me teach 100 I better know thy lawes to keepe then they which should them preach 101 That I thy word might keepe my feete refraine each eâ—ill way 102 My iudgement grees vnto thy law which taught me what to say 103 Then hony combe vnto my tast thy word is far more sweet 104 Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun as most vnmeet PART 14. 105 Thy word is light vnto my feete and guides me in my way 106 My hart hath sworne I will performe thy 〈◊〉 â—ight and day 107 My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send 108 Teach me thy will to my request a gratefull â—earing 〈◊〉 109 Though I in daunger daily be thy lawes I not forget 110 But keepe them still while me to snare the prowd a bayâ— haue seâ— 111 They are the portion I haue chose they are my harts delight 112 My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and â—â—ight PART 15. 113 Thy word I loue but do detest the vanities of minde 114 My shield thou art my refuge safe in whom I trust do finde 115 Away from me ye wicked men my God alone I serue 116 He will performe my hope his word from truth doth neuer swerue 117 Support thou me then am I safe in thee is all my trust 118 Thou hast supprest the proud and such as follow worldly lust 119 I loue thee Lord because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue 120 Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord which shall my sinnes reproue PART 16. 121 Let me not then oppressed be I iustice do obserue 122 Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men which froÌ„ thy will do swerue 123 My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde 124 Teach me my God and let thy seruant be with mercy payd 125 I wait on thee let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part 126 Helpe Lord in time for all the world do from thy lawes depart 127 Yet do I thy precepts esteeme more then the richest gold 128 Most iust are they but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold. PART 17. 129 Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse 130 The wayes thereto do shine so bright the simple it may chuse 131 The zeale I bare vnto thy law did make my hast to moue 132 Looke on me then in mercy Lord because thy law I loue 133 Direct my deedes so that no sinne may beare in me asway 134 I keepe thy will to wicked men let me not be a pray 135 Thy shining face vnto me turne thy statutes teach thou mee 136 With teares my eyes do daily flow because they trespasse thee PART 18. 137 Thou righteous God most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found 138 To truth aâ—d equitie alone thy lawes thy seruants bound 139 My zeale doth burne because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot 140 Thy word we finde most pure and I haue chose it to my lot 141 Though I be poore and in contempt I do remember well 142 Thy righteous precepts which for aye in glorious truth excell 143 Anguish and eares vpon me come thy law yet do I loue 144 Teach me thy truth that I may liue eternally aboue PART 19. 145 Heare me ô Lord to thee â— cry thy â—â—atutes I will keepe 146 Saue me and graunt that in thy house I may in safetie sleepe 147 Before the 〈…〉 to thee I call and wait thy wâ—ll 148 By night I watch to meditate and studie of thee still 149 Heare me ô gracious God in time and quicken thou my spright 150 They are at hand that hate thy law and me pursue with spight 151 Thy promises assure me Lord that thou arâ— nigh at hand 152 I knew 〈◊〉 since thy high decree should firme for euer stand PART 20. 153 Behold my sorrowes then and helpe â—â—y pleasure I obay 154 Plead thou 〈…〉 me vpon thy word I stay 155 The wicked they are farre from helpe which do not thee regard 156 But for thy seruants we do know thy mercy is prepard 157 Many they are thaâ— me pursue yet will I follow thee 158 I see the wicked scorne thy â—ord and much it grieueth mee 159 Consider Lord my 〈◊〉 too thee so quicke 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 160 For from for aye thy word of truth and righteousnesse I finde PART 21. 161 Princes of might do me pursue yet onely thee I feare 162 Thy word delights my hart as if my richesse great it weare 163 Thy law I loue but do abhorte all falshood and deceit 164 Seauen times a day I praise thy name and on thee alwayes wait 165 The keepers of thy law shall stand from danger alwayes free 166 I keepe thy heasts because I hope thy sauing health to see 167 Yea for the loue I beare to them I will them not transgresse 168 Thou seest ô Lord in all my wayes thy name I do confesse PART 22. 169 Let then my plaint before thee come and be thou still my guide 170 Giue â—are vnto my sute and let thy promise firme abide 171 When thou hast me thy statutes taught my lips
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
to feed by faith thou doest me giue My bondage thus release make thou me free My barren branch shall so bring frute for thee SON XXI A Marchant I full long abroad haue straide By sea and land true happinesse to gaine The riches of the earth my eyes haue waide And see their profit to be light and vaine Such trifling trash my soule doth now disdaine And Iewels of more value I espye Among the rest one doth all other staine Which with my wealth I wish that I might buye But this rare pearle is of a price so hie As all the earth cannot esteeme the same Much lesse to purchase it can it come nie Yet doth the loue thereof my heart enflame Be thou the pledge sweet Sauior then for me That heauenly blisse shall so my riches be SON XXII AMong the prease of many that draw neare Vnto the feast of grace in Temple thine I silly widow also doe appeare With humble heart ô Lord who here encline And vnto thee a mite for offering mine Present as precious to my poore estate For heards or flocks for store of corne and wine Without obedience Lord thou aye didst hate But broken hearts and soules which lye prostrate Before thy throne of grace and mercy craue Do mercie finde though it be nere so late Thy promise hereof vs assurance gaue In trust whereof obaying thy behest My praiers to thy praise ô Lord are prest SON XXIII INto thy vineyard Lord vnworthie I Desire to come to trauell out the day Thou calledst me thereto and didst espie Me loytring idle by the worlds high way At first to come my follies did me stay Whom cold and hunger now to worke compell Though halfe my daies be spent say me not nay The other halfe to trie employed well I do not hope my paines so deare to sell As they that beare the brunt of heat of day They merit most whose trauels most excell My slender seruice craues but single pay But if thy bountie giue behold me prest With thanks thy grace to taste amongst the rest SON XXIIII AS thou art pure and iust in all thy waies O Lord so should thy offrings also bee The tongue vncleane cannot set forth thy praise The wanton eye may not thy secrets see The lame of faith the blind of skill not hee That thou alotst thy sacrifice to slay The heart that is found cleane in each degree Is fittest for thy church wherein to stay Such is no flesh ô Lord the truth to say But as thou pleasest them to purifie By faith and by repentance euerie day Who then with Christ may boldly thee come nie Behold me then thus thy adopted chyld Let me not from thy temple be exyld SON XXV I Follow thee ô Lord but far behinde As Peter did when he did see thee led To prison where the traitors did thee binde Amazed much with worldly feare and dred When as I saw the world all ouer spred With hatred and disdaine vnto the iust My courage it was quayld and quickly fled And had no liking to thy helpe to trust But Lord I know perforce I forward must If I intend to gaine the crowne I craue I must abandon flesh and fleshly lust And in thy promise all my hope must haue Grant thou me boldnesse then and constant will To perseuere in thy obedience still SON XXVI OF parents first two brothers borne that were The bodie and the soule did represent The elder Cain who Henocks wals did reare The yonger Abell dwelt in silly tent First man with plough the virgins soile he rent The other seru'd and shoare the silly sheepe To worldly lustes of flesh the one was bent Thy heauenly lawes the other sought to keepe A deadly discord twixt them so did creepe The elder did the guiltlesse yonger slay That ancient hatred grounded is so deepe It striues in me alas vnto this day Accept my sacrifice Lord me defend My powres vnto thy holie pleasure bend SON XXVII LIke pined chyld ô Lord from nurses brest Whom churlish stepdame ouer soone doth waine By wicked will alas I am opprest And crie to cruell flesh behold in vaine Who lets me languishing in sin remaine And sends no comfort to support my need My faults I know I do confesse them plaine That folly doth my weake affections feed I see my ruine neare at hand in deed And cannot call for aide whose tong is dum My feete so feeble cannot helpe at need Although I see at hand thy vengeance come Vnlesse thou giue me grace to see and feare To pray in faith and thou thy hand forbeare SON XXVIII POlluted with the curelesse leprosie Of sin which is heriditarie now So lothsome growne that I dare not come nie Thy holy temple where my heart doth bow I craue ô Lord it please thee to allow The high Priest Christ thy sonne to view my sore Whose holyhand may guide and teach me how To cure this griefe it may returne no more I know ô Lord thou hast of mercy store And onely thou doest pitie mans estate Which though my stubburne heart refusde before Repentance yet and faith coms not too late Whose sparrowes of repentance I present An offering here through worldly desert sent SON XXIX A Virgine pure ô Lord by birth I was The daughter of thy church adopt by grace But lothsome lust foule fiend did me alas Pursue and sought with me his dwelling place As many vertues as did seeke my grace By weddings band to me to be vnight So many did this fiend first night deface So oft I was depriu'd of my delight Seuen times a widow I with shame and spight Am left and liue now hopelesse of redresse Till thou with Raphaell send that medicine bright Of God to giue me grace to sinne suppresse Thy sonne thus made my spouse shall soone restore Tobias sight wealth comfort lost before SON XXX OF sinfull race of mans licentious seed Whilst heauenly ofspring with faire humane kinde Do ioyne affects where wicked lusts do breed And so pollute the frutes of vertuous minde A bastard brood my selfe alas I finde Whose nature doth in tryannie consist Of grace and reason growne so dull and blinde That I in wrong with stubburnesse persist Who seeing father Nature ere he wist A sleepe with soâ—tish wine of worldly loue To hide his shame by wisdome had no list Which iustly curse of God on me did moue A slaue to sin therefore I did pursue Like Nymrod grace of God which now Irue SON XXXI AS oft as thou by grace wouldst drawe me backe From sin whereto I am by nature thrall So oft alas I finde my will to lacke And power to follow thee when thou doest call From sin to sin I headlong thus do fall And quench repentance by a peruerse will I see my fall but haue no feare at all And to my vomit dog-like turne I still My frailtie doth thy wrathfull cup fulfill With flowing measure of reuenge and wo When I returne
