of blood More testifie my loue thou know'st I could not Long haue I stroue to bring they soule to good And witnesse here this crimson sweat howe I O soule of man doe for thy whoredomes dye How often in my bosome did I sue To haue thee lodg'd how often did I call thee From strange imbracements from affections new Whose only surfeit did too soone inthrall thee And yet thou would'st not come till age bereftthee Then I must take thee when all els haue left thee When yeeres haue made thee all vnfit for action When lust hath suckt thy Marrow drye and those With whom thou hadst conspir'd in trothles faction Shall shun thy lewdnesse and deride thy woes To mee thou then wilt come and I must hide The knowne defects of thy declined prid Call but to minde what 't is to bee a whoore A whoore the worst of creatures trades her pleasures With all diseases liues till she be poore Sels all to buy damnation neuer measuresâ— Or shame or health but makes her bodies mart Her soules confusion such an one thou art And though perhaps temptation might perswade thee That euen the winter of thine age shall finde If thou repent mercie from him that made thee Bee not secure for thou shalt feele thy minde So farre deuided so currupâ—ly bent As then thou canst not if thou wouldst repent Redeeme the poore remainder of thy daies Deaden the life of thy lasciuious lust Take pittie on thy selfe forsake thy waies Of licorish bondage hate what is vniust Be trew to my desires when sin assaults And I le forget thy wrongs forgiue thy faults Did euer man speake thus was euer crcature In such a language courted when the heat Of wilfull madnesse wrought the soules defeature The God that should haue punisht doth intreat Hee in whose power it is to scourge the sinner With words of mildnesse doth assay to win her Reade in this morrall if it may be term'd so Christs loue the soules infection this is willing That wilfull and eschues to be confirm'd soâ— That from his loue she may behold distilling A sweat of blood as if his blood complaines To tell her of the horrors he sustaines Guilt reades a lecture of her foule misdeeds And bids her looke vpon this streame of red Layes to her view the speaking sweat that bleeds When she lyes gasping on her death full bed And then her conscience summon'd to the doome Of Iudgement hastes vnto her toombe When now O God she cries and haue Iliu'd Ah shall I liue no more Is grace and beautie Vanisht so soone of all respect depriu'd Must pompe and state renounce her wonted dutie Must my deuided soule contemn'd and lost Surrender vp my short appalled Ghâ—st Inconstant fate and wilt thou change thy course And leaue mee to the terrors of my dread Can gold prolong no life Must life by force Be shadowed with the ruines of the dead 'T is bad to die but oh I feele the curse Of my owne conscience doth accuse mee worse Oh had I twentie thousand mints of treasure Kingdoms to morgage worlds within my power I would giue all but for a litâ—le leasure A little little minute one small hower That I might sue for grace from grace cast downe But oh I see my anger God doth frowne Bee not O be not mou'd thou glorious sonne Time was when thou didst sue to mee I craue Thy bountie of thy bloodie sweat and runne With confident assurance to my graue Thou art my spouse I am thy bride â—steeme mee None but my Christ none did but he redeeme mee Heare I disclaime the follies of my will Heare I returne the sinnes my frailties gaue mee Heare I forsake my heart-inueigling ill Heare fly I to his oâ—lie blood did saue me Mercie O mercie I commend as euen My whordomes to the dust my soule to heauen Christ is appeas'd and where the soule is prest With sence of knowinge shee hath done amisse Asking for grace shee is with grace redrest Her case is pittied shee for giuen is But this so seldome hapneth and so rare Scant two such soules amongst amillion are Presumption leads the readie path to hell For whilst wee looke on mercie we forget The equallnes of Iustice and compell Our soules to runne into a greater debt That God is mercifull 't is true so must Our bouldnes eke remember hee is iust Ost hath bin seene a woman who hath lou'd Some constant friend who black mischance hath slain How looking on his wounds shee hath bin mou'd To rent her haire and faâ—allie complaine Cursing her birth and life refraining food Kissinge the silent murmur of his bloode Weeping vppon his bodie as if teares Could make the gaping windowes that let in Vngentell Death close vp and then inferres Wrech wreched villiane could not such lookes win Remorce in thy hard hart with manie words Which then against the butcher griefe affords Can this a woman doe And should the â—ule Behold her louer Christ slaine not lamenting Or should she entertaine a thought so foule As to gaze vpon his wounds without repenting Should wanton carnall loue so much deplore And shall not true religion doe much more A Soule which in the Gospell reads the Storie Of Christs most bloodie sweat and deadly wounds Cannot in rules of zeale but be most â—orie Whilst sorrow mingled with remorce confoundâ— Reason and sence that spectacle to pittie Whilst both sigh out this lamentable dittie And art thou dead and must mine eyes behold The Lord of glorie crucifi'd for mee And is he dead is his sweet bodie coldâ— Made earth with earth and doe I liue to â—â—e The great acquittance of my debt discharg'd Seal'd with his blood that I might be inlarg'd Vnhappie hand that gaue the fatall stroke Which wrought the subiect of my weeping eyes But most vnhappie mee who did prouoke With blushlesse sinnes the cause for which hee dies But I if it were possible would 〈◊〉 With kissing of his wounds fetch life againe Take heere â—he tribute of my mourning heart A poore weake widowed souls complaints remaining Fit earnest of my death desiring 〈◊〉 Smarting in death and dying in complaining As my offences did my Sauiour 〈◊〉 So with my sorrowes will I decâ—â—e his heaâ—â—e First I abiure all sin-contriuing thoughts Heere I renounce each sin-inuiting word Then eu'ry sin-effecting acte which dotes On flesh I will no more let Heauen record My fast indissoluble vowes I striue For Christ alone his votarie to liue His wounds shall be my cloyster heere immur'd I le sequester my solace from the liuing His drops of blood my beads with which secur'd I le score the prayers of my heart mis-giuing My waxen Taper whose cleere light applies Light to my blindnesse shall be his faire eyes My booke the Legend of his Storie Zeale The incense I will offer vp Contrition My penance the confession I reueale My guilt my Hope the comforts of
