to suffer any to wrong to iniurie his seruants for in protecting them he salues he conserueth his owne proper honor And were it not that I deserue that thou applie thy mercie for other respect the desert the merit in acknowledgment that reallie I am thy seruant might take place and into this such like seruitude the sinne of the first man hath brought mee vvho so farre as concerneth him deserued eternall death but thy clemencie hath donne as doth a seuere vpright and iust father vvho being offeÌ„ded most greiuouslie by his sonne abstracting the loue of his flesh and blood yet pittie commiseration mercie giueth not way to him to punish him conformablie to the greatnes of his transgressions but depriuing him of his paternall inheritance by no meanes vvill he giue way that he be at all about him except onelie in the nature of seruaÌ„ts vvho necessarily must labour for their liuings vvith industrie much paine and sweat through continuall toyle Whence he vvho is iustlie punished through his fathers wrath remaineth in such a meane estare in such a low condition of life vntill such time that mercie time ouer coming disdeigne returneth him againe through his fauour into his first vvell being Lord I through my old former disobedience am become of a free man a â—…laue and I shal be like to the Sonne that hath prouoked his fathers vvrach against him hence it is expedient that I passe my daies in this state sweating labouring to appease thee vntill thy Sonne come to release me from the yoke of neck and soale vvhich the seruitude into vvhich human kinde is fallen into through the first transgression of thy commandement hath contracted Then vvee receiued againe into our first happines thou vvilt not receiue vs not account vs theÌ„ aliens straÌ„gers not slaues or bondmen but being made by thee Citizens of thy glorious Kingdome and Empire of HeaueÌ„ thou vvilt receiue vs through thy grace as sonnes of adoption The end of the seauenth Psalme THE EPILOGVE To the Seauen Psalmes of the penitency of David AFTER that attractâ—…ue loue of vvinning heavenly glory and the terrible feare of horrid punihment had moued Dauid in Seauen Psalmeâ—… to be waile his transgressions the hope of reward and the comfort of hearts-ioy inwardly conceiued for the fruites vvhich hee vvas hence to reape to gaine to vvinne thanked be his penitency he suddainely raised himselfe from the ground and standing bolt vpright on his feete first taking vp his harpe and placing it vnder his left arme novv armed with courage as 〈◊〉 man freed set at full liberty hee vvas so strangely enlightned that hâ—…e heard with the eares of his minde all the Psalmes vvhich hee had with teares sung rehearsed recorded and rarely warâ—…led by the Angells and being thus seriously attentiue to the harmony of their notes vvhich were deliuered by the Angelicall tongues voiced with an incomprehensible and vnspeakeable swetnes in an instant he found himselfe eased discharged of the burthen that his trespasses had laid on him hereby perceiuing that God had receiued him through his mercy into the bosome of that grace which hâ—…e so fervently implored he retired himselfe issued out of the tombe made hot by his â—…ighes and moist by his teares No sooner came hee to the light but that the aire it selfe seemed to cleare vp in the cheerefull splendor of his countenance vvhich though it were pale through fasting and obscure muddy svvarthy cloudy through his penitency his eyes seeming as it vvere without motion through his teares his spirits not vvithstanding vvere so purified by hauing entertained the grace of God vvhich made pure his soule with the selfe-same resplendeÌ„t light that the Angells aâ—…â—…luminated vvithall that his face seemed the face of Moyses glistering bright with that diuinity which God had thereon impressed vvhen as his magnificent his most high mighty majesty vvithin a Cloud of fire vvhose fllames hee composed of the streaming fulgore of the Sun and of the heate of the starres yet vouchsafed not to speake but gaue vvay granted that hee might behold those his most sacred and holy shoulders wherewith hee holdeth vp the Heauens all the Hemispheares Now Dauid inflamed with the holy Ghost vvith which our Lord had infused him for his repentance â—…eturned to instruct and correct his people who moued by the exaÌ„ple of their good King all their endeauours their workes turned to make themselues perfect in the â—…ight of him their God But vvhat fortunate ages vvhat blessed times vvould happily fall vnto their shares who so should be crovvned vvith such happines as is to liue vnder the lawes of those Princes vvho laying aside the height of minde and the pride of their Kingdomes coÌ„fesse the transgressions which they commit to the prejudice of men yea to the dishonor of God Trueâ—…y people would be more blessed then are they miserable if so that they vvho raigne I say not lameâ—… their cruelty injust homicides and adulteries with the same feruour of minde which David did his but if so that they no othervvise then if God were not or being haâ—… no power ouer their pride at least vvould not glory in their adulteries in their mâ—…thers and in their impieties vvhich daâ—… they greiâ—…ously and hainously offend 〈◊〉 vvith open deâ—…ng of him vvho first 〈◊〉 last punisheth or revvardeth each one The end of the Epilogue
succeedeth praise and to Gods glorie the conuersion of Nations and to Hierusalem and Sion peace and the speculation the contemplation shall bring ioy singular hearts-comfort true faith obtained the true most perspicuous light of trueth by meanes of the seruants and friends of Christ then shall the world triumphe in it's perfect ioy for that God shal be accorded God shall haue made attonement vvith man in testimonie whereof hee shall forget the disobediēce of him that vvas expelled banished from terrestriall Paradice for hauing valued an aple at an higher rate then God's commandement But vvhen so the name of our Lord shal be preached through all the world congregating and gathering together contemplation speculation and peace in one both kings people to the end they may serue God the Christ ā Church into which shall be collected assembled the people as also Kings Maketh this ansvvere to God who in the vvay of his goodnes his vertue called it his spouse it pleased him to see it held in reuerēce much honored by the selected number of the good Shew me the length of my dayes sincel perceiue I clearlie see my accrease aduancement and glorie Kings and people coming to me for no other end but to serue thee And so much doth it say alvvaies beholding it's greatnes as if it had before it all Hereticks all Antichristians all false Apostles vvho vvill come to molest it to displease it to vvrong it to trespasse against it vvith the malitious peruersnes of their deuillish doctrines vvith the power and might of their abominablie vvretched vvorckes and vvith the deceipt of a fained goodnes And thus earnestly encited prouoked vvith a sensible feare conuerting it selfe to thee vvith all it's feruour possiblie yet againe thus proceedeth Let not thy goodnes call me away in the midst of my dayes Lord thy dayes thy yeares thy time shall out last all generations and shall transcend all ages but I vvho perceiue dangers to be hāging ouer me which tongues ill example and wretched mindes of wicked Christians will attempt to make me headlonglie fall into am in great feare lest I become