the comfort of my soule reioyce And with my mouth consent world without end To speake to praise to glorifie to singe That God which to my soule doth succour bringe SONNET LIX MY soule my soule I feele I feele is vexed My mind and thoughts in vncouth forte distressed My braynes with fearefull dreames by night oppressed My hart with strange discouragement perplexed My soles vnneathed vnto my feete annexed My spirit with faint languor still distressed And helpe Lord helpe my soule my soule addressed By Melancholies poyson is connexed In fetters serpentine of foule dispaire Death almost my lifes ceasure hath begunne And after Sathan will his bookes prepare Blotted with vgly sinnes past number donne Oh my God my deare God helpe and assist Sinne death and hell my safetie doe resist SONNET LX. TVrne not away the sunne shine of thy face Sweete God of comfort from my troubled hart Congeald with sinne doe not sweete Lord depart From him that penitently sues for grace Whose soule through countlesse sinnes my whole liues space Benumbd can scarcely feele contritions smart What Phisicke then shall serue what helpe of art My dead soule to reuiue and sinne forth chase Eu'n those pure Rayons of thy holy Ghost Those gracious beames of thy pure holy word Shall mollifie giue ease and comfort most To my cold frozen soule and helpe afford Least with the frost of sinne my soule astounded After deaths griefe should with hels sting bee wounded SONNET LXI WHere is that copious furie whilom which My braines in kindled with an vncouth fire Whose sacred spirit did of yore aspire Aboue the glorious Sunne with passions rich Which thoughts in choyce words to the starres would stich With sacred Musicke tempering my desire Contending holily to mount vp higher Whilst heau'nly chaunture did my soule bewitch Oh precious Ardoure by whose chearefull heate The braine especiall recreation findes The soule chiefe comfort I thy beames intreate Which cheere all plants and beasts of seuer all kindes From my poore spirite doe not take away Those rayes wich must with light my wittes aray SONNET LXII FOr comfort my deare God I did attend And gracious eares to mee thou didst encline At my petitions thou didst not repine But present succour to my suits didst send Thou didst direct my feete which did depend On thee my stedfast Rocke where brightly shine Thy lawes those Lampes to which my thoughts incline Which Lord graunt that my soule doe not offend In my mouth Lord thou didst put a new song A due thankesgiuing vnto thee my God Which men shall feare to violate and wrong Least they should bee corrected with thy rod. Oh God great wonders thou for mee hast wrought For thy Sonnes sake who my saluation bought SONNET LXIII O Dreadfull horrour and tormented minde Foule restlesse conscience charg'd with hainous sinnes Lothsom and numberlesse when God beginnes His fruitfull haruest in faire sheafe to binde Hath thee for tares to quenchlesse fire assign'd Where teares nor hope of vaine repentance winnes Thy soule from Torture where griefe neuer linnes More pangues by worme of conscience to find Oh dreadfull hower when to thy soule condemn'd The iudge of truth and King of glorie saith Hedlong with Lucifer fall who contemn'd My lawes fall downe thou Fiend of little faith And with Deuils damned thy due portion take Immortally to burne in fierie lake SONNET LXIIII. THen if derne Loue of thy deare louing Lord His gentle graces Oyle his mercies balme His bounties numberlesse his spirite calme His loue of peace and comfort in concord Of the thrice sinfull soule remaine abhorrde If to thy soule sinne wounded no sweete Psalme Nor heau'nly Harpe nor Organe Trump nor Shalme Can comfort bring with their Diuine recorde To make thee ioyne in praise of his good grace Or to thy sinfull soule correction giue Yet let that quenchlesse lake and dreadfull place Where soules in deadly torment euer liue Creatour and creation which reproue Make thee repent for feare if not for Loue. SONNET LXV O Mercy mercy which much greater is Then heauens themselues Oh truth Oh sincere truth Which to the cloudes extendeth and insueth Of iustice which doth neuer iudge amisse Oh age of ages euermore in youth Oh Iudge whose righteous punishment is ruth Which sinners worthlesse dost with bountie blisse Oh where shall I finde to my spirite voice Where to my voice sufficient choyce of words To shew how much my spirite doth reioyce In those large blessings which thy grace affords My spirite first will faile with feeble voice Oh my Lord God lende spirit life and breath That I may praise thy name to conquer death SONNET LXVI IF death may by thy prayses vanquish't be