my soule how that not onelie bountie dooth commend But our iniquitie likewise dooth with our God therin contend For if his bountie be so great to giue where we could nothing craue And that we nothing did deserue of all the goodnesse which we haue How ought that goodnesse be estéemde that vs with goodnesse dooth requite That by our manners merite could nought else but euill and despite O what great looue is this I say the which our sinnes can not suppresse Nor that we may not ouercome with this our wilfull wickednesse He pardoneth sinne and grace dooth giue in place of vice dooth Vertue plant So in the one he lyberall is in th'other loouing we must graunt Let vs therefore confesse that we euen from our selues our sinnes possesse That he may pardon them and eke from him our Vertues styll increase And let vs not forget that we be thankfull for his pardon past And not vnmindfull be of that which he dooth giue for aye to last Thus let him doo that feareth God and dooth desire to looue him styll For looue can not dissemble sure in looue is left no kinde of yll What therefore worketh dilligent consideration of this thing But earnestlie for to withdrawe thy minde that so thy looue dooth bring From all such other sortes of looue to looue the Lord aboue them all Not forced but of duetie for his looue to lasting life dooth cal If lightly we the Lord doo looue not doubting but we so may doo Some man perhappes will not conceyue how much he bound is him vnto But if he séeke he soone shall finde occasion for to thinke the same As all his dayes him to adore whilst life dooth last to praise his name For who so wanteth any thing that he for his soules health would vse Let him not murmure for the same nor yet therfore his God accuse For he dooth all thinges for the best his actions be performde with skill In iudgement he is well aduised and mercie hath on whome he will And whome he will dooth also iudge and whome he will in hart makes hard To whome he will his grace he giues from whome he will it is debard What so dooth with his pleasure stand most néedefull is and also fit And we that profite must thereby most néede we haue to call for it Not onelie sorie be and sad but also labour them to gaine And pray vnto our gracious God that we vnto them may attaine Which hauing gotten gratefull bée giue thanks to him which sent the same No recompence he dooth require but that thou prayse his holie name FINIS 15. Cap. ¶ Of the benefites of Christes death and Passion 16. Cap. BOthe great and many are therefore thy benefites most gracious Lord Innumerable infinite which we receiue by thine accord That thou hast heaped vpon me for which I bounden am therefore To looue and prayse thy holie name which blessed be for euermore What euer goodnesse presently I haue or in times past haue had Or whatsoeuer I shall haue in tyme to come me for to glad My God the Author is of all from whome what so is good in déede Or so accoumpted it dooth flowe yea issue and from him procéede But there is one thing more then this dooth me inflame yea vrge and mooue To set my soule delight thereon my pleasure and my perfect looue This dooth especiallie O Lord so fayre and amiable make Euen thée thy selfe that did vouchsafe vile death to suffer for my sake The worke of our Redemption déere a shamefull death on thée was done Whereby our life and seruice all our looue and labour thou hast wunne Euen this I say most swéetlie dooth our déepe deuotion drawe to thée It dooth increase my looue much more then all which else thou gauest to mée We in this worke were reconcilde thy bitter panges did purchase grace Thy sore oppression made vs pure thy care our comfort in like case The vniuersall Creatour was so opprest with woe and paine The workmanship of all the world dyd not to him like toyle containe When he at first the world did frame he spake the word and it was made He did commaund all creatures straight created were euen as he bade For restoration of mankinde the sorrowes which he suffred were In all respectes most meruailous and manifolde as dooth appéere Beholde therefore he looued vs well not hauing néede did not disdaine On this behalfe but for our sinnes he suffered this mortall paine I therefore truely héere may say all benefites before exprest Which he in bountie did bestowe this one excelleth all the rest A man that to his fréend dooth giue his worldlie goodes deserueth prayse But he which for his fréend will die shalbe remembred many dayes It is an argument of looue and fewe or none there be of those That will as our redéemer did die for his freends and for his foes For so we were yet would he die the death and to be interd in graue That we might reconciled bée to God thereby our soules to saue A man will hardlie die sayth Paule for him that iust and righteous is Our Sauiour for the wicked sort did die and such as liued amis That blamelesse he might vs present before his heauenlie father déere We béeing banisht and exilde within his kingdome might appéere O howe vnspeakeable therefore was this his looue and charitie What tongue is able to expresse the comfort of this courtesie That God for man should man become in humaine fleshe for man to die And to be tempted in all thinges that toucheth mans infirmitie In him was onely sinne except whereby beholde it dooth appeare Howe great a raunsome he did pay before from sinne thou could be cleare Thou vnto Sathan thralled was as his condemnde by sentence due Eternall death thou hadst deserude before he did thy state renue Nor this may not be hidden now that if this raunsome had not béene The Diuell and his Angelles had the ende of all thy labours séene And all this trueth I haue thée tolde that thou thereby might vnderstand How much vnto thy God art bound that wrought thy wealth w t mighty hād And that thou mayst with all thy might with all thy feruent power abide Such gréefe and sorrowe for his sake as tyme may to thy state prouide By many tribulations wée vnto his kingdome must attaine Most happy to possesse the same with that our loouing Lord to raigne O Lord now let my soule embrace thy blessed body crucified And let me drinke one draught so swéete of thy most precious blood beside By déepe imprinting of the same thy Passion in my memorie This Sacrifice most swéete by which my soule shall liue eternallie Yea let this pure remembraunce into my heart and minde so frame That no obliuion wealth nor want be able to obscure the same But giue me grace that with Saint Paule my iudgement may like his be tride That nothing in this world I knowe but
