Lord in thy wrath reprooue me not. &c.
Psalme. 6.

TAke away (ô Lord) the arme of thy seueare and heauy vengeance from me, for it will else driue me downe headlong as a violent streame into euerlasting death and Condemnation, and consume mee like fier, and the rest of my bodie shall be turned into ashes. And what eye shall be able to abide, but must needs perish with feare, to behold the onely looke of thine angrie face, when as in casting thine eye vppon vs, thou shalt pierce the Page  132 verie bottoms of our hearts, and disco∣uer the secrets of our vncleane con∣sciences? For our abhominable sinnes will blowe the bellowes of thy iust anger vpon our heads, and thine hote burning wrath will all at once cast vs downe headlong into that fearefull gulfe of paines, torments, and mise∣ries. And therefore before such time as thy furie doth arise against me, and that thou with iust disdaine commest to ouerthrow and destroy me, I be∣seech thee to geue eare vnto the humble and grieuous groanes which my fearefull heart powreth out vnto thee.

2 Mercie therefore ô Lord, mer∣cie I craue: Oh my God, what wilt thou do? Shall thy mightie power and strength make tryall of mine infirmi∣ties? Thinkest thou my God, that I come before thee to wrastle against thy mightie power? No, no, O Lord, it is vnto thy clemencie that I runne, it is vnder her wing that I place my selfe, that she might arme her selfe against the rigour of the condem∣nation which I most iustlie haue deserued. Appease therefore some∣what Page  133 what thy countenance, and seeing that I haue along while called vp∣on thy goodnesse, helpe and deliuer me from all those euils which do be∣siege me, for behold I leade my life in most pittifull manner, and me thin∣keth that all my bones are brused and broken.

3 Howbeit, it is not my poore bo∣die onely that is thus cruelly afflicted, but my miserable soule also doth sor∣row and grieue. This soule of mine, O Lord, yea euen this soule of mine, who is fully and wholy purposed with her voice to glorifie the author of her life, is cast downe and become desolate, without either courage or strength. And as the fearfull Doue hideth her selfe in some small hole or creauie at the noise of thunder, euen so my soule when she beholdeth thine heauie in∣dignation, seeketh the darkest and ob∣scurest places for her retraite. But how long O Lord will thine anger last?

4 Howbeit, come O my Lord, come, and looke vpon me with thy pittifull eyes, with which thou canst not blot out my sinne alone, but all the sinnes of the world also. For, I feele my soule Page  134 sticke fast in a most filthie and deepe puddle of iniquitie, therein she lieth drowned ouer head and eares, and stretcheth out her hand, O Lord vnto thee: alas, pluck her out of it, O Lord, and set her againe into the way of sal∣uation. Saue her, O Lord, for she con∣iureth thee therunto, by thine infinite goodnesse, and incredible mercy. True it is, O Lord, that she no whit deser∣ueth the same, neither oughteth she to hope for any helpe at his hand, whom she hath so cowardly forsaken, against whose honour she hath so wic∣kedly conspired: the reward of whose sinne deserueth no fauour, but hell fier and eternall death.

5 But who, O Lord, shall sing thy praises, and sound thy name in the infernall pit, and in the bottomlesse depth of death? For it is the house of sorrow, for there is nothing heard and seene, but howling & torments, where contrariwise, thy praise consisteth one∣ly in setting forth of thine infinit mer∣cy, goodnesse and clemencie.

6 And besides, behold on the one side, how humble repentance maketh intercession for me, and hath sworne Page  135 that she will neuer depart from me vn∣till such time as she hath reconciled me vnto thee. And on the other side, consider how humble praier importu∣neth thee for me, and hath sworne also that she will neuer be frō thine heeles, vntill such time as she hath reconciled me vnto thee. O my God, thou hast of∣ten times seene my teares & heard my grones. I daily wash my face with tears, through the remēbrance of my sins, & I cause my bed to swim with the teares that trickle down my eyes: what is that O Lord, which repentance cōmandeth me, that I do not religiously obserue?

7 I cast downe mine eies, & tremble with feare, when I behold thy angry countenance. I patiently beare the re∣bukes of mine enemies, & take in good part their reproches, as a iust punish∣mēt for my sinnes, I walke before their faces in sackcloth & ashes, and with the confession of my mouth, I kneele at the feete of thine aulters. I with rods make leane my flesh, which caused my soule to sin, howbeit mine enemies do but laugh at my trouble, which place them selues round about me, with mocks to betray me.

8 But when as thou hast mercie vp∣on me, I will say vnto them, Away from me yee children of iniquitie, yee shall no longer laugh at my miserie: The Lord hath heard my praier, and my teares haue appeased his anger, and behold I now enioy the fruite of his holy fauour. The light of his goodnesse hath shined vpon me? and behold the stormes that came about my head, are calmed and dasht in a moment.

9 With much a do haue I opened my lips to call vpon him for aide, with much a do could I get mine heart to crie him mercy, and I haue found his grace to be powred vpon me, comfort∣ting and quickening my languishing and sick soule, euen as warme water refresheth a poore surbatted traueller. O incredible clemency! how ready O Lord art thou to pardon and forgiue? I runne to offend thee, and yet thou wilt shew me fauour, I haue bestowed all the daies of my life both by sea and by land, to hunt after ambition, co∣uetousnessc, and filthie lust, and when I haue beene ouer head and eares, and vtterly vndone in my beastly delights, yet hast thou in a moment pierced the Page  137 uens and the clouds to come downe to deliuer me: so as behold me now tri∣umphing ouer my sinne, which most humbly followed the trophes of my re∣pentance, which hath found grace be∣fore thee. And so, the hope, which my sinnes had as it were strangled, is now more liuely then euer it was before, which promiseth me not onely the Empires of the world, that bend them∣selues which way soeuer the Lord en∣clineth them, but also openeth vnto me the highest heauens, and assureth me after an happy life here in this world, to enioy the heauenly immor∣talitie.

10 What will mine enemies then do, when as they shall see me stored with so great felicitie? They will then surely blush with shame, & their soules will be greatly troubled, and returne altogether confounded and amazed: for he, whom they thought to be vtter∣ly ouerthrowne, is now set in an high∣er degree, then euer before he was. Alas, they all made a scorne at my ashes, they laughed at my fastings, and whilst I with abstinence straue against my flesh, the very enemy vnto my Page  138 soule, they bathed themselues in the pleasures of the world: but loe the arme of the Lord is ready to thunder & lighten vpon their insolencie. O my God, giue them a long time to acknow∣ledge the extreame danger wherein they are, and to call vnto thee from on high, for the onely remedy of their dis∣ease: and as for my selfe, who feele my soule purge her selfe of the filthy mat∣ters which are in and about her, who feele my spirit inflamed with the fier of thy loue, teach my lips to set forth thy praises, lift vp my voice to resound thy mercies, and guide mine affections sincerely to loue thee, and to establish in the knowledge of thy truth, my so∣ueraigne happines & chiefest felicitie.

Blessed are they vnto whom, &c.
Psalme. 31.

BLessed are they my God, whose sinnes thou hast pardoned, and whose ini∣quities thou hast buried in the toombe of obliuion Alas, what shall become of him, whose iust punishment thou doost still conti∣nue Page  139 vpon him for his iniquities? An ar∣mie of euils encompasse him, pouerty assaulteth him, sicknesse afflicteth him, famine presseth him, and death it self, which he thinketh to be the porte of this tempestuous nauigation, is the bottomlesse pit which must draw him vnto euerlasting torments.

2 And therefore they are three or foure times blessed, whom God calleth not vnto a reckoning for their deedes, but is contented to haue them humble themselues before him, acknowledging their infirmities, & opening vnto him the very bottom of their harts. For we must by true confession, and with a sincere conscience, call vpon him for his mercies: and he that will be heard, must humble himselfe before him, for as he that goeth vnto a riuer or pond, putteth downe the mouth of his vessell to take vp the water: so must he also do that humbleth himselfe before his cre∣ator, that will draw and taste of the water of this holy spring, from whence runneth the moisture, which onely purgeth and clenseth our consciences.

3 I haue somtimes thought, O my God, to hide my sinnes away frō thee, Page  140 and haue said within my selfe: how shall he vnderstand what I haue done or not? And so haue my sinnes putri∣fied within my bones, and as the vlcers and foule sores of a shamefast disea∣sed man, who dareth not shew his dis∣ease vnto the Surgion, encrease and waxe worse, euen to the vtter ouer∣throw of the body: euen to haue the sinnes which I haue hid from thee mightily infected me.

4 But in the end, thou hast day and night, so heauily laid thy hand vpon me, and made me taste of such a num∣ber of sorts of miseries, amongst which my soule taketh no rest, being ouer∣come with the continuall pricking of my conscience, that pierceth euen through mine heart, that I haue ac∣kowledged my fault, which I present∣ly beare vpon mine hand. Behold and acknowledge this my God, but not in thine anger, for the dropping teares which with much weeping haue al∣most put out mine eyes, ought also put out thy iustly hoate burning ire. And besides, am not I the worke of thine owne hands? nay, am not I rather the very liuely image of thy Deitie? And Page  141 what is he that is so angrie, as that he wil bruse or breake the worke, which it pleased him so to polish and make per∣fect, when as he seeth it to be foule & filthy? In very deed, I must needs con∣fesse, that this image is laden with filthie matter, but is it not better to make it cleane and neate, then to breake it in peeces and tread it vnder feete?

