golden Causie and a Road That 's leuell pleasant that is euen and broad But leads at length to death and endlesse griefe To torments and to paines without reliefe Iustice feares none but maketh all afraid And then falls hardest when 't is most delaid But thou reply'st Thy sinnes are daily great Yet thou sitt'st vncontrold vpon thy seat Thy wheat doth flourish and thy barnes doe thriue Thy sheepe encrease thy sonnes are all aliue And thou art buxom and hast nothing scant Finding no want of any thing but want Whil'st others whō the squint-e'yd world counts holy Sit sadly drooping in a melancholy With brow deiected and downe-hanging head Or take of almes or poorly beg their bread But Young man know there is a Day of doome The feast is good vntill the reck'ning come The time runnes fastest where is least regard The stone that 's long in falling falleth hard There is a Day a dying Day thou foole When all thy laughter shall be turn'd to Doole Thy roabes to tort'ring plagues and fell tormenting Thy whoops of Ioy to howles of sad lamenting Thy tongue shall yell and yawle and neuer stop And wish a world to giue for one poore drop To flatter thine intolerable paine The wealth of Pluto could not then obtaine A minutes freedome from that hellish rout Whose fire burnes and neuer goeth out Nor house nor land nor measur'd heapes of wealth Can render to a dying man his health Our life on earth is like a thrid of flax That all may touch and being toucht it cracks ¶ As when an Archer shooteth for his sport Sometimes his shaft is gone sometime 't is short Sometimes o' th' left hand wide sometimes o' th' right At last through often triall hits the White So Death sometimes with her vncertaine Rouer Hits our Superiours and so shootes ouer Sometimes for change she strikes the meaner sort Strikes our inferiours and then comes short Sometimes vpon the left hand wide she goes And so still wounding some she strikes our foes And sometimes wide vpon the right hand wends There with impartiall shafts she strikes our friends At length through often triall hits the White And so strikes vs into Eternall night ¶ Death is a Kalender compos'd by Fate Concerning all men neuer out of Date Her dayes Dominicall are writ in blood She shewes more bad dayes then she sheweth good She tells when dayes and months and termes expire And shewes thee strange aspects of fearefull fire ¶ Death is a Pursiuant with Eagles wings That knocks at poore mens dores and gates of Kings Worldling beware for lo Death sculks behind thee And as she leaues thee so will Iudgement finde thee THE ARGVMENT Within the bowels of the Fish Ionah laments in great anguish God heard his pray'r at whose command The Fish disgorg'd him on the Land Sect. 7. THen Ionah turn'd his face to heau'n and pray'd VVithin the bowels of the VVhale and sayd I cry'd out of my balefull misery Vnto the Lord and he hath heard my cry From out the paunch of hell I made a noyse And thou hast answer'd me and heard my voyce Into the Deepes and bottome thou hast throwne me Thy Surges and thy VVaues haue past vpon me Then Lord said I from out thy glorious sight I am reiected and forsaken quite Nath'lesse while these my wretched eyes remaine Vnto thy Temple will I looke againe The boyst'rous waters compasse me about My body threats to let her pris'ner out The boundlesse depth enclos'd me almost dead The weedes were wrapt about my fainting head I liu'd on earth reiected at thine hand And a perpetuall pris'ner in the Land Yet thou wilt cause my life t' ascend at length From out this pit O Lord my God my Strength When as my soule was ouer-whelm'd and faint I had recourse to thee did thee acquaint With the condition of my wofull case My cry came to thee in thine holy Place Whoso to Vanities themselues betake Renounce thy mercies and thy loue forsake To thee I 'le sacrifice in endlesse dayes With voyce of thanks and euer-sounding praise I 'le pay my vowes for all the world records With one consent Saluation is the Lords So God whose Word 's a deed whose Breath's a law Whose iust command implies a dreadfull awe Whose Word prepar'd a Whale vpon the Deepe To tend and waite for Iona's fall and keepe His out-cast body safe and soule secure This very God whose mercy must endure When heau'n and earth and sea and all things faile Disclos'd his purpose and bespake the Whale To redeliuer Ionah to his hand Whereat the Whale disgorg'd him on the Land Meditatio septimu I Well record a holy Father sayes He teaches to denie that faintly prayes The suit surceases when desire failes But whoso prayes with feruencie preuailes For Pray'rs the key that opens heauen gate And findes admittance whether earl ' or late It forces audience it vnlocks the eare Of heau'nly God though deafe it makes him heare Vpon a time Babel the Worlds faire Queene Made drunke with choller and enrag'd with Spleene Through fell Disdaine derraigned Warre ' gainst them That tender Homage to