be showen It graceth the Prince to be humble towards God it aduaunceth the Subiecte in seruice to the Prince it draweth loue from the parents in the Childrens obedience it maketh the wife alone with her husband it bindeth friends in Amity perswadeth enemies to peace it winneth Christ vnto his Church and here you see it bringeth the Angels to Mary before shee ran to the Disciples talked with them of Christ telling them what she had seen now when they had seene what shee had reported and were said to beleeue yet they left her and âent home againe but what followed of her stay Now the Disciples had left her the Aungels came to her was not here a speciall blessing of God vnto so great a sinner thaââod regarding her sorrow sent his Aungels for her comfort Now let me a little touch one pointe that I haue ouerslipt touching Maries weeping for it is said But Marie staid weeping at the Sepulcher and she bowed her selfe now in weeping I note fiue sundrye kinds of teares of anger of subtilty of sorrow of ioy and of loue some are saide to weepe for curst hart I feare too manie know the nature of those teares but such are saide to crie not to weepe for teares comming from the heart doe so distill from the eyes that they make no sound on the tongue Nowe Marie it is saide stood weeping not crying now there are teares of subtilty called crocodiâes teares which are said to mourne and weepe till they can bring their praier within the compasse of their calles and then they ouerthrow them sting them to death and then feede âpon them so may I say are the teâââs of a harlot who in her pouerty will seeme to weep for affection far enough from her hart til she hath caught a sole in her snare and then shee will feede vpon him at her pleasure thus did not Mary for the body was dead as shee thought that shee wept for the earth had no eyes to behold her teares nor did she see any man that she could think to deceiue with her weeping no no her hart was too full of sorrowe for the dead to thinke to deceiue any liuing Now there are teares of sorrowe as when Peter had denied Christ it was said hee wept bitterly for sorrowe that hee had denied the knowledge of so good deare beloued a Master So it is saide Iesus wept ouer Ierusalem to thinke on the destruction of the Cittie that shoulde after ensue manie are the causes of sorrowe thaâ may bring teares out of the eyes of the moste wise and valiant that euer were but the greatest cause that shoulde melt the heart of a Christian should bee the sorrow of the soule for the denying of Christ now there are teares of Ioy as were those of Ioseph when hee saw his Father and his Brethren But so it should not seeme were Marieâ who lookt for none but hir Master that shee could not see Nowe there are teares of Loue and those proceed of the kinde nature of the hart as Christ wept when hee sawe Lazarus dead whom he loued and now Mary wept when she saw her Lord dead or at least could not see him dead or aliue when shee liued Mary was said to wash his feete with her teares and wipe them with her haire when she was liuing an excellent note of true loue she borowed no water but her owne teares nor any Towell but her owne haires Now looke againe on her Humility she vsed no towell I say but her haire and went no higher than his feete and for her Humility and Loue see what befell her ãâã shee bowed herselfe into the Sepulcher and sawe two Aungels sitting one at the head and an other at the feete where the bodie of Iesus had layne Nowe marke the degrees of comfort that came vnto this humble louing Mary Shee came fââst to the Sepulcher to the Discipleâ from the Disciples to the Aungels and except Christ she could goe no higher Now a worde or two of the Aungels and they said vnto her woman why weepest thou and she saide vnto them They haue taken away my Lord and I know not where they haue laide him Now some perhaps will haue a Ierk at this peece of Scripture to pray to the Saintes ere they come to Christ because she talked with the Aungels ere shee came to Christ himselfe but let those ouerseene wittes looke a little better into the matter First the Aungels came but to the graue seeing her there weeping they asked her but a question in these wordââ woman VVhy weepest thou she saide they haue taken away my Lorde and I knowe not where they haue laid him Here is no praier made vnto them though they were Aungels but she onelie answered their question so ended their talke so if the Saints will come and speake to them lât them aunswere their questions and haue no more to doe with them for surely God will better appeare vnto them in his mercie then aunswere them by his Saintes if they could deliuer him any message but let these blinded people take heede that these mistaken Saints proue not Diuels that by illusions lead them not from God his mercie to their vtter confusion both of body and soule but let mee come againe to my text And shee bowed her selfe and saw two Aungels sitting one at the head and an other at the feete where the bodie of Iesus had laâne and theâ ãâã vnto her woman why weepest thou ãâã shee saide they haue taken away my Lord I knowe not where they haue laide him See nâw how much did her comfort exceed the Disciples they sawe but the liânen clothes and departed home againe but she staid and was spoken to by the Aungels but marke withall the care of her speech and substance of her talke she continues one tale shee hath no minde but of one matter no thought but of her loue nor any loue but of her Lorde no ioy but in him no talke but of him nor sorrow but to bee without him goe to whom shee would come to her who wold Disciples or Angels al was one for hir speech they could get nothing of her but they haue taken away my Lord and I know noâ where they haue laid him See here nowe what a property the faithfull claime in Christ that they call him their Lord as one would say my Father my sonne mââââends my house or my landes so âere sayes Mary my Lord who was more deare to her than either Father Mother Sister Brother kin or friend or all the houses and landes of the world and therefore with teares she continues her sorrow with these wordes They haue taken away my Lord and I know not where they haue laide him But now see I pray you what presentlie follows Immediatelie in a moment she turnes her selfe backe and sawe Iesus but knew not that it was Iesus Nowe marke I say the glorious rewarde of her Humilitie from the
