which thou diddest vouchsafe to redeeme me miserable man and to purchase heauen for mee euen with the price of thy precious bloud I beseech thee therefore by the most blessed and bitter passion which thou sustainedst on the Crosse for mee especially in that houre when thy blessed soule did leaue thy body that thou wouldest haue mercy on my poore soule at the time of my departure Then let him lift vp his heart with ioy and thankesgiuing and say Lord thou hast broken my bonds therfore I will offer to thee the sacrifice of praise After if his weakenesse grow so that he lose the vse of his speech let some of the by-standers say these Prayers following ouer him or more if he lâ—ue so long MErcifull God and Father we beseech thee for the multitude of thy mercies looke fauourably vpon this thy seruant our deare brother who with true and hearty confession seekes pardon for all his sinnes at the hand of thy mercies O Lord heare vs for him and wee beseech thee for him most holy Father to renue in his heart whatsoeuer is corrupted by the frailty of his flesh and restore that grace which the wily and malicious enemie the Diuell hath stolne out of his soule O Lord recall him to the vnity of thy Church ingraft him into the body of thy Sonne O Lord take pittie of the sighes and sobs of his soule and grones of his heart O Lord look vpon his teares gather them into thy bottle and be good to him who hath no hope comâ—ort nor confidence but in â—hy mercy seale vp the assuâ—ance of his recoÌ„ciliation with â—hee O most holy father we humbly commend the soule of this thy seruant and our brother into the hands of thy vnmeasurable mercies humbly beseeching thee according to the greatnesse of that loue in which the blessed soule of thy Sonne did commend it selfe into thy hands that for the worthinesse of that infinit loue of thine in which thou diddest receiue that holy soule vnto thy selfe thou wouldest vouchsafe in this our brothers last houre to receiue his poore soule also and make it partaker of the same loue And thou most sweete Sauiour and most merciful Lord Iesus thou that dying on the Crosse wast so pressed with anguish and torments for vs as made thee sound out that pitiful voyce vnto thy Father My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee we beseech thee estrange not thy selfe and turne not away thy face from thy seruant our brother now in the houre of his soules affliction when his strength faileth and his spirits are so spent that he cannot cal vpon thee heare vs ô Lord heare vs for him and for that thy glorious victory in which thou diddest triumph on the Crosse and for thy precious passion and bitter death think of him the thoughts of mercy and not of iustice shed thy mercies in his soule and speak comfortably to his conscience deliuer his soule out of all spirituall diseases saue him from the torments due vnto his deseruings and bring him for thine owne merits sake to eternall rest O Lord Iesus Christ which didst redeeme vs with thy precious blood write with thine owne blood in the soule and ingraue thy wounds in the heart of this thy seruant that in them hee may see and reade thy dolefull sufferings and thy sweete loue thy sufferings that they may be effectuall to ransome him from those sorrowes and torments which he hath merited by his sin thy loue that it may vnite his heart to thee in indiuisible and inseperable bonds so as he may neuer bee separated from thee nor thy Saints for euer and euer And Lord Iesus Christ we beseech thee make his soule partaker of all the merits of thy most sacred incarnation passion resurrection and ascension make him partaker of the vertue of thy most blessed Sacraments and all thy holy mysteries make him partaker of all the prayers and good deeds done in thy whole Church make him partaker of all thy blessings graces and comforts of all thy elect and grant that with them all hee may liue in thy presence for euermore O Lord which powredst out thy prayers for vs on the Mount Oliuer and sweatst water and blood wee beseech thee let that precious bloud of thine which thou diddest so aboundantly powre out for our saluation let it be presented and offered to thy Father to stand against the multitude of the sinnes of this thy seruant our brother Lord be with him at his last houre and then deliuer him from the anguish and torments which for his sinnes hee may iustly feare Graciously receiue his soule in the houre of his departure open the gate of heauen vnto him and giue him a portion with thy Saints in glory for thy owne most glorious merit O Lord Iesus Christ who with God the Father and the holy Ghost liuest and raignest one God for euermore Amen And when the sicke mans strength begins to faile and the soule is ready to depart then let the soule be commended to God by one of the by standers on this manner The commendation of the Soule to be said at a mans death I Here commend thee to Almighty God most deare Brother and I doe commit thee to him whose creature thou art goe forth therefore O Christian soule get thee gone out of this filthy world goe forth in the name of the Almighty Father who created thee In the name of Iesus Christ who dyed for thee In the name of the holy Ghost who hath beene powred out vpon thee And when thou happy soule art deliuered out of the prison of the body the glorious Quire of heauenly Angels meete thee and the company of all holy Saints entertaine thee the louing countenance and cheerefull grace of Iesus Christ shine vpon thee a mercifull Iudge be he vnto thee that thou maist haue sentence to sit for euer amongst his Saints on his right hand thy dwelling bee in peace and thy habitation in the heauenly Ierusalem for euermore farre be it from thee euer to feele or know how horrible the darkenesse how terrible the flame and how intolerable the torments of hell are Sathan and all his hellish guard bee they confounded at thy presence and if he dare set vpon thee victory triumph be on thy side shame and trembling fall vpon him from the presence of Gods Angels be he banished into the blacke mists and confused Chaos of eternall darkenesse But let the Lord arise and let his enemies bee scattered as the smoake vanisheth so let them flye away But let the iust be exalted and reioyce in the presence of the Lord let the infernall legions not dare to touch thee nor presume to hinder thee and hee who disdained not to dye for thee be hee thy Sauiour and deliuerer from all spirituall vexation Be the gates of Paradise open vnto thee and thy Christ giue thee thy place and mansion in the same And he that is the true Pastor and great Shepherd of the
