Bicause thou Lord hast Sion built thou wilt be seene therein In glorie and great maiestie with mercie for our sin 33 Wherefore most louing father deere regard our humble sute And not dispise the plaints we make nor doo our sinnes impute 34 As thou beheldst the sacrifice that Abel gaue to thee And as the praier ludith made so cast thine eie on mee 35 With those same eies vouchsafe to looke vpon vs when we praie Whereby the fame of mercie thine may wirtten befor aie 36 For those that after vs shall come by faith that borne shall be To render thanks due laud and praise vnto thy Maiestie 37 This mercie sure annexed is to nature thine diuine When all was lost through deadlie sin yet didst thou make vs thine 38 Thou Lord aloft from heauenlie throne didst view all things alowe And wouldst vouchsafe vpon the earth thy gratious eyne to throwe 39 To see and heare the plaints we make that â—ettered be in thrall And sent'st thy deere beloued sonne from sinne to loose vs all 40 And he thereby put downe the diuel of death that victor was And death in vict'rie was consum'd this hath he brought to pas 41 For why his sting of deadlie sinne thou Lord hast pluckt away To make vs thinke of goodnesse thine wherein reioise we may 42 And thâ—t in Sion we may shew the glorie of thy name And likewise in Ierusalem with praise to doo the same 43 That is when we togither meete in faith with one accord As well the kings as subiects poore to serue and praise the Lord. 44 Thou art ô Lord in substance one and yet in persons three To whom all powers in heauen earth obeisance giue to thee 45 Thou sendest downe thy dews of grace vpon vs for to light That we therwith good works may shew to eu'rie bodies sight 46 I answere may by no meanes else good works be wrought by me But by the vertue and the grace that dooth proceed from thee 47 Thorough thy might thy laws we kepe not of our selues we knowe But by the measure of thy grace thou didst on vs bestowe 48 And yet ô Lord I faine would know how short my daies shall be And eke how long mine enimies shall triumph ouer me 49 Which is thy Church desires to know how long she shall abide Beset with cruell enimies about on euerie side 50 To whom thou hast an answere made by Christ thy blessed sonne That still thy power with hir shall bee vntill the world be donne 51 And we hir children thee desire to bring vs to the end Of this short time that we with thee may to the heauens ascend 52 And til that time good Lord vouchsafe thou wilt continue still Thy grace and fauour towards vs according to thy will 53 And not to leaue me anie time in middle of my daies But by thine aid bring all my time to end vnto thy praise 54 That after these my temporall daies I may behold and see Thine euerlasting daies and yeeres which cannot numbred bee 55 For all times heere doo swiftlie passe as time that is vnsure But yet time of Eternitie for euer shall endure 56 For why ô Lord Eternitie is verie substance thine Which substance who so seekes to know no reason can define The third part WIthout beginning Lord thou wast and yet beginning gaue To heauen and earth and all therein which that creation haue 2 Thy hands them wrought which is thy power thy word them made also And at the last They perish shall and motion theirs forgo 3 Their substance stil they all shal kepe yet all shall changed bee For heuen and earth shall new be made of glorie great to thee 4 Likewise the bodies of all men shall perish with the rest And in another sort shall rise to thee as seemeth best 5 But thou Lord trulie shalt endure in thy high glorie great In maiestie omnipotent sitting on mercie seat 6 When all shall wax and weare awaie as garments old to see And as a vesture new put on we all shall changed bee 7 As garments to the bodie are to couer them withall So be the bodies of the soule their vestures and their pall 8 But thou art euen the selfe same one which euer doost abide That is to saie omnipotent and so is none beside 9 Inuisible thou art likewise immortall eke withall And as thy yeeres shall neuer faile so euer bide they shall 10 So shall the soules of thine elect immortallie remaine In ioie and great felicitie not knowing anie paine 11 The soules of those that wicked are immortall be also But they contraire shall endure continuall paine and wo. 12 And Lord The sonnes of seruants thine togither they shall dwell Likewise their seed shall in thy sight still prosper and doo well 13 Thy seruants Lord the prophets were Apostles thine also From whom by faith we haue receiu'd as we beleeue and know 14 And now vouchsafe most mightie God to send vs of thy grace That in this life our faith by works may shine in euerie place 15 That they to all may signifie how we thy seruants bee And that both soule and bodie may remaine and rest with thee De profundis Psal. 130. O God thou art