still full fraught with leaues of Roses Through force of fire made vnderneath the same Le ts fall by drops the moysture it incloses Euen so mine eyes for'ct by a feruent flame Of godly zeale for so 's the fires name Do shed forth teares extracted by repentance From follies flowers whereto my heart gaue entrance I neede not aske why thou art sad my soule Or why thou art disquieted in mee I haue more cause to bid thee still condoule Thy selfe for sinne which sore oppresseth thee Oh mourne I say still sad and heauie bee Yet trust in God who is thy comfort giuer And in good time he will thee safe deliuer As Moses said Lord I am slowe of speech No eloquence haue I to plead my cause But with my soule I humbly thee beseech Wretch that I am though I haue broke thy lawes Yet into iudgement enter not but pause And since no flesh is righteous in thy sight Let my repentance all my sinnes acquight I cannot boast Lord as this Braggart doth This selfe-conceited and proud pharasie Simple I am and loue to say good sooth For oh why should I either cogge or lie Knowing what harme my soule might haue thereby Or wherefore seeke for to excuse my sinne When by confession I may pardon winne If so I ioyne contrition therewithall Or else confession small or nought auaileth T is not enough that I for mercy call And shew how much it is my fraile flesh faileth Of what it should do but repentance bayleth From death and hell for God grants no remission But vnto those that do vse true contrition Therefore Lord grant that I may often vse it Cause Dauid tells me thou wilt not despise A contrite heart nor yet wilt thou refuse it If it come to thee in an humble wise Laying aside all sinfull vanities With full intent for euer to refraine them And from thence-forth nere vse nor entertaine them Humilitie thou helper towards heauen Thou guide to grace step to eternitie Thou fruit of faith which from aboue art giuen Thou that put'st Cammells through a needles eye For all their bunches of iniquitie Thou balme of blisse thou gate to lasting glory Teach me repentance make me truly sorie As once thou did'st the king of Niniuee When Ionas cried by the Lords command That he and his should all destroyed bee And fortie daies their citie should not stand Yet by thy meanes Iehouah staid his hand And of the king and people tooke such pittie As their repentance mou'd him spare their citie Oh could as many teares come from mine eyes As there are drops of water in the Sea I feare me all of them would scarce suffice To wash my soule and filthy sinnes away Therefore oh Lord to thee I humbly pray That thou in mercy would'st forgiue the same And let me liue to laud and praise thy name All-seeing searcher of the heart and raines From whom no secret thing nor thought is hid By ought that heauen or earth or Sea containes Or any thing in them Inuellopid Thou that know'st all that all men euer did Full well thou knowest that vnfainedly I pray to thee without hypocrifie Wring hands wayle face cleaue knees vnto the ground Sigh soule sob heart nay split for very griefe Shake flesh quake ioynts in you no strength be found Cry voyce call tongue my hearts atturnie chiefe Beat vaines bend sinewes humbly seeke reliefe That so with feare and trembling thus I may Worke out saluation wash my sinnes away Looke how a child that hath done naughtily With feare doth crie and craue to scape the rod Euen so my selfe that haue done wickedly And oftentimes offended thee sweet God By doing that thy holy lawes forbod Now quake with feare least I should punish'd bee And crie and craue that thou would'st pardon mee But see the nature of this Pharisie He stands and brags and boasts what he hath done Thinking therewith himselfe to iustifie But thou oh Lord dost tell vs by thy Sonne That by those works he no reward hath wonne And therefore bid'st our left hand should not know What deeds of mercy with our right we show For when we haue done euen the best we can We are vnprofitable seruants all And Dauia saith the iust and righteous man Seuen times a day from God by sin doth fall Then why should we offenders cappitall Brag of our prayers our fasts and almes deeds When from our selues ther 's nought but sin proceeds For if sometimes to our poore brethren wee Do any good as oh ti 's sildome when It is not of our selues but Lord from thee Those good gifts come and those good motions then We of our selues are miserable men Which neuer could so much as thinke good thought Then by our deeds how can we merit ought Yet to do good I know ti 's commendable For so the Patryarks and Prophets did And Christ himselfe then whom ther 's none more able Shewes by examples and by word doth bid Our light should shine to others not be hid Who seeing our good workes might glorifie Thy holy name Lord which dost sit on hie Like leadn epipes through which pure water runnes Or like the quilles cald lacks in virginalls Are all the sort