sayth aboue or equall howe they bée Inferiour or in what sort else all thinges in highe or lowe degree A highe comparison he makes for to perswade vs to the same Is God in Trinitie sayth he and Vnitie in one to frame The equall thinges with vs are ours in one consent with them t'agree As Angels at this present though farre distant from our sightes they bee In time shall be our equall mates where time in time no ende shall haue That woorthy we may be thereof Lord for thy mercie graunt we craue The thinges inferiour eke are ours and stand vs in most happy steede As necessarie instrumentes to serue our turne in time of néede As thinges pertaining to a Lord or Maister of an earthly man May be his seruants porcion like not robbing his sayde Maister than But pertinent by tytle due to serue the vse of seruant his Heereby the Maister hath no wrong the seruant hath not done amis In sundrie sortes the Scriptures saye that Angels for our sakes be sent To serue and to administer to vs by Gods cōmaundement Th'Apostle hath these wordes likewise are they not ministring Spirites callde Sent for their sakes that fear the lord that they in sinne should not be thrald Beleeue the same and let it not incredible seeme vnto you That he which king of angels is vs for to saue thought good to sew To saue and not be saued he came to dye for our redemptions all He gaue his life for many soules them to redeeme from endles thral The angells eke are saide for vs to offer vowes and prayers pure Vnto the seate of mighty Ioue therby our pardons to procure But not because they do instruct or teach the lord our deepe desires For he himselfe doth know our thoughtes to shew the same thers none aspires Before that wee do crimes commit and afterward to him is knowen Our fond imaginations al our selues before his face haue showen And they do waite to vnderstand his will and what his pleasure is And do to vs the same conuay to keepe vs least we walke amisse And for this cause the aungel sayd to men at such tymes as you pray I offred vp the same to God who sent you ayde without delay In like case also when you praye take not in hande our God to teache As if that ignoraunt he were what at his handes wee beseech But man must of necessitye commit his causes temporal Vnto theternall verity who can redeeme him out of thrall Whether he do desire the thing he could by his indeuour haue Or by consenting to the will of God and so the thing do craue From thabitacion of the heauens our soueraigne Lord doth angels send Euen downe to vs and for our sakes his heauenly pleasure to attend To visite and to help vs eke for God for vs and for themselues For him because most meete it is they wayte vpon no creature else But to reueale his lasting loue the bowels of his mercy great His pitye and compassiou both to imitate his mercy seate For vs because that we in them and they in vs like image haue And reuerentlie they doo admire his power the which such likenesse gaue Now for themselues because that with desire and feruent longing they Doo wayte our comming from this world with them in blisse to liue for aye Finis 3. Cap. ¶ Of the looue of God towards vs. 4. Cap. THis therefore is most néedefull nowe and necessarie to eche man That he consider with him selfe and eke in seuerall sort to skan When his owne woorthinesse is wayde and dignitie he doo not take It from his mightie creatour which him of nothing thus did make Looue him abooue all earthlie thinges of what estate or what degrée Estéeme not equall with his might those thinges that his inferiors bée What follie were it to compare the things that beautifullest bée With those that vile in sight doo séeme which serue in fowle and base degrée For sure it is no séemelie sight where beautie is but counterfeit To match it with the fayrest and for beautie with the same to set Therefore my soule peruse thine owne thy beautie vnderstand and prooue And by the same soone shalt thou learne whose beautie thou art bound to looue But if thy sight be duske and dull or darkned by thy negligence That thou thy selfe canst not beholde thou doost commit a fowle offence Yet at the least let others iudge and doo thou holde their iudgements true What estimation thou art of when they with clearer sight thee view Thou hast a Spowse of beautie such his bounty fauour and his grace Such Maiestie and Mercie great that thou couldst neuer sée his face And yet beholde he hath thée séene if not he would not looue thée so His gifts may make thée graunt thée same and tell if this be true or no. The perfect pledges of his looue and tokens of his kindnesse trie Of this if thou didst sée his face thou nothing doubtfull then would bée Then perfectlie thou shouldst perceyue that he in beautie passeth all So singuler so comely fayre as neuer set the lyke thou shall And yet enamored is of thee so much thy beauty doth appeare Aboue all creatures that he made that none with thee compared wer This beauty yet was not thyne owne but hys in thee left for thy welth that hauing it thou mightst perceaue it came from him thy sauing health But what meanst thou because thou canst not see him present as he is Art not ashamde iuinriously him to abuse with workes amisse Not onely in contemning these his louing graces to thee lent But seruile to thy sensuall lust as vassaile thou dost geue consent But o my soule take heed of this and do not so though able thou Be not assuredly to conceaue whatone he is his grace alow His earnest and his pledgefot thee the gage and token which he gaue As leasses of his loue iutyre from endles death he did thee saue In thy possession these be plast that thou mayst learne thy lord to loue With zeale and with affection great thy minde from him not to remooue His gift right noble is and great great mē giue great rewards we know Which doo receiue them at their hand as with his Maiestie may stand A wise man for a trifle wyll not giue a riche reward we sée But none can giue so great a gift as thy good God hath giuen to thée Yet greater is the gift which he in thée dooth looue thy selfe t'assure And eke much greater will he giue if thou thy faith to him indure But O my soule what are these gifts Examine looke the world beholde If euery thing therein containde To serue thy turne be not controlde Behold how euery creature dooth to serue thy turne his course direct Thy profit to supply and for thy wealth to vse as thy subiect For to accomplish thy delight commodities doo all abound Within the world for thy
