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
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
inclined to sinne as fire to burne flaxe or vvhatsoeuer that fullie dry is as tinder and the rest the danger the alas great hazard of despaire vvhich attempteth to drovvn me in it's lake is as thou seest vvell knowest yet imminent hanging yea yet ouer me and vnhappie for me if thou doe not direct my feete by the said wayes Instruct me in the vvay dravv its lines for me demonstratiuelie by which I am to walke since I haue eleuated lifted vp my soule vnto thee my vvay ought to bee charitie simplicitie sinceritie pietie goodnes trueth pouertie and faith and when so thou shalt haue remitted my former transgressions teach me from thence forward how and in vvhat manner I may restraine my selfe courbe my selfe keepe my selfe from offending thee and sustaine be a sustentacle strength and a columne to my soule eleuated raised vp in thy seruice not now at all valuing vaine pleasures which vsuallie entice entangle yea enthrall the bodie and forsomuch as it is now fullie solicitous tenderlie vigilant in obeying thee confirme it enable it sprinkle it yea powre out on it thy fauonr that so assisted yea strengthned in it 's vpright and iust carriage in it 's vvell doing vice enter not nay come not nigh it but that it seeing it selfe in hope of its saluation it be farre more contented then it vvas in the ouer-weening delights of it's daÌ„nation that it may fly from them euen as the vvill to sinne hath left me is extinguished in me fled from me as also all the affections which I haue borne to the disports of sinne which gaue me vp a prey to it's associates and my enimies from whose hands free me ô Lord. Discharge mee of mine enimies free me from theÌ„ my Lord my God for that I vvho heretofore estranged my selfe alienated my selfe vvent farre from thee flying froÌ„ thee vntill this preseÌ„t through their alluremeÌ„ts I vvho conjured conspired against my safetie my saluation am now ô now my Lord altogether returnd to thee and from thee doe I expect my ioy my hearts gladnes and in thee solelie and onelie doe I hope confessing my sinne and my ingratitude and therfore free froÌ„ the haÌ„ds of the vvicked wretched aduersaries Dauid thy seruant and vvhen so that thou shalt haue endovved mee vvith so much abilitie so much fortitude that I may be able to defend my selfe from their assaults yet farther teach me to doe thy vvill to alleternitie instruct me to obeie thee to feare thee to serue thee for thou art my Maker and my God And for that thou hast created me conserue me in the obedience of thy will make me such that I may withdravv myselfe from the societie companie of my enimies vvho greiue for that I perseuer not in working iniquitie conformable to their maligne most malitious and vvretched desires vvhose perfidiousnes made mee lay â—…side yea forget my obligations my duetie to thee and as if there vvere â—…ot a â—…oule in me they enticed me to place all my care in giuing ease in giuing pleasure to my bodie which being of earthlie mould ought to be despised as dust striuing by all meanes to procure an eternall habitation for an immortall soule Thy good spirit shall conduct me into the right land for thy name sake Lord thou shalt reuiue me make me liue againe in thy equitie in thy justice thy vprightnes since that the peruerse spirit a vvhile since which had drawne meto the depths of Hell is passed of is gonne is no more to be found the pure and perfect spirit of God shall giue vnto me allotte me a place a degree in the congregation in the companie of the just and shall exalt me aduance me in the regions of the liuing and in such manner through thy bountifull goodnes not for any vpright office of mine thou shalt raise me make me liue though I be a sinner which is not to be enstyled other then a proper iustice annexed vvith the clemencie of the same diuinitie and for that eueÌ„ now I am extinguished put out through such desert of my greiuous transgressions reduce me into grace enlighten me with thy grace through thy mercie in â—…o doeing it will be euen a rendring me that life vvhich sinne hath bereaued me of which so often killeth the soule as often as it trusting to it giues it vvay povver and poâ—…ession of it selfe And to be vvilling to raise it againe it is necessarie that my contrition employ it selfe by meanes of equitie vvherevvith thy most benigne and clement minde vvithout preiudicating foreiudging the reasons the grounds of iustice dost forgâ—…ue vs and returne vs againe to life Thou shalt deliuer my sonle out of tribulation anguish griefe affliction and in thy mercie thou shalt disperse myne enimies WheÌ„ so thou shalt haue restored me againe in state of thy grace Lord ô my Lord deliuer my soule froÌ„ those heart-greifes and from the passions vvher with the sting of conscience doth quell it