An Introduction to the looue of God.
¶ Accoumpted among the workes of S. Augustine, and translated into English, by the right reuerend Father in God, Edmund, Bishop of Norvvitch, that nowe is, and by him Dedicated to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, to the glorie of God, and comfort of his chosen.
¶ And newlie turned into Englishe Meter, by Robert Fletcher. 1581.
Mathew. 22.
Thou shalt looue the Lord thy God alone, with all thy heart, with all thy soule and minde, this first commaundement is the greatest one: the second like vnto it, shalt thou finde, to looue thy neighbour as thy selfe in deede, these two, the Lawe and the Prophetes haue decreede.
¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoot, and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate, ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church.
¶ To the right Honourable Sir Frauncesse Knowles Knight, Maister Treasurer of the Queenes Maiesties householde, and of her Hignesse most honourable priuie Councell. &c.
IT hath beene the vsuall course of Writers (right Honourable) to pleade pardon by aucthoritie, when they thinke or knowe them-selues farre from intent of offending, either by example of the mightie King of Persia, for his freendlie accepting a small gift, esteeming the good will of the giuer: or else by comparing their endeuour, by the example of some graue Philosopher. I doo not so, but confesse my presumption in two sortes committed, the one to your Honour, the other to the honourable and reuerend Father in God, my Lorde Bishop of Norwitch, that now is, beeing the Translator of this Booke, and hauing dedicated the same to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, beeing called, An Introduction to the looue of God, and so it maie right [Page] well be called. My presumptiō to your Honour is, in pressing your name in print, before I knew your Honours pleasure therin, for which, most hūbly I craue your honors pardon. My presumption to his Lordship is, in taking vpon me to alter the course and nature of to excellent and profitable a prose, but I hope to haue his good Lordships fauour for the same, when he shal vnderstand the cause of my so dooing, considering the prose is still exstaunt, to the profite of the Readers, and my meter now instaunt to the pleasure of the Readers, for so I accoumpt it, hauing therein followed the example of diuers godlie minded, which haue turned into Englishe meter many Bookes out of the Bible, beeing sacred and canonicall, as other pithie Pamphlettes; beeing prophane and Historicall, yet to good purposes, as well appeareth by their writinges, which so meant them: the parties with their Pamphlettes, as impertinent to my purpose, I omitte to repeate. But as his Lordshippe did make her Maiesty patronesse of the matter, [Page] so I thought it my duetie, to make your Honour Patrone of the Meter: assuring your Honour not to haue committed any error therein, my presumption onelie excepted, nor haue not altred the sence of the matter, more then the nature of the meter must of necessitie compell me. The causes mouing me to sollicite your Honour with this Introduction to the looue of God, was for that I haue beholden the same most bountifullie bestowed, not onelie in your Honours owne person, but also in your Honours bothe honourable and VVorshipful off-spring and posteritie, in your owne person, the feare and looue of God with seueritie in Iustice (according to your Honours calling) and precise rule, and lawes of God, which I my selfe haue not onelie beholden, but also beene beholden vnto. In your Honours off-spring, that vertuous, Noble, and towardlie young Gentleman, the Earle of Essex, dooth shewe himselfe a liuelie graffe and goodlie member of so good a Grandfather, which together with your Honour, I [Page] beseeche God long to blesse and continew, he onelie maie serue to confirme the looue of God towardes your Honour: although his gracious blessings be apparauntlie multiplied in the rest your Honors, bothe good and godlie Children. For the continuance whereof, I shall not cease to beseeche almightie God, to send your Honour long and honourable life, in this life, but after the same ended, eternall happinesse, in the life to come.
Amen.
¶ Your Honours most humble and duetifull bounden, Robert Fletcher.
To the Christian Readers.
WHatsoeuer hath been written before time, was written for our learning, that we through patience & comfort of the scriptures, might haue hope. Among which (right courteous Readers) I may insert this present Pamphlet, béeing trāslated by my Lord Bishop of Norwitch, to the benefite of our corporall bodyes, and comfort of our soules, accoumpted amongst the workes of S. Augustine, and no lesse commended by that famous and learned Father of godly memorie, Erasmus of Rotardam, to taste of good learning: which to peruse, I referre you to the Preface in the Prose, written to the Reader, by that honourable and godly Bishop, who translated the same, naming it, An Introduction to the looue of God. Declaring thereby the looue he beareth vnto his Prince & Soueraigne Lady, to whom he Dedicated the same: as also the good wil to comfort in the looue and mercie of God, his loouing neighbours, and countreymen, following ye example of a true Shéepheard [Page] and faithfull Pastours, in penning this so profitable a Discourse, which distinguisheth vnto you by equal portions, the gratious benefites of our creation, preseruation, sanctification, iustification, and redemption, by God the Father, through the merites and frée grace of Christe Iesus our Lorde. Which great mercies you maye beholde in this lyttle Booke, euen as if in a glasse you were disposed to take viewe of your countenaunce shape, and bodilie proportion, but much more to your profite, for that the one is presentlie forgotten, the other remayneth permanent for euer, if it be sought in singlenesse of eye, and simplicitie of harte.
Which woorthy worke, according to my skillesse capacitie, I haue turned into Englishe Meter, not thereby to derogate the Prose, or to arogate the prayse thereof in any part to my selfe, for so might I iustlie be condempned of presumption, and arrogant follie: but he which knoweth the secret of all hearts, knoweth also how far I am from séeking vainglorie thereby: onlie this mooued me therevnto, the profite that I sawe contained in the Prose, which I hope will be no lesse pleasant in the Meter, [Page] béeing plaine, and not much alienated from the former sence. I hauing so good a theame, thought good to meditate therein, following the example of these godly minded, with whome I will make no comparison, but onelie for endeuour, which haue turned many Bookes of the olde Testamēt into Englishe meter, as ye Psalmes of Dauid, the life of Dauid, containing the secōd booke of Kings, the fiue bookes of Moses, the Prouerbes of Salomon, and diuers other, as well Canonicall, as Historicall: according to that saying of the Apostle Iames, If any be afflicted, let him pray, if merrie let him sing Psalmes. So he that is disposed to profit in the prose, it is an excellent meditatiō, if to pleasure, in the meter, it is present for him that feareth God. Moreouer, I know y• meter is more acceptable to some then prose, & may with lesse capacitie be cōprehended, as of children, yoūg men & maides, &c. which mooued me also to take this paines therein, and the rather to suppresse that huge heape, & superfluous rable of balde Ballads, Rimes & Ridles, Songs & Sonnets, yea, and whole volumes of vanity, which tend to the nourishing of vice, and corrupting of Youth, which be not [Page] written for our learning, but for the confusion of those that delight therin, to teach vnlawfull lust, and outragious ribauldry, and to trayne vp in the toyes of vanitie, the vaine, fickle, and fantasticall youth, yea, and some aged, whose modestie ought to be ashamed of such immoderate follie. It is not long since I happened to speake with a good fréend of mine, concerning the Printing of this Booke in meter: truely (sayth he) it is woorthy the publishing in Print, but Bookes of vanitie be better sold twentie to one, which is lamentable, that vanitie should be preferred, and Vertue supplanted, or at the least, verie much suppressed. Is that the fruites of our profession (sayde I) that haue enioyed the cleare light of the Gospell, now full thrée & twentie yéeres? No (sayth he) God be thanked, many haue, & doo receyue the glad tydinges of the Gospell, with reuerence and feare: but there commeth vp so many fine heads, newlie pullished for the purpose, that professe Poetrie, and commit paltries, for he that can eyther Prose or Rime wyll be in print, if his Pen can but blotte foorth a Bable, it shall be a Ballad, with Finis, &c. at the ende. They be all Chaucers and [Page] Gowers, Lidgates, and Bocases, and he is a foole that is not fiue Skeltons for cunning: these write woonders, newes neuer séene before, no, nor neuer heard of, but at Billings gate, or in Grauesende Earge. I would to God, these wittie writers would take paines in penning profitable Pamphlets, eyther godlie Meditations, or good Prayers, whether in Prose or in Verse, that the practise of Poperie, which was wunt to be published in Fables, to delude the simple ignorant and vnlearned, might be abolished, with their maister the Pope, and newe matters, professing Faith and Religion, published in place thereof. I speake not of any the commendable works of many woorthy wittes, set foorth of late by diuers Worshipfull Gentlemen, good Schollers, and well experimented Poets, which containe bothe pleasure and profite: but of those which in déede, their workes smell not so much as of an honest minde, but will make a mans eares ake to heare them, and his face blushe to reade them: and because they abounde, I am bolde to bewraie my minde of them, wishing you that shall reade this my simple endeuour, [Page] in so woorthy a worke, to estéeme the matter as it is, and the meter as it shall please you, and bothe so, as God may be glorified, and you certified of his intire looue, if so you looue him, as héerein is expressed. To whose looue, grace, and mercie, I committe you for euer.
Amen.
Yours, euer in Christ, Robert Fletcher.
Th. Prat, Gent. to the Reader.
IF thou wilt learne, thy soueraigne Lord to looue
And practise how to prayse his holie name:
Heere mayst thou see, his mercie dooth thee mooue
That thou of duetie, ought to doo the same.
Then reade this Booke, and therein shalt thou find
Sweete remedies, to ease thy carefull minde.
It shewes thee howe, thy God did looue thee first,
Yea, long before, thou didst begin to bee:
It shewes thee howe, for sinne thou wast accurst,
Yet he in mercie hath redeemed thee.
The goodes thy Gods, but thine was all the gaines
The profite thine, but his was all the paines.
Th. Prat. Gent.
FINIS.
Tho. Lee, to the Reader.
IF thou desire thy God to looue,
And would the causes vnderstand:
It shall be good for thy behooue,
This little Booke to take in hand,
The way to heauen it will thée teach,
And how to shun the paines of hell:
It to thy soule, pure thinges dooth preach,
Peruse, and immitate it well.
Tho. Lee.
FINIS.
¶ Io. Breifilde, in the behalfe of this Booke.
THe Prose is to our profite pend,
From godlie learned skill:
The Meter dooth it selfe commend,
For he that hath good will.
Dooth reade them bothe, he profite shall,
And pleasure eke attaine:
Buie bothe the Bookes, the price but small,
much greater is thy gaine.
[Page] [...]he Prose, the power of God displayes,
and thy redemption free:
[...]he Meter euen, in minde bewrayes,
Like comfort vnto thee.
[...]mbrace them bothe, thanke God therfore,
Esteeme thy grace enioyde:
Giue thankes to them, to salue thy sore,
That haue their paines imployde.
Io. Breifilde.
FINIS.
[Page] [Page] ¶ An Introduction to the loue of God.
That the loue of God and thy Neighbor, cannot be seperated, first Chapter.
WIth wakeful heed & earnest mind
and diligent indeauor eake:
How to escape Hell torments, it
with care becōmeth vs to seeke.
And for to purchase vs the place,
of ioy in Heauen there to dwell:
The one we cannot comprehend,
the other we cannot expell.
Except the meanes we marke and know,
to shun the worst and chuse the best:
The one by prayer to preuent,
in fayth to purchase endlesse rest.
Let vs with willingnesse therefore,
the wordes of the Apostle way:
The difference betweene these two,
he doth in order thus bewray.
The hart of man cannot conceaue,
1. [...]
the eye of man hath neuer seene:
The Eare of man did neuer heare,
What thinges for these preparde hath bene.
[Page] Which looue the Lord & kéepe his Lawes,
that in his feare their liues doo leade:
These ioyes expressed they possesse,
that serue the Lord in word and déede.
Loe, now beholde the present place,
in which th'Apostle dooth assure:
Vs of the lasting looue of God,
if we our looue to him endure.
But yet the looue of God alone,
[...]. 4.
without the looue of neighbours too:
Can not be had the text dooth tell,
which giues vs councell so to doo.
He that his Brother dooth not looue,
with whome he héere hath present béene:
How can he looue the Lord his God,
which with his eyes he hath not séene.