should great indignation at me haue As first the earth thy creature great which dooth the world so wide containe Against me might conspire and stay I thée to nourishe doo disdaine Ne might I make my mone for this if it molest or trouble mée If I complaine it aunswere might in trueth I lothe to carrie thée For as I Dathan did deuowre Abiram eke and Corah caught As they were swallowed quicke euen so for thine offences die thou ought Which hast not béene afrayde to fall from thy Creatour and to ioyne Euen with his mortalst foe the fiend the Diuell which would thée purloyne The author of iniquitie of disobedience and of sin The father of those froward fooles that doo delight to liue therein The Sunne also to thée might say I ought my beames to thée deny Because vnto thy lasting light thy duetie thou doost not applie Thus euerie creature might controwle and vnto thée this sentence giue But that thy Sauiour them restraines who bids thée to repent and liue It me behoues therefore O Lord more humblie to thy mightie hand More loyall and obedient I before thy mercie ought to stand Least by deferring of the day to punishe my transgressions then Euen in thy dreadfull day O Lord more gréeuouslie with sinfull men And thou my soule thy selfe perswade that this long suffering of the Lord Expected hath a great while now what we in faith can him aforde Th'effect of his election free Predestination is most pure Which he fulfilde in vs will haue by faith for euer to endnre Through his excessiue looue likewise which he hath borne and beares vs styll His eyes be turned from our sinnes according to his holy wyll As once vnwilling to beholde howe often I offended haue His mercie is disposoe I sée from endlesse death my soule to saue This is the cause I see why he hath stayde so long our hearts to prooue And that thereby he might commend his patience and confirme his looue My selfe I doo remember well he strooke my heart and stirde the same For to beholde the skarres of sinne which wicked life in me did frame Yea for this cause he did conuey and lead me to the gates of hell Describing vnto me what paines they suffer that therein doo dwell And to this ende that I should not dismay with motions of my sin Nor that rrmembraunce of the same might not remaine my minde within He did inspire and comfort me that I a full remission had A generall pardon he me gaue for all my lyfe that was so bad That neither should reuenge be sought nor I vpbraided once should be Condempned nor consounded for such was his looue and zeale to me Though some that in the world remaine and no small number God he knowes That pardon crimes committed yet will cast the parties in the nose And other that doo silent sit doo styll in stomacke rancour beare Euen in their silent shadowe dooth reserued spite and hate appeare But neither of these sortes be such as charitie with hart embrace Nor yet according to the rule and looue of God which we by grace Doo taste and féele for comfort ours how plainlie he dooth alwayes deale His pardon fréelie is bestowde on all that to the same appeale According to the text which sayth euen where our sinnes did most abound Grace did most plentifull appeare which benefite Saint Peter found Who hauing thrise his Lord denide the same his Lord did thrise commaund To féede his Shéepe and of his Church the chéefest Pastour for to stand Paule did his Gospell persecute yet he a Vessell was elect And teacher of the will of God the Heathens liues for to correct And Mathew was a worldlie man he did receyue the common towle Which Office dooth containe abuse if Officer doo bribe and powle Yet he was an Apostle made the Lord his God so gaue consent And of Apostles was the first that wrote his Will and Testament FINIS 12. Chap. ¶ Of the gift of Continencie 13. Cap. BVt after all these thinges which are right good and many as you sée Of Continencie perfect gift my God did also giue to mée Not onelie from all carnall lust but from each other filthy vice By whatsoeuer they be callde a gifte of rare and woorthy price So that I who in former time could hardlie any thing forbeare Thrée dayes together but I did vnto my former faultes repaire Now through the grace and helpe of God I can for euer be content That to forbeare which dooth intice or vnto sinne dooth giue consent By iust occasion I can staye and thereof well assured bée Beholde my God of mighties most what great thinges he hath done for mée Some man perhaps will thus replie thou mayst accomplishe this with ease Of light importaunce is that paine that to forbeare which dooth thée please Assure your selfe I thinke not so I knowe what enimies it hath How strong and sturdy ones they be what might they haue y e minde to skathe It néedefull is for to resist a broode of such impietie A Nurse of naughtines and eke a sincke of all iniquitie The first and chéefest enemie that continencie dooth despite Is our owne flesh whilst it dooth lust striue and rebell against the sprite And what an enemie is this know you that so familiar can Kéepe residence and force conflict within the secret shape of man How daungerous is this my soule a fearefull fight most like to be Thou haste no meanes to skape the hurt of this thy mortall enemy This foe most cruell sterne and stoute vnnaturall and tyrannous No way thou hast him to escape nor pollicie to flie but thus Mauger our heads we néedes must beare this mortall foe about vs still To vs it tide and lincked is we cannot leaue it when we will And therefore what more wretched is vs miserable men to charme To féede and foster vp this foe béeing forbid to doo it harme Thus maist thou see what great regarde and care thou hast thy selfe to kéepe From such a foe as must of force within thy bosome lie and sléepe But yet my soule if this were all thine enimies which doo thée hate And that there were none other thou thrise happie were and fortunate For one there is as bad as this as sturdy stoute as stoute may be As cruell crafty daungerous and eke as hurtfull vnto thée As harde to be escaped and where euer thou thy selfe bestowe It dooth inuiron thée about and no way from it canst thou goe This enimie the wicked world vnto fiue gates I can compare The which fiue gates for to defyne compact in thy fiue sences are This enemy dooth wound thée sore with dartes and at thy windowes will Watche time for to procure thy death for he hath sworne thée for to kill The thyrde is sworne thy deadly foe and common enimie to all Of Adams whole posteritie the subtile Serpent men him call More wilie then the
