would haue dismaid And Bodies grieu'd with basest iniuries All Vertues fairest shew oppos'd by contraries 35 Her very Name and Etymologie Describes this Ladies Nature wondrous right For Patience Sufferance doth signifie Forbearance farre from Anger and to fight Gods Battailes with true courage and delight Hee 's stronger that can ouer-come disgrace Crâ—sses and iniuries by patient sp'rit Than he that walled Cities doth deface And Monarch-like doth sway the whole World by his Mace 36 Like as the heau'n aboâ—e is garnished With Sunne and Moone and glistering Starres by night So hath Gods Church beene alwayes furnished With patient Mirrours to direct vs right Yea though we had no Scriptures vs to light Examples of th' Elect might be our line To walke in Patience with all our might So they before to vs that follow shine That number Starres he may that can their names define 37 Begin we with our Sunne before the Flood Our patient Maker How did he forbeare Though Enochs prophecying they withstood Yet God with their iniquities did beare Vntill the Deluge vp the Arke did reare Next see his Patience and forbearance kind To them that vnderneath the Couenants were But most his suff'rance vnder Grace we finde As Father most to loue his youngest is inclin'd 38 Our Sauiour next whose Life Death Suffring shame To vs all Patience doth represent Whereby all Christians ought themselues to frame Following his foote-steps who before vs went Who ne're did sinne nor euer guile inuent Yet when he suffer'd threatned not to smite But dumbe like to a Lambe most innocent Commits his Cause to him that iudgeth right Bearing on Crosse our sinnes that he redeeme vs might 29 Now follow Starres which doe receiue their light From that most glorious Sunne of Patience Meeke Abel slaine by cruell Cains despite Noe Preacher to th' old World of Penitence Bearing scoffes scornes for his Obedience Abram forsakes his Kindred House and Land And patiently a stranger dwels in Tents At ninety nine is circumcised and His deare sonne Isaaâ— offers at his Lords command 40 See Isaac patient to embrace the Knife Iacob enduring churlish Labâ—â—â— wrong His Diâ—as Rape his Sonnes most cruell strife With Ioseph who endured prison strong For doing well who can expresse his long True Patience that did Pharaohs pleasures leaue To suffer payne his Brethren among The meekest Moses did stone Tables cleaue When Zeale of Gods great Glorie did his sense bereaue 41 How patiently did holy Dauid beare Sauls persecutions wayting for his Crowne When he his skirt cut off tooke vp his Speare Yet would not let Abisai smite him downe But none for Patience like to Iob is knowne Loe Christ himselfe the Patience doth commend That Prophets Priests and Martyrs haue vs showne All which in briefe the Truth for to defend Haue without grudging held out constant to the end 42 All wrestled in this Field of Patience Some scornes stripes fetters prisonment sustayne Some racking sawing broyling banishments Some scourg'd with rods with sword some haue bin slayne In Sheepe skins Goate skins some to walke were fayne Of which the World in no wise worthy were All will dread on the Mountaynes and the Playne In earthly Dens and Caues lay hid for feare These all by Faith in Christ of Patience followers are 43 I should doe wrong vnto all Women-kind Should I the praise of Patience them denie So many for the Truth with constant mind In flames of fire haue let their body frie Besides continuall payne and miserie In bearing nursing Children they abide Whereby they doe maintayne Posteritie O blessed Maid what griefe did thee betide To see thy Sonne on Crosse his Armes to open wide 44 But I too farre the Readers Patience presse With multitude of Paternes from without Since onely inward Patience can vs blesse And make vs like to Lyons bold and stout Preseruing vs from perill dread and doubt Whilst patiently we here all crosses beare To th' end with Christian courage holding out And neuer Mans pride or Hells malice feare For by this suffring more than Conquerours we are 45 We reade that Socrates did Patience gayne By patient bearing his impatient Wife And we this Grace by suffring may attayne If in Faith Hope and good Workes we be rife Doubtlesse our paynes here crosses