Ecclesiastes, othervvise called The preacher Containing Salomons sermons or commentaries (as it may probably be collected) vpon the 49. Psalme of Dauid his father. Compendiously abridged, and also paraphrastically dilated in English poesie, according to the analogie of Scripture, and consent of the most approued writer thereof. Composed by H.L. Gentleman. Whereunto are annexed sundrie sonets of Christian passions heretofore printed, and now corrected and augmented, with other affectionate sonets of a feeling conscience of the same authors.

THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN PASSIONS, containing a hundreth Sonets of medi∣tation, humiliation, and prayer.

PREFACE.

IT is not Lord the sound of many words, The bowed knee or abstinence of man, The filed phrase that eloquence affords, Or Poets pen that heauens do pearce, or can: By heauie cheere, of colour pale and wan, By pined bodie of the Pharisay, A mortall eye repentance oft doth scan, Whose iudgement doth on outward shadows stay, But thou (ô God) doest hearts intent bewray, For from thy sight Lord nothing is conceald, Thou formdst the frame fro out the verie clay, To thee the thoughts of hearts are all reueald, To thee therefore with hart and minde prostrate, With teares I thus deplore my sinfull state.

SONET. I.

HOw should my soule Lord clad in earthly mold, (The prison where it readie is to pine Where vile affections captiue it do hold, And threaten naught, but ruine in the fine) Vnto one thought of hope or helpe incline, Or raise my eyes vnto the heauens bright? How may it Lord take hold on mercies thine, Or presse it selfe in presence of thy sight? Or how canst thou therein at all delight, If mercy be not spokesman in this case, If merit of thy Sonne should not acquite The common guilt of Adams sinfull rase? Which since by faith alone man may attaine, Grant me first grace not faithlesse to ramaine.

SON. II.

FRo out the darknesse of this sea of feare, Where I in whale remaine deuourd of sin, With true remorse of former life I reare My heart to heauen, in hope some helpe to win: I do confesse my fault, who did begin To flie from thee, ô Lord, and leaue vndone Thy seruice, which of right should first haue bin Performd, by which so many should be wonne To praise thy name: but feare alas begunne, To represent to me my iourny long, The dangers of the world my life should runne, Which made me to my soule to offer wrong. But since by show of death thou caldst me backe, Thy gracious helpe at need let me not lacke.

SON. III.

WIthin this arke where in my soule doth dwell, My bodie floting on worldes troubled waue, Which windes of fierce affections cause to swell, And hardly can my power from sinking saue, I crie to thee ô Lord, and comfort craue: Close vp this fountaine of stil flowing sin, Let me by faith againe once footing haue On frutefull earth, and holie life begin; Lighten the burden so vncleane within, Of brutish vices raging in my minde, Let cleane affects the greater partie win, And so increase, that plentie I may finde Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight, Of faith and loue, which are thy soules delight.

SON. IIII.

IN humble wise as fitteth best my state, An abiect wretch deuoyd of all desert, I here approch before thy mercy gate, O Lord of life with broke and contrite hart: I need not to reueale to thee my smart, A lump of sin and shame I am I know, Wounded so deepe with deadly poysned dart Of serpents sting, which did from parents grow, That now my humors so do ouerflow With foule affections of my feeble minde, As presseth downe my eyes on earth so low, As dares not search the heauens, true helpe to finde. Yet since thou hast made known to me my griefe, Guide me by grace to fountaine of reliefe.

SONET. V.

VNto thy princely wedding Lord are bed, Of euerie sort some guests to feast with thee, One that a spouse but late before had wed, One oxen bought, one taken land to fee: They from the banket therefore absent bee, Regarding not thy messengers of grace, In number of the like, Lord hold not mee, But let me haue I craue the offred place: Yet ere that I appeare before thy face, A wedding garment first I must put on, My owne vnrighteous cloathing is too base, And marchandise of merits now are gone, Then since thou cal'st, with faith do thou me cloth, A lame blind begger Lord, do thou not loth.

SON. VI.

IN pride of youth when as vnbridled lust Did force me forth, my follies to bewray, I challenged as patrimony iust, Each vaine affection, leading to decay: And trusting to that treasure, post away I wandred in the worlds alluring sight: Not reason, vertue, shame, or feare could stay, My appetite from tasting each delite, Till want and wearinesse began me bite, And so perforce to father I retire, To whom I prostrate kneele (vnworthie wight) To name of sonne not daring to aspire; Receiue me yet, sweet sauiour, of thy grace, Poore penitent, into a seruants place.

SON. VII.

Lame of my limmes, and sencelesse of my state, Neere fortie yeares Lord haue I groueling line, Before Bethesda poole, yet still too late, To wash me in the fountaine I encline, Whence health wold come, when Angel giues the sine: If any one to aide me readie were, But helplesse thus, I readie am to pine, My selfe vnable duly vp to reare. Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to beare, By the assistance of thy heauenly grace, Let not the force of foule affects me feare, To prease forth first when Christ appeares in place, Who is the fountaine, Angell, and the man, That bath, that blisse, that cure my senses can.

SON. VIII.

THy thundring voice and Angell Lord of long, Hath cald my soule from slumber where it lay, The harmony of heauenly musickes song, Hath made my wandring feete at last to stay: Direct thou me also the readie way Vnto thy church, that in thy holy place Thy word and law I may in heart obay, And worship thee before thy peoples face. Grant me I say, such measure of thy grace, That greedily by faith I swallow vp Thy booke of truth, and so thy word imbrace, That frutefully I taste saluations cup. Thou who doest rule the earth, the sea and land: In my defence, with power and glory stand.

SON. IX.

AMong thy sheepe ô Lord I seemd to feed, By Sacraments receiu'd into thy stocke, By preached word I watred was indeed, And works with fleece did seeme inritch my stocke: But at my doore true faith did neuer knocke, (Which should be shepheard of my soules defence) But (thiefe like) fond affections reason mocke, And by the window of my wilfull sence Do enter to my heart, and steale from thence Each motion of amendment which doth rise, And shepheardlesse of grace, transported hence By Sathan (rau'ning woolfe) in fearefull wise, I call to thee (sweet Sauiour) shepheard true, Teach me to know thy voice and thee insue.

SONET. X.

BEhold ô Lord the Citie thou hast built, Ierusalem this fleshly frame of mine, By sin (Assyrians sword) is almost spilt, And like to yeeld to Rabsake in fine: Yet lo (alas) my soule doth much repine, To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name, To threaten ruine to this temple thine, Since thou art praysd and honord in the same: Thou able art the rage of lust to tame, The force of pride and furie to subdue; Against Senacherib thy Angell came, And all his host in one night ouerthrew: So let thy holie spirit me defend, And to my plaints and praiers comfort send.

SON. XI.

SInce with Goliah I am now to fight, And lacke the slight of holie Dauids sling, Arme thou me Lord with heauenly armor bright, Which power of flesh & world to foile may bring: Thy righteous brest-plate gird on me with truth, Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace, The shield of faith (which firie dartes beare forth, Of wicked Satan, whose assaults not sease) The helmet of saluation, and the sword Of spirit, which is founded on thy law; All these my praiers are, that thou afford, To make me stedfast, spight of lyons claw, Who roaring, daily seekes as wished pray, My silly soule from thee to take away.

SON. XII.