of vs is vnderstoode What doost thou then desire my soule what is it that my minde dooth mooue Within this good is all contriu'de that comes from God the Lord aboue To speake therefore of all the goodes his heauenly kingdome dooth containe No man that's cloathed in his fleshe the same is able to explaine All Fame that kingdome dooth excell surmounteth cunning prayse and skill It royall is and glorious eke according to Gods holie will Tis full of lyght of charitie of patience and of endlesse peace Of worship glorie and renowne all pleasures there doo styll increase Delight and euerlasting ioye perpetuall eke in blisfulnesse Replenished with all the good that heart can thinke or tongue expresse It can not comprehended be nor measured by the wit of man Why should our silence this conceale but yéelde it all the prayse we can Because we can not as we would God is vnspeakeable we knowe And so beléeue and should we not abroade his power and mercie showe Should we not euerlasting life which God to vs by promise plight None otherwise beléeue but as we finde it written to our sight His promise made to vs is sealde of lasting looue in greater sort Then eyther can the tongue declare or else the Pen for trueth report The heart much more can comprehend it is of more capacitie And yet it can not sound the depth of his great power and Maiestie The ioyes and glorie of the life to come therefore beléeue we must For euerlasting in it selfe it is and so should be discust It euerlasting happy is and dooth containe tranquilitie All pleasauntnesse most peaceable and our assurde securitie This perfect looue no dread no feare no want of day no doubt of night But chéerefull motions and one sprite amongst vs all euen in the sight Of God there to abyde in ioye among his Saintes and Angelles all Bright shining in the righteousnesse of Christ which hath redéemde our thrall Euen where saluation dooth abound where truth dooth raigne where no deceit Is vsed betwixt man and man where is no measure false nor weight No happy man can thence be cast nor may from thence exiled bée No wicked wretch may there be plast nor once aduaunst to that degrée There is the life contemplatiue which fruitfull Faith who dooth attaine Shall like the blisfull spirites be made with God in kingdome his to raigne For what they haue beléeued héere there shall they it beholde and sée The substaunce of theyr Creator in whome all good thinges perfect bée With innocent and humble eyes with harts most pure they shall reioyce And triumphe in this happinesse of which in God they made their choyce And dooing thus possesse the looue of God our euerlasting Lord In charitie together they with vnitie and swéete concord Doo liue and porcion lyke receiue the priuiledge of heauenlie place Like Cittizens enfraunchized they all enioy the God of grace There shall such ioy and gladnesse be such heauenlie sollace shall abound For there the fulnesse of his grace and mercie of our God is found Vnto the giuer of the same incessauntlie they shall sing prayse Without all kinde of irksomnesse yéelde lawde and thanks to him alwayes The hearts of euerie creature there shall laye abroade and opened bée As héere we corporall thinges beholde and with our eyes the same doo sée Mens consciences so perfect are so pure and cleane without all blame That for theyr former fowle offence they néede not nowe to blushe for shame No sinne nor sinner shall be there of power they are depriude therefore That meanes is taken from all men they shall be sure to sinne no more Neither shall they which perfectly are blest be ignoraunt of this Of any secrete mysterie the same to knowe they shall not misse For they shall him beholde which hath the Author of all secretes béene And they shall sée him face to face euen so as they of him are séene For then shall all mankinde be made so absolute and perfect pure It thencefoorth neuer shalbe chaungd but so for euer shall endure And of that substaunce shall remaine although transformde and glorifyde Into his mightie maker and in him most blessedlie abyde And all the goodes which we receyu'de disfigured by our filthy sin Shalbe in blisse repayrde againe in happy state and stay therein That is our vnderstanding shall without all error perfect be Without obliuion in that place assured is our memorie Thoughtes without wandering likewise Charitie voide of fained sence Health without sicknesse sorrowe shall not vnto any bréede offence Mirth Pleasure Pastime without paine Life without death Agilitie Without impediment is there where safetie syts in eche degrée For whatsoeuer in this lyfe the violence of Beastes or rage Or what misfortune did impayre or what thy sicknesse did asswage What crueltie had wasted or some fowle disease had putrifide Or age by nature comborsome had thée benumde or strength denide Shall all againe be freshe restorde by Resurrection all renude In glorious sort we shall receyue most perfect lymmes and to conclude Our bodyes with our members all shall to our soules vnited be And bothe together be endude with grace and immortalitie And therefore whosoeuer that in blisfull state possessed is Shall by no distaunce of the place of this his great preferment misse No difference of merites may nor meanes of any other kinde Once seperate vs from this looue which in the Lorde we hope to finde This graunt vs for thy mercie sake through fulnesse of thy glorie great Our sinfull soules from hence doo take and place them on thy mercie seate Amen FINIS ¶ A verie fruitefull Prayer to