SEAVEN SPARKES OF THE ENKINDLED SOVLE WITH FOVRE LAMENTATIONS WHICH COMPOSED in the hard times of Queene Elizabeth may be vsed at all times when the Church hapneth to be extreamely persecuted Drawne out of the holy Scriptures after the forme of Psalmes By R. B. P. In my meditation breaketh out fire Psal 38. Is any of you sadde let him pray Is he of a calme minde let him Psalme Iac. 5. v. 13. IHS Printed with licence TO THE VERY WORSHIPFVLL MY EVER-HONOVRED Mother B.B. encrease of all good in him who is the only good TO many wee owe much to sundry their certayne dueties to friends kindred clyents neighbours to instructors gouernors but vnto our parentes we owe all we owe our selues Of which eminent prerogatiue although Christians can not be ignorant through the frequent commendation thereof in the word of God as which beganne in the a Exod. 20 ten Commaundementes was by our b Math 15. Sauiours blessed mouth recommended by c Ephes 6. S. Paul noted to be the first Commaundement hauing a promise thereunto annexed so neither were the Heathens so destitute of natures light but that they alwayes held this as a high principle The great reuerence of d 3. Reg. 3. King Salomon towarde his mother is to be read in the booke of Kings and no lesse rare example had the Gentiles of e Plut. Cleobis Biton who submitted their owne shoulders to the drawing of their Mothers Chariot f 1. Tim. 5. And the Apostle expresly commaunded children to yeald requitall vnto their aged parents saying that it was acceptable commendable in the sight of God so to doe That same by way of Prouerbe drawne from the Storke committed they to an eternall care and memory gladly also at all times reciting that memorable nature of this bird which is Antipelargein that the younger fostreth againe the elder of whome before he was fed and bred vp Let this litle labour of mine be in some sort to play the Storke although in a contrary yet most equiualent sort of foode such surely as in this time of my long absence from you wil be as acceptable I doubt not to receiue as it was gratefull to minister it shal prooue as cordiall in the vse as it was paynefull in the composition Liue you to God who also preserue you Your Sonne with all loue and duty R. B. TO THE DEVOVTLY AFFECTED AND enduring Catholikes THANKES ought vve alvvayes to rēder vnto God for you DEARE BRETHREN as worthy and meete it is 2 The. 1.3 for that your faith highly encreaseth the charity of each of you towardes other aboundeth so that other nations glory in the Church of God for your patience and faith in all the persecutions and tribulations vvhich you sustayne to an example of GODS just judgment that yee may be accounted vvorthy of the Kingdome of GOD for which yee also suffer Persist yee that our joy may be full a Phil. 2.27 And be not in any thing terrified by the aduersaries what to them is cause of perdition is to you of saluation and this from God for asmuch as to you it is giuen for Christ that not only yee beleeue in him but that yee also suffer for his sake b Ephes 12. Yee were in times past without Christ alienated from the conuersatiō of Israel strangers to the testamēt hauing no hope of the promise without a God in this world But nowe are yee who earst were far off in Christ IESVS become neere in the bloud of Christ for he is our peace c Collos 2.13 Dead when yee vvere in sinnes God reuiued you together with him imparting cōdonation of all your offences d Phil. 1.26 Walke yee therfore worthy of the gospel of Christ e Phil. 2 15. without reprehension in the middest of a wicked peruerse people among whome yee shine as lights in the world f 1. Thes 5.11 Be mutually comfortable and edifie one another as also yee doe g 1. Cor. 2.12 Yee haue not receiued the spirit of this world h 1. Thes 5.2.4 The day of our Lord shal come as a theefe in the night But yee BRETHREN are not in darknes whereby that day might as a theefe catch yee vnwarres for all yee are Sonnes of light Sonnes of God We are not of the night neither of darknes therefore let not vs sleep as doe others but let vs watch and be sober Be instant in prayer watchfull therein in thanksegiuing a Ephes ◠18. Be not inebriate with wine wherein is luxury but be filled with spirit speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and Hymnes spiritual songs singing and Psalming in your hartes vnto our Lord yealding alwayes thankes for all thinges to God the Father in the name of our LORD IESVS CHRIST b Ioh. 14.13 15.16 16.23 Whatsoeuer is asked in his name it is obtayned Yet