PART 10. 73 Thy hand hath fashioned me therefore teach me thy holy will 74 So shall thy seruants all reioyce and I obey thee still 75 Thy iudgements Lord I graunt are iust I did thy wrath deserue 76 Haue mercie yet and pardon me thy promise cannot swarue 77 Lord let me liue I thee beseech thy law is my delight 78 Bring thou to shame my foes and driue the wicked out of sight 79 And let thy seruants all behold thy mercies showd to me 80 Who walking in thy statutes iust shall not ashamed be PART 11. 81 My soule is almost faint for feare yet on thy word 〈◊〉 82 My eyes are dim with looking sore send me thy comfort iust 83 My bones are withered with despaire till thou thy promise pay 84 My life is short thy iustice on the wicked Lord beâ—ray 85 By fraud they seeke to take my life contrary vnto right 86 But thou art iust vniust are they therefore put them to flight 87 They had almost consumed me my faith yet did not faint 88 Reuiue thou me and with thy truth my mouth I will acquaint PART 12. 89 O Lord thy word immutable in heauen doth still indure 90 Thy truth from euer was thou laidst the earths foundation sure 91 All things continue at a stay and do thy people serue 92 Vnlesse thy word did comfort me my faith with griefe would sterue 93 I neuer therefore will forget thy lawes which quicken me 94 I am thy seruant saue thou me who vnto thee do flye 95 The wicked seeke me to destroy but in thâ—e will 〈◊〉 rust 96 Thy truth endures for aye but else all things returne to dust PART 13. 97 So much I loue thy law ô Lord I studie on it still 98 Thy grace beyond my enimies doth me with true knowledge fill 99 I better vnderstand thy will then they which do me teach 100 I better know thy lawes to keepe then they which should them preach 101 That I thy word might keepe my feete refraine each eâ—ill way 102 My iudgement grees vnto thy law which taught me what to say 103 Then hony combe vnto my tast thy word is far more sweet 104 Thereby thy will I learne and falshood shun as most vnmeet PART 14. 105 Thy word is light vnto my feete and guides me in my way 106 My hart hath sworne I will performe thy 〈◊〉 â—ight and day 107 My soule is sore opprest ô Lord do thou me ioy now send 108 Teach me thy will to my request a gratefull â—earing 〈◊〉 109 Though I in daunger daily be thy lawes I not forget 110 But keepe them still while me to snare the prowd a bayâ— haue seâ— 111 They are the portion I haue chose they are my harts delight 112 My hart is vowd thy lawes to keepe with all my power and â—â—ight PART 15. 113 Thy word I loue but do detest the vanities of minde 114 My shield thou art my refuge safe in whom I trust do finde 115 Away from me ye wicked men my God alone I serue 116 He will performe my hope his word from truth doth neuer swerue 117 Support thou me then am I safe in thee is all my trust 118 Thou hast supprest the proud and such as follow worldly lust 119 I loue thee Lord because thou doest from earth the vaine remoue 120 Yet do I feare thy iudgements Lord which shall my sinnes reproue PART 16. 121 Let me not then oppressed be I iustice do obserue 122 Plead thou my cause gainst wicked men which froÌ„ thy will do swerue 123 My eyes are dim with longing Lord to see thy promist ayde 124 Teach me my God and let thy seruant be with mercy payd 125 I wait on thee let me therefore of wisedome thine haue part 126 Helpe Lord in time for all the world do from thy lawes depart 127 Yet do I thy precepts esteeme more then the richest gold 128 Most iust are they but such I hate as vnto sinne are sold. PART 17. 129 Thy testimonies I admire on them my soule doth muse 130 The wayes thereto do shine so bright the simple it may chuse 131 The zeale I bare vnto thy law did make my hast to moue 132 Looke on me then in mercy Lord because thy law I loue 133 Direct my deedes so that no sinne may beare in me asway 134 I keepe thy will to wicked men let me not be a pray 135 Thy shining face vnto me turne thy statutes teach thou mee 136 With teares my eyes do daily flow because they trespasse thee PART 18. 137 Thou righteous God most iust indeed thy iudgements all are found 138 To truth aâ—d equitie alone thy lawes thy seruants bound 139 My zeale doth burne because my foes thy lawes haue cleane forgot 140 Thy word we finde most pure and I haue chose it to my lot 141 Though I be poore and in contempt I do remember well 142 Thy righteous precepts which for aye in glorious truth excell 143 Anguish and eares vpon me come thy law yet do I loue 144 Teach me thy truth that I may liue eternally aboue PART 19. 145 Heare me ô Lord to thee â— cry thy â—â—atutes I will keepe 146 Saue me and graunt that in thy house I may in safetie sleepe 147 Before the 〈…〉 to thee I call and wait thy wâ—ll 148 By night I watch to meditate and studie of thee still 149 Heare me ô gracious God in time and quicken thou my spright 150 They are at hand that hate thy law and me pursue with spight 151 Thy promises assure me Lord that thou arâ— nigh at hand 152 I knew 〈◊〉 since thy high decree should firme for euer stand PART 20. 153 Behold my sorrowes then and helpe â—â—y pleasure I obay 154 Plead thou 〈…〉 me vpon thy word I stay 155 The wicked they are farre from helpe which do not thee regard 156 But for thy seruants we do know thy mercy is prepard 157 Many they are thaâ— me pursue yet will I follow thee 158 I see the wicked scorne thy â—ord and much it grieueth mee 159 Consider Lord my 〈◊〉 too thee so quicke 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 160 For from for aye thy word of truth and righteousnesse I finde PART 21. 161 Princes of might do me pursue yet onely thee I feare 162 Thy word delights my hart as if my richesse great it weare 163 Thy law I loue but do abhorte all falshood and deceit 164 Seauen times a day I praise thy name and on thee alwayes wait 165 The keepers of thy law shall stand from danger alwayes free 166 I keepe thy heasts because I hope thy sauing health to see 167 Yea for the loue I beare to them I will them not transgresse 168 Thou seest ô Lord in all my wayes thy name I do confesse PART 22. 169 Let then my plaint before thee come and be thou still my guide 170 Giue â—are vnto my sute and let thy promise firme abide 171 When thou hast me thy statutes taught my lips
