strength passe forward in the field Ouer come in fight and ye shall weare the crowne The King of kinges if hée bée on our side Wée néede not feare who dare against vs stand Into the field may we not boldlie hide When hée shall help vs with his mightis hand Who sits aboue and rules both Sea and Land Who with his breath doth make the hilles to shake The Hostes of Heauen are armde at his command To fight the field when we appeare most weake Pluck vp your heartes yée are not left alone The Lambe of God shall lead you in the way The Lord of Hostes that reignes on royall Throne Against your foes his Banner will display The Angels bright shall stand in good array To hold you vp yée néed not feare to fall Your enemies shall flée and bée your prey Yée shall triumph and they shall perish all The joye of Heauen is worth a moments paine Take courage then lift vp your hearts on hie To judge the Earth when Christ shall come againe Aboue the cloudes yée shall exalted bée A Crowne of Ioye and true Felicitie Awaites for you when finisht is your fight Suffer a while and yée shall shortlie sée A Glore most great and infinite of weight Prepare your selues bée valiant men of warre And thrust with force out through the narrow way Hold on your course and shrinke not back for feare Christ is your guide yée shall not goe astray The time is neare bée sober watch and pray Hee sées your teares and hée hath laid in store A rich reward which in that joyfull day Yée shall receiue and reigne for euermore Now to the King that create all of nought The Lord of Lordes that rules both land and sea That sau'd our soules and with his blood vs bought And vanquisht Death triumphing on a Trée Unto the great and glorious Trinitie That saues the Poore and doeth his owne defend Bée Laude and Glore Honour and Majestie Power and Praise Amen World without end FINIS A VERIE COMFORTABLE SONG To the tune of Shall I let her goe AWay vaine World bewitcher of mine heart My sorrow showes my sinnes make mée to smart Yet will I not despaire But to my God repare Hée hath mercie aye Therefore will I pray Hée hath mercie aye and loues mée Though by his humbling hand hée proues mée Away away too long thou hast mée snarde I will not lose more time I am preparde Thy subtile sleightes so slée They haue deceiued me Thogh they swéetly smile Smoothly they begyle Though they swéetlie smile Suspect them The simple sort they fyle Reject them Once more away shewes loath the world to leaue Bids oft away with her that holdes mée slaue Loath I am to forgoe That swéet alluring foe Since thy wayes are vaine Shal I them cetaine Since thy wayes are vaine I quite thée Thy pleasures shall no more delite mée A thousand times away oh stay no more Swéet Christ mée saue lest subtile sinne deuoure Without thine helping hand I haue no force to stād Lest I turne aside Let thy grace mée guide Lest I turne aside Draw neare mée And when I call for help Lord heare mée What shall I doe Are all my pleasures past Shall worldlie lustes now take their leaue at last Yea Christ these earthly toys Shal turn to heauēly joys Let y e world be gone I le loue Christ alone Let the world hée gone I care not Christ is my Lord alone I feare not FINIS Psal. 51. verse 10. Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me DEVS NON DESPICIES F·W COR CONTRITVM ET HVMILIATVM Vers. 17. The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit A contrite and a broken heart O God thou wilt not despise
A GODLIE DREAME Compiled by Elizabeth Melvill Ladie Culros younger at the request of a Friend Introite per angustam portam nam lata est via quae ducit ad interitum AH EDINBVRGH Imprinted by Andro Hart ANNO DOM 1620. A GODLY DREAME VPon a day as I did mourne full sore For sundry things wherwith my soule was grieued My griefe increased and grewe more and more I comfort fled could not be relieued With heauinesse my heart was so mischieued I loath'd my life I could not eate nor drinke I might not speake nor looke to none that liued But mus'd alone and diuers things did thinke This wretched world did so molest my minde I thought vpon this false and Yron age And how our heartes were so to vice inclinde That Sathan séemde most fearfullie to rage Nothing on earth my sorrow could asswadge I felt my sinne most stronglie to increase I grieued the Spirit that wont to be my pledge My soule was plung'd into most déepe distresse All merrinesse did aggrauate my paine And earthly ioyes did still increase my woe In companie I could no wise remaine But fled resort and so alone did goe My sillie soule was tossed to and fro With sundrie thoughts which troubled me full sorè I preas'd to pray but sighes our set me so I could doe nought but groane and say no more The trickling teares aboundantlie ran downe Mine heart was eas'd when I had mourn'd my fill Then I beganne my Lamentation And said O Lord how long is it thy will That thy poore Sainctes shall be afflicted still Alas How long shall subtile Sathan rage Make haste O Lord thy promise to fulfill Make hast to ende our painfull Pilgrimage Thy sillie Sainctes are tossed to and fro Awake O Lord why sléepest thou so long We haue no strength against our cruell fo In sighes and sobbes now changed is our song The World preuailes our enemies are strong The Wicked rage but we are poore and weake O! shewe thy selfe with spéed reuenge our wrong Make short these daies euen for thy Chosens sake Lord Iesus come and saue thine owne Elect