An Introduction to the looue of God ¶ Accoumpted among the workes of S. Augustine and translated into English by the right reuerend Father in God Edmund Bishop of Norvvitch that nowe is and by him Dedicated to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie to the glorie of God and comfort of his chosen ¶ And newlie turned into Englishe Meter by Robert Fletcher 1581. Mathew 22. Thou shalt looue the Lord thy God alone with all thy heart with all thy soule and minde this first commaundement is the greatest one the second like vnto it shalt thou finde to looue thy neighbour as thy selfe in deede these two the Lawe and the Prophetes haue decreede ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoot and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church ¶ To the right Honourable Sir Frauncesse Knowles Knight Maister Treasurer of the Queenes Maiesties householde and of her Hignesse most honourable priuie Councell c. IT hath beene the vsuall course of Writers right Honourable to pleade pardon by aucthoritie when they thinke or knowe them-selues farre from intent of offending either by example of the mightie King of Persia for his freendlie accepting a small gift esteeming the good will of the giuer or else by comparing their endeuour by the example of some graue Philosopher I doo not so but confesse my presumption in two sortes committed the one to your Honour the other to the honourable and reuerend Father in God my Lorde Bishop of Norwitch that now is beeing the Translator of this Booke and hauing dedicated the same to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie beeing called An Introduction to the looue of God and so it maie right well be called My presumptiō to your Honour is in pressing your name in print before I knew your Honours pleasure therin for which most hūbly I craue your honors pardon My presumption to his Lordship is in taking vpon me to alter the course and nature of to excellent and profitable a prose but I hope to haue his good Lordships fauour for the same when he shal vnderstand the cause of my so dooing considering the prose is still exstaunt to the profite of the Readers and my meter now instaunt to the pleasure of the Readers for so I accoumpt it hauing therein followed the example of diuers godlie minded which haue turned into Englishe meter many Bookes out of the Bible beeing sacred and canonicall as other pithie Pamphlettes beeing prophane and Historicall yet to good purposes as well appeareth by their writinges which so meant them the parties with their Pamphlettes as impertinent to my purpose I omitte to repeate But as his Lordshippe did make her Maiesty patronesse of the matter so I thought it my duetie to make your Honour Patrone of the Meter assuring your Honour not to haue committed any error therein my presumption onelie excepted nor haue not altred the sence of the matter more then the nature of the meter must of necessitie compell me The causes mouing me to sollicite your Honour with this Introduction to the looue of God was for that I haue beholden the same most bountifullie bestowed not onelie in your Honours owne person but also in your Honours bothe honourable and VVorshipful off-spring and posteritie in your owne person the feare and looue of God with seueritie in Iustice according to your Honours calling and precise rule and lawes of God which I my selfe haue not onelie beholden but also beene beholden vnto In your Honours off-spring that vertuous Noble and towardlie young Gentleman the Earle of Essex dooth shewe himselfe a liuelie graffe and goodlie member of so good a Grandfather which together with your Honour I beseeche God long to blesse and continew he onelie maie serue to confirme the looue of God towardes your Honour although his gracious blessings be apparauntlie multiplied in the rest your Honors bothe good and godlie Children For the continuance whereof I shall not cease to beseeche almightie God to send your Honour long and honourable life in this life but after the same ended eternall happinesse in the life to come Amen ¶ Your Honours most humble and duetifull bounden Robert Fletcher To the Christian Readers WHatsoeuer hath been written before time was written for our learning that we through patience comfort of the scriptures might haue hope Among which right courteous Readers I may insert this present Pamphlet béeing trāslated by my Lord Bishop of Norwitch to the benefite of our corporall bodyes and comfort of our soules accoumpted amongst the workes of S. Augustine and no lesse commended by that famous and learned Father of godly memorie Erasmus of Rotardam to taste of good learning which to peruse I referre you to the Preface in the Prose written to the Reader by that honourable and godly Bishop who translated the same naming it An Introduction to the looue of God Declaring thereby the looue he beareth vnto his Prince Soueraigne Lady to whom he Dedicated the same as also the good wil to comfort in the looue and mercie of God his loouing neighbours and countreymen following y e example of a true Shéepheard and faithfull Pastours in penning this so profitable a Discourse which distinguisheth vnto you by equal portions the gratious benefites of our creation preseruation sanctification iustification and redemption by God the Father through the merites and frée grace of Christe Iesus our Lorde Which great mercies you maye beholde in this lyttle Booke euen as if in a glasse you were disposed to take viewe of your countenaunce shape and bodilie proportion but much more to your profite for that the one is presentlie forgotten the other remayneth permanent for euer if it be sought in singlenesse of eye and simplicitie of harte Which woorthy worke according to my skillesse capacitie I haue turned into Englishe Meter not thereby to derogate the Prose or to arogate the prayse thereof in any part to my selfe for so might I iustlie be condempned of presumption and arrogant follie but he which knoweth the secret of all hearts knoweth also how far I am from séeking vainglorie thereby onlie this mooued me therevnto the profite that I sawe contained in the Prose which I hope will be no lesse pleasant in the Meter béeing plaine and not much alienated from the former sence I hauing so good a theame thought good to meditate therein following the example of these godly minded with whome I will make no comparison but onelie for endeuour which haue turned many Bookes of the olde Testamēt into Englishe meter as y e Psalmes of Dauid the life of Dauid containing the secōd booke of Kings the fiue bookes of Moses the Prouerbes of Salomon and diuers other as well Canonicall as Historicall according to that saying of the Apostle Iames If any be afflicted let him pray if merrie let him sing Psalmes So he that is disposed to profit in the prose it is an excellent meditatiō if to pleasure in the meter it is present for him that
