MARIE Magdalens Loue. AVT NVNC AVT NVNQVAM LONDON Printed by Iohn Danter and are to be sold in Gratious street nere Leaden Hall Gate Mary Magdalens Loue. Vppon the twenty Chapter of Iohn from the first verse to the eighteenth Vppon the first verse as foâ—â—oweth The Text. Now the first day of the weeke came Mary Magdalen early when it was yet dark vnto the Sepulchre and sawe the stone rowled away from the Tombe DEerely beloued in our Sauiour Christ In this first verse I find foure cheefe noteâ— to bee well marked and kept in memorie First the person named who it was and of what condition Secondlie the time Thirdlie the place and fourthly what was there seene and done The person was Marie a woman and one that had bin a great sinner the time that she came was the first day of the week in the morning earely euen when it was yet darcke the place shee went vn o was the sepulcher and the thinâ— that shee saw there was the stone rolled awaye from the Tombe now touching Marie let vs note two especiall causes of her comming loue and sorrow loue that she bare him and sorrow that shee had for him I meane to liue without him who of manie thousandes are ignorant that the mistaken loue indeed which the wantons and wretches of this worlde are to much troubled with will keep their wits waking watching and continuallie woorking for the accomplishment of a moste wilfull or rather woefull desire and if then the deuill by the permission of God haue such power to blind the eyes and charme the senses of humane creatures with that lewd humor of mistearmed loue how much more warie effectuall and continuall carefull watch dooth the loue of God keep in the soules of his seruantes longiâ—â— and looking both day and nigâ—â— and thinking no time too earlie or long be it neuer so long so that at last they may come to the enioying of their souls comfort Let vs therfore consider a little what may bee spoken of Maries loue First that shee loued we cannot doubt for it was spoken by the mouth of Christ himselfe vnto Simon Luke Chapter 7. Verse 45. Many sinnes are forgiuen hir for she loued much But marke now the nature of this good loue what it wroght in her three excellent blessings Constancy Modesty Humility Constancy in the hart Modesty in the minde and Humility in the soule but of these wee wil speake more hereafter in their due places therefore touching the first words from whence I gather my first notes marke here what is saide by the â—olye Euangelist whom 〈◊〉 â—ameth Marie Magdalen a vvâ—â—â—n and one that had beene a great sinner out of vvhom vvere cast out seuen deuills but vvhen the foule spirits vvere gone there came to her that good spirit that in true penitence found especiall grace with her liuing Lorde not that she was then no longer a sinner but being a penitent sinner she had obteined mercie Now you see how Marie had beene a great sinner and receiued a great forgiuenes which begat in her faith so great a Loue as broght forth great fruits of repentance made of her as it were a new woman turning her from a sinfull seruant to the world to a louing seruant to Christ as in these wordes following shall appeare Nowe earlie in the Morning the first day of the VVeeke came Mary Magdalen he sayeth not the Disciples but Mary Magâ—â—len See here you blessed and welbeloued of God both men and women What a sweet example of care she hath left for your comfort that wil follow hir it is saide heere shee came the first day of the weeke An excellent note for good husbandes and huswiues to obserue not to ouerslippe their time till the latter end of the Weeke and then perhaps also be either idle or worse exercised as I feare too manie are in these dayes then another note of wisdome in the choosing of her worke to seeke Christ for beginne the Weeke with him and thy worke will thriue the better and continue the Weeke with him and thy wages wil be the greater and neuer worke but with him and thou shalt finde thy labour will bee the easier by the vnspeakable â—â—mfort of thy reward Manie are 〈◊〉 earely and downe late as the â—â—â—fe about his robery the couetous about his misery the adulterer about his villanie and the Traytor about his â—reason but alas Mary had none of these thoughtes in her head shee rose earely to seeke Christ shee came earely while it was yet darke for as Dauid the Psalmist saieth in his hundred and thirtie Psalme and sixt verse My soule waiteth on the Lord more than the Morning watch watcheth for the Morning who then wilcome to Christ must wait for him as Dauid did and seeke for him as Marie did Earely in the morning and the first day in the weeke and though