the guide of those thâ—t blinded bee and vnto 〈◊〉 that are opprest a succour sweet we see 2 A comfort to the weake as ease to those in paine A life vnto the dead in graue that sleeping yet remaine 3 O Lord this makes me bold though wicked I be found And ouerwhelmed deepe in sinne and therein being dround 4 To call and crie to thee from depth of miserie Where none but thou can raise me vp and safe deliuer me 5 I can but mourne and weepe fetch sighs lament and crie As dooth the woman great with child whose hower draweth nie 6 She no time can take rest till she deliuered bee Nor I till that my conscience feele to be forgiuen of thee 7 It is not distance long that keepes my praiers backe Thou Lord doost heare before we call and giuest what we lacke 8 Ionas was in the sea and in the fish three daies And from the deepe he cald on thee and streight thou didst him raise 9 Out from the deepe likewise of sinne and wickednesse To thee I call Lord heare my voice and free me from distresse 10 And let thine eares sweet Lord to heare attentiue bee The voice and praier of my plaint that now I make to thee 11 And since that Christ thy sonne hath suffered for vs all From endlesse death to which by sinne we bounden were and thrall 12 Let not my sinnes then Lord to me be stop or staie Whereby by plaint should not be heard nor voice when I shall praie 13 But rather wipe awaie my sinnes for euermore The burden of the which I feele
Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne. Comprehending those seuen Psalmes of the Princelie Prophet DAVID commonlie called Poenitentiall framed into a forme of familiar praiers and reduced into meeter by WILLIAM HVNNIS one of the Gentlemen of hir Maiesties honourable Chapell and maister to the children of the same Wherevnto are also annexed his Handfull of Honisuckles the Poore Widowes Mite a Dialog betweene Christ and a sinner diuers godlie and pithie ditties with a Christian confessâ—oâ— of and to the Trinitie newlie printed and augmented 1583. To the right Honourable and vertuous Ladie Francis Countesse of Sussex and one of the Ladies of hir Maiesties most Honourable priuie chamber W. Hunnis wisheth increase of vertue and honour with long life prosperous helth godlie feare firme faith and assured hope in the Almightie THe proofe of your Ladiships vertue hath emboldened me to set forth this litle worke vnder your honourable defeâ—se And although a fault by me is committed in making you patronesse of so slender a peece without your knowledge yet hoping vpon your honourable curtesie which rather respecteth the mind of the giuer than the worthinesse of the gift poizing the giuers desire to please and zeale to profit more than the quality of the offense I doo assure my selfe to be remitted of the trespasse which maketh me thinke my trauell not onelie sweet but also verierichlie recompensed Your Ladiships to command William Hunnis The Authour to his Booke PAsse forth my Booke into the hands and view of sundrie men Humble thy selfe declare thy name who thee thus clad and when And blush not at the frumps of some ne feare at others frowne More rich thou art in thred-bare cote than some in silken gowne And giue them all to vnderstand from whence thou first didst spring How thou wast fostred in the breast and bosome of a king And so perhaps some worthie wight will shape thee rich araie And set thee foorth as thou deseru'st with costlie iewels gaie Behaue thy selfe in such good fort if possiblie maie bee That eu'rie one may thee embrace and wish well vnto mee Vale. The booke to his Readers GOod friends with fauor me peruse halfe naked though I bee Or not attird so gallantlie as you desire to see Yet this from me your selues assure such substance here to find As shall bring hope vnto the hart and comfort to the mind Oft vnder short and simple weed such vertue may be found As vnder pall of purple hew that traileth on the ground I being good am not the woorse though clothing mine be bad He that bestowd the same on me aid giue the best he had In whose behalfe I humblie praie and for my selfe also You would vouch safe to mend those faults that in my cote ye knowe Vale. AWAY FRO ME YE WICKED FOR I WIL KEPE THE COMMANDEMENTS OF MY GOD. Psal 119 verse iiâ— Psalme 150 verse 3 and 6. ¶ Praise him in the sound of the trumpet praise him vpon the lute and harpe Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowfull Soule for Sinne. Domine ne in furore Psal. 6. The first part 1. O Lord when I my self behold how wicked I haue bin And view the paths and waies I went wandring from sin to fin 2. Againe to thinke vpon thy power thy iudgement and thy might And how that nothing can be hid or close kept from thy sight 3 Euen then alas I shake and quake and tremble where I stand For feare thou shouldst reuenged be by power of wrathfull