haue appeased the wrath of my Father through the satisfaction of my Redeemer I come because thou thy selfe hast called me vnto thee and holdest forth thine armes Receyue me therefore my God not after the austeritie of a iust Iudge but according to the compassion of a pitifull father and accept this mine earnest prayer which being conceyued in the bottome of mine hart hath disclosed it selfe by my lips and flyeth with my voyce vnto the fauourable care of mine heauenly Father seeing it hath pleased thee ô Lord to suffer me so to call thee Cause it ô Lord my God to pierce the heauens where thou thy selfe art I know right well that thy Throne is aboue and that thou keepest vnder thy feet both the Sunne and the Starres and the earth to be but a very tittle and my selfe being the least part thereof am a great deale lesse then nothing Who then shall dare to make me so saucy as to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee It is euen thou my God who sittest on hye to behold at once all the works of thine hands the better to vnderstand our wants and dayly to poure vpon vs thy grace as a most â—…eet showre Euen thou who hast thy selfe sayd Aske and yee shall be heard But thou wilt be prayed vnto with a constant faith cause it therefore to be borne and growe in my soule for it is a gift that cannot come but from the Treasuâ—e of thy grace and as at other times thou hast addressed the lips of infants to glorifye thee gouerne now the infancie and infirmitie of mine hart that it may deliuer vnto my mouth â—…ch a prayer as may very well like and please thee And because thou â—ayest know my God that my prayer is sooner conceyued in my soule â—en in my lips and that although the burden of my flesh greeueth and â—eâ—eth my spirit yet breatheth it our as much as it can thine honor and prayse And the first petition that I â—ake vnto thee is this Hallowed be thy name or rather let thy â—…me hallow and sanctifie me that I may â—e after able to blesse glorifie thee â—ut which of thy names shall I blesse â—…at wherwith thou hast confouÌ„ded â—ast down the enemies of thy people or else that wherewith thou hast blesseâ— all the nations of the earth Wilt thoâ— be praysed as the God of hosts ô Lorâ— God of all battailes or as the Sauiour and Redeemer of the world Shalâ— I tell abroad how thou hast made aâ—… things of nothing how thou hast soweâ— the heauens with starres couered thâ— earth with flowres fruites riuers and with all liuing creatures and Man like vnto thy selfe Or shall I speake but of that incredible loue by which thou hast deliuered thine owne only Sonne vnto death to purchase for vs life euerlasting I haue not breath inough ô Lord for such an enterprise but let it content thee that I sanctifie thy name with an humble and chaâ—… thought and that my meditation be alwayes fixed vppon all the benefits wherwith it pleaseth thee continually to fauour me so as both my selfe and as many as thou hast placed here in this world as in the middest of a ritch Temple for the beholding and admiring on euery side the excellency of thy Deitie we neuer turne our vnderstandings vnto any other thing but to the comprehending and learning o◠〈◊〉 will to the end that we being reâ—…ed in one and the selfe same deâ—…e â—o serue thee Thy kingdome may 〈◊〉 and that after we shall haue cast 〈◊〉 the yoke of sinne which so long â—…e hath thralled and captiued vs 〈◊〉 loue alone may reigne in our conâ—…ences A most blessed and prospeâ—…s reigne for to obey thee is to â—…maund our vnruly appetites and 〈◊〉 command them is for a man to be â—aster of his owne selfe and for a man 〈◊〉 be master of his selfe is the most â—…ereigne principalitie It is an easy â—…tter my God to obey thee thy yoâ—e â—gratious and the tribute which thou â—…ctest on vs is nothing else but to â—…ue vs to be blessed Confirme vs â—…erefore ô Lord in this thy will and â—…ist the zeale of thy good seruanâ—s â—pressing the insolencie of all such as â—…spheme against thy Maiestie beâ—…se that thy lawe and thy truth do â—…gne throughout the world O King 〈◊〉 kings which hast the dominion of 〈◊〉 hearts who by our humilitie and â—edience hast established thine Emâ—…e bend our wills vnder thy law â—o â—…end that we looking all to one end aspire not but to the aduancing of thy glory and that our good actions may testifie the good discipline of the King of heauen vnto whome we do homage and who alloweth vs for his subiects of whome we hold so many benefits and graces as that we can not possibly come any thing neere the number of them Now what obedience is it that we should yeeld vnto thee how should we ghesse to do that which might please thee who is able to sound the bottome of thy thoughts and who shall be able to vnderstand that which thou wouldest haue I therefore beseech thee only that thy will be done For sith thou art altogether good thou willest nothing but good things and for thee both to do and to will is all one and in making this prayer vnto thee we wholy submit our selues vnto thee who neuer faylest to will vs well and to performe the same also For whatsoeuer ô Lord thou hast willed was done and from this thy will as from a liuely and pleasant spring head are deriued all the benefits wherewith the whole face of the earth is couered and wherewith all â—he heauens are beautified Continue thou the same towards vs and seeing 〈◊〉 loue is as a fire that encreaseth acâ—…ding as it findeth matter to burne 〈◊〉 it encrease and enlarge it selfe in â—…ing good vnto vs vnto vs I say â—oore miserable wretches in whose â—eakenesse miserie and infirmitie 〈◊〉 shall finde it selfe matter enough â—o exercise and worke vpon When 〈◊〉 pray thee ô Lord That thy will be 〈◊〉 my meaning is to beseech thee that thou wouldest eft soones root out â—f mine heart all these worldly desires and willes which being borne 〈◊〉 the corruption of the flesh cannot â—aue any fellow-feeling and agreeâ—ent with the law of the spirit neyther geue thou me the bridle to liue as I lust and seeing that I am thy child â—…d honorest me with this title let me â—euer be bondslaue vnto my affectioÌ„s but keepe me vnder the rod of thy law 〈◊〉 â—nder the tutoâ—ship of thy commandemeÌ„ts to the end that my self and as â—any as haue sworne to thy word beâ—…g framed to serue and obey thee â—oâ—thely may also be ready cheerâ—…ll in the ministerie of thy seruice so long as we shall abide here below in this mortall world as thine Angels and other most blessed soules are in that heauenly habitation and so Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen And seeing it is
horror and astonishment in their countenances For extreame famine hath dried vp their flesh cold hath bereaued them their ruddy and smooth checkes sorrow and griefe hath wrinkeled their faces and the flower of their chastitie by the souldier insolently defaced hath couered all their faces with shame and dishonor And these are now no more but euen so many dead liuing For they liue altogether in sorrow and griefe Neither is there any thing that encourageth them more to liue then the same dolor which killeth them with very heauinesse and awakeneth them out of their bitternesse He. A dolor truly too too bitter and in very deede more bitter then soote to see them-selues carried in triumph by their greatest enemies to see them braue by our spoyles ritch by our great pouertie and mightie by our ouerthrow Thou hast ô Lord poured out thy heauie wrath vppon vs and madest vs feele how heauie thy reuengefull hand is Thou hast I beleeue gathered together all our faults into a bundell once for all because that when thou sawest them to be so infinite and worthie the like payne and punishment thou awakenedst thy selfe and hast discharged the arrowes of thy seuere iustice against vs. But ô Lord oughtest not thou to stay the course of our punishment in our owne persons and consume all thy torments vpon vs but must we also be tormented in the persons of our children and for the making of our miserie the greater to cause vs also to see theirs For wee were spoyled of our goods put out of our houses and led away captiue Wee thought that there was nothing as it were to bee feared more then death and yet now wee feare it not for it is sweet to those that are in miserie But our speedie and quicke calamitie to our great payne and griefe hath now ouertaken vs with newe miseries For wee haue seene goe before vs whole bands of our children fettered and carried captiue into Babylon there to serue our enemyes as bond-slaues Vau. Euen so hath Syon lost the flower of her youth and all the honor of her City is cleane gone She hath bene miserably torne all to rags and there is no whole thing left in her but sorrow griefe For the greatest and ritchest of her inhabitants were caried away by troupes and led into strange Prouinces as flocks of sheepe are driuen by dayes iourneys from market to market without geuing them any leaue to feed as they go They go with their heads and their eyes looking downe to the ground sighing most piteously And the conqueror followeth them scourging them with rods and they which dwell by the hye wayes sides as they passe laugh at their affliction and most iniuriously cry out vpon them Zain And as a fresh wound openeth againe the old ones euen so were their harts throughly pierced whereby they remembred their old sinnes and the punishment which their fathers suffered because they had forsaken the true seruice of God and geuen them selues ouer vnto their foolish passions They called also to mind how often they were fallen into their enemies â—ands when as God had left them O â—hou too too ouer late remembrance â—hou shouldest haue come a great deale sooner to haue turned them from their wicked and abhominable â—ayes and if they would not haue done it for Gods sake yet they should â—aue done it at least for feare of his fury which they had so often felt O late repentance which commeth after punishment suffred They were very poreblind that could not foresee this great trayne of miseries which followed their offences But alasse ô blind sinne thou doest thus bleare the eyes of thy friends and wilt not put them in mind of their repentance but â—hen it is all past time For Ierusalem hath turned her back vpon God and followed her owne concupiscences she hath made her a God of her owne pleasure and worshipped her owne delights She neuer once turned her eyes towards heauen vntill such time as she sawe her magnificence cleane vnder foote the whole world laughing at her shame making a scorne of her Sabboths and translating and altering of her sacrifices wherein she had so great confidence which could in very deeâ— serue her to no purpose because they were done with such polluted hands Heth. For to say truly Ierusalem waâ— nothing else but a sinke of sinne and filthinesse for from the highest vnto the lowest they were all most abhominable for she began to forget her God that was so fauourable vnto her and thereupon as one that was blinde she stumbled fell into all maner of wickednesse And after that she had groped about here and there at all aduentures she fell into this strange calamitie and then as many as heretofore were wont to reuerence honor her began forthwith to disdaine and looke sourely vpoÌ„ her For her shame lay opeÌ„ vnto the eyes of al the world was seâ— before euery man as a laughing stocke some asking her what was become of all her wealth some what was become of all her honor and there was neuer an honest womaÌ„s child which had not a gird at her In so much that she could do nothing else but weepe and being all ashamed and comfortlesse she was driuen to goe hide her selfe Thet. And wheÌ„ she saw her self alone and in what estate she stood she found her self from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot to be most filthie and her garmeÌ„ts to be most beastly beâ—rayed with bloud and mire And as the Peacock when he hath spread abroad his tayle in looking at his feet letteth it fall downe agayne abating thereby his pride euen so hath she plucked downe her heart sorrowed within her selfe and cared no whit for death by reason that all things misliked her but chiefly and aboue all her poore and miserable life She was giuen to be altogether sad without hauing any bodie to comfort her For her friends had forsaken her or if they were neere about her it was to none other end but to afflict her Wherefore when as she found no help here vpon earth she lamentably lifted to her head vnto heauen with deep fighâ—s froÌ„ the bottome of her hart addressed her selfe vnto God and sayd O Lord hast thou not compassion vpon me in this my great affliction Seest thou not mine extreame misetie Surely there is none can saue me so well as thy selfe Come therefore if thou be the God of mercy and forsake not thine humble and old seruant for mine enemy setteth his foote vpon my throate and causeth me most shamefully to belch Come therefore ô Lord for my continuall iniury is thy shame and the outrage that is done vnto a seruant redoundeth to the mayster And therefore come ô Lord for mine enemy outrageth me beyond all measure and without all pitie Iod. He hath layd his bloudy hand vpon that which I accompted most deere and spared no whit of that which I made reckning off to be most
In how short a time changeth the face of the world And truly are not the euening and morning all alike For I was this morning aliue and lo I am now amongst the dead I looke but for the houre wherein I meane to tread the fields that I might trusse vp bag and baggage and away 6 Why I was this morning a very gallant and I was tickled with new and strange hopes I proued mine owne strength and me thought I was sound and like to liue long and I had a world of deuises in mine head and euery minute my courage encreased and anon death commeth vpon me like an hungrie Lyon sucketh my bloud shaketh my flesh breaketh in sunder my bones and loe I am stretched out and readie to yeeld vp the last gaspe of my life Alasse I was this morning some body and now at night I shal be no body O God what a small distance is there betweene a mans being and his not being And from morning to night euery man goeth this broad beaten hye way yea yea ô Lord in a moment if thou please a man passeth from the one to the other and goeth from life vnto death The first course of the heauens is verie suddaine and swift and yet is the cutting sythe of death more suddaine and far nimbler for thou geuest vs life in breathing on vs an wheÌ„ thou ceasest we dye Thou lookest vpon vs we are borne thou turnest away thine eye froÌ„ vs and by and by we are dead We are the bubble of the water which apeareth with the least mouing and is puffed out with the smallest winde We are the haruest leafe hanging now vpon the tree and eftsoone lying flat on the ground or to speake more properly we are the shadow of a dreame which is quire gone so soone as we awaken But although ô Lord death hath laid fast hold on me and that one of my feete is already in the graue yet will I crie out vnto thee and coniure thee by thine infinite power and pittifully gâ—one vnto thee in acknowledging my misery and thy clemency wilt thou not then haue compassion vpoÌ„ me wouldst thou not somwhat lengthen the thred of my life 7 The terror ô Lord of thy great maiesty maketh me afeard to speake although I feele my misery to presse me and pursue me that I know my helpe is in thee yet dare I not addresse my praier vnto thee But I am like vnto the young new hatched swallow who being naked and without feathers is left alone in the nest pittifully chirping and looking for her dam. Nay I am rather like vnto the fearefull Doue alone in her nest who seeing the Gerfalcon soaring ouer her head hideth her selfe poore miserable Doue sitteth close and amazed by reason of the danger she seeth her self in O my God I know my misery do right well vnderstand mine infirmity But although ô Lord that with a submisse voice trembling words I implore thy maiesty yet forsake me not I humbly beseech thee 8 Is it so long sithence ô Lord that I turned mine eies vnto thee to call vpon thy goodnesse I am alwaies wonted to lift vp mine eyes on hie O Lord I am at a non plus I am forced and my misery is gone ouer mine head and therfore I beseech thee to helpe me if it may so please thee 9 But alas dare I speake vnto God and shew my selfe vnto him Euen I whom he hath created with his owne hands and fashioned by his grace who in stead of seruing and honouring of him haue giuen my selfe vnto the pleasures of this world and turned the honor which I owe vnto him vnto earthly and corruptible things what answer will he make me for if he grow once to be angry and shew himselfe vnto me in his fury with that countenance that he shall iudge the guilty were it not an hundreth times better for me to haue held my peace then to speake But it were better I say to be dead and buried then to haue eyes to see him and eares to heare him what then shall I either do or say 10 I will endeuour my selfe to appease him before in presenting him for an offring the contrition of mine heart and bitternesse of my soule and in my greeuous anguish will call to minde all my yeares past lay abroade the moments of life runne ouer the number of my sinnes that I might cleanse and purge the sinnes and transgressions which defile my conscience and stirre vp Gods wrath against me 11 And therfore thou shalt ô Lord most assuredly seeing that I returne vnto thee and bitterly weepe for mine offences receiue my repentance and through the heartinesse of my continuall prayers which I so effectuously powre out vnto thee appease thy sharpe and heauy wrath Thou shalt stay the hand of thy iustice which would swallow me vp Thou shalt turne away the dart of death whose point hath pierced me euen to the very hart Thou shalt lengthen the course of my yeares which my sinne hath already shortened And thou shalt bee contented that thou hast reprooued me without vtterly vndoing me and made me to acknowledge and confesse my sinnes with punishing me for the same 12 And although I thinke my selfe blessed and as it were in most excel-cellent peace yet do I vse nay rather abuse the blessings and riches which thou hast lent and vouchsafed mee yea and although I say I should be drunken with the hony sweet pleasures of this world yet loe a slote of affliction and misery is betide me which as a most bitter brooke is come vpon me to drowne me and swallow me vp But as I was about to giue vp the ghost I felt thee taking me by the hand and by a wonderfull helpe drewest me by little and little out of that fearefull gulfe O Lorde the weight that sunke me to the bottome was the waight of my sinnes They lay so thick and heauie on my head and held me so to the ground as that I knew not how to lift vp mine eyes vnto heauen much lesse was I able to hold vp my head and open my mouth to vtter and shew forth thy holy grace and mercy Thou hast broken the chaines of the wicked affections which held me bound vnto these cursed sinnes And neuerthelesse because they are euer before thine eyes and that my repentance in some measure coniureth thy goodnesse and mine iniquity sharpeneth thy iustice yet hast thou cast all mine offences behinde thy back and turned them all away from thy presence to the end there might be nothing betweene me and thy mercy to hinder me from being enuironed by the same as mine only and assured defence But how can this be ô Lord that thou who seest all things both present to come which seest through the earth and piercest the bottomes of our hearts that in regard of me alone ô Lord thou becommest blinde and seest not my sinnes which enuiron me round