c Iac. 4.3 some receiue not because they euilly aske And commonly d Rom. 8.26 vve doe not knowe what we pray as behooueth vs. But e 1. Ioh. 5.14 this is the comfort which we haue to Godward in that whatsoeuer we shall request according to his will he heareth vs. Not the Author but sacred Authority AN INVOCATION OF GODS AIDE FOR CEASSING THE AFFLICTION OF his Church THE FIRST PSALME O MY LORD O my God how long wilt thou deferre the deliuery of thy people Arise and free vs O Lord arise O Lord and saue vs. Helpe vs thou in our tribulations for vaine is the aide of man Accomplish gratiously what thou mercifully seemest to beginne shewe forth the amiable light of thy countenance By the hand of thy great seruant IAMES shake off our yoake that we may finde him an honourable comforter Beautifie him with a name more pretious then his Crowne by the true name of a good King Deserue he the resemblance of thy owne Title Prince of peace Least they which vexe vs exalt their hartes for euer and magnifie themselues in their iniquities Thou hast tried vs as the Diamond is tried by hammers or gold in the fornace Thou hast chastised vs throughly for our offences nowe spare vs for thy mercy To thee lift we vp our eyes who dwellest in the heauens and sittest vpon the Cherubins As slaues in their Masters fury or handmaides at their Mistris feete Attend from thy heauenly throne vnto our cry for exceedingly haue we beene oppressed Howe many are the dayes of our afflictions when wilt thou doe vs fauour and bowe our Persecutors vnto pittie Thine we are thy children and thy seruants the scattered and oppressed sheepe of thy pasture Preserue vs for we haue embraced thy wayes and diligently searched thy commaundementes For which cause we sustayne the note of folly and madnes and are a daylie laughing stock to each wicked person Reputed also as vnworthy to liue and enemies to our deare country Our acquaintance haue vvithdrawne themselues from
cure her leprosie and to remedy her loathsomenesse She is proued a bastard vine and degenerated to a soure grape A froward bowe which will rather flie in peeces then come to the bent A fruitlesse and barren soile not answerable to the sowers hope Against thee her God she hath lifted vp her hand against the omnipotent she hath vaunted her feathers With a proude gate and lofty countenance she hath stalked against thee as though she would checke thee to thy face She saith I am safe in the midest of waters my shippes are my brasen wall Yet is she flesh and not a spirit a worme and not a God Be it that she soareth as high as an Eagle shee should be reached with thy arrowe but spare her O Lord. Be it she were as stronge as steele shee should bee dashed in peeces by thy fury but mittigate thy wrath She extolleth her selfe in conceipt of prosperity and vannteth her proceedinges in iniquity In a moment canst thou crush her bones and lay her pride in the dust but oh remember thy mercy VVhat-soeuer this people thinketh is meere iniquity all their communication is conspiracy against heauen and treason against thee They haue all made a league with death and concluded a couenant with hell Their feete are svvifte to euill and their handes stronge to doe mischiefe The earth it selfe is infected with wickednesse of the inhabitants and cryeth vnto thee for vengeance And possibly vvould svvallovve them as it did Chore and his company vvere it not for thy elect sake Reuenging fire of Sodome and Gomorrha might be justly feared if the faithfull stayed not thy rodde If any forsake iniquity he is made a pray our chanels flow with bloud Who did euer heare such horrible thinges as this people commit against thee their maker Degenerated is thy vineyarde and turned wilde yealding verjuce for wine Thy darling and vowed Virgin hath giuen ouer her selfe common to all adulteries To Luther and Caluin she hath opened her bosome and to whome so-euer else that would dishonour her She hath sought her louers farre and neere and hired teachers for her itching eares She careth not whome she admit so she admit not thee her first spouse nor whither she runne so she flie from thy face As a woman contemneth her husband so hath she contemned thee and with disdaine turned her backe Defending her iniquity vnder pretext of thy glory she dareth to say I am no adulteresse I am no Apostatrice Her brasen face cannot blush her impudent minde can conceiue no repentance But if she harden her face not to repent harden the face of thy messengers to reprehend If she harden her face to persecute