For Sathan séekes our simple soules to stay The wicked World doth stronglie vs infect Most monstrous sinnes increase doe day by day Our loues growes cold our zeale is worne away Our faith is faild and wée are like to fall The Lyon roares to catch vs as a prey Make hast O Lord before we perish all These are the daies which thou so long foretold Should come before this wretched world should end Now Uice aboundes and Charitie growes cold And euen thine owne most stronglie do offend The Deuill preuailes his forces he doth bend If it could be to wrack thy Children deare But we are thine therefore some succour send Receiue our soules we wearie wandring héere What can we do we clogged are with sinne In filthie vice our senselesse soules are drownde Though we resolue we neuer can beginne T' amend our liues but sinne doth still abound UUhē wilt thou come whē shal thy trumpet sound UUhen shall we sée that great and glorious Day O saue vs Lord out of that pit profound And reaue vs from that loathsome lump of clay Thou knowst our harts thou seest our whole desire Our secret thoughtes they are not hid from thée Though we offend thou knowst we strangely tire To beare this weight our spirit would faine be frée Alas O Lord what pleasure can it bée To liue in sinne that sore doth presse vs downe Oh! giue vs winges that we aloft may flie And ende the sight that we may weare the crowne Before the Lord when I had thus complainde My minde grew calme mine heart was then at rest Though I was faint from foode yet I refrainde And went to Bede because I thought it best With heauinesse my spirit was sore opprest I fell on sléepe And so againe me thought I made my moane and so my griefe increast And from the Lord with teares I succour sought Lord Iesus come saide I and ende our griefe My spirit is vext the captiue would be frée All vice aboundes now send vs some reliefe I loath to liue I wish dissolu'd to bee My spirit doeth long and thirsteth after thée As thirstie ground requires a showre of raine Mine heart is drie as fruitlesse barren frée I féele my selfe How can I héere remaine With sighes and sobbes as I did solament Into my dreame I thoght there did appeare A sight most swéete which did mée well content An Angel bright with visage shining cleare With louing lookes and with a smiling cheare He asked me Why art thou thus so sad Why groan'st thou so what dost thou dwining here With carefull cries in this thy bailfull Bed I heare thy sighes I sée thy trickling teares Thou séemst to be in some perplexitie What mean thy mones what is y t thing thou fears Whom would thou haue in what place would y u be Faint not so fast in thine aduersitie Mourne not so sore sith mourning may not mend Lift vp thine heart declare thy griefe to me Perchance thy paine bringes pleasure in the end I sigh'd againe and said Alas for wo My griefe is great I can it not declare Into this earth I wander to and fro A Pilgrime poore consum'd with sighing sore My sinnes alas increase doe more and more I loath my life I wearie wandring here I long for Heauen mine Heritage is there I long to liue with my Redéemer deare Is this the cause said he rise vp anone And follow me and I shall be thy guide And from thy sighes leaue off thine heauie mone Refraine from teares and cast thy care aside Trust in my Strength and in my Word confide And thou shalt haue thine heauie heartes desire Rise vp with spéede I may not long abide Great diligence this matter doeth require My soule rejoc'd to heare his sword so swéete I looked vp and saw his Face most fayre His countenate reuiu'd my wearie spirite Incontinent I cast aside my care With humble heart I prayd him to declare What was his Name He answered me againe I am thy God for whome thou sigh'st so sore I now am come thy teares are not in vaine I am the Way I am the Trueth and Life I am thy spouse that bringes thée store of grace I am thy Lord that soone would end thy strife I am thy Loue whome thou wouldst faine imbrace I am thy joye I am thy rest and peace Rise vp anone and follow after mée I shall thée lead into thy dwelling place The Land of rest thou long'st so sore to sée With joyfull heart I thanked him againe Readie am I said I and well content To follow thée for héere I liue in paine A wretch vnworth my daies are vainelie spent Not one is just but all are fiercelie bent To runne to vice I haue no force to stand My sinnes increase which makes mée sore lament Make hast O Lord I long to sée that Land Thine haste
fearefull place Hold fast thy gripe said he in any case Let me not slip what euer thou shalt sée Dread not the death but stoutlie forward preásse For death nor hell shall neuer vanquish thée His words so swéet did cheare mine heauie heart Incontinent I cast my care aside Courage said he play not a cowardes part Though thou be weake yet in my strength confide I thought mée blest to haue so good a guide Though I was weake I knew that hee was strong Under his wings I thought mee for to hide If anie there should preasie to doe mée wrong Into that pit when I did enter in I saw a sight which made mine heart agast Poore damned soules tormented sore for sinne In flaming fire were frying verte fast And vglie spirites And as I had them past Mine heart grew faint and I beganne to tirè Ere I was ware one griped mée at last And held me high aboue a flaming fire The fire was great the heate did pierce me sore My faith grew weake my gripe was very small I trembled