les◅ened and faile in the midst of my dayes as doe the lambs of a flocke decrease in nūber trhough the rott For it seemeth to me alreadie to be gouerned by the rod of some pastors much more greedie desirous of my blood of the blood of my flocke then vvill they be of my firmenes my strength my constancie and their safetie their saluation hence trembling not vvithout reason not vvithout great cause I humblie craue that thou let not me become lesse faile in the fairest bloome yea flovver of my youth and remember reflect hereō that I am thine handmaid and thy spouse hence is there no reason that I faile to flourish Grāt vnto me that I may liue euer joyned to thee vvho shalt euer be alwaies liue at least as long as the vvorld and human generation lasteth and that shall so be if so thou from age to age from nation to natiō mainteine me in the hearts in the vnion of kings and people Thou Lord in the beginning didst make the Earth and the Heauens are workes of thy hands and in the labours of such operations of such vvorkes thou shevvedst thy povver thy glory thy eternitie so didst thou to the end that vvee might liue here below vntill that our workes might deserue there aboue their revvard so boundles is the loue that thou vvho art the maket of all things dost beare to vs who setting aside the priuiledge which wee haue of being of thy making wee are euē as things of nothing Thou my Lord God madst the Sunne the Moone the Starres vvith other Heauenly vvorkes of thy euerlasting hands and all for vs for our soules to speculate on to looke on to contemplate vvhose soules free in their election in their choise are able if vvilling to be accepted of admitted and to be receiued in the Colledge in the fellowship of Angels in the order in the state and ranke of Archāgels in the number of Cherubins in the quire of Seraphins and in the societie of all the military troopes of Heauen treading vnder our feete the Celestiall signes Planets vvhich shall haue an end if so it shall please thee They shall perish but thou shalt alvvaies be thou shalt alvvaies remaine and they shal be consumed come to nothing like garments It is true Lord that what participateth not in condition in qualitie and substance of thy eternitie shall become fume shall resolue it selfe into smoke shall come euē to nothing but those things vvhich haue measure haue quantitie and substance from thee shall remaine entire for that thou onelie art eternall and the Heauens participaters of thy vertue shall remaine together with all other things that thy omnipotēcie please remaine as our soules vvhich thou createdst for if that they through themselues be not deficient they eternally dwell with thee But each other thing shall decline be vvorse and vvorse euen as daylie worne cloathes are become at length through cōtinuall wearing nought vvorth altogether vvorne out consuming as doe all terrestriall things And in this secōd death wherevvith time armed vvith yeares beateth dovvne and maketh an end of all things thy power and eternity is demonstrated is clearly shevven vvhich can doe vvhat it vvill hence if it please thee thou vvilt likevvise change the Heauens So that it please thee if thou vvilt thou shalt remoue the heauens out of such their now place and thou shalt change them as a garment for the same power thou hast on the world thou hast on the Heauēs thou hast made them and thou canst destroy them thou canst pull them all to pieces vnioynt them remoue them from their proper spheres and in a moment thou canst make other axeltrees new Poles and other lights other Sunn 's other Starres other Moones and the Heauens vvith it's lights shal be subiect to change and increase of number if it so be thy will But thou art alwaies the same vvithout being vnder any other power but thine owne selfe-same and thy yeares vvill not faile for time hath nothing to doe vvith them they are not subjects to time hence they shall alvvaies haue being they shall neuer haue end nor though there pa◅e it importeth not hovv many lusters hovv many ages hovv many hūdred yeares to thee the accompte is euen of one day is not diminished is not vvanting for thou art hee vvho is author of the selfe same Eternitie vvhich ought necessarilie must be vvith thee alwaies in it's proper state in it's proper povver And for that thy pitty commiseration thy mercie is infinite answerable to the affection to the great loue thou bearest vnto vs the ofsprings the sonnes of thy seruant shall liue and inhabite vvith this thy eternity and the generation of them shall euer remaine be conserued for euer and from hence thy graces occasion that thy mercie dilate extend
owne state vnder pretext of scnding Vrias the Hittite husband of this his Idol to secure victory gaue him vp a prey to the enimies sword that he being made away he migh become husband to the others w◅fe vvhom he loued more then God or himselfe and such his desire obteined that lasciuious bed enioyed by vvhose like the vvorld's conceiued notable offence and heart-burning hath often turned Empires and Kingdomes Nathan the Prophet deeply vveighed his enormities yet compass◅onating him in plaine termes laid before his vnderstāding his iniustice asvvell in murder as also in adultery contrary to his Maker's commands The good old man astonished vvith the punishments vvhich Heauen prepared for his sinne felt asvvell from his soule heart as also his senses his desire his fire his ouer vveaning delight to for sake him to departe to vanish euen as heate from the limbs and the heart in the encounter of ought vvhich maketh it shake for feare yea miserably tremble sovvas he taken on the sodaine so liuely and sprightly vvas his apprehension that he forth vvith rent from his head and body his crovvne royall purple garment flung his scepter on the ground made an exchange of the great height pride of his dignity for an humble p◅nitency couering againe his euen naked body with sackeloth the haire of his head and venerable beard negligently disordered the one and other white in honor of his age thinking vvith himselfe that he vvas a sinner not a King he seemed in his countenance euen penitence it self ◅ He tooke to him his Harpe vvhich instrument euermore offered vp his lamentations sent from his heart to the happy blessing of his soule Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground as it vvere a prison of his sinne No sooner entred he but his thoughts vvere further affrighted by the darkenes of the caue He notvvithstanding neglecting these horrors vvithout any delay tooke deeply yea and to heart hovv he ought to doe to appease his God he humbly kneeled tooke his instrumēt aptely placing it to his breast rarely composing his countenāce erecting it to Heauen the sorrovvfull sound of his sighes acquieted touching the strings and most tenderly vvith a svveet feruour deliuered to God these follovving vvords THE FIRST PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 6. LORD since thou giuest leaue to me to pronounce thy name and that my tongue may call thee my Lord my heart hence taking an happy coniecture fauoureth my hope that it's penitēcy hath in thy clemency and mercy where with thou doest comfort those vvho are truely sad for their offences against thee Hēce I am emboldened with my voice and teares in such manner to conjure thee by thy goodnes that thou please not although th◅u art incensed against me for my sinnes to chastise me in thine anger