That I must walke the Gospell for to know 14 Then I began the English tongue to learne My vowels and my Letters for to spell And in mine yeares I somewhat could discerne How Latin writers English doe excell Who can compare with Horace Virgil and Homer which hath all vnder his command 15 In which mine yeares I many sinnes committed Through ignorance against my Soueraigne Lord All those I hope through Christ are cleane remitted As also those were done by my accord As I to knowledge afterward increased Sinning I sinn'd from sinning I nere ceased 16 But still prouokt the Lord of Hosts to ire And had no care his Statutes to obey The Stipend due for sinners is hell fire And those that from their Maker runne astray Let them be sure to feele his scourging Rod He is a iust a wise and louing God 17 The death of Sinners he doth not desire But that they would returne and follow grace It 's true repentance that he doth require That they may see his glory face to face And praise his glorious name with one accord With singing Halleluiah to the Lord. 18 My Infancie and Childhood being past My Youth and Manhood posting on with speed Still I my faults and sinnes behind me cast And would not see them vntill vtmost need Compel'd me from this wicked kinde of life Where was continuall wars and deadly strife 19 Betwixt my Spirit alwayes ready prest For Gods Seruice contrary to euill And my weake flesh continually opprest Hauing conflicts with the World and Diuell Being thus bagirt with foes on euery side Vnto thy mercy Seat I come to hide 20 My sences are inueloped in sinne The waight whereof into Hell would sinke me When on the wicked life I haue liued in And Hels torments I begin to thinke me Oh how I am perplext with griefe of minde My troubled Conscience can no comfort finde 21 With Dauid now I am enforst to crye I am a worme of men the very scorne My helpe on thee O Lord doth still relie And haue done euer since that I was borne In time of old age off doe me not cast Nor yet when strength doth faile me at the last 22 The Sabbaths which thou vnto vs dost giue Commanding vs it holy for to keepe Giuen as a signe or else wee should not liue Amongst the flocke of thy elected sheepe Who so defiles thy Sabbaths sure shall dye Wert not for mercy Lord euen so should I. 23 For I thy Sabbaths often haue prophaned And spent them vildly to thy abusing Against thy holy name I haue exclaimed Vnder colour of my faults excusing I went to Church Gods holy word to heare But was exempt from all Paternall feare 24 The subtile Serpent subtiller then the rest Of all the beasts which the Lord God did make Hee cunningly doth creepe into my brest And the good sowne seed away doth take Pleasures of Sinne also choake many seeds Which nere sprung vp puld down by vicious weeds 25 I lookt for Sundayes to no other end But take my pleasure in pastime and play In doing so I was not my owne friend The aged Counsell I would not obay But ran at pleasure to drinke and carouse In some by place or in some tipling house 26 I car'd not where if that I liquor had For to content and please my fianticke Braine I car'd not greatly where 't were good or bad If so I were in a right roring straine A roring straine yea that 's the terme we vsed Whereby Gods day and name was much abused 27 Yet in this Sinne I neuer was alone But had Copartners alwayes lesse or more For them and I and all I make great mone And pray that they nor I doe so no more Who so doth vse it let him marke me well It 's both the High-way and the Gate to Hell 28 This sinne is odious in Iehouahs sight He doth abhor the person and the Crime VVith th'instrumentall meanes that gaue them light Also the place the season and the time Yet some doe seeke this sinne for to extenuate But yet it doth the vsers life abreuiate 29 VVho hath wo babling sorrow who hath strife But those that follow wine and drinke their fill Of wine that 's mixt ohtis a drunken life To spend their dayes so wicked and so vile Let them be sure God will strike home at last Though he forbeare his anger is not past 30 With true repentance Lord I come to thee And hearty sorrowing for my former sinne In mercy Lord vouchsafe to looke on me To lead a new life now I will begin Grant me thy grace I beseech thee therefore My idle wayes I may hate and abhorre 31 Forgiue me Lord the sinnes I haue committed Against thee both in word in deed and thought Hauing done euill but the good omitted VVhich in thy sacred Scriptures thou hast taught Godly repentance worketh to saluation VVhereby wee shall be freed from condemnation 32 Forgiue me Lord for mercy now I call Blot out my sinnes no more them thinke vpon Before thy Mercy seat I prostrate fall And begge thee bury them in obliuion Mercy good Lord mercy I mercy craue Hoping throgh Christ that thou