Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	grace_n	life_n	4,700	5	4.5078	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B11418	The complaint or dialogue, betvvixt the soule and the bodie of a damned man Each laying the fault vpon the other. Supposed to be written by S. Bernard from a nightly vision of his, and now published out of an ancient manuscript copie. By William Crashaw.; Noctis sub silentio tempore brumali. English and Latin.	Crashaw, William, 1572-1626.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153, attributed name.; Fulbert, Saint, Bishop of Chartres, ca. 960-1028, attributed name.; Crashaw, William, 1572-1626. Manuale Catholicorum. aut	1622 (1622)	STC 1909.3; ESTC S105114	31,120	195

me bless● me saue me preserue and keepe me for thy deare mercy sake Amen Or thus further with Dauid thou maist pray I Will lay mee downe and rest in peace in thy mercy for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety Euening Prayer to be said either before or after thy going into bed O Eternall God and omnipotent Father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light and darknesse day and night in whose hands i● contained that ouerflow o● goodnesse that filleth al● the empty and indigent creatures in the world who ordainest times and seasons successions and descents old age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and labour a perpetuall motion and change ouer all things in the world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many houres since broke out of darknesse and cleared the world with her light and the Sunne arose as a Bridegrome out of his Chamber and reioycing as a Gyant to runne his course whose beames are now steeped in darknesse the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitorie pleasures and delights which haue their increase their height and sudden decrease againe being no continuance in any thing vnder the Sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast appointed for rest which O Lord so giue vnto vs wee pray thee that thereby we may bee inabled to walke more carefully in those duties and callings thou hast appointed vs. And further we beseech thee that as the night darkneth and shadoweth al things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake thou wilt hide all our sinnes from thy sight that they neuer be brought to iudgement with vs euer so remembring vs that we neuer forget that fearfull and finall account that must bee rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing that as our bodies hauing the rest of sleepe this night so our mindes through thy mercy in Iesus Christ may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer and to that end let thy mercy and prouidence so watch ouer vs that as our actions in the day so our thoughts nor our imaginations neither watching nor sleeping this night may be such as may displease thee but that all may tend to the good of our soules and bodies and the honour and glory of thy great name and that for Christ Iesus sake Amen In whose most blessed name we conclude this our imperfect Prayer in that absolute forme of Prayer that thy blessed Son hath taught vs to honour thee saying Our Father c. A godly Prayer to bee said at all times O Lord my God what may I render vnto thee as an acceptable sacrifice for all the benefits thou hast bestowed vpon mee for my Election Redemption Sanctification and Preseruation from my youth vnto this present day and houre that thou hast indued mee with health strength knowledge continency when so many more worthy then I in mine owne eyes are denied of these thy good fauours for all which I can giue no reason for but thy good pleasure and if thou shouldest take all backe againe I haue nothing to say but that thou art iust yet O Lord to these many I entreate thee adde this more that I may keepe a heart that may truly acknowledge them and a tongue that may thankfully praise thee for them all the dayes of my life and to that end I beseech thee protect mee from all euill that may hurt mee from all sinne that may offend thee be thou assistant to all my good in deuors purposes intentions and let thy good Spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of all men giue me O Lord a charitable heart to relieue thee in thy members a compassionate heart to make other mens infirmities mine owne a beleeuing heart that thy promises are yea and Amen And so blinde me not O Lord with the carnall man that though I beleeue thou wilt one day raise my body from the bed of darknesse when thou shalt say to the sea Giue and to the earth Restore my sons and daughters when no creature shall bee able to keepe backe one bone that it hath receiued that I should despaire