one accord They boast the glorie of their owne desert Damning the sâ—mpe and the poore in minde As serues their lusts Blinde guides to lead the blinde All those the Lord foresaw and gron'd in Spirit Sweated in blood was heauie to the death That so his precious passion blamelesse merit Should be abus'd that he had giu'n his breath His life his ghost his soule yet could not win Such wretched creatures from inchanting sin Inchanting sinne that with it's cunning charmes Luls men in death-full sleepes and slily makes Impostum'd vlcers of vnsenced harmes Rockes them in Lethargies and neuer wakes Reason to feele the bane-impotion'd wrath Which by such dead securitie it hath This was the cause that from our Sauiour drew A bloodie sweat so grieuous to be borne As did the eyes of cruell men but view How with this bloodie tempest he was worne Humane compassion could not choose but melt To thinke vpon the sorrowes which he felt No measure did his payned soule acquaint With case or respite no Arithmeticke Cast vp the summe of his vnheard complaint No heart conceiue the dolours that did pricke With fiery stings his manhood and appall His face with streames which burst in twain his gall For as a Riuer running in a round Hauing no vent or sluce to slide away Will make by force eruptions in the ground Drowne all the neighbour-land and neuer stay Till with a violent course and headlong rage It slacke his strength and of it selfe asswage Euen so the tide of many griefes abounding Sweld in the bosome of the Sonne of God Still growing to a head and still confounding His fraile mortalitie deepe horrors rod Till bursting foorth with might and furie great It drown'd his bodie in a bloodie sweat Who euer saw as often hath beene seene A shoure of blood but thought it did portend Some doome of Iudgement or some angry teene Of heauens-incensed King So heere the end Of this strange bloodie raine doth shew in briefe How shortly Christ was to be wrapt in griefe The pangs of death th'ntollerable paines Which wofull creatures were to vndergoe The man Christ Iesus in this sweat sustaines Consuming wrath and soule-deuouring woe He felt that he vs men might timely free From Gods vnchanging and diuine Decree Not that his death could abrogate the will Of his great Father for he aym'd not to it But that in death he wholly might fulfill The eternall Iustice as hee came to doe it Who as hee death from men for sin required Had in his Sons death more than death desired Yet neither did the Death or Bloodie sweat Of Christ extend to soules ordain'd to Hell But to the chosen and elect beget A double life although the Scriptures tell How this meeke Lambe of God did chiefly come To call the lost sheepe and the strayers home Looke how the blessed doe pertake the good Sweete pledge of bountie precious Seale of Ioyes Which issues from his Water and his Blood So both alike the Reprobate destroyes Gods mercies to the Righteous to his foes Are Iustice to augment their enlesse woes When Isack's seede fled from th' Egyptian force And through the Red Sea tooke the readie way The waters stood on heapes and slaid their course Both waues and windes the passage did obey And in those waters safely paston ground In which whiles Pharaoh follow'd he was drown'd Whereby as water sau'd the Lords Elect And led them through the terrors of the deepe So water to them of a deulish sect Prou'd sod ine death and neuer-waking sleepe Christs blooâ—ie sweat is that Red Sea whose power Secures the good and doth the bad deuoure The Cloude and fierie â—illeâ— that gaue lightâ— Vnto the children in the desert plainesâ— The one by day the other shin'd by night Guiding their iourneis comforting their paines Were to the Hoast of Egypt mistes obscure To blind their eyes and certaine death procure Which burning Pillar and which shining Cloud Is Christ vnto whose blood such are baptiz'd As by the Holy Spirit are allow'd When otherwise all such as are despis'd Are darkned in the comforts of their sight And loose the glorie of this holy light A greater ligh more holy and Diuine Surpâ—ssing all the splendour of the Sun Could neuer to the eyes of mortals shine Then this most sacred Blood which hath vndon And laid to publick view the Mount of Euill Which both was fram'd and colourd by the Deuill In after-times when in the winters cold Folkes vse to warme them by their nightly fires Such Parents as the time of life termes old Wasting the season as the night requires In stead of tales may to their children tell What to the Lord of glorie once befell Once may they say my childe a time there was When men were beasts so cruelly they liu'd As they did nights and dayes in pleasure passe Like some of Reason and of Sence depriu'd Not fearing God or louing man giu'n ore To Lust and Will as beasts could doe no more The naughtie Deuill slylie did intice By sensuall sports and pittilesse deceits Our weake fore-fathers to insnaring vice Masking his tyrannie with wanton baites And wee in them did euery thing he wil'd vs Till the foule feind my childe had almost kild vs. But straight when our good God almightie saw How neere vnto the Pit-hole wee were brought For being not obedient to his Law He forthwith of a remedie bethought And hee to saue vs from this wicked Feind His onely Sonne into the world did send A louely Sonne my childe a daintie boy Who had a cheeke as red as any cherie Sweete babie was his mothers only ioy And made her â—eauie heart full often merie Who though he were Gods Son yet like a stranger Hee in a Stable borne was in a Manger And poore God knowes he was my childe not fine Or like a gentleman in gay attyre But simple clothes hee had which was a signe How little to be proud hee did desire Yet if hee would haue sought for worldly grace Hee might haue gone in silke and golden lace When he was twelue yeeres old marke this my child Hee was a perfect Scholer and did pose Great learned clarkes and Doctors but so milde As hee would neuer chide but rather chose To teach then anger and one might perswade him To doe whats'uer any bodie bad him Thirtie good yeeres and odde this blessed man Liu'd on the earth in all which time he seem'd So comfortlesse with lookes so pale and wan As if he had not bin by men esteem'd Full many an hungry meale he made and lay Bare leg'd and bare-foote many a day Hee neuer laugh'd but he did euermore Weepe weepe continually and O my child Hee neuer did none harme he holpt the poore Cur'd tht diseas'd and such as were beguild With witches and with wicked things God blesse vs He droue them from vs when they would oppres vs. And hee made much of