Ierusalem A Mayden fight it was yet they were strong As men of Warre The Battaile lasted long Much bloud was shed and spilt on either side That all the ground with purple gore was dyde In fine a Souldier of Ierusalem Charissa hight the Almner of the Realme Chill'd with a Feuer and vnapt to fight Into Iustitia's Castle tooke her flight Whereat great Babels Queene commanded all To lay their siege against the Castle wall But poore Tymissa not with warre acquainted Fearing Charissa's death fell downe and fainted Dauntlesse Prudentia rear'd her from the ground VVhere she lay pale and sencelesse in swound She rubb'd her temples lost in swouny shade And gaue her water that Fidissa made And said Cheare vp deare Sister though our foe Hath ta'ne vs Captiues and inthrall'd vs so We haue a King puissant and of might Will see vs take no wrong and doe vs right If we possesse him with our sad complaint Cheare vp wee 'l send to him and him acquaint Timissa new awak'd from swound replies Our Castle is begirt with enemies And clouds of armed men besiege our walls Then suer Death or worse then Death befalls To her who ere she be that stirres a foote Or dares attempt this place to fally out Alas what hope haue we to finde reliefe And want the meanes that may diuulge our griefe Within that place a iolly Matron won'd With firie lookes and drawen-sword in hond Her eyes with age were waxen wond'rous dim With hoary locks and visage sterne and grim Her name Iustitia hight to her they make Their moane who well aduis'd them thus bespake Faire Maydens well I wot y' are ill bedight And rue the suffrance of your wofull plight But Pitty 's fond alone
are Of sumptuous beautie and of glorious show Let him disrobe and put on sackcloth too The Oxe ordain'd for yoke the Asse for load The Horse as well for race as for the road The burthen-bearing Cammell strong and great The fruitfull Kine and eu'ry kind of Neate Let all put sackcloth on and spare no voyce But crie amaine to heau'n with mightie noyse Let all men turne the Byas of their wayes And change their fiercer hands to force of praise For who can tell if God whose angrie face Hath long bin wayning from vs will embrace This slender pittance of our best endeuour Who knowes if God will his intent perseuer Or who can tell if He whose tender loue And mercy ' extends his Iudgements farre aboue Will change his high Decree and turne his sentence Vpon a timely and vnfain'd Repentance And who can tell if God will change the lot That we and ours may liue and perish not So God perceiu'd their works and saw their wayes Approu'd the faith that in their works did blaze Approu'd their works approu'd their works the rather Because their faith and works went both together He saw their faith because their faith abounded He saw their works because on faith they grounded H' approu'd their faith because their faith was true H' approu'd their works because on faith they grew He saw their faith and works and so relented H◠approu'd their faith and works and so repented Repented of the plagues they apprehended Repented of the Euill that he intended So God the vengeance of his hand with-drew He tooke no forfeiture although 't were due The Euill that once he meant he now forgot Cancell'd the forfeit bond and did it not Meditatio decima ¶ LO into what an ebbe of low estate The Soule that seekes to be regenerate Must first decline Before the Ball rebound It must be throwne with force against the ground The Seed cannot encrease in fruitfull eares Nor can she reare the goodly stalke she beares Vnlesse bestrow'd vpon a mould of earth And made more glorious by a second birth So fares with Man Before he can bring forth The braue exploits of truly noble Worth Or hope the granting of his sinnes remission He must be humbl'd first in sad contrition The plant through want of skill or by neglect If it be planted from the Sunnes reflect Or lack the dew of seasonable showres Decayes and beareth neither Fruit or Flowres So wretched Man if his repentance hath No quickning Sunne-shine of a liuely Faith Or not bedew'd with show'rs of timely teares Or works of mercy wherein Faith appeares His pray'rs and deeds and all his forged grones Are like the howles of Dogs and works of Drones The skilfull Surgeon first by letting blood Weakens his Patient ere he does him good Before the Soule can a true comfort finde The Body must be prostrate and the Minde Truly repentiue and contrite within And loath the fawning of a bosome Sin But Lord Can MAN deserue Or can his Best Doe Iustice equall right which he transgrest When Dust and Ashes mortally offends Can Dust and Ashes make Eternall mends Is Heau'n vniust Must not the Recompence Be full Equiualent to the Offence What mends by mortall Man can then be giu'n To the offended Maiestie of heau'n O Mercie Mercie on thee my Soule relyes On thee we build our Faith we bend our eyes Thou fill'st my empty straine thou fil'st my tongue