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 SECOND PART OF CHRISTIAN PAS∣sions, Containing a hundred Sonets of Comfort, Ioy, and thankes∣giuing. (Book 2)

PREFACE.

SOme men do mourne for suddeine ioy they say, And some likewise in midst of sorrow sing, Such diuers frutes do passion often bring, As reason cannot course of Nature stay, And happie sure he is (I not denay) That both these motions hath from heart contrit, When frailtie of his flesh appeares to sight, And mercy calling him backe from decay. Who can behold the flesh and spirit fight, The doubtfull issue and danger of the thing, The losse whereto our nature might vs fling, And gaine which grace doth giue through Sauiors might, And not delight, To glorifie his name, And yet lament his proper natiue shame,

SON. I.

AS through a mist, or in a cloud a farre, I see a glimse of heauenly grace to shine, And to reuiue the fainting faith of mine, And spirits which with darknesse shadowed are. The fleshly fog of sin did iudgment barre, Of proper vse, of power, of reason sound, (Which in first parents franckly did abound) And better part of natures strength did marre; But since my eyes of grace a sight haue found, Of that eternall light which doth incline, Fro out these fogs of feare I hope t'vntwine, And force of fainting faith for to confound, And on a ground More firme wil build my trust, And that in Christ whose promises are iust.

SON. II.

CLeng'd are the cloudes and darknesse fled away, And now in triumph doth my Sauiour ride, Sin, hell, nor death, dare not his sight abide, The world nor Satan can his progresse stay: This piercing light of truth shall so bewray Ech stratagem their practise doth deuise Against my soule, that there shall not arise One cloud of care to darken this my day. But that my thoughts (like to the Pilate wise) Shall looke about, lest that my heart should slide, And by this sunne my course so constant guide, That all their slightes shall not my soule disguise, Which now espies The malice they me owe, Which lōg they clothd with shade of plesāt show.

SON. III.

WHen as my conscience layeth forth before My thoughts, the sinnes which daily I commit, I thinke my selfe an instrument vnfit, To witnesse forth thy glory any more: But when I see that sin was first the dore, By which death entred and such hold did take, That death did first our want apparant make; And want first cause that man did ayd implore, That praiers first thy mercies do awake, That mercies do renue our dulled wit, That ioyed heart should not vnthankfull sit, And thanks to thee doth fleshly glory shake, It straight doth slake The fear which bad me stay, And bids me still proceed to praise and pray.

SON. IIII.

SInce to so holy vse I consecrate The silly talent Lord thou lentst to me, That it a trumpe vnto thy praise might be, And witnesse of their woe that thou doest hate. Doe thou ô Lord forget the abiect state Of flesh and bloud, base mettle of my frame, And since that thou hast sanctified the same, Vouchsafe thy grace my weaknesse may abate: Thou that my former wandring will didst tame, And me prepare in minde to honour thee, Canst giue me gifts the which thereto agree, How ere my proper power be weake and lame, So shall thy name Be precious in my sight And in thy praise shall be my whole delight.

SON. V.

VVOuld God I were as readie to confesse, And yeeld thee praise sweet Sauiour day by day, As to craue my wants I am forward ay, And feruently at need to thee to presse, To beg of thee alone, thou wilst no lesse, Because thou onely able art to giue, And with each needfull thing by which we liue, Thou promisest our prayers thou wilt blesse; But we with vse of them should not so stay, And onely seeke to thee when need doth driue, (Whose blessings running through an open siue, No praise for recompence vnto thee pay) But when we pray, We should thee laud also: Our thankfull harts with bountie thine should go.

SON. VI.

I Haue begun ô Lord to run the race, Where flesh and bloud against the world must fight, On heauenly kingdome gazing with my sight, Where is appointed scope of resting place: Wingd with the will of zeale of heauenly grace, I do indeuor alwayes to proceed, In constant course vnto the arke indeed, Where in thy mercies I behold thy face, A feruent faith it doth my courage feed, And make my heauie limbs become more light, When in thy sonne I see thy glorie bright, The pledge vnto my soule that hope shall speed, This blessed seed Thou hast Lord sowne in me, And all the frutes shal to thee offred be.

SON. VII.

VVHere shall I finde fit words or proper phrase, Wherewith to witnesse all the loue I owe? Whose gratefull minde in thankfulnesse doth grow, And to the world thy worthinesse would blase: Vnfrutefully the greater ••ort do gase, Vpon thy workes and blessings they receiue, And carelesly thy honor they bereaue, And suffer chance or wit thy same to rase, Whilst vnacknowledged thy loue they leaue, Forgetting all the gifts thou doest bestow, Whose blinded nature so doth ouerflow, That most vnkind to thee, themselues they show. But since I know By grace thy blessing great, My pen thy praises alwaies shall repeat.

SON. VIII.

THe more I seeke to dedicate my power, In celebrating of thy honour great, (Whose throne is fixed in thy mercies seat) The more my dutie groweth euerie hower, Some times with Eagles flight aloft I tower, And seeme to see the glorie of thy sunne, But ere my willing wings haue scarse begunne To mount, they droop with clog of heauie shower: Vpon the hill of truth I footing wonne, By faith which laboureth with feruent heat, Of worthie praises thine for to intreat, But ere I haue begune my worke is donne, So farre I runne In seeking to begin, I cannot write, such maze my muse is in.

SON. IX.

AS fareth with the man the which hath bin. I perilll but of late to haue bene drownd, Though afterward he do recouer ground, Knowes not at first, the safetie he is in: So when I thinke vpon the flouds of sin, Wherein I was neare drenched ouer hed, What time all hope of comfort cleane was fled, And I into dispaire to sinke begin. My fainting faith with feare euen well nigh dead, My minde amazed it doth so confound, That though thy mercies freely do abound, In port of peace I am not free from dred, But being led Fro out the perils sight, I shall enioy more pleasure and delight.

SON. X.

SInce thou ô Lord hast giuen to me at last, The victorie against the deadly foe, Who like a Lyon roaring still doth goe, My soule (poore Lot my kinsman deare) to wast Since grace at length his pride hath now defast, And by the hand of faith he is subdude, And that my strength by thee is so renude, That his affections almost are displast. Since thy high Priest with present me pursude Of bread and wine, the which he did bestow, And with the same the blessing gaue also, Whence life, whence libertie, whence health insude, I haue indude▪ As proper vnto thee, Thy Church, with tyth of faith thou gau'st to me.

SON. XI.

IF he to whom his Lord did but remit A silly debt was thankfull to him found, And that the more the sinnes forgiuen abound, The more he loues that pardond is of it, Then sure it seemes it were good reason fit That I whose soule was sold to death and hell, Whose sinnes in multitude did so excell, With idle braine should not ingratefull sit: But as the flowing fauours daily swell, So should my voice thy praises euer sound; And since thou hast powrde oyle into my wound, I should not spare thy mercies forth to tell: And (so as well as thou shalt giue me grace) I will thee laud, each season, time and place.

