Saint Peter's Path to the Joys of Heaven: WHEREIN IS DESCRIBED THE FRAILTY OF FLESH, THE power of the Spirit, the labyrinth of this life, Satan's subtlety, and the Souls salvation. As also the Election, Lives and Martyrdoms, of the twelve Apostles. By W. B. Poenitentiae nemo nimis Cupidus. At London Imprinted by Felix Kingston. 1598. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR RICHARD MULLENEX KNIGHT: ALL health of body, increase of joy, with the full fruition of perfect felicity. RIGHT Worshipful, It is reported that Althema hoping to gratify Alexander that famous Conqueror, with some excellent piece of workmanship, searched so far in the depth of his Art, as striving with cunning to be curious, his pencil passed beyond his skill, not being able to make his work perfect: who being blamed by his friend (Pethieus) for imboldning himself so unadvisedly, answered, that although Art wanted to beautify the work, yet heart and good will did make perfect that which lack of cunning had left unperfect: whose answer (Right Worshipful) as one guilty of a greater crime, I claim for the sufficient excuse of my folly, in beginning this work rudely, continuing rashly, and ending rawly. None can express a Passion that he feeleth not, neither doth the pen deliver, but what it copieth out of the mind. This passionate Discourse, thought it reach not to the dignity of Peter's repenting, yet shall I think my endeavours well paid, if it may 〈◊〉 some skilfuller pen to supply in this matter my want 〈◊〉 ability, and exercise their happier talents in the like pie●●▪ I confess my fault in committing these unpolished lines to the Press, yet I crave pardon with favourable censure, and thus far dare I answer for myself, that although Demosthenes had a plaudit for his Oration, because it was curious, yet Nimius got the Sentence for the truth of his plain Tale. This work of S. Peter's path to the joys of heaven, I humbly commit to your worships protection, which if it may please you to let this teary Map pass under the countenance and credit of your Name, and that you will deign to read it over, and therewith seem to be but pleased, I account myself highly favoured. Apelles' presented Alexander with the counterfeit of Campaspe, the face not fully finished, because he liked the Picture; and I offer these few stanzes unto you, not well furnished, because I know you are a favourer of virtue. Achilles made it not dainty to take the view of Phidias homely work, because it was the Image of the God of War: and I hope your Worship will vouchsafe the viewing of this silly book, for that it describes the submissive mind of a penitent Sinner, although it spring from a barren soil, being a dish of such fruit as my poor orchard can yield, not unlike to Zeuxes pictures, which seemed to the birds to be grapes, but being thoroughly proved, were bare shadowed colours, yet it may be, that you passing over many learned works, will at last view this, and smile as Theodosius did at the Pomegranate, not that he scorned the fruit, but to see the simple meaning of the man that presented him with so slender a gift, yet I hope by your protection this my labour shall find acceptance, according to the mind of the giver: and to have as many favourers as readers, & no more readers that mislike the matter, then like to write some other as well meant, for that it proceeds from a mind as willing to show itself thankful, as whosoever else, that commends himself by a greater present. Thus I humbly take my leave, wishing you all hearts content in this life, and everlasting happiness in the World to come. Your Worships in all dutiful service to command WILLIAM BROXUP. To the courteous and friendly Reader. GEntle Readers, although I present you with this teary Map of S. Peter's submissive Mind, yet I crave pardon of you, as (Clinius did of Virginius) that if you find any thing amiss, you will pass it over with favourable censure: desiring you to read with favour, correct with judgement, and wink at a fault. After I had writ these few lines, I stood in doubt whether I should commit them to the Press, let them lie obscurely in corners, or else to remain privately in my own hands, but being in doubt lest any false copy should be scattered abroad, & by that means it should come corrupt to the Print, disguised in the fancies of an other man's humour: it emboldened my weak ability the more to give it passage to the Press: yet it may be, that courteous skill will make this reckoning, that though it be course in respect of exquisite labours, yet it may entertain indifferent minds, for that the ground thereof is piety, and this commodity it will carry with it, that the Reader may learn the true path to perfect joy, and how to humble