Thou art the subiect of my Swan-like song Like pinion'd pris'ners at the dying Tree Our lingring hopes attend and wayte on thee Arraign'd at Iustice barre preuent our doome To thee with ioyfull hearts we cheerely come Thou art our Clergie Thou that dearest Booke Wherein our fainting eyes desire to looke In thee we trust to reade what will release vs In bloudy Caracters that name of IESVS ¶ What shall we then returne to God of Heau'n Where nothing is Lord nothing can be giu'n Our soules our bodies strength and all our pow'rs Alas were all too little were they ours Or shall we burne vntill our life expires An endlesse Sacrifice in Holy fires ¶ My Sacrifice shall be my HEART entire My Christ the Altar and my Zeale the Fire THE ARGVMENT The Prophet discontented prayes To God that he would end his dayes God blames his wrath so vnreprest Reproues his vnaduis'd Request Sect. 11. BVt this displeasing was in Iona's eyes His heart grew hot his blood began to rise His eyes did sparkle and his teeth struck fire His veines did boyle his heart was full of yre At last brake foorth into a strange request These words he pray'd and mumbl'd out the rest Was not O was not this my thought O Lord Before I fled Nay was not this my Word The very Word that these my lips had shaped When this mis-hap mought well haue bin escaped Was there O was there not a iust suspect My preaching would procuer this effect For loe I knew of old they tender loue I knew the pow'r thou gau'st my Tongue would moue Their Adamantine hearts I knew 't would thaw Their frozen spirits and breed relenting awe I knew moreo're vpon their true repentance That thou determin'dst to reuerse thy sentence For lo I knew thou wert a Gracious God Of long forbearance slow to vse the Rod I knew the power of thy Mercies bent The strength of all thy other works out-went I knew thy tender kindnes and how loth Thou wert to punish and how slow to wrath Turning thy Iudgements and thy plagues preuenting Thy mind reuersing and of Eu'll repenting Therefore O therefore through this perswasion I fled to Tarsish there to make euasion To saue thy credit Lord to saue mine owne For when this blast of zeale is ouer-blowne And sackloth left and they left off to mourne When they like dogs shall to their vomit turne They 'l vilipend thy sacred Word and scoffe it Saying Was that a God or this a Prophet They 'l scorne thy Iudgements thy threats despise And call thy Prophets Messengers of lyes Now therefore Lord bow downe attentiue eare For lo my burthen's more then I can beare Make speed O Lord and banish all delayes T' extinguish now the tapour of my dayes Let not the minutes of my time extend But let my wretched howers find an end Let not my fainting sprite thus long aby In her fraile mansion of mortality The thrid's but weake my life depends vpon O cut that thrid and let my life be done My brest stands faire O strike and strike againe For nought but dying can asswage my paine For liefer 'tis to dye then liue in shame For better 't is to leaue and yeeld the game Then toyle for what at length must needs be lost O kill me for my heart is sore imbost This latter boone vnto thy seruant giue For better 't is for me to dye then liue So wretched Ionah But Iehoua thus What boot's it so to storme out-ragious Does it become
stay awhile this thing would first be knowne Can Ionah giue himselfe and not his owne That part to God and to his Country this Pertaines so that a slender third is his Why then should Ionah doe so great a wrong To deale himselfe away that did belong The least vnto himselfe or how could he Teach this THOV SHALT NOT KILL if Ionah be His life 's owne Butcher What was this a deed That with the Calling he profest agreed The purblind age whose workes almost diuine Did meerely with the oyle of nature shine That knew no written Law ne yet no God To whip their conscience with a steely Rod How much did they abhorre so foule a fact When led by Natures glimpse they made an Act That what man e're is so vnnaturall To kill himselfe should want a buriall Can such doe so when Ionah does amisse What Ionas Isr'els Teacher and doe this The Law of charity doth all forbid In this thing to doe that which Ionah did Moreo're in charity 't is thy behest Of dying men to thinke and speake the best The mighty Samson did as much as this And who dare say that Samson did amisse If heau'nly Spirit whisper'd in his eare Expresse command to do ' t then likewise heare Who knowes of Ionah whether yea or no A secret Spirit will'd him to doe so ¶ Sure is the knot that true Religion tyes And Loue that 's rightly grounded neuer dyes It seemes a Paradox beyond beliefe That men in trouble should prolong reliefe That Pagans to withstand a Strangers Fate Should be neglectiue of their owne estate Trusting their liues vpon a twyny thread And dauntlesse daunce about in dangers dread Where is this Loue become in later age Alas 't is gone in endlesse Pilgrimage