in thee for a crust of bread in temporall maintenance and endeuour Bee neere O Lord vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse and by daily and hourely presidents of death and mortalitie before mine eyes teach mee to bee mindfull of mine owne end and to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that whether I liue or die I may rest with thee in thy eternall glory through Iesus Christ my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Agurs prayer for content O Lord giue mee neither ●●●erty nor riches feed me with food conuenient lest I be too full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and so take the name of my God in vaine and if I aske any thing which is euill deny my ignorance if I aske any thing which is good remember thy promise S. Augustines Prayer Miserere mei Domine indigna facientis digna patientis English BE mercifull vnto me O God doing vnworthily vnto thee and yet receiuing that from thee that more worthy then I are denied at thy hands O Lord continue this mercy and let not my ilnesse weary out thy goodnesse for thy tender patient mercies sake Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father LEt all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory honour and praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and generations of the world which hast not spared thine onelie Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankinde to that end that through him we might bee saued and deliuered from destruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life grant vnto vs by thy Spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace and fauour for euer and euer Amen Another short eiaculatory praier English and Latine ODeus omnium miserationum Pater te praecor vt abissus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abissum peccatorū meorum O Father of goodnesse and mercy I humbly intreat thee that the depth of thy mercy may swallow vp the depth of my sinnes Martin Luthers Prayer COnfirme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begun in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy visitation for thy deare mercies sake Amen A few short remembrances or most materiall rules of good life for the practice of euery true Christian here

thee Then if thou pray Christ will not stay to set thee free Albe thou were To death most neare yet still be sure And vnderstand That his high hand containes thy cure Be he thy quest That giues all rest from restlesse woes Who so adore And him implore shall come to those For many a one Dead long agone hath he reuiued And saued more That were before of grace depriued Be all thy loue On God aboue lift vp thy spirit That thou maist taste The Saints repast through his sole merit And honour him That he from sinne may thee deliuer That sinnes increase In thee may cease in prayer perseuer On him I call That all in all hath in his power Against all harme Be he mine arme my shield my towre And this liues length Vouchsafe vs strength to keepe his hest That at our end Wee may ascend to endlesse rest Amen HEre followeth the meanes and manner how our forefathers in the time of Popery prepared themselues and others to die consisting first of the confession of their faith and secondly of the Prayers which were made by them and for them in their last sicknesse by which it may appeare that though they were misled by the crafty Romish Clergie in diuers errors and superstitions yet in the great point of the meanes of saluation they were of our religion and were saued by it Truly and verbatim englished out of the Latine being an ancient Copie and by any of that side vnquestioned and heretofore in that kind published By W. CRASH Questions to be expounded to sicke persons whilst they haue the vse of reason and power to speak to the end that if any be not so well disposed to dye hee may be better informed and prepared and the questions be these according to Anselme the Reuerend Bishop 1. Let him be asked thus BRother dost thou reioyce that thou shalt die in the faith of Christ A. I doe Q. Doest thou sorrow and grieue for that thou hast not liued so well as thou oughtest A. I doe Q. Hast thou a hearty purpose to liue better if God giue thee time to liue A. I haue Q. Doest thou beleeue that thou canst not be saued but by the death of Christ A. I doe Q. Doest thou beleeue that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God dyed for thee A. I doe Q. Doest thou giue thankes to God therefore from thy whole heart A. I doe Well then good Brother whilst thy soule is in thy body giue him hearty thankes and settle all thy assurance vpon his death alone haue no confidence in any thing else trust thy selfe wholly to his