geuen them all power and â—…thoritie ouer thee Sade But God in the end began to waxe weary of their insolency because they carryed theÌ„selues too too proudly of their conquest for after they had troden vnder feet the greatnes of Ierusalem they meant againe to deale with his maiestie and blaspheme his name and hauing ouerthrowne the walles of this holy Citie they bragged that they would make warre against God him selfe and triumph ouer the spoyles of his Temple Let their example ô Ierusalem serue thy turne and take occasion to appease God by thy repentance that he may turne the punishment which he hath prepared for thee vpon thine enemies Let thine eyes forthwith burst into bloudy teares and weepe continually day and night geue no rest to thy sighes let thy pitifull eyes speake for thee and looking vp still vnto heauen attend thou thine ayde from thence Coniure by thine humble lookes this diuine mercy that it may ease thy weakenes and conuert his iustice vnto the chastising of the insolency of thine enemies Coph Lift vp lift vp I say both thy body and soule all at once and before it be day so soone as thou shalt awake put thy selfe in a readinesse to pray into God to prayse and thanke him for that he by the torments which he hath caused vs to abide hath brought thee back into the right way as men do oxen with the goade vnto the knowledge of his name and the acknowledging of thine iniquities And before his face that is to say when thou hast obtayned fauour at his hand to looke vpon thee and seest him to haue compassion on thee distill thine heart through thine eyes and melt it all into teares by thine earnest repentance euen as the Sunne would melt the snow newly fallen into water But if so that thy teares will not touch him and bring him to haue compassion of thy miserie lift vp thy hands yet at the least vnto him and beseech him to be contented with thy miseries and not extend them vnto thy poore innocent childreÌ„ who are there dispersed dying of hunger and weakenesse in corners saying vnto him Resch O Lord if thou haue any eyes behold this pitifull spectacle and if thou haue any eares harken vnto out prayers and consider how great our miserie is Behold how thou hast bene auenged of vs and see what a spoyle thou hast made of vs. And in very deed I must needs confesse that we haue deserued it and I do protest that we are vnworthie of thy mercy and do also vow that we our selues are the causes of our owne miserie But what haue these poore and wayling children done whom thou seest screaking out them selues faintly drawing their breath Why should the child whom hunger torment had drawne out before the time of the mothers womb was ready to deliuer it which is not as it were so great as a mans hand be rent in pieces by her which should bring it forth and so be eaten by her and the same to go downe by peece-meale into the body out of which it came whole and sound Surely happy and twise happy are the Tygres and Lyons whelps in comparison of these whose dammes will aduenture their own liues against whatsoeuer violence shall be offred their yong ones rather then they would suffer them to take any hurt at all O Lord how canst thou abide this horrible dealing Is it possible that thou which are altogether good gratious wouldest abide such great impietie to be wrought that thou which art so wise wouldest allow of such a cruell acte and that thou which art Almightie wouldest suffer such a strange outrage Shew thy selfe ô Lord shew thy selfe as thou art and although for a time thou art determined to exercise thy seueritie and iustice yet thinke vpon this also that thy mercy must reigne haue her course Content thy selfe that so much bloud is spilt for the appeasing of thine heauie wrath Thou hast not bene pleased with the bloud of our sheepe and oxen alone but wilt needs also haue thine Aulters couered with the bloud of thine owne Priests for they haue sacrificed their owne liues and thy Prophets likewise haue bene offred vp in oblation and yet thou art no whit appeased Syn. What more wouldest thou haue at our hands Thou hast scene abroad in the fields the gray haired and â—ecreped old men and women lye vpon the ground crying out groaning and â—eeping thou hast seene lying with 〈◊〉 our walles the slaughter of our youths our streetes strawed all ouer with legs and ames our riuers running ouer with bloud and neyther sexe or yet age spared Thou hast seene amongst the dead the yong and tender maydens with their haires sheueled about their heads hauing their breasts lying open with great wounds out of which gushed streames of bloud and thou hast seene them lying on their backs with their eyes vp vnto heauen beseeching thine ayde And thou ô Lord hast notwithstanding all this turned away thine eyes from them and as if thou haddest bene a God not to be intreated hast without either pitie or mercy run through them all with the sword of thy fury Tau Thou hast inuited all my neighbour nations round about me to come to my discomfiture as it were vnto a mariage and to take part of my spoiles Thou hast brought them in such great multitudes to take possession of me and to compasse me as that I can not deuise which way to escape theÌ„ Thou thy selfe hast sounded to the assault animated them to my destruction and stopped vp the passages for feare that any of vs should be saued And truly thy will hath bene done vpon all the children which I haue brought vp nay there is not one of them saued mine enemies haue made a shambles of theÌ„ they haue murdered and massacred them till they cryed hoe withall and lo seest thou them weary with killing yet carest thou not to see them do it to let them to do it and to cause them do it Hath the remembrance of our sins made thee forget the remembraÌ„ce of thy clemency Hast thou created vs in thy mercy to destroy vs in thy fury Be thou then no more Almightie if thou wilt not become both all curteous all kind To be short be thou no more God without thou wilt be likewise pitifull Ha ô Lord why hast thou called vs thy people if thou wilt be no more our protector Why hast thou called vs thy childreÌ„ if thou wilt not deale with vs as a father Haue therefore ô Lord compassion vpon vs and feeing thy mercy is infinite euer since before the world was cause that thine ire which was neuer vntill our sins were may take end and dye with them and that as our repeÌ„tance hath set vs againe into the especiall way of obedience godlinesse so also it may bring vs againe into thy fauour CHAPTER III. Aleph IT is I euen I my selfe that hath so many times foreseene and
much that that place which shone as bright as the Sunne is now become like a ruinous darke dungeon Beth. Besides who would not grone to see the children of the best houses who were so much made of and so beloued as that they were accompted as pretious as any gold to be now cast vpon the leystalles like the shards of a broken pot Ha ô Lord our God this was not mens worke but thine owne Yea why forsookest thou after this sort thine owne most deare and most excellent workemanship createdst thou there to destroy them Gimel O I would thou haddest shewed as great fauour at our at the least vnto the childreÌ„ of Ierusalem thou diddest vnto the most vile abiest creatures on the earth for the very yong serpents them selues finde their dams teats who bring them vp vntill such time as they are able to shift for them selues Alasse thou hast made the women of Ierusalem to become more cruell then serpents more sauage then the women of Lamia which haue no womanlike shape nor condition but the very face for their hearts and the rest of the members of their bodies are most hidious and fearefull Nay there is not so little amitie amongst the very Ostridges who amongst the foules of the ayre are the most wilde and vntameable as there is in the women of Ierusalem by reason of their continuall affliction which hath so degenerated them Daleth Wee haue seene the yong children that there lay streaking out them selues yawning and gaping with lips as dry as sticks their tongs cleeuing vnto the rooffes of their mouthes with very drought and sucking winde in stead of milke for their mothers at the first offered them their breasts but they were so dry as that they yelded nothing but bloud In so much that the poore wretches hauing nothing to breede any iuice or moysture in them dryed vp whereby they fell into a consumption and so most pitifully languishing and wearing away forthwith dyed And they that were somewhat bigger ranne after their fathers and hanging about their heeles cryed so lamentably vpon them for bread as that it would haue made the stones in the streete to haue rent in sunder with compassion But what shall I say verely they had nothing to geue their for all that their fathers could do for theÌ„ was to wish them dead and curse the day that euer they begot them to see them now in so miserable an estate He. O Lord our God what an alteration of life was this Yea what an inexorable crueltie This is a miserie which scourgeth the whole world and whippeth both hye and lowe For they that were wont to liue most delicately and pamper their bodies begged in the hye wayes and dyed of honger yea and they that were wonted to lye on their downe beds and had their couerings of veluet and silke and troad vppon nothing but vppon Tapâ—stry thought them selues now to be in very good case if so be they could get a dunghill to lye vpon Vau. In so much that for any thing that I can see ô Lord thou iudgest our sinnes to be more haynous then the sinnes of Sodome For thou hast punished vs more cruelly then euer thou diddest them For they were ouerthrowne in a moment and fire from heauen deuoured them presently And besides there was none but thy selfe that dealt in this for she was not committed vnto the mercy of men left vnto the discretion of her enemies nor yet vnto the iniuries that follow the taking of Cities Zain It is a common saying that there is no right iudging of misery but by way of comparison and then beginneth it to touch the quicke when as a man compareth his estate wherein he presently standeth with that wherein he sometime was As when I bethinke me of the magnificence of those of Nazareth and see what miserable caytifes they now are For it was a maruellous glorious thing to see them come vnto Ierusalem to the feast m their robes as white as the driuen snow so neate and white were their clothes their faces were smoothly paynted and glistered like yuorie and their cheekes as ruddie as any rose or rather as ruddie as any rubie Het But they that had seene them now might haue sayd that they had blowne the cole all their life long at a smythes forge or had bene begrimed for the nonce and would haue rather taken them for the Lazars of a spittle house then otherwise for their bones beare out their skins and a man would haue sayd that their skins had bin like parchmeÌ„t wrapt about a dead carrion and I verely beleeue that there is as much moysture in a dry slough or ditch as was in any of their bodies Thet. Yea and they which past the edge of the sword came to a far better market then they for their misery was not long they were acquitted once for all But to dye of cruell famine and to see and feele one so long a dying is a most miserable thing they felt them selues continually wither away and knew not how their strength went froÌ„ them without a man would haue savd the earth had consumed it For they were like vnto a plant whose roote was cleane dried vp which in the beginning waxeth yellow in the neither parts and so by little and little the boughes and armes thereof dye and in the end the whole body dryeth vp and is good for nothing else but to be cast into the fire Iod. Ye may thinke that I haue very much spoken of things and yet they are but flowres in respect of the rest of the miseries which necessitie hath suggested vnto vs and which if I had an hundreth tongs I were neuer able to expresse Shall I tell them ô Lord Alasse I will not for then I should accuse thine ouergreat seueritie in deliuering out the excessiue miseries wherein thou hast plunged vs. Notwithstanding I will do it I will tell them ô Lord to the end thou mightest at the last haue compassion of vs and somewhat hold backe thy reuengefull arme For thou hast layd it ouer heauely vp vs we haue seene it and must we needs see it ô Lord and shall our eyes be our owne still after we haue seene it We haue seene the mothers I say through famine and want so degenerate from their kind as that they haue dismembred their owne children puld them in pieces boyled them on the fire and deuoured them with their teeth to satisfie that cruell famine wherewith they were afflicted Coph Ha ô Lord our God what thoughtest thou to haue done with vs meantest thou to shew thy selfe to be almightie as well in thy fury as in thy mercy to shew all thine actions to be infinite to shew that when thou goest about to set thy selfe to be cruell that thou art out of all measure cruell and to shew thy self wheresoeuer thou passest when thou art in choller to be a deuouring fire which setteth on fire raueneth consumeth and to be such