5 Teach me then my God, what satisfaction I shall make, for I haue now laid open vnto thee all the sinnes which before I had concealed. For, the feare wherein I was, when I hid my selfe from thee, is at this present that I haue discouered my selfe vnto thee, changed into hope of grace and pardon. And now I cast my selfe be∣tweene thine armes, as into the most assured defence I haue, euen with such a countenance, as the poore pacient that sheweth his wound to the Barbar, looketh wishly vpon him, and couragi∣ouslie suffereth his searching and lancing, by reason of the desire and hope that he hath to be healed. But that which giueth me a greater hope of health, is, that the sinnes wherein I Page  132 before tooke pleasure, make me now abhor to see them, euen as the meates wherewith a man in health gorgeth himselfe, are very lothsome vnto his stomack, when he is weake and sickly. And that which made me before bold and male part, I am now ashamed of, when as I consider the hazard of death whereunto my pride had exposed my poore soule. I giue my most hearty thankes for the day wherein I was en∣lightened to acknowledge my sinne. I do acknowledge my God, that day to be a singular testimonie of thy good∣nesse toward me: graunt then that the delight which I haue taken to be displeased with my selfe, may likewise continue as long with me, as I haue had pleasure to dwell in my sins. For, if I can take as great pleasure in my re∣pentance, as I haue taken in my sinne, my felicity shalbe without doubt equal with thine angels, & shall see me in the humiliation of my selfe before thy maiesty to ascend to the highest top of thy grace.

6 Who doubteth, O Lord, that thou wilt not receiue me vnto mercy? whose mercy and benignitie no tongue is a∣ble Page  133 to expresse, nor hart comprehend? I did neuer thinke so soone to returne vnto thee, as thou wast alwayes ready to offer thy selfe vnto me. I did neuer sooner say that I would confesse my sinne, but that thou diddest by and by graunt me thy grace. I haue no sooner acknowledged the punishment which my sinnes deserued, but that thou hast remitted them, I haue taken the rods into my hands to scourge my flesh, & thou hast pluckt them out of my hands. To be short, I thought thou wouldest haue proclaimed open warre against me, and thou offeredst me a most charitable peace and reconciliation. O Lord, how farre readier and more willing art thou to forgiue, then to pu∣nish? Can a good father receiue his child more gratiously, that cryeth him mercy, then thou hast receiued me when as I haue humbled my selfe at thy feete? my heart also leapeth with ioy, and boileth with an holy feruent∣nesse to praise thy name, & reioyceth in the grace that thou hast shewed vn∣to it, accusing none but it selfe, of that that is past, and cryeth out, saying; It is I that haue willed it, it is I that Page  144 haue done it, it is I that haue taken pleasure in it, but yet my God hath had mercy vpon me.

7 How could he denie me his mer∣cie, seeing that the Saints which are the holy men and women liuing, haue prayed, do pray, and will continually pray for me? They are they which be∣seech his maiestie for me, and are a meane of his grace & fauour towards me? What can they O Lord craue at thy hands to greater purpose, and ob∣taine of thee more easily, then when they pray for me? Alas, it is very meet that they should crie & call vpon thee for me, seeing that the impietie of mine heart, hath so blinded my sences by wicked thoughts, as that my soule cannot any more lift vp her selfe to∣wards heauen, to stretch forth her hand vnto him, who alone is both able and willing to saue. And therfore what more remaineth, but that they whom thou vouchsafest to come neare vnto thee by faith and holinesse of life, may pray for me vnto thee, that thou woul∣dest haue mercy vpon me? As for my selfe, who am mine owne capitall ene∣mie, I haue neuer had eyther skill or Page  145 yet will to pray vnto thee for my tres∣passe. And therefore I do presently comfort my selfe, to see how thou hast opened mine eyes, that I may behold what a foule and black conscience I haue, and hast mollified mine heart, that I might lodge contrition in my soule. And although it hath not beene so soone as it ought to haue beene, yet •t neuer came so late, but that thou vouchsafedst to receiue me, as thou •rt wonted to do those that haue not ouerslipped the occasion to repent •hemselues.

8 For they that hasten themselues •o sinne, and willingly neglect to re∣•ent, whē as they might haue acknow∣•edged their sinnes, and haue had the meanes to do it, but haue tarried vnto •he very end of their liues to crie thee mercy, and make their eyes burst out •nto a deluge of teares, it is very dan∣gerous but that they must deceiue •hemselues, and that true repentance can neuer after enter into such hard hearts, and their weeping and wailing •o be but the sorrowes of desperate people, and thy mercy to shew it selfe deafe vnto their ouer late repentance.

9 But as for me, I ranne in a b•…∣sed time vnto thee, as to my re•… and to the end of my hopes, and 〈◊〉 to my comfort in the trouble wh•… after that manner hath enc ompas•… me, as the feare of death taketh h•… on him, who is destined vnto a sha•… full punishment. And therefore I b•∣seech thy maiestie, make me taste 〈◊〉 feele that pleasure, which he feele that is deliuered and freed from 〈◊〉 bonds or chaines, set at libertie 〈◊〉 of prison, and deliuered from the •…∣nishment wherein his enemy had 〈◊〉 time held him captiue. And co•…∣riwise, that the enemy of my so•… shall blush with shame, when as 〈◊〉 shall see, that I shall so deuoutly 〈◊〉 vpon the ayde of my good God, 〈◊〉 with the very winke of his eye is 〈◊〉 to deliuer me from the volu•… bondage which I had vowed 〈◊〉 damnable voluptuousnesse, 〈◊〉 then when I dranke the sweet h•… of the delightfull pleasures, which 〈◊〉 with a deceitfull hand gaue vnto 〈◊〉 within this foule and filthie cup of 〈◊〉 world.

10 Alas, when as I remember 〈◊〉 Page  147 time that thou returnedst thy selfe af∣ter that sort vnto me, and with this mercifull eye of thine, gauest me a signe of pardon, mercie, and saluati∣on, me thought verely that I then saw the bright sunne rising, vpon the tempests, and fell stormes of the sea, which by little and little, cutting with his beames betweene the clouds, brought againe cleare and pleasant weather, and calmed the raging and billowing surges. And me thinketh I do alwayes heare this sweete and gratious saying, when as thou saiest vnto me; Feare not, for behold my spirit, which shall guide thy foote steppes and wayes: neither shall he lift vp his eye aboue thee: and thou shalt now marche vnder the conduct of him, who bringeth pure and cleane soules into my kingdome of glorie. All so soone as I heard these wordes spoken, I fixed mine eyes vpon my guide and leader, not once looking off, no more then a care∣full and diligent maister of a shippe casteth his eye aside from the pole, or bright shining starre, by which he guideth and ordereth the course Page  148 of his nauigation. O my God, what 〈◊〉 shall I enioy when as I shall haue wal∣ked in the wayes which thou had taught me, to go in, euen I my selfe, say, who haue troade beside the p•… which leadeth vnto thine holy tab•…∣nacle? I was already entred into th• thick forrest of the world, where a• they easily lose themselues, who, s• the enioying of the pleasure of th•… queachie shadowie places, leaue 〈◊〉 day light which should shew them 〈◊〉 way. For euen by and by the dole•… sight of the night bringeth them toge∣ther, and putteth them foorth a•… pray to the wilde beasts, who will plu•… them in peeces, and cruelly deuou• them. And thus was I hindered a•…∣staied in this labyrinth, without ho•… to 〈◊〉 euer come out of it agai•… had 〈◊〉 thou not put into my hand th•… bottom which I must needs winde 〈◊〉 to bring me out of this perilous, p•…∣son. And now loe, I am at libertie •…∣serue my God, who hath so deliuere• me, and to present before him his own pure and cleane image, and to vow v•∣to his goodnesse so many fauour• wherewith he hath pleased to gra•… Page  149 me. And he hath not onely heard me before all the rest of his creatures, granting vnto me the vse of diuine reason, but also hath lifted me vp a∣mongst men, into an honourable and magnificent throne, so as there remai∣neth nothing vnto my felic it i•, but to learne to know: and after that I had forgot my selfe, he enlightened me by his holy light, and gaue me time and will to bewaile my sinfull life past, and to amend it also for the time to come.

11 And therefore my good friends, do as I haue done, and recouer his fauour in good time; for he himselfe •alleth you vnto the way of saluati∣on; and do not as the melancholike and froward Moyle dooth; who kic∣keth at him that pricketh him to go eight foorth: because he wanteth both sence, knowledge, and iudge∣ment.

12 And so thereby he hath a bitte •ut into his mouth, and is continu∣ally spurred about the flankes. Af∣ter the same sort; The Lord, at the first summons, that he setteth you in his wayes, if yee submit not your Page  150 selues vnto his will, he will po•… downe vpon you an huge heape 〈◊〉 calamities, which will make you 〈◊〉 wretched and miserable then mise•… it selfe.