God the Father for the obtayning of these benefites promised in this Booke and necessarie to be vsed at all tymes MOst holie Lord the God of the spirites of all fleshe we giue vnto thée most humble thankes for all thy goodnesse towardes vs which thou hast found in thy selfe before the beginning of the world and hast declared vnto vs from tyme to tyme acknowledging our selues to be farre lesse then the least of thy mercies Thou arte perfect in thy selfe and hast no néede of any thing but it hath pleased thée to create all these thinges wherein thy glorie dooth appeare as Angelles and men and all things else for them that them selues might know that they are created onelie for thée not that any thing by them could be added vnto thée but that thy glorie which is perfect in it selfe might be séene in them and they also be made pertakers of that happinesse which is with thée the which thou hast giuen vs in thy belooued In whome also thou hast chosen vs before all worlds for so thy wisedome hath apointed it that we should passe through a world and so come vnto thée and see thy glory and the ritches of thy mercie and that pleasure which is with thée for euer And to this ende hast thou giuen vs thy most holie woorde and thy sanctifying spirite to attend therevpon wherby thy elect children might be reformed vnto thée Holy Father who is able to comprehend this thy great worke of our saluation in Iesus Christe but thine owne wisedome which is infinite as thy mercie is all goodnesse mercie and trueth come from thée and ende in thée but the euill corruption which befalleth thy Creatures commeth of them selues Notwithstanding this also thou turnest to good for euen the wicked thou sufferest for a tyme that at the length thy iustice might be séene in them but to thy chyldren thou ordainest all thinges to the best for euen the punishmentes for theyr sinnes and the afflictions of this life thou hast appointed for good that by thy iustice thy mercie might more appeare and their own happinesse which thou hast prepared for them in more glory might be reuealed To this ende hast thou set them from thée for a tyme in this lyfe that in the lyfe to come they may know the better what it is to enioy thy presence Thou hast made them héere mortal that they may then perceyue what it is to be immortall with thée thou giuest them ouer some time to their owne sinne that they may knowe how much better it is to be holy with thée in thy kingdom thou makest them taste of the afflictions of this world that they may féele in them howe great thy glorie is and to be happye and blessed with thy euerlasting goodnesse Lord in thy great power hast thou created all thinges and orderest them in thy wisedome preseruest them in thy goodnesse and hast redéemed vs in thy mercie to thy selfe in thy belooued but thou knowest this vaine and corrupte nature which is fallen from thée and can not ryse againe vnto thée except it be drawne by thée Doo away our sinnes O Lord and possesse vs sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit that we may walke before thée as becommeth thy chyldren and knowe and féele in déede that there is no pleasure nor comfort of it selfe in these thinges which are mortall of them selues but onely in thée the euerlasting goodnesse in all thinges else in thée and for thée Increase our faith that we may walke before thée in obedience of faith giue vs also those things which thou knowest good and expedient for vs in this mortall life that wée may vse them to thy glorie and to the comfort of our selues and others whome thou hast commaunded vs to looue in thée that thou béeing our lyfe in this life and in the life to come we may enioy the presence of thy Maiestie and glorifie thy holie name for euer among thy elect people and blessed Angelles Amen FINIS ⧠Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 12. 3. Deu The â—â—â—â—rence â—â—tweeâ—â—â—gelles 〈◊〉 men 9. Hebr seeth ougnen 12 for G for v. them s. This is câ—â—trary to 〈◊〉 deuillish doctrine H. N. Sapi. 3. Men 〈…〉 not 〈…〉 lie 〈…〉 one 〈…〉 ther 〈…〉 doot 〈…〉 giue 〈…〉 1. 3. â—8 21. â— â—9 Luk 〈…〉 Deuil â—orld 〈◊〉 Luke 1. Psalm â—â—amon â—â—thias 〈◊〉 5. 4. 2. 4 2 Luke 〈…〉 perâ—one 10. 1. Câ—â— 12.
An Introduction to the looue of God ¶ Accoumpted among the workes of S. Augustine and translated into English by the right reuerend Father in God Edmund Bishop of Norvvitch that nowe is and by him Dedicated to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie to the glorie of God and comfort of his chosen ¶ And newlie turned into Englishe Meter by Robert Fletcher 1581. Mathew 22. Thou shalt looue the Lord thy God alone with all thy heart with all thy soule and minde this first commaundement is the greatest one the second like vnto it shalt thou finde to looue thy neighbour as thy selfe in deede these two the Lawe and the Prophetes haue decreede ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoot and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church ¶ To the right Honourable Sir Frauncesse Knowles Knight Maister Treasurer of the Queenes Maiesties householde and of her Hignesse most honourable priuie Councell c. IT hath beene the vsuall course of Writers right Honourable to pleade pardon by aucthoritie when they thinke or knowe them-selues farre from intent of offending either by example of the mightie King of Persia for his freendlie accepting a small gift esteeming the good will of the giuer or else by comparing their endeuour by the example of some graue Philosopher I doo not so but confesse my presumption in two sortes committed the one to your Honour the other to the honourable and reuerend Father in God my Lorde Bishop of Norwitch that now is beeing the Translator of this Booke and hauing dedicated the same to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie beeing called An Introduction to the looue of God and so it maie right well be called My presumptiō to your Honour is in pressing your name in print before I knew your Honours pleasure therin for which most hūbly I craue your honors pardon My presumption to his Lordship is in taking vpon me to alter the course and nature of to excellent and profitable a