summe that would doe all that All should do For loue of All this Man 's an Angell too A sicke Mindes Potion for all in Tribulation in Body or for the sauing of their Soule THou that dost ioy or grieue beneath the waight of his deare Crosse who dide on 't for thy sake View and reuiew these Lines with more delight then Patients doe the Potions which they take How ere they sense displease they wholesome be so wholesome as they often whole doe make So may this Potion worke the like in thee My Muse desires to make it griefe expell And all shee seekes is but to take it well Yet this I doe as oft the sicke doe talke of Health not for they haue but would haue it So I exhort to Patience though I balke her Way and onely wish the same to hit Yet as a sicke Physitian soone may finde a Potion for anothers Passion fit So may a sicke Minde cure a sicker Minde No Mind more sicke then mine yet well I know What 's good for Mindes so ill and that I show The Soule that sins vnplagu'd wilde quickly growes as Trees vnprun'd and but sowre fruit produce The heau'nly Planter then no cost bestowes but it abandons as vnfit for vse Why weep'st thou then sad soule what thou endur'st a blessing is no beating for abuse Or if it be sith it thy selfe procur'st Thy patient bearing this thy Sourge or Crosse Doth make it score lesse nay thy Score doth crosse Regard not then thine anguish in the Rod but in thy Fathers Will what place thou hast If thou wilt share the pleasures of thy God then of his Cup thou must with pleasure taste The Oxe assign'd for slaughter well is fed and lies at ease while others labour fast And still are yokt tyr'd prickt and punished Not all that stroke are friends nor foes that strike but strokes that maime from eyther we mislike The Wounds a friend doth giue are sweeter farre than suger'dst Kisses of a fraudfull foe The first oft make the last more often marre for Surgions Bands doe pinch to solder so Who bindes the Mad or wakes the Lethargicke how ere he seemes thereby t' awake their woe Yet he to both's a friendly Empericke Seueritie is Mercy oftentimes And Mildnesse cruell that increaseth Crimes To weane vs from this World an vnkinde Nurse God onely good and wise annoints her Teates With Gall of troubles spights and what is worse and as a Mother well her Childe entreates But makes her Seruants vse it ill that so finding of all saue her but blowes and threates It may to her the much more willing goe So God permits that All should vs molest That we may flye to Him and loue him best The flatt'rings of the World the Flesh the Fiend are but the kisses of worst Enemies And though the Fiend to Heau'n seemes to ascend like Ioues owne Bird that nestles in the Skies Yet is he but a greedy Bird that towres to Heau'n while on the Earth he nearely pryes To watch his Prey whereon forthwith he poures For he but seemes in Vertue to excell And flyes to Heau'n to beare his Prey to Hell Out of close-Prison and much closer Chaines many doe trauell but their Iourneyes end An endlesse Kingdome is whose greatest Paines are endlesse Ioyes these sincke but to ascend Vnlike the Fiend that mounts to fall more low and ruine that on which he doth descend But low these stoupe to shunne an Ouer-throw To beare high Sailes in Tempests is to haue Our Keele turn'd vp with eu'ry Gust and Waue If Crosses heauie be ô yet at least they make the Soule as sober as discreet If we be fellowes of our Lords vnrest we shall be of his rest and comforts sweete He wounds but hâ—s are wounds but of a Friend that in no fortune once from vs will fleete And lanceth but â—o cure and make vs mend Iâ— is a Payne that 's free from all annoy To die with torment still to liue in ioy He that had seene iust Ioseph in his Chaynes in Sackcloth Mordocheus his Iybâ—t nie Susanna going to her mortall Paines would haue bewail'd their infortunitie But had he knowne that Ioseph should be rid from Giues to Rule â—nd Mardochs ieopardy Conclude in Honor as Sasannaes did He would haue though them blest in great mishap sith so great Comfort was the after-clap So much the Fiend shall tempt when thou dost doat as shall enforce â—hy minde to minde her mâ—sse If Christ we serue Affliction is our Coaâ—e his Crosse our Badge to make vs knowne for his His nakednesse how we should cloath vs shewes his Gall how we should feed on Agonies B'his hanging on the Crosse how to repose And by his Death wherein all paines were riâ—e How to esteeme the pleasures of this life Worlds weale's our woe and yet we will not see 't young Toby walkt securely in the Mire But at the Riuer when he washt his Feete a Fish was like to swallow him entire He that on paine of life must watch the Foe wakes best when he is neer'st Afflictions fire But on the Bed of ease he doth not so In this Worlds hell if ease be good for ought It 's Poësie yet too much makes it nought Besides the better minde