most comely feature Am now so chang'd as fouler then a Toad 8. O wretched flesh with me that art forlorne If thou couldst know how sharpe our punishment How iustly mightst thou wish not to be borne Or from the wombe to tombe to haue beene hent 9. This I confesse no wonder for in life To one good deed thou neuer wouldst agree But to each greatest sinne didst runne with strife For which for euer we must damned be 10. I am and ay must be in bitter paine No tongue of liuing man hath power to tell One of the smallest torments I sustaine Where which is worst I must for euer dwell 11. Where be those Lord-ships thou hast laid together Thy lofty Palaces thy Castles strong Thy heapes of gold which were thy chiefest treasure Thy Rings and Iewels which about thee hung 12. Where thy rich beds thy sumptuous Tapestry Thy change of rayment many coloured vesture Thy dainty Spices baites of luxury Plate Tables Carpets and rich furniture 13. Where now thy wilde Fowle and thy Venison Thy dainty fishes and thy chosen wine In thy now Kitchin meate is dressed none Such plagues for sinners God doth still assigne 14. How lik'st thou now poore foole thy latter lodging The roofe whereof lyes euen with thy nose Thy eyes are shut thy tongue cannot be iogging Nothing of profite rests at thy dispose 15. What erst thou hast most wretchedly beene scraping By vsury deceit rage and oppression In all thy life with toyle and greedy gaping Are hid by death in earth and putrifaction 16. Thou art not now begirt with troopes of friends The flower of all thy beauty lies in dust The bands of euery loue doe heere take end Yea thine owne wife now thinkes all teares vniust 17. In thy left kindred henceforth trust no more For for thy Vine-yards fields of grasse and corne And which thy plagues encrease thy treasured store Few dayes know foole thy after Heires will mourne 18. I doe not thinke thy Wife or Children left Would lose one penny or one patch of lands For vs which are from her and them bereft Though it might quite vs from these horrid bands 19. Now wretched flesh thou seest how nought reputed Is the worlds glory false deceitfull fell With anguish fraught with sinne and vice polluted And clothed in the noysome bane of hell 20. Thy garments wretched foole are farre from rich Thy vpper garment hardly worth a Scute A little linnen shrouds thee in thy dâ—tch No rents nor gifts men bring nor make their suite 21. Thinke not though yet no torments thou endure Thou neuer shalt but sleepe for euer free For all Gods Scriptures which are true and sure Witnesse at last thou shalt be plagu'd with me 22. Thee which the poore didst rob and not defend Wormes gnaw in earth and rottennesse thy bone But longer stay I must not heere I end To this I trow answer thou knowest none The Body answereth 23. THus said the Soule at last the gastly Coarse Straines vp it selfe as being new reuiued And with deepe grones as if it had beene hoarse Askt who such witlesse reasons had contriued 24 Art thou quoth it my Soule which thus dost faine All that thou saist is neyther true nor stable For I will proue with arguments most plaine If some be true in many thou dost fable I as thou saist haue led thee oft astray And from well-doing haue enforst thy loue But if the flesh can leade the Soule away The fault 's more thine then mine which thus I proue 26 The world and power of hell did both conspire And did the flesh to them associate Which if the constant soule cause not retire Both needs must enter at sins wretched gate 27 But as thou sayst our God did thee create Good noble vnderstanding he thee made And like himselfe he fashioned thy state And made me seruant to what ere thou said 28 Therefore if thou my Mistris ought to be And reason had by which thy office was Vs both to gonerne why did'st thou suffer me Without restraint in wicked race to passe 29. Is' t iust to charge the Body as the Spirit Which being rightfull Mistris yet will serue To tame the flesh the spirit ought of right With abstinence and stripes if she 'l not swerue 30. The bodies workes be from the soule deriued By meanes thereof in life it floruisheth That flesh which by the soule is not assisted By easie baites the world soone vanquisheth 31. The body of it selfe none ill hath knowne All that it knowes proceedeth from thy head If I doe what thou bidst the fault's thine owne For without thee the body resteth dead 32 Why should poore hand-maid flesh be charg'd with blame In working onely as thy instrument The soule commandeth all hers be the shame Of all my frailties since I want iudgement 33 Therefore I weene thy guilt exceedeth mine In following my lust so fraile and foule But oh the wormes doe teare me in my shrine I therefore say no more farewell poore soule The Soule Replies 34 NAy said the Soule I le stay by thee a while And if I can thine arguments confute Why rail'st thou on me in this bitter stile Striuing to me thy whole guilt to impute 35. Most wretched flesh which in thy time of life Wast foolish idle vaine why dost thou wreake Thy wrath in railing words to make new strife Though for the substance 't is true that thou dost speake 36. For truth it is and stands with reason plaine I should haue bridled thee and rul'd thy will But thou through loue of pleasure foule and vaine And sensuall appetites me resisted still 37. When I would thee O body haue control'd And haue subdu'd with watching fast and paine Straights the worlds vanity did thee with-hold And to his vanie delights drew thee againe 38 So thou of me didst get the vpper hand And of my mildnesse made so bad construction That thralling me in wordly pleasures band Eternally hast drown'd me