O God I feare thee and repent me from the bottome of my heart that I haue not feared thee and am fully resolued to feare thee truely hence behold me not with that wrathfull aspect vvith vvhich thou lookedst on humane kinde when as the pride of their wickednes thought not onely to equalize but to trālcēd thy mercy for which cause thy then present will and command did scatter the clouds through the ai◅e and did breake the prisons of the winds laid open the cataracts or sluices of the heauē tooke dayes light away confounded all by whales and shooke it by thunder lightning trees crashing by stormes human kinde rooted out with all liuing creatures ouerthrowne beaten downe Thou did'st not onely drowne the face of the Earth but the brow of the Alpes and tops of the mountaines in like manner Hence tookest thou away the foule soile vvherevvith the common and generall vice had sullied and defiled all the parts of the vniuerse the most abominable ofspring of the people destroyed thou did'st in such sort purifie it as I desire by meanes of my penitency to cleanse yea purifie my soule lo as behold me not with the countenance vvherevvith thou lookedst on the rebells in that time vvhen Noah and the rest were saued in the A◅ke but reflect on me be mindefull of me as thou vvert of him vvhom thy diuine favour and singular benignity saued from the dreadfull deluge and cleare my minde too too much busied with phantasies and those yea such most vaine euen as sometymes thou clearedst the heauens troubled by clouds vvhich lay ouerthwart before the lampe of the vvorld and let it please thee to secure me frō the punishmēt vvhich is euen ready to be inflicted on my sinne the reflecting on which mooueth in me a quiuering not vnlike to a twigge in y e water Let it suffice that I cōfesse my errors my greiueous offences the feare which I apprehend of thine anger at the day of Iudgmēt at vvhich time the teares and sighes of the culpable of the vvicked shall haue no more place in thy mercy nor vvilt thou in their behalfe be further for them as novv benignely thou art and thou wilt be for euer and euer our good and pious Lord. Lord euen for feare meditating on thy iudgment vvhich possesseth me yea euen all my spirits keepe back retaine altogether thy vvord in that dire◅ull day Vouchsafe not onely not to chastise me but also not too seuerely inflict on me punihment conformable to the tenor of thy iust ire prouoked by our greiueous faults vvhich although thou pardonest vs whilst thou correctest vs for our offēces make me yet not withstanding trēble For the correctiōs of the sinne of makinde are cōflicts banishmēts plagues stripes hūger wāts bondage dishonor hostility losse of children and stings of conscience Pacifie thine ire good Lord vvith vvhich my greiueous trespasses haue inflamed thee for the good that I am ready to worke by thy pitty haue mercy on me for that I alas am sick My very heart is wounded by that selfsame arrovv vvhich the bow of feare of damnation hath shott at it my soule bewailing languisheth for that my infirme body giueth it an inckling yea as it vvere a notable signe of estrangeing it selfe from it not ought reguarding the state of my disgrace vvich thee My senses are not sensible my tast hath no tast mine eyes see not my sense of feeling doth not apprehēd it's obiect my smelling doth not distinguish odors nay smell at all my hearing heareth not my infirmity is such as that it is not content vvith the help of plants nor the force of charmes Earthly physiek cannot be a salue to my sores in it there is no validity to cure my such heauy suffrances for thou onely cāst cure them and if thou composest not remedies for my maladies I cannot recouer my health hence lament I and with the teares which euen come from my heartes veines I beseech thee my Lord that thou deigne to heale me fully and compleatly My senses and my soule vvhi◅h are in their hot and cold fitts promooued by the
deeply aggreiued heart yea making it redouble it's contrition touching againe the strings now newly reviving and quickning his voice clearing his pipes which had already moued to commiseration of his case the seate of his penitency humbly vttered THE FIFTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam Psalme 101. FAVORABLâ—… heare my prayer 〈◊〉 my Lord my gratious Lord in which thou sees the contrition of 〈◊〉 heart contribulated contristated aggreiued to the height the full extent and vttermost period of a sad ah 〈◊〉 sad soule for it 's hauing sinned against thee Alas let it be so that my lamentations my moanes my dolefull cryes may come to thee in such their state nor let for thy goodneâ—… sake that distance of place be an obstacle to them nor let windes transferre them or violentlie carrie them away let there not be any impediment which may haue power to interpose it selfe betweene thine eares and my voice any thing vvhich may disuiate turne another way thy hearing from my oh such lamentations rather receiue the prayers I send forth to thee conâ—…ormable to the nature of thy mercie and obserue me looke on me how it is for I pray more with my heart theÌ„ call I loudly out with my tongue For I right well know that who turneth himselfe to God with sincere with vnfained intention fulfilleth accomplisheth his prayer before the wordes are vttered thy goodnes not expecting that the words appeare before thee So that let the clouds be dispersed which through this aire haue made the foggs of the pride of my transgressions and let my cry through-passe vp thither vvhere thou abidest that I may vvith it testimonie giue thee assurance of my minde most attentiuelie seriously and vvith fulnes of spirit contrite Oh! my Lord hide not thy face from me as those Maâ—…sters hide their faces from their seruants vvho trespasse against them vvho for that they take themselues to be iniured by such their transgressions doe not onelie denie their countenaÌ„ce which they humbly craue but also denie the hearing of them speake and to giue them leaue to aske for pardon for mercie therfore doe they so to the end that they may learne to correct themselues of their neglects of duety euen as I haue learned vvho deseruedlie should haue inflicted on me my selfe onelie for my not fearing of thy chastisements all the scourges vvherewith God punisheth the infinite coute of the wicked But though so it be though I deserue such inflictions doe not hide thy selfe from me rather at vvhat time soeuer I am oppressed encline thine eare to me not ansvverablie to my peruersenes but according to vvhat becommeth thy mercie in such sort that in the tribulations extreame afflictions vvhich my soule shall feele through repentance and in these vvhich my body shall suffer in penitencie heare thou with a frieÌ„dlie eare and if so doing thou commiserate not thou be not moued to mercifull pitty on my prayers vvhich my miserie vvill desiuer vvill send vvill make knovvn to thee I am then eueÌ„ content to stand to my miserie to abide in this miserable state But if thou heare me for that thou art pitty it selfe I am then free from fetters from bonds in vvhich sinne made accounte to hold me for euer Though the great the ardent desire I haue to be free from the snares the entanglements of sinne I revnfold my selfe to thee and beseech thee againe my Lord that in vvhat day soeuer I shall inuoke thee call earnestlie on thee thou heare me fauourablie and that speedilie I say that thou please to