raine and onelie for that the power of sense weakeneth the minde the power comming f◅om the minde represseth the sense and subdueth the body hence is it that vertue ouercome by vice of sense can onelie be sustained can onelie and solely be releiued through the helpe of thy grace which no sooner commeth to anie body but that the soule maistereth the body in all his reasons auersions and fullest powers so that pronūce aswell ioy to me as also sprightly and fully possessing comfort and exceeding gladnes by the tongue of that thy grace thy mercie vvithout vvhich each repentance is of no effect is altogether in vain vvere it not for that litle comfort vvhich the teares of my penitencie affordeth me vvhich vvere it turned into despaire vvill be to my vtter losse yea both death and Hell to me Looke not on my sinnes hide not thy face from me for my humbled bones are rejovced haue taken comfort and since that hysope hauing been vsed in my behalfe hath had the effect of a wholesome medicine to me and that I am vvashed yea cleansed vvith the vvaters of thy grace grant I humbly beseech thee my Lord that so it be For thy presence vvhilst it looketh on a sinner iudgeth his sinnes his greiuous trāsgressions and adiudging them likevvise inflicteth on them condigne punishmēt Hēce be it that thou take no farther notice of them for if thou dost not marke them thou vvilt neuer call them to thy memorie nor record at all their iniquities which are so greiuous vvhensoeuer they are laid open and displaied before thy sight that though thy mercie haue forgiuē thē thy iustice might punish them O yeild my Lord so much vnto me though a miserablie distressed wretch that thou not onelie not looke on my transgressions but looke not at all on them turne aside thy eyes frō my peruerse vvill doeing me such like fauour such indulgence my trespasses all vvhich are registred before thee may become cancelled Hence they vvill be no more seene hence not adiudged hence not punished and I haue not a wauering but a confident hope that thou wilt entirelie and most compleatlie fulfill these my ardent desires for that I haue chāged my selfe I am transformed for that I now am become a new man another man nor am more hee vvho hath so much sinned alas no! farre othervvise is it now vvith me my being other then formerly I vvas my being better is through the ptiuiledge the prerogatiue of thy grace vvhich hath so inexpressible a qualitie and force that no sooner hath it inclined it selfe euen sprinckled it selfe on any vvho craue it humblie but that it so rectifieth him yea in such vvaies in such inclinations as that hee hence becommeth a man of good vvill a man vvho desireth nothing more then to take vp thy commands to obserue them to honour and loue thee yea for thy goodnes as a contrite doth Lord now yea euen now newlie create me make vnto me euen now a cleane heart and propitiouslie grant that I may make my selfe such an one that I may become through the meanes of sorrow for my transgressions such an one that standing by thee I may seeme like to a litle boy by his father side vvho laughing and vveping is full of deuises in his mi◅nardizing tricks daliances which puritie and innocentie moueth in him And for so much as thou knowest my heart vvhich cannot be said to be cleane respect had to the old sinne notwithstanding through thy grace do thou please to let it be so that it be enobled made worthy to be the place of abiding yea euen the lodge of thy grace and the organ or instrument of thy profound secrets and roote of those branches from vvhence must spring the fruite of vniuersall redemption of mankinde Forme shape make in me a nevv heart such an one as is cleane most candide in manner of such of theirs vvho neuer transgressed against thee for I am now another manner of man then earst I vvas for so much as concernes my particular hee vvho is a sinner hee vvho is loaden with sinne is no cōpanion for me I desire to haue no conversation with him hee is not fit for me to conuerse with Ah! since so it is most expedient it is that the hand of thy mercie alone doe not onelie create in me a nevv and cleane heart but that also with the selfe-same act thou do newlie make in me a spirit a soule iust vpright and clearlie purelie good vvhich voide and free from the enthralments the miserable subiection slauerie of sense may be enabled become hence fully and compleatly endovved with guifts with vndoubted abilities to preach to teach forth to the people of the world vvhat and of vvhat condition of vvhat rare nature is thy grace thy bountie and thy mercie Oh! alas my Lord euen as thou art pleased to digne me through thy singular fauour to hide thy face from my transgressions disdeigne not also yea voutchsafe gratiouslie not to chase me from thy aspect from the glorious sight of thee let thy animaduersion thy taking notice fall more attentiuelie on my good will my good-meanings my zealous desires then on my vvicked transgressions and for the fault of my sinne bereaue me not depriue me not of that thy blessed presence thy blessed aspect from