But yet in hope of grace from thee I stay And do not yeeld although my courage quaile To rescue me be'prest I do thee pray If sinfull death do seeke me to assaile Let me runne forth my race vnto the end Which by thy helpe ô Lord I do intend SON LIIII ABase borne sonne to sin by kinde I am From natiue soile by want of grace exilde Of idle fances captaine I became Whilst I in Tob my resting place did bilde With worldly vanities I was defilde Till home thou caldst me by thy heauenly word Who trusting to my selfe was soone beguilde When I sought workes to be a conquering sword Whose vowes did seeme a present to afford Of frute of victorie at my returne Which rashnesse hath a mischiefe great incurd Compelling me my owne deserts to burne And now I mourne and better frute do craue The blessing of thy sonne Lord let me haue SON LV. WHen thou vouchsafedst Lord to raise my state From base degree of common humane kinde And gau'st me knowledge and a will to hate Each wickednesse contrarie to thy minde By promise thou didst me most strictly binde To slaye each wicked seed which doth possesse My sinfull flesh Amalekite most blinde Which vertue and thy grace seekes to suppresse But wretched I alas I do confesse Haue kept a part of that accursed spoile Vndaunted which thou seest nere the lesse And therefore wilt accurse my sinfull soile And take from me the kingdome thou didst giue Except thy mercy do my soule relieue SON LVI THe onelie daughter Lord of my delight Dina the vertue of my iudgment best Is rauished alas by Satans might Whil'st I secure in Hiuits countrie rest In worldlie vanities a wandring guest Amongst the wicked I remainde a while Where sillie she by foolish will addrest Gazde on those godlesse youths which her beguile For lustfull Sichem sonne to sin most vile Did lay a traine of loue which led to shame Whose flattering speech did modestie exile And left a spot of guilt and foule defame But faith zeale the first frutes of my strength By grace shall venge my honour iust at length SON LVII THe silly babes the motions of the minde Which natiue vertue seeketh forth to bring Concupiscence the midwife most vnkinde To deadly sin and Satan straight doth fling The mothers power suffiseth not to wring Out of this tyrants hands her dying childe Her mone to see it is a piteous thing When reasons lawes so lewdly are defilde But if thy fauour Lord be reconcilde By loue vnto thy sonne by him to mee Then though my hope of grace be neare exilde Yet thou a childe Of faith wilt let me see A coffin Lord of comfort for me make Where safe I may swim in the words wilde lake SON LVIII VVHere shall I build ô Lord a quiet rest To bring forth birds of turtle Pigeons kinde My wearied wings do wander without rest And cannot gaine a harbour to my minde The Swallow Lord a setling place doth finde Within thy temple free from Eagles claw Not moued with tempestuous stormes of winde Or dangers which their kind doth stand in awe A place as fit for me my faith once saw VVheras my soule might safely be inclosd Thy Church inuisible to which I draw My life retirde therein to be reposd Make frutefull Lord my barren heart therein Shield me from storme of still assailing sin SON LIX VVHilst in the vale of carnall sense I dwell Foule Sodome sinke of sin and badge of shame Of whose polluted nature I do smell And aptly bend my selfe to them to frame Sent by thy mercie Lord thy Angels came And did vouchsafe a harbor to accept Within my soule which did professe thy name But Satan who a watch on me had kept When as these guests within my conscience slept Inuironed with lust my harbor weake For sorrow of this sin my soule it wept Whilst violently my bodies bands they breake But strike thou blinde their fury them expell Take me Lord from the flame of burning hell SON LX. MY bodie Lord infected long with sin Whose running issue is almost past cure Which helpe my humane phisicke cannot win And without comfort cannot long endure By viewing mercies thine becommeth sure If but thy gracious hem my hand may reach That loue in Christ my pardon shall procure And reunite in strength healths former breach Through presse of worldly lets faith shall me teach To seeke my safetie in thy promise true Vouchsafe thou eke repentance so to preach That I no more offending health insue Thy vertue Lord which bidding me be cleane To yeeld me health of soule is readie meane SON LXI NOw that I see ô Lord my open shame Conuict of sin and voyd of clothing pure Which couer might my soule which naked came Of grace and me from storme of world assure I do mistrust my selfe long to endure The heat and cold which feare and frailtie bring And clothing of my owne workes to procure I finde in deed to be a frutelesse thing To hide my selfe vnder thy mercies wing I therefore hasten now in hope of grace Grant I beseech the world no more me wring Out of thy hands but let me see thy face With faith and comfort clothed by thy hand And Christ thy Sonne in my defence to stand SON LXII VVHilst that the chosen chieftaines of thy word Do bend their power by preaching to subdue The fleshly Canaan and put sin to sword And giue the soule to be possest a new With righteous Israel vnto whom of due Those earthly blessings rather do pertaine They send two spies my secret thoughts to vew The law and Gospell which discouer plaine My fainting force in feare for to remaine Where yet repentant Rahab readie is To lodge them safe whilst Satan seekes in vaine To slaie these messengers of heauenly blis I craue therefore sweet Sauiour for a sine Faith bearing frutes as pledge of safetie mine SON LXIII HOw oft ô Lord with more then tender care Hast thou by Prophets cald me to repent How great thy loue by sonne which didst not spare To staie me backe from hell whereto I went Who to that end from heauen to earth was sent Whose graces daily preached offred peace And sought to stop my course to ruine bent And me from guilt of death for to release Like as the henne whose voice doth neuer cease To clocke her tender chickens vnder wings When furious foules on silly pray do prease And would deuour alas the helplesse things Such Lord thy care I feele and loue of me That thrall to Satan wouldst not haue me be SON LXIIII. VVHilst with the wholesome food of heauēly truth The Manna which thy written word doth giue Thou soughtst ô Lord to feed my wandring youth That it in plenteous peace by grace might liue By lust lo Satan sought my soule to driue To breake obedient bands vnto thy law Which my offences I protest do griue My helplesse heart the which delight did draw
And sell the patrimony to ensue I carry water in an open siue And change for lentil pottage birth-right due Too late alas my folly I do rue Who worlds delight preferred haue so long Reiecting heauenly knowledge treasure true Vnto my soule imposing open wrong Yet not so late ô Lord I pardon craue But yet one blessing thou for me wilt haue SON XCVIII A Sinfull Syrian Lord my father was Exilde from Paradise by iust desart I wandred into Egipt there alas To finde in world some food to please my hart Where seruile bondage vnto sin and smart I suffered so long through Satans rage That heauenly aide I crau'd thence to depart Which only able was my griefe t' asswage From silly seruant and an abiect page Thou broughtst me forth to knowledge of thy truth The blessed land and showdst me on a stage A patterne how to guide my wandring youth Such frutes therfore as faithfull soile doth yeeld I offer here first crop of blessed field SON XCIX I See alas proud Satan hath too long Defrauded thee ô Lord of that is thine And loue of world hath drawne me vnto wrong Whose heart thy offrings to bestow repine My outward knees vnto thee do incline My tong doth promise present of my store I say these gracious gifts are none of mine But will them all thy Aulter laie before But vanities doth presse me euermore And want of faith to leaue some part behinde Although I see death readie at the dore My hollow heart and lewd deceipt to finde Grant that I may my soule my power my will Present ô Lord to serue thee onely still SON C. SInce thou by grace out of wilde Oliue stocke Hast pleasd me Lord within thy Church to plant And reckon me as of thy proper flocke Who else all pleasant frute by nature went Vouchsafe my thankfull frutes be not so scant As cause thee to reiect me backe againe Of former bountie Lord do not recant But let me in thy garden still remaine By mercy not by merit I attaine This blessing promised so long before Let not this gift of thine returne in vaine But let thy goodnesse multiply the more Make sweet the frutes which bitter are by kinde Increase thy grace in bodie and in minde CONCLVSION MOurne thou no more my soule thy plaint is heard The bill is canseld of the debt it owes The vaile is rent which thee before debard And Christ his righteousnesse on thee bestowes Thus comfort to the patient alwaies growes If they attend the time God hath assignde Our strength to beare our maker best he knowes And at a need is readie for to finde Our Sauiour is so mercifull and kinde Vnto our selues he will not leaue vs long He castes our faults through loue his back behinde And turnes our plaints into more pleasant song And when we are euen at the gates of hell His glorie mercie power doth most excell THE SECOND PART OF CHRISTIAN PASsions Containing a hundred Sonets of Comfort Ioy and thankesgiuing PREFACE SOme men do mourne for suddeine ioy they say And some likewise in midst of sorrow sing Such diuers frutes do passion often bring As reason cannot course of Nature stay And happie sure he is I not denay That both these motions hath from heart contrit When frailtie of his flesh appeares to sight And mercy calling him backe from decay Who can behold the flesh and spirit fight The doubtfull issue and danger of the thing The losse whereto our nature might vs fling And gaine which grace doth giue through Sauiors might And not delight To glorifie his name And yet lament his proper natiue shame SON I. AS through a mist or in a cloud a farre I see a glimse of heauenly grace to shine And to reuiue the fainting faith of mine And spirits which with darknesse shadowed are The fleshly fog of sin did iudgment barre Of proper vse of power of reason sound Which in first parents franckly did abound And better part of natures strength did marre But since my eyes of grace a sight haue found Of that eternall light which doth incline Fro out these fogs of feare I hope t' vntwine And force of fainting faith for to confound And on a ground More firme wil build my trust And that in Christ whose promises are iust SON II. CLeng'd are the cloudes and darknesse fled away And now in triumph doth my Sauiour ride Sin hell nor death dare not his sight abide The world nor Satan can his progresse stay This piercing light of truth shall so bewray Ech stratagem their practise doth deuise Against my soule that there shall not arise One cloud of care to darken this my day But that my thoughts like to the Pilate wise Shall looke about lest that my heart should slide And by this sunne my course so constant guide That