the worse is tempted Pirats to charge the emptie Ship forbeare But richly laden and from feare exempted they charge it home and giue it cause of feare Euen so the Fiend while we are void of Grace le ts not our Voyage but our Helme doth steare But when we take in truest Goods apace With Stormes of troubles then he seekes to reaue Vs of our fraight and o'er Bourd vs to heaue Of Ioseph Beniamin was loued best in his Sacke therefore Iosephs Cup was found So doth the Cup Christ dranke of euer rest with those to whom his loue doth still abound On Beds of Roses lyes Lasciuiousnesse which Vertue hates sith she corrupts the sound But Vertue liues too oft in all distresse For she respects not Fortune nor disdaines To lie with those that often lye in Chaines When God had praised Iob the Fiend straight praid that he might proue him with Affliction And when the heau'nly Voyce of Christ had said This is my deare and wel-beloued Sonne He in the Desert was soone after tride They finde most Lets that most aright doe runne And they left Rubs that most doe runne aside But straight to runne dispight each spightfull Let Doth Glory gaine while Shame the rest doe get When holy Dauid did his People count a great Mortalitie his Coasts did scowre But when Augustus did this Sinne surmount taxing the World by his vsurped Pow'r He ne'er was with least Punishment annoid So Ionas fly'ing a Whale did him deuoure While Pagan-Passengers a Calme enioy'd But though the Whale did Ionas so enioy He swallow'd but to saue and not destroy And as a Scarre a Sonne takes in the Face in his Sires quarrell though the Face it marres Yet it
Wonders of thy Law they cannot finde Thy Will then shewne and hidden in thy Word is hid though shewne from those not prompt by thee Though Camels there may swim and Gnats may ford yet both may drowne if there too bold they be In shallow'st places there great Clarkes haue suncke into the depth of Heresie and drew Whole Nations after them yea made Kings drunke therewith while they Beleeuers-right pursue So then as none could euer see the Sunne but by the Sunne so none can rightly see Thee in thy Word but by reflexion of that pure Light of Lights that comes from thee If so then light me in that Light thy Word sith thou art Light of lights else may mine Eyes Be daz'led and so drowne me in each Ford of those pure Riuers of thy Paradise Thy Word is Truth but those it doth misguide that know not well thy Language nor will know Sith they will learne but of them selues and Pride so not thy Word but they are erring so None can be sau'd without they doe thy Will which none can doe vnlesse the same they know And none can know it much lesse it fulfill if it by speciall grace thou doe not show Then if thou wilt that I shall saued be for thou wilt no mans Death that seekes thy face Let me be taught to know thy Will by thee and made to doe it by thy Pow'r and Grace So shall I finde what I am seeking still To know Thee well and well to doe thy Will An Inuocation against vse of offending or bad Custome DEare Lord while I bethinke me of the Ils that me surround and waigh the Woes I feele Through mine owne fault which me with Sorrow fils from Life to Death I ready am to reele The Sunne of my Care-clouded life hath past his full Meridian and doth now decline To Seas of griefes where Age doth sincke at last and at each breath Death seekes it to define Vse of offending in my passed Dayes doth passe my strēgth to change thogh faine I wold Custome to Nature turn'd my Nature swayes and of my selfe the while I haue no hold Yet if I dye ere so bad vse I leaue my life must leaue me hopelesse at my death For what I giue to GOD I shall receiue and as I spend so shall I yeeld my Breath I minde to mend but still procrastinate for my Familiar Sinne is loth to part And doth my halfe-dead body animate to vse her still so wounds and heales my Heart But sith I am not sure to breath once more and that my life and death are well-neere met And Death t'eternall Weale or woe 's the Doore why sinne I now my lifes Sunne neere is set What is in Sinne that it should so be witch A bitter-sweete if Sweete it be and makes The Body glad but still the Soule to grutch and eu'n from life the vitall-vertue takes The wisest yet that euer breath'd this Aire of Humane Race well tride it to be so Whose equall Wealth and Wisedome did repaire to all in Nature but this Sweete to know And yet he found the Sow'r excell'd the Sweet the Sweet but short the Sow'r surmounting Time Wee want his Meanes his high Delights to meete yet hazard we our soules to them to climbe Lord make me wise by his experience who in great wealth and Wisedome plaid the Foole And for meere Folly was at huge expence then let his follies me still wisely schoole Yea let me learne of Him that all doth teach of whom the wisest learne Sinnes snares to shunne He was a King and Preacher