glore To thee knee-bowd before thy face I fall Come help O help now I begin to call Most holy mighty high and glorious God! Most mercifull most gracious and kinde Most Ancient righteous patient and good Most wise most just most bountifull of minde Infuse thy grace enlarge thy love in mine Confirme my faith conforme my will to thine Eternall One Beginner unbegunne Thou first and last Heavens founder and Earths ball Container uncontaind Father and Sonne Thou All in All unruld yet ruling All Great Light of lights who moves all things unmovd Hearke help and heare for Christs sake thy belovd Sole Soveraigne Balme come heale my wounded soule Which fainting fals under thine heavie hand Regard my plaints remit mine errours foule Let mercy far above thy justice stand Be thou my Heaven place Heaven within mine heart Thy presence can make Heaven where e're thou art Come challenge me come claime me for thine owne Plead thou thy right take place in my possession Lord square my steps thy goodnesse may be knowne In pard'ning each defect of my transgression Arrest my sinnes but let my soule goe free Baile me from thrall let sinne deaths subject die Lord wing my love with feather'd faith to flee To thy all-burning Throne of endlesse glory Mercie is thine for mercy is with thee Lord write my name in thine eternall story O! help my strength farre weaker than a reed Accept my purpose for the reall deed The good I would alace I can not do The ill I would not that I follow still The more thou citst me I grow stubborn too Preferring base corruption to thy will For when thy Sprite to serve Thee doth perswade me The World the Flesh and Satan they disswade me What should I say no gift in me is left To doe to speak to think one godly motion Lord help my wants for why my soule is reft Twixt feare and hope 'twixt sinne and true devotion Faine would I flighter from this lust-lymd clay But more I strive the more I faster stay Lord with the sonne forlorne bring me againe And cloth me with the favour of thy face The swinish husks of sinne I loath and faine Would be thy childe adopt'd the childe of grace Thy Lambe was kill'd for my conversions sake Of which let me some food and comfort take Thy glorious Hierarchy and Martyres all Rejoyce at the returne of a lost sheep Lord in that number let my portion fall That I with them like melodie may keep So with thy Saints my happynesse shall be One and the same as they are blest in Thee Yet whilst I pause and duely do consider Thy will my wayes thy righteousnesse mine errours I cannot plead to flie I know not whidder So grievous are the mountains of my terrours My sinnes so ugly stand before thy face That I dare hardly claime or call for grace What am I in thine eyes if I could ponder But brickle trash compos'd of slyme and clay A wretch-worne worme erect'd for sinne a wonder Whilst my souls treason is thy judgements prey I have no health nor truth nor divine flashes So wicked is this Masse of dust and ashes Lord stretch thine arme put Satan to the flight Exile the world from me and me from it Curbe thou my flesh beat down my lusts delight Rule thou my heart my will guide with thy Sprit Infuse encrease confirme here from above Thy feare thy law in me thy light thy love So shall I through Heavens merit onely rise And kisse thy soule-sought Sonne thy Lambe thy Dove For whose sweet sake I shall thy sight surprise And lift my hope on his redeeming love Blest be the price of mine exalting good Who payd my ransome with his precious blood In Thee I trust Lord help my wavering faith And with thy merits my demerits cover Dispell my weaknesse strengthen my faint breath Renew my life and my past sinnes passe over Be thou my Pilot guide this barke of clay Safe to the Port of thy coelestiall stay Grant me obedience to thy blest desire Instruct my minde environe me with ruth Cleanse thou my heart with flames of sacred fire Fraught with the fulnesse of thy saving truth Build up mine Altar let mine offerings be Faith feare and hope love praise and thanks to Thee Lord spare me for his sake whom thou not spard For my sake even for him from Thee above Was sent down here and slaine O! what regard Bore thou to Man to send thy Sonne of Love To suffer for my guilt the fault being mine But ah good Lord the punishment was thine Thy love great God from everlasting flowes To everlasting Mans reach onely brings Forth the Creation but thy love forth showes From all eternitie eternall springs Of light unsearchable then praise we Thee That ere time was ordain'd our time to be God made all things and God was made a Man All things he made of nothing but come see Withoutten man all things the truth to scan Had turnd to nothing for from one degree God of himselfe made all things and what more He would not all things without Man restore He was of God begotten all things made And borne of woman all things did renew For without man all things had been a shade So nothing well without a Virgin true Thus God and Man conjoynd in one we feele Life of our life and soule of our souls wâ—le What was he made and what hath he made us I pause with joy with silence I admire This mystery I adore who can discusse That goodnesse great sprung from so good a Syre Can reason show more reasonable way Than leave to pry where reason can not swey The Sonne of God behold was made a Man To make us men th' adopted sonnes of God By which he made himself our brotherthen For in all kindes he keeps our brotherhood Though Judge save sinne and Intercessour see He brothers us we must his suppliants be With what assurance then may we all hope What feare can force despaire or yet distrust Since our salvation and our endlesse scope Hangs on our elder brother Christ the Just He 'le give us all the good which we desire And pardon all the sinnes on us engyre The burden of our miseries he bore And laid his merits weight on our sick soules A kindnesse beyond reach his goodnesse more Engross'd his name for us in shamefull scroules O! wondrous love that God should humble thus Himself and take Mans shape to rescue us He who in heavens was admirable set Became for us contemptible on earth And from the Towre of his Imperiall state Imbrac'd a Dungeon for angelick mirth And chang'd the name of Majestie in love To shelter us with mercy from above What eyes for grief should not dissolve in floods Whilst our vile sinnes procur'd his wofull paine He sought our well unsought when we in woods Of wickednesse lay wallowing amaine And daily yet by sinne distrust and strife We crucifie
to their devouring plenties My bones shall rot then turne in mouldring dust This is the way of flesh both bad and just And yet vaine Man he little thinks or dreames Once of his death nor what his end may be His sense deludes him and the world it seemes A glasse to looke on for his sensuall eye He neither mournes for sinne nor sinne forsakes But from one ill another worser takes What surging follies overcloud my minde With vain-wing'd fancies and surmysing flashes Such fleering thoughts more lighter than the winde Breed nought but foolerie which opinion dashes My wish'd for wishes straight conceiv'd and done The care of carelesse dreams I scarce can shunne I posting runne in wayes of naughty ends Lord crook and stop my course with streames of grace Which flood can carry none that ill pretends Like Jordan that receives no barbarous face Unlesse they swim So sans remorse they 'le drowne Who hazard here quick sandie sins pull downe This saving grace the soule guards with strong hand And if it slip it can not fully fall It s like Maronahs full disgorging strand Hembes in Canaan from barbarian thrall Like keeps the Lord his owne and guards their wayes They perish not though chargd with fraile delayes As Jordan circuits the holy land Twixt Liban and that south-lake smoaking