obay Lord grant that as I of sweet Mercy sing Her in my heart deed word I practise may Not for vaine praise or any outward thing But for thy Mercy sake my good and gracious King 75 Next Loues great Generall braue Fortitude Should enter Lists to shew her wondrous might But Rashnesse 't is not Valour to include A Christian Souldier in such dang'rous fight Till all his Armour be about him dight His vpper parts I armed haue elsewhere With Girdle Brest-plate Shield and Helmet bright But Feete and Legs I naked left and bare Now Patience them shall arme as you shall after heare MEDITAT IIII. Of Patience 1 WEll hath our valiant Guide Mans life compar'd Vnto a warfare where we alwayes stand In complete Armour readie and prepar'd The force of cruell Foe-men to withstand Where Satan World and Flesh together band By open force and treason to subdue And leade vs captiue by their mightie hand And all vnarm'd or out of order due They fetter'd dragge to Hell with cursed damned crue 2 Which to auoid he wills vs to be strong In God and in the Power of his Might And the whole Armour that doth here belong To Christian Souldiers on our Soules to dight For here with Flesh and Blood we doe not fight But Empires Powers Principalities The worldly Gouernours of darkest night Sublime spirituall subtile Enemies Which to resist he ghostly Armour doth deuise 3 The Belt of Truth Brest-plate of Righteousnesse Faiths Shield and Hope the Helmet of saluation Sword of the Spirit Prayers feruentnesse Feete shod in Peaces Gospels preparation These be the Weapons of our Militation Of Helmet Brest-plate Shield and Girdle wee Alreadie haue conceau'd a Meditation These foure the vpper parts arme to the knee But Patience Legs whâ—reon the rest supported bee 4 For so the Learned seeme to giue the Sense This preparation of the Gospels Peace To be the brasen Bootes of Patience Which doth defend from Thornes and Stones disease Our Legs and Feete And where the Belt doth cease These Bootes of Patience Armour doe supply By which in complete Armour we doe prease And stand vndanted 'gainst our Enemie This Vertue is the next my Muse seekes to descrie 5 Which well is call'd the Gospels preparation For neuer any Patience true and sound Can be but by the Gospels mediation The Heathen built not on this certayne ground And therefore this true Patience neuer found Which but by Peace of Conscience none attayne This Peace the Gospell onely doth propound By reconcilement of the Lambe Christ sâ—aine Without this Peace of Conscience Patience all is vaine 6 Thou glorious God of Peace and Patience Who sent'st thine onely Sonne our sinnes to beare And by his Suffring and Obedience Vpon the Crosse from guilt of sinne to cleare All those to whom his Crosse is sweet and deare Direct my Muse this Grace aright to reade That knowing I may neuer once forbeare To practise Patience in thought word deede But to the end my Life in Peace and Patience leade 7 Which is a gift of God whereby weare Inabled willingly and constantly All crosses that God layes on vs to beare For Goodnesse Godlinesse and Honestie Impatience 't is to beare vnwillingly And but an idle feigned false pretence To boast of Vertue without Constancie Her parts be foure of which some difference May seeme at first yet all make but one Patience 8 The first part is from Anger to abstayne The second is a constant Expectation The third is to the end Right to remayne The last consists in willing Sustentation Of all afflictions here and castigation But Man to these foure parts we onely tie For the last part which doth consist in Passionâ— Vnto th' eternall Being comes not nigh Who 's free from all Affliction and Calamitie 9 Yet is he rightly call'd the Patient God And doth in first three named parts transcend First farre from Anger when he spares his Rod He doth expect and wait till we amend And last abides the same vnto the end He fruitfull Times and Seasons of the Yeare Vnto the good and bad alike doth send Most patiently doth with our Follies beare And where he 'gins to loue he neuer doth forbeare 10 Thus Mercy Zeale Repentance may be said Inexplicably in God to bee Zealous yet not offended or dismaid Most Mercifull yet griefe did neuer see Repenting yet without remorse is hee Most Patient yet without least payne or passion Of Vertues parts which are of Frailtee And Weaknesse God hath no participation Yet want they not in Man their vse and commendation 11 As is the Cause and End of Patience So we her true or counterfet esteeme The