you haue reiceiued by him yet grieue for him for my plentious griefe sake who haue lost all my ioye for your generall comfort Beholde these lippes are closed which were wont to vtter oracles of comfort those eyes are shut which neuer behelde your infirmities without flouds of compassion the handes are maymed which were liberallye opened to all good workes the feete are wounded that brought you tidinges of peace eache parte of him is thus mangled to amende you hurt to heale you galled to doo you good pearced to worke your profite And haue you no one teare to tender for his kindness Ah ingratefull that yee are and more insensible than beastes more cruell than tygers more harde than stones the Sunne put on mourning garmentes when my sonne suffered and shall not the swoorde of afflictions pearce your entrayles to beholde this tragedie The vaile of the Temple rent from the top to the bottome and will you not rent your heartes with ruth to regard his rent bodie The earth trembled for feare and wil you not weep for pittie Stones breake in sunder and shal not your stonie harts wax tender The dead for sooke their graues to grieue for him and shal not the liuing despise their delights to lament him Ah iust Abel thy bloud cryeth for reuenge and hath pearced heauen but it is dispersed and despised on earth Ah holy Ioseph thy bloudie coate hath broached a spring of remorse in Iacobs eies though thy brethren lament thee not The chosen Israelites mourn for their Sampson though the Philistians afflicte thee Oh men the Saints in heauen blesse this bodie you sinners on earth will not bewaile it the heauens shew his greatnes yet men on earth acknowledge not his goodnes the starres declare his diuinitie men decline not to see his dead humanitie the flowers of the fields testifie his beautie but the wormes of the earth sorrowe not his obscuritie O you race of Adam he that created all things without trauell gouerned them without care sustained them without thought and possessed them without necessity now lieth heere dead trauelled by sorrow and death blinde to make you see senselesse to make you feel subiect to make you soueraignes and shall he haue so much care of you you so little compassion of him Oh you hardned in heart blinded in vnderstanding surfeted in sensualitie wil not then your stony harts otherwise suffer ye to weepe come gather teares from the wel-head of his benefits that you may assist me to bewail him he hath drawen you from your bannishment to your blessing from obscuritie to life frō death to eternitie What he punished in the angells he pittied in you what he persecuted in himselfe he hath pacifid for you In the old law whosoeuer had falne into the vncleannes of leprosie was thus cured and thus cleansed the priest taking two sparrows when he had slain the one dismissed the other anointing the sick of the leprosie with the bloud of the dead one hee thereby recured the sicke purged the vncleannes And what figure is this ô ye sonnes of vanitie but the tipe of your owne imperfections you are spiritually falne into the leprosie of sin this noble sacrifice this sacred priest hath taken two sparrows his bodie and soule to cleanse you of your leprosie his bodie hath hee suffered to die to bee rent to bee torne to bee whipte for you his soule hee hath dismissed and by the bloud issuing from his wounds he hath clensd your leprosy ratified his couenāt shut you in the arms of mercye shuted you with your wedding garmēts Oh then though his sufferance touch not your harts let his benefites turne them weep weepe on him that praieth for you as your priest praieth in you as your head and must bee intreated by you as your God Behold your phisition whom desire of gold hath not drawen to you but intirenes of mercye hath prouoked to assuage your miserie Beholde that Christ that hath vnited you to God reconciled you with his bloud vrged compassion for you with his tears your sins haue separated you from him his death hath alied you to him O hard hearted men cannot this moue you thē harkē to further motiues and let them amend you God in the first lawe appointed a free citie of refuge for the afflicted and priuiledge for the offenders whereto whosoeuer had grace to approch before he were apprehended hee was assured of safetie and defended from iustice In this new law this Christ oh true tipe of charitie hath made these cities in himselfe established this priuiledge in his body and walled the same with his wounds Hether ô you sinners repaire heere shall you haue mercy for teares life for repentance remission of sinnes for confession of sinne Oh contrite sinner dwell in these cities let your memorie inhabite them thy meditation imbrace them thy pittie bewaile them Thinke on these woundes they wil heale thee forsake them death will follow thee forget them mercie will denie thee Abuse not the priuiledge of wounds death and passion least thou bewaile too late the horror of hell death and damnation Will none weep with me Will no reasons wound you Are teares so scant for mercies so plentifull Come come and learne what tears be that you may know their benefites The sinners teares are Gods mirrours their penitent sighs his incense God heareth praiers but beholdeth tears praiers moue God to heare tears compell him to haue mercie Silent teares are speaking aduocats It was not Maries anointing with sweet balme Maries drying with faire haire Maries attention with humble heart but Maries teares they wrought my compassion Oh come weepe then if not weepe yet consider Proude man see here the patterne of humilitie humble learne heere whereof to releeue thee irefull learne here the benefite of sufferance patient receiue here the crown of durance couetous learne heere to affect pouertie poor receue here how thou hast Christ thy companion the only sonne of God hath made