of sinfull Adams Sonnes Through whom much good vnto the world befalls Yet they thereof are no originalls But thou oh Lord hast them as meanes elected By which to worke what thou wilt haue effected Then let the praise be onely giuen to thee Let euery tongue extoll and laud thy name Not vnto vs not vnto vs ought bee But to thy selfe which dost deserue the same To thee all glorie and to vs be shame For thou art he from whom all good proceeds And we the workers of all wicked deeds As sweetest Rose on thornle stalke doth grow And purest Lawne is not without some spot So godliest men haue some defects I know By holy Dauid Abraham and Lot None liue on earth can say he sinneth not Vnles he lie and so himselfe depriue Of that sweet mercy which he might receiue Could I rehearse all my bad deeds and good And should I then compare them both together The one would seeme like to a spacious wood Th' other like a light and little feather That 's blowne about with euery blast of weather My sinnes exceed like riuers ouerflowing But my good deeds are scarcely worth the showing Then tongue be mute and talke no more of merit For man doth merit nought but death and hell Wherefore good Lord direct me with thy spirit Vnto that place where perfit truth doth dwell Oh bring me thither and I shall be well I am a stranger teach me thou the way Vnto that life that neuer shall decay If thou conuart me I shall be conuarted Or else by sinne I shall be sure confounded For why there is no sauing health imparted To ought that is in earth or heauen bounded To salue my soule which grieuously is wounded Onely thou canst doo 't therefore Lord
Haue freed my soule from all her foule attaints Humbling my selfe may in Gods fauour raise me Weeping for sinne may him to mercy moue Beating my brest most sorrowfull displaies me Sighing and sobbing my hearts griefe approue Playning and praying may procure Gods loue His loue is life which causeth me to craue it And stedfast faith doth tell me I shall haue it Great wonder-worker worthiest worthie one By whose assistance Henocke walkt with God Thou that wert Abrahams righteousnes alone Thou that mak'st men moue mountaines like a clod Euen hâ—apes of sinne from of their old abode Thou pretious one proceeding from aboue Soule-sauing faith our euidence of Gods loue By which we doe his promises imbrace By which we apprehend Christs righteousnes By which we doe sinne death and hell deface By which we are assured of redresse If we repent and waile our wickednes By which our prayers are to God conuaid And without which all suppliants are gain-said Oh blessed faith my fortresse and my shield My onely comfort in calamitie Which dost resolue me I shall win the field And orecome Sathan my arch-enemie I le thanke my God for thee continually Cause t is his grace and goodnes that I haue thee Which art a signe he will in mercy saue mee Thou that art God of gods and King of kings Thou whom the Sun the Moone and Stars obay That fill'st the poore and hungry with good things And dost the rich ones emptie send away My soule shall magnifie thee day by day And all the powers that doe remaine in mee Shall onely praise and euer pray to thee For thou hast vow'd and that most solemnely As thou dost liue which art the life of all Thou dost not will those that doe wickedly And into many grieuous sinnes doe fall Should die the death but rather will'st they shall Returne and liue oh sweet and gracious Lord Which to thy foes saluation dost accord With Salomon I now see all is vaine Youth beautie strength health wealth and honor too Long life and all that doth on earth remaine And all that man with all of them can doo Onely thy word which worldly wights doth woe From earthly toyes to seeke for heauenly treasure Is to be lik'd and loued without measure Thou hast ordain'd a time to gather stones And eke a time wherein to cast away A time likewise thou giu'st vs wretched ones To laugh and sing a time to mourne and pray Most finde the bad few doe the best assay But oh teach me that long in sinne haue ioy'd To mourne and pray sinne may be now destroy'd Euen as a poppie that doth hang the head Or like a Bull-rush beaten downe with winde So I sur-chargd with sinne more sad then lead Looke carefully but can no comfort finde Yet faith and hope doe both perswade my minde That thou oh Lord wilt mercy haue on mee If I repent and rightly call to thee Thy holy prophets bid vs seeke thy face And that I take it is thy fauour Lord Thy louing kindnes mercy and thy grace Which are reuealed to vs in thy word Oh them seeke I to me do thou accord And let me finde them for in them doth rest All that I want to make me euer blest Lord I no presents no oblations bring Onely my selfe I offer vnto thee A broken heart is all my offering The which although it far vnworthy bee Yet Lord accept it for behold and see In true deuotion and in perfit zeale It prostrate here for mercy