SON. XII.

NOw that I haue some safetie Lord attaind, Fro out the laberinth wherein I was, Since grace as guide therein to me did passe, And loue was line which me my issue gaind; Since that my wandring steps faith hath refraind, And that thy word, was Sybils braunch to mee, Through hell and death away to let me see, To Elizian fields where blisse for aye remaind, I must not Lord so much vnthankfull bee, To breake the vowes which once I made alas, But I will show thy mercies in a glas, That by my words men may acknowledge thee, The onely hee Hath any power to saue, And raisd my soule fro out the verie graue.

SON. XIII.

I Shame to see how large my promise are, How slow my deeds that should performe the fame, I know the constant meaning whence they came, But will and power are falne at strife and iarre, What soule begins to do, doth bodie marre, What loue would build, distrust would ouerthrow, A plenteous offring, zeale doth bid bestow, But fainting faith likes not to set it farre; My will at least his good intent shall show, Which thou ô Lord cause vnto better frame, A free will offring Lord thou wilt not blame, Of such weake frutes as are on earth below, Which yet shal grow More fruteful by thy grace, And as they be, wilt in thy sonne imbrace,

SON. XIIII.

THe end whereto we all created were, And in this world were plast to liue and dwell, (If we with iudgment do obserue it well) Was nothing else but God to serue and feare, In which we badges of his glorie beare, To yeeld him right the most our weaknesse may, Which (to our strength) we ought not him denay, Who out of earth to heauen this dust shall reare: Which when within my selfe I deeply way, I do condemne the dulnesse which befell To me, whose gifts in nothing do excell, By which I might his glorie great display, On whom do stay, All things that being haue, Who to each creature all things freely gaue.

SON. XV.

AS is the treasure frutelesse which is hid, And blisse no blisse a man doth not enioy, (But rather is a meane to worke annoy, To him that carefully preserue it did:) So often times the wisest sort haue slid, Into like error, whilst they do conseale The gifts of grace, which God did them reueale, And hide the talent which is them forbid: As frutelesse is it to the common weale, That men respectiuely become too coy, And triflingly their time away do toy, And without good to others let it steale, I therefore deale To world, and do impart These silly frutes, which grow on feeling hart.

SON. XVI.

THe pleasures of this new possessed land, Fore-promised long since to children thine, Whereto I haue arriued safe in fine, And to enioy the same assured stand, To paint with praises I would take in hand, That so I might incourage many more, To follow forth the conquest where is store Of corne, of wine, and oyle, for faithfull band: Our Iesus Christ himselfe is gone before, And showes the clusters of the healthfull wine, Whereof who tasts, shall not with famine pine, Nor starue, when plentie is at Citie dore: Ne need deplore The strength of Anaks race, For he the power of hell will cleane deface.

SON. XVII.

BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie, Twixt heat and cold, twixt heigth and depth below, And both of them from one desire do flow, The surest way to sauing health to trie, Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie, Vpon the merits of my sauior deare, A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare, Lest in consuming Iealousie I die; A heart contrite doth will me to appeare, With works of righteousnesse, true faith which show Faith saies, that god my strēgth & power doth know, And that I cannot finde saluation here, But bids me cheere My soule, & nothing feare, Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare.

SON. XVIII.

FRom far I see the stars which guide the way, From East to West, to finde my sauiour out, I well might wander all the world about, To seeke saluation and in one place stay: I shining truth did not his house bewray, Which in his word points forth his dwelling place, By which directed, I will walke a pace, Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day; And when I come before his blessed face, To offer vp my presents will not doubt, Although their basenesse all the world should flout, So that my faith I may him once imbrace, Which giueth grace And makes accepted well, Mean works, as much as those which more excell.

SON. XIX.

NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine, Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke, the treasor of thy law, That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine, I care not though the world my deede disdaine, And thinke it not beseeming thing for me, In such a worke an instrument to be, Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine: For so I Lord thy sauing heath may see, And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw, Though all the scorners of the world me saw, Yet would I not ashamed be of thee, For being free, Of holie promist land, I care not how my state on earth do stand.

SON. XX.

NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee, If duly thy desert we do regard, Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward, At whose command all creatures readie bee: Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see, Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow, And in the vse of them obedience show, Although alas it be in meane degree, Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below, And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde, (Who to his power his present hath sparde) So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe, And doest bestow More graces then we craue, For which naught els but thāks thou lokst to haue.

SON. XXI.

HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints, Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay, And make the sunne returne in pride of day, When as Iosias heart for feare it faints, Thy fauour vnto Abram vs aquaints, Of how great force repentant heart is found, When (hauing vowd vile Sodom to confound) To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints; By prayer man hath powre euen death to wound, By praier he may moue amount away, A faithfull feruent prayer finds no nay, If that the thing we craue be pure and sound, Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man, Whose worthie praise no tongue well vtter can.

SON. XXII.

THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay, To thee, the giuer of all good and grace, And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace, And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day, My heart, my mouth, my pen they neuer stay, To take occasion freshly to renue, The memorie of praises to thee due, Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie (in this point) indeed I rue, Who till I see new blessings in the place, Forget the fauours late before my face, And mercies thine, from which such bountie grew, For it is true So dull our sences are, That oft thy blessings do our iudgments marre.

SON. XXIII.

WHere so I cast about my wandring eye, By chance or choice, by hap, or else by will, Before my sight some obiect is there still, Wherein thy power and loue I do espye; In view whereof, if I my thoughts do trye, To raise my heart to Ioy, I matter finde, And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde, That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye; Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde, As patrons of the same the world doth fill, Who mad'st not onely, but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the minde, Which is not blinde, Or too much obstinate, Which later nature chiefly thou doest hate.

SON. XXIIII.

VVHilst I do studie fitly to begin, To vtter forth some part of my intent, Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent, For freeing me from due reward of sin, I finde a laberinth that I am in, Of many merits which do me inclose, Which as this holie motion in me rose, Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win, Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose, To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent, In staying me the wandring course I went, And feeling faith, with knowledge where it growes, And though I lose Therwith the worlds delight, Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight.

SON. XXV.

SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde, By holie spirit thine in time of need, (As Philip to the Eunuch came indeed) Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde; Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde, And what humilitie was in thy Sonne, (Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne, Vnto my soule, for which he raunsome payde) I see no earthly things should stay vndone, The duties which requirde of me I reed; By faith vpon thy promises I feed, And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne, And thus begunne, I will continue still, To learne thy lawes, and to obay thy will.

SON. XXVI.