many sons of God hee hath bought him brothers with his bloud approued them and beeing approued redeemed them beeing solde honoured them by suffering dishonours and giuen thē life by suffring death Let him therefore be wholy infixed in your hearts who wholy was crucified for you on the crosse O men loose not these blessings forget not these bounties This Christ subiected himselfe to the power of death that he might deliuer you from the yoake and power of the deuill hee tooke seruitude vpon him that hee might giue you the libertie of eternal life hear what he crieth in your soules and respect his summons O man see what I suffer for thee there is no griefe like to mine I cry vnto thee who died for thee Behold the paines wherwith I am afflicted see the nailes wherwith I am pearced and although the exterior griefe be so great yet the inward sorowes are more vehement when I behold
shew the horrour of thy offence power was made desolate Oh stony heart be not so obstinate let teares drop from thine eyes to recompence the bloud pouring from his wounds sigh bitterly with him that praied earnestlye for thee What is this sinne sayest thou that inforceth such a sacrifice That which maketh all men in the world flie from their saluation and runne after theyr owne concupiscences without anie feare that which leadeth men downe to hell that which blindeth the vnderstanding that which maketh men like vnto foolish beastes for as beastes incline themselues to earthly pleasures so sinners betroth themselues to worldly desires that which maketh men seeke onely those things which are of the flesh that which maketh men esteem their belly for their God Sinners are compared to hogs by their detracting for as the hogge deuoureth doung so detracting sinfull men other mens sinnes and filthines For lecherie they are compared vnto a horse for folly and slownesse to an asse for their solicitude worldlie care to an oxe for their curious cōuersations to an ape for their inconsiderate boldnes to a lyon for their crueltie to a beare for their vanitie to libards for their crafte to a foxe Sinne is the trangression of the laws of God and the disobedience of his commandements Sinne is the contrarie to nature sinne draweth vs from the soueraigne good to make vs subiect to brittle fraile and mutable pleasures Sinne diuideth vs from God To conclude as the Ethnike witnesseth the sinner is onely miserable Sinne depriueth man of eternall beatitude banisheth him from heauen confineth him with hell despoileth him of graces exileth him from paradice Briefely it maketh him the most miserable amongest miserable Sinne peruerteth the order of nature impugneth our reason vigeth our sensualitie sin blindeth the spirite darkneth the vnderstanding ordained to contemplate spirituall things Sinne soileth and infecteth the solue depriueth it of her nuptiall garment and maketh it filthie and loathsome according to that of the Prophet Denigrata est super carbones facies eius Sinne after it hath blinded the vnderstanding hardeneth the heart and maketh obstinate in iniquitie whence commeth the habitude of sinne which is the extremitie of sinne and as Philosophers conclude another nature Hee that sinneth whatsoeuer he be either king in his diadem prince in his purple poore in his miserie he is the slaue of sinne who therefore by sinne is giuen ouer as a praie to vices looseth his libertie and cannot resist his vnhappines See sinner see what horror what confusion Look with what foes you are inuironed that you may knowe the greatnes of your deliuerance you are vncurable by sinne Christ healeth you you are separated from God from the Angels from the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles and Martyrs by sin and Iesus restoreth you you are impouerished by sinne and hee inricheth you you are made abhominable and hee blesseth you O if you knewe howe abiecte wretched a sinfull soule is you woulde resist it saieth a father euen vnto the death Waries plagues famine the whips of God sicknesse dishonours and aduersity the tooles of his correction howe light trifles are these in comparison of loathsome sinne Tyrannies iniuries oppressions the fury of the fire the danger of water the contagion of aire the trembling of the earth finally all the complements of euils which persecute man proceed from sinne so that rightlye it maye bee sayde all that which the wretched suffer their sinnes haue deserued it Oh the horrour of sinne oh the terrible issues thereof wretched men take heede and looke about you let your haires stand vpright for verie fright and let your bloud flie to your heart to comfort it in the extremity of your thoughts no punishment can satisfie for it no death can recompence for it but the flames of hell eternall in theyr extremitie extreame in their eternitie Oh harde hearted soules solde and quite giuen ouer to your owne sensualities beholde the issues of your euill liues beholde your martirdomes for crucifying Christ if you reconcile not weep with him you shall haue perpetuall darknesse without light you shall be depriued of Gods presence a greater tormēt to the damned than may be expressed fire shall burne you vnquenchably darknes shall blind you vnseparably conscience shal accuse you incessantly deuills shall persecute you eternally cries cursinges and blasphemies shall hant you continually desolation and discomfort shall detaine you perpetually Finally without remorse in life there is no redemption after death O Iesus my son how rich art thou in compassiō thou onely healest these wounds recouerest these harmes It is thou onely that canst dull the sting of this death thy bloud onely satisfieth for these defaults Ah deare Lord thou art worthie of teares thou deseruest remorse thou hast purchased compassion Oh woful spectacle for men to weepe at for angels to sigh at