hand 4 The weight of sinne is verie great for this to mind I call That one proud thought made Angels thine from heauen to slide and fall 5 ADAM likewise and EVE his wife for breaking thy precept From Paradise expelled were and death thereby hath crept 6 Vpon them both and on their seed for euer to remaine But that by faith in Christ thy sonne we hope to liue againe 7 The earth not able was to beare but quicke did swallow in Corah Dathan and Abiron by reason of their sin 8 Also because king DAVID did his people number all Thou Lord therfore in three daies space such grieuous plague letst fall 9 That seuentie thousand meÌ„ forthwith thereof dyde presentlie Such was thy worke such was thy wrath thy mightie power to trie 10 Alas my sins surmounteth theirs mine cannot numbred bee And from thy wrath most mightie God I known not where to flee 11 If into heauen I might ascend where Angels thine remaine O Lord thy wrath would thrust me forth downe to the earth againe 12 And in the earth here is no place of refuge to be found Nor in the deepe and water course that passeth vnder ground 13 Vouchsafe therefore I thee beseech on me some mercie take And turne thy wrath from me awaie for Iesus Christes sake 14 Lord in thy wrath reproue me not ne chast me in thine ire But with thy mercie shadowe me I humblie thee desire 15 I know it is my grieuous sinnes that doo thy wrath prouoke But yet ô Lord in rigour thine forbeare thy heauie stroke 16 And rather with thy mercie sweete behold my heauie plight How weake and feeble I appeare before thy blessed sight 17 For nature mine corrupted is and wounded with the dart Of lust and soule concupiscence throughout in eu'rie part 18 I am in sinne conceiu'd and borne the child of wrath and death Hauing but here a little time to liue and drawe my breath 19 I feele my selfe still apt and prone to wickednesse and vice And drowned thus in sinne I lie and haue no power to rise 20 It is thy mercie ô sweet Christ that must my health restore For all my bones are troubled much and vexed verie sore 21 I am not able to withstand temptations such as bee Wherfore good Lord vouchsafe to heale my great infirmitie 22 Good Christ as thou to Peter didst reach forth thy hand to me When he vpon the water went there drowned like to be 23 And as the Leaper clensed was bv touching with thy hand And Peters mother raised vp from feuer whole to stand 24 So let that hand of mercie thine make cleane the leprosie Of lothsome lust vpon me growne through mine iniquitie 25 Then shal there strength in me appere through grace my chiefe reliefe Thy death ô Christ the medicine is that helpeth all my griefe 26 My soule is troubled verie sore by reason of my sin But Lord how long shall I abide thus sorrowfull therein 27 I doubt not Lord but thou which hast my stonie hart made soft With willing mind thy grace to craue from time to time so oft 28 Wilt not now stay but forth proceed my perfect health to make Although a while thou doost deferre yet is it for my sake 29 For Lord thou knowst our nature such if we great things obtaine And in the getting of the same doo feele no griefe or paine 30 We little doo esteeme
cleane and clensed from my sin 27 But Lord thy mercie is the Sope and washing lee also That shall both scowre clense the filth which in my soule doo grow 28 Why should I then alas despaire of goodnesse thine to mee When that thy iustice willeth me to put my trust in thee 29 Thy promise Lord thy mouth hath past which cannot be but true That thou wilt mercie haue on them that turne to thee anew 30 I know when heauen and earth shall passe this promise shall stand fast Wherefore into thy Maiestie I offer now at last 31 An hart contriâ—e and sorrowfull with all humilitie For heinous sinnes by it conceiuâ—d through mine iniquitie 32 I doo acknowledge all my faults my sinnes stand me before I haue them in remembrance Lord and will for euermore 33 Bicause thou shouldst the same forget I still doo thinke thereon And set it vp before my face alwaies to looke vpon 34 Against thee â—nlie haue I â—ind and done ill in thy sight In whom it lies to punish me or to forgiue me quight 35 But sure my hope is firmelie fixt that thou wilt me forgiue For with thine honour shall it stand to suffer me to liue 36 That all the world may witnesse thee a iudge most iust to bee For that thou wilt thy promise keepe to all that trust in thee 37 That is our sinnes thou wilt remit and cleane forget them all And bend thine eares vnto our plaints when we vpon thee call 38 O Lord consider with thy selfe what mettall I possesse Behold in sinne I was conceiud and borne in wickednesse 39 From Adam first this sin was drawne whereby I am made prone To doo the ill should thee offend and let the good alone 40 Yea manie a time I am so drawne to doo I would not doo And that I would I leaue