Cause and End doe make the difference If we for Fancy Glorie Lust Wealth seeme To beare with Patience Hunger Payne Cold Teene This suffring missing her true Cause and End As falsely feigned counterfet we deeme But if for doing well or to defend The Truth we suffer this our Patience doth commend 12 The greedie 〈…〉 For Lust some doe endure 〈◊〉 basest shame The Souldier spends his blood for glorie vaine Th' Ambitious venture all to purchase Fame Loe there we carnall Ends and Causes name True Patience causes honest are and iust When for ill-doing we doe suffer blame Take paine for Glorie Honour Gayne or Lust Rewards like to the Cause and End expect we must 13 But true immediate ground of Patience Is the sweet Gospell as I said of Peace For Man deepe plung'd in sinne and foule offence No Creature could Gods wrâ—â—h but Christ appease In stead of Loue Gods wrath on Man did seise Till Christ concludes our Reconciliation And vs of our offences doth release Of which the Gospell is th' Aâ—â—unciation Therefore is Patience call'd the Gospels preparation 14 And therefore as her Cause and End is Peace So all her works to inward Peace doe tend Which in the inward Man doth most increase When outward Warres seeme most him to offâ—nd Shee doth oâ—r Soules most valiantly defend By patient bearing crosses paine and shame Which shee with Patience suffers to the end Except they crosse the Glorie of Gods Name Or Neighbours good which to endure deserueth blame 15 One euill is of Sinne and one of Payne That ill of Sinne this Dame cannot abide But that of Punishment shee counteth gayne Gods holy Name blasphem'd or Truth deni'd Or wicked Men Gods holy Saints deride Is no true Patience patiently to heare But on our selues when crosses doe betide Then Patience true doth patiently forbeare For shee her owne not others wrongs delights to beare 16 If one will take her Coâ—te iniurioâ—â—ly Shee suffereth such losse with Patience But if of Faith Loue Truth or Honestie One would depriue her that is such offence As cannot stand right with her Conscience Shee priuate wrongs most willingly doth hide But faults admitteth vnder no pretence Shee can endure Men should her selfe deride But her Profession scorn'd shee no wayes can abide 17 Compell her to a mile shee will
not doe 14 But as a naturall body doth consist Of quarters foure to make a man complete And if but one of all those foure be mist The other three lose all their life and heate Eu'n so it is with Truth whereof I treate If of these foure substantiall parts want one The other three are vainenesse or deceat For Truth of Iudgement Heart Speech Action Make but one Truth without dissimulation 15 But Truth of Iudgement ground is and foundation Of all the rest For be our Hearts sincere Our words and deeds without dissimulation If Errour in our Iudgements doth appeare With Paul we may eu'n persecute the deare And holy Seruants of the Sonne of Truth And thinke we doe to God good seruice here Fie then on Fooles that misse-spend their youth They neuer seeke to know or learne the way of Truth 16 But be our Iudgements eu'n as right and sound As Christs Disciples by their Master taught Yet if within vs Iudas hearts be found On vs the greater iudgement shall be wrought Who knowes his Masters will and doth it nought Oh what doth he by this his knowledge gayne But eu'n the sting of his owne conscience brought To desperation and infernall payne And to put out this sting puts on an hempen chayne 17 What shall we say of those that doe professe Truth of Religion and a Heart sincere Yet in their dealings nothing lesse expresse But for their gayne deceaue lie and forsweare Surely these men a double heart doe beare For were the Heart which is a liuely Spring Whence flow our words and deeds oh were that cleare Then all the streames from thence forth issuing Would be pure like the fountain from whence they do spring 18 But things we best of all by causes know God is the Cause of each good gift and grace But here more mediate Causes I may show Whereby he in the Truth doth guide our pace By 's Word we Truth of Iudgement doe embrace Which is to wandring Soules a guide and light His Spirit vpon our Hearts doth Truth enchase Then Truth of Iudgement makes vs speake aright And Truth of Heart makes all our actions true and right 19 Thus as Effects true Speech and Actions flow From Truth of Iudgement and the Truth of Heart As all Mankind from Eue and Adam grow But if the subtill Serpent can peruert Our Hearts or Iudgements as