in destruction 39 I know my guilt and this my trespasse was That being chiefe I did not thee restraine But thou deceiuedst me with so faire a glasse That thy offence the greater ought remaine 40 The vaine worlds practices baites and delights If thou hadst left with stedfast constancy And so with-stood Sathans inchanting sleights Heauen had beene ours with Saints and Deity 41. But flattering fancies of the world did please And made thee hope a lasting life to haue Thou neuer thoughtst to dye till death did ceaze And hal'd thee from thy Court to dirty graue 42. The world and subtile men haue both one guise Where most it smiles and most bestoweth honor There soonest it deceiues soonest death cries And changeth wealth to wormes to stinch and horror 43. He which in life did fawne and was thy friend Will not now cast a looke vpon thy graue Then gan the body weepe weighing this end And lowly in his stile such answer gaue The body answereth 44 I In
my life which had so great command In iewels riches lands did so abound Built Palaces and iudged many a land Think'st thou I thought of Tombe in this base ground 45 Oh now I see and find it to my griefe That neither gold nor wealth nor larger rent Honour strength knowledge nor soueraigne hearbs reliefe Can cure deaths bitter sting nor it preuent 46 Before our God we guilty both doe stand And both in fault but not both equally The greatest burden lyeth on thy hand And this to proue full many reasons lye 47 No wit so meane but this for truth it knowes Iustice it selfe and reason both agree That where most gifts of vertue God bestowes There most is due and ought repayed be 48 Life Memory and powerfull vnderstanding God gaue to thee and with it sense of might Wherewith thou shouldst haue curb'd at thy commanding Concupiscence and followed that was right 49 Then since thy dower of vertue stretcht so farre And foolishly thou gau'st thy selfe to me And my entisements neuer would'st debar That thy fault greatest is all men may see 50 Further I adde with anguish of my heart Which mine owne case doth plainly demonstrate The flesh can nothing doe if soule depar It neither moues nor stirs early or late 51 It neither sees nor speakes then is this proued The Soule giues life no power in flesh doth rest If then the Soule rightly her God had loued The flesh had neuer her great power supprest 52 If Gods loue liuing thou hadst holden deare And poore mens causes rightly hadst de finde And vnto wicked counsels giuen no eare Nor me nor thee worlds vanitie had twinde 53 I that liu'd gay and gorgeous in attyre Loe what of all now vnto me remaines Wormes rottennesse and narrow lodge of mire These after all delights are left my gaines 54 And oh I know that at the later houre I shall arise and as I did offend With thee shall finde a second death most soure An euerlasting death death without end The soule confesseth 55 VVIth hollow fearfull voice then howles the soule Oh had I not amongst the creatures beene Why with his creatures did God me enroule Whom he foreknew should perish thus for sinne 56 Happy are you bruit beasts happy your state You wholly dye at once and only rot Once dead all torments cease such is your fate Oh! were such end for sinners such their lot The Body askes the Soule a Question 57 THen quoth the Body to his pensiue Ghost If thou hast beene among the fiends in hell Tell me I pray what sawest thou in that Coast Is no helpe left from thence with Christ to dwel 58 For Kings and great men what is their prouision Which liuing Lorded it in high degree For them is any hope left of redemption For money lands bequests or other fee The Soule giues answer 59 THe question senslesse body wanteth reason For when to hell the wicked damned be Redemption then is hopelesse out of season Bootlesse are almes-deeds prayers and charity 60 If all the piety of men should pray If all the world in price were offered If all good men should fast both night and day For this not one should be deliuered 61 The roaring diuell cruell and full of rage For infinite of worlds or any gaine Would not forgoe one soule shut in his cage Nor ease his torments nor make lesse his paine 62 And to thy question what is there prepar'd For Lords and great ones Gods Law is expresse The more that here one is aduanc'd or fear'd More fearfull is his fall if he transgresse 63 A rich man therefore dying in his sinne No man shall sharper torments feele then hee How much more pleasures that he liued in So much more grieuous shall his torment be The Author in vision 64. AFter the Soule had said these mournfull words Behold two fiends more blacke then pitch or night Whose shapes with pen to write no wit affords Nor any hand of painter pourtray right 65 Sharpe steely prickes they did in each hand beare Sulphure and fire flaming they breathed out Tusked their teeth like crooked mattocks were And from their nostrils snakes crawled round about 66 Their eares with running sores hung flapping low Foule filthy hornes in their blacke browes they wore Full of thicke poison which from them did flow Their nayles were like the tushes of a Bore 67 These finds in chaines fast bound this wretched soule And with them hal'd her howling into hell To whom on flockes ran other diuels more And gnashing with their teeth to dancing fell 68 They welcom'd her with greetings full of woe Some wrested her with cords senselesse of dread Some snatcht and tore with hooks drawne to and fro Some for her welcome powr'd on scalding lead Diuels 69 SVch horror we doe on our seruants load Then as halfe wearied the diuels cryed Now art thou worse then was the crawling Toade Yet thousandfold worse torments thee abide The Soule cryes out 70 AFter all this the groaning Soule deepe sighed And with what voyce it could low murmured But when within the gates of hell she entered Shee howled out Iesus the Sonne of Dauid The Diuels answer 71. THen all the diuels together loud did cry Too late too late thou callest on thy God Here is no roome for Miserere mei o hope of easement from this bitter rod. 72 Neuer hence forth shalt thou the light behold Thou must be alter'd to another hue Thou