the staires the sunne the moone the Sâ—ye Were made for man to make him looke on high All these were made out of the mould of loue Was neuer louâ— came euer neeâ—e to this Which dâ—th â— wonder in affection prâ—uâ— Euen when we leaâ— dâ—sâ—rude that lâ—uâ— of his For when our soules did most offences doo him He came himselfe in loue to caâ—l vs to him To make redeeme preseruâ— defend and cheriâ—h His faithfull â—ouâ—es and so in loue to nourish 〈◊〉 in his loue their liueâ— shall nâ—uâ—r pâ—riâ—h But like the Lilly liue and euer flouriâ—â— Are these not points sufficient to approue The true perfection of a piereles louâ— Yet more to say that truely may be sayd In humble honour of thâ—s hâ—auenly loue In mercies sweete to mâ—ke the soule diâ—mayde To see the blessing of thiâ— God aboue The louing spirit liuely to refresh He let his seruants see him in the flesh To see him so as might not hurt their sight For none migâ—t see his high supernall power But in his loue tâ— see that glorious light That gaines that sweete that cuts off euâ—ry sower The second person of himselfe his sonne In whom are all things to his glory done And see the câ—use why so he came vnto vâ— â—is onely loue the onely cause wee liue And when we came what comfort did he doe vs To saue our liues his loue his life did giue And so to sâ—ue vs from the fire of hell That with his loue we might for euer dwell What loue was this to leaue his heauenly seate Amoâ—g his angeâ—s all in glorie serued To câ—me to mâ—n who diâ— too ill intreate The sacred loue that hath his life preâ—â—ruâ—d From being honourde praisde and gloriâ—ide To be disgraced whipte and crucifide In loue â—e lâ—st â—is highâ—st heauenly pleasures Aboue his angels in their â—eapâ— of ioyâ—s To liue on earth in soâ—rowes â—ut of mâ—aâ—ures With chaunge of nothing but the worlds annoyes In toyle and trauailâ— long in loue he sâ—ught vs And wâ—th his death at last full dearely bâ—ught vs. Oh wofull trauaile that he vndertooke To bring our liues vnto his sacred loue Which paine nor crosse nor death it selfe forsooke That to our faith might his affection proue Which lâ—fâ— the spirite of his loue beâ—inde him To â—hew the loue that seekes him how to finde him In loue hâ— came that he might comfort doe vs In loue went from vs to prouide our places In loue he sent his comforter vnto vs In loue he guides vs with his holy graces In loue he made bought keepes and guides vs thus And shall not we loue him that â—o loude vs. Yes my deare Lord be thou my dearest loue For Christ his sake let my soule neuer leâ—ue thee Who in thy loue thy liuing truth doth proue That mâ—kes me finde the world doth all decâ—iue me â—nd were there truth on earth as there is none Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone And lâ—t these tâ—ares be witnes of my loue Which first doo begge remission of my sinne â—nd in râ—pentance doo but mercy moue To ope the gates of grace and lâ—t me in Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall With my soules seruice loue and life and all Fâ—rget O Lord my workes of wickednes Whereby my soule with sorrow is oppressed And with the finger of thy holineâ— In mercy touch my spirit so distressed And saue my life that draweth nigh to hell Loue me a little and I shall be wâ—ll Loue no sweete Lord mercy I craue no more My sinnes are such I dare not speake of loue But in thy merâ—y to thy loue restore My hâ—mble faith that may but mercy proue And 〈◊〉 â—ppâ—â—ue that all the world may see The 〈◊〉 loue betwiâ—t my God and mee Oh call me home and make me heare thy call And heare thee so that I may runne vnto thee And hold me fast that I may neuer fall But that my soule may euer â—â—ruice doo thee Shew some good token that the world may know My soule is blest whom thou hast loued so And while I liue here in this wretched vale Of fearefull danger of inâ—ernall death Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale Which haue their bargaiâ—e in the hâ—ll beneath Let my soules loue and lifâ— and labour bee To seeke my ioy my loue and life in thee Make me not rich lest I forget to thinke From whence I haue the comfort of my hart Nor in such want let thy poore seruant sinke That I be driuen to craue the needy part Giue me but meanes the needy to relieue To feede thy flocke and not the Wolfe to grieue Let me not listen to the sinners songes â—ut to the Psalmes thy holy saints doe sing Nor let me follow tyrants in their wronges But kisse the rocke where righteousnes doth spring Let not mine eye affect the outward part But let me loue the vertue of the hart And let my life be to behold thy loue And let my loue be but to liue in thee And so to liue that all the world may prâ—ue The gratiâ—us good my God hath done for mee To call my soule out of this world of woe In faithfull loue to serue my Sauiour so And when they see the blot of all their blame To loue the worlde but all in wretched toyes And doe