And this commaundement haue we from
the Lord our God, that so we doo:
First looue the Lord, our neighbour next,
for looue consisteth in these two.
Th'Apostle Paule procéedes againe,
perswading looue, and thus dooth say:
[...]. 12.
For to confirme you in the same,
I shewe a more excellent way.
The which shall safelie you conduct,
and leade vnto that heauenly place:
Which only is preparde for those,
whom God dooth gonerne with his grate.
[Page] But who is in this way, or who
dooth knowe the same? for soothe euen hée,
That first dooth looue the Lord his God,
and next his neighbour by degrée.
Then looue our God more then our selues,
and as our selues, our neighbours then:
According vnto this our God,
we rather must obay then men.
And that is done when we prefer,
his pleasure and commaundementes:
Before our willes which be peruerse,
as all our councelles and intents.
But yet our neighbours we are not,
commaunded for to looue them more:
But as our selues, that is to wishe,
as to our selues is sayd before.
Especiallie, the ioy and blisse,
that euerlasting dooth remaine:
That we with them, and they with vs,
may at the length the same obtaine.
Them to assist, and helpe likewise,
with bodilie and ghostlie foode:
As reason and habillitie,
(requireth) so to doo them good.
And as the Gospell dooth you giue,
to vnderstand euen so to doo:
To other men, as you would wishe,
that other should doo to you.
[Page] For so sayth Iohn, let vs not loue
neyther in tongue nor yet in worde:
3.
But euen in truth and veritie,
that loue is liked of the Lorde.
But now where are those neighbors, whom
we ought to loue, forsooth euen all:
Both Christian, Heathen, Iewes & friends,
and those which Enimies we call.
¶ Why, and how, God is to be loued. Cap. 2.
SInce our soules health consisteth in
the loue of God, let vs prouide
To way the cause with diligence,
when, why, and how, our life is tride.
But to exite and to increase
the loue of God in vs for aye:
To nourishe it not greater force
then on his prouidence to stay.
Remembering his benefites,
which he doth heape vpon vs still:
That in the view thereof our soules,
doe faint as though our liues would spill,
For in this case we cannot be
so able as we would desire:
To yielde him thankes for all his gifts,
as loue and seruice doth require.
[Page] Yet must we doe what may be done,
what resteth in the power of man:
So many thankes to render him,
as we by nature render can.
And see wherefore: for benefites
which we by merites might not haue:
He hath bestowed aboundantly,
that by decerte we could not craue,
Intirely he of vs therefore,
is to be loued with true intent:
But how, and in what sort, forsooth
euen keepe his straight commaundement.
Giue eare therefore O man to that,
which greatest is of others cheefe,
In memory imprint the same,
Day, night and houre it yieldes releefe.
And this commaundement it is,
Loue God the Lord with all thy hart,
Deu
With all thy soule with all thy might,
With all thy minde, as his deserte.
With all thy memory and thoughts,
With all thy skill and knowledge eke:
Yield vnto him obedience due:
with humble hart and minde most meeke.
Yet peraduenture thou wilt thinke,
alas his loue to me is light:
Therefore I will not be afrayde,
to aunswere him with loue more slight.
[Page] Searche all thy thoughts & haue in minde,
what he ere this hath doone for thée:
And what héereafter promist is,
to be bestowed in like degrée.
Then shalt thou finde how much thou art,
vnto him bound, beyond thy might:
Yea and beyond all measure eke,
if thou regarde his grace aright.
But to the end the looue of God,
may quickned and augmented be:
Waighe and consider well the cause,
and looue him more aboundantlie.
Whom, why, and to what end, mankinde
was first created, and what things
God made for th'vse and ease of man,
these vnto him, thy sences brings.
Whether they heauenly were or not.
visible or terrestriall,
Inuisible or in what sorte,
till his mercy did them call.
Our fyrst creator Lord and God,
one God and eke one Lord alone:
Whose goodnes of such greatnes is,
that he dooth blesse vs euery one.
Of which his blessings he dooth bid,
we on our partners some bestowe:
It cannot be diminished,
but dooth increase and ouerflow.
[Page] That goodnes therefore which him selfe,
is he to others would extend:
Onely of his frée goodnesse, for
necessitie may not contend.
Because vnto thy goodnesse chéefe,
it appertaines, and els to none:
Our mighty and eternall God,
he profitable is alone.
Man of himselfe vnable is,
partaker of his blisse to be:
But by the vnderstanding of
his mercy, perfect made is he:
The more that he dooth vnderstand,
the more in grace he dooth abound:
The lesse that he dooth vnderstand,
for that he is more guilty found.
God made a reasonable man,
that he the chéefe might vnderstand:
Of goodnesse which th'immortall God,
had framed with his mighty hand.
By vnderstanding he might looue,
and loouing might the same possesse:
And so possessing it might haue,
vnto his profit nothing lesse.
The creature he distinguished,
The [...]rence [...]twee [...] [...]gelles [...] men.
that parte moste purely might remaine:
Vnto himselfe and not be ioynde,
with humaine shape, the same to staine.
[Page] The Aungell is that perfite part,
without a body passing pure:
The other is the soule of man,
that with the body doth indure.
The reasonable creature is,
deuided thus as here you see:
Into the thing which it hath not,
And whith it hath, for both these be
That which no body hath is calde
an Angell as the word we scan:
That which a body doth possesse,
we know doth represent a man.
He doth consist of flesh and blood,
his mightie maker to extoll.
Who by his power did him compact,
in shape with reasonable soule.
The cheefest cause Gods goodnesse is,
by which both men and aungels were:
With reason and with grace indewed,
Herein his goodnesse doth appeare.
So in as much as God is good,
so are we by his power diuine:
For goodnesse his he giues to them,
that from his grace doe not decline.
And to this end created were,
these reasonable creatures then:
to praise their God and him to serue,
as best becommeth christyan men.
[Page] And by the same we do possesse
all profite to the creature:
For God himselfe fulfilled is
with soueraigne bountie perfite pure.
He neither is deminished
nor neede encrease, hee is all one
A Creator, the profite is
the creature his owne alone:
Therfore to them that will demaunde
why to what end were creatures made:
A profytable reason straight
is here set downe them to perswade.
The goodnes of the Creator,
for profyt of the creature:
So that he loue the Lord his God
and in his seruice stil indure.
Finis 2. Cap.
¶ The cause of the creation of Aungels men, and all other Creatures. 3. cap.
BOth men and angels are therfore
said to be made for God aboue.
But not because he needeth them,
but for because hee doth them loue.
He needeth not the seruice haue
of Angels or the sonnes of men.
[Page] He hath no want of worldlie goodes,
but that they both might vse him (whom)
The seruaunt profite dooth receyue,
not he to whome the seruice due:
Is done him, hath no néede thereof,
all textes in Scripture prooue it true.
As for him selfe, the Lord made man,
the world for man he made also:
That it might serue at all assayes,
the vse of man in wealth to flow.
Where béeing placed in such state,
and high degrée as wishe hee could:
Bothe that he might be seruant there,
and serue his God as reason would.
That all the goodnesse might redound,
vnto him selfe of that he sought:
The seruice of the Lord his God,
which he to passe in him hath brought.
That man might holpen be thereby,
to serue the Lord in godlie trade:
Bothe in the thing for him ordaind,
as for the thing that man was made.
All thinges are ours th'Apostle sayth,
9.
aboue or equall, howe they bée:
Inferiour, or in what sort else,
all thinges in highe or lowe degree.
A highe comparison he makes,
for to perswade vs to the same:
[Page] Is God in Trinitie, sayth he,
and Vnitie in one to frame.
The equall thinges with vs are ours,
in one consent with them t'agree:
As Angels at this present, though
farre distant from our sightes they bee.
In time shall be our equall mates,
where time in time, no ende shall haue:
That woorthy we may be thereof,
Lord for thy mercie graunt we craue.
The thinges inferiour eke are ours,
and stand vs in most happy steede:
As necessarie instrumentes,
to serue our turne in time of néede.
As thinges pertaining to a Lord,
or Maister of an earthly man:
May be his seruants porcion like,
not robbing his sayde Maister than.
But pertinent by tytle due,
to serue the vse of seruant his:
Heereby the Maister hath no wrong,
the seruant hath not done amis.
In sundrie sortes the Scriptures saye,
that Angels for our sakes be sent:
To serue and to administer,
to vs by Gods cōmaundement.
Hebr▪
Th'Apostle hath these wordes likewise,
are they not ministring Spirites callde:
[Page] Sent for their sakes that fear the lord,
that they in sinne should not be thrald.
Beleeue the same, and let it not
incredible seeme vnto you
That he which king of angels is,
vs for to saue thought good to sew.
To saue and not be saued he came,
to dye for our redemptions all
He gaue his life for many soules
them to redeeme from endles thral:
The angells eke are saide for vs,
to offer vowes and prayers pure
Vnto the seate of mighty Ioue
therby our pardons to procure:
But not because they do instruct
or teach the lord our deepe desires.
For he himselfe doth know our thoughtes
seeth ougnen.
to shew the same thers none aspires
Before that wee do crimes commit
and afterward to him is knowen:
Our fond imaginations al
our selues before his face haue showen:
And they do waite to vnderstand
his will and what his pleasure is
And do to vs the same conuay
to keepe vs least we walke amisse.
12
And for this cause the aungel sayd
to men at such tymes as you pray.
[Page] I offred vp the same to God
who sent you ayde without delay
In like case also when you praye,
take not in hande our God to teache
As if that ignoraunt he were
what at his handes wee beseech
But man must of necessitye
commit his causes temporal
Vnto theternall verity,
who can redeeme him out of thrall
Whether he do desire the thing
he could by his indeuour haue
Or by consenting to the will
of God, and so the thing do craue
From thabitacion of the heauens
our soueraigne Lord doth angels send
Euen downe to vs, and for our sakes
his heauenly pleasure to attend:
To visite and to help vs eke,
for God, for vs, and for themselues.
for G
For him because most meete it is
they wayte vpon no creature else,
But to reueale his lasting loue
the bowels of his mercy great
His pitye and compassiou both
to imitate his mercy seate
For vs because that we in them
for v.
and they in vs like image haue:
[Page] And reuerentlie they doo admire
his power, the which such likenesse gaue.
Now for themselues, because that with
them s.
desire, and feruent longing they:
Doo wayte our comming from this world,
with them in blisse to liue for aye.
Finis. 3. Cap.
¶ Of the looue of God towards vs. 4. Cap.
THis therefore is most néedefull nowe,
and necessarie to eche man:
That he consider with him selfe,
and eke in seuerall sort to skan.
When his owne woorthinesse is wayde,
and dignitie, he doo not take
It from his mightie creatour,
which him of nothing thus did make.
Looue him abooue all earthlie thinges,
of what estate, or what degrée:
Estéeme not equall with his might,
those thinges that his inferiors bée.
What follie were it to compare,
the things that beautifullest bée:
With those that vile in sight doo séeme,
which serue in fowle and base degrée?
For sure it is no séemelie sight,
where beautie is but counterfeit:
[Page] To match it with the fayrest, and
for beautie with the same to set.
Therefore my soule peruse thine owne,
thy beautie vnderstand and prooue:
And by the same soone shalt thou learne,
whose beautie thou art bound to looue.
But if thy sight be duske and dull,
or darkned by thy negligence:
That thou thy selfe canst not beholde,
thou doost commit a fowle offence.
Yet at the least let others iudge,
and doo thou holde their iudgements true:
What estimation thou art of,
when they with clearer sight thee view.
Thou hast a Spowse of beautie such,
his bounty, fauour and his grace:
Such Maiestie, and Mercie great,
that thou couldst neuer sée his face.
And yet beholde he hath thée séene,
if not, he would not looue thée so:
His gifts may make thée graunt thée same,
and tell if this be true or no.
The perfect pledges of his looue,
and tokens of his kindnesse trie:
Of this if thou didst sée his face,
thou nothing doubtfull then would bée.