the lights of vvhose irradiations euen showers of inexpressible consolation are powred on the lust thy saints let me not be a cast of an abandoned of God let not thy holie spirit be taken from me which through thy goodnes thou hast enlarged me with hast freelie giuen me vvhich is that remorse of conscience which maketh me lament and bitterly vveepe for my sinnes and that perce◅uance I haue knowing how to confesse them interceding for my selfe through thy great mercie But be it so thou doe not giue me leaue to see thy countenance shutting thy eares in so much as that thou heare not my voice I shal be reduced into such an estate that I shall proue to haue no remorse of conscience nor ought of knowledg which hath made me haue recourse to thee hence should I become the miserablest of men alas a prey of desperation the case altred changing holie spirit into a peruerse wicked and reprobate spirit So that my Lord take tender care of me for my case is full of danger Turne thy gratious benignitie tovvards me my Lord grant vnto me that I may affixe myne eyes on those thine eyes rare lāpes euen as the Eagle looketh on the Sunne and let me contemplate in thee that thy countenance thy blessed vision my safetie Giue vnto me againe the ioy of my being saued which through sinne I had lost Be it so that thou doe not gratiouslie giue it me againe I am more then assured that I shall neuer recouer it When thou shall through thy bountie haue giuen it me make good make safe confirme in me that principall spirit that is that spirit which is novv full entertainer
in me of me vvhich vvholie and fullie possesseth me ouercoÌ„meth me for thou vvell knovvest that in vs are tvvo incitements tvvo spurres one of sense the other of reason vvhich are the good and ill spirits and vvithin vs they continuallie contest fight it out for the prey of the soule Conserue in me therfore that good vvhich may vvell guide me and be a certaine and most perfect directorie to my vvell-being and giuing it strength and vertue graÌ„t vnto it that it may remaine constantlie victor of it's aduersarie and I through the securitie of my safetie and through the grnce I am enlarged vvith of this my good spirit vvhich vvill be as an effect of my thankfulnes I vvill teach to the vniust to the wicked the meanes by vvhich the fauour of God's mercie is acquired is vudoubtedlie vvonne I will instruct wretched transgressors in thy Law not men of vpright heart who haue no neede of my teaching my directions the fordes of thy holie and most sacred vvayes in vvhich each one vvho taketh for guide the lampe of the just may be assured vvalking on perseuering to arriue to thy glorious pallace And I will labour vvith earnestnes vvith such ardent feruour that euen impious and most vngodlie men vvho feare not thee are not affrighted and are not shaken at thine anger thy vvrath and thy furie shal be conuerted shall returne to thee become other new men and thy being come to such passe so reclaimed speedilie they vvilbe fauourablie heard for in thy presence is seene I know not how to call it human wit cannot atriue to expresse it that vvhich teacheth one to know ones â—…elfe and to call craue humblie beseech thee for mercie on the effect vvhereof the issue vvhereof doth the safetie of each one depend and hence be it that thou conserue in me that spirit vvhich I haue spoken of vvhich frequentlâ—…e repeate to thy goodnes and by the meanes thereof I vvill cease farther to vvepe for my sinnes to bevvaile them anie more and I vvill make an end of all my lamentations and become thy friend hence vvill follovv vvill succeede a doctrine and vvisedome a fulnes of knovvledg vvhich vvill shevv score out euidentlie demonstrate the vvaies the pathes yea the trackes the foot steps of thee our good and glorious Lord to all future ages Yet againe my Lord whilst fauorablie thou lendeâ—…t thine eare to these my prayers my most humble petitions free me acquitt me ô my eâ—…er good and gratious Lord from the vvicked levvd cruell and abâ—…ominable villanie of murther vvhich ministreth deseruedâ—…ie occasion of thy disgrace tovvards me and therefore free me my Lord from it for being that I am appointed to preach to declare to the Vniuerse to the whole vvorld thy mercie by vvhich hereticks shal be conuerted and the peruerse wicked also it is necessarie that thou pardon me giuâ—…ng me full remission of all my trespasses and so doeing and giuing pardon to me so hainous a transgressor of thy lawes through this one example of me who haue sinned to the swing to the full extent of what man can miserablie arriue to each sinner allured all possessed of desire and of hope to saue himselfe vvill haue speedie recourse to thee to craue to humblie beseech thee of thy such grace and mercie euen as I haue donne euen as I haue called on thee my Lord and God of my saluation whose innate connaturall goodnes and bountie when so that thou shalt haue freed me from the guilt of my carnalitie as also froÌ„ the blood of one when as ah wretch that I was through my effrene disordinate restie vnbridled