THE HOLY LOVE OF HEAuenly VVisdome With many other godly Treatises Newly set forth perused and augmented by the Author Translated out of French into English by Tho. Sto. Gent. ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man 1594. The names of the treatises contained within this volume 1 The holy loue of heauenly Wisdome 2 The Epistle of S. Basile of a solitary life 3 An exhortation vnto a ciuil life dedicated vnto Mounsi L. 4 A Meditation of the 7. Psalmes of Dauid his repentance 5 A Meditation of the 7. Psalmes of Dauid his consolation 6 A Meditation of the Lordes Prayer 7 Meditations of the Lamentations of Ieremiah 8 The song of Ezechias Isaiah 38. The Translator to the Christian reader THou shalt receiue here I hope Christian Reader vnto thy great comfort these short discourses and meditations if thou reade them with iudgement and according to sobriety the titles of which thou shalt finde set downe seuerally and a part in the next page before Accept therefore I beseech thee both the great paine of the Author and my poore trauell in translating of them which I trust I haue faithfully done according to his meaning and looke what benefit thou reapest by them be first thankefull vnto God and next vnto him and so I commit them to thy gentle acceptation The holy loue of heauenly Wisedome WE are like vnto that kinde of people who hauing bene led captiue into some farre countrey when they were yong haue not onely lost their time but haue forgotten also both their countrey naturall language and the amitie of their own kindred For we are no sooner out of our cradle and swadling cloutes as it were but that our peruerse and froward affections surprize vs as a man would say like violent windes and filling the sayles of our desires with a thousand delicat gales make vs mightely degenerate from our owne naturall inclination driuing vs therby from all true and right reason For let our soule continue neuer so litle a while in this banishment she by and by forgetteth her originall being leeseth the remembrance of her principall benefite and good and in the end which is a farre greater mischiefe she forgetteth likewise the knowledge of her self Now then there remaineth nothing why we are not altogether like vnto these miserable captiues For if they after their long captiuitie haue neuer so little hope of their returne or do but heare their countrie spoken of a man shall perceiue their hearts to leape with ioye in their bodies so greatly doth this kinde of newes please and like them But contrariwise we vtterly mislike those men who labour to call vs home againe vnto the place where we had our first being and abhorre nothing more then when we see them marke out vnto vs the ready way to come thereto These men will leaue the fortunate Islands and returne vnto the Ithaque set fast like a neast built vpon the very top of a sharpe steepie rocke And we will not onely leaue the mire and dirte wherein we sit fast mortrized rather then we would possesse and enioy most assured and euerlasting felicitie Now some man may peraduenture say vnto me I beseech you Sir where is that felicity which you talke of shew it vnto vs for that is it that we desire for what man is he that would refuse to be happie and blessed Alas my good friends I know that the worde liketh you well but without doubt yee flie from the thing it selfe or at least yee follow naught else but the shadow and leaue the bodie flying from you and hunting after a vaine cloude of delight reiect the true sound and incomparable pleasure Where then is it say you shew vnto vs the way and tract that we may speedely take hold thereof Shall I tell you my good friends one thing and that is this would it not thinke you make you laugh to see a pore or sand blinded man come vnto Pylon a most excellent counterfeitor in painting and importune him to shew him his pictures and exquisite paintings or to see a deaffe man presse in to heare the sweet musicke and hermonie of Bayf a most excellent musition would not the first man say vnto the sand blinded man go thy way and remoue first from thee that running humor which is the cause of the dimming of thy sight vnto the other go thou and drie vp the catarre which is the occasion of thy deafenesse and then thou that art blindish shalt see our excellent paintings and thou that art deaffish shalt heare our delicate and pleasant songs For as the pleasure of the sences cannot be well tasted nor relished but by such as haue whole and sound bodies no more can the contentation and delight of the minde wherein resteth our chiefe felicitie be perceiued by any but by such as haue cleansed their soules of all sinfull and corrupt lusts which as filthie botches and blaines extinguish the vitall spirits in that part of the body wherein they are engendred Heere then you see what you must do if you determine to make your selues capable to taste of the fruits of this euerlasting happinesse I right well know that ye are so brought vp euen from your youth in the pleasures of your sences and make so much of them as that you are afeard yee shall lose them without I leaue this as a pawne vnto you which will bring vnto you farre more infinite greater pleasure and wherewith I will feast you and quickly shew it you But who is able to make men that are no better then dust and ashes to see the estate and disposition of a pure and innocent soule whose action is perfectly blessed and altogether heauenly wherin consisteth this most excellent contentation In very deed you presse me too too sore and craue at my hands more then I am able to do But because I am loth to discourage you and make you mal-content I wil do for you whatsoeuer I am able And I will deale with you as the carriers about of monsters do For they set vp their pictures at the corners of the streets and hang out the portraitures of them at their owne lodgings and when the people haue paid their money at the comming in of the gate then they shew them their naturall and liuely bodies Now the sight which I inuite you to see is this VVisedome which we may rightly say to be the very truth and knowledge of all things but especially of heauenly things which is full of vnspeakeable cleerenesse brightnesse and splendure and which also if we might behold face to face and in her naturall excellencie would rauish vs with her loue and cause vs hate these base and earthly things with the loue of which we are so farre sotted euen to our very destruction I will heere hand vp as it were vpon the beaten high waies pictures and images so that if ye be disposed to go right on to the gate yee shall see
mocks to betray me 8 But when as thou hast mercie vpon me I will say vnto them Away from me yee children of iniquitie yee shall no longer laugh at my miserie The Lord hath heard my praier and my teares haue appeased his anger and behold I now enioy the fruite of his holy fauour The light of his goodnesse hath shined vpon me and behold the stormes that came about my head are calmed and dasht in a moment 9 With much a do haue I opened my lips to call vpon him for aide with much a do could I get mine heart to crie him mercy and I haue found his grace to be powred vpon me comfortting and quickening my languishing and sick soule euen as warme water refresheth a poore surbatted traueller O incredible clemency how ready O Lord art thou to pardon and forgiue I runne to offend thee and yet thou wilt shew me fauour I haue bestowed all the daies of my life both by sea and by land to hunt after ambition couetousnessc and filthie lust and when I haue beene ouer head and eares and vtterly vndone in my beastly delights yet hast thou in a moment pierced the uens and the clouds to come downe to deliuer me so as behold me now triumphing ouer my sinne which most humbly followed the trophes of my repentance which hath found grace before thee And so the hope which my sinnes had as it were strangled is now more liuely then euer it was before which promiseth me not onely the Empires of the world that bend themselues which way soeuer the Lord enclineth them but also openeth vnto me the highest heauens and assureth me after an happy life here in this world to enioy the heauenly immortalitie 10 What will mine enemies then do when as they shall see me stored with so great felicitie They will then surely blush with shame their soules will be greatly troubled and returne altogether confounded and amazed for he whom they thought to be vtterly ouerthrowne is now set in an higher degree then euer before he was Alas they all made a scorne at my ashes they laughed at my fastings and whilst I with abstinence straue against my flesh the very enemy vnto my soule they bathed themselues in the pleasures of the world but loe the arme of the Lord is ready to thunder lighten vpon their insolencie O my God giue them a long time to acknowledge the extreame danger wherein they are and to call vnto thee from on high for the onely remedy of their disease and as for my selfe who feele my soule purge her selfe of the filthy matters which are in and about her who feele my spirit inflamed with the fier of thy loue teach my lips to set forth thy praises lift vp my voice to resound thy mercies and guide mine affections sincerely to loue thee and to establish in the knowledge of thy truth my soueraigne happines chiefest felicitie Blessed are they vnto whom c. Psalme 31. BLessed are they my God whose sinnes thou hast pardoned and whose iniquities thou hast buried in the toombe of obliuion Alas what shall become of him whose iust punishment thou doost still continue vpon him for his iniquities An armie of euils encompasse him pouerty assaulteth him sicknesse afflicteth him famine presseth him and death it self which he thinketh to be the porte of this tempestuous nauigation is the bottomlesse pit which must draw him vnto euerlasting torments 2 And therefore they are three or foure times blessed whom God calleth not vnto a reckoning for their deedes but is contented to haue them humble themselues before him acknowledging their infirmities opening vnto him the very bottom of their harts For we must by true confession and with a sincere conscience call vpon him for his mercies and he that will be heard must humble himselfe before him for as he that goeth vnto a riuer or pond putteth downe the mouth of his vessell to take vp the water so must he also do that humbleth himselfe before his creator that will draw and taste of the water of this holy spring from whence runneth the moisture which onely purgeth and clenseth our consciences 3 I haue somtimes thought O my God to hide my sinnes away frō thee and haue said within my selfe how shall he vnderstand what I haue done or not And so haue my sinnes putrified within my bones and as the vlcers and foule sores of a shamefast diseased man who dareth not shew his disease vnto the Surgion encrease and waxe worse euen to the vtter ouerthrow of the body euen to haue the sinnes which I haue hid from thee mightily infected me 4 But in the end thou hast day and night so heauily laid thy hand vpon me and made me taste of such a number of sorts of miseries amongst which my soule taketh no rest being ouercome with the continuall pricking of my conscience that pierceth euen through mine heart that I haue ackowledged my fault which I presently beare vpon mine hand Behold and acknowledge this my God but not in thine anger for the dropping teares which with much weeping haue almost put out mine eyes ought also put out thy iustly hoate burning ire And besides am not I the worke of thine owne hands nay am not I rather the very liuely image of thy Deitie And what is he that is so angrie as that he wil bruse or breake the worke which it pleased him so to polish and make perfect when as he seeth it to be foule filthy In very deed I must needs confesse that this image is laden with filthie matter but is it not better to make it cleane and neate then to breake it in peeces and tread it vnder feete 5 Teach me then my God what satisfaction I shall make for I haue now laid open vnto thee all the sinnes which before I had concealed For the feare wherein I was when I hid my selfe from thee is at this present that I haue discouered my selfe vnto thee changed into hope of grace and pardon And now I cast my selfe betweene thine armes as into the most assured defence I haue euen with such a countenance as the poore pacient that sheweth his wound to the Barbar looketh wishly vpon him and couragiouslie suffereth his searching and lancing by reason of the desire and hope that he hath to be healed But that which giueth me a greater hope of health is that the sinnes wherein I before tooke pleasure make me now abhor to see them euen as the meates wherewith a man in health gorgeth himselfe are very lothsome vnto his stomack when he is weake and sickly And that which made me before bold and male part I am now ashamed of when as I consider the hazard of death whereunto my pride had exposed my poore soule I giue my most hearty thankes for the day wherein I was enlightened to acknowledge my sinne I do acknowledge my God that day to be a singular testimonie of thy goodnesse toward me graunt
then that the delight which I haue taken to be displeased with my selfe may likewise continue as long with me as I haue had pleasure to dwell in my sins For if I can take as great pleasure in my repentance as I haue taken in my sinne my felicity shal be without doubt equal with thine angels shall see me in the humiliation of my selfe before thy maiesty to ascend to the highest top of thy grace 6 Who doubteth O Lord that thou wilt not receiue me vnto mercy whose mercy and benignitie no tongue is able to expresse nor hart comprehend I did neuer thinke so soone to returne vnto thee as thou wast alwayes ready to offer thy selfe vnto me I did neuer sooner say that I would confesse my sinne but that thou diddest by and by graunt me thy grace I haue no sooner acknowledged the punishment which my sinnes deserued but that thou hast remitted them I haue taken the rods into my hands to scourge my flesh thou hast pluckt them out of my hands To be short I thought thou wouldest haue proclaimed open warre against me and thou offeredst me a most charitable peace and reconciliation O Lord how farre readier and more willing art thou to forgiue then to punish Can a good father receiue his child more gratiously that cryeth him mercy then thou hast receiued me when as I haue humbled my selfe at thy feete my heart also leapeth with ioy and boileth with an holy feruentnesse to praise thy name reioyceth in the grace that thou hast shewed vnto it accusing none but it selfe of that that is past and cryeth out saying It is I that haue willed it it is I that haue done it it is I that haue taken pleasure in it but yet my God hath had mercy vpon me 7 How could he denie me his mercie seeing that the Saints which are the holy men and women liuing haue prayed do pray and will continually pray for me They are they which beseech his maiestie for me and are a meane of his grace fauour towards me What can they O Lord craue at thy hands to greater purpose and obtaine of thee more easily then when they pray for me Alas it is very meet that they should crie call vpon thee for me seeing that the impietie of mine heart hath so blinded my sences by wicked thoughts as that my soule cannot any more lift vp her selfe towards heauen to stretch forth her hand vnto him who alone is both able and willing to saue And therfore what more remaineth but that they whom thou vouchsafest to come neare vnto thee by faith and holinesse of life may pray for me vnto thee that thou wouldest haue mercy vpon me As for my selfe who am mine owne capitall enemie I haue neuer had eyther skill or yet will to pray vnto thee for my trespasse And therefore I do presently comfort my selfe to see how thou hast opened mine eyes that I may behold what a foule and black conscience I haue and hast mollified mine heart that I might lodge contrition in my soule And although it hath not beene so soone as it ought to haue beene yet â—t neuer came so late but that thou vouchsafedst to receiue me as thou â—rt wonted to do those that haue not ouerslipped the occasion to repent â—hemselues 8 For they that hasten themselues â—o sinne and willingly neglect to reâ—ent wheÌ„ as they might haue acknowâ—edged their sinnes and haue had the meanes to do it but haue tarried vnto â—he very end of their liues to crie thee mercy and make their eyes burst out â—nto a deluge of teares it is very dangerous but that they must deceiue â—hemselues and that true repentance can neuer after enter into such hard hearts and their weeping and wailing â—o be but the sorrowes of desperate people and thy mercy to shew it selfe deafe vnto their ouer late repentance 9 But as for me I ranne in a bâ—…sed time vnto thee as to my reâ—… and to the end of my hopes and 〈◊〉 to my comfort in the trouble whâ—… after that manner hath enc ompasâ—… me as the feare of death taketh hâ—… on him who is destined vnto a shaâ—… full punishment And therefore I bâ—seech thy maiestie make me taste 〈◊〉 feele that pleasure which he feele that is deliuered and freed from 〈◊〉 bonds or chaines set at libertie 〈◊〉 of prison and deliuered from the â—…nishment wherein his enemy had 〈◊〉 time held him captiue And coâ—…riwise that the enemy of my soâ—… shall blush with shame when as 〈◊〉 shall see that I shall so deuoutly 〈◊〉 vpon the ayde of my good God 〈◊〉 with the very winke of his eye is 〈◊〉 to deliuer me from the voluâ—… bondage which I had vowed 〈◊〉 damnable voluptuousnesse 〈◊〉 then when I dranke the sweet hâ—… of the delightfull pleasures which 〈◊〉 with a deceitfull hand gaue vnto 〈◊〉 within this foule and filthie cup of 〈◊〉 world 10 Alas when as I remember 〈◊〉 time that thou returnedst thy selfe after that sort vnto me and with this mercifull eye of thine gauest me a signe of pardon mercie and saluation me thought verely that I then saw the bright sunne rising vpon the tempests and fell stormes of the sea which by little and little cutting with his beames betweene the clouds brought againe cleare and pleasant weather and calmed the raging and billowing surges And me thinketh I do alwayes heare this sweete and gratious saying when as thou saiest vnto me Feare not for behold my spirit which shall guide thy foote steppes and wayes neither shall he lift vp his eye aboue thee and thou shalt now marche vnder the conduct of him who bringeth pure and cleane soules into my kingdome of glorie All so soone as I heard these wordes spoken I fixed mine eyes vpon my guide and leader not once looking off no more then a carefull and diligent maister of a shippe casteth his eye aside from the pole or bright shining starre by which he guideth and ordereth the course of his nauigation O my God what 〈◊〉 shall I enioy when as I shall haue walked in the wayes which thou had taught me to go in euen I my selfe say who haue troade beside the pâ—… which leadeth vnto thine holy tabâ—…nacle I was already entred into thâ— thick forrest of the world where aâ— they easily lose themselues who sâ— the enioying of the pleasure of thâ—… queachie shadowie places leaue 〈◊〉 day light which should shew them 〈◊〉 way For euen by and by the doleâ—… sight of the night bringeth them together and putteth them foorth aâ—… pray to the wilde beasts who will pluâ—… them in peeces and cruelly deuouâ— them And thus was I hindered aâ—…staied in this labyrinth without hoâ—… to 〈◊〉 euer come out of it agaiâ—… had 〈◊〉 thou not put into my hand thâ—… bottom which I must needs winde 〈◊〉 to bring me out of this perilous pâ—…son And now loe I am at libertie â—…serue my God who hath so deliuereâ— me and to present