passion couer thy selfe wholly with it fasten thy whole life on his Crosse cast thy whole selfe into this Sea and if the Lord God say hee will iudge thee answere thou Lord I obiect the death of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt me and thy iudgement otherwise I will not contend with thee And if GOD say to thee Thou art a sinner answere Lord it is so but I set the death of my Lord Iesus betwixt thee and my sinnes If hee say thou hast deserued damnation answer It is true Lord but I place the death and merits of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thee and my ill deseruings and I offer vp him and the most worthy merits of his passion for the merits which I should haue had but alas haue not If the Lord say further that he is angry with thee answer Lord thou hast cause but I set the death and sufferings of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thy wrath and my soule Then let him say thrice Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit and if he be so weake he cannot let the company that stand by say Lord into thy hands we commend his soule And hee that doth this is safe and sure that he shall neuer tast of eternall death Also in another old Booke I find this written THese bee the sixe signes vpon which a man may rest confident of his Saluation 1. If hee beleeue the Articles of Christian faith as many as are determined by the Church 2. If hee reioyce to dye in the faith of Christ 3. If he know that he haue grieuously offended God 4. If he be heartily sory for it 5. If hee resolue to forsake his sinnes if God giue him leaue 6 If hee hope and beleeue to come to eternall saluation not by his owne merits but by the merits of Iesus Christ And Anselme saith that these sixe questions are to bee asked of euery one at the time of his death and saith further thus Then say to the sicke person if Satan obiect any thing against thee oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him and thus without all doubt he shall be saued This consolation of the sicke and preparation to their death is in ancient Copies ascribed to Anselme who liued more then 500. yeares agoe euen when Popery was almost growne to perfect age Now if any man make question how our fathers were saued in these later and worse times when Popery preuailed in a great measure I answere that euen almost the same preparation and same questions were vsed long after Anselme euen in the deepest darknesse of Popery for in the most euil time about the Councell of Constance some two hundred yeares agoe thus I find it written in an ancient Booke and it is ascribed to Gerson Euery Christian whether secular or regular is thus to be examined and informed in his sicknesse touching his saluation 1 DOest thou beleeue all the principall Articles of faith all that is contained in the whole body of holy Scripture according to the exposition of the Catholike and Orthodoxall Doctors of the holy Church and doest thou detest all heresies and errors and superstitions condemned or reproued by the Church and art thou glad that thou diest in the faith of Christ and vnitie and obedience of thy mother the Church 2 Dost thou know and confesse that thou hast many waies and grieuously offended thy God and thy Creator 3 Doest thou sorrow from thy whole heart for all thy sinnes committed against Gods Maiesty his loue and mercy art thou truly sorrowfull for the euils that thou hast committed and the good that thou hast omitted and the grace that thou hast neglected and art thou agrieued not so much for feare of death or any punishment as for that loue that thou oughtest to beare towards God 4 Doest thou beg pardon for all these thy sinnes of Iesus Christ desiring that by him thy heart may bee enlightned truely to see and know thy sinnes that so thou mayest particularly and more seriously repent of them 5 Doest thou propound and resolue truely to amend thy life if so be thou liue and neuer hereafter to sinne so againe but rather to lose any thing how deare soeuer vnto thee yea euen life it selfe then to offend thy God againe 6 Doest thou also desire of God grace to continue in this purpose that thou maiest not