8 The end whereto 2. 14 The pleasures of 2. 16 The powerfull pen 2. 29 The shining face 2. 36 The chastisemnts 2. 84 The thundring voyce 1. 8 The slender Citie 1. 83 This stately stage 2. 30 Thou formest me 1. 72 Though with thy Saints 1. 40 Thou hast ô Lord 1. 86 Thankes will I 2. 22 To shun the rockes 2. 74 V   VNto thy Princely 1. 5 Voide of true life 1. 35 W   VVEre it not straunge 2. 75 Where shall I build 1. 58 Where shall I finde 2. 9 What am I else 1. 71 Whilst in this world 1. 70 Whilst with the wholesome 1. 64 Whilst in the garden 1. 51 Where so I cast about 2. 23 When thou vouchsafest 1. 55 Whilst in the vaile 1. 59 Whilst that the chosen 1. 62 Whilst that in wealth 1. 66 What strength hath 1. 95 When I begin 2. 83 When as my 2. 3 What toung or pen 2. 94 What should I render 2. 28 What present 2. 42 What wealth 2. 57 What is felicitie 2. 60 When I began 2. 87 When I with griefe 2. 95 When desolate I was 2. 79 Who so beholds 2. 43 Whilst in the plentie 1. 74 Whilst I do studie 2. 24 Why should he faint 2. 69 Why should this 2. 95 Why should I 2. 90 Within this Arke 1. 3 Within thy garden 1. 15 Within thy house 1. 68 Who so behold 2. 31 Who so could 2. 56 Who seeketh not 2. 57 Who so of perfect 2. 64 Who so would liue 2. 97 Would God 2. 5 Words may well want 2. Conclus A TABLE OF FEELING AFFECtions being the third Centenarie of Sonets  Sonet ALl will not serue 6 All men by naâ—ure 41 Alas how watchfâ—ll 86 Alas ô Lord 103 Although ô Lord 118 Amidst the daungerous dayes 05 Among the many fires 129 Among the many trials 51 As those with skill 50 As doth the fire 64 As doth the morning sunne 66 But will you know 14 Come to the counsell 22 Doth any man desire 92 Downe let vs fling 43 Exilde be mortall cares 2 Faine would I bring 2 For vs who do 74 Fro out what dreame 3 Feaâ—e is a frailtie 114 Giue all to him 13 Good wordes are praysd 70 Great are the graces 97 Heale sacred seate 102 Haue we not cause 45 He that to do no euill 27 How can I hope 5 How little comfort 24 How should I vse my time 69 How can he be 91 How could I Lord 107 I cannot chuse 76 If woe there was 32 I feele ô Lord 115 I go about 18 I list not iudge 67 If thou do feede 77 If common fame 84 If God should measure vs 89 I haue desiâ—ed 93 I maâ—uell much 8 I must commend 113 I now begin 9 In midst of plentie 23 I oftentimes 53 I often heare 93 I see sometimes 68 It is not causelesse 31 I should not seeme 33 It seemeth straunge 58 It is not rest 61 It is a thing 83 It is a custome 90 Leaue me not Lord 111 Like maister like 55 Kike as the sunne 100 Long do the wicked run 99 Me thinkes sometimes 16 My yonger thoughts 85 Might Elizeus wish 98 Not onely doth the Lord 46 Not euery action 88 Of thee and of thy prayse 1 O happie Symon of Syren 19 O that we could 54 O powerfull God 101 Our blinded natures 82 Since it hath pleased the Lord 48 Since we by Baptisme 71 Since shame of men 72 Since we are found 94 Since thus my selfe 104 Since nothing else 96 Since thou ô Lord 110 Since so simplicitie 106 Slow is our God indeed 52 Straunge are in truth 42 Sometimes cleane tired 15 Tempt me no more of feeling affections Epilogue To thee ô Lord who Introduction to Prayer The fatall haps 34 Though lawfull many things 37 The season of the yeare 40 There is great odds indeed 44 The weapons which I 60 The difference is 73 The parable of seede 75 Though long Preface to prayer The more ô Lord 112 The greatest plague 117 Tâ—ue is it sure 78 Vaine are the bragges 38 What vaâ—ne lip labour 17 What is thy measure full 4 What are our senses drownd 20 When I remember 10 What loue is this 11 Who so will serue 12 When I do see the 21 Well if I finde 25 Who toucheth pitch 26 When I looke backe 28 Who seeketh aide 30 Who sowes the seede 36 We had not need in idlenesse 47 What miracle so great 49 When I consider of 53 We may reioyce 56 Wise Moses and graue 57 Who would not craue 59 What is the cause 62 When I do heare 63 When I do seamen 65 What high presumption 79 Who sees in common 80 Who giues may take 81 We haue bene babes 87 When I behold the trauell 95 When I ô Lord 108 What trust may I 109 When I ô Lord 116 Weake are my champions 119 Why do we not 120 Where hast Preface to affections FINIS Sonnets of the Author to diuers collected by the Printer And first to the Lords of her Maiesties priuie councell To the right Hâ— and most reuerend father in God my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his grace IF Dauid did in passion iust arise When he recorded his exiled state Compar'd with happier Swallowes which deuise To build their nests so neare the Temple gate May I not mourne to see the world alate So swarme with bookes which euery where do fly Whose subiects as most base might merit hate Though curious braynes their wits therein apply When better matters buried long do ly For lacke of fauourers or protectors grace May I not take occasion thus to try My pen and craue that you the same imbrace Yes sure world knowes you can and will protect The cause why God and Prince did you erect To the Right Ho. Knight Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Keeper of the great Scale of England VVHat fame reports by mouth of good and wise It is not flattery to record the same The publike eccho of your prayse doth rise That you by iustice ballance iudgement frame Then may you not my pen of boldnesse blame If it present to your impartiall eye This holy worke to shield it with your name Which may among prophane in daungerly Wise Salomon childs parent true did try And Daniell false accusers fraud bewray By searching hearts affects and words whereby Ones fained loue the others guilt to way So iudge this worke and him shall it depraue So I desire you iustice prayse shall haue To the right Hon. the Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England one of the most Noble order of the Garter c. IF Romaines held Sibillaes workes so deare Because they from Deuining spright did grow More precious present then receiue you here Which God on king king did on world bestow Our Sibill you our Salomon we know And so your words and workes the world doth prise To vertue you your selfe a father show Hence honor yours hence countries good doth rise