From hence and neuer to returne I doubt Till reuolution wheele those times about Chill brests haue staru'd her here and she is driu'n Away and with Astraea fled to heau'n Charity that naked Babe is gone Her hony's spent and all her store is done Her winglesse Bees can finde out ne'r a bloome And crooked Ate doth vsurpe her roome Nepenthe's dry and Loue can get no drinke And curs'd Ardenne flowes aboue the brinke Braue Mariners the world your names shall hallow Admiring that in you that none dare follow Your friendship 's rare and your conuersion strange From Paganisme to Zeale A suddaine change Those men doe now the God of heau'n implore That bow'd to Puppets but an houre before Their Zeale is feruent though but new begun Before their egge-shels were done off they run As when bright Phoebus in a Summer tide New risen from the pillow of his Bride Enueloped with misty fogges at length Breaks forth displayes the mist with Southern strēgth Euen so these Mariners of Peerelesse mirrour Their faith b'ing vayl'd within the mist of errour At length their Zeale chac'd ignorance away They left their Paganisme and 'gan to pray ¶ Lord how vnlimmited are thy Confines That still pursu'st man in his good designes Thy mercy 's like the dew of Hermon hill Or like the Oyntment dropping downward still From Aarons head to beard from beard to foot So doe thy mercies drench vs round about Thy loue is boundlesse Thou art apt and free To turne to Man when Man returnes to thee THE ARGVMENT They cast the Prophet ouer boord The storme alay'd They feare the Lord A mighty Fish him straight deuoures Where he remayned many howres Sect. 6. EVen as a member whose corrupted sore Infests and rankl's eating more and more Threatning the bodies losse if not preuented The Surgion after all faire meanes attempted Cuts off and with aduised skill doth choose To lose a part then all the body lose Euen so the Mariners perceiuing all Their labour spent and the effect but small And of necessity that all must dye If Ionah leaue not their society They tooke vp Ionas and with one accord And common ayde threw Ionas ouer boord Whereat grim Neptune wip't his fomy mouth Held his tridented Mace vpon the South The windes were whist the billowes daunc't no more The storme allay'd the heau'ns left off to rore The waues obedient to their beheast Gaue ready passage and their rage surceast The skie grew cleare and now the glorious light Begins to put the gloomy clouds to flight Thus all on suddaine was the Sea tranquill The heau'ns were quiet and the Waues were still As when a friendly Creditour to get A long forborne and much-concerning debt Still plyes his willing debter with entreates Importunes dayly dayly thumps and beates The batter'd Portalls of his tyred eares Bedeafing hm with what he knowes and heares The weary debter to auoyd the sight He loathes shifts here and there and eu'ry night Seekes out Protection of another bed Yet ne'rethelesse pursu'd and followed His eares are still layd at with lowder volley Of harder Dialect He melancholly Sits downe and sighes and after long fore-slowing T' auoyd his presence payes him what is owing The thankfull Creditour is now appeas'd Takes leaue and goes away content and pleas'd Euen so these angry waues with restlesse rage Accosted Ionas in his pilgrimage And thundred Iudgement in his fearfull eare Presenting Hubbubs to his guilty feare The Waues rose discontent the Surges beat And euery moments death the billowes threat The wether-beaten Ship did euery minnit Await destruction while he was in it But when his long expected corps they threw Into the deepe a debt through trespasse due The Sea grew kind and all her frownes abated Her face was smooth to all that nauigated 'T was sinfull Ionah made her storme and rage 'T was sinfull Ionah did her storme asswage With that the Mariners astonish't were And feard Iehouah with a mighty feare Offring vp Sacrifice with one accord And vowing solemne vowes vnto the Lord. But God whose breath can make the heauens shake And in an instant all that force can slake Whose pow'rfull word can make the earths foundatiō Tremble and with his word can make cessation Whose wrath doth mount the waues tosse the Seas And make them calme and whist when e're he please This God whose mercy runs on endlesse wheele And pulls like Iacob Iustice by the heele Prepar'd a Fish prepar'd a mighty Whale Whose belly should be prison-house and baile For retchlesse Ionah As a Garner dore Opens his double leafe to take the store Wherewith the haruest quits the Ploughmans hope Euen so the great Leuiathan set ope His beame-like Iawes as glad of such a boone And at a morsell swallow'd Ionah downe Till Rosy-cheek't Aurora's purple dye Thrice dappl'd had the ruddy morning skye And thrice had spred the Curtaines of the morne To let in Titan when the Day was borne Ionah was Tenant to this liuing Graue Embowel'd deepe in this stupendious Caue Meditatio sexta LO Death is now as alwayes it hath bin The iust procured stipend of our sinne Sinne is a