confes with inward blushing shame They are but sorrowes vnto heauenlie ioyes They may with me forsake all wordly pleasure And make thy loue an euerlasting treasure For Lord by thee we are in thee we liue And in thy loue the liuing cannot die And since thy death did our liues wholy giue For thy loues sake shall we affection â—lie No my deare Lord let life be death to me So I may die to liue in loue with thee A ioyfull life were such a death indeede From earthly paine to passe to heauenly pleasure A ioyfull line for louing hearts to reade To leaue the flesh to take the spirits treasure Whose glorious sence vnto the sunne doth fall That all is nothing to that all in all And I alas of many thousand soules Vnworthie most of his high worth to write Who in his mercies true record inrowles The louing substance of the soules delight Must mercie crie for scare my loues presuming Of too high sence may be my souls consuming And with the teares of true repentant loue Looking vpon the wonders of that woâ—der That 〈…〉 pâ—â—fection may appâ—oue The 〈◊〉 â—isedâ— me of the world put vnder 〈…〉 wit as short to pâ—nâ—e his praise As 〈◊〉 nâ—ghts in light of clearest dayes And say but this in grace and glories height Wheâ—â— vertue loue doth liue fâ—r â—uer crowned Aâ—d all the Hoaâ—â— of heauen and heauens await Vppon the highe◠〈◊〉 the heauâ—â—s râ—nowned Whom Saiâ—ts and Angelâ— tâ—eâ—blâ—ng doo adore To him alone be all praise câ—eâ—more All honour pâ—aise and glory euer bee Vnto my â—ouing euerlâ—uing King This king of life who â—o hath lâ—ued mee To giue my soule thiâ— gratiouâ— power to sing In hart and mind in man and â—ngels loue All gloâ—ious glory be to God aboue FINIS Nicholas Britten
MARIE Magdalens Loue. AVT NVNC AVT NVNQVAM LONDON Printed by Iohn Danter and are to be sold in Gratious street nere Leaden Hall Gate Mary Magdalens Loue. Vppon the twenty Chapter of Iohn from the first verse to the eighteenth Vppon the first verse as foâ—â—oweth The Text. Now the first day of the weeke came Mary Magdalen early when it was yet dark vnto the Sepulchre and sawe the stone rowled away from the Tombe DEerely beloued in our Sauiour Christ In this first verse I find foure cheefe noteâ— to bee well marked and kept in memorie First the person named who it was and of what condition Secondlie the time Thirdlie the place and fourthly what was there seene and done The person was Marie a woman and one that had bin a great sinner the time that she came was the first day of the week in the morning earely euen when it was yet darcke the place shee went vn o was the sepulcher and the thinâ— that shee saw there was the stone rolled awaye from the Tombe now touching Marie let vs note two especiall causes of her comming loue and sorrow loue that she bare him and sorrow that shee had for him I meane to liue without him who of manie thousandes are ignorant that the mistaken loue indeed which the wantons and wretches of this worlde are to much troubled with will keep their wits waking watching and continuallie woorking for the accomplishment of a moste wilfull or rather woefull desire and if then the deuill by the permission of God haue such power to blind the eyes and charme the senses of humane creatures with that lewd humor of mistearmed loue how much more warie effectuall and continuall carefull watch dooth the loue of God keep in the soules of his seruantes longiâ—â— and looking both day and nigâ—â— and thinking no time too earlie or long be it neuer so long so that at last they may come to the enioying of their souls comfort Let vs therfore consider a little what may bee spoken of Maries loue First that shee loued we cannot doubt for it was spoken by the mouth of Christ himselfe vnto Simon Luke Chapter 7. Verse 45. Many sinnes are forgiuen hir for she loued much But marke now the nature of this good loue what it wroght in her three excellent blessings Constancy Modesty Humility Constancy in the hart Modesty in the minde and Humility in the soule but of these wee wil speake more hereafter in their due places therefore touching the first words from whence I gather my first notes marke here what is saide by the â—olye Euangelist whom 〈◊〉 â—ameth Marie Magdalen a vvâ—â—â—n and one that had beene a great sinner out of vvhom vvere cast out seuen deuills but vvhen the foule spirits vvere gone there came to her that good spirit that in true penitence found especiall grace with her liuing Lorde not that she was then no longer a sinner but being a penitent sinner she had obteined mercie Now you see how Marie had beene a great sinner and receiued a great forgiuenes which begat in her faith so great a Loue as broght forth great fruits of repentance made of her as it were a new woman turning her from a sinfull seruant to the world to a louing seruant to Christ as in these wordes following shall appeare Nowe earlie in the Morning the first day of the VVeeke came Mary Magdalen he sayeth