himself in the school of repentance. Thus wading over rashly like Gherillus I flattered myself, yet far from the mind of Terence, when he first began to study Poetry, he thought all the world would be in love with his writing, but if this may win any one to a repentant mind, he shall receive the fruits of his good work, and I shall enjoy the content of my full desire. Phidios found the more favour in setting out his simple pictures, in that he did what he could, and I hope to find your favourable judgement for this imperfect work in that I do what I can. Though Cicero were eloquent, Ennius was bluntish, high style is not herein used, but a plain Decorum touching the matter, a work roughly hewed out of a hard rock, not polished by the curious hands of Artifex, yet brought to the view of the learned, whose clear sighted judgement may condemn me of boldness, yet this I know, that the well literate will wink at a fault, when the captious misliker will find fault with every letter, for the one, I will honour his discreet favour, for the other, I never meant to please his humour. Thus I commit myself and my book to your courtesies, wishing the friendly Readers the fruition of all felicity, committing them to the protection of the celestial powers, and this my good will towards them, to their favourable considerations. Yours to command in all kindness. W. B. In alios lenis est●. THE ORDER OF THE Evangelists in laying down the names of the twelve Apostles. 1 Peter. Acts 1. 2 james Zebedeus 3 john. 4 Andrew. Luke 6. 5 Philip. 6 Thomas. 7 Bartholomew. Mark 3. 8 Matth. 9 james Alph. 10 Simon Zelotes. Matth. 10. 11 Jude james. bro. 12 Mathias. THE ELECTION, LIVES and Martyrdoms of the twelve Apostles. HEre gentle Reader we may behold the Saints of God, which by great care and entire love, did plant the principles of the Gospel, not sparing their lives to quench the heat of fire. By viewing their Martyrdom, we may comfort ourselves with this saying: Sanguis Martyrum, semen Ecclesiae. The blood of the Martyrs, is the seed of the Church. Christ himself foretold, that whosoever would be his Disciple, must take up his cross and follow him: these Apostles & these Disciples have done no less. 1. PEter, Matth. 4. 18. otherwise called Simon, the son of jona, of the Province of Galilee, john 1. 42. & of the town of Bethsaida, the brother of Andrew, Luke 6. 14. from a fisherman Christ called him to be an Apostle, commanding him earnestly three times to feed his sheep: Mark 1. 16. three times Peter denied Christ: Luke 5. 10. three times Christ asked Peter, if he loved him: Mark 3. 16. and three times Peter answered, Matth. 16. 17. thou knowest Lord, john 21. 15. I love thee. Hieron. lib. de viris illustr. For denying of Christ, his submission was so great, that by continual kneeling in prayer to God, his knees & elbows were grown thick, numb, and hard like the hoof of an Ox, his arms with leaning on them were grown crooked, his eyes were bleared with daily weeping, and the streams of tears which flowed from his eyes, Anton. Chro. part. 1. tit. 6. cap. 4. parag. 1. made gutters in his cheeks. Peter the Apostle was the first Bishop of Antioch, he continued there seven years, & seven years about jerusalem & the Eastern regious: Acts 12. 4. verse 8. he was imprisoned by Herod Agrippa, and delivered by an Angel: Eusebius eccle. hist. lib. 3. ca 9 Christ came to his house & healed his wives mother of a fever: Matth. 8. 14. he preached the Gospel of Christ in * 1. Pet. 1. Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Luke 4. 38. Bythinia, and Asia. Peter was of that courage & boldness, Mark. 1. 31. that he walked upon the water to go to jesus. Peter seeing Christ transfigured, talking with Moses and Elias, he was so ravished with that joyful sight, Matth. 14. 29. that he said unto him, * This was upon Mount Thabor. Lord, here is good being for us, Matth. 17. 2. if thou wilt, Let us make here 3. Mark 9 5. tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. Christ did foretell Peter of his death, Luke 9 35. saying, * john 21. 18. When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldst: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not. Peter was crucified at Rome, Euseb. Eccle. hist. lib. 3. ca 1. An. Christi 70. the third Calends of july, in the last year of Nero, with his head downwards, which kind of death he himself desired. Moritur ad terram verso capite in cruse Petrus. 2. IAmes the son of Zebedeus brother to john, Matth. 4. 21. was a poor fisherman, Mark. 3. 17. and being in the ship mending of his net, jesus came by and called him to be an Apostle. He preached the Gospel of Christ unto the twelve dispersed Tribes, Clem. lib. 7. hypot. he was the next Martyr after Stephen: Acts 12. 