Then perfectlie thou shouldst perceyue,
that he in beautie passeth all:
[Page] So singuler, so comely fayre,
as neuer set the lyke thou shall
And yet enamored is of thee
so much thy beauty doth appeare,
Aboue all creatures that he made
that none with thee compared wer
This beauty yet was not thyne owne
but hys in thee left for thy welth
that hauing it thou mightst perceaue
it came from him thy sauing health
But what meanst thou because thou canst.
not see him present as he is,
Art not ashamde iuinriously
him to abuse with workes amisse
Not onely in contemning these
his louing graces to thee lent
But seruile to thy sensuall lust
as vassaile thou dost geue consent
But o my soule take heed of this
and do not so though able thou
Be not assuredly to conceaue
whatone he is his grace alow,
His earnest and his pledgefot thee
the gage and token which he gaue
As leasses of his loue iutyre,
from endles death he did thee saue
In thy possession these be plast
that thou mayst learne thy lord to loue
[Page] With zeale and with affection great▪
thy minde from him not to remooue.
His gift right noble is and great,
great mē giue great rewards we know:
Which doo receiue them at their hand:
as with his Maiestie may stand.
A wise man for a trifle wyll
not giue a riche reward we sée:
But none can giue so great a gift,
as thy good God hath giuen to thée.
Yet greater is the gift which he,
in thée dooth looue, thy selfe t'assure:
And eke much greater will he giue,
if thou thy faith to him indure.
But O my soule, what are these gifts?
Examine, looke, the world beholde?
If euery thing therein containde.
To serue thy turne be not controlde,
Behold how euery creature dooth,
to serue thy turne his course direct:
Thy profit to supply, and for
thy wealth to vse as thy subiect.
For to accomplish thy delight,
commodities doo all abound:
Within the world, for thy wealth,
or that which in thy selfe is found.
The Heauens, the earth, the aire, the Sea.
and all that is containde therein:
[Page] Cease not to accomplish thy desire,
Vnto thy God thy selfe to win:
The seasons and the times likewise,
the reuolucions of the yeare:
The swéete reuiuing spring, which dooth
of humors drie thy body cleare.
Thy ruines it dooth fresh repaire,
it dooth restore thy state decayde:
Euen with continuall sustenaunce,
to serue thy turne, as heere is sayd.
Who did for thée these things ordaine,
or who prescribed nature this:
Whose whole reuenue is reseru'd,
thée to mainetaine least ought thou mis,
These benefits thou doost receiue,
the Author is to thée vnknowne:
Thou of the giuer taketh gifts,
which héeretofore were not thine owne.
These gifts therefore, must vs perswade,
which doo declare who looues vs well:
And who is to be loou'd againe,
these swéete rewards vnto vs tell.
And what great folly is it then,
him not to looue that looues vs so:
Euen one so mighty worthy looue,
and but in him, to looue no mo.
If any worldly thing thou looue,
that vnder heauen is containde:
[Page] As thine inferiours looue the same,
and as thy worldly seruaunts gainde:
Or as the tokens of thy Spowse,
or benefits bestowed on thée.
From faithfull fréend, or from thy Lord,
that hath this rare respect to thée:
Acknowledging how much thou art,
bound him to looue, not for the same:
Not with him selfe but for him selfe,
and by him selfe thy looue to frame.
Yea finally abooue them all,
bothe looue and honor to him giue:
That by his power did make them all,
and gaue them thée, wherewith to liue.
FINIS. 4. Cap.
¶ Of the fruition of God, the 5. Cap.
ANd now beware my soule that thou,
breake not thy faith as God forbid:
For these his gracious benefits,
which thus bestowe on thée he did.
Abooue the giuer doo not looue,
the gifts: which are bestowed on thée:
First looue the giuer then the gifts,
with zealous looue in good degrée.
[Page] Yet shalt thou greatly him iniure,
in so receauing of him still
His gifts, and neuer for the same,
yéelde recompence for his goodwill.
Eyther refuse his gifts therefore,
or if thou like not so to doo:
Yéeld looue for looue in measure due:
tis all the paines he puts thée too.
So that thou looue him for him selfe,
and looue thy selfe for him also:
But in such sort thy selfe for him,
as that no hatred passe him froe
To thée: but looue him for the gifts,
that he in looue left for thine vse:
So looue thy selfe for him likewise,
for in this looue is no abuse.
This looue, is holy, pure and chaste,
dishonesty, nor filthy staine:
Nor transitory toyes of crime,
within this looue, dooth once remaine.
Consider therefore, O my soule,
what things thou hast receiued now:
Euen proper to thy selfe though some,
like grace enioy aswell as thou.
In all these things which God thée gaue,
that common or especiall be:
Or proper to thy selfe alone,
or howsoeuer in degrée.
[Page] Intirely looue thy selfe with them,
for looke how much thou art preferd:
By these his precious benefits,
much more he did thy state regarde.
In euery creature thou mayst say,
Beholde how well I am beloou'de:
Withall the good that I can wish,
all euill is from me remooude.
If small to thée this thing doo séeme,
that thou abooue all euill art,
Belooude of him that made them all:
and that it some what gréeue thy hart,
Consider well how good these things,
by vertue of Creation be:
And yet in eache condition haue,
not béene rewarded like to thée.
Then O my soule, if thou aright,
doo way thy liberty thus got:
The time hath béene and euen that time,
when as apparaunt thou wast not.
And what thou hast thou didst receaue,
of thy good God which gaue it thée:
And that it was his gracious gifte,
that euer thou began to be.
FINIS. 5. Chap.
¶ Of the giftes of Creation and Regeneration. Cap. 6.
IT was therefore the grace of God,
that euer thou wast made in déede:
Thou hadst not hyred him so to doo,
but so his wisdoome had decréede.
If he had nothing giuen to thée,
but thy bare béeing in this place:
Yet art thou bound to prayse his name,
and looue him for his lasting grace.
But trueth it is much more he hath,
vnto thy person done repaire:
Not onelie making thée to bée,
but also beautifull and faire.
Nor could his bountie héere be staide,
to finishe vp his woorthy trade:
He left vs not vntyll we were,
lyke to his heauenlie Image made.
For this in déede, his meaning was,
his will and pleasure vs to prooue:
To drawe by likenesse those to him,
which he before had drawne by looue.
Therefore he gaue vs for to be,
and by our béeing for to liue:
That those we might excell in déede,
to whome he no such thinges did giue.
[Page] That haue no béeing, such I meane,
which maimed are, and out of frame:
Inordinate mishapen, or
for lacke of victall, linis be lame.
By meanes whereof thou art my soule,
indebted to thy Sauiour deere:
For sure thou hast receiued much,
yet recompence dooth none appéere.
That which by looue thou hast receyu'de,
by looue deliuer backe againe:
It is a payment light enough,
and puts thee vnto little paine.
But nowe I will begin to tell,
howe this thy Spowse most excellent:
Appeard and so created thée.
vouchsaued eke with glad intent.
Euen to be humble for thy sake,
that he thy ruine might repaire:
In lowlie wise these latter workes,
vnto the former equall were.
For in the former meruailous,
great thinges thy benefite to bée:
He did bestowe, and in the last,
sharpe showres, he did endure for thée.
For to the ende he might restore,
thée to thy former state againe:
Which thou had lost by Adams fall,
he to discend did not disdaine.
[Page] And willingly did suffer death,
which thou by right deserude for sinne:
He vndertooke, he ouercame.
he did for thée the conquest winne.
Discending to mortalitie,
he frailety tooke vppon him than:
In torments he did death subdue,
and by that meanes redéemed man.
Beholde and sée these things my soule,
and be abashed at this newes:
Let these his gracious benefits,
perswade thy minde on him to muse.
Consider how he looued thée,
that vouchedsafe so much to doo:
For thée and for thy sake my soule,
way well what paines thou putst him to
By him thou beautifull became,
that earst most vgly was through sinne:
Now in his mercy mayst thou vaunt,
as cleane and purified by him.
Before that thou did him desire,
thée to create that thou mightst be:
When thou ill fauoured was and foule,
with beauty he adorned thée.
And finally thée to redéeme,
from endlesse death, himselfe would dye:
And in so dooing did declare,
his vehement looue and charity.
[Page] With bounty great he hath therefore,
the breath of life in thée, O man:
[...]s the first creature which he made,
when by his power thou first began.
For that selfe man and creature he,
hath giuen and himselfe bestowde:
None other goods for thée he gaue,
to him therefore be lasting lawde:
Thou art his workemanship, and yet
the price of thy redemption too:
Because that price most precious was,
it was his mercy so to doo.
Man béeing prisoner thrall to wretche,
beset about with filthy sinne:
His fréendly fauour thought it fit,
he should be raunsomed by him.
O happy faulte of mine therefore,
for purging of the which my Lorde:
Was drawne by looue, it to redéeme,
according to his holy woord.
I neuer fully should haue knowne,
his looue and fauour vnto me:
But that the perrill of my state,
my present true proportions be.
How fortunate was then my fall,
that by the same more happily:
I was restorde and raisde againe,
redéemde from endles miserie.
[Page] Then is no looue so great as this,
no zeale so pure, no charitie:
Nor no affection like to that,
an innocent for me should die.
He fréendly was, but found no cause,
of looue and fauor which he bare:
Euen vnto me, deceiuing none,
therefore O Lord my minde prepare.
And tell me what remainde in me,
which thou estéemde so gratiousty:
Why thou so déerely did me looue,
that for my sake desirde to die.
What haste thou found in me O Lord:
in nature, or in qualitie:
The which so willing might thée make,
to suffer this great crueltie.
FINIS. 6. Chap.
¶ Of the benefit of God, in calling vs to faithe. 7. cap.
ANd thou my soule, to th'end thou maist
beholde this looue, and ioy therein:
Consider what comparisons,
betwéene this looue and thée hath bin.
How much thy betters be forlorne,
refusde and cast away likewise:
[Page] That neuer to like grace with thée,
nor to like fauour could arise.
Thou knowst that since the world began,
whole generations passed be:
Without the knowledge of theyr God,
and price of theyr redemption frée.
The which are fallen into the lappes,
of déepe destruction endles dayes:
Vnlesse it please our Sauiour swéete,
of mercie his, them thence to raise.
Héereby it dooth appeare to thée,
thou wast preferd before them all:
Fy thy redéemer, which by grace,
so franck and fréely did thée call.
No cause at all remaindt in thée,
thereby to claime more then the rest:
The meere looue of thy Sauiour déere:
his mercy more to thee exprest.
Thy Spowse, thy Loouer, and thy Lord,
thy God and thy redeemer eke:
Hath chosen and forchosen thee,
before all worlds in mercy meeke.
For his great looue thus borne to thée,
thy God and Sauiour he became:
That thy memoriall might remaine,
he calde thée by his proper name.
He would thou should partaker be,
bothe of his name and truthe also:
[Page] Because thou art annointed with,
the oyle of gladnes which dooth flowe.
Euen from himselfe, that with himselfe,
he beeing Christ the corner stone:
Thou maist in him a Christian, so
be called by his name alone.
But were thou stronger then the rest,
in noble, ritche, or wise degrée:
Thereby receiuing speciall grace,
aboue them all to make thée frée.
How many wise, how many strong,
how many noble, ritch also:
Reiected were? yet chosen thou,
when they forsaken thence did go.
They perished, thou prospered,
and highly doost in fauour stand:
Great hath his bounty béene to thée,
which thou receiued at his hand.
When thou wast foule, he made thée faire,
when thou with sinne deformed was:
Yea lothesome, ragged, rent and torne,
this mighty woorke he brought to passe.
His grace he gaue to be thy guide,
his looue for to inritch thée more:
A resolution absolute,
of mercy his, take this therefore.
Moste resolute in this respect,
perswade thy selfe euen so to be:
[Page] Except thou with indeuor doo,
as héerein is discribed thée.
That is thy former decencie,
thy comlines and cleanenesse all:
To comprehend and to retaine,
which thou enioyde before thy fall.