grant vnto me thy grace at vvhat time soeuer the light of vvell knovving of vvell discerning distinguishing shal be with me my eyes being freed disincombred of obscurities obfuscations vvhich euen at noone day the vaine vvindes the puffes of vaine glorie doe blast doe blow on them And for that my daies faile vanish as smoke not producing not bringing forth in my seasons in my harnests any thing but fruite of damnation I might well doubt to finde peace and attonement with thee but still â—…auring confidence in my penitent sufferance and my contrition one vvhereof argueth my outward sorrovv the other giueth credit and testimonie of my invvard hearts greife my compunction of soule I doubt not I feare not ought For the strength of thy great mercie doth secure me But it greineth me verie much that pride hath conuerted them into such smcke into vvhich their thanklesnes their carelesâ—…es euen aiming to haue vvill to raise themselues to HeaueÌ„ are turned returning their puffe of vanitie into that nothing at all into vvhich are dissolued mists foggs and clouds the vvinds aduersaries enimies of their condensitie of their grossnes sharplie blovving And my daies being that is my vaine vvorkes my vaine deedes in vvhich I spent my time deficient ill pasâ—…ed ouer vnvvorthily consumed my bones inflamed by the fire of vvordlie pleasure are become no othervvise then a thing quite burnt for that the soule retired altogether recolâ—…ected into it â—…elfe hath bereft them of that nourishment hence they remained in continuall heate and in their last burning heare not vnlikely had they offended and notablie hurte the faculties and the vertues of the soule had not â—…eturnd to thee my Lord vvho helpest the poore the beggars supplyeâ—… them makest the strong feeble and exaltest and raisest vp the humble My heart hath been smitten and is dryed in me not vnlike hay and hence falleth on me all this for that I haue forgotten through my vvretched carelesnes to eate my bread The true bread of our life are the commandements of the Lavv the workes of mercie and other pious offices vvhich are spirituall foode on vvhich the soule is fed to the end it perish not it 's vtter losse and death follovv not vvhich hence commeth and hence onelie for that it eateth not of this foode for other nourisheth not but poysoneth But I who timelie haue reflected on my selfe in time make my recourse to thee confessing to haue fallen greiviously to haue offended mortallâ—…e for not hauing accustomed my selfe for not hauing vsed and made election of such forde yet despaire I not of my safetie of my saluation But rather like a man vvho hath druncke poyson vvhose heate extreamelie burneth his heart and all his bovveâ—…ls his entrailes and suddainlie hauing recourse to helpe hath put himselfe into the hands and skill of a learned expert and prudent Phisitian by vvhose presence hee findeâ—…h himselfe to be alleviated eased though the hope hee hath of the greatest part of his sufferance of his gâ—…iefe I requiring humbly crauing assistaÌ„ce cure helpe of thee finde promised vnto me through my pâ—…nitencie and through thy commiâ—…eration thy mercie the health the safety which I seeke for my soule vvhich recomforted newly reioyced in the compunction the deepe griefe of it's heart Through the continuall and incessant voice of my plaints my greiuous lamentations my bones are in such manner so clung to
cast headlong downe to a miserable state through such my lamentable fall And so is it that the magnificent aduancement vvhich v◅ithout any merit of mine I receiued from thy bountie through fault of my ill and peruerse malitious will and ingratitude hath been my vtter and laft ouerthrovv and ruine but thy mercie will not that the punishment of my trangression of my gre◅ueous faults if vve will not our se◅ues prouoking thy displeasure th◅ne anger by new trespasses be the losse of the soule but onelie of the bodie hence may I say that My daies are declined as the Sunne vvhen it goeth dovvne tovvards the Euening and they are become euen as shadovves And vvell deliuereth hee the trueth For if there had not been transgression in our first farher our daies that is asmuch to say our liues vvho haue our descent from him would haue been eternall and not short not suddainlie past ouer as a shadovv vvhence the sonnes of men vvould not liue vvith that care and vvith that feare vvhich they inceslantlie haue of their graues and of death and I Dauid should not haue come vnder the yoke of time of yeares arid dry as hay vvho before ouercome in grenenes the Emeralds and if so it vvere I should not haue to expect the sacrifice of the sonne of my Lord nor vvere I to suffer to participate of the punishment of this transgression through vvhich thou hast not onelie shortned our life but vvee are subject and lyable to the scourge of pennance and sigthe of death But thou my Lord shalt not faile nor come to nothing as a shadovv thou shalt neuer be lessened thou shalt neuer be changed be otherwise then thou art rather thou shalt be and remaine for euer and euer and euen as then thou vvert powerfull to punish vs so likevvise thou shalt vvithout end be powerfull to free vs and the memorie of thee shall remaine from generation to generation in all ages and times nor shall the Heauen euer be beheld be gazed on nor Sea nor Earth but that each one shall vvonder at the povver of thy vertue and for that thou art that mercifull God the memorie of whō ought to last together with thy power to all times and ages thou will deigne to recouer vs againe to receiue vs gratiouslie being the workes of thy hands into the bosome of thy mercie to the end that through all ages all times in the hearts of people susteined and made happie therevvith the memorie of thy goodnes and of thy povver vvhich is infinite as art thou shall remaine vvho Rising againe shalt haue mercie on Sion although the trespasses of our first father and of vs are infinite When thou shalt rise againe I am assured that thou vvilt pittie commiserate and haue mercie on Sion vvhich I figure for human generation for human ki◅de and for that at length the time is come to haue mercie thereon let sinners reioyce vvho through the comming of thy Sonne into this vvorld doe rise and come forth from the place of their sepulchers through the hand of the povver of thy merits mercifullie cōferred on them Let them reioyce vvho vvill knovv to suffer the persecution of the vvicked Giue them courage my Lord and comfort them vvith the hope of arriuing to thy kingdome for that thou hast laid open to them the gates vvherebie they may ascend thether through the vertue of faith and their endurance their sufferance their patience and vvell deserue they to be vvith thee pertakers of Paradice since that Martyrdomes for thy sake are dearly vvellcome to them I say Lord that there vvill arise manie Apostles and seruants of thy sonne resuscitated risen againe to vvhom the stonnes of mountaines shal be more pleasing thē the iewells then the gemmes of the East an◅ these such enamored altogethe◅ taken vp fullie possessed rapt vvit◅ Marty◅domes by vvhich meane◅ they may haue place in thy grace they may please thee winne thee t◅ them despising sword stones gallovves crosse and prisons will divulge will preach the trueth dictated deliuered appointed to be in th◅ tongue of the Gospell and after their passions suffered and at an end to exalt thy name moued through example