defend vs As he fore-thinks the means that must coÌ„mend vs. When Christ prepar'd himselfe to die and beare The wrath of God that we in him might liue The time of his sowre passion drawing neare In which he was his life for vs to giue Retird alone his father to intreat His agonies brought forth a bloody sweat So when vpon the crosse he had indur'd The bitter pangs of hell and breathd the last Confounding death that had his death procur'd When all the tide of cruell griefes was past A souldier with a speare did pierce his side When blood with water gushing was espide Water and blood what could it else intend Or wher-unto so likened could it be But to the bloody sweat his soule did send Before his death opprest in agonie That as the first before his death diminisht Death of the soule this in his death that finisht He di'd indeed not as an actor dies To die to day and liue againe to morrow In shew to please the audience or disguise The idle habit of inforced sorrow The Crosse his stage was and he plaid the part Of one that for his friend did pawne his heart His heart he pawnd and yet not for his friend For who was friend to him or who did loue him But to his deadly foe he did extend His dearest blood to them that did reproue him For such as tooke his life from him he gaue Such life as by his life they could not haue Great miracle of loue redemptions wonder Where he that should be su'd to sues to those Who would not sue to him but still kept vnder That better part which he in mercy chose Rare president of value which discouers How loue is scant where plenty is of louers If we but looke into the little home The home of our owne selues we may espie How many pyrates still make haste to come To wrecke our soules whom whiles we do defie We entertaine and freely but vnsought Make marchandize of what we neuer bought The pearle and the treasures which the Lord Did witnesse were of an vnualued price Iesus did purchase of his owne accord To free vs from our death deseruing vice And left vs for an heritage the gaine Of life immortall euer to remaine Hels gaping wombe which euery minute sunke Millions of soules and would not be content With streams of blood which greedily it drunke But still cryde more his mercy did preuent For he shut vp the lawes and did acquit The rau'nous gorge of that deuouring pit The euer empty swallow of the graue And bottomlesse confusion of the deepe His blood hath made in vaine and this doth saue From dangers such as dangers dayly keepe Deaths sting it hath rebated and vn-edg'd Such soules as were in sorrowes bondage pledg'd What should a sinner doe or whither flie To hide him from his shame that euer wakes Poore man lesse then a man who cannot die Nor cannot liue so much his Care mistakes And still he drawes destruction with his breath As t' is all one to suffer life or death Sad thoughts like burning furies still pursue him And seeke his life who them aliue doth cherrish Fond thoughts whose inward eyes nosooner view him But kill that Maister who once dead they perish His thoughts do tell his conscience of his thrall His conscience makes him thinke that he must fall What shall he crie to mountaines to conceale him Or shall he beg the seas to ouer-drench him The mountaines are remou'd and cannot heale him The Seas are dry and they cannot entrench him But euer as he hopes the light to shun In groping for the night he findes the sunne A Sonne whose glory doth disclose abroade The secrets of his hearts and layes all open Lines out the sundry paths that he hath trode Vnfolds the seuerall treasons he hath spoken The inside of his bosome is apparant And he hath none excuse to pleade his warrant What can he now resolue but to retire Vnto the sweat of Christ and cleft in mind Humbled in meeke astonishment desire Comfort in this his bloody Bath to find Which bloody sweat when euery helpe doth faile To cure the soule that onely doth auaile Pure distillations are but vaine receits Curious to draine but comfortlesse in tast Compounded Cordials are vnwise deceits Whose vertue doth but with the present last Christs body is the Limbecke that must yeeld Distilled blood our soules from death to shield If pleasures honors money gifts promotion Phisicke restoratiues repasted diet Ease cost delights cold heate prophane deuotion Drinkes purges obseruation courtly quiet Or one or all the soules spots could expell Great Kings had neuer ran so fast to hell The Princes of the Sodomites the chiefes Of Aegypt Achab Eserod and the rest Had neuer felt the terrours of their griefes If art could haue a remedy exprest But therefore di'd they cause they know no good To purge them in the streame of Christ his blood The womans painting Iesabel the whore Of th' Israelitish monarch could not hide Her sins from God but as her selfe was poore In virtue so she dy'd in naked pride O had she feâ—ne Christs bloody sweat contâ—iâ—'d In his Eliahs griefe she might haue liâ—'d But they whom worldly pleasures wrap in woe Esteemd this sweat a fancie or a fable Which one day they will find was nothing so When to recall againe they are not able And their this blood which hath procurda crowne Shal be a flood not to refresh but drowne What is a man but dust made vp in forme Fraile weake corrupted keeping tiâ—e in motion A ship at sea â—re-turnd with euery storme Eates sleeps and dies vnsetled in deuotion In health vnbridled in his yeares a span A sading bloome and such a thing is man Mans beautie but a frame made vp in snow Immixt with waxe which melts with euery Sun Euen so experience teacheth men to know How soone this worke of frailtie is vndone A winters frost or summers parching heate Doth soone this pictures ornament defeate Yet as a cunning fire-worke lighted glowes Spits and with hissing wonders dares the skies Till being wasted downe it fal and showes No more his matter spent it weakely dies And vanisheth to aire and smoke so men In health are strong but dying vanish then Man as a cunning fire-worke in his power Dares God and heauen and kicks against the Lord Till all his force be spent then in an hower Abates decaies fals of his owne accord Being indeed as nothing in dcspaire Of doing ill fumes into smoke and aire But here is not the end of all his ilsâ— His greater soules vexation is behindâ— A death which both the soule and body kils To which the miserable are confind And then too late they wish to coâ—â—e the heate Of flames and brimstone in Christs bloody sweate If one condemnd for some notorious fact Labour his pardon and doth surely thinke His life is safe