Els méete thou neuer shalt be thought,
to enter that Bride Chamber, where
Thy Spowse, in heauenly manner sits,
thou shalt not in that place appeare.
Trim vp and deck thy selfe my soule,
prepare, make ready now in time:
Let present leasure giue thee leaue,
for to redresse thy former crime.
Sleeke vp thy forhead from thy face,
and fashion fine thy trim attire:
Fret of thy freckles, rub thy Warts,
wash of thy spots of foule desyre.
Smoothe all thy wrinckles, handsome bee,
thy rude behauiour now amend:
With all thy might indeuor thou,
cleane to continue to the end.
In order all things sée thou set,
that thou maiste be accepted now:
Of this moste louing spowse and mate,
as héeretofore is tolde thée how.
Prepare thy selfe I say with spéede,
as best becomes the Bride of him:
[Page] That is immortall euen thy God,
with whom thou shalt remain most trim.
And as beséemeth such a Spowse,
that thée he may his Spowses call:
Thy Sauiour and redéemer, euen
thy mighty King celestiall.
FINIS. 7. Cap.
¶ Of the gift of vertues. The 8. Cap.
KNow this also my soule that thou,
hast where withall thy selfe to dect:
As golden Bracelets for thine armes,
and Chaines to put about thy neck.
Which of thy selfe thou couldst not haue,
but that thy God dooth giue them thée:
For to bestowe at pleasure thine,
if thankfull for the same thou be.
For thou of him receiued hast,
thy vesture and thy garments all:
All thy good woorkes, thy frutes of almes,
thy fasting, and what dooth be fall.
To thée, thy prayers powred foorth,
to him with faith, he héeres the saine:
All other vertues be his gifts,
and by his grace in thée doo frame.
[Page] He garnisheth in goodly wise,
with gorgious and with trim attyre:
As if a robe bothe fresh and faire,
of sundry coloures thou desire.
Least thou should fayle in any poynt,
of health and of refection good:
He bountifully hath bestowde,
on thée thy health and dayly foode.
And whatsoeuer may repayre,
thy comlinesse and beauty bothe:
What els thy credit may conunend,
that thou should lack it, he is lothe.
Thinke on the same, I pray thee then,
with diligence aduised be:
That nothing héereof was thine owne,
till he in grace had giuen it thee.
That which before thou hadst receiude,
of him it stoode thée in no cost:
Of much which was on thée bestowde,
the same by negligence thou lost.
That which lost, is thée restorde
againe, whereby thou maist be sure:
Not destitute thou shalt be left,
he still thy profit will procure.
In such sort, as thou shalt perceiue
and know, how that intirely he:
Dooth looue thée like a Parramour,
most loth my soule, for to loose thée.
[Page] And for this cause he dooth attend,
and paciently the time dooth stay:
Long sufferaunce and liberty,
he lets thee haue, him to obay.
According to his mercy great,
so often as thou art to blame:
So often he thy faults remits,
as thou art sory for the same.
Wherefore record and call to minde,
how many may be found, which haue
Receiued like rewarde with thée,
as heere recited which he gaue.
Nor yet with the like fauour might,
finde for to be renewd againe:
When they defiled had themselues,
with foule abuse theyr state did staine.
Iuste cause thou haste, considering then,
thy selfe belooued more then all:
For that the things which thou hast lost,
he thée to aunswer dooth not call.
But dooth beningly them restore,
his mercy thou in these hast tride:
Which others by themselues haue lost,
and are most strictly still denyde.
Thou by his gracious bounty art,
not once denayde, the truthe to tell:
His prouidence may thée perswade,
thy woorkes for to accomplish well.
[Page] If readily great things thou doo,
thou highly art aduaunst therefore:
If hardly thou small things performe,
thou humbled art so much the more.
Thy God dooth know whats good for thée,
much better then thy selfe canst tell:
Haue thou a duetifull regarde,
that dooth for thée prouide so well.
Such is his mercy vnto man,
infirmities cannot indure:
But are by goodnesse his disposde,
that they our profits doo procure.
Perhaps thou hast not strength and grace,
in trade of vertue to persist:
But shaken with Suggestions arte,
of vice and vertue hath dismist.
Yet art thou in humilitie,
made stronger then thou wast before:
Humility perswades thy minde,
thy life misse led for to deplore.
For weakenesse with humilitie.
hath better fauour in the sight
Of God, then vertue with the strength
and pride of minde, in one complight.
Be not therefore to mallepart,
or bolde for to presume of this:
Gods secret disposition if,
thou preiudice, thou doost amis.
[Page] But still with reuerence and feare,
direct thy prayers to his grace:
That he vouchsafe to helpe thée then,
as one that knowes thy present case.
The euill that in thée remaines,
he will with mercy it redresse:
If thou in humblenesse of minde,
and faithfull hart doo it confesse.
If goodnes doo begin to grow
in thée, and thou wouldst it mainetaine:
Referre it to the wyll of God,
who will increase it to thy gaine.
Yea finally conduct and bring
thée to him selfe by such away:
As best he liketh for himselfe,
where thou with him shalt dwell for aie
FINIS. 8. Chap.
¶ Of the gift of vnderstanding and knovvledge. 9. Cap.
NOw tell me O my soule, what we
in recompence shall giue the Lord:
For all the goodnes which we haue,
receiu'de of him in déede and woorde.
He onely not contented is,
to giue vs those good things which we
[Page] Receaue with other creatures eke,
our fellow partners by degrée.
But also hath prouided, that
in our afflictions we may féele:
And take and taste his mercy great,
and loouing kindnesse euery deale.
We singuler occasions heere,
in our aduersitie may take:
And in prosperitie we may,
imbrace his kindnes for his sake.
Within the armes of faithfull looue,
vnto our selues we thus may say:
In all our meditations, Lord
giue vs thy grace thée to obay.
And eke to know thee, graunt vs Lord,
much more then other creatures doo:
Because thou hast in secret wise,
thy selfe disclosed vs vnto.
Our vnderstanding thou didst frame,
thy hidden misteries to conceiue:
More then our mates and equalles were,
in ignoraunce thou didst them leaue.
Darkenesse of infidelitie,
as vailes hath shadowed theyr face:
But vnto vs thou hast declarde,
thy light and purenesse of thy grace.
[...]hy veritie and trueth it selfe,
on vs thou didst bestowe indéede:
[Page] On vs much more thou haste bestowde,
then on the rest of Adams séede.
As sence and aptnes to conceaue,
strength to performe good works & eke:
That which is ill a witte to hate,
grace in conuersion for to séeke.
Prosperitie for to conserue,
profit by studie to apply:
Wit in conceyts which turne to good,
and comfort in aduersitie.
Which way so euer we doo turne,
thy grace, thy mercy and good will:
Our pathe are ready to preuent,
and thou dooste rule and guide vs still.
When vtterly we séemed waste,
(my soule) and quite consumed were:
He sodainly reléeued vs,
and straight his mercy did appéere.
When we were ignoraunt and rude,
when wandering we went astray:
He taught vs for to feare his name,
and vs directed in the way.
When we were sad his comfort came,
he held vs vp, when downe we fell:
When that we stoode, he was our staye,
from falling headlong into hell.
Now finally graunt vs thy grace,
more verily to know thy name.
[Page] More sincerely thée to beléeue,
more purely for to looue the same.
More feruently to follow thée,
because that more pertaines vs too:
For benefits which we receaue,
more then thy other creatures doo.
Therefore O Lord my God to thée,
what recompence shall I deuise:
Thou swéetenes of my life and eke,
the Lampe and light of both mine eyes.
Wilt thou that I shall looue thée well?
then teach me how to doo the same:
How greatly eke thou wilt that I,
to thée my God, my looue shall frame.
For what am I that so may looue,
the Lord my God, my stedfastnes?
My refuge, my deliuerer,
my helper in my déepe distresse.
The horne of my saluation, and
my mainetainer at all assayes:
What shall I say? my Lord and God,
O giue me grace thy name to praise.
FINIS. 9. Cap.
¶ Of Gods prouident care ouer vs. 10. Cap.
FOr manifolde be these good things,
which thou O Lord hast doone for me:
[Page] Moste swéete and pleasaunt to beholde,
and in no case can numbred be.
To speake thereof great pleasure is,
Lorde make me thankfull for the same:
For these thy gratious benefits,
aye blessed be thy holy name.
Loe now my soule, thou hast thy pledge,
thy pledge thy spowse dooth represent:
Vntouched kéepe the same therefore,
and vndefilde with glad intent.
Yea vnpolluted kéepe it safe,
yea kéepe it cleane, and perfect sound:
Albeit thou once defiled was:
th'art now an honest Virgin found.
According to his fancie firme,
and opperation of his looue:
With purity he dooth restore,
corrupted things, that so they prooue.
In those that pure remaine indéede,
a chaste condition to conserue:
Vnspotted to his holy name,
that in no case it cannot swarue.
Apply thy cogitations, sée
how mercifully God dooth deale
With thée, and how his looue is bent,
all thine infirmities to heale.
Not suffering thee to want at all,
his benefits, nor yet to be:
[Page] So ignoraunt, but that thou shouldst,
remember what is giuen to thée.
And this I say to thée, because
thou shouldest marke his mercy great:
It séemes my God dooth nothing els,
but me with mercy still intreate.
I sée him wholy occupied,
for my saluation, and I sée
His care so great, that nothing els
he dooth but onely nourish me.
Continually God present is
with me, and that to my behooue:
He offereth himselfe for me,
all this his goodnes I doo prooue.
Which way so euer I me turne,
he neuer dooth my soule forsake:
And wheresoeuer I become,
for me he dooth prouision make.
And as a woorkeman which wil be,
inseperable to the same:
(His woorks) what wanteth in my forme,
with precious he a new dooth frame.
Although his face cannot be séene
with vs, his presence dooth appeare:
His Spirit dooth inspire our harts,
as though he still among vs were.
What pleasaunt thing is it my soule,
which while I thinke on him, dooth oft
[Page] Euen swéetely handle with desire,
and touch me with his fingers soft.
And presently me thinkes I féele,
my selfe euen rauished for ioy:
I drawne and caried am from hence,
as one conuayde from all annoy.
But whether, God dooth know, not I,
and yet forsoothe euen thus it is:
A creature now my selfe I séeme,
in great felicitie and blisse.
I cannot with my tongue expresse,
what ioy of conscience I receiue:
My wretchednesse and misery,
my sorrowes past I there doo leaue.
They vtterly forgotten are,
and blotted out of memory:
My vnderstanding is made bright,
my heart is lightened thereby.
My selfe I féele as though that in,
another countrey I remainde:
And as it were I doo imbrace,
moste happy looue I there haue gainde,
I labour then with all my might,
continually the same to kéepe:
And neuer for to lose it, why?
in it my soule dooth swéetely sléepe.
And would in no case be remoou'd,
but there to rest my soule aspires:
[Page] In quiet sort as it had found,
therein the end of all desyres.
Yea highly dooth it selfe aduaunce,
for ioy, and séekes none other thing:
None otherwise but as it is,
not place to chaung, with Prince or king.
Then is not this that loouing spowse,
my Lorde and God? yes verily:
Inuisible and secret sort,
he commeth now to visit me.
Incomprehensible, and yet
he commeth for to touche me now:
Me to admonish yet he dooth,
that I should sée him not alowe.
His meaning is not to infues,
This is c [...]trary to [...] deuillish doctrine H. N.
himselfe all wholy into me:
But euen in part to be assurde,
and likewise tasted for to be.
Not giuing his sacietie,
according to my full desire:
But more and that a great deale more,
then I of duty can require.
And this it is that chéefely dooth,
to his betrothing appertaine:
The earnest of his heauenly will,
which we in him on earth doo gaine.
This is a token true my soule,
if héere on earth thou godly be:
[Page] Assured in the world to come,
his owne selfe he will giue to thée.
For euer thou shalt see him then,
and of him full possession haste:
Whereof now presently thou doost,
but as it were enioy a taste.