side of me but sinne which inuironeth me round about and mine iniquities which presse and ouer throwe me They lye heaped vpon my head as a very heauy burden and loe how ready they are to throttle and strangle me 5 How shall I be euer able to resist them What strength haue I to defend me from them seeing that my body is ready to fall in peeces The very filthinesse of them flowe on euery side me my vlcers and sores are no sooner closed vp but that they breake out againe and if my body be ill can my soule be well Must not she be altogether ashamed and tremble with horror and feare 6 After the same maner that a disease vndermineth my body maketh it stoope to death sorrow vndermineth my soule bereaueth her of her strength and as great cold congealeth in the bud the tender blossom withereth drieth it vp euen so dooth the finger of the Lord which hath touched my soule cause it to languish and to be out of heart 7 But alas my God what courage can I haue when as I see my selfe thus couered ouer with wounds and no part of my body free from paine and ouer and besides this my miserie the remembrance of my dissolute pleasures is still before my face and reproch me with my sinne laugh at my vanitie Then say I thus vnto my selfe must I season my life with the honie of so many delights and afterward kneade them with the gall of so bitter anguishes Where now art thou ô thou deceitfull voluptuousnesse which drownest my soule in the sweet licour of thy pleasures Oh what drinke is that that thou leauest me 8 Haue not I ô Lord endured enough hath not mine humilitie sufficiently chastized mine arrogancie If I haue through fond presumption sinned alas I haue sithence that crept vpon the earth I haue couered mine head with ashes and with mine arme haue I preuented my payne I haue cut through mine heart with crying out I haue drowned mine eyes in teares and yet thine anger continueth still 9 Is it of set purpose ô Lord that thou hast not perceiued my teares Is it thou I say who with the twinkle of thine eye trauersest both heauen and earth euen thou I meane whose sight goeth beyond the depth of our harts It is thou ô Lord that hast read euen my very thoughts and knowne mine intent What haue I desired but thy mercie Wherin haue I trusted but in thy goodnes Why haue I made open profession of repentance but to condemne my selfe If my toong hath not throughly expressed my minde and caused my desier to be vnderstood alas ô Lord thou knowest what we would haue before we once thinke of it It is enough for vs to lift vp our harts vnto thee and thou forthwith grauntest our petitions 10 Why stayest thou ô Lord so long before thou geuest me that holie coÌ„solation which thou hast promised me I am quite spent my hart is gone my senses are troubled my streÌ„gth faileth my sight waxeth dim my soule is vpoÌ„ the shore of my lips ready to fly away 11 All my friends are now about me bewailing my death they are out of all hope of my health they dreame of nothing but of my funerall saying where is now that help which he looked for to come froÌ„ his God where is his fauour which he so promised to himselfe 12 The flatterers are gon away from me they thought to haue parted my goods they meant to haue preuented my fatall houre I am noisome to the whole world in the case that I now staÌ„d 13 They whisper in mine eare and tell me a thousand tales They dayly bring me in new acquaintances and thinke of nothing but to betray me He lieth say they on his death-bed and will neuer rise vp aliue againe What do we feare that the shadowe of his bones will bite vs 14 And I as if I had bin deafe made shew that I heard them nor and as if I had bin dumb spake not one word vnto them for my patieÌ„ce was my buckler and my constancy my rampart 15 And euery man seing me so patieÌ„t said surely this man is dumb for when he is touched he saith not a word would he abide all these indignities if he had any feeling of his honor and credit or yet the least courage in the world And therefore it may well be said that he is very guilty for an innocent man is alwayes bold in his owne defence And yet all this could neuer â—oue mee 16 And why so verely because I trusted in my God and fully assured my selfe that he would assist me For although the whole world banded against me and heauen and earth coniured my ruine and ouerthrow yet if he be mine ayder and defendor I am sure alwayes to conquer For with the breath of his mouth hee made all things and in breathing againe vpon them he will destroy them all if it please him and therefore I will fight vnder his cloth and liuerie because I shall be sure to haue the victorie 17 I haue sayd vnto them many times Reioyce not at my miserie and although I be neuer so much tormented and afflicted yet braue not your selues vpon me for the hand of the Lord is able euen to reach you and therefore trust not his patience ouer much for as his feet are of wooll so are his armes also of iron For if he once lay them vpon your heads ô ye impotent soules he will so crush you together as that a man would thinke that you had neuer bene 18 And I haue taken the rods in my hand and imprinted with them vpon my shoulders the condemnation of my sinne I haue appeared before thee ô Lord with weeping teares with repentance in my mouth and with a sorrowfull hart and haue fought with my selfe that mine enemie might not triumph ouer me 19 I haue openly confessed my fault I haue in an happie houre shewed foorth my sinne and I had great care to runne vnto thy mercy whilst time and season serued 20 But the more I humble my selfe before thee to drawe the running water out of this founraine of thy grace which floweth from thy goodnes the more mine enemies glut me and deale cruelly and butcherlike with me their troupe dayly encreaseth and ioyne them selues together on euery side neuer foreseeing the tempest that will shake them in a thousand pecces They through their pride blow the hote burning coles of thine ire they despite thy power which they will too too soone make try all of to their great destruction To be short in setting most confidently their brasen faces against heauen and earth they wallow and welter them selues in their filthie pleasures and blot out as much as in them lye the mark of the deitie which thou hast sealed in their soules close vp their eyes against the hope of saluatioÌ„ which shineth brightly in thy word 21 I cease not ô Lord to admonish them of
it but they repay me ill for good and laugh at that which I by my good example do to please thee They walke at the corners of the streetes slaÌ„derously to accuse me burden me with a thousand villanies I confesse ô Lord that heereby I lose my patience 22 But I beseech thee ô Lord to strengthen my weaknes and in no wise forsake me for else I shall stumble as a yong child at the first headlong break-neck which shall offer it selfe vnto me Increase in me ô Lord strength courage equall vnto mine afflictioÌ„ hold me vnder thy wing geuing me alwayes that coÌ„stancy firmnesse which I shal haue need of for that purpose neither more nor lesse then a louing mother doth when as she geueth the teat vnto her sucking child so soone as she perceiueth it beginneth to cry 23 Nourish me therfore ô Lord with the milke of thy holy loue to the end that I being some-what able to stand may day night walke the trace of thy paths that I may come vnto saluation the hope wherof shineth in thy promises so as if my sin shall go about to cut me off in the way I may vnclose mine eyes neuer shut them againe vntill such time as I haue drowned swallowed them vp in my teares Haue mercy on me ô Lord Psalme 50. Haue pitie on me ô my God according to the greatnesse of thy clemencie and in the multitude of thy mercy forgeue me the punishment which I haue iustly deserued For if thou â—bokest that my fastings watchings and prayers should make satisfaction for my sinne Alas ô Lorde when would that be Mine offence exceedeth heauen and earth and hath surpassed as farre as it can the greatnesse of the whole world Who can then bring it to passe for the vtterly blotting of it out saue only thine holy mercy which is somuch the greater by how much thy righteousnes excedeth ours It is thy mercy ô Lord that enuironeth the vniuersall world and which vpholdeth all the staggering corners thereof that are readie to fall vpon our heads to burie in the ruine of it with vs the remembrance of ouâ— sinnes to turne away thine eyes from our vnthankfull disloyall vnmercifull and stiffenecked race and generation which disauoweth thee her being creation and conseruation Let this mercifull goodnes of thine therefore ô Lord which shineth in thy deitie aboue all the rest of thy vertueâ— spread it selfe now ouer me not thinâ—… and sparingly but flowingly and bountifully And as thou diddest once let the waters ouerflowe the tops of the hyest mountaines to extinguish and swallow vp the wicked so also make thou a brooke of mercy ô Lord to disgorge and poure it selfe forth vpon me not to drowne ô Lord but to wath and cleanse me 2 Howbeit thou art not concented to purge me for once neither doest thou say vnto me that thou hast regenerated and washed me in the bloud of the vndefiled innocent lamb for how pure and cleane soeuer thou once hast made me thou shalt now finde me as foule and filthie For I am now fallen into so deepe a filthie sinke and am so bemired and besmeared as that thou wouldest neuer know me by reason that I am so disfigured For I sometimes question with my selfe and aske my selfe whether I be he or no whome thy hands creared but mine heart is so confounded and ashamed as that it dareth not geue me any answere O my God thou createdst me of the clay and slime of the earth and loe ô Lord I am euen the very selfe and same that I was before thou diddest put thy hand vnto me I haue quite and cleane marred my shape countenance by cloathing my selfe with clay and dirt But why doest thou not ô Lord reforme me anew Is thine hand shortned Is thy will in doing good to thy creature abated Alas thou art Almightie thou art altogether good why then makest thou not haste O Lord my God the worke of thine own hand setteth it selfe against thee and taketh pleasure in disfiguring and deforming of it selfe but set thou ô Lord thy selfe against thy workmanship and make it glorious perfect in despite of it selfe But I ô Lord will no more peruersely deale against thee take me hold me turne me which way soeuer thou wilt knead mould make new againe this lump of earth for it is ready to follow thy will But wheÌ„ thou ô Lord shalt throughly haue renued it do not then I beseech thâ—… forsake it but put a bridle in the mouth therof to the end that by abstinence iâ— may keepe it selfe froÌ„ surfetting which pricketh it forward thereunto that 〈◊〉 may by a chaste life keepe in a good temper vnchaste and hote burning lusts that by humilitie it may abâ—… the pride which biting enuie stirreâ—… vp in her that pitifull charitie maâ— chase from her hatred and greedy couetousnesse and that a godly care â—…serue honor thee may coÌ„tinually sâ—… spur to the flanks of her slothfulnesse and filthie negligence 3 For I haue already ô Lord maâ—… ouer-great a triall of this troupe of sins which enuiron me so as they will in such sort pull downe and teare in pieces thy workmanship as that wheÌ„ thou shalt come thou shalt finde nothing there but the shreds thereof shiuered broken all to fitters I haue had experieÌ„ce enough of them and these are they that haue brought me into that estate wherein now I am and neuerthelesse see yet at the tayle of these a coÌ„pany placed about me which cast in my teeth the spels blemishes wherewith they them-selues haue defiled me and make me culpable of the iniuries which theÌ„-selues haue done vnto me For thus they say It is thou that hast sinned and it is thou that art so foule and filthy 4 It is true in very deed that I haue sinned ô my God I lay open vnto thee the very bottom of my hart thou knowest my whole life I haue sinned in the sight of heauen earth all the world can beare witnes of mine iniquities But if I had not sinned vnto whome shouldest thou haue been mercifull How wouldest thou haue discharged thy selfe of the promises of grace which thou haddest so long agoe announced by thy Prophets And when as thou shalt come to sit vpon the eternall Throne of thy Iustice who is he that would not be afeard of thee yea although we were euen all rightâ—ous Howbeit to the end that thy greatnes might be knowne we must when we shall be assigned a day to come before thee humbly fall downe vpon our faces before thy maiestie and cry out and say Most mercifuâ—… Lord we will not stand in defence before thee because our fault is manifestly knowne but loe our grace anâ— pardon is in thy hand for thou thy self hast graunted it vs behold a token of thine owne bloud sealed in ouâ— image which for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of our flesh 5 Doest thou
thy selfe my God attend and looke that when I shall come before thee that I wil make a rampaâ—… of mine innocency and that I am so voyd of vnderstanding as that I would iustifie my selfe in thy presence Alas ô Lord I right well know that I was not yet borne and that I was also nothing but sinne my mother likewise thought to be deliuered of a childe â—nd was brought abed of sinne But â—t had beene a great deale better for â—er that she had beene deliuered â—efore her time of such monstrous â—…uite which shameth the tree that â—are it and the earth that nursed it â—nd heauen that ripened it I was â—urâ—ed of sinne within my mothers womb â—nd suckt her milke and behold it is â—o growne vp with me as that it shaâ—oweth my head and blindeth mine yes 6 But when I see the eyes of my â—odie so seeled vp with sinne that is â—bout me I then open the eyes of my â—…ule and begin to see a farre off the cames of thine infallible truth and â—cknowledge thy maruellous secret â—isedome which thou hast manifeâ—…ed vnto me And then my soule forâ—…king the impuritie of my bodie lifâ—eth herselfe vp vnto heauen and â—erceth through the incredible brightâ—esse thereof and casting her eye upon the booke of eternitie shee â—erein readeth the draught of the â—ewe couenant which thou art to make with men and then returning into her miserable body she filleth heâ— selfe with hope and ioy and promiseâ— vnto her selfe assured victorie ouâ— her sinne 7 For she hath learned in heauâ—… that thou wilt take into thine haâ—… the Sprinkle of sweet smelling hysopâ— and sprinkle vpon me cleane and pâ—rified water Thou shalt wash me aâ—… I shall become whiter then snowâ—… and none shall see vpon me no not 〈◊〉 much as the very trace and steps 〈◊〉 sinne But ô Lord what lees shall thâ—… be that shall be made of the ashes 〈◊〉 my sinnes consumed with the fire 〈◊〉 thy loue with the water of the teaâ—… which my repentance shall distill froâ— mine heart and in the Sunne of thâ— grace wipe away teares and caâ—… a spirituall reioycing to growe in 〈◊〉 and in the end make vs white wiâ—… the puritie and brightnesse of righâ—…ousnesse that we may one day shiâ—… farre more excelleÌ„tly then the staâ—… of the firmament 8 and then shall we heare nothing but the pleasant sound of the Troâ—…â—et of saluation which shall deliâ—… out grace and mercie vnto all those that will receiue the same Then shall we see the rotten and consumed bones rise againe and take theyr fleshie bodie vppon them to partake that vniuersall ioye whereunto thou hast called the whole world 9 Now to the end I might then appeare so honorably apparelled before thee as such an honorable magnificence is worthie of I beseech thee my God to cast downe all my sinnes vnder thy feete and burie them all in the middest centre of the earth that no eye may be able to pierce through to see them and seperate me for euer from mine iniquitie which at this present I repudiate and do sweare an irreconciliable diuorce betweene me and them 10 Thou seest heere my Soule what an offer I make vnto thee and therefore make thy selfe pure and â—eate reneue in mine heart a newe spirit which will conceiue nothing but holinesse and righteousnesse O Lord my God establish therein an house for thine holie spirit to the end I neuer hereafter either thinke breathe or vtter foorth any thing but the prayses of thee my God and let thy will be alwayes printed in my minde and. thy glorie written vppon my lips 11 When thou hast thus clothed and furnished me with pietie and integritie I shall be then verie assured that nothing shall keepe me from thy presence and then as the Eagle naturally looketh full vpon the Sunne euen so will I fixe my sight and eyes vppon thine euerlasting face and so thereby I shall see in thy wonderfull countenance all the perfectioÌ„s which I at this present am no way able to conceyue neyther shall thine holie spirit euer dwell out of mine hart for it is he that vnder the wing of a zealous loue shall carrie me euen into thine armes to associate me vnto this heauenly ioy 12 Make me therefore rightly to taste the sweete pleasures of this immortall life Saue me speedely from the rocks of this world which on euerie side threaten my soule with wracke And as the Marriner when he is come to the hauen crowneth the maste of his Ship with floures in token that he is in safetie euen so O Lord crowne thou me with the pretious gifts of thine holie Spirit as pawnes of thy euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised me With the gifts I say of that Spirit of thine which reigneth amongst thy faithfull which distributeth faith vnto thine elect loue vnto thy best beloued and hope vnto those whome thou hast predestinate to euerlasting life 13 Now all the while that my soule resteth thus banished looking still to be called home agayne vnto thee I will teach the wicked to walke in the way that may best please thee and set them also in it for feare they hurt not them-selues in the darkenesses of this world against the stumbling blocks which they may suddainely light vppon lying before them And so they will beleeue me and returne vnto thee ô Father of lights and with all their hearts embrace thy faith and walke in thine obedience 14 I know O Lord that there will be some such found as will stop their eares at my words and will obstinatly continue in their sinnes coniure my death and defile their barbarous crueltie with my bloud O my God deliuer me out of their hands and reserue me to declare thy righteousnes and to pronounce their condemnation I will foretell them their miseries and they shall feele them and I shall no sooner hold my peace but that thy hand shall be vppon them and thy hand shall no sooner haue stricken them but that they shall be broken to fitters and be vtterly destroyed 15 And then thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall set forth thy victorie for the ayre shall be still the winds shall be calme and the flouds shall be quiet to hearken vnto my resounding voyce which shall sing out the wonders of the eternall God For thy prayse ô Lord shall be the sacrifice that I will alwayes offer vp vnto thee and which thou also wilt euer haue good liking of 16 I would gladly haue embrued their Aulters with the bloud of a great number of cattell I would gladly haue cut the throats of a thousand oxen and of a thousand lambs to haue done thee honor but bloud stinketh in thy nostrels neither takest thou pleasure in the flesh of beasts The smoke of such offerings the winds carrie away so as they neuer ascend vnto thee But the voyce onely of a iust man passeth aboue the heauens and the Angelles present the same before