not the Disciples but Mary Magâ—â—len See here you blessed and welbeloued of God both men and women What a sweet example of care she hath left for your comfort that wil follow hir it is saide heere shee came the first day of the weeke An excellent note for good husbandes and huswiues to obserue not to ouerslippe their time till the latter end of the Weeke and then perhaps also be either idle or worse exercised as I feare too manie are in these dayes then another note of wisdome in the choosing of her worke to seeke Christ for beginne the Weeke with him and thy worke will thriue the better and continue the Weeke with him and thy wages wil be the greater and neuer worke but with him and thou shalt finde thy labour will bee the easier by the vnspeakable â—â—mfort of thy reward Manie are 〈◊〉 earely and downe late as the â—â—â—fe about his robery the couetous about his misery the adulterer about his villanie and the Traytor about his â—reason but alas Mary had none of these thoughtes in her head shee rose earely to seeke Christ shee came earely while it was yet darke for as Dauid the Psalmist saieth in his hundred and thirtie Psalme and sixt verse My soule waiteth on the Lord more than the Morning watch watcheth for the Morning who then wilcome to Christ must wait for him as Dauid did and seeke for him as Marie did Earely in the morning and the first day in the weeke and though it be dark yet wee must watch till it be day and then by Gods helpe wee shall see that wee looke for Now let vs speake a little more of Mary shee found her self a sinnâ—r and therefore vnwoorthy to see her Sauiour any more but yet her sinnes were forgiuen her and she desired to sinne no more and novv did grace so woork in her looue that faine she would see her Lord a little more but alas her Lord vvas dead to other perhaps but not to her and see how faith vvrought in her affection her heart had light before her eyes shee vvent through the dark and came to the place ere it vvas day The diuell watcheth in the light to lead his followers into darknes and shall not wee watch thorough darknes to seeke Christ in the light Iudas watch all day to betraye his Master in the night but Mary watcheth all night to come to her Master in the day Oh sweete blessing of God where faith wrought loue and loue dutie and all came together to bring Mary to Christ and except with these we followe her wee shall neuer come to him but Mary was a woman and shal men follow women why her happines came from God and shall not wee follow her to her happines but Mary was a sinner and what flesh is righteous and Mary was repentant and what more proofe of election and Mary loued Christe and what more ioy in a Christian now not offending men let mee thus farre speake in the commendation of godly women if the first spokeÌ„ off in the scripture offended God the last spoken off looued Christ If Heuah vvas an accursed vvife Mary vvas a blessed virgine If shee vvere full of sinne Marie vvas ful of grace If Eue vvas tempted by the diuel Mary vvas saluted by the Angell And if Eue bare a vvicked Son Cain Mary brought a blessed Son Christ novv though this vvas not that Mary that bare Christ yet this vvas she that loued Christ for a vvorld of such godly women as are lest examples to their posterities sex in
but to continue Constant to the end is an espeaciall fruite of Gods fauour Oh Constant loue of Mary that hauing once washt his feet would now fil his Tomb with her teares Oh rare Modestie that in his life would but lie at his feete vnder the Table and now was so bashfull as to stand without at the sepulcher And Oh most excellente Humillitie that woulde presume no further but to looke in See here the heauenlie loue of this blessed woman how much it differs from the vile nature of our worldlings loue We daylie see before our eyes that the wisest Prince the moste Godlie preacher the most louing parents the most bountifull Master the most kinde kinsman and the most faithfull friende If they dye howe soone are they forgotten if they bee of anye account I meane according to the worldes estimation that their â—eires maye bee the better for them then perhaps they will take this order and bee at this charge for them the Lawyer shall make his Will the Sexton hys graue the Preacher shall make a Sermon for him the parish shall haue a Feaste for him the Minister shall bee paide for buriall of him and a few weare Blacke weedes for him and so there is no more adoe for him But where are the teares of Loue all this while alas there is no such cause there is more gotten by his death than by his life rather weepe that hee liued so long than that he died so soone is it not too true that in manie places it is daylie seene the childe is sicke of the Mother and wisheth his Father in his graue ere he can learne to bee a son or leaue to be a Childe are not many Subiects vnkinde that will ratheâ— seeke the death of a Prince than wâ—epe