prose but I hope to haue his good Lordships fauour for the same when he shal vnderstand the cause of my so dooing considering the prose is still exstaunt to the profite of the Readers and my meter now instaunt to the pleasure of the Readers for so I accoumpt it hauing therein followed the example of diuers godlie minded which haue turned into Englishe meter many Bookes out of the Bible beeing sacred and canonicall as other pithie Pamphlettes beeing prophane and Historicall yet to good purposes as well appeareth by their writinges which so meant them the parties with their Pamphlettes as impertinent to my purpose I omitte to repeate But as his Lordshippe did make her Maiesty patronesse of the matter so I thought it my duetie to make your Honour Patrone of the Meter assuring your Honour not to haue committed any error therein my presumption onelie excepted nor haue not altred the sence of the matter more then the nature of the meter must of necessitie compell me The causes mouing me to sollicite your Honour with this Introduction to the looue of God was for that I haue beholden the same most bountifullie bestowed not onelie in your Honours owne person but also in your Honours bothe honourable and VVorshipful off-spring and posteritie in your owne person the feare and looue of God with seueritie in Iustice according to your Honours calling and precise rule and lawes of God which I my selfe haue not onelie beholden but also beene beholden vnto In your Honours off-spring that vertuous Noble and towardlie young Gentleman the Earle of Essex dooth shewe himselfe a liuelie graffe and goodlie member of so good a Grandfather which together with your Honour I beseeche God long to blesse and continew he onelie maie serue to confirme the looue of God towardes your Honour although his gracious blessings be apparauntlie multiplied in the rest your Honors bothe good and godlie Children For the continuance whereof I shall not cease to beseeche almightie God to send your Honour long and honourable life in this life but after the same ended eternall happinesse in the life to come Amen ¶ Your Honours most humble and duetifull bounden Robert Fletcher To the Christian Readers WHatsoeuer hath been written before time was written for our learning that we through patience comfort of the scriptures might haue hope Among which right courteous Readers I may insert this present Pamphlet béeing trāslated by my Lord Bishop of Norwitch to the benefite of our corporall bodyes and comfort of our soules accoumpted amongst the workes of S. Augustine and no lesse commended by that famous and learned Father of godly memorie Erasmus of Rotardam to taste of good learning which to peruse I referre you to the Preface in the Prose written to the Reader by that honourable and godly Bishop who translated the same naming it An Introduction to the looue of God Declaring thereby the looue he beareth vnto his Prince Soueraigne Lady to whom he Dedicated the same as also the good wil to comfort in the looue and mercie of God his loouing neighbours and countreymen following y e example of a true Shéepheard and faithfull Pastours in penning this so profitable a Discourse which distinguisheth vnto you by equal portions the gratious benefites of our creation preseruation sanctification iustification and redemption by God the Father through the merites and frée grace of Christe Iesus our Lorde Which great mercies you maye beholde in this lyttle Booke euen as if in a glasse you were disposed to take viewe of your countenaunce shape and bodilie proportion but much more to your profite for that the one is presentlie forgotten the other remayneth permanent for euer if it be sought in singlenesse of eye and simplicitie of harte Which woorthy worke according to my skillesse capacitie I haue turned into Englishe Meter not thereby to derogate the Prose or to arogate the prayse thereof in any part to my selfe for so might I iustlie be condempned of presumption and arrogant follie but he which knoweth the secret of all hearts knoweth also how far I am from séeking vainglorie thereby onlie this mooued me therevnto the profite that I sawe contained in the Prose which I hope will be no lesse pleasant in the Meter béeing plaine and not much alienated from the former sence I hauing so good a theame thought good to meditate therein following the example of these godly minded with whome I will make no comparison but onelie for endeuour which haue turned many Bookes of the olde Testamēt into Englishe meter as y e Psalmes of Dauid the life of Dauid containing the secōd booke of Kings the fiue bookes of Moses the Prouerbes of Salomon and diuers other as well Canonicall as Historicall according to that saying of the Apostle Iames If any be afflicted let him pray if merrie let him sing Psalmes So he that is disposed to profit in the prose it is an excellent meditatiō if to pleasure in the meter it is present for him that
feareth God Moreouer I know y â— meter is more acceptable to some then prose may with lesse capacitie be coÌ„prehended as of children youÌ„g men maides c. which mooued me also to take this paines therein and the rather to suppresse that huge heape superfluous rable of balde Ballads Rimes Ridles Songs Sonnets yea and whole volumes of vanity which tend to the nourishing of vice and corrupting of Youth which be not written for our learning but for the confusion of those that delight therin to teach vnlawfull lust and outragious ribauldry and to trayne vp in the toyes of vanitie the vaine fickle and fantasticall youth yea and some aged whose modestie ought to be ashamed of such immoderate follie It is not long since I happened to speake with a good fréend of mine concerning the Printing of this Booke in meter truely sayth he it is woorthy the publishing in Print but Bookes of vanitie be better sold twentie to one which is lamentable that vanitie should be preferred and Vertue supplanted or at the least verie much suppressed Is that the fruites of our profession sayde I that haue enioyed the cleare light of the Gospell now full thrée twentie yéeres No sayth he God be thanked many haue doo receyue the glad tydinges of the Gospell