Doth any loue to be in loue with beautie Come hither in those drops he shall behold Water and blood both in their proper dutie So liuely as Arts sâ—lfe would haue extold In curious figures shadowing delight Blood like to red and Water like to white Doth any couet time begâ—â—ing song Come hâ—ther heare is musicke in this sweate Words sung to God spoke with a zeale so strong As that it doth his bloody sweate beget This must inchant the senses and impart Not solace to the eare but to the heart Doth any wish for costly fare or diet Come hither banquet in his sacred passion Here 's comfort for the foule and perfect quiet Such food as Christ himselfe had in like fashion When talking with the woman at the well He eat what no man but himselfe could tell Doth any hope for Honor or promotion Come hither let him meditate on this And with the sacrifice of true deuotion Lift vp his voice to aske continuing blisse And to him shal be giuen with increase A crowne of glory a firme throane of peace Doth any take content in strength and might Come hither from this bloud recouer trust And hee shall put the Diuels force to flight Rebate the dartes of Hell and iudge th'â— must And beare the Crosse and conquer in like manner Safe Souldiers fighting vnder Christ his banner It is an honour in the eyes of men If when the King in person is in field Some forward spirit desperately then Assault his foe and force him for to yeeld For which attempt if such a one by right Vnder the standard royall be made Knight It is an honour and to times succeeding This banneret shall purchase lasting fame What honour is it then if one lie bleeding Vnder the wounds of Christ and in his name By Christian combat leuell in the dust The worlds aspiring sinnes deuoting lust Hee that doth ouercome himselfe and see His guerdon by the holy written word Is a faire man at armes more strong then hee Who plowes vp Kingdomes with his threatning sword For greater enemies incampe about Man 's owne weake heart then any are without Here lurkes adulteries fornication rapes Murthers false testimonies slaunders pride Treason backe-biting euill thoughts escapes Thefts foolishnes affections fondly eâ—'de Vncleannesse couetousnesse deceits and all Which brings the poore captiued foule in â—hrall Turne then thy weapons on thy selfe O man And fight against those enemies within thee Beat downe thy proper strength sincerely scan The horror of those foes that aime to win thee Put plates of righteousnes vpon thy brest And haue thy feet shod with the Gospels rest Gird on thy loines with veritie and take Saluations helmet to secure thy head Beare vp the shield of faith and hourely shake The spirits sword and on thy watchfull bed Keepe centinell when all thy powers retreat Then come and bath thee in his bloody sweat For as the Hart long hunted on the mountaines Breathlesse doth pant for life but all in vaine Vntill reuiued in the liuely fountaines He doth recouer strength and breath againe So we of breath of life are all depriu'd Til in his bloody sweat we be reuiu'd The curse on man from God when first he fell From the free comforts of possessed grace Was danger of a second death and hell Ecating his bread with sweate vpon his face Then all his sweate his sorrowes did decree him This bloody sweat should froÌ„ his sorrowes free him Sweat was ordaind to get vs bread which bread Achab the king did to Michaiah giue When to the prison causing to be led He did ordaine the prophet to relieue With bread which shewd his cruell iurisdiction In giuing bread but bread t was of Affliction In sweate we eate our bread such bread as Dauid A man of God and chosen to his heart Cride out he had when doubting to be saued He bore the weakenesse of the Churches smart Bread t was indeed so kneaded vp in feares As well he witnest t was the bread of teares In sweat we eate our bread such bread so scant As Esay promisd to the faithlesse Iewes Who being pierc't with famine steru'd with want Sought stranger gods and did the knowne refuse Such bread is our bread and be sweated so Bread of aduersitie and bread of woe As then the sweat in getting of our bread Did set before our eyes the curse we liue in So may this bloody sweat abandon dread In onely which we know we are forgiuen Then let vs in those sweates redeeme time past Feeling the first still haue in mind the last And still as often as our heart presents vs The memory of our vnhappy fall By sweating for that bread which discontents vs So often let vs call to mind withall This sweat of comfort that doth hourely bleed Our wofull soules with bread of lâ—fe to feed Let not the pleasures of vncertaine tast Beguile ourpâ—iates to deceiue our hearts Let not the momentarie hopes that wast Inuite to folly that too soone â—eparts But let vs looke on Christ the way and dore That all must tread as he hath gone before Peeter and Andrew Iames and Iohn whom first The Lord elected to be great on earth From men with men in ranâ—ke of men the worst The meanest in degree of baseft birth When they were clad Gods glory for to see The only wordes he vs'd were follow mee Mathew surnamed Leuy who to raise His estate to wealth and Houour sate and tooke Custome and tallage till his better dayes Approached when the time was he forsooke Vaine trust and was God's glory cald to see The only wordes Christ vs'd were follow mee The rich man that to iustifie himselfe By keeping whole the fire-condemning law Hee that was sad to leaue his worldly pelfe When the trew man to righteousnesse he saw To him then cald Gods glory for to see The onely wordes he vs'd were follow mee To him that would be iust but first had rather To bid his guestes at home farewell and he Who chose to lay into his graue his father Before he ment a Nazuarite to be When they should come Gods glory for to see The only wordes he vs'd were follow mee Phillip when yet redemption was not knowne To bee on earth found such a sauing fauour As that the Lord did chose him for his owne By calling him vnto the precious sauour Of life to life Gods glory for to see Yet all the wordes he vs'd were follow me Which follow me must not be vnderstood In fastes of Miracle or earthly pleasure Nor striuiug as he did in sweating blood To know no sin but to attaine the treasure Of neuer-fading ioyes of true saluation By holding worldly pompe in detestation For he who follows Christ must not respect Promotion money glory ease delight But pouerty reproofe and selfe-neglect Disgrace teares