for to looue them more But as our selues that is to wishe as to our selues is sayd before Especiallie the ioy and blisse that euerlasting dooth remaine That we with them and they with vs may at the length the same obtaine Them to assist and helpe likewise with bodilie and ghostlie foode As reason and habillitie requireth so to doo them good And as the Gospell dooth you giue to vnderstand euen so to doo To other men as you would wishe that other should doo to you For so sayth Iohn let vs not loue neyther in tongue nor yet in worde But euen in truth and veritie that loue is liked of the Lorde But now where are those neighbors whom we ought to loue forsooth euen all Both Christian Heathen Iewes friends and those which Enimies we call ¶ Why and how God is to be loued Cap. 2. SInce our soules health consisteth in the loue of God let vs prouide To way the cause with diligence when why and how our life is tride But to exite and to increase the loue of God in vs for aye To nourishe it not greater force then on his prouidence to stay Remembering his benefites which he doth heape vpon vs still That in the view thereof our soules doe faint as though our liues would spill For in this case we cannot be so able as we would desire To yielde him thankes for all his gifts as loue and seruice doth require Yet must we doe what may be done what resteth in the power of man So many thankes to render him as we by nature render can And see wherefore for benefites which we by merites might not haue He hath bestowed aboundantly that by decerte we could not craue Intirely he of vs therefore is to be loued with true intent But how and in what sort forsooth euen keepe his straight commaundement Giue eare therefore O man to that which greatest is of others cheefe In memory imprint the same Day night and houre it yieldes releefe And this commaundement it is Loue God the Lord with all thy hart With all thy soule with all thy might With all thy minde as his deserte With all thy memory and thoughts With all thy skill and knowledge eke Yield vnto him obedience due with humble hart and minde most meeke Yet peraduenture thou wilt thinke alas his loue to me is light Therefore I will not be afrayde to aunswere him with loue more slight Searche all thy thoughts haue in minde what he ere this hath doone for thée And what héereafter promist is to be bestowed in like degrée Then shalt thou finde how much thou art vnto him bound beyond thy might Yea and beyond all measure eke if thou regarde his grace aright But to the end the looue of God may quickned and augmented be Waighe and consider well the cause and looue him more aboundantlie Whom why and to what end mankinde was first created and what things God made for th'vse and ease of man these vnto him thy sences brings Whether they heauenly were or not visible or terrestriall Inuisible or in what sorte till his mercy did them call Our fyrst creator Lord and God one God and eke one Lord alone Whose goodnes of such greatnes is that he dooth blesse vs euery one Of which his blessings he dooth bid we on our partners some bestowe It cannot be diminished but dooth increase and ouerflow That goodnes therefore which him selfe is he to others would extend Onely of his frée goodnesse for necessitie may not contend Because vnto thy goodnesse chéefe it appertaines and els to none Our mighty and eternall God he profitable is alone Man of himselfe vnable is partaker of his blisse to be But by the vnderstanding of his mercy perfect made is he The more that he dooth vnderstand the more in grace he dooth abound The lesse that he dooth vnderstand for that he is more guilty found God made a reasonable man that he the chéefe might vnderstand Of goodnesse which th'immortall God had framed with his mighty hand By vnderstanding he might looue and loouing might the same possesse And so possessing it might haue vnto his profit nothing lesse The creature he distinguished that parte moste purely might remaine Vnto himselfe and not be ioynde with humaine shape the same to staine The Aungell is that perfite part without a body passing pure The other is the soule of man that with the body doth indure The reasonable creature is deuided thus as here you see Into the thing which it hath not And whith it hath for both these be That which no body hath is calde an Angell as the word we scan That which a body doth possesse we know doth represent a man He doth consist of flesh and blood his mightie maker to extoll Who by his power did him compact in shape with reasonable soule The cheefest cause Gods goodnesse is by which both men and aungels were With reason and with grace indewed Herein his goodnesse doth appeare So in as much as God is good so are we by his power diuine For goodnesse his he giues to them that from his grace doe not decline And to this end created were these reasonable creatures then to praise their God and him to serue as best becommeth christyan men And by the same we do possesse all profite to the creature For God himselfe fulfilled is with soueraigne bountie perfite pure He neither is deminished nor neede encrease hee is all one A Creator the profite is the creature his owne alone Therfore to them that will demaunde why to what end were creatures made A profytable reason straight is here set downe them to perswade The goodnes of the Creator for profyt of the creature So that he loue the Lord his God and in his seruice stil indure Finis 2. Cap. ¶ The cause of the creation of Aungels men and all other Creatures 3. cap. BOth men and angels are therfore said to be made for God aboue But not because he needeth them but for because hee doth them loue He needeth not the seruice haue of Angels or the sonnes of men He hath no want of worldlie goodes but that they both might vse him whom The seruaunt profite dooth receyue not he to whome the seruice due Is done him hath no néede thereof all textes in Scripture prooue it true As for him selfe the Lord made man the world for man he made also That it might serue at all assayes the vse of man in wealth to flow Where béeing placed in such state and high degrée as wishe hee could Bothe that he might be seruant there and serue his God as reason would That all the goodnesse might redound vnto him selfe of that he sought The seruice of the Lord his God which he to passe in him hath brought That man might holpen be thereby to serue the Lord in godlie trade Bothe in the thing for him ordaind as for the thing that man was made All thinges are ours th'Apostle
lawde Thou art his workemanship and yet the price of thy redemption too Because that price most precious was it was his mercy so to doo Man béeing prisoner thrall to wretche beset about with filthy sinne His fréendly fauour thought it fit he should be raunsomed by him O happy faulte of mine therefore for purging of the which my Lorde Was drawne by looue it to redéeme according to his holy woord I neuer fully should haue knowne his looue and fauour vnto me But that the perrill of my state my present true proportions be How fortunate was then my fall that by the same more happily I was restorde and raisde againe redéemde from endles miserie Then is no looue so great as this no zeale so pure no charitie Nor no affection like to that an innocent for me should die He fréendly was but found no cause of looue and fauor which he bare Euen vnto me deceiuing none therefore O Lord my minde prepare And tell me what remainde in me which thou estéemde so gratiousty Why thou so déerely did me looue that for my sake desirde to die What haste thou found in me O Lord in nature or in qualitie The which so willing might thée make to suffer this great crueltie FINIS 6. Chap. ¶ Of the benefit of God in calling vs to faithe 7. cap. ANd