which thou our Lord wilt giue them praying for their Crucifiers they shall haue compassion of the countreys wherein they suffered I say that the Martyrs shall be moued to pittie to sensible commiseratiō of them who do put thē to death doe Martyrize them praying thee that the authors of their pesecutions be conuerted vvho although they are wicked were yet not vvithstan◅ing framed moulded of the same ◅arth vvhich vvere they themselues ◅amed of by thee And for that thou vvilt haue an ◅mcomprehensible compassion an ◅credible mercy on human kinde ◅r that thy most iust seruants shall ◅ke delight singular consolatiō in Martyrdome which shall be impo◅ed on them inflicted on them in thy ◅eruice Oh blessed truth to appeare ◅o shine in thee vvith more splēdour ◅nd vvith much more cleare light ◅nd countenance then doth the Sun ◅ake shew of vvhen it is euen newly ◅sen from the Ocean the maine ◅ea and through the faithfull meanes ◅f thy preachers all Nations shall ◅ot onelie honour thy name but ◅ey shall tremble at it and feare it ◅nd all the kings of the earth perceiing that their splendor and geeatnes compared to thine are farre lesse then the light of the starres vvhilst the beames of the Sun enlighten the firmament vvith their bright resplendent rayes vvhich imitating thy goodnes vvith the same bounty doth shine on the vvicked as on the good shall feare ◅hy glory more then their subiects their people shall feare them vnder whom they are in obedience in duetie vvhom they obey for that in it in that thy trueth is seated the height of iustice vvhich seuerelie doth execute iustice on all their transgressions vvhich vvithout ought fearing thee haue been hainouslie and mortallie committed in thy sight before or after the knowledg of trueth For our Lord hath built Sion in the pure and sincere hearts of men chosen elected by the holie Ghost thanks for Sion thanks for this ne◅ speculation and this new Church there wil be laid open a way an euen path by vvhich vvith fevver readier shorter steps Heauē may be arriued to Paradice acquired and that this is true hee vvilbe seene in his glory Hee shall euidentlie be seene in that direfull most dreadfull day of doome of vniuersall iudgment in vvhich vvill appeare as to his glorie hovv hee she vved himselfe vvhat hee did what hee suffered to redeeme vs it will be then seene how hee dyed for vs hovv hee dyed that wee might ◅ue and not dye it vvilbe also shewen that if it depend not on our obstinacie as to his glory the Deuill shal be ouercome and tyed vp in his proper chaines for that the mercie of redemption ought to extend it selfe to the sauing of vs all and so ought to be and is of such nature for that
he loueth vs each one eqnally and if so that yet not withstanding the desert of our vvicked wretched trespasses transgressions greiuous sinnes shall condemne vs to the pitt of Hell yea euen that is agreable conformable to his glory for herein shall his power be demonstrated cleerlie shewen to all and each one of those who would that so farre as concerne them his blood should be lost be of no worth spi◅t in vaine and remaining alwayes in perfidiousnes in peruersnes in wretchednes are neuer consoled comforted vvith liuelie hope of sauing themselues hence is it that God doth neuer turne the such eye of his mercie vvith which he looketh on them who are humble Hee hath respected the prayers of the humble and so hath hee donne for that the irrecouerable cause of losse is not the burthen the weight the greiuousnes nor the number of sinnes but the danger is placed hath his being and seate in the hardnes of minde hardnes of heart in that iniquitie that wretchednes of not being of good will to be conuerted and to remaine in such pride as not to haue recourse to God from hence ariseth it that they who liue in such like obstinacie are necessarilie damned for they lying dovvne wallowing in the dreggs the mire of sinne without euer turning themselues either with heart eyes or vvorkes to God it is all to nothing it is impossible to be otherwise thē that they dye in Gods disgrace as perfidious wretches and enimies of their ovvne safety and of their soules But they who looke not on the vveight the burthen nor on the number of their trespasses but rather rectifie and turne aright their mindes to his immense and inexhaustible mercie imploring humbly crauing pardon of their transgressiōs cōmitted against him procure vnto thēselues through teares through penitēt hearts-griefe that God neither will nor can refuse them deny them the grace of his mercie and be their sinnes as heauy burthesome greate as imagination can cōceiue as much as fully as farre as can be passibly he hath not onely not despi◅ed their prayers though coming from sinners voices but not hiding his face from them hath giuen full hearing full audience to them and fauorably hee heareth them he inclineth his gratious attentiue eare as hee doth to the benedictions and prayses vvhich those vvho are perfect in heart and spirit giue to his blessed name And such bounty of God shal be known to such an one vvho shal be vvorthy to know it These deliuered shall be written in another generation hereafter for the Ievves through their most vvicked and perfidious pertinacie obstinacie shall know them as the day is discouered by the Moles and the Sun by the ovvles and the wilfullie blind not seeing the lights of the new Testament shall not receiue the trueth preached by the word the Sonne to the justice of the first shall God's mercie assist nor hence can it be otherwise but that by the lewes hee suffer death whence the knowledg of this new law is taken away from them But the Gentiles which shall be certainlie thine faithfully thine on vvhom shall be transferred translated turned ouer this thy trueth vvill praise thee their Lord receiuing each part each parcell of it obseruing it as the lawes of diuine mercie ought to be obserued vvhich vvill neuer despise the prayers of what sinner soeuer who is contrite humbled euen as a people so farre as concernes the light of trueth new he created vvho heretofore were possessed altogether in beliefe of false Gods hence they vvill giue praise and thanks to thee Lord for that thou hast been to them boūtifull of those thy graces through which thy bounty man is made secure from death and from Hell and all this vvill come to passe wil be in it's time for that God hath vouchsafed to looke on them For our Lord hath looked downeward from on high for that he hath looked from Heauen on Earth ou◅ soules are made inhabitāts Citizens of his kingdome and this guift hath his goodnes bestowed on vs vvh◅ looking on the world foreseeth th◅ eternall danger on vs the woorkes o◅ his hands for that hee reguardet◅ those his workes loueth them with that affectiō vvith which God loueth him who alwaies loued him moued tenderlie to pitty commiseration of human kinde made his Sonne man and dying as man taking man out of the deepes hath receiued him in the bosome of his great mercie But I feare I tremble to thinke on vvhat vvill become of vs if God did not looke on vs from his residence on high if hee did not seriously affixe his eyes on the necessities of human kinde or if hee looked on vs vvith lesse affection then hee hath heretofore donne wo yea wo indeed to our soules nothing but los◅e vtter perdition for that vvould haue been another greife and torment another inexpressible-lamentable calamitie vvhich Hell vvould haue made