true way to happines should bee Found out in bloud and bloud of his annointed Whose pure Vermilion red did fairely guild Sinn 's blacke as night for whoÌ„ this lambe was kild Meeke and vnfriended to the world he came Lowly sad patient in his humbled lookes The Mirror of humility so â—ame As if his forehead had bin sorrowes bookes Thus whiles the Iewes hopes with ambition wing'd Flew through yâ— earth their Sauiour cames vn-king'd Vn-king'd good man so far from any grace Of earthly maiâ—stie of Crownes of state As he was set much lower then the base Beneath the sight of pittie or of hate Yet this is that Messiah he who brings Life in his death makes men saints Saints as Kings What eye did euer see him laugh what eares Haue heard him speake the languages of pleasure But euery eye that saw him saw his Teares All Eares that heard him heard him speake in measure For still his wordes with griefe such measure kept His speech was sighes and as he spoke he wept No hand did lend on little Cloth to drye The riuers on his cheekes no thought bewail'd His solitary Cares but all past by Those vnrespected griefes his heart assail'd Himselfe he seem'd as if he meant to craue But of himselfe to beare him to his graue His precious head crown'd with a goodly fleece Of hayres more precious then are goulden threedes Appeares but as an Artist's Maister peece Scarce worth to view his lockes him ouer-spreads vntrim'd as if they ought that head no duety So much his dayly woes had chaung'd his beauty His face in which the Rose did with the lilly Striue curiousty for chaunge in little space Through many vntaught sighes appear'd so silly As t' was but like the ruins of a face Neuer was man so excellently nam'd For shape whom sadnesse had so soone vnfram'd And now the fulnesse of the time drew on When he should pay the ransome of his death To make oblation of his bloud alone Offring the last gaspe of a guiltlesse breath As if his onely arrant from the wombe Were but to run a race vnto his Tombe When with the small remainder of his stocke A remnant of the worldes vn-numbred son 's A little remnant a poore simple flocke This pastour with those sheepe together run's To sequester them and himselfe apart That he might offer vpp to God his heart Not far from the Holy Cittie stood The mount of Oliuet at whose steepe Base Ceadron the riuer with a gentle flood Made Musicke to the silence of that place Neere which was Gethsemane whereto say He often came and often vs'd to pray Retyr'd from out the clamours of the day Our Sauiour with his chosen thiâ—her came That with more leysure hee might freely pray Before the houre that must dissolue the frame Of his mortallity the curse and scourge He was to beare from sinners sinne to purge And feeling now th' approaching horrors neere Of God's inkindled wrath the time at hand Of coming vengeance trembling in his feare Which being man he knew not to commaund His soule was heauy to the death his heart Through wounded ere he felt his woundes to smart Burst with the burthen of tormenting anguish Wasted with bitter throbbes his hastning paine Did make his Manhood quake and sadly languish In agonyes so heauy to sustaine As but the Iewish malice was to heady New death 's were needlesse he was dead already In terrors buried quicke he stroue to hast To the prepared Sepulcher of shame Dreading the iudgment heauen had ouer past Vppon his humaine frailty hell to tame His flesh and God-head stâ—oue but he the while Meeke in his suffraunce did both weepe and smile His God-head smil'd to see his man-hood weepe Remembring what his Godhead had decreed His man-hood did a sure full reckoning keepe Of euery sorrow that could sorrow breed And faine he would as man from death be-los'd which on himselfe as God himselfe impos'd Father hee pray'd and lifted vp his eyes For in his eyes he had inthron'd his heart Father ah that those terrors might suffize Ah that this deadly banquet might depart In which without thy wrath I might not sup The health of sicke soules in a poys'ned Cup. And if it may be possible But Oh? Let not my prayers disanull thy will If thine eternall counsaile order so That I must thy seuere decree fulfill Father so it let bee though death hath wonne Gayne on my flesh yet O thy thy will be done Heere sincking downe for being fore opprest With all the worldes innumerable sinnes Assaulted in that conflict and distrest An Angell comforts him and he begins To shake of those his feares in which he stood Which from his passions drew a sweate of blood Deere eye what-soe're thou be that shall peruse The Lurthen of those lamentable lines An holy meditation may infuse A-mazement to thy soule by those faire signes Heere stay thy wandring gaze and faintly heare Ere thou read more thou mayst let fall a teare And thinke it not a labour all vn-meete To spend a sigh on this vnhappy view Wofull the subiect but the gaine is sweete By which all serue no more but raigne a new For euery teare of water thou canst shed The heart of Christ a teare of bloud hath bled Hee sweat not droppes of bloud for his owne cause For hee vnblemish't lambe was innocent Hee had obai'd no God hee broke no Lawes Hee harbourd no deceit no falshood meant Hee neuer wrong'd his freind by secret stealth Nor by oppression sought to purchase wealth His tongue for gaine was neuer heard to lye Or tu'nd to sweare or flatter curse or fawne Lust could not traine his heart or loue his eye No wanton baites of pleasure could impawne His chast desire to forfet to delight The lawelesse issues of a banefull night His meekenes thirsted notreuenge his minde Was neuer set on wrath no fruitlesse pride Trauail'd new fashions curiously to finde He onely car'd his naked wast to hide He neuer sought to be reputed braue So he had clothes yet clothes could scarcely haue Helou'd not sloath vnprofitable rest Which eates and feedes and onely feedes and eates Excesse of feeding he hath not profest To surfet in varietie of Meates His diet was not change or choyse his dish Some-times a Barly loafe sometimes a fish No Wines of mixture or new drinkes to drowne His soule he vsd he was as Nature made him A drinker but no drunkard to vncrowne His innocence no friendship should perswade him His voyce vn-fee'd spoke to a Nation dull And fed the sheepe but would not share the Wooll Hee did not stop his eares against the cryes Of harmelesse suters to doe iustice right Hee enui'd not the great nor did despise The broken hearted poore borne