and did preach that All is vanitie beneath the Sunne If all be vaine beneath and true he sayes let me aboue the Sunne seeke true delight Which I shall finde by walking in thy Wayes so thou deare Lord consort me with thy Spright O then consort me so and with his pow'r enable me all lets to ouer-runne Let me not stay one Minute of an How'r to ioy in any thing beneath the Sunne But in thy Sunne of Iustice let me ioy which fils the Heau'ns and Earth with purest light Then let all other ioyes my soule annoy that so in him I may alone delight Thou canst doe this then doubt I not thy Will Which still is good then my good-will fulfill The Sinner refers his Will to Gods will in all things desiring helpe for perseuerance therein DEare Lord and God true Louer of my Soule in my desires I wholy doe resigne vnto thy blessed Will this Will of mine To forme reforme direct and still controule And as my Soule my body moues alone without whose motion it would still be still so let thy Sp'rit still moue my soule and will Else let them haue no motion of their owne Let me forsake my selfe for thy deare sake yea truely hate my selfe for loue of thee and let no pleasures please or profit me If thou deare Lord at them displeasure take I offer vnto thee mine All and more had I much more than All to mortifie my senses and affections that thereby I may so mortifide liue euermore My selfe I likewise offer to the lack of sensible deuotion grace and loue so it may humble me and make me proue Thy might the more in my sinnes vtter wracke I offer too my selfe with prompt desire t' indure all losse in name fame goods and friends all pleasure paine and what else flesh offends That by their waight my sp'rit may mount the higher In summe I offer vp my selfe aboue my selfe to all mischance that can befall saue sinne alone yet if thy goodnesse shall Put me in Hell I le brooke it for thy Loue. And though it be impossible for Flesh to suffer it yet should my Will be prest If thou would'st haue it so in Hell to rest For Loue in quenchlesse flames can sense refresh Then loue me Lord and still my loue enflame then put me where thou wilt I le there abide without repining ire or ghostly pride With Martyrs that in torments laud thy Name But sith by reason of my Flesh too fraile I cannot be so prompt these paines to brooke then help me Lord but with a louing looke And ouer Death and Hell I shall preuaile Looke kindly on me then deare Lord and so Our Wils shall still be one in weale and woe The Sinner desires fruition of the Deitie and that his Soule should be euer the habitation thereof ETernall LORD who art more prompt to heare then Faith to pray of that great grace of thine Regard the Boone I aske in Loue and Feare and to mine humble suite thine eares incline Grant me fruition of thy DEITIE that all my Soule may so be satisfied For lesse then that can her not satisfie though all els boundlesse were still amplifide Those gifts and graces that thy Grace may moue t' inhabit my poore Soule vouchsafe thou me That with thy gifts thy grace may be in Loue and loue my Soule for harbring them and thee But in those gifts
Gods Note-Booke cleane are crost Whose sins are couer'd so with Clemencie that they are hid so seeme they to be lost And blest is he to whom the God of Grace imputes no Sinne for so he shall be cleare How e'er defil'd and in whose sp'rit no base deceit shall once so much as but appeare For while I held my peace that caus'd my Warre for Death with Silence in such passion striues My bodies Props my Bones consumed are while all the day I grone in Sorrowes Giues For day and night thy Hand great God doth lye like Lead vpon my weaknesse who haue bin Conuerted into selfe Calamitie whiles the Thorne prickt me or my stinging sin But lo my faults to thee I haue reueal'd haue not clockt my crimes which thou dost hide But I confesse those Sinnes thou hast conceal'd sith my misdeedes shall so be iustifide Thus shall each pious person pray to thee in fitting time yer Mercies Gate be sparr'd But when the Inundations swelling be of many Waters they from Him are barr'd My fence ô Lord lies onely in thy Hands when troubles me assaile with fiercest woe Then ô preserue me from the impious Bands that me inclose in death to close me so I will saist thou deare Sweete instruct thee still and guide thee in thy way ô homed Words Thine Eye thou saist shall me defend from ill and watch to guard me from my foe-mens Swords Then be ô be not like an Horse or Mule that are as rude as vnintelligent Lord bridle them thy Snafle will not rule till they be rul'd or else be made repent The Plagues are great most great and manifold that doe the Sinner euermore attend But who with Hands oâ— Hope on God layes hold his boundlesse Mercy him will comprehend In Him therefore yee Righteous still be glad for he in Griefe still glads the righteous Soule Exult all