for them then is that vvhich time vvorketh and the bringing to nothing these tresses this flesh and bones But in considering what thou hast donne from Heauen on Earth thou compleatlie finishedst gauest full effect to that vvhich thou thoughtest on decreedst on the day in vvhich thou createdst the vvorld and the miserable lamentations of human kinde vvho seemed with loud voices to call out vpon thy Sonne to their helpe as it vvere enforced thee The hearing of the pittifull moanes of bondmen occasioned in thee caused in thee bred in thee the effect the issue of thy most sublime and most profound care hence thou vouch◅afedst to send thy sonne for our Redemption O my good and gratious Lord it being that all things that euer shal be are present to thee thou didst heare the vvaylings the moanes the compassionable outcryes and teares of Limbus vvhich shovvred like a tempest from their eyes vvho confined in darkenes vvere fauoured assisted by the goodnes of their workes vvhich they had donne in their liues time and deseruing pardon for the trespasses made by Eve's husband by Adam thou determinest thou decreest that they should taste of the fruite of ◅hy mercie as the sonnes of them vvho vvere dead likewise haue tasted I meane Christians whose ancestors dyed before that attonement v◅as made fully established betweene God and man vvho liued in thy disfauour in thy disgrace through the sinne of him vvho vvas the first who disobeyed thee and were it not that thou did'st humble thy selfe to incarnate thy diuinitie with thy humanitie neither from Limbus nor from Hell vvere they to be vntyed nor euer vvere they to be freed discharged no not thy friendes nor the sonnes of them that haue not known Christ. Thou shalt illuminate vvith thy grace the sonnes of them vvho are dead vvithout thy light to the end that they declare in Sion the name of thee our Lord and thy praises in Hierusalem vndoubtedlie these selfe same vvill preach thy name to the bene◅it to the safetie of soules for that from fruite of preaching
it selfe to iust men and to such persons vvho vvill employ all their time and labours in obeying thee both fearing thee and louing thee from vvhence the good soules alvvaies remaining shall haue more felicity theÌ„ the Heauens themselues which thou peraduenture wilt make a new but these shall alwaies liue with thee and this hath not onelie been largesse of thy bounty to thy seruants but also to their childrens children for euer if so be by their default they faile not to make election at all to liue vvell The end of the fifth Psalme THE SIXTH PROLOGVE AFTER Dauid had vttered the aforesaid prayer the last sound of his voice of his harmonious tunes made a murmuring a like to vvhat is heard in the Heauens and in the aire vvhen it beginneth to thunder and falling of breaking of by a seeming stealth by litle and litle as it were insensensibly no otherwise then doth the last enclining lowly and couert sound in the silent murmure of instruments of musique vvhenas the skilfull art of the Musitià n leaueth to touch them the penitent King receiued into his soule an vnvsuall consolation an vnspeakable comfort vvhich denoted to him gaue him so cleare vnderstanding as that he found in himselfe an infallible and most vndoubted certainty that God had opened his eares to his prayers and receiued him by them vvith that clemency wherewith the prayers of his true and faithfull seruants finde entertaiment But not withstanding it not seeming apparantly vnto him that his penitency was yet arriued to the completion and period of the remission of his sinnes not abstracting a jott not turning of his minde a vvhitt from serious and most attentiue contemplation consideration of the mercy of God he was astonished and in deepe suspence reâ—…apitulating in his minde taking into his thoughts againe casting vp againe the accounts of his first life how formerly he had liued and thinking within himselfe of his good and just enlightning thoughts which moued him to giue credit to the vvholesome and sound Counsailes and threats of Nathan for from hence came it that hee entombed enterred aliue enclosed within the horride darkenes of the Caue deploring his greiuous transgressions with such like affect and feruency which God requireth at the hands of a siuner hauing been all time takeÌ„ vp with such pleasures which the vvorld willingly giueth vs for that wee loue it as we ought to loue Heauen yet reposing some vvhat his right hand on his beard and his fore-finger ouerth wart his lips he vvell knowing being most ascertained that onely breathing forth yea pathetically singing hymnes of his penitency could set him againe in state of well being in the grace of God returned to him with his heart with his face lifted vp with the countenance of a penitent vvith vvords vvell and harmoniously deliuered straight vtered these THE SIXTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID De profundis clamaui ad te Psalme 129. FROM the deepes I haue called out to thee my Lord ô Lord my Lord fauorably heare my prayers for now I beseech thee as I haue many times â—…arnestly implored thee and this my petition my supplicatioÌ„ my humble prayers which I ofter at thy feete arise from the depth of my hainous transgressions and for that they haue as it vvere ouer cast ouer whelmed yea euen buried my soule in the bottomlesse pitt of Hell I come to thee alas I haue recourse to thee vvith a voice rendring forth vvords dravvne sent from the bottome of my heart and framed in the bottome of this Caue this dungeon onely to mooue thy mercies pardon vnto me for all the sinnes I haue miserably and vvretchedly trespassed in vvhich I haue humbly acknowledged from the houre from the moment of my reassuming my selfe euen to this verie instant In such sort that my prayer may be registred in the booke vvhere are recorded the transgressions forgiuen to them vvho know to sinne and who knew to repent themselues vvho hauing sinned yet ran the course to recouer themselues by repentance Let thy eares be attentiue to the voice of my supplicaâ—…ions for there is no center so discost so farre of so deepe vvhich controlls thy hearing of them vvho invoke thee call vpon thee for helpe for aide from their hearts The words my Lord framed by them vvho haue some diffidence doubt mistrust in thy grace are not blown avvay by winde or dissolued into vvinde through the distance vvhich is from thy height to our low deepe places it is farre otherwise for thou hearest them in such sorte as if they vvho send them vp to thee vvere at hand present and so being it that vve are in thy sight in thy presence through the infinitenes of thy bounty although vve are most vnworthy to be nigh thee thou dost saue vs. And therfore good God heare me attentiuely vvho call on thee vvith my heart vvhilst also I vvaile I moane I weepe in this obscure and darke Caue Heare me with such fauourable audience as thou didst hearken and lend thine eare to Ionas vvho from the bottome of the Whales belly called on thee his Lord earnestly fervently and with a truely contrite heart O then my Lord let me also be heard fauourably heare me yea and heare me in such manner that hearing me thou grant me my requests my humble petitions for ô my Lord now it is loÌ„g sithence that I haue vvith my prayers invocated thee called vnto thee vvith a loud and earnest voice and though so it be that thou art in the height of thy glory and 〈◊〉 in the