show From the Petreian soyle joynd with a strand Which tribute payes 'gainst Jericho I know To famous Jore One parts the Midian soyle The other sackt Samarias confynes coyle This is the march girds Canaans south-east side But more the Lord preserves and guards his owne From ghostly ill and from aetheriall pride From terrene sprites from Hell and what is knowne To plague the soule he is a bulwark strong Fens'd with good Angels free all his from wrong Then happy they can creep within this Tent And sheltrage seek under his mercies wings Sigh for thy sinnes O! let thy soule repent Thy misdemeanour to the King of kings First grieve then weep last seeke thy Saviours face Let teares implore for teares can plead for grace Kinde were these teares which Josephs love had spent When with his brethren he his brother saw His heart surchargd with joy it shrunke as shent To plunge that deep which Benjamin did draw But loe moe teares were shed one with another When Joseph said Behold I am your brother Feare not said he the strict Aegyptian law Though to the Ismaelites my life you sold For what was done was done by God I knaw No spight of yours his providence behold Foresaw your need and brought me here to be A father to my Fathers miserie There five yeares famine yet shall worke your woe Wherein ag'd Jacob and his race may starve Unlesse he flit then get you up and go To fetch him downe faile not in this nor swerve They went he came all met in melting joyes For passions have extreames as bairnes have toyes Since Nature then in floods of teares can melt For joy of sight to overjoy their love Much more our teares when we remorse have felt For sinne shall glade the powers in Heaven above These tears are blest and make us blest for ever For godly grief from grace no crosse can sever Let patient Job be paterne in like case Whose losse was such as never yet was none Yet shrunk he not sound stedfast love took place Faith forc'd his hope and both proclaim'd in one Sure my Redeemer lives and he is just Though he should kill me yet in him I 'le trust Mine eyes shall see him and he will me save As I am confident he will not faile Sterne rough calamitie would me deceave But that 's a shade my purpose must prevaile In God my soule is fixt nought can dismay me Nay death it selfe nor Satan can betray me See! here the Columne of a lively faith The type of Christ in meek and milde behaviour His friends they slight him he contemnes his death And in his miserie still avowd his Saviour This was a love excell'd all loves on earth For Christ he lov'd who lov'd him ere his birth Then how hate I my selfe if I love not My loving Lord who lov'd me from his love He truely loves who for thy sake I wot Loves thee and himselfe for thee this we prove All kindes of love without thy love breed loathing Unlesse we love them for thy sake they 're nothing Great king of glory all thy works invite Us to love thee since thou first loved us As starres do from the Sunne take light and heat For from that fulnesse we the like discusse How can our soules thine Jmage want the sight Of thy bright love whose love is perfect light Lord we do all depend upon thy love Because our being had of thee beginning Next thou preserves us as we rest or move And art our end controlls us when a sinning All what we have we have receiv'd from thee And what we want thou wilt the same supply O God of love thy nature is all love In love more glorious than the sunne in light Thou art an infinite fire from above Which here enlightens with its beames each wight A fire of love a loving fire we finde A light not burnes a flame not quels the minde O Lord if thou thy tender love withdraw And from us slips one step to turne thy back Are we not dead in sloth and sleep no awe But each temptation shall presage our wracke Then Lord uphold us since all worldly things Are ever changing tyme their ruine brings To day we live the morne to grave we 're sped We sight this world as birds by gazers glyde As dreams evanish so our dayes are fled Like water bubles as soone quelld as spyde Thus heart-grown man ingorgd with pryde and lust He posts and posts to death then turnes in dust To argue on corruption that subverts The good we would and choaks our best desires It is a senslesse appetite perverts The light of reason with entangling fires A head-strong blinde irregulary ill That captives wit and wounds both sense and will It s strong in all infirmities injust Still fraile in goodnesse weak in sound conception It s rull'd by nature and her daughter lust Which blinds the light of knowledge with deception Like pitch corruption blacks the purest soule And where it comes makes ev'ry clean thing foule It takes best hold on imbecillitie And where that fortitude deficient is It dare not wrestle with dexteritie Nor count with Temprance one defective misse Much like a Ruffian or a Theefe by night It loves and lives in darknesse more than light Corruption many wayes may be defind To be a Hydra neck'd Herculian snake Stop'd at the eye it compasseth the minde Barr'd from the soule the heart it soone will take Say if the eare be deafe the hand will feele And if it smell not it can taste too well Corruption rules most states and office places In Church and
then his back could beare Then great was that sad burden Jesus bore In soule and body to exstirpe this curse His Fathers wrath our punishment therefore Our endlesse doome eternall his secourse His agonies our happinesse implord His bloody sweet our detriments restord As in a garden first our sinne began So in a Garden our redemption sprung That in like place where Adam the first Man Was by the Serpents craft exactly stung So so in Gethsemaine the Lord of light Triumph'd o're sinne put Satan to the flight Then Christ is that pure glasse wherein we spie Our wants our faults or what amisse is done Within instruction without examples lye Here death proclaimd and there salvation The lists are set then how can we come in But by repentance sorrowing for sin How precious were these tears of Magdalen Who washt Christs feet with eye-repenting drops Yea with her haire did dry these feet agen And kiss'd them with her lip-bepearled chops Last did anoint them with a costly oyle For which the Traitour Judas checkd such spoile Thrice sacred worke but more blest oyle and teares Spent in the presence of her soules Redeemer To expiat sinne Whom now the dead endeares To be a Saint for so did Christ esteeme her And for which love its memorie should last From age to age till all ages be past Besides her owne salvation she became A dayly follower to her Lord and Master Yea ministred things needfull fed zeales flame With heavenly food whereof she was a taster Nay to his death and grave she never left him And witnesse bore how thence his Godhead reft him Came not kinde Mary weeping to this grave To looke for Christ but could not finde him there The Angell spoke and ask'd Whom would you have Said she To see my Lord is all my care But he 's not here alas he 's stolne away And where he 's laid I know not nor what way The winding-sheet she found clos'd at both ends And close by the Tombe side she sate her downe She sought she felt she search'd and still suspends He was and was not there back to the towne She bends her face yet staid and cry'd and wept My Lord is stolne whom souldiers watch'd and kept The heavie stone roll'd back which fourty men Could scarce advance yet where 's my loving Lord I 'le runne and tell let the Apostles ken What villanies this night the Jews afford Yet gone she soone turnd back love masterd heart For from the Sepulchre she would not part Nor did darke midnight fright her nor the sight Of two bright Angels set at either end Of his interrement nor their words afright Her mourning zeale whose scope did deeper tend To seeke the