griefe and strife Are nothing if they rightly be compar'd Vnto the Ioyes Crownes and eternall Life Which God aboue for all those hath prepar'd That with true Patience of his comming haue regard 46 But ah we of farre other spirit are In our hot blood we cut off Malchus eare But if our liues be question'd then we dare The Truth denie and eu'n our Christ forsweare Mans mind possest with furie or with feare Falls from the meane to all extremitie For want of courage he no crosse can beare Or for reuenge doth offer iniurie Both which alike are guiltie of Impatiencie 47 When I the liues of holy Martyrs read And what great torments here they suffered As Members sympathizing with the Head Saint Lawrence on a gridyron tortured Who at 's Tormenters neuer murmured But pray'd them onely turne the other side For one was broyl'd enough and martyred And her that did most paynefull death abide Whom with hot scalding pitch from top to toe they tride 48 Should I here wish their Patience or their Payne No sure I wish both Payne and Patience The more I suffer here the more 's my gayne The greater losse the greater recompence Ah this to flesh and blood is sore offence And vnto carnall minded enmitie That take delight in pleasing of the Sense Their Nose with smels their Touch with luxurie Their Taste Eyes Eares their Heart and all with vanitie 49 Though thou escape crosse scourging sword and fire Yet surely if thou liu'st the life of Grace And walk'st vprightly as Gods Lawes require Flesh World and Deuill thee will seeke to chace As peeuish singular vaine foolish base Yea wicked Men thy Patience to trie Will thee deride dishonour scorne disgrace We Patience shew in bearing iniurie For Christ as well as those that for the Truth doe die 50 But I confesse I nothing here doe find More pleasing then reuenge to flesh and blood Like this was Iohn and Iames reuengefull mind When entrance was at Citie Gates withstood Because their Faces towards Sion stood Shall we Elias-like from Heau'n fire craue For to consume this base rebellious brood To whom Christ said Know yee what Spirits yee haue I came not hither to destroy and spoile but saue 51 Lord grant me Pauls true constant resolution Not onely for thy Names sake to be bound But willingly to suffer dissolution Some scortching flames like beds of downe haue found In some such inward comfort did abound When as they suffred for Christs holy Name For signe of inward ioy and comfort found Their hands they lift vp to expresse the same Till they consumed were eu'n by the scortching flame 52 It was th'Apostles triumph and delight To be
not doe 14 But as a naturall body doth consist Of quarters foure to make a man complete And if but one of all those foure be mist The other three lose all their life and heate Eu'n so it is with Truth whereof I treate If of these foure substantiall parts want one The other three are vainenesse or deceat For Truth of Iudgement Heart Speech Action Make but one Truth without dissimulation 15 But Truth of Iudgement ground is and foundation Of all the rest For be our Hearts sincere Our words and deeds without dissimulation If Errour in our Iudgements doth appeare With Paul we may eu'n persecute the deare And holy Seruants of the Sonne of Truth And thinke we doe to God good seruice here Fie then on Fooles that misse-spend their youth They neuer seeke to know or learne the way of Truth 16 But be our Iudgements eu'n as right and sound As Christs Disciples by their Master taught Yet if within vs Iudas hearts be found On vs the greater iudgement shall be wrought Who knowes his Masters will and doth it nought Oh what doth he by this his knowledge gayne But eu'n the sting of his owne conscience brought To desperation and infernall payne And to put out this sting puts on an hempen chayne 17 What shall we say of those that doe professe Truth of Religion and a Heart sincere Yet in their dealings nothing lesse expresse But for their gayne deceaue lie and forsweare Surely these men a double heart doe beare For were the Heart which is a liuely Spring Whence flow our words and deeds oh were that cleare Then all the streames from thence forth issuing Would be pure like the fountain from whence they do spring 18 But things we best of all by causes