harden thou their face to withstand Confirme the hartes of those thy labourers endue them with strength from aboue and giue successe vnto their endeauours Whose only presence representeth in some sort the state of former times And maintayneth thy holy fire that it goe not out Diminish not their number because of our sinnes and vnworthynesse but encrease it for our better comfort That the daylie foode of our soules we may receiue at their hands and not want their assistance in our extreamities Protect them night and day from their enemies wheresoeuer thy busines detayneth them Embolden our harts with courage from heauen to concurre with them freely in furthering thy seruice Fully thereby to discharge our Christian duty and be partaker of their reward and Crowne So may they build apace the wales of thy Hierusalem and winne innumerable soules to thy Kingdome So may they speedily bring to passe that auncient happinesse may returne So may thy Temples be clensed of their abhominations returning to the vse whereunto they were builded No longer be dennes of Diuels and instruments of thy dishonour Be it so O mighty Patron of thy afflicted be it so And all that loue their Country let this be their daylie teares A CONTEMPLATION OF THE BLESsed state of a Catholike THE FIPT PSALME COME and consider vvith me the sweetnesse of our Lord O all yee that be of his holy congregation Come and consider with me the glory of his Spouse O all yee that dwell in her Tabernacle Come and consider with me the happinesse of your owne soules yee which haue entred into the sanctuary of our God Meditate his goodnes in the night in the day time lift vp your handes vnto his holy Seate Great is he and vvorthy of all prayse thy workes beare witnesse of thee O Lord. Thou hast erected thy Church as thy Kingdome vpon earth her glory shall not depart from the lippes of thy Saintes In thy only Sonne it was founded from the beginning and to the end of the world it shall endure For faithfull art thou in all thy wordes and holy in all thy workes Iust righteous in all thy wayes and perfect in thy determinations As in the sunne-beames thou hast placed this thy Tabernacle that the vertue thereof might comfort the world Vpon an hill thou hast situated thy City whither all people should repaire for lawes and doctrine This is the Queene standing at thy right hand glittering in gold and rich attire Thy Spouse vvhome thou canst not but loue thy turtle which can not but be chast and true The piller of truth whereupon thy faith is builded The rocke against vvhich hell gates shall not preuaile The ship which thou permittest to be tossed but neuer sufferest to be ouerwhelmed The arke ordayned to saue the elect out of which who so is found perisheth euerlastingly The sanctuary of refuge whither to flie from the anger to come The mount of thy sanctification which the right hand hath cōquered The inheritance which thou hast purchased with thy Sonnes bloud A pauilion immoueable vvhose pinnes can neuer bee pulled out whose cordes can neuer be broaken A high and strong Castle vvhose vvalles are Adamant against which no strength can preuaile A massy hard stone vpō whome it lighteth it crusheth him in peeces All benediction thou hast bestowed vpon thy Church vvho hath not her for Mother shall not haue thee for Father In her only thou hast established thy true worship and confirmed it neuer to faile As other people haue Gods none the true God but Christians So may factions adore the also none truly and fruitfully but thy Catholike Church alone Among all trees thou hast chosen one Palme amōg al birds one Doue Among all flowres thou hast preferred one Lilly among all hilles one Sion All nations are thy subjectes and creatures but we thine inheritance Rejoyce and be glad yee inhabitants of Hierusalem among whome is the great and holy one of Israell Yee are all like Gods the true children of the Highest Happy are the eyes vvhich see that yee see and enjoy the presence of him whome yee adore Happy are the eares that heare what yee heare and the harts which are partakers of your instructions No nation vnder heauen hath a God so potent so louing so neere to them which