in delight Yet sweeter in the end we shall digest Deathes bitter pill which nature doth detest Yea though we in a sort offended wax With euils which we see so much abound Within our selues and for the good that lacks In vs and others which the good doth wound Yet this a cheerefull mendment will procure And rayse our hearts in sinne to fore secure 6. The hart of the wise is in the house of mourning but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth The wise they will like heedfull watchmen keepe A curious Sentinell in all their wayes Least death and ruine should vpon them creepe And turne to mournfull night their merry dayes They do obserue the frailtie of their state And rather fawne on death then feare too late Whilst foolish worldlings surfet with the ioy Which they vnfitly plast in earths vaine sweet And are surprisd with euery small annoy So sore that it to beare they are not meet And vnder euery aduerse cause do sinke Whilst others hope and ioy at perils brinke verse 7 More sweet are wise rebukes then notes which flattering fooles do sing verse 8 As blase of thornes so vainely passe the pleasures they do bring 7. Better it is to heare the rebuke of a wise man then that a man should heare the song of fooles And for we hardly see our owne amisse And each in others eyes a mote can spy My best aduice to do thee good is this That to thy friends reproofe thou do apply Yea such a friend as knoweth good from ill And thy misdeeds in thee reproue that will For better are the blowes that friends do giue Then smoothed actions flatt'rers do bestow Those to amendment do the wiser driue By th' others fooles from ill to worse do grow There Syrens songs do make thee sleepe in sin These rougher words thy soule from ruine win 8. For like the noyse of the thornes vnder the pot so is the laughter of the foole this also is vanitie And what delight indeed can wise men take In foolish tattle of the lewder sort Like crackling bushes in the fire they make A blast and blase foorth straight in their disport An outward show of mirth which ends with smart And laugh with mouth that haue a heauie hart The wise in ioy and myrth are temperate They ground their mirth on greater cause of ioy They are not so raysd vp with good estate Or beaten downe with any'aduerse annoy But that they can beare either state aswell As time or chaunce can make them ebbe or swell verse 9 Sure wise men wax with wrongs nere mad to see brybs so preuaile verse 10 But th' end is al who patient stayes shal thriue best without faile 9. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and the reward destroyeth the hart And yet it is I graunt a heauie thing And hardly is digested of the best To see how some the lawes to lust do wring And how thereby the weaker are opprest How wrong for right sometimes doth freely pas And no man will or dare say bad it was And to behold how bribes are busie still To blind the eyes that else would wisely see That Lay and Clergie great and small most will Giue take buy sell things that most holy bee Would make a man of sob'rest spright halfe mad And any good man be perplex'd and sad 10. The end of a thing is better then the beginning thereof the patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit But men that note Gods iudgemēts for these things And can as sure they ought his pleasure stay Shall see the plagues that sinne vpon them brings And shall according to the prouerbe say That that is onely good and doth excell Which doth begin and also endeth well And therefore will with patience long expect The issue which God hath decreed before And as he limits times his will t' effect So till that time be silent euermore The rather since their agony and griefe Might wo increase not yeeld one iot reliefe verse 11 Be thou therefore to anger slow it fooles doth best befit verse 12 Muse not why tunes are chang'd it doth import but want of wit 11. Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles Then be not thou with worlds peruerse euent Disquieted or moued vnto yre No though with malice men against thee bent With iust offence might kindle cholers fyre It is a passion that aboundant is In fooles and not reformes the thing amis If thou with reason be as be thou may Offended with the euils that abound Thou mayst reproue them sure I say not nay And hate the place whereas such sinnes are found For fooles they are and dog-like bite the stone That blame offence yet doer let alone 12. Say not thou why is it that the former daies were better then these for thou dost not enquire wisely of this thing But yet withall beware thou do not blame Thy God in gouernment of present age By calling him t' account why not the same Most hatefull vices which with vs do rage Did not in former times so much excell And we with them compare in doing well For it were folly and offensiue much To God and man and signe of hatefull pride In weale or woe we may at nothing grutch For through our sinnes those scourges vs betide And God that sends the ill can it amend Vpon his will our liking must depend verse 13 Wisedome with welth grees euer best of all things vnder sunne verse 14 They calme the mind yet quiet heart by wisedome best is wonne 13. Wisedome is good with an inheritance excellent to them that see the sunne Sure well is he that wisedome hath and grace To vse it alwayes well in weale and wo But who hath wealth withall in better case By farre I do confesse though few are so Few though there be yet some such may you find Though many more with worldly wealth are blind Wealth giueth meanes for exercise of good Wealth the temptations wants to many a sin By wealth mens faults are hid their foes withstood Wealth may performe such workes as fauour win Which wealth if by dissent not care we haue And wisedome both what can we farther craue 14. For man shall rest in the shadow of wisedome and in the shadow of siluer but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessors thereof This wisedome armed thus with worldly powers For pleasant shadow may compared bee Vnto an Arbour deckt with fragrant flowers Which sweetly from sunne beames protecteth thee From wind and raine that can thee well defend And sweet repast vnto thy bodie lend For wisedome teacheth thee thy wealth to vse Vnto the needfull ends they were ordaynd And as vnwise you may them well accuse That will reiect the goods may well be gaynd But wisedome wealth can get and spends it well And wisedome therefore chiefly doth excell verse 15 Behold
