SUNDRY CHRISTIAN PASSIONS CONtained in two hundred Sonnets. Divided into two equal parts: The first consisting chief of Meditations, Humiliations, and Prayers. The second of Comfort, joy, and Thanksgiving. By H. L.  Call upon me in the day of trouble: So will I deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. 
Imprinted at London by Richard Field. 1593.   

To the rIght renowned virtuous VIrgin ELIzabeth, Worthy Queen of happy EngLanD, her highness faIthfVL subject, Henry Lok, Wishes Long Life, WIth eternaL bliss. IVne. VII.  
MY worthless pen Presumeth to devise,  
To eternize Your peerless virtuous fame,  
In holy flame Of zeal my heart doth rise,  
Which doth despise A theme of vulgar frame,  
The sacred dame The graces have select,  
That should protect The heir Muse's hill,  
Whose Phoenix quill Doth heavenly Crown affect,  
And those hath decked Which Roman Trophies fill.  
heavens do distill Their happy influence,  
As come from thence, You there your portion have,  
jove long you save, Whose Sceptres you dispense,  
For whose defence, True English hearts he gave,  
Venus would crave, And Diana doth that due,  
Which Pallas wills Me yield alone to you.   

To the Christian Reader.  
WHo so shall duly consider the whole Progress of man's estate from life to death, shall find it gentle Reader, to be nothing else but a very pilgrimage through this earth to another world; for whether we observe the common course of all flesh, which from the mother's womb to the grave, is still traveling with change of bodily constitution, from youth to age, from health to sickness, and so from one estate to another. Or if we behold the particular encounters which each man findeth in himself, in the variable change of his hopes and crossing of his purposes: In both it shall by a general experience of all men's calamities be assuredly confirmed to be too true. But how much more may we find in the direction of our souls to the proper h●uen of their habitation (even to heaven) a multitude of adversaries lying in the way to hinder our travel to that promised land; how many afflictions of the mind, frailties of the flesh, baits of the world, and snares of Satan, are bend against us, to slacken (if not clean to divert, our due course thitherwards, in such sort as if God of his infinite mercy and providence did not oftentimes prevent and stop our wills and powers, and bridle the malice of these adversaries, we should all assuredly perish by the way. But now (such is his fatherly care and love to us in Christ) that he hath left us a direction & ready way of safety in the midst of all assaults ●r afflictions how perignous soever, even prayer; whi●h being form according to the rules prescribed unto us by his son, and with fervency of faith offered up unto him: are of power to penetrate the heaven, purchase our safety, p●y our debts, & procure us peace of heart in the midst of all earthly perils: yea (knowing our coldness herein, and fear of our own guils, deterring us from his presence) he doth not only licence us to this boldness, but allureth us by many sensible blessings felt in our own consciences. And calleth us by a supernatural courage, sometimes with confidence to come unto him, and even to hope against hope in our most desperate necessities. He doth direct our tongues oftentimes herein before our minds, and our minds before our hearts; being himself readier to give than we to ask, and giving with more regard of our good, than we can crave or conceive: for all which he expecteth nothing else at our hands, but continually to fly unto him, & to yield him due praise: to rely on him only in the day of trial, and to encourage others thereto, for in this sort alone he will be honoured of us. This our earthly pilgrimage being then so dangerous to all flesh, and so ready a way prescribed unto us for our safer passage therein, he were very unwise that would not furnish himself with such provision (which costs so little as our wills to have it) and more uncharitable that would not do his best to assist his companion in his journey, with both counsel and comfort of the same. For this cause (gentle Reader) I having (through God's great goodness) fells in the direction and protection of my unstable youth, a plentiful portion of the wonderful care he hath over us, and of the unspeakable force of prayer and thanksgiving in all extremities: the more to stir up myself to a memory thereof, have thought good to set down these abrupt passions of my passed afflictions, as witnesses of the impediments most stopping me in my Christian pilgrimage, and testimonies of the means of my evasion hitherto, which may serve for precedents for myself in the like future occasions: and not be altogether unprofitable for others to imitate. In which (as in a glass) may be seen, the state of a regenerate soul, sick with sin, sometimes (Agus-like) shivering with cold despair, strait ways inflamed with fervency of faith and hope. One while yielding under the burden of sin to eternal death, and presently encouraged to run cheerfully forward the appointed course of this his pilgrimage, and like a practised traveler, used to the change of company, diet, heat, cold, pain, pleasure, plenty, and want, not to amaze himself long with any change: but by a consideration of pleasures passed or rest expected, patiently to pass over this world full of encumbrances, from a sense and feeling whereof in some measure, no true child of God is any long time (as I suppose) exempt. Now although I doubt not but even these reasons will carry the judgement of the godly Christian Reader to a favourable interpretation of my purpose herein, and to some delight in the taste thereof, to whom no person or occasion, style or phrase, will seem unseasonable, being employed to the glorifying of God, & profit of the Church, or proceeding from a zeal of that effect: yet the consideration that the greater number to whose hands this Treatise may happen to come, are either not so well affected, or so discreet and temperate as were to be wished, maketh me think it needful to say something in declaration of my purpose herein: not in excuse of my exercising myself in such themes which indeed ought to be the common action in some measure of all men, as oft as necessary affairs of this life will permit them, neither in that I make common with others this my exercise which seemeth in secret only to be practised by myself: for that I take it not to be always a token of pride or vain glory, to make known for a common good to others, that which may breed a suspect of ambition in the Author among the profane or cavilling multitude, though how herein I am carried myself, I leave to God the searcher of hearts to judge: only I would satisfy them first in the cause of my writing them in verse, then of the confused placing of them without special titles. To the first I was induced, for that I find many oftentimes (specially such as had most need to pray and meditate) to read books rather for the affection of words then liking of matter, and perhaps more to control the compiling, then commend the contents, such yet (so as they read) shall give me all that I crave, and find I hope that they looked not for, if not in all, yet in some among many of these Sonnets. As for the apt nature of Poetry, to delight, to contrive significatively in few words much matter, to pierce and penetrate ●●●ections of men, with the aptness thereof, for help of memory, I will not say much: but for my deducing t●ese passions into Sonnets, it answereth (as I suppose) best for the shortness, to the nature of passions, and common burner of men, who are either not long touched with so good motions, or by their worldly affairs not permitted to continue much reading; as for the cause of my so preposterous placing of them and division only into two sorts, I confess indeed I am persuaded their disorder doth best fit the nature of mankind, who commonly is delighted with contraries, and exercised with extremes, and also as they were by God ministered to my mind, to set down by sundry accidents in my private estate and feeling; so I suppose my providence could not by a formal placing of them, so soon hit the aff●ctions of every Reader as God's direction (by that which men call chance) might this way encounter the common inconstant form of reading, which is by starts to turn over books, and peruse only, what by the praise of others told, is commended unto them, or not sought for, falleth into their view. As they are therefore, I recommend them to thy courtesy in reading, and thee to God's holy spirit in the perusing of them, if they may have the same working in thee, that I praise God some of them had in me, they shall not be utterly unprofitable. If in matter they jump not to thy passions in all points, think among the great Arsenal of Satan's armour, he hath choice of weapons for sundry assaults, and disposeth of them diversly according to the strength or weakness of the party he besiegeth. Which (being as indifferent in particular persons as God's gifts are to them) thou shalt do well to thy ability to reform or supply my defect, who hereby do only invite the better able to employ in so fit a Theme their more fruitful spirit. If in manner of the verse or style, they be (as I doubt not) to be amended much: I do not greatly seek the praise of a curious Architect or, neither (without neglect of more necessary duty) could I attain to the required observances that way: and therefore crave that thy dis●ression may regard my intention. And thus recommending myself to ●●y favourable acceptance, who herein have rather followed the force of mine own inward feeling, then outward ornaments of Poetical fictions or amplifications, as best beseeming the naked clothing of simple truth, & true Analogy of the nature of the Histories whereto they allude, and harmony of scriptures whence they are borrowed. I heartily commend thee to the Almighty.  
 
  

THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN Passion's containing a hundredth Sonnets of meditation, humiliation, and prayer.  

PREFACE.  
IT is not Lord the sound of many words,  
The bowed knee or abstinence of man,  
The filled phrase that eloquence affords,  
Or Poets pen that heavens do pierce or can:  
By heavy cheer, of colour pale and wan,  
By pined body of the Pharisay,  
A mortal eye repentance oft doth scan,  
Whose judgement doth on outward shadows stay.  
But thou (o God) dost hearts intent bewray,  
For from thy sight Lord nothing is concealed,  
Thou formdst the frame fro out the very clay,  
To thee the thoughts of hearts are all revealed,  
To thee therefore with heart and mind prostrate,  
With tears I thus deplore my sinful state.   

SONNET I.  
HOw should my soul Lord clad in earthly mould,  
(The prison where it ready is to pine,  
Where wild affections captive it do hold.  
And threaten nought, but ruin in the fine)  
Unto one thought of hope or help incline.  
Or raise the eyes unto the heavens bright?  
How may it, Lord take hold on mercies thine,  
Or press itself in presence of thy sight:  
Or how canst thou therein at all delight,  
If mercy be not spokesman in this case,  
If merit of thy son should not acquit  
The common gilt of Adam's sinful race?  
Which since by faith alone man may attain,  
Grant me first grace not faithless to remain.   

SON. II.  
From out the darkness of this sea of fear,  
Where I in whale remain devoured of sin,  
With true remorse of former life I rear  
My heart to heaven, in hope some help to win:  
I do confess my fault, who did begin  
To fly from thee o Lord, and leave undone  
Thy service which of right should first have been  
performed, by woich so many should be won  
To praise thy name. But fear alas begun,  
To represent to me my journey long.  
The dangers of the world my life should run,  
Which made me to my soul to offer wrong.  
But since by show of death thou calld'st me back,  
Thy gracious help at need let me not lack.   

SON. III.  
WIthin this ark wherein my soul doth dwell,  
My body floating on worlds troubled wave,  
Which winds of fierce affections cause to swell,  
And hardly can my power from sinking save,  
I cry to thee o Lord and comfort crave:  
Close up this fountain of this flowing sin,  
Let me by faith again once footing have  
On fruitful earth, and holy life begin;  
Lighten the burden so unclean within,  
Of brutish vices raging in my mind,  
Let clean affects the greater party win,  
And so increase that plenty I may find  
Of sacrifices pleasing in thy sight,  
Of faith and love which are thy soul's delight.   

SON. FOUR  
IN humble wise as fitteth best my state,  
An abject wretch devoid of all desert,  
I here approach before thy mercy gate,  
O Lord of life with broke and contrite heart  
I need not to reveal to thee my smart,  
A lump of sin and shame I am I know,  
Wounded so deep with deadly poisoned dart,  
Of serpent's sting which did from parents grow,  
That now my humours so do overflow,  
With foul affections of my feeble mind,  
As presseth down my eyes on earth so low,  
As dares not search the heavens true help to find.  
Yet since thou hast made known to me my grief,  
Guide me by grace to fountain of relief.   

SON. V  
Unto thy princely wedding Lord are bed,  
Of every sort some guests to feast with thee,  
One that a spouse but late before had wed,  
One oxen bought, one taken land to fee:  
They from the banquet therefore absent be,  
Regarding not thy messengers of grace,  
In number of the like, Lord hold not me,  
But let me have I crave the offered place,  
Yet ere that I appear before thy face,  
A wedding garment first I must put on,  
My own unrighteous clothing is too base,  
And merchandise of merits now are gone,  
Then since thou callest, with faith do thou me clothe  
A lame blind beggar Lord, do thou not loath.   

SON. VI  
IN pride of youth when as unbridled lust  
Did force me forth, my follies to bewray,  
I challenged as patrimony just,  
Each vain affection leading to decay:  
And trusting to that treasure, post away  
I wandered in the world's alluring sight,  
Not reason, virtue, shame, or fear could stay,  
My appetite from tasting each delight.  
Till want and weariness began me bite,  
And so perforce to father I retire,  
To whom I prostrate kneel (unworthy wight)  
To name of son not daring to aspire,  
Receive me yet, sweet saviour of thy grace,  
Poor penitent, into a servants place.   

SON. VII.  
LAme of my limbs, and senseless of my state,  
Near forty years. Lord have I groveling line,  
Before Bethesda pool, yet still too late,  
To wash me in the fountain I incline,  
Whence health would come, when Angel gives the sine:  
If any one to aid me ready were,  
But helpless thus, I ready am to pine,  
Myself unable duly up to rear.  
Vouchsafe thou then me to this bath to bear,  
By the assistance of thy heavenly grace,  
Let not the force of foul affects me fear,  
To press forth first when Christ appears in place,  
Who is the fountain, Angel, and the man,  
That bath, that bliss, that cure my senses can.   

SON. VIII.  
THy thundering voice and Angel Lord of long,  
Hath called my soul from slumber where it lay,  
The harmony of heavenly musics song,  
Hath made my wandering feet at last to stay:  
Direct thou me also the ready way,  
Unto thy church, that in thy holy place  
Thy word and law I may in heart ●bay,  
And worship thee before thy people's face.  
Grant me I say, such measure of thy grace,  
That greedily by faith I swallow up  
The book of truth, and so thy word embrace,  
That fruitfully I taste salvations cup.  
Thou who dost rule the earth, the sea and land:  
In my defence, with power and glory stand.   

SON. IX.  
AMong thy sheep o Lord I seemed to feed,  
By Sacraments received into thy flock,  
By preached word I watered was indeed,  
And works with fleece did seem enrich my stock:  
But at my door true faith did never knock,  
(Which should be shepherd of my soul's defence)  
But thiefelike fond affections reason mock,  
And by the window of my wilful sense  
Do enter to my heart and steal from thence,  
Each motion of amendment which doth rise,  
And shepheardlesse of grace transported hence  
By Satan (ravening wolf) in fearful wise,  
I call to thee (sweet Saviour) shepherd true,  
Teach me to know thy voice and thee ensue.   

SON. X.  
BEhold o Lord the City thou hast built,  
jerusalem this fleshly frame of mine,  
By sin (Assyrians sword) is almost spilled,  
And like to yield to Rabsake in fine:  
Yet lo alas my soul doth much repine,  
To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name,  
To threaten ruin to this temple thine,  
Since thou art praised and honoured in the same.  
Thou able art the rage of lust to tame,  
The force of pride and fury to subdue,  
Against Senacherib thy Angel came,  
And all his host in one night overthrew.  
So let thy holy spirit me defend,  
And to my plaints and prayers comfort send.   

SON. XI.  
SInce with Goliath I am now to fight,  
And lack the flight of holy David's sling,  
Arm thou me Lord with heavenly armour bright,  
Which power of flesh & world to foil may bring.  
Thy righteous breastplate gird on me with truth,  
Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace,  
The shield of faith (which fiery darts bear forth,  
Of wicked Satan, whose assaults not seize)  
The helmet of salvation and the sword  
Of spirit which is founded on thy law;  
All these my prayers are, that thou afford  
To make me steadfast, spite of lions claw,  
Who roaring, daily seeks as wished pray,  
My silly soul from thee to take away.   

SON. XII.  
NOw that thou hast prepared me to confess,  
Thy service Lord the which I undertake,  
I thee beseech, my purpose so to bless,  
That I a good account to thee may make:  
A Nazarit I am, who do forsake  
The delicacies of the world's delight,  
Whose thirst thy purest fountain still shall slake,  
With faith and truth the which with sin shall fight.  
I will not taste the wine of Satan's slight,  
Which doth confound all reason and all sense,  
My vow shall be to serve thee day and night,  
And trust in thee shall be my true defence,  
Till death dissolve this promise made to thee,  
Whose strength herein thy heavenly graces be▪   

SON. XIII.  
I Seek o Lord to show thy powerful hand,  
Which hath converted this my sinful heart,  
Into a rod of strength which still might stand,  
Strong in thy truth, who powerful only art:  
But jamnes pride, and jambres lustful heart,  
By slight imposture of sly Satan's might.  
Two Serpents frame, which will not thence departed,  
But seek against thy powerful hand to fight.  
But let my faith their fury put to flight,  
And virtue thine, devour these imps of sin,  
Let not these fleshly fruits appear in sight  
Of truth, which only can the conquest win.  
Let faith show forth the finger of thy hand,  
And clean consume, each power doth it withstand.   

SON. XIIII.  
BEhold o Lord a tree by high way side,  
Unfruitful yet of any food for thee,  
In high way side as yet I do abide,  
Where passers to jerusalem I see:  
Though summer grow, I cannot fruitful be,  
Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine,  
I do confess I am a wild fig tree,  
For want of moisture which am like to pine,  
Unto my prayers Lord do thou incline,  
Remove me home into thy garden fair,  
Let me behold the face of thy sun shine,  
Which may my withered leaves with life repair.  
So mayst thou taste a fruit of wholesome kind,  
And leave a mark of mercy great behind.   