2. he was slain by the sword in India by Herod Agrippa: Pet de natal. lib. 6. cap. 133. his corpse was afterward transported into Compostella in Spain. 3. IOhn the Evangelist was the son of Zebed and brother to james: Mat. 4. 21. he was called from the fisher-boat to be an Apostle of Christ: Polycrates B. of Ephesus. he was of all other beloved of jesus: he leaned on the breast of our Saviour: Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 16. An. Dom. 97. he was banished by the Emperor Domitian into the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Revelation, Jerome and Abdias saith, jerenaeus lib. 5 Abdias. that at Rome he was thrown into a tun of hot burning oil, yet he came forth and took no harm. He converted a Thief, The words of john the Evangelist to the thief. that was Captain of a band of thieves, all wholly bend to slaughter, murder, and extreme cruelty, saying, Yet there remaineth some hope of salvation: I will undertake for thee with Christ: I will die for thee if need be, as Christ died for us, I will hazard my soul for thine: Trust me, Christ sent me. The Thief hearing this, Tokens of true repentance. stood still, shook off his armour, trembled for fear, repent and wept bitterly. After the death of Domitian, Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 39 Cle●n. john the Evangelist returned from the Isle of Patmos, when Nerua had reigned a little above a year: An. dom. 99 john governed the Churches in Asia: and remained at Ephesus. Augustine calleth him a martyr by will: Jerome saith he died the 68 year after the passion of Christ. anno. Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus, as Eusebius allegeth, sticketh not to call him a Priest, a martyr, and a doctor, but that which Augustine and Dorotheus writeth of his end, is strangest of all, and let the credit thereof rest in the choice of the Reader: Dom. 101. how john at Ephesus in the presence of divers people, went alive into his grave & there died, being an hundredth and twenty years old. 4. ANdrew being a poor fisherman, Mat. 4. 18. was called with his brother Peter to be an Apostle: Luk. 6. 14. he preached the Gospel of Christ unto the Scythians, Euseb. lib. 3. Sogdians, and Sucians', and in the middle of Sebastopilis, cap. 1. inhabited of the wild Ethiopians: being crucified by Aegeas King of Edessa the last of November, Dorotheus Eccle. hist. an. Christi. and buried at Pataris a city in Achaia. 5. PHilip was chosen to be an Apostle of Christ, Luk. 6. 14. he was borne in the city of Bethsaida, Mark 3. 18. a city in Galilee: when Christ demanded of Philip where they might buy bread to satisfy the people that followed him, john 6. 9 Philip answered him, Two hundredth penny worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little: This was said to prove him: Christ at that instant fed five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fishes, Mat. 14. 19 and when the people were satisfied, the disciples filled twelve baskets with that which remained: Acts. 8. 9 Philip preached the Gospel of Christ in Phrygia, Anton. chron. tit. 6. cap 11. pet. de natal. de sanctis. lib. 4. cap. 107. he went to a city in Samaria, and there converted Simon Magus the sorcerer, who had a long time seduced the same city with his sorcery & witchcraft. The paynim crucified Philip at Hierapotalis. 6. THomas otherwise called Didymus, john 20. verse 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. was one of the twelve Apostles of Christ: he doubting of the resurrection of Christ, said unto his fellows which told him that they had seen the Lord, Thomas said, Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hands into his side, I will not believe. After eight days, Thomas being with the disciples, jesus came again, and stood in the midst of them saying, Peace be unto to you, Agbasus wrote an Epistle unto Christ, acknoledging him to be the soon of God. & said to Thomas: Put thy finger here & see my hands, and thrust forth thy hand, put it into my side, and be not faithless, but faithful. Then Thomas did conceive a full faith that it was the Lord, and said, Thou art my Lord my God: which confession jesus did well accept. Thomas sent Thaddaeus unto Agbarus king of Edessa, Christ writ to Agbarus again. to preach the Gospel of Christ, and to cure Agbarus of his malady: Thomas the Apostle preached the Gospel of Christ, Euseb. lib. 1. cap. 15. unto the Persians, Medes, Caramaines, Hircaines', Bastraines, and Magicians: Anton. chron. he was slain at the heathen King's commandment, with a dart in India, Abdias Apost, hist. lib. 9 and was buried at Calimina. 7. BArtholomew was chosen to be an Apostle of Christ, Luk 6. 14. he preached to the Indians, Mark. 3. 