vndone for want of might thereto 41 Such is ô Lord the strength and force of my concupiscence But yet of greater force than this is Lord thine indulgence 42 For thou wilt mercie shew to them that mercie doo require And wilt not turne thy face from such as mercie doo desire 43 Surelie of honor more is thine through pitie men to saue Than by thy iustice to condemne such as deserued haue 44 Therefore ô Lord receiue me now which doo my selfe accuse To th'nd thou shouldst my sins forgiue and all my faultes excuse 45 O Lord I doo not hide my sinnes but shew them vnto thee Because thou shouldst thy mercie grant as thou hast promisd mee 46 For neuer yet thou hast beene found in anie word vniust Ne canst thou now begin at me since that in thee I trust 47 Thou Lord hast euer loued truth and truth thou art most sure Thou art the verie veritie for euer to endure 48 Thou promisedst to Abraham his seede to multiplie Euen as the stars and as the sand that in the sea doth lie 49 To Ishac and to Iacob eke like promise didst thou make And thou the same performed hast for this thy promise sake 50 Thou promisedst to Iosue to strength him with thine hand And so he slue the Chananites and did diuide their land 51 To Gedeon thou promise mad'st that he should set at large The Israëlites which were in thrall and in their en'mies charge 52 When Ezechias lay sore sicke and well nie at deaths dore Thou promis'dst him his health againe to liue fifteene yeares more 53 Thus hast thou kept thy promises to thousands else beside Who haue reposed trust in thee thou hast not helpe denide 54 Euen so good Lord thy promise kepe with me that am vniust A scabbed sheepe one of thy flocke and ouerchargd with lust 55 Which of long time haue run astray the time since I was borne Yet now returnd with heauie hart that 's with repentance torne 56 Thus hath thy grace now called me with mercie of thine hand And what thy will and pleasure is by grace I vnderstand 57 Thou hast reuealed vnto me the things that be vnknowne The secret points of wisedome thine thy grace to me hath showne 58 The mysteries that hidden were within thy sacred word Thou hast to vs made manifest by Iesus Christ our Lord. 59 I am now fed with bread of life that shall my hunger slake And from dame wisedoms water-springs my drinke I often take 60 Now wisdome hath cast out hir floud the plants all watred bee And still she seekes to lighten those that put their trust in thee 61 Of this hir floud S. Paule did drinke and he vs taught thereby Thy wisdome Lord which secret was and hidden long did lie 62 As thou to him didst manifest by thy free spirit before Which searcheth out the verie depth of secrets thine and store 63 Of this Lord part I tasted haue through mercie shewd to me And am now taught by them to know mine owne infirmitie 64 And by it am I taught likewise thy goodneâ—â—e for to know Beseeching thee this worke begun may neuer part me fro 65 So that the light which kindled is in me by thy great grace May so increase as darknesse Lord may neuer more take place The third part With Hyssope Lord besprinkle me and clense me from my sin More whiter then shall I be made than euer snow hath bin 2 Thou didst command this herb with blood a sprinkle for to be To sprinkle such as clensed were from lothsome leprosie 3 A bundle of this herbe ô Lord thou didst command also To dip in blood of simple sheepe and therewithall to show 4 Vpon the doore-posts of the house the slaier might it see Wherby the plague might shun the place and from thy people flee 5 These vnto vs doo represent the blood of thy deere Sonne Without the which no man is cleane what euer can be donne 6 And he that marks his soule therewith and puts his trust therein The slaier hath no power to hurt nor plague him for his sin 7 If with this grace thou sprinkle me I shall be white I knowe And though as blood my sinnes appeare they shall be like the snowe 8 Yea though my sinnes as purple were or as the scarlet die Thy grace shall make them as the wooll t' appeare before thine eie 9 Then shall I heare the words of ioie of gladnesse so likewise That Nathan to king Dauid spake whom thou didst not despise 10 That is My sinnes are now put out what euer I haue donne And are forgiuen me quite and cleane by Iesu Christ thy sonne 11 Then shall I heare the words Christ spake to him the palsie had My sonne thy sinnes are thee forgiuen arise go home be glad 12 Then shall I heare thee also speake by inspiration Whereby I shall be comforted in tribulation 13 Yea Lord The bones thou broken hast shall then againe reioice Through working of thy heauenly grace and sweetnesse of thy voice 14 That is The powers of my poore