NOw that thou hast prepard me to confesse, Thy seruice Lord the which I vndertake, I thee beseech, my purpose so to blesse, That I a good account to thee may make: A Nazarit I am, who do forsake The delicacies of the worlds delight, Whose thirst thy purest fountaine still shall slake, With faith and truth, the which with sin shall fight: I will not tast the wine of Satans slight, Which doth confound all reason and all sence, My vow shall be to serue thee day and night, And trust in thee shall be my true defence, Till death dissolue this promise made to thee, Whose strength herein thy heauenly graces bee,

SON. XIII.

I Seeeke ô Lord to shew thy powrefull hand, Which hath conuerted this my sinfull hart, Into a rod of strength, which still might stand Strong in thy truth, who powrefull onely art: But Iannes pride, and Iambres lustfull hart, By ••light imposture of slie Satans might, Two Serpents frame, which will not thence d••paert, But seeke against thy powrefull hand to fight. But let my faith their fury put to flight, And vertue thine, deuour these imps of sin, Let not these fleshly frutes appeare in sight Of truth, which only can the conquest win. Let faith shew forth the finger of thy hand, And cleane consume, ech power doth it withstand.

SON. XIIII.

BEhold ô Lord a tree by high way side, Vnfrutefull yet of any food for thee, In high way side as yet I do abide, Where passers to Ierusalem I see: Though sommer grow, I cannot frutefull be, Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine: I do confesse I am a wild fig tree, For want of moisture which am like to pine, Vnto my praiers Lord do thou incline, Remoue me home into thy garden faire, Let me behold the face of thy sunne shine, Which may my withered leaues with life repaire: So maist thou tast a frute of wholesome kinde, And leaue a marke of mercy great behinde.

SON. XV.

VVIthin thy garden Lord I planted was, And watred well with thy most carefull hand, But yet v••frutefull I remaind (alas) And these thy blessings did not vnderstand. In vaine I did employ possessed land, Ten times three yeares thy seruants did replant My stocke, and sought to bend my crooked wand, And did supply ech aide I seem'd to want. At length my frutes which daily grew more scant, Wild thee resolue to haue me weeded out, My foule affections were with folly brant, My roote of faith was shakt with feare and doubt, And lo I pine, sweet Sauiour water me, Paul and Apollos worke, else lost will be.

SON. XVI.

A Wicked Pharisie I long haue bene, Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee, A shamed Lord of my faire clothed sinne, In secret night I seeke thy face to see: That thou art God, thy wo••kes reueale to me, That thou art mine, thy sonne doth me assure, Vouchsafe, that I regenerate may be, And that my praiers pardon may procure. Purge by thy sprite and faith, faire fountaine pure, The senses dull that cannot vnderstand, The heauenly birth which shall in blisse endure, Not subiect vnto Satans sinfull band. And with thy sonne let worlds affections die, My soule from hell, with him ascend on hie.

SON. XVII.

FIue foolish virgins in my senses dwell, And seeke to make me slumber ouer long, They dreame, that all my deeds do fall out well, Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong: To vanities their humors do belong, And sin, who doth their fancie chiefly feed: They cheined are to linkes of lust so strong, That their best foile, brings forth but bitter weed; They lacke the oyle which should be vsde indeed, To lead them to the euerlasting light: It growes not Lord in frute of humane seed, Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night, Vnlesse thou lend thy hand and fill our lampes, Our light goes forth with smothering sinful dāps▪

SON. XVIII.

OVt of the fountaine of eternall life, I poore Samaritan here readie stand, (To sinfull lustan old betrothed wife) With pitcher readie in my trembling hand, To wraw a draught of liquor most diuine, To quench the thirst of my inflamed hart With heauenly deaw: ere that my soule do pine, And quali••ie the rigor of my smart. A Prophet true thou art I vnderstand, Or rather father of all truth thou art, A stranger I from faire Iudaea land, With these thy blessings craue for to impart: Then guide my hand, and teach my soule to tast True faith, the fountaine where all blisse is plast.

SON. XIX.

A Wicked soule sold to all fleshly sin, Lord here I prostrate at thy feete do lie, To gather crummes of grace, soules health to win, Which Lord to giue me do thou not denie: The precious oyle of penitence will I Powre forth with teares, fro out my melting eyes, To bath thy feete, and after will I drie Them with my haires (which balms no treasure bies) Though worldly loue (when he my fact espies) Repine to see my soule so well inclind: To my defence ô Lord vouchsafe to rise, And fructifie this first frute of my minde; Vouchsafe to sup with humble seruant thine, And that of seruice, better choyse be mine.

SON. XX.

A Poore Arabian whom base Agar bare, First borne of flesh, but last of promist grace, Of bastard kind, bred vp with mothers care, In wildernesse of world for a long space: And famishing before my parents face, Whose workes vnable were to lend me aide, A bond man vnto sin as fleshly race, To whom heauens heritage thy lawes denaide: Amidst my wandring course by thee am staide, And haue a promise, not to die but liue; Thy couenant Lord abundantly is paide, If grace (to feed by faith) thou doest me giue: My bondage thus release, make thou me free, My barren branch shall so bring frute for thee.

SON. XXI.

A Marchant I, full long abroad haue straide, By sea and land true happinesse to gaine, The riches of the earth my eyes haue waide, And see their profit to be light and vaine: Such trifling trash my soule doth now disdaine, And Iewels of more value I espye, Among the rest, one doth all other staine, Which with my wealth I wish that I might buye. But this rare pearle is of a price so hie, As all the earth cannot esteeme the same, Much lesse to purchase it, can it come nie, Yet doth the loue thereof my heart enflame: Be thou the pledge (sweet Sauior) then for me, That heauenly blisse shall so my riches be.

SON. XXII.

AMong the prease of many that draw neare, Vnto the feast of grace in Temple thine, I silly widow also doe appeare, With humble heart ô Lord, who here encline, And vnto thee a mite for offering mine, Present as precious, to my poore estate, For heards or flocks for store of corne and wine, Without obedience Lord thou aye didst hate, But broken hearts and soules which lye prostrate Before thy throne of grace, and mercy craue, Do mercie finde, though it be nere so late, Thy promise hereof vs assurance gaue, In trust whereof, obaying thy behest, My praiers to thy praise, ô Lord are prest,

SON. XXIII.

INto thy vineyard Lord (vnworthie) I Desire to come, to trauell out the day, Thou calledst me thereto, and didst espie Me loytring idle, by the worlds high way: At first to come my follies did me stay, Whom cold and hunger now to worke compell, Though halfe my daies be spent, say me not nay, The other halfe to trie, employed well. I do not hope my paines so deare to sell, As they that beare the brunt of heat of day, They merit most whose trauels most excell, My slender seruice craues but single pay. But (if thy bountie giue,) behold me prest, With thanks thy grace to taste, amongst the rest.

SON. XXIIII.

AS thou art pure and iust in all thy waies, (O Lord) so should thy offrings also bee: The tongue vncleane, cannot set forth thy praise, The wanton eye may not thy secrets see: The lame of faith, the blind of skill not hee, That thou alotst thy sacrifice to slay; The heart that is found cleane in each degree, Is fittest for thy church, wherein to stay, Such is no flesh, ô Lord, the truth to say, But as thou pleasest them to purifie, By faith and by repentance euerie day, Who then with Christ, may boldly thee come nie, Behold me then, thus thy adopted chyld, Let me not from thy temple be exyld.

SON. XXV.

I Follow thee ô Lord but far behinde, As Peter did, when he did see thee led To prison, where the traitors did thee binde, Amazed much with worldly feare and dred: When as I saw the world all ouer spred With hatred and disdaine vnto the iust, My courage it was quayld, and quickly fled, And had no liking to thy helpe to trust. But Lord I know perforce I forward must, If I intend to gaine the crowne I craue, I must abandon flesh and fleshly lust, And in thy promise all my hope must haue. Grant thou me boldnesse then and constant will, To perseuere in thy obedience still.