feareth euery cloud that is in sky But little corne shall sow or reape to sell If alwaies he do guide his workes thereby So giue thou when thou maist and thinke thy store Increast thereby no whit impaird the more verse 5 As child in wombe so al things God makes grow vnknown to thee verse 6 TheÌ„ morn euen sow thou thy seed God knows which best shal be 5. As thou knowest not which is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the wombe of her that is with child so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all Thinke this that euen that God which gaue to thee The present blessings that thou dost possesse Thy charitable workes from heauen doth see And will thy labours in due season blesse If thou thy faith by neighbours loue expresse And thinke that as the infants borne that bee Conceiued are do grow do liue do feed And be by birth in time from prison free By meanes vnknowne to mothers them that breed Se be assur'd that God which it hath wrought Can wealth restore by meanes to thee vnthought 6. In the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall be a like good Both rath and late at euery time and tide Then do vnto thy power some almes deed Without some others good let no day slide So oft as thou canst find aman hath need And who this can performe is blest indeed For man can not his worke so wisely guide To know to whom and when to giue is best But who for pittie giues and not for pride Though needlesly some fall among the rest Yet some no doubt is blessedly bestowd And in thy will of good good worke is showd verse 7 Sure life is sweete and all desire long time to see the sunne verse 8 Though long life last yet death maks hast times do vainly run 7. Surely the light is a pleasant thing and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne And since but whilst thou liu'st thy goods are thine And what thou freely giu'st deserueth prayse Giue while thou mayst so mayst thou find in fine Well sau'd what well was spent in liuing dayes For godly worke with God aye present stayes Long mayst thou liue but must in end decline To death the end of euery liuing thing To yeeld to death yet needst thou not repine If liuing thou to man no good canst bring And hauing left some good by life to men More welcome death may be vnto thee then 8. Though a man liue many yeares and in them all he reioyce yet he shal remember the dayes of darknesse because they are many all that commeth is vanitie For death thou knowest vnto life is due And life doth but prepare a man to die Liues cares a daily death in vs renue To worke in vs consent to death thereby Which else no flesh with patience sure would try The many dayes or yeares which do insue Of wariest gouernment to happiest wight Cannot perswade him but that this is true That lightsome day will turne to darksome night That times most long haue end and what doth vade Is little better then a very shade verse 9 Reioyce in youth fulfill desire yet know God iudgeth all verse 10 To clense thy hart wicked flesh graue age vain youth doth cal 9. Reioyce ô young man in thy youth and let thine hâ—rt chere thee in the dayes of thy youth and waâ—ke in the wayes of thine hâ—rt and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement Delight he then in what so ere he please In youth in beauty strength or wealthy store Let him delight himselfe in vse of these And cheare his hart as cause he hath therefore Yet let him thinke death knocketh at his dore And that they all do vanish with their wayes That God alone remayneth euer â—ure That only vertue with vs longest stayes And can eternall blessednesse procure When to the iudgement of a God seuere Our workes must come who all in mind doth beare 10. Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Let him and all the wise whilst yet they may Prepare themselues to beare with chearefull mind The fierce assaults in death that for vs stay And but by faith can strong resistance find Since all our other workes come short behind Let vs abandon euery wicked way And lay our treasure vp in heauen aboue Youth is a flowre that springeth out in May But euery frost or blast doth soone remoue But heauen and heauenly ioyes will still remaine When youth and earthly works proue meerely vaine Chap. 12. verse 1 Remember thy creator then in these thy youthfull dayes Ere croked age all pleasure to thy lothed life denayes 1. Remember now thy creator in the daies of thy youth whilst the euill dayes come not ANd since thou canst not shun deaths fatall day And as the tree doth fall so shall it rise Whilst yet thou mayst prepare a quiet way Vnto thy soule which in such danger lies If thou in time reliefe do not deuise The earth and earthly things do helpe denay Heauen is the harbor where thy soule doth dwell Let not thy hope on earth then longer stay But it and workes thereof from hart expell Delay no time in hope long life to haue Youth may age must ere long time go to graue Nor the yeares approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them To heauen thy progresse thou dost wish to make Then cloth thy selfe accordingly therefore The clogs of worldly loue and lust forsake And thinke them burdens to thee euermore And in thy life haue lights of vertue store Let thought of thy creator thee awake From sinnes of youth hart burdensome in age Remember God account of thee will take If thy repentance not his wrath asswage Yea leaue thou sinne ere lust leaue tempting thee Thy abstinence else can not vertue bee verse 2 Whilst sunne moone stars seeme light and rayny clouds are farre verse 3 Whilst keepers of thy house are strong whose pillers stedfast are 2. Whâ—les the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the clouds returne after the raine The feeble members which haue lost their might Through which their senses did affection proue No maruell now if they take lesse delight In vaine prospects which they tofore did loue Since they the meanes do want doth liking moue The sunne moone stars heauens ornameÌ„t earths light Can yeeld small comfort to the senslesse corse When all thy ioynts begin by day and night Do tyre thy life and breed the soules remorse No maruell if thou then proue continent But thou shouldst temp'rance euen in youth frequent 3. When the keepers of the house shall treÌ„ble
