Grace sanctification This second farre exceedes our first Creation To passe from darknesse to the glorious light And libertie of Heires of true saluation When loos'd from Satans bands we walke aright And with this shield of Faith 'gainst all our enemies fight 58 My ioynts doe tremble and mine heart doth quake When I Faiths wondrous workes begin to write Shee from the sleepe of sinne doth me awake Into sweet libertie and glorious light My Members that in sinne did earst delight And worldly lusts shee maketh to obay Defacing in me th' old Mans image quite Sinnes fogs and mists of errour driues away And turnes my night of griefe to ioyfull Sunne-shine day 59 Like Enoch now me thinkes with God I walke And haue with Angels happy conuersation Like Abram I with God doe friendly talke And wrestle by diuinest Meditation Loe rapt to the third heau'n by contemplation I there such ioy and glorie bright behold As Peter did at 's Lords Transfiguration Such glorie bright and ioy cannot be told Faith this to true Beleeuers onely doth vnfold 60 And now with 〈◊〉 Iohn Peter I could say Vpon the Mount 'T is good Lord to be here And wish our Mansions there may last for ay Where such delight and happinesse appeare Where I like Stâ—â—'n behold most plaine and cleare Heau'n open and Christ sit at Gods right hand The glorious Bridegroome longing for his Deare Hierusalem the glorie of the Land The head whose members are in number like the Sand. 61 But ah we all like 〈◊〉 fond desire To Righteous later end for to attayne But neuer for to liue like them enquire But seeke for Balaaks honours gifts and gayne But they that will with Christ in glorie raigne Must looke with him on earth to beare his Crosse. The Coward neuer Honour doth obtaine Who from his Captayne runnes for life or losse All in comparison of Christ is dung and drosse 62 Yet I alas doe oft like Fâ—â—lix fare Tremble to heare of Iustice and damnation Or thinke Paul mad And if it doth prâ—pare Mine heart fit for good tidings of saluation I am withdrawne by Worlds negotiation To put it off vnto another day I oft like Peter make great protestation To die for Christ but come I to the fray I deeply him forsweare or else I runne away 63 Yea oft when I some inward flashings feele As if Faith now were to some measure growne I straight waxe cold faint totter stagger reele As if Faith's seedes were scarcely in me sowne Or I true inward comfort ne're had knowne Nor tasted spirituall Grace yet I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Thy power 's showne Most in my weaknesse Lord then me releeue And from Sinnes baits and Satans malice me reprieue 64 Nor would I onely wish for to obtaine The faithfuls glorie and her Garland weare But if neede be would beare my share in paine Not that I able thinke my selfe to beare Those grieuous â—orments as thy Martyrs were But let me measure like of Faith receaue My body cut broile scal'd hang saw sterue seare 'T is Gods great grace we in him may beleeue But greater for Christs sake vnto his Crosse to cleaue 65 Why then should I wish Honour Wealth Promotion Which in this World are transitorie vaine And in mine heart no roome leaue for deuotion Or godlinesse which is the greatest game He that to all things needfull would attaine Must seeke Gods Kingdome first and Righteousnesse Loe then all other things doe come amaine But ah it is my fault I must confesse To looke on present shewes and not on good successe 66 So that when of the grand Mogull I reade Great Lord of misse-beleeuing India Whose wealth and Empire farre out-strip indeede All Kings of Europe and of Africa Great China's King Châ—â— of Tartaria The least of which the grand Mogull exceede That potent Prince Sophie of Persia Great Turke Virginia's Poâ—hatan these breede In me such doubting oft I stumble at my Creede 67 Th' whole World to God compar'd than point is lesse Earth to the World to the Earth Christendome And but a Point of these Christ â—right professe Of these Professors but a Point become Beleeuers true So that the little summe Of all Christs flocke as Point is to compare With those that headlong to the Deuill runne What then All these huge troupes in errour are And thus Point onely in the true and right way fare 68 Why then doe Fooles of Vniuersâ—ll 〈◊〉 As note infallible of sound