downe by might But without doing euill all to win He lost his life and yet he knew no sin He knew no sinne then needed not to sweat The liquid moysture of dissolued bloud For his owne faults but ours our faults so great As scant is one amongst a thousand good And yet that one of thousands if the letter Of life were surely scand might bee much better This was that Pellican indeed retyr'd Into the desert of a troubled breast Who for to pay the ransome long desir'd Consum'd himselfe to giue his people rest A Pellican indeed that with her bloud Pulls out her heart to giue her Chickens food He like the Phaenix burning in the Sun That from his ashes may spring vp a younger Doth beate himselfe to death and will not shun The fire that weake men may in him grow stronger A perfect Phaenix that most gladly dyes That many in his only death may rise In euery sex and some of all degrees He saw the mispent ryot of their Talent No sin escapt the eye of his decrees But he beheld how apt men were to fall in 't For so is prone mortalyty accurst As still it striues to plot and woorke the woorst This man of men did in his troubled spirit Into a streame of soft compassion melt His â—cye bloud that frailty might inherit The sun of comfort by the griefes he felt Each drop of bloud he shed he shed it then To wash a seuerall sin from seuerall men Here saw he Princes in the awfull throne Of eminencie how wantonly they stroue For thirst of glory to protect alone Religious name not for religious loue Graceing the gracelesse in whom grace was lost Such Parasites as knew to flatter most For those he sweated bloud that they whom Heauen Created God's on earth should so prophane By courses indirect and lawes vn-euen Of will and sensuall lust the law first drawne By that eternall royalty who stood To watch their faults for Kings he sweated bloud Here saw he such who vnder those were plac't In seates of greatnesse and commaundes of state How fond in their madnesse they did wast Their greatnesse in ambition and debate Ayming not to support but scorne the good By vniust force for such he sweated bloud Here saw he how in Moses chayre thereraign'd Scribes cloath'd in wool of Lambes and speaking well But Wolues in nature so coruptly stayn'd As if they were but messengers of hell Abusing vnlearn'd soules and Leuits power More ready then to cherrish to deuoure Those whom the breath of God at first inspir'd To shine as Lampes and speake the Heauenly sound With Angels tongues were silent if not hir'd More studying with the scriptures to compound Their owne traditions and for those indeed In heauy droppes the sweat of Christ did bleed Here saw he Lawyers soberly engoun'd Wanting the Robe of Iustice not regarding The poore mans right nor where the case was sound But giuing Iudgment as he felt rewarding Whose tongue was bought against that side was weake Most times aswell to hold his peace as speake For them he sweated bloud and heere he saw Intrused iurisdiction ouer-sway'd By partiall fauour aboue forme of Law Cold Conscience by which Conscience was betray'd For those condemning were condemn'd to much As they condemn'd He sweated bloud for such Heere saw he Souldiers toyling in the heat Of cruelty not measuring the right Why they bore Armes but to content the great And their owne lawlesse hate prepar'd to fight For prey and spoyle aduenturing to rent Their liues soules for those his bloud Hee spent Heere saw he others that did keepe the sword Of office and authority in peace Compacted in a knot not to accord Or set at vnity strifes but increase Wounding or sparing with a watchfull hand As some superiour person should commaund For them he sweated bloud heere with much griefe He saw how Schollers train'd with strength of wit Inricht with knowledge and of men the chiefe For knowing more then men with straynes vnfit Did boast their pride which wisdome disallow'd For being still both needy and yet proud Schollers he saw how foolishly they stroue With tearmes of Art and smooth beguiling rimes To paynt the grosenes of vnlawfull loue And proue the sinnes that did corrupt the times Mayntayning vp-start sectes which all with-stood Truthes precious light for those He sweated bloud Heere saw he some whose seruile basenes waited Vppon such vices as attend the great Whom Hell with all it 's nimble turning bayted To vsher lusts by many a subtill feat Those make good cloathes their God pay the fees Of lewdnes with faire wordes and supple knees For those did Iesus sweate in bloud with those Heere saw he some that were in nature skil'd Searching the rules of Phisicke to disclose The treasure that the helpe of Art could yeeld How Gold did prompt them the thirst of wealth To hasten death or to recouer health Much mischiefe and abuse he saw in such How they would cocker lust and stir vp heat Of wanton bloud concealing shame too much With many sinnes too many to repeat For those and their iniquities Christes griefe Did sweate in bloud to giue their soules reliefe Heere saw â—he men whose winged vessels brought From lands far off the Marchandize of profit How by their factors all the world was sought For Precious wares such as made plenty of it And yeelded to their greedy hopes such treasure As they had heap't by subtill weight and measure Thus did they wast the poore and purchase wealth By falshood in extremityes retyring As they pretend for benefit of health To their full garners greedily conspiring How they might starue the hungry and still keepe Their gould for those his bloudy sweate did weepe Heere saw he others curst with large posessions Hard Landlords raysing rentes who still would grutch The bread of honest gayue by sterne oppressions Wrangling for earth till earth they had too much For those the Lord now being man was driuen To sweat in bloud that those might be forgiuen Heere saw he yet a wooâ—ser sort prouoking The wrath of God who liuing still in plenty And cunning in Arethmeticke lay soaking The needy gayning on the hundred twenty Vnconscionable vsurers not contented With ten to one nor one of ten repented For them he sweated bloud here saw he Creatures In face as sweete as Angels dy'd in grayne Of natures Art fayre Miracle of features Wonder of beauty loues delicious trayne Adorn'd with seeming graces that did shine So glorious as they were esteem'd deuine Women they were Saintes to behold in view Chast Matrons but O frailtyes curst in triall More vaine then vanitie and more vntrue Then falshood