SON. XV.  
Within thy garden Lord I planted was,  
And watered well with thy most careful hand,  
But yet unfruitful I remained alas,  
And these thy blessings did not understand:  
In vain I did employ possessed land,  
Ten times three years thy servants did replant  
My stock, and sought to bend my crooked wand,  
And did supply each aid I seemed to want.  
At length my fruits which daily grew more scant,  
Wild thee resolve to have me weeded out,  
My foul affections were with folly brent,  
My root of faith was shaked with fear and doubt.  
And lo I pine, sweet Saviour water me,  
Paul and Apollo's work, else lost will be.   

SON. XVI.  
A Wicked Pharisie I long have been,  
Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee,  
A shamed Lord of my fair clothed sin,  
In secret night I seek thy face to see:  
That thou art God, thy works reveal to me,  
That thou art mine, thy son doth me assure,  
Vouchsafe, that I regenerate may be,  
And that my prayers pardon may procure.  
Purge by thy spirit and faith, fair fountain pure,  
The senses dull that cannot understand,  
The heavenly birth which shall in bliss endure,  
Not subject unto Satan's sinful band.  
And with thy son let worlds affections die,  
My soul from hell, with him ascend on high.   

SON. XVII.  
Five foolish virgins in my senses dwell,  
And seek to make me slumber over long,  
They dream, that all my deeds do fall out well,  
Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong:  
To vanities their humours do belong,  
And sin who doth their fancy chief feed,  
They chained are to links of lust so strong,  
That their best soil, brings forth but bitter weed.  
They lack the oil which should be used in deed,  
To lead them to the everlasting light:  
It grows not Lord in fruit of human seed,  
Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night.  
Unless thou lend thy hand and fill our lamps,  
Our light goes forth with smothering sinful damps   

SON. XVIII.  
Out of the fountain of eternal life,  
I poor Samarytan here ready stand,  
(To sinful lust an old betrothed wife)  
With pitcher ready in my trembling hand,  
To draw a draft of liquor most divine,  
To quench the thirst of my inflamed heart  
With heavenly de●: ere that my soul do pine,  
And qualify the rigour of my smart.  
A Prophet true thou art I understand,  
Or rather father of all truth thou art,  
A stranger I from fair judaea land,  
With these thy blessings crave for to impart,  
Then guide my hand and teach my soul to taste,  
True faith the fountain where all bliss is placed.   

SON. XIX.  
A Wicked soul sold to all fleshly sin,  
Lord here I prostrate at thy feet to lie,  
To gather crumbs of grace, soul's health to win,  
Which Lord to give me do thou not deny:  
The precious oil of penitence will I  
power forth with tears fro out my melting eyes,  
o bath thy feet, and after will I dry  
Them with my hairs (which balms no treasure bies)  
Though worldly love when he my fact espies,  
Repine to see my soul so well inclined:  
To my defence o Lord vouchsafe to rise,  
And fructify this first fruit of my mind.  
Vouchsafe to sup with humble servant thine,  
And that of service, better choice be mine.   

SON. XX.  
A Poor Arabian whom base Agar bare,  
First borne of flesh, but last of promised grace,  
Of bastard kind, bred up with mother's care,  
In wilderness of world for a long space:  
And famishing before my parent's face,  
Whose works unable were to lend me aid,  
A bondman unto sin as fleshly race,  
To whom heavens heritage thy laws denied.  
Amidst my wandering course by thee am staid,  
And have a promise not to die but live,  
Thy covenant Lord abundantly is paid,  
If grace to seed by faith thou dost me give.  
My bondage thus release, make thou me free,  
My barren branch shall fruit bring forth to thee   

SON. XXI.  
A Merchant I, full long abroad have strayed,  
By sea and land true happiness to gain,  
The riches of the earth my eyes have weighed,  
And see their profit to be light and vain.  
Such trifling trash my soul doth now disdain,  
And jewels of more value I espy,  
Among the rest, one doth all other stain,  
Which with my wealth I wish that I might buy.  
But this rare pearl is of a price so high,  
As all the earth cannot esteem the same,  
Much less to purchase it, can it come nigh,  
Yet doth the love thereof my heart inflame.  
Be thou the pledge (sweet Saviour) then for me,  
That heavenly bliss shall so my riches be.   

SON. XXII.  
AMong the press of many that draw near,  
Unto the feast of grace in temple thine,  
A silly widow I also appear,  
With humble heart o Lord, who here incline,  
And unto thee an offering of mine,  
Present as precious, to my poor estate,  
The herds or flocks, the store of corn and wine,  
Without obedience Lord thou aye didst hate,  
But broken hearts and souls which lie prostrate  
Before thy throne of grace, and mercy crave,  
Do mercy find, though it be near so late,  
Thy promise this assurance to us gave,  
In trust whereof, obeying thy behest,  
My prayers to thy praise, o Lord are priest,   

SON. XXIII.  
INto thy vineyard Lord unworthy I,  
Desire to come, to travel out the day,  
Thou called'st me thereto, and didst espy  
Me loitering idle, by the worlds high way:  
At first to come my follies did me stay,  
Whom cold and hunger now to work compel,  
Though half my days be spent, say me not nay,  
The other half to try, employed well.  
I do not hope my pains so dear to sell,  
As they that bear the brunt of heat of day,  
They merit most whose travels most excel,  
My slender service craves but single pay.  
But if thy bounty give, behold me priest,  
With thanks thy grace to taste, among the rest.   

SON. XXIIII.  
AS thou art pure and just in all thy ways,  
(O Lord) so should thy offerings also be:  
The tongue unclean, cannot set forth thy praise,  
The wanton eye may not thy secrets see.  
The lame of faith, the blind of skill not he,  
That thou alotst thy sacrifice to slay,  
The heart that is found clean in each degree,  
Is fittest for thy church, wherein to stay,  
Such is no flesh, o Lord the truth to say,  
But as thou pleasest them to purify,  
By faith and by repentance every day,  
Who then with Christ, may boldly thee come nigh.  
Behold me then, thus thy adopted child,  
Let me not from thy temple be exiled.   

SON. XXV.  
I Fellow thee o Lord but far behind,  
As Peter did, when he did see thee led  
To prison where the traitors did thee bind,  
Amazed much with worldly seat and dread:  
When as I saw the world all over spread,  
With hatred and disdain unto the just,  
My courage it was quailed and quickly fled,  
And had no liking to thy help to trust.  
But Lord I know perforce I forward must,  
If I intent to gain the crown I crave,  
I must abandon flesh and fleshly lust,  
And in thy promise all my hope must have.  
Grant thou me boldness then and constant will,  
To persevere in thy obedience still.   

SON. XXVI.  
OF parents first, two brothers borne that were,  
The body and the soul did represent,  
The elder Cain who Henocks walls did rear,  
The younger Abel dwelled in silly tent:  
First man with plough the virgin's soil he rend,  
The other served and shore the silly sheep:  
To worldly lusts of flesh the one was bend,  
Thy heavenly laws the other sought to keep.  
A deadly discord twixt them so did creep,  
The elder did the guiltless younger slay;  
That ancient hatred grounded is so deep,  
It strives in me (alas) unto this day.  
Accept my sacrifice, Lord me defend,  
My powers unto thy holy pleasure bend.   

SON. XXVII.  
LIke pined child o Lord from nurse's breast,  
Whom churlish stepdame over soon doth wain.  
By wicked will alas I am oppressed,  
And cry to cruel flesh behold in vain:  
Who lets me languishing in sin remain,  
And sends no comfort to support my need,  
My faults I know, I do confess them plain,  
That folly doth my weak affections feed.  
I see my ruin near at hand in deed,  
And cannot call for aid whose tongue is dumb,  
My feet so feeble cannot help at need,  
Although I see at hand thy vengeance come,  
Unless thou give me grace to see and fear,  
To pray in faith and thou thy hand forbear.   

SON. XXVIII.  
POlluted with the cureless leprosy  
Of sin, which is heriditarie now,  
So loathsome grown that I dare not come nigh  
Thy holy temple where my heart doth bow:  
I crave o Lord, it please thee to allow,  
The high Priest Christ thy son to view my sore,  
Whose holy hand may guide and teach me how  
To cure this grief it may return no more.  
I know o Lord thou hast of mercy store,  
And only thou dost pity man's estate,  
Which though my stubborn heart refused before,  
Repentance yet and faith comes not too late.  
These sparrows of repentance I present  
An offering through this worldly desert sent.   

SON. XXIX.  
A Virgin pure o Lord by birth I was,  
The daughter of thy church adopt by grace:  
But loathsome lust (foul fiend) did me alas,  
Pursue and sought with me his dwelling place.  
As many virtues as did seek my grace,  
By weddings band to me to be unight,  
So many did this seend, first night deface,  
So oft I was deprived of my delight.  
Seven times a widow, I with shame and spite  
Am left, and live now hopeless of redress:  
Till thou with Raphaell send that medicine bright,  
Of God to give me grace sin to suppress.  
Thy son my spouse shallbe, who shall restore  
Tobias sight, wealth, comfort, lost before.   

SON. XXX.  
OF sinful race of man's licentious seed,  
Whilst heavenly offspring with fair human kind:  
Do join affects, where wicked lusts do breed,  
And so pollute the fruits of virtuous mind.  
A bastard brood myself alas I find,  
Whose nature doth in tyranny consist,  
Of grace and reason grown so dull and blind,  
That I in wrong with stubborness persist.  
Who seeing father Nature ere he witted,  
A sleep with sottish wine of worldly love:  
To hide his shame by wisdom had no list,  
Which justly curse of God on me did move.  
A slave to sin, therefore I did pursue  
(Like Nymrod) grace of God, which now I rue.   

SON. XXXI.  
AS oft as thou by grace wouldst draw me back,  
From sin, whereto I am by nature thrall:  
So oft alas I find my will to lack,  
And power to follow thee when thou dost call.  
From sin to sin, I headlong thus do fall,  
And quench repentance by a perverse will,  
I see my fall, but have no fear at all,  
And to my vomit doglike turn I still.  
My frailty doth thy wrathful cup fulfil,  
With flowing measure of revenge and woe:  
When I return a little back from ill,  
To wallow in the mire again I go.  
No power is in me Lord, my life to mend,  
Unless thy hand from heaven me comfort send.   

SON. XXXII.  
Feign would I fence this feeble flesh of mine,  
From Satan's fury who me thus assails,  
Which doth besiege my soul and means to pine,  
My conscience which my sin so sore bewails.  
His busy brain to win me never fails,  
And leaves no stratagem at all untried:  
My fainting hope I know not what it ails,  
But it doth fear the battery to abide.  
The safest way must be what ere betide,  
To set a watch to look unto my ways:  
Lest pride or lust, or wrath do let him slide,  
Into my heart which yet unyeelded stays.  
But like a thief he stealeth me upon,  
Watch thou me (Lord) each hour else I am gone.   

SON. XXXIII.  
MY sins behold (o Lord) are manifold,  
Which do encamp my soul each hour about.  
Still me entrenched with distrust they hold.  
So that no fruits of faith can issue out:  
Their fleshly champion is a soldier stout,  
Who is assist by world and Satan's aid,  
And foul affections ready are in rout,  
To further force to lust, but hardly staid.  
The earthly treasures are with pleasure paid,  
The hateful Army which doth haste to hell:  
My native power their passage not denied,  
Which makes their pride and perverse will to swell.  
I see no way to help to shun decay,  
But on thy grace's rescue Lord to stay.   

SON. XXXIIII.  
THe greediness of this my corrupt mind,  
Which tasteth not but of the earthly gain,  
And in thy glory can no profit find,  
But seeks with simony my soul to stain:  
Makes me alas for carnal treasure vain,  
Like Elizeus servant to desire,  
A present of worlds pleasure mixed with pain,  
As recompense of heavenly comforts hire.  
I sorcerer like do also oft require,  
Like merchandise thy graces for to buy,  
Supposing moral virtues may aspire,  
To save my soul and sin to mortify.  
But lo I see soul's leprosy herein,  
And crave that prayers may my pardon win.   

SON. XXXV.  
Void of true life, and buried in the grave,  
Of wicked flesh alas I long have been,  
No earthly comfort can my conscience have,  
Which was corrupted with all loathsome sin.  
My sister virtues to despair begin,  
Of ever seeing once my life's restore,  
Ne is there any other way to win  
True life indeed, which shall decay no more,  
But prostrate Lord thy help for to implore,  
And crave thy gracious presence at the last,  
To aid the soul thy son hath loved before.  
For time of grace with thee is never past.  
Roll back hard stony heart, bid him arise,  
Who slave to sin in earthly coffin lies.   

SON. XXXVI.  
MY body Lord the house which hath been long.  
Possessed with spirits to ruin of the same,  
Which forced me forward unto open wrong,  
Of conscience by defacing of thy name:  
Hath found some comfort since thy message came  
Unto my soul, which in thy word was sent,  
Whose powerful truth hath bound & seeks to tame  
The furious lusts which to my ruin bend.  
Grant Lord from heart I may indeed repent,  
And thereby chase these fiends fro out of me,  
Sweep clean my house fro out of which they went,  
And garnished with graces let it be.  
Let puissant faith henceforth possess the place,  
Lest sin return with legions of disgrace.   

SON. XXXVII.  
AMidst this famine of Sarepta soil,  
Where I a widow dwell, poor and abject:  
Compelled by sin, by sweat of brows to toil,  
To gather sticks, from cold me to protect:  
Behold me Lord, a caitiff thus neglect.  
Whom sin hath banished thy blessed land:  
Who yet in heart thy Prophets do affect,  
And with thy church to life and death will stand.  
I offer all my treasures here in hand,  
That little spark of grace yet left behind,  
Increase it Lord unto a great firebrand,  
Of faith which may a fruitful harvest find.  
My meal and Oil, o Lord do thou increase,  
Myself & son, shall praise thee so in pease.   

SON. XXXVIII.  
Born blind I was, through sinful Adam's fall,  
And never since could see with carnal eyes:  
Ne know I where or how for help to call,  
From out of sin to holy life to rise.  
It pleased thee o Lord that in this wise,  
Thy power and glory might to man appear:  
Who graceless groveling in earth's darkness lies,  
And wants the eyes of faith his soul to cheer.  
But since thou sent'st thy son my Saviour dear,  
To shine in light to those in darkness wear:  
To dum the worldly wisdom seeming clear,  
And sinful souls from hell to heaven to rear.  
Touch thou my eyes with faith, wash me with grace,  
In Sylo po● 〈◊〉 (thy word) which I embrace.   

SON. XXXIX.  
HOw drunken are my humours all alas,  
With wine of vanity and sensual lust,  
Which from one sin do to an other pass,  
And after evil daily more do thirst.  
Of force my faults for shame confess I must,  
My lavish usage of thy graces sent:  
My soul's consent to action so unjust,  
As death of Prophets teaching to repent.  
Like Herod I about the matter went,  
To please the follies of my flesh delight:  
Incest'ous I to sin so much was bend,  
That offered mercy pleased not my sight.  
But Lord prepare my heart to see my sin,  
That sorrow may away to mends begin.   

SON. XL.  
THough with thy Saints o Lord I choice have made,  
To spend my days in praising of thy name:  
And in the study of thy word to wade,  
To feed my faith with portion of the same.  
Yet can I not my choice so rightly frame,  
Amidst the spacious fields where truth doth grow:  
But whilst to gather healthful herb I came,  
A bitter bud I found of fearful show  
Which threateth me with death and overthrow,  
Unto my soul which hungerly doth feed,  
On sin the weed which Satan did bestow,  
By poisoned taste thereof to pine in deed.  
But Christ thy son by faith me health shall bring▪  
Discharge the law, and bruise this deadly sting.   

SON. XLI.  
ACcording to the promise of thy word,  
To give the victory o Lord to those,  
That fight thy battles with a faithful sword,  
Against the world, flesh, devil and thy foes:  
So seek I Lord proud jerico t'enclose,  
Encouraged by thy graces from above,  
My shoes of soul affects I pray thee lose,  
Before on holy earth my path I move.  
Thy powerful hand by prayer let me prove,  
Which daily seven times I to thee direct:  
Shake thou the walls of sin for my behove,  
And in this skirmish do thou me protect.  
The fruits of flesh, pride, lust, and error all,  
So shall be wrecked, sin shall not raise a wall.   

SON. XLII.  
AMidst the graves of death these many a year,  
My soul (possessed with all sorts of sin)  
Hath lived and held that fruitful place so dear.  
That from the same no counsel could me win:  
To beat myself my follies never lin,  
No reason can with chains bind so my will,  
But to unlose my lusts I do begin,  
With help of furious fiend who aids me still.  
But since thy son appeareth me until,  
I crave I may no more tormented be,  
Lest that my soul eternally he kill,  
But from the force of Satan make me free.  
These brutish sins in swine more fit to dwell,  
Drown in repentant seas of tears which swell.   

SON. XLIII.  
IN deadly sleep o Lord sin hath me cast,  
Wherein secure I lie and so remain,  
Raise me o Lord out of this dream at last,  
And let me sight and light of heaven attain:  
The heavy humours which my judgement stain,  
And dazzle so the reason of my mind,  
Grant that they may their proper use attain,  
And comfort in thy grace and promise find.  
All fleshly wisdom of itself is blind,  
Till thou by knowledge clear their wandering sight,  
Out of the snare of sin flesh cannot wind,  
Unless by faith they see thy son so bright.  
Him let me still, both see and eke admire,  
And thee in him o Lord I thee desire.   