Then voyce then spirit let your organes breake And of his glory sing criefoorth and speake Of him that succours helps and comforts me Moue toungue sounde voyce and from your slouthfull gree Avoyde and in this vtter aunce be not weake If hell the venome of his furie wreake It shall not be of force to vanquish thee Oh laude laudes glory gloryes prayse of prayse Fame honour trueth eternitye renoume And iustice mercifull ascribe alwayes To thee great Keyser of the thorny crowne Which coronation infamous did gayne That millions shoulde rich glorious Crownes obtayne SONNET LXVII VVHat thing in spacious heauen round earth deepe seas Which thy praise worthy glories doth not tell Whose golden Sunneshine euer doth excell In many millions farre aboue all these So much exceeding that if any prease To giue due praise hee shall perceyue it well His faculties against his will rebell And that his toungue cannot his spirit please Oh who shall giue due glories to his name That glorifies all thinges with decent pride Or what is he can signifie the same Or in an equall share his praise deuide With those great bounties which he hath bestow'd And those great mercies on vs sinners show'd SONNET LXVIII THat bounteous largesse of sweete mercies oyle That peace of soule that siluer streame of grace That comforte of saluation that pallace Of heauenly succour which death cannot spoyle That fortitude whose force no force can foyle Of IESSES precious braunch that royall race Who with his glory filleth euery place And with sweete dewes doth cherish euery soyle Can with no florish of eternall phrase Be glorifi'de according to desart Who with meete colours shall his glory blaze Who to the world shall condigne praise impart What instrument what voyce what toungue what spirite Shall giue due commendations to demerite SONNET LXIX WHo to the golden Sunnes long restlesse race Can limits set what vessell can comprise The swelling windes what cunning can deuise With queint Arithmetique in steadfast place To number all the starres in heauens pallace What cunning Artist euer was so wise Who by the starres and planets coulde aduise Of all aduentures the iust course and case Who measur'd hath the waters of the seas Who euer in iust ballaunce poys'd the ayre As no man euer could the least
XIIII O Benigne Father let my sutes ascend And please thy gracious eares from my soule sent Euen as those sweete perfumes of incense went From our forefathers altars who didst lend Thy nosthrils to that mirrh which they did send Euen as I now craue thine eares to be lent My soule my soule is wholy wholy bent To doe thee condigne seruice and amend To flie for refuge to thy wounded brest To sucke the balme of my saluation thence In sweete repose to take eternall rest As thy childe folded in thine armes defence But then my flesh me thought by Sathan fir'de Said my proud sinfull soule in vaine aspirde SONNET XV. PIttifull Lord whose endles mercy reacheth From East to West and the worlds compasse filleth Whose charge imperious as thy spirit willeth Things sencelesse as in life obedience teacheth Whose bright omnipotence the Dumbe borne preacheth Whose grace in full aboundance downe distilleth To contrite sinners which olde Sathan killeth And wounded spirits heales whome sinne appeacheth With those bright eyes of mercy me respect From my soule made thy temple Sathan driue That my pure spirit may thy praise detect And from death by thy liuely grace reuiue That sinne and Hell suppress'd I might appeare After deaths conquest by thy mercies cleare SONNET XVI SVre corner stone of that rocke firme and hie Where of eternall life the fountaine springs Whose vertue to the soule such comfort brings That he which tasteth neuer shall be drie Nor euer slaue of death againe shall die Oh let thy blessed Angell carrie wings And arme my soule which loathing earthly things For liuely water to that rocke would flie There neuer dare approch my Ghostly foe Which would from number of thy Saints exempt My silly soule sweete Christ let him forgoe That deare soules purchase which he doth attempt Remember my deare Lord thou dy'd to saue it Then neuer shall the roaring Lyon haue it SONNET XVII MYlde King of Salem Lord of louely peace Who do'st in brother like agreement ioy In mercy mourning when thou do'st destroy Where iustice condigne anger doth encrease Behold a wretch whose sinnes doe neuer cease With haynous guilt his conscience to annoy Who by that meanes cannot calme rest enioy Behold deare Christ and for my free release Vpon contrition those offences blot Out of those large inditements which be giu'n By my iust conscience let them be forgot Forget