thou my soule to th'end thou maist beholde this looue and ioy therein Consider what comparisons betwéene this looue and thée hath bin How much thy betters be forlorne refusde and cast away likewise That neuer to like grace with thée nor to like fauour could arise Thou knowst that since the world began whole generations passed be Without the knowledge of theyr God and price of theyr redemption frée The which are fallen into the lappes of déepe destruction endles dayes Vnlesse it please our Sauiour swéete of mercie his them thence to raise Héereby it dooth appeare to thée thou wast preferd before them all Fy thy redéemer which by grace so franck and fréely did thée call No cause at all remaindt in thée thereby to claime more then the rest The meere looue of thy Sauiour déere his mercy more to thee exprest Thy Spowse thy Loouer and thy Lord thy God and thy redeemer eke Hath chosen and forchosen thee before all worlds in mercy meeke For his great looue thus borne to thée thy God and Sauiour he became That thy memoriall might remaine he calde thée by his proper name He would thou should partaker be bothe of his name and truthe also Because thou art annointed with the oyle of gladnes which dooth flowe Euen from himselfe that with himselfe he beeing Christ the corner stone Thou maist in him a Christian so be called by his name alone But were thou stronger then the rest in noble ritche or wise degrée Thereby receiuing speciall grace aboue them all to make thée frée How many wise how many strong how many noble ritch also Reiected were yet chosen thou when they forsaken thence did go They perished thou prospered and highly doost in fauour stand Great hath his bounty béene to thée which thou receiued at his hand When thou wast foule he made thée faire when thou with sinne deformed was Yea lothesome ragged rent and torne this mighty woorke he brought to passe His grace he gaue to be thy guide his looue for to inritch thée more A resolution absolute of mercy his take this therefore Moste resolute in this respect perswade thy selfe euen so to be Except thou with indeuor doo as héerein is discribed thée That is thy former decencie thy comlines and cleanenesse all To comprehend and to retaine which thou enioyde before thy fall Els méete thou neuer shalt be thought to enter that Bride Chamber where Thy Spowse in heauenly manner sits thou shalt not in that place appeare Trim vp and deck thy selfe my soule prepare make ready now in time Let present leasure giue thee leaue for to redresse thy former crime Sleeke vp thy forhead from thy face and fashion fine thy trim attire Fret of thy freckles rub thy Warts wash of thy spots of foule desyre Smoothe all thy wrinckles handsome bee thy rude behauiour now amend With all thy might indeuor thou cleane to continue to the end In order all things sée thou set that thou maiste be accepted now Of this moste louing spowse and mate as héeretofore is tolde thée how Prepare thy selfe I say with spéede as best becomes the Bride of him That is immortall euen thy God with whom thou shalt remain most trim And as beséemeth such a Spowse that thée he may his Spowses call Thy Sauiour and redéemer euen thy mighty King celestiall FINIS 7. Cap. ¶ Of the gift of vertues The 8. Cap. KNow this also my soule that thou hast where withall thy selfe to dect As golden Bracelets for thine armes and Chaines to put about thy neck Which of thy selfe thou couldst not haue but that thy God dooth giue them thée For to bestowe at pleasure thine if thankfull for the same thou be For thou of him receiued hast thy vesture and thy garments all All thy good woorkes thy frutes of almes thy fasting and what dooth be fall To thée thy prayers powred foorth to him with faith he héeres the saine All other vertues be his gifts and by his grace in thée doo frame He garnisheth in goodly wise with gorgious and with trim attyre As if a robe bothe fresh and faire of sundry coloures thou desire Least thou should fayle in any poynt of health and of refection good He bountifully hath bestowde on thée thy health and dayly foode And whatsoeuer may repayre thy comlinesse and beauty bothe What els thy credit may conunend that thou should lack it he is lothe Thinke on the same I pray thee then with diligence aduised be That nothing héereof was thine owne till he in grace had giuen it thee That which before thou hadst receiude of him it stoode thée in no cost Of much which was on thée bestowde the same by negligence thou lost That which lost is thée restorde againe whereby thou maist be sure Not destitute thou shalt be left he still thy profit will procure In such sort as thou shalt perceiue and know how that intirely he Dooth looue thée like a Parramour most loth my soule for to loose thée And for this cause he dooth attend and paciently the time dooth stay Long sufferaunce and liberty he lets thee haue him to obay According to his mercy great so often as thou art to blame So often he thy faults remits as thou art sory for the same Wherefore record and call to minde how many may be found which haue Receiued like rewarde with thée as heere recited which he gaue Nor yet with the like fauour might finde for to be renewd againe When they defiled had themselues with foule abuse theyr state did staine Iuste cause thou haste considering then thy selfe belooued more then all For that the things which thou hast lost
he thée to aunswer dooth not call But dooth beningly them restore his mercy thou in these hast tride Which others by themselues haue lost and are most strictly still denyde Thou by his gracious bounty art not once denayde the truthe to tell His prouidence may thée perswade thy woorkes for to accomplish well If readily great things thou doo thou highly art aduaunst therefore If hardly thou small things performe thou humbled art so much the more Thy God dooth know whats good for thée much better then thy selfe canst tell Haue thou a duetifull regarde that dooth for thée prouide so well Such is his mercy vnto man infirmities cannot indure But are by goodnesse his disposde that they our profits doo procure Perhaps thou hast not strength and grace in trade of vertue to persist But shaken with Suggestions arte of vice and vertue hath dismist Yet art thou in humilitie made stronger then thou wast before Humility perswades thy minde thy life misse led for to deplore For weakenesse with humilitie hath better fauour in the sight Of God then vertue with the strength and pride of minde in one complight Be not therefore to mallepart or bolde for to presume of this Gods secret disposition if thou preiudice thou doost amis But still with reuerence and feare direct thy prayers to his grace That he vouchsafe to helpe thée then as one that knowes thy present case The euill that in thée remaines he will with mercy it redresse If thou in humblenesse of minde and faithfull hart doo it confesse If goodnes doo begin to grow in thée and thou wouldst it mainetaine Referre it to the wyll of God who will increase it to thy gaine Yea finally conduct and bring thée to him selfe by such away As