appetite I immersed drownd my selfe in murder my tongue expeditelie with all promptnes shall exalt shew forth thy name preach thy iustice Hence â—…hould I be well known to sinners â—…ho recalling themselues into themâ—…elues who conuerted will deplore and miserably lameÌ„t their trespasses euen as I doe mine Lord since that I am invested seated in the place in the degree in the ranck of the good through the bountie of that thy bountie and not through the merits of ought good I haue donne and being so changed as that from a vvicked and vvretched man I am become a new man a iust man euen raised through thy grace thou the selfe same benigne Lord shalt open my lipps by thy holie spirit infusing into theÌ„ guifts of speech euen such which may be best agreeable to thy will expedient yea necessarie thou hauing so enabled theÌ„ giuen vnto them such power such facultie I shall no sooner be hereof aduertised but that my mouth shall breath forth hymnes shall exalt and magnifie thy praise For that oneâ—…ie and indeed is true and entire laud which is sent foâ—…th to thee our Lord our God others are vaine deceiptfull and meere shadows howbeit the praises vvhich thou deseruest are incomprehensible and cannot be taken vp be reached vnto by human capacitie by human vnderstanding for that thou art the moouer and Author of all guifts all vertues and of all graces which vvee know hence is it that in all my composements of Pâ—…almes and singing them I haue alvvaies giuen attributes to thee of glorie and praise and the glorie and praise vvhich deseruedlie and duelie I haue giuen the haue beeÌ„ the hostes oblations and sacrifices vpon the eleuated parts of thy Temple and vpon thy Altars Praise and glorie by tongue and heart I haue sacrificed to thee my Lord and wouldst thou haue had other sacrifice truelie reallie I would haue offered vp other but I see in spirit most euidentlie and am satisfied fullie that thou vvilt not be appeased pleased like of holocaâ—…sts the time vvill come that thou shalt dislike be displeased at such sacrifice for that they are ceremonies vvhich outvvardlie make a shevv and othervvise is it vvith thee for the mindes good intentâ—…oÌ„s are receiued entertained and gratefull to thee therfore vvouldst thou that Abraham should sacrifice his pure heart his simplie good and sincere intentions and not his sonne hovvbeit the sacrifice of the old lavv vvas no other then a meere figure of that sacrifice that the Sonne of God vvill make offer vp to his Father in redemption of human kinde But if thou art not pleased art auersed from the sacrifices made of beasts theÌ„ shall not there be any offered but vnto thee how then shall vvee appease thee vvhen thou shalt be euen ready to inflict on vs scourges for our trespasses vvhen they are euen miserablie falling on vs shall then thy mercie be in vaine of vvhich wee can take no benefit at all and shall vvee no vvay penetrate so farre inuestigate finde out hovv by what meanes possibly to acquire it if so thou please that sacrifice bee our meanes by vvhich vvee may arriue to it fully attaine it gaine it acquire it Looke here obserue vvell for that I doe foretell vvith the spirit of prophecie vvhat ought to be the sacrifices now spoken of the sacrifice
pleasing accepted of gratefull to God is a spirit a soule contribulated a troubled and afflicted heart not vnlike to a beast brought to be sacrificed vvhich is killed on the Altar vvhich bleateth belovveth and kicketh strugleth in his fall vvhich is vvrought by the sharpe violent instrument of knife and fire suffering in the same manner as vvill thy most blessed Sonne and hence is it that the lamentions the heauy teares of an heart contribulated much greiued ruminating seriouslie on it's offences in meane while praising our good Lord demandeth craueth his grace is accepted by him in place in lievv of a beast victimed offered vp in sacrifice The simple pure cleane sincere and sanctlie minde is alwaies readie through it's loue to suffer martyrdom death and that sacrifice vvhich God vvilleth such a readines of a sincere minde and purelie taken fullie enamored vvith true repentance not farther ouervvhelmed in vvickednes is that host that sacrifice vvhich doth reconcile man vvith God from a contrite and an humble heart God will neuer looke of or despiset but vvill not reguard oxen sheepe and lambes offered vnto him vvithout zeale and vvithout the teares and sorrovv of the heart And assure as anie thing can be true foretold infalliblie it vvill come to passe that the Messias to come shall say vvith a loud voice shall giue notice to the vniuerse to all the vvorld Bulls and beasts I haue at times receiued as sacrifices to me offered but the hearts and minds their pure and sincere meanings not alvvaies then my Lord since that I sacrifice my heart and my minde enritch me vvith thy mercie Through thy infinite goodnes be bountifull gratious and mercifull to Sion vvhich such name haue I giuen to the contemplation and speculation of them vvho though their desire of trueth will obtaine will arriue to the