Center of my sinne let it please thee deigne that thy eares heare me coÌ„passionatly to whose eares it is euen harmony to heare their prayer vvho in this life pray with their hearts as is delectably svveet in that other life other state and being the hearing the lauds the thanks vvhich the Angells tune to thee and melodiouslie send forth with exalted voices But if so that thou shalt take stricte notice of iniquities of trespasses Lord ô my Lord vvho soyled with them vvho so burthened shall be able to sustaine thee vvho such can looke on thee not any such vndoubtedly will there be who can support thy justice if thou doest not forget lay aside the taking notice of the sinnes of such for that there is not any so just nor so perfect in this horrible sea of tribulation vvho can if so be it thou dost adiuge him vvith the seueritie the rigour of thy justice onelie sustaine beare the burthen although hee doe couer himselfe defeÌ„d himselfe vnder the buckler of the vertâ—…e of heart fortitude of minde of his trespasses for on the head of him that transgresseth thou doest inflict thy terrible punishments thy horrible scourges But for that thou hast made thy mercie companion of thy juâ—…ice and for that each of them is infinite I being not able to haue accesse reâ—…ourse to thee by meanes of this make me vvorthy that I may arriue to thee by meanes of
the other Truelie there is not any who through his ovvne deserts and through his innocencie being in such state of sinne could sustaâ—…ne vndergoe thy judgment if so that on such an one thou hadst put in practise in execution thy iustice onelie But because thou knowest Lord vvhat and of vvhat qualitie what condition is human frailty of thou hast maâ—…e vs know thy mercie hence are vve confident hence are vve appeased hence rest vve sure in it thankes be to it through thee For with thee is mercie for thy lavv haue I sustained thee I say in demonstration hovv much yea and vvhat is the mercie of thy gratious commiserating goodnes thou shalt send downe thy SoÌ„ne into the world vvhence I vvho through thy grace and vertue know this new lavv and this nevv order this new disposition of things vvhereby each one vvho vvill may be saued in thy decreed mercie haue in sustaining supporting placed my hopes in thee and I am not coÌ„founded I am not in despaire but if thou so vvert not pleased that I knovv to recount the goodnes of thy grace vvhich thou hast giuen me as also that thou vvilt not pardon euerie one but yet vvilt send thy Sonne to dye for the saluation of sinners I should not haue been this present day to be confounded and to despaire of my selfe onelie thincking on the demerit of my most greiuious transgressions My soule hath sustained it selfe in thy vvorde my minde hath hoped in our Lord through the stable hope vvhich I haue had in God my soule is held vp lifted vp mainteined in thy vvord vvhich hath dictated vvhich hath spoken that vvhich thou hast vvilled I should speake of and concerning Christ vvho vvill not onelie come to preach his mercie to them vvho hope in it but hee vvill likevvise teach it to him vvho after him hath Commission command and is bound to make it knovvn in his name as I deliuer it cleare vvho am all consolated in the hope vvhich I haue alwayes had in thy mercy and it seemeth to me that I haue donne much hauing sustained on my selfe the burthen of these my such so great transgressions but I should not haue been able to vndergoe so much had not my soule hoped in it's Lord and had it been bent employed working in so feruent a penitencie which with thee is of some merit which thou so prisest thanks be to thy goodnes thy grace vvhich enlargest it vvith to the end it deserue but I hence forward will yet further bring forth fruite worthy of penitencie not onely repent me to haue been a trespasser to haue been vvreched From the morning watch vntill night let Israël hope in our Lord for that God is fullie mercifull and for that he loueth vs so much from the beginning to the end of our life let the elected people that is those who seeke for their health their safetie their saluation in God hope in our Lord vvho from the instant that a man is borne vntill the instant of his death is alwaies mercifull nor supporteth hee that the sinner shee l in vaine any of the teares proceeding from his repentance nor anie of the vvordes of his prayers no no for they are safelie laid vp in the Eschequer vvhere are carefullie conserued surelie kept the treasures heaped vp laid vp in store in Heauen to adorne with sempiternall vvith euerlasting magnificence and glorie the soules of the elected And let not the good onelie hope and sinners in God alwaies and at all times of their liues but let them hope watching euermore on their safetie their saluation euen as a seruant doth in the vvatch vvhich his maister hath appointed him to vvho not for that he began to execute his charge but for the hauing fullie discharged what hee was appointed to doe to the very time that hee called him from it atcheiueth winneth the revvard prepared appointed for him For that in our Lord is mercy and most copious most fully abundant redemption I haue alwaies hoped in him I haue euermore coÌ„fided put my sure and most vndoubted trust in my castigation in my reclaime in my amendment and in the health in the saluation which the coming of his Sonne shall bring to vs. And for that I without all vncertaintie know that I shall make attonement vvith him notvvithstanding I vvas masked vnder the disguise the vveed of sinne vvhich had so estranged me that I vndervvent imminent danger to haue neuer reassumed my selfe neuer reacknovvledged my selfe I will reioyce in the height in the depth of my pensivenesie of my greiuous heavines and vvhilst that I shall endeauour heartilie labour to praise my Lord and to render thanks to my Lord alwaies imploring pardon peace and tranquilitie thy ordinances ô God thy decrees will hasten to giue happie dispatch to the safetie of Israël which trustethin thee our Lord fulfilling accomplishing thy trueth as I by my voice haue deliuered Let the elect confide in our Lord and this our mercifull and gratious Lord vvill redeeme Israël vvill free Israël from all it's transgressions and sending into the vvorld his onelie begotten Sonne all the trespasses all the hainous sinnes of mankinde shal be bought out be redeemed by his most pretious blood and through the merit of it vvee shall not onelie reape the fruite the great benefit of hauing our old sinnes forgiueÌ„ vs but in like manner all our offences which by vs hauue been possibly able to be trespassed in in his sight vvho vvill alvvaies be indulgent fauourable cleare in aspect to any one who shall endeauour to behold vvith a pure minde and a feruent vvill of a contrite heart the peaceable mild and rarely fauorable cast of his admired and dreadfull countenance from vvhose eyebries raies beames are cast are sent forth of that glorie vvhich his mercy dispenseth to anie vvho desireth to glorifie himselâ—…e in him The end of the sixth Psalme THE SEAVENTH PROLOGVE IF so be that at any time the petitions the humble supplications the most feruent importuning prayers of his seruants vvere acceptable pleasing gratefull to God then vvere these of Dauid vvho pulled vp them by the rootes from the bottome of his heart no othervvise then doth the winde roote out grubbe vp from the Earth's deepes the roots of tâ—…es vvhich it by the great force the viâ—…ce of it 's tepestuous motion throweth downe And vvell made he shevv of it in him it vvas eâ—…idently seene that his prayers had fauour able hearing and were pleasing to God for hauing opened his benigne mercisull and most commiâ—…erating eares to his heartiest vvishes hee struck him with such an inexpressible joy in an instant sprâ—…g and framed in his heart hee being in a kind of an extaâ—…ie not knowing how so that hee seemed a man whose minde hath apprehended some vvhat such as hee cannot expresse giue a denomination to declare vvhat it is which not with â—…anding proceedeth so farre that it marvailously taketh him extreamely possessed by â—…ght of hearts-ioy yea