SON. XLIIII.  
MY wicked flesh o Lord with sin full freight,  
Whose eye doth lust for every earthly thing,  
By covetise allured hath bit the bait,  
That me to Satan's servitude will bring,  
By violence I virtues right would wring,  
Out of possession of the soul so weak,  
Like vineyard which the wicked Acab king,  
Possessed by tyrant's power which laws do break.  
Let Prophets thine Lord to my soul so speak,  
That in repentant sackcloth I may moon,  
The murder of thy grace which I did wreak,  
Whilst to my native strength I trust alone.  
And let my Saviour so prolong my days,  
That henceforth I may turn from sinful ways.   

SON. XLV.  
IF thou vouchsafst Lord of thy goodness rare,  
To sanctify with holy presence thine,  
The Cana marriage where thou dost not spare,  
First miracle of water turned to wine,  
Then be thou present at this wedding mine,  
Which twixt thy church and me by faith is meant,  
To see the want in me thy eyes incline,  
Whose wine of grace by wanton youth is spent.  
But being touched with view thereof repent,  
And crave that water of earths healthles well,  
May issue forth from heart with sorrow rend,  
And turned to wine, may so with grace excel,  
That all that see and taste this change in me,  
May grant this work of thee alone to be.   

SON. XLVI.  
SInce it hath pleased thee o Lord to send.  
Now in my barren age of hope and grace:  
Repentant child from ruin to defend,  
My name and soul to live before thy face,  
Thy blessings I do thankfully embrace,  
And in thy fear will frame his tender year,  
The worlds regard in me shall have no place,  
If once thy word and will my heart do hear.  
And when thou call'st, we both will then appear,  
Before thy Altar in Moriath land:  
To offer up thy gift my son so dear,  
Obedient child to faithful father's hand.  
Which sacrifice not worthy gift for thee,  
With Christ my Saviour sufferings quit let be.   

SON. XLVII.  
OF every creature unclean tofore,  
Whereof thy holy people might not taste,  
Thou didst present o Lord to Peter store,  
Which were from heaven in sheet before him placed,  
Which he at first refused with mind most chaste,  
Not touching things polluted or defiled:  
But afterward thy counsel he embraced,  
And saw himself had been before beguiled,  
To think all sinners were for aye exiled,  
From presence of thy mercies which abound,  
Whom oft thou dost receive as father mild,  
If faith in Christ thy son in them be found.  
By prayers faith, by faith thy grace doth grow,  
Cornelius blessing (Lord) on me bestow.   

SON. XLVIII.  
HOw hard it is o Lord for man to frame,  
His mind corrupt, to be prepared for thee:  
With tongue unclean to praise thy holy name,  
With fleshly eyes thy glory for to see:  
Homeward I bring thy blessings unto me:  
And make my soul their dwelling place to rest:  
But so forgetful of thy laws we be,  
That this my action Lord I see not blest,  
Pride and contempt the ways have so oppressed,  
That danger is the carriage overthrow,  
Grant that thy grace to stay it may be priest,  
That so my soul thy saving health ma●●now.  
Por to my flesh unsanctified to trust,  
Were aye to hasten death by iudge●●●● just.   

SON. XLIX.  
MY traitorous heart which long time hath rebelled  
Against thy spirit, which should feed me still▪  
A secret counsel in itself hath held,  
To contrary thy known revealed will▪  
Whose mutiny my senses so do fill,  
With deeds repining to thy holy law,  
That raging pride and lust lead me to ill,  
Forgetting tokens of thy wrath they saw.  
As Dathan and Abyram had no awe  
Of Moses and of Aron thine elect,  
But sought away thy people for to draw,  
And Prophets thine by pride for to reject:  
So doth my soul alas thy grace resist▪  
And in the follies of the flesh persist.   

SON. L.  
A Tenant most untrue o Lord to thee,  
In vineyard of my body have I been:  
To crave thy rent thy servants came to me,  
But nothing but entreaty bade they win:  
My travel therein was to nourish sin,  
And waste the wine of thy abounding plant;  
The more to call me back thou didst begin▪  
The more to thee my gratitude did want.  
Ne would my lack of grace let me recant,  
When thou thy only son to me didst send.  
For sin and Satan did me so supplant,  
That to his ruin I did also bend.  
But Lord me lend In time repentant heart,  
That from this vineyard I may not departed.   

SON. LI.  
WHilst in the garden of this earthly soil,  
Myself to solace and to bathe I bend,  
And fain would quench sins heat which seems to boil  
Amidst my secret thoughts which shadow lend:  
My sense and reason which should me defend,  
As judges chosen to the common weal,  
Allured by lust my ruin do pretend,  
By force of sin which shameless they reveal.  
They secretly on my affections steal,  
When modesty my maids I send away,  
To whom for help I chief might appeal,  
Whom grace did strengthen yet to say them nay,  
Whom me accused now Lord, and die I shall,  
If Christ my Daniel be not judge of all.   

SON. LII.  
I justly am accused, and now am brought  
By law and gilt of conscience I confess,  
Before thy throne convict by deed and thought,  
Of sinful lust which did me so possess,  
That quickening graces thine I did suppress,  
By fading love of world proclive to ill,  
Whose doom eternal death and nothing less  
My soul doth see, and threateneth to me still.  
But since that frailty so the world doth fill,  
That no one fleshly wight thereof is free:  
For mercy Lord to thee repair I will,  
Who seest the heart and canst best comfort me.  
Quit me from death, grant I may fall no more,  
But remnant of my days thy grace implore.   

SON. LIII.  
A Husbandman within thy church by grace,  
I am o Lord and labour at the plough,  
My hand holds fast, ne will I turn my face,  
From following thee although the soil be rough.  
The love of world doth make it seem more tough.  
And burning lust doth scorch in heat of day:  
Till fainting faith would seek delightful bough,  
To shade my soul from danger of decay.  
But yet (in hope of grace from thee) I stay,  
And do not yield, although my courage quail,  
To rescue me be priest, I do thee pray,  
If sinful death do seek me to assail.  
Let me run forth my race unto the end,  
Which by thy help o Lord I do intend.   

SON. liv.  
A Base borne son to sin by kind I am,  
From native soil by want of grace exiled:  
Of idle fancies captain I became,  
Whilst I in Tob my resting place did belde.  
With worldly vanities I was defiled,  
Till home thou call'st me by thy heavenly word:  
Who trusting to myself was soon beguiled,  
When I sought works to be a conquering sword,  
Whose vows did seem a present to afford,  
Of fruit of victory at my return:  
Which rashness hath a mischief great incurred,  
Compelling me my own deserts to burn.  
And now I mourn, and better fruit do crave,  
The blessing of thy son Lord let me have.   

SON. LV.  
WHen thou vouchsafedst Lord to raise my state,  
From base degree of common human kind:  
And gav'st me knowledge and a will to hate,  
Each wickedness contrary to thy mind,  
By promise thou didst me most strictly bind,  
To slay each wicked seed which doth possess,  
My sinful flesh (A malekite most blind)  
Which virtue and thy grace seeks to suppress.  
But wretched I alas I do confess,  
Have kept a part of that accursed spoil  
Undaunted, which thou seest near the less,  
And therefore wilt accurse my sinful soil.  
And take from me the kingdom thou didst give,  
Except thy mercy do my soul relieve.   

SON. LVI.  
THe only daughter Lord of my delight,  
Dina the virtue of my judgement best:  
Is ravished alas by Satan's might,  
Whilst I secure in Hiuits country rest  
In worldly vanities a wandering guest,  
Amongst the wicked I remained a while,  
Where silly the, by foolish will addressed,  
Gazed on those godless youths which her beguile:  
For lustful Sichem son to sin most vile,  
Did lay a train of love which led to shame:  
Whose flattering speech did modesty exile,  
And left a spot of guilt and soul defame.  
But faith & zeal (the first fruits of my strength)  
By grace shall venge my honour just at length.   

SON. LVII.  
THe silly babe the motion of the mind,  
Which native virtue seeketh forth to bring,  
Concupiscence (the midwife most unkind)  
To deadly sin and Satan strait doth fling:  
The mother's power sufficeth not to wring,  
Out of this tyrant's hands her dying child,  
Her moan to see, it is a piteous thing,  
When reason laws so lewdly are defiled.  
But if thy favour Lord be reconciled,  
By love unto thy son, by him to me:  
Then though my hope of grace be near exiled,  
Yet thou a child Of faith wilt let me see.  
A coffin Lord of comfort for me make,  
Where safe I may swim in the world's wild lake.   

SON. LVIII.  
WHere shall I build o Lord a quiet rest,  
To bring forth birds of turtle Pigeons kind▪  
My wearied wings do wander without rest,  
And cannot gain a harbour to my mind.  
The Swallow Lord a settling place doth find,  
Within thy temple free from eagle's claw,  
Not moved with tempestuous storms of wind,  
Or dangers which their kind doth stand in awe.  
A place as fit for me, my faith once saw,  
Whereas my soul might safely be enclosed,  
Thy Church invisible to which I draw,  
My life retired therein to be reposed.  
Make fruitful Lord my barren heart therein,  
Shield me from storm of still assailing sin.   

SON. LIX.  
WHilst in the vale of carnal sense I dwell,  
Fowl Sodom sink of sin and badge of shame,  
Of whose polluted nature I do smell,  
And aptly bend myself to them to frame:  
Sent by thy mercy Lord thy Angels came,  
And did vouchsafe a harbour to accept,  
Within my soul which did profess thy name;  
But Satan who a watch on me had kept,  
When as these guests within my conscience slept,  
Environed with lust my harbour weak,  
For sorrow of this sin my soul it wept,  
Whilst violently my bodies bands they break.  
But strike thou blind their fury, them expel,  
Take me Lord from the flame of burning hell.   

SON. LX.  
MY body Lord infected long with sin,  
Whose running issue is almost past cure,  
Which help by human physic cannot win,  
And without comfort cannot long endure,  
By viewing mercies thine becometh sure,  
If but thy gracious hem my hand may reach,  
That love in Christ my pardon shall procure,  
And reunite in strength healths former breach.  
Through press of worldly lets, faith shall me teach.  
To seek my safety in thy promise true,  
Vouchsafe thou eke repentance so to preach,  
That I no more offending, health ensue  
Thy virtue Lord, which bidding me be clean,  
To yield me health of soul is ready mean.   

SON. LXI.  
NOw that I see o Lord my open shame,  
Convict of sin and void of clothing pure:  
Which cover might my soul which naked came  
Of grace, and me from storm of world assure.  
I do mistrust myself long to endure,  
The heat and cold which fear and frailty bring,  
And clothing of my own works to procure,  
I find in deed to be a fruitless thing.  
To hide myself under thy mercy's wing,  
I therefore hasten now in hope of grace:  
Grant I beseech the world no more me wring,  
Out of thy hands, but let me see thy face,  
With faith and comfort clothed by thy hand,  
And Christ thy son in my defence to stand.   

SON. LXII.  
WHilst that the chosen chieftains of thy word,  
Do bend their power by preaching to subdue  
The fleshly Canaan, and put sin to sword,  
And give the soul to be possessed a new  
With righteous Israel, unto whom of due,  
Those earthly blessings rather do pertain:  
They send two spies my secret thoughts to view,  
The law and Gospel which discover plain  
My fainting force in fear for to remain,  
Where yet repentant Rahab ready is  
To lodge them safe, whilst Satan seeks in vain,  
To slay these messengers of heavenly bliss.  
I crave therefore sweet Saviour for a sine,  
Faith bearing fruits as pledge of safety mine.   

SON. LXIII.  
HOw oft o Lord with more than tender care,  
Hast thou by Prophets called me to repent,  
How great thy love by son which didst not spare,  
To stay me back from hell whereto I went:  
Who to that end from heaven to earth was sent,  
Whose graces daily preached offered peace,  
And sought to stop my course to ruin bend,  
And me from guilt of death for to release:  
Like as the hen whose voice doth never cease,  
To clock her chickens close under her wings,  
When furious souls on silly pray do press,  
And would devour alas the helpless things.  
O Lord thy care I feel and love of me,  
That thrall to Satan wouldst not have me be.   

SON. LXIIII  
WHilst with the wholesome food of heavenly truth,  
The Manna which thy written word doth give,  
Thou soughts o Lord to feed my wandering youth,  
That it in plenteous peace by grace might live:  
By lust to Satan sought my soul to give,  
To break obedient bands unto thy law,  
Which my offences I protest do grieve  
My helpless heart, the which delight did draw.  
The memory of Egypt's store I saw,  
Of vanities which carnal senses feed,  
And wished at length to fill again my maw,  
With dishes such as to destruction lead.  
Thou in thy wrath with quails didst cloy me so,  
That plagued with sin my error now I know.   

SON. LXV.  
SInce thou hast raised my poor abjected sprite,  
From threshing floor, where captive I did stand.  
And callest me thy battles for to fight,  
'Gainst sin the Madianite which wastes thy land.  
Give me a token by thy mighty hand,  
O Lord whereby my faith may be assured,  
And be to me a pledge of former band,  
That victory by me shall be procured:  
Let heavenly dew by prayer be allured,  
To moisten this my free-will fleece of wool,  
Then dry the dregs thereof to sin enured,  
Whose heavy weight makes grace and virtue dull.  
And offering mine of prayers to thy name,  
Acc●●t, and with a holy zeal inflame.   

SON. LXVI.  
WHilst that in wealth and ease I did possess  
The Empire of thy many blessings sent,  
I took in hand poor virtue to suppress,  
And pride with lust my powers they wholly bend,  
To conquer reason which thy grace had lent,  
And quite forgetting worlds late flood for sin:  
To build a tower of trust, wherein I spent  
The strength of flesh & blood, high heaven to win:  
As though in nature's strength the force had been,  
To shield themselves from flood or heavenly fire,  
But now confusion just my soul is in,  
Makes labouring flesh from folly such retire.  
And craves alone within thy church to dwell,  
Whose walls of faith & truth may death expel.   

SON. LXVII.  
THe Temple Lord of this my body base,  
Where thou vouchsafdst to place my soul to dwell,  
And promisest to make thy chosen place,  
Whence sacrifice of praises thou wouldst smell,  
Behold against thy laws doth now rebel,  
By worldly vanities thereto allured,  
Where covetise and pride their pack doth sell.  
At such a price as flesh and sin afford,  
But since o Lord thy promise hath assured  
My soul, that thou art always priest to hear  
The plaints of penitents, which hath procured  
Thy son himself in temple this t'appear.  
Whip forth, fling down, this worldly wicked pack,  
Fro out my soul, repel thou satan back.   

SON. LXVIII.  
WIthin thy house this body base of mine,  
It pleased thee o Lord my soul to plant,  
A steward of the gifts the which were thine,  
And nature filled with measure nothing scant,  
Of body or of mind, no blessings want,  
And fortunes favours shared with me no less,  
In such proportion Lord I needs must grant,  
As thou dost give when thou dost use to bless:  
But wanton I wasted, I confess,  
Thy treasure put into my hands of trust,  
And now alas though late I seek redress,  
Wise steward like to live, when die I must.  
I cast my count by Christ, my debt to pay,  
And fruits of faith from hell my soul shall stay.   

SON. LXIX.  
NOw that it pleaseth thee Lord of thy grace,  
To pluck me forth of sinful Sodoms' lake,  
Where I have dwelled alas this life long space,  
Since I of holy Abram leave did take.  
Vouchsafe I pray thee for thy mercy's sake,  
To grant thy church be refuge for my life,  
The Zoar where I may my dwelling make,  
Safe from revenging Angels bloody knife.  
And though the frailty of Lot's linger wife  
Looked back, with love, on sinful world's delight,  
(Which common weakness to all flesh is rife)  
Yet keep me constant by thy heavenly might,  
And let me not grow drunk with blessings thine,  
To procreate sin on lustful daughter's mine.   

SON. LXX.  
WHilst in this worldly wilderness about,  
For want of faith I back am forced to go,  
Afraid of sins which Giantlike are stout,  
And soul affections, which like cruel foe  
Of Esawes race, their might and power bestow,  
To stop my passage to the promised land:  
I gi'en to saint and to repine also,  
Against the power of thy most mighty hand.  
For which the Serpent Satan now doth stand,  
In readiness my silly soul to sting,  
And close me up in deaths eternal band,  
Unless to me thy mercy succour bring.  
That brazen Serpent Christ nailed on the tree,  
Whose sight by faith alone is cure to me.   

SON. LXXI.  
WHat am I else Lord but a sinful wretch,  
In sin and in iniquity begot,  
In conscience guilty of the common breach,  
Of every law that may my honour spot:  
Thy blessing given me, I regarded not:  
Thy threatened iugdements I did not esteem,  
My vows to thee I wholly have forgot,  
My sins no sins to hardened heart do seem.  
Like to myself I did thy power deem,  
Because thou didst forbear thy rod a while,  
I sought by Idols aid to heaven to climb,  
Whilst world's delight my senses did beguile:  
But helpless now, alas I turn to thee,  
To stay my race, let grace Lord secure me.   