forgiue deare Lord for I am driu'n By their remembrance almost to dispaire Which my soules ruine ready would prepare SONNET XVIII HYe priest of Syon whose eternall throne With endlesse right and mercy seated is Which all knees when his name repeated is Adore whose rule hath times swift wings outgone Whose Scepter is an euerlasting one Whose Monarchie neuer compleated is This humble Alter see which heated is With feruent zeale I beare to thee alone Which from the Syon of my soule aspireth Euen from this zealous hart vnto the chayre Of euerlasting power where it desireth Through pleasing incense for me to prepayre A glorious Crowne which neuer will take rust Which graunt Deare Sauiour in whose helpe I trust SONNET XIX LOuely Samaritane draw neere and view The mangled obiect of a wretched soule Afflicted deadly with a conscience foule The iust sting of such sinnes as my soule slew Whose faults be numberlesse though yeeres bee few Oh note them not sweete Lord in thy blacke scroule Which may my deare saluations hope controle When breath and body shall be changed new But these foule desperate wounds deare Christ vp bind Cherishd with oyle of mercies and sweete grace And let thy Gospell minister each kind Of heau'nly foode and bee thy Church the place Where I may mee repose to purchase cure That when thou com'st I may be sound and pure SONNET XX. GReat God of Abraham whose eternall power Shaketh the worlds vnsure foundations Whose frowne affrights all Kings and nations whose anger doth like flames of fire deuour Whose triumph comming is in vnknowne hower Whose praise exceedes all mortall mens Orations Whose time of grace for sinners preparations Thou do'st inlarge to yeeld vs more succour Like Father chastice mee with tender twigges Not like an angrie Iudge with yren Rodde Least Sathan purchase conquest by dispaire That when heauen shall shake downe her Starres like Figges Thou both as equall iudge and gentle God For mee the Crowne of glorie may prepare SONNET XXI SOle hope and blessing of olde Israels line Which gaue by promise to his blessed seede A land that should all blessings plentie breede Riuers of pleasant Honnie Milke and wine Whose ofspring numberlesse thou calledst thine Whome with thine Angels Manna thou didst feede Being before from Pharoes bondage freede When Moyses first thy statutes did resigne Behold deare God one in these daies of grace Since by thy precious bloud thou freede mankinde By promise which a portion and a place Amongst thy children hopeth for to finde In Gospels comfort through thy bloudes deare prise Oh let him purchase such a Paradise SONNET XXII FOuntaine of life and endlesse happinesse O quench these wordly sparkes of Sathans fier Enkindled in my fancies and desier Rocke of saluation and all blessednesse Defend mee charg'de with sinful wickednesse Spirite of comfort let thy breath inspire My soule infected ready to retire And carnall mocions striuing to represse I thirst cleare fountaine for the streame of life I fall farre set from my saluations rocke And Sathan with my Spirite is at strife Vrging that I am seuer'd from thy flocke Yet my deare Sauiour strong rocke and sweete spirite Through mercy my poore soule shall heauen inherite SONNET XXIII FAther of Pietie by this wee know The glories greater of thy gracious loue Then of desires which carnal fancies moue For if wee praise a mortall shape below By flattery their Diuinities wee show Comparing them their perfectnesse aboue Their cheekes to Roses their neckes white to Doue Their eyes to starres from whence all fortunes flow Their eyes effects to the Meridian Sunne Their modest thoughts to the colde Virgine moone Oh fooles fooles ignorant when this is donne Wee know wee flatter them then Muses soone Why turne you not your numbers musicall To God aboue mans praise which ruleth all SONNET XXIIII PVre spotlesse ofspring of vngratefull Iurie At morning mid-day and at quiet night I neither will forget thy praise nor might When men vngratefull shall prouoke thy furie I shall bee safe if that deare grace procure I And finde sweete comfort of eternall light Mongst Cherubes Seraphins and Angels bright But if thy precepts I forget then sure I With sinners must expect my portion dew Because thy grace celestiall I abus'd And in thy face with vile contorcion threw Those sacred blessings stubbornely refus'd At length I like an Angell shall appeare In spotlesse white an Angels Crowne to weare SONNET XXV GLorious Iehouah Oh how full of power How full of sacred maruailes bee thy deedes Thou that with plenties euery creature feedes And blessed bounties