sheepe acknowledge thee for one of his true sheepe and receiue thee into his folde IESVS Christ absolue thee from all thy sinnes and place thee on his right hand amongst his elect that there thou maiest see thy Redeemer face to face and in the societie of blessed soules maiest enioy the comforts of heauenly contemplation and the blessed vision of God for euer and euer Amen A Meditation of Saint Bernard sweete and comfortable to fore-run a happy end DVlcissime Iesu Christe sit vltimum verbum tuum in cruce vltimum verbum meum in hac luce amplius fari non possum exaudi finale cordis desyderium In English SWeete Iesus Christ let thy last wordes vpon thy Crosse bee my last vpon my Couch and when I can speake no more Lord heare the vtmost desire of my heart To the Reader SEe Christian brother how in the worst times they were prepared to die commended to God if the Ancient Books did not proclaime this truth some would not beleeue but that they had beene made in this latter time But seeing the truth cannot be denyed I desire thee with me to obserue these few collections arising out of due consideration of the premisses 1 Here is answer to that great question how our forefathers were saued euen by the same faith as we are at this day 2 How truly Christ performed his promise namely that the gates of hell should not preuaile against the true faith for so we see that in the vilest times this faith hath beene preserued 3 Obserue how here is no touch nor once mention of Purgatory nor of any thing to be done for their good after this life 4 Here is no relation to any pardons or indulgences from the Pope 5 Here is no necessity laid downe of sending for a Priest to bring his hoste and his Pix and his Holy-Water and his Taper These matters it seemes are rather commanded pressed vpon the people by the Romish Cleargy then much regarded by the wiser and god her sort of our forefathers neyther are they commanded to stay till the Priest come but saith the booke let these prayers bee said and the commendation of his soule by one of the by-standers Lastly let it bee obserued that in all these prayers and commendations and questions and these saith the booke are all that be of necessity to be said here is not one smack of Popish Idolatry or superstition In these respects I haue thought it no needlesse labour to communicate these to thee deare brother I know there be store of godly Prayers and meditations already extant But these are of a speciall vse more then others and are venerable for their antiquity and are to be the more welcome because God preserued them in the hands of our very enemies And though they were mingled with other things not so good yet let vs know as S. Hierome tels vs that it is no small point of wisedome to seeke out gold out of mire and clay Make vse of these and helpe mee with thy prayers and thou shalt shortly if God permit be partaker of more Hereafter followeth an addition of some new and late formes and models of Prayer for sundry occasions and purposes At thy vprising thus or in like manner commend thy selfe to God saying GRant O good Father that of thy mercy hast brought me to the beginning of this day that in this same I may rise and so walke in my calling that thy name may be glorified my conscience discharged thy seruant comforted and all good men incouraged by my example for thy deare Sonnes sake Amen Before thy going out thus meditate Morning Meditation 1 THat many haue gone out of their houses abl● and well that haue neuer returned backe aliue as fo● ought thou knowest may befall thee 2 Remember that thy conscience shall bee the quiet●● in the night when thou sh●● call to minde thou hast beg●● in the Lord and so careful● discharged thy duty in t●● day 3 That to goe forth in ● the world is to encounter with many troubles to passe some dangers and to performe many duties and therefore rush not forth into such an vndertaking before thou hast thus or in like manner prayed to God to assist thee without whose blessings and fauour towards thee thou vndertakest in vaine for thy labour will not prosper That done thou maist thus further call vpon God in thy Morning Prayer MOst gracious God mercifull Father wee render vnto thee most humble and hearty thankes for all thy benefits thou hast from time to time bestowed vpon vs as for the quiet rest and repose thou hast this night giuen vs to the refreshing strengthning of our wearied bodies mindes so wee beseech thee likewise being thus renewed and taken vp from that image of death that laid vs in our beds the representation of our graues to consider the waste of time our owne liues and decay of all sublunarie things how with their easie lengths their spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen Let there bee day and night and times and seasons they haue brought age and maturity the sithes sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruests of flesh and laid generations in the dust Teach vs O Lord with this remembrance to weigh our mortalitie and so to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to binde vp our bones in peace and rest wee may yeelde vp our soules and bodies into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sinnes are washed away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs. And