Emblemes by Fra: Quarles

X. PSAL. CXLIII.II. Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living bee iustified.

Jesus. Justice. Sinner.

Ies.

BRing forth the prisner, Iustice.

Iust.

Thy commands Are done, just Iudge; See here the prisner stands.

Ies.

What has the prisner done? Say; what's the cause Of his committment?

Iust.

He has broke the lawes Of his too gracious God; conspir'd the death Of that great Majesty that gave him breath, And heapes transgression, Lord, upon transgression:

Ies.

How know'st thou this?

Iu.

Ev'n by his own confessiō: His sinnes are crying; and they cry'd aloud; They cry'd to heav'n; they cry'd to heav'n for blood:

Ies.

What sayst thou sinner? hast thou ought to plead, That sentence should not passe? Hold up thy head, And shew thy brazen, thy rebellious face.

Sin.

Ah me! I dare not: I'am too vile and base, To tread upon the earth, much more, to lift Mine eyes to heav'n; I need no other shrift Than mine owne conscience; Lord, I must confesse, I am no more than dust, and no whit lesse

Than my Inditement stiles me; Ah, if thou Search too severe, with too severe a Brow, What Flesh can stand? I have transgrest thy lawes; My merits plead thy vengeance; not my cause.

Iust.

Lord shall I strike the blow?

Ies.

Hold, Iustice, stay, Sinner, speake on; what hast thou more to say?

Sin.

Vile as I am, and of my selfe abhor'd, I am thy handy-worke, thy creature, Lord, Stampt with thy glorious Image, and at first, Most like to thee, though now a poore accurst Convicted Caitiffe, and degen'rous creature, Here trembling at thy Bar.

Iust.

Thy fault's the greater; Lord shall I strike the blow?

Ies

Hold, Iustice, stay, Speake, sinner; hast thou nothing more to say?

Sin.

Nothing but Mercy, Mercy; Lord, my state Is miserably poore and desperate; I quite renounce my selfe, the world, and flee From Lord to Iesus; from thy selfe, to Thee.

Iust.

Cease thy vaine hopes; my angry God has vow'd: Abused mercy must have blood for blood: Shall I yet strike the blow?

Ies.

Stay, Iustice, hold; My bowels yearne, my fainting blood growes cold, To view the trembling wretch; Me thinks, I spye My fathers Image in the pris'ners eye:

Iust.

I cannot hold.

Jes.

Then turne thy thirsty blade Into my sides: let there the wound be made: Cheare up, deare soule; Redeeme thy life with mine: My soule shall smart; My heart shall bleed for thine.

Sin.

O ground-lesse deepes! O love beyond degree! Th'offended dies, to set th'offender free.

S. AUGUST.

Lord, if I have done that, for which thou mayest damne mee; thou hast not lost that, whereby thou mayest save me: Remember not sweet Jesus, thy justice against the sinner, but thy benignity towards thy Creature: Remember not to proceed against a guil∣ty soule, but remember thy mercy towards a miserable wretch: Forget the insolence of the provoker, and behold the misery of the invoker; for what is Jesus but a Saviour.

ANSELM.

Have respect to what thy Sonne hath done for me, and forget what my sinnes have done against thee: My flesh hath provoked thee to vengeance; let the flesh of Christ move thee to mercy: It is much that my rebellions have deserved; but it is more that my Redeemer hath merited.

EPIG. 10.

Mercie of mercies! He that was my drudge Is now my Advocate, is now my Iudge: He suffers, pleads, and sentences, alone: Three I adore, and yet adore but One.