subdue it vtterlie ouerthroweth it at all howres at all times for there is no heauie burthensome greife which may be compared in anie proportion can anie waies yea euen seeme to arriue to the height of that inexpressible sorrovv alas deeplie and inlie conceiued meditating ruminating fully of the losse of so inestimable a iewell of that excellentlie sublime that incompâ—…ehensible and perpetuall felicitie and for vvhat for his demerit his iust desert contracted on himselfe for vvhich they are punished vvith the miserable depthes of Hell and damnation But yet looke on againe Ah! behold here vvhilst wee liue in this world we are recoÌ„soled vve take courage again so soone as we doe but euen so much as reflect on thy illimited thy bouÌ„dlesse mercy and goodnes into vvhose armes my repentance hath cast mee for vvhich thou shalt disperse cast of from mee acquit me of all my transgressions through thy clemeÌ„cie euen as winter shall let fall and scatter the leaues of trees and faire weather the vvaters of the Sea with it's billowes and so shall I be free from tentations and from molestations and vexations vvhich our commoÌ„ aduersarie machinateth and alwaies vvorketh against our soule his end being to conduct it to carrie it to eternall horrid punishment to Hell Strengthen mee against all those occurrences which disturbe disquiet put my soule out of frame disperse all my enimies who euermore molest mee and afflict mee for I am thy seruant nor am I affrighted or daunted although the number of them vvho lie in waite to molest to intrap me is infinite for that thy power thy arme onelie can with it's least motioÌ„ suppresse cast downe vtterlie destroie what army soeuer what force soeuer there be So that Lord haue care regard of thy seruant defending him protecting him froÌ„ the hostilitie that his enimies moue against him vvho are enimies likewise of thee Lord. It is the office of a true Lord and Maister so much the rather if so hee be powerfull as thou art not
owne state vnder pretext of scnding Vrias the Hittite husband of this his Idol to secure victory gaue him vp a prey to the enimies sword that he being made away he migh become husband to the others w◅fe vvhom he loued more then God or himselfe and such his desire obteined that lasciuious bed enioyed by vvhose like the vvorld's conceiued notable offence and heart-burning hath often turned Empires and Kingdomes Nathan the Prophet deeply vveighed his enormities yet compass◅onating him in plaine termes laid before his vnderstāding his iniustice asvvell in murder as also in adultery contrary to his Maker's commands The good old man astonished vvith the punishments vvhich Heauen prepared for his sinne felt asvvell from his soule heart as also his senses his desire his fire his ouer vveaning delight to for sake him to departe to vanish euen as heate from the limbs and the heart in the encounter of ought vvhich maketh it shake for feare yea miserably tremble sovvas he taken on the sodaine so liuely and sprightly vvas his apprehension that he forth vvith rent from his head and body his crovvne royall purple garment flung his scepter on the ground made an exchange of the great height pride of his dignity for an humble p◅nitency couering againe his euen naked body with sackeloth the haire of his head and venerable beard negligently disordered the one and other white in honor of his age thinking vvith himselfe that he vvas a sinner not a King he seemed in his countenance euen penitence it self ◅ He tooke to him his Harpe vvhich instrument euermore offered vp his lamentations sent from his heart to the happy blessing of his soule Moreouer he retired himselfe into an obscure place vnder ground as it vvere a prison of his sinne No sooner entred he but his thoughts vvere further affrighted by the darkenes of the caue He notvvithstanding neglecting these horrors vvithout any delay tooke deeply yea and to heart hovv he ought to doe to appease his God he humbly kneeled tooke his instrumēt aptely placing it to his breast rarely composing his countenāce erecting it to Heauen the sorrovvfull sound of his sighes acquieted touching the strings and most tenderly vvith a svveet feruour deliuered to God these follovving vvords THE FIRST PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine ne in furore Psalme 6. LORD since thou giuest leaue to me to pronounce thy name and that my tongue may call thee my Lord my heart hence taking an happy coniecture fauoureth my hope that it's penitēcy hath in thy clemency and mercy where with thou doest comfort those vvho are truely sad for their offences against thee Hēce I am emboldened with my voice and teares in such manner to conjure thee by thy goodnes that thou please not although th◅u art incensed against me for my sinnes to chastise me in thine anger O God I feare thee and repent me from the bottome of my heart that I