18. and delivered unto them the Gospel of Matthew in their own language: Mat. 10. 3. he suffered martyrdom at the commandment of Polemius king of India, Dorotheus. Abdias B. of Babylon. the first day of his martyrdom he was beaten with cudgels, the second day crucified and slain alive, pet. de natal. lib. 7. cap. 103. his skin pulled over his ears, as he was fastened to the cross: Anton chron. tit. 6. cap. 12. Last of all, while breath remained in him, he was beheaded. 8. MAtthew the Evangelist was chosen to be an Apostle of Christ, Mark. 3. 18. he wrote the Gospel of our Lord jesus in the Hebrew tongue, Abdias. hist. aspost. lib. 7. and delivered it to james the son of Alpheus: he preached the Gospel in Aethiopia: he was by the commandment of Hyrtacus run through with a sword. 9 IAmes the son of Alpheus & Marie, Euseb. Eccle. hist. lib. 2. cap. 22. sister to Marie the Lord's mother, called the brother of Christ, was the first Bishop of jerusalem, Clemen. lib. 6. he lived virtuously, he used no woollen vesture, but wore a Syndon, Aegesippi. s li. 5. his knees were after the guise of a camels knee, joseph. Antiq. benumbed and bereft of the sense of feeling by reason of his continual kneeling in supplication to God: lib. 20 cap. 16. he continued Bishop thirty years, Abdella hist. apo. and was martyred by the jews, but especially by Ananias the high Priest, Dorotheus. who set him upon a pinackle of the Temple to preach to the people, Anton. chron. part. 1. tit. 6. cap. 8. anno Don. 6. & threw him down headlong: he having breath after his fall, one came with a Fuller's club, knocked him on the head, and brained him. 10. SImon the Cananite son to Cleopas, Luk. 6. 15. surnamed Zelotes the lords cousin germane, Aegesippus writeth that Cleopas was brother to joseph. he was chosen to be one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, he preached the Gospel throughout Mauritania, Aphricke, Egypt, and Persia: he returned thence and succeeded james in the Bishopric of jerusalem: the heretics accused him that he lineally descended of the stock of David, Simon was the second B. of jerusalem. and that he was a Christian, which profession they hated: he was scourged for the space of many days together, so that Aticus the judge and his company was marvelously amazed, and marveled, He was crucified anno. do. 110. how that he being an hundred and twenty years old, Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 11. 29. was able to abide that bitter torment, in the end, he died a death agreeable with the passion of Christ. 11. IVde the brother of james called also Thaddeus, Luk. 6. 16. was called to be an Apostle: Mark. 3. 18. he preached unto the Edessians, & through all Mesopotamia: Dorotheus Eccle. hist. he was slain at Berito in the time of Agbarus king of Edessa. 12. MAtthias one of the seventy Disciples, Acts. 1. 26. was chosen to be an Apostle in the room of judas the traitor: he preached the Gospel first in Macedonia, Pet. de natal. then in Aethiopia, about the haven called Hissus, lib. 3. cap. 149. and the river Phasis, afterward he went into India, Anton. chron. where the jews stoned him, and last of all he was beheaded with an axe after the Roman manner. tit. 6. cap. 15. Thus endeth the commemoration of the lives and deaths of the twelve Apostles. HERE FOLLOWETH the Election, Lives and Martyrdoms of S. Paul, Mark the Evangelist, and Stephen one of the seven Deacons. PAUL, Act. 7. 58. which before was called Saul, Act. 8. 3. was an Apostle of Christ, yet out of the number of the twelve, Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 1. was borne in jury, Ex Hieron. lib. de viris illust. in a town called Gascalis, which town being taken by the Romans, he with his parents fled to Tharsus a town in Cilicia, afterwards he was sent up to jerusalem, and there brought up in the knowledge of the Law: Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 1. at that time when Stephen suffered martyrdom: Paul was a persecutor, Act. 9 4. in raging against the Church of God, Anno Chr. 35. entering into the houses of the faithful, and gave forth precepts that both men and women should be imprisoned: he was converted to believe in Christ, by a voice that spoke to him from heaven, as he went towards Damascus, and from a persecutor he was made a professor, an Apostle, a martyr, a witness of the Gospel, and a chosen vessel, not of men, neither by men, but by revelation from jesus Christ: among other his manifold labours and traveles in spreading the doctrine of Christ, he wan Sergius Paulus the Proconsul of Cyprus to the faith of Christ, whereupon his name was turned from Saul to Paul: he began to preach the Gospel of Christ at jerusalem, Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 