Oh sacrifice for sinne O attonement for offences oh seale of redemption O contemplation to extort teares to behold innocencie martired with so many and grieuous wounds Oh libertie taken prisoner oh truth accused oh innocencie whipped oh iustice condemned oh glorie discruciate oh life dead and crucified oh highnesse of charitie oh basenesse of humilitie oh greatnes of mercie oh excesse of bountie Thou hast wept for all art bewailed of none thou hast borne many hurts to cure a few hearts thou hast bene a corrosiue to thy mother to be a cordiall to men but men weepe thee not they passe by wagging their heads at my woe hiding their faces least they shuld be inforced to bewaile thee Theyr hearts are become adamants loathing to spende teares themselues they grieue to grace my teares by hearkning to them Ah heauenly father let me consume with sorrow till I see him let my life passe like a tale that is told let my soul that mourneth within me giue a libel of diuorce to this flesh that I in spirit may seeke him out who in the flesh did glorifie me Thou that rainedst vppon the earth fortie daies to reuenge thee on the rebellious open the cloudes of thy compassion ouer mee that they weeping on mee and I with them I may be drowned in them innocencie may be quickned by me All Iudah Israel mourned for Iosiaz shall teares want to bewaile Iesus See my sonne I will beare thy crosse on my shoulders imprint thy passisions in my heart I will beat so long vpon my breast that the eccho therof shall pearce all eares I will sigh so long till the furnace of my charitie steame out my hart and the winged chast affections of my soul soare heauens search earth finde my sonne or forsake my soule Ah my son no Absolon a sinner but Iesus a sauiour The root of my hope is waxed olde and the stocke thereof is dead in the ground When shal these closed eies open to warme him as his sonne When shall thy breath quicken and cheere my
the faithfull Yours T. L. ERRATA Io A 4 page li. 18 for sonne hath died read son died In the 6 p li 14 for sonne read syen in the 7 li 4 for rest read rest l 19 for lost read lest p 8 l. 8 for queen read quiet p. 9 l 16 17 read one indiuided graue might burie two indiuid p 10 l 16 hart read hearse p 12 l 4 for dissolution read desolation In C p 8 li 3 for a tree read fiue p 10 li 11 read them beeing reproued p 13 l 17 desires read disasters In D p 16 Odâ—tus read Odilus E In p 1 l 20 mortuam read mortuum THE TEARES of MARIE the mother of Christ. AS soone as our Sauioure had paide the tribute of our redemption on the tree of the Crosse and suffered in the flesh for the offences of fleshly men iust and compassionate Ioseph with his associates who had begged the bodie and taken the true Isaac from the pile of the sacrifice wrapped the prison of Christs eternitie in fayre linnen clothes addressing himselfe to beare him to his sepulchre but Mary the maiden mother who during the time of his passion had welnigh emptied all the riuers of her compassion rifled the treasures of her remorse to lament her sonnes most tragike martyrdome accompanying her deuotion with their duty as they wrapt him shee wept him as fitie zeale assisted their hands sounding griefe wrought on hir heart her eie grudged at that their hands did execute and hir eyes onely griefe was so vehement that they executed themselues in executing griefe Ahlas amiable Ladie howe satest thou like the desolate turtle weeping thy make How many legions of miseries were armed against thy sole singular patience Thy dead ioyes gaue thy sorows fâ—â—ck sorrow was so actiue in thee as if thou hadst bin wholy resolued into sorrowe They that beheld thy griefe were amazed to beholde it yet thou in suffring it thoughtest all to little for him thou sufferedst Thou flaming bush replenished with fire yet neuer burning thou flourishing rod of Aaron swiftly springing thou lock of Gedeon filled with celestiall dew how neere neighbours were thy lips to the dere lips of thy sonne How redy were thy handes to discouer thy cause of griefe to the end thou mightest couer those lims which did coÌ„fort thee in life Thornes could not let thee froÌ„ kissing his torne face froÌ„ his dead countenance grew thy disconsolate comfort The suppose of what hee was made thee greeue that so he is the hope of that he would be gouerned and bridled the sorrow wherein thou wouldest be Ah faire among the daughters of Sion hee that had seene thy cheeks like clusters of grapes in Engaddi become more pale than the frosty face of Apennine hee that had seene the mother imbrued in the bloud of her Sonne the Son bedewed with his mothers teares coulde hee leaue off teares except hee had for sworne them Oh ye Angels of peace weep with this virgin mourne heauens droup starres the Lord of heauen hath suffered and Marie sigheth for him the Sonne hath dyed for all the mother deads her heart with sorow for the Lorde of all his dead bodie is the mirror of her losse her liuely griese is the motion and spirite of her loue she exclaimes on cuerie sense but they forsake their offices his eies will not beholde her his tongue will not salute her his handes will not imbrace her his eares will not heare her yet yeldeth her charitie such vigour to all her senses that in looking on him shee seemeth to giue his dead eie a second sight his deaf eare a relenting attention his senselesse armes and hands a habite of imbrace only seeing the tong the vnkindest member in requiting her she betrothed her tongue to complaint and thus most pensiuely lamented O my God lend mine eyes a well of teares for they must weepe a worlde of wrongs Let the voice of my complaintes pearce the heauens and let the centre shake to heare my shriks Ahlas this day must I be tender hauing as many sorrows to weepe for as daies to liue and no daie to liue that hath not his legion of