That héere thou in this world may know
how pleasaunt thou shalt finde him then▪
And féele him in his kingdome swéete,
farre distaunt from the sonnes of men.
Wherefore it dooth my soule behooue,
yea it dooth with thy duty stand:
To looue thy God for these his giftes,
which thou receiued at his hand.
FINIS. 10. Cap.
¶ Of the gifte of the sences, and preseruation of life. 11. Cap.
BVt to the end thou maiste the more,
be kindled with the fire of looue:
Consider if with more then these,
his benefits he did thée prooue.
If so he haue, thou art the more
to him beholding for the same:
Bothe for them past, and those to come,
giue thankes, or els thou art to blame.
[Page] Euen from the bottom of thy hart,
he is for to be loou'd of thee:
For when my Parents did transgresse,
he with his mercy made them frée.
Yea me created of theyr flesh,
and breathde in me the spirit of life:
And seperating from them séede,
yt was brought foorth with mortall strife.
I therefore haue receiu'de of him,
the grace for to become a man:
And vnderstanding haue obtainde,
twixt man and beast, the scence to skan.
Of body I receiued haue,
the shape, and reason to defyne:
And difference betwixt these two,
my mortall sence, and grace deuine.
Mine eyes to sée, mine eares to heare,
my nose to smell, my mouthe to taste:
My hands to féele my féete to walke,
nothing in me was framed waste.
And that is more, I doo enioy
all these in health and happy rest:
Those benifyts, these doo augment,
that seuerally each sence possest.
Things consonant God did create,
agréeing to the vse of these:
As shining bright, and pleasaunt sound,
or swéete in taste, the sence to please.
[Page] This good prouision of our God,
the creator of euery thing:
These variable qualities,
for purpose ours to passe dooth bring.
The sight one speciall thing conceaues,
the hearing is an other plight:
The smelling, féeling, and the taste,
in seuerall sence, findes their delight.
For beauty, coulours please the eye,
swéete Musick moste the eare contents:
The fragrant smell of swéetest flowres,
delights the nose, with pleasaunt sence.
Thus euery sence his season sées,
and euery one in order plaste:
The verder and the reals swéete,
are found moste méetest for the taste.
And who is able to rehearse,
the pleasures that on vs attend:
So sundry set, so manifolde,
each in his kinde to comprehend?
They wounderfull doo séeme and straunge,
and straungely we inritcht thereby:
How many pleasures to the eyes,
doo we in coulours fresh apply?
What sundry soundes vnto the eare?
how diuersly each tune is plaste?
Men mutually their minds resigne,
and tell what things be gone and past.
[Page] With déepe delight some demonstrate,
things fit for present time, and some
Deuine of hidden secrets, and
prognosticate of things to come.
If these were missing in the life
of man, he might compared be:
Vnto the rudenes of a Beast,
moste bent and vile in base degrée.
What néede I tell you of the Byrds,
whose warbling notes I may compare:
For pleasure with the pleasures past,
which héeretofore expressed are?
And as I héere haue amplifyed,
the déepe delight our sences haue:
As séeing, féeling, hearing, taste,
and all by grace that nature gaue.
This may not be gainesayde therefore,
but that the goodnes of our God:
Excéeding is, and wonderfull,
his glory dooth extend abroade.
And by how much our benefyts,
abooue desert he did bestowe:
So much the more his glory shines,
so much the more his power dooth show.
Not onely he our bodyes made,
but also beautifyed the same:
With diuers vertues which he gaue,
blest be therefore his holy name.
[Page] He made me healthfull, fyrme and sound,
my fréends might not me noisome déeme:
Not ougly to theyr eyes, nor yet,
reprochefull vnto straungers séeme.
He me indewd with more then this,
he did my minde to reason bring,
He vnderstanding did me giue,
to iudge the truthe in euery thing.
I can discerne a right from wrong,
and good from euill can deuide:
By this I searche, I sue, and long,
with my Creator to abide.
But if I shall confesse the truthe,
a greater benefyt then this:
Wherewith the rest may not compare,
a blessing rare, and that is this.
Namely that I should heer be borne,
bred and brought vp, in such a time
And season, and among such men,
as doo condemne each fylthy crime.
Such people as professe his faithe,
his Sacraments in honour holde:
How I accordingly should liue,
whereby my sinnes be all controlde.
All this I sée, and this I know,
denyde to many other men:
Which precious is to be estéemde,
Lord graunt me to be thankfull then.
[Page] For these thy graces giuen to me,
in which I glory and reioyce:
Yet with the other by all right,
should stand my state in equall choyse.
That are forsaken of theyr God,
and in his iustice ouerthrowne:
But I am called by his grace,
and in his mercy am his owne.
In contemplation now therefore,
I will procéede and eke declare:
His goodnesse and benignitie,
that me such parents did prepare.
Which brought me vp within his feare,
in safetie vnto mans estate:
Deuoide of daunger doone by fyre,
by water or like mortall fate.
That I by Beasts was not deuourde,
and that the Diuell had no holde
On me, but that all these mishaps,
was by the grace of God controlde.
By meanes whereof I now am growne,
to competent and séemely age:
To looue my God, him serue and feare,
by faithe in him my sinnes t'asswage.
Finis. 11. Cap.
¶ Of the patience and long suffering of God. 12. Cap.
GReat is thy pittie Lord therefore,
and infinite thy mercy eke:
Which thou hast vsed vnto me,
when I in faithe the same did séeke.
Moste wonderfull in all thy workes,
because thou art them all abooue:
Yea thou doost séeme moste maruelous,
euen in the bowels of thy looue.
For sure no man thou doost despise,
abhorre, nor any man reiect:
But such as doo forsake the Lord,
and dreadfully themselues detect.
These are thy gifts, therefore O Lord,
these are thy treasures which thou hast
Indewd me with, and by thy grace,
me in the midst of mercy plaste.
When I in dreadfull daunger was,
and in the sinck of filthy sinne:
Thou me deliuered from the same,
and left me not to die therein.
When I vnmindefull was of this,
thereof thou didst remember me:
When from thy presence I returnde,
thou callde me home againe to thée.
[Page] And gentlie did me entertaine,
with pardon, when I did repent:
And did with mercie me remit,
when I deserued punishment.
Not onely pardon for my sinnes,
which I in wicked will did frame:
But for such sinnes I did eschew,
thy pardon did containe the same.
As into many sinnes I fell,
and foule offences did commit:
My wicked will was bent to more,
if thou hadst not withholden it.
Yet headlong further had I run,
with rashe attempt from thée to swarue:
By thy especiall meanes I doo,
remember, thou didst me preserue.
From dooing of such wicked déedes,
that otherwise I should haue done:
But onely thy especiall grace,
I had no meanes the same to shun.
But thou occasions all didst kill,
and gaue me strength sinne to resist:
By kéeping and continuing me,
in thine affection ere I wist.
Had I at lybertie beene left,
my wilfull nature to obay:
In manifolde offences I
committing, should haue went on stray.
[Page] But so great was the mercie of
my Lord and God, bestowed on me:
Not once such sinne could me arest,
nor finde that oportunitie.
For much a doo he had to staye,
me from the doubling of my sin:
The violence of temptation great,
so grieuous vnto me haue béen.
As euerie man hath féeling in,
his frayle desyre and fickle minde:
Had not the Lord of mercie, his
assistaunce vnto me assignde.
Whereby I vanquished my luste,
my fleshlie, and my fonde desire:
Concupiscence I kilde thereby,
which in my members burnt like fire.
From certaine other sinnes, O Lord,
thine indulgence and fauour did:
So farre estraunge and stay my minde,
that from my heart, them quite I rid.
I did abhorre and hate them sore,
and lothe the filth of former time:
Iniquitie that did suggest,
me to commit eche hainous crime.
Yet, all these same had not the power,
to touch or mooue me to consent:
Although they made what meanes they could,
my stedfast purpose to preuent.
[Page] Not least point of thy pittie Lord,
nor meanest motion of thy grace:
When as the hugenesse of my sinnes,
had brought me into wretched case.
When I vnkindlie kindled had,
by dooing euill in thy sight:
Prouokte thy furie, stirde thy moode,
with gréeuous sins, for which thou might
Haue punished my peruerse minde,
yet patientlie thou didst forbeare:
That notwithstanding, all thinges past,
thou pardonedst through thy mercy méere.
If I doo put repentaunce off,
deferring tyme from day to day▪
And doo securelie sléepe in sinne,
yet thou wilt pause and vse delay.
Preuenting patientlie the tyme,
and gentlie tarriest tyll I come:
When I doo wander, thou doost haste,
me in the race that I shall runne.
Againe, when I resist and striue,
rebelliouslie against thy grace:
Thou doost vanquish, and conquere me,
and quite from me, my sinnes doost chase.
When in the féeldes of fantasie,
I loyter or doo ling ring stay:
Thou eyther forwarde wilt me force,
or tarriest for me in the way.
[Page] When I diuert from wicked wayes,
and trie thy footsteps for to trace:
Foorthwith, thou fréendly me receyues,
and loouinglie dooth me embrace.
When I in ignoraunce doo dwell,
full soone I shall instructed bée:
When I for gréefe lament and mourne,
thou commest straight to comfort mée.
I stumble, fall, and yet thou doost,
bothe reare me vp, and art my stay:
Thou giuest what comfort I doo craue,
thou doost redéeme my dire decay.
That which I séeke, in thée I finde,
I knock, thou openest vnto mée:
Thou art my Loadstone and my life,
my staffe and stay in eche degrée.
I neither will nor cunning want,
to walke directlie in thy way:
The greater is my daunger then,
if wandringlie I walke astray.
This also woorthy is O Lord,
(of admiration) that before:
(I had discretion) in my youth,
what things to aske, thou gauest me store▪
As also in mine age, when I
through thée was able for to craue:
And aske for that by goodnesse thine,
which I in heart desirde to haue.
[Page] Againe, when nothing I requirde,
nor any thing in mercie sought:
But rechleslie and careleslie,
estéemed all thy giftes as nought.
And now I doo esteeme this grace,
A great and mighty gifte, that thou
Didst ouer me giue Angels charge,
from birth to kéepe me safe tyll now.
More then tyll now, for euen betwéene,
my day of birth, and day of death:
Thou my protector art as long,
as I enioy this vitall breath.
In contemplation of which thing,
a certaine holie Father sayde:
Great is the dignitie of those,
whome God electes, and Angelles ayde.
As garders set, them to defend,
the Wise man in this sence exprest:
The righteous soules are in the handes,
Sapi. 3.
of God, and there doo safelie rest.
I cease not heere for to commend,
thy pittie ioynd with patience:
But rather double doo thy prayse,
that so hast borne my fowle offence.
And not according to the same,
my due desarte did me requite:
Nor that I should for sinfull life,
be recompenst with déepe despite.
[Page] The earth to swallowe me, nor fire
from heauen sent my corpes to burne [...]
Not water floods to drowne me, nor
such pains of death should serue this turn.
That I so sore deserued had.
bothe anguish and afflictions great:
I had deserued for my sinnes,
but so he did me not intreat.
For when by sinne I went away,
and would no longer with him dwell:
His creatures did disdayne me sore,
I had deserude the paines of hell.
No meruaile is this same, for if
a hyred seruaunt run away:
But from his earthlie Maister héere,
and doo not all his hestes obay.
His punishment shall sure be great,
his Maister is against him sore:
His seruaunts and familliar fréendes,
doo soone abhorre this wretch therefore.
Therefore when I displeased thee,
O Lord my God, iust cause I gaue:
That all thy faithfull creatures should,
great indignation at me haue.
As first the earth, thy creature great,
which dooth the world so wide containe:
Against me might conspire and stay,
I thée to nourishe doo disdaine.
[Page] Ne might I make my mone for this,
if it molest or trouble mée:
If I complaine, it aunswere might,
in trueth I lothe to carrie thée.
For as I Dathan did deuowre,
Abiram eke, and Corah caught:
As they were swallowed quicke, euen so
for thine offences die thou ought.