beliefe Seeing the Deuill hath the worst and most And few alas acknowledge Christ as chiefe But soft my Muse thou merit'st iust repriefe To draw in matters here of disputation Thy taske of Faith is to discourse in briefe And to erect thy thoughts by meditation Disputes are fit for Schooles not Muses recreation 69 Lord make me one of this thy little Flocke Of that small number that beleeue aright That fall not downe before a stone or stoâ—ke But being by Faith endude with heau'nly light Know they are alwayes in their Makers sight That wheresoe're we lift pure hands to pray To thee or whensoeuer by day or night To thee alike are both the night and day True Faith in Christ to God our prayers preseâ—teth ay 70 Grant that by Faith I may a heart obtaine Chams Moguls China's glorie to despise With all Worlds pompe wealth honour lustre vaine By Faith so clearely open thou mine eyes To see thy Sunne of Righteousnesse arise That glorious Sunne whose beames doe neuer fall Vpon the proud ambitious worldly-wise But on the meeke obedient that with Paul Doe not consult with flesh and blood when thou dost call 71 Lord thou hast promised thou wilt not quench The smoking flaxe nor breake the bruised Reede Thou mak'st a weake Faith grow from strength to strength Vnto her fulnesse and ripe age indeede Thou plant'st and watrest so this little seede That it doth grow to infiniâ—e increase Like the fiue Loâ—ues that did fiue thousand feede Yet did into twelue baskets-full encrease By vsing grace and vertue grow and not decrease 72 Who then soe're he be that doth beleeue Perish shall not but haue eternall Life The calling and the gifts which God doth giue Without Repentance are The Bridegroomes Wife Is lou'd for euer Neuer any strife Can separate Christs loue He that can free Vs from the fiery Furnace Saue our life From Lyons hungrie iawes We know that he Is wise and better knowes what 's good for vs than we 73 And now by Faith I dare my Maker call Father Christ brother Heau'n my Inheritance The Angels mine attendants lest I fall Behold I dare my shield of Faith aduance Against Despaire the Deuils keenest lance Death Angels Life Powers Principalities Things present Things hereafter for to chance Height depth no Creature 's able to deuise To turne from me Gods loue which doth in Christ arise 74 What shall we say if God be on our side Who can against vs be If he not spare His owne
by Gods helpe thou shalt against them all preuaile 51 So by this mightie Power we shall at length Be Victors though Sinne seeme vs here to foile Lord grant me this spirituall Pow'r and Strength That though my Body suffer here a while And like a Coward oft doth take the foile I may with courage so my Soule defend No Power me of spirituall Armes despoile Lord grant I practise may what I commend So I with prayse my Booke and Meditation end 52 Thus as one of the Bridegromes meanest Friends I to adorne the Bride doe offer here These Ornaments The gift no worth commends But He to whom the Widdowes mite was deare Because shee all her substance offred there Will well accept of this poore Offering That when I shall at that great day appeare Before the Iudge to giue my reckoning This time may be allow'd me for Gods honouring FINIS The third Booke consisting of fiue MEDITATIONS viz. 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie and 5. Ioy. And The fourth Booke of viz. 1. Prudence 2. Obedieâ—ce and 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word and 5. Prayer Were Likewise intended by the Authour at this time for the Presse But the euer-lamented losse of his most honored Lord which hath changed all his Ioyes into Sorrowes and Songs to Lamentations hath beene the cause of deferring their publishing A FVNERALL ELEGIE Consecrated to the memorie of his euer-honoured Lord IOHN KING Late Lord Bishop of London LEt others call their Muse to helpe them mourne And books of Tragique Scenes and Stories turne My Heart abundant matter shall indite If but the halfe I of my sorrow write Were it a priuate losse of mine alone I could it smother with a priuate grone But ah I ring my Fathers Fathers knell The Charet and Horsemen of Israel Happy Elisha when the fiery Horse And Charets thee did from thy Master force Whilst he in Whirlewind vp to Heauen ascends His Spirit doubled downe