he did diuert Our two first Parents then as all their seede Defiled is with their corrupted part So from our Heart and Iudgement will proceede Corrupted words and actions which such fountaynes breede 20 Therefore to set our Iudgement true and right We to the ground and pillar ought to come Of Truth which is the Church of God so hight Because the treasures of all Truth there won Of all Gods Oracles which there haue rome From which all Truth of Iudgement we deriue The Church a carefull Keeper doth become There 's Truth that able is to saue aliue And away Errour Darknesse Superstition driue 21 O blessed Truth that holy Church preserues From Satans malice and the Moth of time O glorious Church whose soundnesse pure reserues Truth of Religion which doth make thee shine In Righteousnesse Faith Hope and Loue Diuine More then Pompe Wealth Vniuersalitie For Truth doth decke Christs Spouse more trim and fine Then Time Consent Succession Vnitie Now foild with Superstition and Idolatrie 22 With these false Ornaments the Church of Rome Like painted Harlot shuns the open Light Nor will vnto the Ground and Pillar come Of Truth to trie if shee bee wrong or right Therefore poore Laiks neuer must haue sight Of holy Writ to frame their Iudgement by Traditions and false Miracles them light And on the Churches word they must relie Thus Ignorance the Mother is of Poperie 23 But as sound Truth abhorres such Ignorance Eu'n so presumptuous curiositie Shee doth decline nor euer doth aduance Her purest thoughts to things that be too high Her subiect is no higher Mysterie Than Spirit of Truth is pleased to reueale Into Gods secret Counsell for to prie Is like the Thiefe that fire from Heau'n did steale To whom eu'n Heathen iudgements endlesse torments seale 24 So vniuersall is Truths glorious Fame That all things that the Heau'n and Earth contaynes Delight to be adorned by her Name Yea God himselfe Truths title not disdaynes Loe He Lord God of Truth for ay remaynes The Word of Truth the Spirit of Truth likewise Wayes iudgements works cōmandements Truth retaynes In this Saints Angels with God sympathize But Satan and his broode delight in contraries 25 Thus as shee is adorn'd by Titles high So with her Glorie shee doth all adorne Nothing vnto perfection commeth nigh Except by them the badge of Truth be borne And though some Worldlings doe her Liuerie scorne As things against their pleasure ease and gayne For that plaine dealing is a Iewell worne But he that weares it beggerie shall gayne Yet Truth her credit still doth with the best retayne 26 Yea Truth amongst the Writers of all times Hath beene in such great honour and account As without Truth yet neuer Prose or Rimes To any Praise or Honour vp did mount The holy Writ wherein Truth doth surmount Shee safely doth'gainst all her Foes defend How oft doth Dauids muse Gods Truth recount Whereby her glorie lasts to the Worlds end Ah my poore Muse see thou alwayes on Truth attend 27 There 's not one Vertue that with Loue doth dwell But honours Truth and seekes her company Begin eu'n at Humilities low Cell And mount to Mercy that doth sit on high All seeke the companie of Veritie Eu'n Loue must be without dissimulation And Righteousnesse without Hypocrisie Vnfaigned Faith true constant Expectation No Vertue without Truth comes neare Loues habitation 28 Faire glosing shewes without Dame Veritie Are but as falsely feigned Holinesse Which surely doubles the iniquitie And neuer leades the way to Happinesse My Muse is farre vnable to expresse The prayses all of Peeres that Truth attends Whom shee adornes with wondrous Noblenesse But Righteousnesse vpon her most depends And Mercy now and Truth haue met growne great friends 29 But surely Truth hath not so many Friends But shee doth find as many Enemies For Satan all his malice 'gainst her bends Supplanting Her by force or subtilties He father is of errours and of lyes And seekes herewith Truths glorie to distaine And therefore they maliciously deuise Interpretations false and glosses vaine Traditions mens inuentions 'gainst her to maintaine 30 As Purgatorie first they did deuise Purses for Pardon of mens sinnes to gleane So Limbo's they for Writers haue likewise Wherein to purge and make their Writings clean◠Index expurgatorius I meane In which if any Writer disagree From their Traditions whereupon they leane They in this Limbo Patrum purg'd must bee Or falsely else condemned to burne for Heresie 31 Thus moderne Writs sacred Antiquitie The Fathers Schoole-men Doctors Histories They all of them in Purgatorie frie And