my soule wilt saue 33 Farewell all sinfull pleasures of my youth Thrice farewell to the exercise I haue vsed VVhich long hath caus'd me to erre from the truth Both God contemned and his Lawes abused Farewell I say thrice farewell and adue Too long God knowes I haue been led by you 34 For twenty yeares and vpward I haue led A wicked life displeasing vnto God On worldly vanities I haue still fed For which I doe do serue Gods scourging Rod Except his Mercy his Iustice ouercome I must expect a dismall day of Doome 35 My life was sinfull Lord I doe confesse it Spare them O Lord that doe their faults confesse As it was sinfull now I will redresse it And from those errors euer will I cease Then mercy on me take heare my complaint Of a vild Sinner make me a glorious Saint 36 Being with sinne poluted and defild Which cann't be clensed without Christ his bloud In whose sight I a Sinner am most vild Which was shed for vs all to doe vs good Yea for vs all which in time doe repent That we Gods future anger may preuent 37 There is no bondage like to that of Sinne Where neither Body nor yet minde is free To slauish seruitude we are kept in When as our Soules bereft of libertie From that bondage good Lord deliuer me That I may sing continuall praise to thee 38 My Soule from out of prison Lord then bring As Dauid prayed in like wise doe I Thy Song in a strange Land how can I sing I would bee set at freedome willingly Freedome each Creature gladly doth require And to be free from sinne is my desire 39 Three enemies we haue with all to fight Which doe incite vs euill to commit
MORTALITIES MEDITATION OR A DESCRIPTION OF SINNE With a Definition and plaine setting forth of Mans three chiefest and greatest Enemies to wit the WORLD the FLESH and the DIVELL Written by WILLIAM HALL Gutta cadent lapides non vi sed saepe cadendo Sic homo fit Doctus non vi sed saepe studendo In English thus By often falling not by force doe raine the stones make soft So Man 's made learned not by force but it s by studying oft Nemo sine Crimine viuit Imprinted at London by Aug. Mathewes for Beniamin Fisher and are to be sold at his Shop in Pater-noster Row at the Signe of the Talbot 1624 TO THAT COVRTEOVS GENTLEMAN AND MY much respected Friend M. IOHN LOVVE Iunior Esquire WILLIAM HALL humbly dedicates the Buds and Blossomes of these is first Fruits wishing all Honour during this Life and after Death Life eternall I Haue presum'd to Dedicate this Booke To you on which if you 'l vouchsafe to looke And if you please kindly to accept it And from all slanderous tongues to protect it Then at your feet I prostrate my Burden If you accept it I haue my guerdon In loues vnlimited and lawles Band I vnto you so farre obliged stand That if I should the Age of Nestor liue I satisfaction to you should not giue For vndeserued kindnesses receiuing Which makes me thankful whilst I 'ue life breathing For trusty friends are scarce to be gotten Hard to be kept but nere to be forgotten Amities chiefe breach is Ingratitude But vnto that I 'le not be seruitude And in requitall of the loue I owe My weake Inuention on you I le bestow Some litterate Pamphlet better you befits Then the Inuention of my shallow wits Yet kind Sir read them although rude they be Iudge with iudicious eyes and you shall see My vntun'd verse but yet my Muse is free And so vnto the end she meanes to be I 'le not insinuate flatter lie nor faine My wit in Paper ca'nt your worth explaine Still striue with vertue for to be superiour Deiect and throw downe vice as your Inferiour Goe on in Vertue as you haue begun That godly Race vnto the end out-run Then shall you be belou'd of all good Men Here stayes my Muse and here shall rest my Pen. Your Worships to command in what he may WILLIAM HALL To the Courteous and vncourteous Readers REaders reade iudge and then say what you will All 's one to me whether it bee good or ill If you speake well for that I am your Debtor And iâ— this be not well I would 't were better But if you speake ill of it all is one To cry you mercy I le ne're make my mone For ill mens tongues they say no slanders are Therefore say what you will and doe not spare I must confesse my Muse is young and tender And this is all he scuse that I can render This is the first time shee did euer write Therefore with currish words doe not her bite Lest in her budding you doe spoyle her growth If that you should doe so I should be loth Giue her no ill words with good words her nourish That shee in time may grow and bud and flourish Yours as you are his WILL HALL THE AVTHOR TO HIS BOOKE NOw Farewell Booke trauell the Word so wide Hauing no Tutor Truths thy only guide From enuious tongues Truth will still defend thee To good and bad mens Iudgements I commend thee Mortalities Meditation or a Description of Sinne. 