that hee beleeued not at all but that his faith was not yet of that force that Peters was For Peter knowing the Sea woulde not swallowe him when he threwe himselfe into it to come to Christ liuing had now no fear that the earth would shut her mouth vpon him for going in where he had beene buried And therefore boldly he went in and then went in also the other Disciple who saw it and beleeued Heere will I onely trouble you with one note more touching faith you see howe loue brought Mary early in the morning while it was yet darke to the Sepulcher made her runne to the Disciples to tell what she had seene made the Disciples to runne to make tryall of the truth and last made Iohn to outrunne Peter in the race to the Sepulcher but where al this while was faith weake in Mary by reason of her sinnes weake in Iohn by reason of his youth but strong in Peter by reason of his comfort so are there no doubte nowe a daies many that are forward and zealous in Religion that yet doo lacke that strength of faith that Peter had for though a number perhaps would runne with Mary to his Sepulcher to his Disciples to talke of him yet who will venter to go into his graue or will throw himselfe into the Sea in Loue to come to him as Peter did Now it followes they saw and beleeued and why nowe more than before is it said they sawe and beleeued because as yet they knewe not the Scriptures that hee must rise againe from the dead Lo here is a good excuse for the weakenesse of their faith but what excuse can bee laide downe for vs nay what shame is it for vs that hauing the testimonye of their truth seene by them and written by them to vs and for vs that wee will not reade the holie Scriptures or reading so little beleeue them or beleeuing so little regarde them that wee maye iustlie bee saide to bee without eyther faith or loue eyther to seeke or finde Christ or almost to heare or thinke of him eyther in his woorde his Sepulcher or his mercie but God for his mercy sake turn our harts and inspire our soules with the gratious power of his glorious holy spirit that running from the sincke of sin we may come to the sepulcher of Christ and that with Maries sorrow Iohns loue Peters faith we may rise earlie in the prime of our yeares and through the darke of sinne breake out into the day light of grace that maie bring vs to the fight of our soules comfort in the resurrection of our blessed Sauiour to whome nowe sitting at the right hand of God in all absolute power wisedome peace grace and mercie truth bountie loue life and glory with our heauenly Father and his holie spirite one Almightie and euerliuing God bee ascribed and giuen all due honor praise dominion and glorie both now and for euer Amen The Text. And the Disciples went againe to their owne home but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping as she wept she bowed herselfe into the Sepulcher and saw two Angels sitting one at the head the other at the feete where the bodie of Iesus had laine and they said vnto her woman why weepest thou She saide vnto them they haue taken away my Lord I know not where they haue laide him when she had thus said shee turned her selfe backe and sawe Iesus standing and knew not that it was Iesus Iesus saith vnto hir woman why weepest thou whom seekest thou She supposing it had bin the gardner said vnto him If thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Iesus saith vnto her Mary she turned her selfe and saith vnto him Rabony which is to say Master DEarelie beloued in our Sauiour Christ yee haue hearde before of the Disciples comming to the Sepulcher with Mary yee haue heard of Iohns outrunning of Peter and of Peters first going in into the Sepulcher yee haue I hope noted the fruites of faith and loue in the elect children of God in briefe to seeke Christ either aliue or dead that learning to die with him wee may bee assured to liue with him Now ye see what is here said The Disciples went home againe when they had tried the truth of her report and that their eyes were witnes of more than Mary had yet in her wordes deliuerd for that she had not yet presumed either to goe in or so much as to looke in into the Sepulcher they returned home without hauing further conference with her rather willing to leaue her mourning for her loue than to fill her head full of doubts what might become of hir Lord and therefore it is said they returned to their owne home neither commending her for her truth nor giuing her thankes for her report shee had made nor aduising her to seeke further aâter him nor counsayling her to staye there longer for him but beeing them selues ignoraunt where to seeke him they left her to Gods pleasure to dispose eyther of her staie there or her departure from thence by this I gather that if we shall enquire of the ministers of Gods holy worde touching anye such point as in the holie Scriptures is not laid downe wee must not take it amisse if we be left vnto