sorrowes Mine eyes breake my heart when I consider what my heart must discharge by mine eyes Oh Lord thou seest my wrong take thou my cause vpon thee for an infinite passion is required to lament my infinite losse I am the tygresse depriued of her young whelp the sacred tree that haue lost my sonne that altar of heauen who want my sacrifice the throne of Salomon who faile my king the orientall gate who lacke the bridegrome I am the root of Iesse the high mountain the ladder of Iacob the propitiatorie the tower of Dauid the terrestrial paradise yet am I not in this that I want my braunch I lack my increase I faile of my Angell I am'depriued of my tenant I am robbed of my keeper and rest of my citizen Come yee daughters of Ierusalem and weepe with mee beholde hee that leadeth captiuitie captiue is nowe a captiue and I in looking on am a caitiue Beholde the golde that was bright is become dimme the doues eyes are growen darke the growing Lillye is quite choaked by thornes weepe yee foolish virgins your bridegroome is parted Feede with poore Marie on the bread of tribulation for I haue lost a sonne and you lost your Sauiour Ah looke with mee you iudiciall eyes of Israell beholde riches apparelled in pouertye beautie obscured in darknes charitie exemplified in death death crucified by charitie Beholde him whose beautie the Sunne Moon admire whose maiesty the heauens and earth reuerence whose wisedome yeeldes wisedome to the queene of Angels by whose beautie the colledge of all happie soules are maintained beholde him liuelesse to get you lyfe breathlesse for your benefite naked to giue you clothing wounded for your weal bleeding for your behest and can you chuse but weepe with the mother the losse of such a sonne Red waxe in the Sunne becommeth white hard diamondes in vineger waxe softe one Summer ripes many fruites since then the Sunne of iustice hath shined vpon you be ye mollified like waxe lenyified like diamonds tipened like fruite that the water of angels may drop from your eies that the fire of charitie may cause compassion distill from your braines so that weeping with me so great a losse as I weepe the world may know the want of him we weepe for I lifte not vp my voice with Esau to weepe hee found a brother I haue lost a sonne Iacob kissed Rachel and wept for ioy to see her I kisse the bodie of my sonne and weepe because I see him not Oh would my Rachel might bee his woundes woulde my concubine were his crosse would his winding cloathes were my wedding coats indiuided graue might bear to indiuided heartes The daughters of Israel wepte ouer Saul and hee a wicked king O yee daughters of Ierusalem weepe
barrennesse the daies of my desolation are come The blessedst amongest women is now the miserablest amongst mothers Grief hath brought mee to deaths doore my sonne but death will not let me enter oh then shewe thy deitie to helpe thy mother and let me die in this desolate flesh to liue in thy diuine bodie the ioy in possessing the one shall temper the losse of the other and dying in my selfe to giue thee life I shall liue in death by reason of thy lyfe O Lorde Lord of my life how hath zeal made mee presume no soule meriteth to dwel in this body but thine own thus impatience in loue makes mee too much presume for loue Fruites long time shut in their buds by rain deawe and sunne are made to blossome riuers closde in then bounds by huge windes are forced to ouerlope the bankes The Ostridge by helpe of the Sun and sand breaketh the shell ripen then thou roote of mine for the raine of remorse hath watered thee the deaw of compassion hath wet thee the sunne of my zeale and charitie hath looked on thee and inflamed thee rise rouse thy selfe thou riuer of God for the windes of my sighs haue summoned thee ouerbeare death holye spring of happines and let the waters of life issue from thee Breake the shell of death thou that fastedst in the desart and let the sunne of my desire quicken the sun of vnderstanding be not to long in conquering death least I loose life in wailing thy death How long ô Lorde howe long wilt thou delay Shall death neuer haue end because my life may be deuoured in death Wilt thou not awake like a strong warriour to conquere these passions with combat with thy mothers heart Set thine axe to the tree of my sorrowe let mine eyes which bewaile thee dead beholde thee liuing let mine eares which are scard with mine owne clamors bee consolated by thy counsels let mee smell thee the rose and see thee the lilly richly clothed let me tast howe sweet the Lord is let me touch him whose absence toucheth mee at the hart let my imagination be the vsher to present thee my memorie the painter to describe thee my consideration the fire to kindle loue Let hell hunger thirst weepe and waile come thou and ioy with Israel thou hast not to doo with Aegypt Come thou corner stone and let me builde on thee wed me to death so thou returne to life I cannot want thee I will not misse thee my loue is so feruent as it neither measures iudgement or regardeth counsel or is brideled by shame or subiect to reason come yeeld me peace with a kisse of thy mouth and let my importunacy work more with thee than all expectation can require Lēd me the cloak of thy presence to diuide the waters of my woes let thy mother bee as strong as thy prophet that by praying to our Lorde with teares by putting my mouth on thy mouth by fastning mine eies to thine eies by closing my handes in thy handes I may make the flesh of my sonne wax warme as he warmed the flesh of the Sunamites child then gasping seuen times I wold kisse thee seuētie times seuen seeme more thy louer than thy mother I wold expostulate with thee of thine absence and if thy wounds fell new a bleeding I would wash them with my teares my hairs should dry them my lips should suck them thou shouldest