on thee descends But ah I haue no Spirit but to mourne And wash with teares this sacred Fathers Vrne His 〈◊〉 is not left me to diuide Mine Eyes from Teares as Iordanes floods were dride Yet had I but his Spirit here to tell How stoutly he opposed Iezabel And all her Baalling superstitious crew Of Prophets and their Idols ouerthrew How firmely he in his Religion stood Readie till Death to seale it with his blood Without least Bastard thought to change that Truth Which was in him firme rooted from his youth I then might iusâ—ly hope my feeble Verse Had done full right vnto thy wronged Herse For I should muzzell those that wrong thy fame And die them like their whoare scarlet in shame Should force into their face that modest blood That left them ere since they left Truth and Good Yet why should I thinke much that Calumnie Labours to cloud thy Names bright memorie Since that Iust One thy Sauiour after Death Could not auoid Slanders envenom'd breath And if thy Lord and Masters fate were such Let not thy Ashes grieue to beare as much Oh sacred Spirit enclos'd in frailest mold Of britle Clay when I did thee behold Praying Elias-like thou couldst constrayne The Heau'ns to water all the Earth with rayne And when thy zealous tongue touch'd with the flame Which Seraphin had from the Altar taâ—ne Thou like to Paul or Peter didst diuine Three thousand Soules conuerting at a time When thou didst sit on Iustice sacred Throne Thy Prudence shin'd like that of Solomon And Samuel-like so equall didst diuide Thou often gau'st content to either side Like Aristotles thy Schole Disputations Thy Speeches Tullies eloquent Orations Thy Lectures all Ideas most diuine Where Arts like Starres in Firmament doe shine Did â— behold thee in thy Familie Thy House a Temple of the Deitie Thou Dauid-like didst to th' Almightie sweare No wicked riotous Person should come there You worthy Tribe of Leui when you want And find your shorne allowance all too scant His 〈◊〉 which refresht you often blisse And gaue you Liuengs free as they were his You Poore lament whom he so often fed Not with his Doctrine onely but his Bread And Strangers when you want his losse lament Who vnto you such large allowance sent One and the same Rule in things Temporall He did obserue as in Spirituall Who so on Earth doth plentifully sow May well expect a like increase to mow Most happy Man if Vertue Honour Right Or any worldly Blisse make happy wight Home and abroad honour'd belou'd and fear'd Him Grace and Learning vnto all endear'd But oh what Mortall stands so sure and fast That here may be call'd happy till his last To whom the People erst Hosanna cride When he in triumph doth through Sion ride Ere many dayes was on the Crosse so shaken As if he fear'd himselfe of God forsaken So when this Saint like Paul the â—ged sung To build vp Sions ruines with his Tongue The rauish'd Hearers with thy message strooke Sate as they had no powr's but Eare and Looke Both which did yeeld thy Worth such loud applause As if an Angels Trump had lent thee voyce I thinke their strict attention did fore-see They neuer more should heare so much from thee A Swan-like Dittie for it was his last For ere the Sunne had round his circuit past He that for Sions building vp did pray Did in his owne fraile Temple feele decay My Soule eu'n trembles but thy groanes to heare Alas how couldst thou them with Patience beare Afflictions which would breake a brasen Wall And hardest Milstone grin'd to powder small But Hee in Heau'n that heard thee groane and weepe And all thy teares did in his Bottle keepe When it was full doth take of thee compassion And freed thee from thy paynes and bitter passion Eu'n on that Day whereon we celebrate His Passion whom thou liu'dst to imitate Loe God doth millions of his Angels send Thy sorrowes here with heau'nly Ioyes to end Shall we bewaile thy happy commutation Now chang'd from Earth to heau'nly Habitation Where as thy Ioyes the Angels farre surpast Which neuer of thy Miseries did taste For there thou dost that Psalme of comfort ring Which none but Saints afflicted here can sing That Ioy which neuer had in Heau'n beene knowne But by those Saints that vnder crosses groane That Ioy which feeles God comfort vs againe After he hath vs plagu'd on Earth with paine And for a few yeares of