them and not for you Awake I saie awake awake SINNER And yet ô Lord the little whelps would licke the crums that fall Thy chosen sort are verie few but manie doost thou call CHRIST I call to you that will not heare I stretch mine armes at large For to imbrace such as doo come and all your sinnes discharge Wherefore if you refuse to come I will you then forsake And to my feast will strangers call and them my children make Awake therefore and rise from sleepe awake I saie awake awake SINNER Not so good Lord thy mercie far aboue our sinnes abound CHRIST And yet I will a iusticer in iustice mine be found SINNER Thy promise is to pardon sinne and therein art thou iust CHRIST Your sinnes repent and praie therefore in vaine is else your trust SINNER O Lord thy grace must this performe or else it cannot be CHRIST My grace you haue the same applie and blessed shall you be SINNER Through this sweet grace thy mercie Lord we humblie doo require CHRIST By mercie mine I you forgiue and grant this your desire AMEN An humble sute of a repentant sinner for mercie Giue eare ô Lord to heare my heauie carefull cries And let my wofull plaints ascend aboue the starrie skies And now receiue the soule that puts his trust in thee And mercie grant to purge my sinnes mercie good Lord mercie My soule desires to drinke from fountaine of thy grace To slake this thirst ô God vouchsafe and turne not of thy face But bow thy bending eare with mercie when I crie And pardon grant for sinfull life mercie good Lord mercie Behold at length ô Lord my sore repentant mind Which knocks with faith hopes therby thy mercies great to find Thy promise thus hath past from which I will not flie Who dooth repent trusting in thee shall taste of thy mercie Mercie good Lord mercie mercie ¶ Another to the same effect Behold ô God the wretched state my sillie soule is in How sore opprest and ouerchargde with foule and filthie sinne Behold likewise the prison foule I meane my baned brest Where wickednes and sinne abounds and breeds my soules vnrest Behold ô God how oft my soule dooth lift hir selfe to thee As one in dungion darke and deepe desiring light to see Behold also how faine it would doo that might please thy will But cruell sinne with his affects doo drawe me backward still Behold I doo not that I would as lawe of thine requires But I doo that I would not doo contrarie my desires Such is the working of the feend such be his wilie waies With â—ust to set my hart on fire whereby my health decaies Such pleasant baites laies he abroad with pois'ned hookes of sin And traines my senses all thereto and drownes my soule therein But mercie is with thee my God for such as mercie craue Among the which I humblie aske some mercie for to haue For light offense thy mercie small may soone appease thine ire But mine offenses manifold thy mercies great desire And since by mercie I must win thy fauour and thy grace From my misdeeds and sinfull life with mercie turne thy face ¶ Another to the same purpose My soule ô God doth now confesse a wicked life long led in sinne And how the same to thee is knowne ere that my lips to speake begin Such is the fruit such is the tree with mercie Lord deliuer mee Shall I ô Lord for this despaire of hope of helpe and health at last Or shall I thinke thou seek'st reuenge vpon my sinfull life that 's past No no my faith dooth witnes mee Thy bloud from sin hath set me free AMEN A Lamentation touching the follies and vanities of our youth ¶ Alack when I looke back vpon my youth that 's past And deepelie ponder youths offense youths reward at last With sighes and sobs I saie ô God I not denie my youth with follie hath deseru'd with follie for to die But yet if euer sinfull man might merâ•Œcie mooue to ruth Good Lord with mercie doo forgiue the follies of my youth In youth I rangde the fields where vices all did grow In youth I wanted grace such vice to ouerthrow In youth what I thought sweet most bitter now I find Thus hath the follies of my youth with follie kept me blind Yet as the Eagle cast's hir bill whereby hir age renut'h So Lord with mercie doo forgiue the follies of my youth Amen A psalme of reioising for the woonderfull loue of Christ ratified by his meritorious death and passion for our spirituall redemption LEt vs be glad and clap our hands with ioie our soules to fill For Christ hath paid the price of sinne with mercie and good will By his good will he flesh became for sinfull fleshes sake By his good will disdained not most shamefull death to take By his good will his blood was spilt his bodie all to rent By his good will to saue vs all he therewith was content By his good will death hath no power our sinfull soules to kill For Christ hath paid the price of sinne with mercie and good will Since Christ so dearelie loued vs let vs from sinne refraine For Christ desireth nothing els in lieu of all his paine And that we should each other loue as he vs loou'd before So shall his loue abide in vs and dwell for euermore