only only cunning in deniall In whose deniall vertue was so scant As when they not deni'd they most will graunt Wordes wit and fayrnesse or the smiling ginnes Wherewith they catch insnard men where to heauen Bestow'd for blessings are but bands to sinnes Abus'd whom God made straight those make euen Of whom the most are worst the fewer good The good not free for all he sweated bloud No sex was vncorrupt but all in all In euery fashion and in each degree Drew comfort from the sower-bitter Gall Of his afflictions therein to set free That soules from bondage and to coole that heate of iust damnation in his bloudy sweate The tide of killing Sinnes was swollen high And could not be abated to an ebb Before the blessed Son of God must dye Vndoing by his death the painefull webb The web of endlesse paynes that Sathan lay'd In which the Soules of sinners were betray'd Euen as a man that treades a wearie pace In laborinthes continually in doubt To find the center of the curious trace Once entred still vncertaine to get out Before some skillfull maister by a twist Doth guide him in or out or as he list Or as some Christian Marchant by a Turke Surprisd and chayn'd is made a gally-slaue Whipt euery day and forc't to toyle and worke Consum'd with griefe still liuing in a graue Vntill some one more strong doth free his payne And set's him in his wonted state agayne So men that in a maze of deathfull errour Did treade the pathes of miseries and woe Bound by that Turke the Deuill slau'd to that terror Of condemnation labour'd to and fro Till Christ by death did lead them out of sinne And free'd them from the bondage they were in The Deuill could not with his actiue might Preuaile against the Lord but he abates His policy and strength and skil'd in fight Conquer's the sting of Death cast downe hell gates Triumphes on sinne kept darke confusion vnder Breaking the cursed Dragons head a sunder Captiuitie led Captiue doth vn-maske The hideous visor of his dismall smiles And all the world shakes off the irkesome taske It had sustayn'd and see 's the deadly guiles The sugred bane the draught it had suck't vp Of spiced pleasures in a damned cup. A damned cup a cup of Gods fierce wrath Of fornications of consuming wine A cup such as restoratiues none hath But meere consumptions no way to refine New bloud as Cordialls but to ouer-cloy The Dyet of the Soule and Soule destroy All those hath Christes deere bloudy sweat layd openâ— For euen his death was but a sweate in bloud Offring to all in heart contrite and broken The benefit of life and liuing foode Not fooâ—e not Manna that shall perish waste Or stincke but bread that shall for euer last For euer last O who would spend his dayes In transitory follyes of delight Such as passe soone away and soone decayes Vanish assoone as thought forgotten quite When they beyond all tearme of time or date might raigne as Kings but in a happier state This did the Leacher sleeping in the sheetes Which reeke with lust but thinke on he would weepe This did the Drunkard reeling in the streetes Then only wise when hee doth onlie sleepe Consider he might sigh and not incline To vomit out his soule in streames of wine This did the Miscreants Gallant 's cald who boldly Teare Godes eternall name with liberall oathes Remember they would pray and not so coldly Quench zeale by warning pride in costly clothes For zeale doth last wheÌ„ clothes are worne rotten Men great once seen in rags are soone forgotten This did the gamsters spending nightes and dayes In loosing what they gaine such gaine is losse For-cast they would repent and haue such playes Reputing mony as it is but drosse They whiles other cheate in hope of slime Ill-gotten thrift doe cheate their selues of time This did the loâ—-sicke musicke-straining wanton Who leades his life in sonnetting some Ay-mâ—es Ponder he 'd cease and then there would be scant one En-amourd on so many lisping Shces But changing better notes they would take pittie On their owne soules and sing a sweeter dittie This did the bloody-minded butcher mildly Conceiue he would not be so flesht in strife He would not ouer-giuen be so wildly To stabbe to fight to scorne the weight of life Who seekes a name by murther and doth prize it Being termd a true braue Spirit hardly buyes it This did the mockers of th'elect and holy Whom God hath set on earth to do his will Regard they could not be so curst in folly As to perseuer in their miscniefe still Despising Preachers and nicke naming those With malice whom the holy ghost chose This did the women of much shame and badnesse Who prostitute their bodies do disgrace In penance and a feeling tuch of sadnesse But looke into they would not be so base To gaine diseases but with hearts all rent Redeeme the vnchast houres they haue mispent He that doth most addict himselfe to sin Did he but bathe his thoughts and once a day Wash through his earnest meditations in The bloody sweat of Christ and truely pray To be made cleane by sorrowes strongly vrged Soone should he hate his faults soone be purged But this to flesh and frailty is so strange So hard to thinke so difficult to doe As t is almost impossible to change From bad to good though God in mercy woe Mortality to tast of mercies treasure Yet O t is hard to leaue the baites of pleasure O thou that dalliest in secure content And dost not feele the sinnes that ouer-presse thee Thinke on his bloodie sweate and straight repent Before a heauier Iudgement do distresse thee And then alas in that vn-hopefull state The time is past thou wilt repent too late Christs bloody sweate was that distilling riuer The comfortable Iordan whose faire streames Did cleanse the Syrian Naaman and deliuer His bodie from the leprosies extreames We all are Naamans leprous but more foule Till in his bloody sweate he purge our soule Christs bloody sweate that precious poole is truely Bethesda cald where he that was dis-easd For eight and thirty yeares did waite most duly To be put in thereby to be releasd We all are sicke and languishingly houer Till in his bloody sweat we health recouerâ— Christs bloody sweat that Siloam is where he Must striue to wash his eyes who was borne blind In which pure lauer he attaind to see With eyes of body and with eyes of mind So must we wash our blinduesse is so great In the fresh fountaine of his bloody sweat These are the waters of eternall life And he that drinkes them shall not thirst againe Not springs of Meribath or floods of strife To moue contentions or produce disdaine For such as tast this licour shall possesse Sure peace of conscience perfect happinesse