vertue doth not lend Eu'n so the Man whose loue doth fall away Doth straight in errour darknesse and delusions stray 19 Those that by reasons force and strength of wit Draw true Conclusiont by firme Argument First striue the Causes with th' Effects to fit Else they will hardly grant the Consequent To say I loue is not sufficient Except I shew the reason why I loue I know ô Lord thou art Omniscient But know no cause to loue mee should thee moue Onely I daily feele that which I cannot proue 20 God is Loues very Authour Life and Spring Yea God himselfe is also stiled Loue From him all Streames of Loue are issuing As from the Sea all other Waters moue He first fills all with Loue in Heau'n aboue Which Water plenteously the Vales below So God loues first before we doe him loue Loe what exceeding great loue he doth show God loues his Enemies first before they doe him know 21 The cause of all this Loue proceeds from thee Thou didst vs loue yet being Enemies Bond-slaues to Sinne and Satan but now â—ree And made thy Friends by Grace our loue doth rise From thee as from the Spring and multiplyes Growing from strength to strength till by thy Grace We workes of Loue in thee doe exercise Thy Members here for thee wee doe embrace Eu'n as ouâ— owne till we behold thy glorious Face 22 Into one Body we by Loue doe grow Into one Building we are all combin'd Loue that doth from the Head to Members flow And all the stones hath in this building ioyn'd Where eu'ry Members office is assign'd And eu'ry stone an others weight doth beare All liuely Stones the choisest of mankind All liuing Members of one Head which here By Loue in one close cemented and ioynted are 23 My lowly Muse dares not presume to prie Into Gods holy happy Habitation Where Loue three Persons ioynes in Vnitie And makes one Godhead to mans admiration I leaue the Mysterie of th'Incarnation Where Loue doth make both God and Man in one And eke the power of Spirits regeneration Where Loue makes Man eu'n of Gods flesh and bone Thus Loue all things in Heaueâ— and Earth vnites in one 24 Such as Loues cause is such are Loues effects Holy Transcendent Supernaturall Which publique good not priuate most respects The weakest member seruice doth to all And the most Honourable doth not call The meaner base as he did him despise They all agree in one and one in all Vnto one glorious Head by loue to rise And in him workes of Loue and Grace to exercise 25 This Loue 's long suffering gentle not enuies Not striuing boasting shamelesse for her owne Bitter ill-minded ioying in iniuries But most glad to doe right when Truth is knowne Endures beleeues hopes suffers all alone Though tongues doe cease and prophecyings faile And knowledge vanish yet Loue holds her owne We know and prophecie in part as fraile But when the perfect comes th' imperfect nought auailes 26 Had I the tongues of Men and Angels and Could prophecie and knew all mysteries Had Faith to remoue Mountaynes t' vnderstand All knowledge and should all my goods out size Amongst the Poore my body should deuise Eu'n to be burn'd yet if I want this Loue It profits not this Loue which doth arise From a pure heart oh thou then that dost proue And trâ—e the hearts of Men season mine heart with Loue. 27 And euer let the Obiect of my Loue Be the true indiuiduall Trinitie The Saints on earth and Angels all aboue That still persist in their integritie I mention here the happy memorie Of thy deceased Saints and Martyrs all Which here their Loue to thee did testifie Whom thou by Loue didst first vnto thee call And dost in heau'n reward with blisse perpetuall 28 But 't is the heart from which this Loue must flow There Loue her Court keepes there 's her Royall seate 'T is not enough with wordes this Loue to show Or fayned lookes God doth the heart intreate That must bâ—â— clens'd from sinne made sweet and neate For him that standeth knocking at the dore Then open he will enter in and eate And bring with him of heau'nly foode such store As thou shalt neuer thirst nor hunger any more 29 Clense my deceitfull heart defil'd with sinne Make it a Temple for thy Spirit of Loue Fit for the King of Glorie to come in That all my words thoughts actions pure may proue As Riuers which from purest Fountaynes moue Oh since thou wert so bountifull to spend Thy precious Blood for vs thy Foes still loue And cherish vs and 'gainst all harme defend Who will die for his Foes cannot denie his Friend 30 In all that