13 Yee right well see how clee•… lie the starres shine in the heaue•… and the sand which rolleth on these shore: howbeit, there is not so mu•… sand in the sea, nor so many starre in the skies, as the obstinate sha•… endure plagues and punishment. Their cursednesse hangeth ouer their heads, their miseries follow them a• their heeles, euen vntill such tim• as that they are cast downe headlo•… into that gulfe, the thinking where•… dooth terrifie whom soeuer remen∣breth it, and whose pleasantest re∣sting places, are full of weeping, cry∣ing, howling, and groaning, where the paine is without end, the dolour without remedie, and the repea∣tance without mercie: where dead is immortall, the body liueth but 〈◊〉 die, and the soule, but to suffer where the soule feeleth nothing b•… her sinne, and the body nothing 〈◊〉 his paine. But contrariwise, they th•… Page  151 couer themselues vnder the grace and fauour of the Lord Iesus, which make his mercy their shield and buckler, hope in nothing but in his grarious goodnesse, follow his commaunde∣ments and precepts, and are iealious of his will, what felicitie and happi∣nesse is there which they shall not at∣taine vnto? Nay, what is there in heauen neuer so good and pretious, that is not opened vnto them? They shall sit cheeke by cheeke with their God, and being all encompassed with glory, shall be filled and heaped vp with so many blessings, as that the heart of man can no way possiblie be able to conceiue the least part of them, so farre of is it then, as that my babbling tongue cannot possiblie expresse the wonderfulnesse of them.

14 I will therefore reioyce, my God, in carefully waiting and loo∣king for the manifold benefits which thou reseruest in heauen, to crowne the righteous withall. Vnto this cheer∣fulnesse do I inuite al those whom thou hast sworne in the word of Sauiour, which louest the law of his righteous∣nesse: This is it, that attendeth the Page  152 recompence of your trauels. This is it wherein you shall be placed in ho∣nour and glorie: This is it, that shall change the sharpe thornes of the world, into the flourishing and beau∣tifull Lillie of all eternitie. Oh, then shall the dropping and painfull swea∣ting of your afflictions finde most gratious rest. The golde commeth not out of the fierie furnace, more pure nor brighter, to be cast, to make the image of some great Prince, and afterward to be set vp as an ornament in some rich closet, then the heart of him that loueth his God, he will draw him pure and cleane out of the mi∣series of the world, and compasse him with brightnesse and glorie. What i• there now in the world, that I shall like of? What shall staie and let me from entring into the house of the Lord, to liue to serue him? What day of my life shall I cease to bewaile my sinnes, which haue so farre estranged me from his grace? And therefore I humblie beseech thee my God, to re∣concile these two contrary passions in me, repentance and ioye: to the end, that as the poore traueller, wan∣dring Page  153 in the deserts our of his way, is glad when he seeth the dawning of the day peepe, and yet cannot for∣get the great darkenesse out of which he is but newly gotten, ne yet cast of the feare which he had of so tedious a night. Euen so also haue I a continuuall horror of my sinnes past, and yet a sure and ioyfull hope of enioying that euerlasting blessed∣nesse, which thou hast purchased for vs with the bloud of thy dearely be∣loued sonne Christ Iesus. O Lorde, what a loue is that, when as a mai∣ster dooth not spare the life of his owne onely sonne, to redeeme his slaue? Wherefore, O most louing Sauiour, seeing that I being formed with thine owne hands, bought with thy bloud, and purified by thy mer∣cie, I do here offer my selfe an obedi∣ent sacrifice vnto thee my God and Sauiour, and therefore reiect me not.

Lord in thy wrath reprooue me not.
Psalm. 37.

I Must, O Lord, returne vnto thee, and beginne againe to call vpon thee, and to beseech thee of thy mercy: For it see∣meth to me that thine anger is rekin∣dled against me. Alas my God, wilt thou chastise me in thine anger, and make me feele the violence of thy iust furie, which my sinnes haue prouoked thee to do? The flame being consu∣med by the fire falleth into ashes, and I being deuoured with the heate of thine anger, do so vanishaway, as that there remaineth not so much as the smoake.

2 For, I see my God, that thou hast discharged the sharpest arrowes of •…y vengeance against me: thou hast tou∣ched me with thine hand, and neuer takest away the same from me. I feele the gnawing and terror of my consci∣ence which astonish and bruse me euē Page  155 as it were thunder and lightning: my miseries came vpon me one after an∣other, and one mischiefe presseth an∣other: warre is no sooner finished, but that the plague assaulteth me, and in the end, death bereaueth me of the dearest pawnes I haue in this world. Wherein then shall I take comfort my God? shall it be in my selfe?

3 Out alas, my good God, I haue ne∣uer an whole member in me: for my misery is entred euen into the mar∣row: neither is there any part of me that reprocheth me not with my sinne, and for the which I am not pained. I languish in griefe, and there is none to comfort me, mine eyes serue me for none other purpose, but to looke vpon my miserie; and my soule, for nothing else but to acknowledge my cursednesse.

4 I looke round about me, and so farre as the eyes of my body and eyes of my soule can discerne what is past, I see nothing either aboue me, or be∣low me, or yet on any side of me, but sinne which inuironeth me round a∣bout, and mine iniquities which presse and ouer throwe me: They lye Page  156 heaped vpon my head, as a very heauy burden, and loe how ready they are to throttle and strangle me.

5 How shall I be euer able to resist them? What strength haue I to de∣fend me from them, seeing that my body is ready to fall in peeces? The very filthinesse of them flowe on eue∣ry side me: my vlcers and sores are no sooner closed vp, but that they breake out againe, and if my body be ill, can my soule be well? Must not she be al∣together ashamed, and tremble with horror and feare?

6 After the same maner that a dis∣ease vndermineth my body, & maketh it stoope to death, & sorrow vndermi∣neth my soule, & bereaueth her of her strength, and as great cold congealeth in the bud, the tender blossom, withe∣reth & drieth it vp, euen so dooth the finger of the Lord, which hath touched my soule, cause it to languish and to be out of heart.

7 But alas, my God, what courage can I haue, when as I see my selfe thus couered ouer with wounds, and no part of my body free from paine, and ouer and besides this my miserie, the Page  157 remembrance of my dissolute plea∣sures is still before my face, and re∣proch me with my sinne, & laugh at my vanitie. Then say I thus vnto my selfe, must I season my life with the honie of so many delights, and afterward kneade them with the gall of so bitter anguishes? Where now art thou ô thou deceitfull voluptuousnesse, which drownest my soule in the sweet licour of thy pleasures? Oh, what drinke is that, that thou leauest me?

8 Haue not I, ô Lord, endured enough? hath not mine humilitie suf∣ficiently chastized mine arrogancie? If I haue through fond presumption sinned, alas, I haue sithence that, crept vpon the earth, I haue couered mine head with ashes, and with mine arme haue I preuented my payne. I haue cut through mine heart with crying out, I haue drowned mine eyes in teares, and yet thine anger continu∣eth still.

9 Is it of set purpose, ô Lord, that thou hast not perceiued my teares? Is it thou I say, who with the twinkle of thine eye trauersest both heauen and earth? euen thou I meane, whose Page  158 sight goeth beyond the depth of our harts. It is thou, ô Lord, that hast read euen my very thoughts, and knowne mine intent. What haue I desired but thy mercie? Wherin haue I trusted but in thy goodnes? Why haue I made open profession of repentance, but to condemne my selfe? If my toong hath not throughly expressed my minde, and caused my desier to be vnderstood, alas, ô Lord, thou knowest what we would haue, before we once thinke of it. It is enough for vs to lift vp our harts vnto thee, and thou forthwith grauntest our petitions.

10 Why stayest thou, ô Lord, so long, before thou geuest me that holie cōso∣lation which thou hast promised me? I am quite spent, my hart is gone, my senses are troubled, my strēgth faileth, my sight waxeth dim, & my soule is vpō the shore of my lips ready to fly away.

11 All my friends are now about me bewailing my death, they are out of all hope of my health, they dreame of no∣thing but of my funerall, saying, where is now that help which he looked for to come frō his God? where is his fauour which he so promised to himselfe?

12 The flatterers are gon away from me, they thought to haue parted my goods, they meant to haue preuented my fatall houre, I am noisome to the whole world, in the case that I now stād.

13 They whisper in mine eare, and tell me a thousand tales: They dayly bring me in new acquaintances, and thinke of nothing but to betray me. He lieth, say they, on his death-bed, and will neuer rise vp aliue againe: What? do we feare, that the shadowe of his bones will bite vs?

14 And I, as if I had bin deafe, made shew that I heard them nor, and as if I had bin dumb, spake not one word vn∣to them: for, my patiēce was my buck∣ler, and my constancy my rampart.

15 And euery man seing me so patiēt, said, surely this man is dumb: for, when he is touched, he saith not a word: would he abide all these indignities, if he had any feeling of his honor and credit, or yet the least .courage in the world? And therefore it may well be said, that he is very guilty: for▪ an inno∣cent man is alwayes bold in his owne defence. And yet all this could neuer •oue mee.

16 And why so? verely, because I trusted in my God, and fully assured my selfe that he would assist me. For, although the whole world banded a∣gainst me, and heauen and earth con∣iured my ruine and ouerthrow, yet if he be mine ayder and defendor, I am sure alwayes to conquer. For, with the breath of his mouth hee made all things, and in breathing againe vpon them, he will destroy them all if it please him: and therefore I will fight vnder his cloth and liuerie, because I shall be sure to haue the victorie.