for his want are not those kin too strange in nature that are not onely continually in lawe but seeke one anothers life for their lands are not those seruaunts most wicked that had rather wish for a mourning coate for a dead Master than a cognizaunce for the liuing and will rather betray him to his death than weepe for him when hee is gone And are not those friendes moste faithlesse that will rather giue a Iudas kisse than shedde Iosephs teares I woulde there were no such people but if there be God of his goodnes giue them grace with Mary to repent them of their wickednes and with Mary to shed the teares of loue that maye bee witnes of her faith and continuing in her Constancie with feare of presumption they maye make proofe of such Humilitie as was her commendation and may bee their comfort How much this vertue of Constancie is commended in diuers places of the holye Scriptures yee may read as in Genesis the fift Chap. and fourteentlâ— verse Henosh for his long walking with God was taken vppe in the heauens Eliah for his constant faithfulnes was taken vpp into the heauens Genesis the two and twentie Chapter and seuenteenth verse Abraham for his constant loue was called the Father of the faithfull and had the promise of the Almightie that of his blessed seede shuld come the blessed Messias Noah Genesis Chapter seuen and thirteenth verse for his Constancie was saued with all his Familie when all the worlde was drowned that were not in the Arke Dauid for his Constancie was left vnto vs a figure of Christ the three Children in the fornace for their Coâ—â—â—ancie were preserued in the fire Ier. the eight and thirtieth Chapter and tenth verse Ieremie for his Constancie was deliuered from the Dungeon Iob. the one and fortieth Chapter and twelfth verse for his Constancie was restored to his health made more happie than euer hee was Paul for his Constancie was rapt into the heauens where hee sawe Christ in his glorie Steuen the holy Martir of God did shine like an Angell at the time of Martirdome and Mary here for her Constancie comes to the sight of her Sauiour but of this I will God willing speake more fitly anone Now for Modestie tedious it were to trouble you with many places of commendation laid downe in 〈…〉 lie Scriptures touching that 〈◊〉 though some of them I thinke it not good to omit Sara was commended for her Modestie in calling hir husband sir Rebeccha for couering her face when shee saw Isaach Hester for her modesty was said to haue hir face shine whose bashfull feare so pleased the King Assuerus that he laid his scepter on hir necke and kissed hir and held her in his armes till her trance was ouer And here you see her Modestie so pleased God that he sent his Aungels to comfort her for you see what followes And shee bowed her selfe downe and sawe two Angels the one sitting at the head and the other at the feete O would to God that all women woulde learne this Modestie of Mary then woâ—d they not so ofteÌ„ fall into such pâ—â—â—â—â—ption as is manie times a 〈◊〉 of their confusion in steed of laughing with Michol to see Dauid daunce before the Arke of God they â—â—uld weep with Mary at the Sepulcher of Christ Modestie would teach them to come to the Church with more deuotion and to heare the worde with more reuerence than I feare too manie doe now a daies how vncomely a thing it is in a maiden to be giggling and laughing and how vngratious a thing it is for a woman to be tighing and babling in the Temple of God at the time of the reading or preaching of his holie Gospell Alas what will they bee thought on among the wise the one but an idle gossip and the other a foolish girle but here you see Mary did none of these and as I said before such as Mary will doe none of these Learne then of Mary to loue Christ to bee Constant in louing Christ and to vse Modâ—sty in your loue to Christ so shall you surelye please Christ and I am fully perswaded bee most commâ—nded of Christians Nowe for Humilitie what is more commended in the holy Scriptures Abells sacrifice was best accepted for his Humilitie Moses beloued for his Humility Abrahams faith best regarded in his Humility Dauids patience best considered in his Humility Salomons request granted for his Humility Nabuchadnezer restored to Babell for his Humility Iob best tried beloued and made happie in his Humility Mary the virgin receiued the saluation of the Angell and the abundance of Grace in her blessed wombe for her Humilitie and Christ himselfe for his Humilite to his Father is glorified with his father many places I omit that shininglie set out the brightnes of this vertue but indeed so manie are the rare and excellent properties of this most excellent vertue as I thinke it past the capacity of man to giue it halfe sufficient commâ—â—dation yet thus much giuen â—aue to speake mine opinion of it It pleaseth God aboue all thinges it pleaseth man in manye thinges and displeaseth the Godlye in nothing at lest wherin it ought to