know God is the Cause of each good gift and grace But here more mediate Causes I may show Whereby he in the Truth doth guide our pace By 's Word we Truth of Iudgement doe embrace Which is to wandring Soules a guide and light His Spirit vpon our Hearts doth Truth enchase Then Truth of Iudgement makes vs speake aright And Truth of Heart makes all our actions true and right 19 Thus as Effects true Speech and Actions flow From Truth of Iudgement and the Truth of Heart As all Mankind from Eue and Adam grow But if the subtill Serpent can peruert Our Hearts or Iudgements as he did diuert Our two first Parents then as all their seede Defiled is with their corrupted part So from our Heart and Iudgement will proceede Corrupted words and actions which such fountaynes breede 20 Therefore to set our Iudgement true and right We to the ground and pillar ought to come Of Truth which is the Church of God so hight Because the treasures of all Truth there won Of all Gods Oracles which there haue rome From which all Truth of Iudgement we deriue The Church a carefull Keeper doth become There 's Truth that able is to saue aliue And away Errour Darknesse Superstition driue 21 O blessed Truth that holy Church preserues From Satans malice and the Moth of time O glorious Church whose soundnesse pure reserues Truth of Religion which doth make thee shine In Righteousnesse Faith Hope and Loue Diuine More then Pompe Wealth Vniuersalitie For Truth doth decke Christs Spouse more trim and fine Then Time Consent Succession Vnitie Now foild with Superstition and Idolatrie 22 With these false Ornaments the Church of Rome Like painted Harlot shuns the open Light Nor will vnto the Ground and Pillar come Of Truth to trie if shee bee wrong or right Therefore poore Laiks neuer must haue sight Of holy Writ to frame their Iudgement by Traditions and false Miracles them light And on the Churches word they must relie Thus Ignorance the Mother is of Poperie 23 But as sound Truth abhorres such Ignorance Eu'n so presumptuous curiositie Shee doth decline nor euer doth aduance Her purest thoughts to things that be too high Her subiect is no higher Mysterie Than Spirit of Truth is pleased to reueale Into Gods secret Counsell for to prie Is like the Thiefe that fire from Heau'n did steale To whom eu'n Heathen iudgements endlesse torments seale 24 So vniuersall is Truths glorious Fame That all things that the Heau'n and Earth contaynes Delight to be adorned by her Name Yea God himselfe Truths title not disdaynes Loe He Lord God of Truth for ay remaynes The Word of Truth the Spirit of Truth likewise Wayes iudgements works cōmandements Truth retaynes In this Saints Angels with God sympathize But Satan and his broode delight in contraries 25 Thus as shee is adorn'd by Titles high So with her Glorie shee doth all adorne Nothing vnto perfection commeth nigh Except by them the badge of Truth be borne And though some Worldlings doe her Liuerie scorne As things against their pleasure ease and gayne For that plaine dealing is a Iewell worne But he that weares it beggerie shall gayne Yet Truth her credit still doth with the best retayne 26 Yea Truth amongst the Writers of all times Hath beene in such great honour and account As without Truth yet neuer Prose or Rimes To any Praise or Honour vp did mount The holy Writ wherein Truth doth surmount Shee safely doth'gainst all her Foes defend How oft doth Dauids muse Gods Truth recount Whereby her glorie lasts to the Worlds end Ah my poore Muse see thou alwayes on Truth attend 27 There 's not one Vertue that with Loue doth dwell But honours Truth and seekes her company Begin eu'n at Humilities low Cell And mount to Mercy that doth sit on high All seeke the companie of Veritie Eu'n Loue must be without dissimulation And Righteousnesse without Hypocrisie Vnfaigned Faith true constant Expectation No Vertue without Truth comes neare Loues habitation 28 Faire glosing shewes without Dame Veritie Are but as falsely feigned Holinesse Which surely doubles the iniquitie And neuer leades the way to Happinesse My Muse is farre vnable to expresse The prayses all of Peeres that Truth attends Whom shee adornes with wondrous Noblenesse But Righteousnesse vpon her most depends And Mercy now and Truth