that which most doe couet most is best Best are the goods mixt with contented rest Gasp not for Honour wish no blazing glory For these will perish in an ages story Nor yet for pow'r for that may be conferr'd On fooles as well as thee that hast deseru'd Thirst not for Lands nor Mony wish for none For Wealth is neither lasting nor our owne Riches are faire inticements to deceiue vs They flatter while we liue and dying leaue vs. THE ARGVMENT Ionah desires to dye The Lord Rebukes him He maintaines his word His anger he doth iustifie God pleads the Cause for Niniuie Sect. 13. WHen ruddy Phoebus had with morning light Subdu'd the East and put the stars to flight The Lord prepar'd a feruent Easterne wind Whose drought together with the Sunne combin'd Each adding fier to the others heat With strong vnited force amaine did beat And sore reflect vpon the helplesse head Of fainting Ionah that was well-nye dead Who turning oft and tossing to and fro As they that are in torments vse to doe And restlesse finding no successe of ease But rather that his tortures still encrease His secret passion to his soule betrai'd Wishing with all his heart to dye and said O kill me Lord or lo my heart will riue For better 't is for me to dye then liue So said the Lord did interrupt his passion Saying How now Is this a seemly fashion Doth it become my seruants heart to swell Can anger helpe thee Ionah do'st thou well Is this a fit speech or a well-plac'd word What art thou angry Ionah for a Gourd What if th' Arabians with their ruder traine Had kill'd thine Oxen and thy Cattell slaine What if consuming fier falne from heauen Had all thy seruants of their liues bereauen And burnt thy Sheep What if by strong oppression The Chaldees had vsurpt vniust possession Vpon thy Cammels Or had Boreas blowne His full-mouth'd blast and cast thy houses downe And slaine thy sonnes amid their iollities Or hadst thou lost thy Vineyard full of trees Or bin bereaued of thine only Sheep That in thy tender bosome vs'd to sleep How would thine hastie spirit then bin sturr'd If thou art angry Ionah for a Gourd So Ionah frames his answere thus and saith Lord I doe well to vex vnto the death I blush not to acknowledge and professe Deserued rage I 'm angry I confesse 'T would make a spirit that is thorow frozen To blaze like flaming Pitch and frie like Rozen Why dost thou aske that thing that thou canst tell Thou know'st I 'm angry and it beseemes me well So said the Lord to Ionah thus bespake Dost thou bemoane and such compassion take Vpon a Gourd whose seed thou didst not sow Nor mou'd thy skilfull hands to make it grow Whose beautie small and profit was but slight Which sprang and also perisht in a night Hadst thou O dust and ashes such a care And in-bred pittie a trifling plant to spare Hadst thou O hard and incompassionate To wish the razing of so braue a State Hadst thou I say compassion to bewaile The extirpation of a Gourd so fraile And shall not I that am the Lord of Lords Whose fountaine's neuer dry but still affords Sweet streames of mercie with a fresh supply To those that thirst for grace What shall not I That am the God of mercie and haue sworne To pardon sinners when soe're they turne I say shall I disclaime my wonted pitie And bring to ruine such a goodly Citie Whose hearts so truly penitent implore me Who day and night powre foorth their soules before me Shall I destroy the mightie Niniuie Whose people are like sands about the sea 'Mong which are sixe-score thousand soules at least That hang vpon their tender mothers brest Whose prettie smiles did neuer yet descry The deare affection of their mothers eye Shall I subuert and bring to desolation A Citie nay more aptly tearm'd a Nation Whose walls are wide and wondrous full of might Whose hearts are sorrowfull and soules contrite Whose infants are in number so amounting And beasts and cattell endlesse without counting What Ionah shall a Gourd so moue thy pitie And shall not I spare such a goodly Citie Meditatio vltima ¶ MY heart is full and knowes not how to vent My tongue proues traytor to my poore intent My mind 's in labour and find's no redresse My heart conceiues My tongue cannot expresse My organs suffer through a maine Defect Alas I want a proper Dialect To blazon forth the tythe of what I muse The more I meditate the more accrewes But lo my faultring tongue must say no more Vnlesse she step where she hath trod before What shall I then be silent No I 'le speake Till tongue be tyred and my lungs be weake Of dearest mercie in as sweet a straine As it shall please my Muse to lend a vaine And when my voyce shall stop within her sourse And speech shall faulter in this high discourse My tyred tongue vnsham'd shall thus extend Only to name Deare mercie and so end ¶ Oh high Imperiall King heauens Architect Is man a thing