SON. LXXII.  
THou formedst me at first out of the clay,  
Unto the image of thy glorious frame,  
O Lord of might thou show'dst to me the way,  
To magnify thy pure and holy name.  
Like Potter's vessel first my model came,  
Out of a rude unformed lump of earth,  
To holy use it pleased thee me reclaim,  
Before my life took use of carnal breath.  
Thou fedst me in the common human dearth,  
Of knowledge of thy will, with such a taste  
Of pleasing fruit, as filled my soul with mirth,  
And ready makes me now no more to waste,  
Thy offered mercies, which so bless in me,  
Or glory that I may a vessel be.   

SON. LXXIII.  
A Servant Lord even from my day of birth,  
I vowed was by parents unto thee,  
A Nazarit I lived on the earth,  
And kept the vows as grace did strengthen me,  
Till satan made me world's deceit to see,  
And trapped my senses with forbidden lust,  
As Eve did taste of the restrained tree,  
So fond affections did me forward thrust:  
A sinful Philistine of faith unjust,  
To like, to love, to crave, to wed, to wife,  
Thy grace my strength to her reveal I must,  
Till she to Satan sell my slumbering life.  
A prisoner I thus scorned and void of sight,  
sins house to overthrow, crave heavenvly might.   

SON. LXXIIII.  
WHilst in the plenty of thy blessings sent,  
I seek to solace Lord myself secure,  
And gazing on world's beauty long I went,  
In pridefull tower which did prospect procure:  
I saw the baits of sin, which did allure  
My idle thoughts to follow wicked lust,  
My kindled passions could not long endure,  
But unto furious flames break forth they must,  
I did pollute my soul, by fraud unjust,  
And rest thy grace from his true wedded wife,  
And that I might away all mendment thrust,  
I did bereave my knowledge of his life.  
Whose bastard fruits slay Lord, but let her live,  
That penitent we may thee praises give.   

SON. LXXV.  
A Servant sold to sin o Lord I am,  
Whom Satan (Syrian proud) doth sore assail,  
Nine hundred Chariots of desire there came,  
Armed with lust which sought for to prevail:  
And to subdue my strength they cannot fail,  
Unless thou raise my fainting strength by grace,  
Let constant faith the flying fury nail  
To ground, where groveling is his resting place:  
Then shall my soul with Deborah embrace,  
In thankful wise thy mercies I receive,  
And so pursue the fleshly Canaan's race,  
Till I the fury of the same bereave.  
And with my song thy servants shall accord,  
To yield due praise to thee the living Lord.   

SON. LXXVI.  
MY soul like silly joseph Lord was sold,  
By fleshly brethren his, (unkind alas,)  
To vanities the merchants which behold  
From far they saw to Egypt, which do pass.  
A servant unto Ismaels' seed it was,  
And sold from sin to death, and so to hell,  
Of human frailty Lord a looking glass,  
In which all soul affections long did dwell.  
Yet lo alas when sin seeks most t' excel,  
And have my mind consent to traitorous lust,  
With grace o Lord, that enemy repel,  
And hear my prayers, who in thee do trust.  
Who though a space in body's prison stays,  
Yet Lord at length vouchsafe to heaven to raise.   

SON. LXXVII.  
SO blind o Lord have my affections been,  
And so deceitful hath been Satan's slight,  
That to give credit I did first begin,  
To pride and lust as heavenly powers of might:  
I offered all my senses with delight,  
A sacrifice to feed those Idols vain,  
Of all the presents proffered day and night,  
nought unconsumde I saw there did remain;  
Till that thy Prophets by thy word made plain,  
The falsehood by the which I was deceived,  
How Satan's kingdom made hereof again,  
And wickedness my hope and faith bereaved.  
But now the sifted ashes of thy word,  
Bewrays Bells Priests: slays dragon without sword   

SON. LXXVIII.  
A Wicked thief that oft have robbed and slain,  
Thy graces of their fruit, myself of bliss,  
Now on the cross of conscience I remain,  
To die the death the which eternal is:  
I see no way to quit myself of this,  
Unless thou Lord whose kingdom is above,  
Remember me and cansell life amiss,  
Out of thy memory through Christ thy love:  
Who in my flesh with me like death did prove,  
That guiltless he, might guiltless ransom be,  
Love to my soul it was, that did him move,  
The bands of death to bide to make us free:  
Bless thou my tongue, increase thou faith in me,  
This night to be in paradise with thee.   

SON. LXXIX.  
IN bondage long to Satan have I been,  
A maker of the brick of Babel tower,  
By birth a thrall to gross and filthy sin,  
Whom lusts taskmakers doth attend each hour,  
Affection to the flesh doth clean deflower,  
The memory and love of promised lands,  
The fiend even Pharo seeketh to devour  
My soul, and chain me to his dreadful bands:  
But Lord receive me safe into thy hands,  
Protect me from the rigour of his might,  
Quench thou the force of lusts inflamed brands,  
In my defence give me true faith to fight.  
Send Moses Lord with power of heavenly sword,  
And Aaron to direct me by thy word.   

SON. LXXX.  
AMoabit I was of cursed kind,  
Unkind unto thy church Lord, and to thee,  
Who sought by aid of foolish Balaam blind,  
To captivate the soul that should be free,  
Incestuous fruits of that high climbing tree,  
Which doth subdue all reason and all grace,  
A carnal kinsman by a near degree  
Unto the soul, the which I have in chase.  
Whom I with loathsome sin sought to deface,  
And basterdise with carnal fond affect,  
Whose offspring thou unto the tenth man's race  
Didst once out of thy sanctuary reject.  
Yet now by faith made free of jury land,  
A suitor here before thy throne doth stand.   

SON. LXXXI.  
LO how I groveling under burden lie,  
Of sin, of shame, of fear Lord of thy sight,  
My guilt so manifold dare not come nigh  
Thy throne of mercy, mirror of thy might:  
With hidden and with ignorant sins I fight.  
Despairing and presumptuous faults also,  
All fleshly frailty on my back doth light.  
Original and actual with me go.  
Against a stream of lusts my will would roe  
To gain the shore of grace, the port of peace,  
But floods of soul affections overfloe,  
And sink I must, I see now no release:  
Unless my Saviour dear this burden take,  
And faith a ship of safety for me make.   

SON. LXXXII.  
FRom juda wandering Lord to jericho,  
From holy law of thine to carnal lust,  
Whilst midst the press of lewd affects I go,  
I rob am, of raiment pure and just  
And wounded lie Lord groveling in the dust,  
Not any passer by can give me aid,  
In fleshly strength, or friendship is no trust,  
By high way seen, to help me few have staid:  
But since my Saviour Christ on cross hath paid,  
A ransom rich to cure my bleeding sore,  
By faith to crave the fruits I'm not afraid,  
In hope my health thereby for to restore.  
Bind up my wounds with balm, lead me to rest,  
Give me such gifts of grace as like thee best.   

SON. LXXXIII.  
THis slender City Lord of strength behold,  
Wherein I dwell, Bethulia my bower,  
Of flesh whereto sin lays a battery bold,  
And seeks with sword & dearth my souls devowen  
Suppress thou hellish Holofernes power,  
Who prides himself in pray of children thine,  
I have no trust in mountains, walls, nor tower,  
For want of faiths true fountain we shall pine.  
Raise up this femalde couragde heart of mine,  
Strengthen my hand to reave this monster's head,  
Let me not taste deceitful follies wine,  
Nor be polluted with world's sinful bed.  
But constantly by faith fight in defence  
Of feeble flesh, and drive thy enemies thence.   

SON. LXXXIIII.  
NOt that my faith doth faint a while is cause,  
That I so instant am on thee to call,  
O God of life, but yielding to thy laws,  
Before thy fight, my soul these tears lets fall:  
Which in thy bottle kept I know are all,  
And quench the fury of thy burning ire,  
Which sin inflame, and qualify it shall  
The quarrel which hath set thy wrath on fire,  
If servantly the child due food desire  
Of father, he will not give him a stone,  
If of the wicked, justice man require  
Importunely, some justice will be shown.  
More righteous judge and father thou to me.  
Art Lord indeed, and far more kind wilt be.   

SON. LXXXV.  
THe many trials Lord that I have found,  
Since out of Egypt darkness I am brought,  
Might witness well how in thee still abound,  
Power, mercy, truth, whereby thy works are wrought▪  
But soul despair against my faith hath fought,  
Amidst the wilderness wherein I stay,  
And daintier food my fond affections sought,  
Then Manna which thou sent'st me every day,  
The desert Zyn doth fountain pure denay,  
Of grace wherewith to quench my fainting ghost,  
Eternal death expects my soul as pray,  
And lust assaults me with a hideous host.  
Stretch forth hand lord, smite thou my heart of stone,  
With rod of true repentance, grief and moan.   

SON. LXXXVI.  
THou hast o Lord of mercy me enriched,  
With flocks of favour, and of graces great,  
Since I in bethel first the pillar pitched,  
Of praises to thy name and mercy's seat,  
Yet fleshly Esawes foul affections threat,  
A ruin to the fruit faith should forth bring,  
With pleasing humours him for to entreat,  
I fear it be too soul a dangerous thing.  
Shield me Lord under thy protecting wing  
Of mercy, which may save from Satan's rage,  
My heart and voice shall still thy praises sing,  
If thou the malice of my foes assuage.  
In Sychem shall my heart an altar rear,  
The mighty God to love, to serve, to fear.   

SON. LXXXVII.  
THe talon which thou pleasest Lord to give,  
To me thy servant that I should bestow,  
Whilst in thy service on the earth I live,  
My diligent increase thereof to show,  
I have abused Lord too long I know,  
And fear thy coming to be nigh at hand,  
I see for breach of duty what I own,  
And of thy judgements do in terror stand:  
Thy grace hath left me in a foreign land,  
Where unexpert of virtue I do stray,  
I shall be thrown to Satan's thralfull band,  
Void of thy heavenly joy and bliss for aye,  
Unless thou help, for thou dost use to give,  
Grace unto grace, and faith from faithless drive.   

SON. LXXXVIII.  
SInce that it pleaseth thee thyself to show,  
A just revenger Lord of Heath'nish sin,  
And bring the pride of bold Philistines low,  
Who thee defame, when holy Ark they win.  
Now that to fetch it home I do begin,  
And in the temple of my heart to place,  
Grant so I may thy secrets see therein,  
That plagues for my presumption do not chase  
It so from me, as they that fled the face  
Of glory thine, which therein did appear:  
Let faith and love draw home by trusty trace,  
The constant cart whose carriage is so dear;  
And let me order so this holy work,  
That dregs of sin not in my deeds may lurk.   

SON. LXXXIX.  
IN famine great of grace, and comfortless,  
Thy servant Lord doth in Samaria dwell,  
For Lord fierce Aram doth with sin oppress  
The city where my soul to harbour fell:  
I want the strength his armies to repel,  
Of lust and of affections most unclean,  
My mind whose love doth mother like excel,  
Her children's (thoughts of mendment) sees so leave:  
That forced by famine she can find no mean,  
To feed them long, her faith so poor is grown,  
That native pity now secluding clean,  
Her greedy nature doth devour her own.  
Relieve in time this siege, Lord cause a fear  
Of thee, this camp of cruel sin to rear.   

SON. XC.  
ON sweet and savoury bread of wholesome kind,  
Which in thy word thou offerest store to me,  
To feed upon the flesh doth loathing find,  
And leaves to lean o Lord only on thee:  
The leaven of the pharisees will be,  
The surfeit to my soul and death in fine,  
Which coveting to taste forbidden tree,  
To carnal rules and reasons do incline:  
So lavishly my lusts do taste the wine,  
Which sourest grapes of sin fills in my cup,  
That lo my teeth now set on edge I pine,  
Not able wholesome food to swallow up.  
Unless thou mend my taste, and heart dost frame,  
To love thy laws, and praise thy holy name.   

SON. XCI.  
Out of thy flock o Lord through my defect,  
A silly sheep myself behold am lost,  
To seek me forth in time do not neglect,  
Since I so precious price to thee have cost:  
By many bypaths Lord my feet have crossed,  
And cannot find the way unto thy fold,  
Through many storms of deep despair thus tossed.  
To crave thy aid at last I now am bold:  
If thou of silly groat that count dost hold,  
That thou dost search the house to find the same.  
No doubt my soul to sin by nature sold,  
May mercy find by calling on thy name.  
The Saints in heaven convertits gain rejoice,  
On earth thy praise is song, in heart and voice.   

SON. XCII.  
BEhold amidst world's desert all alone,  
Seduced by the frailty of the spirit,  
Accompanied with fleshly comfort none,  
My soul with sin compelled is to fight  
Where suddenly alas before my sight,  
I Satan see, me ready to assail,  
By two his servants which are most of might,  
Presumption and despair, which seldom fail,  
The best perfection of man's strength to quail,  
By pride, or want of faith, or covetise,  
By lust or gluttony, or feigned vail  
Of virtue, which doth many sins disguise.  
But chase him Lord away by written word,  
Which is more sharp than his two edged sword.   

SON. XCIII.  
THe dream which thou to Pharo didst reveal,  
Thou in myself hast made me see in deed,  
The state alas of man's weak common weal,  
Whereas affections of all sorts do feed,  
The fruitful soil of grace some whiles did breed,  
Full fair effects in truth of heavenly kind,  
But many barren thoughts alas succeed,  
And threaten famine to a virtuous mind.  
Store of such years alas I fear behind,  
Which Lord will starve the comfort of my faith,  
Unless thy mercy and thy wisdom find,  
A store house to lay up what scripture faith.  
In hope of which thy goodness lo I live,  
Which of thy grace Lord do thou to me give.   

SON. XCIIII.  
THe seed which thou the husbandman hast sowed,  
Within my soul o Lord by Prophet's hand,  
Hath taken root at last by dew bestowed,  
From heavenly grace which fructifies my land:  
But lo I saw the world's deceit to stand  
In readiness to mingle tars therein,  
Whilst sleeping, me in vanities he sand,  
He made my fruits to overflow with sin:  
But ere thy harvest to approach begin,  
Vouchsafe to weed these frailties so away,  
That when thy corn is to be gathered in,  
I may be clean and in thy garner stay.  
Burn Lord with chastisement my fleshly lust,  
And cleanse my life by faith both pure and just.   

SON. XCV.  
WHat strength hath man? wherein may he repose  
A power to stay him in a virtuous way?  
To love thy flock thou Lord my soul hast chose,  
Whom to obey my vows and words did say:  
But in my power alas there is no stay,  
For light temptations made me clean forget  
My duty to my Lord, and to denay  
Him who thus long I have too lightly set:  
But now my heart with tears my cheeks doth wet,  
In sorrow of my so inconstant faith,  
Repentance hath my sin before me set,  
And conscience now my error duly way'th.  
Grant that thy word crow thrice & thrice to me,  
And warn me of my duty unto thee.   

SON. XCVI.  
THe malice of this monster ancient foe  
Of man, and of the church which thou didst plant  
Even Satan Herod-like about doth go,  
To make my fruits of faith to grow more scant,  
Whilst yet with weakness feeble youth doth pant,  
And wanteth grace to strengthen their estate,  
The motions of the mind doth strait recant,  
To see soul's safety which sin feign would hate.  
The counsels of affections do debate,  
And do conclude to murder virtues breed,  
Lust, pride and envy, open wide the gate,  
To furious flesh, that doth the wicked deed.  
My soul (their mother) mourns o Lord their end,  
My future fruits of grace do thou defend.   

SON. XCVII.  
SO foolish Lord have my affections been,  
So careless of the blessing thou dost give,  
So prove my nature unto every sin,  
So thankless of thy grace by which I live,  
That violently thy love away I drive,  
And sell the patrimony to ensue,  
I carry water in an open siue,  
And change for lentil pottage birthright due.  
Too late alas my folly I do rue,  
Who worlds delight preferred have so long,  
Rejecting heavenly knowledge treasure true,  
Unto my soul imposing open wrong,  
Yet not so late o Lord I pardon crave,  
But yet one blessing thou for me wilt have.   

SON. XCVIII.  
A Sinful Syrian Lord my father was,  
Exiled from Paradise by just desert,  
I wandered into Egypt, there alas  
To find in world some food to please my heart:  
Where servile bondage unto sin and smart,  
I suffered so long through Satan's rage,  
That heavenly aid I craved thence to departed,  
Which only able was my grief t'assuage.  
From silly servant and an abject page,  
Thou brought'st me forth to knowledge of thy truth  
(The blessed land) and show'dst me on a stage,  
A pattern how to guide my wandering youth,  
Such fruits therefore as faithful soil doth yield,  
I offer here first crop of blessed field.   