Lord who gave her light and grace And till she found him would not leave the place At last Christ in a humane shape appear'd Whom she mistooke and for a Gardner deemd Said he Why wepst thou whom seekst thou she feard Said Tell me if thou stole him us redeemd Then Jesus nam'd Mary she turnes about And cry'd Rabboni with a joyfull shout This lessons us that when we fast or pray We should not faint but hope our suite shall speed He 'le come and come in time though he delay Our suite he 'le grant though we mistake the deed Then Mary-like let faith charge hope and do it Faile not be instant grace shall bring thee to it Christ from the worldly wise and great kept back These mysteries which silly ones did see And why his will did this poore woman take To witnesse that he rose and rose on hie That by his resurrection we might rise To cut the clouds and rent the azure skies As mines of gold and silver still are found On barren Hills and scurrile fruitlesse parts So faith so feare so zeale Religion sound Are chiefly plac'd and fixt in pooremens hearts Did not Christs wisedome this foresee and choosd The scummes of Nature whom the world refusd Lord grant with Magdalen I spend my teares With sighing sadnesse to implore thy pittie That when my conscience shall be void of feares I then may know thou hast destroy'd my dittie Speake peace I pray thee to this soule of mine Since what I have is all and onely thine As fire reserves two properties well mixt The one to warme the other light to shoe So mercy hath two branches better fixt Love to give peace and pardon to forgoe For pittie rules the helme and Mans distresse Craves calme in midst of stormie wickednesse Like so are troubles th' whetstone that doth square Stress'd hearts with prayer humble them most low Why cause adversities they still prepare The soule with patience to sustaine the blow All crosses to the just their well intend The cause being Christs their suffrings in him end Thou Joy of joyes sweeter farre than sweetnesse Thy mercy is that balme which heales my sores Thou peace and pittie oynt my wounds with wetnesse No drouth of sinne can chink my weeping gores Why cause each sinne begets a source of teares When sinne evapourats then grace appeares Then pardon fraught with pittie stops the Font Lest sorrow melt the soule in anxious sadnesse Deep sobs and windy sighes above they mount Whence they returne surcharged with godly gladnesse No finne so sterne but mercy can suppresse it If with repenting grief we but confesse it Lord save me from presumptuous sinnes and save My soule from sinnes desert mercy is thine All my transgressions kinde remission crave They lye before thee though the fault is mine Begging for pardon pardon they implore And in my frailnesse guiltinesse deplore A wounded conscience who can beare that load O racking sting that galles the quivring soule All sweet chastisements of thy gentle rod Are cleansers for to purge our errours foule But this mad grief contracts a gnawing worme Tempestuous whirlewindes of an endlesse storme What quick evasion shall my flight contrive To hide me from thy face what way or where If in the depths I drench lo thou canst dive If to the utmost coasts lo thou art there What umbrage Cell or Cave the world about Can menascond but thou wilt finde me out Above else deep beneath or here below Thy presence is Then whither shall I flee There is no point but that point thou dost know Though smaller than the smallest haire can bee No rocks nor hills nor darknesse can me night Nor blacknesse vaile from thy all-seeing sight Then in a word there 's no refuge for me But flye to thee whose sight I can not shunne To beg for peace and grace to mortifie My sinfull lusts before my glasse be runne Lord let mine eyes distill like melting sleet Or Marie-like who washd with teares thy feet It is the minde and not the Masse thou seeks My sprit is thine and longs to be refinde By it thou knowst my secreet wayes and creeks Whether I be to good or ill inclinde My soule 's the Ruther of my journey
againe the Lord of life As irne in fire cast takes fires nature And yet remaineth irne though fram'd what than So he who in Gods love doth burne that creature Partakes his holynesse abiding man For love seals up Gods counsels ends the law From which we sinners cords of mercy draw Love is the roote of vertue and the childe Of grace Truths mistresse and religions glasse The soule of goodnesse in perfection milde The crowne of Saints that conquer Paradise The joy of Angels O! what springs of love Flow from the Lamb for us and our behove Ingratefull Man contemner of thy good Can thou not back-bestow thy debt-bund love To him for thee did shed his precious blood And though rebuk'd yet would he not reprove Why did he fast weep watch and labour take In basenesse and contempt but for thy sake Then be not like that plant Ephemeron Which springs and growes and fades all in one day But plead remorse beg for contrition Mourne for thy sinnes make haste prevent delay In this my self shall to my self returne He best can weep that knowes the way to mourne I rather seem'd than been religious set Having Jacobs voice and Esau's rough hands I make profession practise I forget My better zeale hypocrisie commands I Serpent like do change my skinne but not Disgorge the poison lurkes within the throate Vice I have us'd under a vertuous seeming And like the sea though rivers in it fall Yet not the sweeter or like Pharaohs dreaming The leane kine yet were leane when eaten all Stay then dry soule where are thy Teares what springs Should thy pale eyne cast out when sorrow sings I meane not childrens teares when whipt for aw Nor mundane teares for losse of trash or geare Nor spightfull teares which would revenge downe draw Nor teares of grief for them concerne us neare Nor teares for death nor teares for what disasters Nor teares for friends nor wives teares for men wasters Nor drunken teares spent after sugred wine Which women waste to colour imperfection Nor Dalilahs fained teares to undermine The strong mans strength by way of fals detection Nor Sinons teares the Trojane state betrayde With the wooden horse Ulysses wit bewrayde Nor faigned teares the Crocodilean sexe Do spend I meane their husbands to deceave Nor these Courtegian teares that love to vexe Their sottish Palliards and their meanes bereave Nor teares of pitty mercy beg from men That 's not the drift of my obsequious pen Looke to thy lapses and quotidian falling Then try thy conscience if remorse creeps in Which if it doe thou art brought to this calling Of godly weeping for the guilt of sinne These tears are blest and such mine eyes would borrow But not these tears which melt for worldly sorrow Lord strengthen me with knowledge of thy word Square thou my judgement I may walk upright An intellective Heart my soule aford Endue my sprite with supernatrall light Faine would I slaughter sinne that would me slay And learne thy truth Lord teach me thy right way Confound in me this all-predominant sinne Which overrules my reason sense and will One head-strong vice that lurkes and lyth within The inmost center of mine utmost ill Lord curbe its force and purifie my soule From such uncleannesse for its wondrous foule Grant grant remorse let godly sorrow show My full-swolne sight my brinish tears my sadnesse Come sowre repentance let sweet contrition know The mourning woes of my rejoycing gladnesse What though that grief at morne worke me annoy Yet long ere night thou'le turne my grief in joy The best man lives hath one predominant ill Oppos'd to the best good he can effect The worst man breaths though curs'd pervers'd of will Hath some predominant good he doth affect Even either answering contrare to their kinde Seeme to resemble what they never finde Lord what am I whose best