art a Souldier of our Campe enrol'd Such is the comfort that in hell is due The Author concludeth 73. THen I awaked full of feare And much amaz'd my selfe did reare To God I said with folded hands O shield me from such grieuous bands 74 I left the world and it forsooke Of goods and lands no care I tooke I did renounce each worldly thing And gaue my selfe to Christ my King 75 The world is drownd in sinne and vice All order chang'd not one man wise Both Iustice and Religion lost And all the world in turmoile tost 76 The world to ruine runnes amaine False gods are now set vp againe Vnto the rich their hands men hold He is the God that hath the gold 77 The vertues of Diuinity Are chok't faith hope and charity The brood of couerise and craft Beare all the sway and sit aloft 78 Be thou noble wise and faire Courteous lowly debonaire And poore thou maist do what thou can But onely money makes the man 79 If I be clad in rich array and well attended euery day Both wise good I shal be thoght my kindred also shall be sought I am say men the case is cleere Your cousin sir a kinsman neare 80 But if the world doe change and frowne Our kindred is no longer knowne Nor I remembred any more By them that honoured me before 81 O vanity vile loue of mucke Foule poyson wherefore hast thou struck Thy selfe so deep to raise so high Things vanishing so sodainly 82 For if the
quality In quantity all three combine In quality alike Diuine With the Father and the Sonne Neuer ending nor begun One is Father for he begot The Sonne one borne all men wot Frō these the spirit proceeds alone Thus one is three three are one Each of these is God truely Yet still but one not Gods three But in this Deity I asseuer A Trinity vnited euer In the substance is full vnity In the Persons perfect Trinity But in these that I haue reckoned None in power is first or second But all as one we must adore Fix'd and firme for euermore Nor in selfe for euer changed Nor from it selfe at all estranged The Conclusion with a deuout and holy Prayer THis is Christiā faith vnfained Orthodoxall true vnstained As I teach all vnderstand Yeelding vnto neither hand And in this my soules defence Reiect me not for mine offence Thogh deaths slaue yet desperation I flye in death to seek saluation I haue no meane thy loue to gaine But this faith which I maintaine This thou seeft nor will I cease By this to beg for a release Let this sacred Salue be bound Vpon my sores to make thē sound Thogh man be carried forth lying In his graue and putrifying bound and hid from mortall eyes Yet if thou bid he must arise At thy will the graue will open At thy will his bounds are broken And forth he comes without delay If thou but once bid Come away In this sea of dread and doubt My poore Barke is tost about With storms Pirats far wide Death and woes on euery side Come thou Steeres-man euer blest Calme these winds that me molest Chase these ruthlesse Pyrats hence And shew me some safe residence My tree is fruitlesse dry and dead All the boughes are withered Downe it must and to the fire If desert haue his due hire But spare it Lord another yeare With manuring it may beare If it then be dead and dry Burne it alas what remedy Mine old foe assaults me sore With fire and water more more Poore I of all my strength bereft Onely vnto thee am left That my foe may hence be chased And I from ruines clawes released Lord vouchsafe me euery day Strength to fast and faith to pray These 2. means thy selfe hast taught To bring tēptations force to noght Lord free my soule frō sins infection By repentances direction Be thy feare in me abiding My soule to true saluation guiding Grant me faith Lord hope loue Zeale of heauen and things aboue Teach me prize the world at noght On thy blisse be all my thought All my hopes on thee I found In whom all good things abound Thou art all my dignity All I haue I haue from thee Thou art my comfort in distresse Thou art my cure in heauinesse Thou art my musicke in my sadnes Thou art my medicine in my madnes Thou my freedome from my thral Thou my raiser from my fall In my labour thou relieues me Thou reformes what euer grieues me Al my wrongs thy hand reuengeth And from hurt my soule defendeth Thou my deepest doubts reuealest Thou my secret faults concealest O do thou stay my feet frō treading In paths to hell and horror leading Where eternall torment dwels With fears teares and loathsome smels Where mans deepest shame is sounded And the guilty stil cōfounded VVhere the scourge for euer beateth And the worme that alwaies eateth Where all those endlesse do remain Lord preserue vs from this paine In Sion lodge me Lord for pitty Sion Dauids Kingly Cittie Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keies are Christs vndoubted word Whose dwellers feare none but the Lord. Whose wals are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Heere is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed Towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy wals from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasures first and last What full enioying blisse Diuine What Iewels on thy wals do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In the streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Alleluiah Amen A holy Meditation of mans misery and Gods mercy together with a deuout Prayer VVIth longing cheere The thirsty Deere do seeke the Brooke In such a kinde The faithfull minde for God doth looke And as the Springs Refreshment brings In drought and sweat So God doth coole The thirsty Soule in all her heate O Lord what floods Of glorious goods dost thou bestow On those that be Thine blest is he that well doth know Eternall blisse His guerdon is that Iesus maketh His rest but he Reapes misery that him forsaketh Thou mak'st them glorious And victorious who serue thee well In endlesse ioy From all annoy with thee they dwell But oh humanity With how great vanity art thou betost To dote in care On things that are so quickly lost Why dost thou yeeld And leaue the field to sinnes inuasions Not well respecting But ill reiecting thy Gods perswasions Open thine eyes And well