HOw can I limit well my tong or pen, Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose, Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose, Whereon the more I muse, more growth it then, It fares with me herein, euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake, When stāmering words the perfect sence do breake, And makes vs not be vnderstood of men: Such worthie matter in my mind there growes, So plentifull, and I of skill so weake, So pleasing to me, and so proper ••ake, That in the choyce of them I iudgment lose, And euen as those Want matter silent be, So plentie of thy praise confoundeth me.

SON XXVII.

NOw that thy mercies do so much abound, As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell, And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell, Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found, Since power thereof, did sinfull Dagon wound, And yet disdaineth not my humble state, I freely open Lord, my lowly gate Of lips and tong, which may thy praises sound, Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late, Since in my soule thy word I did embrace, My zeale refreshed is with heauenly grace, My comfort, wealth that hell cannot rebate, In such a rate Thy fauour do I finde, As bindes me loue a father found so kinde.

SON. XXVIII.

WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare, For all the gifts thou doest on me bestowe? Whose gracious measure so doth ouerflow, As power of recompence cannot appeare, I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare, And to thy alter speedily do runne, To follow forth thy praise (but new begunne) Till all thy people may thy mercies heare: Thy glorious image shineth in thy Sonne, Thy loue to man did his obedience show, His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace, whence faith and comfort grow, Where through we know That we are thy elect, And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect.

SON. XXIX.

THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise, O Lord of life, hath many volumes made, Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade, Which aye increase as growing are my dayes, Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes, In multitude they number do exceed, In glorie they do admiration breed, Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes. The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed, Thy fauour to thy creatures doth not fade. The more in view of all thy works I wade, The more I finde my sense confound indeed, But yet in steed Of Eccho to thy fame, I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name.

SON. XXX.

THis stately stage wherein we players stande, To represent the part to vs assignde, Was built by God, that he might pleasure finde, In beautie of the works of his owne hand, All creatures of the ayre, the sea and land, Are players at his appointment of some thing, Which to the world a proper vse may bring, And may not breake assigned bownds or band: Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing, Some mourne & make their mone with heauy mind, Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind, Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling, God (like a King) Beholds, Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape, their states require.

SON. XXXI.

WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye, The fauour and perfection of my choyce, He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce, That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie, All earthly beautie he will straight defie, As thing too base to occupie his braine, Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine, That they true tast of pleasure do denie: But who so can this perfect sight attaine, Cannot containe, but yeeld with cheerfull voyce, An Eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse, Who to his praise do singing still remaine: They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low, That such a glorious God they will not know.

SON. XXXII.

O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true, Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule, With such a zeale as former thoughts controll, And drawes heart, powre, and will thee to insue, Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue, And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine, To whom alone perfection faire is due, Thou mak'st earths bewteous shadow seeme but vain, Thy works of glorie, and of powre remain, Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll; Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll, Which to our dying soules true life did gain, Thy loue doth wain, My thoughts frō baser loue, And mak'st my heart and mind to soare aboue.

SON. XXXIII.

IF beautie be as men on earth suppose, The comely shape and colours which agree, In true proportion to the thing we see, Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose; If white and red be borrowd from the Rose, If bright and shining to the sunne compar'd, If high and straight to goodlinesse w'award, And beautie haue such base descriptions chose, Then let the wise this beautie true regard, Where all perfections in one subiect be, Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree, Which (but to tast) man suffred deaths reward, Which is prepard, And offred to our sight, In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night.

SON. XXXIIII.

HOw may this be, that men of searching mind, Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight, (The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight) In outward shape and colour, comfort find: And yet the better beautie leaue behind, Vnsought, or vnregarded of at all, Compard to which, none can it beautie call, Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind, This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright, As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright, Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti apall: Thus wise men fall, Whom camall eies do guide, Whose iudgement may not vertues sight abide.

SON. XXXV.

O Heauenly loue, with God thou dwelst for aye, Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie, Thou keepst the law, thy feet step not awrie, In all mens danger, thou the surest stay; To our request, thou neuer sayest nay, Ne wrath, ne enuy, moue thee ere a whit: Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit, Thou law and Gospell both dost ouer sway: Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit, With God in counsell thou art alwaies by, Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply, And makest vs receiue the frute of it, And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue, Loue made him send, who loue therfore doth craue.

SON. XXXVI.

THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare, Whose glorie doth eclipse each other light, Presents himselfe vnto worlds open sight, Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare: But sluggish so the greater sort appeare, That (sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure) The cleare aspect of truth they not indure, Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare; But so my sences do his beautie allure, To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright, That therein onely haue I may delight, Where is all happinesse, I do assure, He doth procure A plentifull increase, Vnto my soule, of perfect loue and peace.

SON. XXXVII.

AVaunt base thoughts, incomber me no more, By laying forth these earthly wants of mine, As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine, Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store: If thou didst know thy nakednesse before, He cloth'd thy soule, and fed thy fainting minde, (With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde) Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore; And then confesse, the comfort thou doest finde, By peace of conscience, in this flesh of thine, Is greatest riches truly to define, (So that contentment be not left behinde) These gifts me binde▪ To praise his holy name, And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same.

SON. XXXVIII.

I Will not feare with feruency of zeale, To follow forth this faire affect of mine, (To loue of thee which doth my soule incline) O Sauiour deare, who sure my griefe wilt heale: Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale, Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee, And promisedst I should thy darling bee, Made free within thy Church and common weale, Disparagement there is not now in mee, Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine; But faith shall flie aloft to thee in fine, Where all thy treasures safely I may see, And happie hee Bestows his loue so well, Whose hope is payd with pleasures that excell.

SON. XXXIX.

LOue then I will, and loue thee Lord alone, For fellowship in loue there may not bee, Loue for thy loue (ô Lord) shall be thy ••ee, For other recompence thou crauest none; My vowes and deeds they shall be alwaies one, All dedicated to adorne thy name; My heart, my soule, my strength shall do the same; Thy loue shall be my faiths true corner stone; The loue of thee shall my affections frame, To follow that may pleasing be to thee, My eyes no beautie but in thee shall see, And thy regard my wandring will shall tame, Yea I will blame, And scorne each other thing, Saue what shall me vnto thy fauour bring.

SON. XL.

FAine would I praise thee Lord with such a zeale, And feruencie, as might my loue expresse; Faine would my loue yeeld vnto thee no lesse Due praise, then thou didst loue to me reueale; But wanting power thereto, I yet appeale To that thy goodnesse, which thee first did moue, In fragill flesh of mine the strength to proue, Whose weaknes thou by heauēly powre didst heale: Mans wit in words comes short in this behoue, To recompence (nay onely to confesse) The many waies thou doest our bodies blesse, Much more our soules, which freely thou didst loue, Thy trustie doue, Thy holy spright of grace, Makes yet our weaknesse stand before thy face.

SON. XLI.