Which hast not béene afrayde to fall,
from thy Creatour, and to ioyne:
Euen with his mortalst foe the fiend,
the Diuell which would thée purloyne.
The author of iniquitie,
of disobedience and of sin:
The father of those froward fooles,
that doo delight to liue therein.
The Sunne also to thée might say,
I ought my beames to thée deny:
Because vnto thy lasting light,
thy duetie thou doost not applie.
Thus euerie creature might controwle,
and vnto thée this sentence giue:
But that thy Sauiour them restraines,
who bids thée to repent and liue.
It me behoues, therefore O Lord,
more humblie to thy mightie hand:
More loyall and obedient I,
before thy mercie ought to stand.
[Page] Least by deferring of the day,
to punishe my transgressions then:
Euen in thy dreadfull day, O Lord,
more gréeuouslie with sinfull men.
And thou my soule, thy selfe perswade,
that this long suffering of the Lord:
Expected hath a great while now,
what we in faith can him aforde.
Th'effect of his election free,
Predestination is most pure:
Which he fulfilde in vs will haue,
by faith for euer to endnre.
Through his excessiue looue likewise,
which he hath borne, and beares vs styll:
His eyes be turned from our sinnes,
according to his holy wyll.
As once vnwilling to beholde,
howe often I offended haue:
His mercie is disposoe I sée,
from endlesse death my soule to saue.
This is the cause I see, why he,
hath stayde so long, our hearts to prooue:
And that thereby he might commend,
his patience, and confirme his looue.
My selfe I doo remember well,
he strooke my heart, and stirde the same:
For to beholde the skarres of sinne,
which wicked life in me did frame.
[Page] Yea, for this cause he did conuey,
and lead me to the gates of hell:
Describing vnto me what paines,
they suffer that therein doo dwell.
And to this ende, that I should not,
dismay with motions of my sin:
Nor that rrmembraunce of the same,
might not remaine my minde within.
He did inspire and comfort me,
that I a full remission had:
A generall pardon he me gaue,
for all my lyfe that was so bad.
That neither should reuenge be sought,
nor I vpbraided once should be:
Condempned nor consounded, for
such was his looue and zeale to me.
Though some that in the world remaine,
and no small number God he knowes:
That pardon crimes committed, yet
Men [...] not [...] lie [...] one [...] ther [...] doot [...] giue [...]
will cast the parties in the nose.
And other that doo silent sit,
doo styll in stomacke rancour beare:
Euen in their silent shadowe dooth,
reserued spite, and hate appeare.
But neither of these sortes be such,
as charitie with hart embrace:
Nor yet according to the rule,
and looue of God, which we by grace
[Page] Doo taste and féele for comfort ours,
how plainlie he dooth alwayes deale:
His pardon fréelie is bestowde,
on all that to the same appeale,
According to the text, which sayth,
euen where our sinnes did most abound:
Grace did most plentifull appeare,
1. 3.
which benefite Saint Peter found.
[...]8.
Who hauing thrise his Lord denide,
the same his Lord, did thrise commaund▪
21.
To féede his Shéepe, and of his Church,
the chéefest Pastour for to stand.
Paule did his Gospell persecute,
[...].
yet he a Vessell was elect:
And teacher of the will of God,
the Heathens liues for to correct.
And Mathew was a worldlie man,
[...]9.
he did receyue the common towle:
Which Office dooth containe abuse,
if Officer doo bribe and powle.
Yet he was an Apostle made,
the Lord his God so gaue consent:
And of Apostles was the first,
that wrote his Will and Testament.
FINIS. 12. Chap.
¶ Of the gift of Continencie. 13. Cap.
BVt after all these thinges which are
right good, and many as you sée:
Of Continencie perfect gift,
my God did also giue to mée.
Not onelie from all carnall lust,
but from each other filthy vice:
By whatsoeuer they be callde,
a gifte of rare and woorthy price,
So that I, who in former time,
could hardlie any thing forbeare:
Thrée dayes together, but I did,
vnto my former faultes repaire.
Now through the grace and helpe of God,
I can for euer be content:
That to forbeare, which dooth intice,
or vnto sinne dooth giue consent.
By iust occasion I can staye,
and thereof well assured bée:
Beholde my God of mighties most,
what great thinges he hath done for mée.
Some man perhaps will thus replie,
Luk▪
thou mayst accomplishe this with ease:
Of light importaunce is that paine,
that to forbeare, which dooth thée please.
Assure your selfe, I thinke not so,
I knowe what enimies it hath:
[Page] How strong and sturdy ones they be,
what might they haue ye minde to skathe.
It néedefull is for to resist,
a broode of such impietie:
A Nurse of naughtines, and eke
a sincke of all iniquitie.
The first and chéefest enemie,
that continencie dooth despite:
Is our owne flesh, whilst it dooth lust,
striue and rebell against the sprite.
And what an enemie is this,
know you, that so familiar can:
Kéepe residence, and force conflict,
[...]
within the secret shape of man.
How daungerous is this my soule,
a fearefull fight most like to be:
Thou haste no meanes to skape the hurt:
Deuil, [...]orld, [...]
of this thy mortall enemy.
This foe most cruell, sterne and stoute,
vnnaturall and tyrannous:
No way thou hast him to escape,
nor pollicie to flie but thus.
Mauger our heads we néedes must beare,
this mortall foe, about vs still:
To vs it tide and lincked is,
we cannot leaue it when we will.
And therefore what more wretched is,
vs miserable men to charme.
[Page] To féede and foster vp this foe,
béeing forbid to doo it harme?
Thus maist thou see what great regarde,
and care thou hast thy selfe to kéepe:
From such a foe, as must of force,
within thy bosome lie and sléepe.
But yet my soule, if this were all,
thine enimies which doo thée hate:
And that there were none other, thou
thrise happie were, and fortunate.
For one there is, as bad as this,
as sturdy stoute, as stoute may be:
As cruell crafty daungerous,
and eke as hurtfull vnto thée.
As harde to be escaped and,
where euer thou thy selfe bestowe:
It dooth inuiron thée about,
and no way from it canst thou goe.
This enimie, the wicked world,
vnto fiue gates I can compare:
The which fiue gates for to defyne,
compact, in thy fiue sences are,
This enemy dooth wound thée sore,
with dartes, and at thy windowes will▪
Watche time for to procure thy death,
for he hath sworne thée for to kill.
The thyrde is sworne thy deadly foe,
and common enimie to all:
[Page] Of Adams whole posteritie,
the subtile Serpent men him call.
More wilie then the Creatures all,
that in the world euer were:
No eye his countenaunce can discerne,
he in no likenesse will appeare.
And therefore to auoyde him quite,
it passeth mans habillitie:
Some time he dooth assault vs sore,
with violence, euen openlie.
Some times he secretly will steale,
and guilefully he alwayes will:
Continew in his crueltie,
and seeketh meanes, our soules to kill.
But who is able to endure,
all this his mischéefe to withstand:
Or who is fit t'encounter with
this chapion, stoute to take in hand.
In verie déede, no earthlie man,
but he that long hath looued vs:
And that by his triumphant death,
this victorie atchieude for vs.
Now maist thou knowe therfore my soule,
how harde and difficult it is:
Euen to be continent, if that
the grace of God thereto thou misse.
Great cause therefore we haue to looue,
him most intyrelie for the same:
[Page] For onelie in the Lord we haue,
this power, praysed be his name.
Our might he giues vs to withstand,
this tryple battrey (all by force)
Maintaind, against vs by these foes,
that would of vs take no remorce.
It is our God, that dooth therefore,
tread vnderfoote eche fowle offence:
Our looue, our lust, our lauishe minde,
our fleshlie vile concupiscence.
As also all the world, and all
her vile, and worldlie vanities:
Her trecherous entisements, and
of men the wofull myseries.
And finally, the Diuell, with
his crafte and false suggestions vile,
His subtile shiftes, whereby he sought,
my simple soule for to beguile.
Then haue not I iust cause thinke you,
of duetie to confesse that he:
Which mightie is, of mighties most,
Luke.
all these great thinges hath done for me.
FINIS. 13. Cap.
¶ Of the gift of Hope. 14. Cap.
MOreouer, my good God dooth giue
me grace, that I my selfe perswade:
[Page] And to conforme that by his will,
I am to him obedient made.
And fullie am assured by faith,
that finally I shall not misse:
But by his promise shall inioye,
his kingdome and eternall blisse.
In the especiall pointes this grace,
consisteth and continueth too:
That I contempne, detest, and hate,
my sinnes forepast, of purpose doo.
Disdayning present pleasures all,
or fonde delightes, and séeke in some:
To frame and force, our fowle desire,
to looke and long for thinges to come.
Which to attaine this hope we haue,
supported by thrée thinges also:
Which strengthen and confirme my heart,
that from this hope it dooth not goe.
And so dooth animate my minde▪
me so incourage and perswade:
That lacke of merites, want of workes,
nor worldly blisse, my minde may glad.
Nor estimation of the ioyes,
which with delight my heart dooth grope:
Not any of these shall hable be,
to hale me from the fort of hope.
First, I consider that the looue,
of him that hath adopted me:
1.
[Page] And secondlie, the trueth of him,
whose promises performed bée.
The thirde, his mercie, might and power,
that in these thrée, did me redéeme:
Haue I not cause these benefites,
most highlie them for to estéeme?
Now therefore let my fleshlie thoughtes,
repine and murmure with disdaine:
Euen as they lust, and aske me how,
I can these heauenlie ioyes attaine.
With confidence, I aunswer will,
I knowe, whome I beléeued haue:
His benefites perswades me so,
which vndeserued his mercie gaue.
Most condempnable were to doubt,
I am assured of his trueth:
I fullie am resolude from hence,
Grace and adoption bothe ensueth.
That he his promise will performe,
as one best hable to fulfill:
He may and dooth, bothe heauen and earth,
commaund, and they obay his will.
For these his merites, I of right,
my God and Sauiour ought to looue:
It is the working of his Grace,
and mercie so, my minde to mooue.
When I doo flée, out from his face,
me to his presence, he allures:
[Page] When I for sinfull life dispayre,
my present comfort he procures.
I am vnthankfull for his giftes,
yet dooth he benefite me styll:
When I vncleannes would commit,
he dooth my carnall humours kyll.
When I in vanities delight,
his trueth to me he dooth declare:
When I lie bound in snares of sinne,
he dooth my fréedome straight prepare.
And to conclude, he dooth preserue,
and kéepe me from the pit of hell:
And drawes me from the wicked world,
within his kingdome for to dwell.
FINIS. 14. Cap.
¶ Of Gods bountie, of our iniquitie, and of thankes giuing. 15. Cap.
BVt yet my soule beholde and sée,
consider how Gods goodnesse showne:
In all his giftes and benefites,
which thou receyuest as thine owne.
What gladsome comfortable chéere,
if thou thy worldlie will deny:
Christe offereth him selfe to thée,
what delycates he dooth apply.
[Page] With foode thy hunger to refresh,
he store in mercie dooth bestowe:
Thy pouertie he dooth enritch,
All these his graces thou doost knowe.
What secrete good affections hée,
euen with the same thy heart aspyres:
As with a pleasaunt cuppe of looue,
he dooth replenishe thy desyres.
That thou his footsteppes follow doo,
and transitorie thinges forsake:
Héereby thou mayst beholde thy God,
how great accoumpt of thée dooth make.
This is no simple thing thou séest,
(or vile) contempned for to bée:
That thou a gadding fugitiue,
his mercie more should giue to thée.
Thou wast a rechlesse rebell rude,
thou to eche treacherie wast thrall:
Yet he vnto his setled home,
and heauenlie mancion did thée call.
And plentifullie did refreshe,
with consolation spirituall.
He harkened to thy mishappe,
or euer thou had minde to call.
He comfortes thy confused minde,
if thou were tempted, he sustaind:
If he in daunger did thée finde,
thy lybertie was quicklie gaind.
[Page] He thée reléeu'de, if sorrowfull,
by him thou should comforted bée:
If wauering in minde thou waste,
he did confirme and strengthen thée.