aduise of whence thou art Thy life thy birth Thy state thy worth obserue each part From carelesnesse Thy selfe still blesse O man Gods Iewel How he placed thee And graced thee obserue and view well To what intent Hath God thee sent obserue with care To whom but Pride Drew thee aside thou hadst beene heyre O mortall sonne Affliction is thy due hire That broke the band Of Gods command through vaine desire But oh take heed Those paines exceed that rule in hell Whose fire so cruell Hath those for fuell that liue not well The man that ioyes In worldly toyes his soule orethrowes Respecting nought What Christ hath bought full deare God knowes Then neuer grudge If God thee iudge his yoake to beare Let not lust draw Thee from his law but hold it deare And soone apply His remedy vnto thy sore Lest it increase To worse disease and plague thee more Doe not despaire Thou maist be heire with Christ in ioy By casting out Corruptions roote thy soules annoy Still feare thou must But not distrust and beg thy cure For errors weepe Thy body keepe lowly and pure If to thy feare Thy Iudge appeare with angry face Know he will lose Not one of those that beg his grace Pray without rest And knock thy brest humble thy minde All that bewaile Their errors fraile haue pardon fign'd And doe not spare In hymne and prayer Iesus to prayse For mercy still Is at his will at all assayes And when the Diuell The prince of euill attempteth
cum friuolis suis condemnaui Aurum gemmas pradia nihil reputaui Rebus transitorijs abrenunciaui Et me Christi manibus totum commendaui 75 Ecce mundus moritur vitio sepultus Ordo rerum vertitur sapiens fit stultus Exulat iustitia cessat Christicultus Et in mundo iugiter labor tumultus 76 Mundus ad interitùm pergit his diebus Dij facti sunt iterum Iupiter Phoebus Nam qui mundum possidet abundat rebus Hic vt Deus collitur sceptris aciebus 77 Et quae theologicae virtutes vocantur Fides spes charitas ferè suffocantur Fraus auaritia quae deriuantur Ex his iam in seculo toto dominantur 78 Si sis ortu nobilis si vultu serenus Si benignus humilis moribusque plenus Haec nil tibi proderunt si tu sis egenus Sola nam pecunia formam dat genus 79 DuÌ„modo sim splendidis vestibus ornatus Et multa familia sim circumuallatus Prudens sim sapiens morigeratus Ego tuus nepos sum tu meus cognatus 80 Ista cum deficâ—rint statim euanescit Nostra consanguinitas morte refrigescit Cessatque notitia ita quod me nescit Qui dum diues fueram surgens mihi cessit 81 O miranda vanitas ô diuitiarum Amor lamentabilis ô virus amarum Cur tot viros inficis faciendo carum Hoc quod tranfit citâ—â—â— quam flamma stuparum 82 Si mundus diuitibus tria posset dare Iuuentutem floridam mortem vitare Pulchram durabilem prolem procreare Benè possent diuites nummos congregare 83. Homo miser cogita mors ista compescit Quis est ab initio qui morti non cessit Hic si viuit hodie cras forte putrescit Cuique prorsus hominum parcere iam nescit 84. Quando genus hominum morti deputatur Quò post mortem transeat quisquam ignoratur Vnde quidem sapiens ita de se fatur Contremisco iugiter dum mens meditatur Quid sum quò propero quid mihi paratur 85 De morte dum cogito contristor ploro Vnum est quòd moriar tempus ignoro Tertium quòd nescio quorum iungar choro Sed vt suis valeam iungi Deum oro FINIS THE COMPLAINT OR DIALOGVE BETVVIXT The Soule and the Bodie of a damned man Each laying the fault vpon the other Supposed to be written by S. BERNARD from a nightly vision of his and now published out of an ancient Manuscript Copie By WILLIAM CRASHAW LONDON Printed by G. E. for Leonard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Temple neere the Church 1622. To the VVorshipful my worthy beloued friends Hugh Hare Richard Brownlow George Crok and Iohn Walter Esquires Benchers of the honourable society of the inner TEMPLE Mercy Grace and Peace THe end and highest happinesse of a Christian man is to honour God in this life and to dye well the way to die well is to liue well and no better prouocation to good life nor preparatiue to a good death then a continuall and serious meditation of the mortality of this life the certainty of our end the vncertainty when and how the terriblenesse of the last iudgement and the account that each one must make then who haue not made it here before crossed the debt-book of their sins by the Lambe of God This made an ancient Father crye out When I thinke of that day I feare and tremble for whether I eate or drinke or what euer I doe I thinke I heare that terrible Trumpet sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to iudgement And to this end the holy men of elder times willingly entertained all occasions that might helpe them in these holy cogitations One euidence thereof is this short and sweet Dialogue which as a fore-runner of others that may follow being diuulged and desired by many to bee englished I am therefore induced to make it common This being an age that needs all helps to holinesse and inticements to deuotion And this the rather in as much as though it was made in the mist of Popery euen not long after the Diuell was let loose yet is it not tainted with Popish corruption nor scarce smels of any superstition whereas it is stuft with godly truthes and wholsome instructions My thoughts intended and dedicated it to your selues and that worthy vertuous and religious Gentleman now with God the brother to one of you in nature and to you all in faithfull Christian loue But seeing he needs it not God hauing prouided better things for him and his soule now feeding on finer foode in Gods glorious presence and blessed vision of the Deity take you it therefore and that part of profite that might heereby haue falne to him and that part of my loue which heerein I shewed him diuide among you and as hee hath left behinde him to this Society and all that knew him the sweete smell of a good name for his many religious and morall vertues so let me leaue behinde me this little Monument of the much loue my heart owes you and shall bee willing to testifie by my best seruice as to this whole and honorable Society in generall so to your selues in particular