1 I That as yet nere tasted one poore drop Of the Castalian Liquor nor as yet Did ere mine eyes behold Pernassus top How should my vnderstanding then beget Nay or begin and frame my Pen to write Since I my selfe knows not how to indite 2 Your helpe Oh sacred Muses I must craue But not the blotting of Apolloes Pâ—n By any meanes I must nor will not haue But simply of mine owne inuention then And industry some simple worke I le make Since I haue gone thus farre to vndertake 3 Cicero I want thy learned eloquence And Mars thy stout and valiantnes of heart And likewise Sol thy shining influence To accommodate me and to take my part Against enuious tongues that seeke to shame me And belying me oft-times doe defame me 4 My Inke congeales vnwilling to fulfill My Hand vnsteady Palsie-like doth shake My Memory is dull and I want skill For to set forth that which my Mind should speake Obliuiousnesse doth so my Braines possesse That what I should I forget to expresse 5 Of Tilts and Triumphs my Muse shall not sing Ne wars nor wonders wrought within the ayre Nor how Tamberlaine did Baiazet bring Conquered by him in the Turkish warre And carried by him in â—n Iron Cage To bee a Spectacle vnto that Age. 6 Nor yet of ancient Stories will I write Nor trauellers that goe beyond the Cope As did Parismus Huon and the like Nor such as sacrifice vnto the Pope Hel-hounds they are that denye their Maker The Diuels friends but the Lords forsaker 7 But of a meaner Subiect will I treate That which I know is true I will reueale And all the Follies of my Youth repeate There 's nothing hidden that I will conceale And rip the target of my troubled heart Which long haue caus'd my wounded soule to smart 8 And hauing then laid open to your sight A Mappe of all my foule enormious Crimes Committed both by day and eke by night In all places all seasons at all times Now I le begin my dolefull Song to sing And hope the same to good effect to bring 9 But if I faile I pray spare not to iudge But passe your censures on me how you will I care not though you owe to me a grudge Speake what you will I care not good or ill Now once againe my song I will begin No Song of Songs but it 's a Song of Sinne. 10 For since the time that I was first conceiu'd Within the wombe and entrailes of my Mother Before I was into the world receiu'd Sinne was my Father Sister and my Brother Being borne in sinne in sinne I liued still And vnto pleasure only gaue my will 11 Who vrg'd and prickt me alwaies to goe forward And follow still the same I had begun Saying I was a goodly Child and toward But yet this pleasure I did seeke to shun Who luld and rockt my senses fast asleepe Which since hath caus'd me many times to weepe 12 To see that pleasure ouercame me so For I no Reason had it to withstand But when I saw it was my deadly foe I would no longer liue at her Command But threw her slauish yoake from off my necke And then began my follies for to checke 13 Which long time had bâ—reft me of my sight That I at no time any good could see It kept me vnder in most slauish spight Vntill the Lord was mercifull to me Opening my eyes to me the way did showe
Our head is the Receptakle of sinnes And first receiuer of vngodly deeds Yea the head Fountaine where all vice begines Vpon mans bodie greedily it feeds And like the horse-leach still doth cry giue giue Seldome forsaking men whilst they doe liue 65 Our memory with dulnesse is possest Especially in hearing of thy word For that wee seeke not which should please thee best But follow vanity with one accord We quite forsake that which being vnderstood At present time would proue our future good 66 Our eyes spectators on iniquity The gate and entrance to the inward man Delight wee take to gaze on vanity But seldome satisfied doe what we can Wee greedily desire what we doe see Longing to haue it although ill it be 67 Our eyes should be imployd to better vse The sacred Scripture with them we should read But oft we doe neglect and still refuse The way that we a godly life might lead We run the way that is composd of euill Following which path we walke vnto the Diuell 68 Our eares are open blasphemies to heare And all reuilings ' gainst Gods holy name And gainst his Christ which all our sinnes did beare To free vs from that euerlasting paine To vs belongeth both shame and confusion To which wee are led by Sathans illusion 69 Like the deafe Adder wee doe stop our eares Yea deafe and dumbe almost our selues we faine The Charmers voyce we doe refuse to heare Charme whilst he will his charming is in vaine Though he charme wisely wee don 't it respect He and his charming both wee doe neglect 70 To talke of Riches of wealth and glory To heare of newes of merriment and sport To passe our time in things transitory To