make me more than a mother in recouering mee an absent sonne Well Lorde if thou denyest that I want I will reioyce in that I haue I wil symbolise thy body with mine and quicken thy passion by my sufferance There shal no sorrow be hid from mine eies till I see thy eyes open and till the eies of our Lord quicken mee the eie of poore Marie shall see no comfort mine eie shal onely see by supposing thine eie seeth all pleasures shal be smoake to mine eies till thy eies doo beholde them till thy eies bee waking mine eies shall be weeping and vnles they grow open I will shut mine eies with sorrow I will set a sure seale vppon my lips till thy lips salute me my lips shall become white as the lilly til thy lips grow crimson like a rose coloured riband My vnsained lips shal bee tired with praier till such time I may inioy thy desired presence my handes shall neuer vnfolde till the hands of my Lord be extended I wil neuer deliuer thy bodie out of my hands till thou deliuer my soule out of her sorrow I will lay my hand vppon my mouth till thou speakest neuer wil I cease to lift vp my hands to heauen till thy hands haue imbraced me on earth till thou put foorth thy hand I will leane my head vpon my hande and till thy fingers touch me my heart shall bee touched with sorrow the wings of the cherubines touched one another ô let the wings of my charity touch the wings of my life both are allied both loue They that touched the hem of thy vesture recouered from their sicknesse shall not I touch thy bodie to recouer me of my sorrow The bodie which liueles touched the bones of Elisa were restored to life and shall my hands touch thee my lippes kisse thee my loue importune thee and thou not liue All heauie thinges by nature search the center I am in the abundance of my heauinesse and cannot descend into the graue I will glorie in tribulation so thou grace me in thy life My soule is in bitternesse and heauie captiuitie oh make my burden light by once looking on mee The Iewes by smiting haue wounded thee thou by absence hast wounded mee sorrow and wounds are euer in my sight touch I thy browe thornes haue wounded it kisse I thy cheekes crimson hath forsaken them thy sides are wounded thy hands are wounded thy feet are wounded my wounds cannot bee hid till thy wounds be healed and til thou liue to recure mee I shall die thorough wanting thee Thou hast promised that whatsoeuer wee shall faithfully aske in thy name thou wilt grant it vs. Then ô Iesu my sonne my cōforter I coniure thee by thine owne name Iesus to blunt and abate the sting of death to breake vp and dispearse the cloudes of darknes and appearing like a fair morning starre quicken the dead comfort of thy mother and giue a light to this desolate and dismaide worlde Shew the light of thy countenance and I shall be whole O Lord my redeemer tarrie not my soule thirsteth after thee my sonne as the hart desireth the hart desireth the water brookes euen so my soule longeth after thee my God Appeare then thou chief shepheard thy flocks saint without thee Apparell thy selfe with life to apparell our hearts with ioy my eies long fore for thy sight oh when wilt thou comfort me O who will giue my head water inough and a spring of teares for mine eies that I
houle and lament a Sauior is departed from you a iust king hath suffered Let your faces bee swolne with weeping for I wil water my couch with teares Let the voice of my mourning bee heard in your streetes for the noise of tribulation is harbored in my heart Weepe discomfortable teares and I wil mingle my drinke with weeping with weeping conduct that Lord to the graue who weepingly bewailed and be wailingly wept ouer your Citie Inforce your selues to weepe whilest my eyes faile me thorough weeping powre your teares on his heart whilest I feede on teares daie and night I will powr all my teares into his wounds he will put all your teares into his bottell Let your teares run like a riuer let my teares be seas to suck them vp only assist me in my strong weeping and teares and he will wipe awaie all your teares Why claime I partners in my griefe who haue no partners in my loue No creatute loued thee deerer in thy life shal I seeke associats in bewailing thee Ah my son could ought but death depart thee and mee Nay coulde there be one step betwixt mee and death who onelye in death maye now seeke thee O Iesu my Father my Sonne see heere an indissoluble Enigma I a Virgine had thee a Sonne thou a son hadst mee a spouse my sonne is my father and I am the daughter of my sonne I will then weepe for thee as my father sigh for thee as thy daghter die for thee as thy spouse and grieue for thee as thy mother as thou art wonderfully mine so will I weepe such a labyrinth of teares as no mortall mourner shalbe able to tract them I will dissolue my relenting yelding passions with all their fruites to lament thee as a sonne I will put on the roabes of dissolution to mourne for thee as my spouse I wil gather ingrosse al griefe to weep for thee as my father beginning where I end and ending where I began I will make my tears famous in their continuance and my loue more inflamed by thinking on thee I coniure you ye daughters of Ierusalem to looke on me but weepe no more with me I lament a sonne lost to teach you to weepe for the sorowes of your children to come but if the entrailes of your pittie springs of compassion must needes breake out weepe you onely his harmes in life let me bewaile the losse of him by death my confident minde and firme constancie when the world was disturbed at his passion made me peremptorie when the earth trembled I was not troubled whē the pilets of heauen were shaken I sounded not they sell I stood now am I drowned in the sea of bitternes his eie of compassion the pilot in those seas hath lefte mee the helme of my hope is broken the sunne of