O Perfect Sunne, whereof this shadow is A slender light, though it some beautie show, On whom thy influence thou doest bestow; Whose constant course still shines in endlesse blisse: To scan thy glorie, wit of man doth misse; How far thy mercies beames abroad extend, Tong cannot speake, nor wit can comprehend, And humane frailtie is bewrayd in this; The fire, ayre, water, earth they wholly bend, The host of heauen, and creatures belowe, To pay their dutie vnto thee they owe, Which didst their being and their vertue send, And I intend With them (in what I may) To witnesse forth thy laud and praise for aye.

SON. XLII.

WHat present should I bring of worthie prise, To witnesse well the loue to thee I owe, I nothing haue but what thou didst bestow, Ne likest thou the toyes of mans deuise; I would not spare my powre in any wise, No treasure seemes to me for thee too deare: The pleasures of the world the which are here, Too base they are, how ere wit them disguise: To yeeld thee faith, it doth the best appeare, But mine is very weake (alas) I know, To yeeld thee praise, doth make a decent show; But to thy merit neither doth come neare, With garment cleare, Yet clothd of righteous son, My selfe to offer vnto thee, I run.

SON XLIII.

WHo so beholds the works (ô Lord) of thine, The stretched heauēs, the seat where thou doest dwel The earth thy footstoole, which dares not rebell, Which all vnto thy will do still incline, The Sunne and Moone by day and night which shine, The changing flouds, the firme and frutefull land, The Planets which do firme for euer stand, All which gainst thy behest dare not repine: The host of Angels in thy heauenly band, Th'infernall fiends with Lucifar which fell, The fish, the foule, the beast agreeing well, And all obedient to thy heauenly hand, May vnderstand, Thy glorie, loue, and powre, Without whose help, mā could not liue an howre.

SON. XLIIII.

AS doth the Moone by daily change of hew, By growing, or decreasing, beautie show, The influence, the greater lights bestow, Whose absence, or whose presence, her renue: So must all flesh confesse, and thinke most true, The faith or feare they haue for to proceed, From heauenly grace, which heauēly gifts doth feed, Without whose face, blind darknesse doth insue; Mans proper powre is so ob••curde indeed, With shades which rise frō earthly thoughts below, That nothing but blinde ignorance would grow, Vnlesse this sunne did shining comfort breed, Which serues in steed Of fire vnto the same, Fro whence this light of faith receiues his flame.

SON. XLV.

IF Saba Queene, a iourney tooke in hand, From South to North, wise Salomon to heare; If humane wisedome was to her so deare, That she did visit thus his holy land, Then do I muse why men do idle stand, In pride of youth, when wit and meanes abound, Their tender braines to feed with wisedome sound, Far passing that this Queene for trauell found. This error is the scarre of Adams wound, Who sought his knowledge not in fountain cleare, To whom forbidden skill did best appeare, Neglecting graces him inclosing round, But on the sound And written word I build, Not Salomon such Oracles could yeeld.

SON. XLVI.

HOw fond a thing it is which men do vse, To beat their braines, and so torment their hart, In compassing the thing which breeds their smart, And do not know what is the thing they chuse; They childishly the name of loue abuse, And would define the nature of the same, By passions which belong to hatreds name, Wherein to pine with pleasure they do chuse. Who euer saw that figs on thorne-tree came, Or thistels roses beare by any art? With pain, with grief, with shame, with losse impart Their passions, which they for their loue do frame, With iudgment lame; Loue is a heauenly thing, Where being plast, it perfect loue doth bring.

SON. XLVII.

LEt earthly things in earth their loue repose, For flesh and bloud on faith they cannot feed, It is a frute indeed of heauenly seed, Which who disgesteth well life cannot lose; The soule fro out of other matter growes, And vnto other matter turnes againe, Immortally to liue in ioy or paine, As grace to sundry vses it hath chose. Then is it time my thoughts at length to waine, From laying vp my treasure for my need, Where mothes and canker do so common breed, As in the world whose wealth is meerely vaine, If I attaine, But faith layd vp in store, In Christ my Sauious, I desire no more.

SON. XLVIII.

FYe fainting faith disswade me not so much, From following of my louely heauenly choyce, To thinke on whom, I cannot but reioyce, Whose name or memorie my heart doth touch, What trauell ere befall, I will not grutch, Through fire and water I will him pursue, Whose sight my fainting soule doth straight renue, His loue and mercy both to me are such: If I should dye for him it were but due, By him I liue, and follow will his voyce, Regarding lightly fame or common noyse, Which threaten paine and trauell to insue, There are but few That passe the narrow way, But crowne of honor doth their trauell pay.

SON. XLIX.

I Find my heart is bent for to amend, And follow thee, forsaking wicked way, From wickednesse my fo••tsteps for to stay, And to thy will my works henceforth to bend: But yet the cause which makes me this intend, I finde is rather feare, then loue of right. Yet free-will offrings do thee more delight, And to such works thou doest thy blessing send. It is not ill to set before my sight, Thy heauie plagues for sin from day to day; But I had rather forth thy fauours lay, And for their loue in quarrell thine to fight, Which if I might By feruent zeale attaine, Then should I hope the victorie to gaine.

SON. L.

NO sooner loue intirely me possest, But see how iealousie doth me assaile, She seekes with deepe distrust my faith to quaile, And to remoue from conscience, quiet guest, She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest, And that my deeds they too vnworthie are, That from his fauour they will me debarre, Whose loue is fixed only on the best: Feare had begun to worke in me so farre, That to amaze my minde it could not faile, Till to my loue my state I did bewaile, Who shining sweetly like the morning starre, Did stay their iarre, And bid my soule to rest In Christ, by whom I surely shall be blest.

SON. LI.

HE is vnworthie to receiue a gift From any man, that him mistrusts before; I will not ought of thee Lord doubt therefore, Although no reason can my hope vp lift, I know in deed it is slye Satans drift, To laie before me this my vile estate, Which (being sinfull) thou of force must hate, And I reiected be without all shift, But when I with my selfe thy works debate, Which haue examples of thy mercies store, His reasons are of force with me no more, Because that faith sets open wide the gate, To me of late, Which leades to treasure thine, Where (in thy sonne) thou doest in mercy shine.

SON. LII.

FAine would I follow thee through sea and land, My louely Sauiour whom farre off I see, Zeale makes my mind with speed to hast to thee, But natiue weaknesse makes me doubtfull stand: If to my ayde thou gau'st not forth thy hand, And by thy word incourdgdst me to row, I should so shun afflictions which do flow, That feare should bend my faith like feeble wand; But by thy offred grace now strong I grow, And through the troubles of the world will be Bold to proceed, and faith shall succour me, To witnesse forth the thankfulnesse Iowe; Thou doest bestow On me both power & will, And with them both, I will thee honour still.

SON. LIII.