To whom without wrong to any other I speake it I haue beene peculiarly beholden and by whom my studies haue beene much aduanced Now the God of Grace and Mercy so guide you in the wayes of holinesse and good workes that at your ends your body may not blame your soule nor the soule the body but both soule and body may haue cause to glorifie God their Creatour Redeemer and Sanctifier in whose loue I leaue you and rest yours in all Christian duety THE SPEAKERS 1. The Author 2. A Soule departed 3. A dead Carcasse 4. The Diuels THE AVTHOR IN silence of a Winters night A sleeping yet a waking spirit A liuelesse body to my sight Me thought appeared thus addight 2. In that my sleepe I did descry A Soule departed but lately From that foule body which lay by Wailing with sighes and loud did cry 3. Fast by the body thus she mones And questions it with sighes and grones O wretched flesh thus low who makes thee lye Whom yesterday the world had seene so high 4. Wast not but yesterday the world was thine And all the Country stood at thy deuotion Thy traine that followed thee when thy Sunne did shine Haue now forsaken thee O dolefull alteration 5. Those Turrets gay of costly Masonry And larger Palaces are not now thy roome But in a Coffin of small quantity Thou lyest interred in a little tombe 6. Thy Palaces what helpe they thee or buildings Thy graue vneth's of largenesse for thy feet Henceforth thou canst hurt none with thy false iudgings For thy misdeeds in hell we both must meete 7. I I poore soule oh I a noble creature Formed and made in likenesse of my God Adorn'd with graces of
sheepe acknowledge thee for one of his true sheepe and receiue thee into his folde IESVS Christ absolue thee from all thy sinnes and place thee on his right hand amongst his elect that there thou maiest see thy Redeemer face to face and in the societie of blessed soules maiest enioy the comforts of heauenly contemplation and the blessed vision of God for euer and euer Amen A Meditation of Saint Bernard sweete and comfortable to fore-run a happy end DVlcissime Iesu Christe sit vltimum verbum tuum in cruce vltimum verbum meum in hac luce amplius fari non possum exaudi finale cordis desyderium In English SWeete Iesus Christ let thy last wordes vpon thy Crosse bee my last vpon my Couch and when I can speake no more Lord heare the vtmost desire of my heart To the Reader SEe Christian brother how in the worst times they were prepared to die commended to God if the Ancient Books did not proclaime this truth some would not beleeue but that they had beene made in this latter time But seeing the truth cannot be denyed I desire thee with me to obserue these few collections arising out of due consideration of the premisses 1 Here is answer to that great question how our forefathers were saued euen by the same faith as we are at this day 2 How truly Christ performed his promise namely that the gates of hell should not preuaile against the true faith for so we see that in the vilest times this faith hath beene preserued 3 Obserue how here is no touch nor once mention of Purgatory nor of any thing to be done for their good after this life 4 Here is no relation to any pardons or indulgences from the Pope 5 Here is no necessity laid downe of sending for a Priest to bring his hoste and his Pix and his Holy-Water and his Taper These matters it seemes are rather commanded pressed vpon the people by the Romish Cleargy then much regarded by the wiser and god her sort of our forefathers neyther are they commanded to stay till the Priest come but saith the booke let these prayers bee said and the commendation of his soule by one of the by-standers Lastly let it bee obserued that in all these prayers and commendations and questions and these saith the booke are all that be of necessity to be said here is not one smack of Popish Idolatry or superstition In these respects I haue thought it no needlesse labour to communicate these to thee deare brother I know there be store of godly Prayers and meditations already extant But these are of a speciall vse more then others and are venerable for their antiquity and are to be the more welcome because God preserued them in the hands of our very enemies And though they were mingled with other things not so good yet let vs know as S. Hierome tels vs that it is no small point of wisedome to seeke out gold out of mire and clay Make vse of these and helpe mee with thy prayers and thou shalt shortly if God permit be partaker of more Hereafter followeth an addition of some new and late formes and models of Prayer for sundry occasions and purposes At thy vprising thus or in like manner commend thy selfe to God saying GRant O good Father that of thy mercy hast brought me to the beginning of this day that in this same I may rise and so walke in my calling that thy name may be glorified my conscience discharged thy seruant comforted and all good men incouraged by my example for thy deare Sonnes sake Amen Before thy going out thus meditate Morning Meditation 1 THat many haue gone out of their houses ablâ— and well that haue neuer returned backe aliue as foâ— ought thou knowest may befall thee 2 Remember that thy conscience shall bee the quietâ—â— in the night when thou shâ—â— call to minde thou hast begâ—â— in the Lord and so carefulâ— discharged thy duty in tâ—â— day 3 That to goe forth in â— the world is to encounter with many troubles to passe some dangers and to performe many duties and therefore rush not forth into such an vndertaking before thou hast thus or in like manner prayed to God to assist thee without whose blessings and fauour towards thee thou vndertakest in vaine for thy labour will not prosper That done thou maist thus further call vpon God in thy Morning Prayer MOst gracious God mercifull Father wee render vnto thee most humble and hearty thankes for all thy benefits thou hast from time to time bestowed vpon vs as for the quiet rest and repose thou hast this night giuen vs to the refreshing strengthning of our wearied bodies mindes so wee beseech thee likewise being thus renewed and taken vp from that image of death that laid vs