How often, euen with verie feare,
thou séemed like a withered wight?
He quicklie did thy state redéeme,
and thée endude with strength and might.
When thou in drought did drie away,
he did himselfe to thée infuse:
And often he with spirituall light,
thine vnderstanding did peruse.
Thy sence with swéetnesse he perfumde,
when thou delightst to reade or sing:
To praye or meditate thy minde,
in any kinde of heauenlie thing.
He rauished thy déepe delight,
from déepe delight in worldlie vice:
That thou mightst take thy pleasure in,
his euerlasting Paradice.
I leaue to speake of mightie workes,
it pleasde his Maiestie so to doo:
Of kindnesse and of mercie more,
which he restorde my soule vnto.
Least any parte of his due prayse,
should be ascribed vnto me:
And that the giuers graces should,
with the receipt vnited be.
[Page] Or knit together with the same,
or séeme as equall in consent:
Or he lyke praises should receyue,
whome God dooth make his instrument.
For if the creature should presume,
to be pertaker of the prayse:
Iniuriouslie, he dealeth with
his good Creatour diuers wayes.
For what hath any man a liue,
that he of God did not receyue?
Why should he then be praysde for that,
which he enioyes not, but by leaue?
To thée therefore, O Lord my God,
all honour, prayse, and glorie be:
Thankes giuing, laude, dominion, power,
for these thy Graces gouerne me.
Sée nowe therefore my soule, how that
not onelie bountie dooth commend:
But our iniquitie likewise,
dooth, with our God, therin contend.
For if his bountie be so great,
to giue, where we could nothing craue:
And that we nothing did deserue,
of all the goodnesse which we haue.
How ought that goodnesse be estéemde,
that vs with goodnesse dooth requite:
That by our manners merite could,
nought else but euill and despite?
[Page] O what great looue is this, I say,
the which our sinnes can not suppresse:
Nor that we may not ouercome,
with this our wilfull wickednesse.
He pardoneth sinne, and grace dooth giue,
in place of vice, dooth Vertue plant:
So in the one he lyberall is,
in th'other loouing we must graunt.
Let vs therefore confesse that we,
euen from our selues, our sinnes possesse:
That he may pardon them, and eke
from him, our Vertues styll increase:
And let vs not forget, that we
be thankfull for his pardon past:
And not vnmindfull be of that,
which he dooth giue for aye to last.
Thus let him doo that feareth God,
and dooth desire to looue him styll:
For looue can not dissemble sure,
in looue is left no kinde of yll.
What therefore worketh dilligent
consideration of this thing:
But earnestlie for to withdrawe,
thy minde that so thy looue dooth bring.
From all such other sortes of looue,
to looue the Lord aboue them all:
Not forced, but of duetie, for
his looue to lasting life dooth cal.
[Page] If lightly we the Lord doo looue,
not doubting but we so may doo:
Some man perhappes will not conceyue,
how much he bound is him vnto.
But if he séeke, he soone shall finde,
occasion for to thinke the same:
As all his dayes him to adore,
whilst life dooth last to praise his name.
For who so wanteth any thing,
that he for his soules health would vse:
Let him not murmure for the same,
nor yet therfore his God accuse.
For he dooth all thinges for the best,
his actions be performde with skill:
In iudgement he is well aduised,
and mercie hath on whome he will.
And whome he will dooth also iudge,
and whome he will, in hart makes hard:
To whome he will, his grace he giues,
from whome he will, it is debard.
What so dooth with his pleasure stand,
most néedefull is, and also fit:
And we that profite must thereby,
most néede we haue to call for it.
Not onelie sorie be and sad,
but also labour them to gaine:
And pray vnto our gracious God,
that we vnto them may attaine.
[Page] Which hauing gotten, gratefull bée,
giue thanks to him, which sent the same:
No recompence he dooth require,
but that thou prayse his holie name.
FINIS. 15. Cap.
¶ Of the benefites of Christes death and Passion. 16. Cap.
BOthe great and many are therefore,
thy benefites most gracious Lord:
Innumerable, infinite,
which we receiue by thine accord.
That thou hast heaped vpon me,
for which I bounden am therefore:
To looue and prayse thy holie name,
which blessed be for euermore.
What euer goodnesse presently,
I haue, or in times past haue had:
Or whatsoeuer I shall haue,
in tyme to come, me for to glad.
My God the Author is of all,
from whome, what so is good in déede:
Or so accoumpted it dooth flowe,
yea, issue and from him procéede.
But there is one thing more then this,
dooth me inflame, yea, vrge and mooue:
[Page] To set my soule delight thereon,
my pleasure and my perfect looue.
This dooth especiallie, O Lord,
so fayre and amiable make:
Euen thée thy selfe, that did vouchsafe,
vile death to suffer for my sake.
The worke of our Redemption déere▪
a shamefull death on thée was done:
Whereby our life and seruice all,
our looue and labour thou hast wunne.
Euen this I say, most swéetlie dooth,
our déepe deuotion drawe to thée:
It dooth increase my looue much more,
then all which else, thou gauest to mée.
We in this worke were reconcilde,
thy bitter panges did purchase grace:
Thy sore oppression made vs pure,
thy care our comfort in like case.
The vniuersall Creatour,
was so opprest with woe and paine:
The workmanship of all the world,
dyd not to him like toyle containe.
When he at first, the world did frame,
he spake the word, and it was made:
He did commaund, all creatures straight,
Psalm
created were, euen as he bade.
For restoration of mankinde,
the sorrowes which he suffred were:
[Page] In all respectes most meruailous,
and manifolde, as dooth appéere.
Beholde therefore, he looued vs well,
not hauing néede, did not disdaine:
On this behalfe, but for our sinnes,
he suffered this mortall paine.
I therefore truely héere may say,
all benefites before exprest:
Which he in bountie did bestowe,
this one excelleth all the rest.
A man that to his fréend dooth giue,
his worldlie goodes deserueth prayse:
But he which for his fréend will die,
shalbe remembred many dayes.
[...]amon [...]thias.
It is an argument of looue,
and fewe or none, there be of those:
That will as our redéemer did,
die for his freends, and for his foes.
For so we were, yet would he die
the death, and to be interd in graue:
That we might reconciled bée,
to God, thereby our soules to saue.
A man will hardlie die, sayth Paule,
for him that iust and righteous is:
[...]. 5.
Our Sauiour for the wicked sort,
(did die) and such as liued amis.
That blamelesse he might vs present,
before his heauenlie father déere:
[Page] We béeing banisht and exilde:
within his kingdome might appéere.
O howe vnspeakeable therefore,
was this his looue and charitie:
What tongue is able to expresse,
the comfort of this courtesie.
That God for man, should man become,
in humaine fleshe for man to die:
And to be tempted in all thinges,
that toucheth mans infirmitie.
In him was onely sinne except,
whereby beholde, it dooth appeare:
Howe great a raunsome he did pay,
before from sinne thou could be cleare.
Thou vnto Sathan thralled was,
(as his) condemnde by sentence due:
Eternall death thou hadst deserude,
before he did thy state renue.
Nor this may not be hidden now,
that if this raunsome had not béene:
The Diuell and his Angelles had,
the ende of all thy labours séene.
And all this trueth I haue thée tolde,
that thou thereby might vnderstand:
How much vnto thy God art bound,
that wrought thy wealth wt mighty hād.
And that thou mayst with all thy might,
with all thy feruent power abide:
[Page] Such gréefe and sorrowe for his sake,
as tyme may to thy state prouide.
4.
By many tribulations wée,
vnto his kingdome must attaine:
Most happy to possesse the same,
with that our loouing Lord to raigne.
O Lord, now let my soule embrace,
thy blessed body crucified:
And let me drinke, one draught so swéete,
of thy most precious blood beside.
By déepe imprinting of the same,
thy Passion in my memorie:
This Sacrifice most swéete, by which
my soule shall liue eternallie.
Yea, let this pure remembraunce,
into my heart, and minde so frame:
That no obliuion, wealth; nor want,
be able to obscure the same.
But giue me grace, that with Saint Paule,
my iudgement may, like his be tride:
That nothing in this world I knowe,
2.
but Christe my sauiour crucified.
So that vaine error take no place,
nor suffred be my minde to drawe:
From this the soundnesse of my faith,
in which the grace of God dooth growe.
And finallie, let all this looue,
bestowed on me, this tytle claime:
[Page] Euen all my looue, my hope and faith,
and what good giftes in me remaine.
So that desire of worldly wealth,
haue not the power to swallowe mée:
For this I knowe, whose heart and minde,
thou fillest with the looue of thée.
Can neither frighted be with feare,
nor yet defilde with filthy lust:
Nor torne with wrath, aduanst with pride,
nor in vaine Treasure puts his trust.
Vnbowled with ambicion, nor
stirde vp, vile madnesse to commit:
Not shruncken vp with couetise,
nor dooth consumde in sadnesse sit.
Nor enuie hath not worne away,
nor yet corrupt with other vice:
Whilst in the sweetnesse of the Lord,
it resteth in this Parradise.
He therefore in this world that can,
good thinges vnto his seruaunt giue:
What thinke you God reserues for such,
as lastingly with him shall liue?
The thinges that present he bestowes,
as giftes we tearme them temporall:
Thinges promised in the life to come,
we doo estéeme them eternall.
Much better they, then are the first,
they gotten are with trauaile great:
[Page] And quicklie are they wasted, for
the which we long our braines did beate.
When surest we séeme them to enioy,
4
Lord what a care tis them to kéepe:
What greefe to lose, that paine procures,
with sorrowe we for them doo wéepe.
The ritches of the world to come,
are neuer lost, they not decrease:
But alwayes are possest with ioy,
with quiet rest, and endlesse peace.
These thinges are euer longed for,
they hated, nor once lothed be:
And who these ritches hath obtainde,
a happy man no doubt is he.
Which shall not lose these benefites,
that earnest was them to desire:
He neuer them againe forgoes,
that thus in faith he did require.
FINIS. 16. Cap.
¶ Of the benefite of God his promises. 2 17. Cap.
RIght highlie therefore is our God,
in these his promises so pure:
[Page] For to belooude who hath vs hight,
that greater thinges he will procure.
For he hath promist rest from paine,
from thraldome liberty to giue:
Securitie, that we from feare
and sorrowe, shall in safety liue.
And resurrection from the dead,
and after that our bodies are.
Raysde vp againe to perfect blisse,
which without ende he did prepare:
And finallie, his promise past,
of it we may our selues perswade:
That he would giue him selfe for vs,
this othe he to our Fathers made.
Great are the promises of God,
Luke.
he wyll of vs be looude for these:
And in this sort it dooth behoue,
that we the Lord our God doo please.
But if thou wilt desire to knowe,
in what sort it behoueth vs:
To looue thy God euen vehementlie,
with déepe desire, I aunswere thus.
We craue his promise to performe,
in this our looue required is:
And duetie-dooth vs so perswade,
Let vs not then our dueties misse.
How euer we desire the same,
his gracious promise, truely we,
[Page] So often not, desyre the same,
as it desired ought to be.
And he that profiteth in looue,
let him insue the same therfore:
Haue care that looue may styll increase,
that thou mayst looue thy God the more.
The earnest longing after God,
it hath no meane in some respect:
For who that thinkes it dooth excéede,
dooth of his duetie much neglect.
And where as in all other things,
Impatiencie is euer blamde:
But vse it to this ende, and it
thy commendations great hath framde.
Gods promises for to expect,
that is to haue, and him possesse:
The more he dooth his prayse commend,
and he commended is no lesse.
The more a man our God dooth looue,
the more he after him dooth haste:
Impatientlie vexe and torment,
tyll he with him his soule hath plaste.
These precious Iuelles in this world,
are promised, had and enioyde:
Euen in the heauenlie Pallace, when
this earthlie mansion is destroyde.
And therfore of that good, which is
chéefe of all goodnesse, what it is:
[Page] And howe it is, shalbe declarde,
the Chapter showes, which foloweth this.