SON. XCIX.  
I See alas, proud Satan hath too long  
Defrauded thee, o Lord of that is thine,  
And love of world hath drawn me unto wrong,  
Whose heart thy offerings to bestow repine:  
My outward knees unto thee do incline,  
My tongue doth promise present of my store,  
I say these gracious gifts are none of mine,  
But will them all thy Altar lay before.  
But vanities doth press me evermore,  
And want of faith to leave some part behind,  
Although I see death ready at the door,  
My hollow heart and lewd deceit to find.  
Grant that I may my soul, my power, my will,  
Present o Lord to serve thee only still.   

SON. C.  
SInce thou by grace out of wild Olive stock,  
Hast pleased me Lord within thy church to plant,  
And reckon me as of thy proper flock,  
Who else all pleasant fruit by nature want.  
Vouchsafe my thankful fruits be not so scant.  
As cause thee to reject me back again,  
Of former bounty Lord do not recant,  
But let me in thy garden still remain:  
By mercy not by merit I attain,  
This blessing promised so long before,  
Let not this gift of thine return in vain,  
But let thy goodness multiply the more.  
Make sweet the fruits which bitter are by kind,  
Increase thy grace in body and in mind.   

CONCLUSION.  
Mourn thou no more my soul, thy plaint is hard,  
The bill is canceled of the debt it owes,  
The vail is rend, which thee before debarred,  
And Christ his righteousness on thee bestows.  
Thus comfort to the patiented always grows,  
If they attend the time God hath assigned,  
Our strength to bear, our maker best he knows,  
And at a need is ready for to find.  
Our Saviour is so merciful and kind,  
Unto ourselves he will not leave us long,  
He casts our faults through love his back behind,  
And turns our plaints into more pleasant song.  
And when we are even at the gates of hell,  
His glory, mercy, power, doth most excel.    

THE SECOND part of Christian passions, Containing a hundred Sonnets of comfort, joy, and thanksgiving.  

PREFACE.  
SOme men do mourn for sudden joy, they say,  
And some likewise in midst of sorrow sing,  
Such divers fruits do passion often bring,  
As reason cannot coarse of Nature stay,  
And happy sure he is (I not denay)  
That both these motions hath from heart contrite,  
When frailty of his flesh appears to sight,  
And mercy calling him back from decay.  
Who can behold the flesh and spirit fight,  
The doubtful issue and danger of the thing,  
The loss whereto our nature might us fling,  
And gain which grace doth give, through saviour's might,  
And not delight, To glorify his name,  
And yet lament to see his native shame.   

SONNET I.  
AS through a mist, or in a cloud a far,  
I see a glimpse of heavenly grace to shine,  
And to revive the fainting faith of mine,  
And spirits which with darkness shadowed are.  
The fleshly fog of sin did judgement bar,  
Of proper use, of power of reason sound,  
Which in first patents frankly did abound,  
And better part of nature's strength did mar.  
But since my eyes of grace a sight have found,  
Of that eternal light which doth incline,  
Fro out these fogs of fear I hope t'untwine,  
And force of fainting faith for to confound,  
And on a ground More sin will build my trust,  
And that in Christ whose promises are just.   

SON. II.  
Clenged are the clouds and darkness fled away,  
And now in triumph doth my saviour ride,  
Sin, hell, nor death, dare not his fight abide,  
The world nor Satan can his progress stay.  
This piercing light of truth shall so bewray  
Each stratagem their practice doth devise  
Against my soul, that there shall not arise  
One cloud of care to darken this my day.  
But that my thoughts (like to the Pilate wise)  
Shall look about, lest that my heart should slide,  
And by this son my course so constant guide,  
That all their slights shall not my soul disguise,  
Which now espies The malice they me own,  
Which long they clothed with shade of pleasant show.   

SON. III.  
WHen as my conscience layeth forth before  
My thoughts the sins which daily I commit,  
I think myself an instrument unfit,  
To witness forth thy glory any more:  
But when I see that sin was first the door,  
By which death entered and such hold did take,  
That death did first our want apparent make.  
And want first cause that man did aid implore.  
That prayers first thy mercies do awake,  
That mercies do renew our dulled wit,  
That joyed heart should not unthankful sit.  
And thanks to thee doth fleshly glory shake,  
It strait doth slake The fear which bade me stay,  
And bids me still proceed to praise and pray.   

SON. FOUR  
SInce to so holy use I consecrate  
The silly talon Lord thou lentest to me,  
That it a trump unto thy praise might be,  
And witness of their woe that thou dost hate.  
Thou wilt o Lord forget the abject state  
Of flesh and blood, base mettle of my frame,  
And since that thou hast sanctified the same.  
Thou wilt give grace my weakness to abate.  
Thou that my former wandering will dost tame,  
And me prepare in mind to honour thee,  
Canst give me gifts the which thereto agree,  
How ere my proper power be weak and lame,  
So shall thy name Be precious in my sight,  
And in thy praise shall be my whole delight.   

SON. V  
WOuld God I were as ready to confess,  
And yield thee praise sweet Saviour day by day,  
As for to crave my wants I'm forward ay,  
And servantly at need I do thee press,  
To beg of thee alone, thou wilt no less,  
Because thou only able art to give,  
And with each needful thing by which we live,  
Thou promisest our prayers for to bless;  
But we with use of them should not so stay,  
And only seek to thee when need doth drive,  
(Whose blessings running through an open siue,  
No praise for recompense unto thee pay)  
But when we pray, We should thee laud also:  
Our thankful hearts with bounty thine should go.   

SON. VI  
I Have begun o Lord to run the race,  
Where flesh and blood against the world, must fight,  
On heavenly kingdom gazing with my fight,  
Where is appointed scope of resting place,  
Winged with the will of zeal of heavenly grace,  
I do endeavour always to proceed,  
In constant course unto the ark indeed,  
Where in thy mercies I behold thy face.  
A servant faith it doth my courage feed,  
And make my heavy limbs become more light,  
When in thy son I see thy glory bright,  
The pledge unto my soul that hope shall speed,  
This blessed seed Thou hast Lord sown in me,  
And all the fruits shall to thee offered be.   

SON. VII.  
WHere shall I find fit words or proper phrase,  
Wherewith to witness all the love I own?  
Whose grateful mind in thankfulness doth grow,  
And to the world thy worthiness would blaze.  
Vnfrutefully the greater sort do gaze,  
Upon thy works and blessings they receive,  
And carelessly thy honour they bereave,  
And suffer chance or wit thy same to raze,  
Whilst unacknowledged thy love they leave,  
Forgetting all the gifts thou dost bestow,  
Whose blinded nature so doth overflow,  
That most unkind to thee, themselves they show.  
But since I know By grace thy blessing great,  
My pen thy praises always shall repeat.   

SON. VIII.  
THe more I seek to dedicate my power,  
In celebrating of thy honour great,  
Whose throne is fixed in thy mercy's seat,  
The more my duty groweth every hour,  
Some times with eagle's sight aloft I tower,  
And seem to see the glory of thy son,  
But ere my willing wings have scarce begun  
To mount, they drop with clog of heavy shower:  
Upon the hill of truth I footing won,  
By faith which laboureth with fervent heat,  
Of worthy praises thine for to entreat,  
But ere I have begun my work is done,  
So far I run, In seeking to begin,  
I cannot write, such maze my muse is in.   

SON. IX.  
AS fareth with the man the which hath been  
In peril but of late to have been drowned,  
Though afterward he do recover ground.  
Knows not at first the safety he is in:  
So when I think upon the floods of sin,  
Wherein I was near drenched overhed,  
What time all hope of comfort clean was fled,  
And I into despair to sink begin.  
My fainting faith with fear even well nigh dead.  
My mind amazed it doth so confound,  
That though thy mercies freely do abound,  
In port of peace I am not free from dread,  
But being led From out the perils sight,  
I shall enjoy more pleasure and delight.   

SON. X.  
SInce thou o Lord hast given to me at last,  
The victory against the deadly foe,  
Who like a lion roaring still doth go,,  
My soul (poote Lot my kinsman dear) to waste  
Since grace at length his pride hath now defaced,  
And by the hand off i●h he is subdued,  
And that my strength by thee is so renewed.  
That his affections almost are displaced.  
Since thy high Priest with present me pursued  
Of bread and wine, the which he did bestow,  
And with the same the blessing gave also,  
Whence life, whence liberty, whence peace inside,  
I have endued As proper unto thee,  
Thy church with tithe of faith thou gav'st to me.   

SON. XI.  
IF he to whom his Lord did but remit  
A silly debt was thankful to him found,  
And that the more the sins forgiven abound,  
The more he loves that pardoned is of it,  
Then sure it seems it were good reason fit  
That I whose soul was sold to death and hell,  
Whose sins in multitude did so excel,  
With idle brain should not ingrateful sit:  
But as thy flowing favours daily swell,  
So should my voice thy praises ever sound;  
And since thou hast powered oil into my wound.  
I should not spare thy mercies forth to tell.  
And so as well as thou shalt give me grace,  
I will thee laud, each season, time and place.   

SON. XII.  
NOw that I have some safety Lord attained,  
Fro out the labyrinth wherein I was,  
Since grace as guide therein to me did pass,  
And love was line with me my issue gained:  
Since that my wandering steps faith hath refraind,  
And that thy word was Sibyl's branch to me,  
Through hell and death away to let me see,  
To Elysian fields where bliss for aye remained,  
I must not Lord so much unthankful be,  
To break the vows which once I made alas,  
But I will show thy mercies in a glass,  
That by thy words men may acknowledge thee.  
The only he Hath any power to save,  
And raised my soul fro out the very grave▪   

SON. XIII.  
I Shame to see how large my promise are,  
How slow my deeds that should perform the sam●,  
I know the constant meanings whence they came,  
But will and power are fallen at strife and jar,  
What soul gins to do doth body mar,  
What love would build, distrust would overthrow,  
A plenteous offering, zeal doth bid bestow,  
But fainting faith likes not to set it far.  
My will at least his good intent shall show,  
Which thou o Lord cause unto better frame,  
A free will offering Lord thou wilt not blame,  
Of such weak fruits as are on earth below.  
Which yet shall grow More fruitful by thy grace.  
And as they be, wilt in thy son embrace.   

SON. XIIII.  
THe end whereto we all created were,  
And in this world were placed to live and dwell,  
(If we with judgement do observe it well)  
Was nothing else but God to serve and fear,  
In which we b●dges of his glory bear,  
To yield him right the most our weakness may,  
Which to our strength we ought not him denay,  
Who out of earth to heaven this dust shall rea●e:  
Which when within myself I deeply way,  
I do condemn the dullness which befell  
To me, whose gifts in nothing do excel,  
By which I might his glory great display,  
On whom do stay All things that being have,  
Who to each creature all things freely gave.   

SON. XV.  
AS is the treasure fruitless which is hid,  
And bliss no bliss a man doth not enjoy,  
But rather is a mean to work annoy,  
To him that carefully preserve it did:  
So often times the wisest sort have slid,  
Into like error whilst they do conceal  
The gifts of grace, which God did them reveal,  
And hide the talon which is them forbid:  
As fruitless is it to the common weal,  
That men respectively become too coy,  
And triflingly their time away do toy,  
And without good to others let it steal,  
I therefore deal To world and do impart,  
These silly fruits which grow on feeling heart.   

SON. XVI.  
THe pleasures of this new possessed land,  
Forepromised long since to children thine,  
Whereto I have arrived safe in fine,  
And to enjoy the same assured stand,  
To paint with praises I would take in hand,  
That so I might encourage many more,  
To follow forth the conquest where is store  
Of corn, of wine, and oil, for faithful band:  
Our josua Christ himself is gone before,  
And shows the clusters of the healthful wine,  
Whereof who tastes, shall not with famine pine,  
Nor starve when plenty is at City door:  
Ne need deplore The strength of Anaks race,  
For he the power of hell will clean deface.   

SON. XVII.  
BEtwixt two strong extremes my thoughts do fly,  
Twixt heat and cold, twixt height and depth below,  
And b●●h of them from one desire do flow,  
The surest way to saving health to try.  
Faith bids me mount unto the heavens high,  
Upon the merits of my saviour dear,  
A guilty conscience bids me not come near,  
Lest in consuming jealousy I die.  
A heart contrite doth will me to appear,  
With works of righteousness true faith which show  
Faith says, that god my strength & power doth know,  
And that I cannot find salvation here,  
But bids me cheer My soul, & nothing fear,  
Love in his son will make him me forbear.   

SON. XVIII.  
FRom far I see the stars which guide the way,  
From East to West, to find my saviour out,  
I well might wander all the world about,  
To seek salvation and in no place stay:  
If shining truth did not his house bewray,  
Which in his word points forth his dwelling place.  
By which directed, I will walk a pace,  
Whilst yet I do enjoy the light of day.  
And when I come before his blessed face,  
To offer up my presents will not doubt,  
Although their baseness all the world should flout,  
So that by faith I may him once embrace,  
Which giveth grace And makes accepted well,  
Mean works as much as those which more excel.   

SON. XIX.  
NOw will I dance o Lord before the train,  
Of those which following thee seek home to draw  
Thy holy Ark the treasure of thy law,  
That it with us may pledge of peace remain,  
I care not though the world my deed disdain,  
And think it not beseeming thing for me,  
In such a work an instrument to be,  
Whose years they deem more fit for other vain.  
For so I Lord thy saving health may see,  
And scape the harm of cruel Satan's paw,  
Though all the scorners of the world me saw,  
Yet would I not ashamed be of thee,  
For being free Of holy promised land,  
I care not how my stare on earth do stand.   

SON. XX.  
NO recompense o Lord is fit for thee,  
If duly thy desert we do regard,  
Ne hast thou want or need of man's reward,  
At whose command all creatures ready be:  
Yet if our thankful minds thy goodness see,  
Confessing whence to us these blessings flow,  
And in the use of them obedience show,  
Although alas it be in mean degree,  
Thou yet dost frame thy love to ours below,  
And as thou findest the givers heart prepared.  
Who to his power his present hath not spared,  
So dost thou cansell debt which he did owe,  
And dost bestow More graces than we crave,  
For which nought else but thinks thou look'st to have   

SON. XXI.  
HOw precious are the prayers of thy Saints,  
Which able were thy threatened wrath to stay,  
And make the sun return in pride of day,  
When as josias heart for fear it faints,  
Thy favour unto Abram us acquaints,  
Of how great force repentant heart is found,  
When (having viewed vile Sodom to confound)  
To stay at servants suit thy wrath thou daints.  
By prayers man hath power even death to wound,  
By prayer he may move a mount away,  
A faithful servant prayer finds no nay,  
If that the thing we crave be pure and sound,  
Yea God hath bound Himself by them to man,  
Whose worthy praise no tongue forth utter can.   

SON. XXII.  
THanks will I always study Lord to pay,  
To thee, the giver of all good and grace,  
And thankfully thy mercies will embrace,  
And witness forth thy works from day to day,  
My heart, my mouth, my pen they never stay,  
To take occasion freshly to renew,  
The memory of praises to thee due,  
Lest nature's weakness let them pass away:  
My frailty in this point indeed I rue,  
Who till I see new blessings in the place,  
Forget the favours late before my face,  
And mercies thine, fro which such bounty grew,  
For it is true So dull our senses are,  
That oft thy blessings do our judgements mar.   

SON. XXIII.  
WHere so I cast about my wandering eye,  
By chance or choice, by hap, or else by will.  
Before my sight some object is there still,  
Wherein thy power and love I do espy.  
In view whereof, if I my thoughts do try,  
To raise my heart in joy, I matter find,  
And unto thee my love so firm to bind,  
That tongue nor pen should never idle lie;  
Whose grace unto thy creatures is so kind,  
As patrons of the same the world doth fill,  
Who mad'st not only, but dost still instill,  
Some feeling of the same unto the mind,  
Which is not blind, Or too much obstinate,  
Which later natures chief thou dost hate.   

SON. XXIIII.  
WHilst I do study fitly to begin,  
To utter forth some part of my intent,  
Which to thy praise with zeal and love is bend,  
Far freeing me from due reward of sin,  
I find a labyrinth that I am in,  
Of many merits which do me enclose,  
Which as this holy motion in me role,  
Of diverse subjects for to treat do win.  
Among the rest my heart hath chief chose,  
To give thee thanks for comfort to me sent,  
In staying me the wandering course I went,  
And feeling faith with knowledge where,  
And though I lose Therewith the world▪  
Yet will I joy in hope of heavenly sight.   

SOX. XXV.  
SInce thou hast Lord vouchsafed to send me aid,  
By holy spirit thine in time of need,  
(As Philip to the Eunuch came in deed)  
Which in my wandering journey me hath stayed;  
Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets said,  
And what humility was in thy son,  
Whose patience like a lamb hath freedom won,  
Unto my soul, for which he ransom paid.  
I see no earthly things should stay undone,  
The duties which required of me I reed.  
By faith upon thy promises I feed,  
And to thy Sacraments for strength I run,  
And thus begun, I will continue still,  
To learn thy laws, and to obey thy will.   