thee 17 O what an acceptable sacrifice before thee is a broken and contrite heartâ— and an humble heart that acknowledged his sinne thou wilt neuer reiect for if it will come vp vnto thee it must first come downe and if it will touch the heauen it must first crawle vppon the ground if it will haue thee to heare it it must fyrst be silent and if it will be crowned in thy kingdome it must fyrst be beaten and scourged in the world These are the Sacrifices O Lord wherewith wee must be reconciled vnto thee and enter into couenant as thou hast set it downe vnto vs. 18 But if it be thy pleasure ô Lord that we shall offer bulls and bullocks vnto thee and perfume thine Aulters with the bloud of beasts if thou wilt that we by the death of an innocent burnt offering should represent vnto thee the death and innocencie of him whome thou hast destined to redeeme our soules If the figure of that which should come in the person of the vnspotted lambe doth please thee by the killing of Weathen and Sheepe looke then with pitie vppon thy poore people comfort thoâ— desolate Syon and encourage her poore enhabitants to the end they may set vp againe the walls of thine holie Citie and reedifie thy Temple not according to that equall proportion O Lord which thou deseruest but according to the wealth and industrie that the poore world can possibly affoord 19 Thither shall come from alâ— parts thy faithfull in great multitudesâ— to offer vp sacrifice vnto thee and there shall the expiation and purging of their sinnes be acceptable vnto thee But it shall neither be the death of beasts that shall wash away their spots for the cleansing of their disobedience and preuarication was prepared from all eternitie This is an inestimable sacrifice a burnt offering without spot which shall drawe away the curtayne disperse and destroy the darkenesses breake downe the wall or hedge that we may see the truth of our saluation face to face make the beames of his diuine mercie shine vpon vs and reassociate vs vnto the communion of that euerlasting blisse which we willingly haue renounced O most mercifull God which hast vnseeled the eyes of mine vnderstanding to see the misterie of my saluation make me O Lord to taste the excellent fruite which flourishing vppon the tree of the Crosse shall with the iuice thereof quicken and gene life vnto our dead souses preserue and warrant vs for euer from that ruine and calamitie which hath so miserably brought together the race of mankinde and ouerflowed them through their disobedience Lord heare my Prayer Psalme 102. I Haue ô Lord cryed and called vppon thee a long time for thy mercie and do yet looke for ayd and help from thee The ayte is filled with my cryes The winds haue carried the voyce of my dolor and griefe euen vnto the vttermost parts of the world and thine eaâ—e which heareth and vnderstandeth whatsoeuer is done in the bottomlesse pit of hell doth not yet heare and vnderstand my prayer which reacheth and beateth the very heauens Wilt thou therefore be deafe only vnto meâ— and shall all the world heare me saue thy selfe alone No no my God thou hast ouer-long stretched out thine armes now to reiect mee when as I come vnto thee for refuge 2 And now that I feele a thousand and a thousand sorrowes and that miseries assayle me on euery side do not turne thy backe vpon me ô Lord. Alas haue I setled my whole power and strength vpon the sweet countenance of thy face Haue I diuorced my selfe from the world to the end I might drawe neere vnto thee and haue I forsaken the children of the world that I might ioyne my self vnto the master of the heauens and wouldest thou now forsake me O Lord deale not so with me but assist mine infirmitie all the dayes of my life 3 Let my voyce no sooner cry and call vnto thee my God but that I may also soone feele thee and let thy grace descend as speedely vppon me as an Eagle hasteth her selfe to ayd her yong on s For if thou assist me not what maner of sight shall I be able to make against the enemies of my soule 4 My strength and life would dayly vanish away as the light smoke doth in flying in the ayre for the eye which seeth it goe out of the fire seeth it also forthwith consumed and in a moment accompanied both with his originall and his end and if any should aske what is become of it there is not one that can so much as tell where â—he trace only of it is to be found He that hath seene the loppings of wood wither in the sunne and loose their strength and verdure hath also seene my poore bones become both drye and consumed meete for none other thing but for the graue The graue yea surely the graue which is the happiest thing that can betide me if so be so small a pit may be able to stay the violent course of mine extreame misery 5 Who soeuer he be that hath seene grasse cut downe and tanned with the Sunne in the field and lose the coulor and wither and looke vppon my gastly and deadly face he would thinke that I were able to make death afeard Mine hart is parched within mine entrailes and my bloud drieth vp within my vaines for I remember not to put bread into my mouth and do still forget to eate my meales 6 My mouth serueth me for none other purpose but to cry out lament and the ordinary voice of my griefe is so strong as that it draweth after it all the rest of my strength Now if so be that my body being so extreamely full of heauinesse consume it selfe by little and little and my bones horribly sticke through my skinne what cause haue I to take care for the sustayning of this miserable body of mine which is the matter and substance of all my miseries Wherefore should I be watchfull for the conseruing of this life of mine which wrestleth against so many enemies and is cast downe with so many afflictions Were it not much better for me in ending my life to make also therewith an end of all miseries 7 Is the Pellican more full of greefe then I who liuing in the most solitary deserts of Egipt tormenteth her selfe for the killing of her yong ones and washeth them in her owne bloud to restore them to life which she had taken from them Is her sorrow greater than mine Hath nor my sinne procured the death of the child whome I more dearly loued then my selfe And now that I haue dried vp all my teares the bloud will gush out of mine eyes for feare I should be voide of teares in so lamentable and cursed a case But the Pellican hath redeemed with her own bloud the price of her yong ones and I most miserable wretch that I am shall be depriued for euer of the child which I so
thee with confessioÌ„ of the mouâ—… and contrition of the heart He hath 〈◊〉 sooner looked towards thy mercy but that he feeleth it working in him and breaketh destroieth the sinne which freeseth his heart with feare horror And the punishment which hangeth ouer his head recoyleth farre away from him and caryeth with it this miserable carefulnesse which tormeÌ„teth the consciences defiled with iniquitie And therefore O Lord haue I not forsaken thy lawes but haue alwaies waited to see when it would please thee to graunt me fauour and grace for the vnwise man that despaireth by reason of his sinne and giueth ouer his soule as condemned is like vnto the abhominable vsurer who hauing susteined some losse in his goods by and by bereaueth himselfe of his life also 5 My soule hath not done so my God for although she hath felt thine hand lying most heauily vpon me executing part of the punishment which my sinnes haue deserued yet hath she alwaies conserued in her selfe that sound hope which she hath had in thy promises Euen as the blowes light vpon my backe I crie out and say vnto thee O Lord my God thy will be done and giue me as great strength as thou layest affliction on me Measure my punishment by my strength and as my torment encreaseth euen so augment my courage and so hast thou done O Lord. 6 Let Israell therefore looke vp and trust in his God euen from the day breake vnto the shutting in of the euening looke for none other helpe but from him For his helpe is ready sure for him that calleth vpon him with a sincere conscience and a pure will And although the miserie hath beene neuer so great and extreame yet so soone as the Lord hath vnderstood the crie of his seruants they haue all so soone felt also their deliuerance 7 For he most bountifully powreth out his mercy and is infinitely helpfull to all those that come vnto him Insomuch as that his goodnesse putteth out as it were the sorrow which we haue for our sinnes maketh vs as it were reioyce in our fall as being the cause whereby we haue made triall of his louing kindnesse For if our sinnes surpasse all measure his grace exceedeth all our thoughts We haue deserued long and hard captiuitie and loe who it is that freeth vs and hath brought vs a most sweete libertie We haue blinded the eyes of our spirite and loe who commeth to enlighten them 8 O Israell thou hast offended the Lord thou hast scorned his lawes thou hast made a iest at his commandements thou hast forgotten the good turnes which he fauourably hath bestowed vpon thee He hath drawne thee out of most miserable captiuitie fed thee with the bread of heauen made purposely streames flow out of hard rocks to make thee drinke hath chosen for thy dwelling place the most delitious garden in the world made a couenant with thee giuen thee his will to keepe and thou hast coniured against his honour gone an whoring vnto strange goddes troden his lawes vnder thy ferre To be short thou hast deserued more punishment then there is to be had in hell And yet notwithstanding he offereth to graunt thee grace and with the price of his own bloud would redeeme thee from the bondage of sinne whervnto thou most voluntarily boundest thy selfe Behold him who hath himselfe paide their ransome that betraid him who tooke vpon him the punishment which we deserued and satisfied for our transgressions With what wordes then are we any way able to thanke him for all these mercies Open my lips therefore my God my Creator and redeemer that my voice may be heard and mine heart enflamed with a boiling affection to praise and thanke thee and humble me also in the acknowledging of my self to the end thou maiest heare me in the knowledge of the holy mysterie bâ— which we are reincorporate into thee and renued in thy couenant that we may enter into that blessed fellowship of glorie in which all they shall triumph which shall be partakers of the merit of the passion of thy best beloued sonne the true and onely Sauiour of the world Lord heare my prayer Psalm 142. O Lord man in the end is weary of all things a continuall course bringeth him out of breath ouermuch staring dimmeth the eies and a shrill sound deaffeth the eares but the more my voice cryeth vnto thee the stronger it is my courage encreaseth more and my praier better pleaseth me And therefore do I begin againe daily to crie vpon thee Lord heare my praier giue eare vnto my complaint for in praying to thee my God consisteth all mine whole comfort It is my praier O Lord which coniureth thy louing kindnesse to purge my sinnes not by reason of the seueritie of the punishment but by the meanes of the effect of the grace which thou hast graunted vnto vs by which thou doest abolish by thy souereigne and absolute power the remembrance of our sinnes 2 And therefore enter not O Lord into iudgement with thy seruant ne yet leaue him vnto the rigour of thy lawes for no man liuing that shall appeare before thee at thy iudgement seate shall be iustified No man shall escape this fearefull condemnation the punishment whereof is not onely cruell but immortally rigorous also Alas O Lord who can be saued before thee It is thou that art offended it is thou that wilt accuse vs It is thou that hast seene our iniquities and wilt attest them and it is thou that shalt iudge vs. When the accuser shall be witnesse and the witnesse Iudge what shall become of the offendor What defence can he make to iustifie himselfe O Lord my God I will not tarrie vntill this blowe light vpon me I will defend me with thy fauour and grace to oppose it vnto thy Iustice And thy grace is obtained by the acknowleding and confessing of our sinnes and the humbling and submitting of our mindes Loe I here cast downe my selfe prostrate before thee and lay open my sinnes and therefore I beseech thee O Lord to haue mercy vpon me 3 My sinnes my God the capitall enemie vnto my soule haue so terrified me and cast me downe as that I now lie crawling vpon the ground daring not once to looke vp vnto heauen For so soone as I lift vp mine eyes I see the light which shineth vpon me discouer on the day a great many of sinnes which accuse my conscience And then I feele forthwith shame take holde on my guiltie face and to make me cast downe my countenance vnto the ground a countenance vnworthy to behold the heauens the maister wherof she hath so grieuously offended too too cowardly a face to cast the eyes thereof vpon such places which haue so many thunder-bolts prepared to roote out the guiltie 4 My spirit therefore hath led me into darke places and buried me as a dead man in the crannies of obscuritie My soule is made very sad in me and mine
neuerthelesse because your voyce is abhominable before God and that with your threats ye blaspheme him vnto his face he will vtterly roote ye out and throw vpon you the mountaines which your ambition and couetousnesse haue heaped vp so hye thinking thereby to scale his Throne and to rob him of his glory 5 O Lord what a spectacle hast thou made for mine eyes to behold nay I am now so assured of thy mercie so comforted by reason of the care which I see thou hast of thy faithfull seruants as that although I should see the greatest armye that possibly could be yet would I not be afeard of it Let there an armye be brought against me composed of all the nations of the world and let there be placed in the vauntgard on the right hand a battell of Scythians and on the left hand a battell of Ethiopians and in the reregard the East India and America and all the rest of the world in the middest to serue for a battell and adde thereunto whatsoeuer Arte and skill for the killing of men was â—uer able to finde out or deuise aâ—… yet if my God be my conductor aâ—… leader I will passe through them 〈◊〉 without any feare Agayne if he bee angry with the world and shaâ— like him to serue him-selfe with 〈◊〉 hands to be aduenged of them fâ—… theyr vngodlynesse I my selfe 〈◊〉 cut them all in peeces not leauing so much as a tayle of any 〈◊〉 them 6 Nay I do now reioyce when 〈◊〉 I heare saye that the wicked baâ—… them-selues against mee and doo assure my selfe that it is God which â—…lend me matter wherein to glorie For be thou O Lord onely neeâ—… mee blesse my weapons and mine enemies are confounded But what weapons verely do thou but blowe onely vppon this people and thoâ— shalt scatter them all as a great winde driueth the dust too and fro neuerthelesse O Lord I beseech thee bloâ—… not vppon them the wind and blast 〈◊〉 thy curse but tarrie a little while 〈◊〉 thou please to see if thy patience will bring them backe to do their duties And as for my selfe although I â—e couered ouer with their wounds and defamed with their iniurious deaâ—ings yet had I rather haue them subâ—ect vnto thy mercie then vnto thy â—ustice and desire if thou thinke it good that their iniustice might rather â—erue to try me withall then for their condemnation 7 Thou knowest O Lord my desires thou readest them in mine hart neither haue I euer called vppon thee â—or vengeance my vowes coniure nothing but thy mercie and my thoughts â—re addressed vnto nothing but vnto â—eace Wouldest thou vnderstand the â—umme of my desires and the end of â—ll my prayers it is O Lord that I â—ay passe my dayes in seruing thee faithfully and that thou wouldest graunt me thine holie house to dwell â—…n and that all the while that I am â—eperated from thee and