ye that for your Sinnes are sad and all true Hearts that stoupe to his controule To God the Father glory be therefore and to the Sonne and their coequall Spirit As it was is and shall be euermore World without end for they are infinite Domine ne in furore Psal. 38. Dauid lying sicke of some grieuous disease acknowledgeth himselfe to be chastised of God for his sinnes and therefore prayeth God to turne away his wrath He vttereth the greatnesse of his griefes by many words and circumstances as wounded with the arrowes of Gods ire forsaken of his friends â—uill intreated of his enemies But in the end with firme confidence he commendeth his cause to God and hopeth for speedy help at his hand LOrd checke me not vntill thy rage be past nor chastise me in thine incensâ—d â—re For in my Flesh thy Shafts are fixed fast and thy Hand quels me that would faine aspire Thy Wrath hath fill'd my Flesh with all annoy for Sinne 's the sore the salue sore-sicknesse is And in my bones I can no rest enioy because their Marrow them hath mou'd amisse For mine ambitious Sinnes climbe o'er my Head and as a breake-necke Burden me oppresse My wounds which they haue made with filth are fed and ranckled sore through my worse foolishnesse I am made crooked vnderneath this loade deform'd and wretched yea it breakes my backe So all the day with griefe I make aboad or mourning goe as those that comfort lacke For ah my Ioynes that lodg'd but Sinne before now harbour nought but restlesse Malady No health is in my flesh for all is sore so sore that anguish makes me roaring cry But Lord thou know'st the Summe of my desires because my Plaints still tell it in thine eares My Heart is vext my strength from me retires nay more mine Eyes are blinded with my teares My friends in shew when thou didst fauour me like foes in deed now me poore me withstand Nay those in bloud that were my neerest be now furthest off and lend nor heart nor hand And they that seeke my life lay Traps to take that life or at the least me to vndoe And but of guile and spoile they euer speake and put in practise what they speake of too But I poore I as deafe would nothing heare for poore Soules must not hear what must offend And as one dumbe I still my selfe did beare that gaue no more reproofes then eare did lend Yet is my hope in thee that hearest all my sighes and grones sith they increase for Sinne. Then let mine Enemies ne'er see my fall who when I doe but trip triumph therein I am at point to perish and my Woes and cause thereof I euer beare in minde For I with griefe confesse mine ouerthrowes that lost thy Grace which now I seeke to finde But still my Foes doe liue and strong are made strong in their friends their places purse and armes And they that hate me causelesse and inuade me forcelesse many be the more my harmes They monsters likewise that doe ill for good oppose me still sith goodnesse I ensue Then haste thee Lord to help me so withstood and leaue me not among this cursed crue To God the Father which we doe adore and to the Sonne and to their blessed Spirit All glory be as it was heretofore is and still shall be through Worlds infinite Miserere mei Deus Psal. 51. When Dauid was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offences he did not onely acknowledge the same to God with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie but also left a memoriall thereof to his posteritie Therefore first he desireth God to forgiue his sinnes and to renue in him his holy Spirit with promise that he will not be vnmindfull of those great graces Finally fearing lest God would punish the whole Church for his fault he requireth that hee would rather increase his graces toward the same GReat God of Gods whose Mercy is as great haue mercy on me wretch whose Sin exceeds Yet after thy compassion so compleate wash out the blots of my too foule misdeedes O clense me from the filth of mine offence that ranckles in my Conscience all defilde With all that may depraue both Soule and Sense that purg'd I may to thee be reconcil'd For I acknowledge mine iniquitie sith still my Sinne 's the obiect of my sight And by the pow'r of mine impiety I wrong thy grace and still impugne thy Sp'rit Against thee onely I in sinne abide and done what doth condemne me in thy sight That in thy Words thou maist be iustifide and ouercome when thou art iudg'd vnright For nought but wickednesse prepar'd the way to my conception which to worse did passe Then ere I was I stood at sinfull stay and when I fell to Being worser was This Lord is true confessing which doth moue thy Grace to me thy Wisedome hid to show Then sprinckle me with Isop in thy Loue and so I shall be whiter farre than Snow Vnto mine Eares invred but to heare what Eares corrupts thou shalt but Ioy obiect So shall