17 I haue sayd vnto them many times, Reioyce not at my miserie, and although I be neuer so much tormen∣ted and afflicted, yet braue not your selues vpon me, for the hand of the Lord is able euen to reach you: and therefore trust not his patience ouer much, for as his feet are of wooll, so are his armes also of iron. For, if he once lay them vpon your heads, ô ye impo∣tent soules, he will so crush you toge∣ther, as that a man would thinke that you had neuer bene.

18 And I, haue taken the rods in my hand, and imprinted with them Page  161 vpon my shoulders, the condemnation of my sinne, I haue appeared before thee ô Lord with weeping teares, with repentance in my mouth, and with a sorrowfull hart, and haue fought with my selfe, that mine enemie might not triumph ouer me.

19 I haue openly confessed my fault, I haue in an happie houre shew∣ed foorth my sinne, and I had great care to runne vnto thy mercy whilst time and season serued.

20 But the more I humble my selfe before thee to drawe the running wa∣ter out of this founraine of thy grace which floweth from thy goodnes, the more mine enemies glut me, and deale cruelly and butcherlike with me, their troupe dayly encreaseth, and ioyne them selues together on euery side, neuer foreseeing the tempest that will shake them in a thousand pecces. They, through their pride, blow the hote burning coles of thine ire, they despite thy power, which they will too too soone make try all of, to their great destruction. To be short, in setting most confidently their brasen faces a∣gainst heauen and earth, they wallow Page  162 and welter them selues in their filthie pleasures, and blot out as much as in them lye the mark of the deitie, which thou hast sealed in their soules, & close vp their eyes against the hope of salua∣tiō which shineth brightly in thy word.

21 I cease not, ô Lord, to admonish them of it, but they repay me ill for good, and laugh at that which I by my good example do, to please thee. They walke at the corners of the streetes slāderously to accuse me, & burden me with a thousand villanies: I confesse ô Lord that heereby I lose my patience.

22 But I beseech thee, ô Lord, to strengthen my weaknes, and in no wise forsake me, for else I shall stumble as a yong child at the first headlong break∣neck which shall offer it selfe vnto me. Increase in me ô Lord strength & cou∣rage, equall vnto mine afflictiō, & hold me vnder thy wing, geuing me alwayes that cōstancy & firmnesse which I shal haue need of for that purpose, neither more nor lesse, then a louing mother doth, when as she geueth the teat vnto her sucking child, so soone as she per∣ceiueth it beginneth to cry.

23 Nourish me therfore, ô Lord, with Page  163 the milke of thy holy loue, to the end that I being some-what able to stand, may day & night walke the trace of thy paths, that I may come vnto saluation, the hope wherof shineth in thy promi∣ses, so as if my sin shall go about to cut me off in the way, I may vnclose mine eyes, & neuer shut them againe, vntill such time as I haue drowned & swallo∣wed them vp in my teares.

Haue mercy on me ô Lord
Psalme. 50.

Haue pitie on me, ô my God, according to the greatnesse of thy clemencie, and in the multitude of thy mercy, forgeue me the punishment which I haue iustly deserued. For, if thou •bokest that my fastings, watchings, and prayers, should make satisfac∣tion for my sinne: Alas, ô Lorde, when would that be? Mine offence exceedeth heauen and earth, and hath surpassed, as farre as it can, the greatnesse of the whole world. Page  164 Who can then bring it to passe for the vtterly blotting of it out, saue only thine holy mercy, which is somuch the greater, by how much thy righteousnes excedeth ours? It is thy mercy, ô Lord, that enuironeth the vniuersall world, and which vpholdeth all the staggering corners thereof that are readie to fall vpon our heads, to burie in the ruine of it with vs, the remembrance of ou• sinnes, to turne away thine eyes from our vnthankfull disloyall, vnmerci∣full, and stiffenecked race and gene∣ration, which disauoweth thee her be∣ing, creation, and conseruation. Let this mercifull goodnes of thine there∣fore, ô Lord, which shineth in thy dei∣tie aboue all the rest of thy vertue•, spread it selfe now ouer me, not thin•… and sparingly, but flowingly and boun∣tifully. And as thou diddest once let the waters ouerflowe the tops of the hyest mountaines, to extinguish and swallow vp the wicked, so also make thou a brooke of mercy, ô Lord, to disgorge and poure it selfe forth vpon me, not to drowne, ô Lord, but to wath and cleanse me.

2 Howbeit, thou art not concented Page  165 to purge me for once, neither doest thou say vnto me, that thou hast rege∣nerated and washed me, in the bloud of the vndefiled & innocent lamb, for how pure and cleane soeuer thou once hast made me, thou shalt now finde me as foule and filthie. For, I am now fallen into so deepe a filthie sinke, and am so bemired and besmeared, as that thou wouldest neuer know me, by rea∣son that I am so disfigured. For I some∣times question with my selfe, and aske my selfe, whether I be he or no whome thy hands creared, but mine heart is so confounded and ashamed, as that it dareth not geue me any answere. O my God, thou createdst me of the clay and slime of the earth, and loe, ô Lord, I am euen the very selfe and same that I was, before thou diddest put thy hand vnto me. I haue quite and cleane marred my shape & coun∣tenance, by cloathing my selfe with clay and dirt. But why doest thou not ô Lord, reforme me anew? Is thine hand shortned? Is thy will in doing good to thy creature, abated? Alas, thou art Almightie, thou art altoge∣ther good, why then makest thou not Page  166 haste? O Lord my God, the worke of thine own hand setteth it selfe against thee, and taketh pleasure in disfiguring and deforming of it selfe: but set thou, ô Lord, thy selfe against thy workman∣ship, and make it glorious & perfect, in despite of it selfe. But I, ô Lord, will no more peruersely deale against thee, take me & hold me, & turne me which way soeuer thou wilt, knead, mould, & make new againe this lump of earth, for it is ready to follow thy will. But whē thou ô Lord, shalt throughly haue renued it, do not then I beseech th•… forsake it, but put a bridle in the mouth therof, to the end that by abstinence, i• may keepe it selfe frō surfetting, which pricketh it forward thereunto, that 〈◊〉 may by a chaste life, keepe in a good temper vnchaste and hote burning lusts, that by humilitie, it may ab•… the pride, which biting enuie stirre•… vp in her, that pitifull charitie, ma• chase from her hatred, and greedy co∣uetousnesse, and, that a godly care •…∣serue & honor thee, may cōtinually s•… spur to the flanks of her slothfulnesse and filthie negligence.

3 For I haue already, ô Lord, ma•… Page  167 ouer-great a triall of this troupe of sins which enuiron me, so as they will in such sort pull downe and teare in pie∣ces thy workmanship, as that whē thou shalt come, thou shalt finde nothing there but the shreds thereof, shiuered & broken all to fitters. I haue had ex∣periēce enough of them, and these are they that haue brought me into that estate wherein now I am, and neuer∣thelesse, see yet at the tayle of these, a cōpany placed about me, which cast in my teeth the spels & blemishes where∣with they them-selues haue defiled me, and make me culpable of the in∣iuries which thē-selues haue done vn∣to me. For thus they say, It is thou that hast sinned, and it is thou that art so foule and filthy.

4 It is true in very deed that I haue sinned, ô my God, I lay open vnto thee the very bottom of my hart, thou kno∣west my whole life. I haue sinned in the sight of heauen & earth, & all the world can beare witnes of mine iniquities. But if I had not sinned, vnto whome shouldest thou haue been mercifull? How wouldest thou haue discharged thy selfe of the promises of grace, Page  168 which thou haddest so long agoe an∣nounced by thy Prophets? And when as thou shalt come to sit vpon the e∣ternall Throne of thy Iustice, who is he that would not be afeard of thee, yea although we were euen all right•∣ous? Howbeit, to the end that thy greatnes might be knowne, we must when we shall be assigned a day to come before thee, humbly fall downe vpon our faces before thy maiestie▪ and cry out and say: Most mercifu•… Lord, we will not stand in defence be∣fore thee, because our fault is mani∣festly knowne: but loe, our grace an• pardon is in thy hand, for thou thy self hast graunted it vs, behold a token of thine owne bloud sealed in ou• image, which, for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of our flesh.

5 Doest thou thy selfe, my God, at∣tend and looke, that when I shall come before thee, that I wil make a rampa•… of mine innocency, and that I am so voyd of vnderstanding, as that I would iustifie my selfe in thy presence? Alas, ô Lord, I right; well know, that I was not yet borne, and that I was also no∣thing Page  169 but sinne, my mother likewise thought to be deliuered of a childe, •nd was brought abed of sinne: But •t had beene a great deale better for •er, that she had beene deliuered •efore her time of such monstrous •…uite, which shameth the tree that •are it, and the earth, that nursed it, •nd heauen that ripened it. I was •ur∣•ed of sinne within my mothers womb, •nd suckt her milke, and behold, it is •o growne vp with me, as that it sha∣•oweth my head, and blindeth mine yes.