Nature hath indued with life We find desire with like to companie Againe wee see diâ—â—â—â—tions jarres and strife 'Mongst those that are of different qualitie We oft 〈◊〉 inclinations may descrie By company they either keepe or shunne They haue of manners such a sympathie I therefore shew what heau'nly Graces wonne With royall Loue which sweetly link't together runne 31 These Vertues are Loues deare Concomitants Repentance Knowledge Faith Humilitie Fortitude Iustice Prudence Temperance Meeknesse Obedience Truth Hope Curtesie These a most sacred 〈◊〉 Societie Doe on the Court of royall Loue attend These Hate expell and her base progenie Wrath Auaâ—â—â— Pride 〈◊〉 and contend Gainst Gluttoâ—e 〈…〉 which on Hate depend 32 These Impes which of this hellish Hagge are bred Begot of her by Lucifer in Hell In wayes of errour and of darknesse leade Where damned spirits in torments euer dwell And though on earth they beare away the bell Of all one day there will a reckning bee Then shall appeare who hath done ill who well The louely Bride shall ioy her Loue to see But they which follow Hate with her shall damned bee 33 Such doe ill iudge of Loue that cannot loue Nor in their hearts feele heate of liuely flame Loue is the gift of God from heau'n aboue Sent downe mans proud rebellious heart to tame And yeeld obedience to his holy Name Though scorn'd by those whose hearts are made so blind With this worlds god they cannot see the same This World they loue and on Lusts set their mind And neuer seeke this true and heau'nly Loue to find 34 The reason is they doe not seeke to know Gods Wisedome Mercy Bountie Goodnesse Loue And these though Preachers daily to them show And their slow vnbeleeuing hearts reproue Their hearts of flint to loue they cannot moue Ah! How can they loue God they haue not seene When as their brethren here they cannot loue To loue the Head and yet to beare a spleene Vnto the Members is a thing vnknowne vnseene 35 Should they with Paul behold the glorious sight Of th' Head whose Members they doe cause to rue They would fall downe amazed with such light And humbly prostrate with submission due Crie Lord Who art and with affection new That Head and Members would intirely loue
to our selues did liue When Iudgement onely doth to God belong Who eu'n the Kings and Iudges sits among To doe the Orphane and the Widdow right To breake delayes that Clients suites prolong Nor suffering Right to be borne downe by Might But truely first discerne and then proceede aright 28 These true effects of righteous Causes are Like God first cause of Iustice to proceed Who pulleth downe the Mightie from his chaire And sets the Meeke and Humble in his stead Loe Iustice hath a sword to make sinne bleede As well as Scepter for to rule in Peace Besides our sowing we must also weede If we expect a plentifull encrease So long as Vice growes strong the sword must neuer cease 29 Sixe seuerall Serieants waâ—â— on Iustice Throne Which shee in seuerall duties doth employ By first shee doth command things to be done By second punisheth what 's done awry The third forbids the fourth giues leaue to trie The fift exhorts last doth the right aduise All these respect haue to lifes honestie And that no hurt gainst others we deuise Lastly things that are due to euery man to size 30 But not men onely in authoritie May Subiects be of doing wrong or right But eu'n weake men in want and pouertie As when a poore man doth his Neighbour smite Or workes to man or beast the least despite To wish the least hurt is vnrighteousnesse And who workes ought by open force or slight 'Gainst Neighbours goods or credit doth no lesse Offend against the perfect Rule of Righteousnesse 31 Yea Subiects sinne against the Rule of Right When double honour vnto Rulers due They doe not tender in the peoples sight Rulers are Ministers set in Gods lieu For good of those that euill doe eschew Who seekes Authoritie for to out-face Deserue sharpe punishment in open view Though as a Man I can beare all disgrace Yet should I not endure dishonour to my place 32 Loe here I could by subiects fiue expresse Fiue seuerall degrees which Meditation Suggests to me of this pure Righteousnesse First is of God from which by deriuation The other foure haue life and sustentation Of Angels Kings and Iudges all which â—ee Authorised by Princes delegation Lastly of Subiects But the latter three Corrupted often are by Mans impuritie 33 As plants which haue sole power vegetatiue Iudge not of Beasts which motion