built vpon a rocke but vpon sand great and shamefull is his fall Permit not that my ghostly enemies scorne at me and point me out this is he whose soule we haue seduced Who beganne a worke and could not finish it satisfying our eyes with his disgrace Let not the aduersaries of thy law and testament triumph ouer me as of a conquest Conceiuing by my example that more will yeald and fewe resist a cruell assault And that we esteeme no more of our faith then they of theirs nor haue assured certainty of our Religion Forbidde the fowles of the ayre the fiendes of hell to take from my hart the seede which thou hast sowen Forbidde that either riches and cares choke it or the heate of persecution wither it Forbidde that perswasions of carnall friends should corrupt it or any thing else hinder the encrease thereof Fie that wealth should be dearer to me then my faith or worldlie friendes then my God Heretofore I comforted other and when I am touched my selfe shall I tremble Where is then my awe and loue where is sortitude and patience Where is the dutie of a Christian man become The constancie and seruice which I owe to thee my GOD I vvill alwaies keepe to thee my life shall liue The word of truth take not out of my mouth for in thee is all my confidence Cursed are they which decline from thy Commandements All iniquity therefore bee farre from me still may I cleaue to thy lawe Dilate my hart comfort my spirit that I may cheerefully runne my race and gayne my crowne Shall I not loue thee whome only I ought to serue Shall I joyne with thy enemies in their prouocations and blasphemies Or shall I lie with my lippes and say I loue thee when I doe not followe thee No no I vvill confesse thy Religion neither before people or Magistrate will I be ashamed Least thou deny me likewise at the latter day and before thy Angels and Saints put me to confusion If they vrge me with obedience I will not let to tell them that God must be obeyed before man If they threaten paynes I will set before mine eyes the euerlasting torments prepared for rennegats I will tell them that whatsoeuer they can doe must haue a short end Happy man who escapeth paines which neuer cease If they punish me I will with thy Apostles rejoyce that thou hast vouchsafed me to suffer for thy sake If they kill me it is the vtmost of their power and the beginning of my glory Yet know I that Satan is chayned and can not hurt a hayre but by thy permission Thou art my light and my saluation whome should I feare thou art my protector whereat should I quake Heauen fall the earth sinke the whole frame of the world turne vpside downe All that is therein runne to confufusion chaunce vvhatsoeuer may chaunce Rather then that I forsake my faith by renouncing to be of thy holy congregation One thing only is necessary O my Lord and my God to serue thee stedfastly and all thinges else are vaine In this happy course begonne graunt that I faint not during my life The zeale which thou once didst in me kindle suffer not to waxe cold Let not the spirit of thy loue be in me extinguished Though I forsake all for the pretious pearle which thou hast reuealed vnto the world Yea though I forsake my selfe also I buy it not too deare Thou hast shewed me a hidden treasure the price of the field I must and will pay This only with Dauid I aske of thy diuine Majesty to dwell in thy house all the dayes of my life To be a member of thy holy body mysticall a childe of thy Spouse for euer That I may be partaker of thy perpetuall Sacrifice Whereby thy Passion is applyed vnto vs and we reape the fruit of our redemption Giue me thy grace O thou which sanctifiest soules giue me strength and courage giue me wisdome and patience Then though a thousand fall on my right side and ten thousand on my left yet will I stand Though those which shine like the Sunne and Moone fall from thy kingdome yet will I be stedfast Thou forsakest none except they first forsake thee confirme therefore my heart that it may neuer quaile Confidence in mine owne power I haue none but what is it that in thee I dare not vndertake In thee who art the mightiest haue I placed my hope thou art my refuge to thee I commend my selfe Thou shalt deliuer mee from the open arrovve by day and from darke daungers of secret malice From the Day-diuell and temptations vvhich comming in their ovvne likenesse dare shewe their face And from the night spirits which shroude themselues vnder faire pretences Whatsoeuer become of me to thy blessed will I resigne vp my selfe my fortune is in thy hand Great O Lord art thou great is thy might and thy wisdome is incomprehensible Many perils our frailty is wont to fore-cast still we cry fearing to be drowned But if we delight in thee thou wilt thou wilt giue vs our desires and bring those feares to nothing Men will forge excuses to serue their turne And a thousand shiftes iniquity searcheth to build