to that end prosper vs wee pray thee in all our actions and giue good successe to our true endeuours and then wee shall not attempt in vaine and grant that this day and all the daies of our life hereafter may bee so accomplished by thy counsell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues throughout this vale of misery that at the last we may raigne with thee in glory Amen Euening Meditations before thy going to bed 1 REmember that many goe to bed and neuer rise againe till they bee awaked by the sound of the last Trumpet and therefore presume not to close thine eyes till thou hast committed thy selfe into the hands of God by Prayer 2 At the putting off of thy cloathes thinke that the day is comming when thou must be as barely vnstript of al thou hast as thou dost now thy selfe of thy cloathes 3 Fixing thine eyes vpon thy bed let it put thee in mind of thy graue thy bed-clothes of the mold of the earth that must couer thee the sheetes of thy winding sheete thy sleepe thy death thy waking thy resurrection Then at thy lying downe thou maist thus addresse thy selfe vp to God saying Into thy hands most mercifull Father I commend my soule and body this night and euermore be mercifull gracious and good vnto

cum friuolis suis condemnaui Aurum gemmas pradia nihil reputaui Rebus transitorijs abrenunciaui Et me Christi manibus totum commendaui 75 Ecce mundus moritur vitio sepultus Ordo rerum vertitur sapiens fit stultus Exulat iustitia cessat Christicultus Et in mundo iugiter labor tumultus 76 Mundus ad interitùm pergit his diebus Dij facti sunt iterum Iupiter Phoebus Nam qui mundum possidet abundat rebus Hic vt Deus collitur sceptris aciebus 77 Et quae theologicae virtutes vocantur Fides spes charitas ferè suffocantur Fraus auaritia quae deriuantur Ex his iam in seculo toto dominantur 78 Si sis ortu nobilis si vultu serenus Si benignus humilis moribusque plenus Haec nil tibi proderunt si tu sis egenus Sola nam pecunia formam dat genus 79 Dūmodo sim splendidis vestibus ornatus Et multa familia sim circumuallatus Prudens sim sapiens morigeratus Ego tuus nepos sum tu meus cognatus 80 Ista cum defic●rint statim euanescit Nostra consanguinitas morte refrigescit Cessatque notitia ita quod me nescit Qui dum diues fueram surgens mihi cessit 81 O miranda vanitas ô diuitiarum Amor lamentabilis ô virus amarum Cur tot viros inficis faciendo carum Hoc quod tranfit cit●●● quam flamma stuparum 82 Si mundus diuitibus tria posset dare Iuuentutem floridam mortem vitare Pulchram durabilem prolem procreare Benè possent diuites nummos congregare 83. Homo miser cogita mors ista compescit Quis est ab initio qui morti non cessit Hic si viuit hodie cras forte putrescit Cuique prorsus hominum parcere iam nescit 84. Quando genus hominum morti deputatur Quò post mortem transeat quisquam ignoratur Vnde quidem sapiens ita de se fatur Contremisco iugiter dum mens meditatur Quid sum quò propero quid mihi paratur 85 De morte dum cogito contristor ploro Vnum est quòd moriar tempus ignoro Tertium quòd nescio quorum iungar choro Sed vt suis valeam iungi Deum oro FINIS THE COMPLAINT OR DIALOGVE BETVVIXT The Soule and the Bodie of a damned man Each laying the fault vpon the other Supposed to be written by S. BERNARD from a nightly vision of his and now published out of an ancient Manuscript Copie By WILLIAM CRASHAW LONDON Printed by G. E. for Leonard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Temple neere the Church 1622. To the VVorshipful my worthy beloued friends Hugh Hare Richard Brownlow George Crok and Iohn Walter Esquires Benchers of the honourable society of the inner TEMPLE Mercy Grace and Peace THe end and highest happinesse of a Christian man is to honour God in this life and to dye well the way to die well is to liue well and no better prouocation to good life nor preparatiue to a good death then a continuall and serious meditation of the mortality of this life the certainty of our end the vncertainty when and how the terriblenesse of the last iudgement and the account that each one must make then who haue not made it here before crossed the debt-book of their sins by the Lambe of God This made an ancient Father crye out When I thinke of that day I feare and tremble for whether I eate or drinke or what euer I doe I thinke I heare that terrible Trumpet sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to iudgement And to this end the holy men of elder times willingly entertained all occasions that might helpe them in these holy cogitations One euidence thereof is this short and sweet Dialogue which as a fore-runner of others that may follow being diuulged and desired by many to bee englished I am therefore induced to make it