my comfort is eclipsed hee hath past the brierie thornie paths the scourges hath registred his patience on his backe the nailes haue tied his triumphs our sinnes his bodie to the crosse I niurie hath spit her venom Infamie hath doone his worst Iustice hath ransackt his right wayle this yee daughters of Ierusalem for your children shall wring for it I onely exclaim on death death hath triumphed ouer life til glory ouercome death the holie one hath perished fished seeth no corruption one daies one houres one minutes want of that I loue maks euery day an age euerie houre a million of ages euerie minute an eternitie of sorrow for that I want O you that passe this waie beholde this bodie you that looke on these wounds see these lims tell me Is not beautie oppressed Maiestie imbased Innocencie martired Come neere and iudge if anie griefe may bee compared with mine The fairer children we haue the dearer we loue them and shuld I who bare the mirrour of all beautie in my wombe cease to weep for him You men of Israel that beholde this bee not amazed at my griefe my loue was extreame my griefe must not be extenuate the grace was great to beare Christ the courage is as great to bewaile him his beautie was infinite and shall my moanes bee definite These thornes which martyrize his beautious browes this bloud which bedeweth his bloudlesse face these woundes that disgrace his blessed bodie this humilitie in so great mighty a monarch ' are prickes and spurs to egge you vnto repentance springes to washe you from your wickednesse gates to bring you to glory all these are but stinges to stir you to loue God mirrors in which you see his beautie books in which you reade his wisedome and preachers which teach you the waie to heauen Oh thou paschall lambe whose bloud hath bin sprinkled on the timber of the cross Oh thou by whō men are deliuered frō y e thraldom of Egipt the captiuity of the prince of this world whose death killed their death whose sacrifice satisfied for their sinnes Whose bloud deliuereth them from the chastising Angell whose meeknes pacifieth the ire of the father and whose innocencie deserueth for them true securitie and iustice Thou booke which the Prophet sawe written both within and with out why striue not men by theyr sighs to breath life into thee And why should not my cries of compassion recall thy spirit Ahlas my God sinne hath gotten the vpper hand these Iewes are amazed thy mother vnable their zeale cold my power small the vnbeleeuing are many and penitents haue too fewe teares to bewaile thee yet while teares yeeld me anie tribute sighes vouch safe me anie succour tongue affoord me anie words I will weep for thee sigh for thee and talke of thee desiring rather to surfet in wordes than to shroude my zeale and rather die in bewailing thee to much than liue to lament thee too little O thou glasse of grace who hath bespotted thee who hath brought thee into the shadow of death Ah deare soule what northwind of sin hath blowen hether al this tempest meeknesse could not offend patience did not insult innocencie was faultlesse the vvolfe shoulde haue suffered not the lambe the guiltie not the guiltlesse Oh the immeasurable reach of thy mercie I haue spied the insearchable bent of the same thou hast lefte life to reuiue them that loath thee suffred death for such as detracted from thee borne mans infirmities and satisfied his sinnes O grace beyond all conceit O marucilous mysterie Thou diedst for man man declineth from thee thou sufferedst for his sinnes he sigheth not for thy death O men swift footed to run to wickednes haue you no affects to bewaile him who suffered for your defects Wil you not weep for the prophet that died for your profit Haue you no teares to spend for him whose life is spent for you O ingratefull O iniurious drawe neere and behold a mother bewailing your ingratitude a son dead for your redemption and though you lament him not for the plentious consolations
holye Ghost the flower sprong A branch shall springe out of the roote of lesse and a flower shall ascende from the roote as faith Esaie And what other is this braunch O thou blessedst amongest women but thy selfe the virgine of God what this flower but thy sonne O crimson rose Iesus how in all thy bodie shine the perfect signes of thy loue Ahlasse there is no little space lefte without impression of loue or griefe Hearke what Ambrose faith further of this virgin She fixed not her happines in vncertaine substaunce but fastned her hope to her son Christ intentiue in her workes modest in her sayinges whose purpose was not to satisfie man but to seeke after God to hurt none but to succour all to salute euerie one to reuerence her elders not to hate her equalls to slie boasting to followe reason to loue vertue When dyd this virgin hurt her parents with disobedient lookes When dissented she from hir friends When despised she the humble When decided she the weake When shunned she the needie Accustoming her selfe to conuerse onely with that companie of men whose conuersation shee might not be ashamed of Whome past shee by without modestie hauing nothing crabbed in her looks nothing crooked in her sayiugs nothing immodest in her actions not wanton in gesture not insolent in gate not foolish in voice but such she was that the verie beautie portraiture and forme of her body was the image of her mind and figure of her honestie The beautie of this tēple of the Deity was expressed in the Canticles where it is sayd O howe faire art thou my loue Howe faire art thou Thine eies are like doues eies yet is there farre more hidden within This is the paradyce which God prepared to put the second Adam in This is that virgin of whom Hierome speaketh which passed the night in contemplation watching the thiefe in loue of God the most learned in humilitie the most humble in the