AS do the starres amidst the firmament, With borrowed light beare record vnto thee, (O Lord of might) in which we men do see, The image of thy power to them but lent, So when our weake indeuors Lord are bent, To publish forth thy praises, which excell; These silly sparkes of light which in vs dwell, Do shew thy grace which vs this motion sent. Although therefore no speech or tong can tell, How infinite thy glorie ought to bee, (Which passeth humane sence by high degree, As wisest men to grant, they do compell) Yet thou lik'st well, We show herein our will, Which I haue vowd vnto thy seruice still.

SON. LIIII.

CAll me ô Lord, for lo I do attend To follow thee where so thou doest direct, I know thou wilt not my intent reiect, Who gladly would proceed where so thou send, I doubtfull stand, which way my course to bend, Because I finde such ignorance of skill, To follow forth according to my will, A frutefull course the which I did intend, As thou with forward zeale my minde didst fill, So shew me Lord whereto I am select, And I shall carefully the same effect, And feruently thereto go forward still, Depend I will, Vpon occasion fit, That faithfully I may accomplish it.

SON. LV.

LIke silly babes, such must thy seruants bee, In innocencie and obedience still, Vnto thy holy lawes (ô Lord) and will, From wrath, pride, malice, lust, and enuy free: With Serpents eyes of wisedome must they see, And stop their eares, which Sathan would deceaue, With charmes of pleasure, which a scar do leaue, And onely lend obedient eare to thee: Yet with simplicitie of doue receaue The yoke of law, whose rule they must fulfill, And suffer patiently, the word to kill The force of sin, which would soules health bereaue, Such thou wilt heaue, And hold in heauēly arme, And with protecting hand, defend from harme.

SON. LVI.

WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see, The throne triumphant where our Sauior sits In Maiestie aloft, as best him fits, A Iudge and Sauiour to his Saints to be, Coëquall with his father in degree, Possessor of the place for vs prepard: Who readie stands our weake works to reward, And from the fury of the world to free; He were but base, if ought he did regard This transitorie honour, which so flits, Which to attaine so much doth tyre our wits, And yet so niggardly to man is shard, And afterward Doth leaue a sting behinde, Of care of conscience, and of griefe of minde.

SON. LVII.

VVHo seeketh not with all his powre and might, To eternize vnto himselfe his state? That chance or time may not his blisse rebate, Or death it selfe may not dissolue it quight? Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight, And some for wealth do trauell far and nigh, Some worldly wisedome with great studie buy, To make them famous seeme in vaine worlds sight: Which is the readiest way they do espye, To keep their name from death, which so they hate, Yea all suppose, posteritie the gate, T'immortalize this flesh, whose floure must dye: But all go wry, wealth, honor, wit haue end, And children passe, faith onely life doth lend.

SON. LVIII.

VVHat wealth may be to this alone comparde, To be co-heire with Christ of fathers loue? To haue our earthly thoughts so raysd aboue, That world and worldly things we not regard? To see by faith a kingdome rich preparde For vs, which shall eternally remaine, (Made free from worldly cares and troubles vaine) Which is for children his, a due reward? Who can discouragde be with earthly paine, Or tedious combats which the flesh doth proue? Since care of vs our Partner Christ did moue, To share our griefes, his ioy for vs to gaine: Which thoughts should waine Our wils frō base desire, And vs incourage higher to aspire.

SON. LIX.

IF Paradise were such a pleasant soyle, Where all things flourisht first and prosper daye, Wherein who liued, neuer could decaye, Till sin by Satans slight gaue man the foyle: Which blessings afterward did cleane recoyle, And left man naked in reproach and shame, To dust to turne againe from whence he came, On baren earth to liue with sweat and toyle; Then is our state much better then that same, Our Paradise a place of blisse to staye; Our Sauiour (Abrams bosome) doth displaye, Wherein our soules shall rest most free from blame, Where he our name Hath writ in booke of life, To be exempt from feare of care, or strife.

SON. LX.

VVHat is felicitie whereof men wright? Which to attaine, our studies still are bent, VVhich to procure, such time & paine is spent, By endlesse trauell therein day and night: Sure if it be nought else but firme delight, And that delight consist in peace of minde, Then here on earth this treasure none shall finde, VVhose pleasures quickly vanish out of sight: The earth doth chaunge, as seas do rise with tyde, And stormes insue the calme before that went: This happinesse but for a time is lent, And payd oft times with penance more vnkinde By fortune blinde. True blisse consists herein, To loue the Lord, and to abandon sin.

SON. LXI.

HOw many priuiledges great and rare, Do we enioy, that do thy name professe? Euen many more by far (I do confesse) Then we obserue, or how to vse be ware: To giue thy onely Sonne thou didst not spare, Vs to redeeme from deaths eternall wound; The sting of hell and sin he did confound, And way to heauen for vs he did prepare. Yea so his mercies do to vs abound, That all the worldly creatures more and lesse, Yea heauenly Angels do themselues addresse, To serue mans needfull vse are readie found: He doth propound, In Christ all these to man, And hauing him, no want annoy vs can.

SON. LXII.

BY many gifts (ô Lord) thou doest declare Thy mercies vnto man, whom thou wilt saue, The vse of all the which in Christ we haue, By hand of faith, that precious blessing rare, That doth his righteousnesse for vs prepare, Our stubburnnesse with his obedience hide, His patience doth our grosse impatience guide, His temperance with our intemperance share, His continence our frailtie lets not slide: (For changing nature ours, his strength it gaue) Our pride it hides, and hopes which faithlesse waue, And shades our hart with loue, which still shall bide; Thus euery tide, It readie is at hand, For our defence a buckler safe to stand.

SON. LXIII.

HOw should the quiet mind in peace and rest, Possessed of the thing it most desirde, (A thing so precious, none durst haue aspirde To gaine, vnlesse the giuer had him blest) How may it morne, how may she be opprest, Who hath the bridegrome alwaies in her sight: Who in her loue doth take so great delight, As by his bountie hourely is exprest? The dolefull darknesse fitteth blinded night, The shining Sunne hath cloudes of care retirde; With heauenly heate my heart it hath inspirde, Since in thy sunne I saw thy fauour bright, The which did fight, As champiō strong for mee, From cloudes of darknesse and from sin to free.

SON. LXIIII.

WHo so of perfect temprature is framde, Must needs delight in heauenly harmony: His sences so shall be renewd thereby, As sauage beasts by Orpheus harpe were tamde; Yong Dauids harpe, Sauls furious spirit shamde, And Dolfins did Aryons musicke heare. Such sympathie in all things doth appeare, That neuer musicke was by wisedome blamde: But he that could conceiue with iudgement cleare, The sweet records that heauenly motions cry, Their constant course that neuer swarues awry, But by discords, whose concords after cheare, Would hold so deare, The mouer of the same, That loue of him should base affections tame.

SON. LXV.