Disciples to the Aungels from the Aungels to Christ him selfe Now it is said shee turned backe as though shee was afraid that shee had presumed too farre eyther in looking into the Sepulcher or at lest in talking to the Aungâ—ls Oh Lord how few will learne I would many woulde followe this vertue of Humilitie in Mary not to 〈◊〉 too farre nor to speake till they be â—â—â—ken to then to bee afraide to speake too much yea though it bee the best thing they can speake off I meane their true loue to Christ but to drawe towards an end marke what followes Now she comes neare her comfort shee sees her Sauiour and knowes him not for when he said vnto her VVoman why weepest thou whome seekest thou she supposing it had bin the gardner said Sir if thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Thus in one word she aunswereth to both his questions why she wept what she sought she sought her Lorde in sorrow she could not finde him Iesus said vnto hir Mary shee turned her selfe and saide vnto him Rabboni which is to say Master Now when Christ made him selfe knowen vnto her see what wordes she vseth but onely one to expresse as much as she was able to speake Master For a faithfull seruan â—hat loueth his Master if after a long miâ—â—e of him hee come to the sight of him againe can he forbeare teares of loue to shewe his dutie and say with Mary Master confesse all yee that loue your Masters for the rest God amend yee Now was there euer so good a Master as for onely louing him nay rather of his own meere loue giues vs life euerlasting forgiues vs all our offences payes vs our wages in his mercies and our debts for vs in the blood of his owne heart when by reason of sinne wee bee long absent from this so good a Master if euer his Grace bring vs againe to his mercie with the teares of sorrowe shall we not weepe to haue been so long from him and so reioyce in his sight that we shall bee able with Mary to say no more but Master which one word so spoken may make more prâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 our â—â—ue than a longer tale of our serâ—â—â—â— for he knoweth our hearts loueâ—â—â—â—r Humility and so regardeth our loue that though wee fee him not as Marie did yet we shall enioy such part of her comfort as if we but thinke vpon his mercie wee shall say in heart Master when the friends of our ioy will not suffer vs to say any more but it is enough and so much enough as I beseech God to graunt vs all Crace so to sorrow for our sinnes and to long for his comming that seeking him as Mary did with teares wee way see him with ioy and say with Mary Master which Master Lord King and God be loued serued honoured praised and glorified of all his seruaunts here present and all his faithfull wheresoeuer Amen AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Danter and are to bee sold by VVilliam Barley at his s 〈…〉 in Gratious street n 〈◊〉 â—â—aden Hall 1595. A Solemne Passion of the Soules Loue. Printed at London by Iohn Danter and are to be sold by William Barley at his shop in Gratious street 1595. A Solemne Passion of the Soules Loue. AWake my soule out of the sleepe of sinne And shake off slouth the subiect of thy shame Search out the way how best thou mayst beginne To holy worke thine humble will to frame Then proue not weary of a little paine When fleshes griefe will breede the spirites gaine Confesse thy selfe vnworthy of the sence To learne the least of the supernall will Beseech the heauens in strength of their defence To saue and keepe thee from infernall ill Then fall to worke that all the world may see The ioyfull loue betwixt thy God and thee Tell of his goodnes how he did create thee And in his iustice how he doth correct thee And in his loue how he will neuer hate thee And that his mercie neuer will reâ—â—ect thee And how he helpt thee when the world distrest thee And with his graces how he sweetly blest thee Sâ—y I was sicke and he did send me health I was in prison and he set me free And I waâ— poore and he did send me wealth And I waâ— blind and he did makâ— me see I was perplext and â—e did heale my paine And beeing dead he gaue me life â—gaine When I was lame he did my â—iâ—mes restore When I was deafe he made me heare his voice When I was wounded he did heale my sore When I was sad he made my soule reioyce When I had finde he would not yet forsake mee When I was lost he did to mercie take me To say yet more what he hath done for me I needes must say his goodnes hath no end Who when on earth he saw no friend to me Did make me feeâ—e I had a heauenly friend A heauenly friend whose help doth faile me neuer But is my comfort and my King for euer This is my Lord my life and all my loue My liuing loue and louing life inâ—eed This is the blessing â—f my best behoue The sacred fruite whereon I sweetly feede This is the â—oy that maâ—es my hart to sing Honour and glory to my heauenly king