choise of weapons for sundrie assaults and disposeth of them diuersly according to the strength or weaknesse of the partie he besiegeth which being as different in particular persons as Gods gifts are to them thou shalt doe well to thy abilitie to reforme or supply my defect therin If in manner of the verse or stile they be as I doubt not but they are to be amended much I do not greatly seeke the praise of a curious Architector neither without neglect of more necessary duties could I attaine to the required obseruances that way And therefore craue that thy discretion may excuse my intention and abilitie And thus I hartily recommend thee to the Almightie THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS containing a hundreth Sonets of meditation humiliation and prayer PREFACE IT is not Lord the sound of many words The bowed knee or abstinence of man The filed phrase that eloquence affords Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce or can By heauie cheere of colour pale and wan By pined bodie of the Pharisay A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay But thou ô God doest hearts intent bewray For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state SONET I. HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold And threaten naught but ruine in the fine Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight Or how canst thou therein at all delight If mercy be not spokesman in this case If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase Which since by faith alone man may attaine Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine SON II. FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen in hope some helpe to win I do confesse my fault who did begin To flie from thee ô Lord and leaue vndone Thy seruice which of right should first haue bin Performd by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name but feare alas begunne To represent to me my iourny long The dangers of the world my life should runne Which made me to my soule to offer wrong But since by show of death thou caldst me backe Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke SON III. WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell And hardly can my power from sinking saue I crie to thee ô Lord and comfort craue Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth and holie life begin Lighten the burden so vncleane within Of brutish vices raging in my minde Let cleane affects the greater partie win And so increase that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight Of faith and loue which are thy soules delight SON IIII. IN humble wise as fitteth best my state An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert I here approch before thy mercy gate O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart I need not to reueale to thee my smart A lump of sin and shame I am I know Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting which did from parents grow That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low As dares not search the heauens true helpe to finde Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe SONET V. VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee One that a spouse but late before had wed One oxen bought one taken land to fee They from the banket therefore absent bee Regarding not thy messengers of grace In number of the like Lord hold not mee But let me haue I craue the offred place Yet ere that I appeare before thy face A wedding garment first I must put on My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base And marchandise of merits now are gone Then since thou cal'st with faith do thou me cloth A lame blind begger Lord do thou not loth SON VI. IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth my follies to bewray I challenged as patrimony iust Each vaine affection leading to decay And trusting to that treasure post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight Not reason vertue shame or feare could stay My appetite from tasting each delite Till want and wearinesse began me bite And so perforce to father I retire To whom I prostrate kneele vnworthie wight To name of sonne not daring to aspire Receiue me yet sweet sauiour of thy grace Poore penitent into a seruants place SON VII Lame of my limmes and sencelesse of my state Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line Before Bethesda poole yet still too late To wash me in the fountaine I encline Whence health wold come when Angel giues the sine If any one to aide me readie were But helplesse thus I readie am to pine My selfe vnable duly vp to reare Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare By the assistance of thy heauenly grace Let not the force of foule affects me feare To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place Who is the fountaine Angell and the man That bath that blisse that cure my senses can SON VIII THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay The harmony of heauenly musickes song Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay And worship thee before thy peoples face Grant me I say such measure of thy grace That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth and so thy word imbrace That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth the sea and land In my defence with power and glory stand SON IX AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke By preached word I watred was indeed And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke Which should be shepheard of my soules defence But thiefe like fond affections reason mocke And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence By Sathan