humble yet each vertuous Wit Should honour Vertue for selfe-benefit And sith Posteritie doth light receiue To runne to Honor by the Lines we leaue From Vertue drawne we should be drawing still The Lines that drawing lead vp Honors Hill The Highest Pow'r and Grace by oath hath vow'd To honour them among the multitude Of Men and Angels that are good then she That was so good of both must honour'd be Celestiall Maide if from the heau'nly Spheare What Mortals doe thou canst or see or heare Be not displeas'd that my vntutor'd Penne Should teach thy praise to teach all Maides and Men The way to Honor nor that in its Mouth That oft doth fable it should take this Truth I was thy Teacher though vnworthy I Might old learne of thee young to liue and die Yet sith it is th' Oblation of my zeale Which I doe offer for the Common-weale In thy deare Memory thou wilt I hope Acquite me from Presumption sith my scope Was but thy glory and the Peoples good Which in great light goe right in likelihood I must confesse a Priest of Phebus late Vpon like Text so well did meditate That with a sinlesse Enuy I doe runne In his Soules Progresse till it all be DONNE But he hath got the start in setting forth Before me in the Trauell of that WORTH And me out-gone in Knowledge eu'ry way Of the Soules Progresse to her finall stay But his sweet Saint did vsher mine therein Most blest in that so he must needs beginne And read vpon the rude Anatomy Of this dead World that now doth putrifie Yet greater Will to this great Enterprise Which in great Matters solely doth suffice He cannot bring than I nor can much lesse Renowne more Worth than is in WORTHINES Such were they both for such a worthy PAIRE Of louely vertuous Maides as good as faeire Selfe Worthinesse can scarse produce sith they Liu'd like Celestiall Spirits immur'd in Clay And if all-powerfull Loue can All performe That in it hath rare Matter or like Forme Then should my Lines haue both so'accomplished As from the Graue to Heauen should draw the Dead Or with hâ—r Taper-pointed-beaming Name Naile her to Heau'n and in Heau'n clench the same Hold Muse no more thou hast too large a scope To proue thy Pinnions for the Heau'nly Coape Infolds no more and take thy leaue anon Of Her thou ne'er shalt leaue to muse vpon Thou maist be tir'd but ne'er canst flye about The Inside of her praise much lesse the out Then stouping here with reuerence griefe and loue Bid her adue and with that bidding moue Thy selfe to teares but if thou canst not so Shew thy selfe willing by the dryest woe For neuer had I greater cause of griefe Sith while she liu'd I ioy'd in painefull life But now am left all solitary-sad To waile her death whose life made Sorrow glad O! had it pleas'd the Heau'ns by their Decree T' haue made my Pupill learn'd t' haue dide of mee And mine example I had beene at rest And she liue blessed long to dye as blest I like a wither'd Pine no fruit produce Of whom there is no Care no hope no vse I burden but the Earth and keepe a place Of one perhaps that should haue greater grace Opprest with Cares that quite crush out the Sappe That feeds my Life now throwne off Natures Lappe I solely sit and tell the saddest houres That euer yet impeached vitall powres Obscur'd by Fate yet made a Marke by fame Whereat fooles often shoote their Bolts in game Yet liue as buried that I learn'd of thee Deare Pupill while the World goes ouer mee Praying for patience still to vnder-ly The heauie waight of this Worlds iniurie Oft haue I beene enbozomed by Lords But all the warmth I found there was but Words And though I scarse did moue yet scarse they would There let me lie though there I lay acold But as I had some biting Vermine bin Out must I mou'd I but for warmth therein Or els so lie as I were better out Sith there I lay as dead yet liu'd in doubt In doubt I should haue nothing but a place In th' outward Roome but of their Idle Grace In doubt black mouths should blot me in their Bookes That make few Schollers and in doubt my Hookes Would hold no longer to hang on ô Griefe This hanging's worse then hanging of a Theefe An Halter loone abridgeth bale and breath But hanging on mens sleeues is double death To hang in hope of that which doubt doth stay Is worse then hanging till the later-DAY Doubt stayes that meede that merit hopes for oft Lest Meede should but make Merit looke aloft Or quite leaue working sith it hath no neede Therefore the great doe still with-hold this Meede For to them selues they say If we should fill The well-deseruing-empty working still They would but rest than well wee 'l them intreat Yet keepe them hungry still to worke for meat Fate but to State this priuiledge affords And but the meane without meanes worke for words Yet worke they must sith Aire the great doe giue For if they haue their hate they cannot liue Their Loue doth little boote but ô their breath Blowes downe in hate a poore Relict to death These miseries I ranne through and did trye