65. Lay on their wicked hearts thy hardning curse That they may daily grow from ill to worse Verse 66. Lord in thy wrath destroy them be they driven From all abiding undercope of Heaven Verse 1. I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath Verse 2. He hath led me and brought me into derknes but not into light Verse 3. Surely against me is he urned he turneth his hand against me all the day Verse 4. My flesh my skin hath he made old he hath broken my bones Verse 5. He hath builded against me and compassed me with gall and traoell Verse 6. He hath set me in darke places as they that be dead of old Verse 7. He hath hedged me about that I cannot getout he hath made my chaine heavy Verse 8. Also when I cry and shout shutteth out my prayer Verse 9. He hath enclosed my way with hewen stone he hath made my pathes crooked Verse 10. He was unto me as a bear lying in waite and as a Lion in secret places Verse 11. He hath turned aside my wayes and pulled me in peeces he hath made me desolate Verse 12. He hath bent his bow and seâ— me as a marke for the arrow Verse 13. He hath caused the arrower 〈◊〉 his quiver to enter into my reâ—â—â— Verse 14. I was a derision to all my people and their song all the day Verse 15. He hath filled me with bitternesse he hath made me drunken with wormewood Verse 16. He hath also broken my teeth with gravell stones he hath covered me with ashes Verse 17. And thou hast removed my soule farre off from peace I forget prosperity Verse 18. And I said My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. Verse 19. Remembring mine affliction my misery the wormwood the gall Verse 20. My soulhe hath them still in remembrance and is humbld in me Verse 21. This I recall to my minde therefore have I hope Verse 22. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not Verse 23. They are new every morning great is thy faithfulnesse Verse 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore will I hope in him Verse 25. The Lord is good unto them that waite for him to the soule that seeketh him Verse 26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly waite for the sovation of the Lord. Verse 27. It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth Verse 28. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath borne it upon him Verse 29. He putteth his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope Verse 30. He giveth his cheeke to him that smiteth him he is filled full with reproach Verse 31. For the Lord will not cast off for ever Verse 32. But though he cause griefe yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Verse 33. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men Verse 34. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth Verse 35. To turn aside the right of aâ—â— before the face of the most High Verse 36. To subvert aman in bi◠〈◊〉 the Lord approveth not Verse 37. Who is he that saith 〈◊〉 commeth to passe when the 〈◊〉 commandeth it not Verse 38. Ous of the mouth of the 〈◊〉 High proceedeth not evill and goâ—â— Verse 39. Wherefore doth a living 〈◊〉 complaine a man for the punishmâ—â— of his sinnes Verse 40 Let us search and try our 〈◊〉 and turne againe to the Lord. Verse 41. Let us loft up our heart 〈◊〉 our hands unto Gods the heâ—â—â—â— Verse 42. We bout trausgressed and 〈◊〉 rebelled thâ—n hast not pardoned Verse 43. Thou best covered with anâ— and persâ—enied us thâ—â— hast slaiâ— thou bast not pitied Verse 44. Thou hast covered thy self wâ—â—â— a cloud that our prayer should 〈◊〉 passe thorow Verse 45. Thou hast made us at the 〈◊〉 scouring and refuse in the â—â—idst the people Verse 46. All our enemies have opâ—â—â— their mouthes against us Verse 47. Feare and asnare is come up us desolation and destruction Verse 48. Mine eye ranneth down 〈◊〉 rivers of water for the destruction the danghter of my people Verse 49. Mine eye trickleth down 〈◊〉 ceaseth not without any inter missâ—â— Verse 50. Till the Lord looke down 〈◊〉 behold from heaven Verse 51. Mine eye assecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city Verse 52. Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause Verse 53. They have cut off my life in the dungeon and cast a stone upon me Verse 54. Waters flowed over mine head then I said I am cut off Verse 55. I called upon thy name O Lord out of the low dungeon Verse 56. Thou hast heard my voyced hide not thy eare at my breathing at my cry Verse 57. Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee Thou saidest Peare not Verse 58. O Lord thou hast pleaded the causes of my soule thou hast redcemed my life Verse 59. O Lord thou hast seene my wrong judge thou my cause Verse 60. Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me Verse 61. Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord and all their imaginations against me Verse 62. The lips of those that rose up against me and their device against me all the day Verse 63. Behold their sitting down and their rising up I am their musicke Verse 64. Render unto them a recompence O Lord according to the worke of their hands Verse 65. Give them sorrow of heart thy curse unto them Verse 66. Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord. CHAP. IIII. Verse 1. HOw (g) Such a question for degenerating by sin as this by affliction is that of Esay 1.21.22 How is the faithfull city c. is the gold of Zions glorious frame Grown dim and dark not meriting the name Of mettals monarch That which gilded was With star-like burnisht gold how dull as brasse Yeelding no glistring lustre to the eye Is it become the heavenly Sanctuary Cast downe in every street may finde her stones Verse 2. Jerusalems children the most precious ones Passing all pearles for price for beauty gold How are they now as cheape as pitchers sold Esteem'd as Potters ware Verse 3. Can any kind Of Earths or Oceans Animals be unkind And cruell as the daughter of Zion is Like (h) See Job 39 14 15 16. Contentions there are about this word Ostrich some will have it struthio some â—â—culus some Strix Vide Cornel. a lap Tarn In Thren Ierem. hardned Ostrich in the wildernesse That doth her new hatch'd young forget forsake Yet the Sea-calves as carefull dammes doe take Piteous affection hold dugs to their young Verse 4. But here the sucking-child with glued tongue To roofe of mouth dry'd up with thirst doth cry Younglings yell out for bread ready to die With
say my hope is gone Yea perisht from the Lord all strength extinct Verse 19. Whiles I remember how I lie fast linkt In sore affliction and to minde recall My daily draughts of wormewood and of gall Verse 20. This I remember and for this my soule Is deeply humbled Verse 21 Yea my heart doth roll And busied seekes what sins doe cause my woe I le not despaire for humble hopes doe grow Verse 22. O the large sea of mercies in the Lord We merit the edge he strikes with back of sword 〈◊〉 (y) Quicquid citra infernum est uitrameritum est his transcendent grace which knows no end 〈◊〉 for our sins he doth not vengeance send 〈◊〉 altâ—erly destroy O mercies rare 〈◊〉 spare not sinning God doth smiting pare Verse 23. So oft as Sun doth every morning rise 〈◊〉 mercâ—es are pâ—esented to our eyes 〈◊〉 faithfull is our God in truth and loveâ— Verse 24. My (z) My lot is falne in a faire place I 〈◊〉 a goodly herit age Psal 16.6 soule hath chosen thee O Lord above Whiles others seeke for wealth ease honours store â—ord thou art my portion I desire no more Therefore I le hope in him in lowest state Verse 25. For God is good to all that on him waite Verse 26. 'T is a good thing and piece of rarest Art 〈◊〉 darne to waite on God with patient heart 〈◊〉 with soule-calming hopes to rest possest â—â—ill Gods saving health be manifest Verse 27. 'T is good our shoulders be inur'd betime 〈◊〉 beare Gods yoke even in our youthly prime â—arly acquaintance with Gods scourging hand â—â—â—â—ns his servants makes them understand Verse 28. He sits alone with silence bolts his lips 〈◊〉 bursting out into impatient sits 〈◊〉 why such burthens he has borne before Verse 29. Therefore he 's (a) The godly in afflictions ponit in pulvereos suum as 〈◊〉 but the ungodly ponit in coelum os suum Psal 73.9 silent hopes God wil restore Verse 30. Unto the smiting hand he gives his cheeke 〈◊〉 filled with reproaches doth not seeke â—ny revenge Verse 31. This comfort he doth gather 〈◊〉 may correct but casts not off for ever Verse 32. For some short time his Saints are tried with grief 〈◊〉 then Gods tender heart beyond beliefe 〈◊〉 ravells with paine deliverance to send 〈◊〉 endlesse mercy seekes our miseries end Verse 33. Oh how (b) Deus non maestitia afficit ex â—â—orde sâ—e non ex animo Tremel Jun. unwillingly doth our gracious God 〈◊〉 forth his hand to take sins smarting rod â—o