is even accurst Who with thy Convert is of sinners chief A sharde unsav'rie of thy works the worst Unlesse thy grace renew me with reliefe Lord will my well prepare my heart give eare If faith can call O! thou canst quickly heare The poore which almes seeks he gets not aide For any need the giver hath of him But even because he hath of us great need So we by faith on Christian steps must clim For God of his great love he freely gives us And without need of man he still relieves us A Cynick came and ask'd the Syrian king Antigonus a dram of silver coyne But he reply'd it was too base a thing For kings to give or lend so small aloane Said Cynick then I would a talent crave But that 's too much for thee said he to have Thus two extreams were both extreamly met But it s not so with God and sinfull men The more we seeke the more we 're sure to get God of his bounty is so good that when We mercy crave he grants it gives us grace Our wills and wayes may in his precepts trace Lift up my falling minde Lord knit my heart With cords of love and chaines of grace to thee As Jonathans three arrows did impart To Davids woes true signes of amitie So rouze my sprite let grace and goodnesse spell Mine Annagram I LOVE ALMIGHTY WEL O! if I could byte off the head of sinne As the shee Viper doth the male confound But not like her whose brood conceiv'd within Cut forth her wombe leave her dead on the ground Lord grant I sinne may slay ere sinne slay me The wounds are deep my health consists in Thee Lord when I ponder on this worldly pride Vaine glory riches honour noble birth Great lands and rents faire palaces beside Pastimes and pleasures fit-thought things on earth Without thy love and in regard of thee They 're nought but shaddows of meere vanitie All under sunne are Emblems of deceit Link'd snares to trap blind man in ev'ry vice They 're feather'd baits prest grines that lye in wait To catch the buyer unvaluing their pryce Then carelesse soule take heed prevent this danger Lay hold on Christ and be no more a stranger Gods will allots that my past curious sights In painfull prime all where the world abroad Should be repaid with as darke cloudie nights Of sorrows sad for now I finde the rod Sicknesse and crosses compasse me about Whence none but Christ can help or rid me out Listen to me as to thy Lazar poore That 's overstamp'd with seals of scabs and sores Both vile and wretch'd lyth at thy mercies doore Begging for crummes of pitie and implores That thou wouldst open with Lydia my heart And make me Sauls dear second thy Convert Thy lengthning hand is now no more cut short Than in old times of wonder-working dayes But thou canst turne and safely bring to Port The wilsome Wandrer from his sinfull wayes O then great Sheepherd pitie a lost sheep And bring me home safe in thy fold me keep Thou art the vine I am the
a strong excuse He knowes I know enough that can misknow The thing he knowes it s well in knowing so Well said Alphonso knowledge to expone That all what we could learne by sight or show By airts by science by books to study on Was the least part of that we did not know All what we know we know but in a part And that failes oft corruption rules the heart What thou canst know another doth know more And what he knowes is but a glimpsing glance Who perfect is nay none who can deplore His weaknesse ruld by counsell not by chance Mans knowledge like the shade is swallowed soone That hangs between its substance and the Moone He knowes the ill and in that knowledge rude And cleaves to vice as wooll and briers are knit Resolv'd to erre misknowing what is good Rejects his soule then in a frantick fit Neglecting God neglects his owne salvation And quaffing excesse drinks his owne damnation How Lord these faults behelpd teach me to mourne That being humbled I may call for grace Let men presumptuous gainst thy judgements spurne And in the pudle of their labours trace Save thou my soule for now my quivering heart 'Twixt feare and hope stands trembling at sinnes smart A second Jonah from thy voice I flee And with shrunke Peter I thy name deny I Ahab-like keep spoiles of sinne for me And harbour lust in Lots ebrietie These lookes that fell from Sion on a Pond Were not so foule as mine nor halfe so fond Unworthy I to lift mine eyes above Or that the earth should beare me undevour'd Nay nor my friends on me to cast their love Nor saints pray for me hath the truth deflourd Yet what God will it needs must come to passe He looks on what I am not what I was Let grace take roome that mercy soone may follow Renew my sprite O cleanse my heart from ill Thy blood can purge me though my guilt be hollow Faith and repentance have a piercing will Infuse thy power Lord strengthen me to turne Once to rejoyce and never more to mourne As Daniel with thy servants three forsooke To feed on Babels delicates and wine But water and poore pulse they gladly tooke And yet their faces did for beauty shine Lord grant with them all worldly snares I may Forsake and learne to trace thy law thy way That kingly beast or beastly king expos'd Seven yeares to fields nev'r faild so much as I Nor these five kings by Joshua enclos'd Brought forth and foot-neckd shamefully did die Nev'r vex'd him more for they their lands defended Than I am griev'd for having God offended That Goshan flight to a desartuous soile Through uncouth way deep seas laid up in heaps Nev'r reft from Egypt such a swallowed spoile With greater right for now my soule it weeps Then Gods just judgements might on me befall Unlesse his mercy soone prevent my fall These wandrings long which Israel did recoyle Tost to and fro in vast Arabian bounds Full fourty yeares they spent for twelve dayes toyle Starv'd slaine and quell'd still galld by savage wounds This crosse they bore for grieving God so oft But ah my sinnes for plagues do cry aloft Now having seene rude Lybians nak'd and bare Sterne barbrous Arabs savage Sabuncks od Sword-sweying Turkes and faithlesse Jews alwhere Base ruvid Berdoans godlesse of a God Yet when from me on them I cast mine eye My life I finde farre worse then theirs can be The rustick Moorish sterne promiscuous sexe Nor Garolines idolatrizing shame The Turcomans that even the Divell doe vexe In offring up their first-borne to his name Nor Jamnites with their foolish Garlick god Are worse then I nor more deserve thy rod Yet Lord with Thee there 's mercy and its true Thou art not wonne with multitude of words Its force of tears from us thy pitie sue Which thou regards and pardon us afords For words are formed by the tongue but tears Speak from the heart which thou most kindlie heares Use then few words O silly soule but weepe This is the heavenly language and strong voice That calls to God for he our teares shall keep Fast bottled in his pittie Makes the choise Of teares few words let sighs and sobs display Thine inward grief then tears beginne to pray Lord thou wouldst not to Herod speak nor yet Would answer Pilat urgd by humane power But soone thou spoke when weeping women set Their eyes on Thee and streames of teares did powre These Judges sought advantage for thy dittie But Sions daughters weept for Thee in pittie These great mens words did reach but to thine eares But their warme drops did pierce Thee to thine heart Lord thou takes care on them and on their teares Who mourne for others when the righteous smart But farre more pittie on the sinfull soule That mournes for sinne and wailes her errours foule Oh! that my head were waters and mine eyes A source of teares to weep both day and night The peoples sinnes with theirs mine owne disease Which greater growes than I to beare have might Such flouds of teares would then my grief disclose In airie vapours flanck'd with watrie woes This world 's a valley of perpetuall teares And what 's