all their slightes shall not my soule disguise Which now espies The malice they me owe Which lōg they clothd with shade of plesāt show SON III. WHen as my conscience layeth forth before My thoughts the sinnes which daily I commit I thinke my selfe an instrument vnfit To witnesse forth thy glory any more But when I see that sin was first the dore By which death entred and such hold did take That death did first our want apparant make And want first cause that man did ayd implore That praiers first thy mercies do awake That mercies do renue our dulled wit That ioyed heart should not vnthankfull sit And thanks to thee doth fleshly glory shake It straight doth slake The fear which bad me stay And bids me still proceed to praise and pray SON IIII. SInce to so holy vse I consecrate The silly talent Lord thou lentst to me That it a trumpe vnto thy praise might be And witnesse of their woe that thou doest hate Doe thou ô Lord forget the abiect state Of flesh and bloud base mettle of my frame And since that thou hast sanctified the same Vouchsafe thy grace my weaknesse may abate Thou that my former wandring will didst tame And me prepare in minde to honour thee Canst giue me gifts the which thereto agree How ere my proper power be weake and lame So shall thy name Be precious in my sight And in thy praise shall be my whole delight SON V. VVOuld God I were as readie to confesse And yeeld thee praise sweet Sauiour day by day As to craue my wants I am forward ay And feruently at need to thee to presse To beg of thee alone thou wilst no lesse Because thou onely able art to giue And with each needfull thing by which we liue Thou promisest our prayers thou wilt blesse But we with vse of them should not so stay And onely seeke to thee when need doth driue Whose blessings running through an open siue No praise for recompence vnto thee pay But when we pray We should thee laud also Our thankfull harts with bountie thine should go SON VI. I Haue begun ô Lord to run the
fine Where all thy treasures safely I may see And happie hee Bestows his loue so well Whose hope is payd with pleasures that excell SON XXXIX LOue then I will and loue thee Lord alone For fellowship in loue there may not bee Loue for thy loue ô Lord shall be thy â—ee For other recompence thou crauest none My vowes and deeds they shall be alwaies one All dedicated to adorne thy name My heart my soule my strength shall do the same Thy loue shall be my faiths true corner stone The loue of thee shall my affections frame To follow that may pleasing be to thee My eyes no beautie but in thee shall see And thy regard my wandring will shall tame Yea I will blame And scorne each other thing Saue what shall me vnto thy fauour bring SON XL. FAine would I praise thee Lord with such a zeale And feruencie as might my loue expresse Faine would my loue yeeld vnto thee no lesse Due praise then thou didst loue to me reueale But wanting power thereto I yet appeale To that thy goodnesse which thee first did moue In fragill flesh of mine the strength to proue Whose weaknes thou by heaueÌ„ly powre didst heale Mans wit in words comes short in this behoue To recompence nay onely to confesse The many waies thou doest our bodies blesse Much more our soules which freely thou didst loue Thy trustie doue Thy holy spright of grace Makes yet our weaknesse stand before thy face SON XLI O Perfect Sunne whereof this shadow is A slender light though it some beautie show On whom thy influence thou doest bestow Whose constant course still shines in endlesse blisse To scan thy glorie wit of man doth misse How far thy mercies beames abroad extend Tong cannot speake nor wit can comprehend And humane frailtie is bewrayd in this The fire ayre water earth they wholly bend The host of heauen and creatures belowe To pay their dutie vnto thee they owe Which didst their being and their vertue send And I intend With them in what I may To witnesse forth thy laud and praise for aye SON XLII WHat present should I bring of worthie prise To witnesse well the loue to thee I owe I nothing haue but what thou didst bestow Ne likest thou the toyes of mans deuise I would not spare my powre in any wise No treasure seemes to me for thee too deare The pleasures of the world the which are here Too base they are how ere wit them disguise To yeeld thee faith it doth the best appeare But mine is very weake alas I know To yeeld thee praise doth make a decent show But to thy merit neither doth come neare With garment cleare Yet clothd of righteous son My selfe to offer vnto thee I run SON XLIII WHo so beholds the works ô Lord of thine The stretched heaueÌ„s the seat where thou doest dwel The earth thy footstoole which dares not rebell Which all vnto thy will do still incline The Sunne and Moone by day and night which shine The changing flouds the firme and frutefull land The Planets which do firme for euer stand All which gainst thy behest dare not repine The host of Angels in thy heauenly band Th' infernall fiends with Lucifar which fell The fish the foule the beast agreeing well And all obedient to thy heauenly hand May vnderstand Thy glorie loue and powre Without whose help maÌ„ could not liue an howre SON XLIIII AS doth the Moone by daily change of hew By growing or decreasing beautie show The influence the greater lights bestow Whose absence or whose presence her renue So must all flesh confesse and thinke most true The faith or feare they haue for to proceed From heauenly grace which heaueÌ„ly gifts doth feed Without whose face blind darknesse doth insue Mans proper powre is so obâ—curde indeed With shades which rise froÌ„ earthly thoughts below That nothing but blinde ignorance would grow Vnlesse this sunne did shining comfort breed Which serues in steed Of fire vnto the same Fro whence this light of faith receiues his flame SON XLV IF Saba Queene a iourney tooke in hand From South to North wise Salomon to heare If humane wisedome was to her so deare That she did visit thus his holy land Then do I muse why men do idle stand In pride of youth when wit and meanes abound Their tender braines to feed with wisedome sound Far passing that this Queene for trauell found This error is the scarre of Adams wound Who sought his knowledge not in fountain cleare To whom forbidden skill did best appeare Neglecting graces him inclosing round But on the sound And written word I build Not Salomon such Oracles could yeeld SON XLVI HOw fond a thing it is which men do vse To beat their braines and so torment their hart In compassing the thing which breeds their smart And do not know what is the thing they chuse They childishly the name of loue abuse And would define the nature of the same By passions which belong to hatreds name Wherein to pine with pleasure they do chuse Who euer saw that figs on thorne-tree came Or thistels roses beare by any art With pain with grief with shame with losse impart Their passions which they for their loue do frame With iudgment lame Loue is a heauenly thing Where being plast it perfect loue doth bring SON XLVII LEt earthly things in earth their loue repose For flesh and bloud on faith they cannot feed It is a frute indeed of heauenly seed Which who disgesteth well life cannot lose The soule fro out of other matter growes And vnto other matter turnes againe Immortally to liue in ioy or paine As grace to sundry vses it hath chose Then is it time my thoughts at length to waine From laying vp my treasure for my need Where mothes and canker do so common breed As in the world whose wealth is meerely vaine If I attaine But faith layd vp in store In Christ my Sauious I desire no more SON XLVIII FYe fainting faith disswade me not so much From following of my louely heauenly choyce To thinke on whom I cannot but reioyce Whose name or memorie my heart doth touch What trauell ere befall I will not grutch Through fire and water I will him pursue Whose sight my fainting soule doth straight renue His loue and mercy both to me are such If I should dye for him it were but due By him I liue and follow will his voyce Regarding lightly fame or common noyse Which threaten paine and trauell to insue There are but few That passe the narrow way But crowne of honor doth their trauell pay SON XLIX I Find my heart is bent for to amend And follow thee forsaking wicked way From wickednesse my foâ—tsteps for to stay And to thy will my works henceforth to bend But yet the cause which makes me this intend I finde is rather feare then loue of right Yet free-will offrings do thee more delight And to such works thou doest thy
blessing send It is not ill to set before my sight Thy heauie plagues for sin from day to day But I had rather forth thy fauours lay And for their loue in quarrell thine to fight Which if I might By feruent zeale attaine Then should I hope the victorie to gaine SON L. NO sooner loue intirely me possest But see how iealousie doth me assaile She seekes with deepe distrust my faith to quaile And to remoue from conscience quiet guest She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest And that my deeds they too vnworthie are That from his fauour they will me debarre Whose loue is fixed only on the best Feare had begun to worke in me so farre That to amaze my minde it could not faile Till to my loue my state I did bewaile Who shining sweetly like the morning starre Did stay their iarre And bid my soule to rest In Christ by whom I surely shall be blest SON LI. HE is vnworthie to receiue a gift From any man that him mistrusts before I will not ought of thee Lord doubt therefore Although no reason can my hope vp lift I know in deed it is slye Satans drift To laie before me this my vile estate Which being sinfull thou of force must hate And I reiected be without all shift But when I with my selfe thy works debate Which haue examples of thy mercies store His reasons are of force with me no more Because that faith sets open wide the gate To me of late Which leades to treasure thine Where in thy sonne thou doest in mercy shine SON LII FAine would I follow thee through sea and land My louely Sauiour whom farre off I see Zeale makes my mind with speed to hast to thee But natiue weaknesse makes me doubtfull stand If to my ayde thou gau'st not forth thy hand And by thy word incourdgdst me to row I should so shun afflictions which do flow That feare should bend my faith like feeble wand But by thy offred grace now strong I grow And through the troubles of the world will be Bold to proceed and faith shall succour me To witnesse forth the thankfulnesse Iowe Thou doest bestow On me both power will And with them both I will thee honour still SON LIII AS do the starres amidst the firmament With borrowed light beare record vnto thee O Lord of might in which we men do see The image of thy power to them but lent So when our weake indeuors Lord are bent To publish forth thy praises which excell These silly sparkes of light which in vs dwell Do shew thy grace which vs this motion sent Although therefore no speech or tong can tell How infinite thy glorie ought to bee Which passeth humane sence by high degree As wisest men to grant they do compell Yet thou lik'st well We show herein