fruition His Spirit my Confessor Faith the gift Which must absolue mee and his Loue my shrift Whiles on the Alter of his Innocence I le lay the poore oblation of my heart His Death shall be the Pardon to dispence With all my sins set free in euery part My teares the holy water and the fires To burne this sacrifice my chaste desires And now my God no day shall ouerslip mee But I will meditate on thy great passion My selfe accusing conscience shall so whip mee As I will neede no other condemnation Bee thou but pleas'd to pittie those my feares And eu'ry day I le wet thy tombe with teares This if a man can picke out time to doe His conscience may assure him that he is A sanctifi'd creature and cald to 〈◊〉 The happie tydings of eternall blisse And thus he may be sure that for Christs sake Chists bloodie sweat he doth indeed pertake So is he purg'd with water fed with blood Regenerate in Baptisme and made whole By eating the Lords Supper tasting good In the repasted diet of his soule Where by those bloodie streames of sweat did staine The cheekes of Christ were not all spent in vaine God will not thinke the heauineâ—â—e he â—eâ—â— Euen to the death when he was man with vs Paynes cast-away but as in loue he dealt With soule-endangered men by suffâ—â—ng thus Yet will he not repent when he shall know What thankfulnesse in heart we doe bestow The crimson dye of his carnation red Hath washt the soule in puritie of white The conduit of the water that he bled Hath dy'd the soule in graine of wishâ— delightâ— Water hath dy'd and blood hath washt 't is strange But true his vertue hath procur'd this change Nor is it strange since the most curious eye That saw him lead his solâ—ary life Whiles he was man on earth could not espiâ— One blemish in his actions prone to strife Buâ—all he spoke or did was wonders theame For euen the coate he wore was without sâ—ame For euen the coâ—â— he wore was without seame Implying his sinceritie and truth Vnmou'd in ioy vndaâ—â—â—â—d in extreame Nor fearing age nor â—ainly spending youth Louing where he was hated ayming still To saue from death such as were bent to kill To saue from death such as were bent to kill Men bloodiâ—â—â— in the fâ—stâ—s of cruell hate Of hatefull crueltie and to fulfill The wrath and measure of a wofull state Yet those with gentle sighes and teares his ayme Stroue from the day of vengeance to reclaime Stroue from the day of vengeance to re claime A day of vengeance when they shall behold His wounds to whom they gaue a deadly maime Crying Reâ—enge and they theâ— selues be fold Vnto an heauie doome yet Christ who saw it With 〈◊〉 perswasions labour'd to withdraw it With meeke perswasions labour'd to withdraw it And taught them by example how to shun Death whiles they liu'd who would not ouer awe it But headlong to their owne destruction run Yet He when no inuitement could intreat Wept for their errors in his bloodie sweat Wept for their errors in his bloodie sweat His bloodie sweat that crucifi'd delight Delight which all was smoother'd in a heat An heat of passion an vnsollac't sight Vnâ—ollac't sight when hee with griefes repleat Wept for sins error in his bloodie sweat Eyes were the Instruments ordayn'd to weepe But eyes in such a case must not suffice For his whole bodie did due order keepe It vndertooke the office of his eyes That as his eyes his precious teares did waste So did his heart bleede teares of blood as fast Wherein his sorrowes sadly did abound Not measur'd by compulsion but free will That as his eyes so might his heart be drown'd Surcharg'd with burthens of amazing ill And if his shedding teares his blood did paine His drops of blood pai'd back his teares againe His eye was but an echo to his heart Which answer'd euery accent of his woe While both his eye and heart did beare a part As said the one the other echo'd so Was euer man as I am quoth his eyes I am alas his heauie heart replyes His Eyes cry out in teares O cruell paine O cruell paine his Heart saies quoth his Eyes And must I then be flaire I must be slaine Answeres his Heart his eyes Ah let me die Me die his Heart his Eyes dye dye content I die content his Heart thus both consent Not like the fawning of some subtile queane Some Dalilah that flatters and beguiles Knowing Arts rule how to abuse the meane To laugh in teares and both to weepe in smilesâ— Christ could not doe so he wept teares in deed Such teares as 't was all one to weepe or bleed He wept not to deceiue but to reuiue He bleeded not in show but bled in proofe Not like the Crocadile life to deptiue But gaue such life as nere was not aloofeâ— He wept he bled he bled he wept a flood Blood in his teares and water in his blood Weeping and bleeding for offending men His bloodie sweat in agonies so fitted As for his enemies he groued then So for his owne and sins by both committed His enemies conceiu'd a fatall loathing His owne perceiuing all conceiued nothing Those few Apostles who had heard him teach And knew him to be Gods begotten sonne They 'mongst whom he euery day did preach Seeing the miracles that he had done Were weake in faith in vnderstanding dull Poore in their plentie steru'd with being full Blindnesse so farre their ignorance did tempt With weaknesse of beliefe ambitions feast As knowing Christ was come yet still they dreamt Of pettie Kings or being Dukes at least Supposing Christ's spirituall Kingdomes mirth Contain'd a goodly Kingdome here on earth And as the Anti-christian throne is now Propt vp with scarlet robes and triple crownes To vassailâ— Princes rights and to allow All as it likes or hates with smiles or frownes Commanding forcing with his proud decree Such did they hope the throne of Christ should bee For when the Lord had finisht now his errant Returning to his Father that had sent himâ— Sealing his power with his deaths strict warrantâ— When neither Hell nor Sathan could preuent him Yet dreamt they on and said Lord as before Wilt thou thy Kingdom now to vs restore Could this but breed his griefe when he foresaw Peters deniall his Apostles scatter'd His owne to feele the rigour of the Law Zeale cold Faith dead Hope lost frailtie batter'dâ— Deuisions breeding Kings aspiring great All these and such like brought his bloodie sweat For shortly he beheld the comming curse Vpon the sacred Scriptures Commentaries How though the Iewes were nought a people worse Whose studies are the Deuâ—ls Seminaries Should make the name of Iesus the diguise Of countenancing impudence and lyes Such like a nose of waxe doe wrest the word To colour sinne and hellishlyâ— peruert Christs sacred Gospell whiles with