groueling is his resting place Then shall my soule with Debora imbrace In thankfull wise thy mercies I receiue And so pursue the fleshly Canaans race Till I the furie of the same bereaue And with my song thy seruants shall accord To yeeld due praise to thee the liuing Lord. SON LXXVI MY soule like silly Ioseph Lord was sold By fleshly brethren his vnkind alas To vanities the merchants which behold From far they saw to Egipt which do passe A seruant vnto Ismaels seed it was And sold from sin to death and so to hell Of humane frailtie Lord a looking glasse In which all foule affections long did dwell Yet lo alas when sin seekes most t' excell And haue my mind consent to traitrous lust With grace ô Lord that enemy repell And heare my praiers who in thee do trust Who though a space in bodies prison staies Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heauen to raise SON XXVII SO blinde ô Lord haue my affections bin And so deceitfull hath bin Satans slight That to giue credit I did first begin To pride and lust as heauenly powers of might I offred all my sences with delight A sacrifice to feed those Idols vaine Of all the presents proffred day and night Nought vnconsumde I saw there did remaine Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plaine The falshood by the which I was deceiued How Satans kingdome made here of a gaine And wickednesse my hope and faith bereaued But now the sifted ashes of thy word Bewraies Bels Prists slaies dragon without sword SON LXXVIII A Wicked theefe that oft haue robd and slaine Thy graces of their frute my selfe of blisse Now on the crosse of conscience I remaine To die the death the which eternall is I see no way to quit my selfe of this Vnlesse thou Lord whose kingdome is aboue Remember me and cansell life amisse Out of thy memorie through Christ thy loue Who in my flesh with me like death did proue That guiltlesse he might guilties ransome bee Loue to my soule it was that did him moue The bands of death to bide to make vs free Blesse thou my tong increase thou faith in mee This night to be in paradise with thee SON LXXIX IN bondage long to Satan haue I bin A maker of the bricke of Babell towre By birth a thrall to grosse and filthie sin Whom lusts taskmasters doth attend ech houre Affection to the flesh doth cleane defloure The memorie and loue of promist lands The fiend euen Pharo seeketh to deuoure My soule and chaine me to his dreadfulll bands But Lord receiue me safe into thy hands Protect me from the rigor of his might Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands In my defence giue me true faith to fight Send Moyses Lord with powre of heauenly sword And Aaron to direct me by thy word SON LXXX A Moabit I was of cursed kinde Vnkinde vnto thy Church Lord and to thee Who sought by ayde of foolish Balaam blinde To captiuate the soule that should be free Incestuous frutes of that high climing tree Which doth subdue all reason and all grace A carnall kinsman by a neare degree Vnto the soule the which I haue in chase Whom I with lothsome sin sought to deface And bastardise with carnall fond affect Whose ofspring thou vnto the tenth mans race Didst once out of thy sanctuary reiect Yet now by faith made free of Iury land A suter here before thy throne do stand SON LXXXI LO how I groueling vnder burden lie Of sin of shame of feare Lord of thy sight My guilt so manifold dare not come nie Thy throne of mercy mirror of thy might With hidden and with ignorant sinnes I fight Dispairing and presumptuous faults also All fleshly frailtie on my backe doth light Originall and actuall with me go Against a streame of lusts my will would roe To gaine the shoare of grace the port of peace But flouds of foule affections ouerfloe And sinke I must I see now no release Vnlesse my Sauior deare this burden take And faith a ship of safetie for me make SON LXXXII FRom Iuda wandring Lord to Iericho From holie law of thine to carnall lust Whilst midst the prease of lewd affects I go I robbed am of rayment pure and iust And wounded lye Lord groueling in the dust Not any passer by can giue me aide In fleshly strength or friendship is no trust By highway seene to helpe me few haue staide But since my Sauior Christ on crosse hath paide A ransome rich to cure my bleeding sore By faith to craue the frutes I 'am not affraide In hope my health thereby for to restore Bind vp my wounds with balme leade me to rest Giue me such gifts of grace as like thee best SON LXXXIII THis slender Citie Lord of strength behold Wherein I dwell Bethulia my bower Of flesh whereto sin laies a battry bold And seeks with sword dearth my soules deuower Suppresse thou hellish Holofernes power Who prides himselfe in praie of children thine I haue no trust in mountaines wals nor tower For want of faithes true fountaine we shall pine Raise vp this female couragde heart of mine Strengthen my hand to reue this monsters hed Let me not tast deceiptfull follies wine Nor be polluted with worlds sinfull bed But constantly by faith fight in defence Of feeble flesh and driue thy enemies thence SON LXXXIIII NOt that my faith doth faint a whit is cause That I so instant am on thee to call O God of life but yeelding to thy lawes Before thy sight my soule these teares lets fall Which in thy bottle kept I know are all And quench the fury of thy burning ire Which sin enflamde and qualifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire If feruently the childe due food desire Of father he will not giue him a stone If of the wicked iustice man require Importunely some iustice will be showne More righteous iudge and father thou to mee Art Lord indeed and far more kind wilt bee SON LXXXV THe many trials Lord that I haue found Since out of Egipt darknesse I am brought Might witnesse well how in thee still abound Powre mercy truth wherby thy workes are wrought But foule dispaire against my faith hath fought Amidst the wildernesse wherein I stay And daintier food my fond affections sought Then Manna which thou sentst me euerie day The desert Zyn doth fountaine pure denay Of grace wherewith to quench my fainting ghost Eternall death expects my soule as pray And lust assaults me with a hideous host Stretch forth hād Lord smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance griefe and mone SON LXIII THou hast ô Lord of mercy me enricht With flocks of fauour and of graces great Since I in Bethell first the pillar pitcht Of praises to thy name and mercies seat Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat A ruine to the frute faith forth should bring With pleasing humors him for to intreat