with reuerence and feare but there commeth vp so many fine heads newlie pullished for the purpose that professe Poetrie and commit paltries for he that can eyther Prose or Rime wyll be in print if his Pen can but blotte foorth a Bable it shall be a Ballad with Finis c. at the ende They be all Chaucers and Gowers Lidgates and Bocases and he is a foole that is not fiue Skeltons for cunning these write woonders newes neuer séene before no nor neuer heard of but at Billings gate or in Grauesende Earge I would to God these wittie writers would take paines in penning profitable Pamphlets eyther godlie Meditations or good Prayers whether in Prose or in Verse that the practise of Poperie which was wunt to be published in Fables to delude the simple ignorant and vnlearned might be abolished with their maister the Pope and newe matters professing Faith and Religion published in place thereof I speake not of any the commendable works of many woorthy wittes set foorth of late by diuers Worshipfull Gentlemen good Schollers and well experimented Poets which containe bothe pleasure and profite but of those which in déede their workes smell not so much as of an honest minde but will make a mans eares ake to heare them and his face blushe to reade them and because they abounde I am bolde to bewraie my minde of them wishing you that shall reade this my simple endeuour in so woorthy a worke to estéeme the matter as it is and the meter as it shall please you and bothe so as God may be glorified and you certified of his intire looue if so you looue him as héerein is expressed To whose looue grace and mercie I committe you for euer Amen Yours euer in Christ Robert Fletcher Th. Prat Gent. to the Reader IF thou wilt learne thy soueraigne Lord to looue And practise how to prayse his holie name Heere mayst thou see his mercie dooth thee mooue That thou of duetie ought to doo the same Then reade this Booke and therein shalt thou find Sweete remedies to ease thy carefull minde It shewes thee howe thy God did looue thee first Yea long before thou didst begin to bee It shewes thee howe for sinne thou wast accurst Yet he in mercie hath redeemed thee The goodes thy Gods but thine was all the gaines The profite thine but his was all the paines Th. Prat. Gent. FINIS Tho. Lee to the Reader IF thou desire thy God to looue And would the causes vnderstand It shall be good for thy behooue This little Booke to take in hand The way to heauen it will thée teach And how to shun the paines of hell It to thy soule pure thinges dooth preach Peruse and immitate it well Tho. Lee. FINIS ¶ Io. Breifilde in the behalfe of this Booke THe Prose is to our profite pend From godlie learned skill The Meter dooth it selfe commend For he that hath good will Dooth reade them bothe he profite shall And pleasure eke attaine Buie bothe the Bookes the price but small much greater is thy gaine â—he Prose the power of God displayes and thy redemption free â—he Meter euen in minde bewrayes Like comfort vnto thee â—mbrace them bothe thanke God therfore Esteeme thy grace enioyde Giue thankes to them to salue thy sore That haue their paines imployde Io. Breifilde FINIS ¶ An Introduction to the loue of God That the loue of God and thy Neighbor cannot be seperated first Chapter WIth wakeful heed earnest mind and diligent indeauor eake How to escape Hell torments it with care becoÌ„meth vs to seeke And for to purchase vs the place of ioy in Heauen there to dwell The one we cannot comprehend the other we cannot expell Except the meanes we marke and know to shun the worst and chuse the best The one by prayer to preuent in fayth to purchase endlesse rest Let vs with willingnesse therefore the wordes of the Apostle way The difference betweene these two he doth in order thus bewray The hart of man cannot conceaue the eye of man hath neuer seene The Eare of man did neuer heare What thinges for these preparde hath bene Which looue the Lord kéepe his Lawes that in his feare their liues doo leade These ioyes expressed they possesse that serue the Lord in word and déede Loe now beholde the present place in which th'Apostle dooth assure Vs of the lasting looue of God if we our looue to him endure But yet the looue of God alone without the looue of neighbours too Can not be had the text dooth tell which giues vs councell so to doo He that his Brother dooth not looue with whome he héere hath present béene How can he looue the Lord his God which with his eyes he hath not séene And this commaundement haue we from the Lord our God that so we doo First looue the Lord our neighbour next for looue consisteth in these two Th'Apostle Paule procéedes againe perswading looue and thus dooth say For to confirme you in the same I shewe a more excellent way The which shall safelie you conduct and leade vnto that heauenly place Which only is preparde for those whom God dooth gonerne with his grate But who is in this way or who dooth knowe the same for soothe euen hée That first dooth looue the Lord his God and next his neighbour by degrée Then looue our God more then our selues and as our selues our neighbours then According vnto this our God we rather must obay then men And that is done when we prefer his pleasure and commaundementes Before our willes which be peruerse as all our councelles and intents But yet our neighbours we are not commaunded