doth appeale I know right well thy Angels will reioyce And be full glad before thy maiestie To see thee heare a sinfull creatures voyce And in thy mercy cure my maladie Oh heare me then and daine to purifie My impure soule with thy pure spirit of grace For that 's the mercy that I would imbrace Like Naaman I am a Leaper Lord My soule and body both infected bee With filthy sinne yet if thou speake the word There will a wonder straight appeare in mee From all corruption I shall soone be free Yea and be cleaner then the Christall glasse And far more white then snow on Salmon was Abanah cannot nor yet Pharper cure me Nor all the waters in the world beside Onely true faith doth by thy grace assure me That if I take thy spirit for my guide And follow it I shall be purifide For by the same men are regenerate And from a bad borne to a blessed state As Dauid counsels Lord I come to tast How sweet thou art and how beyond compare Thy louing kindnes which for aye shall last And more theÌ„ mirh-sweet-smelling mercies are Oh pardon me although thus much I dare It is no proud nor yet presumptuous thought But t' is thy grace which this good worke hath wrought Which grace were it not super-aboundant Lord My all-abounding sinne would still keepe backe Me from obeying of thy blessed word And in this action it would make me slacke But thy good spirit supplieth what I lacke And at this instant doth inable mee To come to croutch to crie and call to thee For mercy Lord for mercy Lord I pray thee For mercy Lord I humbly do intreat thee I am a sinner oh do not denay mee Nor yet in anger either chide or threat mee Although I know thou hast iust cause to beat mee Yet mightie Lord for thy great mercies sake Send mercy downe and some compassion take On me vilde wretch and most vnworthy man The very worst that euer was created A sillie soule a sinfull Publican In whom no grace nor goodnes is innated Nor euer yet was truely imitated Vntill this houre in which thy spirit hath Taught me to pray thus to appease thy wrath Thou that dost ride vpon the Cherubins Thou at whose presence all the mountaines shake And hills doe melt oh pardon thou my sinnes And in thy vinyard me a labourer make Do so sweet Lord and for thy Christ his sake Oh let me haue the hire thou giu'st to all Though it be euening ere to worke I fall With the lost sheepe though I haue gone astray And wandered through the wildernes of sinne Lord let me not become a cast-away But by repentance let me pardon win And once againe good father take me in And from henceforth I le so obedient bee That thou thy selfe shalt take delight in mee Looke soueraigne Lord from thy celestiall throne Ah looke I say and with thy sacred eye See how my soule doth sorrow sigh and mone And what cumpunction there is inwardly In my poore heart which of thy maiestie Doth hourely beg that thou wouldst pardon mee Which oft haue sinned gain'st sweet heauen and thee Which oft haue sinned gain'st sweet heauen and thee And therefore hence-forth am vnworthy far Thy sonne oh Lord intituled to bee Or once bespoke of where thy seruants are Gain'st mercies gate my sinnes are such a bar That they keepe backe all heauenly benediction And yeeld me nought but shame and sad affliction Lo as a
more worthie and more worth then golde Then gold of Ophyr or the Onix stone Thou whom the Lord delighteth to behold Thou that like to Eliahs fierie Throne Conuey'st to heauen Thou blest and powerfull one Plead thou my cause and oh my sute nere cease Vntill from GOD thou getst me full release Of all my sinnes and of the punishment Which for the same I ought to vndergoe And for m' assurance and my soules content Oh get me thou his Seale of grace to show That for what 's past I doe him nothing owe But loue and thanks which till my dying day My hart and soule shall neuer cease to pay As from the hand Diomedes did wound A dulcid humor daintilie distilled So from the heart where sinne did once abound Prickt by Repentance wherewith sinne is killed Sweet motions issue by Gods grace instilled Which like as Arons oyntment did descend Vnto each member straight-wayes do extend Teaching the tongue what words it ought to vse Teaching the eies what things they ought to viewe Teaching the eares what sounds they should refuse Teaching the hands what things they should eschewe Teaching the feete the perfit pathes and true That leade to life Thus like a King the hart Doth rule direct and order euery part Blessed are those that walke not sinners way Nor take delight to sit in scorners chaire But cursed I not once but euerie day Vnto those odious places did repaire For oh to me they seem'd exceeding faire Gainefull and good But now I see right well Hee that retires not shall arriue in hell Didst thou not loue vs Lord exceedinglie Thou wouldest not haue giuen thy lawes vnto vs Nor bid thy Prophets in our eares to crie What mightie fauours thou didst meane to doe