our will Which I haue vowd vnto thy seruice still SON LIIII CAll me ô Lord for lo I do attend To follow thee where so thou doest direct I know thou wilt not my intent reiect Who gladly would proceed where so thou send I doubtfull stand which way my course to bend Because I finde such ignorance of skill To follow forth according to my will A frutefull course the which I did intend As thou with forward zeale my minde didst fill So shew me Lord whereto I am select And I shall carefully the same effect And feruently thereto go forward still Depend I will Vpon occasion fit That faithfully I may accomplish it SON LV. LIke silly babes such must thy seruants bee In innocencie and obedience still Vnto thy holy lawes ô Lord and will From wrath pride malice lust and enuy free With Serpents eyes of wisedome must they see And stop their eares which Sathan would deceaue With charmes of pleasure which a scar do leaue And onely lend obedient eare to thee Yet with simplicitie of doue receaue The yoke of law whose rule they must fulfill And suffer patiently the word to kill The force of sin which would soules health bereaue Such thou wilt heaue And hold in heauēly arme And with protecting hand defend from harme SON LVI WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see The throne triumphant where our Sauior sits In Maiestie aloft as best him fits A Iudge and Sauiour to his Saints to be Coëquall with his father in degree Possessor of the place for vs prepard Who readie stands our weake works to reward And from the fury of the world to free He were but base if ought he did regard This transitorie honour which so flits Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits And yet so niggardly to man is shard And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde Of care of conscience and of griefe of minde SON LVII VVHo seeketh not with all his powre and might To eternize vnto himselfe his state That chance or time may not his blisse rebate Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy To make them famous seeme in vaine worlds sight Which is the readiest way they do espye To keep their name from death which so they hate Yea all suppose posteritie the gate T'immortalize this flesh whose floure must dye But all go wry wealth honor wit haue end And children passe faith onely life doth lend SON LVIII VVHat wealth may be to this alone comparde To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue To haue our earthly thoughts so raysd aboue That world and worldly things we not regard To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs which shall eternally remaine Made free from worldly cares and troubles vaine Which is for children his a due reward Who can discouragde be with earthly paine Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue To share our griefes his ioy for vs to gaine Which thoughts should waine Our wils frō base desire And vs incourage higher to aspire SON LIX IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle Where all things flourisht first and prosper daye Wherein who liued neuer could decaye Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle And left man naked in reproach and shame To dust to turne againe from whence he came On baren earth to liue with sweat and toyle Then is our state much better then that same Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye Our Sauiour Abrams bosome doth displaye Wherein our soules shall rest most free from blame Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life To be exempt from feare of care or strife SON LX. VVHat is felicitie whereof men wright Which to attaine our studies still are bent VVhich to procure such time paine is spent By endlesse trauell therein day and night Sure if it be nought else but firme delight And that delight consist in peace of minde Then here on earth
had not then made choyse of such a way More facill is the course vnto decay More fauour with the world it will attaine But I mislike the ioy requit with paine And faining words not meaning as they say Men breake their sleeps some silly pelfe to gaine With losse of life small honour some haue bought Yea Philosophers pleasure set at nought To win a name of vertue to remaine Then I will waine My selfe from earthly rest With heauenly crowne and honour to be blest SON LXXXIII VVHen I begin to faint in my conceipt To see the little powre I haue to good How sin hath vertue in me still withstood And frailtie on my flesh doth alwaies waight I am confounded and amazed straight And readily could turne and flie the field And all my trauell to the tempter yeeld Before I would aduenture more to fight But when I duly note whereon I build My faith which watered is with Christ his bloud Of force sufficient to withstand the floud And me from perill and destruction shield I easily welde Each burden on me layd And of my safetie nothing am affrayd SON LXXXIIII THe chastisements which often do befall Vnto the most belou'd of God and blest Doth breed vnto their soules both peace and rest And home from wandring thoughts their mind doth call And sure are tokens not of fauour small Who father-like doth vs in time correct Who else the care of him would soone reiect And haue no heed vnto our wayes at all The good Phisition that would life protect Cuts of a limbe sometimes as it seemes best And yet the patient doth the same disgest Or any payne that worketh good effect Should God neglect Vs then to exercise With rods wherby to make vs grow more wise SON LXXXV HOw should my feare or sorrow long remaine Although the world did swell and ouerflow With danger which nought else but death do show When I by death do finde a present gaine Faith me assures that all assaults are vaine That seeke to seuer me from heauenly blis The loue of Christ assureth me of this That I with him shall safely still remaine What though of earthly pleasures I do misse And though the care of them vnpleasing grow Yet this by good experience I do know All things turne to the best to children his I therefore kis The crosse with ioyfull cheare Because in chastisement doth loue appeare SON LXXXVI ALthough those Gibeonites the natiue borne Of sinfull flesh haue slily me beguilde When as I thought all lust to haue exilde By showing faynd repentance raggd and torne Though flesh and bloud vnto this league haue sworne Not asking counsell of the Lord at all By which into a snare my soule did fall And deepe hypocrisie my powre did scorne Yet meane I them vnto account to call And since they haue my holy thoughts defilde Accursed I will hold them and as vilde Will hate their ofsprings all both great and small And be they shall But bondmen to my soule Who daily may their proud attemps controwle SON LXXXVII WHen I began a conquest of my will To make and yeeld it vnto reasons law My reason to the rule of God to draw And by that rule to guide my actions still It had bene wisedome first the flesh to kill Who breeds affections which do still withstand The building of the worke I haue in hand And thornes are in my sides to worke me ill But now my error I do vnderstannd And must by feare of wrath keepe them in aw And by the chastisements of sinne they saw Make them to yeeld vnto obedient band Then shall my land With faithfull souldiers be Replenished and armed strengthen me SON LXXXVIII NOt euery one that with his lips doth pray Or praise thy name is gratefull in thy sight Thy searching eyes haue not so much delight In those that cry Lord Lord each houre of day But such as in thy bounds obedient stay And make thy will a law vnto their mind That in thy promises do comfort find And follow not the worlds deceitfull way To such thou showest thy selfe a father kind And doest coroborat their heart with might Against all powers wherewith they daily fight Their sores thou tak'st to cure and doest vp bind Angels assignd Do them inuiron round And to their comfort mercies do abound SON LXXXIX HOw should I quicken vp my selfe indeed To true and faithfull loue euen as I ought Vnlesse I call to mind whence I was brought And by whose aide who did this kindnesse breed Which when I only waigh my heart doth bleed To see that bountie of a God so kind And note the dulnesse of my nature blind That should forget the Lord who me doth feed When I was almost lost he me did find When I forgat him cleane on me he thought When I was sold to sinne then he me bought When I was wounded he my sores bid bind Yea when I pind He gaue me plenteous store Which gifts I will record for euermore SON XC VVHy should I faint or feare or doubt at all How fierce so euer fleshly combat show Since I so sure a succour readie know To shield me safe what euer do befall If he haue such regard of sparrowes small As none of them till God appoint do dye If to our haires which fall he haue an eye That none of them vnnumbred perish shall Why should I thinke him deafe when I do cry As though he had no care of vs below As though he would not needfull things bestow Although our patience he delight to try Who can deny But flowres that grow in field In glory staine the beautie pride doth yeeld SON XCI HOw do Gods blessings to his Saints abound Whose gifts of grace although they be but small At first yet more and more increase they shall As seed well watred in a frutefull ground The proofe whereof I sinfull wretch haue found Whose faith nigh famished he now hath fed From heauen with great increase of fish and bread Which strengthen dying soule with comfort sound His word for table he did open spred His seruants for to feed me he did call Their dole so free I find more fragments fall Then in my basket sences home haue led Yet he hath bed To such more to bestow As greatest store of former treasure show SON XCII I Know not Lord how to discharge aright The dutie that for graces great I owe No need thou hast of me at all I know Yet in thy seruice shall be my delight To publish forth thy praises day and night To serue thy Saints with gifts I shall possesse Thy wondrous workes by all meanes to confesse I will imploy my substance wit and might The remnant of my life shall well expresse That dead to sin in Christ to life I grow Which shall to world my mind regenerate show Although that I cannot sinne cleane suppresse And will addresse My thoughts to thee alone Because on earth true ioy or blisse
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