the Scripture but a springing well Of gushing teares flow'd from remorse and feareâ— For godly sorrow must with Mourners dwell And who can mourne unlesse that grace begin To worke repentance this grief expiats sin All night could David wet with tears his couch And Prophets for the faults of Israel mourne But ah good God when shall mine eyes avouch Such happy teares that may with Thee sojourne If not thy judgements yet thy gracious love Might melt mine eyes and Ponds of sorrow move Thou saidst I will compassion have on all That pleaseth me compassion for to show Be pleas'd thy love may me redeeme from thrall Free will to pardon thine the debt I owe How soone soev'ra sinner should repent him Thou swore in truth thou wouldst no longer shent him Lord grant my minde may second these my words And not invent more then I practice can If I deficient prove good will afords My sacrifice obedience is the man Did not Abraham this point paternize Whose purpose was held for a sacrifice David resolv'd on Sions lower flat To build a Temple for the living Lord A daughter cloure joynd with Jehosophat Benorthd with Moriahs squink devalling bord The Lord accept'd the minde his thought was to it And said Thy sonne but not thy selfe shall do it The widows myte was thankfully receiv'd Good wills a sacrifice this seldome failes The will although the purpose be deceiv'd Is not to blame the good intent prevailes The Lord accepts even of the least desire We have to serve him though we faint or tire When Jacob had twice ten yeares Laban serv'd Yet Laban would have sent him empty gone But he who serves the Lord though he hath swerv'd Shall not misse
turne a stumbling block We were but twelve and one hath him betraide And I as worst have sworne I knew him not Mov'd by the voice of a weake womans throat O! that a Drudge should thus prevaile 'gainst me Who serves for wage to him the Altar serv'd A slendrer weed could no poore Hireling be And yet o're me shee triumphs I have swerv'd This was Gods will and now it s come to passe To show my weaknesse with a weaker lasse It s strange two Drudges made me falter thrice With quivring oathes and shivring words deny The Lord of life How could such hounds surprise My sted fast love and not with him to die No Judge controll'd me yet two slavish snakes Fill'd me with feare with it my Lord forsakes How fraile was I and fragile to succumbe Mine hopes unto such Wranglers void of grace I might have silence kept and so sit dumbe Till Cajaphas had tryde me having place But I a Weakling to a stragling sound Forsooke my vow and did my selfe confound A silly fisher wretch no lesse he thought Was I when God from slaverie did me call And now to shrunke infirmitie am brought Worse then Judaick law from Christ to fall Who me select'd to leave my nets and when He said Thou shal'st a fisher be of men How shall I answer make what shall I doe His sighs thus sobd for groanes and melting eyes Were all his words Or what 's my kindred too So base neare Sydon borne that my degrees By birth were nought but fisher men and fooles The scumme of Nature liv'd by warbling tooles Was I a chosen Vessell thus to shrinke When erst in Gethsemane my sword I drew And now beginnes to flatter lye and winke Yea failes and falls with words and oathes untrue I might have with my fellow flyers fled But I would follow and forsake my Head Love bade me venter feare bade me stay back Faith forcelesse fled a farre I followed on him Poore fainting I though forward now falls slack I went to see what doome they gave upon him Where courting Cajaphs fire O snaring sinne Warming without too cold I grew within I might have fled to hide me in some cave But curious I would swallow shame and feare Could I sustaine his crosse his death and grave To suffer that which nature could not beare All helpfull he would he crave help unto it Nay fond was I to thinke that man could do it Alone would he O! all sufficient he Straight undergoe his fathers hote displeasure Both God and Man our Lord behovd to be So weighty was that wrath laid up in treasure For sinfull man but he all-conquering he Triumph'd o're Hell got us the victorie My Lord but spoke Whom seek yee O strong power And backwards fell the Sergeants on the ground He knew confess'd it was their time his houre For so his love to mankinde did abound That as by Man all flesh accursd should dye Even so by Man all should redeemed bee Was I not witnes to his word and deed His miracles and mercies workes of loue The Dumbe did speake the Deaf did heare the dead Hee raysd to lyfe the Criples straight did moue The Palseyes Paraliticks withred hands Hee helpd and heald the blynd their sight commands Was hee not Christ the Lambe the sonne of God! Whom I confessd even face to face afore My soules Messias who bore that heavy loade Of Indignation sinners to restore Both sacrifice and Sacrificer plight A wondrous mercy set before my sight For which vile worme how could my lips deny The Lord of glore my life my love my light VVas he not there and was not I hard by VVhen that his looke gave me this sorrowing night Yet when my soules sharpe eyne saw what was done My carnall eyes in floods of teares did runne Faith wrought repentance grace laid hold on grace My bitter streames like brine extreamly gush'd I wrung my hands and knock'd my breast apace VVhilst sighes sad sobs from deep-fetchd groanings rushd Then joy appeard my conscience was assurd The fault was pardond and my soule securd Thus Peter shrunke his soule was humbled low Not like to Popes who his succession claime He sorrowing fell and made contrition show That he had faild So did himself disclaime From first election and from former grace And causd remorse give sad repentance place Then teares O bitter teares relenting woes And airie vapours from salt-raining eyes Made windy sighes and trembling groanes disclose His lip-lost fall the cause of his unease Thus teares are blest which godly sorrow brings Each drop doth serve thy soule to heaven for wings Though teares distill and trickle downe thy cheeks So vanish quite and seeme to thee as lost Their aire ascends thy heart to God then speaks He harbours all and is a gracious host The Font he loves and that 's remorse for sinne VVhich his grace works before thou canst beginne Lord frame my vvill to thine and forme my heart To serve and feare thee magnifie thy name In this obedience thou mayst grace impart For from thy favour I must comfort claime Grant me thine invvard peace refresh my minde With sparkes of love let sighs thy mercy finde All Mortals are by nature miserable Then mourning is the habit vve should vveare Who sinne deplores his case is comfortable Yet none can shunne prest natures sorrovving feare Flee vvhere thou vvilt thou shalt not finde reliefe Though thou changst place thou canst not change thy grief This life is but a Font of springing teares Weeping vvee come into this vvorld vvith cryes And vveeping vve go out fraught full of feares There 's nought but sorrovv in our journey lyes For vvhilst vvithin this vaile of teares vve bide We 're load vvith mourning griefe is Natures guide Jacob been ask'd by Pharo of his age Reply'd that fevv and evill vvere the dayes Of his abode in fleshly pilgrimage He gave this life no better stile nor praise Then sure vve're strangers vvandring here and there On this vvorlds stage each acting lesse or mair Nay vve are pilgrimes here tost to and fro There 's no place permanent on earth belovv Our dvvelling is above then let us goe To th' heavenly Canaan vvhere all joyes flovv Jerusalem Jerusalems above A glorious staunce vvhere sits the King of love It s not Judeas citie built with hands The holy grave and Calvarie containes With Moriah where Sal'mons Temple stands Nor Sions seat where Davids Towre remaines Nor Pilats Hall with farre moe relicks rare This City is eternall great and faire Nor is it compass'd with Jehosophat â—nd on the south with strait Gehinnons valley Nor on the north with Ennons den halfe flat Nor wall'd about lest Arabs it assaillie This Citie is impregnable and more It s fenc'd about with everlasting power â—deed like Olivet it overtops â—his squink Hebraick citie and excells â—llearthly Mansions which destruction lops â—ith fatall ruine O what sounding knells Fall from this