vplift Contend to cause the world thy name admire Thy prayses do not mortall praise require For lo alas they no way can come nye Vnto the holy hymnes thy Saints apply And Angels sing inflam'd with heauenly fire Yet shall my soule such zealous present bring As shall record my loue to heauens high king SON II. EXild be mortall cares raysd be my song To treat with stile condigne thy honor still O mighty Ioue who heauen and earth dost fill With myrror of thy power to thee belong All powers and wils of body and of mind Thou mak'st and blessest with thy prouidence Thy bountie to the needy is so kind As nought but mercieâ—and loue proceedeth thence At our right hand a readie safe defence If Satans practise once assaile vs will Thou holy motions dost in vs distill And dost illuminate our dulled sence Thou dost redeeme fro out the enemies throng The innocent whom worldlings vse to wrong SON III. VVRo out what dreame what sleepe what charmed rest Rouse I my selfe who too too long haue stayd With worldly cares and vanities dismayd And cleane forgot almost soules solace blest My greedy nature quaffed ouer much Restrained poyson potions of delight New libertie did former dyet grutch Though life the one death other show'd to sight Nature gainst grace prouoketh still this fight World to our wils doth yeeld accursed ayd Satan our senses dulles that not affrayd We worke our wracke with greedy force and might But waken me ô Lord I thee request With pleasure paine welth wo as likes thee best SON IIII. WHat is thy measure full dost thou suppose Of strength of perfectnesse of plenteous store Of frutes of faith profest that now no more Thou carest albeit thy tree true beautie lose It can not be whilst life and sap remaine That barren branch so holy plant should beare A faire greene tree of goodly leaues were vaine Vnlesse that kindly frute also there were Words are but leaues works fruits that should be there Shew that thou liu'st by charitie therefore True holinesse doth teach a righteous lore Whereby to neighbors good our thoughts we reare Vaine is our knowledge and our holy showes If in our life the fruite of loue not growes SON V. HOw can I hope for all my forward speed My fresh incounters of the riuals first My bold intent and zeale which venter dirst To runne so hard a race and long indeed To win the prize if past the greater paine I faint or do begin my speed delay Or trusting ouer much the goale to gaine Let euery leaden heele leade me the way In race of soule to heauen light many a stay And fainting body doth for pleasnre thurst The world strowes golden fruits of tast accurst Which toucht with loue we lose to soules decay Then let me still runne on so haue I need For constancie stands most the soule in steed SON VI. ALl will not serue the more I would beware The more I headlong fall and drowne in sinne So farre vnlike the victorie to winne That to his building morter I prepare One thing I say an other thing I do One show of worke I haue an other deed I runne cleane from the marke I looke vnto With one hand quench the fire with'other feed One error doth a hundred errors breed If one I cut to grow do ten begin This fleshly laberinth that I am in Is of the sinnefull race of Hydras seed But yet my trauell still I will not spare Because I know God hath on me a care SON VII FAine would I bring some fruit of sauorie tast For offering of freewill and of my zeale But I do feare my weakenesse to reueale Like new wine in a crazed vessell plast The vessell yet not liquor being mine And it fild in by master of the store I hope he will not at my gift repine But if it faile will it replenish more My weakenesse I do oftentimes deplore And for reliefe to him I do appeale Yet ioy the bounty that he daind to deale And halting hast to those that go before In hope that my nay his gifts shall be grast Through loue vnto his sonne whom he imbrast SON VIII I Maruell much sometimes to see my will Contraried by my selfe with harts consent To see me crosse the course my purpose ment And yet th' euent thereof proue better still I am by nature vnto euill prone And that pursue with forward fleshly ayd Straight way my mind is chaÌ„gd by means vnknown And heart consents my former will be stayd The cause hereof and issues I haue wayd And find them strange yet bending in intent Vnto my good sometimes though ill I ment And fayld of plots my greatest wisedome layd Which doth my soule in fine with comfort fill To see Gods prouidence my purpose spill SON IX I Now begin to doubt my present state For that I feele no conflict in my mind A settled concord needs must be vnkind Twixt flesh and spright which should ech other hate They neere agree but to their common woe And that through sin which luld them both a sleepe A warfare in this bodie would I goe Lest fraud or treason in through rest should creepe The practises of Sathan are so deepe Armed with flesh and lust whom prone we find That hardly can the soule his freedome keepe But that these fiendes would him with frailty bind Vnlesse with heauenly weapons at debate With them we stand and fight both rare and late SON X. VVHen I remember with what speed in post The Iewes return'd from bondage tooke in hand Their Temple to restore and armed stand In breach of wals to build what enemies crost When I their bountie note in offering store All freely giuen and more then they could vse How true their treasures were that would no more Their workmens faith accounts whilst Kings refuse How these our latter times which we accuse Of ignorance through fraud of Balaams band Did yet powre forth the plenty of the land To holy vse which other did abuse I sorrow much to see true zeale cleane lost And pure religion shakt for sauing cost SON XI VVHat loue is this whereof the world doth tell Which they to God professe and men admire Loue hath his lawes and doth effects require Of charitie to neighbour to excell For as the members of one bodie bee Partakers of the passion others haue And speedily concurre to helpe we see Because thereby the bodies good they craue So if their loue to God they freely gaue And held him head their zeale would burne like fire To serue his Saints the needy to attire And home the stray to call the lost to saue For how can they th'inuisible God loue well WheÌ„ they neglect their neighbors neer that dwel SON XII VVHo so will serue the Lord he must bestow The whole not part of body or of mind If in his heart dislike hereof he find His soule not yet regenerate we may know Betwixt two stooles no sitting
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
