The holy roode, or Christs crosse containing Christ crucified, described in speaking-picture. / By Iohn Dauies.

SONETS.

1.

THe ofter sinne, the more griefe, shewes a Saint; The ofter sinne, the lesse griefe, notes a Fiend: But oft with griefe to sinne, the soule doth taint; And oft to sinne with ioy, the soule doth rend. To sinne on Hope, is sinne most full of Feare; To sinue of malice, is the Diuels sinne: One is, that Christ may greater burden beare; The other, that his Death might still beginne. To sinne of Frailtie, is a sinne but weake; To sinne in strength, the stronger makes the blame: The first, the Reed Christ bare, hath powre to breake; The last, his thornie-Crowne can scarse vnframe: But, finally, to sinne malitiously, Reed, Crowne, nor Crosse, hath pow'r to crucifie!

2.

ALthough we doe not all the Good we loue, But still, in loue, desire to doe the same; Nor leaue the finnes we hate, but hating moue Our Soule and Bodies Powres, their Powres to tame; The Good we doe, God takes as done aright; That we desire to doe, He takes as done: The sinne we shunne, He will with Grace requite; And not impute the sinne we seeke to shunne.

But, good Desires produce no worser Deeds; For, God doth both together (lightly) giue: Because he knowes a righteous Man must needs "By Faith, that workes by Loue, for euer liue: Then, to doe nought, but onely in Desire, Is Loue that burnes, but burnes like painted Fire.

3.

A Righteous man still feareth all his Deeds, Lest done for feare, or in hypocrisie: Hypocrisie (as with the Corne doe Weeds) Still growes vp with Faith, Hope, and Charitie. But it bewraies they are no Hypocrites, That most of all Hypocrisie doe feare: For, who are worst of all in their owne sights, In Gods deere sight doe best of all appeare. To feare that we nor loue, nor feare aright, Is no lesse perfect feare, than rightest loue: And to suspect our steps in greatest light, Doth argue God our Hearts and steps doth moue: But right to run, and feare no whit at all, Presageth we are neere a fearefull fall.

4.

COme, follow me, as I doe follow Christ, Is the persuasiu'st speech the Priest can vse; This Coniuration Fiends can scarse resist; For, shame will quite confound them that refuse.

When Pastors shew what should be done in Deed, Their flocke will follow them, though nought they say; Sith they the hungry soules and bodies feed; And teach the rightest Truth, the readiest way.

Thus, worthy Priests get Reuerence, Loue, and Feare, While wordy Ones scorne, hate, and shame doe finde:

For, Winds of Spight their highest sailes doe teare, Who make themselues nought else but subtill Winde: For, though a Foote-ball mounts oft by the same, Yet is It spurn'd and made the Peoples game.

5.

IT's not so blessed to receiue as giue: Yet Men abounding in all Blessings take Reliefe from All, yet they will Some relieue, Sith they see Riches here, Men blessed make.

Then, this Worlds blest in Shew, but curst in Deed: Christs BODY in the Earth growes lesse and lesse: Whose Members, that should one another feed, Let one another pine through wretchednesse.

Yet, seed is not the soyles wherein Its sow'n, But his that sow'd It: so, the Almes we sowe Is not so much the Beggars, as our owne; Sith It in Them for our Soules gaine doth grow: Then, of all Soyles that yeeld most Interest, "The Belly of the Beggar is the best.

6.

PRaier, if it be compleat, is of pow'r To ouer-rule almightie Pow'r and Grace: For, It can their Omnipotence procure To doe what not? (if good) in any Case.

But as Queene Hester came before her King, Two Maids attending, to support her port, Leaning on one, the other carying Her Princely Traine, in most maiesticke sort.

So, Praier must attended be with Two, Fasting, and Almesdeeds, commming to her King!

Then, what Shee will haue done, that will He doe; Though Shee His Kingdome craue, or any Thing: But when Shee comes not thus, the Act of Sinne Is readier than Temptation to begin!

7.

IN th'Act of sinne the guilt of Conscience Doth spoile our sport, sith our Soules (fainting) bleed: For, that Worme feeds vpon our inward sense, More than sinnes Manna outward sense doth feed.

But he on whom Gods glorious face doth shine, The more his Griefes, the more his Ioyes abound: For, who are drunke with diuine Pleasures Wine, Can feele no Torments which the senses wound.

Then 'tis a Torment nere to be tormented In Vertues cause; nor, for Sinnes fowle default: And, no worse Tempting, than nere to be tempted; For, we must peace attaine by Sinnes assault: Then blessed is the Crosse that brings the Crowne, And glorious is the Shame that gaines Renowne.

8.

VErtue consists in Action; which consists In doing That which Vertue doth command; But this iniurious World the same resists, Whose Actions are perform'd by Vices Band.

Then, hardly can the Willing, weake in Act, Shew forth the vertue of their actiue Will; But that the World their vertue will coact To act the Part of Vice with greater skill.

Then, let the Willing-weake the World forgoe, And act the parts of Vertue, where, alone,

God, and his Angels, may their Actions know; So shall they be beloued, prais'd, and knowne: "For, cleere is muddy water standing still, "But beeing stirr'd, it looke like Puddle will.

And, hide me in the wildest Waste or Wood, Yet Fame will find me out if I be good.

FINIS.