haue not feared thee and am fully resolued to feare thee truely hence behold me not with that wrathfull aspect vvith vvhich thou lookedst on humane kinde when as the pride of their wickednes thought not onely to equalize but to trālcēd thy mercy for which cause thy then present will and command did scatter the clouds through the ai◅e and did breake the prisons of the winds laid open the cataracts or sluices of the heauē tooke dayes light away confounded all by whales and shooke it by thunder lightning trees crashing by stormes human kinde rooted out with all liuing creatures ouerthrowne beaten downe Thou did'st not onely drowne the face of the Earth but the brow of the Alpes and tops of the mountaines in like manner Hence tookest thou away the foule soile vvherevvith the common and generall vice had sullied and defiled all the parts of the vniuerse the most abominable ofspring of the people destroyed thou did'st in such sort purifie it as I desire by meanes of my penitency to cleanse yea purifie my soule lo as behold me not with the countenance vvherevvith thou lookedst on the rebells in that time vvhen Noah and the rest were saued in the A◅ke but reflect on me be mindefull of me as thou vvert of him vvhom thy diuine favour and singular benignity saued from the dreadfull deluge and cleare my minde too too much busied with phantasies and those yea such most vaine euen as sometymes thou clearedst the heauens troubled by clouds vvhich lay ouerthwart before the lampe of the vvorld and let it please thee to secure me frō the punishmēt vvhich is euen ready to be inflicted on my sinne the reflecting on which mooueth in me a quiuering not vnlike to a twigge in y e water Let it suffice that I cōfesse my errors my greiueous offences the feare which I apprehend of thine anger at the day of Iudgmēt at vvhich time the teares and sighes of the culpable of the vvicked shall haue no more place in thy mercy nor vvilt thou in their behalfe be further for them as novv benignely thou art and thou wilt be for euer and euer our good and pious Lord. Lord euen for feare meditating on thy iudgment vvhich possesseth me yea euen all my spirits keepe back retaine altogether thy vvord in that dire◅ull day Vouchsafe not onely not to chastise me but also not too seuerely inflict on me punihment conformable to the tenor of thy iust ire prouoked by our greiueous faults vvhich although thou pardonest vs whilst thou correctest vs for our offēces make me yet not withstanding trēble For the correctiōs of the sinne of makinde are cōflicts banishmēts plagues stripes hūger wāts bondage dishonor hostility losse of children and stings of conscience Pacifie thine ire good Lord vvith vvhich my greiueous trespasses haue inflamed thee for the good that I am ready to worke by thy pitty haue mercy on me for that I alas am sick My very heart is wounded by that selfsame arrovv vvhich the bow of feare of damnation hath shott at it my soule bewailing languisheth for that my infirme body giueth it an inckling yea as it vvere a notable signe of estrangeing it selfe from it not ought reguarding the state of my disgrace vvich thee My senses are not sensible my tast hath no tast mine eyes see not my sense of feeling doth not apprehēd it's obiect my smelling doth not distinguish odors nay smell at all my hearing heareth not my infirmity is such as that it is not content vvith the help of plants nor the force of charmes Earthly physiek cannot be a salue to my sores in it there is no validity to cure my such heauy suffrances for thou onely cāst cure them and if thou composest not remedies for my maladies I cannot recouer my health hence lament I and with the teares which euen come from my heartes veines I beseech thee my Lord that thou deigne to heale me fully and compleatly My senses and my soule vvhi◅h are in their hot and cold fitts promooued by the
alas wanting that it had not made me fall vnder thine anger thy heauy vvrath But here behold the propheticall spirit vvhich entreth into me againe I am hereof truely sensible I perfectlie know it Lord yea euen as the eyes of a dimme sight yea of a man almost blinde sensiblie distinguisheth the appearance and disappearance of light and therfore I acknovvledg perceiue that I haue sinned against thee in thy sight but the ill vvhich I haue donne in thy presence shall maintaine make good yea iustifie thy word vvhich thou hast so often sent forth spoken by the tongues of thy Prophets in which thou didst lay open all the sublime subiects the hidden the profound and vnsearchable mysteries of thy trueth hence thy Sonne all taken vp all enamored with loue to humane kinde descending of my lineall stocke will come to suffer cleansing yea purelie purifying by his death the foule spotts which Adam contracted on it And in the same instant that thou shalt be arraigned yea adiuged thou shalt ouercome thy persecutors