it be dark yet wee must watch till it be day and then by Gods helpe wee shall see that wee looke for Now let vs speake a little more of Mary shee found her self a sinnâ—r and therefore vnwoorthy to see her Sauiour any more but yet her sinnes were forgiuen her and she desired to sinne no more and novv did grace so woork in her looue that faine she would see her Lord a little more but alas her Lord vvas dead to other perhaps but not to her and see how faith vvrought in her affection her heart had light before her eyes shee vvent through the dark and came to the place ere it vvas day The diuell watcheth in the light to lead his followers into darknes and shall not wee watch thorough darknes to seeke Christ in the light Iudas watch all day to betraye his Master in the night but Mary watcheth all night to come to her Master in the day Oh sweete blessing of God where faith wrought loue and loue dutie and all came together to bring Mary to Christ and except with these we followe her wee shall neuer come to him but Mary was a woman and shal men follow women why her happines came from God and shall not wee follow her to her happines but Mary was a sinner and what flesh is righteous and Mary was repentant and what more proofe of election and Mary loued Christe and what more ioy in a Christian now not offending men let mee thus farre speake in the commendation of godly women if the first spokeÌ„ off in the scripture offended God the last spoken off looued Christ If Heuah vvas an accursed vvife Mary vvas a blessed virgine If shee vvere full of sinne Marie vvas ful of grace If Eue vvas tempted by the diuel Mary vvas saluted by the Angell And if Eue bare a vvicked Son Cain Mary brought a blessed Son Christ novv though this vvas not that Mary that bare Christ yet this vvas she that loued Christ for a vvorld of such godly women as are lest examples to their posterities sex in
all Ages I would be loath to spend time in recounting their names which truly set downe might make a Cathalogue of worthy memorie but I speake to all beloued men women thinke it no scorne to follow Marie in her early rising to seeke Christ for to rise early is holsome for the bodie to walke to Christ is comfortable to the soule suche exercise is better than any physick such a trauail brings the best rest Now Mary came early in the morning while it was yet darke surely sin dooth much darken our eyes that wee cannot see the way to Christ yet repentaunce gaue Mary such a light that shee found the way to his sepulchre and surelye wee must haue our lampes fedde with the oylâ— of her Lords grace or we shall neuer finde the way to her soules comfort when Peeter and Iames were taken vp into the heauens saw Christ in his glory standing betwixt Moses and Eliah he could say Heer is good beeing Lord but after hee was crucified who sought him at his sepulchre Mary Many would perhaps bee glad to rise earely to go vp to heauen to him but who will goe thorough the darke to seeke him at his graue Mary did and such as Mary will Oh blessed Mary so may I well tearme thee for as the Psalmist saith in his Psalme Blessed are they that seeke him with their whole heart in that was she surely blessed for shee sought him with her whole heart by the light of her soules loue orels being in the dark she woulde haue hardlye hitte the way but now where sought she him at his sepulchre where he was buryed see heer the â—trong effects of loue liuing or dead shee could not forget her Lord dead she saw him buryed shee knewe hee was why did she then seek for him loue could not forget him sorrowing to liue without him aliue or dead she wold be glad to se him Now stil note the force of loue in the elect A woman in nature feareful was now valiant the darknes vncomfortable shee thorow the dark sought her comfort and amongst the graues of the dead sought the comfort of her life here was loue voide of feare and faith void of doubt broght a spiritful of sorrowe to seeke her light in the darke and Mary full of griefe to seeke her Lord in his graue Now Mary came early while it was darke the first day of the weeke vnto the Sepulcher Manie will rise earely to looke to their Chickens their Geese their Duckes their Swine or such other things but al things must be looked ouer ere Christ be thought vpon and perhappes not then neyther But as it is written in Luke Chap. 10 vers 41.42 Martha was troubled much about her worke but Mary tooke the good parte so manye take earely iournies but Mary here made the good walke Now though she came to seeke him where hee was buried yet in hir hart she beheld him crucified for who sees not his