the mercie of Gods holie spirit for the reuelation of his holy will rather than to ââll our heades with such cogitations as neyther the scriptures doe warrant may perhappes please God nor fall out to our comfort but yet let vs with Mary go to the Disciples of Christ to enquire and learne of them what wee may for our comforte but if we can not be resolued then let vs run to Christ with incessant praier that wee may aske and receiue at the handes of his mercie that he shall in his sacred wisdome finde to bee most to his glorie and our comfort And thus much of the Disciples returning againe to their own home now it followes but Marie stood without at the sepulcher weeping as she wept she bowed her selfe into the sepulcher See here as I haue saide before three excellent notes to bee obserued in the loue of Mary to her Lord Christ Constancie Modestie and Humilââie Constancie in that though the Disciples returned home shee stayed still Modestie in that she stood as it is saide without at the Sepulcher Humilitie that shee bowed her selfe to looke in but would not presume to goe in though the Disciples had beene there before her how little is this first part of commendation in Maries loue at these daies followed Let them to whom God hath giuen Grace to finde it in them selues in sorrowfull sighes consesse it to his mercie and with teares of true repentance amend it to his Glorie Oh Constancie the true Testimonie of the harts loue and the suerest token of the soules comforte to loue Christ is a blessed gift of the holy Ghost
Disciples to the Aungels from the Aungels to Christ him selfe Now it is said shee turned backe as though shee was afraid that shee had presumed too farre eyther in looking into the Sepulcher or at lest in talking to the Aungâls Oh Lord how few will learne I would many woulde followe this vertue of Humilitie in Mary not to ãâã too farre nor to speake till they be âââken to then to bee afraide to speake too much yea though it bee the best thing they can speake off I meane their true loue to Christ but to drawe towards an end marke what followes Now she comes neare her comfort shee sees her Sauiour and knowes him not for when he said vnto her VVoman why weepest thou whome seekest thou she supposing it had bin the gardner said Sir if thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Thus in one word she aunswereth to both his questions why she wept what she sought she sought her Lorde in sorrow she could not finde him Iesus said vnto hir Mary shee turned her selfe and saide vnto him Rabboni which is to say Master Now when Christ made him selfe knowen vnto her see what wordes she vseth but onely one to expresse as much as she was able to speake Master For a faithfull seruan âhat loueth his Master if after a long miââe of him hee come to the sight of him againe can he forbeare teares of loue to shewe his dutie and say with Mary Master confesse all yee that loue your Masters for the rest God amend yee Now was there euer so good a Master as for onely louing him nay rather of his own meere loue giues vs life euerlasting forgiues vs all our offences payes vs our wages in his mercies and our debts for vs in the blood of his owne heart when by reason of sinne wee bee long absent from this so good a Master if euer his Grace bring vs againe to his mercie with the teares of sorrowe shall we not weepe to haue been so long from him and so reioyce in his sight that we shall bee able with Mary to say no more but Master which one word so spoken may make more prââââ ãâã our ââue than a longer tale of our serââââ for he knoweth our hearts loueââââr Humility and so regardeth our loue that though wee fee him not as Marie did yet we shall enioy such part of her comfort as if we but thinke vpon his mercie wee shall say in heart Master when the friends of our ioy will not suffer vs to say any more but it is enough and so much enough as I beseech God to graunt vs all Crace so to sorrow for our sinnes and to long for his comming that seeking him as Mary did with teares wee way see him with ioy and say with Mary Master which Master Lord King and God be loued serued honoured praised and glorified of all his seruaunts here present and all his faithfull wheresoeuer Amen AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Danter and are to bee sold by VVilliam Barley at his s ãâ¦ã in Gratious street n ãâã ââaden Hall 1595. A Solemne Passion of the Soules Loue. Printed at London by Iohn Danter and are to be sold by William Barley at his shop in Gratious street 1595. A Solemne Passion of the Soules Loue. AWake my soule out of the sleepe of sinne And shake off slouth the subiect of thy shame Search out the way how best thou mayst beginne To holy worke thine humble will to frame Then proue not weary of a little paine When fleshes griefe will breede the spirites gaine Confesse thy selfe vnworthy of the sence To learne the least of the supernall will Beseech the heauens in strength of their defence To saue and keepe thee from infernall ill Then fall to worke that all the world may see The ioyfull loue betwixt thy God and thee Tell of his goodnes how he did create thee And in his iustice how he doth correct thee And in his loue how he will neuer hate thee And that his mercie neuer will reââect thee And how he helpt thee when the world distrest thee And with his graces how he sweetly blest thee Sây I was sicke and he did send me health I was in prison and he set me free And I waâ poore and he did send me wealth And I waâ blind and he did makâ me see I was perplext and âe did heale my paine And beeing dead he gaue me life âgaine When I was lame he did my âiâmes restore When I was deafe he made