whose holy spirit outrage calmes Calme thou my sinfull spirits which intend To thy great praise their faculties to lend On my soules knees I lift my spirits Palmes With humble penitence to purchase grace These eyes this mortall bodies skies downe power Teares of contrition on my blushing face Fruites of repentance flourish with this shower My soule I feele is comforted and eas'de Then Lord with my poore offring bee well pleas'de SONNET LXXXXIII WIth my poore offring bee well pleasde sweete Lord And then with ghostly peace and hart vpraised Thy Temple celestiue where thou liu'st praised With ceaselesse Canticles and Hymnes record And meekenes which mine humble thoughts afforde I will approche not any wise amazed To see those sacred misteries rich blazed To my sinne blinded eyes before abhorr'de In thy deare presence their due tribute paying For their misgouernance and riotise My soule afflicted with harts incense praying It selfe deuoutly Lord doth sacrifice To that Lambe blemishlesse which offring made Himselfe for my sinnes and deathes forfeite paide SONNET LXXXXIIII O What a gracious burthen huge and heauie What charge importable and painefull weight Those deadly sinnes which with our soules doe fight And fresh supplies of vile offences leuie Yeelding more puisance to their powrefull might In hope with shade of euerlasting night To blind the beamesome rayes of my poore soule Which doth a restlesse stone of labour roule Till thy deare gracious mercies from thy sight Do banish them and with the glorie bright Of thy sweete pardon lighten them againe And then albeit no volumes can containe Thy praise and mercies yet will I contend From East to West their memorie to send SONNET LXXXXV THat golden Planet Lampe of this worlds light Whose glorious Easterne insurrection showes His ceasclesse course whose tearme no creatures knowes That siluer Planet torch of silent night Which when the Sunne reposeth her beames bright In Westerne Seas her Planet-darts forth throwes Whose influence doth strange euents compose That boystrous turbulence of North winds might Which swels and ruffles in outragious sort Those chearefull Southerne showers whose fruitefull dew Brings forth all sustenance for mans comfort East West North South if none thy puissance knew Relate thy wondrous vertues and with praise From West to East from North to South them raise SONNET LXXXXVI FIrme Rocke of during stone sure Bulwarke of defence Strong arme of fortitude Shielde of protection Courage of puisance and vertues of perfection Eorne of saluation and diuinest essence Thou shalt sustaine my spirite least it backeward fall Thou shalt my soule relieue from Sathans fierce giuen charge Thou shalt my cause maintaine and combate him at large Thou shalt huige blowes of sin ward from my soule in thrall Thou shalt with ghostly valour my soules strength inspire Thou shalt annointe my head with oyle of peace and ioye Thou mee shalt purifie with pure zeales holy fire By these I shall my spirites enemie destroye By these I shall effect my soules chiefe happinesse By these I shall my soule vnhalowed redresse SONNET LXXXXVII MY soule through manifold assaults of sinne In grieuous combate with my flesh retain'de Declining faintes vnlesse it bee sustain'de Then send thy mercies which might enter in To seuer them least further broyles beginne And if my soule with wounds affliction payn'de Haue penitently to thy grace complayn'de Let it by gracious mnee as some mercie winne Pure grace sweete mercie comfortable peace Zeale truth and righteousnesse are dearely met Whose fame from East to West can neuer cease Nor those which in these their affiance set Can euer bee for glories want obscure But with Saluation eternizde endure SONNET LXXXXVIII WHere shall I vex'de my sinfull head repose If that in errour and conceiued vice Which with deceitefull Blandishments intice My feeble nature mortified with sinne Then hope shall gates of my saluation close Against my soule and my dispaire beginne If that in open sight then open shame The Scarlet of my conscience will disclose And sound the shamefull Trumpet of my fame Where then shall I my vexed soule dispose If not in blind obscuritie nor light Then there euen there impenitence with those Which weepe downe teares of comfort to delight Their soule enlarged from eternall night SONNET LXXXXIX OH whether shall my troubled Muse encline When not the glorious Scaffolde of the skies Nor highest heauens resplendent hierarchies Where heau'nly Soldiours in pure armor shine Nor ayer which thy sweete spirite doth refine Nor earth thy precious bloud vnworthy prise Nor Seas which when thou list ebbe and arise Nor any creature profane or Diuine Can blaze the