fast my feare grew more and more Mine handes did shake that I him held withall At length they loosed then I began to fall And cride aloude and caught him fast againe Lord Iesus come and rid me out of thrall Courage said he now thou art past the paine UUith this great feare I started and awoke Crying aloude Lord Iesus come againe But after that no kinde of rest I tooke I preas'd to sléepe but it was all in vaine I would haue dreamde of pleasure after paine Because I know I shall it finde at last God grant my Guide may still with me remaine It is to come that I belieu'd was past This is a Dreame and yet I thought it best To write the same and kéepe it still in minde Because I knew there was none earthlie rest Preparde for vs that haue our hearts inclinde To séeke the Lord we must be purgde and finde Our drosse is great the fire must trie vs sore And yet our God is mercifull and kinde He shall remaine and help vs euermore The way to Heauen I sée is verie hard My Dreame declares that we haue farre to goe We must be stout for cowardes are debard Our flesh of force must suffer paine and wo. These dririe wayes and many dangers mo Awaite for vs we can not liue in rest But let vs learne since we are warned so To cleaue to Christ for he can help vs best O sillie soules with paine so sore opprest That loue the Lord and long for Heauen so hie Change not your mindes for ye haue chose the best Prepare your selues for troubled must ye bée Faint not for feare in your aduersitie It is the way that leades you vnto life Suffer a while and ye shall shortly sée The Land of rest when ended is your strife In Wildernesse ye must be tride a while Yet forward preasse and neuer flée aback Like Pilgrimes poore and Strangers in exile Through faire and foule your journey ye must take The Deuill the World and all that they can make Will send their force to stop you in the way Your flesh will faint and sometime will grow stack Yet come to Christ and he shall help you aye The thornie cares of this deceitfull life Will reut your hearts and make your souls to bléed Your flesh and spirit will be at deadly strife Your cruell foe will hold you still in dread And throw you downe yet rise againe with spéed And though yée fall yet lye not loytring still But call on Christ to help you in your néed Who will not faile his promise to fulfill In floods of woe when yée are like to drowne Yet climbe to Christ and gripe him verie fast And though yée sinke and in the déep fall downe Yet crie aloude and he will heare at last Dread not the death nor bée not sore agast Though all the earth against you should conspire Christ is your guide and when your paine is past Yée shall haue joye aboue your heartes desire Though in this earth ye shall exalted be Feare shall be left to humble you withall For if ye climbe on toppes of Mountaines hie The higher vp the nearer is your fall Your honey swéet shall mixed be with gall Your short delight shall end with paine and griefe Yet trust in God for his assistance call And he shall help and send you soone reliefe Though waters great doe compasse you about Though Tyrants threat though Lions rage rore Defie them all and feare not to winne out Your Guide is neare to help you euermore Though prickes of yron doe pricke you verie sore As noysome luttes which séeke your soules to stay Yet crie on Christ and hee shall goe before The nearer Heauen the harder is the way Runne out your race yée must not faint nor tire Nor sit nor stand nor turne aback againe If yee intend to haue your heartes desire Preasse forward still although it were with paine No rest for you so long as yée remaine As Pilgrimes poore into this loathsome life Fight out your fight it shall not be in vaine Your rich reward is worth a greater strife If after teares yée liue a while in joye And get a taste of that Eternall glore Bée not secure nor slip not your conuoy For if ye doe yee shall repent it sore Hée knowes the way and hée shall goe befor Climbe you alone yee shall not misse a fall Your filthie flesh it must be troubled more If ye forget vpon your God to call If Christ bée gone although yée séeme to flie With golden winges aboue the Firmament Come downe againe yée shall not better bée That pride of yours yée shall right sore repent Then hold him fast with humble heart aye bent To follow him although through Hell and Death Hée went before his soule was torne and rent For your desertes hée felt his Fathers wrath Though in the ende yée suffer torments fell Cleaue fast to him that felt the same before The way to Heauen must be through death and hel The last assault will trouble you full sore The Lyon then most cruellie will roare His time is short his forces hée will bend The greater strife the greater is your glore Your paine is short your joye shall neuer ende Rejoyce in God let not your courage faile Yée chosen Sainctes that are afflicted héere Though Sathan rage hée neuer shall preuaile Fight to the ende and stoutlie perseuere Your God is true your blood is to him deare Feare not the way since Christ is your conuoy When clouds are past the weather wil grow cleere Yee sow in teares but yée shall reape in joye But death and hell haue lost their cruell sting Your Captaine Christ hath made them all to yeeld Lift vp your heartes and praises to him sing Triumph for ioye your enemies are kilde The Lord of Hostes that is your Strength Shield The Serpents head hath stoutlie trodden downe Trust in his