6 But when I see the eyes of my •odie so seeled vp with sinne that is •bout me, I then open the eyes of my •…ule, and begin to see a farre off the cames of thine infallible truth, and •cknowledge thy maruellous secret •isedome, which thou hast manife∣•…ed vnto me: And then my soule for∣•…king the impuritie of my bodie, lif∣•eth herselfe vp vnto heauen, and •erceth through the incredible bright∣•esse thereof, and casting her eye upon the booke of eternitie, shee •erein readeth the draught of the •ewe couenant which thou art to Page  170 make with men: and then returning into her miserable body, she filleth he• selfe with hope and ioy, and promise• vnto her selfe assured victorie ou• her sinne.

7 For, she hath learned in heau•… that thou wilt take into thine ha•… the Sprinkle of sweet smelling hysop• and sprinkle vpon me cleane and p•∣rified water: Thou shalt wash me, a•… I shall become whiter then snow•… and none shall see vpon me no not 〈◊〉 much as the very trace and steps 〈◊〉 sinne. But, ô Lord, what lees shall th•… be that shall be made of the ashes 〈◊〉 my sinnes consumed with the fire 〈◊〉 thy loue, with the water of the tea•… which my repentance shall distill fro• mine heart, and in the Sunne of th• grace, wipe away teares, and ca•… a spirituall reioycing to growe in 〈◊〉 and in the end, make vs white wi•… the puritie and brightnesse of righ•…∣ousnesse, that we may one day shi•… farre more excellētly then the sta•… of the firmament.

8 and then shall we heare nothing but the pleasant sound of the Tro•… •et of saluation, which shall deli•… Page  171 out grace and mercie vnto all those that will receiue the same. Then shall we see the rotten and con∣sumed bones rise againe, and take theyr fleshie bodie vppon them, to partake that vniuersall ioye, where∣unto thou hast called the whole world.

9 Now, to the end I might then appeare so honorably apparelled be∣fore thee, as such an honorable mag∣nificence is worthie of, I beseech thee my God, to cast downe all my sinnes vnder thy feete, and burie them all in the middest & centre of the earth, that no eye may be able to pierce through to see them: and seperate me for euer from mine iniquitie, which at this present I repudiate, and do sweare an irreconciliable diuorce be∣tweene me and them.

10 Thou seest heere my Soule, what an offer I make vnto thee, and therefore make thy selfe pure and •eate, reneue in mine heart a newe spirit, which will conceiue nothing but holinesse and righteousnesse. O Lord my God, establish therein an house for thine holie spirit, to the Page  172 end, I neuer hereafter, either thinke, breathe, or vtter foorth any thing, but the prayses of thee my God: and let thy will be alwayes printed in my minde, and. thy glorie, written vppon my lips.

11 When thou hast thus clothed and furnished me with pietie and in∣tegritie, I shall be then verie assured that nothing shall keepe me from thy presence: and then, as the Eagle na∣turally looketh full vpon the Sunne, euen so will I fixe my sight and eyes vppon thine euerlasting face, and so thereby I shall see in thy wonderfull countenance, all the perfectiōs which I at this present am no way able to conceyue: neyther shall thine holie spirit euer dwell out of mine hart, for it is he that vnder the wing of a zea∣lous loue, shall carrie me euen into thine armes, to associate me vnto this heauenly ioy.

12 Make me therefore rightly to taste the sweete pleasures of this im∣mortall life: Saue me speedely from the rocks of this world, which on e∣uerie side threaten my soule with wracke: And as the Marriner when Page  173 he is come to the hauen, crowneth the maste of his Ship with floures, in token that he is in safetie, euen so, O Lord, crowne thou me with the pretious gifts of thine holie Spirit, as pawnes of thy euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised me: With the gifts (I say) of that Spirit of thine which reigneth amongst thy faithfull, which distributeth faith vnto thine elect, loue, vnto thy best beloued, and hope vnto those whome thou hast pre∣destinate to euerlasting life.

13 Now, all the while that my soule resteth thus banished, looking still to be called home agayne vnto thee, I will teach the wicked to walke in the way that may best please thee, and set them also in it, for feare they hurt not them-selues in the darkenesses of this world, against the stumbling blocks which they may suddainely light vp∣pon, lying before them. And so, they will beleeue me, and returne vnto thee, ô Father of lights, and with all their hearts embrace thy faith, and walke in thine obedience.

14 I know, O Lord, that there will be some such found, as will stop their Page  174 eares at my words, and will obstinatly continue in their sinnes, coniure my death, and defile their barbarous cru∣eltie with my bloud. O my God, deli∣uer me out of their hands, and reserue me to declare thy righteousnes, and to pronounce their condemnation. I will foretell them their miseries, and they shall feele them, and I shall no sooner hold my peace, but that thy hand shall be vppon them, and thy hand shall no sooner haue stricken them, but that they shall be broken to fitters, and be vtterly destroyed.

15 And then thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall set forth thy victorie: for, the ayre shall be still, the winds shall be calme, and the flouds shall be quiet, to hearken vnto my re∣sounding voyce, which shall sing out the wonders of the eternall God. For, thy prayse, ô Lord, shall be the sacri∣fice that I will alwayes offer vp vnto thee, and which thou also wilt euer haue good liking of.

16 I would gladly haue embrued their Aulters with the bloud of a great number of cattell, I would gladly haue cut the throats of a thousand oxen, Page  175 and of a thousand lambs to haue done thee honor, but bloud stinketh in thy nostrels, neither takest thou pleasure in the flesh of beasts: The smoke of such offerings the winds carrie away, so as they neuer ascend vnto thee: But the voyce onely of a iust man passeth aboue the heauens, and the Angelles present the same before thee.

17 O what an acceptable sacrifice before thee, is a broken and contrite heart• and an humble heart that ac∣knowledged his sinne, thou wilt ne∣uer reiect: for if it will come vp vn∣to thee, it must first come downe, and if it will touch the heauen, it must first crawle vppon the: ground, if it will haue thee to heare it, it must fyrst be silent, and if it will be crowned in thy kingdome, it must fyrst be beaten and scourged in the world. These are the Sacrifices, O Lord, wherewith wee must be re∣conciled vnto thee, and enter into couenant as thou hast set it downe vnto vs.

18 But if it be thy pleasure, ô Lord, that we shall offer bulls and bullocks vnto thee, and perfume thine Aul∣ters with the bloud of beasts, if thou wilt that we by the death of an inno∣cent burnt offering, should repre∣sent vnto thee, the death and inno∣cencie of him, whome thou hast desti∣ned to redeeme our soules: If the fi∣gure of that which should come in the person of the vnspotted lambe doth please thee by the killing of Weathen and Sheepe, looke then with pitie vp∣pon thy poore people, comfort tho• desolate Syon, and encourage her poore enhabitants, to the end they may set vp againe the walls of thine holie Ci∣tie, and reedifie thy Temple, not ac∣cording to that equall proportion, O Lord, which thou deseruest, but according to the wealth and indu∣strie that the poore world can possibly affoord.

19 Thither shall come from al• parts thy faithfull in great multitudes• to offer vp sacrifice vnto thee, and there, shall the expiation and purging of their sinnes be acceptable vnto thee. But it shall neither be the death Page  177 of beasts, that shall wash away their spots: for, the cleansing of their dis∣obedience, and preuarication, was prepared from all eternitie. This is an inestimable sacrifice, a burnt offe∣ring without spot, which shall drawe away the curtayne, disperse and de∣stroy the darkenesses, breake downe the wall or hedge, that we may see the truth of our saluation, face to face, make the beames of his diuine mer∣cie shine vpon vs, and reassociate vs vnto the communion of that euerla∣sting blisse, which we willingly haue renounced. O most mercifull God, which hast vnseeled the eyes of mine vnderstanding to see the misterie of my saluation, make me, O Lord, to taste the excellent fruite, which flou∣rishing vppon the tree of the Crosse, shall, with the iuice thereof, quicken and gene life vnto our dead souses, preserue and warrant vs for euer, from that ruine and calamitie which hath so miserably brought together the race of mankinde, and ouerflowed them through their, disobedience.

Lord heare my Prayer.
Psalme. 102.

I Haue ô Lord, cryed and called vppon thee a long time for thy mercie, and do yet looke for ayd and help from thee. The ayte is filled with my cryes: The winds haue carried the voyce of my dolor and griefe euen vnto the vttermost parts of the world, and thine ea•e which heareth and vnderstandeth whatsoeuer is done in the bottomlesse pit of hell, doth not yet heare and vn∣derstand my prayer, which reacheth and beateth the very heauens. Wilt thou therefore be deafe only vnto me• and shall all the world heare me saue thy selfe alone? No, no, my God, thou hast ouer-long stretched out thine armes, now to reiect mee when as I come vnto thee for refuge.

2 And now that I feele a thousand and a thousand sorrowes, and that mi∣series assayle me on euery side, do not turne thy backe vpon me, ô Lord. Alas, haue I setled my whole power and strength vpon the sweet counte∣nance Page  179 of thy face? Haue I diuorced my selfe from the world, to the end I might drawe neere vnto thee? and haue I forsaken the children of the world, that I might ioyne my self vnto the master of the heauens, and woul∣dest thou now forsake me? O Lord, deale not so with me, but assist mine infirmitie all the dayes of my life.

3 Let my voyce no sooner cry and call vnto thee my God, but that I may also soone feele thee: and let thy grace descend as speedely vppon me, as an Eagle hasteth her selfe to ayd her yong ons. For, if thou assist me not, what ma∣ner of sight shall I be able to make a∣gainst the enemies of my soule?