common This being an age that needs all helps to holinesse and inticements to deuotion And this the rather in as much as though it was made in the mist of Popery euen not long after the Diuell was let loose yet is it not tainted with Popish corruption nor scarce smels of any superstition whereas it is stuft with godly truthes and wholsome instructions My thoughts intended and dedicated it to your selues and that worthy vertuous and religious Gentleman now with God the brother to one of you in nature and to you all in faithfull Christian loue But seeing he needs it not God hauing prouided better things for him and his soule now feeding on finer foode in Gods glorious presence and blessed vision of the Deity take you it therefore and that part of profite that might heereby haue falne to him and that part of my loue which heerein I shewed him diuide among you and as hee hath left behinde him to this Society and all that knew him the sweete smell of a good name for his many religious and morall vertues so let me leaue behinde me this little Monument of the much loue my heart owes you and shall bee willing to testifie by my best seruice as to this whole and honorable Society in generall so to your selues in particular To whom without wrong to any other I speake it I haue beene peculiarly beholden and by whom my studies haue beene much aduanced Now the God of Grace and Mercy so guide you in the wayes of holinesse and good workes that at your ends your body may not blame your soule nor the soule the body but both soule and body may haue cause to glorifie God their Creatour Redeemer and Sanctifier in whose loue I leaue you and rest yours in all Christian duety THE SPEAKERS 1. The Author 2. A Soule departed 3. A dead Carcasse 4. The Diuels THE AVTHOR IN silence of a Winters night A sleeping yet a waking spirit A liuelesse body to my sight Me thought appeared thus addight 2. In that my sleepe I did descry A Soule departed but lately From that foule body which lay by Wailing with sighes and loud did cry 3. Fast by the body thus she mones And questions it with sighes and grones O wretched flesh thus low who makes thee lye Whom yesterday the world had seene so high 4. Wast not but yesterday the world was thine And all the Country stood at thy deuotion Thy traine that followed thee when thy Sunne did shine Haue now forsaken thee O dolefull alteration 5. Those Turrets gay of costly Masonry And larger Palaces are not now thy roome But in a Coffin of small quantity Thou lyest interred in a little tombe 6. Thy Palaces what helpe they thee or buildings Thy graue vneth's of largenesse for thy feet Henceforth thou canst hurt none with thy false iudgings For thy misdeeds in hell we both must meete 7. I I poore soule oh I a noble creature Formed and made in likenesse of my God Adorn'd with graces of

most comely feature Am now so chang'd as fouler then a Toad 8. O wretched flesh with me that art forlorne If thou couldst know how sharpe our punishment How iustly mightst thou wish not to be borne Or from the wombe to tombe to haue beene hent 9. This I confesse no wonder for in life To one good deed thou neuer wouldst agree But to each greatest sinne didst runne with strife For which for euer we must damned be 10. I am and ay must be in bitter paine No tongue of liuing man hath power to tell One of the smallest torments I sustaine Where which is worst I must for euer dwell 11. Where be those Lord-ships thou hast laid together Thy lofty Palaces thy Castles strong Thy heapes of gold which were thy chiefest treasure Thy Rings and Iewels which about thee hung 12. Where thy rich beds thy sumptuous Tapestry Thy change of rayment many coloured vesture Thy dainty Spices baites of luxury Plate Tables Carpets and rich furniture 13. Where now thy wilde Fowle and thy Venison Thy dainty fishes and thy chosen wine In thy now Kitchin meate is dressed none Such plagues for sinners God doth still assigne 14. How lik'st thou now poore foole thy latter lodging The roofe whereof lyes euen with thy nose Thy eyes are shut thy tongue cannot be iogging Nothing of profite rests at thy dispose 15. What erst thou hast most wretchedly beene scraping By vsury deceit rage and oppression In all thy life with toyle and greedy gaping Are hid by death in earth and putrifaction 16. Thou art not now begirt with troopes of friends The flower of all thy beauty lies in dust The bands of euery loue doe heere take end Yea thine owne wife now thinkes all teares vniust 17. In thy left kindred henceforth trust no more For for thy Vine-yards fields of grasse and corne And which thy plagues encrease thy treasured store Few dayes know foole thy after Heires will mourne 18. I doe not thinke thy Wife or