names doth his fraile scholers gaine To follow follies which affections preach Lust wrath couetise pride cald we see Loue value thrift and clenlinesse to bee SON LVI VVE may reioyce but yet in Christ alone Alone in him is cause of true ioy found All other ioy is but indeed vnsound Perfection or continuance elsewhere none If man with Salomon the hap might haue To tast each earthly pleasure he desir'd He would but giue that prayse the other gaue That once possest their pleasure straight retir'd From earth to heauenly knowledge he aspir'd And humaine wisedome he did throughly sound In which he saw calamities abound And did neglect as vaine things most admir'd In this alone contented ioy is showne To loue feare serue this Christ our corner stone SON LVII VVIse Moses and graue Talions law seuere Do well agree to reason naturall And God in like sort le ts his iudgements fall So that our sinnes their proper vengeance beare As eye for eye and tooth for tooth was due So nature doth our faults for most part pay With pennance by it selfe which doth insue As we shall find if we our actions way And God himselfe doth on th'adultrer lay On wrathfull couetous and proud men all Shame bloud want scorne vnlesse in time they call For grace which onely can their ruine stay Whereby we see whom men keepe not in feare God makes by nature badge of trespasse weare SON LVIII IT seemeth strange since death so common is That daily we experience thereof haue By rich and poore wise fooles that go to graue That we so little heed do take of this Since nought so much contrarie to our will Doth flesh befall or art doth seeke to shun That yet we headlong hast to ruine still Of soule and bodie which to hell would run Scarce we so soone to liue haue but begun But drenched in affections fearefull waue We seeke to slay the soule we wish to saue And no outrage in bodie leaue vndone So that if God did not of mercie his Perforce our wils restraine we heauen should mis. SON LIX VVHo would not craue to haue his wounds be heald Who can be heald that will not shew his griefe Who senslesse of his paine would know reliefe Who can giue cure whilst truth is not reueald Who can be iudge of ill that knowes no good Who can know good that shuns to learne the same Who can it learne that selfe-loue hath withstood Who can condemne himself that knowes no blame Knowledge must first our minds more lowly frame Through lowlinesse will feare and sorrow grow Feare will seeke forth a pledge for debt we owe And pledge and portion find in Christ his name Thus knowledge of our state and pride repeald Is way to sauing health by Scripture seald SON LX. THe weapon which I did vnwieldy find Of natiue strength and powre of flesh and bloud With like whereof Goliah me withstood And I for changed sling left once behind By Gods good grace who courage gaue and strength Is now become a sword more fit for mee Who practisd in his battels now at length The vse thereof find not vnfit to bee For since to him it dedicate I see And I refreshed am with holy food My courage makes me hope I weare it shood And cause my soules great foe therewith to flee For humane arts and knowledge of the mind Do serue the Saints though worldlings they do SON LXI IT is not rest from trauell and from paine Alone that in the Sabboth is requir'd Not abstinence from meat that was desir'd So much when Ionas did his fast ordaine As rest from sinne and inward meditation Of Gods great workes and mercies which abound As feeding of our soules with recreation Of heauenly doctrine in the scriptures found As by prostrating humbly on the ground Our stubborne hearts puft vp and almost fir'd With wicked lusts with vanitie attir'd Festerd with all affections most vnsound A Sabboth or a fast so spent is gaine Whē flesh beat down the sprite doth raisd remaine SON LXII VVHat is the cause that men so much eschue The reading of the sacred written word For nought else sure but that like two edg'd sword It separates and shewes the faults from true No sentence in it read or truly wayd Or by the preacher vtterd turnes in vaine But woundes the soule with sorrow which affrayd If Gods it be to grace it cals againe But such as Sathans be to heare refraine The heauy iudgements that they haue incurd And faithlesse thinke God can ne will afford To them the blisse that children his attaine It is a signe therefore grace neuer grew In such as shun to heare and learne anew SON LXIII WHen I do heare sweet musicks pleasant sound By which the Angels records are exprest Who sing to God due prayses without rest Me thinkes to pray with them my selfe am bound When I the concord sounds of true consent Do note which by their different voice is bred It makes my hart to melt to see man bent By discord to dissolue the blisse that led To heauenly comfort which the Angels fed And is of Christian loue perfection best Whose vnitie in Christ hath made them blest To liue in him when law had left vs dead The Saints therfore on earth should aye be found With thankfull ioyfull hearts of loue t' abound SON LXIIII. AS doth the fire with imbers ouer-spred And powder in the Cannon rammed hard By which his furies but awhile debard When they breake forth procure more feare dred As aire in cloud or earth restrained long Doth by his nature in the end preuaile And in reuenge of his so suffered wrong Doth earth-quake breed or thūdring firebolts haile So when increasing sins afresh assaile Our God of mercie then is he prepard Our insolencies fiercely to reward With double ruine which he will not faile To terrifie those that in sinne are dead Whilst his to liue reseru'd thereby are lead SON LXV VVHen I do see a man of loftie mind Delighting in the pompe he doth possesse A ruine or a shame at hand I gesse For which effect God doth his iudgement blind For as most daintily we vse to feed The beasts to slaughter that we haue ordaind So surfet of delights a feare should breed Least sowrer pennance afterward remaind The proofe hereof hath still the godly waynd From pride or too much trust in happinesse Which do not still Gods fauour firme expresse But vsd as trials are of conscience faynd We therefore cause of care in plenty find To moue vs pray and watch the end behind SON LXVI AS doth the morning comfort to vs bring By giuing light to guide vs in our wayes As sun-shine beames his beautie then displayes To solace feed refresh each earthly thing So should me thinkes a thankfull heart thereby Be mou'd to waigh the fruits by them we haue And by that light a greater light espy Who these for bodies good vnto vs gaue Like light
vnto his soule forthwith to craue Whereby it sleeping void of holy rayes Of grace in sinne doth spend away the dayes Which Christ our Sauiour died the same to saue Vnto thee Lord Creator powrefull king With birds by break of day they prayse shold sing SON LXVII I List not iudge nor censure other men As I do iudge so iudge me others will And God himselfe that part can best fulfill With others faults I will not meddle then Vnlesse so farre as dutie doth desire Which is with loue to warne them of the way Whose weaknesse doth our louing aide require To stay their steps wherein they are astray But I must iudge my selfe doth scripture say And that I will but not by natiue skill The law and Gospell they shall try me still And their true touch shall my estate bewray My conscience witnesse more then thousands ten My hart confesse my faults with tongue and pen. SON LXVIII I See sometimes a mischiefe me beset Which doth amaze me much and griefe procure I haue a hope or hap I wish t' endure But it doth vanish straight and I do fret I craue sometimes of God with feruencie A thing me thinkes which might worke to my ioy My prayers yet he seemeth to denie And by the contrary doth worke my'annoy I find at length the thing I scorn'd as coy Fall to my profit and doth me assure That God by this his goodnesse doth allure Me to depend on him and not to toy By natiue reason guided but to let His prouidence haue praise and honor get SON LXIX HOw should I vse my time henceforth the best The little that remaines ought well be spent Too much lost time cause haue I to repent Best mends must be well to imploy the rest To pray and prayse the Lord is fit for me To craue things needfull and his mercies tell My spirituall wants and carnall plenties be As many yet his blessings which excell But multitude of words please not so well He knowes the heart which righteously is bent All holy actions are as prayers ment And he is praysd when sinne we do repell Then if my life the world and flesh detest I pray and prayse and shall find actions blest SON LXX Good words are praisd but deeds are much more rare One shadow is the other substance right Of Christian faith which God and man delight Without which fruits our barren tree is bare Once well done is more comfort to the soule More profit to the world to God more prayse Then many learned words which sinne controule Or all lip-labour that vaine glorie sayes Who in a holy life doth spend his dayes And still maintaine gainst sinne a valiant fight He preacheth best his words are most of might He shall conuert men most from sinfull wayes Such shall haue honor most affirme I dare With God and man and lesse of worldly care SON LXXI SInce we by baptisme seruants are profest To Christ whose name we as an honor beare It is good reason we his liuery weare And not go ranging vainely with the rest Since we do feed by bountie of his hand On precious food which he doth giue and dresse Who at the well of life doth ready stand Vs to refresh if thirst do vs oppresse We are too slow our selues to him t' addresse To craue and vse these gifts in loue and feare His righteous liuery we do rather teare Then whom we serue by vse thereof expresse Little he got that was such bidden guest And how can thanklesse seruants then be blest SON LXXII SInce shame of men much more then godly feare Restraineth vs from sinne as proofe doth preach Since more we after name of vertue reach Then to the truth thereof we loue do beare It were a part of wisedome to deuise To vse our nature of it selfe so vaine From so base custome euen for shame to rise To actions good which might true honor gaine The best remede I therefore find remaine To purchase prayse and vertues habit teach Is to professe in speech the same whose breach In life we should refraine least we should staine Our name which would at length our liking reare To loue of God indeed and sinnes forbeare SON LXXIII THe difference is right great a man may see Twixt heauen and earth twixt soule and body ours Twixt God man heauens powre earthly towres As great the difference in their vse must bee By high ambitious and by wrathfull sword Are earthly transitory kingdomes gaynd Humilitie with patient deed and word To heauenly crowne and honour doth attaine Man will his conquest with vaine glory staine Heauens kingdom former pride forthwith deuowrs It equals all estates sects skils and powres And makes the bodie well vnite remaine Whereof the head is Christ the members we And held coheires of heauen with him we be SON LXXIIII FOr vs who do by nature still incline Vnto the worst and do the best forget Who do all passed benefits lightly set And so vnthankfully gainst God repine It were great wisedome dayly to obserue Such sundry haps as do to vs befall By which to learne how much God doth deserue Who those and passed benefits gaue vs all And since there is not any blisse so small But for the which we ought acknowledge debt On each occasion we should gladly get A meanes our minds to thankfulnesse to call For nought God craues newe can giue in fine But drinke with thankes his cup of sauing wine SON LXXV THe parable of seed well sowne on ground Which did according as the soyle did sarue Some neuer bud some bloome some straightway starue Some grow in his crop so much abound Doth well describe as Christ full well applyes The nature of the word the which is sent By written Gospell and by preachers cryes Into the heart which hearing it doth rent And as well tild sometimes begins relent And yeeldeth blessed fruit and prayse desarue As God the showres of grace doth freely carue And diligence in weeding it is spent For many times such sinfull tares are found As good had bin the seed in sea had drownd SON LXXVI I Cannot chuse but yet deuoyd of pride To note the happie and the glorious time Wherein we liue and flourish in the prime Of knowledge which those former dayes not tride For all preheminences which are read Forespoke of latter age by Prophets all As happily were perform'd as promised When Christ those mysteries did on earth vnfold And those accomplish which were long foretold The same yea more by farre we dust and slime Vnworthy wayers of thee high we clime Enioy through preached truth more worth thē gold But woe is me this grace is vs denyde We to our selues haue not the same applyde SON LXXVII IF thou do feele thy fleshly thoughts repine When thou doest beare the crosses God doth send And that thou vnder burden of them bend And out of due obedience wouldst vntwine Remember when as yet a child thou wast