in our beds the representation of our graues to consider the waste of time our owne liues and decay of all sublunarie things how with their easie lengths their spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen Let there bee day and night and times and seasons they haue brought age and maturity the sithes sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruests of flesh and laid generations in the dust Teach vs O Lord with this remembrance to weigh our mortalitie and so to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to binde vp our bones in peace and rest wee may yeelde vp our soules and bodies into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sinnes are washed away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs. And to that end prosper vs wee pray thee in all our actions and giue good successe to our true endeuours and then wee shall not attempt in vaine and grant that this day and all the daies of our life hereafter may bee so accomplished by thy counsell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues throughout this vale of misery that at the last we may raigne with thee in glory Amen Euening Meditations before thy going to bed 1 REmember that many goe to bed and neuer rise againe till they bee awaked by the sound of the last Trumpet and therefore presume not to close thine eyes till thou hast committed thy selfe into the hands of God by Prayer 2 At the putting off of thy cloathes thinke that the day is comming when thou must be as barely vnstript of al thou hast as thou dost now thy selfe of thy cloathes 3 Fixing thine eyes vpon thy bed let it put thee in mind of thy graue thy bed-clothes of the mold of the earth that must couer thee the sheetes of thy winding sheete thy sleepe thy death thy waking thy resurrection Then at thy lying downe thou maist thus addresse thy selfe vp to God saying Into thy hands most mercifull Father I commend my soule and body this night and euermore be mercifull gracious and good vnto
me blessâ— me saue me preserue and keepe me for thy deare mercy sake Amen Or thus further with Dauid thou maist pray I Will lay mee downe and rest in peace in thy mercy for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer to be said either before or after thy going into bed O Eternall God and omnipotent Father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light and darknesse day and night in whose hands iâ— contained that ouerflow oâ— goodnesse that filleth alâ— the empty and indigent creatures in the world who ordainest times and seasons successions and descents old age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and labour a perpetuall motion and change ouer all things in the world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many houres since broke out of darknesse and cleared the world with her light and the Sunne arose as a Bridegrome out of his Chamber and reioycing as a Gyant to runne his course whose beames are now steeped in darknesse the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitorie pleasures and delights which haue their increase their height and sudden decrease againe being no continuance in any thing vnder the Sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast appointed for rest which O Lord so giue vnto vs wee pray thee that thereby we may bee inabled to walke more carefully in those duties and callings thou hast appointed vs. And further we beseech thee that as the night darkneth and shadoweth al things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake thou wilt hide all our sinnes from thy sight that they neuer be brought to iudgement with vs euer so remembring vs that we neuer forget that fearfull and finall account that must bee rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing that as our bodies hauing the rest of sleepe this night so our mindes through thy mercy in Iesus Christ may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer and to that end let thy mercy and prouidence so watch ouer vs that as our actions in the day so our thoughts nor our imaginations neither watching nor sleeping this night may be such as may displease thee but that all may tend to the good of our soules and bodies and the honour and glory of thy great name and that for Christ Iesus sake Amen In whose most blessed name we conclude this our imperfect Prayer in that absolute forme of Prayer that thy blessed Son hath taught vs to honour thee saying Our Father c. A godly Prayer to bee said at all times O Lord my God what may I render vnto thee as an acceptable sacrifice for all the benefits thou hast bestowed vpon mee for my Election Redemption Sanctification and Preseruation from my youth vnto this present day and houre that thou hast indued mee with health strength knowledge continency when so many more worthy then I in mine owne eyes are denied of these thy good fauours for all which I can giue no reason for but thy good pleasure and if thou shouldest take all backe againe I haue nothing to say but that thou art iust yet O Lord to these many I entreate thee adde this more that I may keepe a heart that may truly acknowledge them and a tongue that may thankfully praise thee for them all the dayes of my life and to that end I beseech thee protect mee from all euill that may hurt mee from all sinne that may offend thee be thou assistant to all my good in deuors purposes intentions and let thy good Spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of all men giue me O Lord a charitable heart to relieue thee in thy members a compassionate heart to make other mens infirmities mine owne a beleeuing heart that thy promises are yea and Amen And so blinde me not O Lord with the carnall man that though I beleeue thou wilt one day raise my body from the bed of darknesse when thou shalt say to the sea Giue and to the earth Restore my sons and daughters when no creature shall bee able to keepe backe one bone that it hath receiued that I should despaire in thee for a crust of bread in temporall maintenance and endeuour Bee neere O Lord vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse and by daily and hourely