27. and went on still to Ilyricum, Italy and Spain, his Epistles are extant at this day, full of heavenly wisdom, he was accused before the Emperor Nero, Abdias de viris lib. 2. for teaching a new doctrine and stirring up sedition against the Empire, whereupon Nero commanded him to declare the order of his doctrine: which was to teach all men peace and charity, how to love one another; that rich men should not be puffed up in pride, The sum of Paul's doctrine. nor to put their trust in their treasure, but in the living God; mean men to be content with food and raiment, and with their present state; poor men to rejoice in their poverty with hope; fathers to bring up their children in the fear of God; children to obey their parents; husbands to love their wives; wives to love their husbands; citizens and subjects to be true to their Prince. This was the sum of Paul's teaching, which he received from jesus Christ, which spoke to him from heaven. When Nero had heard this, he gave sentence of death, that Paul should be beheaded, unto whose execution Nero sent two of his Esquires, Paul condemned. Feraga & Parthemius, to bring him word of Paul's death: Euseb. lib 2. he was beheaded at Rome, the last year of Nero, cap. 2. lib. 1. the third calends of july, and was buried in the way to Ostia, cap. 1. anno in the thirty sixth year after his conversion, thirty seven years after the Passion of Christ. Christi. 70. Mark the Evangelist was the first Bishop of Alexandria, Dorotheus Eccle hist. he was the first that preached Christ unto the Egyptians: in the time of trajan he had a cable rope tied about his neck, and drawn through the streets of Alexandria, Euseb. lib 2. that his flesh was rend in pieces, cap. 16. cap. 25. and the stones coloured with blood, he was drawn from Blocus to a place called Angels, Dorotheus. where he was burned to ashes by the furious Idolaters, in the month of April, and buried at Blocus. STephen was chosen to be one of the seven Deacons, Acts 6. 5. by prayer and laying on of the Apostles hands, Euseb. lib. 2. for the public administration of the Church affairs, cap. 1. he was stoned to death at jerusalem by them that slew the Lord, Acts 7. 59 he was the first of the triumphing Martyrs of Christ, Acts 8. 2. and as they stoned him, he said: Lord jesus receive my spirit: Luke 13. 34. and kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice: Stephen signifieth a crown Lord lay not this sin unto their charge: and so fell asleep in the Lord. This is to bear the cross of our Saviour, Matth. 10. 38. 39 this is to drink of one cup with Christ: Christ saith, He that taketh not up his cross and followeth after me, Matth. 16. 24, 25. is not worthy of me, he that will save his life, shall lose it, and he that looseth his life for my sake, shall save it. Psalm. 34. 19 Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Through many tribulations we have to enter into the king doom of heaven: Matth. 10. 22. but he that endureth to the end, he shall be saved. Infinite are the number of the Saints of God that have suffered for the testimony of Christ, as Hierome in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heliodorus, saith: Nullus esset dies quinon ultra quinque millium numerum martyrum reperiri posset ascriptus excepto die kalendarum januarij. The number of Martyrs in the primitive Church. There is no day in the whole year unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs cannot be ascribed, except only the first day of januarie. THus gentle Reader, not meaning to be offensive with long circumstances, I have briefly described the lives and martyrdoms of the twelve Apostles, amongst which I have writ of S. Peter more at large then any of the rest: and if you deign favourably to read this small ensuing Poem to the end: you shall encourage me hereafter to present you with some other work that may be more pleasing to your kind view. Thus I commit thee courteous Reader to the reading of that which followeth. The Argument. DID Peter wash his silly soul with tears, unfeignedly with true repentance weeping, And yet 'twas long, ere joy bereaved his cares, Twixt joyful hope, and sad despair infleeting: How can we then, the loathed lump of sin, Without repentance, joys celestial win? For every tear that trickled down his cheeks, From the moist springs of his dim bleared eyes, Ten thousand sins our sinful closet keeps, While hardened hearts, not one Peccavi cries: His tears were infinite, and past recount, Our tears are nothing, yet our sins surmount. Did Peter sin, and did he then repent, Did Peter sin, and did he after weep? Did Peter sin, and for his sin lament? Did Peter sin, and was his sorrow deep? Oh, did he shed whole floods of tears for sin? Before he could his Master's favour win. How dare we then presuming hope for grace? How may we hope, more sinful far than he? How can we hope for heaven Christ's resting place? Where none but Saints and holy Angels be? Except with blessed Peter we repent, And for our sins with earnest tears lament. Vbi abundavit peccatum, Superabundavit & gratia. FINIS. SAINT PETER'S PATH to the joys of Heaven. Luke 22. 