aduersitie Rewards in Heau'n with Ioyes eternitie Which giues for Sorrow Ioy for Labour Rest A Hau'n to vs whom Shipwracke erst distrest From Danger Safetie Light vnto the eye Long blind in Dungeons obscuritie Life after Death doth make our liues more sweet Who here Christs plentifull afflictions meet Shall haue in him a plenteous consolation Then let vs all that wait for like saluation In Body like this Saint the dying beare Of 's dying Lord and let him neuer feare But his Lords life shall be made manifest In Him when He our Labour turnes to Rest. But more my Muse is as vnfit to write As are my sorrowes stupid to endite Onely Shee thus the publique losse bemones And what Shee wants in words supplyes with grones Act. 2. 3. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Christ. Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Daugh. Church Daugh. Church Christ. Christ. Apples †Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church a 1. Sam. 2â— 39. 40. b 1. Sam. 18. 18. c Mark 1. 3. d Iohn 3. 29. * Matth. 22. 9. f Can. 2. 14. 3. 7. g Caâ— 5. 1 2. h 2. Cor. 12. 1 2 3 4. i Matth. 22. 2 3 4. k Caâ— 7. 1 2 c. l Luk. 2. 32. m Luk. 14. 17 18 c. n Apoc. 22. 1 2. o Can. 5. 1. p Can. 4. 12. 6. 2. q Apoc. 21. 4. * Apoc. 5. 11. Quaere Iâ—dg 9. 8. * Pâ—nitentia * 〈◊〉 †Christs †Strength †Strength * Presumption a Infidelitie b Despaire †Heart †Iesus †By reason ¶ By sense * Reuel 6. 10. 11. †Mens merits * Separatists * 〈…〉 Truth of Iudgement Truth of Heart Truth of Speech Truth of Action †Potaâ—iana 3. Esdr. 4. * 〈◊〉 Gen. 32. 33. * Woman-Man * Cutter
for ay 2 Whom as we loue ' boue all things by him wrought So all his glorious Workes in him we loue And eu'n that Word whereby to passe he brought This all in whom eu'n all doe liue bee moue The same is Authour Finisher of Loue The Sea from which all streames of Loue doe flow Which here refresh the tender plants and proue Most soueraigne medicine to the Saints below Whereby in goodnesse loue and vertue they may grow 3 And as the Brookes their tribute-streames doe send Vnto the boundlesse Ocean whence they moue So though on Saints and Poore we freely spend What we receiue yet to this Sea of Loue We must tend alwayes as the steele doth moue With Load-stone touched to the Arctique Pole All other motions violent doe proue This is the obiect of true Loue this sâ—le The Center is of Loue on which all Loue doth roll 4 Authour and Finisher Thou Word of power Center and Load-stone Obiect Sea of Loue Sweet drops of Grace vpon mine heart downe shower Attract my steely thoughts tow'rds heau'n to moue Teach me the complement of man true Loue O helpe me to expresse what I conceaue Of thine affection which thee from aboue Made to descend and all thy Glorie leaue And to the cursed Crosse for loue of man to cleaue 5 Of that dread loue by which the Trinitie Ineffably doth in it selfe delight Of Persons three making one Vnitie I dare not vndertake so high to write My Muse here onely labours to indite Of that free Loue which doth from thence descend That Loue which from the head on members light And that which from them ought againe ascend Lastly that Christian loue we each on other spend 6 But as th' eternall Godhead is but one Yet is by Persons three distinguished The Sonne is of the Father all alone The Spirit from Sonne and Father doth proceede So though a threefold kind of Loue we reade Yet is this true and heau'nly Loue but one For with that Loue from Father doth proceede Christ loueth those he chooseth for his owne And we the selfe-same loue to Head and Members showne 7 Thou that did'st in thy Fathers bosome wun Eternally begotten vncreate Let me begin where first thy Loue begun To be vnto vs manifest when Hate And Pride the Dam of mischiefe and debate Had caused those celestiall Lamps of light The Angels that kept not their first estate To be deiected from thy Palace bright Reseru'd in euerlasting chaines of darkest night 8 Then first thy free Loue did to Man appeare Whom after thine owne Image thou didst frame And blessedst him to multiply and reare Much fruit on Earth and gau'st him power to tame Thy handie workes to which he gaue a name Which they receiu'd as Vassalls of their Lord Adam then Lord of all thy workes became Each herbe fruit seede thou gau'st him for his board Thus Lord