stings I le lay about the Ruther of my minde To keep a safer loofe and thirle the winde What rapt coelestiall forceth my desire To be dissolv'd my soule may mount aboue To see these joyes that blesse that glorious hyre Which Saints enjoy lifes ever-springing love My hope resumes I might as happy rest In pleasures there as they are happy blest Now I returne good God turne thou to me As Travellers who have been long abroad Are forc'd by love their soile and friends to see No rest till then their hearts the way have trode So I 'me estrangd my Countrie is above Heaven is the place thou Lord my light my love Great is the glory of thy glorious face Enstall'd with Angels Saints and Martyres gone Set fore the Throne with legions of each race Singing applauses to that blessed One The Lambe of Love our Advocate thy Sonne Who by his death wrought our Salvation Fixe fast my thoughts to the tree of thy crosse Draw all the forces of my soule to Thee Lift up my heart let me renounce the drosse And dregs of ill let me aspire on hie And walke 'twixt feare and love in all my deeds As thou 'twixt justice and mercy proceeds Thy vertues are for us sufficient great Like as the Sunne it shines the World all where Yet ev'ry man enjoyeth so much heat As if it shinde to him in proper share So are thy graces infinite and we Enjoy the fruits of their felicitie But what our lives are short so are our dayes Except in troubles miseries alace Our continuance certaine in uncertaine wayes No time of death is knowne to us nor place Gods will is so to have us still prepard And set on watch lest that our steps be snard Each minutes life steps forward to sterne death And ev'ry act robs some part of our life Like him who sailes in ships and action hath In toylesome paines yet forward flees his strife We can not twice returne in Natures state 'Cause time runs post and can make no retreat My Sunne of life hath his Meridian past And plungd I am in th' after-noone of age The night of Nature fastens on me fast And death waits closse to pull me from this stage But Lord thou wilt not leave my soule in grave Let ly the Corps they 'le once conjunction have Now having sung of deep remorse and teares Lord save me from these weeping teares of Hell Which grief declares and ever-gnashing feares For losse of joy and sense of horrours fell Who would not here a few spent teares disclose Shall there be waile in floods of bitter woes As sea-bred fishes never saltnesse wed But still their bodies stay both sweet and fresh So grant my soule that 's with corruption cled May live as pure not medling with the flesh But sinne begins first in the sillie soule And ends into the body base and soule What shall I say when mans rot in disease And ulserd sore the Phisitian draws neare To give him pills and potions worke his ease And lets him blood he may his health endure Much more Christs bloud can purge and cleanse the soule Of all uncleannesse pardon what is foule Then to great Jove the mighty King of kings I le prostrate fall on my low bended knees To beg for mercy mercy comfort brings And joy of sprit works peace from gushing eyes So Lord of Lords sweet Christ what I would have Is knowne and showne I call I cry I crave Now by these words whom seek you and confession By thy breath made the Sergeants backward fall By that care rouzd thine slumbring in digression By thy pangs in Gethsemane one and all By that power and patience fore Anne exprest By that prophecie of Cajaphas the Priest By that deep agony of bloud and sweat By these sore scourgings spittings on thy face By these rough nailes piercd thy hands and feet By all these mockings done thee for disgrace By that sharpe speare which smote thy tender heart By that Viniger thou drunk and gall of smart By that crowne of thornes thrust on thy bare head By these blood sprinklings downe thy face that fell By that heavy Crosse on thy shoulders spread By thy descending downe in earths dark Cell By that great power of thy great resurrection By thine ascension O profound election By thy five bleeding wounds I thee implore And by the vertue of thy death and passion By that purple Roabe forc'd in scorne thou wore By all these taunts these Ruffians spent for fashion Nay by that superscription wrote for news Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews By thy nativitie and incarnation Yea by these words Mother behold thy Sonne And Sonne Behold there thy consolation Go live and live in peace live both as one Nay by this moode for heavie was thy load Why thus forsakst thou me my God my God By thy baptisme fasting humiliation By all thy miracles and wonders done By these teares thou shed and transfiguration On Tabor seene As thou art Christ Gods sonne Save shield and shelter my designes my wayes For my souls health and thine eternall praise Nay by and for and from thy selfe I beg For pittie grace and pardon free remission Of all my sinnes O cleanse me the least dreg That lurkes within my Temple thy possession Let all be cleane Lo there 's the totall summe My soule implores come now Lord Jesus come Great King of ages Monarch of all times Thou first and last is was and ever blest Redeemer unredeemd Purger of crymes Thou Light of lights thou Mans sole-soveraigne rest Encrease in me thy Sprit infuse thy grace Confirme my heart show forth thy loving face Sweeter than hony or the hony Combe Life light and love all goodnesse peace and grace Sonne of Mercy that in blest Maries wombe Incarnate was left Heaven thy Mansion place Where now thou art and art all where Come see My heart my help my health depend on Thee In Thee I rest Lord sanctifie my hope In Thee I trust Lord fortifie my faith In Thee I grow Lord fructifie my scope In Thee I walk Lord rectifie my path In Thee I stay in Thee I live and die In Thee I move in Thee above I flie Lord grant thy grace may make these TEARES so blest And blesse them all shall them peruse for blis That godly griefe may in their blessings rest Remorsefull soules whose teares implore for this LORD pittie me LORD pardon my TRANSGRESSION Lord cleanse my HEART Lord blesse thou this CONFESSION FINIS Applicâ— on anâ— vocatiâ— â—mble 〈◊〉 The Creators greâ— love towards 〈◊〉 his creatures â—rists 〈◊〉 love Love co quers hâ— ven 〈◊〉 conâ—ions distinâ—ion twixt â—orldly â—d godly â—ares The repugnancâ— of ill and good â—ntrary 〈◊〉 Thewo is a map of evils â—hrists â—res over â—rusalem We shâ— not desâ— but hoâ— for meâ— Impeneâ— trable counsel the â—orks of â—ation 〈◊〉 of manâ— â—ds â—orks â—evv his â—odhead â—ns inâ—mities Mans beauty summers blossome â—elf-love â—ules the â—orld Sinne and the causes of sin Mans life awarfare Deceitful greed Jonah disâ—ered â—ul conâ—ed Gods omnipotency Repugnant comparisons The â—eaknesse â—nd â—hanges of â—ur nature An objection between man and beast The pang of Hell Prayer and meditation two heavenly exercises The effects of prayer Christs wounds our healtâ— The instabilitie 〈◊〉 man Wicked men delite to make the simple sinne Moments pleasures eternall paine Will overcomes reason Sighes anâ— teares are holy sacri fiâ—es The godly â—ometime all and â—e recalld Joshua's gratefulnâ— to Rachaâ— Jesus at Jericho saved Zacheus â—acelesse â—quence â—rd obduâ—nce Worldly wisedome â—nd pride 〈◊〉 Saikles erâ—vie retorâ— reply Wormes are sepulchrall mates Man headlong falls