psalms of Dauid the most elegant in charitie most feruent in puritie the most pure and in all vertue the most perfect All her words were alwaies full of grace because she had God alwaies in her mouth shee continually praide and as the Prophet sayd meditated in the lawe of God daie and night This is the virgin of virgins the humble of hūblest in whome humilitie greatned virginitie virginitie adorned humilitie This is shee whose humilitie adorned her fecunditie and whose fecunditie consecrated her virginitie This is that Marie into whose armes the faire vnicorne Iesus retyred himselfe after a long pursuit by the praiers teares and sighs of the fathers This is the exalted according to the Hebrew or the starre of the sea as Hierome translateth it or the mistres of mankinde according to the Siriake This is she of whom the Sibils prophesied This is she whom Euodius Peters successour calleth immaculate without spot glorious in humilitie This is shee appointed before all ages to beare the great fruit This is the animated arke of the liuing God which brought many blessinges to Zacharie and Elizabeth as the Arke of the couenant did to Obed Edom. This is shee of whom Albumazar prophesied who speaking of the signe of the Virgine sayde that there shoulde an immaculate virgine be borne sayre elegant and modest that should norish an infant in Iudea who shoulde be called Christ. Of this virgin there was found a testimony on the tomb of a pagan where in a plot of ground these wordes were written found in Constantine and his mother Irenes time An infant named Christ shall bee borne of a virgine and I beleeue in him O sonne thou shalt see mee againe in the time of Constantine and his mother Irene The like Zonoras reporteth of a certaine Iew who in a certaine ancient book written in three languages vsed these wordes This is shee in whome Nestorius denying the vniting of the humanitie with the diuinitie our Lorde in iustice caused wormes to deuour and eate out his tongue This is she in whom all vertues did concurre all learning abound all deuotions flowe all comforts depend This is she as Gregorie testifieth which foretolde the Iewes of their destruction and the desolation of their citie This is the true celestiall Pandora decked and inriched with the whole gifts of God the father the sonne and the holie Ghost This is shee whome the Moores reported to surpasse in excellence this is the perfectest of all perfections as the Turkes and Arabians testifie This is shee whome all the fathers in deuotion the Mahumetists in theyr Alcoran set foorth with praises and inrich with titles Oh sweete mother of God who so speaketh of thee as Hierome sayth speaketh insufficiently humane abilitie cannot attain it humane industrie is too weake for it Whether art thou transported my soule O my heart bee no more rauished with ioye intentiue to praise looke back to the foot of the crosse there is more cause of meditation more cause of moane Ahlasse what seest thou Nay what seest thou not to bewaile If thou seest the virgines lappe it is bloudied with the streames that fall from her Sonnes wounded head If thou seest her modest eies they are almost swolne and sunke into hir head with teares If thou looke for her pure colour it is decaied with extreame sorrowe her breasts are defaced with often beating of her handes her handes are wearyed by often beating of her breasts If shee looke on the one side shee sees Marie the sinner washing her sons feet with her tears if on the other she beholdeth Ioseph wofully preparing his funeralls if on the other she seeth virgins mourning if on the other she beholdeth soldiers mocking if anie waies she sees sorrowes plentifull knowing therfore in her selfe that true griefe correcteth the minde salueth the offence and maintaineth innocence shee gan renue her teares and thus tenderly bewailed her If it bee a custome in nature that fountains return from whence they first issued bodies bee resolued to that wherof they were first created ahlasse why should not the same law be in my tears which first springing from loue must be buried in loue no sooner buried but renued nothing before his fulnesse hath his fairenesse his ripenesse his strength his perfection his praise Why then delaie I my teares which can neuer receiue their excellence till they bee wepte to their vtteraunce Ahlasse ahlas teares are sweet weapons to wound and to winne harts I will vse them I will inuite them I will maintaine them I will triumph in them Come my son what now shall I weep in thee Not thy death for it is thy triumph not thy contēpts for they were thy cōtents but thy martyrdom which wrought my miserie O sinfull soules behold two altars raised by one massacre one in the bodie of Christ the other in the heart of the virgin on the one is sacrificed the flesh of the sonne on the other the soule of the mother such a death
with Iob that thou mayest a little bewaile thy dolours push forth thy teares of griefe and make them flowe in abundaunce for laughlng thou descendest to hel but murning thou ascendest to heauen Wilt thou haue Christ dwel with thee mourn Wilt thou haue Christe dwell in thee mourne Wilt thou haue sinne mortified in thee mourn Wilt thou haue grace plentyfull in thee mourne O remember that Peter after hee had bewayled his apostasie found greater grace by his teares than hee lost by his deniall Looke on Dauid the adulterer hee weepeth and is restored Look on Agar the desolate she weepeth and is comforted Looke on weeping Anne she recouereth her barrennesse Looke on mourning and weeping Iob hee ouercommeth his temptations mourning Ieremie prophesieth the mourning Publicane is iustifyed and mourning Ioseph is deliuered Oh teares of great worth working great thinges with GOD. By teares Marie obtayned the pardon of her sinnes by teares shee obtained the