downe by might But without doing euill all to win He lost his life and yet he knew no sin He knew no sinne then needed not to sweat The liquid moysture of dissolued bloud For his owne faults but ours our faults so great As scant is one amongst a thousand good And yet that one of thousands if the letter Of life were surely scand might bee much better This was that Pellican indeed retyr'd Into the desert of a troubled breast Who for to pay the ransome long desir'd Consum'd himselfe to giue his people rest A Pellican indeed that with her bloud Pulls out her heart to giue her Chickens food He like the Phaenix burning in the Sun That from his ashes may spring vp a younger Doth beate himselfe to death and will not shun The fire that weake men may in him grow stronger A perfect Phaenix that most gladly dyes That many in his only death may rise In euery sex and some of all degrees He saw the mispent ryot of their Talent No sin escapt the eye of his decrees But he beheld how apt men were to fall in 't For so is prone mortalyty accurst As still it striues to plot and woorke the woorst This man of men did in his troubled spirit Into a streame of soft compassion melt His â—cye bloud that frailty might inherit The sun of comfort by the griefes he felt Each drop of bloud he shed he shed it then To wash a seuerall sin from seuerall men Here saw he Princes in the awfull throne Of eminencie how wantonly they stroue For thirst of glory to protect alone Religious name not for religious loue Graceing the gracelesse in whom grace was lost Such Parasites as knew to flatter most For those he sweated bloud that they whom Heauen Created God's on earth should so prophane By courses indirect and lawes vn-euen Of will and sensuall lust the law first drawne By that eternall royalty who stood To watch their faults for Kings he sweated bloud Here saw he such who vnder those were plac't In seates of greatnesse and commaundes of state How fond in their madnesse they did wast Their greatnesse in ambition and debate Ayming not to support but scorne the good By vniust force for such he sweated bloud Here saw he how in Moses chayre thereraign'd Scribes cloath'd in wool of Lambes and speaking well But Wolues in nature so coruptly stayn'd As if they were but messengers of hell Abusing vnlearn'd soules and Leuits power More ready then to cherrish to deuoure Those whom the breath of God at first inspir'd To shine as Lampes and speake the Heauenly sound With Angels tongues were silent if not hir'd More studying with the scriptures to compound Their owne traditions and for those indeed In heauy droppes the sweat of Christ did bleed Here saw he Lawyers soberly engoun'd Wanting the Robe of Iustice not regarding The poore mans right nor where the case was sound But giuing Iudgment as he felt rewarding Whose tongue was bought against that side was weake Most times aswell to hold his peace as speake For them he sweated bloud and heere he saw Intrused iurisdiction ouer-sway'd By partiall fauour aboue forme of Law Cold Conscience by which Conscience was betray'd For those condemning were condemn'd to much As they condemn'd He sweated bloud for such Heere saw he Souldiers toyling in the heat Of cruelty not measuring the right Why they bore Armes but to content the great And their owne lawlesse hate prepar'd to fight For prey and spoyle aduenturing to rent Their liues soules for those his bloud Hee spent Heere saw he others that did keepe the sword Of office and authority in peace Compacted in a knot not to accord Or set at vnity strifes but increase Wounding or sparing with a watchfull hand As some superiour person should commaund For them he sweated bloud heere with much griefe He saw how Schollers train'd with strength of wit Inricht with knowledge and of men the chiefe For knowing more then men with straynes vnfit Did boast their pride which wisdome disallow'd For being still both needy and yet proud Schollers he saw how foolishly they stroue With tearmes of Art and smooth beguiling rimes To paynt the grosenes of vnlawfull loue And proue the sinnes that did corrupt the times Mayntayning vp-start sectes which all with-stood Truthes precious light for those He sweated bloud Heere saw he some whose seruile basenes waited Vppon such vices as attend the great Whom Hell with all it 's nimble turning bayted To vsher lusts by many a subtill feat Those make good cloathes their God pay the fees Of lewdnes with faire wordes and supple knees For those did Iesus sweate in bloud with those Heere saw he some that were in nature skil'd Searching the rules of Phisicke to disclose The treasure that the helpe of Art could yeeld How Gold did prompt them the thirst of wealth To hasten death or to recouer health Much mischiefe and abuse he saw in such How they would cocker lust and stir vp heat Of wanton bloud concealing shame too much With many sinnes too many to repeat For those and their iniquities Christes griefe Did sweate in bloud to giue their soules reliefe Heere saw â—he men whose winged vessels brought From lands far off the Marchandize of profit How by their factors all the world was sought For Precious wares such as made plenty of it And yeelded to their greedy hopes such treasure As they had heap't by subtill weight and measure Thus did they wast the poore and purchase wealth By falshood in extremityes retyring As they pretend for benefit of health To their full garners greedily conspiring How they might starue the hungry and still keepe Their gould for those his bloudy sweate did weepe Heere saw he others curst with large posessions Hard Landlords raysing rentes who still would grutch The bread of honest gayue by sterne oppressions Wrangling for earth till earth they had too much For those the Lord now being man was driuen To sweat in bloud that those might be forgiuen Heere saw he yet a wooâ—ser sort prouoking The wrath of God who liuing still in plenty And cunning in Arethmeticke lay soaking The needy gayning on the hundred twenty Vnconscionable vsurers not contented With ten to one nor one of ten repented For them he sweated bloud here saw he Creatures In face as sweete as Angels dy'd in grayne Of natures Art fayre Miracle of features Wonder of beauty loues delicious trayne Adorn'd with seeming graces that did shine So glorious as they were esteem'd deuine Women they were Saintes to behold in view Chast Matrons but O frailtyes curst in triall More vaine then vanitie and more vntrue Then falshood