haue and sense Nor Beasts of Men that doe in reason thriue Nor Men of Angels pure diuine Essence Nor Angels infinite Omnipotence So Subiects iudge not Iudges vprightnesse Nor Iudges Kings Nor Kings the excellence Of Angels Iustice And Angels no lesse Vnable are to iudge of Gods pure Righteousnesse 34 Thus euery Soule by right we subiect see To higher Powers for conscience not for feare The Powers that are by God ordayned bee And but by God himselfe no Powers are Who then resists the Power doth not spare Eu'n Gods owne Ordinances to resist Which is for good to those that right doe fare But for their punishment that doe persist In wickednesse nor from wrong doing doe desist 35 Wherefore we must giue eu'ry Man his due To whom Tithe Custome Honour Feare belong We ought to render them most iust and true Or else thereby Gods Ministers we wrong We must owe nought but Loue to old or yong For he that loues fulfils the whole Lawes will Abstaynes from Murder Lust Detraction Wrong In briefe commanded good forsaking ill By louing Neighbours as our selues we all fulfill 36 Of all the 〈◊〉 that attend this Shee most of all in Truth 〈◊〉 take delight Who is alli'd in Righteousnesse so neere And link'd in Loue that from each others sight They neuer part but eu'n with all their might Ioyne their 〈◊〉 seruice to their Queene t' approue Obedience Knowledge Prudence wait on Right Braue Fortitude and Zeale resolued proue To maintayne all Right doth for their great Queene of Loue. 37 Thus all the Vertues that on Loue attend Companioâ—â— are of Iustice and of Right All single and in one their forces bend Her to assist against vnlawfull might Great Enemies with her doe daily fight Ambition 〈…〉 Wrong Seeking by 〈◊〉 force and secret â—â—ight To weaken hers and make their owne part strong Yet shee the proâ—dest of them all oft layes along 38 As many as are Enemies to Peace Publique or 〈◊〉 are her Enemies For whereas Discord Warres and Strife encrease There follow Wrong Reuenge and Iniuries And though 〈◊〉 ouer-vainely dâ—e aduise Braue Spirits to bloodie warres to purchase Fame Yet who so vndertakes such enterprise Vnlesse it be for Peace in Iustice name By shedding guiltlesse blood deserues eternall blame 39 Therefore the Pirate iustly did retort Reproch of Thiefe to Grecian Monarchs shame Who the whole World sought to subdue by tort To purchase proud vaine glorie to his name Assuring him he was as much to blame To rob by Land as he on Sea to pill The Monarch wronged all for idle Fame The Pirate for his gayne did rob and kill Each 'gainst the 〈◊〉 of Right by force maintayn'd his will 40 Some great 〈◊〉 glorie like to â—ikes in Pond All other vnder Fishes to deuour That they alone inherit may the Lord And all the World subdue vnto their power As neuer thinking of their latest hower When as they came they must returne againe Why should the Highest on the Lowest lower The greatest Prince the meanest Slaue disdayne Both borne aâ—â—ke breath die and in their graue remayne 41 Besides Vice oft in Vertues shape appeares Iniustice vnder Mercies name doth goe Therefore must Iudges not be mou'd with teares Of Sinners in calamitie and woe Rulers in Discipline may Mercy show And Meeknesse so they leaue not loosely light The raynes vnto Offenders ill to doe Whom Feare not Loue from doing hurt doth fright For hope of pardon doth lewd minds to sinne inuite 42 The Iudges then that such Offenders free To Iniurie betray the Innocent Three kinds of doing Almes some say there bee First to releeue the poore and impotent Next to remit all wrong vnto vs meant The last is Malefactors to represse Who so deferres deserued punishment Vpon Offenders 'gainst Gods Righteousnesse To anger doe prouoke his patient genâ—lenesse 43 Therefore let Iudges Grace and 〈◊〉 show In pardoning their priuate iniuries But for offences publique let them know They there eu'n Gods owne Iudgement exercise The ancient Romanes wisely did deuise To punish facile Iudges with that payne Which Law against Offenders did deuise Thus wisely foolish pitty to restrayne For that seuere vprightnesse Peace did best maintayne 44 For surely 〈…〉 Then fayned Mercy Pity Conscience Grace Who all their wrong entitle Iust and Right And the right 〈…〉 of Law deface Whereby each Man ought to direct his pâ—ce From which to stray is foule iniquitie I grant that Conscience may rule in some case But not against the Law whose equitie If not against Gods Word hath good authoritie 45 For as in euâ—ry Towne and common Mart There is