death in the sorrow of his hart I am perswaded shall neuer find him liuing in the ioy of his soule But he was crucified for Maries and our redemption and shall not wee with Mary mourne for his Passion Yes let vs with Maries loue looke into his Mercie and following hir sorrow wee shall finde hir comfort and though not at the first as wee wish yet at the last as she did For if we watch the darke night of sin that wee sleepe not in sensualitie but rise early to repentance and walke with a true faith to the finding of our soules felicitie when we haue gone thorough the dark and attended the day wee shall see the stone rowled away and somewhat lest for our comforte when the hardnes is rowled from our hearts we shall enioy the blessing of our soules Which that we may the better attaine vnto let vs watch with Mary walke with Mary and weepe with Mary rise early goe thorough the darke and come to the Sepulcher to seeke Christ in his graue ere wee looke for him in his glorie and though it bee long ere wee see his Person yet shall wee quickly be partakers of hir comforte For shee as you shall hereaâ—â—â—r heare Godwilling sawe him buâ— knewe him not so shall wee bee sure of his Mercy though we see him not Will you then come to Christ Learne to imitate Mary in hir course Who hath many sinnes and findeth much remission let his loue bee great and his sorrowe not little to lacke the comforte of his loue Christ is offended Christ must forgiue Christ must be loued Christ must be sought and that early for feare wee come too late and since wee cannot behold him with our eyes of corruption let vs holde him in the heart of our regeneration let the first day of the weeke be the first beginning of our youth lest when wee growe olde either our spirites be so dull or our eyes so dimme that we shall not be able to rise or at least to walke to seeke Christ Christ dwels a great way from the worlde and â—ee that is ouerladen with sinne must shake off his burthen or hee will neuer come at heauen and hee or shee that will not in the sorrow of their sinnes rise vp to repentance and in Christ his Passion learne the power of Mortification they may perhaps heare much of him and pray much to him but I doubt whether they shall euer come neere him Learne then of Mary whom to loue Christ Why for his goodnes in forgiuenes of hir sins the feeling of his Mercy then louing Christ learne hir sorrowe to bee without him with hir sorrowe hir labour to rise early to seeke him the place where to finde him at his Sepulchre I meane in the Mortification of the flesh that you may glorifie him in the spirite who in forgiuenes of sinnes and redemptioâ— of sinners in comforting the penitent and blessing the faithfull in the perfection of loue deserueth all honour to whome sweete Iesu the blessed sonne of the euerliuing God with our heauenly father and the holy Ghost bee all Glory Honour and Prayse both now and euer Amen Mary Magdalens Loue. Vppon the seconde verse which is as followeth The Text. Then shee ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other Disciple whom Iesus loued and said vnto them they haue taken away my Lorde out of the Sepulcher and we know not where they haue laid him IN this Verse I take foure especiall notes First hir running then to whom shee ranne then how shee spake and last what shee said In the former verse it is said she came to the Sepulcher nowe in this verse it is said shee ranne from the Sepulcher Shee came thorough the darke to seeke Christ in his deade Tombe but nowe it is day shee beginnes to runne to his Disciples to tell what shee had seene hoping perhaps of them to heare somewhat of â—im Seâ— here a notable token of true Constancie in her lâ—â—e through
as are bâ—t snares of the diuell harken vnto the truth that may bring theÌ„ to Christ and rather bee delighted to talke with the Ministers of Gods holye worde of the passion of Christ to seeke him in his worde than to runne with wicked people to see a foole in a play but learne of Marie what to say whither to goe what to doe Seeke Christ bee instructed by his Disciples and goe with them to his Sepulcher First learne to be mortified or els neuer looke to be glorified Nowe it is said that the other Disciple whom Iesus loued out ran the other so that the verie loue in the spirite that he had vnto the Lord was it that carried him to the Sepulcher to see what he had hard or might become of his Master and surelie the greater measure of loue that God infuseth into the soule of man by the inspiration of his holy spirit the greater shall bee his or her desire and the swifter to come to him his Sepulcher or