vnto his soule forthwith to craue Whereby it sleeping void of holy rayes Of grace in sinne doth spend away the dayes Which Christ our Sauiour died the same to saue Vnto thee Lord Creator powrefull king With birds by break of day they prayse shold sing SON LXVII I List not iudge nor censure other men As I do iudge so iudge me others will And God himselfe that part can best fulfill With others faults I will not meddle then Vnlesse so farre as dutie doth desire Which is with loue to warne them of the way Whose weaknesse doth our louing aide require To stay their steps wherein they are astray But I must iudge my selfe doth scripture say And that I will but not by natiue skill The law and Gospell they shall try me still And their true touch shall my estate bewray My conscience witnesse more then thousands ten My hart confesse my faults with tongue and pen. SON LXVIII I See sometimes a mischiefe me beset Which doth amaze me much and griefe procure I haue a hope or hap I wish t' endure But it doth vanish straight and I do fret I craue sometimes of God with feruencie A thing me thinkes which might worke to my ioy My prayers yet he seemeth to denie And by the contrary doth worke my'annoy I find at length the thing I scorn'd as coy Fall to my profit and doth me assure That God by this his goodnesse doth allure Me to depend on him and not to toy By natiue reason guided but to let His prouidence haue praise and honor get SON LXIX HOw should I vse my time henceforth the best The little that remaines ought well be spent Too much lost time cause haue I to repent Best mends must be well to imploy the rest To pray and prayse the Lord is fit for me To craue things needfull and his mercies tell My spirituall wants and carnall plenties be As many yet his blessings which excell But multitude of words please not so well He knowes the heart which righteously is bent All holy actions are as prayers ment And he is praysd when sinne we do repell Then if my life the world and flesh detest I pray and prayse and shall find actions blest SON LXX Good words are praisd but deeds are much more rare One shadow is the other substance right Of Christian faith which God and man delight Without which fruits our barren tree is bare Once well done is more comfort to the soule More profit to the world to God more prayse Then many learned words which sinne controule Or all lip-labour that vaine glorie sayes Who in a holy life doth spend his dayes And still maintaine gainst sinne a valiant fight He preacheth best his words are most of might He shall conuert men most from sinfull wayes Such shall haue honor most affirme I dare With God and man and lesse of worldly care SON LXXI SInce we by baptisme seruants are profest To Christ whose name we as an honor beare It is good reason we his liuery weare And not go ranging vainely with the rest Since we do feed by bountie of his hand On precious food which he doth giue and dresse Who at the well of life doth ready stand Vs to refresh if thirst do vs oppresse We are too slow our selues to him t' addresse To craue and vse these gifts in loue and feare His righteous liuery we do rather teare Then whom we serue by vse thereof expresse Little he got that was such bidden guest And how can thanklesse seruants then be blest SON LXXII SInce shame of men much more then godly feare Restraineth vs from sinne as proofe doth preach Since more we after name of vertue reach Then to the truth thereof we loue do beare It were a part of wisedome to deuise To vse our nature of it selfe so vaine From so base custome euen for shame to rise To actions good which might true honor gaine The best remede I therefore find remaine To purchase prayse and vertues habit teach Is to professe in speech the same whose breach In life we should refraine least we should staine Our name which would at length our liking reare To loue of God indeed and sinnes forbeare SON LXXIII THe difference is right great a man may see Twixt heauen and earth twixt soule and body ours Twixt God man heauens powre earthly towres As great the difference in their vse must bee By high ambitious and by wrathfull sword Are earthly transitory kingdomes gaynd Humilitie with patient deed and word To heauenly crowne and honour doth attaine Man will his conquest with vaine glory staine Heauens kingdom former pride forthwith deuowrs It equals all estates sects skils and powres And makes the bodie well vnite remaine Whereof the head is Christ the members we And held coheires of heauen with him we be SON LXXIIII FOr vs who do by nature still incline Vnto the worst and do the best forget Who do all passed benefits lightly set And so vnthankfully gainst God repine It were great wisedome dayly to obserue Such sundry haps as do to vs befall By which to learne how much God doth deserue Who those and passed benefits gaue vs all And since there is not any blisse so small But for the which we ought acknowledge debt On each occasion we should gladly get A meanes our minds to thankfulnesse to call For nought God craues newe can giue in fine But drinke with thankes his cup of sauing wine SON LXXV THe parable of seed well sowne on ground Which did according as the soyle did sarue Some neuer bud some bloome some straightway starue Some grow in his crop so much abound Doth well describe as Christ full well applyes The nature of the word the which is sent By written Gospell and by preachers cryes Into the heart which hearing it doth rent And as well tild sometimes begins relent And yeeldeth blessed fruit and prayse desarue As God the showres of grace doth freely carue And diligence in weeding it is spent For many times such sinfull tares are found As good had bin the seed in sea had drownd SON LXXVI I Cannot chuse but yet deuoyd of pride To note the happie and the glorious time Wherein we liue and flourish in the prime Of knowledge which those former dayes not tride For all preheminences which are read Forespoke of latter age by Prophets all As happily were perform'd as promised When Christ those mysteries did on earth vnfold And those accomplish which were long foretold The same yea more by farre we dust and slime Vnworthy wayers of thee high we clime Enioy through preached truth more worth thē gold But woe is me this grace is vs denyde We to our selues haue not the same applyde SON LXXVII IF thou do feele thy fleshly thoughts repine When thou doest beare the crosses God doth send And that thou vnder burden of them bend And out of due obedience wouldst vntwine Remember when as yet a child thou wast