62. Peter went out and wept bitterly. RISE Sinful man, look on the heavenly light, Be not by Satan, to Hell's Bondage brought: Let not despairing thoughts thy soul affright: To stroy the Treasure, Christ so dearly bought: Say not with Cain, the Lord cannot forgive: His oil of grace will thy sick soul relieve. His life preseruing-mercy passeth all The glorious works, that ever he did make: For whosoever faithfully doth call On his great Name, he never doth forsake, Though scarlet sins thy soul do overgrow, Yet his sweet blood will wash them white as snow. Cast not thy looks against the sullen ground, But look on Christ, fast nailed to the Cross, His death of life, did death and hell confound, And therewithal, redeemed thy greatest loss: Adam wrecked our souls, Christ was soul's life beginner, His blood saved thee; & me the vildest sinner. If thy lewd heart all wicked sins had wrought, Or that the world's whole sins in thee did lie: Yet our great GOD, that made all things of nought, Can banish them, with one wink of his eye: He can, and will, if thou in him do trust, And make thy soul copartner with the Just. But if thou ask my Name, that is so bold, Firmly to urge, heavens mercy thus to thee, And Christ's compassion to thy heart unfold: Let thy sick soul give healthful ear to me, Of Christ's Apostles, I was counted one, But sinful'st wretch, that ever men looked on. To ' this worlds sight, was never man more hateful, Or that committed greater sin, than I, Nor for God's blessings, could be more ungrateful, Who did my heavenly Master, flat deny, Falsely swearing, I did never know him, When divers folks, to my dull sight did show him. Then which fowl fact, what could be greater sin? More wickedness, did never man commit: Yet true repentance did new life begin: Christ did forgive, and all my sins forget: Repent therefore, and faithfully believe: Then God in mercy, will thy sins forgive. I will declare my fowl offences story, To give true comfort to despairing souls: But most of all, to manifest God's glory, Whose glorious greatness, Angels still extols: Then bear in mind, his all sufficient might, And in thy heart, engrave what I recite. In lancing out the scum of my fowl crimes, Whose ulcer smell empoisoneth clearest sense, Compare therewith thy faults, of former times Than note the scope, twixt thine, and mine offence: Fly fast to Christ, and imitate my tears, If sight thereof, affright thy soul with fears. Tears shed in time, doth win a blissful hour, For they perfume the soul with lustre joy, The more in plenty, greater is their power Combined in bliss, from Satan's fowl annoy: Then let thy tears, for sin in streams arise, Till death dam up the wellsprings of thy eyes. Such pearled dew, allureth God to grace, Styled in the limbeck of submissive minds, With heat of contrite heart, which brings in place, The liquid juice, that foulest parts refines: My suit lay dead, and was deferred by sin, Till tears, (true Orators) did my verdict win. Confession first, makes way to mercy's seat: Next true Repentance, moves the judge to pity: Condemn thyself for thy offences great, So on thy faults, accusers cannot jetty: Christ is thy judge, thy Saviour meek and kind, Then have no doubt, for mercy thou shalt find. Impious wretch, vile object of disgrace, The map of shame, the excrement of earth, A wretched imp, the spring of jones race, In fair Bethsaida City first took breath, There took I life, that true life's Lord denied, The mint of lies, that truth itself defied. At man's estate a Fisher I became, That with hard toil maintained my simple charge, With my poor brother, Andrew called by name, Plunged among the mounting waves at large, Where we with labour, moyld, and wearied sore, For secure sailed to Galilean shore. What time behold, on pleasant bank did stand, Our sweet Messiah, Saviour of mankind, Whose heavenly voice did call us both to land, Unworthy men, did such great favour find: Come follow me, (the Prince of peace did say,) Fishers of men, I'll make you both this day. Thus from a base, and servile kind of life, Unto a sacred Function were we called, Exempt from former sorrow, care and strife, Whereto, before, our heavy hearts were thralled, And in this holy service did we see The power of God, and his great Majesty. Attending on our Master most divine, Unto a blessed