hunger cold thirst scorne despight Friends father mother brethren children wife Must be forgon yea landes and goods and life His Crosse must be tooke vp and as he was In meekenesse sufferance patience and sobrietie Such must we be thus must we ouer passe The wars of frayltie lusts sacietie We must lay downe our liues and gaine the crowne Of life indeed as life we do lay downe Vnto the simple was the Lord reuealed To men obscure disdained and vnlearned His mercy from the mighty is concealed He onely of the poore will be discerned That they who to the world are poore in show Might teach the world and greatnesse ouerthrow When to the barre of iudgement we shall plead And hold vp guiltie hands and sue for grace A booke shall be brought foorth thereon to read A miserere mei but our case Wil be so hard our sins will so depraue vs As then our booke will come too late to saue vs. For then our bookeâ— the booke that doth containe The words of life Christs bloody sweat and passion That booke will witnesse how we did disdaine His loue and driue vs to a desperation And then not euery one that cries Lord Lord Shal be receiu'd for scorning of his word Then shall the Lord reply for you I sweated Sad drops of blood and yet you would not loue me For you in agonie my heart was heated My wounds did cry yet would ye not approue me I know ye not ye cursed creatures goe Where damned soules do feele eternall woe Neuer may day giue comfort to your cryes But ouer-cloud you in perpetuall night Neuer hence forward may your hopes arise For to behold my life-restoring sight Let death and diuels torture you for euer For you shal be released neuer neuer Here shall the wantons for a downy bed Be rackt on palâ—ets of stil-burning steele Here shall the glutton that hath dayly fed On choice of daintie diet hourely feele Worse meat then toads beyond time be drencht In flames of fire that neuer shal be quencht Each moment shall the killer be tormented With stables that shall not so procure his death The drunkard that would neuer be contented With drinking vp whole flagons at a breath Shal be deni'd as he with thirst is stung A drop of water for to coole his tongue The mony-hoording Miser in his throat Shall swallow molten lead the spruce perfum'd Shall smell most loathsome brimstome he who wrote Soule-killing rimes shall liuing be consum'd By such a gnawing worme that neuer dies And heare in stead of musicke hellish cries No sin that is not washt in true repentance Shall scape in euery sence to be perplexed But euery sinâ— and sinner shall haue sentence To be without all end with horrors vexed And that not for a day a month a score Of yeares or terme or time but euermore For as the God whom such haue once offended Is infinite in maiestie and power So shall their tortures be to them extended Most infinite and ceast not to deuoure And after thousand thousand yeares their sin Is no more free then when it did begin Loe here the view of soules condemn'd to hell Yet here is not the woorst of their indurance Their greater torments are for that they fell From euerlasting ioyes and knowne assurance Of Gods great glory which so long remaines As date-lesse as are their all-scorning paines Vnto the blessed shall he change his voyce And with as much grim horror as he spoke The curse of wrath so sweet shal be the voyce That with a gratious mildnesse shall prouoke Laughter and comfort to the long distrest When he shall call them to his quiet rest Come will he say ye blessed of my Father Vnto the kingdome he hath chosen for you Since in the time of frailtie ye had rather Then serue as worldlings haue the world abhor you You gron'd and sigh'd and mortifide the flesh Waiting till I your sorrowes do refresh My Bloody sweate won pitie in your eyes And you poore soules did loue me in my griefes My base reproofe you no way did despise Hungry cold naked thirstie your reliefes Did cheare my dying heart for which regard Take life eternall for your due reward Here shall the Martyrs slaine vpon the Alter Of persecution for his glorious sake By Bannishment the sword the axe the halter The water racke the whip the fierie stake No longer crie how long but rest in peace And haue such pleasures as shall neuer cease Here shall the meeke in spirit be exalted The naked clothd in perfect robes of white The poore that felt no tast of sin be salted With sauours of exceeding great delight The hungry fed the sicke releeu'd the chast With honors that shall neuer fall be grac't Those when the Trumpet from the flaming skies Shall sound a summons to the day of doome Heard shrill euen from the simple to the wise Shall with the Lord of glory fairely come And stand as witnesses then to prouoke The Lord to iudgment whiles the heauen â— smoke Here Diues from the flames he suffers in Lookes vp and faintly on the Lords right hand Who comes to pay the wages of his sin Beholds poore Lazarus in triumph stand And then his conscience prompts him telling how As he did once scorne him he scorns him now What boots complaints or whither can he run To hide him from that presence all in vaine He cals to mind the follyes he hath done But cannot ransome backe his time againe Iustice pronounceth as it iustly fitted Sin shewd no pittie sinne must not be pittied Vnto this Audit and seuere accompt How we haue liu'd what words we spoke what praier We made what thoughts we thought how wee surmount In goodnesse how the poore we did repaireâ— What can we answer but in meeke accord Confesse vs guiltie and cry mercy Lord A sparrow cannot fall vnto the ground Without the prouidence of God aboue Our haires are numbred and we shal be found The heires of promise as we hate or loue The secrets of our hearts are not our owne Our hearts and secrets then will both be knowne Before the issue of which dolefull day When no excuse will be admitted there A time is giuen and a tongue to pray O who will then that precious time deferre But whiles the sufferance of our God is great Fly to the safety of his Bloody sweate His bloody sweate the comfortable matter That must renew vs in the time of need Both meat and drink â— blood meat drink the water The last to quicken and the first to feed Water the seale of Baptisme doth present And blood his supper each a sacrament See here in earnest meditations now The mystery of all saluation How orderly God hath ordaind and how He wisely wrought it from the first creation So good this gracious God is to