GReat is thy powre, and more then we conceiue, Thy glorie more then can discerned be; Mans greatest gift is this, that he may see, Or know, that vertue thine doth his bereaue: His dazeling eyes each shadow doth deceaue, His iudgement builded on inconstant ground, His strength but weaknesse in it selfe is found, His glorie, greater glorie must receiue From thee, in whom all glorie doth abound: What maiestie dare man compare with thee, To whom all creatures bow obedient knee? Whose contemplations thou doest cleane confound, Vpon this ground. True blisse & wisdome stand, To know, our wisedome floweth from thy hand.

SON. LXVI.

AS but vaine hope it is for man to trust, To thing not promised, or not in powre Of speaker to performe at pointed howre, Which is the case of flesh and bloud vniust: So call that hope, no wise man can or must, Which is performance of expected thing; When as possession doth assurance bring, Of thing whereafter we tofore did lust: The Saints in heauen in ioyfull rest do sing, Whom hope nor feare do raise or yet deuower, But men on earth haue hope a resting tower, To shield them from despightfull Satans sting: Faith is the wing Makes me to hope ascend, And truth in Christ will make my hope haue end.

SON LXVII.

GReat are the gifts ô Lord thou doest bestow On sinfull man, by thy abounding grace, Who when they want, doest neuer hide thy face, But still a patron of thy bountie show: Which makes vs both thy powre and mercy know, And so with shame and sorow to repent, Our thanklesse natures so vnkindly bent, So slacke to pay the praises which we owe: But when I do consider thou hast sent Thy Sonne himselfe for to supply our place, Whose patience did the death on crosse imbrace, Those to acquite, who did with faith assent: All speeches spent, Seeme then to me in vaine, And onely I admyring do remaine.

SON. LXVIII.

I Haue bene blind, and yet I thought I saw, And now I see, yet feare that I am blind; No blindnesse like to that is of the mind, Which doth the soule to deadly danger draw: My carelesse steps did stumble at a straw, And yet supposd my walke had bene so ware, That to haue err'd had bene a matter rare, When euery thought did violate thy law: But since to search my felfe I do prepare, So darke of sight my soule and sence I find, That if thy Christ (my loue) were not more kind, Eternall death I see should be my share. But now I dare In spight of wicked foe, A better course with constant courage goe.

SON. LXIX.

WHy should he faint or thinke his burden great, That hath a partner to support the same? Why coward-like should he his honour shame, That hath a champion readie at intreat, Who can and doth death and confusion threat, To all impediments which stop our way? On whom repose our trust we boldly may, He being iudge, and plast in mercies seat? He sees our thoughts, and knows what we would say, He doth our mouthes to fit petitions frame, He hides our errors if our faith be lame, And he himselfe doth also for vs pray, We need but stay, And trust to his good will, And we are sure he will our want fulfill.

SON. LXX.

ALthough the world do seek to stop my way, By many stumbling blocks of feare and doubt, And bid me seeke a farther way about, And on the staffe of carnall strength to stay; Though sin, though hell, though death do me denay, That any powre shall bridle their intent, But would compell me walke as worldlings went, The headlong path of pleasure to decay, Yet will I not this purpose mine repent, So long as faith will be my souldier stout, To ouerthrow this fearefull thronging rout; Whom to subdue, this grace was to me sent, No shall be spent In vaine this paine of mine, Hope against hope, shall win the field in fine.

SON. LXXI.

IT were vnfit a concubine to keepe, Or that her children should possession haue, Among the frutes which lawfull wedding gaue, By vetuous spowse which in the soule doth ••leepe; And yet behold how shamefully do creepe, Into possession of my powre and will, These thoughts and works which motions are to ill, And trench themselues in fleshly fortresse deepe: Whose base societie will with vices fill, The holy brood which grace would spotlesse saue; In such a boubt my yong affections waue, That they consent I should them foster still, But that would spill More vertuous heritage: Therefore exilde these be, though hell do rage.

SON. LXXII.

SOmetimes my nature seemeth to repine, To see the pleasure and the plenteous store, The wicked do enioy for euermore, Abounding in their corne, their oyle and wine: But when I see my weakenesse so encline, To the abuse of portion I possesse, My heart with ioy, full often doth confesse, Thy loue doth much in earthly scarstie shine; These things are good and bad, as thou doest blesse, Which I dare not directly craue therefore, Such danger followes them euen at the dore, That plentie lightly doth the ••oule oppresse; And as I guesse, Contentednesse doth grow, In gratefull mind, though state be neare so low.

SON. LXXIII.

IF he vnworthie be the sweet to tast, That shuns the sowre (as we in prouerbe say) To honor, pleasure, profit, in the way Great perill, paine, and cost, so often plast; If as vnworthie health, he be disgrast, That will refuse a bitter purge to take, When he doth know it will his feauer slake: So do temptations proue the mind more chast, If we with courage do the combat make, And to the end immoueable do stay: The more that Satan doth his spight display, The more the pride and powre of him we shake, And he will quake, And sin shall haue a fall, And faith in Christ shall triumph ouer all.

SON. LXXIIII.

TO shun the rocks of dangers, which appeare Amidst the troubled waues of worldly life, Which in each company are alwaies rife, Which with soules perill most men buy full deare, I feare almost to keep my course so neare, The conuersation of such tickle tides, And thinke him blest, that banished abides In desert, where of sin he may not heare: But when I note where so a man him hides, That still affections breed an inward strife, That nature beares about the bloudie knife, And to the death the proper soule it guides: That fancie slides Away, and I prepare, In combats of the world to fight my share.

SON. LXXV.

WEre it not straunge, that members of the same One liui••g bodie, and one parents childe, Should by the other daily be defilde? And of vnseemly thing should haue no shame? And yet we which of Christ do beare the name, And children of his father vs do call, At discord with this parent daily fall, And Christ our eldest brother do defame; It seemeth well we be but bastards all, Though stock be true, we be but Oliues wilde, Who thinks vs better, he is but beguilde, Our frutes are bitter, and increase but small, And who so shall Examine well his works, Shall see, that gall in purest thoughts there lurks.

SON. LXXVI.

IT is no light or curious conceipt, O Lord thou knowst, that maketh me to straine My feeble powres, which blindfold did remaine, Vpon thy seruice now at length to waight; But onely shame to see mans nature fraight, So full of pregnant speech to litle vse, Or rather oftentimes to thy abuse, Whilst to deceiue, they laie a golden baight; And do not rather thinke it fit to chuse, By praises thine, true praise themselues to gaine, And leaue those fond inuentions, which do staine Their name, and cause them better works refuse: Which doth abuse The gifts thou doest bestow, And oftentimes thy high contempt do show.

SON. LXXVII.

FOr common matter common speech may serue, But for this theame both wit and words do want, For he that heauen and earth and all did plant, The frutes of all he iustly doth deserue: No maruell then though oft my pen do swarue, In middle of the matter I intend, Since oft so high, my thoughts seeke to ascend, As want of wisedome makes my will to starue: But thou ô Lord who clouen tongs didst send, Vnto thy seruants, when their skils were ••cant, And such a zeale vnto thy praise that brant, As made them fearelesse speake, and neuer bend, Vnto the end, One iot from thy behest, Shall guide my stile, as fits thy glory best.