Children left Would lose one penny or one patch of lands For vs which are from her and them bereft Though it might quite vs from these horrid bands 19. Now wretched flesh thou seest how nought reputed Is the worlds glory false deceitfull fell With anguish fraught with sinne and vice polluted And clothed in the noysome bane of hell 20. Thy garments wretched foole are farre from rich Thy vpper garment hardly worth a Scute A little linnen shrouds thee in thy d●tch No rents nor gifts men bring nor make their suite 21. Thinke not though yet no torments thou endure Thou neuer shalt but sleepe for euer free For all Gods Scriptures which are true and sure Witnesse at last thou shalt be plagu'd with me 22. Thee which the poore didst rob and not defend Wormes gnaw in earth and rottennesse thy bone But longer stay I must not heere I end To this I trow answer thou knowest none The Body answereth 23. THus said the Soule at last the gastly Coarse Straines vp it selfe as being new reuiued And with deepe grones as if it had beene hoarse Askt who such witlesse reasons had contriued 24 Art thou quoth it my Soule which thus dost faine All that thou saist is neyther true nor stable For I will proue with arguments most plaine If some be true in many thou dost fable I as thou saist haue led thee oft astray And from well-doing haue enforst thy loue But if the flesh can leade the Soule away The fault 's more thine then mine which thus I proue 26 The world and power of hell did both conspire And did the flesh to them associate Which if the constant soule cause not retire Both needs must enter at sins wretched gate 27 But as thou sayst our God did thee create Good noble vnderstanding he thee made And like himselfe he fashioned thy state And made me seruant to what ere thou said 28 Therefore if thou my Mistris ought to be And reason had by which thy office was Vs both to gonerne why did'st thou suffer me Without restraint in wicked race to passe 29. Is' t iust to charge the Body as the Spirit Which being rightfull Mistris yet will serue To tame the flesh the spirit ought of right With abstinence and stripes if she 'l not swerue 30. The bodies workes be from the soule deriued By meanes thereof in life it floruisheth That flesh which by the soule is not assisted By easie baites the world soone vanquisheth 31. The body of it selfe none ill hath knowne All that it knowes proceedeth from thy head If I doe what thou bidst the fault's thine owne For without thee the body resteth dead 32 Why should poore hand-maid flesh be charg'd with blame In working onely as thy instrument The soule commandeth all hers be the shame Of all my frailties since I want iudgement 33 Therefore I weene thy guilt exceedeth mine In following my lust so fraile and foule But oh the wormes doe teare me in my shrine I therefore say no more farewell poore soule The Soule Replies 34 NAy said the Soule I le stay by thee a while And if I can thine arguments confute Why rail'st thou on me in this bitter stile Striuing to me thy whole guilt to impute 35. Most wretched flesh which in thy time of life Wast foolish idle vaine why dost thou wreake Thy wrath in railing words to make new strife Though for the substance 't is true that thou dost speake 36. For truth it is and stands with reason plaine I should haue bridled thee and rul'd thy will But thou through loue of pleasure foule and vaine And sensuall appetites me resisted still 37. When I would thee O body haue control'd And haue subdu'd with watching fast and paine Straights the worlds vanity did thee with-hold And to his vanie delights drew thee againe 38 So thou of me didst get the vpper hand And of my mildnesse made so bad construction That thralling me in wordly pleasures band Eternally hast drown'd me in destruction 39 I know my guilt and this my trespasse was That being chiefe I did not thee restraine But thou deceiuedst me with so faire a glasse That thy offence the greater ought remaine 40 The vaine worlds practices baites and delights If thou hadst left with stedfast constancy And so with-stood Sathans inchanting sleights Heauen had beene ours with Saints and Deity 41. But flattering fancies of the world did please And made thee hope a lasting life to haue Thou neuer thoughtst to dye till death did ceaze And hal'd thee from thy Court to dirty graue 42. The world and subtile men haue both one guise Where most it smiles and most bestoweth honor There soonest it deceiues soonest death cries And changeth wealth to wormes to stinch and horror 43. He which in life did fawne and was thy friend Will not now cast a looke vpon thy graue Then gan the body weepe weighing this end And lowly in his stile such answer gaue The body answereth 44 I In