SON. XXVI.  
HOw can I limit well my tongue or pen?  
Within what bounds may I myself enclose?  
Who such a theme to write upon have chose,  
Whereon the more I muse, more groweth it then,  
It fares with me herein, even right as when  
A hasty mind forgetteth what to speak,  
When stammering words the perfect sense do break,  
And makes us not be understood of men.  
Such worthy matter in my mind there grows,  
So plentiful, and I of skill so weak,  
〈◊〉 pleasing to me, and so proper cake,  
〈…〉 choice of them I judgement lose,  
〈…〉 even as those Want matter silent be,  
〈…〉 plenty of thy praise confoundeth me.   

SON. XXVII.  
NOw that thy mercies do so much abound,  
As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell,  
And glorious Ark of hope which doth excel,  
Drawn home by hungry faith my heart hath found,  
Since power thereof, did sinful Dagon wound,  
And yet disdaineth not my humble state,  
I freely open Lord, my lowly gate  
Of lips and tongue, which may thy praises sound.  
Thy blessings seem to flow to me of late,  
Since in my soul thy word I did embrace,  
My zeal refreshed is with heavenly grace,  
My comfort, wealth that hell cannot rebate,  
In such a rate Thy favour I do find,  
As binds me love a father found so kind.   

SON. XXVIII.  
WHat should I render thee my Saviour dear▪  
For all the gifts thou dost on me bestow▪  
Whose gracious measure so doth overflow,  
As power of recompense cannot appear,  
I do embrace thy gifts with joyful cheer,  
And to thy altar speedily will run,  
To follow forth thy praise but new begun,  
Till all thy people may thy mercies hear.  
Thy glorious image shineth in the son,  
Thy love to man did his obedience show,  
His love and mercy unto man hath won  
The gifts of grace, whence faith & comfort grow,  
Where through we know That we are thy elect.  
And these our feeble fruits wilt not reject.   

SON. XXIX.  
THe powerful pen the which records thy praise,  
O Lord of life, hath many volumes made,  
Thy wondrous works each leaf doth overlade,  
Which aye increase as growing are my days,  
Unsearchable indeed are all thy ways,  
In multitude thy numbers do exceed,  
In glory they do admiration breed,  
Their goodness power of recompense denayes.  
The hungry thou with plenteous hand dost feed,  
Thy savour to thy creatures doth not fade.  
The more in view of all thy works I wade,  
The more I find my sense confound indeed,  
But yet instead of Echo to thy fame,  
I will give thanks and laud unto thy name.   

SON. XXX.  
THis stately stage wherein we players stand,  
To represent the part to us assigned,  
Was built by God, that he might pleasure find,  
In beauty of the works of his own band,  
All creatures of the air, the sea and land,  
Are players at his appointment of some thing,  
Which to the world a proper use may bring,  
And may not break assigned bounds or band:  
Some do in joy still forth his praises sing,  
Some mourn & make their moan with heavy mind,  
Some show the fruits of nature weak and blind,  
Some show how grace base sin away doth fling,  
God (like a king) Beholds, Christ doth attire,  
The players with the shape, their states require.   

SON. XXXI.  
WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye,  
The favour and perfection of my choice.  
He cannot choose but must in heart rejoice,  
That mortal sight may heavenly bliss espy,  
All earthly beauty he will strait defy,  
As things too base to occupy his brain,  
Whose fading pleasures so are paid with pain,  
That they true taste of pleasure do deny.  
But who so can this perfect sight attain,  
Cannot contain, but yield with cheerful voice.  
An echo to the Angels heavenly noise,  
Who to his praise do singing still remain,  
They then are vain Who fix their sight so low,  
That such a glorious God they will not know.   

SON. XXXII.  
O Heavenly beauty of love the fountain true,  
Whose shining beams do penetrate my soul,  
With such a zeal as former thoughts control,  
And draws heart, power, and will thee to ensue,  
Thou makest my fainting sight for to renew,  
And dazzling eyes new strength thus to attain,  
To whom alone perfection fair is due,  
Thou makest earth's beauteous shadow seem but vain,  
Thy works of glory, and of power remain,  
Engraven in thankful hearts which them enroll;  
Thy love and mercy made thee pay the toll,  
Which to our dying souls true life did gain.  
Thy love doth wain, My thoughts from base love,  
And makest my heart and mind to sore above.   

SON. XXXIII.  
IF beauty be as men on earth suppose,  
The comely shape and colours which agree,  
In true proportion to the thing we see,  
Which grace and favour both do never lose.  
If white and red be borrowed from the Rose,  
If bright and shining to the son compared,  
If high and strait to godliness w'award,  
And beauty have such base descriptions chose,  
Then let the wise this beauty true regard,  
Where all perfections in one subject be,  
Surpassing fruit of the forbidden tree,  
Which but to taste man suffered deaths reward,  
Which is prepared, And offered to our sight.  
In Christ to love and feed us day and night.   

SON. XXXIIII.  
HOw may this be that men of searching mind.  
Whose curious eyes in beauty do delight.  
The pleasing object of their fancy's sight,  
In outward shape and colour, comfort find:  
And yet the better beauty leave behind  
Unsought, or unregarded of at all,  
Compared to which, none can it beauty call,  
Unless a buzzard whom affections blind,  
This earthly form of flesh it is so small  
Of worth to charm the sense of noble sprite,  
As is a star before fair Phoebus' bright,  
Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti' appall,  
Thus wise men fall, Whom carnal eyes do guide,  
Whose judgements may not virtues sight abide.   

SON. XXXV.  
O Heavenly love with God thou dwellest for aye,  
Thou passest faith and hope in dignity,  
Thou keep'st the law, thy feet step not awry,  
In all men's danger, thou the surest stay,  
To our request, thou never sayest nay,  
Ne wrath, ne envy, move thee ere a whit,  
Thou multitude of sins in man dost quit,  
Thou law and Gospel both dost over sway:  
Thou dost with God aloft in heavens sit,  
With God in counsel thou art always by,  
Thou causest Christ man's weakness to supply,  
And makest us receive the fruit of it,  
And every whit Of goodness that we have,  
Love made him send, who love therefore doth crave   

SON. XXXVI.  
THe shining face of my fair Phoebus dear,  
Whose glory doth eclipse each other light,  
Presents himself unto world's open fight,  
Their blinded eyes with joyful view to cheer,  
But sluggish so the greater sort appear,  
That sleeping in self-love and mind secure,  
The clear aspect of truth they not endure,  
Nor of their blindness willingly would hear.  
But so my senses do his beauty allure,  
To gaze upon his lovely favour bright.  
That therein only have I my delight.  
Where is all happiness I do assure,  
He doth procure A plenteous increase,  
Unto my soul, of perfect love and peac●.   

SON. XXXVII.  
Avaunt base thoughts encumber me no more,  
By laying forth these earthly wants of mine,  
As though thou wouldst persuade me to repine,  
Because of wealth I have not needless store,  
If thou didst know thy nakedness before,  
He clothed thy soul, and fed thy fainting mind,  
(With righteousness and faith in Saviour kind)  
Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore.  
And then confess the comfort thou dost find,  
By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine,  
Is greatest riches truly to define,  
(So that contentment be not left behind)  
These gifts me bind To praise his holy name,  
And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same.   

SON. XXXVIII.  
I Will not fear with fervency of zeal.  
To follow forth this fair affect of mine,  
(To love of thee which doth my soul incline)  
O Saviour dear, who sure my grief wilt heal,  
Unto thy proffered kindness I appeal,  
Who of thyself didst call me unto thee,  
And promisedst I should thy darling be,  
Made free within thy Church and common weal.  
Disparidgement there is not now in me,  
Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine,  
But faith shall fly aloft to thee in fine,  
Where all thy treasures safely I may see,  
And happy he Bestows his love so well,  
Whose hope is paid with pleasures that excel.   

SON. XXXIX.  
Love than I will, and love thee Lord alone,  
For fellowship in love there may not be,  
Love for thy love o Lord shall be thy see,  
For other recompense thou cravest none.  
My vows and deeds they shall be always one,  
All dedicated to adore thy name,  
My heart, my soul, my strength shall do the same,  
Thy love shall be my faiths true corner stone;  
The love of thee shall my affections frame,  
To follow that may pleasing be to thee,  
My eyes no beauty but in thee shall see,  
And thy regard my wandering will shall tame,  
Yea I will blame, And scorn each other thing▪  
Save what shall me unto thy favour bring.   

SON. XL.  
Feign would I praise thee Lord with such a zeal,  
And fervency as might my love express,  
Feign would my love yield unto thee no less,  
Due praise than thou didst love to me reveal,  
But wanting power thereto I yet appeal,  
To ●hat thy goodness which thee first did move,  
In fragile flesh of mine the strength to prove,  
Whose weakness thou by heavenvly power didst heal.  
Man's wit in words comes short in this be●oue,  
To recompense, nay only to confess,  
The many ways thou dost our bodies bless.  
Much more our souls which freely thou didst love,  
Thy trusty done, Thy holy sprite of grace,  
Makes yet our weakness stand before thy face.   

SON. XLI.  
O Perfect Sun, whereof this shadow is  
A slender light, though it some beauty show,  
On whom thy influence thou dost bestow,  
Whose constant course still shines in endless bliss▪  
To scan thy glory, wit of man doth miss,  
How far thy mercy's beams abroad extend,  
Tongue cannot speak, nor wit can comprehend,  
And human frailty is bewrayed in this;  
The fire, air, water, earth they wholly bend,  
The host of heaven, and creatures below,  
To pay their duty unto thee they own,  
Which didst their being and their virtue send,  
And I intent With them (in what I may)  
To witness forth thy laud and praise for aye.   

SON. XLII.  
WHat present should I bring of worthy prize,  
To witness well the love to thee I own,  
I nothing have but what thou didst bestow,  
Ne likest thou the toys of man's devise.  
I would not spare my power in any wise,  
No treasure seems to me for thee too dear,  
The pleasures of the world the which are here,  
Too base they are, how ere wit them disguise.  
To yield thee faith, it doth the best appear,  
But it is very weak alas I know,  
To yield thee praise, doth make a decent show,  
But to thy merit neither doth come near,  
With garment clear Yet clothed of righteous son,  
Myself to offer unto thee, I run.   

SON. XLIII.  
WHo so beholds the works o Lord of thine,  
The stretched heavens, the seat where thou dost dwell  
the earth thy footstool, which dares not rebel,  
Which all unto thy will do aye incline,  
The Sun and Moon by day & night which shine,  
The changing floods, the firm and fruitful land,  
The Planets which do firm for ever stand,  
All which 'gainst thy behest dare not repine.  
The host of Angels in thy heavenly band,  
Th' infernal fiends with Lucifar which fell,  
The fish, the fowl, the beast agreeing well,  
And all obedient to thy heavenly hand,  
May understand Thy glory, love, and power,  
Without whose help, ma could not live one hour.   

SON. XLIIII.  
AS doth the Moon by daily change of hue,  
By growing, or decreasing, beauty show,  
The influence, the greater lights bestow,  
Whose absence, or whose presence, her renew,  
So must all flesh confess, and think most true,  
The faith or fear they have for to proceed,  
From heavenly grace, which heavenvly gifts doth feed,  
Without whose face blind darkness doth ensue.  
Man's proper power is so obscured indeed,  
With shades which rise from earthly thoughts below,  
That nothing but blind ignorance would grow,  
Unless this son did shining comfort breed,  
Which serves in steed Of fire unto the same,  
From whence this light of faith receives his flame.   

SON. XLV.  
IF Saba Queen a journey took in hand,  
From South to North, wise Solomon to hear,  
If human wisdom was to her so dear,  
That she did visit thus this holy land,  
Then do I muse why men so idle stand,  
In pride of youth when wit and means abound,  
Their tender brains to feed with wisdom sound,  
Far passing that this Queen for travel found.  
This error is the scar of Adam● wound,  
Who sought his knowledge not in fountain clear,  
To whom forbidden skill did best appear,  
Neglecting graces him enclosing round,  
But on the sound And written word I build,  
Not Solomon such Oracles could yield.   

SON. XLVI.  
HOw fond a thing it is which men do use,  
To beat their brains, and so torment their heart,  
In compassing the thing which breeds their smart,  
And do not know what is the thing they choose,  
They childishly the name of love abuse,  
And would define the nature of the same,  
By passions which belong to hatreds name,  
Wherein to pine with pleasure they do choose.  
Who ever saw that figs on thorn tree came,  
Or thistles roses bear by any art?  
With pain, with grief, with shame, with loss impart,  
Their passions which they for their love do frame,  
With judgement lame; Love is a heavenly thing,  
Where being placed, it perfect love doth bring.   

SON. XLVII.  
LEt earthly things in earth their love repose,  
For flesh and blood on faith they cannot feed.  
It is a fruit indeed of heavenly seed,  
Which who disgesteth well life cannot lose;  
The soul fro out of other matter grows,  
And unto other matter turns again,  
Immortally to live in joy or pain,  
As grace to sundry uses it hath chose.  
Then is it time my thoughts at length to wain,  
For laying up my treasure for my need,  
Where moths and canker do so common breed.  
As in the world whose wealth is merely vain,  
If I attain, But faith laid up in store,  
In Christ my Saviour, I desire no more.   

SON. XLVIII.  
Fie fainting faith dissuade me not so much,  
From following of my lovely heavenly choice,  
To think on whom, I can sot but rejoice,  
Whose name or memory ●y heart doth touch,  
What travel ere befall, I will not grudge,  
Through fire and water I will him pursue,  
Whose sight my fainting soul doth strait renew.  
His love and mercy both to me are such:  
If I should die for him it were but due,  
By him I live, and follow will his voice,  
Regarding lightly fame or common noise,  
Which threaten pain and travel to ensue,  
There are but few That pass the narrow way,  
But crown of honour doth their travel pay.   

SON. XLIX.  
I Find my heart is bend for to amend,  
And follow thee forsaking wont way,  
From wickedness, my footsteps for to stay,  
And to thy will my works henceforth to bend:  
But yet the cause which makes me this intent,  
I find is rather fear then love of right.  
Yet free-will offerings do thee more delight,  
And to such works thou dost thy blessing send.  
It is not ill to set before my sight,  
Thy heavy plagues for sin from day to day,  
But I had rather forth thy favour lay,  
And for their love in quarrel thine to sight,  
Which if I might By fervent zeal attain,  
Then should I hope the victory to gain.   

SON. L.  
NO sooner love entirely me possessed,  
But see how jealousy doth me assail,  
She seeks with deep distrust my faith to quail,  
And to remove from conscience quiet guest.  
She telleth me my Lord doth sin detest,  
And that my deeds they too unworthy are,  
That from his favour they will me debar,  
Whose love is fixed only on the best.  
Fear had begun to work in me so far,  
That to amaze my mind it could not fail,  
Till to my love my state I did bewail,  
Who shining sweetly like the morning star,  
Did stay their jar, And bid my soul to rest  
In Christ, by whom I surely shall be blest.   

SON. LI.  
HE is unworthy to receive a gift,  
From any man, that him mistrusts before,  
I will not aught of thee Lord doubt therefore,  
Although no reason can my hope uplift,  
I know in deed it is fly Satan's drift,  
To lay before me this my wild estate,  
Which being sinful, thou of force must hate,  
And I rejected be without all shift.  
But when I with myself thy works debate,  
Which have examples of thy mercy's store,  
His reasons are of force with me no more,  
Because that faith sets open wide the gate,  
To me of late, Which leads to treasure thine,  
Where in thy son thou dost in mercy shine.   

SON. LII.  
Feign would I follow thee through sea and land,  
My lovely Saviour whom far off I see,  
Zeal makes my mind with speed to haste to thee,  
But native weakness makes me doubtful stand,  
If to my aid thou gav'st not forth thy hand,  
And by thy word encouraged me to row,  
I should so shun affections which do flow,  
That fear should bend my faith like feeble wand.  
But by thy offered grace now strong I grow,  
And through the troubles of the world will be  
Bold to proceed, and faith shall secure me,  
To witness forth the thankfulness I own;  
Thou dost bestow On me both power & will.  
And with them both, I will thee honour still.   

SON. LIII.  
AS do the stars amidst the firmament,  
With borrowed light bear reccord unto thee,  
(O Lord of might) in which we men do see,  
The image of thy power to them but lent,  
So when our weak endeavours Lord are bend,  
To publish forth thy praises which excel,  
These silly sparks of light which in us dwell.  
Do show thy grace which us this motion sent.  
Although therefore no speech or tongue can tell.  
How infinite thy glory ought to be,  
Which passeth human sense by high degree,  
As wisest men to grant, they do compel,  
Yet thou lik'st well, We show herein our will,  
Which I have vowed unto thy service still.   

SON. liv.  
CAll me o Lord, for lo I do attend,  
To follow thee where so thou dost direct,  
I know thou wilt not my intent reject,  
Who gladly would proceed where so thou send,  
I doubtful stand, which way my course to bend,  
Because I find such ignorance of skill,  
To follow forth according to my will,  
A fruitful course the which I did intend,  
As thou with forward zeal my mind didst fill,  
So show me Lord whereto I am select,  
And I shall carefully the same effect,  
And fervently thereto go forward still,  
Depend I will, Upon occasion fit,  
That faithfully I may accomplish it.   