SON. XXVI.

OF parents first, two brothers borne that were, The bodie and the soule did represent, The elder Cain, who Henocks wals did reare, The yonger Abell dwelt in silly tent: First man with plough the virgins soile he rent, The other seru'd and shoare the silly sheepe: To worldly lustes of flesh the one was bent, Thy heauenly lawes the other sought to keepe. A deadly discord twixt them so did creepe, The elder did the guiltlesse yonger slay; That ancient hatred grounded is so deepe, It striues in me (alas) vnto this day. Accept my sacrifice, Lord me defend, My powres vnto thy holie pleasure bend.

SON. XXVII.

LIke pined chyld ô Lord from nurses brest, Whom churlish stepdame ouer soone doth waine, By wicked will alas I am opprest, And crie to cruell flesh behold in vaine: Who lets me languishing in sin remaine, And sends no comfort to support my need, My faults I know, I do confesse them plaine, That folly doth my weake affections feed: I see my ruine neare at hand in deed, And cannot call for aide whose tong is dum, My feete so feeble cannot helpe at need, Although I see at hand thy vengeance come, Vnlesse thou giue me grace to see and feare, To pray in faith, and thou thy hand forbeare.

SON. XXVIII.

POlluted with the curelesse leprosie Of sin, which is heriditarie now, So lothsome growne, that I dare not come nie Thy holy temple, where my heart doth bow: I craue ô Lord, it please thee to allow The high Priest Christ thy sonne to view my sore, Whose holyhand may guide and teach me how To cure this griefe it may returne no more. I know ô Lord, thou hast of mercy store, And onely thou doest pitie mans estate, Which though my stubburne heart refusde before, Repentance yet and faith coms not too late, Whose sparrowes of repentance I present An offering here through worldly desert sent.

SON. XXIX.

A Virgine pure ô Lord by birth I was, The daughter of thy church adopt by grace: But lothsome lust (foule fiend) did me alas Pursue, and sought with me his dwelling place. As many vertues as did seeke my grace, By weddings band to me to be vnight, So many did this fiend, first night deface, So oft I was depriu'd of my delight. Seuen times a widow I with shame and spight Am left, and liue now hopelesse of redresse: Till thou with Raphaell send that medicine bright, Of God to giue me grace, to sinne suppresse. Thy sonne thus made, my spouse shall soone restore Tobias sight, wealth comfort, lost before.

SON. XXX.

OF sinfull race of mans licentious seed, Whilst heauenly ofspring with faire humane kinde, Do ioyne affects, where wicked lusts do breed, And so pollute the frutes of vertuous minde, A bastard brood my selfe alas I finde, Whose nature doth in tryannie consist, Of grace and reason growne so dull and blinde, That I in wrong with stubburnesse persist: Who seeing father Nature ere he wist, A sleepe with so••tish wine of worldly loue, To hide his shame by wisdome had no list, Which iustly curse of God on me did moue. A slaue to sin, therefore I did pursue (Like Nymrod) grace of God, which now Irue.

SON. XXXI.

AS oft as thou by grace wouldst drawe me backe From sin, whereto I am by nature thrall, So oft alas I finde my will to lacke, And power to follow thee when thou doest call, From sin to sin, I headlong thus do fall, And quench repentance by a peruerse will, I see my fall, but haue no feare at all, And to my vomit dog-like turne I still. My frailtie doth thy wrathfull cup fulfill, With flowing measure of reuenge and wo: When I returne a litle backe from ill, To wallow in the myre againe I go. No powre is in me Lord my life to mend, Vnlesse thy hand from heau'n me comfort send.

SON. XXXII.

FAine would I fence this feeble flesh of mine, From Satans furie, who me thus assailes, Which doth besiege my soule, and meanes to pine My conscience, which my sin so sore bewailes, His busie braine to win me neuer failes, And leaues no stratagem at all vntride: My fainting hope I know not what it ailes, But it doth feare the batt'ry to abide. The safest way must be (what ere betide) To set a watch to looke vnto my waies: Lest pride, or lust, or wrath do let him slide Into my hart, which yet vnyeelded staies: But like a theefe he stealeth me vpon, Watch thou me (Lord) ech houre: else I am gon.

SON. XXXIII.

MY sinnes behold (ô Lord) are manifold, VVhich do incamp my soule each houre about, Still me intrenched with distrust they hold, So that no frutes of faith can issue out: Their fleshly champion is a soldiar stout, VVho is assist by world and Satans aide, And foule affections readie are in rout, To further force to lust, but hardly staide. The earthly treasures haue with pleasure paide, The hatefull Army which doth hast to hell: My natiue powre their passage not denaide VVhich makes their pride and peruerse wil to swel. I see no way to helpe to shun decaie, But on thy graces rescue Lord to staie.

SON. XXXIIII.

THe greedinesse of this my corrupt minde, VVhich tasteth not but of the earthly gaine, And in thy glorie can no profit finde, But seekes with symonie my soule to staine: Makes me (alas) for carnall treasor vaine, Like Elizeus seruant to desire, A present of worldes pleasure mixt with paine, As recompence of heauenly comforts hire. I sorcerer like do also oft require, (Like marchandise) thy graces for to buye, Supposing morall vertues may aspire, To saue my soule, and sin to mortifie. But lo I see soules leprosie herein, And craue that praiers may my pardon win.

SON. XXXV.

VOyd of true life, and buried in the graue Of wicked flesh (alas) I long haue bin, No earthly comfort can my conscience haue, VVhich was corrupted with all lothsome sin. My sister (vertues) to despaire begin, Of euer seeing once my lifes restore, Ne is there any other way to win True life indeed, which shall decay no more, But prostrate Lord thy helpe for to implore, And craue thy gracious presence at the last, To aide the soule thy sonne hath lou'd before, For time of grace with thee is neuer past. Roll backe hard stone from heart, bid him arise, VVho slaue to sin, in earthly coffin lies.

SON XXXVI.

MY bodie (Lord) the house which hath bene long Possest with spirits, to ruine of the same, VVhich forst me forward, vnto open wrong Of conscience, by defacing of thy name, Hath found some comfort, since thy message came Vnto my soule, which in thy word was sent, VVhose powerfull truth hath bound, & seeks to tame The furious lust which to my ruine bent. Grant Lord from heart I may indeed repent, And therewith chase these fiends fro out of me, Sweep cleane my house, fro out of which they went, And garnished with graces let it be: Let puissant faith henceforth possesse the place, Lest sin returne with legions of disgrace.

SON. XXXVII.

AMidst this famine of Sarepta soile, Where I a widow dwell, poore and abiect, Compeld by sin, with sweat of browes to toile, To gather stickes, from cold me to protect: Behold me Lord, a caitiue thus neglect, Whom sin hath banished thy blessed land: Who yet in heart thy Prophers do affect, And with thy church to life and death wold stand. I offer all my treasures here in hand, That litle sparke of grace yet left behinde, Increase it Lord, vnto a great fire-brand Of faith which may a frutefull haruest finde. My meale and Oyle, ô Lord do thou increase, My selfe & sonne, shall praise thee so in pease.

SON. XXXVIII.