best he liketh for himselfe where thou with him shalt dwell for aie FINIS 8. Chap. ¶ Of the gift of vnderstanding and knovvledge 9. Cap. NOw tell me O my soule what we in recompence shall giue the Lord For all the goodnes which we haue receiu'de of him in déede and woorde He onely not contented is to giue vs those good things which we Receaue with other creatures eke our fellow partners by degrée But also hath prouided that in our afflictions we may féele And take and taste his mercy great and loouing kindnesse euery deale We singuler occasions heere in our aduersitie may take And in prosperitie we may imbrace his kindnes for his sake Within the armes of faithfull looue vnto our selues we thus may say In all our meditations Lord giue vs thy grace thée to obay And eke to know thee graunt vs Lord much more then other creatures doo Because thou hast in secret wise thy selfe disclosed vs vnto Our vnderstanding thou didst frame thy hidden misteries to conceiue More then our mates and equalles were in ignoraunce thou didst them leaue Darkenesse of infidelitie as vailes hath shadowed theyr face But vnto vs thou hast declarde thy light and purenesse of thy grace â—hy veritie and trueth it selfe on vs thou didst bestowe indéede On vs much more thou haste bestowde then on the rest of Adams séede As sence and aptnes to conceaue strength to performe good works eke That which is ill a witte to hate grace in conuersion for to séeke Prosperitie for to conserue profit by studie to apply Wit in conceyts which turne to good and comfort in aduersitie Which way so euer we doo turne thy grace thy mercy and good will Our pathe are ready to preuent and thou dooste rule and guide vs still When vtterly we séemed waste my soule and quite consumed were He sodainly reléeued vs and straight his mercy did appéere When we were ignoraunt and rude when wandering we went astray He taught vs for to feare his name and vs directed in the way When we were sad his comfort came he held vs vp when downe we fell When that we stoode he was our staye from falling headlong into hell Now finally graunt vs thy grace more verily to know thy name More sincerely thée to beléeue more purely for to looue the same More feruently to follow thée because that more pertaines vs too For benefits which we receaue more then thy other creatures doo Therefore O Lord my God to thée what recompence shall I deuise Thou swéetenes of my life and eke the Lampe and light of both mine eyes Wilt thou that I shall looue thée well then teach me how to doo the same How greatly eke thou wilt that I to thée my God my looue shall frame For what am I that so may looue the Lord my God my stedfastnes My refuge my deliuerer my helper in my déepe distresse The horne of my saluation and my mainetainer at all assayes What shall I say my Lord and God O giue me grace thy name to praise FINIS 9. Cap. ¶ Of Gods prouident care ouer vs. 10. Cap. FOr manifolde be these good things which thou O Lord hast doone for me Moste swéete and pleasaunt to beholde and in no case can numbred be To speake thereof great pleasure is Lorde make me thankfull for the same For these thy gratious benefits aye blessed be thy holy name Loe now my soule thou hast thy pledge thy pledge thy spowse dooth represent Vntouched kéepe the same therefore and vndefilde with glad intent Yea vnpolluted kéepe it safe yea kéepe it cleane and perfect sound Albeit thou once defiled was th'art now an honest Virgin found According to his fancie firme and opperation of his looue With purity he dooth restore corrupted things that so they prooue In those that pure remaine indéede a chaste condition to conserue Vnspotted to his holy name that in no case it cannot swarue Apply thy cogitations sée how mercifully God dooth deale With thée and how his looue is bent all thine infirmities to heale Not suffering thee to want at all his benefits nor yet to be So ignoraunt but that thou shouldst remember what is giuen to thée And this I say to thée because thou shouldest marke his mercy great It séemes my God dooth nothing els but me with mercy still intreate I sée him wholy occupied for my saluation and I sée His care so great that nothing els he dooth but onely nourish me Continually God present is with me and that to my behooue He offereth himselfe for me all this his goodnes I doo prooue Which way so euer I me turne he neuer dooth my soule forsake And wheresoeuer I become for me he dooth prouision make And as a woorkeman which wil be inseperable to the same His woorks what wanteth in my forme with precious he a new dooth frame Although his face cannot be séene with vs his presence dooth appeare His Spirit dooth inspire our harts as though he still among vs were What pleasaunt thing is it my soule which while I thinke on him dooth oft Euen swéetely handle with desire and touch me with his fingers soft And presently me thinkes I féele my selfe euen rauished for ioy I drawne and caried
should great indignation at me haue As first the earth thy creature great which dooth the world so wide containe Against me might conspire and stay I thée to nourishe doo disdaine Ne might I make my mone for this if it molest or trouble mée If I complaine it aunswere might in trueth I lothe to carrie thée For as I Dathan did deuowre Abiram eke and Corah caught As they were swallowed quicke euen so for thine offences die thou ought Which hast not béene afrayde to fall from thy Creatour and to ioyne Euen with his mortalst foe the fiend the Diuell which would thée purloyne The author of iniquitie of disobedience and of sin The father of those froward fooles that doo delight to liue therein The Sunne also to thée might say I ought my beames to thée deny Because vnto thy lasting light thy duetie thou doost not applie Thus euerie creature might controwle and vnto thée this sentence giue But that thy Sauiour them restraines who bids thée to repent and liue It me behoues therefore O Lord more humblie to thy mightie hand More loyall and obedient I before thy mercie ought to stand Least by deferring of the day to punishe my transgressions then Euen in thy dreadfull day O Lord more gréeuouslie with sinfull men And thou my soule thy selfe perswade that this long suffering of the Lord Expected hath a great while now what we in faith can him aforde Th'effect of his election free Predestination is most pure Which he fulfilde in vs will haue by faith for euer to endnre Through his excessiue looue likewise which he hath borne and beares vs styll His eyes be turned from our sinnes according to his holy wyll As once vnwilling to beholde howe often I offended haue His mercie is disposoe I sée from endlesse death my soule to saue This is the cause I see why he hath stayde so long our hearts to prooue And that thereby he might commend his patience and confirme his looue My selfe I doo remember well he strooke my heart and stirde the same For to beholde the skarres of sinne which wicked life in me did frame Yea for this cause he did conuey and lead me to the gates of hell Describing vnto me what paines they suffer