Thou sufferedst patiently thy parents rod Because thou knewst his hatred could not last Though he thee punisht doing thing forbod And wilt not thou much more yeeld vnto God Obedience who thy good doth still intend Whose fatherly protection doth defend Thee from his wrath when sinne had made thee od The father to thy soule he is in fine His wrath asswag'd his loue doth soone incline SON LXXVIII TRue is it sure and none will it denay That faith inableth man to be more fit For heauenly knowledge then a humane wit To which hid secrets God will not bewray But what is faith and how it may be knowne How best attaynd in that most men mistake In iudgement of the same would care be showne And of true faith from false this difference make If worldly strength and wisedome man forsake If he by humble prayers seeke for it If of Gods promises he doubt no whit In Christ but for his strength that rocke he take It builded is on ground which still shall stay From fleshly bondage free at latter day SON LXXIX VVHat high presumption is there growne of late In abiect shrubs of Sathans darnell seed That bramble-like sinne thus aspires indeed To top the Cedar that his pride doth hate I graunt the fault in suffering him so long In humble shape to creepe and clime so hie Sinne poyson-like with age becomes more strong And Crokadell-like doth slay with teares in eie But since therefore no other shift I spy I like and will my loftie top abate My prostate soule may so restraine the state Of his increasing powre whereby that I In building of Gods house may serue some steed And sinne confounded lie like lothsome weed SON LXXX VVHo sees in common view of humaine kind The exild captiue-state of sinfull man Sold vnto death which only ransome can Appease the wrath for fall of parents blind May if he be of faithfull number proue A greater comfort then he can expresse To see himselfe whose sinnes these plagues do moue Freed from th' eternall death whilst nerethelesse The wicked reprobate who not confesse Their fall nor feele the fauours Christians wan Headlong proceed in path first parents ran And to the double death themselues addresse But happier he ten thousand times shall find His weakest state then their great gifts of mind SON LXXXI VVho giues may take we ought not to repine Both wealth and ease yea life also by right God giueth all all things are in his might And he can send and will good end in fine Why should we then grudge any thing to beare That he doth send or nigardly bestow Our liues or goods since to that vse they were Giuen vs as nature teacheth vs to know The great increase of fruite the same doth show Which from one graine produced is in sight Which as thing cast away appeares to light Till he by blessing his doe make it grow Which should our hearts to faith in him incline And not distrusting seeke for farther signe SON LXXXII OVr blinded natures that cannot foresee Th' effect of nature or what may succeed Of actions ours this error forth doth breed That we th' euent by chance suppose to bee To vs they may in deed by hap befall As things beyond our skill or powre to stay But as Gods works chance can we not them call Or fortunes deed or hap as we vse say God doth foresee and guide each thing the way It shall proceede and he doth giue the speed That doth insue and present are indeed Things past and future as they stand or stray Him as true cause of all things wee agree To be and from all chance or fortune free SON LXXXIII IT is a thing we lightly do neglect And yet a thing me thinkes we most should feare As which within our conscience still doth beare A witnesse of our guilt and foule infect When we by fame do find our spotted name The greatest plague a man on earth may find The hardest witnesse of our worthy shame And sorest censurer of deed or mind Yet so selfe-loue doth iudgement often blind Or ignorance our natiue reason bleare That what is said or thought by whom or where We little care but let it passe as wind Though prouerbe truely say by fames affect Gods iudgement lightly doth a truth detect SON LXXXIIII IF common fame be lightly likely found And fame for ill be such vnhappinesse Then this me thinkes a man must needs confesse That ill report from persons good doth wound If by report much more if poore opprest If innocents if they to God complaine If vengeance they do call to haue redrest The griefes and agonies they do sustaine If God as so he hath hath witnest plaine That he will heare their cries whom men oppresse And will his care of them herein expresse That their complaints and cryes turne not in vaine What yron age is this that such a sound Of cryes against oppression doth abound SON LXXXV MY younger thoughts do wish me to withstand The graue aduise which grace with loue doth lend Their rash decrees to tyranny do bend These wish me wisely note the cause in hand The safe possession of a crowne in peace By abstinence a while and patience vsd Sinnes power to shew the others vrge ne cease To say that pleasures should not be refusd The worser part my soule had almost chusd And for the pleasures which an houre doth send And to eternall bondage after tend I bin by law and reason both accusd But since thy goodnesse Lord gaue blessed land Keepe in thy lawes my fleshly subiects band SON LXXXVI ALas how watchfull and how diligent We are to further euery fond desire How slow againe to thing God doth require And how against the haire good motions went Full many more solicitors we find To satisfie each trifle flesh doth craue Then to the things good conscience would vs bind And which as duties God in lawe vs gaue The wit will memorie we readie haue To blow the bellowes of affections fire The soule may drenched perish in the mire Of fleshly thoughts ere any seeke to saue Or spare one minute which is fondly spent To succour it though it to good were bent SON LXXXVII WE haue bene babes babes yet by nature we Vnskilfull ignorant of heauenly law And babe-like should be then in feare and awe To God by whom create and rulde we be Weake food best fits weake stomacks as is sayd And charitie would wish true weaknesse beare Like strength to all Gods wisedome hath denayd But by long sucking t' were fit we stronger weare Nothing to beare away though much we heare To speake of faith which forth no fruites can draw To feed with greedinesse the bodies maw And yet no spirituall strength to let appeare Is signe the soule is dead in thee or mee For liuing trees by kindly fruit we see SON LXXXVIII NOt euery action which to happie end A man doth bring is token as I find Of goodnesse
in the doer though our mind And common sense some reason so pretend The deed which meriteth for vertue prayse Must be premeditate in will before Indeuour'd lawfully and which bewrayes No priuate obiect or respect we bore And God himselfe things iudgeth euer more Not by effects as men of wisedome blind But by intentions faithfull honest kind Of such as doing them his aide implore He issue doth to actions different send As he to greater good euer ill will bend SON XCIX IF God should measure vs as we deserue For each offence requiting equally His iustice we with horror should espie From which excuse to shield vs could not serue But iustice his by holy bound restraind Of mercie which doth waighour weake estate A proper counterpoise for vs hath gaind Whilst iustis wrath Christs mercy doth abate His Sonne our Sauiour doth set ope a gate To safetie by the pardon he did bye With bloud most innocent lest we should die Guilty of sin which iustice needs must hate Thus we by faith cannot be sayd to swarue Our faults are his of merits his we carue SON XC IT is a custome that deserueth blame And ouer common with vs now adayes That euery man his fault on other layes And some excuse for euery euill frame And rather then we will the burden beare We lay on God whose prouidence rules all The cause of what our wicked natures were Producers of with wilfull bitter gall Thus from one sin to other we do fall And haires herein our nature vs bewrayes Of parent first who his offence denaies And rather God wife serpent guilty call Then to confesse his proper free will lame And by repentance praise Gods holy name SON XCI HOw can he be the author held of ill Who goodnesse is it selfe and onely true To whom alone perfection still is due And all the world with goodly workes doth fill It is not God it is our selues alas That doth produce these foule affects of sin Our sickly nature first infected was And lacking tast of truth delights therein Our deeds in vs how fowle so'ere they haue bin What good soeuer of them doth insue That part is Gods our corrupt nature drue The worser part and flesh death snares did spin And euen our deeds the which our soules do kill Are good to God and worke his glorie still SON XCII DOth any man desire his life to mend And that of sin he might a lothing finde Let him but on his actions looke behinde Forepast and see where to they most did bend Let him on others looke with equall view And note deformitie of lothfull sin Let reason not affections tell him true The brickle state himselfe to fore was in As doctrine that to penitence doth win And true repentance one of honest mind When he in other sees affects so blind As he in reason thinks could not haue bin Such as him selfe ashameth to defend And to be guiltlese off he would pretend SON XCIII I Haue desir'd and held as chiefe delight To lead my life where mirth did alwaies dwell From soule so sorrow thinking to repell In feast and sport so past I day and night But if as oft there did a dismall chance Befall whereby I found some cause of griefe I was amaz'd dispair'd and as in trance No comfort found or meanes to giue reliefe My former ioyes prouoked sorrow chiefe I loathd the thoughts before did please so well My meditations then of death befell And of worlds pleasures which were vaine chiefe Which made me chaÌ„ge my former humor quight For teares cares sorrows still to be in sight SON XCIIII SInce we are found if we our selues do know