defend vs As he fore-thinks the means that must coÌ„mend vs. When Christ prepar'd himselfe to die and beare The wrath of God that we in him might liue The time of his sowre passion drawing neare In which he was his life for vs to giue Retird alone his father to intreat His agonies brought forth a bloody sweat So when vpon the crosse he had indur'd The bitter pangs of hell and breathd the last Confounding death that had his death procur'd When all the tide of cruell griefes was past A souldier with a speare did pierce his side When blood with water gushing was espide Water and blood what could it else intend Or wher-unto so likened could it be But to the bloody sweat his soule did send Before his death opprest in agonie That as the first before his death diminisht Death of the soule this in his death that finisht He di'd indeed not as an actor dies To die to day and liue againe to morrow In shew to please the audience or disguise The idle habit of inforced sorrow The Crosse his stage was and he plaid the part Of one that for his friend did pawne his heart His heart he pawnd and yet not for his friend For who was friend to him or who did loue him But to his deadly foe he did extend His dearest blood to them that did reproue him For such as tooke his life from him he gaue Such life as by his life they could not haue Great miracle of loue redemptions wonder Where he that should be su'd to sues to those Who would not sue to him but still kept vnder That better part which he in mercy chose Rare president of value which discouers How loue is scant where plenty is of louers If we but looke into the little home The home of our owne selues we may espie How many pyrates still make haste to come To wrecke our soules whom whiles we do defie We entertaine and freely but vnsought Make marchandize of what we neuer bought The pearle and the treasures which the Lord Did witnesse were of an vnualued price Iesus did purchase of his owne accord To free vs from our death deseruing vice And left vs for an heritage the gaine Of life immortall euer to remaine Hels gaping wombe which euery minute sunke Millions of soules and would not be content With streams of blood which greedily it drunke But still cryde more his mercy did preuent For he shut vp the lawes and did acquit The rau'nous gorge of that deuouring pit The euer empty swallow of the graue And bottomlesse confusion of the deepe His blood hath made in vaine and this doth saue From dangers such as dangers dayly keepe Deaths sting it hath rebated and vn-edg'd Such soules as were in sorrowes bondage pledg'd What should a sinner doe or whither flie To hide him from his shame that euer wakes Poore man lesse then a man who cannot die Nor cannot liue so much his Care mistakes And still he drawes destruction with his breath As t' is all one to suffer life or death Sad thoughts like burning furies still pursue him And seeke his life who them aliue doth cherrish Fond thoughts whose inward eyes nosooner view him But kill that Maister who once dead they perish His thoughts do tell his conscience of his thrall His conscience makes him thinke that he must fall What shall he crie to mountaines to conceale him Or shall he beg the seas to ouer-drench him The mountaines are remou'd and cannot heale him The Seas are dry and they cannot entrench him But euer as he hopes the light to shun In groping for the night he findes the sunne A Sonne whose glory doth disclose abroade The secrets of his hearts and layes all open Lines out the sundry paths that he hath trode Vnfolds the seuerall treasons he hath spoken The inside of his bosome is apparant And he hath none excuse to pleade his warrant What can he now resolue but to retire Vnto the sweat of Christ and cleft in mind Humbled in meeke astonishment desire Comfort in this his bloody Bath to find Which bloody sweat when euery helpe doth faile To cure the soule that onely doth auaile Pure distillations are but vaine receits Curious to draine but comfortlesse in tast Compounded Cordials are vnwise deceits Whose vertue doth but with the present last Christs body is the Limbecke that must yeeld Distilled blood our soules from death to shield If pleasures honors money gifts promotion Phisicke restoratiues repasted diet Ease cost delights cold heate prophane deuotion Drinkes purges obseruation courtly quiet Or one or all the soules spots could expell Great Kings had neuer ran so fast to hell The Princes of the Sodomites the chiefes Of Aegypt Achab Eserod and the rest Had neuer felt the terrours of their griefes If art could haue a remedy exprest But therefore di'd they cause they know no good To purge them in the streame of Christ his blood The womans painting Iesabel the whore Of th' Israelitish monarch could not hide Her sins from God but as her selfe was poore In virtue so she dy'd in naked pride O had she feâ—ne Christs bloody sweat contâ—iâ—'d In his Eliahs griefe she might haue liâ—'d But they whom worldly pleasures wrap in woe Esteemd this sweat a fancie or a fable Which one day they will find was nothing so When to recall againe they are not able And their this blood which hath procurda crowne Shal be a flood not to refresh but drowne What is a man but dust made vp in forme Fraile weake corrupted keeping tiâ—e in motion A ship at sea â—re-turnd with euery storme Eates sleeps and dies vnsetled in deuotion In health vnbridled in his yeares a span A sading bloome and such a thing is man Mans beautie but a frame made vp in snow Immixt with waxe which melts with euery Sun Euen so experience teacheth men to know How soone this worke of frailtie is vndone A winters frost or summers parching heate Doth soone this pictures ornament defeate Yet as a cunning fire-worke lighted glowes Spits and with hissing wonders dares the skies Till being wasted downe it fal and showes No more his matter spent it weakely dies And vanisheth to aire and smoke so men In health are strong but dying vanish then Man as a cunning fire-worke in his power Dares God and heauen and kicks against the Lord Till all his force be spent then in an hower Abates decaies fals of his owne accord Being indeed as nothing in dcspaire Of doing ill fumes into smoke and aire But here is not the end of all his ilsâ— His greater soules vexation is behindâ— A death which both the soule and body kils To which the miserable are confind And then too late they wish to coâ—â—e the heate Of flames and brimstone in Christs bloody sweate If one condemnd for some notorious fact Labour his pardon and doth surely thinke His life is safe