flourish of thy tearmelesse praise Surreaching farre by manifold large space All Diuine fabricke of thy sacred hands Euen thether shall my Muse her Musicke raise Where my soules euerlasting pallace stands Sweete refuge of saluation Court of grace SONNET 100. SAcred directour of diuine Syon With gracious handes and mercy-mouing eyes With eares attentiue take my sacrifice Beholde my teares heare my playntes which crie on Lighten my pensiue soule which woulde flye on To thy sweete mercies seate heauens Paradise Thy pure Dooues white Winges that my soule may rise And mount from this base earth deare Lorde tye on So shall my Spirite flye from starre to starre And in consent of musickes sweete reporte Beare thy rich Glories forth from farre to farre When Cherubines with Seraphines resorte And Angelles with Archangelles still to sing The glorious wonders of their heauenly King FINIS HYMNE TO THE GLORIOVS HONOVR OF THE most blessed and indiuisible Trinitie SACRED deere Father of all thinges created Whose ioyfull throane of endlesse triumph stands In glorious heauen whose name earth animated Proclaymeth through the compasse of all landes I lift these humble handes Vpheau'de with courage of a zealous harte Confirm'de with fortitude of constant fayth Assur'd in grace of some sweete mercies parte Which Treasures my deare hope in high heauen layth Which comforte my soule hath And thou deare onely Sonne of God alone Thou precious Immolacion of mankinde Who sits on right hande of thy Fathers throne Who fearefull Sathan did in fetters binde Whome death alone did finde To be the peerelesse Champion of his foyle Thou that redeemed'st from infernall payne Our great graundfathers and our selues assoyle Of our foule sinnes nor humbled didst disdayne For mankinde to be slayne And lastly thou sweete comfortable Spirite Of meekenesse holinesse and spotlesse loue By whose deare incense not our vayne demerite We purchase heritage in heauen aboue Thou that in fourme of Doue Thy sanctified Apostles didst salute Spirite of trueth which doth our comforte bring Without whose heauenly motions men are mute By whose power in the Virgines wombe did spring Our comforter and King And thou deare sacred Father of like power With thy most deare Sonne sacrifice for sinne And thou sweete holy Ghost who didst downe shower Clouen tongues of fire true glorie for to winne All which three powers cloase in One sacred and
which assayles My feeble soule entombde in earthly drosse Thy precious crosse that launce those pearsing nayles If hee shall them or their deare wounds espie Will bruise his head and yeelde mee victorie SONNET XLVIII O Glorious conquest and thrice glorious speare But seu'n times thrice more glorious the name By which thrice powerfull wee coniure the same Which but repeated doth that Dragon feare That olde Leuyathan whose iawes Lord teare Roote out his tongue which doth thy Saints defame And thy sweete Gospell seeke to vaile with shame This the chiefe conquest of all conquests weare For which Archangels and all Angels might With Cherubins and Seraphins out bring Victorious Palmes arraide in sincere white For which al Saints might Alleluya sing Then glorious Captaine our chiefe God and man Breake thou the Iawes of olde Leuiathan SONNET XLIX I Feele my soule in combat with the dust Of sinfull flesh and ready to breake out From loathsome bondage dreadlesse of all doubt I feele my soule by shaddowes seuer must From that base prison of terrestriall rust Where it shall triumph in celestiall route Of my forefathers Angels round about That glorious throne of the faithfull and iust But yet my feeble flesh surcharg'de with guilt Trembleth at thought of death but why should it Feare coward death since for my soule was spilt His bloud that shall for mee in triumph sit Death doe thy worst but yet Lord thine eare giue Why I with Dauid would not die but liue SONNET L. I Would not die but hue deare liuing Lord And to thy glory shew that facultie With which thou didst mee worthlesse beautifie Turning my Muse to that Diuine concord Which I perceiue doth with my soule accord In endlesse praise of thy Diuinitie But if vnworthy them to magnifie Because my sinfull mouth hath not abhorr'de To bee before with vanities abus'de Thou loath my wicked tongue should them declare Thy will bee donne which cannot bee refus'de For death of sinne the guerdon doth prepare Yet when I die deare God of Loue and truth Remember not the follies of my youth SONNET LI. BReake thou the iawes of olde Leuiathan Victorious conquerour breake thou the iawes Which full of blasphemie maligne thy lawes Ready to curse to lie slaunder and banne Which