a great â—ay off from thine heauenly Taberâ—acle tyed vnto the earth by reason of the counterpoise of my boâ—ye I might vnite and tye all my â—houghtes vnto thee and conforme â—nd frame my selfe wholy vnto thy will O blessed habitation that is able to couer vs from all worthly passions from all the lusts of the flesh and to be short from all the assaults of the Deuill For there ô Lord thou art present with vs and commâ—… downe from the heauens to keepe companie with vs and fillest vs with thy selfe that we might be voyd oâ— sinne and conuertest our carnall 〈◊〉 into a liuing and quickning spirit that we might effectually feele thy maruellous works comprehend thy mercies and conceiue of thy power and almightinesse 8 Suffer therefore my God thaâ— I being incorporate into thee 〈◊〉 farre-forth as mine infirmitie aâ—… thine infinitenesse will permit I may be enlightened with the beames of thy wisedome to the end that mine vnderstanding being enlightened 〈◊〉 may learne mee to knowe thy wiâ—… For this is the thread ô Lord which may assuredly guide me through the windings and turnings of the laberinth of this world and this is the passeport which must bring vs vnto that euerlasting life which we so incessantly gape and sigh for Reueale vnto me therefore this thy will and lay it vp in my soule that I may there keepe it most dearely and in the middest of thy Church I may set vp an Aulter in my mouth presenting the same dayly vnto thee for an offering vnder the holie vayle of thy most holie word 9 For seeing ô Lord thou hast morâ—…ized mee within thy holie Tabernacle shewing me the holie mysteries of thy diuinitie that in the hardest time of mine aduersitie thou hast gathered hid and drawne me vnder thine Aulter yet not content with that hast made me to enter into â—…e holie of holiest and bottomes of â—…y Sanctuarie where thou wast wont â—o reueale the greatest secrets of thy will graunt that I may so well coâ—â—eiue them as that I may cause thy faithfull seruants faithfully to vnderstand them 10 For sith thou hast aduaunced mee into so eminent and high 〈◊〉 place as one set vpon an hye rocke â—o be seene of the whole world and â—onored aboue all mine enemies let the foundation of my faith be aâ— firme as any stone and the grâ—… which thou shalt bestow vpon me 〈◊〉 be a testimonie of thy righteousneâ—… making me worthie and capable of 〈◊〉 benefits which it shall please thee 〈◊〉 vouchsafe me 11 As for my selfe O Lord I 〈◊〉 take paines reueâ—entlie to vse tâ—… ministerie which thou hast commâ—ted vnto mee Thou knowest how 〈◊〉 haue carried my selfe therein I haâ—… turned my selfe euery way reknoâ—ledge that which might best like thâ—… I haue most willingly offred vnto thâ—… calues and sheepe in sacrifice I haâ—… willingly bathed thine Aulter wiâ—… bloud but that was too too small an â—…fring for thee I haue ô Lord sacriâ—…ced mine hart consecrated mine affeâ—tion vowed my thoughts and hauing pluckt them from the verie bottom 〈◊〉 mine heart I haue offered them vâ—… thee with my voyce whereby thou hâ—… vnderstood whatsoeuer my soule haâ—… desired which was nothing else but 〈◊〉 please thee in all mine actions My crying out then hath bene my offring which thou diddest gratiously accepâ— opening the heauens to gather them together and to receiue them And therefore ô Lord I will all the dayes of my life sing thy prayse and recite an Hymne of thy glorie 12 Heare ô mercifull God my songs and receiue in good part the voyce which testifieth thy goodnesse and publisheth thy mercies Encrease my strength and courage that I may strayne my cryes and spirits to thee And sith thy mercie is neuer deafe vnto those which sincerely call vppon thee encline the same to me for all sorts of felicities follow her continually Incline the same I say ô Lord for thou hast promised it vnto all those that call vpon thee 13 How often hast thou heard mine heart I say mine heart and â—ot my mouth for I
speake not vnâ—o thee but with mine heart which â—ryeth our saying vnto thee O Lord why haue I sought thee so carefully â—ay and night both in peace and warre in quietnesse and in trouble 〈◊〉 haue desired nothing in the world â—ut to see thy face I meane nor O Lord thy diuine face wherein is imprinted that fearefull Maiestie which shineth as the lightning which no mans eye is able to abide to behold but that face at the least which is couered and courtayned with thy workes which although no man is able to see but the verie hinder parts thereof and that verie hardly also yet me thinketh it to be most wonderfull and maketh me beside my selfe as it were Sith then O Lord 〈◊〉 thou be that increated word which hath created al things which doth paâ—… of thy will and thy will a part of thy selfe doth it not represent it selfe vnto me as thy face for me to note maâ—… therein such a great number of beaâ—tifull and excellent lineaments of Diuinitie which shine most brightly in euery part thereof O Lord I am in loue with this rare beautie neyther haue I any other care thought but that I may enioy this thy presence which offreth it selfe vnto 〈◊〉 in thy word as in a looking glasse of thy Deitie 14 Seeing then that thou seeâ— mine holie and sincere loue depriue me not then of this holie obiect which sanctifieth and blesseth my cogitations and thoughts And although my sinnes which are most foule and filthie make thee to be displeased with me yet I most humbly beseech thee not to be angry with me neither turne thou away this thy faire and wonderfull face from me For thou O Lord art angry with none but with such as glorie in their sinnes and stubburnely persist in their iniquities But I thy seruant my God humble my selfe before thee and do acknowledge most vnworthie sinner that I am not once to dare appeare in thy presence if thy louing kindnesse did not bring me in vnto thee And therfore thou art not to reiect me for if thou shouldest thou must also therewith reiect thy mercie whereunto I am coupled and so fast linked as that as it cannot be seperated from thee so is it also now fast linked vnto my repentance 15 And therefore thou shouldest if it might so please thee dwell and remayne with me and seeing it hath liked thee to allow me for thy seruant and to thrust me into this combat thou art not to leaue and forsake me in it for if thou shouldest my destruction would turne to thy shame where on the other side my victorie will turne to thy glorie And therefore O Lord I beseech thee to help me euermore For as mine infirmitie striueth commonly against me so also haue I need to haue continuall help on euery side of me For if thou keepe thy selfe neuer so little awhile from me my soule will euen vanish away and so will also my bodie if my soule be once gone For thou O Lord art farre away more the soule of my soule then my soule is the soule of my bodie I right well knowe that thy Diuine Maiestie hath a most vnworthie dwelling place in mee but yet I humblie beseech thee disdaine nor to come into it for where thou once entrest all magnificence aboundeth and there is alwayes honor sufficient where thou art And besides O Lord thou receyuest no honor by comming to visit me but I thy poore seruant am honored by thy presence Why shouldest thou leaue the glorious bright Heauens and bright shining Starres and to come downe heere belowe to seeke for nothing that can bee sayd to bee honorable But it is as I thinke because thou wouldest haue thine Angelles knowe and vnderstand that they ought not to pride vp themselues in theyr magnificence seeing they are thy creatures and that thou canst make the most vile enhabitant on the earth as honorable as any one of them This is it why thou commest downe from the heauen of heauens to haue mercie vppon vs and hauing the like feeling of our miseries thou commest to reestablish vs in our auncient perfection And because that wee as much as in vs lyeth haue defaced the image of the Deitie which thou haddest imprinted in vs thou commest to recharge and recouer the liniaments of our first nature halfe defaced It is thou then who as thou wast our Creator so also wilt be our Redeemer and as thou hast beene our Father so also wilt be our protector and defender And it is thou O Lord who although the whole world hath reiected vs yet hast stretched out thine armes and gathered vs together vnder the wing of thy louing kindnesse 16 And so is it most meet for I knowe not whither else to goe My Father and my Mother haue forsaken mee I meane the Father that begot mee and my Mother that tenderly nursed me and brought me vp did abhorre mee when as they sawe mee set my whole hart vpon thee and leaue the vanities of this world They neuer looked on me but with griefe and held me but for a castaway My brethrens making much of me turned into disdaine the kinde and sweet amitie of my sisters chaunged into contempt and the gratious meetings of my deerest friends were turned into mockerie Whither then must I flye If my dearest friends entreate me after this sort what will mine enemies doo vnto me whose mouthes are full of gall and their tongs full of deadly poyson whose ordinarie actions and exercises are nothing else but doing of wrong and speaking contumeliously But euen then when I am most geuen ouer then art thou neerest vnto me embrasest me most fauourably and powrest vpon my head the treasures of thy mercie most largely 17 Now seeing it hath pleased thee thus to enlarge thy grace towards me that I might be conserued teach me I beseech thee how I may serue thee Learne me what thy law is and how I must direct my steps that I may continually walke a right in that narrow and thornie path which must conduct me vnto the port of saluation For it is long sit hence O Lord that I left that broad and easie way sowed with the pleasures of this world and which bringeth all those that follow the same vnto destruction damnation Shew me therefore my God thy way for vnder such a guide I can neuer stray shew it me O Lord I say for if I go neuer so little out of it I am vtterly vndone mine enemies lie in waite to surprise me and to make me subiect to dishonour me and so consequently thy selfe O Lord because they know that I serue thee faithfully 18 Deliuer me not therefore into their hands that they may deale with me according to their hearts desire For then were mine honour at an end They haue already made strong their part suggested a thousand accusations and framed a world of witnesses but their leasings haue returned vpon their owne heads and borne witnesse
that his spirit descended into me and as a strong and mighty winde driueth the cloudes before it euen so did it driue from round about me all manner of griefes and afflictions 4 Come therefore and runne vnto him come then for the way is easie and open on euery side he sheweth himself in all places and in what place soeuer we are he calleth vs vnto him He is so afeard of vs that we would go astray as that he commeth downe from heauen to carry a lampe before vs to giue light vnto our feet he is also the father of lights which more cleerly and purely lighteth our soules then our bodies For the light which lighteth our eyes is to cause vs to see that which we are either to follow or to eschew but this light of all goodnesse and bountie enlighteneth our soules and of it selfe putteth farre from vs and driueth away whatsoeuer may hurt and offend vs. Come therefore and draw neere therevnto for so long as it shineth vpon vs you shall be sure to go vpright and nothing shall be able to do you hurt your strength shall renew in you and nothing shall confound you for if your sinnes shall appeare it shal disperse them and if your enemies come thither it will send them back and ouerthrow them 5 Will you see a most excellent proofe of his aide and singular mercy Behold then this poore and miserable caitife who is held to be an especiall vnhappy man yea such a one as is thought to be a man without all hope of recouerie the onely comfort of all miseries who hath but a very little cried out vnto God and he forthwith heard him and deliuered him out of the misery wherein he was he hath brought him to the port and setled him in a place of safety 6 He sendeth his angels to helpe his seruants who compasse them about as a most sure guarde and will not suffer them to stirre a foote from them before such time as they haue rid them out of danger For as he himselfe is great so hath he also mighty strong ministers and although he of himselfe is able to do all things and yet notwithstanding all his greatnesse he executeth his will by his creatures gouerning the lesser by the meaner the meaner by he higher and the higher by himselfe 7 Taste thou and consider a little how kinde and fauourable his goodnesse and mercy is and how blessed he is that putteth his trust in him The Swallow is very carefull of her yong ones and yet she oftentimes leaueth theÌ„ to cry by reason of hunger somtimes she giueth them the sower with the sweet but our God commeth at the first call nay at the first signe we make yea at our first wish so soone as he seeth vs thirst for his helpe he putteth his most sweet delicate dugs and breasts of his bounty vnto our mouthes streameth the sweet milke of his grace into our lips which stancheth cooleth the thirstinesse of our infirmity quencheth the heat which our sin as foule filthy vlcers sores haue engendred in our consciences 8 And therfore seeing he is so good gratious vnto vs and denieth vs nothing that we aske looke somwhat vnto your selues I beseech you I speake vnto you vpon whom he hath bestowed so many benefits whom he hath sanctified with his holy blessings and whome he hath set a part to be his elect and partakers of his loue And beware yee offend him not with your vnthankfulnesse thereby make you vnwortthie of his benefites through distrust and incredulitie of his beneficence For they that feare him waâ—… nothing in fearing him they trut iâ— him and they feare him with a feare that proceedeth of loue not with a feare that he will do them some ill but with a feare not to offend him but rather with a fatherly reuerence who is farre readier to do vs good then we are carefull to demaund of him For he knoweth of himselfe what is most necessary for vs and preuenteth forthwith our desires if they be agreeable vnto his will and enricheth vs when we are most poore and maketh vs valiant when we are most weake 9 And contrariwise the richmenâ— of the world whose goods he hath not blessed they I say are not worthy of their riches but starue with their aboundance their goods melt into pouerty their great magnificences vanish away into smoake and become like vnto a streame whose spring-heaâ— is dammed vp his bed becommeth parched with drinesse the skirts of his garments lose their beauty and his trees which he hath planted on a row wither and drive vp But such as haue recourse vnto God and forsake him not and referre all vnto his honour shall neuer want any good thing because the spring head of all goodnesse which is the loue of God floweth ouer their soules and spreddeth it selfe throughout all the parts of their bodies 10 Now sith that you see that the feare of the Lord bringeth so great profit and that his feare is it which reconcileth vs vnto him his conciliation getteth vs grace enlargeth our felicity come ye vnto me that I may learne yee how yee shall feare him as a most good merciful father who neuer denieth mercy vnto him which acknowledgeth his sinnes and giueth himselfe to walke in the way of well doing 11 Desire ye to please him and by that meanes to liue in his grace that is to say to liue blessedly and passe your dayes with a quiet minde and aboundance of whatsoeuer is necessary for this life and yet to go forward on the way of this immortall life which attendeth vs after we shall be departed from hence To be short desire ye his blessing that is to say firme and assired prosperitie which engendreth iâ— you spirituall reioycing which laiâ—… your heart continually open to breaâ—… out his honor coÌ„tentedly to vse tâ—… benefits which he lendeth vnto yoâ— here in this world I will deliuer 〈◊〉 vnto you in few words how yee shaâ—… attaine vnto this meanes For I know wherewith he is pleased and what aâ—…ons of ours they are that are agreeable vnto his liking 12 The first thing that ye shall do 〈◊〉 this Keepe your tongue that it speakâ— nothing to the dishonor of God noâ—â—…ter any bitter angry talke Mark whâ—… a small and little thin member this iâ— yet it is the sterne of our life which turneth and windeth our spirit which way soeuer it pleaseth For when it iâ— once filled with corrupt filthy speeâ—… it carrieth the passions of our hearâ— from whence they are conceiued euâ—… into the bottom of our vnderstanding and in such sort watereth them as thaâ— they are like vnto an earthen potouâ—… much soaked in water so loseth theâ—…by the forme and shape of the reasâ—… which God had breathed into it Sâ—ty not that one sparke of fire setteth an whole house on a burning flame Euen so the tongue as the