SON. LV.  
LIke silly babes such must thy servants be,  
In innocency and obedience still,  
Unto thy holy laws o Lord and will,  
From wrath, pride, malice, lust, and envy free,  
With Serpent's eyes of wisdom must they see,  
And stop their ears which Satan would deceive,  
With charms of pleasure which a scar do leave,  
And lend obedient care only to thee.  
Yet with simplicity of done receive,  
The yoke of law whose rule they must fulfil,  
And suffer patiently the word to kill  
The force of sin, which would souls health bereave,  
Such thou wilt heave, And hold in heavenly arm,  
And with protecting hand, defend from harm.   

SON. LVI.  
WHo so could like to Steu'n behold and see,  
The throne triumphant where our Saviour fits,  
In Majesty aloft, as best him fits,  
A judge and Saviour to his Saints to be,  
Coenquall with his father in degree,  
Possessor of the place for us prepared,  
Who ready stands our weak works to reward,  
And from the fury of the world to free.  
He were but base if ought he did regard,  
This transitory honour which so flits,  
Which to attain so much doth tire our wits,  
And yet so niggardly to man is shared,  
And afterward Doth leave a sting behind,  
Of care of conscience, and of grief of mind.   

SON. LVII.  
WHo seeketh not with all his power and might,  
To eternize unto himself his states?  
That chance or time may not his bliss rebate,  
Or death itself may not dissolve it quite.  
Thus some therefore for honour fiercely fight,  
And some for wealth do travel far and nigh,  
Some worldly wisdom with great study buy,  
To make them famous in this vain world's sight.  
Which is the readiest way they do espy,  
To keep their name from death which so they hate,  
Yea all suppose posterity the gate,  
T'immortalize this flesh, whose flower must die,  
But all go wry, wealth, honour, wit have end,  
And children pass, faith only life doth lend.   

SON. LVIII.  
WHat wealth may be to this alone compared,  
To be coheir with Christ of father's love?  
To have 〈◊〉 earthly thoughts so raised above,  
That world and worldly things we not regard?  
To see by faith a kingdom rich prepared  
For us, which shall eternally remain,  
Ay free from worldly cares and troubles vain,  
Which is for children his, a due reward?  
Who can discouragde be with earthly pain,  
Or tedious combats which the flesh doth prove?  
Since care of us our Partner Christ did move,  
To share our griefs, his joy to us to gain:  
Which thoughts should wain Our wills from base desire  
And us encourage higher to aspire.   

SON. LIX.  
IF Paradise were such a pleasant soil,  
Where all things flourished and prospered aye,  
Wherein who lived, never could decay,  
Till sin by Satan's slight gave man the foil:  
Which blessings afterward did clean recoil,  
And left man naked in reproach and shame,  
To dust to turn again from whence he came,  
On barren earth to live with sweat and toil.  
Then is our state much better than that fame,  
Our Paradise a place of bliss to stay,  
Our Saviour (Abraham's bosom) doth display  
Wherein our souls shall rest free from all blame,  
Where he our name Hath writ in book of life,  
To be exempt from fear of care, or strife.   

SON. LX.  
WHat is felicity whereof men wright?  
Which to attain, our studies still are beat,  
Which to procure, such time and pain is spent,  
By endless travel therein day and night:  
Sure if it be nought else but firm delight,  
And that delight consist in peace of mind,  
Then here on earth this treasure none shall find,  
Whose pleasures quickly vanish out of sight.  
The earth doth change, as seas do rise with tide,  
And storms ensue the calm before that went,  
This happiness but for a time is lent,  
And paid oft times with penance more unkind  
By fortune blind. True bliss consists herein,  
To love the Lord, and to abandon sin.   

SON. LXI.  
HOw many privileges great and rare,  
Do we enjoy that do thy name profess?  
Even many more by far I do confess,  
Then we observe, or how to use be ware:  
To give thy only son thou didst not spare,  
Us to redeem from deaths eternal wound,  
The sting of hell and sin he did confound,  
And way to heaven for us he did prepare.  
Yea so his mercies do to us abound,  
That all the worldly creatures more and less,  
Yea heavenly Angels do themselves address,  
To serve man's needful use are ready found,  
He doth propound, In Christ all these to man,  
And having him, no want annoy us can.   

SON. LXII.  
BY many gifts o Lord thou dost declare,  
Thy mercies unto man whom thou wilt save,  
The use of all the which in Christ we have,  
By hand of faith, that precious blessing rare,  
That doth his righteousness for us prepare,  
Our stubbornness with his obedience hide,  
His patience doth our gross impatience guide,  
His temperance with our intemperance share,  
His continence our frailty lets not slide.  
(For changing nature ours, his strength it gave)  
Our pride it hides, and hopes with faithless wave,  
And shades our heart with love which still shall bide,  
Thus every tide, It ready is at hand,  
For our defence a buckler for to stand.   

SON. LXIII.  
HOw should the quiet mind in peace and rest,  
Possessed of the thing it most desired,  
(A thing so precious none durst have aspired,  
To gain, unless the giver had him blest)  
How may she mourn, how may she be oppressed,  
Who hath the bridegroom always in her sight:  
Who in her love doth take so great delight,  
As by his bounty hourly is expressed?  
The doleful darkness fitteth blinded night,  
The shining Sun hath clouds of care retired,  
O heavenly hear my heart it hath aspired,  
Since in thy son I saw thy favour bright,  
The which did fight, As champion strong for me,  
From clouds of darkness and from sin to free.   

SON. LXIIII  
WHo so of perfect temperature is framed,  
Must needs delight in heavenly harmony,  
His senses so shall be renewed thereby,  
As savage beasts by Orpheus' harp were tamed,  
Young David's harp saul's furious spirit shamed,  
And Dolfins did Aryons music bear,  
Such sympathy in all things doth appear,  
That never music was by wisdom blamed,  
But he that could conceive with judgement clear▪  
The sweet records that heavenly motions cry,  
Their constant course that never swerves awry.  
But by discords, whose concord's after cheat,  
Would hold so dear, The mover of the same.  
That love of him should base affections tame.   

SON. LXV.  
GReat is thy power, and more than we conceive,  
Thy glory more than can discerned be:  
Man's greatest gift is yet that he may see,  
Or know, that virtue thine doth his bereave,  
His dazzling eyes each shadow doth deceive,  
His judgement builded on inconstant ground,  
His strength but weakness in itself is found,  
His glory, greater glory must receive  
From thee, in whom all glory doth abound:  
What majesty dare man compare with thee,  
To whom all creatures bow obedient knee?  
Whose contemplations thou dost clean confound,  
Upon this ground? True bliss & wisdom stand,  
To know our wisdom floweth from thy hand.   

SON. LXVI.  
AS but vain hope it is for man to trust,  
To thing not promised, or not in power,  
Of speaker to perform at pointed hour,  
Which is the case of flesh and blood unjust:  
So call that hope no wise man can or must,  
Which is performance of expected thing,  
When as possession doth assurance bring,  
Of thing whereafter we tofore did lust.  
The Saints in heaven in joyful rest do sing,  
Whom hope nor fear do raise or yet devower,  
But men on earth have hope a resting tower,  
To shield them from despiteful Satan's sting.  
Faith is the wing Makes me to hope ascend,  
And truth in Christ shall make my hope have end.   

SON. LXVII.  
GReat are the gifts o Lord thou dost bestow  
On sinful man, by thy abounding grace,  
Who when they want dost never hide thy face,  
But still a patron of thy bounty show:  
Which makes us both thy power and mercy know,  
And so with shame and sorrow to repent,  
Our thankless natures so unkindly bend:  
So slack to pay the praises which we owe.  
But when I do consider thou hast sent  
Thy son himself for to supply our place,  
Whose patience did the death on cross embrace,  
Those to acquit, who did with faith assent:  
All speeches spent, Seem then to me in vain,  
And only I admiring do remain.   

SON. LXVIII.  
I Have been blind, and yet I thought I saw,  
And now I see, yet fear that I am blind,  
No blindness like to that is of the mind,  
Which doth the soul to deadly danger draw:  
My careless steps did stumble at a straw,  
And yet supposed my walk had been so ware,  
That to have erred had been a matter rare,  
When every thought did violate thy law.  
But since to search myself I do prepare,  
So dark of sight my soul and sense I find,  
That if thy Christ (my love) were not more kind,  
Eternal death I see should be my share.  
But now I dare In spite of wicked foe,  
A better course with constant courage go.   

SON. LXIX.  
WHy should he faint or think his burden great,  
That hath a partner to support the same?  
Why cowardlike should he his honour shame,  
That hath a champion ready at entreat,  
Who can and doth death and confusion threat,  
To all impediments which stop our way?  
On whom repose our trust we boldly may,  
He being judge and placed in mercy's seat?  
He sees our thoughts, and knows what we would say,  
He doth our mouths to fit petitions frame,  
He hides our errors if our faith be lame,  
And he himself doth also for us pray,  
We need but stay, And trust to his good will,  
And we are sure he will our want fulfil.   

SON. LXX.  
ALthough the world do seek to stop my way,  
By many stumbling blocks of fear and doubt,  
And bid me seek a farther way about,  
And on the staff of carnal strength to stay,  
Though sin, though hell, though death do me denay,  
That any power shall bridle their intent,  
But would compel me walk as worldlings went,  
The headlong path of pleasure to decay,  
Yet will I not this purpose mine repent,  
So long as faith will be my soldier stout,  
To overthrow this fearful thronging rout.  
Whom to subdue, this grace was to me sent,  
Ne shall be spent, In vain this pain of mine,  
Hope against hope, shall win the field in fine.   

SON. LXXI.  
IT were unfit a concubine to keep,  
Or that her children should possession have,  
Among the fruits which lawful wedding gave,  
By virtuous spouse which in the soul doth sleep;  
And yet behold how shamefully do creep,  
Into possession of my power and will,  
These thoughts and works which motions are to ill,  
And trench themselves in fleshly fortress deep:  
Whose base society will with vices fill,  
The holy brood which grace would spotless save,  
In such a doubt my young affections wave,  
That they consent I should them foster still,  
But that would spill, More virtuous heritage,  
Therefore exiled these be, though hell do rage.   

SON. LXXII.  
SOmetimes my nature seemeth to repine,  
To see the pleasure and the plenteous store,  
The wicked do enjoy for evermore,  
Abounding in their corn, their oil and wine,  
But when I see my weakness so incline,  
To the abuse of portion I possess,  
My heart with joy, full often doth confess,  
Thy love doth much in earthly scarstie shine,  
These thing are good and bad, as thou dost bless,  
Which I dare not directly crave therefore,  
Such danger follows them even at the door,  
That plenty lightly doth the soul oppress,  
And as I guess, Contentedness doth grow,  
In grateful mind though state be near so low.   

SON. LXXIII.  
IF he unworthy be the sweet to taste,  
That shuns the sour as we in proverb say,  
To honour, pleasure, profit, in the way  
Great peril, pain, and cost, so often placed.  
If as unworthy health, he be disgraced,  
That will refuse a bitter purge to take,  
When he doth know it will his fever slake.  
So do temptations prove the mind more chaste,  
If we with courage do the combat make,  
And to the end immovable do stay,  
The more that Satan doth his spite display,  
The more the pride and power of him we shake,  
And he will quake, And sin shall have a fall,  
And faith in Christ shall triumph over all.   

SON. LXXIIII.  
TO shun the rocks of dangers which appear,  
Amidst the troubled waves of worldly life.  
Which in each company are always rife,  
Which with soul's peril most men buy full dear,  
I fear almost to keep my course so near,  
The conversation of such tickle tides,  
And think him blest, that banished abides,  
In desert, where of sin he may not hear.  
But when I note where so a man him hides,  
That still affections breed an inward strife,  
That nature bears about the bloody knife,  
And to the death the proper soul it guides,  
That fancy slides Away, and I prepare,  
In combats of the world to fight my share.   

SON. LXXV.  
WEre it not strange, that members of the same  
One living body, and one parents' child,  
Should by the other daily be defiled?  
And of unseemly thing should have no shame?  
And yet we which of Christ do bear the name,  
And children of his father us do call,  
At discord with this parent daily fall,  
And Christ our eldest brother do defame.  
It seemeth well we be but bastards all,  
Though stock be true, we be but Olives wild,  
Who thinks us better, he is but beguiled,  
Our fruits are bitter, and increase but small,  
And who so shall Examine well his works,  
Shall see that gall in purest thoughts there lurks.   

SON. LXXVI.  
IT is no light or curious conceit,  
O Lord thou knowest, that maketh me to strain  
My feeble powers, which blindfold did remain,  
Upon thy service now at length to weight,  
But only shame to see man's nature freight,  
So full of pregnant speech to little use,  
Or rather oftentimes to thy abuse,  
Whilst to deceive, they lay a golden bait:  
And do not rather think it fit to choose,  
By praises thine, true praise themselves to gain,  
And leave those fond inventions which do stain  
Their name, and cause them better works refuse,  
Which doth abuse The gifts thou dost bestow,  
And oftentimes thy high contempt do show.   

SON. LXXVII.  
FOr common matter common speech may serve,  
But for this theme both wit and words do want.  
For he that heaven and earth and all did plant,  
The fruits of all he justly doth deserve,  
No marvel then though oft my pen do serve,  
In middle of the matter I intent,  
Since oft so high, my thoughts seek to ascend.  
As want of wisdom makes my will to starve.  
But thou o Lord who cloven tongues didst send,  
Unto thy servants when their skills were scant,  
And such a zeal unto thy praise that brent,  
As made them fearless speak, and never bend,  
Unto the end, One jot from thy behest,  
Shall guide my style, as fits thy glory best.   

SON. LXXVIII.  
HOw happily my riches have I found,  
Which I no sooner sought but it is won,  
Which to attain, my will had scarce begun.  
But I did find it ready to abound,  
The silly faith I had was settled sound  
In Christ, although for fear it oft did pant.  
Which I did wish more constantly to plant.  
That it might all temptations so confound,  
With fervency this little sparkle brent,  
Till it inflamed my zeal and so did run,  
Unto the fountain of true light (the son)  
Whose gracious soil to feed it was not scant:  
Men find more want, The more they covet still,  
But if man covet this, it aye doth fill.   

SON. LXXIX.  
WHen desolate I was of worldly aid,  
Unable to relieve myself at need,  
Thou hadst a care my fainting soul to feed,  
Because my faith upon thy favour stayed,  
My dying hope thou hast with mercy paid,  
And as thou didst relieve thy servant dear,  
Elias whom the Ravens in desert cheer,  
So am I comforted whom sin afraid.  
The cries of little Ravens thine ear doth hear,  
And slak'st their hunger kindly Lord indeed,  
When parents do forsake 〈…〉,  
That so thy providence might more appear,  
Which shineth clear, In blessings every day,  
To me much more than I can duly way.   

SON. LXXX.  
AMidst this pilgrimage where wandering I,  
Do trace the steps which flesh and blood hath tread,  
My comfort is, that aye mine eyes are led,  
By gracious object which in faith I spy,  
Whose brightness guides my steps, which else awry  
Were like to slide, through Satan's subtle slight,  
'Gainst whom his holy Angels always sight,  
And suffer not my strength too far to try.  
By day his word and works are in my sight.  
Like to a cloud to comfort me in dread,  
By fife through deserts, and the sea so red,  
His hand doth govern me in dangerous night,  
His favour bright, Conducting this my way,  
An host of steps shall not my journey stay.   

SON. LXXXI.  
I See a storm me thinks approach a far,  
In darkened sky, which threatens woe at hand,  
Unto my tackle I had need to stand,  
Lest sudden puffs my purposed course debar.  
These tempting thoughts full oft forerunners are,  
Of fierce affections which do move the mind,  
Which if resistance not in time they find,  
The strongest tackling they do stretch or mar,  
I closely therefore will my conscience bind,  
And arm 〈◊〉 vessel with courageous band,  
Of 〈…〉 do know the land,  
Whose 〈…〉 safety are most kind:  
And in my mind Shall faith the pilate be,  
Whose skill shall make me wished port to see.   

SON. LXXXII.  
HOw is it that my course so soon would stay,  
Before I have begun the thing I thought?  
If ease or pleasure I herein had sought.  
I had not then made choice of such a way:  
More facill●s the course unto decay,  
More favour with the world it will attain;  
But I mis●●ke the ●●y requite with pain,  
And feigning words, not meaning as they say.  
Men break their sleeps some silly pelf to gain:  
With loss of life small honour some have bought,  
Yea Philosophers pleasure set at nought,  
To win a name of virtue to remain:  
Then I will wain Myself from earthly rest,  
With heavenly crown and honour to the blessed.   