To be a barren ground and good for nought Vnlesse by husbandrie we will be brought To aptnesse for some good whereon to growe Since preachers are the husbandmen ordaind And preaching of the Prophets is the seed By whose indeuors onely frute is gaind Of holy life the which our faith doth feed Me thiâ—kes it should a greater aptnesse breed In tennants to this soule which Christ hath bought To haue it so manurde and daily wrought As it might grow to betterd state indeed And yeeld some crop of goodnesse which might show The thankfull hearts which we to God do owe. SON XCV WHen I behold the trauell and the payne Which wicked men in euill actions bide What hazards they assay to goe aside When with more ease they vertue might attaine How theeues and murtherers such boldnesse vse Such watchfull painefull meanes their wills to win As euen religious men do oft refuse To tast of like though they would faine begin I finde too true that we are sold to sin And that the bodie doth the spirit guide That reason yeelds to sense and sense doth hide Lust in his liking which doth forward slide From ill to worse and neuer doth refraine Sin which may sin nor paine which paine may gain SON XCI SInce nothing is more certaine then to dye Nor more vncertaine then the time and howre Which how to know is not in Phisickes powre Yet nature teacheth it to be but nie For that death stealeth on vs like a thiefe And nothing liuing is exempt therefro His malice to preuent is wisedome chiefe That vnprouided he not take vs so As that on sodaine he appeare a foe And vs compulsiuely he do deuowre That God by him in wrath doe seme to lowre And that to death not life we seeme to goe Soe let vs liue that death we dare defie Since heauens eternall life we gaine thereby SON XCVII GReat are the graces God in man doth show All tending chiefly to soules proper gaine That by some meanes at length he might attaine To higher thoughts from earthly base and low Yet since no benefits we do receaue Can so assure vs of his loue indeed That loue of world and earth they can bereaue And make our minds on heauenly ioy to feed Much lesse a new desire in vs can breed To win the heauens by losse of life so vaine This common way by death he made remaine Ineuitable to all humane seed By force those heauenly ioyes to make vs know Which after death in lasting life shall grow SON XCVIII MIght Elizeus wish allow'd be And prayer blest which Salomon did make And canst thou then thy trauell vndertake For worthier prize then they haue showne to thee Sure heauenly wisedome earthly wisedome teacheth Such wisedome findeth grace with God and man Who seeks these first God plenteously him reacheth All other earthly gifts he wisht or can That will I seeke that will I studie than No plenty shall my thirst therafter slake With Elizeus will I alwayes wake And watch the Prophets wayes and manner whan My Sauiour doth ascend that I may see His glory â—and he his grace redouble'in mee SON XCIX LOng do the wicked runne a lawlesse race Vncrost and vncontrolled in their will Their appetites at pleasure they do fill And thinke themselues to be in happie
case But stay a while and let me see the end Which crowneth euery good and perfect deed And you shall find their slipperie way to bend To ruine if in time they take not heed For earthly ease securitie doth breed Securitie the soule doth lightly kill It breeds forgetfulnesse of God and still Doth quench the spright and body pampering feed Who therefore doth delights too much imbrace Among the blest may hap to lose his place SON C. LIke as the sunne whose heat so needfull is Produceth daily different effects According to the nature of obiects Which hardneth that yet molifieth this So doth the Gospell preached euen the same It makes some to repent and melt in teares Some stubborne hearts repine and cauils frame To quarrell at and scorne such needlesse feares The lowly heart in ioy and hope it reares The haughty mind as low assoone deiects In zealous hearts it neighbour-loue reflects Whiles other conscience spight and rankor beares The natiue powre it keepes of perfect blisse And holy heat consuming all amisse EPIL TEmpt me no more to dwell in Cedar tents Pauilions of Princes and of pride My tickle strength is dayly like to slide And makes my bodie do what soule repents My yeares forwarne me to forbeare annoy In liked things which do the senses feed In costly colours gems or games to ioy Or stately troopes or honors fruitlesse seed For passed vanities my heart doth bleed And vowed hath the resting time I bide If God in constancie my heart shall guide Some ryper fruits on former soyle to breed Which graunt me Lord that so thy seruant I May in thy Courts remaine and flesh defye AN INTRODVCTION TO PECVLIAR PRAYERS TO thee ô Lord who only knowst my sin And only able art my state redresse To thee alone my plaints directed bin To thee my guilt alone I do confesse In hope thy gracious aide at need to win Who giuest me grace these prayers to addresse My words can not expresse My inward griefe My deedes declare too well my true disease Yet doubt I not to craue of thee reliefe Because thy Sonne did first thy wrath appease These are my wants and many more then these But of them all vnfaithfulnesse is chiefe Yet as repentant thiefe On crosse found grace Vouchsafe my plaints with mercie to imbrace SON CI. Craues grace to pray O Powrefull God in Christ our father deare Who mad'st and rul'st all things euen by thy will Whose truth and loue the heauens and earth do fill Vouchsafe my will to frame and prayers heare Touch thou my heart my blinded iudgement cleare That sorrow for my sinnes may teares distill Let true repentance kill All carnall lust Let purpose to amend my soule direct To craue thy aide who only canst protect Mans feeble strength from thoughts words deeds vniust Fraile is mans powre and will his substance dust His purest actions hourely it detect Yet do thou not reiect Thy worke in me Who craue a will to pray and faithfull be SON CII Salutation of the Church HAile sacred seat of Gods eternall peace Where all his blessings kept in treasure are Twixt soule and bodie which accords the iarre And causest cumbers of discord to cease From wandring worldly thoughts thou doest release My doubtfull hope which sought for help from farre In Sathans fiercest warre A bulwarke strong In natures hote assault a sure defence An Arke of safety for our feeble sence A watchmans towre to those to thee belong A harmony of heauenly musicks song Kind shepherd to the soule which strayes not thence For still with sweet insence Thy lights do flame And Christ thy Priest Captaine gards the same SON CIII For constancie ALas ô Lord how fraile the flesh I find How readie to reuolt vnto distrust How willing to seeke helpe in flesh vniust Vngratefull fruit of gracelesse humane kind Which harboreth such monsters in the mind As soule and bodie both needs ruine must Like wauering sand or dust With winds which moue From good to ill from ill to worse we fall We haue not sooner grace for helpe to call And budding faith thy mercies for to proue But weary long to seeke our ioyes aboue We quench this spright and haue no helpe at all The perill is not small Lord I am in Inflame the faith and zeale thou didst begin SON CIIII. For faith SInce thus myselfe I find to be vncleane Vnfit to bide before Gods iustice throne Who recompence for sinne accepteth none But to the rigor of desert doth leane To fly to thee my Sauiour Christ I meane Who paydst my debt sufficiently alone I need but make my mone To thee I know For thou art readie to relieue my want Thy fathers loue and thy obedience brant With zeale thy mercies on vs to bestow Whereof since faith the vse to vs must show And as it is more feruent or more scant More powrefull is to dant Deaths bitter sting craunt faith may prayers frame comfort bring SON CV For grace to iudge of good euill AMidst these dangerous dayes wherein I liue Poore silly Orphane distitute of skill By parents fall forlorne by nature ill Craue grace of thee ô Lord and therwith giue Powre to my weaknesse sin away to driue That so I may thee serue and honour still Reforme my feeble will And it incline To haue henceforth a wise and solide tast Of truth and falshod let my choyse be plast On perfect patterne drawne with vertuous line With serpents wisedome let my iudgment shine To shun the snares whereto my lust would hast Vouchsafe my sute be grast With help from thee Thy word the lampe of light vnto me bee SON CVI. For innocencie in euill SInce so simplicitie thy word doth prayse O Lord as that thy Sonne example gaue By all his life and workes that he did craue His seruants wherein to direct their wayes Like to the babe on mothers breast that stayes And sylly Lambes and doues which no guile haue Since he is prest to faue And to imbrace The lame blind naked leaporous reiect Since to yeeld health to all and such protect As simply do with faith approch the place When he in mercies seat doth shew his face And prayers heare and needfull suites effect Lord do me not neglect Poore silly blind Who meritelesse yet mercy hope to find SON CVII Shame of sinne HOw could I Lord but be asham'd indeed To lift my eyes to thee to craue for ayde When I of thought word deed haue sins displayd With multitude of monstrous of springs breed The true portrait of Adams carnall seed Which made him hide himselfe when he it wayd I therefore am affrayd And shun to show Vnto the world the shamefull brood I beare Which thoughts do hatch and vile affections reare Too hatefull for a Christian soule to know And do so hastily to hugenesse grow As vaine it is a figge-tree leafe to weare I know no other where My shame to hide But with thy merits or thy