me heare his voice When I was wounded he did heale my sore When I was sad he made my soule reioyce When I had finde he would not yet forsake mee When I was lost he did to mercie take me To say yet more what he hath done for me I needes must say his goodnes hath no end Who when on earth he saw no friend to me Did make me feeâe I had a heauenly friend A heauenly friend whose help doth faile me neuer But is my comfort and my King for euer This is my Lord my life and all my loue My liuing loue and louing life inâeed This is the blessing âf my best behoue The sacred fruite whereon I sweetly feede This is the âoy that maâes my hart to sing Honour and glory to my heauenly king Oh King more glorious ãâã the world can know thee From whom the day euââ ãâã on high doth spring Where glorious works vnto the world doth show thee Of glârious loue the euer liuing King The King of life in whom the soule doth proue The highest glory of the heauenly loue By whose high hands were all things made at first By whose deepe wisedome they are gouernd still By whom alone are blessed or accurst That loue his word or disobay his will By whose sweet breath they liue that doo attend him And by whose wrath they dye that doo offend him For who can byde the furye of his yre Or halfe conceiue the comfort of his loue Who plagues his foes with an infernall fire And plants his seruants in the heauens aboue Who shakes the heauens and makes the mountains bow If he but once begin to knit the browe And where he loues what will âe leaue to doo To make the soule acquainted âith his kindnes And with what ioy will hee the spirite wooe To shun the woes that grow of wordly blindnes What paine or griefe or death did he refuse To saue their liues that he did sweetly chuse Now for the greatnes of his glorious power Hee is almighty and all glory his Hee made the yeare the month day night and hower The heauens earth sea and what in them there iâ In him alone doth all their being stand And liue or dye in his almighty hand He spake the word and by his word they were And all was good his secret wisedome did His will did worke his fauour without feare And not a thought is from his knowledge
hyd He knows the hearts and searcheth through the raines And sees the roots euen of the smallest vaines Hee deckt the Skyewith sunne and moone and starres And made the seas to flow vpon the sand Vpon whose shore his hand did set the barres They shall not passe to ouerflowe ãâã Land Amid the ayre he hath dispearst the Clowdes And onely Man within his mercy shrowds Within the depth the fish their holes do keepe And in the Rocks the Conny makes his house Into the earth the crawling wormes do creepe And hollow rocks are harbours for the mouse The Lion keepes his dân the bird hiâ nest And man alone doth but in mercie rest Yet these and all are guided by his power Anâ may not passe the passage he hath giuen them The Sunne his course the Aâoone must know her houre Anâ clouds must wander but where winds haue driuen them Beasts know their times fiânes know their tides And man alone in onely mercie bides To tell of woonders by his wisedome wrought Eâân from the greatest to the vââie least Which time declareââây true experience taught In fâh and towle in âârd in man and beast Maâe but the power that doth in each abide And how it weaâââââ their highest pride The Lion first is fearefull of the Bee The Elephant doth dread the little mouse A crowing Cocke the Dragon may âoâ see The stowtest Eagle subiect to the lowse The greatest Oxe a little taint worme killeth And many a man a little Canker spilleth Yet is the Lion feared for his forcâ The Elephant a huge and mightie beast The fiery Dragon killes without remorse And Eagles carrie Lambs vnto their nest The Oxe the taint worme vnder foot doth tread And man sometimes doth kill the cankers head But when thât power ãâã together pride Then see the strength of ãâã âghtiâ hand By whose high help the ãâã thinges are tride To spoile the strength wherein the ââââongest stand That they may know there is a power on hie In whom they liue and at his pleasure die To snew examples of the heauenly might Against the pride of the inferiour power The word of truth doth giue a glorious light Where may be seene in minute of an hower How greatest stayes that on their strengths were grounded With headlong falls were vtterly confounded How Pharaoh first the proud Egyptian King That would not suffer Isräell to passe What plagues and griefes did the almighty bring Vpon the house euân where his lodging was Frogges flyes and lyce did freely make their way Euen to the chamber where proud Pharaoh lay A number plagues the Lord did further threaten His Land was stroken with a darkesome feare His grasse and corne by Grashoppers were eaten The plague destroyed his people euery where And laât himselfe amidst his army crowned Was in a moment in the red Sea drowned Yet through these seas his hand did make the way Where all his seruants went and wet no foote Which prooues his loue was his elected stay While rebell harts were torne vp by the root Which true example to the world may proue The glorious greatnes of his power and loue Goliah boasted greatly of his strength Yet little Dauid kild him with a stone The Madian Hoast was strong but yet at length By Gideons hand the Kings were ouerthrowne By change of tongues fell Babylons high tower And Christ his word did breake the ciuels power Yet in it selfe what weaâer is than water Which drownd proud Pharaoh with his mighty host A lowse or flye is of a little matter Yet with such wormes are men tormented most What strength a las is in a little stone Yet so we reade Goliah ouerthrowne Know then from