nothing but abhomination can Who like a ramping Lyon with his pawes Thy little flocke with daily dread adawes Antichrists Harrould who with pride beganne Euen into thy triumphant throane to prease And therefore his first comfort had forgonne The bodies ruinor and soules disease Bawde to that harlot of proude Babilon Which mortall men to mortall sinnes inuiteth Teare out those Fangues with which hee thy flocke biteth SONNET LII FVll of celestiall syrropes full of sweete are all thy preceptes full of happines full of all comforte full of blessednes those salutations which our Sauiour greete O let vs then contende since it is meete to keep those lawes with vpright holinesse oh let vs vse and haue in readinesse those sweete orations prostrate at his feete Begging imploring weeping smiling kneeling for succour grace and for our sinnes humbly repentance mercies signes in our heart feeling Repent and praise our God for it is comely O nothing doth a Christian more beseeme Then him to prayse that did his soule redeeme SONNET LIII DIdst thou redeeme my soule my sole saluation Oh with what raunsome Lorde didst thou redeeme it Eu'n of so precious worth did he esteeme it Because at our forefathers first creation Hee in his breast by sacred inspiration From his owne mouth which did so well so well beseeme it Breathed a soule diuine then let vs deeme it A gracious precious and deare immolation For him to saue our soules with his bloudshed For him to take mans nature man to saue For him to be whip'd nayl'd torne crucify'd For him to sweate in bloud to lye in graue For him most mighty to lye downe beneath Where for our life he vanquish't hell and death SONNET LIIII THen awfull sting of Paile deathes leaden darte Where is thy killing poyson and thy pile Then fearefull horrid Serpent full of guile Whose vgly kingdome hoped for his parte The most of all poore soules in endlesse smart Where is thy dreadfull conquest all this while Behold how Christian soules triumph and smile To see thee bound where thoufast burning art To see that sacred and victorious troupe Whose Captaine Lord of Lords and King of Kings Adorn'd with many Crownes makes all Crownes stoupe Which in high triumph Alleluya sings Makes God and Magog his fell furie finde Which scattred flie like dust before the winde SONNET LV. FRom depth of fearefull Hels eternall shade And bottomelesse discent into that lake In heate and cold where sinners burne and quake Where all things vnconsum'de for euer fade At whose remembrance sinners are dismaide For horrour of those dreadfull pangues which shake And for sweete succour intercession make Of their sinnes burthen and hell fire affraide Eu'n from the fearefull bottomelesse blacke pit At whose remembrance my poore soule doth tremble Saue and deliuer mee whereas I sit Inuiron'd with dispaire which doth resemble An Iland with rough seas inclosed round At euery gust in danger to bee dround SONNET LVI O That I might with the wise Prophet sing Mine heart is ready ready to giue praise But mine is not though willing most alwaies To celebrate the glorious heau'nly King Poore hart not worthie to that Angels wing Which with his glorie through the world doth paise In heau'nly number stemp'red with sweete phrase The least soft downe of Plumage for to bring Then milde then spotlesse comfortable Doue Whose winges were sinne of sinnes to violate Pure Bird of heau'nly sollace peace and Loue With Rayons bright my soule illuminate From that false lustfull Pygeon late returnde Which almost had both soule and body burnde SONNET LVII THrough Sathans malice and my nature weake When in my soule I finde my faith is deade Those sacred schoedes of comfort then I reade Whose powrefull words the gates of hell can breake Then faith in kindleth fresh and then I wreake My wrath on Sathan and vpon his head Mee thinkes like Michaell or Saint George I treade Whilst hee that earst against the Sunne did beake His foreswolne poysonous bulke doth vanquishdlie In his owne filth and I which lately was Like to bee swallowd by mine enemie Now safely like a conquerour may passe Behold my Captaines puissance who did this To ridde my soule from hell and ransome his SONNET LVIII COmfort thy selfe poore soule whom griefe of sinne Downe presseth to the mouth of the lowest hell With contrite penitence thou knowest well Him that will rayse and it from danger bring Pray then and praise the Lord who will beginne To purge thy soule and Sathans filth expell Who thee defileth and in thee doth dwell Oh Lord my voice shall praise and neuer linne So long as thou shalt lend breath to my voice My voice vnto my soule shall spirit lend And in