lawde Thou art his workemanship and yet the price of thy redemption too Because that price most precious was it was his mercy so to doo Man béeing prisoner thrall to wretche beset about with filthy sinne His fréendly fauour thought it fit he should be raunsomed by him O happy faulte of mine therefore for purging of the which my Lorde Was drawne by looue it to redéeme according to his holy woord I neuer fully should haue knowne his looue and fauour vnto me But that the perrill of my state my present true proportions be How fortunate was then my fall that by the same more happily I was restorde and raisde againe redéemde from endles miserie Then is no looue so great as this no zeale so pure no charitie Nor no affection like to that an innocent for me should die He fréendly was but found no cause of looue and fauor which he bare Euen vnto me deceiuing none therefore O Lord my minde prepare And tell me what remainde in me which thou estéemde so gratiousty Why thou so déerely did me looue that for my sake desirde to die What haste thou found in me O Lord in nature or in qualitie The which so willing might thée make to suffer this great crueltie FINIS 6. Chap. ¶ Of the benefit of God in calling vs to faithe 7. cap. ANd thou my soule to th'end thou maist beholde this looue and ioy therein Consider what comparisons betwéene this looue and thée hath bin How much thy betters be forlorne refusde and cast away likewise That neuer to like grace with thée nor to like fauour could arise Thou knowst that since the world began whole generations passed be Without the knowledge of theyr God and price of theyr redemption frée The which are fallen into the lappes of déepe destruction endles dayes Vnlesse it please our Sauiour swéete of mercie his them thence to raise Héereby it dooth appeare to thée thou wast preferd before them all Fy thy redéemer which by grace so franck and fréely did thée call No cause at all remaindt in thée thereby to claime more then the rest The meere looue of thy Sauiour déere his mercy more to thee exprest Thy Spowse thy Loouer and thy Lord thy God and thy redeemer eke Hath chosen and forchosen thee before all worlds in mercy meeke For his great looue thus borne to thée thy God and Sauiour he became That thy memoriall might remaine he calde thée by his proper name He would thou should partaker be bothe of his name and truthe also Because thou art annointed with the oyle of gladnes which dooth flowe Euen from himselfe that with himselfe he beeing Christ the corner stone Thou maist in him a Christian so be called by his name alone But were thou stronger then the rest in noble ritche or wise degrée Thereby receiuing speciall grace aboue them all to make thée frée How many wise how many strong how many noble ritch also Reiected were yet chosen thou when they forsaken thence did go They perished thou prospered and highly doost in fauour stand Great hath his bounty béene to thée which thou receiued at his hand When thou wast foule he made thée faire when thou with sinne deformed was Yea lothesome ragged rent and torne this mighty woorke he brought to passe His grace he gaue to be thy guide his looue for to inritch thée more A resolution absolute of mercy his take this therefore Moste resolute in this respect perswade thy selfe euen so to be Except thou with indeuor doo as héerein is discribed thée That is thy former decencie thy comlines and cleanenesse all To comprehend and to retaine which thou enioyde before thy fall Els méete thou neuer shalt be thought to enter that Bride Chamber where Thy Spowse in heauenly manner sits thou shalt not in that place appeare Trim vp and deck thy selfe my soule prepare make ready now in time Let present leasure giue thee leaue for to redresse thy former crime Sleeke vp thy forhead from thy face and fashion fine thy trim attire Fret of thy freckles rub thy Warts wash of thy spots of foule desyre Smoothe all thy wrinckles handsome bee thy rude behauiour now amend With all thy might indeuor thou cleane to continue to the end In order all things sée thou set that thou maiste be accepted now Of this moste louing spowse and mate as héeretofore is tolde thée how Prepare thy selfe I say with spéede as best becomes the Bride of him That is immortall euen thy God with whom thou shalt remain most trim And as beséemeth such a Spowse that thée he may his Spowses call Thy Sauiour and redéemer euen thy mighty King celestiall FINIS 7. Cap. ¶ Of the gift of vertues The 8. Cap. KNow this also my soule that thou hast where withall thy selfe to dect As golden Bracelets for thine armes and Chaines to put about thy neck Which of thy selfe thou couldst not haue but that thy God dooth giue them thée For to bestowe at pleasure thine if thankfull for the same thou be For thou of him receiued hast thy vesture and thy garments all All thy good woorkes thy frutes of almes thy fasting and what dooth be fall To thée thy prayers powred foorth to him with faith he héeres the saine All other vertues be his gifts and by his grace in thée doo frame He garnisheth in goodly wise with gorgious and with trim attyre As if a robe bothe fresh and faire of sundry coloures thou desire Least thou should fayle in any poynt of health and of refection good He bountifully hath bestowde on thée thy health and dayly foode And whatsoeuer may repayre thy comlinesse and beauty bothe What els thy credit may conunend that thou should lack it he is lothe Thinke on the same I pray thee then with diligence aduised be That nothing héereof was thine owne till he in grace had giuen it thee That which before thou hadst receiude of him it stoode thée in no cost Of much which was on thée bestowde the same by negligence thou lost That which lost is thée restorde againe whereby thou maist be sure Not destitute thou shalt be left he still thy profit will procure In such sort as thou shalt perceiue and know how that intirely he Dooth looue thée like a Parramour most loth my soule for to loose thée And for this cause he dooth attend and paciently the time dooth stay Long sufferaunce and liberty he lets thee haue him to obay According to his mercy great so often as thou art to blame So often he thy faults remits as thou art sory for the same Wherefore record and call to minde how many may be found which haue Receiued like rewarde with thée as heere recited which he gaue Nor yet with the like fauour might finde for to be renewd againe When they defiled had themselues with foule abuse theyr state did staine Iuste cause thou haste considering then thy selfe belooued more then all For that the things which thou hast lost