hunger cold thirst scorne despight Friends father mother brethren children wife Must be forgon yea landes and goods and life His Crosse must be tooke vp and as he was In meekenesse sufferance patience and sobrietie Such must we be thus must we ouer passe The wars of frayltie lusts sacietie We must lay downe our liues and gaine the crowne Of life indeed as life we do lay downe Vnto the simple was the Lord reuealed To men obscure disdained and vnlearned His mercy from the mighty is concealed He onely of the poore will be discerned That they who to the world are poore in show Might teach the world and greatnesse ouerthrow When to the barre of iudgement we shall plead And hold vp guiltie hands and sue for grace A booke shall be brought foorth thereon to read A miserere mei but our case Wil be so hard our sins will so depraue vs As then our booke will come too late to saue vs. For then our bookeâ— the booke that doth containe The words of life Christs bloody sweat and passion That booke will witnesse how we did disdaine His loue and driue vs to a desperation And then not euery one that cries Lord Lord Shal be receiu'd for scorning of his word Then shall the Lord reply for you I sweated Sad drops of blood and yet you would not loue me For you in agonie my heart was heated My wounds did cry yet would ye not approue me I know ye not ye cursed creatures goe Where damned soules do feele eternall woe Neuer may day giue comfort to your cryes But ouer-cloud you in perpetuall night Neuer hence forward may your hopes arise For to behold my life-restoring sight Let death and diuels torture you for euer For you shal be released neuer neuer Here shall the wantons for a downy bed Be rackt on palâ—ets of stil-burning steele Here shall the glutton that hath dayly fed On choice of daintie diet hourely feele Worse meat then toads beyond time be drencht In flames of fire that neuer shal be quencht Each moment shall the killer be tormented With stables that shall not so procure his death The drunkard that would neuer be contented With drinking vp whole flagons at a breath Shal be deni'd as he with thirst is stung A drop of water for to coole his tongue The mony-hoording Miser in his throat Shall swallow molten lead the spruce perfum'd Shall smell most loathsome brimstome he who wrote Soule-killing rimes shall liuing be consum'd By such a gnawing worme that neuer dies And heare in stead of musicke hellish cries No sin that is not washt in true repentance Shall scape in euery sence to be perplexed But euery sinâ— and sinner shall haue sentence To be without all end with horrors vexed And that not for a day a month a score Of yeares or terme or time but euermore For as the God whom such haue once offended Is infinite in maiestie and power So shall their tortures be to them extended Most infinite and ceast not to deuoure And after thousand thousand yeares their sin Is no more free then when it did begin Loe here the view of soules condemn'd to hell Yet here is not the woorst of their indurance Their greater torments are for that they fell From euerlasting ioyes and knowne assurance Of Gods great glory which so long remaines As date-lesse as are their all-scorning paines Vnto the blessed shall he change his voyce And with as much grim horror as he spoke The curse of wrath so sweet shal be the voyce That with a gratious mildnesse shall prouoke Laughter and comfort to the long distrest When he shall call them to his quiet rest Come will he say ye blessed of my Father Vnto the kingdome he hath chosen for you Since in the time of frailtie ye had rather Then serue as worldlings haue the world abhor you You gron'd and sigh'd and mortifide the flesh Waiting till I your sorrowes do refresh My Bloody sweate won pitie in your eyes And you poore soules did loue me in my griefes My base reproofe you no way did despise Hungry cold naked thirstie your reliefes Did cheare my dying heart for which regard Take life eternall for your due reward Here shall the Martyrs slaine vpon the Alter Of persecution for his glorious sake By Bannishment the sword the axe the halter The water racke the whip the fierie stake No longer crie how long but rest in peace And haue such pleasures as shall neuer cease Here shall the meeke in spirit be exalted The naked clothd in perfect robes of white The poore that felt no tast of sin be salted With sauours of exceeding great delight The hungry fed the sicke releeu'd the chast With honors that shall neuer fall be grac't Those when the Trumpet from the flaming skies Shall sound a summons to the day of doome Heard shrill euen from the simple to the wise Shall with the Lord of glory fairely come And stand as witnesses then to prouoke The Lord to iudgment whiles the heauen â— smoke Here Diues from the flames he suffers in Lookes vp and faintly on the Lords right hand Who comes to pay the wages of his sin Beholds poore Lazarus in triumph stand And then his conscience prompts him telling how As he did once scorne him he scorns him now What boots complaints or whither can he run To hide him from that presence all in vaine He cals to mind the follyes he hath done But cannot ransome backe his time againe Iustice pronounceth as it iustly fitted Sin shewd no pittie sinne must not be pittied Vnto this Audit and seuere accompt How we haue liu'd what words we spoke what praier We made what thoughts we thought how wee surmount In goodnesse how the poore we did repaireâ— What can we answer but in meeke accord Confesse vs guiltie and cry mercy Lord A sparrow cannot fall vnto the ground Without the prouidence of God aboue Our haires are numbred and we shal be found The heires of promise as we hate or loue The secrets of our hearts are not our owne Our hearts and secrets then will both be knowne Before the issue of which dolefull day When no excuse will be admitted there A time is giuen and a tongue to pray O who will then that precious time deferre But whiles the sufferance of our God is great Fly to the safety of his Bloody sweate His bloody sweate the comfortable matter That must renew vs in the time of need Both meat and drink â— blood meat drink the water The last to quicken and the first to feed Water the seale of Baptisme doth present And blood his supper each a sacrament See here in earnest meditations now The mystery of all saluation How orderly God hath ordaind and how He wisely wrought it from the first creation So good this gracious God is to