whence this wonder power groweth But from the force of the almightie hand Which to the world his glorious power showeth When with the weake the strongest cannot stand King Dauid wrote and it is truely knowne That power belongeth vnto God alone To proue the prowesle of the heauenly power How many more examples may be showne There is no yeare no day no night nor houre But some such action to the world is knowne That truth may well vnto his glorie speake God is of power and all the world is weake But since the world cannot the bookes containe Wherein his works of wonder may be writ To admiration let his power remaine And say all powers are subiect vnto it And let me of his loue and mercie write Which is the substance of the soules delight This powerfull loue the glorie of all grace When he had wrought the world vnto his will And planted each thing in his proper place And in the course that they continue still Of all the works that he in wonder wrought Made onely man the dearest of his thought For what he made he made but man to serue And man to seruâââonely sacred loue And in his loue ãâã so mans life preserue As may the comfâââ of his care approue And so approue as ãâã this sentence giue His onely loue ãâ¦ã the soule to liue He loude ãâã earth ãâ¦ã giue it life He louâd ãâã âife wheâ ãâã âis ââage gaue it He loued the flesh that made the bone a wife He loued the soule when he from death did saue it He loude him euer yet he loude him most To fetch him home when he him selfe had lost Come Poets yee that fill the world with fansies Whose savning Muses shew but madding sits Which all too soone doo fall into those âranzies That are begotten by mistaking wits Lay downe your liues compare your loue with mine And say whose vertue is the true diuine For further tryall let me giue you leaue To add a truth vnto your ydle stoââââ Wherewith so oft you doo the woâlâ deceaue And gayne your selues but ill concâââed gloryes Yet when you see where sweetesââââhts are showne Looke on my loue and blush to see ãâã owne With funny beautyes let your lâues be blesâ The sunne doth fetch his light but from my loue You haue your wonders from the Phoenix nest Mine honour liues but in the heauens aboue Your Muses doo your Ladyes prayses sing The Aungels sing in glory of my King The earth alas from whence your loues receiue Their flowers sweets their Pearses pretious stones To decke themselues with which they doo deceiue The blinded spirits of the simple ones This earth from whence their outward graces spring Is but the footstoole of my heauenly King And if he so hath deckt the earth below Imagine then the glory of his seate Which may perswade where Aungels tremble so For humane eyes the glory is too great For where the sunne the moone and starres haue light For natures eyes the beauty is too bright And who doth liue that euer ye did loue But that ye could theyr fayrest fayre vnfolde And my fayre loue let fayrest truth approue No eye can liue in glory to behold Your clearest beauty is with age declining My loues bright glory is for euer
shining If you be wise thinke where true wisedome liueth And then allow the honour to my loue If yours be kiââââânkâ who the comfort giueth And know the turky from the turtle doue If constant yours that truth let my loue try Who lost his life to saue his loue thereby And let me see how liueth all your loue But on desert the stay of all your sââte And in my loue a further life appâââe Who loude indeede when he haâ cââse to hate Your fancies oft for lacke of fauour starue But my loue doth both mine and yours presarue Then truely say whom chiââe your loues doth choose To cast the counâânââce of theyr fauours on Then who â againe they wholly doe refuâe In liking thought as most to looke vpon Then doo but looke vpon my loue his choyse And whose hart most he maketh to reioyse The wealthy mighty wise and well at ease Doo fit the fansies of your Ladies best But poore and weake and simple soules best please My heauenly loue to harbour in his brest And who the world doth vtterly refuse Those doth my loue vnto his fauour chuse And see what power is in your louing natures To take or giue what ye may gayne or lose And ye shâll see they are buâ my loues creatures Whose liues are at his pleasure to disposet And while your fauours all doo fade away My sweet loues blessings neuer will decay Could ye conceiue the smallest of the sweete That doth discend from my soules dearest loue Vpon the faith that falleth at his feete That doth in prayer but his mercie proue And you will blot out euery idle line And yeeld your soules vnto this loue of mine Compare a weede vnto a holsome flower A cloudie euening to a sunnie daie A foggie miste vnto an Aprill shower Nouember blaste vnto a bloome of May And you shall easily see the difference plaine Betwixt my sunne shine and your showers of raine Compare meere follie to the finest wit The couâlest copper with the purest gold The healthfull bodie with an ague fit And set the youthfull age against the old The Rauens foule note to Philomelaes voice And quicklie say which is the better choice Compare foule pride to faire humilitie A kinde discretion to a dogged nature The clownish race to true gentilitie A blessed Angell to a cursed creature Fauours to frownes and smilings vnto scowleâ And say the Phoenix makes all birds but owles Compare the earth vnto the heauen on hie The spirites treasures vnto fleshly toves The pâbble stone vnto the Azurde Skie The Woes of men vnto the Angels ioycâ The lowest weaknes vnto the highest powers Then ãâã the difference twixt my loue and yours And when you see how all sweet blessings grow But from the ground of my loues liuing