of all Hee 's onely subiect to thy Word 9 God saw that all he made was very good Yet 't was not good that Man should be alone I dare not thinke Man could alone haue stood In his integritie thou gau'st him one To be his helpe of his owne flesh and bone For whom he should Father and Mother leaue Behold now Adam with his Paragon Walke in the Garden where they haue good leaue The fruit of euery tree there growing to receaue 10 Hadst thou him set in Gardens ready planted With all vâ—â—etie of rich delight And for his care to keepe them had but granted He might take pleasure onely in their sight And foode from one to feede his appetite Nature had beene content with competence Thou gau'st him leaue of all the trees to bite Thou onely one tree from his lips didst fence To shew thy Lordship and proue his obedience 11 But loe that pride which mischiefe did conceaue First in the Court of Heau'n brings forth below And in disdaine such exc'llent Spirits must leaue Their glorious Mansions vnto one they know Was fram'd of slimy earth Behold they grow To tempt the weaker by a false pretence You shall not die saith he for God doth know What day you eate you shall be gods from thence Loe thus was all mankind made guiltie of offence 12 Adam where art What art Hid naked vile Now thou hast eate of the forbidden Tree My Wife did me a Serpent her beguile Cannot excuse thee nor thy Progenie Curst is the Serpeat for his subtiltie The Ground is curst and all that on it goes Serpents and Womans seede at enmitie The earth from whence thou cam'st thee vp must close Thy Garden 's lost thy Subiects now become thy Fâ—es. 13 O miserable Man in losse in paine Looke but from whence and whither thou dost fall Who now hath power to raise thee vp againe Breach of one Law thee guiltie makes of all Hell is thy Guerdon miserable thrall Driu'n from the presence sweet of God aboue Which thee to such a height of blisse did call The Serpents speech thou now too true dost proue And to thy cost know'st Good and Euill Hate and Loue. 14 God is most mercifull yet True and Iust His Mercy shined in thy first Creation His Law is broken now he punish must Here Loue behold beyond all expectation Will draw them both to reconciliation God becomes Man Iustice to satisfie His Death shall pay the price of our damnation No height of Verse this great Loue can desâ—ry This Sunne is too resplendent for my Muses eye 15 Most glorious God Wise Happy Vncreate Absolute Perfect Pure Omnipotent Here humbly to conuerse in meane estate And as a Malefactor to be rent To saue eu'n those that sought him to torment Captiuitie thus Captiue for to lâ—ade And giue such gifts to Men and Hell preuent Thy workes of power Lord can 〈◊〉 Creature reade But this of Loue and Mercy doth them all exceede 16 Three sorts of Loue wise Sages haue obseru'd Loue of true Friends of Kindred Coniugall Of which amongst them friendship hath deseru'd To be first rank'd this Loue surmounts them all These Starres doe rise these Starres againe doe fall But when this Sunne of heau'nly Loue doth shine Once in our hearts it is perpetuall And when it lowest seemes and to decline It then is highest rays'd and nearest to Diuine 17 This Loue 's an vndiuided Vnitie A concord that diuision will admit Diuided yet to all abundantly And doth this all into one body knit The Head that eu'n aboue in heau'n doth sit It ioyneth to the Members on the ground And all those Members in one Body knit Loue like her selfe the same is euer found Though in one Member more than other shee abound 18 As Soule of Man doth from the Head to Heart And all the Members life and motion send Being â—l in all and all in eu'ry part Eu'n so doth Loue her Power diuine extend On eu'ry part that on the Head depend And as the Members soone rot and decay To which the Soule her