haue met growne great friends 29 But surely Truth hath not so many Friends But shee doth find as many Enemies For Satan all his malice 'gainst her bends Supplanting Her by force or subtilties He father is of errours and of lyes And seekes herewith Truths glorie to distaine And therefore they maliciously deuise Interpretations false and glosses vaine Traditions mens inuentions 'gainst her to maintaine 30 As Purgatorie first they did deuise Purses for Pardon of mens sinnes to gleane So Limbo's they for Writers haue likewise Wherein to purge and make their Writings clean◠Index expurgatorius I meane In which if any Writer disagree From their Traditions whereupon they leane They in this Limbo Patrum purg'd must bee Or falsely else condemned to burne for Heresie 31 Thus moderne Writs sacred Antiquitie The Fathers Schoole-men Doctors Histories They all of them in Purgatorie frie And
sore against the Truth doe tyrannize The ancient Fathers Truths antiquities That like Iohn Baptist beare to her record They doe behead or else them circumcise None scapes their Index but Gods holy Word And that must be translated with their Church t' accord 32 But Errour striueth not more to deface Our Truth of Iudgement than Iniquitie And proud prophanenesse seeketh to disgrace True Dealing Speech and Hearts sinceritie Them branding with foule Follies infamie As none could liue but those that can dissemble Reproching them for Truth and Puritie That seeke hereby their pure Head to resemble When eu'n in Gods pure sight the purest Angels tremble 33 Not that I goe about here to defend Those feigned pure Ones that most wickedly Much Truth and Puritie in words pretend But in their Actions deale dishonestly Nor those that like the boasting Pharisie Call to their brother farther off to stand Which soone discerne a Mote in Brothers eye But eu'n Beames in their owne not vnderstand These for some false pretended Spots leaue Church and Land 34 Such rau'ning Wolues oft in long clothing goe And therefore hard by outward shewes to find We best them by their fruits may learne and know 'T is dangerous to censure in this kind For those that haue a true pure Heart and Mind Make shew thereof as they that doe dissemble Therefore till all their Actions false I find To iudge them Hypocrites mine heart doth tremble Lest to the Wicked I the Righteous should resemble 35 For dealing true's like Touch-stone which doth trie The baser Mettall from the purest Gold Discernes a true Heart from Hypocrisie And fayned Puritie doth soone vnfold And as by Touch-stones touch is easily told What is pure Gold from what is gilt for show Although the Gilt's more glorious to behold So Truth of Heart by Truth of Words we know And by the Actions which from them doe daily flow 36 Truth 's like the Treasure whâ—ch the Huâ—bandman As he was digging in the Field did sound Which he keepes close and sells all that he can And with the Money goes and buyes the Ground Shee 's like the precious Pearle the Merchant found And then sold all this Gemme for to obtayne The wise Man heau'nly Counsell doth propound That wills vs vse all meanes her to obtayne And buy the Truth with losse of honour pleasure gayne 37 Truth is like Salt that seasons eu'ry thing And makes it sauoury to God and Man Preserues our Soules from Breath putrifying Of busie Flies that labour what they can To breede corruption in the inward Man Shee leauens all the whole Lumps preparation The Soule and Body Flower and the Bran Affection Reason Will Communication Heart Mind Opinion Iudgement Life and Conuersation 38 As precious Ointment powr'd on Aarons head Ran downe vpon his Beard and did not stay Till all the Skirts it of his clothing spread So sacred Truth her vigour doth display From head whereas our Iudgement makes her stay Vnto the Beard and Tongue where speech haue place Then to the Heart and Hands shee holds her way From whence our Actions all haue life and grace Thus to the Skirts of our long clothing Truth doth trace 39 Gods Truth compares her to a Belt or Zone Which Souldiers vse for strength and ornament Whose golden Studs most gloriously shone And ioyne the Armour in faire complementâ— Loe whilst this Girdle is about vs pent Christians whole Armour hangs on fast and sure But