The lake Maronaâ— fathers Jordan Godly teares saving grace â—obs patiâ—ce and â—nstancy Love the Lord for his loves sake Gods loâ— our life The breâ—itie of life Corruption corrupteth all things The povver anâ— varieties 〈◊〉 corruptioâ— The vicissitude of fortune Noah first set vines and first was drunk with it Lots drunkennesse begot incest The shame full effects of drunkennesse Beasts and Philosophers condemne excesse No perfection in humane knowledge Great defects in greatest Saints Daniels dainties poore mens plenâ—es â—ges â—e better â—en bad â—ristians In prayer use few words and many teaâ— Christs silence and patience Davids teares wet his couch God accepts the will for the deed Christ is our Physician The insolencie of youth Delay in repentance is dangerous Youth and age are disagreeing Continencie by Pagans commended A brief tract of bitter repentance Peters confession Peter reprehending himself Peters tears consummated in peace The blessed fruits of godly tears Mortalitie is miserable Mans a pilgrime here Our heavenly Jerusalem Sions tears Sions beauty Sions crosses Sinfull â—ust suddain darknesse Plenty of mercy â—hrists â—ssion â—r salvaâ—on Magdalenâ— teares Christ reveals himself to Mary Magdalen Fire hath two properties Ther'si no flying from Gods presence God â—aves the heart Greed breeds enâ— A contempt of riches The immortall substance of the soul The misery and shortnesse of life Frailtie and falling follow man The varieties of vanitie â—gratefull â—ildren to â—ed paâ—ts Elemental changes The present miseries of Christendome The craftinesse aâ— cruelty of Rome Compariâ—ons of â—reedome â—om sin The Jewish tears on Babilons banks Correction begets awe Short and evil are our dayes Athens made the mother and miâ—our of miseries The inconstancie of worldly pride Ambitious Xerxes bewailing the brevitie of life This lifâ— is loaden with croâ—ses the flatâ—ry of â—ourts Sions prosperities prayed fâ— The Sun â—ines on â—e good â—d bad Our day nor time can never returne â—rist is â—r Phyâ—ian The sufferings and passion of Christ
THE GUSHING TEARES OF GODLY SORROW CONTAINING The Causes Conditions and Remedies of Sinne Depending mainly upon Contrition and Confession And they seconded with Sacred and Comfortable passages under the mourning CANNOPIE of TEARES and REPENTANCE MATTH. 5. 4. Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted PSAL. 126. 5. They that sow in teares shall reape in joy By WILLIAM LITHGOVV EDINBURGH Printed by ROBERT BRYSON ANNO DOM 1640. At the expences of the Authour TO THE TRVLY NOBLE MAGNANIMOVS AND ILLUSTRIOUS LORD IAMES EARLE OF MONTROSE Lord GRAHAME Baron of MURDOCK c. Illustrious LORD IF gratefull duetie may be reputed the childe of reason then doubtlesse my choisest wishes and best Affection must here fall prostrate before your auspicuous and friendlie face fast chayned in the fetters of obedience Flatterie and Ingratitude I disdayne as hell And to court your Lo with elegant phrases were indeed as much as who would light a Candle to light the Sunne Your Noble and Heroicke Vertues light this Kingdome and who can give them light For as the Aurore of your honoured reputation is become that Constantinopolitan Hyppodrome to this our Northrene and virgine Albion so lykewise the same singularitie of worth hath raised your auspicuous selfe to be the monumentall glorie of your famous and valiant Predecessours iustly tearmed THE SWORD OF SCOTLAND Your morning of their Summers day hath fullie enlarged the sacred Trophees of their matchlesse memorie best befitting the generositie of your magnanimous minde That as the GRAHAME from long antiquitie being the most ancient surname of this unconquered Nation so they your old aged Ancestors have left a lineall construction of their Valour and Worthinesse to bee inherent in your most hopefull personage which God may long continue to you your Race and your Posteritie My humble request pleads the continuance of your favour that as your late renowned Grand-father and Father were unto mee both friendlie and favourable proceeding from their great goodnesse not my deserts so expect I the same from your tender bountie which hitherto beyond my merit hath beene exceeding kyndlie manifested For the which my prayse and prayers the two sisters of myne Oblation rest solidlie ingenochiated at the feete of your conspicuous Clemencie This present worke in its secret Infancie was both seene and perused by your Lo but now enlarged polished and published I have done my best though not my uttermost The discourse it selfe runneth most on the causes conditions and remedies of sin and they sharply linked in generalls and particulars The whole substance of my labours sealing vp the happinesse of a sinners conversion to God under the mourning Cannopie of Teares and Repentance The lynes are plaine yet pithie and although the subject may carrie no loftie nor Poëticke style yet themanner the matter the Man and his Muse are all and only yours and I left theirs onlie to serve you and your noble disposition Accept therefore my good Lord both the gift and givers minde with the same alacritie as I offer them in Love and humilitie which being shelterd under your pious and prudent Patronage shall enforce mee to remaine as I vow ever to be whilst I have being Your Honours most obsequious and most observant Oratour WILLIAM LITHGOVV The Prologue to the Reader THou mayst peruse this worke with kynde respect Cause none my good intention can controule The style may not the subject beare defect Some Painter will the fayrest face drawe foule Excuse myne age if faultie blame my quill Defects may fall and not fayle in goodwill My Muse declynes downe styde her loftie straynes And hoarie growes succumbing to the dust Old wrung inventions from industrious paynes Draw to the grave where death must feede his lust Flesh flye in ashes bones returne to clay Whence I begunne there must my substance stay Goe thou laborious pen and challenge tyme For memorie to all succeeding ages In thy past workes and high heroicke ryme And pregnant prose in thryce three thousand pages Yet dye thou must and Tyme shall weare thee out Ere seaven tymes seaven worne ages goe about But Vertue claymes her place and prostrate I Must yeelde due honour to her noble name Shee taught mee to take paynes it s done and why To make her famous in her flying fame A Sculler may transport a royall Queene As well as Oares and both their safeties seene Trust mee my paynes contend for to bee playne No style Poeticke may this subject clayme Touch but Vermilion you shall see a stayne No fiction may averre a sacred Theame Nor dare Panthoas Cynthias herball flowre Be seene nor spread till rolling Phoebus lowre Then read misconster not but wisely looke If I divinely keep a divine stile Which done thou mayst take pleasure in this booke An Infant from devotion bred the while Like treatise I before neere wrote excuse This new borne birth from mine old aged Muse See! here in generals thou mayst observe The cause of sinne sinnes remedy salt teares Where sharpe particulars for repentance serve To blazon wickednesse and wicked feares What here is done to thee to me to all May be apply'd as each one findes his fall Yet who can stop base Critick tongues to carpe For Atheists shall and Epicures repine So scoffing fooles on strings of scorne will harpe To see this myte a part of mine engyne But silly Gnats worse bred then Berdoan beasts I slight their spight my Muse in Sion feasts Would thou contend with me who best should write On choice of Theames selectâ—d between its twaine I could abide thy censure take delite In thy defects to censure thee againe Since thou sits dumbe and cannot bite but barke Peace hold thy peace else show me thine owne wark But zealous eyes may come come and come soone To read this Task if pleasd Lo I have done To the godly and good Christian a fellow suppliant in Christ WILLIAM LITHGOVV THE GVSHING TEARES OF GODLY SORROW SPring sweet coelestial Muse launch forth a flood Of brinish streams in cristall melting woes Rain-rill my plaints then bath them in Christs blood Let pearling drops my pale remorse disclose Sink sorrow in my soule divulge my grief Who mourns and mourns in time shall finde relief I can not reach to what my soule would aime But help good God my weaknesse and support My bashfull quill O! teach me to disclaime My self and cleave to thy all-saving Port Touch thou my heart so shall my lips recoile Thine Altars praise to sing sins utmost spoile Thrice blest is he who mournes he shall rejoyce Whilst godly sorrow shall encrease his joy Lord heare my cryes remarke my weeping voice Blesse thou this work let grace my heart imploy That what these Tears aford in this plain storie May tend to my souls health and thy great glorie Great Son of the great God fulnesse of time Whom Heavens applaude whom earth fals down before The promis'd Pledge whom Prophets most sublime Foretold to come our Lord the Son of