Oh King more glorious 〈◊〉 the world can know thee From whom the day euâ—◠〈◊〉 on high doth spring Where glorious works vnto the world doth show thee Of glâ—rious loue the euer liuing King The King of life in whom the soule doth proue The highest glory of the heauenly loue By whose high hands were all things made at first By whose deepe wisedome they are gouernd still By whom alone are blessed or accurst That loue his word or disobay his will By whose sweet breath they liue that doo attend him And by whose wrath they dye that doo offend him For who can byde the furye of his yre Or halfe conceiue the comfort of his loue Who plagues his foes with an infernall fire And plants his seruants in the heauens aboue Who shakes the heauens and makes the mountains bow If he but once begin to knit the browe And where he loues what will â—e leaue to doo To make the soule acquainted â—ith his kindnes And with what ioy will hee the spirite wooe To shun the woes that grow of wordly blindnes What paine or griefe or death did he refuse To saue their liues that he did sweetly chuse Now for the greatnes of his glorious power Hee is almighty and all glory his Hee made the yeare the month day night and hower The heauens earth sea and what in them there iâ— In him alone doth all their being stand And liue or dye in his almighty hand He spake the word and by his word they were And all was good his secret wisedome did His will did worke his fauour without feare And not a thought is from his knowledge
hyd He knows the hearts and searcheth through the raines And sees the roots euen of the smallest vaines Hee deckt the Skyewith sunne and moone and starres And made the seas to flow vpon the sand Vpon whose shore his hand did set the barres They shall not passe to ouerflowe 〈◊〉 Land Amid the ayre he hath dispearst the Clowdes And onely Man within his mercy shrowds Within the depth the fish their holes do keepe And in the Rocks the Conny makes his house Into the earth the crawling wormes do creepe And hollow rocks are harbours for the mouse The Lion keepes his dâ—n the bird hiâ— nest And man alone doth but in mercie rest Yet these and all are guided by his power Anâ— may not passe the passage he hath giuen them The Sunne his course the Aâ—oone must know her houre Anâ— clouds must wander but where winds haue driuen them Beasts know their times fiâ—nes know their tides And man alone in onely mercie bides To tell of woonders by his wisedome wrought Eâ—â—n from the greatest to the vâ—â—ie least Which time declareâ—â—â—y true experience taught In fâ—h and towle in â—â—rd in man and beast Maâ—e but the power that doth in each abide And how it weaâ—â—â—â—â— their highest pride The Lion first is fearefull of the Bee The Elephant doth dread the little mouse A crowing Cocke the Dragon may â—oâ— see The stowtest Eagle subiect to the lowse The greatest Oxe a little taint worme killeth And many a man a little Canker spilleth Yet is the Lion feared for his forcâ— The Elephant a huge and mightie beast The fiery Dragon killes without remorse And Eagles carrie Lambs vnto their nest The Oxe the taint worme vnder foot doth tread And man sometimes doth kill the cankers head But when thâ—t power 〈◊〉 together pride Then see the strength of 〈◊〉 â—ghtiâ— hand By whose high help the 〈◊〉 thinges are tride To spoile the strength wherein the â—â—â—â—ongest stand That they may know there is a power on hie In whom they liue and at his pleasure die To snew examples of the heauenly might Against the pride of the inferiour power The word of truth doth giue a glorious light Where may be seene in minute of an hower How greatest stayes that on their strengths were grounded With headlong falls were vtterly confounded How Pharaoh first the proud Egyptian King That would not suffer Isräell to passe What plagues and griefes did the almighty bring Vpon the house euâ—n where his lodging was Frogges flyes and lyce did freely make their way Euen to the chamber where proud Pharaoh lay A number plagues the Lord did further threaten His Land was stroken with a darkesome feare His grasse and corne by Grashoppers were eaten The plague destroyed his people euery where And laâ—t himselfe amidst his army crowned Was in a moment in the red Sea drowned Yet through these seas his hand did make the way Where all his seruants went and wet no foote Which prooues his loue was his elected stay While rebell harts were torne vp by the root Which true example to the world may proue The glorious greatnes of his power and loue Goliah boasted greatly of his strength Yet little Dauid kild him with a stone The Madian Hoast was strong but yet at length By Gideons hand the Kings were ouerthrowne By change of tongues fell Babylons high tower And Christ his word did breake the ciuels power Yet in it selfe what weaâ—er is than water Which drownd proud Pharaoh with his mighty host A lowse or flye is of a little matter Yet with such wormes are