befitting thy Respect Lord thou art wisdome and thy wayes are holy But man's polluted full of filth and folly Yet is he Lord the fabrick of thy hand And in his soule he beares thy glorious brand How-e're defaced with the rust of sin Which hath abus'd thy stamp and eaten in 'T is not the frailtie of mans corrupted nature Makes thee asham'd t' acknowledge man thy creature But like a tender father here on earth Whose child by nature or abortiue birth Doth want that sweet and fauourable rellish Wherewith her creatures Nature doth imbellish Respects him ne'rthelesse so stands the case 'Twixt God and sinfull man Though sinne deface The glorious portraiture that man did beare Whereby he loath'd and vgly doth appeare Yet God within whose tender bowels are Deep gulfs of mercie sweet beyond compare Regards and loues with reu'rence be it said Nay seems to dote on man when he hath strayd Lord thou hast brought him to his fold againe When he was lost thou didst not then disdaine To think vpon a vagabond and giue Thine only Sonne to dye that he might liue How poore a mite art thou content withall That man may scape his downe-approching fall Though base we are yet didst not thou abhorre vs But as our story notes art pleading for vs To saue vs harmlesse from our foemans iawes Art thou turn'd Oratour to plead our cause ¶ How are thy mercies full of admiration How soueraigne How sweet's their application Fatning the soule with sweetnes and repayring The rotten ruines of a soule Despayring ¶ Loe here Malfido is the feast prepar'd Fall too with courage and let nought be spar'd Taste freely of it Here 's no Misers feast Eate what thou canst and pocket vp the rest These precious vyands are Restoritie Eate then and if the sweetnes
make thee drie Drink large Carouses out of Mercies cup The best lies in the bottome Drinke all vp These cates are sweet Ambrosia to thy soule And that which fils the brimme of Mercies boule Is dainty Nectar Eate and drinke thy fill Spare not the one ne yet the other spill Prouide in time Thy Banquet 's now begun Lay vp in store against the feast be done For lo the time of banquetting is short And once being done the world cannot restor't It is a feast of Mercy and of Grace It is a feast for all or hye or base A feast for him that begs vpon the way As well for him that does the Scepter sway A feast for him that howerly bemoanes His dearest sinnes with sighs and teares and groanes A feast for him whose gentle heart reformes A feast for MEN and so a FEAST FOR WORMES ¶ Deare liefest Lord that feast'st the world with Grace Extend thy bountious Hand thy Glorious Face Bid ioyfull welcome to thy hungry ghest That we may praise the Master of the Feast And in thy mercie grant this boone to mee That I may dye to sinne and liue to thee FINIS S. AMBROSE Misericordia est plenitudo omnium virtutum THE GENERALL VSE OF this History ¶ WHen as the Ancient world did all imbarke Within the compasse of good Noahs Arke Into the new-washt world a Doue was sent Who in her mouth return'd an Oliffe plant Which in a silent language this related How that the waters were at length abated Those swelling waters is the wrath of God And like the Doue are Prophets sent abroad The Oliffe leafe's a ioyfull type of peace Whereby we note Gods vengeance doth decrease They salue the wounded heart and make it whole They bring glad tydings to the drooping soule Proclaiming grace to them that thirst for Grace Mercie to those that Mercie will embrace ¶ Malfido thou in whose distrustfull brest Despayre hath brought in sticks to build her nest Where she may safely lodge her lucklesse brood To feed vpon thy heart and suck thy blood Beware betimes lest custome and permission Prescribe a Right and so she claime possession ¶ Despairing man whose burthen makes thee stoop Vnder the terror of thy sinnes and droop Through dull despayre whose too-too sullen griefe Makes Heauen vnable to apply reliefe Whose eares are dull'd with noyse of whips chaines And yells of damned soules through tort'red paines Come here and rouze thy selfe vnseele those eyes Which sad Despaire clos'd vp Arise Arise And goe to Niniuey the worlds great Palace Earths mighty wonder and behold the ballace And burthen of her bulk is nought but sin Which wilfull she commits and wallowes in Behold her Images her fornications Her crying sinnes her vile abominations Behold the guiltlesse bloud that she did spill Like Spring tides in the streets and reeking still Behold her scortching lusts and taint desier Like Sulph'rous Aetna blaze and blaze vp hier She rapes and rends and theeues and there is none Can iustly call the thing he hath his owne That sacred Name of God that Name of wonder In stead of worshipping she teares in sunder She 's not enthrall'd to this sinne or another But like a Leper's all infected ouer Not only sinfull but in sinnes subiection She 's not infected but a meere infection No sooner had the Prophet Heau'ns