if this Girdle from our Loynes be rent Off falls our Armes and Satan or Worlds lure Then wounds vs desperately or makes vs sleepe secure 40 Diuinest 〈◊〉 thou didst shadow well In Legend of true Loue and Chastitie By girdle faire of fairest Florimell This sacred Belt of Truth and Veritie Which none on looser Ladies loynes could tie Yet their faire Limbs that had liâ—'d true and chaste It did adorne most rich and gloriously And was most fitting for their slender waste But they Vngirt vnblest were that had beene vnchaste 41 For as the girdle doth inclose around Mans body where our soules high powers doe dwell Wherein as good or euill doe abound Eu'n all our actions flow thence ill or well So Truth about our soules keepes Centinell And eu'ry act we doe shee doth make knowne To that iust Iudge from whom we can conceale Not eu'n the secret thoughts that in vs growne For nought so close or secret is to Truth vnknowne 42 Thus Touch-stone Treasure Pearle Salt Leauen Zone Doe all fall short with faire Truth to compare For Truth in all 's compar'd to God alone And none but God her glorie can declare Who for Truths sake his owne Sonne did not spare But offerd him false man to reconcile That Truth and Mercy might meete and prepare Strict Iustice on poore wretched Man to smile Whom Satan with false lyes and errour did beguile 43 What doth the Word of Truth to vs commend More than this inward Truth and Singlenesse Abram for this is styl'd by God a Friend And Iob 〈◊〉 of Truth and Perfectnesse If I should here the Readers patience presse With all examples therein to be found Surely my Verses should be numberlesse Wherefore a few I for the Truth propound That you like men of Berâ—a may the Scripture found 44 Where you shall fiâ—d of Truth examples store Eu'n Christ himselfe for Truth was crucifide Baptist beheaded Paul endured more For Truth than the Apostles all beside When Peter had the Lord of Truth denide He went out and did weepe more bitterly Than when his Master to him signifide By girding him what death he ought to die Whereby he should the Truth of God much glorifie 45 And this hath made the Martyrs of all Ages Till death their Truth of Iudgement to maintayne Sealing with blood the Truth of sacred pages And whilst they here endur'd most cruell payne They ioyfull were in hope of glorious gayne Yea many haue embraced losse and shame In singlenesse of heart Truth to maintayne But what though here they doe endure some blame The true in heart shall gayne an euerlasting name 46 Dauid a man call'd after Gods owne heart For inward Truth and Singlenesse within No beautie eloquence or outward part Can so commend a man For Truth doth winne The loue of God and Man But that foule sinne Of lying Lips and a deceitfull Heart Is an abomination vnto him In eu'ry triall Truth maintaynes her part But all dissemblers Adam-like aside doe start 47 Loe many Daughters haue done vertuously But glorious Truth doth farre surmount them all Yet if I onely sing of Veritie And labour not to practise it at all But from my Loynes her Girdle loosen shall It had beene better I had neuer knowne The way of Truth than afterwards to fall And leaue the Light that vnto me was showne Choking those seeds of Grace the Spirit of Truth had sowne 48 But ah the Deuill and his Instruments Continually doe seeke our Truth to spoile And by feare force and Worlds
obay Lord grant that as I of sweet Mercy sing Her in my heart deed word I practise may Not for vaine praise or any outward thing But for thy Mercy sake my good and gracious King 75 Next Loues great Generall braue Fortitude Should enter Lists to shew her wondrous might But Rashnesse 't is not Valour to include A Christian Souldier in such dang'rous fight Till all his Armour be about him dight His vpper parts I armed haue elsewhere With Girdle Brest-plate Shield and Helmet bright But Feete and Legs I naked left and bare Now Patience them shall arme as you shall after heare MEDITAT IIII. Of Patience 1 WEll hath our valiant Guide Mans life compar'd Vnto a warfare where we alwayes stand In complete Armour readie and prepar'd The force of cruell Foe-men to withstand Where Satan World and Flesh together band By open force and treason to subdue And leade vs captiue by their mightie