SON. LXXXIII.  
WHen I begin to faint in my conceit,  
To see the little power I have to good,  
How sin hath virtue in me still withstood,  
And frailty on my flesh doth always weight.  
I am confounded and amazed strait,  
And readily could turn and fly the field,  
And all my travel to the tempter yield,  
Before I would adventure more to fight.  
But when I duly note whereon I build,  
My faith, which watered is with Christ his blood.  
Of force sufficient to withstand the flood,  
And me from peril and destruction shield,  
I easily weld Each burden on me laid,  
And of my safety nothing am afraid.   

SON. LXXXIIII.  
THe chastisements which often do befall,  
Unto the most beloved of God and blessed,  
Doth breed unto their souls both peace and rest,  
And home from wandering thoughts their mind doth call,  
And sure are tokens not of favour small,  
Who father like doth us in time correct,  
Who else the care of him would soon reject,  
And have no heed unto our ways at all.  
The good Physician that would life protect,  
Cuts of a limb sometimes as it seems best,  
And yet the patiented doth the same digest,  
Or any pain that worketh good effect,  
Should God neglect Us then to exercise?  
With rods whereby to make us grow more wise.   

SON. LXXXV.  
HOw should my fear or sorrow long remain,  
(Although the world did swell, and overflow  
With dangers which nought else but death do show)  
When I by death do find a present gain:  
Faith me assures that all assaults are vain,  
That seek to sever me from heavenly bliss,  
The love of Christ assureth me of this,  
That I with him shall safely still remain,  
What though of earthly pleasures I do miss,  
And though the care of them unpleasing grow,  
Yet this by good experience I do know,  
All things turn to the best to children his,  
I therefore kiss, The cross with joyful cheer,  
Because in chastisement doth love appear.   

SON. LXXXVI.  
ALthough those Gibeonites the native borne,  
Of sinful flesh have slily me beguiled,  
When as I thought all lust to have exiled,  
By showing feigned repentance raggd and torn,  
Though flesh and blood unto this league have sworn,  
Not ask counsel of the Lord at all,  
By which into a snare my soul did fall,  
And deep hypocrisy my power did scorn,  
Yet mean I them unto account to call,  
And since they have my holy thoughts defiled,  
Accursed I will hold them and as wild,  
Will hate their offprings all, both great and small,  
And be they shall, But bondmen to my soul,  
Who daily may their proud attempts control.   

SON. LXXXVII.  
WHen I began a conquest of my will  
To make, and yield it unto reason's law,  
My reason to the rule of God to draw,  
And by that rule to guide my actions still,  
It had been wisdom first the flesh to kill,  
Who breeds affections, which do still withstand  
The building of the work I have in hand,  
And thorns are in my sides to work me ill,  
But now my error I do understand,  
And must by fear of wrath keep them in awe,  
And by the chastisements of sin they saw,  
Make them to yield unto obedient band,  
Then shall my land With faithful soldiers be  
Replenished, and armed strengthen me.   

SON. LXXXVIII.  
NOt every one that with his lips doth pray,  
Or praise thy name is grateful in thy sight,  
Thy searching eyes have not so much delight,  
In those that cry, Lord, Lord each hour of day,  
But such as in thy bounds obedient stay,  
And make thy will a law unto their mind,  
That in thy promises do comfort find,  
And follow not the world's deceitful way,  
To such thou showest thyself a father kind,  
And dost illuminate their heart with might,  
Against all powers which do against them fight,  
Their sores thou tak'st to cure, and dost upbinde,  
Angels assingde, Do them environ round,  
And to their comfort, mercies do abound.   

SON. LXXXIX.  
HOw should I quicken up myself indeed,  
To true and faithful love even as I ought,  
Unless I call to mind whence I was brought,  
And by whose aid, who did this kindness breed,  
Which when I only weigh, my heart doth bleed,  
To see that bounty of a God so kind,  
And note the dullness of my nature blind,  
That should forget the Lord who me doth feed.  
When I was almost lost he me did find,  
When I forgot him clean, on me he thought,  
When I was sold to sin than he me bought.  
When I was wounded, he my sores did bind,  
Yea when I pined, He gave me plenteous store,  
Which gifts I will record for evermore.   

SON. XC.  
WHy should I faint or fear, or doubt at all.  
How fierce so ever fleshly combat show,  
Since I so sure a succour ready know,  
To shield me safe, what ever do befall?  
If he have such regard of sparrows small,  
As none of them (till God appoint) do die,  
If to our hairs which fall, he have an eye,  
That none of them unnumbered perish shall:  
Why should I think him deaf when I do cry,  
As though he had no care of us below,  
As though he would not needful things bestow,  
Although our patience he delight to try,  
Who can deny, But flowers that grow in field,  
In glory stain the beauty pride doth yield.   

SON. XCI.  
HOw do Gods blessings to his Saints abound,  
Whose gifts of grace although they be but small,  
At first yet more and more increase they shall,  
As seed well watered in a fruitful ground,  
The proof whereof I sinful wretch have found,  
Whose faith nigh famished, he now hath fed  
From heaven, with great increase of fish and bread,  
Which strengthen dying soul with comfort sound,  
His word for table he did open spread,  
His servants for to feed, me he did call,  
Their dole so free, I find more fragments fall,  
Then in my basket senses home have led,  
Yet he hath bed To such more to bestow,  
As greatest store of former treasure show.   

SON. XCII.  
I Know not Lord how to discharge aright,  
The duty that for graces great I own,  
No need thou hast of me at all I know,  
Yet in thy service shall be my delight,  
To publish forth thy praises day and night,  
To serve thy Saints with gifts I shall possess,  
Thy wondrous works by all means to confess,  
I will employ my substance, wit, and might.  
The remnant of my life shall well express,  
That dead to sin in Christ to life I grew,  
Which shall to world, my mind regenerate show,  
Although that I cannot sin clean suppress,  
And will address My thoughts to thee alone,  
Because on earth true joy or bliss is none.   

SON. XCIII.  
IF I did hope by pen to pattern out  
The many merits of thy Majesty,  
Which of thy mercies we do daily try,  
An endless matter I should go about,  
But I alas my strength so much do doubt,  
That nothing less than such a thought I have,  
To point forth others to a thought I crave,  
Whose confidence in skill is much more stout.  
Yet dare I say that nature never gave  
The power to flesh and blood to look so high,  
Nor gifts of grace full few there are apply,  
To give him laud aright that did them save.  
How to behave Myself herein I learn,  
And wish my will might others likewise warn.   

SON. XCIIII.  
WHat tongue or pen can show itself unkind,  
Unto a father full of mercy so,  
Who freely doth such benefits bestow,  
And of your case hath such a careful mind?  
Before we were, a way he forth did find,  
Whereby to purchase us in heaven a place,  
When native strength our glory should deface,  
A remedy therefore his love assigned:  
He gives us knowledge of the same by grace,  
Which offered is to them the which will go  
Unto the word where saving health doth grow,  
And saith through which our Saviour we embrace,  
And being base, By birth, and thrall to hell,  
He us adopts in children's room to dwell.   

SON. XCV.  
WHy should this worldly care have now such power  
To quench the comfort which the soul shall find  
In this our God, who is to us so kind,  
The memory of which should fear devower?  
If faith were watered well with heavenly shower  
Of grace, and knowledge of our happy state,  
It would the force of all assaults abate,  
And be a bulwark strong at trials hour.  
If we the world and flesh did truly hate,  
And made his will a law unto our mind,  
If doubt of power or will, did not us blind,  
Which to distrust, sets open wide the gate,  
Then would this rate Of worldly care be less,  
And he our faith with favour more would bless.   

SON. XCVI.  
HOw loath this flesh of mine remaineth still,  
To part from sin his old companion dear,  
Of death or of a change, he would not hear,  
But would embrace him aye with his good will,  
The very thought of death his thought doth kill,  
The very fear thereof his sorrow brings,  
So sweet the pleasures seem of earthly things,  
That nought else can our fond affections kill.  
But who is wise, fro out the snare he wrings,  
Before perforce, death doth approach him near,  
That abstinence no virtue doth appear,  
When want of power subdues affections stings,  
But who so flings, From them when they pursue,  
To him pure name of virtue indeed is due.   

SON. XCVII.  
WHo so would live, of force he first must die,  
Death is the door which leadeth unto life,  
Life which shall be devoid of change and strife,  
Whose comfort shall our tears of sorrow dry,  
The way is strait the which man must go by.  
If to the heavens he purpose to ascend,  
His gross corruption must to grave descend,  
And dead, the power of sin therein must lie,  
If he to be regenerate intent,  
First must he mortify the motions rise,  
Of lust, which kill the soul with cruel knife,  
And eke his ruin presently pretend,  
For God will send A happy change indeed,  
As harvest pays with plenty blow man's seed.   

SON. XCVIII.  
WHen I with grief sometimes to mind do call,  
The woeful loss that sin to man hath brought,  
And want which to all creatures it hath wrought,  
By Satan's slight, and Adam's fearful fall,  
I find no comfort in world's use at all,  
But wish to be dissolved with Christ to dwell,  
From whom all blessings flow and do excel,  
In thought whereof my comfort is not small.  
Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well,  
Into a doubt, if that in truth I ought,  
More sorrow parents fall, which death hath brought,  
Or joy the life through Christ to me befell,  
Yet truth to tell, I find the change so good,  
Our state is better now then when we stood.   

SON. XCIX.  
IF I can speak and like a coward crack,  
If I can tell the thing the which is best,  
If I in muster seem to battle priest,  
And yet shrink back when I should trial make,  
If I endeavour others to awake,  
Fro out the deadly slumber they are in,  
And yet myself cannot revolt from sin,  
But in the pride thereof do pleasure take,  
By all my travel I no game shall win,  
Although my pain might prove to others blest,  
But as the Symball sound doth to the rest,  
I might haps mourn, when others mirth begin,  
The feast but thin, Would be unto my share,  
Though many dishes to the guests I bore.   

SON. C.  
FOrtune and chance, blind guides to bliss farewell,  
Upon your leisures I no more attend,  
I not regard what good or ill you send,  
Not in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell,  
A greater bliss then ere through you befell,  
Ye made me to neglect I now do see,  
Whose hope from fear could near continue free,  
But aye distrust did 'gainst my faith rebel.  
The earth's delight the which ye promised me,  
Can not my soul from sorrow ought defend,  
Your sweet with sower was mixed in the end,  
So vain and variable both they be,  
Then happy he That seeketh blessed rest,  
In Christ alone, and doth the world detest.   

CONCLUSION.  
Word's may well want, both Ink and paper fail,  
Wits may grow dull, and will may weary grow,  
And world's attaires may make my pen more slow,  
But yet my heart and courage shall not quail,  
Though cares and troubles do my peace assail,  
And drive me to delay thy praise awhile,  
Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile,  
Thy mercy's Lord by which my plaints prevail.  
And though the world with face should grateful smile,  
And me her peddlers pack of pleasures show,  
No hearty love on her I will bestow,  
Because I know she seeks me to beguile,  
Ne will defile My happy peace of mind,  
For all the solace I in earth may find.  
FINIS.    

A TABLE DIRECTING by part of the first verse of each, to the  

A.   Book. Sonnet. A Base borne 1. 54 According to thy 1. 41 A husbandman 1. 53 Although the world 2. 70 Although these 2. 86 Amidst the graves 1. 42 A merchant 1. 21 Among the press 1. 22 Among thy sheep 1. 9 Amidst this famine 1. 37 A Moabite 1. 80 Amidst this pilgrimage 2. 80 A poor Arabian 1. 20 A tenant 1. 50 As thou art pure 1. 24 As oft as thou 1. 31 A sinful Syrian 1. 98 A servant Lord 1. 73 A servant sold 1. 75 As through a mist 2. 1 As fareth with 2. 9 As is the treasure 2. 15 As but vain 2. 66 As doth the stars 2. 53 As doth the M●one 2. 44 A virgin pure 1. 29 avant base thoughts 2. 37 A wi●ked Pharisie 1. 16 A wicked thief 1. 78 A wi●ked soul 1. 19 
B.  BEhold o Lord the City 1. 10 Behold o Lord a tree 1. 14 Behold a midst worlds 1. 92 Betwixt two strong 2. 17 By many gifts 2. 62 Borne blind I was 1. 38 
C.  CAll me o Lord 2. 54 Cleansed are the 2. 2 
F.  Feign would I fence 1. 32 fain would I follow thee 2. 52 fain would I praise 2. 40 Five foolish virgins 1. 17 F●e fainting faith 2. ●8 For common matter 2. 77 Fortune and chance 2. 100 Fro out the darkness 1. 2 From juda wandering 8. 81 From far I see 2. 18 
G.  GReat are the 2. 67 Great is thy 2. 65 
H.  HE is unworthy 2. 21 How should my soul 1. 1 HOw hard it is 1. 48 How oft o Lord 1. 63 How drunken are 1. 39 How precious 2. 21 How can I limit 2. 26 How may this be 2. 34 How fond a thing 2. 46 How many privileges 2. 61 How should the quiet 2. 63 How happily 2. 78 How is it that 2. 82 How loath this 2. 96 How should my 2. 85 How should I 2. 89 How do Gods blessings 2. 91 
I.  I Fellow thee 1. 25 I seek o Lord 1. 13 I will not fear 2. 38 I justly am 1. 52 I see alas 1. 99 I find my heart 2. 49 I have been blind 2. 68 I have begun 2. 6 I see a storm 2. 81 I shame to see 2. 13 I know not 2. 92 In humble wise 1. 4 Into thy vineyard 1. 23 In bondage long 1. 79 In famine great 1. 89 In deadly sleep 1. 43 In pride of youth 1. 6 If thou vouchsafest 1. 45 If he to whom 2. 11 If Saba Queen 2. 45 If beauty be 2. 33 If Paradise 2. 59 If he unworthy be 2. 73 If I did hope 2. 93 If I can speak 2. 99 It is not Lord 1. Preface It were unfit 2. 71 It is no light. 2. 76 
L.  LAme of my limbs 1. 7 Let earthly things 2. 47 Like pined child 1. 27 Like silly babes 2. 55 Lo how I groveling 1. 81 Love than I will 2. 39 
M  MY body Lord the house 1. 36 My body Lord infected 1. 60 My soul like 1. 76 My sins behold 1. 33 My wicked flesh 1. 44 Mourn thou no more 1. 101 My traitorous heart 1. 49 
N.  NO recompense 2. 20 No sooner love 2. 50 Not that my faith 1. 84 Not everse one 2. 88 Now that thou hast 1. 12 Now that I see 1. 61 Now that it pleaseth 1. 69 Now that I have 2. 12 Now will I dance 2. 19 Now that thy mercies 2. 27 
O  O Heavenly beauty 2. 32 O heavenly love 2. 35 O perfect son 2. 41 Of sinful race 1. 30 Of every creature 1. 47 Of parents first 1. 26 Of sweet and savoury 1. 90 Out of the fountain 1. 18 Out of thy 1. 92 
P  Polluted with 1. 28 
S  SInce it hath pleased 1. 46 Since with Goliath 1. 11 Since thou hast raised 1. 65 Since thou by grace 1. 100 Since that it pleaseth 1. 88 Since to so holy 2. 3 Since thou o Lord 2. 10 Since thou hast 2. 25 So blind o Lord 1. 77 So foolish Lord 1. 97 Some men do mourn 2. 1 Sometimes my nature 2. 72 
T.  THe temple Lord 1. 67 The silly bab●s 1. ●7 The greediness 1. 34 The many trials 1. 85 The dream which thou 1. 93 The seed which thou 1. 94 The malice of 1. 96 The talents which 1. 87 The only daughter 1. 56 The more I seek 2. 8 The end whereto 2. 14 The pleasures of 2. 16 The powerful pen 2. 29 The shining face 2. 36 The chastisements 2. 84 Thy thundering voice 1. 8 The slender City 1. 83 This stately stage 2. 30 Thou formedst me 1. 72 Though with thy Saints 1. 40 Thou hast o Lord 1. 86 Thanks will I 2. 22 To shun the rocks 2. 74 
V.  Unto thy princely 1. 5 Void of true life 1. 35 
W.  WEre it not strange 2. 75 Where shall I build 1. 58 Where shall I find 2. 9 What am I else 1. 71 Whilst in this world 1. 70 Whilst with the wholesome 1. 64 Whilst in the garden 1. 51 Whereso I cast about 2. 23 When thou vouchsafest 1. 55 Whilst in the vail 1. 59 Whilst that the chosen 1. 62 Whilst that in wealth 1. 66 What strength hath 1. 95 When I begin 2. 83 When as my 2. 3 What tongue or pen 2. 94 What should I render 2. 42 What present 2. 42 What wealth 2 58 What is felicity 2. 60 When I began 2. 87 When I with grief 2. 98 When desolate I was 2. 79 Who so beholds 2. 43 Whilst in the plenty 1. 74 Whilst I do study 2. 24 Why should be faeint 2. 69 Why should this 2. 95 Why should I 2. 90 Within this Ark 1. 3 Within thy garden 1. 15 Within thy house 1. 68 Who will be●old 2. 31 Who so could 2. 56 Who seeketh not 2. 57 Who so of perfect 2. 64 Who so would live 2. 97 Would God 2. 5 Words may well want 2. Conclusion  
FINIS.