that therein doo dwell And to this ende that I should not dismay with motions of my sin Nor that rrmembraunce of the same might not remaine my minde within He did inspire and comfort me that I a full remission had A generall pardon he me gaue for all my lyfe that was so bad That neither should reuenge be sought nor I vpbraided once should be Condempned nor consounded for such was his looue and zeale to me Though some that in the world remaine and no small number God he knowes That pardon crimes committed yet will cast the parties in the nose And other that doo silent sit doo styll in stomacke rancour beare Euen in their silent shadowe dooth reserued spite and hate appeare But neither of these sortes be such as charitie with hart embrace Nor yet according to the rule and looue of God which we by grace Doo taste and féele for comfort ours how plainlie he dooth alwayes deale His pardon fréelie is bestowde on all that to the same appeale According to the text which sayth euen where our sinnes did most abound Grace did most plentifull appeare which benefite Saint Peter found Who hauing thrise his Lord denide the same his Lord did thrise commaund To féede his Shéepe and of his Church the chéefest Pastour for to stand Paule did his Gospell persecute yet he a Vessell was elect And teacher of the will of God the Heathens liues for to correct And Mathew was a worldlie man he did receyue the common towle Which Office dooth containe abuse if Officer doo bribe and powle Yet he was an Apostle made the Lord his God so gaue consent And of Apostles was the first that wrote his Will and Testament FINIS 12. Chap. ¶ Of the gift of Continencie 13. Cap. BVt after all these thinges which are right good and many as you sée Of Continencie perfect gift my God did also giue to mée Not onelie from all carnall lust but from each other filthy vice By whatsoeuer they be callde a gifte of rare and woorthy price So that I who in former time could hardlie any thing forbeare Thrée dayes together but I did vnto my former faultes repaire Now through the grace and helpe of God I can for euer be content That to forbeare which dooth intice or vnto sinne dooth giue consent By iust occasion I can staye and thereof well assured bée Beholde my God of mighties most what great thinges he hath done for mée Some man perhaps will thus replie thou mayst accomplishe this with ease Of light importaunce is that paine that to forbeare which dooth thée please Assure your selfe I thinke not so I knowe what enimies it hath How strong and sturdy ones they be what might they haue y e minde to skathe It néedefull is for to resist a broode of such impietie A Nurse of naughtines and eke a sincke of all iniquitie The first and chéefest enemie that continencie dooth despite Is our owne flesh whilst it dooth lust striue and rebell against the sprite And what an enemie is this know you that so familiar can Kéepe residence and force conflict within the secret shape of man How daungerous is this my soule a fearefull fight most like to be Thou haste no meanes to skape the hurt of this thy mortall enemy This foe most cruell sterne and stoute vnnaturall and tyrannous No way thou hast him to escape nor pollicie to flie but thus Mauger our heads we néedes must beare this mortall foe about vs still To vs it tide and lincked is we cannot leaue it when we will And therefore what more wretched is vs miserable men to charme To féede and foster vp this foe béeing forbid to doo it harme Thus maist thou see what great regarde and care thou hast thy selfe to kéepe From such a foe as must of force within thy bosome lie and sléepe But yet my soule if this were all thine enimies which doo thée hate And that there were none other thou thrise happie were and fortunate For one there is as bad as this as sturdy stoute as stoute may be As cruell crafty daungerous and eke as hurtfull vnto thée As harde to be escaped and where euer thou thy selfe bestowe It dooth inuiron thée about and no way from it canst thou goe This enimie the wicked world vnto fiue gates I can compare The which fiue gates for to defyne compact in thy fiue sences are This enemy dooth wound thée sore with dartes and at thy windowes will Watche time for to procure thy death for he hath sworne thée for to kill The thyrde is sworne thy deadly foe and common enimie to all Of Adams whole posteritie the subtile Serpent men him call More wilie then the
of vs is vnderstoode What doost thou then desire my soule what is it that my minde dooth mooue Within this good is all contriu'de that comes from God the Lord aboue To speake therefore of all the goodes his heauenly kingdome dooth containe No man that's cloathed in his fleshe the same is able to explaine All Fame that kingdome dooth excell surmounteth cunning prayse and skill It royall is and glorious eke according to Gods holie will Tis full of lyght of charitie of patience and of endlesse peace Of worship glorie and renowne all pleasures there doo styll increase Delight and euerlasting ioye perpetuall eke in blisfulnesse Replenished with all the good that heart can thinke or tongue expresse It can not comprehended be nor measured by the wit of man Why should our silence this conceale but yéelde it all the prayse we can Because we can not as we would God is vnspeakeable we knowe And so beléeue and should we not abroade his power and mercie showe Should we not euerlasting life which God to vs by promise plight None otherwise beléeue but as we finde it written to our sight His promise made to vs is sealde of lasting looue in greater sort Then eyther can the tongue declare or else the Pen for trueth report The heart much more can comprehend it is of more capacitie And yet it can not sound the depth of his great power and Maiestie The ioyes and glorie of the life to come therefore beléeue we must For euerlasting in it selfe it is and so should be discust It euerlasting happy is and dooth containe tranquilitie All pleasauntnesse most peaceable and our assurde securitie This perfect looue no dread no feare no want of day no doubt of night But chéerefull motions and one sprite amongst vs all euen in the sight Of God there to abyde in ioye among his Saintes and Angelles all Bright shining in the righteousnesse of Christ which hath redéemde our thrall Euen where saluation dooth abound where truth dooth raigne where no deceit Is vsed betwixt man and man where is no measure false nor weight No happy man can thence be cast nor may from thence exiled bée No wicked wretch may there be plast nor once aduaunst to that degrée There is the life contemplatiue which fruitfull Faith who dooth attaine Shall like the blisfull spirites be made with God in kingdome his to raigne For what they haue beléeued héere there shall they it beholde and sée The substaunce of theyr Creator in whome all good thinges perfect bée With innocent and humble eyes with harts most pure they shall reioyce And triumphe in this happinesse of which in God they made their choyce And dooing thus possesse the looue of God our euerlasting Lord In charitie together