BOrne blinde I was, through sinfull Adams fall, And neuer since could see with carnall eyes: Ne know I where or how for helpe to call, From out of sin to holie life to rise. It pleased thee (ô Lord) that in this wise, Thy powre and glorie might to man appeare, Who gracelesse groueling in earths darknesse lies, And wants the eyes of faith his soule to cheare: But since thou sentst thy sonne my Sauiour deare, To shine in light to those in darknesse weare: To dym the worldly wisdome seeming cleare, And sinfull soules frō hell to heauen to reare. Touch thou my eyes with faith, wash me with grace, In Sylo poole (thy word) which I embrace.

SON. XXXIX.

HOw drunken are my humors all alasse, With wine of vanitie and sensuall lust, Which from one sin do to an other passe, And after euill daily more do thrust. Of force my faults (for shame) confesse I must; My lauish vsage of thy graces sent, My soules consent to action so vniust, As death of Prophets teaching to repent: Like Herod I about the matter went, To please the follies of my flesh delight: Incest'ous I, to sin so much was bent, That offred mercie, pleased not my sight: But Lord prepare my heart to see my sin, That sorrow may, a way to mends bigin.

SON. XL.

THough with thy Saints ô Lord I choise haue made, To spend my daies in praising of thy name, And in the studie of thy word to wade, To feed my faith with portion of the same: Yet can I not my choice so rightly frame, A••midst the spacious fields where truth doth grow, But whilst to gather healthfull herbe I came, A bitter bud I found of fearefull show Which threatneth me with death and ouerthrow, Vnto my soule, which feedeth greedely On sin, the weed which Satan did bestow: By poisoned tast thereof I pined lie, But Christ thy sonne by faith me helth shall bring, Discharge the law, and bruse this deadly sting.

SON. XLI.

ACcording to the promise of thy word, To giue the victorie (ô Lord) to those That fight thy battels with a faithfull sword, Against the world, flesh, diuell and thy foes: I seeke ô Lord proud Iericho t'inclose, Incouragde by thy graces from aboue, My shooes of foule affects I pray thee lose, Before on holy earth my path I moue; Thy powerfull hand by prayers let me proue, Which daily seu'n times I to thee direct: Shake thou the walles of sin for my behoue, And in this skirmish do thou me protect: The frutes of flesh, pride, lust, and error all So shall be wract, and sin not raise a wall.

SON. XLII.

AMidst the graues of death this many a yeare, My soule (possessed with all sorts of sin) Hath liu'd, and held that frutefull place so deare, That from the same no counsell could me win: To beate my selfe my follies neuer lin, No reason can with chaines binde so my will, But to vnlose my lust I do begin, With helpe of furious fiend, who aides me still, But since thy sonne appeareth me vntill, I craue I may no more tormented bee, Lest that my soule eternally he kill, But from the force of Satan make me free; These brutish sinnes in swine more fit to dwell, Drowne in repentant seas, of teares which swell.

SON. XLIII.

IN deadly sleepe ô Lord sin hath me cast, Wherein secure I lye, and so remaine, Raise me ô Lord out of this dreame at last, And let me sight and light of heauen attaine: The heauie humors which my iudgment staine, And dazell so the reason of my minde, Grant that they may their proper vse attaine, And comfort in thy grace and promise finde. All fleshly wisedome of it selfe is blinde, Till thou by knowledge cleare their wandring sight: Out of the snare of sin flesh cannot winde, Vnlesse by faith they see thy Sonne so bright, Him let me still, both see and eke admire, And thee in him, ô Lord I thee desire.

SON XLIIII.

MY wicked flesh, ô Lord with sin full fraight, Whose eye doth lust for euerie earthly thing, By couetise allurde hath bit the baight, That me to Satans seruitude will bring. By violence I vertues right would wring, Out of possession of the soule so weake, Like vineyard which the wicked Achab king Possest by tyrants power, which lawes do breake: Let Prophets thine (Lord) to my soule so speake, That in repentant sackcloth I may mone, The murther of thy grace, which I did wreake, Whilst to my natiue strength I trust alone; And let my Sauiour so prolong my daies, That henceforth I may turne from sinfull waies.

SON. XLV.

IF thou vouchsafdst Lord of thy goodnesse rare, To sanctifie with holie presence thine, The Cana marriage, where thou didst not spare, First miracle of water turnd to wine, Then be thou present at this wedding mine, Which twixt thy Church and me by faith is ment: To see the want in me thy eyes encline, (Whose wine of grace by wanton youth is spent) But (being toucht with view thereof) repent, And craue that water of earthes healthles well, May issue forth from heart with sorrow rent, And turnd to wine, may so with grace excell, That all that see and tast this change in me, May grant this worke, of thee alone to be.

SON. XLVI.

SInce it hath pleased thee (ô Lord) to send, Now in my barren age of hope and grace, Repentant childe from ruine to defend, My name and soule to liue before thy face, Thy blessings I do thankfully embrace, And in thy feare will frame his tender yeare, The worlds regard in me shall haue no place, If once thy word and will my heart do heare. And when thou calst, we both will then appeare, Before thy Aulter in Moriath land, To offer vp thy gift my sonne so deare, Obedient childe to faithfull fathers hand: Which sacrifice (not worthie gift for thee,) With Christ my Sauiors suffrings quit let bee.

SON. XLVII.

OF euerie creature vncleane to fore, Whereof thy holy people might not tast, Thou didst present •• Lord to Peter store, Which were from heauen in sheet before him plast. Which he at first refusde with mind most chast, Not touching things polluted or defilde: But afterward thy counsell he embrast, And saw himselfe had bene before beguilde, To thinke all sinners were for aye exilde From presence of thy mercies, which abound, Whom oft thou doest receiue as father milde, If faith in Christ thy sonne in them be found. By praiers faith, by faith, thy grace doth grow, Cornelius blessing (Lord) on me bestow.

SON. XLVIII.

HOw hard it is (ô Lord) for man to frame His minde (corrupt) to be preparde for thee, With tongue vncleane to praise thy holie name, With fleshly eies thy glorie for to see: Homeward I bring thy blessings vnto me, And make my soule their dwelling place to rest: But so forgetfull of thy lawes we be, That this my action Lord I see not blest, Pride and contempt the waies haue so opprest, That danger is the carriage ouerthrow: Grant that thy grace, to staie it may be prest, That so my soule thy sauing health may know, For to my flesh vnsanctified to trust, Were aie to hasten death by iudgement iust.

SON. XLIX.

MY traitrous heart which long time hath rebeld, Against thy spirit, which should feed me still, A secret counsell in it selfe hath held, To contrarie thy knowne reuealed will: Whose mutinie my sences so do fill With deeds repining to thy holie law, That raging pride and lust lead me to ill, Forgetting tokens of thy wrath they saw; As Dathan and Abyram had no awe Of Moyses and of Aron thine elect, But sought a way thy people how to drawe, And Prophets thine by pride for to reiect: So doth my soule alas thy grace resist, And in the follies of the flesh persist.

SON. L.

A Tenant most vntrue ô Lord to thee, In vineyard of my bodie haue I bin: To craue thy rent thy seruants came to me, But nothing but intreatie bad they win: My trauell therein was to nourish sin, And wast the wine of thy abounding plant; The more to call me backe thou didst begin, The more to thee my gratitude did want. Ne would my lacke of grace let me recant, When thou thy onely Sonne to me didst send, For sin and Satan did me so supplant, That to his ruine I did also bend: But Lord me lend In time repentant hart, That from this vineyard I may not depart.

SON. LI.