4 My strength and life would dayly vanish away, as the light smoke doth in flying in the ayre: for the eye which seeth it goe out of the fire, seeth it also forthwith consumed, and in a moment accompanied both with his originall, and his end: and if any should aske what is become of it, there is not one that can so much as tell where •he trace only of it is to be found. He that hath seene the loppings of wood wither in the sunne, and loose their Page  180 strength and verdure, hath also seene my poore bones become both drye and consumed, meete for none other thing but for the graue. The graue, yea surely the graue, which is the happiest thing that can betide me, if so be so small a pit may be able to stay the vio∣lent course of mine extreame misery.

5 Who soeuer he be that hath seene grasse cut downe, and tanned with the Sunne in the field, and lose the cou∣lor, and wither, and looke vppon my gastly and deadly face, he would thinke that I were able to make death afeard. Mine hart is parched within mine en∣trailes, and my bloud drieth vp within my vaines, for, I remember not to put bread into my mouth, and do still for∣get to eate my meales.

6 My mouth serueth me for none o∣ther purpose, but to cry out & lament, and the ordinary voice of my griefe is so strong, as that it draweth after it, all the rest of my strength. Now if so be that my body being so extreamely full of heauinesse, consume it selfe by little and little, and my bones horribly sticke through my skinne, what cause haue I to take care for the sustay∣ning Page  181 of this miserable body of mine, which is the matter and substance of all my miseries? Wherefore should I be watchfull for the conseruing of this life of mine, which wrestleth a∣gainst so many enemies, and is cast downe with so many afflictions? Were it not much better for me, in ending my life, to make also therewith an end of all miseries?

7 Is the Pellican more full of greefe then I, who liuing in the most solitary deserts of Egipt, tormenteth her selfe for the killing of her yong ones, and washeth them in her owne bloud, to restore them to life, which she had ta∣ken from them? Is her sorrow greater than mine? Hath nor my sinne procu∣red the death of the child, whome I more dearly loued then my selfe? And now that I haue dried vp all my teares, the bloud will gush out of mine eyes, for feare I should be voide of teares in so lamentable and cursed a case. But the Pellican hath redeemed with her own bloud, the price of her yong ones, and I most miserable wretch that I am, shall be depriued for euer of the child which I so tenderly loued. And I will Page  182 also abandon both the day and the light, and confine and limit my selfe within the most darke places that I can finde out, euen as a shritch owle dooth, that commeth not out of his hole, all the while it is day light.

8 I am continually kept waking, still dreaming of my miserie, and see∣king to hide my selfe before such time as the in felicitie which runneth vpon me, enforceth me▪ And being altoge∣ther mated and out of heart, I seeke after some corner to hide my selfe in, euen as the wilde sparrow that flieth out of the raine and winde, seeketh af∣ter some couert or sunne shine place to bathe and drie her selfe in.

9 Mine enemies seeing me in this case, and with such a countenance, stand mocking of me therewith, and cast my miserie in my teeth: and they which were wont to make a great ac∣compt of me, in stead of sorrowing with me in mine afflictiō, haue coniu∣red against me. What reckoning then should any man make of the wealth of this world, and if he were able to get as great richesse and as many friends as were possible, and then to haue his Page  183 friends so traiterous and so double, as to make little or no accompt of brea∣king their faith and promise?

10 And surely my strength is de∣cayed, the flower & beauty of my well coloured and smooth ruddy cheekes, is quite & cleane gone, for I haue sowne my bread vpon the ashes, and moisted my drinke with my teares. And shall I for all this become a laughing stock vnto this infidelous generation?

11 It is very true, that I haue bene met withall before thy face, in the day of thy wrath: thou hast laid againe vp∣on me, the arme of thy vengeance, and am become therewith frushed in pee∣ces. Men haue had me in great esti∣mation and honour, and loe how I am now drest and dealt withall. O vaine presumption, vnto what steepe break∣neck hast thou lifted me vp, to make me leape such a leape? Alas, what did I finde in my selfe, why I should con∣ceiue in mine heart such an opinion of my selfe?

12 As we see the shadow of the body by little and little decrease, when as the sunne is risen aboue the same, and reduceth it, as it were vnto Page  184 a small point, euen so all so soone O Lord, as thine anger is vpon me, my life, my goods, and my greatnesse, is by little and little dispersed, and come to nothing, in such sort, as that loe, I am like vnto the grasse that is tedded abroade without grace and colour, which men cock vp to giue vnto the cattle to feed on, and like vnto a great many goodly sweete smelling flowers, bound vp in a bottle amongst a sort of thistles.

13 But do I for all this lose my hope? No, no, my God: for thy power is infi∣nite, and lasteth for euer, and thy mer∣cie immeasurable, which will spred it selfe ouer all such as shall trust in thee. One age shall passe after another, but the remembrance of thy goodnesse shall neuer haue end: one generation shall succeed another, but it shall be al∣waies for the setting forth of thy praise and good dealing.

14 Thou wilt one day, my God, a∣waken, to haue mercie vpon Sion, for the time of mercie draweth neare. And loe, I see it euen at hand. The flouds and riuers powre not out so much clears water into the deepe sea, Page  185 as thy goodnesse will spred abroad thy fauour and grace vpon the face of this earth. Open your hearts, yee people, open your hearts, I say, for the liberall hand of my God, will fill them with an holy zeale, which will make thee farre purer and cleaner then the gold in the fining pot.

15 Now the house of Sion, O Lord, is the refuge which all thy seruants looke for, it is it which they so greatly loue, and which they so earnestly de∣sire it is it where they looke to finde mercy; it is the temple, O Lord, which thou wilt destroy in three daies, and raise it vp againe mother three, that it may be the house of euerlasting life, the seat of saluation, the treasure of grace, and temple of eternitie.

16 Then shall all the nations, my God, be afraide, and all the kings of the earth tremble at the brightnesse of thy glorie. What corner of the world shall be so secret, where the noise of thy blessed comming shall not sound and be heard? where shall that people be so farre from the sunne, so confined and limitted in darknesse, as will not vnseele their eyes to behold the cleare Page  186 burning brightnesse of saluation, which will shine vpon them? Yea heauen it selfe shall encrease his flames, to giue light vnto this thine entrance into the world, and the kings shall run from all places to do homage vnto the king of kings, vnto the gouernor both of hea∣uen and earth.

17 For he hath set vp and aduanced his kingly throne vpon Sion, in great & costly array: there shall he be seene wholy encompassed with glory, dark∣ning the Sunne and Moone with the brightnesse of his face.

18 But why hast thou, O Lord, so highly exalted the throne of thy glory? hast thou done it, because thou woul∣dest not vouchsafe to heare the praiers of thy faithfull seruants? And because thou wouldest make no reckoning of the whole world, which in deed is no∣thing, in respect of thy greatnesse? Alas no my God. Thou hast lifted vp thy self vpon an eminent place, that all the in∣habitants of the earth might see & ac∣knowledge thee, and so run vnto thy grace and mercy: for thou shouldest be alwaies ready to come at the hum∣ble summons of thy seruants, & neuer Page  187 disdaine their pittifull petitions. And behold them also standing as mise∣rable offenders, condemned vnto bolts & shackles, looking for the comming of some king, that should set them free at the entrance into his kingdome. Euen so, ô Lord, deliuer thou them who haue giuen themselues vp into the bondage of sinne, and with the onely twinke of thine eye, the mainacles shall fall from their wristes.

19 Then shall they be all heard to sing a glorious song vnto the victori∣ous king, their voices shall be heard throughout al the corners of the earth, and the remembrance of thy singular bountie and infinite mercy, shall be engraued within the memory of men, and so passe from age to age, euen vn∣to the last posteritie. The earth shall then be consumed, all the waters dry∣ed vp, the ayre vanished, and the heauens haue an end, which shall as yet sing the glory of the eternall God.

20 The eternall God, who hath vouchsafed merely and ioyfully, to cast downe his eyes from the highest hauens, into the very deepest place of Page  188 the bowels of the earth, for the ac∣knowledging of the torments of the miserable detained captiues in hell, & heard their groanes, is himselfe sud∣denly runne thither, to vnbinde and set at libertie his poore captiue priso∣ners, and all their posteritie, where death with the weapons of sinne, had ouercome them, and confined them, in his most darke prisons. But the God of life hath ouercome death, and hath freed and cleared them quite from thence.

21 To the end, O Lord, that they might set foorth thy praise in Sion, and preach thy louing kindnesse in Ierusa∣lem. And although euery one of them had an hundreth mouthes, and their voices as lowd as thy thunder, yet should they neuer be able to attaine and reach vnto the greatnesse of thy glory. All the parts of the world con∣spire not, nor ioyne not themselues to∣gether, saue onely to represent in their motions, a part of thine infinite power and goodnesse: howbeit, they neuer looke to come neere thereunto; for they are more then bottomlesse depths, which haue neither bottom Page  189 nor yet brinke, and therfore they must onely behold them a farre of.