holy Thou hast seene him enter into thy Sanctuary and into that place which ought to haue receyued none but sanctified persons no none but pure and cleane soules and such as are worthie to be partakers of the beholding of thy diuine maiestie hath seene receyued and touched euen pollution and impietie it selfe and seene his sacrilegious hands steale away the ornaments of thy Temple destroyed the habitation of thy deitie and the abiding place of thy grace as if thy lawes and prohibitions forbidding them not to abide and tarry in that place no nor once to enter thereinto had bene but as it were a very song Where wert thou then ô Lord and although thou carest not for the iniuries which we haue receyued why art thou not yet reuenged of the wrongs done vnto thy selfe Caph. Thou hast bene ô Lord very angry against poore Ierusalem and hast sayd that thou haddest no will to come to help it by reason of the great and manifold offences thereof It is now time ô Lord or else neuer for all her miserable inhabitants goe shamefully a begging for their liuing and haue geuen what so euer good thing they haue for a mouth full of bread and bought full dearely the water which they haue dronke Forsake not ô Lord this our earnest prayer and turne alittle thine eyes of mercy vpon vs for if our pride hath heretofore estranged vs fom thee our humilitie shall now reconcile vs vnto thee There can be now nothing ô Lord to be seene so humble vile and abiect as we are nor there is nothing that hath more need of thee then we haue neyther can there be any thing found to be more pitifull then thy selfe Lamed Tell me I beseech ye you that passe by and see my ruines and do consider the remayne of my greatnesse and then tell me if there be any thing in the whole world so miserable as it is and that euer sithence you haue had eyes that euer you sawe any dolor like vnto mine Tell me I pray you if euer ye were able to keepe your eyes from shedding of teares whensoeuer ye beheld my desolation I speake vnto you I say which haue heretofore seene this Citie so wonderfully furnished with welth ritches her greatnes magnificēce do now behold her mōstrous spoile do ye not thinke that you see a vineyard laid wide open where into all sorts of beasts are entred who haue not only spoiled the vintage of the grape but haue also broken downe the hedges pluckt in sunder the very armes of the vines And this ye see is the pleasure of God he is iustly angry with me hath determined to visit me in his fury Mem. His vengeance is come downe from heauen like lightning it is come to thunder and lighten vpon me and is entred into the very marrow of my bones nothing can be seene to be done more suddainely more earnestly or more powerfully For in a moment it is come ouerthrowne all in a moment and all in a minute shaken into fitters pieces For my Temples and my Castles which reached vnto the clowdes lye now euen with the groūd Our Cities are like vnto plaine heathes wheron you may driue Carts God hath made me right well know to my cost his power and might He hath made me heare an horrible lesson We thought by our wisedomes to haue bene able to withstand the blow of his iustice howbeit there is neither wisedome nor councell against God We haue bene entrapped on euery side For whē we thought to come out and to be in safetie we were fast intangled in his nets and the more haste we made to get out the faster were we masshed in the end were cast downe headlong into that punishment which he had prepared for vs like vnto the mariner who thinking to escape a shelf or flat falleth into a gulfe which swalloweth him vp For our misery is in deed a very gulfe where our sight is taken away and we brought back into an inaccessible wildernes where there is none to comfort vs in so much as that our eyes neuer geuing ouer weeping are able inough to drowne vs in our owne teares Nun. I neuer ô Lord looked to escape it for thou hast too too long had an eye vnto my sinnes and hast determined of the punishment which I should suffer it is ouer long ago since thou didst couple my sinnes together and holdest them fast linked within the hand of thy iustice In the end I found my selfe all at once oppressed and felt my sinnes as an hard and insupportable yoke tye me fast to be tormented I yelded my neck vnto the punishment as an oxe vnto the yoke vnder the hand of an vnmercifull master My misery gaue me no rest nor intermission so long as there was any strength in me I might haue sayd that I was with my last master and that God had put me into the hands of an enemy of whome I could neuer haue bene rid but by departing out of this life Samech What reliefe or comfort ô Lord may I haue in my miseries In what place may I lodge the rest of my hope Thou hast vtterly extirped and rooted out the race of I ehuda the very stalke of Kings Prophets And as if by laying open mine entrayles thou mightest pluck out mine heart euen so hast thou taken from me my braue and valiant children by rooting out some and sending captiue othersome Thou hast chosen out a very good time for thy selfe to ruyne and sack me and to geue me for a pray vnto my greatest enemies and thou hast taken a very good order in all things for the ouerthrowing of that which I hold most deare which I haue made chiefe choyse of to loue and wherein I haue setled all mine whole affection But alasse with what crueltie if I may dare say so hath Ierusalem seene all her streetes paued with the torne members of the bodies of her poore children They haue bene layd vpon the rack their bones haue bene broken in pieces and their bloud hath run downe the chanels like streames There might you see the poore Virgins vtterly discomforted there is no more maydenly shamefastnesse left to coulor their faces withall that is to say no more of their fathers bloud to leape vp into their visages to mixe with their teares Ain Alasse what is there left for me to do in such a strange an affliction as this but incessantly to weepe And therefore I will weepe and weepe my fill I will conuert mine eyes into fountaynes and fill mine heart with sorrow and griefe Ha is it not possible to kill my selfe with weeping Ha when shall I sigh so much as that I may sigh my soule out of my body For seeing I haue none other consolation and that God alone who is able to ease my misery is farre away from me I can hope of none other end vnto my dolor but to suffer it consume it selfe to the end that as
foretold of the afflictions that should light vpon poore Ierusalem It is euen I that so often haue announced her misery and stirred her vp therewith vnto repentance but as my spirit of prophesie hath done her no good in her obstinacie no more hath it also done me For I my selfe am ouertaken with the common destruction as well as the rest For when the wrath of the liuing God commeth vppon a people it ordinarily cutteth downe the corne with the tares and darnell and bindeth vp as it were in one sheafe both the good and the bad For he hath suffred me sith it is so his pleasure to be led into a darke place of abode and hath bereaued me both of day and light I was confined and limited into a fearefull and darke prison where I saw neither sunne nor moone I may very well say that he hath borne an hard hand vpon me and that his grace was turned into an implacable indignation which had neither ease nor end Bet. He made me waxe old before my time my skinne wrinkled with sorrow and griefe my flesh fell away and my bones payned me as if they had bene broken in pieces Now the long continuance in prison made me thus feeble for I saw my selfe closed vp as I had bene walled in round about geuing me nothing but gall to feed on and torment to exercise my selfe withall But vnderstandest thou where they shut me vp verely euen in more obscure and darke places then those wherein the damned soules are Gimel What Must I haue such wide walles to keepe me in and must I haue such bolts and shackles at my heeles for feare of running away But alasse God was not pleased only thus to confine and limit me in such an hidious prison but after that the gates and windowes were shut he also closed vp his cares when I called vpon him In so much as that my soule was captiued as well as my body and was depriued of that sweet comfort which she was wonted to haue with God her comforter And this in very deed was the thing that astonyed me when as I sawe all my hope cut off at once For all my hope and trust was in God for when I had lost his fauour I then right well felt that I was in very deed a prisoner and that I had vtterly lost all my directions and that I was shut vp within a wall farre stronger then any stone or brasen wall for all the prisons in the world are nothing so cruell vnto a man as to be without the grace and fauour of God Daleth For he that should meete with an hungry Beare in the middest of a wildernesse could nor be in greater danger then my selfe nor he that should meete a roaring Lyon hunting after his pray could not be more afrayd then I. For I sawe my selfe vtterly vndone not knowing what way to take For the wrath of God cut off the way from me in euery place it went out more speedily then any Lyon and layd on farre more stoutly then any Beare and then what resistance was I able to make and what else remayned for me but vtterly to despaire Thou wouldest verely and properly haue sayd that God had bound and set me vp as a Butt for him to shoote all the arrowes of his fury at me He. He drew out of the Treasure of his wrath as out of a well furnished Quiuer his arrowes of affliction and torment where-with he shot mee through and through brake in sunder my loynes euen as a man would breake a dogs backe with a great leauer O poore miserable broken backt wretch that I am I am pulled strayned ioynâ— by ioynt and am left a laughing stocke vnto the whole world They made songs of me which they song euery day in the open streetes God gaue me most bitter drinke and made me very dronke with wormewood wine Vau. Alasse what a kinde of entertainement call ye this he made me eate bread that was halfe flintie and my poore teeth were brokeÌ„ with these dayntie morsels And me thought I was very well when as my bread was halfe â—noden with ashes and in the end I grew very impatieÌ„t for my soule could neither abide the present miserie wherein I was nor yet hope for any better hereafter to come and so descryed she her selfe so that the ayd which I looked for at Gods hand was lost in very deed all my hope was cut off that side I must no more make accompt of his grace for hee hath brought me sith it so liketh him vnto the end both of my miseries and also of my dayes Zain Neuerthelesse I straightway tooke my selfe with the manner said Our alasse poore Ieremiah canst thou tell what thou doest Is this all the benefit which thou hast reaped by thine afflictions haue not thy teares and bitternesse of thy sorrow otherwise mollified thine heart canst thou benefit thy selfe no whit by the remembrance of thy miseries past that thou mightest be humbled so as thy humilitie might entreat the iustice of God and conâ—ure his goodnes In the end I came to this and in reuoluing all these discourses in my brayne I began to rayse vp againe mine hope which the greatnesse of my sinne had vtterly benummed Het And thus I sayd within my selfe the Lord hath yet shewed me great fauour and grace in that he hath not vtterly cast me off but hath geuen me my voyce to call vpon him for mercy For a man shall at last finde alwayes pitie and compassion in him if so be he will patiently attend his good pleasure and leysure The Sunne neither riseth nor falleth but it seeth his mercy His goodnes spreddeth it selfe ouer all the earth neyther is there any corner thereof which beareth not his marke And furthermore I say that the Sunne shineth not but to be seene and to cause to see O Lord our God how great is thy goodnes how assured is thine ayd how certaine is thy word and how infallible thy promise As for my selfe I wil trust in none but in thee and if so be I may haue thy grace and fauour for my portion I care for none of the rest My soule is fully resolued hereof and do feele it say vnto my conscience that she putteth all her trust in thee and layeth vp her saluation in thy hands Thet. How can she do better For God neuer halted with them which put their trust in him for at one time or another either early or late he hath shewed them that his goodnes is infallible and that the hart which seeketh it findeth it farre or neere and that the soule which desireth it obtaineth it either soone or late We must therefore wayt for it patiently and not murmure if God come not vnto vs at the first call let vs hold our peace and let him do it and he will in the end do that which she shall see to be most for his glory most necessary for our saluation For great
an ineuitable mischiefe I had none other recourse but vnto mine eyes My teares haue trickled downe aboundantly and haue bitterly bewayled my mishap and the misery of my fellow citizens and of thee my best beloued Ierusalem Ain And as our miseries neuer ceased no more also did mine eyes so as a man would haue verely sayd that through affliction mine heart was in the presse to squeeze teares out of it as men squeeze water out of a spunge Thus did I leade my life continually vntill such time as I had enforced thee ô Lord to haue pitie on me and had with my teares quenched the heat of thine anger What other thing should I haue done when as I sawe before mine eyes so many Cities destroyed so many houses burnt so many Templs cast downe so many men slayne and so many mayds forced and defloured And surely I had had a very steely hart if I could haue held my self from weeping and although it had bene of steele yet had my dolor bene strong and able inough to haue molten it into weeping Sade Ha what a thing is this they draue vs before them as men driue cattle We fled from our enemies and yet they pursued vs we yelded our selues vnto them and yet they massacred vs and all this they did not geuing them any occasion of offence They led me into the bottome of the arse of a ditch and tyed a stone about my necke as they do about a dogs necke when they meane to drowne him And verely I had like to haue bene drowned for mine afflictions had aboundantly runne ouer the very crowne of mine head and had almost choked me and all the help that I had was to cry out and say O Lord I dye haue mercy vpon me Coph I was as it were in a bottomlesse depth in the hole of a prison I knew not but by my memorie whether there had bene eyther Stye or Sunne in the world so monstrous darke was the place wherein I was And yet ceased I not to call vpon thee my Lord my God and sent vp my faith whither my senses could by no meanes reach And thou neuer reiectedst me but receiuedst my prayer for my sobs in the end moued thee and made thee turne againe vnto thy first resolution I felt thee forthwith to assist and help me yea euen at the very first instant I say that I began to pray vnto thee And still me thought I heard thee say vnto my soule be of good courage feare not Resch And so ô Lord thou canst tell that as great a sinner as I am that thou wilt help and succour me euen for thy Christ his sake and for thy mercy promise and truth sake For thou that vnderstandest the very bottoms of our harts canst truly iudge that my soule hath bene carryed away vnto sinne by her senses and concupiscence but as soone as she felt thy rods she conuerted vnto thee her creator and redeemer from whom alone as she hath had life so also aduoweth she the restauration thereof after sinne For the question ô Lord is of the iudging betweene mine enemies and me whether it be reasonable that my misery should serue them for a sport or whether it be hye time that they should beare part of the punishmēt Iudge it ô Lord thou that knowest the righteousnes of my cause For thou knowest their thoughts their cruell purposes the plagues which they haue prepared for me I haue mine health by reason of their inhabilitie for if they had as great power as they haue will I had abidden as much as they had bene able to haue layd vpon me Syn. Thou hast sufficiently seene ô Lord that they haue dealt with me as farre as they might and thou knowest also that there is no iniury which they haue not committed and spoken against me And I do be short thou hast very well knowne their counsels and thoughts And I do verely thinke that there was neuer word came out of their lips wherwith they purposed not to hurt me and beleeue me their minds were neuer vnoccupied in finding out some cunning deuise or other to hurt me And cōsider I beseech thee whether euer they arose or lay downe that their talke was not on me neyther had they euer any other matter to sing on but to speake euil of me Tau Go to then ô Lord seeing they haue ouer come thy patience wilt thou not daunt their malice and sith nothing can driue them to repentance wilt thou not punish them And seeing they take so great pleasure in ill doing shall they not feele and abide thy displeasure by course For once I am sure that thou art iust and sith thou art so thou must needs pay them home according to the works of their owne hands And seeing that through their pride and arrogancie they haue forsaken thee to follow their own presumption thou must needs leaue them in their error and they must needs perseuere in their sinne and this hard scale of impenitencie must of force couer ouer their whole hearts and a greater curse canst thou not lay vpon them then this then to blinde their minds and take away from them their senses For when thou shalt come at once in the day of vengeance with a rod of iron in thine hand and breake them all in shards like a potters vessell there shall be nothing vnder the heauens by many thousands of degrees so miserable as they for they shall find no mercy at all because they themselues were mercylesse they shall be poore and there shall be none to helpe them and they shall be afflicted and none shall comfort them In the meane while ô Lord haue thou an eye vnto vs and second our patience with thine holy mercy to the end that as long as thou shalt please to exercise vs with the iniuries and opprobries of the wicked our hearts fayle vs not and that our soules may alwayes be able to lift them selues vp vnto thee and looke for thine ayde taking the miseries which it pleaseth thee to send vs for a tryall of our faith hoping that after our long patiēce thou wilt crowne vs as victorious wrastlers and cause vs triumphantly leade the wicked against whome we continually wrastle here in this life CHAPTER IIII. Aleph I Knowe O Lord right well that we must yeeld vnto thy will and that we do but kicke against the pricke in complayning of thee Neuerthelesse I can not keepe in my griefes much lesse my sighs when as I behold this strange desolation And although my soule biddeth me hold my peace yet can not mine heart keepe it selfe from sighing For who ô Lord would not haue pitie of this to see all the beawtifull golden walls of thy temple bescrabled and scraped all the goodly golden vessels so finely wought now melted and clipt in pieces all the ritch Iasper Porphirie of thy sanctuary brokē layd in gobbets cast about all the corners of the Citie in so