These deare Conclusions but in miserie Hoping for that which but my hopes deceiu'd And me of hope and life almost bereau'd Till I to stand from these was faine to fall To serue two Lords that serue me now withall The one immortall th' other mortall is Who serue my turne for what my life doth misse Which for it 's still amisse still misseth that Which makes men gracious and so fortunate But he who knowes all knowes perhaps it's best For me to liue with little in vnrest For neuer since I first could moue had I A better life than those that liuing dye I neuer yet possest one day of ioy That was not lin'd or hem'd with some annoy The Kingly Preacher in his weale found woe But I in thwarts for those alone I know These made me old in youth for Sol had runne Scarse thirty yeeres before my dayes were done And to his course ere fiue more added were Blacke Daies like Nights in gray had dide my Haire Yet neuer Crosse on me so sad did sit As this deare losse whereof this benefit To me acrewes that now each pressing woe Stands farre without this and this keepes them so I say I greatly grieue yet seeme to faine For great griefes neuer greatly could complaine That is when Sorrowes floud the Banckes doth fill It noiselesse runnes and smoothly glideth still But if the Current once the Brimmes get o'er T will roughly runne or stopt will rage and rore But ô that tyrant Time will silence me Before my griefes are vtter'd as they be Farewell then my griefes Cause who wast th' effect Of all the ioy my life did well elect Farewell in Him on whom who sares is
feares to die for good Yet for Christ t' is more glory to be crost then of him to be crown'd an earthly King The last may be by chance or Treason lost but from the Crosse immortall Crownes doe spring To be in glory may proceede of Grace without the glorifide his meriting But well-borne Crosses alter quite the case Vertue consists in doing hardest things And vicious Fooles haue too too oft beene Kings Who suffers straight hath but one victorie but he that alwayes doth encounter paine And yet o'er-throwes the strong'st Extremitie is crowned eu'ry day and still shall raigne And what is Death but our best earthly friend which kils our Flesh our deadliest enemy So friendly is both to and in the end Then Crauen why doe I so flye his force That saues me when he makes my corps a corse For if the pining of the body be the pampring of the Soule than must this friend That with his paines makes vertuous Soules to flye where they are pamper'd without meane or end Be still embrac'd noâ— fled but ô fraile flesh this dying doctrine doth but thee offend That hold'st it most erronious fond and fresh Thou canst not poise these treasures of the Sp'rit for they are waighty and thou art too light Thou must haue all that may thy Senses charme with sweete as most effeminate delights And fly'st from Death to honied pleasures swarme yea follow'st them in their vnconstant flights Austeritie nor canst nor wilt thou brooke sith it quite mortifies thy liuely sp'rits And for thy life still put'st thee to thy Booke But thou dost long for all that makes thee light As well within as gawdy still in sight Mean while thou burn'st to nought with flames of sin for as the Lightnings flash although it spares The painted sheath it melts the Blade within which is the thing more worthy so it fares With sinnes pernitious fire-flash for it leaues the goods and body sound but vnawares The Soule more pretious it of life bereaues But who to spare a Thing of nought will spend Gods Goape his Soule hee 's mad cannot mend Many though Princes poore are in their store in Honors abiect malecontent in mirth Their flesh selfe frailtie their spirits basely poore their Soule 's the sinckâ— of all the sinnes on Earth The Moths of Man-kinde sores of Sou'raigntie vnhappily-happie in their base-high Birth Who liue like Monsters and like Diuels dye The rich possesse the meeke the Earth enioy For they haue most that haue the lest annoy Looke in the Graues suruey the Emperours Kings Dukes and Worthies of the Ages past Then looke on those whom life and death obscures poore Beggers tell me then who 's first who last Who rich who poore who faire foule high or low but if thou canst when burnt be diuers Woods Their Ashes well distinguish then maist thou distinguish of their bodyes states and blouds Then wherefore waigh we so our Flesh misled That 's light as vanitie aliue and dead And life at best is but a golden sleepe lin'd but with siluer or more earthly dreames Or else a Tragedie that moues to weepe of ceaselesse troubles and most dire Extreames A passing but from life is life for still in stay'ing it goes yet vnlike Water-streames That running stay alike by Natures skill Streames running rest the same and not the same But still vnlike doth burne our vitall-flame Things future are beginning endlesly Things present