22 And therefore I most humbly beseech thee my God, to be contented that thy people assemble and reunite themselues both in bodies and minds, deuoutly to offer vp vnto thee that holy will which they haue to honour thee, for the effect can in no wise other wise be able to come neare that which thou deseruest. Accept therefore, O Lord, the humble submission of the kings of the earth, which come before thee to yeeld vnto thee their homage and seruice due vnto thee, as vnto their soueraigne & chiefe Lord. They shall cast their scepters vnto the earth, and their crownes at their feete, and present for a sacrifice vnto thy maie∣sty their humble praiers, and innocent consciences. And I will be the first my God, which will cast downe my selfe before thee, to worship and serue thee with all mine heart, to thee alone will I consecrate my spirit. Quicken it therefore, O Lord, that being puri∣fied by the holy zeale of thy loue, it may receiue in it selfe, as it were in a cleare looking Glasse, the image of Page  100 thine incomprehensible excellency & perfections, & feele in it self the reflexi∣on of thy sincere amitie, aswel as thine infinite goodnesse, accompanied with the number of thine elect, to be an in∣heritor with them in euerlasting life.

23 Now I haue already felt, my good God, that thou hast enlightened my soule with thy grace, and haue presen∣ted the fauour which thou wouldest shew vnto all the children of the earth. Heretofore hath my spirit a far of, ta∣kē a note, how thou proceedest for the deliuerance of the world, but it hath beene afraid to die before such time as thou wert come: and that is because thou hast heard it call vpon thee, say∣ing, Tell me, Lard, how long the course of mine age shall be, and when thou wilt end my dayes.

24 Go not about, O Lord, to cut of the thred of my life the first or second winding vp of the spindle, nei∣ther stay it ouer short in the middest of the course. Attend, my God, vntill the time be come, when thou must set open the treasure of thy graces, to make an entrance for men vnto the largenesse of saluation: or if thou hast Page  101 at least appointed mine end, and that my life cannot stretch so farre, yet re∣member my posteritie, and let him be borne of my race that must sanctifie the world by his comming.

25 I right well know, O Lord, that at the first, thou madest heauen and earth, and whatsoeuer excellent thing we see here in this world, to be the worke of thine owne hands.

26 But all this shall come to an end, euen as an old worne garment; a man shall enquire what is become of it, and there shalbe no mention made there∣of at all. It was made, and it shall be vnmade; it had a beginnings, & it must haue an end. But thou alone, O Lord, which hast beene from all eternitie, shalt be alwaies one and the same. For age, & time which consume all things, serue for none other purpose, but to confirme thine euerlastingnesse, and to set foorth thy Deitie, & men see me to remaine heere vpon the earth for none other cause, but to behold round about them, thine incomprehen•…ble greatnesse, on the one side, and their infirmitie, on the other side.

27 A man changeth not his shire Page  192 so often, but the earth oftner chan∣geth her inhabitants: one putteth forth another, and all is renued euen in a moment. But thou, my God, art euen the same at this day, that thou wast at the beginning. Euery prouince of the earth hath a great catalogue of kings, who haue there commaunded, one successiuely after another, but the heauens and the earth, continually sing vnto vs, that thou hast alwaies beene alone, euer like vnto thy selfe, and that neither the time past, ne yet the time to come, can any wayes alter nor change thee.

28 Now, my Lord, although we must depart from hence, yet do I not doubt, but that I shall one day taste of that sweet fruite, which shall heale this contagious disease of ours, which our fathers transferred ouer vnto vs, ha∣uing eaten the fruite of death and of sinne. For our children shall come after vs, and therefore, O Lord, shew vs this fauour, as to continue our po∣steritie from age to age, vntill such time as we altogether shall appeare before thy face, not to receiue sharpe and seuere iudgement, but to enter by Page  193 the merite and intercession of thy deare beloued sonne, into the enheri∣tance of the eternall blessednesse, which shall be purchased for all thy faithfull, by the adoption of thy sonne in the house of thy seruant Dauid.

From the depth of depths.
Psalm. 129.

FRom the depth of depths haue I cryed vnto thee, my God, being lost and buried in the most fearefull caues of the earth, I •aue called vpon thy name, hearken •nto my voice, and heare my praier. For, all hope of succour is taken from •e, and I see nothing about me but •orror and trembling, and yet haue I •ot beene discouraged, and do waite •or at thy hands, that which thou hast •romised to all such as shall liue in the •eare of thy name, and in the obedi∣•nce of thy commaundements.

2 Giue thou therefore, O Lord, a Page  194 fauourable eare vnto mine hearti• praier. If my sinne stand betweene thee and me, to whet thee again•… mine iniquitie, and to make thee con∣trarie vnto the praiers which I ma•… vnto thee, beate back the same wi•… the looke of thy mercifull eye, or 〈◊〉 O Lord, shut vp for a time, the eyes 〈◊〉 thy iustice, vntill such time as the ea•… of thy louing kindnesse hath receiue• my confession, and the humble reque•… which I make vnto thee for grace. Fo• I come not before thee, to bragge• mine owne iustification, but of 〈◊〉 great louing kindnesse and benigni•…

3 If thou shouldest keepe a regist•… of our sinnes, and we come to an •…¦dite before thee, who were able, 〈◊〉 God, to abide thy seuere iudgement• For, what day of life is there that ha• not deserued a world of torment•… Thou mightest draw out, O Lord, 〈◊〉 the paines of hell, and yet the greate• part of my sins should go vnpunished.

4 But although we haue might• offended, yet for all that thou ceas• not to receiue any sinner that comme• vnto thee with confessiō of the mou•… and contrition of the heart. He hath 〈◊〉 Page  195 sooner looked towards thy mercy, but that he feeleth it working in him, and breaketh & destroieth the sinne which freeseth his heart with feare & horror. And the punishment which hangeth ouer his head, recoyleth farre away from him, and caryeth with it, this mi∣serable carefulnesse, which tormēteth the consciences defiled with iniquitie. And therefore O Lord, haue I not for∣saken thy lawes, but haue alwaies wai∣ted to see when it would please thee to graunt me fauour and grace: for the vnwise man that despaireth by reason of his sinne, and giueth ouer his soule as condemned, is like vnto the abho∣minable vsurer, who hauing susteined some losse in his goods, by and by be∣reaueth himselfe of his life also.

5 My soule hath not done so, my God: for although she hath felt thine hand lying most heauily vpon me, ex∣ecuting part of the punishment which my sinnes haue deserued, yet hath she alwaies conserued in her selfe that sound hope which she hath had in thy promises. Euen as the blowes light vpon my backe, I crie out and say vnto thee, O Lord my God, thy Page  196 will be done, and giue me as great strength as thou layest affliction on me. Measure my punishment by my strength, and as my torment encrea∣seth, euen so augment my courage, and so hast thou done, O Lord.

6 Let Israell therefore looke vp and trust in his God, euen from the day breake vnto the shutting in of the euening, & looke for none other helpe but from him. For, his helpe is ready & sure for him that calleth vpon him with a sincere conscience, and a pure will. And although the miserie hath beene neuer so great and extreame, yet so soone as the Lord hath vnder∣stood the crie of his seruants, they haue all so soone felt also their deliue∣rance.

7 For he most bountifully powreth out his mercy, and is infinitely help∣full to all those that come vnto him. Insomuch, as that his goodnesse put∣teth out as it were the sorrow which we haue for our sinnes, & maketh vs as it were reioyce in our fall, as being the cause whereby we haue made triall of his louing kindnesse. For, if our sinnes surpasse all measure, his grace Page  197 exceedeth all our thoughts. We haue deserued long and hard captiuitie, and loe who it is that freeth vs, and hath brought vs a most sweete libertie. We haue blinded the eyes of our spi∣rite, and loe who commeth to enligh∣ten them.

8 O Israell, thou hast offended the Lord, thou hast scorned his lawes, thou hast made a iest at his comman∣dements; thou hast forgotten the good turnes which he fauourably hath bestowed vpon thee. He hath drawne thee out of most miserable captiuitie, fed thee with the bread of heauen, made purposely streames flow out of hard rocks to make thee drinke; hath chosen for thy dwelling place, the most delitious garden in the world, made a couenant with thee, giuen thee his will to keepe, and thou hast coniured against his honour, gone an whoring vnto strange goddes, troden his lawes vnder thy ferre; To be short, thou hast deserued more punish∣ment then there is to be had in hell. And yet notwithstanding he offereth to graunt thee grace, and with the price of his own bloud would redeeme Page  198 thee from the bondage of sinne, wher∣vnto thou most voluntarily boundest thy selfe. Behold him, who hath him∣selfe paide their ransome that betraid him, who tooke vpon him the punish∣ment which we deserued, and satisfied for our transgressions. With what wordes then are we any way able to thanke him for all these mercies? O∣pen my lips therefore my God, my Creator and redeemer, that my voice may be heard, and mine heart enfla∣med with a boiling affection, to praise and thanke thee, and humble me also in the acknowledging of my self, to the end thou maiest heare me in the knowledge of the holy mysterie, b• which we are reincorporate into thee, and renued in thy couenant, that we may enter into that blessed fellowship of glorie, in which, all they shall tri∣umph, which shall be partakers of the merit of the passion of thy best belo∣ued sonne, the true and onely Sauiour of the world.

Lord heare my prayer.
Psalm. 142.