men tormented most What strength a las is in a little stone Yet so we reade Goliah ouerthrowne Know then from whence this wonder power groweth But from the force of the almightie hand Which to the world his glorious power showeth When with the weake the strongest cannot stand King Dauid wrote and it is truely knowne That power belongeth vnto God alone To proue the prowesle of the heauenly power How many more examples may be showne There is no yeare no day no night nor houre But some such action to the world is knowne That truth may well vnto his glorie speake God is of power and all the world is weake But since the world cannot the bookes containe Wherein his works of wonder may be writ To admiration let his power remaine And say all powers are subiect vnto it And let me of his loue and mercie write Which is the substance of the soules delight This powerfull loue the glorie of all grace When he had wrought the world vnto his will And planted each thing in his proper place And in the course that they continue still Of all the works that he in wonder wrought Made onely man the dearest of his thought For what he made he made but man to serue And man to seruâ—â—â—onely sacred loue And in his loue 〈◊〉 so mans life preserue As may the comfâ—â—â— of his care approue And so approue as 〈◊〉 this sentence giue His onely loue 〈…〉 the soule to liue He loude 〈◊〉 earth 〈…〉 giue it life He louâ—d 〈◊〉 â—ife whe◠〈◊〉 â—is â—â—age gaue it He loued the flesh that made the bone a wife He loued the soule when he from death did saue it He loude him euer yet he loude him most To fetch him home when he him selfe had lost Come Poets yee that fill the world with fansies Whose savning Muses shew but madding sits Which all too soone doo fall into those â—ranzies That are begotten by mistaking wits Lay downe your liues compare your loue with mine And say whose vertue is the true diuine For further tryall let me giue you leaue To add a truth vnto your ydle stoâ—â—â—â— Wherewith so oft you doo the woâ—lâ— deceaue And gayne your selues but ill concâ—â—â—ed gloryes Yet when you see where sweetesâ—â—â—â—hts are showne Looke on my loue and blush to see 〈◊〉 owne With funny beautyes let your lâ—ues be blesâ— The sunne doth fetch his light but from my loue You haue your wonders from the Phoenix nest Mine honour liues but in the heauens aboue Your Muses doo your Ladyes prayses sing The Aungels sing in glory of my King The earth alas from whence your loues receiue Their flowers sweets their Pearses pretious stones To decke themselues with which they doo deceiue The blinded spirits of the simple ones This earth from whence their outward graces spring Is but the footstoole of my heauenly King And if he so hath deckt the earth below Imagine then the glory of his seate Which may perswade where Aungels tremble so For humane eyes the glory is too great For where the sunne the moone and starres haue light For natures eyes the beauty is too bright And who doth liue that euer ye did loue But that ye could theyr fayrest fayre vnfolde And my fayre loue let fayrest truth approue No eye can liue in glory to behold Your clearest beauty is with age declining My loues bright glory is for euer
shining If you be wise thinke where true wisedome liueth And then allow the honour to my loue If yours be kiâ—â—â—â—â—nkâ— who the comfort giueth And know the turky from the turtle doue If constant yours that truth let my loue try Who lost his life to saue his loue thereby And let me see how liueth all your loue But on desert the stay of all your sâ—â—te And in my loue a further life appâ—â—â—e Who loude indeede when he haâ— câ—â—se to hate Your fancies oft for lacke of fauour starue But my loue doth both mine and yours presarue Then truely say whom chiâ—â—e your loues doth choose To cast the counâ—â—nâ—â—ce of theyr fauours on Then who â— againe they wholly doe refuâ—e In liking thought as most to looke vpon Then doo but looke vpon my loue his choyse And whose hart most he maketh to reioyse The wealthy mighty wise and well at ease Doo fit the fansies of your Ladies best But poore and weake and simple soules best please My heauenly loue to harbour in his brest And who the world doth vtterly refuse Those doth my loue vnto his fauour chuse And see what power is in your louing natures To take or giue what ye may gayne or lose And ye shâ—ll see they are buâ— my loues creatures Whose liues are at his pleasure to disposet And while your fauours all doo fade away My sweet loues blessings neuer will decay Could ye conceiue the smallest of the sweete That doth discend from my soules dearest loue Vpon the faith that falleth at his feete That doth in prayer but his mercie proue And you will blot out euery idle line And yeeld your soules vnto this loue of mine Compare a weede vnto a holsome flower A cloudie euening to a sunnie daie A foggie miste vnto an Aprill shower Nouember blaste vnto a bloome of May And you shall