being vvretched against thee in so much as that they astonished and altogether possessed vvith admiration with a cleare loude high strained voice shall deliuer this is the Sonne of God indeed And therfore my Lord pardon me who come to thee my onelie refuge in such manner let thy forgiuenes be as thy Sonne in his preaching teaching shall state shall ordaine Alas my good and gratious Lord pardon me my transgressions for that so loÌ„g as my heart is proÌ„pt most readie to repent and my tongue liuelie quicke nimble to pray to the and my eyes vvell disposed altogether bent to poure forth teares I am not in state euer to want faith in my well apprehended confidence of thy mercie Not to couer not to excuse my trespasses and crimes ô Lord but to demonstrate to vvhat exigent I am reduced vvhat neede I haue of thy mercie I say that I am conceiued in iniquitie vvhence it consequentlie follovveth that thy iustice truelie forget not my sinnes of frailtie vvhich are in numerable as also those of my Ancestors and hovvbeit in carnall delight vvherein each one is conceiued is no damnation yet from the same proceedeth our hereditarie stray our error euen such from the first of men for vvhich vvee are punished vvith coâ—…porall death and by reason of the vvorlds growing worse and vvorse there and worse there vvould also follovv vs that of the soule if thou hadst not prescribed by foredecree the comming of him vvhich by thy grace I haue spoken of before But vvhat miracle or wonder is there in a sinners transgression being borne in sinne my mother conceiued me in sinne hence sinned I before I was borne and comming into the worlds light sinne accompanied me vvhich is multiplied on me as my houres dayes monethes and yeeres in such sort that the haires of this my beard and the haires of this my head and tresses of it are very few compared with the number of my sinnes and to attempt to disburthen my selse without the assistance and fauour of thy grace is for one man's strength one man's force to make mountaines euen to lay mountaines flat to roote to grubbe vp the vvoods and make the Seas dâ—…y Behold for that thou hast alvvaies loued trueth and iustice yet hast not thou made me knovv that no sinne and that no desert is euer without its punishment or without it's reward from thee but by thy makeing me returne to the vnderstaÌ„ding of my selfe which is sounde verie difficult in a man invested with humane flesh thou hast declared to me the vnknown obscure and the altogether hidden things and the misteryes of thy wisedome deigning to enroll me among the Prophets I haue foretold and vvill Prophecy that which cannot be otherwise that vvhich cannot faile to be so and what sometimes taketh not effect by the meanes of grace granted by God to the desert of repentance Truelie my Lord the apprehension the vnderstanding I haue of the state of thy juslice hath made me lament weepe on and for my sinnes which transgression I doe bewaile and will inceâ—…antlie yet so long as I may haue leaue and license so doe and this my holie resolution hath made me and further will make me worthie of thy mercie and of thy wisdome and hence issueth ariseth springeth that constancie for which I alwaies besoúght thee onelie to be enabled in the perseuerance of thy seruice and in abstaining from Sinne. Therfore that I may keepe my selfe from all that vvhich moueth and with great temptations inciteth a man to forget thee thou shalt cast all ouer me hysope the meanest of herbes to the end that I through example of it's meanesse and vertuous lowlines may correct by such a patterne my pride or giue me it to drinke as doth the â—…hisitiaÌ„ in forme of potion who knoweth that the infirmitie is inward I shall be purged released of any defect whatsoeuer shall be found about my heart and after thou shalt haue purged away my such inward infirmities with the juice expressed by the presse of thy pious hands and gathered from the same herbe growing and nourished in the garden of thy mercie thou shalt wash me outwardlie with the water which leaping casteth forth twinckleth and gurgleth in the fountaine and euerlasting spring of thy mercie hence shall I be cleansed of any whatsoeuer least deformitie which my conscience might haue contracted on me through the feruour of my repentance which doÌ„ne I shall in whitenes surpasse farre exceede excell the snow which flaketh on the top on the bosome foote of a mountaine which is not forciblie carried by any vvinde and so cleansed purified in wardlie expurged and washed I vvill appeare in thy presence as a soule euen now come from Heauen and taking beames irradiations from the lampe of thy grace as a man who though ouer ioy keepeth no meane is become euen now not himselfe I vvill open my mouth and vvith al feruour thanke thee and praise thee with my voice and vvith the full straine of my hearts true affect I vvho