within his feare in safetie vnto mans estate Deuoide of daunger doone by fyre by water or like mortall fate That I by Beasts was not deuourde and that the Diuell had no holde On me but that all these mishaps was by the grace of God controlde By meanes whereof I now am growne to competent and séemely age To looue my God him serue and feare by faithe in him my sinnes t'asswage Finis 11. Cap. ¶ Of the patience and long suffering of God 12. Cap. GReat is thy pittie Lord therefore and infinite thy mercy eke Which thou hast vsed vnto me when I in faithe the same did séeke Moste wonderfull in all thy workes because thou art them all abooue Yea thou doost séeme moste maruelous euen in the bowels of thy looue For sure no man thou doost despise abhorre nor any man reiect But such as doo forsake the Lord and dreadfully themselues detect These are thy gifts therefore O Lord these are thy treasures which thou hast Indewd me with and by thy grace me in the midst of mercy plaste When I in dreadfull daunger was and in the sinck of filthy sinne Thou me deliuered from the same and left me not to die therein When I vnmindefull was of this thereof thou didst remember me When from thy presence I returnde thou callde me home againe to thée And gentlie did me entertaine with pardon when I did repent And did with mercie me remit when I deserued punishment Not onely pardon for my sinnes which I in wicked will did frame But for such sinnes I did eschew thy pardon did containe the same As into many sinnes I fell and foule offences did commit My wicked will was bent to more if thou hadst not withholden it Yet headlong further had I run with rashe attempt from thée to swarue By thy especiall meanes I doo remember thou didst me preserue From dooing of such wicked déedes that otherwise I should haue done But onely thy especiall grace I had no meanes the same to shun But thou occasions all didst kill and gaue me strength sinne to resist By kéeping and continuing me in thine affection ere I wist Had I at lybertie beene left my wilfull nature to obay In manifolde offences I committing should haue went on stray But so great was the mercie of my Lord and God bestowed on me Not once such sinne could me arest nor finde that oportunitie For much a doo he had to staye me from the doubling of my sin The violence of temptation great so grieuous vnto me haue béen As euerie man hath féeling in his frayle desyre and fickle minde Had not the Lord of mercie his assistaunce vnto me assignde Whereby I vanquished my luste my fleshlie and my fonde desire Concupiscence I kilde thereby which in my members burnt like fire From certaine other sinnes O Lord thine indulgence and fauour did So farre estraunge and stay my minde that from my heart them quite I rid I did abhorre and hate them sore and lothe the filth of former time Iniquitie that did suggest me to commit eche hainous crime Yet all these same had not the power to touch or mooue me to consent Although they made what meanes they could my stedfast purpose to preuent Not least point of thy pittie Lord nor meanest motion of thy grace When as the hugenesse of my sinnes had brought me into wretched case When I vnkindlie kindled had by dooing euill in thy sight Prouokte thy furie stirde thy moode with gréeuous sins for which thou might Haue punished my peruerse minde yet patientlie thou didst forbeare That notwithstanding all thinges past thou pardonedst through thy mercy méere If I doo put repentaunce off deferring tyme from day to day And doo securelie sléepe in sinne yet thou wilt pause and vse delay Preuenting patientlie the tyme and gentlie tarriest tyll I come When I doo wander thou doost haste me in the race that I shall runne Againe when I resist and striue rebelliouslie against thy grace Thou doost vanquish and conquere me and quite from me my sinnes doost chase When in the féeldes of fantasie I loyter or doo ling ring stay Thou eyther forwarde wilt me force or tarriest for me in the way When I diuert from wicked wayes and trie thy footsteps for to trace Foorthwith thou fréendly me receyues and loouinglie dooth me embrace When I in ignoraunce doo dwell full soone I shall instructed bée When I for gréefe lament and mourne thou commest straight to comfort mée I stumble fall and yet thou doost bothe reare me vp and art my stay Thou giuest what comfort I doo craue thou doost redéeme my dire decay That which I séeke in thée I finde I knock thou openest vnto mée Thou art my Loadstone and my life my staffe and stay in eche degrée I neither will nor cunning want to walke directlie in thy way The greater is my daunger then if wandringlie I walke astray This also woorthy is O Lord of admiration that before I had discretion in my youth what things to aske thou gauest me store As also in mine age when I through thée was able for to craue And aske for that by goodnesse thine which I in heart desirde to haue Againe when nothing I requirde nor any thing in mercie sought But rechleslie and careleslie estéemed all thy giftes as nought And now I doo esteeme this grace A great and mighty gifte that thou Didst ouer me giue Angels charge from birth to kéepe me safe tyll now More then tyll now for euen betwéene my day of birth and day of death Thou my protector art as long as I enioy this vitall breath In contemplation of which thing a certaine holie Father sayde Great is the dignitie of those whome God electes and Angelles ayde As garders set them to defend the Wise man in this sence exprest The righteous soules are in the handes of God and there doo safelie rest I cease not heere for to commend thy pittie ioynd with patience But rather double doo thy prayse that so hast borne my fowle offence And not according to the same my due desarte did me requite Nor that I should for sinfull life be recompenst with déepe despite The earth to swallowe me nor fire from heauen sent my corpes to burne◠Not water floods to drowne me nor such pains of death should serue this turn That I so sore deserued had bothe anguish and afflictions great I had deserued for my sinnes but so he did me not intreat For when by sinne I went away and would no longer with him dwell His creatures did disdayne me sore I had deserude the paines of hell No meruaile is this same for if a hyred seruaunt run away But from his earthlie Maister héere and doo not all his hestes obay His punishment shall sure be great his Maister is against him sore His seruaunts and familliar fréendes doo soone abhorre this wretch therefore Therefore when I displeased thee O Lord my God iust cause I gaue That all thy faithfull creatures