Let then our loue so dwell in him our wicked lusts to kill For Christ hath paid the price of sin with mercie and good will AMEN A praier for the good estate of Queene ELIZABETH THou God that guidst both heuen and earth on whom we all depend Preserue our Queene in perfect health and hir from harme defend Conserue hir life in peace to reigne augment hir ioies withall Increase hir friends maintaine hir cause and heare vs when we call So shall all we that faithfull be reioise and praise thy name O God ô Christ ô holie Ghost giue eare and grant the same AMEN A Christian confession of and to the Trinitie O Thou almightie omnipotent and euerlasting God the father of heauen I doo beleeue confesse and acknowledge thee to be the God of all power and might yea the almightie power it selfe and to be of nothing going before neither made created nor begotten but to be a thing before all things giuing beginning vnto euerie thing thy selfe being without beginning and without ending O Thou sonne of God which art the word of the father and second person in Trinitie I doo likewise beleeue confesse and acknowledge thee to be of the father without beginning before all worlds neither made nor created but begotten and art equall with the father in power might glorie maiestie and deitie and to be as thy father is the fountaine and well-spring of all wisedome grace and mercie O Thou God the holie Ghost and third person in Trinitie which art with the father and the sonne the giuer of all comfort vertue and goodnesse I doo also
O Lord my God I humblie aske of thee Make haste sweet Christ and safe deliuer mee Although by sinne deseru'd I haue right well Such paine as this yea more than toong can tell Yet ah my God turne not awaie thy face Nor me forsake in this so sharpe a case This wombe and fruit that springeth in the same Hast thou create to glorie of thy name Opprest with paine ô Lord when I shall bee Make lesse the same so much as pleaseth thee And grant good God thy creature may proceed Safelie on liue with mercie at my need In Christes name I will my trauell show Now holie Ghost come comfort me in wo. Come father deare and let thy power descend O Iesu Christ thy mercies great extend Ah God! behold my dolour and my smart Sweet holie Ghost my comforter thou art Take part with me and heare my wofull crie Exaudi me miserere mei Amen A meditation to be deliuered from Sinne. O Lord my God I humblie beseech thee And Iesus Christ thine equall in Deitie With holie Ghost of like power in maiestie And three in one and likewise one in three Which is to saie one blessed Trinitie Grant that the power of thy Diuinitie May in this life alwaies deliuer me From fornication and adulterie From wicked sort of vncleane companie From sudden death and cursed blasphemie From vaineglorie and hypocrisie From malice hatred and crueltie From the detestable and great enormitie Of sedition and priure conspiracie From all false doctrine and heresie From pride in hart and vanitie From pestilence famine and bloudthirstie From iust desert of slander and infamie From filtie sinne and vile iniquitie And when as I vpon thy name shall crie Heare my request and grant me thy mercie Amen A praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie O King of heauen of earth of sea and all things else beside Vnder whose power and in whose hands the harts of Kings abide Vouchsafe to guid our gratious Queene Elizabeth aright That she in peace with helth may reigne and gouerne through thy might And when thy godlie will shall be to end hir liuing daies Hir soule may then with angels thine sound forth thine endles praise Amen A thankesgiuing before meate FOR foâ—â— such as we find Let vs giue thanks therefore And not forget the poore to feed with some part of our store Let all our talke be such whereby no grudge may growe Ourselues well easd God best pleasd Christ grant it may be so God long preserue in peace and helth Our gratious Queene Elizabeth Amen A thankesgiuing after meate THou God be praised for the food we haue receiu'd from thee And giue vs grace a life to lead More thankfull for to bee Lord long preserue in peace and helth Our gratious Queene Elizabeth Amen FINIS The poore Widowes Mite Gathered by VVilliam Hunnis one of the Gentlemen of hir Highnesse Chapell and Maister to the Children of the same Who knocks with hope and craues in faith shall haue their iust request By loue who seeks the way shall find to port of quiet rest Newlie printed by Henrie Denham 1583. To the Queenes Maiesties Highnesse E Except your Highnes well allow this gift of humble mind L Lacke shall my hope the gladsome fruit it sought thereby to find I If gift with giuers loiall hart your Maiestie will trie Z Zeale more than gift shall triumph then before your Princelie eie A A Persian prince in gratious part tooke