WHilst in the garden of this earthly soile, My selfe to solace and to bath I bend, And fain wold quench sins heat, which seems to boile Amidst my secret thoughts, which shadow lend: My sence and reason which should me defend, As iudges chosen to the common weale, Allur'd by lust, my ruine do pretend, By force of sin, which shamelesse they reueale. They secretly on my affections steale, When modestie (my maides) I sent away, To whom for helpe I thought I might appeale, But grace yet strengthens me to say them nay; Yet they accuse me Lord, and die I shall, If Christ my Daniell be not iudge of all.

SON. LII.

I Iustly am accusde, and now am brought By law and gilt of conscience (I confesse) Before thy throne, conuict by deed and thought, Of sinfull lust which did me so possesse, That quickning graces thine I did suppresse By fading loue of world procliue to ill, Whose dome eternall death and nothing lesse, My soule doth see, to threaten to me still. But since that frailtie so the world doth fill, That no one fleshly wight thereof is free, For mercy Lord to thee repaire I will, Who seest the hart, and canst best comfort me: Quit me from death, grant I may fall no more, But remnant of my daies thy grace implore.

SON. LIII.

A Husbandman within thy Church by grace I am ô Lord, and labour at the plough, My hand holds fast, ne will I turne my face From following thee, although the soile be rough: The loue of world doth make it seeme more tough, And burning lust doth scorch in heat of day: Till fainting faith would seeke delightfull bough, To shade my soule from danger of decay. But yet (in hope of grace from thee) I stay, And do not yeeld, although my courage quaile; To rescue me be'prest, I do thee pray, If sinfull death do seeke me to assaile. Let me runne forth my race vnto the end, Which (by thy helpe ô Lord) I do intend.

SON. LIIII.

ABase borne sonne to sin by kinde I am, From natiue soile by want of grace exilde, Of idle fances captaine I became: Whilst I in Tob, my resting place did bilde, With worldly vanities I was defilde, Till home thou caldst me by thy heauenly word: Who (trusting to my selfe) was soone beguilde, When I sought workes to be a conquering sword, Whose vowes did seeme a present to afford, Of frute of victorie at my returne: Which rashnesse hath a mischiefe great incurd, Compelling me my owne deserts to burne. And now I mourne, and better frute do craue, The blessing of thy sonne Lord let me haue.

SON. LV.

WHen thou vouchsafedst (Lord) to raise my state, From base degree of common humane kinde, And gau'st me knowledge, and a will to hate Each wickednesse contrarie to thy minde, By promise thou didst me most strictly binde, To slaye each wicked seed which doth possesse, My sinfull flesh (Amalekite most blinde) Which vertue and thy grace seekes to suppresse, But wretched I alas I do confesse, Haue kept a part of that accursed spoile Vndaunted, which thou seest nere the lesse, And therefore wilt accurse my sinfull soile, And take from me the kingdome thou didst giue, Except thy mercy do my soule relieue.

SON. LVI.

THe onelie daughter Lord of my delight, (Dina the vertue of my iudgment best,) Is rauished alas by Satans might, Whil'st I secure in Hiuits countrie rest, In worldlie vanities a wandring guest, Amongst the wicked I remainde a while, Where (sillie) she, by foolish will addrest, Gazde on those godlesse youths which her beguile: For lustfull Sichem sonne to sin most vile, Did lay a traine of loue, which led to shame: Whose flattering speech did modestie exile, And left a spot of guilt and foule defame. But faith & zeale (the first frutes of my strength) By grace shall venge my honour iust at length.

SON. LVII.

THe silly babes (the motions of the minde,) Which natiue vertue seeketh forth to bring, Concupiscence (the midwife most vnkinde) To deadly sin and Satan straight doth fling: The mothers power suffiseth not to wring, Out of this tyrants hands her dying childe, Her mone to see, it is a piteous thing, When reasons lawes so lewdly are defilde. But if thy fauour Lord be reconcilde, By loue vnto thy sonne, by him to mee: Then though my hope of grace be neare exilde, Yet thou a childe Of faith wilt let me see. A coffin Lord of comfort for me make, Where safe I may swim in the words wilde lake.

SON. LVIII.

VVHere shall I build ô Lord a quiet rest, To bring forth birds of turtle Pigeons kinde? My wearied wings do wander without rest, And cannot gaine a harbour to my minde. The Swallow Lord a setling place doth finde, Within thy temple, free from Eagles claw, Not moued with tempestuous stormes of winde, Or dangers, which their kind doth stand in awe: A place as fit for me, my faith once saw, VVheras my soule might safely be inclosd, Thy Church inuisible, to which I draw, My life retirde, therein to be reposd. Make frutefull Lord my barren heart therein, Shield me from storme of still assailing sin.

SON. LIX.

VVHilst in the vale of carnall sense I dwell, (Foule Sodome sinke of sin and badge of shame) Of whose polluted nature I do smell, And aptly bend my selfe to them to frame: Sent by thy mercie Lord, thy Angels came, And did vouchsafe, a harbor to accept Within my soule, which did professe thy name; But Satan who a watch on me had kept, When as these guests within my conscience slept, Inuironed with lust my harbor weake, For sorrow of this sin my soule it wept, Whilst violently my bodies bands they breake. But strike thou blinde their fury, them expell, Take me Lord from the flame of burning hell.

SON. LX.

MY bodie Lord infected long with sin, Whose running issue is almost past cure, Which helpe my humane phisicke cannot win, And without comfort cannot long endure, By viewing mercies thine becommeth sure, If but thy gracious hem, my hand may reach, That loue in Christ my pardon shall procure, And reunite in strength healths former breach. Through presse of worldly lets, faith shall me teach, To seeke my safetie in thy promise true, Vouchsafe thou eke repentance so to preach, That (I no more offending) health insue Thy vertue Lord, (which bidding me be cleane) To yeeld me health of soule is readie meane.

SON. LXI.

NOw that I see ô Lord my open shame, Conuict of sin and voyd of clothing pure, Which couer might my soule which naked came Of grace, and me from storme of world assure: I do mistrust my selfe long to endure, The heat and cold, which feare and frailtie bring, And clothing of my owne workes to procure, I finde in deed to be a frutelesse thing; To hide my selfe vnder thy mercies wing, I therefore hasten now, in hope of grace: Grant I beseech, the world no more me wring, Out of thy hands, but let me see thy face, With faith and comfort, clothed by thy hand, And Christ thy Sonne in my defence to stand.

SON. LXII.

VVHilst that the chosen chieftaines of thy word, Do bend their power, by preaching to subdue The fleshly Canaan, and put sin to sword, And giue the soule to be possest a new With righteous Israel, vnto whom of due, Those earthly blessings rather do pertaine: They send two spies my secret thoughts to vew, The law and Gospell, which discouer plaine, My fainting force, in feare for to remaine Where yet repentant Rahab readie is To lodge them safe, whilst Satan seekes in vaine, To slaie these messengers of heauenly blis: I craue therefore sweet Sauiour for a sine, Faith bearing frutes, as pledge of safetie mine.

SON. LXIII.

HOw oft ô Lord with more then tender care, Hast thou by Prophets cald me to repent? How great thy loue by sonne, which didst not spare, To staie me backe from hell, whereto I went? Who to that end from heauen to earth was sent, Whose graces daily preached offred peace, And sought to stop my course to ruine bent, And me from guilt of death for to release: Like as the henne, whose voice doth neuer cease, To clocke her tender chickens vnder wings, When furious foules on silly pray do prease, And would deuour (alas) the helplesse things. Such Lord thy care I feele, and loue of me, That thrall to Satan wouldst not haue me be.