euer ending and Things past Quite dead or done for while we liue wâ— dye and dead we liue so life is first and last Then better dye to life than liue to death for mortall-life in Death but time doth waste And Death doth gaine of â—ime he shorteneth Who for our good our bodyes still assailes And frees our Soules by ruining their Iayles It is but Natures necessary wracke then let vs make it voluntarie that Is necessary and still bowe our Backe vnder the burden of our common state With all alacritie and giue to God his owne which were most damn'd to alienate Sith he of Dolorâ— paid for it his lode Then it were Sacriledge not to restore That which he made lent and bought and more Death 's dreadfull but to those that know him not to those that know him well hee is not so The Old before their faces him haue got the young behinde while he doth all o'erthrow Acquaintance with the Warres estrangeth feare they dread not waues at Sea though high they goe that vs'd are to them though they all orebeare And with them fight in front or in the reare Then not to feare Death is with him to be Familiar made and bring Sense vnder lee The Pilot while he is his Ship to guide sits at the Stearne for there he most preuailes And so the vertuous maugre winde and Tyde when through this stormy Sea of life he sailes Sits at the Stearne that is lifes hinder-piece where he in Tempests bearing lowest Sailes Conducts it safely to the Port of Peace To beare high sailes and still forbeare the helme Is Ship and Fraight so quite to ouer-whelme Death is the doore whereby we must goe out of straitest Bonds to freest Libertie Then as the Pris'ner that of Death doth doubt yet waites the while for his deliuery Most ioyes in sitting at the Prison dore that when it 's op'ned he may instantly Get out t' enioy his freedome as before So should our Thoughts be fixt on lifes last steppe To which we soone may iump but not o'er-leape Thoughts mortifide the ashes are wherein the fire of Vertue being rak'd vp close The longer lasts and greater heate doth winne to kindle courage in our cold dispose That when Death comes and those shall be vnrak't we may reioyce our flame so freely goes Vnto her Spheare then should it not be slack't In Chimney of our flesh where it doth lye Like to be quencht with our iniquitie And as a floud that from a mountaines top doth rowling run with strange as ceaslesse noise And ouer many crâ—ggy Le ts doth hop till in the Valâ— beneath it rest enioyes So fares it with our life which we beginne with ceaslesse out-cryes for our felt annoyes Then downe Times houres we run through lets sin Till in the end we rest in vale of Death To which we blow our selues by spending breath Then Death 's our rest for since the same hath past through lifes pure Veynes or rather Lords of life Of the least bitternâ—sse it hath no taste but freshest sweetnesse therein still is rife It is the vertuous peacefull Paradise but to the vicious t is a World of strife For nought is plagu'd in Death but mortall Vice Then he may well be stil'd a Martyrs Peere That vertuous Death doth rather seeke than feare Death to a Thiefs's compar'd who if he findes the Man he meanes to rob vpon his guard He speakes him faire else him he bindes and blindes so Death is kinde to those for him prepar'd But curst to them that
carelesse spend their breath for all that watch for him he doth reward With endlesse Life the rest with double death But they that dye for Vertue or good note Though he o'er-throw them yet they cut his throate And why should his worst looke more irke or feare a Man resolu'd that he can dye but once Goliah bought a little Stone as deare as Sampson did the House that chrusht his bones And from a Chaire to fall the Necke can breake as well as falling high as Thunder-stones And all is but one Death bee â—t strong or weake Deaths sharpest sting the Heart but enters in Which dyes with that and so t' will with a pinne Why grudge we then t' endure for endlesse life that for vaine-glory freely we endure Repine we not to dye in damned strife and grudge to dye to make our life secure Is Death so sweete when it the Diu'll commands and when God wils it is the same to sow'r What manhood 's this whereon now manhood stands O ougly valor if it valor be To flee to death yet fearing life to flee Liue well and so dye well perhaps we may but liue still and not dye we neuer can Life is not short that soone goes well away and longest life Truth calleth but a spanne He dyeth old though young that well doth die and Life well lost is better then ill wanne For so to winne we lose eternally Then what can counteruaile eternall losse Nothing that is no Patience beares that crosse If we for vertue doe our life forgoe our Pitcher's broken o'er the fountaine-head From whence what fill'd it came and where doth flow the Aqua vitae that reuiues the dead Our liquor is