his reward nor go alone The Sprite of grace shall second him and love Shall fill his soule his faith shall mount above Then forward go so runne you may obtaine Great is the prise hold out the journeys end Keep course and runne thou'le get a glorious gaine He who endures shall onely there ascend Rise eare when young and runne betimes then do it Who gets the start and holds shall first come to it The journeys long the path is strait and thornes Ly in the way to prick thee on both sides Sinne like a Traitour hourely thee subbornes To misse the marke and blinde thee with crosse guides Yet constant runne runne on and be not sory So runne thou mayst obtaine a crowne of glory We see for a light prise a man will runne His utmost speed and often loose his paines That Caledonian hunter never wonne By strife of foote a hare was all his gaines But he who runs this course shall earne a treasure The butte of Heaven must be his marke and measure Then blest is he keeps dyet for this race And fits his soule to take coelestiall physick Faith is the compound and the potion grace Christ the Physician mercy our soules musick Then pardon seeks our suite last love crownes all And raignes with glory rivalls in one saule For this prepare thy selfe since our short dayes Are but a blast and yet our longest time Is scarce a thought Looke what experience sayes That space 'twixt wombe and Tombe O falling slyme Is but a point then see and not suspend A happy life must have an happy end Our day of death excells our day of birth And better wer 't with mourning folks to live Than like to fooles that in the house of mirth Would passe their time and would that time survive Relenting cryes all times more needfull growes Than laughing feasts blest are all godly woes How vaine are frolick youths to spend their prime In wantonnesse and slouth lust galling joyes They quite forget the substance of base slime Till rotten age ramverse their masked toyes And then diseases hang about their bones To plague their flesh with sores their hearts with groanes The concupiscence of youths sqink-laid eye Which lust begets and inflamation brangles â—s but the bait invelops luxurie To follow practice custome still entangles The eye supports the thought the thought desire And then corruption sets delight on fire Yet youth remember in thy dayes of youth Thy sole Creator remember thou must die â—est that these dayes may come when helplesse ruth â—hall say No pleasure in them thou canst see Remember in thy youth O youth remember Thy Christ and Maker thou maist be his member â—hall youth take pleasure in vaine wantonnesse And with his fleshly lusts go serve the Divell Then when growne old in midst of rottennesse Would turne to God and shunne his former evill This can not be when thou canst sinne no more Thou wouldst serve God whom thou didst hate before â—are thou example take of the good thief Nay Christ was once for all but sacrifiz'd This can not ground thy faith nor lend relief That one Thiefs mercy thine is paterniz'd Can thou repent at will choose time and place Nay that falls short its God who gives the grace â—s any sure when death shall call him hence Nothing more certaine more uncertaine too Time place and how concernes Gods providence Then arme thy selfe take heed what thou shouldst do Bridle thy youth amend thy life repent Such fruit is pleasant from thy spring-tyde sent The morne is cooler than the sun-scorch'd day The tender juice more sweeter then old sap The flowry grasse more fresh than withred hay The floorish fairer than the Tronke we trap So dayes of youth more sav'rie are to God Than crooked age all crooked wayes have trode Would thou live well and live to live for aye Beginne at God obey his word and law Love feare and serve him make him all thy stay Honour thy Parents of the Judge stand awe And neighbour love conserve But ah this age Can show none such but rot with lust and rage The fin-flowne Dolphin after flying fish Nev'r swim'd so swift as youth hunt after lust They dip presumption in a poysond dish And fearlesse tumble in a fearfull gust They wrestle not to wrest but strives with strife To humour pleasures in their head-strong life It s incident to youth to mock old age And usuall too for age to jeere at youth The one he dotes the other playes the page A fondling foxd with wantonnesse and slouth Yet age is best because experience schooles him And youth is worst 'cause vice and pleasure fooles him Then 'twixt them both the golden meane is best Neither too young nor doting dayes are good Yet happy both if faithfully they rest With confidence fixt on their Saviours bloud For it can purge the old of what is past And cleanse the young post after sinne so fast Both Timothie and Titus othersmoe Of rarest worth though young their youth-head chaind In cords of temperance made vertue grow In fortitude by which they glory gaind Nay Alexander in the prime of youth Was wondrous chast till strangers taught him slouth The Persian manners spoild him But behold What good Aurelius said the Romane King If I were sure that lust were not controld Nor punishd by the gods above which ring Yet for the fact it selfe I will disprove it Cause why its filthy base and who can love it Would God! that younglings and the fry of nature Could so resolve and play the Pagans part Yea old and young and ev'ry humane Creature In this were blest to take these words to heart Then modestie should live Religion flourish And good example one another nourish A noble youth been askd whether he went Reply'd he to the house of teares did go To mourne with Mourners that he might lament And learne to weep when he did older groe If hethnicks can show Christians such instruction Our blind-set eyes had need of their conduction Who sowe in teares shall surely reape in joy For godly griefe shall blessednesse inherit They who thus mourne and thus their soules imploy Are firmely shelterd under Jesus merit Who shall transchange their griefe in glorious gladnesse True happinesse expells all sorrowing sadnesse Blest were these teares were spent neare Cajaphs house By Peter griev'd for imbecillitie Brought downe so low he was nought could arrouze His hope for pardon of infirmitie Yard-closde alone he weept and wofull hee With dolefull cryes thus spoke on flexed knee Have I would he have said deny'd my Lord With triple oathes before the Cocke crew twice Which he foretold ah feare my faith had smord His looks accusd me I had done it thrice Was it not I who vowd with him to die And now forsworne I from my Master flee Was I not Cephas lately thought a Rock And now the tongue of a base serving maide Hath made me shrinke and