sinne Who though shee cruell seeme yet giues sweet life When first to liue in Spirit we begin Shee vs polluted and defil'd within Doth clense in Fountayne of Regeneration Vs new-borne Babes shee teacheth to let in The milke sincere to sure Iustification Till stronger meate make strong our Faith to sure Saluation 4 And though in chaine of Gods most fâ—â—me Decree First sauing linke is his Predestination Election next then Calling yet wee see No certayne pledges here of our Saluation Till true Repentance workes Humiliation Loe then we doe by right degrees proceede Vnto the highest linke Glorification So that Repentance first to vs doth reede What is eternally in Heau'n by God decreed 5 Thou that dost Hearts with true Repentance season Making them view their owne vile wretchednesse That cast downe with Apostasie and Treason We may of thee seeke endlesse Happinesse First grant me true Repentance next to expresse What sou'raine Vertues I in her haue found And though at first my soule with bitternesse Were ouerwhelm'd yet Grace did cure that wound So where most sinne there is Mercy doth most abound 6 Repentance is a holy worke of Grace From godly Sorrow by which Man from sin Is turn'd Gods promises in Christ t' embrace And Fruits fit for Repentance to begin Repentance is Gods holy worke within To worke our Righteousnesse and Sinne deface And no Man can be exercis'd therein But he that standeth in the state of Grace For no Man turnes to God till God him first embrace 7 Grace and Repentance are in time conioyn'd As Fire and Heate but as Heate first appeares To vs when Fire in Embers is confin'd Eu'n so when sparkes of Grace our Heart first cheares Repentance manifests her selfe by teares Grace is the sap in heau'nly vegetation Repentance is the prime bud which it beares The first sure signe of true Regeneration Then follow leaues flow'rs fruits as certayne demonstration 8 This godly Sorrow differs from the care And griefe a worldling in his heart receaues By sense of Gods iust wrath or great Mens feare Or ought that their good names or goods bereaues This godly Sorrow griefe of mind conceaues That he hath sinn'd and that he did displease So good and kind a God which so close cleaues To 's heart that though no feare did him disease Of Iudge Hell Deuill yet nought but Grace can him appease 9 Man was most faire in Gods owne Image built Had with him sweet communion at 's Creation Whereby in God and God eke in him dwelt But sinne hath since enforc'd a separation And made vs sonnes of wrath by alienation Now we like prodigall and lost sheepe stray Till Grace and true Repentance restauration Doth make of all sinne doth in vs decay Then we returne and our Creators hests obay 10 But true Repentance doth repent of all And not of many or one onely sinne Herod conuerted thus at Baptists call Him gladly heard and hearing did begin For to doe many things but would not lin The sinne of incest with his brothers Loue Some like th' Adulterer doe turne from sinne When they want strength from bad to worse some moue As when the prodigall a couetous man doth proue 11 Shee hath two hands with one loe shee beginnes To presse vs downe to true mortification Whereby we may returne from all our sinnes Vs th' other rayseth by Regeneration To a new life and to Sanctification One from all actuall sinnes makes vs abstayne Suppresseth weakens natures deprauation Makes the Mind purpose and the Will full fayne And all our whole indeauours from sinne to refrayne 12 The other hand Mans purged mind doth raise Vnto a serious firme deliberation To yeeld sincere obedience to Gods Sayes And worketh in the will an inclination Him to obey as at our first creation This doth Mans life and best indeauours frame To walke here in a holy conuersation Though all we doe vnperfect is and lame Yet if the Heart be right God will accept the same 13 And as shee hath a double energie Men head-long to th' infernall Pit to throw And them againe by Faith to viuifie So though of this great worke one cause we know Gods Spirit that whereas it list doth blow Yet vseth it a twofold instrument The Law which Death to vs for sinne doth show The Gospell that doth preach attonement Thus both the Law and Gospell teach vs to repent 14 The Law first pierceth eu'n the very heart And doth by little and degrees proceede Till Knowledge foure things needfull doth impart Gods Law the guilt of Sinne and Sinnes iust meede Which is eternall Fire by God decreed Then we these rightly to our selues apply Which doth in vs a feare and horrour breed Except on Gospels comfort we rely For without that we die in hell eternally 15 Then doth the Gospell make vs comprehend Gods mercy for it seriously enquire And by the gifts of Knowledge to contend That though I iustly haue deseru'd Gods ire If I my selfe denie yet