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
is greaf he answerd me againe Thou thinkst thée there thou art transported so That pleasant place must purchast be with paine The way is straite and thou hast farre to go Art thou contenttd wander to and fro Through great Desarts throgh water throgh fire Through thorns and briers and many dangers mo What sayest thou now Thy feeble flesh will tire Alas said I although my flesh be weake My spirit is strong and willing for to flie O leaue me not but for thy mercies sake Performe thy word or els for doole I die I feare no paine since I should walke with thée The way is long yet bring me through at last Thou answerst well I am content said hée To be thy guide but see thou gripe me fast Then vp I rose and made no more delay My feeble armes about his neck I cast He went before and still did guide the way Though I was weake my spirit did follow fast Through mosse mire throgh ditches déep we past Through pricking thorns throgh water throgh fire Throgh dreadfull dennes he made mine hart agast He bare me vp when I began to fire Sometime we clamb on craigie mountaines hie And sometime slaide on vglie brayes of sande They were so stay that wonder was to sée But when I fearde he held me by the hand Through thick thin through sea eke throgh land Through great Desartes we wandred on our way When I was weake and had no strength to stand Yet with a looke he did refresh me aye Through waters great we were compeld to wade Which were so déepe that I was like to drowne Sometime I sanke but yet my gracious guide Did draw me vp halfe dead and in a swowne In Woods most wilde and farre from anie Towne We thrusted through the Briers together stack I was so weake their strength did beat me downe That I was forc'd for feare to flée aback Courage said he thou art mid-way and more Thou mayst not tire nor turne aback againe Hold fast thy gripe on me cast all thy care Assay thy strength thou shalt not fight in vaine I told thee first That thou shouldst suffer paine The nearer Heauen the harder is the way Lift vp your heart and let your hope remaine Since I am guide thou shalt not goe astray Forward wee past on narrow brigs of trée Ouer waters great which hiddeoustie did roare There lay below that fearefull was to see Most vglie Beastes which gaped to deuoure Mine head grew light and troubled verie sore Mine heart did feare my féete began to slide But when I cryde he heard me euermore And helpt me vp O blessed be my Guide Wearie I was and thought to sit at rest But he said Nay thou mayst not sit nor stand Hold on thy course and thou shalt finde it best If thou destrst to sée that pleasant land Though I was weake I rose at his command And held him fast At length he let me sée That pleasant place that seemde to be at hand Take courage now for thou art neare said hee I looked vp into that Castle faire Glistring like Golde and shining Siluer bright The statelie Towre did mount aboue the aire They blinded me they cast so great a light Mine heart was glad to sée that joyfull sight My voyage then I thought was not in vaine I him besought to guide me there aright With many vowes Neuer to tire againe Though thou be neare the way is verie hard Said he againe therefore thou must be stout Faint not for feare for cowardes are debard That haue none heart to goe their voyage out Pluck vp thine heart and gripe me fast about Out through this trance together we must go The way is low remember for to lout If this were past we haue not many mo I held him fast as hée did giue command And through the trance together then wée went Where in the mides great prickes of Yron did stand Wherewith my féet were all betorne and rent Take courage now said hée and bée content To suffer this the pleasure comes at last I answerd not but ranne incontinent Out ouer the fire and so the paine was past When this was done mine heart did dance for joy I was so neare I thought my voyage ended I ranne before and sought not his conuoy Nor askt the way because I thought I knew it On stately stepps most stoutly I ascended Without his help I thought to enter there Hée followed fast and was right sore offended And hastily did draw me downe the staire What hast said hée Why ranne thou so before Without mine help thinkest thou to climbe to hie Come downe againe thou yet must suffer more If thou desirst that dwelling place to sée This statelie staire it was not made for thée Holdst thou that course thou shalt be thrust aback Alas said I long wandring wearied mée Which made me runne the nearest way to take Then he began to comfort me againe And said My friend thou must not enter there Lift vp thine heart thou yet must suffer paine The last assault of force it must be sore This goodlie way although it séeme so faire It is too high thou canst not climbe so stay But looke below beneath a statelie staire And thou shalt sée another kinde of way I looked downe and saw a pit most black Most full of smoke and flaming fire most fell That vglie sight made me to flée aback I feard to heare so manie shout and yell I him besought that he the trueth would tell Is this said I the Papists purging place Where they affirme that sillie soules do dwell To purge their sinnes before they rest in peace The braine of man most warelie did inuent That purging place he answerd me againe For gréedinesse together they consent To say That soules in torments must remaine While gold and goods relieue them of their paine O spitefull spirits which did the same begin O blinded Beastes your thoughts are all in vaine By Blood alone did cleanse the soule from sinne This pit is Hell where through thou now must go There is the way that leades thée to thy Land Now play the man thou néedst not tremble so For I shall help and hold thée by the hand Alas said I I haue no force to stand For feare I faint to sée that vglie sight How can I come amongst that bailfull band Oh help me now I haue no force nor might Oft haue I heard That they that enter héere In this great golfe shall neuer come againe Courage said hée haue I not bought thée deare My precious Blood it was not shed in vaine I saw this place my soule did taste this paine Ere euer I went into my Fathers glore Through must thou go but thou shalt not remaine Thou néedst not feare for I shall goe before I am content to doe thy whole command Said I againe and did him fast imbrace Then louinglie he held me by the hand And in we went into that
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