grace And doe againe the imperfection know Wherein you doe your fond affection place Then all your titles to this truth resigne There is no life but in this loue of mine And giue me leaue to praise my Princely loue Although my wittes are short of such a worth And let my spirite in my passions proue What his high hand in mercie will bring forth And write but truth that may be truely prooued My onely loue all onely to be loued Before all times all thoughts all things he was And ââer is and will be aye the ââme That doth iâ wonder wonders wonder passe In truths high triumph of eternall fame Where life and loue in grace and glory crowâd Doo sway the Scepter of the heauens renownd Now what he was cannot be comprehended Who in himselfe dâth all things comprâhend And when that all things shall be wholly ended Himselfe his word his will shall neuer end Whose gratious life all glorious loue bâginning Doth aâdâ all grace and endles glory winning And oâ his Essence this is all we finde A spirite fully incomprehensible A louing God vnto his seruants kinde And in his humane natuâe sensible In wisedomes wonder knowledge quintescence And in that âsâânce highest excellence The high Creator of all creatures liuing The sweete Redeemer of his sâruants lost The glorious grace all grace and glory giuing The ioy of ioyes that glads the spirit most The loue of life and liâe of loue indeede Gainst death and hell that stands the soule in sâeede His seate is heauen the earth his footstoole is His chiefest dwelling with his soules elected His ioy to loue and to be loâde of his His fauour life vnto his loues affected His word is truth which doth the spirit try Where fruitfull faith shall liue and neuer dye His blessing is the peace of conscience His comfort mercies contemplation His pretious gift the spirits patience His mercy vertues meditation His grâce the oyle that kills the spirits euill His death the life that did subdue the diuell His garments are the sundrie sortâs of graces His tribute is but sinners sâcrâfice His worke tâe planting vertues in their places His gaine the loue of humble spirites seruicâ His musicke Psalmes that angels neuer cease To sing in glorie of the King of peace This King of peace this God of life and lâue Who in him selfe doth all ââd onely âold The highest blessings of the hâarts behoue That faithfull truth hath to the spirite tâld This is the substance of my soules dâliâht Vnworthie subiect of his worth to write Yet as his mercie will âou ãâã nâe grace With intârcesâion of his âiâh âssiââance Against the power that would my thoughts deface And proââdly make agâiâââ the soule reâiââaâce I will a little giue his loue a âuch Whose smallest praise is for my pen too âuch What loue was that which made him like man best Of all the worke that euer he created What loue againe did in that liâing rest To loue him so he neuer can be hated What loue was more to giue the man a wife What loue was most to die to giue him life The earth within with siluer gems and gold Without with trees and herbs and fruits and flowers The waters deepe where fishes keeps their âold The âlements with al their inward powerâ These hath my loue all made for man to chuse And to his pleasure in his seruice vse The fire was made to kill the chilling cold The water made to slacke the burning heate The subtile ayre a secret bâeath to hold The earth too drie when moysture is too great Thâsâ crosse in natures yet doe meete in one Onely to serue the vse oâ man alone âaâh byrd each beast each fowle and euery fish The flesh of man muât serue to cloath and feede What eye can see or heart of man can wish But some way serues to stand poore men in steede And for that cause their being first began From mârâies loue to serue the life of man The light was maâe to glad the lightsome eye The sound to please the pure attentiue eare The ayre to drawe a liuing breath thereby The earth the body anâ the limmes to beare The clowdâ
the staires the sunne the moone the Sâye Were made for man to make him looke on high All these were made out of the mould of loue Was neuer louâ came euer neeâe to this Which dâth â wonder in affection prâuâ Euen when we leaâ dâsârude that lâuâ of his For when our soules did most offences doo him He came himselfe in loue to caâl vs to him To make redeeme preseruâ defend and cheriâh His faithfull âouâes and so in loue to nourish ãâã in his loue their liueâ shall nâuâr pâriâh But like the Lilly liue and euer flouriââ Are these not points sufficient to approue The true perfection of a piereles louâ Yet more to say that truely may be sayd In humble honour of thâs hâauenly loue In mercies sweete to mâke the soule diâmayde To see the blessing of thiâ God aboue The louing spirit liuely to refresh He let his seruants see him in the flesh To see him so as might not hurt their sight For none migât see his high supernall power But in his loue tâ see that glorious light That gaines that sweete that cuts off euâry sower The second person of himselfe his sonne In whom are all things to his glory done And see the câuse why so he came vnto vâ âis onely loue the onely cause wee liue And when we came what comfort did he doe vs To saue our liues his loue his life did giue And so to sâue vs from the fire of hell That with his loue we might for euer dwell What loue was this to leaue his heauenly seate Amoâg his angeâs all in glorie serued To câme to mân who diâ too ill intreate The sacred loue that hath his life preââruâd From being honourde praisde and gloriâide To be disgraced whipte and crucifide In loue âe lâst âis highâst heauenly pleasures Aboue his angels in their âeapâ of ioyâs To liue on earth in soârowes âut of