easily see the difference plaine Betwixt my sunne shine and your showers of raine Compare meere follie to the finest wit The couâ—lest copper with the purest gold The healthfull bodie with an ague fit And set the youthfull age against the old The Rauens foule note to Philomelaes voice And quicklie say which is the better choice Compare foule pride to faire humilitie A kinde discretion to a dogged nature The clownish race to true gentilitie A blessed Angell to a cursed creature Fauours to frownes and smilings vnto scowleâ— And say the Phoenix makes all birds but owles Compare the earth vnto the heauen on hie The spirites treasures vnto fleshly toves The pâ—bble stone vnto the Azurde Skie The Woes of men vnto the Angels ioycâ— The lowest weaknes vnto the highest powers Then 〈◊〉 the difference twixt my loue and yours And when you see how all sweet blessings grow But from the ground of my loues liuing grace And doe againe the imperfection know Wherein you doe your fond affection place Then all your titles to this truth resigne There is no life but in this loue of mine And giue me leaue to praise my Princely loue Although my wittes are short of such a worth And let my spirite in my passions proue What his high hand in mercie will bring forth And write but truth that may be truely prooued My onely loue all onely to be loued Before all times all thoughts all things he was And â—â—er is and will be aye the â—â—me That doth iâ— wonder wonders wonder passe In truths high triumph of eternall fame Where life and loue in grace and glory crowâ—d Doo sway the Scepter of the heauens renownd Now what he was cannot be comprehended Who in himselfe dâ—th all things comprâ—hend And when that all things shall be wholly ended Himselfe his word his will shall neuer end Whose gratious life all glorious loue bâ—ginning Doth aâ—dâ— all grace and endles glory winning And oâ— his Essence this is all we finde A spirite fully incomprehensible A louing God vnto his seruants kinde And in his humane natuâ—e sensible In wisedomes wonder knowledge quintescence And in that â—sâ—â—nce highest excellence The high Creator of all creatures liuing The sweete Redeemer of his sâ—ruants lost The glorious grace all grace and glory giuing The ioy of ioyes that glads the spirit most The loue of life and liâ—e of loue indeede Gainst death and hell that stands the soule in sâ—eede His seate is heauen the earth his footstoole is His chiefest dwelling with his soules elected His ioy to loue and to be loâ—de of his His fauour life vnto his loues affected His word is truth which doth the spirit try Where fruitfull faith shall liue and neuer dye His blessing is the peace of conscience His comfort mercies contemplation His pretious gift the spirits patience His mercy vertues meditation His grâ—ce the oyle that kills the spirits euill His death the life that did subdue the diuell His garments are the sundrie sortâ—s of graces His tribute is but sinners sâ—crâ—fice His worke tâ—e planting vertues in their places His gaine the loue of humble spirites seruicâ— His musicke Psalmes that angels neuer cease To sing in glorie of the King of peace This King of peace this God of life and lâ—ue Who in him selfe doth all â—â—d onely â—old The highest blessings of the hâ—arts behoue That faithfull truth hath to the spirite tâ—ld This is the substance of my soules dâ—liâ—ht Vnworthie subiect of his worth to write Yet as his mercie will â—ou 〈◊〉 nâ—e grace With intâ—rcesâ—ion of his â—iâ—h â—ssiâ—â—ance Against the power that would my thoughts deface And proâ—â—dly make agâ—iâ—â—â— the soule reâ—iâ—â—aâ—ce I will a little giue his loue a â—uch Whose smallest praise is for my pen too â—uch What loue was that which made him like man best Of all the worke that euer he created What loue againe did in that liâ—ing rest To loue him so he neuer can be hated What loue was more to giue the man a wife What loue was most to die to giue him life The earth within with siluer gems and gold Without with trees and herbs and fruits and flowers The waters deepe where fishes keeps their â—old The â—lements with al their inward powerâ— These hath my loue all made for man to chuse And to his pleasure in his seruice vse The fire was made to kill the chilling cold The water made to slacke the burning heate The subtile ayre a secret bâ—eath to hold The earth too drie when moysture is too great Thâ—sâ— crosse in natures yet doe meete in one Onely to serue the vse oâ— man alone â—aâ—h byrd each beast each fowle and euery fish The flesh of man muâ—t serue to cloath and feede What eye can see or heart of man can wish But some way serues to stand poore men in steede And for that cause their being first began From mâ—râ—ies loue to serue the life of man The light was maâ—e to glad the lightsome eye The sound to please the pure attentiue eare The ayre to drawe a liuing breath thereby The earth the body anâ— the limmes to beare The clowdâ—