forgets his former act Doth reuell sweare prophane carouse and drinke Whiles thus his iolly time he doth apply One sayes that he within an howeâ— must die How cold that newes strikes to his heart his checks How soone they change their merriment and he With what submission pensiue humbly seekes For grace to alter that unâ—op't decree How would he promise beg protest oâ— giue All that he had or could procure to liue Such is the case who till the day draw neare Wherein we must 〈◊〉 â—p the rightâ— We hold of liuing do our soules appeare Slaues to disorder seruants to delight But when we are arrested to depart Then we can feele the dolours of our heart Yet Christ is not regarded who stood vp And in the last day of the feast cride out Hâ— come to me all ye who thirst and sup Riuers of life drinke freely round about And if there come a scarcitie of food My flesh shal be your bread your drinke my blood Dull eares who will not listen to this call Dull eyes who will not see this fount of ease Dull heart that will not shun temptations gall Dull soule that will not seeke this God to please Dul eares dul eyes dul heart dul soule whose strife Nor heares nor sees nor thinks nor seeks for life Life may be freed from euerlasting wrath Which is prepar'd for those which will not liue If they but aime to bathe them in the bath Of Christ his blood which he doth frankly giue To cleanse and wash away each leprous spot That vse of sinne doth feed as sinne begot Besieged man-kind when the foe assaults Of number-lesse temptations shrikes or feares Mew'd vp in care and yeeldeth to the faults Whom as a weighty burthen still he beares And ere hâ— loose the honour of the field Doth like a turne-coate to his weaknesse yeeld Where now is faith where is that courage now Which prouâ— mortalitie prefumes it hath Base seruile frailtie doth despairing bow To weare the fetters of consuning wrath So cowards boast in time of peace but flie When warres increase and vnremembred die Others there are who smooth the front of sin And maske his vgly fore-head with the coulour Of lust ingendred nouelties to win Grace to their arts by making art seeme fuller And they their foolish wits with pride to proue Will striue forsooth to make a God of loue They are the diuels secretaries right Whose rules haue drawne whole troopes of soules to hell That might haue else bene sau'd they day and night Toyle out their braines that mischiefe might excell They feele the whips whiles as they kisse the rod By making lust the diuell and the god Loue is no god as some of wicked times Led with the dreaming dotage of their folly Haue set him foorth in their lasciuious rimes Bewitch'd with errors and conceits vnholy It is raging blood affections blind Which boiles both in the body and the mind But such whose lawfull thoughts and honest heat Doth temperately moue with chast desires To choose an equall partner and beget Like comforts by alike inkindled fires Such find no doubt in vnion made so euen Sweet fruits of succors and on earth a heauen Such find the pastures of their soules and hearts Refreshed by the soft distilling dew Of Christs deare bloody sweate which still imparts Plenty of life and ioyes so surely trew As like a barren ground they drinke the pleasure Of that in estimable showre of treasure If euery word we write and speake or thought We thinke or deeds we do or hower we spend Shall one day to aâ—stâ—ict account be brought When shall be made a whole and finall end Then all in vaine we shall condemnd that wit Which hath in sinne or thought or spoke or writ Those Angels who as Porters guard the gate Of Gods eternall kingdome will controule All entrance there and curiously debate Questions of quarrel with the trembling soule And like some churlish officer at court Keepe backe the presse of all the worser fort Here now the soule is baffaild whiles they chide What are ye soules opprest but whither presse ye Into the court of God here to abide What sicke yes sicke whom seeke ye to dresse ye Christ our physition who hath sent ye to him Our faith what faith such faith as coms to wo him Woe him for what for life where are your seales Of pietie and truth lost O fooles Get hence our wounded care appeales To mercy promised in the sacred schooles To Iustice no to mercy we behaue vs Iustice condemns you yet will mercy saue vs. Haue you then bathd your sins in what in sweat What sweat his bloody sweat we haue not knowâ— it Ah haue you not no then you are to great In sins sins sins and those haue ouerthrowne it Hence soules away ye are too late deluded Thus are the wicked soules from heauen excluded Thus are the wicked soules from heauen excluded And torturd in the horror of their feares Heauens gate is shut when they would haue intruded And al because they were too slacke in teares Which are the ready tokens Christ hath lent His bloody sweate on earth to represent Neuer was teare from any heart let fall In true repentance but the Lord of grace Hath seene and botled vp and kept it all For such as must his sauing health embrace This is a rule in text for certaine giuen An eye still drie doth seldome come to heauen He who can gush out teares as t were a flood Of christall sorrows and a zeale vnfained Dâ—th purge his faults in Christ his sweat of blood And with his faults shal neuer more be stained Stars in their brightnes shall not shine so glorious Nor all the Kings on earth be so victorious T is not enough to reade the Bible ouer Here to fold downe a leafe and there to quote it Now to behold the Lord in blood then houer And range but freely in thy heart to note it For where the Word doth tel vs Christ did bleed And sweat there must our thoghtâ— both drink feed Did but a King before a publicke view Imbrace and kisse his subiect how would fame Speed such such a fauour how would people sue To grace their seruice by his onely name So here doth Christ a much more griefe impare And cryes to all My sonne giue me thy heart My sonne giue me thy heart and in exchange Take mine I both will kisse thee and embrace thee What heauenly words are in this voyce O strange See sinner how the God of loue doth grace thee My sonne giue me thy heart but giue me thine And I will sweat in blood to pawne thee mine God knocks then let vs open let not hell Barre out the King of mercie he intreates Let not the diuell distwade God comes to dwell With men let men him entertaine he sweates For vs let vs for him like dutie keepe He sweated blood let vs