mâaâures With chaunge of nothing but the worlds annoyes In toyle and trauailâ long in loue he sâught vs And wâth his death at last full dearely bâught vs. Oh wofull trauaile that he vndertooke To bring our liues vnto his sacred loue Which paine nor crosse nor death it selfe forsooke That to our faith might his affection proue Which lâfâ the spirite of his loue beâinde him To âhew the loue that seekes him how to finde him In loue hâ came that he might comfort doe vs In loue went from vs to prouide our places In loue he sent his comforter vnto vs In loue he guides vs with his holy graces In loue he made bought keepes and guides vs thus And shall not we loue him that âo loude vs. Yes my deare Lord be thou my dearest loue For Christ his sake let my soule neuer leâue thee Who in thy loue thy liuing truth doth proue That mâkes me finde the world doth all decâiue me ând were there truth on earth as there is none Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone And lât these tâares be witnes of my loue Which first doo begge remission of my sinne ând in râpentance doo but mercy moue To ope the gates of grace and lât me in Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall With my soules seruice loue and life and all Fârget O Lord my workes of wickednes Whereby my soule with sorrow is oppressed And with the finger of thy holineâ In mercy touch my spirit so distressed And saue my life that draweth nigh to hell Loue me a little and I shall be wâll Loue no sweete Lord mercy I craue no more My sinnes are such I dare not speake of loue But in thy merây to thy loue restore My hâmble faith that may but mercy proue And ãâã âppââue that all the world may see The ãâã loue betwiât my God and mee Oh call me home and make me heare thy call And heare thee so that I may runne vnto thee And hold me fast that I may neuer fall But that my soule may euer ââruice doo thee Shew some good token that the world may know My soule is blest whom thou hast loued so And while I liue here in this wretched vale Of fearefull danger of inâernall death Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale Which haue their bargaiâe in the hâll beneath Let my soules loue and lifâ and labour bee To seeke my ioy my loue and life in thee Make me not rich lest I forget to thinke From whence I haue the comfort of my hart Nor in such want let thy poore seruant sinke That I be driuen to craue the needy part Giue me but meanes the needy to relieue To feede thy flocke and not the Wolfe to grieue Let me not listen to the sinners songes âut to the Psalmes thy holy saints doe sing Nor let me follow tyrants in their wronges But kisse the rocke where righteousnes doth spring Let not mine eye affect the outward part But let me loue the vertue of the hart And let my life be to behold thy loue And let my loue be but to liue in thee And so to liue that all the world may prâue The gratiâus good my God hath done for mee To call my soule out of this world of woe In faithfull loue to serue my Sauiour so And when they see the blot of all their blame To loue the worlde but all in wretched toyes And doe confes with inward blushing shame They are but sorrowes vnto heauenlie ioyes They may with me forsake all wordly pleasure And make thy loue an euerlasting treasure For Lord by thee we are in thee we liue And in thy loue the liuing cannot die And since thy death did our liues wholy giue For thy loues sake shall we affection âlie No my deare Lord let life be death to me So I may die to liue in loue with thee A ioyfull life were such a death indeede From earthly paine to passe to heauenly pleasure A ioyfull line for louing hearts to reade To leaue the flesh to take the spirits treasure Whose glorious sence vnto the sunne doth fall That all is nothing to that all in all And I alas of many thousand soules Vnworthie most of his high worth to write Who in his mercies true record inrowles The louing substance of the soules delight Must mercie crie for scare my loues presuming Of too high sence may be my souls consuming And with the teares of true repentant loue Looking vpon the wonders of that woâder That ãâ¦ã pââfection may appâoue The ãâã âisedâ me of the world put vnder ãâ¦ã wit as short to pânâe his praise As ãâã nâghts in light of clearest dayes And say but this in grace and glories height Wheââ vertue loue doth liue fâr âuer crowned Aâd all the Hoaââ of heauen and heauens await Vppon the higheâ ãâã the heauââs rânowned Whom Saiâts and Angelâ tâeâblâng doo adore To him alone be all praise câeâmore All honour pâaise and glory euer bee Vnto my âouing euerlâuing King This king of life who âo hath lâued mee To giue my soule thiâ gratiouâ power to sing In hart and mind in man and ângels loue All gloâious glory be to God aboue FINIS Nicholas Britten
but to continue Constant to the end is an espeaciall fruite of Gods fauour Oh Constant loue of Mary that hauing once washt his feet would now fil his Tomb with her teares Oh rare Modestie that in his life would but lie at his feete vnder the Table and now was so bashfull as to stand without at the sepulcher And Oh most excellente Humillitie that woulde presume no further but to looke in See here the heauenlie loue of this blessed woman how much it differs from the vile nature of our worldlings loue We daylie see before our eyes that the wisest Prince the moste Godlie preacher the most louing parents the most bountifull Master the most kinde kinsman and the most faithfull friende If they dye howe soone are they forgotten if they bee of anye account I meane according to the worldes estimation that their âeires maye bee the better for them then perhaps they will take this order and bee at this