knovvledg of thy Sonne Alas my Lord let it be so I humblie craue at thy mercifull hands that the walls of Hierusalem may be built vvhich I conceiue as a shevv of peace and vnion which ought to be with human kind in human kinde to the praising honoring and adoring thee onelie Stay not delaie not to performe this thy benignitie heretofore within thy selfe resolued of fullie decreed and send thy Sonne by vvhom on vvhom this our new Church must be instructed taught built and grounded and in such manner building raising the vvalls of Hierusalem there vvill be built raised in their soules the excellencie the vertue of thy sapience thy wisedome which will improue them so much enl◅ghtē them will so build and frame in themselues that such vnderstāding which giueth the perceiuance the cleare light and euen the verie vision of eternall peace vvithout vvhich their soules would perish together with their bodyes aswell through the generall ingratitude as also by reason of the sinne of the first father vvhose faults would haue proued Hell damnation to all human kinde vvere it that with thee thy bounteous decree mercifull benignitie had not otherwise stated a supplie a redresse to this inexpressably wofull misery through the hands of that thy selfe-same clemencie and of thy proper bountie who art more inclinable to shevv benignity to Sion then that of the raising of the walls of Hierusalem which I craue not vvho am all teares all penicencie and all scourge of repentance to confirme and assure my selfe in the grace of my Lord and God who when he shall haue sent his Sonne to the vvorld vvill verifie vvith his trueth my wordes When so thy sonne shall descend into the world thou vvilt accept the sacrifice of iustice for it vvill be iustly expedient and it shal be offered vp vnto thee in memorie of his passion and of his death I say that thou vvilt accept holocausts sacrifices laid on the Altar and oblations guifts by which meanes God is acknowledged rendring him glorie apparantlie most euidentlie not without the singular and inexpressible ioy of heares comfort vvhich oftentimes made all cheerefull doth visiblie appeare in the sight of it's sacrifice Lord then vvorthilie calues shal be laid on thine Altar for that they vvho then shall sacrifice to thee may become illuminated by thy trueth hence thou shalt receiue from them not onelie victimes beasts killed for sacrifice oblations and holocausts but likewise the sacrifice of a sincere heart the entire loue of a pure soule and the holocaust that the light yea fire of charitie and true zeale of faith together with the other perfect and holie vertues vvill offer vp to thee and all those externall demonstrations those outward workes wil be receiued frō thy goodnes in signe of those inte◅nall and true ones of the minde and heart These wil be the sacrifices and presents wherevvith thou shalt be honored vvhere with thy Majest◅e shal be glorified and appeased here I end for that thy sprit doth not dictate or prompt me with more which hitherto hath caused me to speake The end of the fourth Psalme THE FIFTH PROLOGVE AFTER that the Prophet had earnesily importuned yea e◅en conjured the great mercy of God to take compassion of him to haue ◅ercy on his trespasses hee was yet on his knees moued not place and fearing that he ◅ght yet againe see the image of his sinne whi◅h gaue signe of punishment euen poin◅ed at the place thereof Hell hee durst not ◅ift vp his head his countena◅ce to heauen ◅hich hee contemplated more with hidden ◅hen hee did vvith open eyes and standing without any motion h◅e recited recorded with his heart to God his lips mouing not ◅t all the forevvritten fore deliuered Psalme and who liuing had seen him and obserued his posture in that venerable gesture vvould not onely haue beheld a sinner truely penitent but he might likewise haue learned how one ought sincerely to repent being burthened vvith sinne and for that it seemed to him that he was vnworthy of pardon in such sort his thoughts on his trespasses did greeueously oppresse him that hee bewailed piteously groned sighed and sobbed deeply Imagin the inexpressible greife for no otherwise was it then as if hee had heard a c◅rtaine voice deliuer vnto him that God almighty had ranged him among the reprobate that hee had altogether abandoned him and had vtterly forsaken him in so much as that hee was for all eternity depriued of his grace and vvhilst thus hee vvas astonished confounded yea meruailously abstracted from himselfe hee measured with the arme of his phātasy of his deepe thoughts the largenes the extent of the body of his trespasses his diligent inquisition finding them immesurable insomuch as hee could not by any meanes giue accounte of the immensity thereof at once hee shooke and trembled all ouer and in that shaking and trembling hee seemed to be a si◅kman now being taken with quiuering shakings and the rigorous pangs of death and much fearing that his scattered and weake prayers through want of words and manner of their deliuery had no audience from God preparing his sorrovvfull and