ruminating on my losse my destruction am become humble in that pride and sad in that ioy in which to my great preiudice I was vnhapie vvhen as heretofore I was both proud and merrie in so much as I shall neuer be happie neuer merrie as it seemed to me I was in times past vntill thou cheerest me vp with that fauour that superabundant grace which may from thee proceede to the assuring me of my safetie of my saluation O then and not before my humbled bones vvill exult will take comfort will expresse their great ioy then truelie reallie all the spirits all the faculties of my soule shal be reioyced vvith a true and most vnfained gladnes lessened yea formerlie depressed though the fault of sinne by meanes whereof the sustentacles the maine columnes of my life are afflicted perplexed enfeebled euen as the stemmes of the flovver de-luces by winde and
deeply aggreiued heart yea making it redouble it's contrition touching againe the strings now newly reviving and quickning his voice clearing his pipes which had already moued to commiseration of his case the seate of his penitency humbly vttered THE FIFTH PSALME OF THE PENITENCY OF DAVID Domine exaudi orationem meam Psalme 101. FAVORABLâ—… heare my prayer 〈◊〉 my Lord my gratious Lord in which thou sees the contrition of 〈◊〉 heart contribulated contristated aggreiued to the height the full extent and vttermost period of a sad ah 〈◊〉 sad soule for it 's hauing sinned against thee Alas let it be so that my lamentations my moanes my dolefull cryes may come to thee in such their state nor let for thy goodneâ—… sake that distance of place be an obstacle to them nor let windes transferre them or violentlie carrie them away let there not be any impediment which may haue power to interpose it selfe betweene thine eares and my voice any thing vvhich may disuiate turne another way thy hearing from my oh such lamentations rather receiue the prayers I send forth to thee conâ—…ormable to the nature of thy mercie and obserue me looke on me how it is for I pray more with my heart theÌ„ call I loudly out with my tongue For I right well know that who turneth himselfe to God with sincere with vnfained intention fulfilleth accomplisheth his prayer before the wordes are vttered thy goodnes not expecting that the words appeare before thee So that let the clouds be dispersed which through this aire haue made the foggs of the pride of my transgressions and let my cry through-passe vp thither vvhere thou abidest that I may vvith it testimonie giue thee assurance of my minde most attentiuelie seriously and vvith fulnes of spirit contrite Oh! my Lord hide not thy face from me as those Maâ—…sters hide their faces from their seruants vvho trespasse against them vvho for that they take themselues to be iniured by such their transgressions doe not onelie denie their countenaÌ„ce which they humbly craue but also denie the hearing of them speake and to giue them leaue to aske for pardon for mercie therfore doe they so to the end that they may learne to correct themselues of their neglects of duety euen as I haue learned vvho deseruedlie should haue inflicted on me my selfe onelie for my not fearing of thy chastisements all the scourges vvherewith God punisheth the infinite coute of the wicked But though so it be though I deserue such inflictions doe not hide thy selfe from me rather at vvhat time soeuer I am oppressed encline thine eare to me not ansvverablie to my peruersenes but according to vvhat becommeth thy mercie in such sort that in the tribulations extreame afflictions vvhich my soule shall feele through repentance and in these vvhich my body shall suffer in penitencie heare thou with a frieÌ„dlie eare and if so doing thou commiserate not thou be not moued to mercifull pitty on my prayers vvhich my miserie vvill desiuer vvill send vvill make knovvn to thee I am then eueÌ„ content to stand to my miserie to abide in this miserable state But if thou heare me for that thou art pitty it selfe I am then free from fetters from bonds in vvhich sinne made accounte to hold me for euer Though the great the ardent desire I haue to be free from the snares the entanglements of sinne I revnfold my selfe to thee and beseech thee againe my Lord that in vvhat day soeuer I shall inuoke thee call earnestlie on thee thou heare me fauourablie and that speedilie I say that thou please to grant vnto me thy grace at vvhat time soeuer the light of vvell knovving of vvell discerning distinguishing shal be with me my eyes being freed disincombred of obscurities obfuscations vvhich euen at noone day the vaine vvindes the puffes of vaine glorie doe blast doe blow on them And for that my daies faile vanish as smoke not producing not bringing forth in my seasons in my harnests any thing but fruite of damnation I might well doubt to finde peace and attonement with thee but still â—…auring confidence in