water of the well B Bicause he sawe the giuers zeale the giuers gift excell E Euen so my zeale renowmed Queene equiualent is with his Th. Though I offense commit to giue so slender gift as this R Remembring yet your Princelie woont of clemencie withall E Example such hath boldned me vpon my knee to fall G Great gifts of gold and gems of price poore Hunnis would present I If he them had in stead whereof hee praies this may content N New yeere and manie God you send in health with peace to raigne A And after when your spirit departs with Christ it may remaine Your Highnes loiall subiect and humble obedient seruant W. H. The Authour W WHo seekes with works alone to win the life that shall remaine I Is farre deceiu'd for i ft be so then Christ hath dide in vaine LL Let our good woorks our faith declare by faith we are made free I It coms from God that goodnesse is no good at all in mee A As man himselfe vnable is in thought to please the Lord M Much lesse to woorke or doo the deed that might his health accord H Here I professe one God to serue from secret search of hart V Vnto his sacred word to cleaue and neuer to depart N No time my Prince nor Magistrate by will for to offend N Ne wish I woorse vnto my fo than to my verie frend I In Christ by faith by no meanes else my righteousnesse dooth flowe S Such was his loue such is my faith and euer shall be so The Poore widowes Mite The first Meditation Ah helples wretch what shall I doo or which way shall I ronne The earth bewrais heuen records the sins that I haue donne The gates of hell wide open stand for to receiue me in And fearefull feends all readie be to torment me for sin Alas where shall I succour find the earth dooth me denie And to the sacred heauens aboue I dare not lift mine eie If heauen and earth shall witnesse be against my soule for sin Vntimelie birth alas for me much better then had bin And now despaire approcheth fast with bloodie murdering knife And willeth me to end my greefes by shortning of my life Shall I despaire Thou God forbid for mercie more is thine Than if the sinnes of all the world were linked now with mine Despise not then most louing Lord the image of thy face Which thou hast wrought and dearelie bought with goodnesse of thy grace And since thy bloudie price is paid and bitter paines all past Receiue my plaints accept my spirit and mercie grant at last So shall my soule reioice reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui Peccaâ•Œui Miserere mei The .2 Meditation THou God that rulst rainst in light that flesh cannot attaine Thou God that knowst the thoughts of men are altogither vaine Thou God whom neither toong of man nor angell can expresse Thou God it is that I doo seeke thou pitie my distresse Thy seat ô God is euerie-where thy power all powers extend Thy wisdome cannot measur'd be for that it hath no end Thou art the power and wisdome too and sole felicitie But I a lumpe of sinfull flesh nurse of iniquitie Thou art by nature mercifull and Mercie is thy name And I by nature miserable the thrall of sin and shame Then let thy nature ô good God now worke his force in me And clense the nature of my sinne and heale my miserie One depth good Lord and other craues my depth of sinfull
crime Requires thy depth of mercie great for sauing health in time Sweet Christ grant yâ— thy depth of grace may swallowe vp my sin That I thereby may whiter be than euer snowe hath bin ¶ So shall my soule reioice reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The .3 Meditation BEfore thy face and in thy sight haue I deuoid of shame O Lord transgressed willinglie I doo confesse the same Yet was I loth that men should knowe or vnderstand my fall Thus feard I man much more than thee thou righteous iudge of all So blind was I and ignorant yea rather wilfull blind That suckt the combe knew the Bee had left hir sting behind My sinnes ô God to thee are knowne there is no secret place Where I may hide my selfe or them from presence of thy face Where shall I then my selfe bestowe or who shall me defend None is so louing as my God thy mercies haue no end In deede I grant and doo confesse my sinnes so hainous bee As mercie none at all deserues but yet thy propertie Is alwaies to be mercifull to sinners in distresse Whereby thou wilt declare and shew thy great almightinesse Haue mercie Lord on me therefore for thy great mercies sake Which camst not righteous men to call but sinners part to take ¶ So shall my soule reioice reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The .4 Meditation MOst gratious God do not behold the number of my sin Ne yet consider with thy selfe how wicked I haue bin But rather thinke I am but dust or as the withered hay Which flourisheth to day in field tomorrowe shorne away My flesh rebelles against the spirit my spirit too weake is found