not lost but runne into the proper Fount by Nature thither lead And heau'nly Grace assisting Nature too Our life 's a war where patience guards from losse Our Captaine Christ our Standard is his Crosse But seemes God long thy labours to content the more forborne the more will be thy meede He takes on Intrest what before he lent and takes delight t'o'er-guerdon each good-deed If in our Vs'ry then we wish delay feare we the Lord of All should fall to neede That on his Bond we dare not giue him Day And shall we trust a Merchant that may breake More than that King of whom all Kings do seeke Admit thou should'st be rackt to straine the Truth though Racks are made the truth to gaine not strain Yet if thou her beleeue let ne'er thy mouth deny it for the cracking of a veyne We owe so much to Truth as should we pay the reall debt to vs should nought remaine No not our liues which must for her away For God and Truth are Relatiues Not so For God is Truth then for him All must goe If Truth-pretending Turkes or Infidels should on our Plagues which we for her endure Triumph and make our Paines so many Hels alas poore Soules they so doe but procure Their owne perdition for that God we serue is God of vengeance and the same will poure On Good-pretenders that so ill deserue To be for truth reprocht yea pâ—agu'd or slaine Is to be glorious free from Death and paine The red-hot It'n into the Water throwne thunders therein as if it did it harme Yet so the force of burning's ouer-throwne the while the Water cold before is warme Like Thundrings Tyrants vse in eu'ry Age who though against the Truth themselues they arme And with the bloud of Martyrs quench their Rage Yet all their triumph 's nothing but the noise Of their owne quenching and the Martyrs Ioyes Then if they shew vs Honors Gold or Iemmes t' intice vs to their Faith they shall but shew The Lion Chaffe which chasing he contemnes and if with Torments then they vs pursue The Salamander they but threat with fire which makes her rather to reioyce then rue So that the worst they can doe we desire Then through the Red-sea of our bloud thus shed Vnto Heau'ns Holy-Land we soon'st are led Saints on the Earth resemble Babes dead borne that are no sooner borne but borne they be Vnto their graues so straight to Ashes turne but Tyrants Viper-like doe liue to â—ee Their own Confusion and the death of those which they haue martyr'd so from death made free And manumiz'd from this Worlds mortall woes The first are borne to dye to liue in ioy The last to liue to dye in all annoy When Theeues an house doe breake to rob by night sith t is a Worke of darknesse first they will That they may not be knowne put out the light and so the good are handled by the ill Lights of the World the Good are said to be but bad-men Sonnes of darknesse put out still Those lights lest men their darkest deedes should see For all that euill doe the Light doe lothe So loue they darknesse and doe darkly both Vnto the light it 's no reproch at all though Bats and Owles abhorre it nor is it Disgrace to Wisedome if but Ideots shall condemne the same for Polly they want Wit To iudge of Wisedome which is too too bright for men to looke on that in darknesse sit To iudge of coulors blinde-men haue no light The fault 's not in the coulors they are so But in their Eyes that can no coulors know Farre sweeter are the Teares of them that mourne then is their laughter that in mirth are lost All crosses by the vertuous so are borne that most they ioy in that which grieueth most Like Roses mong the Thornes their pleasures are most sweete when as they are most sharply crost And being at the worst they best doe fare But put the least crosse on a sensuall Soule And t wil blaspheming grudge nay cry houle The greater Oxe the yokes worst part doth beare that is the heauiest Christ that is thy God Thy yokes most heauy part with thee doth weare that so thou maist with him the lighter plod Through thicke and thinne for him thou canst not do that he did for thee hee feeles the Rod Yet he doth all in vs and for vs too Mates in afflictions make Affliction lesse Then if Christ beare with vs nought can oppresse This life is but a lye true life 's not here it seemes but is not so it is not true Than for a lie or what doth false appeare let vs not lie to God or breake our vow We made in Baptisme but to cleaue to him although for it it might perhaps ensue That we to him in our owne Bloud should swimme That water 's strong it will not let vs sincke And to engrosse sure Deedes the onely Inckâ— The life of Dauid was but Teares and moane but Salomonâ— was ioy and Mirth through-out Yet Dauid sure is sau'd but Salomon whether he be or no Beleeuers doubt Poore Lazarus liu'd here in dying-plight Diues in all that reueld with the Rowt Of honied Pleasures and extreame delight But he that liu'd in death in ioy now liues And he