in sorrow weepe A man that liues in pleasures as his dayes Increase the dayes past ouer seeme a dreame Stil newer ioy more hope of ioy bewrayes And as he liues he liues still in extreame He wakes to sleepe and sleeps in hope to wake So here is all the pleasure he can take Is this a life O what a life is this To couet age which being come is hated Whose end is death which death the vtmost is Of eu'ry lease that in the graue is dated They that enioy what their owne hearts can craue Craue onely time which brings them to the graue And here they die and dying once die all Die al as they vnworthily haue liu'd No part of them suruiues but feeles the thral Of life in death and death of life depriu'd Thus then the promise of al the worlds desire Beares life to die then dies in life to tire Weary vnrest and restlesse wearie woe That leads to pleasures in their birth abortiue How much more better were it to forgoe A life so grieuous and a death so sportiue And rest the griefes so numberlesse and great In the sweet slumber of his bloody sweat When Pharaohs heart was hardned and deny'd Freedome to Israel the Lord to scourge Pharaohs ambition and detested pride Which mercy could not win nor mildnesse vrge Commanded Aaron when he toucht the flood Th' Aegyptian waters all were turnd to blood Water was turnd to blood but in this sweat Here blood is turnd to water as the first Betoken'd plagues for sins the last doth treat Redemption from those sins who were accursâ— The first his wrath the lass doth shew his loue His iustice this did that his mercy proue By blood offences in the written law Vnto the law of grace were reconciled By blood offences must redemption draw From blood which blood the Gospel now is stiled The law the blood of Goats and buls desired The Gospel hath the blood of Christ required A surety for his friend that is arrested Kept close in prison bound in yron chaines Is hungry cold and weary sicke and wrested To change of inward griefes and outward paines Deserues from him for whom he asseast If not a full reward yet thanks at least So he who in the absence of his friend Whom malice hath vpbraided with abuse Doth vndertake his quarrell to defend Clearing the imputation with excuse Fights and is wounded being wounded dyes May iustly claime the tribute of his eyes Iesus the sonne of God was at our suâ—e A rested and imprison'd in the frame Of flesh was fetter'd and of no repute Tyr'd with his griefes the by-word of defame All this he was and did yet to relieue him Wee scarce can in our hearts finde thankes to giue him Hee vndertooke our quarrell with the Deuill When we were all vnable to resist And in that quarrell to discharge our euill Was wounded to the death yet wee persist Too obstinate in malice and forbeare Vpon his bleeding wounds to shed one teare Wee see vpon his furrow-drowned face The print of sorrowes stampe yet not regard him Wee see his honour leuel'd with disgrace Yet with our only thankes will not â—eward him 'T is bad to sin sin 't is to be vngratefull Sin is abhorr'd vnthankfulnesse is hatefull Goe then Remembrance tell that Queene of Reason Fayre bride to Christ the Souâ—e her louer comes Deckt in his wedding robes and courts the season With choyce of pleasures and with many sinnes Of sure deserts inuites this wandring Queene To be as true as he to her hath beene Ladie quoth hee thy fortunes haue not won My heart to loue thy beauty cannot force mee To wanton dotage what my care hath done No time shall alter no repoâ—ts diuorce mee For to my chaster flames thy zeale gaue fuell And I will guard thee if thou be not cruell No dower from thy treasuries I craue No wanton dilâ—â—ance in a bed of lust Thy purenesse is the portion I would haue Artlesse simpliciue and steedy trust And if thou proue but constant to implore Vertue with goodnesse I will aske no more Heerâ— vowes the soule virginiâ—v and sweares Shee will bee only his and meanes to doe it Vntill distracted in her fleshly feares She shrinkes from her first troth when she comes to it And like a strumpet false she heere â—â—â—swore That plighted promise she had made before Simplicitie was woo'd by youthfull Iust And would not yeeld young Iust did fee old sinne Old sin assaults simplicitie whose trust Thus to make lesse she trimly doth beginne Faire daughter â—â—â—â—en time will come when thou Shalt change thy hue and be as I am now Vnhealthie old forsaken and despis'd I lead a life who was adored then Beautie amidst the â—roppe is only priz'd Faire soules in youth are chieâ—ly lik'd of men But when my time did court me I for-went it And lost my daies and now I doe repent it Daughter wilt thou alone liue vnpossest Of youths best ornaments and natures ioyes Wilt thou deny to be a mother blest In pretty daughters and more pretty boyes O no had not our mothers tooke their lot Wee had bene yet vnborne and vnbegot Heauen hath oâ— dained thee to be sweet on earth Both loue and youth do-homage to thine eyes And wilt thou curbe thy selfe of pleasures mirth By vainely striuing how to be precise She that hath fairenesse were as good haue none If foolishly she keepe it all for one Yet you forsooth young mistresse in the folly Of standing on some pleasure threatning text Dreame of some great renowne in being holly Reade this and that and that and what is next I know not what and euer vainly plod In hope to marry with the Sonne of God No doubt come yet I le tell a safer way If you will needs to that ambition clime Do it at last buâ—spend thy youth in play Reuell enioy the freedome of the time And when y' are old vnfit for sport bereauen Of youth and ioyes then you may think on heauen Tush daughter God respects thee in thine age As well as in thy prime and he will beare With flesh and blood then seeke not to ingage Best of delight before delights do weare And thou to God maist be my words are truth As welcome in thine age as in thy youth Wonne is the soule with this or rather lost Sins sweet temptation hath vndon the zone Of Maiden chastitye the feeld is lost Lust hath preuailde and Christ is left a lone For now the soule resolues that sports vnfold Law to the young repentance fits the old Yet thus that kinde good God will not giue ouer But once againe by parley doth attempt To court this perâ—uâ—'d dame and like a louer Scorn'd of his Lady from all hope exempt Pittyes the shipwracke of her taiuted name And yet by Manage would recure her fame I know quoth Christ I louethee els I would not Haueâ—â—â—â—nd vnto thee in a Sea