fruition His Spirit my Confessor Faith the gift Which must absolue mee and his Loue my shrift Whiles on the Alter of his Innocence I le lay the poore oblation of my heart His Death shall be the Pardon to dispence With all my sins set free in euery part My teares the holy water and the fires To burne this sacrifice my chaste desires And now my God no day shall ouerslip mee But I will meditate on thy great passion My selfe accusing conscience shall so whip mee As I will neede no other condemnation Bee thou but pleas'd to pittie those my feares And eu'ry day I le wet thy tombe with teares This if a man can picke out time to doe His conscience may assure him that he is A sanctifi'd creature and cald to 〈◊〉 The happie tydings of eternall blisse And thus he may be sure that for Christs sake Chists bloodie sweat he doth indeed pertake So is he purg'd with water fed with blood Regenerate in Baptisme and made whole By eating the Lords Supper tasting good In the repasted diet of his soule Where by those bloodie streames of sweat did staine The cheekes of Christ were not all spent in vaine God will not thinke the heauineâ—â—e he â—eâ—â— Euen to the death when he was man with vs Paynes cast-away but as in loue he dealt With soule-endangered men by suffâ—â—ng thus Yet will he not repent when he shall know What thankfulnesse in heart we doe bestow The crimson dye of his carnation red Hath washt the soule in puritie of white The conduit of the water that he bled Hath dy'd the soule in graine of wishâ— delightâ— Water hath dy'd and blood hath washt 't is strange But true his vertue hath procur'd this change Nor is it strange since the most curious eye That saw him lead his solâ—ary life Whiles he was man on earth could not espiâ— One blemish in his actions prone to strife Buâ—all he spoke or did was wonders theame For euen the coate he wore was without sâ—ame For euen the coâ—â— he wore was without seame Implying his sinceritie and truth Vnmou'd in ioy vndaâ—â—â—â—d in extreame Nor fearing age nor â—ainly spending youth Louing where he was hated ayming still To saue from death such as were bent to kill To saue from death such as were bent to kill Men bloodiâ—â—â— in the fâ—stâ—s of cruell hate Of hatefull crueltie and to fulfill The wrath and measure of a wofull state Yet those with gentle sighes and teares his ayme Stroue from the day of vengeance to reclaime Stroue from the day of vengeance to re claime A day of vengeance when they shall behold His wounds to whom they gaue a deadly maime Crying Reâ—enge and they theâ— selues be fold Vnto an heauie doome yet Christ who saw it With 〈◊〉 perswasions labour'd to withdraw it With meeke perswasions labour'd to withdraw it And taught them by example how to shun Death whiles they liu'd who would not ouer awe it But headlong to their owne destruction run Yet He when no inuitement could intreat Wept for their errors in his bloodie sweat Wept for their errors in his bloodie sweat His bloodie sweat that crucifi'd delight Delight which all was smoother'd in a heat An heat of passion an vnsollac't sight Vnâ—ollac't sight when hee with griefes repleat Wept for sins error in his bloodie sweat Eyes were the Instruments ordayn'd to weepe But eyes in such a case must not suffice For his whole bodie did due order keepe It vndertooke the office of his eyes That as his eyes his precious teares did waste So did his heart bleede teares of blood as fast Wherein his sorrowes sadly did abound Not measur'd by compulsion but free will That as his eyes so might his heart be drown'd Surcharg'd with burthens of amazing ill And if his shedding teares his blood did paine His drops of blood pai'd back his teares againe His eye was but an echo to his heart Which answer'd euery accent of his woe While both his eye and heart did beare a part As said the one the other echo'd so Was euer man as I am quoth his eyes I am alas his heauie heart replyes His Eyes cry out in teares O cruell paine O cruell paine his Heart saies quoth his Eyes And must I then be flaire I must be slaine Answeres his Heart his eyes Ah let me die Me die his Heart his Eyes dye dye content I die content his Heart thus both consent Not like the fawning of some subtile queane Some Dalilah that flatters and beguiles Knowing Arts rule how to abuse the meane To laugh in teares and both to weepe in smilesâ— Christ could not doe so he wept teares in deed Such teares as 't was all one to weepe or bleed He wept not to deceiue but to reuiue He bleeded not in show but bled in proofe Not like the Crocadile life to deptiue But gaue such life as nere was not aloofeâ— He wept he bled he bled he wept a flood Blood in his teares and water in his blood Weeping and bleeding for offending men His bloodie sweat in agonies so fitted As for his enemies he groued then So for his owne and sins by both committed His enemies conceiu'd a fatall loathing His owne perceiuing all conceiued nothing Those few Apostles who had heard him teach And knew him to be Gods begotten sonne They 'mongst whom he euery day did preach Seeing the miracles that he had done Were weake in faith in vnderstanding dull Poore in their plentie steru'd with being full Blindnesse so farre their ignorance did tempt With weaknesse of beliefe ambitions feast As knowing Christ was come yet still they dreamt Of pettie Kings or being Dukes at least Supposing Christ's spirituall Kingdomes mirth Contain'd a goodly Kingdome here on earth And as the Anti-christian throne is now Propt vp with scarlet robes and triple crownes To vassailâ— Princes rights and to allow All as it likes or hates with smiles or frownes Commanding forcing with his proud decree Such did they hope the throne of Christ should bee For when the Lord had finisht now his errant Returning to his Father that had sent himâ— Sealing his power with his deaths strict warrantâ— When neither Hell nor Sathan could preuent him Yet dreamt they on and said Lord as before Wilt thou thy Kingdom now to vs restore Could this but breed his griefe when he foresaw Peters deniall his Apostles scatter'd His owne to feele the rigour of the Law Zeale cold Faith dead Hope lost frailtie batter'dâ— Deuisions breeding Kings aspiring great All these and such like brought his bloodie sweat For shortly he beheld the comming curse Vpon the sacred Scriptures Commentaries How though the Iewes were nought a people worse Whose studies are the Deuâ—ls Seminaries Should make the name of Iesus the diguise Of countenancing impudence and lyes Such like a nose of waxe doe wrest the word To colour sinne and hellishlyâ— peruert Christs sacred Gospell whiles with