my penitent sufferance and my contrition one vvhereof argueth my outward sorrovv the other giueth credit and testimonie of my invvard hearts greife my compunction of soule I doubt not I feare not ought For the strength of thy great mercie doth secure me But it greineth me verie much that pride hath conuerted them into such smcke into vvhich their thanklesnes their carelesâ—…es euen aiming to haue vvill to raise themselues to HeaueÌ„ are turned returning their puffe of vanitie into that nothing at all into vvhich are dissolued mists foggs and clouds the vvinds aduersaries enimies of their condensitie of their grossnes sharplie blovving And my daies being that is my vaine vvorkes my vaine deedes in vvhich I spent my time deficient ill pasâ—…ed ouer vnvvorthily consumed my bones inflamed by the fire of vvordlie pleasure are become no othervvise then a thing quite burnt for that the soule retired altogether recolâ—…ected into it â—…elfe hath bereft them of that nourishment hence they remained in continuall heate and in their last burning heare not vnlikely had they offended and notablie hurte the faculties and the vertues of the soule had not â—…eturnd to thee my Lord vvho helpest the poore the beggars supplyeâ—… them makest the strong feeble and exaltest and raisest vp the humble My heart hath been smitten and is dryed in me not vnlike hay and hence falleth on me all this for that I haue forgotten through my vvretched carelesnes to eate my bread The true bread of our life are the commandements of the Lavv the workes of mercie and other pious offices vvhich are spirituall foode on vvhich the soule is fed to the end it perish not it 's vtter losse and death follovv not vvhich hence commeth and hence onelie for that it eateth not of this foode for other nourisheth not but poysoneth But I who timelie haue reflected on my selfe in time make my recourse to thee confessing to haue fallen greiviously to haue offended mortallâ—…e for not hauing accustomed my selfe for not hauing vsed and made election of such forde yet despaire I not of my safetie of my saluation But rather like a man vvho hath druncke poyson vvhose heate extreamelie burneth his heart and all his bovveâ—…ls his entrailes and suddainlie hauing recourse to helpe hath put himselfe into the hands and skill of a learned expert and prudent Phisitian by vvhose presence hee findeâ—…h himselfe to be alleviated eased though the hope hee hath of the greatest part of his sufferance of his gâ—…iefe I requiring humbly crauing assistaÌ„ce cure helpe of thee finde promised vnto me through my pâ—…nitencie and through thy commiâ—…eration thy mercie the health the safety which I seeke for my soule vvhich recomforted newly reioyced in the compunction the deepe griefe of it's heart Through the continuall and incessant voice of my plaints my greiuous lamentations my bones are in such manner so clung to
not HeaueÌ„s beautifull vault the braue seeming comelie boult of the mountaines the sea 's armes the earth's bosome the bottomlesse deepes and the measure and extent of the vniuerse insomuch with thee let trespasses be vvhatsoeuer possiblie they may be they are lesse then a litle pointe in the midst of a circle of great capacitie of marvailous compasse euen poison vvhich in it selfe engendreth sinne sometimes maketh it svvell in such manner that it though mouing thee to disdaine boldlie lifteth it selfe vp in such sorte that it seemeth it vvould aspire to the top of the height of that thy mercie But for that I am sure that thy mercy ouercommeth the seueritie of thy justice I finde not my sin 's so desperate which heretofore feared to come too late to finde pardon for thou vvillest that a contrite heart say onelie I haue sinned And so much onelie said from a contrite heart thou endovvest them vvith such plentie of thy grace that their hearts yea and their very soules ioynt ie bevvaile bitterlie bemoane themselues for the iniuries that their hardnes their such peruersenes vvrought to their miserable preiudâ—…e and to their vnspeakable greife against thee my hardnes my peruersnes differeth not a vvhit from vvhat is spoken of vvherewith hetherto I haue offended thee ah but alas vvhatsoeuer poore vvretch I am I seeke to hide me vnder the braue ample shrovvding-vvings of thy mercifull indulgencie and pittie by it's goodnes I beseech thee most humblie that thou succour me O Lord help me and according to the multitude the infinite reach large extent of thy mercie thy commiserations vvhich are more then are the flakes of the snow then are the drops of the raine blott out cancell mine iniquities my crimes which although iustlie acknowledged to be infinite yet they arriue not to the number of thy pitties of thy commiserations by vvhich thou sauest trespassers And the bridles the restraints vvherevvith fasting courbeth gluttonie vvherewith chastitie curbeth luxurie