vnto it selfe a sinnefull and false security Thou searchest the harts peines discerning easily howe men flatter themselues Shall I as diuers doe blind mine eyes least I should see or when I see shall I not vnderstand Shall I seeke darknesse in the open Sunne and subject my conscience to my will Direct my paths according to thy lawe that vnrighteousnesse neuer subdue me Regard my affliction and combat dispose of me according to thy prouidence ouer the Elect. Keepe my feete from sliding and be still before mine eyes preserue my soule from the death of deadly sinne For those which so die inherit not with thee but with them in whose seruice they partake Thou hast once lightned my lāpe keepe me therefore euermore from darknesse Examples sometime doe giue me scandall prouoking my hart in like sort to ralent Ah wreatch that I were if I relied my soule vpon such shattered reedes And would as it were for company post forward to hell Whereas holy examples are plentifull of glorious Confessors which fill the prisons It hath come to my minde that I may be saued at the last and repent vvhen Death knocks at the doore A foole whosoeuer so ventureth eternall damnation not knowing hovve soone he shall be cited to appeare Thy grace is not alwayes at commaundement and vncertayne is the valewe of constrayned repentance The tempter hath suggested that thou art mercifull and wilt easily enough forgiue But thy mercy and clemency I haue already prooued in expecting me to saluation In not striking me in midst of my sinnes and taking me away in mine ignorance It is nowe time to thinke of thy judgementes and hazard no more to prouoke thy wrath Who assurest vs that thou art a seuere Iudge and comparest thy self to a soure
the riuers of the valleys nor al the showres of heauen are able to wash away the stayne and shame No sope nor scowring can clense the crime no darknesse nor death it selfe can hide it No continuance of time nor the age of the world shall make it forgotten Other nations heare of it hardly beleeue it because such cruelty hath scarse seemed possible Posterity shall read of it and wonder all generations to come shall detest the fact Our Persecutors owne issue shall blush to heare the outragious actes of their auncestors Barbarous death of innocentes is much yet to misreporte the cause augmenteth the despite Refusall to commit an act against conscience call they rebellion not to deny the Catholike faith they tearme felony and treason Traytors indeed such as were thy chosen Apostles when forbidden to preach the truth Such as the Primitiue Christians when by Heathen statutes impugned was Religion Manifest is our guilt and great is our offence vvhen by going to Church all is pardoned All this we endure for thy sake O thou fountayne of grace not reuolting from thy beliefe We haue not forsaken thee least we should be forsaken of thee at the last howre Not denied thee before men least we should be denied of thee before thine Angels Turne therefore vnto vs thy gratious countenance wherewith thou cheerest the world Giue eare to our prayers consider of our complaint Heare the voyce of thy Martirs bloud or at least wise heare their supplication and intercession Whome spoyled of their garment of flesh thou hast clad with robes of immortality The fourth Lamentation THE garland of glory is fallen from our head the beauty of thy City is defaced O God the beholder of our combatte be mindfull of our abasement vnder the heauy hand of those which hate vs. We hope in thee because we haue knowne thee professed thy name Thou exaltest the humble and regardest a contrite hart Streatch out thy hand to our aide for thou art the buckler and defence of Israell Father of orphans Husband of widowes piller of the poore Teach men not to lift vp themselues vpon earth against thee and thy Saints Let not the memory of thy afflicted be laid aside forget not his patience for euer Cheere vp his just desire ease the mourning of his hart Chastise vs no longer in thy rage nor correct vs with indignation Heale vs for we are bruised haue mercy vpon vs for we are brought exceeding lowe In silence we expect thy long-desired consolation True it is that we deserue more of thy rodde then we feele and before thine anger we sinned If we sinne are our foes righteous if Iacob offend is Esau innocent If Hierusalem please thee not shall Babilon delight thee Wilt thou euermore be angry O Supreame Iudge or canst thou forget mercy Wilt thou serue this Realme as thou hast serued Afrike and Syria To let misbeliefe prepare