hand And all vnarm'd or out of order due They fetter'd dragge to Hell with cursed damned crue 2 Which to auoid he wills vs to be strong In God and in the Power of his Might And the whole Armour that doth here belong To Christian Souldiers on our Soules to dight For here with Flesh and Blood we doe not fight But Empires Powers Principalities The worldly Gouernours of darkest night Sublime spirituall subtile Enemies Which to resist he ghostly Armour doth deuise 3 The Belt of Truth Brest-plate of Righteousnesse Faiths Shield and Hope the Helmet of saluation Sword of the Spirit Prayers feruentnesse Feete shod in Peaces Gospels preparation These be the Weapons of our Militation Of Helmet Brest-plate Shield and Girdle wee Alreadie haue conceau'd a Meditation These foure the vpper parts arme to the knee But Patience Legs whâ—reon the rest supported bee 4 For so the Learned seeme to giue the Sense This preparation of the Gospels Peace To be the brasen Bootes of Patience Which doth defend from Thornes and Stones disease Our Legs and Feete And where the Belt doth cease These Bootes of Patience Armour doe supply By which in complete Armour we doe prease And stand vndanted 'gainst our Enemie This Vertue is the next my Muse seekes to descrie 5 Which well is call'd the Gospels preparation For neuer any Patience true and sound Can be but by the Gospels mediation The Heathen built not on this certayne ground And therefore this true Patience neuer found Which but by Peace of Conscience none attayne This Peace the Gospell onely doth propound By reconcilement of the Lambe Christ sâ—aine Without this Peace of Conscience Patience all is vaine 6 Thou glorious God of Peace and Patience Who sent'st thine onely Sonne our sinnes to beare And by his Suffring and Obedience Vpon the Crosse from guilt of sinne to cleare All those to whom his Crosse is sweet and deare Direct my Muse this Grace aright to reade That knowing I may neuer once forbeare To practise Patience in thought word deede But to the end my Life in Peace and Patience leade 7 Which is a gift of God whereby weare Inabled willingly and constantly All crosses that God layes on vs to beare For Goodnesse Godlinesse and Honestie Impatience 't is to beare vnwillingly And but an idle feigned false pretence To boast of Vertue without Constancie Her parts be foure of which some difference May seeme at first yet all make but one Patience 8 The first part is from Anger to abstayne The second is a constant Expectation The third is to the end Right to remayne The last consists in willing Sustentation Of all afflictions here and castigation But Man to these foure parts we onely tie For the last part which doth consist in Passionâ— Vnto th' eternall Being comes not nigh Who 's free from all Affliction and Calamitie 9 Yet is he rightly call'd the Patient God And doth in first three named parts transcend First farre from Anger when he spares his Rod He doth expect and wait till we amend And last abides the same vnto the end He fruitfull Times and Seasons of the Yeare Vnto the good and bad alike doth send Most patiently doth with our Follies beare And where he 'gins to loue he neuer doth forbeare 10 Thus Mercy Zeale Repentance may be said Inexplicably in God to bee Zealous yet not offended or dismaid Most Mercifull yet griefe did neuer see Repenting yet without remorse is hee Most Patient yet without least payne or passion Of Vertues parts which are of Frailtee And Weaknesse God hath no participation Yet want they not in Man their vse and commendation 11 As is the Cause and End of Patience So we her true or counterfet esteeme The Cause and End doe make the difference If we for Fancy Glorie Lust Wealth seeme To beare with Patience Hunger Payne Cold Teene This suffring missing her true Cause and End As falsely feigned counterfet we deeme But if for doing well or to defend The Truth we suffer this our Patience doth commend 12 The greedie 〈…〉 For Lust some doe endure 〈◊〉 basest shame The Souldier spends his blood for glorie vaine Th' Ambitious venture all to purchase Fame Loe there we carnall Ends and Causes name True Patience causes honest are and iust When for ill-doing we doe suffer blame Take paine for Glorie Honour Gayne or Lust Rewards like to the