his holie word the true testimonie of his eternall mercie First it is said they went forth now they ranne so we see hereby that once entred into the way to Christ wee will euen runne to get to him at least if wee be lead by the â—ame spirit that Marie and the Disciples were otherwise if once in the way wee looke backe we shall euer be vnworthy to finde the path againe to our comfort but to the former words So they ran both but the other Disciple outranne Peter Of all contentions I finde it the best to contend for the soules comfort of al races the best running to Christ manie run after their dogges hurrting all day for a hare and perhaps go without her at night other run their horses for the â—ell and tire them or kill them ere night many run for a wager that breake their hart in the course that they are neuer able to goe againe too manie runne from their Countries that sield or neuer returne good Christians but too fewe run to the Disciples of Christ or with his Disciples to his Sepulcher but as I said before Marie did and such as Marie will shee ran to them to tell of Christ shee came with them to heare of Christ would to God we couâ—d would so run so talke as Mary did that Christ might bee the delight of our talke the end of our trauaile Alas poore wretches that we are how vile corrupt is this nature of ours that we are so blinde that we cannot or so blinded that wee will not see the way that leads vs to Christ and if God of his mercie haue opened our eyes so that wee see the way yet wee are so lazily lame as that we had rather sleepe out the day in idlenes or loose the whole yere in wantonnes or in all wicked filthy beastlines spend the whole time of our yeres rather than trauaile one mile nay step one foot or stay onâ— minute eyther to talke of Christ or come to his Disciples wee will runne to a playe where perhaps we may haue our purses pickt or to football where wee may haue our shinnes broken or to a fray where wee may haue our heads broken or a worse matter but to come to Christ our spirituall Treasure our Creator Redeemer our peace health and soules Chirurgen who will runne or is almosâ— willing to stirre a fote But here it is saide his Disciples ranne and surely who will be his Disciple must run or els it is so far a walke that they will hardly euer come to him Nowe as it is thought Peter was the elder and not so light of the body yet such was his loue that it is saide they ranne both so that old and young must run now marke further what I gather in these two running together Peter was old and faithfull the other in his loue eyther bashfull or fearefull for it is said when he came to the Sepulcher he stooped downe and sawe the linnen clothes lying but went not in See heere the excellent care of this Disciple either bashfulnes that beeing the younger he should presume to goe in before the elder or to auoide a vaine glorie of boldnesse without aduise or fearing to offend to goe in without counsaile It is said hee stooped downe saw the linnen clothes but went not in Note heere an excellent warning for yong heads that are either zealous in Religion or learned in the holy Scriptures to learne by this Disciple how to run to Christ let them take their elders with them and do nothing without them or their aduise and if they come to anye perfection yet let them giue place to their elders in anye thing that may bring them to Christ for so did the beloued of God the Disciple here spoken of Againe here we may note an excellent agreement between them though Iohn outranne Peter yet hee stayed for him at the sepulcher seemd not angry â—or saide any thing to him for his sow comming nor laught at him for his stiffe runing but that he stayed and went not in neither doe I finde that Peter was angrie with his outrunning of him nor smild at his feare as it shuld seeme of his stay that he durst not goe in till he came for being led both by the power of one spirit they gest thus farre each of others minde Loue was of most force to bring him to the Sepulcher but saith made Peter more valiant to goe in into the Sepulcher yet no doubt but they both had faith and both had loue or els Maries report had not made them run so fast thither For the commendation of the one what can bee saide more of faith then that which Christ himselfe said vnto Peter vpon his confession of him to be the sonne of the liuing God vpon that rocke he woulde build his Church and for the other what more proofe of his loue vnto any creature liuing than in the Reuelation of his Diuine will as in the holy word you may reade most sweetly expressed Learne then I saie to run with the