SON. LXIIII.

VVHilst with the wholesome food of heauēly truth, (The Manna which thy written word doth giue) Thou soughtst ô Lord to feed my wandring youth, That it in plenteous peace by grace might liue, By lust lo Satan sought my soule to driue, To breake obedient bands vnto thy law, Which my offences (I protest) do griue My helplesse heart, the which delight did draw: The memory of Egypts store I saw, Of vanities (which carnall senses feed,) Made me to wish, to fill againe my maw With dishes such as to destruction lead: Wherfore inwrath with quailes thou cloidst me so, That plagu'd with sin, my error now I know.

SON. LXV.

SInce thou hast raysd my poore abiected spright, From threshing floore, where captiue I did stand, And callest me thy battels for to fight, Gainst sin (the Madianite which wasts thy land) Giue me a token by thy mightie hand, (O Lord) whereby my faith may be assurde, And be to me a pledge of former band, That victorie by me shall be procurde: Let heauenly deaw by prayer be allurde, To moysten this my freewill fleece of wooll, Then dry the d••regs thereof to sin inurde, Whose heauy waight makes grace and vertue dull; And offring mine (of prayers to thy name) Accept, and with a holy zeale inflame.

SON. LXVI.

WHilst that in wealth and ease I did possesse The Empire of thy many blessings sent, I tooke in hand pure vertue to suppresse, And pride with lust my powres they wholly bent, To conquere reason, which thy grace had lent, And quite forgetting worlds late floud for sin To build a tower of trust, wherein I spent The strength of flesh & bloud, high heauen to win: As though in natures strength the force had bin, To shield themselues from floud or heauenly fire; But now confusion iust my soule is in, Makes labouring flesh from folly such retire, And craues alone within thy Church to dwell, Whose wals of faith & truth may death expell.

SON. LXVII.

THe Temple Lord of this my bodie base, Where thou vouchsafdst to place my soule to dwell; And promisedst to make thy chosen place, Whence sacrifice of praises thou wouldst smell, Behold against thy lawes doth now rebell, By worldly vanities thereto allurde, Where couetise and pride their packe doth sell At such a price, as flesh and sin affoord: But since ô Lord thy promise hath assurde My soule, that thou art alwaies prest to heare The plaints of penitents, which hath procurde Thy Sonne himselfe in temple this t'appeare, Whip forth, fling down, this worldly wicked pack, Fro out my soule, repell thou Satan back.

SON. LXVIII.

WIthin thy house this bodie base of mine, It pleased thee ô Lord my soule to plant, A steward of the gifts the which were thine, And nature fild with measure nothing scant, Of bodie or of mind, no blessings want, And fortunes fauours sharde with me no lesse, In such proportion Lord I needs must grant, As thou doest giue, when thou doest vse to blesse: But wantonly I wested, I confesse, Thy treasure put into my hands of trust, And now alas (though late) I seeke redresse, Wise steward-like to liue, when dye I must: I cast my count, by Christ, my debt to pay, And frutes of faith from hell my soule shall stay.

SON. LXIX.

NOw that it pleaseth thee Lord of thy grace, To plucke me forth of sinfull Sodoms lake, Where I haue dwelt alas this life long space, Since I of holie Abram leaue did take; Vouchsafe I pray thee for thy mercies sake, To graunt thy Church be refuge for my life, The Zoar where I may my dwelling make, Safe from reuenging Angels bloudie knife; And though the frailtie of Lots lingring wife Looke back, with loue, on sinfull worlds delight, (Which common weaknesse to all flesh is rife) Yet keepe me constant by thy heauenly might, And let me not grow drunke with blessings thine, To procreate sin on lustfull daughters mine.

SON. LXX.

WHilst in this worldly wildernesse about, For want of faith I backe am forst to go, (Affraid of sinnes which Giant-like are stout, And foule affections, which like cruell foe Of Esawes race, their might and powre bestow, To stop my passage to the promist land) I gin to faint, and to repine also, Against the powre of thy most mightie hand, For which the Serpent Satan now doth stand In readinesse, my silly soule to sting, And close me vp in deaths eternall band, Vnlesse to me thy mercie succour bring. That brasen Serpent Christ nayld on the tree, Whose sight by faith alone is cure to mee.

SON. LXXI.

WHat am I else Lord but a sinfull wretch, In sin and in iniquitie begot, In conscience guiltie of the common breach, Of euerie law, that may my honor spot. Thy blessings giu'n me, I regarded not: Thy threatned iudgments I did not esteeme, My vowes to thee I almost had forgot, My sinnes no sinnes to hardned heart do seeme; Like to my selfe I did thy power deeme, Because thou didst forbeare thy rod a while, I sought by Idols ayd to heauen to clime, Whilst worlds delight my sences did beguile: But helplesse now, alas I turne to thee, To stay my race, let grace Lord succour mee.

SON. LXXII.

THou formedst me at first out of the clay, Vnto the image of thy glorious frame, (O Lord of might) thou shewdst to me the way, To magnifie thy pure and holie name: Like Potters vessell first my modell came, Out of a rude vnformed lumpe of earth, To holy vse it pleasd thee me reclaime, Before my life tooke vse of carnall breath; Thou fedst me in the common humane dearth Of knowledge of thy will, with such a tast Of pleasing frute, as fild my soule with mirth, And readie makes me now, no more to wast Thy offred mercies, which so blesse in me, Of glorie that I may a vessell be.

SON. LXXIII.

A Seruant Lord euen from my day of byrth, I vowed was by parents vnto thee, A Nazarit I liued on the earth, And kept thy vowes as grace did strengthen mee, Till Satan made me worlds deceipt to see, And trapt my senses with forbiden lust, As Eue did tast of the restrained tree, So fond affections did me forward thrust, A sinfull Philistine (of faith vniust) To like, to loue, to craue, to wed, to wife, Thy grace my strength to her reueale I must, Till she to Satan sell my slumbring life: A prisoner I, thus scornd and voyd of sight, Sinnes house to ouerthrow, craue heauēly might.

SON. LXXIIII.

WHilst in the plentie of thy blessings sent, I sought to solace Lord my selfe secure, And gazing on worlds beautie long I went, (In pridefull tower which did prospect procure) I saw the baytes of sin, which did allure My idle thoughts to follow wicked lust, My kindled passions could not long endure, But vnto furious flames breake forth they must, I did pollute my soule, by fraude vniust, And reft thy grace from his true wedded wife, And that I might away all mendment thrust, I did bereaue my knowledge of this life: Whose bastard frutes slaie Lord, but let her liue, That penitent we may thee prayses giue.

SON. LXXV.

A Seruant sold to sin ô Lord I am, Whom Satan (Syrian proud) doth sore assaile, Nine hundted Chariors of desire there came, Armed with lust, which sought for to preuaile And to subdue by strength they cannot faile, Vnlesse thou raise my fainting strength by grace, Let constant faith the flying furie naile To ground, where groueling is his resting place: Then shall my soule with Debora imbrace, In thankfull wise thy mercies I receiue, And so pursue the fleshly Canaans race, Till I the furie of the same bereaue. And with my song thy seruants shall accord, To yeeld due praise to thee the liuing Lord.

SON. LXXVI.