they with vnitie and swéete concord Doo liue and porcion lyke receiue the priuiledge of heauenlie place Like Cittizens enfraunchized they all enioy the God of grace There shall such ioy and gladnesse be such heauenlie sollace shall abound For there the fulnesse of his grace and mercie of our God is found Vnto the giuer of the same incessauntlie they shall sing prayse Without all kinde of irksomnesse yéelde lawde and thanks to him alwayes The hearts of euerie creature there shall laye abroade and opened bée As héere we corporall thinges beholde and with our eyes the same doo sée Mens consciences so perfect are so pure and cleane without all blame That for theyr former fowle offence they néede not nowe to blushe for shame No sinne nor sinner shall be there of power they are depriude therefore That meanes is taken from all men they shall be sure to sinne no more Neither shall they which perfectly are blest be ignoraunt of this Of any secrete mysterie the same to knowe they shall not misse For they shall him beholde which hath the Author of all secretes béene And they shall sée him face to face euen so as they of him are séene For then shall all mankinde be made so absolute and perfect pure It thencefoorth neuer shalbe chaungd but so for euer shall endure And of that substaunce shall remaine although transformde and glorifyde Into his mightie maker and in him most blessedlie abyde And all the goodes which we receyu'de disfigured by our filthy sin Shalbe in blisse repayrde againe in happy state and stay therein That is our vnderstanding shall without all error perfect be Without obliuion in that place assured is our memorie Thoughtes without wandering likewise Charitie voide of fained sence Health without sicknesse sorrowe shall not vnto any bréede offence Mirth Pleasure Pastime without paine Life without death Agilitie Without impediment is there where safetie syts in eche degrée For whatsoeuer in this lyfe the violence of Beastes or rage Or what misfortune did impayre or what thy sicknesse did asswage What crueltie had wasted or some fowle disease had putrifide Or age by nature comborsome had thée benumde or strength denide Shall all againe be freshe restorde by Resurrection all renude In glorious sort we shall receyue most perfect lymmes and to conclude Our bodyes with our members all shall to our soules vnited be And bothe together be endude with grace and immortalitie And therefore whosoeuer that in blisfull state possessed is Shall by no distaunce of the place of this his great preferment misse No difference of merites may nor meanes of any other kinde Once seperate vs from this looue which in the Lorde we hope to finde This graunt vs for thy mercie sake through fulnesse of thy glorie great Our sinfull soules from hence doo take and place them on thy mercie seate Amen FINIS ¶ A verie fruitefull Prayer to God the Father for the obtayning of these benefites promised in this Booke and necessarie to be vsed at all tymes MOst holie Lord the God of the spirites of all fleshe we giue vnto thée most humble thankes for all thy goodnesse towardes vs which thou hast found in thy selfe before the beginning of the world and hast declared vnto vs from tyme to tyme acknowledging our selues to be farre lesse then the least of thy mercies Thou arte perfect in thy selfe and hast no néede of any thing but it hath pleased thée to create all these thinges wherein thy glorie dooth appeare as Angelles and men and all things else for them that them selues might know that they are created onelie for thée not that any thing by them could be added vnto thée but that thy glorie which is perfect in it selfe might be séene in them and they also be made pertakers of that happinesse which is with thée the which thou hast giuen vs in thy belooued In whome also thou hast chosen vs before all worlds for so thy wisedome hath apointed it that we should passe through a world and so come vnto thée and see thy glory and the ritches of thy mercie and that pleasure which is with thée for euer And to this ende hast thou giuen vs thy most holie woorde and thy sanctifying spirite to attend therevpon wherby thy elect children might be reformed vnto thée Holy Father who is able to comprehend this thy great worke of our saluation in Iesus Christe but thine owne wisedome which is infinite as thy mercie is all goodnesse mercie and trueth come from thée and ende in thée but the euill corruption which befalleth thy Creatures commeth of them selues Notwithstanding this also thou turnest to good for euen the wicked thou sufferest for a tyme that at the length thy iustice might be séene in them but to thy chyldren thou ordainest all thinges to the best for euen the punishmentes for theyr sinnes and the afflictions of this life thou hast appointed for good that by thy iustice thy mercie might more appeare and their own happinesse which thou hast prepared for them in more glory might be reuealed To this ende hast thou set them from thée for a tyme in this lyfe that in the lyfe to come they may know the better what it is to enioy thy presence Thou hast made them héere mortal that they may then perceyue what it is to be immortall with thée thou giuest them ouer some time to their owne sinne that they may knowe how much better it is to be holy with thée in thy kingdom thou makest them taste of the afflictions of this world that they may féele in them howe great thy glorie is and to be happye and blessed with thy euerlasting goodnesse Lord in thy great power hast thou created all thinges and orderest them in thy wisedome preseruest them in thy goodnesse and hast redéemed vs in thy mercie to thy selfe in thy belooued but thou knowest this vaine and corrupte nature which is fallen from thée and can not ryse againe vnto thée except it be drawne by thée Doo away our sinnes O Lord and possesse vs sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that we may walke before thée as becommeth thy chyldren and knowe and féele in déede that there is no pleasure nor comfort of it selfe in these thinges which are mortall of them selues but onely in thée the euerlasting goodnesse in all thinges else in thée and for thée Increase our faith that we may walke before thée in obedience of faith giue vs also those things which thou knowest good and expedient for vs in this mortall life that wée may vse them to thy glorie and to the comfort of our selues and others whome thou hast commaunded vs to looue in thée that thou béeing our lyfe in this life and in the life to come we may enioy the presence of thy Maiestie and glorifie thy holie name for euer among thy elect people and blessed Angelles Amen FINIS ⧠Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 12. 3. Deu The â—â—â—â—rence â—â—tweeâ—â—â—gelles 〈◊〉 men 9. Hebr seeth ougnen 12 for G for v. them s. This is câ—â—trary to 〈◊〉 deuillish doctrine H. N. Sapi. 3. Men 〈…〉 not 〈…〉 lie 〈…〉 one 〈…〉 ther 〈…〉 doot 〈…〉 giue 〈…〉 1. 3. â—8 21. â— â—9 Luk 〈…〉 Deuil â—orld 〈◊〉 Luke 1. Psalm â—â—amon â—â—thias 〈◊〉 5. 4. 2. 4 2 Luke 〈…〉 perâ—one 10. 1. Câ—â— 12.