loue of Ioh. but venter not in without the faith of Pet. Iohn perhaps might doubt manie things that the graâ—e might bee closed when hee were in for his presumption in going in without authoritie yet not being forbidden at least to his owne remembrance he might be the lesse afraide what woulde followe of his aduenture bâ—t while loue prickt him forward and feare puld him backe comes Peter to the place and goes into the Sepulcher Here is the old saying disannulled first come first serued no for here you see Peter came last but he first went in and sawe the kerchiefe and the linnen clothes lie the kerchiefe that was wrapped together by it selfe then went in the other Disciple which came first to the sepulcher and hee saw it and beleeued In these last wordes you may see the cause why he went not in not
the staires the sunne the moone the Sâ—ye 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 neeâ—e to this Which dâ—th â— wonder in affection prâ—uâ— Euen when we leaâ— dâ—sâ—rude that lâ—uâ— of his For when our soules did most offences doo him He came himselfe in loue to caâ—l vs to him To make redeeme preseruâ— defend and cheriâ—h His faithfull â—ouâ—es and so in loue to nourish 〈◊〉 in his loue their liueâ— shall nâ—uâ—r pâ—riâ—h But like the Lilly liue and euer flouriâ—â— 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 thâ—s hâ—auenly loue In mercies sweete to mâ—ke the soule diâ—mayde 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 migâ—t see his high supernall power But in his loue tâ— see that glorious light That gaines that sweete that cuts off euâ—ry sower The second person of himselfe his sonne In whom are all things to his glory done And see the câ—use why so he came vnto vâ— â—is 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 sâ—ue vs from the fire of hell That with his loue we might for euer dwell What loue was this to leaue his heauenly seate Amoâ—g his angeâ—s all in glorie serued To câ—me to mâ—n who diâ— too ill intreate The sacred loue that hath his life preâ—â—ruâ—d From being honourde praisde and gloriâ—ide To be disgraced whipte and crucifide In loue â—e lâ—st â—is highâ—st heauenly pleasures Aboue his angels in their â—eapâ— of ioyâ—s To liue on earth in soâ—rowes â—ut of mâ—aâ—ures With chaunge of nothing but the worlds annoyes In toyle and trauailâ— long in loue he sâ—ught vs And wâ—th his death at last full dearely bâ—ught 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 lâ—fâ— the spirite of his loue beâ—inde him To â—hew 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 â—o loude vs. Yes my deare Lord be thou my dearest loue For Christ his sake let my soule neuer leâ—ue thee Who in thy loue thy liuing truth doth proue That mâ—kes me finde the world doth all decâ—iue me â—nd were there truth on earth as there is none Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone And lâ—t these tâ—ares be witnes of my loue Which first doo begge remission of my sinne â—nd in râ—pentance doo but mercy moue To ope the gates of grace and lâ—t me in Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall With my soules seruice loue and life and all Fâ—rget 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 wâ—ll Loue no sweete Lord mercy I craue no more My sinnes are such I dare not speake of loue But in thy merâ—y to thy loue restore My hâ—mble faith that may but mercy proue And 〈◊〉 â—ppâ—â—ue that all the world may see The 〈◊〉 loue betwiâ—t 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 â—â—ruice 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 inâ—ernall death Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale Which haue their bargaiâ—e in the hâ—ll 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 â—ut 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 prâ—ue The gratiâ—us 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 â—lie 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 woâ—der That 〈…〉 pâ—â—fection may appâ—oue The 〈◊〉 â—isedâ— me of the world put vnder 〈…〉 wit as short to pâ—nâ—e his praise As 〈◊〉 nâ—ghts in light of clearest dayes And say but this in grace and glories height Wheâ—â— vertue loue doth liue fâ—r â—uer crowned Aâ—d all the Hoaâ—â— of heauen and heauens await Vppon the highe◠〈◊〉 the heauâ—â—s râ—nowned Whom Saiâ—ts and Angelâ— tâ—eâ—blâ—ng doo adore To him alone be all praise câ—eâ—more All honour pâ—aise and glory euer bee Vnto my â—ouing euerlâ—uing King This king of life who â—o hath lâ—ued mee To giue my soule thiâ— gratiouâ— power to sing In hart and mind in man and â—ngels loue All gloâ—ious glory be to God aboue FINIS Nicholas Britten