charge for them the Lawyer shall make his Will the Sexton hys graue the Preacher shall make a Sermon for him the parish shall haue a Feaste for him the Minister shall bee paide for buriall of him and a few weare Blacke weedes for him and so there is no more adoe for him But where are the teares of Loue all this while alas there is no such cause there is more gotten by his death than by his life rather weepe that hee liued so long than that he died so soone is it not too true that in manie places it is daylie seene the childe is sicke of the Mother and wisheth his Father in his graue ere he can learne to bee a son or leaue to be a Childe are not many Subiects vnkinde that will ratheâ seeke the death of a Prince than wâepe for his want are not those kin too strange in nature that are not onely continually in lawe but seeke one anothers life for their lands are not those seruaunts most wicked that had rather wish for a mourning coate for a dead Master than a cognizaunce for the liuing and will rather betray him to his death than weepe for him when hee is gone And are not those friendes moste faithlesse that will rather giue a Iudas kisse than shedde Iosephs teares I woulde there were no such people but if there be God of his goodnes giue them grace with Mary to repent them of their wickednes and with Mary to shed the teares of loue that maye bee witnes of her faith and continuing in her Constancie with feare of presumption they maye make proofe of such Humilitie as was her commendation and may bee their comfort How much this vertue of Constancie is commended in diuers places of the holye Scriptures yee may read as in Genesis the fift Chap. and fourteentlâ verse Henosh for his long walking with God was taken vppe in the heauens Eliah for his constant faithfulnes was taken vpp into the heauens Genesis the two and twentie Chapter and seuenteenth verse Abraham for his constant loue was called the Father of the faithfull and had the promise of the Almightie that of his blessed seede shuld come the blessed Messias Noah Genesis Chapter seuen and thirteenth verse for his Constancie was saued with all his Familie when all the worlde was drowned that were not in the Arke Dauid for his Constancie was left vnto vs a figure of Christ the three Children in the fornace for their Coâââancie were preserued in the fire Ier. the eight and thirtieth Chapter and tenth verse Ieremie for his Constancie was deliuered from the Dungeon Iob. the one and fortieth Chapter and twelfth verse for his Constancie was restored to his health made more happie than euer hee was Paul for his Constancie was rapt into the heauens where hee sawe Christ in his glorie Steuen the holy Martir of God did shine like an Angell at the time of Martirdome and Mary here for her Constancie comes to the sight of her Sauiour but of this I will God willing speake more fitly anone Now for Modestie tedious it were to trouble you with many places of commendation laid downe in ãâ¦ã lie Scriptures touching that ãâã though some of them I thinke it not good to omit Sara was commended for her Modestie in calling hir husband sir Rebeccha for couering her face when shee saw Isaach Hester for her modesty was said to haue hir face shine whose bashfull feare so pleased the King Assuerus that he laid his scepter on hir necke and kissed hir and held her in his armes till her trance was ouer And here you see her Modestie so pleased God that he sent his Aungels to comfort her for you see what followes And shee bowed her selfe downe and sawe two Angels the one sitting at the head and the other at the feete O would to God that all women woulde learne this Modestie of Mary then woâd they not so ofteÌ fall into such pâââââption as is manie times a ãâã of their confusion in steed of laughing with Michol to see Dauid daunce before the Arke of God they ââuld weep with Mary at the Sepulcher of Christ Modestie would teach them to come to the Church with more deuotion and to heare the worde with more reuerence than I feare too manie doe now a daies how vncomely a thing it is in a maiden to be giggling and laughing and how vngratious a thing it is for a woman to be tighing and babling in the Temple of God at the time of the reading or preaching of his holie Gospell Alas what will they bee thought on among the wise the one but an idle gossip and the other a foolish girle but here you see Mary did none of these and as I said before such as Mary will doe none of these Learne then of Mary to loue Christ to bee Constant in louing Christ and to vse Modâsty in your loue to Christ so shall you surelye please Christ and I am fully perswaded bee most commânded of Christians Nowe for Humilitie what is more commended in the holy Scriptures Abells sacrifice was best accepted for his Humilitie Moses beloued for his Humility Abrahams faith best regarded in his Humility Dauids patience best considered in his Humility Salomons request granted for his Humility Nabuchadnezer restored to Babell for his Humility Iob best tried beloued and made happie in his Humility Mary the virgin receiued the saluation of the Angell and the abundance of Grace in her blessed wombe for her Humilitie and Christ himselfe for his Humilite to his Father is glorified with his father many places I omit that shininglie set out the brightnes of this vertue but indeed so manie are the rare and excellent properties of this most excellent vertue as I thinke it past the capacity of man to giue it halfe sufficient commââdation yet thus much giuen âaue to speake mine opinion of it It pleaseth God aboue all thinges it pleaseth man in manye thinges and displeaseth the Godlye in nothing at lest wherin it ought to