O Lord, man in the end is weary of all things: a continu∣all course bringeth him out of breath, ouermuch staring dimmeth the eies, and a shrill sound deaffeth the eares: but the more my voice cryeth vnto thee, the stronger it is, my courage en∣creaseth more, and my praier better pleaseth me. And therefore do I begin againe daily to crie vpon thee, Lord heare my praier, giue eare vnto my complaint: for in praying to thee my God, consisteth all mine whole com∣fort. It is my praier, O Lord, which coniureth thy louing kindnesse to purge my sinnes, not by reason of the seueritie of the punishment, but by the meanes of the effect of the grace which thou hast graunted vnto vs, by which thou doest abolish by thy soue∣reigne and absolute power, the re∣membrance of our sinnes.

2 And therefore enter not, O Lord, into iudgement with thy ser∣uant, ne yet leaue him vnto the ri∣gour of thy lawes: for, no man liuing that shall appeare before thee at thy iudgement seate, shall be iustified. No man shall escape this fearefull con∣demnation, the punishment where∣of is not onely cruell, but immortally rigorous also. Alas, O Lord, who can be saued before thee? It is thou that art offended, it is thou that wilt accuse vs, It is thou that hast seene our iniquities, and wilt attest them, and it is thou that shalt iudge vs. When the accuser shall be witnesse, and the witnesse, Iudge, what shall become of the offendor? What de∣fence can he make to iustifie him∣selfe? O Lord my God, I will not tarrie vntill this blowe light vpon me, I will defend me with thy fauour and grace, to oppose it vnto thy Iustice. And thy grace is obtained by the ac∣knowleding and confessing of our sinnes, and the humbling and submit∣ting of our mindes. Loe, I here cast downe my selfe prostrate before thee, and lay open my sinnes, and therefore Page  201 I beseech thee, O Lord, to haue mercy vpon me.

3 My sinnes, my God, the capi∣tall enemie vnto my soule, haue so terrified me, and cast me downe, as that I now lie crawling vpon the ground, daring not once to looke vp vnto heauen. For, so soone as I lift vp mine eyes, I see the light which shi∣neth vpon me, discouer on the day a great many of sinnes, which accuse my conscience. And then I feele forthwith shame take holde on my guiltie face, and to make me cast downe my countenance vnto the ground, a countenance vnworthy to behold the heauens, the maister wher∣of she hath so grieuously offended, too too cowardly a face to cast the eyes thereof vpon such places which haue so many thunder-bolts prepared to roote out the guiltie.

4 My spirit therefore hath led me into darke places, and buried me as a dead man in the crannies of obscuri∣tie. My soule is made very sad in me, and mine hart stirreth it selfe like vnto one walking with his nose lifted vp into the weather, who through his Page  202 retchlesnesse falleth into the botrome of a well, hauing forthwith thereby beene amazed, is incontinent void of iudgement, falleth out with himselfe, and tormenteth himselfe, vntill such time as being come againe to his wits, he knoweth both the place wherein he is, and vnderstandeth the maner how he fell in: and then beginneth by little and little to get vp againe vnto the top thereof, and yet is scarslie able to note and marke the place whence he so easily fell.

5 And so hauing called to minde as farre as I possibly could, the memorie of things past, hauing set before me in a deepe meditation, the workes of thine hands, and hauing exactly con∣sidered the perfection thereof, yea, and remembring the estate wherein thou hast created vs, and besides, set∣ting before me him, by whome I feele my selfe now, as it were oppressed vn∣der the destruction of sinne, I cursed in my self the houre wherein my mother conceiued me, I abhorred the day which first opened vnto me mine eye lids, whereby I might see heauen and earth, witnesses of mine infirmitie: and Page  203 in the end; finding nothing in the world, that in this distresse might com∣fort and helpe me, I at last, addressed my selfe vnto thy most excellent ma∣iestie.

6 I fell on both my knees before thee, I stretched out mine armes and hands vnto thee, and my soule thir∣sting for thy grace, waited with a great desire for the same, as the chapping ground through heat, looketh for a gratious and sweet showre in the hoa∣test daies of sommer.

7 Make hast therefore vnto me, O my God, for I am already out of breath, for loe mine heart fainteth, and I am at the point of swound, wilt thou stay vntill I be dead? I am al∣ready so, if thou make not hast, for my sences do by little and little faile me, my soule glideth gentlie out of me, leauing my body without moouing, and I am like vnto him, who letting his foote bleede in the water, loo∣seth his life with his bloud, without feeling the occasion or cause of his death.

8 If thou O Lord holdest thy selfe aloofe from me, and turnest thy face Page  204 away, I shall become like vnto those that go downe into the bottom of hell, pale death will make my face looke wanne, and my feeling to sleepe: nay a worse thing then this will betide me, my God, for spirituall death will kill my soule, make it horribly a feard, and take from her the acknowledge∣ment of thy singular goodnesse, and the hope of grace which shineth in thy miracles, as a bright shining starre in a duke night.

9 Make me therefore, O Lord, in thy good time, to vnderstand and feele the effect of thy mercy: and when the sunne riseth in the mor∣ning vpon the face of the earth, let then thy louing kindnesse rise vpon me, for the enlightening of mine ig∣norance, and leade me in the way of thy wyll. But let it not deale with me, O Lord, as the sunne dooth, who at his fall plungeth him selfe into the sea, keeping away his light for a time, from poore wretched and distressed men. But let thy fauour and grace continually assist and defend mee, and, neuer depart more from me, then my soule doth from my body: for thy Page  205 mercy is farre away more, the soule of my soule, then my soule is the life of my bodie.

10 And therefore let thy mercie neuer forsake me: but let her light di∣rect my footsteps alwayes in thy wayes, and leade me continually in the way which must bring me vnto thee. For, my spirit which hath run it self through the strange queaches of this world, and strayed into the broad and thicke bushes thereof, can neuer find out her tract againe, but rusheth out at all ad∣uentures, and loseth both her path, and also her payne, going alwayes back from the abiding place whither she was determined to goe. But, I, my God, do alwayes attend thine ayd, for, it is from aboue that I looke for help.

11 I am a captiue in the hands of the most cruell enemies of my life, and therefore I most humbly beseech thee, ô Lord, to make haste to deliuer me: I flye vnto thee for refuge, receiue mee into thy protection: Teach mee what thou wouldest haue me to do, for thou art my God, whome alone I am resolued now to serue. And now away away from me deceitfull pleasure, Page  206 which heretofore hast bewitched my poore soule, and poysoned my spirit: thou hast with thy sweet delights fed me, and made me with a little bait of hony to swallow a deadly potion, which running through my members, hath so astonished and mortified me, as that there is no differēce betweene me and a dead man: nay worse then that, for it is not my body that is thus mortifi∣ed, but it is my soule, wherin cōsisteth the principall matter, both of this pre∣sent life, and also of the life to come.

12 And therfore thy holy spirit must light vpon me, to rewarme and fetch a∣gaine my dying soule, and take it by the hand to quicken, and set it in a safe place, imprinting therein the image of thy righeuousnesse, to serue her as a sauegard against all tentations which besiege her on euery side, and threaten her destruction.

13 Thou shalt come therefore, and at thy comming shalt draw back my soule from tribulation, and in shewing of me mercy, shalt destroy all those that haue coniured against me. And then shall my sorrow haue an end, and theirs shall begin, and the beginning of their sor∣row, Page  207 shall neuer cease: But as the streames comming out of the spring heads, do still growe larger and lar∣ger, vntill such time as they enter into the deepe Seas, where is ney∣ther brinke nor bottome, euen so shall theyr miserie, day by day en∣crease, and in the end will heape vp∣pon them extreame dolour, and infi∣nite distresse.

14 And so shall all they perish which shall vexe my soule: for I, ô God, am thy faithfull seruant whome thou hast remembred, and wilt remember all those, who in disdayne of my Lord, haue thus shamelesly troubled mee. They laughed at my miseries, but now behold the season wherein they shall bewayle theirs. Thy vengeance begin∣neth to waxe hoat against them, and a man shall see them fall like vnto the leaues of trees in the beginning of win∣ter. O God, what glorie shall I render vnto thy name? and at what end shall I begin to set foorth thy prayse? Shall I publish thy goodnesse, in creating so many wonderfull works which are vnder the Sunne? Thy wisdome in the conseruing of them? Shall I preach a∣broad Page  208 thy iustice in the condemnation and vengeance of the pride of the An∣gels, & the disobedience of men? Shall I sing foorth thy mercy in the redee∣ming of those who by transgressing thy lawes, haue cast them-selues downe headlong into the bondage of eternall death? vnto what part of thy prayses, may the sound & tune of my voyce at∣taine & reach? Yea, & put the case that my voyce were sufficient thus to do, where are the eares that are able to re∣ceiue them? I want all things, ô Lord, for the taking in hād of this enterprise, sauing courage & will, which being full of feruent affection, cry out as much as is possible, vnto thee. And therefore I humbly beseech thee to ayd their weak indeuours, and seeing that the teares of my repentance haue washed away the filthines of my sinne, wherwith my spirit was greatly charged & burdened: geue vnto it now the wings of faith & hope, that may swiftly carry the same into thine armes, to reunite it selfe vnto her first originall being, without hauing any other thought, but such as may tend to the honor of thy seruice, and aduancement of thy glory.