this whole flocks of people will resort With great attention all will hearken to it Though it be ill actors enough to doe it 71 Our mouth the Chamber of vngodlines Our lips the Roofe which doth that hose couer Through which all emitable beastlines Proceedeth forth which doth our liues discouer And shewes the wicked life we haue liued in Which to amend wee neuer doe begin 72 Our teeth's a hedge fos that vnruly member Which do we what we can it will breake out To haue a care of him we must remember For in vaine he too fast will run about The tongue is a good member if well vsed But it 's the worst we haue if that abused 73 That godly Prophet holy Dauid sayes As with a bit he will his mouth keepe fast Looke to his tnngue take heed vnto his wayes And speake not till the wicked ones be past Yea from good words he also did refraine Although to him it was both griefe and paine 74 Scurrility we alwayes ought to flye And not with cursings once our mouthes defile All beastly idle talke and blasphemy Wee from our mouthes should vtterly exile Paul doth will vs lying to put away And each man to his neighbour truth to say 75 It s written wee a iust account must giue Of euery idle word that we doe speake But yet alas how vainly doe we liue And neuer care how we Gods Statutes breake For by our words wee iustifide shall be Or else condemn'd to liue in miserie 76 A righteous mouth is like a Well of life From the which many godly streames doe flow A wicked mouth is alwayes fild with strife Which nought but wrath and violence doth show Knowing the best the same we ought to choose And from the worst refraine and it refuse 77 Euery member of vs that 's within With wickednesse is so repleat and stuft Wee are so soone tempted vnto each sinne And with security we be so puft If we consider how we are opprest We neuer should liue quiet nor at rest 78 Sinne is a foe externall and internall Eternally heereafter it will shame And bring vs into the Lake infernall Which still doe burne in continuall flame Both soules and bodies shall be there tormented If in life time our sinnes be not repented 79 Truth thou requirest in the inward parts We should performe as much as in vs lies Create in vs both new and contrite hearts Such ones O Lord which thou wilt not despise Grant wee may be amongst the sheepe elected And not amongst the Goats to be reiected 80 Our hearts are harder then an Adamant Gods Law nor word we at no time will heare So obdurate that we cannot recant Our wicked life nor of God stand in feare We nere obey but disobey him still And doe prouoke to wrath Gods holy will 81 Yet God is iust in all that hath beene done Vnto vs sinners euery thing is right But we contemned haue God and his sonne And wickedly haue wee done in his sight Yet Lord forgiue vs our sinnes wee thee pray Thy heauy hand of Iustice from vs stay 82 Our mind so eleuated is with pride Our selfe-conceipt doth puffe vs vp on high Our equalls and inferiours we deride Against our betters oft-times we inueigh What we affect to be good we approue Though it be hurtfull yet the same we loue 83 Modesty is a bridle to raine backe This swift wingd pride swifter then a swallow Our appetite to it wee should keepe slacke For if we giue way sure it will follow If that we let it run his full Careere Ore soules and bodies it will donineere 84 What things we doe we must of it esteeme So that in it no pride at all we take Better then wee are we ought not to deeme Our selues but from all errors to awake He that thinkes himselfe wise in 's own conceit Doth like a foole fill his heart with deceit 85 Humility a curbe to keepe vs in Much like a Snaffle nay rather a Bit Which doth with-hold vs from that deadly sinne And keepe vs that we doe not it commit Who humbleth himselfe like vnto a Child Of Heauens Ioyes shall not be beguild 86 Like weaned Children we should vs behaue Haue no proud lookes nor yet no scornfull minde If that we doe intend our soules to saue These misdemeanors wee must cast behind Our smallest thoughts on it we must not spend On Elohim should all our hope depend 87 The pleasures of the flesh are manifold Yea numberlesse they cannot be accounted Which causeth all to sinne both young and old Our sinnes the sands in number haue surmounted In number more then the haires of our head Such an impious Course of life we haue led 88 Now hauing thus describ'd each seuerall sence Throughout mans body in which sinne doth raigne Which oft is coloured vnder good pretence Of godlines from which we doe refraine We take no paines nor care the Lord to serue The least of 's mercies we doe not deserue 89 We neuer thanke God for what he hath done Creating vs after his Image right And redeeming vs with Christ his deere Sonne To sanctifie vs with his holy Spirit By our workes we expect