and desire My trust in Christs sole merits to repose I shall thereby escape eternall Fire Thus doth Repentance griefe and ioy impose Griefe for my sinnes but Ioy God doth me from them loose 16 Thus godly Sorrow in our heart being wrought Which brings Repentance with true change of mind We are resolu'd neuer in word deed thought So to offend God in our wonted kind But a new life to leade loe then we find Within our selues a wondrous alteration Not that it changeth substance of our mind Or body in the matter or the fashion But doth reforme their powers as in their first creation 17 Shee worldly griefe to godly sorrow turnes Our Wrath and Anger into temp'rate Zeale Presumption into Faith their heart that burnes In wanton loue to heau'nly Loue appeale Mad laughter shee with Christian ioy doth seale Mildnesse of nature turnes to spirits meeknesse Soules faculties doth all repaire and heale And brings them vnto their first perfectnesse Thus shee makes crocked streight and what 's wrong doth redresse 18 Then bring we forth fruits worthy amendment Of life the truth whereof we doe expresse When by good workes we shew how we repent Repenting soules be Trees of Righteousnesse Planted by God which Riuers doe refresh Eu'n flouds that from the Sanctuarie flow Whose boughes doe lowly stoope with fruitfulnesse There fruits for meate leaues good for medicine grow Else to the roote the Axe is laid them downe to throw 19 Repentance Subiect is a grieued heart A conscience wounded with the sight of Sinne Which nought but hell and horrour doth impart When to lay open conscience doth beginne Our sinnes without and wicked thoughts within And ' lesse shee to vs hope in Christ reueale We may with Iudas hang vp by the chin But like a skilfull Surgeon shee doth deale First corrasiue the sore and then it gently heale 20 Shee hath a double Obiect guilt of sinne And sinnes iust meede eternall condemnation Which terror breedes without horror within The second
Latines from Paine doe make their deriuation Next is a new mind by interpretation Both these describe her nature wondrous right In paine and sorrow is her inchoation When shee with Flesh and powers of Hell doth fight Then followes change of mind which bringeth sweet delight 38 For shee is bred in paine brought forth in gladnesse Sorrow is ouer-night but in the morne Comes soundest ioy to chase away nights sadnesse And when we thinke that we are left forlorne Then comfort 's nigh to lift on high our horne And though a while the Worldlings vs doe deeme The off-scumme of the people and the scorne Of wicked men yet God doth vs esteeme And by this change most precious in his eyes we seâ—me 39 Thus haue all holy men in former ages By griefe and change of mind obtayn'd Gods grace This eke is shadowed in those grand Sages That tooke great paynes and care to find the place Where Christ was borne that they might see his face Who after in a dreame forwarned were Not to returne againe in their first trace Thus after trauell long great paines and care With ioy and change of mind another way they fare 40 Of all the 〈…〉 Eu'n from 〈…〉 that â—its in her Tâ—â—one To low Humilitie that keepes her 〈◊〉 Our blessed Sauiour hath vs paternes showne Onely because no sinne was euer knowne To be in him He cannot well be said For to repent of sinnes that be his owne But sure for ours a ransome deare he paid And felt the wrath of God which on vs should be laid 41 His Soule was heauie eu'n vnto the death He fear'd to drinke this cup of bitternesse God did on him such wrath and vengeance breath That he sweat drops of blood in his distresse Such horror by Gods curse did him depresse That he cry'd out as if he were forsaken Such horror doth repenting â—oules oppresse But not in so great measure are they shaken For Christ the edge of Gods displeasure off hath taken 42 This was his way to heau'n This must be ours Before we be to true Repentance brought Consider now with are the bitter stowers Whereby our Fathers haue Repentance sought Let Abram tell from natiue Countrey brought Into an vnknowne Land to be a stranger Where he indured hunger cold and drought Whom Canaâ—â—â— famine made an Egypt 〈◊〉 Where of the losse of Wife and Life he was in danger 43 Afflicted Iob modell of true Repentance How was he plagu'd without frighted