SON. LXXVIII.

HOw happily my riches haue I found? Which I no sooner sought, but it is wonne, Which to attaine, my will had scarce begunne, But I did finde it readie to abound: The silly faith I had was setled sound In Christ, although for feare it oft did pant, Which I did wish more constantly to plant, That it might all temptations so confound. With feruency this little sparkle brant, Till it inflamde my zeale, and so did runne Vnto the fountaine of true light (the sunne) Whose gracious soyle to feed it was not scant Men finde more want, The more they couet still, But more man couets this, it more doth fill.

SON. LXXXIX.

WHen desolate I was of worldly ayde, Vnable to releeue my selfe at need, Thou hadst a care my fainting soule to feed, Because my faith vpon thy fauour stayde: My dying hope thou hast with mercy payde, And as thou didst releeue thy seruant deare, Elias whom the Rauens in desert cheare; So am I comforted, whom sin affrayde. The cries of little Rauens thine eare doth heare, And slakst their hunger kindly (Lord) indeed, When parents do forsake deformed breed, That so thy prouidence might more appeare, Which shineth cleare, In blessings euery day, To me, much more then I can duly way.

SON. LXXX.

AMidst this pilgrimage where wandring I, Do trace the steps which flesh and bloud doth tred, My comfort is, that aye mine eyes are led, By gracious obiect which in faith I spy; Whose brightnesse guides my steps, which else awry Were like to slide, through Satans subtil slight, Gainst whom his holy Angels alwaies fight, And suffer not my strength too farre to try: By day his word and works are in my sight, Like to a cloud to comfort me in dread; By fire through deserts, and the sea so red, His hand doth gouerne me in dangerous night,, His fauour bright, Conducting this my way, An host of stops shall not my iourney stay.

SON. LXXXI.

I See a storme me thinks approach a farre, In darkned skie, which threatens woe at hand; Vnto my tackle I had need to stand, Lest sudden puffs my purposd course debarre: These tempting thoughts full oft forerunners are, Of fierce affections, which do moue the minde, VVhich if resistance not in time they finde, The strongest tackling they do stretch or marre; I closely therefore will my conscience binde, And arme my vessell with couragious band, Of skilfull saylers, which do know the land, VVhose harbors for my safetie are most kinde: And in my minde Shall faith the Pylot bee, VVhose skill shall make me wished port to see.

SON. LXXXII.

HOw is it that my course so soone would stay, Before I haue begun the thing I thought? If ease or pleasure I herein had sought, I had not then made choyse of such a way: More facill is the course vnto decay, More fauour with the world it will attaine; But I mislike the ioy requit with paine, And faining words, not meaning as they say: Men breake their sleeps some silly pelfe to gaine; With losse of life small honour some haue bought, Yea Philosophers pleasure set at nought, To win a name of vertue to remaine▪ Then I will waine My selfe from earthly rest, With heauenly crowne and honour to be blest.

SON LXXXIII.

VVHen I begin to faint in my conceipt, To see the little powre I haue to good; How sin hath vertue in me still withstood, And frailtie on my flesh doth alwaies waight; I am confounded and amazed straight, And readily could turne and flie the field, And all my trauell to the tempter yeeld, Before I would aduenture more to fight: But when I duly note whereon I build, My faith, which watered is with Christ his bloud, Of force sufficient to withstand the floud, And me from perill and destruction shield, I easily welde Each burden on me layd, And of my safetie nothing am affrayd.

SON. LXXXIIII.

THe chastisements which often do befall, Vnto the most belou'd of God, and blest, Doth breed vnto their soules both peace and rest, And home from wandring thoughts their mind doth call, And sure are tokens not of fauour small, Who father-like doth vs in time correct, Who else the care of him would soone reiect, And haue no heed vnto our wayes at all. The good Phisition that would life protect, Cuts of a limbe sometimes as it seemes best, And yet the patient doth the same disgest, Or any payne that worketh good effect: Should God neglect Vs then to exercise With rods, wherby to make vs grow more wise.

SON. LXXXV.

HOw should my feare or sorrow long remaine, (Although the world did swell, and ouerflow With danger, which nought else but death do show) When I by death do finde a present gaine? Faith me assures that all assaults are vaine, That seeke to seuer me from heauenly blis: The loue of Christ assureth me of this, That I with him shall safely still remaine. What though of earthly pleasures I do misse? And though the care of them vnpleasing grow, Yet this by good experience I do know, All things turne to the best to children his: I therefore kis, The crosse with ioyfull cheare, Because in chastisement doth loue appeare.

SON. LXXXVI.

ALthough those Gibeonites, the natiue borne Of sinfull flesh, haue slily me beguilde, When as I thought all lust to haue exilde, By showing faynd repentance raggd and torne: Though flesh and bloud vnto this league haue sworne, Not asking counsell of the Lord at all, By which into a snare my soule did fall, And deepe hypocrisie my powre did scorne; Yet meane I them vnto account to call, And since they haue my holy thoughts defilde, Accursed I will hold them, and as vilde, Will hate their ofsprings all, both great and small, And be they shall, But bondmen to my soule, Who daily may their proud attemps controwle.

SON. LXXXVII.

WHen I began a conquest of my will To make, and yeeld it vnto reasons law, My reason to the rule of God to draw, And by that rule to guide my actions still, It had bene wisedome first the flesh to kill, Who breeds affections, which do still withstand The building of the worke I haue in hand, And thornes are in my sides to worke me ill, But now my error I do vnderstannd, And must (by feare of wrath) keepe them in aw, And by the chastisements of sinne they saw, Make them to yeeld vnto obedient band, Then shall my land With faithfull souldiers be Replenished, and armed strengthen me.

SON. LXXXVIII.

NOt euery one that with his lips doth pray, Or praise thy name is gratefull in thy sight, Thy searching eyes haue not so much delight, In those that cry, Lord, Lord, each houre of day, But such as in thy bounds obedient stay, And make thy will a law vnto their mind, That in thy promises do comfort find, And follow not the worlds deceitfull way, To such thou showest thy selfe a father kind, And doest coroborat their heart with might, Against all powers wherewith they daily fight, Their sores thou tak'st to cure, and doest vp bind, Angels assignd, Do them inuiron round, And to their comfort, mercies do abound.

SON. LXXXIX.

HOw should I quicken vp my selfe indeed, To true and faithfull loue euen as I ought? Vnlesse I call to mind whence I was brought, And by whose aide, who did this kindnesse breed, Which when I only waigh, my heart doth bleed, To see that bountie of a God so kind, And note the dulnesse of my nature blind, That should forget the Lord, who me doth feed. When I was almost lost, he me did find; When I forgat him cleane, on me he thought, When I was sold to sinne then he me bought; When I was wounded, he my sores bid bind; Yea when I pind, He gaue me plenteous store, Which gifts I will record for euermore.