scourge rebellious men Verse 34 He hates that might Which â—reades downe thralled captives under feet Verse 35. He doth adhorre unjust oppressione all When greatnesse brib'd causes right causes fall Verse 36. Against all such he sets his hand and heart Who doe the poore in rightfull cause subvert Verse 37 What are mens words decrees but wind sand Things onely come to passe by Gods command Verse 38. What punishing evill or what pleasing good Meet we withall which comes not all from God Both come at his decree Verse 39. O men moâ—â— vaine Why dâ—e ye murmure or at all complaine No bitter draughts vex us without within Which first we did not brew and tunne in sin Verse 40. Let us then in ou sufferings search and try What sins in heart or life doe cherisht lie Verse 41. Turning to God with lift up hands heart Praying the Father in heaven to ease our smart Verse 42. We Lord have sinn'd with great rebellion Thou scourgest us with sharp correction Thou spar'st us not Verse 43. But in thy angry mood Thou smitest â—â—yest coverest us with bloud Yea thou excâ—udest pity Verse 44. When our prayers Are climb'd up to the top of heavenly staires Hoping by this ascent to finde thy grace Then dost thou not asient but hid'st thy face Masked with angers cloud O miseâ—ies masse When our poor prayers to Gods eare may not passe Verse 45. We 〈◊〉 counted base by vilest raffe of men Refuse and rubbish is our best esâ—eeme Verse 46. Our eâ—emies all have opd their mouth as large Venting reproaches with a full discharge Verse 47. Where is our safety here feare there a snare Woes and astations our best neighbours are Verse 48. Mine (c) Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes afountaine of teares that I might weepe 〈◊〉 and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Jer. 9.1 eyes are full with briny-streaming tears Because my peoples judgement beats mine cares Verse 49. Mine eyes gutter my cheekes I never cease Nor intermit my moane for Zions case Verse 50. Untill from heaven the Lord cast piteous eye Upon my people in their misery Verse 51. Mine heart affects mine eyes mine eyes my heart 〈◊〉 in this wretched consort know their part 〈◊〉 daughters of my City to deplore Verse 52. Like (d) At when one doth hunt a Partridge in the mountaines 1 Sam. 26.20 Psal 11.1 Fly aâ—◠〈◊〉 to your mountaine weake-wing'd bird so am I chased 〈◊〉 my fierce foes and guiltlesse without crime 〈◊〉 â—â—wk for harmlesse dove the clouds doth climbe Verse 53. I lie in dungeons bottome as one dead With ponderous pressing stones upon me laid 〈◊〉 strangle hopes of life Verse 54. I 'am drown'd gone 〈◊〉 plenty (e) Great afflictions are commonly compared to great waters and waâ—â—â— flands Psal 42.7 Psal 69.1 2. Psal 124.4 5. of waters have my head o're-flowne Which made me say Lord thou hast done enough How am I perisht I am quite cut off Verse 55. Yet in the dungeon deep Lord I did pray â—nd call'd upon thy name Verse 56. Turne not away â—â—ine eare from my sad sighes deep-breathed cries know thou heard'st me O let comfort rise Verse 57. Yea Lord I gather hopes for when I prayed â—hou didst draw neere and say be not affraid Verse 58. The causes of my soul thou hast pleaded well â—nd hast redeem'd my life from lowest Hell Verse 59. O Lord thou knowest my wrongs injuries 〈◊〉 and up for me and judge mine enemies Verse 60. I doe appeale for witnesse to thine eyes â—ho saw their busie thoughts alwayes deviseâ— â—â—ngeance and malice Verse 61. (f) Thou hast knowne my reproach and my 〈◊〉 and my dishonour all mine adversaries are before thee Psal 69 19 Their reproaches al â—â—ine eares have heard which they on me let fall Verse 62. What their curst lips did vent who ' gainst me rose 〈◊〉 plots their hearts invent O Lord thou knows â—hold their sitting downe for to conspire 〈◊〉 rifing up to act what they desire 〈◊〉 their musicke their best dish at feasts â—â—on my broken head to breake some jests â—â—ey call on minstrels when they merry be â—â—â—'s heare the Song of Zions misery â—â—rusalems last good night That pleasant stroke 〈◊〉 enemies sorrowes will our sorrowes choke Verse 64. Render to them O Lord a recompence According to their deeds and bad intents Verse
