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 aâ—ter 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 â—â—ll 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 Humilâ—â—ie 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 Aungâ—ls Oh Lord how few will learne I would many woulde followe this vertue of Humilitie in Mary not to 〈◊〉 too farre nor to speake till they be â—â—â—ken 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 â—hat loueth his Master if after a long miâ—â—e 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 prâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 our â—â—ue than a longer tale of our serâ—â—â—â— for he knoweth our hearts loueâ—â—â—â—r 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 〈…〉 in Gratious street n 〈◊〉 â—â—aden 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 reâ—â—ect thee And how he helpt thee when the world distrest thee And with his graces how he sweetly blest thee Sâ—y 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 â—e did heale my paine And beeing dead he gaue me life â—gaine When I was lame he did my â—iâ—mes 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 feeâ—e 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 inâ—eed This is the blessing â—f my best behoue The sacred fruite whereon I sweetly feede This is the â—oy that maâ—es my hart to sing Honour and glory to my heauenly king Oh King more glorious 〈◊〉 the world can know thee From whom the day euâ—◠〈◊〉 on high doth spring Where glorious works vnto the world doth show thee Of glâ—rious 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 â—e leaue to doo To make the soule acquainted â—ith 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 〈◊〉 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 dâ—n 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 Aâ—oone must know her houre Anâ— clouds must wander but where winds haue driuen them Beasts know their times fiâ—nes know their tides And man alone in onely mercie bides To tell of woonders by his wisedome wrought Eâ—â—n from the greatest to the vâ—â—ie least Which time declareâ—â—â—y true experience taught In fâ—h and towle in â—â—rd in man and beast Maâ—e but the power that doth in each abide And how it weaâ—â—â—â—â— their highest pride The Lion first is fearefull of the Bee The Elephant doth dread the little mouse A crowing Cocke the Dragon may â—oâ— 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 thâ—t power 〈◊〉 together pride Then see the strength of 〈◊〉 â—ghtiâ— hand By whose high help the 〈◊〉 thinges are tride To spoile the strength wherein the â—â—â—â—ongest 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 euâ—n 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 laâ—t 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 weaâ—er 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 seruâ—â—â—onely sacred loue And in his loue 〈◊〉 so mans life preserue As may the comfâ—â—â— of his care approue And so approue as 〈◊〉 this sentence giue His onely loue 〈…〉 the soule to liue He loude 〈◊〉 earth 〈…〉 giue it life He louâ—d 〈◊〉 â—ife whe◠〈◊〉 â—is â—â—age 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 â—ranzies 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 stoâ—â—â—â— Wherewith so oft you doo the woâ—lâ— deceaue And gayne your selues but ill concâ—â—â—ed gloryes Yet when you see where sweetesâ—â—â—â—hts are showne Looke on my loue and blush to see 〈◊〉 owne With funny beautyes let your lâ—ues 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