humilitie checketh and restraineth pride charitie coueteousnes and true good-nature vvell disposed humanitie envie and the spurres the liuelie stirrers vp awaken and chase avvay sloth and lazines are the guifts vvhich these compassions doe giue which thou hast on distressed miserie and ignoraÌ„t errors which daylie are donne in thy sight thy clemencie mercifullie shineth vvith more fauorable and cheerefull aspect on him vvho after transgression reasumeth himselfe then on any one vvho hath neuer tâ—…espassed and there is nothing to be farâ—…her herein deliuered for true it is that there aâ—…e more acts of vertue as more resignanations to thy vvill more earnest endeauours and more merit it amendment after sinne then is there for such to haue abstained from sinne and the feare vvhich a man is sensible of vvhilst hee is contristated deeplie sad extremelie afflicted for his sinâ—…e his such like heart's deepe compunction is more availeable then the securie of him vvhosoeuer hee be of Paradise reioycing in his not hauing trespassed And for that ô Lord my mercifull God I vvould tender such a sorrovv as might be ansvverable to my greiuous offences and that I knovv all to be in vaine of no validitie vvithout the fauour of thy grace I the same coniure thee call thee to accounte on that ground that tenent of the ioy known that thou hast of the moanes lamentions and hearts-griâ—…fes of sinners that thou cleanse me in the font and euer-flovving-cleere spring of thy infinite mercie Wash me and vvash me againe cleane vvich the vvater of that mercifull spring in all and all fully wholesome full of grace full of health vvhose least channells whose least veines bedew besprinckle the heads of the just vvith grace and health Let the earnest petitioÌ„s of me a poore distressed man soe farre take place vvith thee my Lord my God that I may bathe my selfe wash my selfe cleanse my selfe in vvater of such qualitie vvhich is good against rustines and mire which my sin's and imperfections haue vvrought and contracted on me euen as drops of raine of a sweet gentle shower powred froÌ„ HeaueÌ„ do please marvailously comfort yea conferre to the better being of a bird after it hath suffered the Sunn's heate Here is the full state of vvhat I humblie craue that thou wash and cleanse me from sinnes for the blotts blurres staines they haue made on me are foule filthie to abhomination vvhilst they are seene on this my flesh my soule that abhotreth theÌ„ as those things which prompt vnto it the danger of it's health can neuer enjoy the tranquilitie the entire peace vvhich they enjoy vvho serue thee vvith a pure cleane heart But be it so that thou vvash me and cleanse mo often my soule each hower be comming more pure more vnspotted vvhite hence vvill receiue that comfort vvhich vvill the limbs of one euen now releiued released from an infirmitie in vvashing himselfe in a bath of costlie and odoriferous spices For that lastly I haue opened the eyes of my minde closing those of my body I know that my sinne vvhich I cast behinde me and vvas carelesse of hauing taken the world's delights for my counsaile for my directions is alvvaies against my selfe and vvhatsoeuer at any time hath falleÌ„ out against me hath beeÌ„ drawne on me for my trespasses hence I to keepe of it 's heauy burthen from me to make it stand farre of and to secure my selfe of it haue made me a buckler a defence framed of the feare I haue of thee my Lord the perfidious and vvicked neuer cease to molest me vvith shrewd and importunate snares but because I am vvell aduised how to carry myselfe against them I am able assisted by thee held vp by thee to keepe my selfe from being ought deceiued by them and keepe my soule from their frauds their foule deceipts and vvith the hope that I conceiue and vnderstand more in God then in my teares I shall make them fly farre from my face as I desire to fly farre from it the vvhich sweet and faire though it seeme is both sharpe and brutish most horridlie vgly But thou yet Lord seest with what gestures and in what manner they they vvicked flatter me and endeauour to make me such as they are by their diuers waies of drawing me to be alike to them laughing at my teares shewing at the selfe same caue vvhere I praise giue laud and glorie to thee the pallace where thy despisers keepe in incessantlie vilâ—…fying scorning the patience of my penâ—…tencie whilst I crush euen burst my knees on the earth they lye at ease and pleasure on their downy coutches I vvho neither see them now heare them as earst I vvas vvont my thoughts entertained by my phantasie farre otherwise theÌ„ to giue attention to them strengthning my selfe vvith guifts of thy vertue hope with my spirit to transcend as farre my bodie as the bodie doth surmounte command and ouerâ—…ule the spirit for being oppresied burthened by it I was in immineÌ„t daÌ„ger there vvas litle