A BOTTLE OF HOLY TEARS OR Jeremies Threnes and Lamentations for Israels misery and Ierusalems woefull desolation Metrically and Metaphrastically laid out in Verse explaining plainely the meaning of the Prophet in his lamenting Phrases Very suitable for these times wherein we have a call every day to learne the Lesson of Englands Lamentation Warre and Plague having made a strong entrance into divers parts of the Land and leane Famine and Desolation knocking at the doore for entrance Therefore said I looke away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the daughter of my people Esay 22.4 Consider ye and call for the mourning-women and send for the cunning-women that they may come and teach your daughters wailing and every one her neighbour Lamentation Jer. 9.17 19. YORKE Printed by Tho. Broad 1645. To the godly Reader that understands what these times are and practises Jeremies Lamentations with a sorrowing and sensible heart IN that day said the Prophet Esay Esay 22.12 did the Lord God of hostes call to weeping and to mourning and to baldnesse and to girding with sackcloth in this day he calls for the same for this is the day of Iacobs trouble What he calls for these Verses as blacke as the Inke they are writ withall calls for also Nazian 1. pacificat Nazianzen confesses he never read these lamenting lines of Ieremy but with a lamenting heart and with overflowing teares in his eyes Not onely Ieremies but ours are lamentable dayes and doe challenge our Threnodies and mourning Verses We have our sorrowfull Doctor Ieremy and the Doctrine is our owne or the Application rather comes home to us our Jerusalem being on a fire our Temples waste our Elders and Prophets gone into Captivity our Magistrates none to be found sitting in the gates our Merchants are weary of the Land and say it is more tempestuous then the sea they beare dust and ashes upon their heads our Virgines are defloured by an heard of Goates Rachel weepes for her children and will not be comforted because they are not Every one eates the flesh of his owne arme Manasseh is against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and both against Iudah O the cruell and unmercifull dealings of the men of these dayes as if it were not onely true that the English were not onely gone to live among the Cannibals in New-England but a Colony of Cannibals were brought thence to devoure and banquet with mans flesh in Old-England O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers because we have sinned against thee Dan. 9.8 If there were true judgement given of our calamities what they are it might be resolved thus and that justly that the iniquity of the Throne the Inxurie of the Palates the oppressions of the Tribunals the prophanenesse of the Sanctuary the ungodlinesse of the street and market are all met together in one and have called forth the justice of God to plague us and to be revenged on such a Nation as this Wee have heard of fours great judgements the Lord threatens to great sinners wilde beasts and those we have belluine brutish and bitter men that need not learne in the wildernesse but set up a Lecture in the desert to the Tygers and Leopards to teach them to destroy and â—eare in pieces and for the other three limos lointos and polemos Famine Plague and War woe unto us that we have sinned they have said of the Land Here will we dwell for we have a delight therein The Lord teach us the lesson of these dayes to lament and turne unto him O all you carelesse soules that passe by that have some ease and quiet when all the Land is steeped in bitternesse and lies in the breach of the wrath of the Almighty how can you goe with such a dry Summer in your eyes Is it nothing to you that the Land mourns the Church hangs up her Harp on the Willow trees Sion sorrowes England and Ireland are bidding farewell to their broken hartstrings behold and see if there be any sorrow like Englands sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted her in the day of his fierce wrath Come and vie teares with the weepers bow your heads and eyes to the wounded that having part in her sorrowes when she findes comfort you may challenge a part in her joyes For as none could goe into the Temple of Honour but they must passe thorow the Temple of Vertue so certainly it will come to passe that none shall enter into the glorious Temple of the Churches joy but they that goe thorow the closet of mourning earnestly bewailing both our sins â—say 66.10 and Gods peoples sufferings Rejoyce with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her Rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourne for her To this purpose I have plainly and simply set upon my owne heart and laboured to strike fire with Ieremies flint and steele that some of his compassionate sorrow might take hold on me in the midst of the passions of the Lords inheritance and doe thinke the endeavour Nahum 2.7 â—â—ck 7.16 be it never so meane honest and good in calling upon others to learne to be Doves tabring upon their breasts and mourning in the vallies The Prophets meaning I have followed with a Metricall and Metaphrasticall interpretation sometimes taking a Poeticall license to be more large but alwayes following the Propheticall sense Nor is it strange that Lamentation should be in Verse and Poetry the Prophet writ it so in Hebrew meeter spending foure Alphabets of Hebrew Letters Hiâ—râ—â— Epist 115. ad Paulam Vrbi somewhat like the 119. Ps l me about it the manner of Verse inost resembling a Trimeter Sapphicke Why not sorrow in Verse when Davids Penitentiall full of the wormewood of repentance in ' 51. Psalme was vented in mournfull Poetry and had more water of godly sorrow in it then the spring had Elementary water in which Bathshebah bathed If from this Prophets Threnes Pelusi epist 298. Lib. 1. Lucae Câ—nobiarchae who was prophetoon polypâ—â—thestatos the most calamitous of all the Prophets I shall but gaine some few hearts with holy and sorrowing sense by compassion to lament the passions of the Lords people I shall rejoyce because wet seed carried out has a promise of sheaves to be reaped and brought home triumphantly The Verse is neither Scenicall nor Cynicall but plaine and passionate Lacbrymosae pâ—â—mata puppi Pers Mat. 5. Esâ—y 57.18 not Martials Verse to breake the Diaphragme with laughter but like Puppius his Verse the Cloth and Fringe all teares Englands state is sinfull and mourfull the Lord teach us tomourne that the next Message we have from the Lord may be that of Christ Blessed are you that mourne for you shall be comforted I will restore comforts to you and to the Mourners Of the Name the Argument the Book and the
extreme hunger Yea the dearth's so great As not one little loafe is left to eat Verse 5. They who before had all delicious fare Whose trencher rob'd the Earth the Sea the Aire Now in the streets become the beggers mates Wishing the fragments of their ancient cates The (i) Thus the great and glorious Bellisarius for whom in a triumph money was coynd and throwne among the people with this posie on it Belâ—isarius the glory of the Romant yet afterwards he was cast so low as both his eyes were put out and he daily begged his bread in the temple of S. Sopbia often using this speach Give I pray one loaf of bread to Bellis rine whom vertue exalted hie and envie has throwne down as low Pezel Mellific Histor in Iustinâ—an 1. Thus Hormisda a Persian-Noble came from scarlet to the dung-hill for in that he would not deny Christ his Saviour the Son of God he was by the Persian tyrant Isdigerdes despoyled of all his riches and honour and clothing and turn'd naked save there was given him one peasants garment to cover him and cast into the base servitude of leading Camels and serving as some hostler Theodor in Hist Eccles Lib. 5. cap. 39. scarlet sirs which on beds downe-hils laid Poore wretches now their beds are dung-hils made Verse 6. For Sions punishment exceedeth far Sodoms destruction there is no compare Their sins were (k) Cito periisse beneficii est imago scourged with a fiery lash But yet that judgement passed in a flash Made quicke dispatch and swallowed them up all This spun in length like dripping raine doth fall Verse 7. Her Nazarites those sober votaries Whom neither snow nor milke could equalize For purest white whose faces did appeare Ruddier then Rubies polisht and more cleare Then any Saphires now that glorie 's gone Verse 8. Their faces bracke as coale not to be knowne Of knowne familiars Skin cleaves to the bone No flesh remaines to make partition Like age in others is juycie succulent These wither'd dry as sticks all moysture spent Verse 9. Death opes an easier gate for them by far Who lose theâ—â—â— aime of life by sword of war Then those whom (l) Fames ultimum malorum omnium Am Marcellin Histor lib. 19. Quantum est in vobis fame misexima omnium morte confecistis Salust in fragment Epist Pompeii ad