children and did good To euery one yet wicked men did striue To take away his life and shed his blood Whiles yet this blessed Iesus was aliue And on a time he was so much dismaid Hee sweated blood as he his prayers said But what is worse then this hard-hearted Iewes Did hang this good goodman vpon the crosse Nayling his feet and hands and did misuse This gentle soule whom they did fiercely tosse From post to pillar and would not be still'd Vntill they had this our Redeemer kill'd Heere now may bee the prettie childe will weepe And aske his parents why they vs'd him so To which they may reply that God did keepe His soule aliue though life he did forgoe For Christ my childe so dy'd then may they tell That euery one might be redeem'd from hell Much might be added more to spend the howers In better leasure then an anticke tale Teaching the sillie hearers how the powers Aboue reseru'd vs from the Deuils sale Whom had not Christ his blood regain'd the wrath Of life all vs lost sin had sold to death Come then sad Patron of this bloodie sweat And with thine euerlasting comforts cherish Vnfenced Faith which daily is beset With treasons which intice the soule to perish In the delicious Bath of Blood and Water Cleance leporous Soules and Hels dominion batter And here my God the glorious Sonne of peace I close the musicke of my weeping song And further to inlarge thy sorrowes cease Beseeching that thy Spirit may be strong To moue my heart and gently to commit to meditations all the lines I writ Let not the frailtie of my youth misled Be once remembred in the day of grace Let not the bloodie drops which thou hast bled Condemne me guiltie let thy wounds deface The wounds of mine infection now begin Throughly to wash mee from mine odious sin The howres and daies which I haue spent in vaine In fruitlesse studies and inuentiue pleasure Redeeme O Christ and call them backe againe Doe not in Iudgement mine offences measure But in thy mercies hide my faults protect My sighes let thy loue couer my defect Heere Sauiour of the world worke that I may Begin to liue anew and in this theame Of thy sad bloodie sweat learne out the way Of life indeed and wake mee from the dreame Wherein my Soule long slept and felt the terrour Of double two Apprentiships to errour And now my God if I discharged haue This imposition of thine heauenly taske Some token of thyâ—being pleas'd I craue Some certaine knowledge of thy will I aske For Heauen and Angels with my soule record Ino way haue traduc'd the written word No malice to detract from ruses of State No singuler conceit to purchace fame No pointing at some person neither hate To any priuare wrongs haue made mee name The Plurisies of sin but as thy Sweat All sins hath purg'd all sins I did repeat For which as first thy Spirit did inuite In holy raptures to aduance my minde From earthly slime of holy things to write So hauing written likewise let mee finde Of thy most precious priuiledge some token To grace the trueth of all that hath bin spoken Heere in the pensâ—ue solace of my Soule Me thought a soft coole winde did gently breath As if my spirit were now transported whole Vnto another life from carnal death When straight a shining light perfum'd the roome Out of which light a whispring voyce did come Rest there it said and toyle thee now no more Knit vp the period of thy trembling Stile And learne to liue not as thou didst before But in a smoother course and I the while Will teach thee how thou shalt attaine the place Where quiet soules doe end their happie race For since thou hast with such a modest care Although thy verse doe want the grace of words Limn'd out my wounds and told them as they are So liuely as thy simple skill affords I le take thy meaning in the better part And for thine offring will accept thy heart May bee some wandring eye that shall suruey This wonder of my Sweat in those thy numbers Will take a truce with time and shake away Fronâ—â—ff his Soule the lusts wherein it slumbers Then hast thou hid a multitude of sin If all thy paines one Soule from ruine win And blessedly hereafter shall succeed Thy studies and thy labours if thou shunne The path that thou hast â—rode and wilt take heed To vndoe the many follies thou hast done For if thou haue respect vnto my Lawes Before my Father I will plead thy cause But thou marke well these words A time shall be When Reason shall beate downe the force of might And Natures Sonnes shall wish for peace but see Th' effects of blood and feele the scourge of fight Now vnrespected and not felt but men Shall what they had vnprais'd remember then Happie the soule that sleepes in peace and thou Prouide against such daies watch fast and craue A dissolution and prepare thee how Thy conscience may be furnisht for thy graue Nor doe repute it for a fabling â—este Which sayes Good conscience is a daily feaste Feast on in that and henceforth be secure In strength of Faith let all thy cares be â—as'd By bathing in my Blood and fountaine pure Of this my Sweat and I in this am pleas'd Rest thou for loe the Angels in their rankes Waite my returne thy labour be thy thankes Vp flew the light and silence shew'd the voyce Retir'd to stilnesse which depriu'd my sence Of all the glory of that heauenly noyse Which with such sweet content departed thence Forthwith my Soule her wonted babit tooke And Heal'd vp my comforts in a booke FINIS Esay 53. 3. Mat. 4. 2. Luke 9. 58. Psal. 41. 9. Mat. 12. 24. Luke 22. 44 Acts. 2. 23. Iohn 1. 29. 36. Reue 5. 8. 9. 1. Zech 9. 9 Mat 2. 5. Mat. 11. 29. Mat. 12. 18. 19. 20. Mar. 6. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Luke 4. 22. to 31. Iohn 1. 41. Iohn 11. 33. 35. 38. Mar. 8. 12. Luke 19. 41 42. Lam. 1. 12 Mat. 27. 29. Esay 53. 2. Iohn 13. 1. Gal. 4. 5. Eph. 1. 10. Mat. 26. 37 Luk. 21. 37 Mat. 21. 1. et 24. 3. Iohn 18. 1. Mar. 14. 32. Luke 22. 4 Iohn 8. 59. Mat. 26. 28 Esay â—2 4. 7. Iohn 10. 18 Mat. 26. 39. Mar. 14. 36 Luke 22. 42 Phil. 2. 8. Heb. 2. 9. Luke 22. 43 Verse 44. ibid. Psal. 18. 23. 1. Pet. 2. 22. Esay 53. 9. Luke 8. 2. 3 Mat. 14. 19. Iohn 47. Mat. 11. 19. Luke 4. 21. Mar. 6. 6 .1 Iohn 3. 5. Mat. 8. 17. Heb. 9. 28. Leui. 17. 11. Heb. 19. 22 as hapned by Herod Mat 2. 8. Luke 3. 1. Acts. 12. 21 22. Iohn 18. 22. Psal. 82. 1. 6 Reu. 17. 2 Luke 23. 12. Acts. 23. 4. 5. Mat. 7. 15. Mat. 23. 2. Mat. 7. 3. Iohn 8. 44. Mat. 23. 13 Mar. 12. 40