which did transgresse By parents fall and workes in vs no lesse On whom by iust succession sindoth cease Yet since Christ doth appease The penance due By bearing burden on his backe for me And faith herein sufficeth me to free Which faith must fruitfull be if it be true And workes of grace regenerate insue Which perfect pledge of safetie ought to bee I craue ô Lord of thee From day to day To guide my steps vnto a righteous way SON CXIX Aide in conflict with sin VVEake are my ChaÌ„pions Lord which fight with sin I meane my will and powre which take in hand The furie of their assaults for to withstand And victory of him do hope to win Some signe it is of courage to begin To fight but cowards part to leaue the land I faine would come in band And leige would make With thee my Sauiour ere I be assayld No other comfort euer man auayld But trust in thee when troubles them did take Thou helpst thy flocke thou dost not them forsake If so their faith in thee be nothing quayld No sillable is fayld Of all thy word Thy truth sub dues the force of wrathfull sword SON CXX Comfort in affliction VVHy do we not reioyce whilst Christ we haue Our bridgrome wedded sure to faithfull band His owne free liking made our merit stand And by his word his loue to vs he gaue First pledge wherof was Baptisme which forth draue Our feare and lent a gracious helping hand And that in sacred land We might be free And there possession haue of endlesse rest His Testament he made and with the blest Our heritage by faith he made vs see He signd the writ with his assurance best Of bread and wine which might a Simboll bee His corps nayld on the tree For our discharge From sin hell death which sets our soule at large CONCLVSION THough long my soule thou banished hast bin From place of thy repose by tyrants might By world and worldly cares by flesh wherein Thy wandring thoghts haue dazeld iudgemeÌ„ts sight Learne yet at length to guide thy course aright Vnto that end which must begin thy rest Learne once for shame so constantly to fight Against affections which please fancie best That all vnfruitfull thoughts thou maist detest And hold those common pleasures combers great Whose issue age and time with ruine threat VVhen death vnlookt for seemes a fearefull guest Retire thy selfe as wise Barzilla did From worldly cares thy purer thoughts to rid A TABLE DIRECTING BY PART of the first verse of each to the A Booke Sonet A Base borne 1. 54 According to thy 1. 41 A husband man 1. 53 Although the world 2. 70 Although these 2. 86 Amidst the graues 1. 42 A marchant 1. 21 Among the prease 1. 22 Among thy sheepe 1. 9 Amidst this famine 1. 37 A Moabite 1. 80 Amidst this pilgrimage 2. 80 A poore Arabian 1. 20 A tenant 1. 50 As thou art pure 1. 24 As oft as thou 1. 31 A sinfull Syrian 1. 98 A seruant Lord 1. 73 A seâ—uant sold 1. 75 As through a mist 2. 1 As fareth with 2. 9 As is the treasure 2. 15 As but vaine 2. 66 As doth the starres 2. 53 As doth the Moone 2. 44 A virgin pure 1. 29 Auant base thoughts 2. 37 A wicked Pharisie 1. 16 A wicked theefe 1. 78 A wicked soule 1. 19 B   BEhold ô Lord the city 1. 10 Behold ô Lord a tree 1. 14 Behold amidst worlds 1. 92 Betwixt two strong 2. 17 By many gifts 2. 62 Borne blind I was 1. 38 C   CAll me ô Lord 2. 58 Cleansd are the 2. 2 F   FAine would I fence 1. 32 Faine would follow 2. 52 Faine would I prayse 2. 40 Fiue foolish virgins 1. 17 Fâ—e fainting faith 2. 48 For common matter 2. 77 Fortune and chaunce 2. 100 For out of darknesse 1. 2 From luda wandring 8. 82 From farre I see 2. 18 G   GReat are the 2. 67 Great is thy 2. 65 H   HE is vnworthy 2. 21 How should my 1. 1 How hard it is 1. 48 How oft ô Lord 1. 63 How drunken are 1. 39 How precious 2. 21 How can I limit 2. 26 How may this be 2. 34 How fond a thing 2. 46 How many priuiledges 2. 61 How should the quiet 2. 63 How happily 2. 78 How is it that 2. 82 How loth this 2. 96 How should my 2. 85 How should I 2. 89 How do Gods blessings 2. 91 I   I Follow thee 1. 25 I seeke ô Lord 1. 13 I will not feare 2. 38 I iustly am 1. 52 I see alas 1. 99 I finde my heart 2. 49 I haue bene blind 2. 68 I haue begun 2. 6 I see a storme 2. 81 I shame to see 2. 13 I know not 2. â—2 In humble wise 1. 4 Into thy vineyard 2. 23 In bondage long 1. 79 In famine great 1. 89 In deadly sleepe 1. 43 In pride of youth 1. 6 If thou vouchsafest 1. 45 If he to whom 2. 11 If Saba Queene 2. 45 If beautie be 2. 33 If Paradise 2. 59 If he vnworthie be 2. 73 If I did hope 2. 93 If I can speake 2. 99 It is not Lord 1. Pref. It were vnfit 2. 71 It is no light 2. 76 L   LAme of my limbs 1. 7 Let earthly things 2. 47 Like pined child 1. 27 Like silly babes 2. 55 Lo how I groueling 1. 81 Loue then I will 2. 39 M   MY body Lord the house 1. 36 My body Lord infect 1. 60 My soule like 1. 76 My sinnes behold 1. 33 My wicked flesh 1. 44 Mourne thou no more 1. 101 My traiterous heart 1. 49 N   NO recompence 2. 20 No sooner loue 2. 50 Not that my faith 1. 84 Not euery one 2. 88 Now that thou hast 1. 12 Now that I see 1. 61 Now that it pleaseth 1. 69 Now that I haue 2. 12 Now will I daunce 2. 19 Now that thy mercies 2. 27 O   O Heauenly beautie 2. 32 O heauenly loue 2. 35 O perfect sonne 2. 41 Of sinfull race 1. 30 Of euery creature 1. 47 Of parents first 1. 26 Of sweet and sauorie 1. 90 Out of the fountaine 1. 18 Out of thy 1. 92 P   POlluted with 1. 28 S   SInce it hath 1. 46 Since with Goliath 1. 11 Since thou hast raisd 1. 65 Since thou by grace 1. 100 Since that it pleaseth 1. 88 Since to so holy 2. 3 Since thou ô Lord 2. 10 Since hou hast 2. 25 So blind ô Lord. 1. 77 So foolish Lord 1. 97 Some men do mourne 2. Pref. Sometimes my nature 2. 72 T   THe temple Lord 1. 67 The selly babes 1. 57 The greedinesse 1. 34 The many trials 1. 85 The dreame which thou 1. 93 The seede which thou 1. 94 The malice of 1. 96 The talents which 1. 87 The onely daughter 1. 56 The more I seeke 2.
so her vigor went Your birth your mariage natures gifts most rare With gift of grace herein may not compare To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Pembrooke OF all the Nymphes of fruitfull Braitaines race Of all the troopes in our Dianaes traine You seeme not least the Muses Trophes grace In whom true honour spotlesse doth remaine Your name your match your vertues honour gaine But not the least that pregnancie of spright Whereby you equall honour do attaine To that extinguisht Lampe of heauenly light Who now no doubt doth shine midst Angels bright VVhile you faire starre make cleare our darkned sky He heauens earthes comfort you are and delight Whose more then mortall gifts you do apply To serue their giuer and your guiders grace Whose share in this my worke hath greatest place To the Right Honorable the Countesse of Essex THese Oracles by holy spright distild Into the hart of wisest happie king To you most vertuous Ladie here are wild As heire to parent worthie in euerie thing His carefull trauell countries peace did bring His solide wisedome vertue did pursue His bountie to the poore the world doth sing Whose honour him suruiueth crownd in you So nobles if to God they yeeld his due So people ought to Nobles render fame So shall succeeding ages still renue By old records his euer reuerent name Wherein your double blessed spousall bed Shall wreath an Oliue garland on his head To the Right Honourable Ladie the Ladie Scroope THe bountie which your vertues do pretend The vertues which your wisdome hath imbrast The wisdome which both grace and nature lend The gracious nature which so well is plast Doth witnesse well the heauens your beauty grast With borrowed wisdome not of humane kind Which so hath fostred vertues mild and chast As benigne beautie might a dwelling find Fit to receiue such presents as in mind Are consecrated to that sacred shrine VVhereon as vestall Virgin you assignd Do worthie waight whose eye vouchsafe incline To take in worth reade iudge of and defend This worke weake record of my hearts intend To the Honourable Ladie the Ladie Rich. THe perfect beautie which doth most reclaime The purest thoughts from base and vaine desire Not seene nor leuied is by common aime Of eies whom coullers vse to set on fire The rare seene beautie men on earth admire Doth rather dazell then content the sight For grace and wisdome soonest do retire A wandring heart to feed on true delight Seldome all gifts do in one subiect light But all are crownd with double honour then And shine the more adornd with vertue bright But with Religion grast adord of men These gifts of nature since they meet with grace In you haue powre more then faire Venus face To the Right Honourable the Ladie of Hunsdon OF soule and bodie both since men consist Of diuers humors since our bodies be Since sundry affects do one selfe thought resist Since body soule thought will are all in me Thinke you not strange these passions new to see VVhich to my wonted humors different seeme They both are frute of one and selfe same tree The first for yonger hold this elder deeme If you of my indeuors well esteeme VVhom well the world doth know can iudge the best VVhose course of life a happie pitch doth cleeme In verteous proues wherein your fame is blest Then shall I haue a part of my desire VVho for my trauell craue but likings hire To the Honourable gentlewomen Mistresse Elizabeth and Anne Russels THe double giftes of nature and of grace Redoubled in you both with equall share VVhilst beautie shineth in the modest face And learning in your mindes with vertue rare Do well expresse of what discent ye are Of heauens immortall seed of blessed kind Of earths twise honord stock which ye declare In noble parts composd of eithers mind Them both in you rare gems we blessed find Ye both by them are honord happily Then both vouchfafe what I to both assignd To read and to conceiue of graciously So ye like to your kind the world shall know And to your selues frō hence some fruit shal grow To the Honourable Gentlewoman Mistresse Elizabeth Bridges SInce I haue growne so bold to take in hand A theame so farre indeed vnfit for me As by the reading you will vnderstand Whereto my style in no sort doth agree I cannot chuse but feare lest you should see Some signe of high presumption in my mind Which cause of iust reproch to me might be And for my sake the worke lesse fauour find Vnto you therfore haue I this assignd To craue for me remission at your hand VVhose vertues show you cannot be vnkind If kindnesse may with modest vertues stand And of and for true vertue do I pleade Which to desired blisse and honour leade To the Honorable Lady the Lady Southwell TO you the vowed seruice of my mind Faire Mistresse of the purest thoughts I bred As youths conceit could best inuention find I dedicated with affection fed My elder thoughts with your high honor led Haue often stroue to shew continued zeale But was discourag'd through mistrust and dred Of my defects which did my will conceale Yet now compeld my weaknesse to reueale Vnto a world of worthy witnesses I craue to be excusd if I appeale To you for grace to whom I guilt confesse And hope you will for auncient seruice sake Excuse my wants and this in worth will take To the Honorable Lady the Lady Cecill IN counter-poise of your right high desart My dutie made my gratefull mind consent To straine my braine to equall with my hart In finding forth for you some fit present Which to performe thus will and powre first bent Was checkt by iust regard of your esteeme Which me preuented of my hopes intent Since for your worth vain things not pleasing seeme Yet least a meere excuse you that might deeme To cloke a thanklesse heart with idle hand With more then natiue strength a pitch I cleeme To treat of blisse which I not vnderstand But Gods inspiring grace to king once tought I here as pawne of dutie haue you brought To the Honorable Ladie the Ladie Hobbye LEst that this change of style at first might breed A doubt in you whose worke it were and gift I thinke it fit your searching thoughts to feed With truth who writ it and therein his drift When scorne of hap did force my hope to shift The place wherein felicitie I sought As tyr'd on earth to heauen my thoughts I lift Which in me this strange Metamorphos wrought But so vnperfect fruit of what it ought Mixt with the dregs of old imprinted phrase Require a fauour in the Readers thought With kind construction frailties forth to raze To you my wants to me your vertues tryde Giues me good hope this sute is not denyde To the vertuous Lady the Lady Layton SInce stranger like to Court but newly come This home-bred child may hap for to be vsde Inquired