Senat. lingring famines sword doth slay And bear to th' grave a long and languid way When all the feeding flore of house barne field â—ieads emptinesse and can no succour yeeld Verse 10. Mother whose bowels boyl'd with passionate heat Sore hunger-smit their infants boyl'd for meat What mothers belly nine months had sod in bloud Is cookt and sod for that same beilies food So great a famine such a deep distresse The daughter of my people doth oppresse Verse 11. Now hath the Lord his fury brought to passe Powr'd out his wrath which long since threatned was When God kindles his fire it burnes up all Zions foundations into ashes fall Verse 12. Kings far remote which had receiv'd the fame And earths Inhabitants which had heard the name Of great Jerusalem how her forts and towers Scorned all feares of strongest adverse powers Never would these beleeve nor could devise How any foe or force should it surprise Amongst Impossibles this thing was thought That Sion should to ruine ere be brought Verse 13. Her (m) Animarum medici fuerunt animarum venefici Tarnovius Prophets most unprofitable were No sope no nitre can her Priests wash cleare From guiltinesse of sins which were the cause That all did end with such a bloudy clause By them the just were slaughter'd in the Land Whose bloud shall be required at their hand For their examples full of sinne and vice Fill'd others made sins measure fully rise To Idols these did innocent infants slay Verse 14. In the (n) This place in these two Verses is very hard to finde out the true sense of I have chosen out of severall expositors what I judged most simple and best because there are divers applying of the words streets full of bloud as blind they stray Legall pollutions no way can they avoid Where ere they touch their clothes are smeard with bloud Verse 15. Yet even as lepets as they walk they cry Uncleane Uncleane keep off O come not nye The very Gentiles said Sure God no more Will such curst wretches to their land restore Verse 16. God in his fury hath disperst them farre They have lost his guarding and regarding care The holy Priests with them had no respect The hoarie Elders honour was neglect Verse 17. Alas deceiving hopes our eyes with paine Bâ—ate like our pulses whiles we looke in vaine Waiting for help from nations witherd hand As if whom heaven throwes down earth could make stand Verse 18. Our steps they trace and nets in every street Our hunting Nimrods laid to catch our feet Our (o) An evill an onely evill behold is come An end is come the end is come it watchâ—â— for thee behold it is come Ezek. 7.5 6. and our end drawes neere heavens destin'd doom Our sins have ripened wrath the day is come Verse 19. Like Eagles aieric tyrants birds of prey So are our enemies swift-wing'd us to slay And us slow-flighted fowle pursuing o're-take On mountaines or entrap by lying waite In the wild desart Verse 20. (p) Some apply this Christus Domini as â—â—ant of Christ Others will have it meant to be Iosias wounded and slaine by Pharaoh â—â—ho Thus the Chaldee Hebrew Hierome Thomas Figueiro Varablus Others take â—o be meant of Zedekiah and that more truely Some Hebrewes Maldonat Tarnoâ—s Diâ—dati Our anointed King Given by the Lord our soules next dearest thing Nostriss best breath their pits did him devoure Whose covering wings we counted refuge sure Looking his shadow would us safety give Amongst the Heathen in hopes againe to live Verse 21. Goe to O daughter of Edom laugh a while Mocke on Inhabitant of Uz and smile Fleering at our so sad so low estate 〈◊〉 shalt thou not Gods cup of wrath escape It 's comming towards thee thou shalt drunken lie Showing thy nakednesse to every eye Verse 22. Chaere up O Sion now the Lord hath done His taske of Justice all his wrath is gone What punishments on thee he did intend To inflict for sin are finisht at an end Never againe shalt thou so desolate be Transported carried in captivity But thou (q) Panae Sionis tandem fient Babylonis Judgement must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospell of God 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 4.17 O daughter of Edom that didst stand Laughing at Sion shalt sore feele the hand Of God for all thy sins correcting thee Laying on thine head thine owne iniquity God in his people will sinne scourge and hate Much lesse shall sinfull Edom scourging scape Verse 1 HOw is