vs Much lesse haue sent thy blessed Sonne to wooe vs. Which breake thy lawes thy Prophets doe mis vse And Christ thy Sonne each day and houre abuse Yet doth hee pray for vs his enemies And at thy right hand Intercession make That thou wouldst pardon our iniquities Euen for his death and painfull Passions sake Oh blest be hee that did such pittie take On sinfull soules that hee himselfe would giue To die for vs that wee with him might liue Great was that loue great was that mercie Lord And farre more great then euer man expected Vntill thy selfe did blaze that blessed word That though thou hadst mankinde for sinne reiected Yet thou in mercie hadst a meanes selected Whereby againe we should restored bee And be adopted sonnes and heires to thee Mine eyes haue seene that sweete saluation Though fully yet I haue not him imbraced But now that Christ that consolation Shall in my heart for euermore be placed That so my sinnes like cloudes by Phoebus chased May vanish hence And I with Simeon say Lord now in peace let mee depart away Thou that art more then most delitious Thou that for sweetnes doest all sweets exceed Thou whom the Angells hold most precious Thou vpon whom the soules of men doe feed Thou that most pure and perfit art indeed Thou word of Truth by which all things were made Thou which shalt stand when heauen and earth shall fade Be thou to mee a Lanthorne and a Light Be thou my Rocke and Castle of defence Be thou my sword against foule sinne to fight That I may put the diuell from his pretence And by thy power expell him quite from hence That so my selfe poore Byrd insnarde may say The Net is broke and I escap'd away Ti 's mercy Lord for which I thus implore thee Ti 's onely mercy that I humbly craue Because thy lawe saith if I come before thee Except thy goodnes which no end can haue Send mercy forth my sin-sicke soule to saue I shall by iustice be condemned to die A liuing death that lasts eternally Like to a mastlesse shippe vpon the Sea Tost too and fro by force of forward windes That euery houre lookes to be cast away Yet lo at length she happie harbour findes Such is my soule when sin so beats and blindes So toyles and turmoyles that hell seemes to haue her Yet faith steps forth and saith Gods grace will saue her And by that grace I boldned am to beg And in submissiue manner Lord to pray thee Thy grace may breake that Cockatrices egge Which serpent breeding sin that would betray mee Hath in my pathes on purpose laid to slay mee If I come neer 't as by defect of nature I cannot shun that soule-consuming creature Vnles thy grace which all-sufficient is Vouchsafe to lead me in the waies of truth Which hitherto haue alwaies gone amis Led by my folly and fantasticke youth Of which repentance onely now ensuthe For that 's the fruit of 't if we looke into it And happie's he that hath the grace to do it For looke how spices when th' are pounded small Doe in our nostrills smell more excellent Then those that neuer broken were at all Euen so a sinner when his heart is rent With the remembrance of his life fore-spent His prayers are more pleasing vnto God Then their 's that ne're were beaten with his rod. For whom he loueth them he doth correct And thereby brings them to obey his will But as for them whom he doth not respect He lets them follow their owne fancie still And headlong runne into all kinde of ill As I did Lord till thou did'st ope mine eyes And let my soule see her infirmities Great is thy goodnes I must needs confesse To giue me grace that grace-lesse euer was To see and waile my sin and wickednes Which blessed deed hadst thou not brought to passe My soule and body both of them alas Should haue bin damned in the pit of hell Which by thy grace now hope in heauen to dwell For now I le breake off sin by righteousnes I l'e o'recome lust by vsing chastitie By abstinence I 'le punish greedines And foule intemperance by sobrietie Euict iniustice by integritie Euill affections and vngodly motions I 'le purge by prayer and hearts pure deuotions I 'le banish plasphemie by blessed words By patience I my anger will o'rethrowe Boundlesse desire by what content affords Base Auarice by bountie I 'le bring lowe By zeale I will hypocrisie o'reflowe Fraude and deceit good dealing shall expell And where vice did there now shall vertue dwell By following truth my errors I 'le subdue By deeds of mercy I 'le kill crueltie I 'le plant sweet pittie where oppression grewe I 'le put out pride and place humilitie By doing right I 'le beat downe iniurie Distrust by confidence harted by loue And thus by good I will my euills remoue Each night with Dauid I will wash my bed With trickly teares distilling from mine eyes Each day with Daniell by Gods spirit led I 'le kneele and pray in spight of enemies Both day and night with Iob in humble wise My soule shall fast that teares fasts prayers may Appease Gods wrath and wash my sins away I