MY soule like silly Ioseph Lord was sold, By fleshly brethren his, (vnkind alas,) To vanities (the merchants) which behold From far they saw to Egipt, which do passe. A seruant vnto Ismaels seed it was, And sold from sin to death, and so to hell, Of humane frailtie Lord a looking glasse, In which all foule affections long did dwell, Yet lo alas when sin seekes most t' excell, And haue my mind consent to traitrous lust, With grace ô Lord, that enemy repell, And heare my praiers, who in thee do trust; Who though a space in bodies prison staies, Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heauen to raise.

SON. XXVII.

SO blinde ô Lord haue my affections bin, And so deceitfull hath bin Satans slight, That to giue credit I did first begin, To pride, and lust, as heauenly powers of might: I offred all my sences with delight, A sacrifice to feed those Idols vaine, Of all the presents proffred day and night, Nought vnconsumde I saw there did remaine; Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plaine The falshood, by the which I was deceiued, How Satans kingdome made here of a gaine, And wickednesse my hope and faith bereaued; But now the sifted ashes of thy word, Bewraies Bels Prists: slaies dragon without sword.

SON. LXXVIII.

A Wicked theefe that oft haue robd and slaine, Thy graces of their frute, my selfe of blisse, Now on the crosse of conscience I remaine, To die the death the which eternall is: I see no way to quit my selfe of this, Vnlesse thou Lord whose kingdome is aboue, Remember me, and cansell life amisse Out of thy memorie, through Christ thy loue: Who in my flesh with me like death did proue, That guiltlesse he, might guilties ransome bee, Loue to my soule it was, that did him moue, The bands of death to bide to make vs free: Blesse thou my tong, increase thou faith in mee, This night to be in paradise with thee.

SON. LXXIX.

IN bondage long to Satan haue I bin, A maker of the bricke of Babell towre, By birth, a thrall to grosse and filthie sin, Whom lusts taskmasters doth attend ech houre, Affection to the flesh doth cleane defloure The memorie and loue of promist lands: The fiend (euen Pharo) seeketh to deuoure My soule, and chaine me to his dreadfulll bands: But Lord receiue me safe into thy hands, Protect me from the rigor of his might, Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands, In my defence giue me true faith to fight: Send Moyses Lord, with powre of heauenly sword, And Aaron to direct me by thy word.

SON. LXXX.

A Moabit I was of cursed kinde, Vnkinde vnto thy Church Lord, and to thee, Who sought by ayde of foolish Balaam blinde, To captiuate the soule that should be free, Incestuous frutes of that high climing tree, Which doth subdue all reason and all grace, A carnall kinsman by a neare degree Vnto the soule, the which I haue in chase. Whom I with lothsome sin sought to deface, And bastardise with carnall fond affect, Whose ofspring thou vnto the tenth mans race, Didst once out of thy sanctuary reiect. Yet now by faith made free of Iury land, A suter here before thy throne do stand.

SON. LXXXI.

LO how I groueling vnder burden lie, Of sin, of shame, of feare Lord of thy sight, My guilt so manifold dare not come nie Thy throne of mercy, mirror of thy might: With hidden and with ignorant sinnes I fight, Dispairing and presumptuous faults also, All fleshly frailtie on my backe doth light, Originall and actuall with me go. Against a streame of lusts my will would roe To gaine the shoare of grace, the port of peace, But flouds of foule affections ouerfloe, And sinke I must, I see now no release: Vnlesse my Sauior deare this burden take, And faith a ship of safetie for me make.

SON. LXXXII.

FRom Iuda wandring Lord to Iericho, From holie law of thine to carnall lust, Whilst midst the prease of lewd affects I go, I robbed am, of rayment pure and iust And wounded lye Lord groueling in the dust, Not any passer by can giue me aide, In fleshly strength, or friendship is no trust, By highway seene, to helpe me few haue staide: But since my Sauior Christ on crosse hath paide A ransome rich to cure my bleeding sore, By faith to craue the frutes I'am not affraide, In hope my health thereby for to restore: Bind vp my wounds with balme, leade me to rest, Giue me such gifts of grace as like thee best.

SON. LXXXIII.

THis slender Citie (Lord) of strength behold, Wherein I dwell, Bethulia my bower Of flesh, whereto sin laies a battry bold, And seeks with sword & dearth my soules deuower: Suppresse thou hellish Holofernes power, Who prides himselfe in praie, of children thine, I haue no trust in mountaines, wals, nor tower, For want of faithes (true fountaine) we shall pine, Raise vp this female couragde heart of mine, Strengthen my hand to reue this monsters hed, Let me not tast deceiptfull follies wine, Nor be polluted with worlds sinfull bed: But constantly by faith fight in defence, Of feeble flesh, and driue thy enemies thence.

SON. LXXXIIII.

NOt that my faith doth faint a whit is cause, That I so instant am on thee to call, O God of life, but yeelding to thy lawes, Before thy sight, my soule these teares lets fall: Which in thy bottle kept I know are all, And quench the fury of thy burning ire, Which sin enflamde, and qualifie it shall The quarrell which hath set thy wrath on fire, If feruently the childe due food desire Of father, he will not giue him a stone, If of the wicked, iustice man require Importunely, some iustice will be showne: More righteous iudge and father thou to mee, Art Lord indeed, and far more kind wilt bee.

SON. LXXXV.

THe many trials Lord that I haue found, Since out of Egipt darknesse I am brought, Might witnesse well how in thee still abound, Powre, mercy, truth, wherby thy workes are wrought. But foule dispaire against my faith hath fought, Amidst the wildernesse wherein I stay, And daintier food my fond affections sought, Then Manna, which thou sentst me euerie day, The desert Zyn, doth fountaine pure denay, Of grace, wherewith to quench my fainting ghost, Eternall death expects my soule as pray, And lust assaults me with a hideous host. Stretch forth hād Lord, smite thou my hart of stone With rod of true repentance, griefe and mone.

SON. LXIII.

THou hast ô Lord of mercy, me enricht With flocks of fauour, and of graces great, Since I in Bethell first the pillar pitcht, Of praises to thy name and mercies seat, Yet fleshly Esawes foule affections threat, A ruine to the frute faith forth should bring, With pleasing humors him for to intreat, I feare it be to soule a dangerous thing: Shield me Lord vnder thy protecting wing Of mercy, which may saue from Satans rage, My heart and voyce shall still thy prayses sing, If thou the malice of my foes asswage; In Sychem shall my heart an alter reare, The mightie God to loue, to serue, to feare.

SON. LXXXVII.

THe talent which thou pleasedst Lord to giue, To me thy seruant that I should bestow, Whilst in thy seruice on the earth I liue, My diligent increase thereof to show, I haue abused Lord (too long) I know, And feare thy comming to be nigh at hand, I see for breach of dutie what I owe, And of thy iudgments do in terror stand: Thy grace hath left me in a forreine land, Where vnexpert of vertue I do straie, I shall be throwne to Satans thralfull band, Voyd of thy heauenly ioy and blisse for aye, Vnlesse thou helpe, for thou doest vse to giue, Grace vnto grace, and faith from faithlesse driue.

SON. LXXXVIII.

SInce that it pleaseth thee thy selfe to show, A iust reuenger Lord of Heath'nish sin, And bring the pride of bold Philistines low, Who thee defame, when holy Arke they win; Now that to fetch it home I do begin, And in the temple of my heart to place, Grant so I may thy secrets see therein, That plagues, for my presumption do not chase It so from me, as they that fled the face Of glorie thine, which therein did appeare: Let faith and loue draw home by trustie trace, The constant cart, whose carriage is so deare; And let me order so this holie worke, That dregs of sin not in my deeds may lurke.

SON. LXXXIX.