SON. XC.

VVHy should I faint or feare, or doubt at all, How fierce so euer fleshly combat show? Since I so sure a succour readie know, To shield me safe, what euer do befall? If he haue such regard of sparrowes small, As none of them (till God appoint) do dye, If to our haires which fall, he haue an eye, That none of them vnnumbred perish shall: Why should I thinke him deafe when I do cry? As though he had no care of vs below, As though he would not needfull things bestow, Although our patience he delight to try, Who can deny, But flowres that grow in field, In glory staine the beautie pride doth yeeld.

SON. XCI.

HOw do Gods blessings to his Saints abound, Whose gifts of grace, although they be but small At first, yet more and more increase they shall, As seed well watred in a frutefull ground, The proofe whereof I (sinfull) wretch haue found, Whose faith nigh famished, he now hath fed From heauen, with great increase of fish and bread, Which strengthen dying soule with comfort sound, His word for table he did open spred, His seruants for to feed me, he did call, Their dole so free, I find more fragments fall, Then in my basket, sences home haue led, Yet he hath bed To such more to bestow, As greatest store of former treasure show.

SON. XCII.

I Know not Lord how to discharge aright, The dutie that for graces great I owe, No need thou hast of me at all I know, Yet in thy seruice shall be my delight, To publish forth thy praises day and night, To serue thy Saints with gifts I shall possesse, Thy wondrous workes by all meanes to confesse, I will imploy my substance, wit, and might. The remnant of my life shall well expresse, That (dead to sin) in Christ to life I grow, Which shall to world, my mind regenerate show, Although that I, cannot sinne cleane suppresse, And will addresse My thoughts to thee alone, Because on earth true ioy or blisse is none.

SON. XCIII.

IF I did hope by pen to patterne out The many merits of thy Maiestie, (Which of thy mercies we do daily trie) And endlesse matter I should go about, But I (alas) my strength so much do doubt, That nothing lesse then such a thought I haue, To point foorth others to a thought I craue, Whose confidence in skill is much more stout. Yet dare I say that nature neuer gaue The power to flesh and bloud to looke so hye, Nor gifts of grace, full few there are apply, To giue him laud aright, that did them saue. How to behaue My selfe herein I learne, And wish my will might others likewise warne.

SON. XCIIII.

VVHat tongue or pen can shew it selfe vnkind, Vnto a father full of mercy so, Who freely doth such benefits besto, And of our case hath such a carefull mind? Before we were, a way he forth did find, Whereby to purchase vs in heauen a place, When natiue strength our glory should deface, A remedie therefore his loue assignd: He giues vs knowledge of the same by grace, Which offered is to them the which will go Vnto the word where sauing health doth grow, And faith through which our Sauiour we imbrace, And being base By birth, and thrall to hell, He vs adopts in childrens roome to dwell.

SON. XCV.

VVHy should this worldly care haue now such power To quench the comfort which the soule shall find In this our God, who is to vs so kind, The memorie of which should feare deuoure? If faith were watred well with heauenly shower Of grace, and knowledge of our happie state, It would the force of all assaults abate, And be a bulwarke strong, at trials hower. If we the world and flesh did truly hate, And made his will a law vnto our mind, If doubt of power or will, did not vs blind, Which to distrust, sets open wide the gate, Then would this rate Of worldly care be lesse, And he our faith with fauour more would blesse.

SON. XCVI.

HOw loath this flesh of mine remaineth still, To part from sinne his old companion deare, Of death or of a change, he would not heare, But would imbrace him aye with his good will, The very thought of death his thought doth kill, The very feare thereof his sorrow brings, So sweet the pleasures seeme of earthly things, That nought else can our fond affections fill. But who is wise, fro out the snare he wrings, Before perforce, death doth approch him neare, That abstinence no vertue doth appeare, When want of power subdues affections stings, But who so flings, From them when they pursue, To him pure name of vertue indeed is due.

SON. XCVII.

VVHo so would liue, of force he first must die, Death is the doore which leadeth vnto life, Life which shall be deuoyd of change and strife, Whose comfort shall our teares of sorrow drie; The way is straight the which man must go by: If to the heauens he purpose to ascend, His grosse corruption must to graue descend, And dead the power of sinne therein must lye, If he to be regenerate intend, First must he mortifie the motions rife, Of lust, which kill the soule with cruell knife, And eke his ruine presently pretend, For God will send A happie change indeed, As haruest paies with plentie plow-mans seed.

SON. XCVIII.

VVHen I with griefe sometimes to mind do call, The wofull losse that sinne to man hath brought, And want which to all creatures it hath wrought, By Satans slight, and Adams fearefull fall; I find no comfort in worlds vse at all, But wish to be dissolu'd with Christ to dwell, From whom all blessings flow and do excell, In thought whereof my comfort is not small: Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well, Into a doubt, if that in truth I ought More sorrow parents fall, which death hath brought, Or ioy the life through Christ to me befell; Yet truth to tell, I find the change so good, Our state is better now then when we stood.

SON. XCIX.

IF I can speake and like a coward crake, If I can tell the thing the which is best, If I in muster seeme to battell prest, And yet shrinke backe when I should triall make, If I indeuour others to awake, Fro out the deadly slumber they are in, And yet my selfe cannot reuolt from sin, But in the pride thereof do pleasure take, By all my trauell I no gaine shall win, Although my paine might proue to others blest, But (as the Symbals sound doth to the rest) I m••ght haps morne, when others mirth begin, The feast but thin, Would be vnto my share, Though many dishes to the guests I bare.

SON. C.

FOrtune and chance, blind guides to blisse farewell, Vpon your leasures I no more attend, I not regard what good or ill you send, Nor in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell, A greater blisse then ere through you befell, Ye made me to neglect I now do see, Whose hope from feare could nere continue free, But aye distrust did gainst my faith rebell: The earths delight the which ye promist me, Could not my soule from sorrow ought defend, Your sweete with sower was mixed in the end, So vaine and variable both they be, Then happie he That seeketh blessed rest, In Christ alone, and doth the world detest.

CONCLVSION.

VVOrds may well want, both inke and paper faile, Wits may grow dull, and will may weary grow, And worlds affaires may make my pen more slow, But yet my heart and courage shall not quaile, Though cares and troubles do my peace assaile, And driue me to delay thy prayse awhile, Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile, Thy mercies Lord by which my plaints preuaile. And though the world with face should gratefull smile, And me her pedlers packe of pleasures show, No heartie loue on her I would bestow, Because I know she seekes me to beguile, Ne will defile My happie peace of mind, For all the solace I in earth may find.

FINIS.