and to ouerjoy 〈◊〉 such like as are they who are ascended to the height to the compleate fulnes of Beatitude vvhich they desired And in this his suddaine surprise of hearts salaâ—…e hearts inexpressible comfort his spirit attentiue nay fixed on diuine â—…ontemplations hee savv as it vvere in a vision the vvord of God to come dovvne from Heauen and to proceed from the mouth of the Angell incarnating it selfe in the blessed Virgin hee savv Christ borne hee savv him adored by the Magj The three Kings he savv him dispute in the Temple hee savv him fly vvith his Mother into Egipt hee savv him baptized in IordaÌ„ he savv him with his Apostles he saw him hâ—…ale the â—…ick raise the dead and cast out Dewills and traunced extased in a Propheticall vision he savv him anointed by Magdalen savv him at his last supper vvâ—…h his Disciples savv him pray in the gardeâ—… savv him betrayed savv him scourged savv him crowned with thornes savv him adjuged to death saw him nayled on the Crosse and in seeing him breake the gates of Limbus hee vvas taken and fully possessed with that joy that vnspeakabls hearts-comfort which hee was to feele a sâ—…oone as Christ should redeeme him out of the darkenes together vvith his ancestors his forefathers and hee being sanctified in his merits hee savv him rise againe and in seeing him ascend to Heauen and to sit at the right hand of his father anevv breake forth into these vvords THE SEAVENTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam auribus c. Psalme 142. LORD fauorably heare my suppliant petitions my humble prayer stitre vp thy selfe awakeÌ„ be thou moued to looke vvith the gratious eyes of thy mercie on my heart's sincere repentance which through the desert of prayers vvhich is tendred vnto thee is not vnworthy of thy gratious and fauorable audience thy trueth and thy iustice vvell weighed not according to the trueth iustice of thy Lawes vvhich condemne and inflict sharpe punishments sodainelie on sinne according to the qualitie the greatnes the hainousnes of the demerit but according to thy trueth and â—…ustice with which is ioyned that thy mercy vvhich is absolutelie and â—…olely in thee for thou being the author of the Law thou onelie through the height of thy bounâ—…ie caâ—…st forgiue the traÌ„sgressors acquit them of it There are many valued by thee iust vvho are accounted by the iudges of the world delinquents but the coÌ„trary seemeth to be in me for by the people I am deemed iust and in thy sight I know my selfe so burthened vvith trespâ—…sses that vntill I perceiue thou hast forgâ—…en me acquitted me of them I will neuer dry mine eyes they shall alwaies vvepe and I vvill neuer close vp my month I vvill alvvaies call on thee and I vvill neuer be at repose of heart vvhich imploreth it's Lord that hee Enter not into Iudgement on his seruant for to take notice of each fault trespasâ—…e on a seruant is not a vvorke vvorthy of a maister and to take animaduersion strict accounâ—…e of each our trippings our stumblings vvould be to make vs all despaire for if thou weigh the multitude of the fault we commit the vveight of them vvould be such that nothing would be found so burâ—…nsome hence vvee should be all lost and therefore forgâ—…t patcell of our trespasses let them not be brought and laid open before the Tribunall of thy most iust iudgment for that all those vvho hold themselues iust in the other life vvhen all human generation shall bee iudged thy shall not be iustified by thee Enlarge me be bountifull vnto me and make me vvorthy of the guâ—…fts of thy grace whereof by thy goodnes and thy bountie euerie man is made worthie vvho offereth the purenes and innocencie of his soule by tâ—…e meanes of a contrite heaâ—…t so shalt thou our God as it were substitute thy goodnes to my correction in reguard that it maketh for my saluation and thy glorie Nor for this cause shall thy iustice be impaired or lessened which were it not in so gâ—…eat a Majestie so greate is the presumption of mankinde that they vvould receiue as from a firme deed that the infinite benefits which they receiued of thee were due to theÌ„ by obligation whence it would follow that there were no way whereby those that are vvicked might come to amendment of themselues to correct themselues and those vvho are incorrigible vvho neuer wil be good but are peruerse and refractory who liuing haue not beleeued in thee shall in nothing be difâ—…erent from the good and those who haue recouered goodnes for as much as workes are not paid according to deserts herein it is necessary that thy justice faile not but whilst wee are in this life which is the place of our race which we must runne ouer to come to thee for this cause ought wee each one the reward being certaine and eternall extending it selfe beyond the bonds of sinne alwaies to determime time to abtaine the sett downe price which is not allotted to one onelie but to all those who shall come the goale to the bounds of the race Let damnation fall on them vvho haue depised so great a gaine so great a reward which thou hâ—…st published to be run for and to be revvarded though yet for their so small so slender desert when the time coÌ„meth of each one's receiuing râ—…vvard they doe not onelie finde themselues farreâ—… of from receiuing ought of valuation ought of price ought of reward but euidentlie they perceiue that they haue â—…rayed yea that they are altogether out of their way and hence so it happeneth for that they pursued lesse worthie ends and lesie honorable O Lord and my God the effects the fruits of sinne haue reduced me haue plunged me in obscuritie in darke places euen as are they vvho are dead for time and ages My sinne Lord hath seated me in darkenes for there is no greater obscurity then that vvhich is interposed betvvâ—…ene the vvay of good and the eye of our perceiuance Hence strayed vve and lost the light which directeth vs shevveth vs the vvay the meanes to come to our true end And certaine it is that a maâ—… blinded in the night the obscuritie the darkenes of sinne parteth not yet from day from light of vertue and trueth but hauing coÌ„tracted custome and habit in the clouds the mists and foggs of vice he is best and onelie pleased vvith them and onelie hateth the Sonne the light vvhich ariseth from the bosome of vertue and liuing well on vvhich if I had contemplated my spirit had neuer proued anxious full of greiuous care and my heart would neuer haue so much alas for me been troubled coÌ„tribulated Truely if I had opened mine eyes to the light of trueth â—…hutting them from the obscurities the darkenesses of falsenes of lyes contribulations and those anxious rising taking grouÌ„d from feare of damnation had not moued my spirit to reflect on it selfe