Creatures all that in the world euer were No eye his countenaunce can discerne he in no likenesse will appeare And therefore to auoyde him quite it passeth mans habillitie Some time he dooth assault vs sore with violence euen openlie Some times he secretly will steale and guilefully he alwayes will Continew in his crueltie and seeketh meanes our soules to kill But who is able to endure all this his mischéefe to withstand Or who is fit t'encounter with this chapion stoute to take in hand In verie déede no earthlie man but he that long hath looued vs And that by his triumphant death this victorie atchieude for vs. Now maist thou knowe therfore my soule how harde and difficult it is Euen to be continent if that the grace of God thereto thou misse Great cause therefore we haue to looue him most intyrelie for the same For onelie in the Lord we haue this power praysed be his name Our might he giues vs to withstand this tryple battrey all by force Maintaind against vs by these foes that would of vs take no remorce It is our God that dooth therefore tread vnderfoote eche fowle offence Our looue our lust our lauishe minde our fleshlie vile concupiscence As also all the world and all her vile and worldlie vanities Her trecherous entisements and of men the wofull myseries And finally the Diuell with his crafte and false suggestions vile His subtile shiftes whereby he sought my simple soule for to beguile Then haue not I iust cause thinke you of duetie to confesse that he Which mightie is of mighties most all these great thinges hath done for me FINIS 13. Cap. ¶ Of the gift of Hope 14. Cap. MOreouer my good God dooth giue me grace that I my selfe perswade And to conforme that by his will I am to him obedient made And fullie am assured by faith that finally I shall not misse But by his promise shall inioye his kingdome and eternall blisse In the especiall pointes this grace consisteth and continueth too That I contempne detest and hate my sinnes forepast of purpose doo Disdayning present pleasures all or fonde delightes and séeke in some To frame and force our fowle desire to looke and long for thinges to come Which to attaine this hope we haue supported by thrée thinges also Which strengthen and confirme my heart that from this hope it dooth not goe And so dooth animate my minde me so incourage and perswade That lacke of merites want of workes nor worldly blisse my minde may glad Nor estimation of the ioyes which with delight my heart dooth grope Not any of these shall hable be to hale me from the fort of hope First I consider that the looue of him that hath adopted me And secondlie the trueth of him whose promises performed bée The thirde his mercie might and power that in these thrée did me redéeme Haue I not cause these benefites most highlie them for to estéeme Now therefore let my fleshlie thoughtes repine and murmure with disdaine Euen as they lust and aske me how I can these heauenlie ioyes attaine With confidence I aunswer will I knowe whome I beléeued haue His benefites perswades me so which vndeserued his mercie gaue Most condempnable were to doubt I am assured of his trueth I fullie am resolude from hence Grace and adoption bothe ensueth That he his promise will performe as one best hable to fulfill He may and dooth bothe heauen and earth commaund and they obay his will For these his merites I of right my God and Sauiour ought to looue It is the working of his Grace and mercie so my minde to mooue When I doo flée out from his face me to his presence he allures When I for sinfull life dispayre my present comfort he procures I am vnthankfull for his giftes yet dooth he benefite me styll When I vncleannes would commit he dooth my carnall humours kyll When I in vanities delight his trueth to me he dooth declare When I lie bound in snares of sinne he dooth my fréedome straight prepare And to conclude he dooth preserue and kéepe me from the pit of hell And drawes me from the wicked world within his kingdome for to dwell FINIS 14. Cap. ¶ Of Gods bountie of our iniquitie and of thankes giuing 15. Cap. BVt yet my soule beholde and sée consider how Gods goodnesse showne In all his giftes and benefites which thou receyuest as thine owne What gladsome comfortable chéere if thou thy worldlie will deny Christe offereth him selfe to thée what delycates he dooth apply With foode thy hunger to refresh he store in mercie dooth bestowe Thy pouertie he dooth enritch All these his graces thou doost knowe What secrete good affections hée euen with the same thy heart aspyres As with a pleasaunt cuppe of looue he dooth replenishe thy desyres That thou his footsteppes follow doo and transitorie thinges forsake Héereby thou mayst beholde thy God how great accoumpt of thée dooth make This is no simple thing thou séest or vile contempned for to bée That thou a gadding fugitiue his mercie more should giue to thée Thou wast a rechlesse rebell rude thou to eche treacherie wast thrall Yet he vnto his setled home and heauenlie mancion did thée call And plentifullie did refreshe with consolation spirituall He harkened to thy mishappe or euer thou had minde to call He comfortes thy confused minde if thou were tempted he sustaind If he in daunger did thée finde thy lybertie was quicklie gaind He thée reléeu'de if sorrowfull by him thou should comforted bée If wauering in minde thou waste he did confirme and strengthen thée How often euen with verie feare thou séemed like a withered wight He quicklie did thy state redéeme and thée endude with strength and might When thou in drought did drie away he did himselfe to thée infuse And often he with spirituall light thine vnderstanding did peruse Thy sence with swéetnesse he perfumde when thou delightst to reade or sing To praye or meditate thy minde in any kinde of heauenlie thing He rauished thy déepe delight from déepe delight in worldlie vice That thou mightst take thy pleasure in his euerlasting Paradice I leaue to speake of mightie workes it pleasde his Maiestie so to doo Of kindnesse and of mercie more which he restorde my soule vnto Least any parte of his due prayse should be ascribed vnto me And that the giuers graces should with the receipt vnited be Or knit together with the same or séeme as equall in consent Or he lyke praises should receyue whome God dooth make his instrument For if the creature should presume to be pertaker of the prayse Iniuriouslie he dealeth with his good Creatour diuers wayes For what hath any man a liue that he of God did not receyue Why should he then be praysde for that which he enioyes not but by leaue To thée therefore O Lord my God all honour prayse and glorie be Thankes giuing laude dominion power for these thy Graces gouerne me Sée nowe therefore