presidents of death and mortalitie before mine eyes teach mee to bee mindfull of mine owne end and to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that whether I liue or die I may rest with thee in thy eternall glory through Iesus Christ my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Agurs prayer for content O Lord giue mee neither â—â—â—erty nor riches feed me with food conuenient lest I be too full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and so take the name of my God in vaine and if I aske any thing which is euill deny my ignorance if I aske any thing which is good remember thy promise S. Augustines Prayer Miserere mei Domine indigna facientis digna patientis English BE mercifull vnto me O God doing vnworthily vnto thee and yet receiuing that from thee that more worthy then I are denied at thy hands O Lord continue this mercy and let not my ilnesse weary out thy goodnesse for thy tender patient mercies sake Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father LEt all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory honour and praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and generations of the world which hast not spared thine onelie Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankinde to that end that through him we might bee saued and deliuered from destruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life grant vnto vs by thy Spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace and fauour for euer and euer Amen Another short eiaculatory praier English and Latine ODeus omnium miserationum Pater te praecor vt abissus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abissum peccatoruÌ„ meorum O Father of goodnesse and mercy I humbly intreat thee that the depth of thy mercy may swallow vp the depth of my sinnes Martin Luthers Prayer COnfirme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begun in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy visitation for thy deare mercies sake Amen A few short remembrances or most materiall rules of good life for the practice of euery true Christian here
inserted 1. FEare God for not to feare him is to feare euery thing 2. Loue thy brother for if thou loue not him whom thou hast seene how shalt thou loue him whom thou hast not seene 3. Bee charitable to the poore which is to relieue Christ in his members and be not greatly curious so thou knowest them no notorious ill liuers for if Lot had beene so in the entertainment of his strangers he had not receiued Angels in stead of men and withall because it is better to giue many counterfeits then that one truly needy should depart vnreliued 4. Sweare not but what thou truly knowest as to manifest a doubtfull truth and that vpon vrgent occasion for by an oath may God be greatly honoured or dishonored Honoured as when we shall bring him to testifie a truth which is himselfe the God of truth dishonor wheÌ„ we bring him to witnesse a falshood which whosoeuer doth the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse And to auoid this make conscience of thy word and it shall be to thee as a oath for it is the man that giues credit to the oath more then the oath to the man 5 Perswade thy selfe rather then thy friend to keepe thy counsell and whatsoeuer discord shall arise betwixt thee and him as thou tenderest the reputation of an honest heart neuer let malice in hatred make thee to reueale that which loue friendship before bouÌ„d thee to conceale 6 Hate no man no not thy enemy lest God loue him for to hate where he loues is a fearefull opposition 7 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiudiciall to thy soule 8 Desire in any thing rather to bee in substance without shew then in shew without substance 9 Desire to liue godly though poorely in this world for hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 10 Thinke of God with wonder speake to God with reuerence serue him in loue obey him in feare and doe nothing but as in his presence and sight thou shalt liue the life of the godly go the way of the blessed liue in his feare and die in his fauour In laudem operis Authoris VVHat attribute's worth thy deseruing paine Deare friend since thy endeuour blesseth vs Whose serious houres spent onely to reclaime The stubborne stâ—ffe neckt and idolatrous For what their fathers gathered with much care For holy penitentiall legacies Children peruert the deads will and prepare Hardnesse of heart for their Apostasies Goe boldly forwards though they iudge like Dan Our people with the gall of bitternesse Yet vnto them be a Samaritan Powre oyle into their wounds with cheerefulnesse And blest be thy endeuour and each thought Till to the promist Land thy spirit be brought W. Lort A conclusion to the Author and his Booke TRadition and antiquity the ground Whereon that erring Church doth so relie Breakes out to light from darknesse to confound The nouell doctrine of their heresie Which plainaby these most sensible degrees Doth point the wayes it hath digrest to fall Where each obseruing iudgement plainly sees From good to bad from bad to worst of all It is arriu'd so that it can aspire Obscure deface suppresse doe what it may To blind this truth to no step any higher By any policy it can essay These holy Hymnes stuft with religious zeale And meditations of most pious vse Able their whole to wound our wounded heale Free from impiety or least abuse Blot out all merit in our selues we haue And onely solely doe on Christ rely Offer not prayers for those are in the graue Nor vnto Saints that heare not doe not crie Then in a word since God hath these preseru'd From the Inquisitors most cruell rage Though in their worth they else might haue deseru'â— To passe among the good things of this age Yet are in this respect of more regard Since God would haue them to these times appeare So many hauing perisht and be heard With more true zeale that God hath kept so deare By all which I conclude from thine owne heart Thou wicked seruant that might know would noâ— He hath discharg d himselfe in all and part That would haue cur'd your Babel but he could 〈◊〉 B. L. FINIS