great Spy Begun an onset to his greater Cry But she repented sigh'd and wept and tore Her curious haire and garments that she wore She sate in ashes and put sackcloth on All drencht in briny griefe all woe begon She calls a Fast proclaimes a Prohibition To man and beast sad tokens of contrition No sooner prayd but heard No sooner groan'd But pitied No sooner grieu'd but moan'd Timely Repentance speedy grace procur'd The sore that 's ta'ne in time is quickly cur'd No sooner did her trickling teares or'-flow Her blubber'd cheekes slie messengers of woe But straitwaies heau'n wip't her suffused eyes And gently strok'd her cheeks and bid her rise No faults were seene as if no fault had bin Deare Mercy made a Quittance for her sin ¶ Malfido rouze thy leaden spirit Bestirre thee Hold vp thy drowsie head Here 's comfort for thee What if thy Zeale be frozen hard What then Thy Sauiours Blood will thaw that frost agen Thy prayr's that should be feruent hot as fier Proceed but coldly from a dull Desier What then Grieue Inly But doe not dismay Who hear's thy pray'rs will giue thee strength to pray Though left awhile thou art not quite giu'n o're Where Sinne abounds there Grace aboundeth more ¶ 'Las this is all the good that I can doe thee To ease thy griefe I here commend vnto thee A little Booke but a great Mystery A great Delight A little History A little branch slipt from a sauing tree But bearing fruit as great as great mought bee A small abridgment 't is of Gods great loue A Message sent from heauen by a Doue It is a heauenly Lecture that relates To Princes Pastors People all Estates Their seu'rall duties ¶ Peruse it well and binde it to thy brest There rests the Cause of thy Defectiue rest But reade it often or else reade it not Once read is not obseru'd or soone forgot Nor is 't enough to reade but vnderstand Or else thy tongue for want of wit 's prophan'd Nor is 't enough to purchase knowledge by it Salue heales no sore vnlesse the party apply it Apply it then 'T is hard and mickle paines Doe what thou canst and pray for what remaines The particular application ¶ THen thou that art opprest with sad Despayre Here shalt thou see the strong effect of Prayre Then pray with faith and feruent without ceasing Like Iacob wrestle till thou get a blessing ¶ Here shalt thou see the type of Christ thy Sauiour Then let thy Suits be through his name and fauour ¶ Here shalt thou finde repentance and true griefe Of sinners like thy selfe and their beliefe Then suit thy griefe to theirs and let thy soule Cry mightily vntill her wounds be whole ¶ Here shalt thou see the meeknes of thy God Who on Repentance turnes and burnes the Rod Repents of what he meant and seemeth sorrie Here mayst thou then behold him pleading for ye Then thus shall be thy meed if thou repent In stead of plagues and direfull punishment Thou shalt finde mercy loue and heauens applause And God of heauen himselfe will plead thy cause ¶ Here hast thou then compil'd within this Treasure First the Almighties high and iust displeasure Against foule sinne or such as sinfull bee Or Prince or poore or high or low degree ¶ Here is descri'd the beaten Road to Faith ¶ Here mayst thou see the force that Preaching hath ¶ Here is describ'd in briefe but full expression The nature of a Conuert and his passion His sober Diet which is thin and spare His clothing which is
Sackcloth and his Prayre Not faintly sent to heauen nor sparingly But piercing feruent and mightie cry ¶ Here maist thou see how Pray'r and true Repentance Doe striue with God preuaile and turne his sentence From strokes to stroking and from plagues infernall To boundlesse Mercies and to life Eternall ¶ Till Zepher lend my Bark a second Gale I flip mine Anchor and I strike my saile FINIS O Dulcis saluator Mundi vltima verba quae tu dixisti in Cruce sint vltima mea verba in Luce quando amplius affare non possum exaudi tu cordis mei desiderium A Hymne to God WHo giues me then an Adamantine Quill A Marble tablet And a Dauids skill To blazon foorth the praise of my dear Lord In deep grau'n letters aye vpon Record To last for times eternall processe suer So long as Sunne and Moone and Stars enduer Had I as many mouthes as Sands there are Had I a nimble tongue for euery Starre And euery word I speake a Caractere And euery minutes time ten ages were To chaunt foorth all thy praise it nought auaile For tongues and words and time and all would faile Much lesse can I poore Weakling tune my tongue To take a taske befits an Angels song Sing what thou canst when thou canst sing no more Weep then as fast that thou canst sing no more Be blurre thy booke with teares and goe thy wayes For euery blurre will proue a booke of praise Thine Eye that viewes the mouing Spheares aboue Let it giue praise to him that makes them moue Thou riches hast Thy Hands that hold and haue them Let them giue praise to him that freely gaue them Thine Armes defend thee then