By sinne conceiu'd in mothers wombe my soule first caught hit wound My flesh is fraile too weake and vaine to doo the thing I should And what I would not that doo I contrarie that I would Thou seest ô Lord how wâ—ake I am not able for to stand Without the succour helpe and aid of thy most mightie hand And what is hee that will not staie the man that 's like to fall Or will refuse the sicke to helpe for helpe when he doth call If thou wilt lay vnto my charge the burden of my sin O Lord the conquest is but small that thou thereby shalt win For why they glorie and thy praise in mercie dooth consist Vnto the which I yeeld my selfe to doo with what thou list ¶ My soule shall trust in thee in thee and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The .5 Meditation IF I demand what mercie is thou God wilt answere mee That mercie is th' abundance great of thy diuine piâ—ie Wherewith thou vew'st th' afflicted sort that on the earth doo lie And what is this compassion then but proofes of thy mercie Our fathers old the same haue felt and now in rest doo raigne And thou are still the selfe-same God for euer to remaine Our fathers were conceiu'd in sinne and so are we likewise Wilt thou compassion shew on them and children theirs despise One faith in Christ we all professe one God in persons three As thou compassion hadst on them compassion haue on mee Ponder ô God my harts desire most humblie doo I craue And doo away all my misdeeds and so compassion haue And as of sinners manie a one whose number is vnknowne Thou didst vouchsafe to drawe to thee and make them all thine owne So now vouchsafe most gentle God likewise to drawe me in And make me righteous by thy grace forgiuing me my sin ¶ So shall my soule reioice reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The .6 Meditation MOst mightie God I doo confesse ten thousand times and more Thou hast me washed from my sinne and salued still my sore But I through sinne am falne againe and fowler now am made Than euer was the filthie swine with mier ouerlade How oftentimes shall we forgiue ech other that offend Seuentie times seuen the scripture saith which signifieth no end If man to man such fauour shew that wretched caitiues bee How much more thou ô gratious God to them that call on thee It is thy nature to forgiue my nature can but fall Though thou be iust in all thy works thy mercie passeth all What time a sinner dooth repent and turne to thee at last All sinnes foredone thou wilt forget thy promise so hath past Behold ô God I turne to thee with sorrowe for my sin And doo repent euen from my hart that I so lewd haue bin Now wash me Lord yet once agâ—ine with fountaine of thy grace That I among thy sacred Saints with thee might haue a place ¶ So shall my soule reioice reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The .7 Meditation LIke as the guiltie prisoner stands before the iudge so tride With quaking breath shiuering limbs his iudgement to abide Euen so ô God before thy face in fearefull state I stand And guiltie crie to thee my iudge and now hold vp my hand Nothing haue I to plead for life no goodnesse is in mee Of sinne deceit and wickednesse guiltie good Lord guiltie Thus by thy righteous doome ô God and sacred lawe diuine Condemn'd am I to endlesse paine through iust deserts of mine Alas what then is to be said or what is to be donne For mercie yet will I appeale to Iesu Christ thy sonne For neuer yet hath it beene heard since first the world began That Iesu Christ did turne his face from aniâ— sinfull man Which vnto him for mercie came with sad repentant mind O Lord shall I then be the first that shall no mercie find Shall I be he thou wilt despise that humblie comes to thee No no sweet Christ thy promise is for to deliuer mee ¶ Wherefore my soule be glad be glad and crie incessantlie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei Verses vpon the Lords Praier Our father which art in heauen A thing thou art froÌ„ which al things beginning tooke their name And thou without beginning art that gaue all things the same We call thee God some Iehouah some Tetragrammaton By all thy names thou art the thing wee all depend vpon We be thy sonnes thy children deare and heirs of kingdome thine By which we doo presume and say Our father most diuine Which art in heauen deuoid of shape that reason can deuise Ne yet art thou there to be felt or seene of humane â—ies Hallowed be thy name THy name ô God is woonderfull though we the same abuse And by thy name such things are done as make the mind to muse The heauens aboue the earth belowe and waters vnder them Thy name hath wrought miraculouslie all for the vse of men O maruellous God! what is thy name or what shall I thee call Thou art in power omnipotent the mightiest power of all Then mightie Power of powers it is vouchsafe