like the spouse when she her deare doth greet Opening vnto him in a loue-sicke feare To see his deaw'd head and his dropping heare From whose faire hands mirh falls vpon the bar So sweet sounds mercy such her sauours are Kinde spouse to ope the doore of thy owne hart In darkesome night to let in Christ thy loue But blessed mercy acts a better part Opening to men the gates of heauen aboue Through which who enters kings for euer proue Kinde spouse kinde Christ that to his spouse doth go And most blest mercy that sau'ft sinners so King Hezekiab turn'd him to the wall And wept full sore when he heard death drewe neere And mourning so he did for mercy call Vnto whose daies thou addedst fifteene yeare Lord now againe let the like grace appeare And vnto me that dying am to sin Adde a new life to laud and praise thee in For in the pit ther 's none doth giue thee praise None thanke thee there nor speake good of thy name They onely curse and ban and cry alwaies Woe to those sins wherewith they wrought their shame And brought their soules into that burning flame From whence sweet Lord for aye deliuer mee That mong'st thy saints I may sing praise to thee Eliah being hungry he did pray And lo both Rauens and Angels brought him food Daniell when in the Lions den he lay He praide and lo those cruell creatures stood Like lambes by him and would not sucke his blood But rather sought by dalliance to delight him Then with grim lookes sharpe teeth or clawes to fright him As was Eliah I am hungry Lord My soule is almost staru'd for want of food Oh send me succour by thy sacred word And for thy mercies sake be thou so good And beat downe sin that monsterous man of blood Which would into the clawes of Sathan throw mee From whom sweet Lord a safe deliuerance show mee Good Sydrach Mysach and Abednego When they into the fierie Ouen were throwne Thy praid to thee and thou preseru'dst them so As on the earth the like was neuer knowne For not a haire or garment they did owne Was either burnt or scorched in the flame Such was thy might and mercy in the same They to the golden Idol would not kneele Because they lou'd and onely honor'd thee But I am worthy hells hot fire to feele Cause I haue yeelded to all euills that bee Yet mightie Lord be not aueng'd on mee Nor let my sinnes induce thee vnto Ire But for Christs sake defend me from that fire When Ionas in the belly of the whale And in the mid'st of the maine Ocean To thee did from that depth of danger call Miserie makes men full of true deuotion For mercy Lord for mercy made he motion And gracious thou which hast all grace in store Did'st make that whale to set himselfe on shoare Like Ionas I haue often gone astray And troad those pathes wherewith thou art displeased The world the flesh and Sathan shew'd the way Ah woe is me they all at once haue ceazed Vpon my sicke soule which is sore diseased And with sins poyson so much putrifide That nought can cure it but Christ crucifide Of whose deare blood sweet Lord let me partake And then though sin which long hath raign'd in mee Labour to throw me downe into the lake Whereas the diuell that dreadfull whale shall bee Gaping to get me yet I shall goe free For spight of all powre sin and Sathan haue One drop thereof my sinfull soule will saue I 'le now put on the Armour of my God The helmet of saluation I 'le take My feet shall be with preparation shod Of righteousnes I will my brest-plate make Sword of the spirit which mak'st sin to shake I le gird thee on and most couragiously Vse thee against my spirituall enemie Thou many-headed-monsterous Hydra sin That canst not be by mortall man subdu'd Vnles Gods spirit do vs aid therein For why thy strength is sundry wales renew'd And to thy power ther 's such supplies accru'd That if Gods mercy were not great vnto vs Thou wouldst for euer vtterly vndo vs. Oh thou more cruell then was murthering Caine That slew his brother Abell in the field For whom thou killest them thou kill'st againe And plai'st the tyrant ouer them that yeeld Labouring and laughing to see hell fire filde With soules and bodies of those sillie wretches Which thou dost conquer with thy cunning fetches Thou that dost vse those that yeeld to thee so And them likewise whom thou dost ouercome Making no difference twixt friend and foe But bring'st them all to vndergoe one doome And putst them all into one tortering roome Who would not hare thee with his hart and soule And vse all meanes thy mallice to controule Who would not shunne thee more then anie snake Who vould not flie from thee with all his might To eschue thee whoo 'd anie paines forsake Who would not pray to God both day and night That his good spirit would aide vs in the fight Against so foule a monster as thou art Which seek'st the soules of all men to subuart And thou deceitfull and bewitching world Thou most false-harted flattering Crokadile About whose bosome there is nothing hurlde But that which doth our purest parts defile Euen vaine delights which Sathan doth compile And on thy face the mart of all delusion Doth set to worke our shame and sadde confusion Thou common couz'ner of thy kindest friends That Iudas-like doest with a kisse betray For vnto whom thy fauours most extends Hee is the man whose soule thou seek'st to slay With heaps of gold thou hinder'st graces way And with a faire showe of soone-fading pleasure Thou doest depriue men of heauens peerlesse Treasure Thou tempting whore which doest intice to sinne With faigned smiles and with thy flattering lookes Thou painted Idole putrifide within Though with sweet hunnie thou doest bayte thy hookes Most blest are they that keepe out of thy crookes And vse thee so as if they vs'de thee not Least by thy meanes damnation be their lot And thou fraile flesh fraught with infirmities Though thou art subiect to a sort of woes Yet to thy selfe thou coyn'st calamities And on thy soule sadde burthens do'st impose By filthie lusts from foule-desire that flowes By which alas both bodie soule and all For euermore thou to the Diuell mak'st thrall Who like a roaring Lyon runs about Subtillie seeking whom hee may deuoure And of saluation would make all men doubt By telling them euen in their liues last houre Vnles Faith stifly then withstand his power That GOD is so iust and so bent gainst sinne Prayer and repentance can no pardon winne Heare heauen and earth and all yee powers in both Heare mee I say and helpe mee instantly For to subdue this Serpent olde that go'th Vpon his bellie creeping cunningly And eates the dust of our iniquitie Which is to him more pleasant food by farre Then all the dainties that on earth there
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