FINIS. 17. Cap.
¶ Of the consideration of the Deitie, and ioyes of Heauen. 18. Cap.
LEt vs therefore our mindes aduance,
so farre as God assistes the same:
Our vnderstanding eke prepare,
that we our iudgements rightly frame,
How great the pleasures they possesse,
and ioye vnto the chosen there:
Prepared for the Lordes elect,
that in his Pallace doo appeare.
Which is to say, not onely high,
but soueraigne good, both Life and Light:
Eternitie, and Wisedome great,
and blisfull Beautie shining bright.
But yet in Nature, onelie one,
most excellent, most good, most hie:
Suffising all thinges to it selfe,
not wanting any ones supplie.
[Page] This good is God, the Father great,
his woorde likewise, his onely sonne:
This is that one and common looue,
which we haue in the Father wonne.
Namelie, that blessed spirite of lyfe,
the Father and the Sonne in déede:
By equall porcions this from bothe,
in grace dooth issue and procéede.
That which in euerie one of these,
[...] per [...]one
we doo distinct in persons three:
The Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost,
one onely God in Trinitie.
The soueraigne vnitie of these,
the Dietie of God declares:
10.
Not altred, multiplied, increast,
but must consist in equall shares.
This onely one thing néedefull is,
with all in one, and one in all:
Which onelie good is in it selfe,
and we this onely good doo call.
If euerie seuerall good be good,
that héere amongst vs dooth remaine:
How pleasaunt is that good, which dooth▪
all goodnesse in it selfe containe?
Not such as we in creatures finde,
but such as the Creator is:
Most excellent aboue them all,
no difference is lyke to this.
[Page] For lyfe was first created good,
how good is then that lyfe, which did
Create the same before it was,
it in obscuritie was hid?
If health be good, which we enioye,
howe good is that which gaue the same?
If Wisedome amiable be,
how faire is yt which wrought the frame.
If our delightes so diuers be,
and pleasures passing manifolde:
How delectable, he that dooth,
the sum of all our Pleasures holde?
How happy is that Soule which may,
euen all this good at pleasure haue?
What shall he misse or want, that hath
more in this good, then he can craue?
What lackes he not, that lacketh this?
for he that hath, hath all in déede:
That eyther body or the soule,
at any time doo hap to néede.
And that so passing excellent:
as the eye of man hath neuer séene:
Nor eare hath heard, nor yet conceyue,
within the heart of man hath béene.
1. C [...]
Why wander we and range about,
and through so many things doo trace:
For soule and body goodes to get,
which resteth in, this onely grace?
[Page] Let vs this our God rather looue,
in whome is all the goodes that is:
And that shalbe inough for vs,
we sure sufficient shall not misse.
We shall no further néede to séeke,
but for to take that simple good:
(Simple) is onelie selfe to be,
and so of vs is vnderstoode.
What doost thou then desire my soule?
what is it that my minde dooth mooue?
Within this good is all contriu'de,
that comes from God the Lord aboue.
To speake therefore of all the goodes,
his heauenly kingdome dooth containe:
No man that's cloathed in his fleshe,
the same is able to explaine.
All Fame, that kingdome dooth excell,
surmounteth cunning, prayse and skill:
It royall is, and glorious eke,
according to Gods holie will.
Tis full of lyght, of charitie,
of patience, and of endlesse peace:
Of worship, glorie, and renowne,
all pleasures there, doo styll increase.
Delight, and euerlasting ioye,
perpetuall eke in blisfulnesse:
Replenished with all the good,
that heart can thinke, or tongue expresse.
[Page] It can not comprehended be,
nor measured by the wit of man:
Why should our silence this conceale,
but yéelde it all the prayse we can?
Because we can not as we would,
God is vnspeakeable we knowe:
And so beléeue, and should we not,
abroade his power and mercie showe?
Should we not euerlasting life,
which. God to vs by promise plight:
None otherwise beléeue, but as
we finde it written to our sight?
His promise made to vs is sealde,
of lasting looue in greater sort:
Then eyther can the tongue declare,
or else the Pen for trueth report.
The heart much more can comprehend,
it is of more capacitie:
And yet it can not sound the depth,
of his great power and Maiestie.
The ioyes and glorie of the life,
(to come) therefore beléeue we must:
For euerlasting in it selfe,
it is, and so should be discust.
It euerlasting, happy is,
and dooth containe tranquilitie:
All pleasauntnesse most peaceable,
and our assurde securitie.
[Page] This perfect looue, no dread, no feare,
no want of day, no doubt of night:
But chéerefull motions, and one sprite,
amongst vs all, euen in the sight
Of God there to abyde in ioye,
among his Saintes, and Angelles all:
Bright shining in the righteousnesse
of Christ, which hath redéemde our thrall.
Euen where saluation dooth abound:
where truth dooth raigne, where no deceit
Is vsed, betwixt man and man,
where is no measure false nor weight.
No happy man can thence be cast,
nor may from thence exiled bée:
No wicked wretch, may there be plast,
nor once aduaunst to that degrée.
There is the life contemplatiue,
which fruitfull Faith, who dooth attaine:
Shall like the blisfull spirites be made,
with God in kingdome his to raigne.
For what they haue beléeued héere,
there shall they it beholde and sée:
The substaunce of theyr Creator,
in whome all good thinges perfect bée.
With innocent, and humble eyes,
with harts most pure, they shall reioyce:
And triumphe in this happinesse,
of which in God they made their choyce.
[Page] And dooing thus, possesse the looue,
of God our euerlasting Lord:
In charitie together they,
with vnitie and swéete concord
Doo liue, and porcion lyke receiue,
the priuiledge of heauenlie place:
Like Cittizens enfraunchized,
they all enioy the God of grace.
There shall such ioy and gladnesse be,
such heauenlie sollace shall abound:
For there the fulnesse of his grace,
and mercie of our God is found.
Vnto the giuer of the same,
incessauntlie they shall sing prayse:
Without all kinde of irksomnesse,
yéelde lawde and thanks to him alwayes.
The hearts of euerie creature there,
shall laye abroade and opened bée:
As héere we corporall thinges beholde,
and with our eyes the same doo sée.
Mens consciences so perfect are,
so pure and cleane without all blame:
That for theyr former fowle offence,
they néede not nowe to blushe for shame.
No sinne, nor sinner, shall be there,
of power they are depriude therefore:
That meanes is taken from all men,
they shall be sure to sinne no more.
[Page] Neither shall they, which perfectly
are blest, be ignoraunt of this:
Of any secrete mysterie,
the same to knowe they shall not misse.
For they shall him beholde, which hath
the Author of all secretes béene:
And they shall sée him face to face,
euen so as they of him are séene.
For then shall all mankinde be made,
12.
so absolute, and perfect pure:
It thencefoorth neuer shalbe chaungd,
but so for euer shall endure.
And of that substaunce shall remaine,
although transformde, and glorifyde:
Into his mightie maker, and
in him most blessedlie abyde.
And all the goodes which we receyu'de,
disfigured by our filthy sin:
Shalbe in blisse repayrde againe,
in happy state, and stay therein.
That is, our vnderstanding shall
without all error perfect be:
Without obliuion in that place,
assured is our memorie.
Thoughtes without wandering likewise,
Charitie, voide of fained sence:
Health without sicknesse, sorrowe shall
not vnto any bréede offence.
[Page] Mirth, Pleasure, Pastime, without paine,
Life, without death, Agilitie
Without impediment is there,
where safetie syts in eche degrée.
For whatsoeuer in this lyfe,
the violence of Beastes, or rage:
Or what misfortune did impayre,
or what thy sicknesse did asswage.
What crueltie had wasted, or
some fowle disease had putrifide:
Or age, by nature comborsome,
had thée benumde, or strength denide.
Shall all againe, be freshe restorde,
by Resurrection all renude:
In glorious sort we shall receyue,
most perfect lymmes: and to conclude,
Our bodyes with our members all,
shall to our soules vnited be:
And bothe together be endude,
with grace and immortalitie.
And therefore whosoeuer, that
in blisfull state possessed is:
Shall by no distaunce of the place,
of this his great preferment misse.
No difference of merites may,
nor meanes of any other kinde:
[Page] Once seperate vs from this looue,
which in the Lorde we hope to finde.
This graunt vs for thy mercie sake,
through fulnesse of thy glorie great:
Our sinfull soules from hence doo take,
and place them on thy mercie seate.
Amen.
FINIS.
¶ A verie fruitefull Prayer to God the Father, for the obtayning of these benefites, promised in this Booke, and necessarie to be vsed at all tymes.
MOst holie Lord, the God of the spirites of all fleshe, we giue vnto thée most humble thankes, for all thy goodnesse towardes vs, which thou hast found in thy selfe before the beginning of the world, and hast declared vnto vs from tyme to tyme, acknowledging our selues to be farre lesse, then the least of thy mercies. Thou arte perfect in thy selfe, and hast no néede of any thing: but it hath pleased thée to create all these thinges, wherein thy glorie dooth appeare as Angelles and men, and all things else for them, that them selues might know that they are created onelie for thée: not that any thing by them, could be added vnto thée, but that thy glorie which is perfect in it selfe, might be séene in them, and they also be made pertakers of that happinesse, which is with thée, the which thou hast giuen vs in thy belooued. [Page] In whome also thou hast chosen vs before all worlds, for so thy wisedome hath apointed it, that we should passe through a world and so come vnto thée, and see thy glory, and the ritches of thy mercie, and that pleasure which is with thée for euer. And to this ende hast thou giuen vs thy most holie woorde, and thy sanctifying spirite to attend therevpon: wherby thy elect children might be reformed vnto thée. Holy Father, who is able to comprehend this thy great worke of our saluation in Iesus Christe: but thine owne wisedome which is infinite? as thy mercie is, all goodnesse, mercie and trueth come from thée, and ende in thée: but the euill & corruption which befalleth thy Creatures commeth of them selues. Notwithstanding, this also thou turnest to good, for euen the wicked thou sufferest for a tyme, that at the length thy iustice might be séene in them: but to thy chyldren thou ordainest all thinges to the best, for euen the punishmentes for theyr sinnes, and the afflictions of this life, thou hast appointed for good: that by thy iustice, thy mercie might more appeare, and their own happinesse which thou hast prepared for them, in more glory might be reuealed. To this ende hast thou set [Page] them from thée for a tyme in this lyfe, that in the lyfe to come they may know the better, what it is to enioy thy presence. Thou hast made them héere mortal, that they may then perceyue, what it is to be immortall with thée, thou giuest them ouer some time to their owne sinne, that they may knowe how much better it is to be holy with thée in thy kingdom: thou makest them taste of the afflictions of this world, that they may féele in them, howe great thy glorie is, and to be happye and blessed, with thy euerlasting goodnesse. Lord, in thy great power hast thou created all thinges, and orderest them in thy wisedome, preseruest them in thy goodnesse, and hast redéemed vs in thy mercie to thy selfe, in thy belooued: but thou knowest this vaine and corrupte nature, which is fallen from thée, and can not ryse againe vnto thée, except it be drawne by thée. Doo away our sinnes, O Lord, and possesse vs, sanctifie vs with thy holy spirit, that we may walke before thée, as becommeth thy chyldren, and knowe and féele in déede, that there is no pleasure nor comfort of it selfe, in these thinges which are mortall of them selues, but onely in thée the euerlasting goodnesse in all thinges else, in [Page] thée and for thée. Increase our faith, that we may walke before thée in obedience of faith: giue vs also those things which thou knowest good and expedient for vs, in this mortall life: that wée may vse them to thy glorie, and to the comfort of our selues and others, whome thou hast commaunded vs to looue in thée, that thou béeing our lyfe, in this life, and in the life to come, we may enioy the presence of thy Maiestie, and glorifie thy holie name for euer, among thy elect people, and blessed Angelles.
Amen.
FINIS.
❧ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote, and are to be solde at his shop without Newgate, ouer against Saint Sepulchers Church.