within Who though he seem'd most happy in his entrance Yet his last dayes were best Dauid did sin Most desp'rately but after did begin Sadly to crie when he Gods anger found Purge me without and make me cleane within When Solomon felt his sinnes accursed wound He a whole 〈◊〉 of true Repentance did compound 44 Good 〈◊〉 chattered like a Swallow Or like a Crane and mourned like a Doue And though his sonne Manâ—sses long did wallow In much foule sinne yet bondage did him moue To true Repentance Peter more did loue His Master aâ—ter vnaduis'd denyall Thus all Gods seruants better Saints doe proue After they haue endur'd the fiery tryall Experience of Gods loue makes holy men more loyall 45 I should seeme partiall if I onely tell Of men who in this worke haue happy beene Since Women for this beare away the bell Witnesse her eyes which like two Fountaynes dreâ—ne To wash her Sauiours feete And Riâ—â—as teene When vnder sackcloth shee her life did lead Till the wish't raine from heau'n to fall was seene So long shee did defend the bodies dead That for the Gibeonites were hang'd vp by the head 46 But why seeke I for witnesses without Looke in thine heart if there thou hast not found This smart of horror thou maist iustly doubt Thy soule 's not yet vp in Lifes bundle bound Therefore vnto thy selfe with speede propound To view Gods wrath and thine owne wretchednesse Then griefe of heart and sorrow will abound Which thee vnto the brinke of hell will presse Till Faith thee raise by inward ioy to happinesse 47 Thou shalt not find her like fruit which to th' eye Was wondrous faire and pleasant to the taste Which poyson'd Adam and his Progenie Shee bitter is at first sweet at the last And when the cloud of sorrow 's ouer-past Shee brings of ioy and comfort so great store That all become new loe old things are past Shee is the Antidoâ—e that doth restore What Adam lost when he forsooke his Makers lore 48 No th'Antidâ—â—â— is Christs most precious Blood Repentance is but the preparatiue To make our soules taste this most heau'nly food Than which no other can keepe vs alâ—â—e And till Repentance out of vs doth driue In-bred corruption and all actuall sin This Balme of Gilead will not make vs thriue Oh then Repentance purge me cleane within And make my stomach fit this Manna to let in 49 The Spirit 's willing but the Flesh is weake Oh a most bitter pill is this temptation None but they that haue felt it right can spâ—ake What pangs it breedes in our regeneration Well let men-pleasers onely sing saluation Let not vaine fruitlesse hopes thine heart deceaue We must first taste the curse of our damnation Before saluation truely we conceaue As head so must the members that to it doe cleaue 50 We here must taste it or then when w'appeare At Christs Tribunall From which none can hide Himselfe but all stand forth themselues to cleare When Bookes are brought forth and are open'd wide In sight of God Christ Angels and the Bride When Satan and thy conscience thee accuse And no gold can an Aduocate prouide Oh who thinks of this day and can refuse To taste here of Christs Cup and scape the Deuils Cruse 51 Wherefore against thy selfe an Action bring And thus accuse examine iudge and trie Lest thou beest iudged of the righteous King First before Gods Tribunall prostrate lie And if he then beheld thee with his eye Confesse thy in-bred sinnes knowne and vnseene Against thy selfe pronounce vnfeignedly Damnation hell and horror when we seeme Most vile in our owne eyes God doth vs best esteeme 52 Death to all men the wages is of sin But vnto those the Heau'n of happinesse That thus on earth condemne themselues within And after bring forth fruits of Righteousnesse But to those that goe on in wickednesse Death is the Port and entrance into Hell Lord giue me here this pill of bitternesse Which may corruption from mine heart expell No wound can be so deepe but thou by grace canst heale 53 And though shee seemes like fiery two-edg'd sword That keepes from Man the way to Tree of Life Because her fiery triall is abhord And Cowards heart doth faint to see her knife Swouning away at Flesh's and Spirits strife Oh neuer yet let feare my courage quaile To hinder me from that sweet Tree of Life Better Repentance thresh me with her flaile On earth than hellish Dragon breake me