the way to Infidelity suffering to enter an eternall Apostasie Let not the name of thy Christ Church be exiled let not a faithlesse generation roote vs out Not so O Lord for thy tender kindnesse and mercy pull vs violently out of cruell handes Rouse vp thy selfe like a Giant reuenge the bloud of thy Saints Let not the scourge of the vngodly be alwayes vpon the backs of the just Least they presume saying thou maintaynest their cause and that saluation is on their side Chastise vs with thine owne rod as children and not with the rodde of the vncircumcised Pull the speare out of the enemies rest knappe his launce in sunder and breake his sword Thou dwellest still vvhere thou didst thou art the same God and glory of Israell To thee our forefathers called oppressed by Heathen and thou redeemedst them To thee Catholikes made their moane vnder the yoke of Arrian heretikes and thou didst redresse their bondage So vtterly annihilating the aduerse sect that scant their name remayned vpon earth Euils innumerable compasse vs about howe long wilt thou turne away thy face Not for euer O Lord not for euer we beseech thee Shall so many ignorants yet zealous neuer haue thy light reuealed So many which for want of instruction perish shall they neuer haue true teachers Because diuers which liued in the flourish of thy Church haue set it at naught shall those neuer see it who if they sawe it would neuer forsake it Because many by yealding deserue such a yoke shall they which are constant be alwaies vnder it Shall the few sparkles which thou hast left in the lande be extinguished for lacke of cherishing What if the fathers did eate a soure grape shall the teeth of their children for euer be on edge The wicked wil not worship thee aright shall they therefore be alwayes vexed which worship thee in spirit and truth If thou haue decreed O wisdome incomprehensible concerning that generation which enjoyed the highest glory of thy sanctuary And forsaking their Pastors stood not stedfastly for their Religion in the time of contradiction That they shal pine away by fourty yeares trauaile in the desert neuer enter into the land of promise Nor see the glory of thy second Temple in all Royall magnificence If this be thy holy pleasure the secret counsaile of thy long delayes Or if the number of thy designed Martirs be not yet accomplished to whome by these times thou furnishest a Crowne Or if thou wilt needes haue the secrets of all harts to be opened and rippe vp all dissemblers by long probation That the vvhole vvorld vvorld may behold vvho serued thee from their hart and who followe thee with corrupt intention Or whatsoeuer else the depth of thy designments intendeth by this so long persecution Yet hasten the times for thy deare mercy sake O liuing Lord. Calme the tempest alay the raging wanes Saue vs vvho are daungerously tossed vnite vs who are dispersed and commaunded a-sunder That as one in hart so with one voice in free assemblies we may laude thy holy name extoll thy praises all the day long Giue vs in the meane space patience in our afflictions and ghostly profit by these our temptations Let them neither vvinne vs by vvordes nor vveary vs by cruell deedes O thou which art the saluation of thy people Aide vs O Sauiour glorifie thy selfe in our deliuerance Thou art the God of our forefathers thee only we will magnifie Thou art a zealous God we will not partake in thy dishonour Prepare the feete of thy forerunners let vs heare the noise of their steps approching Reueale the treasures of thy kingdome vvhich haue beene so long suppressed Graunt vs to reape at length with joy who haue a great space sowed in teares In expectation whereof our life vanisheth in griefe our yeares consume in sobs While we powre forth our soules before thee crauing at thy handes saluation Arise O Lord visit thy flocke raise vp the rased walles of Hierusalem Neglect not the vvasting of thy heritage Renewe thy truth vvhich hath beene so long a time without fruit let faith flourish againe like an oliue Then shall all nations feare thy name the Kings of the earth shall haue thy mercy in admiration We shall all vvith one harmony sing glory in thy Temple and sanctifie thy Altars with Sacrifice All generations to come shall prayse thee and make honourable mention of thy great goodnesse Thy Angels of heauen shall magnifie thee the Saints and blessed Spirits shall fall at thy feete and giue thankes Euery soule pray that this may soone come to passe and euery tongue say Amen Come O sweete IESV come FINIS