resurrection of her deade brother for her teares sake the Angelles came and comforted her for her teares sake our Sauiour first appeared and shewed himselfe vnto her Great is the vertue and power of teares which tie the handes of the omnipotent ouercome the inuincible appease the wrath and indignation of the Iudge and doth change and conuert it into mercie Hee that standeth on a profound and deepe pit sayeth the Philosopher seeth the stars at noonstead where hee that standeth on the face of the earth seeth not one starre in so great a light In like maner he that is placed in the deapth of humilitie teares sighs and tribulation sigheth to heauen and summoneth God by his cries but hee that standeth in the light of this worlde and in the brightnesse of worldlye lasciuiousnesse can see no star or retaine anie grace Shall I teach you how to bewaile Christ First loue him for loue vniteth things together drawing all mans interest from himself and placing it in another when thou art conuerted into Christ then mayest thou truely bewaile him For the losse of things then neerest touch vs when they are best knowee vnto vs. Those that are one in affection are one in passiō one in desires one in teares one in loue one in sorrow one in minde one in martyrdome mockers martyr Christ penitents weep for him blasphemeis crucifie him the sorrowfull are comforted by him O men learne and vnderstand this our Lord suffered of will not of necessitie and hee indured of commiseration we in condition his voluntarie passion therefore is our necessarie consolation that being afflicted as hee was we may be confident as he was Will you know the hunger and thirst of this aduocate Ahlasse hee scarce found one theese on the gallowes whome hee might taft his Apostles are fled from him and hid them in the throng Peter that promised to perseuer till death hath denied him Wherevpon then shall hee feed if all soules flie him Nay howe can hee hope orf loue where none weep for him Oh man thou art made iust by the iustice of God Thou art saued gtatis and not by thy graces thou hast none to flie to but to him in necessities thou hast no life but it proceedeth from him vnder the Sunne thou hast nothing but watching sleeping eating drinking hunger thirst growth weaknes infancy childhood youth age and all these hee gaue thee Aboue the Sunne thou hast inuisible faith inuisible hope inuisible charitie inuisible bountie inuisible feare in holynesse which he willingly offereth thee Oh then giue him teares for his treasures a small interest for so great riches Oh yee sinful race of men what are you but a sacke of necessities Ahlasse what necessities are these Not to knowe anothers heart to thinke ill oftentimes of a faithfull friend to thinke well oftentimes of a dissembling enemie O hard necessitie yet another harder Thou knowest not what thou shalt be tomorow O greatest miserie yet another harder Thou must needes die O harde necessitie not to wyll that which thou canst not escape In this confusion what canst thou man Whether art thou carried How art thou bannished Crie and crie out vnhappie man that I am who shall deliuer mee from these Who shall aunswere thee Who shall helpe thee Not ambition for it is blinde not lust for it hastens death not wrath for it subdueth reason not the infirmities of the world for they are all fraile It must be humble Iesus then that must heal these imperfectious recouer these necessities determine these daungers to whom thou no sooner canst offer teares but he sodainly sendeth remedies Oh what hart can bee so hardned What mind so obdurate What soul so sensles that beholding a prince in his owne kingdome amongst his owne subiects massacred by his owne sonne wil not grieue at it by how much reason then ō you bond slaues of sinne should you be sorrowfull that see a prince not slaughtered in his owne kingdome but vniustly murthred in the world not among his subiectes but his brethien not by his sonnes onely but sonnes seruants and liegemen nay which is more not for his owne offence his owne default his owne errour but for their sinnes onely who persecute him onely Oh wonderful charitie Christ spreadeth his armes to imbrace those that spit at him openeth his woūds to intertain those that will enter offereth his bloud to ran some them that shedde it giueth his flesh to bee eaten to those that mangled it he praieth for theyr offences that fastned him to the crosse he made their sinnes his sinne that hee might make his iustice their iustice Oh if there be anie kindnesse in thee man thinke on these benefits looke looke about thee consider the waight of thy offences which stops the Fathers cares though the sonne crieth Make Christ sweat water and bloud for verie agonie in bearing them make heauen and earth and all creatures breake out in miracles to beholde them Iob vppon the deuils request was lefte to him to bee tempted and after his long patience receiued blessinges two folde but our Lord was whipte and no man helped him foulely spit vppon and no man succoured him lewdly buffetted and no man regarded him crowned with thornes and no man pittied him nailed to the crosse and no man deliuered him hee cryed My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and was not succored Why oh good Iesu whence came these thinges For what cause sufferedst thou all this To what end are all these torments Why cryed the Iewes Crucifie crucifie Why wert thou poured out like water Why were all thy bones dispearsed Why became thy heart like melting wax Why cleaued thy tong to thy roof Why diuided they thy garments cast lots on thy vesture O Christ the sonne of God if thou wouldest not thou shuldest not haue suffred shew vs therfore the fruit of this thy passion It was thy sinne O sinner that caused this it was thy disobedience to God that was punished in Gods sonne to