maketh a good accompt of thy sinnes and art no more exempt from his iustice then any of the rest and will make thee haue compassion of thy selfe seeing thou wilt haue none of another and bewaile thine owne miseries because thou hast laughed at the miseries of others CHAPTER V. The prayer of Ieremiah IF so be it be true ô Lord that we are thy people and thou our God behold vs a little consider the miserable estate wherein we stand Consider I say if there be any opprobrie in the world wherewith we haue not bene vtterly ouerwhelmed Looke not for it within the houses which our fathers built for vs neither yet in the prouinces which thou hast destined for vs For we our selues are banished and strange men enioy our goods We haue vnknowne heires which haue driuen vs out of our auncesters houses and sent vs away starke naked 2 We are like poore orphans whose fathers are dead and haue none to direct and guide vs. 3 We are like vnto mourning widowes that haue lost their husbands and although they are not dead yet are they in their widowhood and haue double occasion to weepe and bewaile the imprisonment captiuitie of their husbands A seruitude alas most rigorous yea such a one as is not to be named nay more then is able to be imagined For we are driueÌ„ to die of thirst to buy with our money the water of our owne fountaines and to moisten our poore dry toungs with cruel thirst We are enforced to buy againe our wood stick by stick and that very dearly to warme our selues withal although our poore members bee almost dead with colde 5 We haue borne the collar on our necks and haue bene yoked together like Oxen we haue drawne the waine laboured like beasts And although the cattle trauell all day yet take they their rest at night but there is no end of our paines taking neither do we finde any rest in our labours 6 As for vs we are sold for bread and yet must we runne vnto the furthermost parts of Egipt to finde those that must set vs a worke The Assirians thought to shew vs great fauour in making vs trauell day and night for a morsell of bread O Lord what an hard and pittifull slauery is this how is it possible that we should thus greeuously prouoke thee 7 I beleeue that thou hast put in a catalogue all the sinnes of our forefathers and heaped their sinnes on our heads What ô Lord doth this rigour become thy bounty Shall our forefathers begone hence and shall their punishment remaine behind them Shall they be dead their sinnes liue And shall we beare them know not why 8 And if so be that they haue offended thee why hast thou giuen them the land of promise to possesse why hast thou subiected the strange nations vnto them Is it because that it is our turne to be the slaues vnto the slaues of our auncestors and that the world might see vs to be captiues to those that heretofore serued vs. 9 That we should be enforced with strokes to labour for our bread and to teke paines for others in our own land hauing our throates alwaies in danger of cutting and dwelling in the wildernesse in stead of our goodly houses 10 Behold ô Lord if thou haue any eyes how they haue drest vs behold how our skins are cut and torne with beating they are us full of holes as a siue and there is not an white and free place in them Famine hath made vs as leane as rakes and they haue all to hacked and hewed vs. 11 If so be amongst all these their insolent dealings they had spared either age sexe or noble and wothy persons it had bene somwhat But their cruelty was alike both vnto male and female vnto young and old and vnto mighty and base Was there euer a wife in Sion whome they dishonoured not or euer a maid whom they forced not This weake sexe ô Lord powred out before thee teares and sighes their imbecillity implored thine Almightinesse their inhumane iniurie thy diuine iustice 12 How handled they thy princes They hung them vp with their owne hands and the gray haired old men in whom old age had imprinted a kinde of reuerence and maiesty were drawne through the dirt by them and pluckt and torne as if they had bene amongst cruell Tygers 13 And â—hâ—t diâ—â—hey with the yong children thiâ—ke you Verily they abused them with most extreame vnsham-fastnesse and afterward knockt them in the heads thinking to extinguish thereby the remembrance of their abhomination and choke vp one fault with another 14 Alas O Lord what a strange alteration is this For when as we thinke vpon the flourishing estate of our countrey and set before vs that venerable assembly of our Senators placed as Gods on the earth to deliuer oracles vnto men and by their mouthes to forme the voice of iustice and call to mind the magnificence of our iusts and turnies and draw oâ—… as it were by line and by leuell our fine and pleasant dances where all the youth shined and glistered like the starres in a cleare and bright night 15 O good God what a griefe and sorrow is this Can we take any pleasure and delight after all this Must not wee sweare a perpetuall mourning and condemne our eyes vnto euerlasting teares 16 Is it possible that we should be able to liue after all this Is our griefe so small as that it is not sufficient to make vs dye Is our miserie so cruell as that it hath left vs eyes so long time to behold it and condemned vs to be so long while afflicted with so strange a miserie Must wee see at our feete the pieces of the Crowne which fell from our heads and tread vppon the shiuers of the Scepter which wee were wont to carrie in our hands and see our kingly ornaments puld in pieces before our faces Cursed bee wee who haue caused by our sinnes this desolation who haue enforced the iustice of God to visite vs in his furie and to poure vpon vs the fire of his wrath and anger 17 This is it that we must bewayle this must be heere the spring head of our teares for this is the fountaine of all our miseries These are yea these are our iniquities which haue changed the face of what soeuer we see to be before vs which haue made our champion grounds deserts wildernesses of our Cities rubbish of our houses and left nothing vnto our selues but an obiect of sadnesse and dolor to bleare our eyes with so monstrous a spectacle and to kill our hearts with so pirifull thoughts 18 For who is he that would not put out his eyes with much weeping and what is he whose spirit would not be dulled with very dotage when as he shall see this beautifull Syon the Garden of the world and the eye oâ— all Palestine to be made now a Warren of Foxes where nothing vse and haunt
but wilde beasts 19 But these ô Lord are the blowes of thine owne hand who makest great things that thou mighteâ—… pull them downe which settest vp Cities and Kingdomes vpon the face of the earth as a ladder to shew that they are nothing but the execrement of thy other more excellent workes and wouldest haue the ouerthrowe of all earthly things beare witnesse of thine eternitie and infinitenesse Thou art ô Lord only eternall exempt from all course and change for no times are able to measure thy greatnesse for they serue thee and are but as Stewards and dispensers of thy will Thy Throne is farre aboue all corruptible things and there thou sittest making all generations to passe before thee one after another changing when it pleaseth thee the enhabitants of the earth euen as men do their garments 20 But seeing ô Lord that thou art thus altogether good iust and Almightie wilt thou wholie forget thy goodnesse and louing kindnesse towards vs thou that canst forget nothing Wilt thou which euer keepest thy word and promise forget the righteousnesse of thy promises which thou hast euer made vnto thy chosen people Wilt thou let slip the occasion which offereth it selfe vnto thee to haue pitie on vs and helpe vs who art not Almightie but for to do good and ayd the afflicted and as soone shouldest thou forget to be God as to forget to pardon and forgeue Very well thou hast for a time dealt seuearely with vs and sent vs calamities to make vs feele that we haue offended thee and we haue perceyued it right well and wee haue returned vnto thee with broken hearts and dolorously groaned before thee and therefore what more wouldest thou haue of vs What other sacrifice may we offer vp vnto thee then our teares All the rest is thine and there is nothing in our disposition but our wills and the same we present vnto thee washed in our teares pressed and squeezed by the sorrowe of our repentance and purged and cleansed with the zeale of thy liuely loue and therefore why reiectest thou vs Why causest thou vs to waxe old in our miseries 21 No no ô Lord thou art too good and fauourable for so long as wee shall call vppon thee with sound hearts thou wilt neuer forsake vs. But because ô Lord there is no more force nor strength in vs and that our miserie hath knockt our spirits in the head quicken thou them in vs and let all our affections be set vppon thee And to the end wee may continually cleaue vnto thee and not haue thy grace disdayne to dwell in vs renue our spirits and liues and reestablish vs againe in our first integritie and purenesse wherein thou createdst vs. 22 Thou hast heretofore reproued vs and in reprouing vs hast reiected vs and to say truly thou haddest reason so to doo for our too too intollerable iniquities had most strongly prouoked thee But sith that wee haue now humbled our selues before thee and haue done what so euer we might bethinke vs of to appease thee with all receiue vs to thy grace poure vppon vs thy benefits embrace vs louingly as lost children which come agayne with weeping teares to cast them selues into the armes of their father and mercifully receyue our prayers and vowes for they come not now ô Lord from our lips alone but euen from the very bottomes of our harts The song of Ezechias taken out of the Prophesie of Isaiah Chap. 38. I Am dryed vp with very sorrowe and griefe and I breath out the very last sighes of my life and when mâ— spirit launched out with dolor me thought it began to cry out after this manner What must I in the middest of my dayes descend into the pit Is the flower of my youth no sooner hatched but that death must by and by come to gather me vp And shall my brightest and most cleare shining dayes be conuerted into darkenesse O farewell then farewell I say most sweet light which hidest thee from mine eyes for loe the night trayneth me into darke and vnknowne caues and dens and sendeth me a great way vpon the earth euen vnto hell gates 2 But tell me I beseech thee what shall become of the rest of my life Whither shall the rest of my yeares flye O vayne and deceytfull hope which nourishest our minds and purposes and afterward leauest them in the middest of their course I hoped to haue had a faire and white old age and disposed of mine houshold to mitigate the discommodities thereof I builded palaces deuised garden plots got riches together to pleasure my childreÌ„ withall to make merry with my friends and so faire and easily to spend the rest of mine age in seruing of God and doing good vnto men But I must now change my note and sing another song and am enforced ô God to say now vnto thee I shall see thee no more in the land of the liuing 3 I shall neuer more I say lift vp mine eyes vnto thee amongst the liuing in turning my face towards the corners of this world behold admire the works of thine haÌ„ds Farewell most beautifull and glorious Sunne which hast so often risen farre aboue the waters to geue vnto mine eyes the shining brightnesse of thy beames Farewell pale siluery Moone which by degrees slakest the shadowy sayles of the night by degrees markest the measures of our time put thy self out when euer thou wilt for my sight is put out for euer seeing of thee And ye glistering starres of light which couer by pace measures all alongst this azured playne skyes and which spred ouer our weake bodies your heauenly powers stay your selues when you will for ye haue not any power ouer the dead and ô ye ritch meadowes wither when ye will your excellent enameled floures and ô yee christall spring heads dry vp when yee will the beds of running streames for death commeth â—o seele vp mine eyes to bereaue me of your pleasant sights farewell ô world farewell ô men and farewell what so euer pleasure I haue had in this place And ye my deare friends lo heere my last farewell for here is broken the knot of our sweet friendship And ye my children heere endeth the holy affection wherewith I haue made mery a mongst you and now I am possessed with another care for death seperateth me from you and you from me 4 My posteritie is carried farre away from mee euen as the Shepheards Tents of Scythia to day here and to morrow there O most bitter and grieuous separation which pluckest the children out of the armes of their father and from the sweet bosome of their mother 5 But why is this so quickly done and against all hope I came no sooner to be set vpon the frame and scarsly was there a bait or stale layd for my life but that the workeman was ready to put his fleame or lancing knife into me What a kind of alteration ô Lord is this
about O how wonderfull great is thy mercy which blindfoldeth the eyes of thy Deitie which hideth from thee that euery one seeth and maketh thee forget that which thou knewest before such time as it was done 13 From whence ô Lord commeth this great change and alteration in thee whence commeth it that to do me fauour thou puttest so farre from thee thy iustice which is naturally in thee I wonder but yet cannot I tell from whence this thy so great clemency and louing kindnesse proceedeth It is yea it is ô Lord because thou wilt saue vs whether we wil or no and to draw vs as it were by force out of that condemnation which we most iustly haue deserued For thou art the God of glory iealous of honour and praise for thou art alone worthy therof Thou knowest right well that very hell shall praise thee and thou knowest also ô Lord that death it selfe shall set forth thy praise Seeing that thou hast created all things to testifie thine infinite goodnesse and power shall death which is one of thy works make an end of thy praise Yea and seeing thou hast here placed man to lift vp his eyes vnto heauen and to behold thy glory and to sing both with the heart and mouth a continually hymne therof and if thou take away his life is not that a breache of one of the organes of thine honour And if thou send him to hell is not that to defame thy workmanship Thou hast ô Lord sowne by the mouthes of thy Prophets the truth of thy promises Shall they that are pent vp in the earth gather together the fruite thereof shall they whome the death of the body hath closed vp the eye liddes and whome the death of the soule engendred through their impenitence hath sealed vp the eyes of the spirit making them go groping to hell wandring and stumbling from paine to paine and from torment to torment No no it shall be the liuing man that shall publish and set forth thy praise the man I say that liueth and that liuing life which is maintained by those blessings which thou bestowest vpon vs here on the earth and that life which is nourished by the beholding of thy Deitie and by the blessings which thou hast laide vppe in heauen Euen so O Lorde do I at this day with them seeing it hath pleased thee to conuert my miseries into grace and blessing and to turne away from me death and dolors which brought them vnto mee Mine infirmitie is at this day seeing it so pleaseth thee an argument of thy glory thou workest such miracles in me as are able to astonish an whole world To the end ô Lord that the fathers may tell vnto their children what the effects of thy mercies are how sure the effect of thy promises and how vndoubted the truth of thy word And so wâ—…soeuer the lasâ— and hindermost posteritie shall vnderstand what hath be fallen vnto my person it will praise and blesse thy holy name 15 Seeing then my God that â—hou hast assured me this life I meane this earthly and corporall life graunt me also assurance of this heauenly and diuine life to the end that I being most full of all hope and strength may passe the rest of my daies in praising and seruing of thee continually Mine aboade ô Lorde shall be alwaies at the feete of thine aulâ—eâ—s mine action shall â—ee a song of thy praise and goodnesse and so will goe day and night into thy church lifâ—ing vp mine eyes vnto thee and hauing my thoughts fixed on thee I will openmine heart and thou shalt fill it with thy grace that it may sanctifie all mine affections and so I thereby may set forth nothing more then thy glory FINIS