for recompence Let them praise him that gaue thee such defence Thy Tongue was giuen to praise thy Lord the giuer Then let thy Tongue praise highest God for euer Faith comes by hearing and thy faith will saue thee Then let thine Eares praise him that hearing gaue thee Thy heart is begg'd by him that first did make it My sonne giue me thy heart Lord freely take it Eyes hands and armes tongues eares and hearts of men Sing praise and let the people say Amen ¶ Tune you your Instruments and let them vary Praise him vpon them in his Sanctuary Praise him within the highest Firmament Which shewes his power and his gouernment Praise him for all his mighty Acts are knowne Praise him according to his high Renowne Praise him with Trump victorious shrill and sharp With Psaltry lowd and many-stringed Harp With sounding Tymbrell and delightfull Flute With Musicks full Interpreter the Lute Praise him vpon the Mayden Virginalls Vpon the clerick Organs and Cymballs Vpon the sweet maiestick Vyalls touch Double your ioyes and let your praise be such Let all in whom is life and breath giue praise To mighty God of Hosts in endlesse dayes Let euery Soule to whom a voyce is giuen Sing Holy Holy Holy Lord of heauen For loe a Lambe is found that vndertooke To breake the seuen-fold-seale and ope the Booke ¶ O let my life add number to my dayes To shew thy Glory and to sing thy praise Let euery minute in thy praise be spent Let euery head be bare and knee be bent To thee deare Lambe Who ere thy praises hide O let his lips be clos'd and tongue for euer ty'de Halelujah Gloria Deo in excelsis Eleuen Pious Meditations 1 ¶ WIthin the holy Writ I well discouer Three speciall Attributes of God His Power His Iustice and his Mercy All vncreated Eternall all and all Vnseparated From Gods pure Essence yet from thence proceeding All very God All perfect All exceeding And from that selfe-same Text three names I gather Of Great Iehoua Lord and God and Father The first denotes him mounted on his Throne In Power Maiesty Dominion The next descries him on his Kingly Bench Rewarding Euill with dreadfull punishments The third describes him on his Mercy-seate Full great in Grace and in his Mercy great ¶ All three I worship and before all three My heart shall humbly prostrate with my knee But in my priuate choice I fancie rather Then call him Lord or God to call him Father 2 ¶ IN Hell no Life in Heauen no Death there is In Earth both Life and Death both Bale and Blis In Heauen 's all Life no end nor new supplying In Hell 's all Death and yet there is no dying Earth like a partiall Ambidexter doth Prepare for Death or Life prepares for Both Who liues to sinne in Hell his portion 's giuen Who dyes to sinne shall after liue in Heauen ¶ Though Earth my Nurse be Heauen be thou my Father Ten thousand deaths let me enduer rather Within my Nurses armes then One to Thee Earths honor with thy frownes is death to mee I liue-on Earth as on a Stage of sorrow Lord if thou pleasest end the Play to morrow I liue on Earth as in a Dreame of pleasure Awake me when thou wilt I wait thy leisure I liue on Earth but as of life bereauen My life 's with thee for Lord thou art in Heauen 3 ¶ NOthing that e'r was made was made for nothing Beasts for thy food their skins were for thy clothing Flow'rs for thy smell and Herbs for Cuer good Trees for thy shade Their Fruit for pleasing Food The showers fall vpon the fruitfull ground Whose kindly Dew makes tender Grasse abound The Grasse is made for beasts to feed vpon And beasts are food for Man But Man alone Is made to serue his Lord in all his waies And be the Trumpet of his Makers praise ¶ Let Heau'n be then to me obdure as brasse The Earth as yron vnapt for graine or grasse Then let my Flocks consume and neuer steed me Let pinching Famine want wherewith to feed me When I forget to honour thee my Lord Thy glorious Attributes thy Works thy Word O let the Trump of thine eternall Fame Sound euer Euer hallow'd be thy Name 4 ¶ GOd made the World and all that therein is Yet what a little part of it is his Quarter the Earth and see how small a roome Is stiled with the name of Christendome The rest through blinded ignorance rebels O're-run with Pagans Turks and Infidels Nor yet is all this little Quarter his For though all know him halfe know him amisse Professing Christ for lucre as they list And serue the triple Crowne of Antichrist Yet is this little handfull much made lesser Ther 's many Libertines for one Professor Nor doe Professors all professe aright 'Mong whom there often lurks an Hypocrite ¶ O where and what 's thy Kingdome blessed God Where is thy Scepter wher 's thine yron Rod Reduce thy reck'nings to their totall summe O let thy Power and thy Kingdome Come 5 ¶ MAN in himselfe 's a little World Alone His Soul 's the Court or high Imperiall Throne Wherein as Empresse sits the Vnderstanding Gently directing yet with awe Commanding Her Handmaid's WILL Affections