Cause and End expect we must 13 But true immediate ground of Patience Is the sweet Gospell as I said of Peace For Man deepe plung'd in sinne and foule offence No Creature could Gods wrâ—â—h but Christ appease In stead of Loue Gods wrath on Man did seise Till Christ concludes our Reconciliation And vs of our offences doth release Of which the Gospell is th' Aâ—â—unciation Therefore is Patience call'd the Gospels preparation 14 And therefore as her Cause and End is Peace So all her works to inward Peace doe tend Which in the inward Man doth most increase When outward Warres seeme most him to offâ—nd Shee doth oâ—r Soules most valiantly defend By patient bearing crosses paine and shame Which shee with Patience suffers to the end Except they crosse the Glorie of Gods Name Or Neighbours good which to endure deserueth blame 15 One euill is of Sinne and one of Payne That ill of Sinne this Dame cannot abide But that of Punishment shee counteth gayne Gods holy Name blasphem'd or Truth deni'd Or wicked Men Gods holy Saints deride Is no true Patience patiently to heare But on our selues when crosses doe betide Then Patience true doth patiently forbeare For shee her owne not others wrongs delights to beare 16 If one will take her Coâ—te iniurioâ—â—ly Shee suffereth such losse with Patience But if of Faith Loue Truth or Honestie One would depriue her that is such offence As cannot stand right with her Conscience Shee priuate wrongs most willingly doth hide But faults admitteth vnder no pretence Shee can endure Men should her selfe deride But her Profession scorn'd shee no wayes can abide 17 Compell her to a mile shee will
as he shame endur'd and crosse did beare So Souldiers of our valiant Generall We with vndanted resolution dare Oppose the World Flesh Sinne and Deuils all Whose Faith stands firme in Christ what dread can him apall 14 Though spirituall Enemies doe more abound In number Malice Strength and Policy Yet by these spirituall weapons we confound Them all triumphing on them valiantly This spirituall strength growes in vs inwardly As doth the new and inward Man reuiue Which stronger growes as our corruptions die And by the Fleshes weaknesse most doth thriue And when the Body's dead preserues our Soules aliue 15 Our Soule the subiect of true Fortitude Not giu'n by Nature but infus'd by Grace The spirit of Man it is that doth include This most heroike Vertue 'T is not place Wealth and preferment or a noble Race And Breeding that doth raise so high the Mind To count all fading Obiects vaine and base And wholly be to heau'nly things inclin'd Whereby our strength aboue all earthly things we find 16 True Fortitude is home eu'n from aboue And in Loues Court is of such high regard That none couragious are but they that loue And of their valour hope for Loues reward Loue conquers all oh What can be compar'd To mightie Acts of Loue whose iealous ire Consumes all that her Grace doe not regard Oh! what is stronger than Loues hot denre None e're without her did to noble acts aspire 17 Loue Fortitude her valiant Generall In all her spirituall Battels doth employ On whom these Graces wait and follow all To fight against our spirituall Enemy Long-Suffering Patience Magnanimitie Assured Faith Hope Constancy and Peace But most of all shee loues Humilitie For as great 〈◊〉 her glorie more increase So shee inclines to Meeknesse and true Lowlinesse 18 What is 't that I haue not receau'd saith shee All help 's from God Mans strength is weake and vaine If he be for vs Who can 'gainst vs bee Oh who can to true Fortitude attaine But he that from aboue doth it obtaine Boldnesse therefore and Intimiditie Which leaues Gods glorie seeking priuate gaine Is to true Fortitude an enemie As well as Cowardize and Effeminitie 19 For as all Cowards timorous and faine Discourage Friends and hearten Enemies So foolish rash vnexpert vnacquaint With spirituall Battailes and the policies Of cruell Satan and his complicees Doe desp'rately themselues and fellowes traine Vnarm'd where Satan in close ambush lâ—es Where some are stung some poyson'd and some slaine All as his captiâ—'d Slaues in bands hee doth retaine 20 Thus those that on their owne strength doe relie And haue within them selues vaine confidence Proud