IN famine great of grace, and comfortlesse, Thy seruant Lord doth in Samaria dwell, For Lord fierce Aram doth with sin oppresse The citie where my soule to harbour fell: I want the strength his armies to repell, Of lust and of affections most vncleane, My mind whose loue doth motherlike excell, Her children (thoughts of mendment) sees so leane, That forst by famine, she can find no meane To feed them long, her faith so poore is growne, That natiue pitie now secluding cleane, Her greedie nature doth deuour her owne. Beleeue in time this siege, Lord cause a feare Of thee, this camp of cruell sin to reare.

SON. XC.

ON sweet and sauorie bread of wholesome kinde, Which in thy word thou offrest store to mee, To feed vpon the flesh doth lothing finde, And leaues, to leane (ô Lord) alone on thee: The leauen of the Pharisies will bee The surfet of my soule, and death in fine, Which coueting to tast forbidden tree, To carnall rules and reasons doth incline: So lauishly my lusts do tast the wine, Which sowrest grapes of sin filles in my cup, That lo my teeth now set on edge, I pine, Not able wholesome food to swallow vp, Vnlesse thou mend my tast, and hart doest frame, To loue thy lawes, and praise thy holy name.

SON. XCI.

OVt of thy flocke ô Lord through my defect, A silly sheepe my selfe (behold) am lost, To seeke me forth in time do not neglect, Since I so precious price to thee haue cost. By many by-paths Lord my feete haue crost, And cannot find the way vnto thy fold, Through many stormes of deep despaire thus tost, To craue thy aide at last I now am bold: If thou of silly groat that count doest hold, That thou doest search the house to find the same, No doubt my soule to sin by nature sold, May mercy find, by calling on thy name: The Saints in heauen conuertids gaine reioyce, On earth thy praise is song, in heart and voice.

SON. XCII.

BEhold amidst worlds desert all alone, Seduced by the frailtie of the sprite, Accompany'd with fleshly comfort none, My soule with sin compelled is to fight Where suddenly alas before my sight, I Satan see, me ready to assaile, By two his seruants which are most of might, Presumption and dispaire, which seldome faile, The best perfections of mans strength to quaile, By pride, or want of faith, or couetise, By lust, or gluttony, or fained vaile Of vertue, which doth mamy sinnes disguise: But chase him Lord away by written word, Which is more sharpe then his two edged sword.

SON. XCIII.

THe dreame which thou to Pharo didst reueale, Thou in my selfe hast made me see in deed, The state (alas) of mans weake common weale, Whereas affections of all sorts do feed; The frutefull soyle of grace some whiles did breed, Full faire effects in truth of heauenly kinde, But many barren thoughts alas succeed, And threaten famine to a vertuous minde. Store of such yeares as yet I feare behinde, Which Lord will starue the comfort of my faith, Vnlesse thy mercy and thy wisedome finde, A store house to laie vp what scripture saith: In hope of which thy goodnesse, lo I liue, Which of thy grace Lord do thou to me giue.

SON. XCIIII.

THe seed which thou the husbandman hast sowde Within my soule (ô Lord) by Prophets hand, Hath taken roote at last, by deaw bestowd Form heauenly grace, which fructifies my land: But lo I saw the worlds deceipt to stand In readinesse to mingle tares therein, Whilst sleeping, me in vanities he fand, He made my frutes to ouerflow with sin: But ere thy haruest to approach begin, Vouchsafe to weed these frailties so away, That when thy corne is to be gathered in, I may be cleane, and in thy garner stay. Burne Lord with chastisement my fleshly lust, And clense my life by faith both pure and iust.

SON. XCV.

WHat strength hath man? wherin may he repose A power to stay him in a vertuous way? To loue thy flocke thou Lord my soule hast chose, Whom to obey my vowes and words did say: But in my power alas there is no stay, For light temptations made me cleane forget My dutie to my Lord, and to denay Him who thus long I haue too lightly set: But now my heart with teares my cheekes doth wet, In sorrow of my so inconstant faith, Repentance hath my sin before me set, And conscience now my error duly way'th: Grant that thy word crow thrise & thrise to mee, And warne me of my dutie vnto thee.

SON. XCVI.

THe malice of this monster auncient foe Of man, and of the Church which thou didst plant, Euen Satan Herod-like about doth goe, To make my frutes of faith to grow more scant, Whilst yet with weaknesse feeble youth doth pant, And wanteth grace to strengthen their estate, The motions of the mind doth straight recant, To see soules safetie which sin faine would hate; The counsels of affections do debate, And do conclude to murder vertues breed: Lust, pride and enuy, open wide the gate, To furious flesh, that doth the wicked deed. My soule (their mother) mourns ô Lord their end, My future frutes of grace do thou defend.

SON. XCVII.

SO foolish Lord haue my affections bin, So carelesse of the blessing thou doest giue, So prone my nature vnto euerie sin, So thanklesse of thy grace by which I liue, That violently thy loue away I driue, And sell the patrimony to ensue, I carry water in an open siue, And change for lentil pottage birth-right due. Too late (alas) my folly I do rue, Who worlds delight preferred haue so long, Reiecting heauenly knowledge treasure true, Vnto my soule imposing open wrong, Yet not so late ô Lord I pardon craue, But yet one blessing thou for me wilt haue.

SON. XCVIII.

A Sinfull Syrian Lord my father was, Exilde from Paradise by iust desart, I wandred into Egipt, there alas To finde in world some food to please my hart: Where seruile bondage vnto sin and smart, I suffered so long through Satans rage, That heauenly aide I crau'd thence to depart, Which only able was my griefe t' asswage: From silly seruant and an abiect page, Thou broughtst me forth to knowledge of thy truth (The blessed land) and showdst me on a stage, A patterne how to guide my wandring youth, Such frutes therfore as faithfull soile doth yeeld, I offer here first crop of blessed field.

SON. XCIX.

I See (alas) proud Satan hath too long Defrauded thee, ô Lord, of that is thine, And loue of world hath drawne me vnto wrong, Whose heart thy offrings to bestow repine: My outward knees vnto thee do incline, My tong doth promise present of my store, I say these gracious gifts are none of mine, But will them all thy Aulter laie before; But vanities doth presse me euermore, And want of faith to leaue some part behinde, Although I see death readie at the dore, My hollow heart and lewd deceipt to finde: Grant that I may my soule, my power, my will, Present ô Lord to serue thee onely still.

SON. C.

SInce thou by grace out of wilde Oliue stocke, Hast pleasd me Lord within thy Church to plant, And reckon me as of thy proper flocke, Who else all pleasant frute by nature went, Vouchsafe my thankfull frutes be not so scant, As cause thee to reiect me backe againe, Of former bountie Lord do not recant, But let me in thy garden still remaine: By mercy not by merit I attaine, This blessing promised so long before, Let not this gift of thine returne in vaine, But let thy goodnesse multiply the more: Make sweet the frutes which bitter are by kinde, Increase thy grace in bodie and in minde.

CONCLVSION.

MOurne thou no more my soule, thy plaint is heard, The bill is canseld of the debt it owes, The vaile is rent, which thee before debard, And Christ his righteousnesse on thee bestowes; Thus comfort to the patient alwaies growes, If they attend the time God hath assignde, Our strength to beare, our maker best he knowes, And at a need is readie for to finde, Our Sauiour is so mercifull and kinde, Vnto our selues he will not leaue vs long, He castes our faults through loue his back behinde, And turnes our plaints into more pleasant song. And when we are euen at the gates of hell, His glorie, mercie, power, doth most excell.