Boasters oft Goliah-like defie Their Enemies but take a fall at length God onely is our Rocke of firme defence Beastly presumption 't is for to depend On fleshes arme in things of consequence But deuillish madnesse 't is for to defend Our spirituall strength and as our owne it to commend 21 This spirituall Pride of all most dangerous As bodily in them doth harbour most Who are least valiant and couragious Thus Braggadochio himselfe doth boast To be fit Leader of a mightie Hoast And Merit-mongers out of foolish Pride Will merit more than their first Father lost And lay vp store for many Soules beside Who for their money may to heau'n haue entrance wide 22 No floods of teares are able to disgrace The resolution of braue Fortitude Which like pure Diamonds adorne her face And from her all hard-heartednesse seclude Oh may mine eyes like Fountaynes bee endude With floods in Warre my panting Soule to coole 'T is Satans policie first to exclude From quenching waters the besieged Soule Then burn the town with fire when he hath stopt the Poolâ— 23 When valiant Gideon went out to fight With Midian God made a Proclamation Who dreaded or did feare the Enemies might Returne should to their People and their Nation And shall we in this spirituall dimication Hope to withstand our ghostly Enemies Except our Hearts be strengthned 'gainst tentation To fight with Powers Principalities And by true Fortitude to treade downe iniuries 24 Wherefore the Sonne of Sirach doth compare The heart of Fooles to an high plast'red wall Which stormes of wind and winter cannot beare But shaking tottering at length doth fall Imaginations vaine his heart apall But a wise heart that is established By counsell to a strong and stately Hall With Beames and Ligaments so coupeled As it of Winds and Tempests neuer stands in dread 25 As Harts huge Hornes him profit not at all By reason of his faint and fearefull heart So Christian Armour yeelds defence as small If diffidence our Fortitude peruert And as none proudlier march than stately Hart In Summer faire of his prosperitie But if he heare a Dogge or see a Dart Doth faint for feare and flyeth cowardly So doth the Man whom God doth Fortitude denie 26 The heart of man's like Pilot in a ship Whose cunning in calme weather is vnseene But if Winds blow and Waues to Heau'n vp skip And all in danger great of drowning beene Then both his skill and courage may bee seene Then though the Sailes be rent and Ship be torne He faints not till the wished Port he win So though our Flesh here 's tortur'd and forlorne Yet by true Fortitude we to our Hau'n are borne 27 As Branches of the Palme the more opprest With burthens nearer Heau'n themselues doe raise So Fortitude in valiant Christians brest The more assaulted merits greater praise And as those Boughes are stronger found alwayes That are oppos'd to Boreas boystrous blast Than those on whom the South and West wind playes So that Mans mind doth stand most firme and fast Who hath through greatest torments and tentations past 28 Three wise men wrot King Women Wine are strong But aboue all Truth beares the Victorie Earth great Heau'n high Sunnes course is swift and long Yet Truth contaynes all in 's imensitie Earth Heau'n Sunne all obey Truth chearefully To Truth I perfect Fortitude compare Both one most perfect in the Deitie As Iustice Loue and other Vertues are God onely here to vs some sparkes of them doth share 29 Now onely of this Sparke is my discourse This Vertue Manlinesse the Grecians call For they that ran not valiantly their course The Heathen scarse accounted men at all By Latines Fortitudes originall Comes from a Body strong and valiant Mind They therefore count those most heroicall Who most in warre to valour are inclin'd Or whom most resolute 'gainst Fortunes stormes they find 30 With them a Man of warre was seldome found Able in Peace to conquer Iniurie The godly in examples doe abound Of suffering and doing valiantly Let captiu'd Lot declare how valourously From mightie Kings him Abram succoured Which shewes his strength and magnanimitie But his mind's valour when he suffered Cold Famine Banishment his owne Sonne slaughtered 31 Most Princely Iacob with God wresteled And therefore better might with men preuaile Yet