Marriage, was he bidden, There turned he water into wholesome wine, Showing his Godhead, which before lay hidden: A foul infected Leper did he heal, Who to the Priests the same did soon reveal, The captains servant, that lay sick in bed, And with the shaking palsy sore was grieved, So soon as Christ, the blessed word had said, His trembling joints with health were strait relieved: From men possessed he threw fierce devils away, And with his word rebuked the raging sea. He did restore the blind unto their sight: Lame crippled persons, he did make to go: The dumb to speak, and by his powerful might The dead he raised, that long lay stinking so: And with five loaves of bread, he did suffice Five thousand men, before my sinful eyes. Can I so kind and loving Lord forget? That in my wants, my need supplied ever, Careful he was, in paying my due debt, My wives sick mother, healed he of a fever, When I lacked coin, great Caesar's right to pay, A fish he forced, to bring me some straightway. To grace me with a blessed Apostles right, Three times he charged me for to feed his sheep, But I false wretch did disobey him quite, His flock from harm, I had no care to keep: Oh, how could I, to them a Pastor be? When I myself, did stray so grievously. Yet was his gracious favour such to me, He took me up, into the mountain high, His Transfiguration for to see, Which then appeared, in mighty Majesty, Where Moses, and Elias both did walk, And with out blessed Saviour fell in talk. Bright as the Sun, in chiefest of his pride, So did the glory of his face appear, His seamless garments shined on every side, Like to the light, when it is found most clear: All this and more did I behold and see, Yet fearless fell to foul iniquity. Who would against this blessed God offend? Who durst a judge, so mighty, quite deny? Who would not fear, and learn his life to mend? Sith such a Lord, his secrets can descry: Who would not month, day, minute, time, and hour, Yea always dread his justice, might and power. Yet I transgressed against this Prince of might, Whose Majesty sits in a glorious Throne, His eyes like fire, shining pure and bright, His face more clear, than any precious stone: Angels and Saints attend in his presence, Thrones, Prophets, Powers, Martyrs, Innocents'. Sweet Lord, with favour measure my offence, Let true repentance countervail thine ire, Let tears appease, where trespass doth incense, Let pity move: let humble hope desire: Lord scourge me not, according to desert, Let sinners see how merciful thou art. The holy feast of Easter drawing nigh, Unto jerusalem would my Saviour go, Showing to us, what death he was to die, As holy Prophets often did foreshow, That he thereby, might save from death and hell, The soul of man, which by transgression fell. Thus Adam's trespass brought a scourging rod, His poor successors to torment for sin, Which plucked from pleasure, th' Image of our God, See what destruction Adam did begin? His fall brought sin, and sin did death require, Sin drowned the world, and Sodom set on fire. Ah wretched Eve, that first procured this strife, By tasting of the Tree, both good and ill, Which brought to us a woeful labouring life, With sweeting face, the barren earth to till: For which offence, the holy Godhead said, Return to earth, whereof thou first wast made. For this foul fact, man's soul was damned to hell, And nothing could appease Gods wrathful ire, But his sons blood, whom he beloved so well, Who for our sakes did shameful death desire: We did transgress, and he did suffer smart, But then this knowledge was not in my heart. Wherefore when I did understand and hear, That Christ to fair jerusalem would go, The Scribes and Elders I did greatly fear, Which sutly sought, his life to overthrow: Then did I take my Lord aside, and say, Look to thyself, Lord shun this bainfull way. But my rash zeal, full sore my God offended, Who called me Satan, laying to my charge, I favoured not his holy will intended, But like a flatrer, slipped my words at large: False fainting zeal, shadowed with good pretence, No veil can hide the shame of my offence. Now mark the sorrow that I shall unfold, When he to fair jerusalem was come, The traitor judas, his good Master sold, For thirty pence, God wots, a slender sum: Which damned deed, although he sought to hide Christ knew full well, by whom all hearts are tried. Then when he had his blessed Supperended, Up to mount Olivet did he sadly go, And we upon our heavenly Master tended, In whose sad soul death's sorrow than did grow: Who said to us, when he the hill ascended, All you this night, through me shall be offended. For it is written, and it shall be so: I'll smite the Shepherd on the fertile plain, Then all his flock shall scatter to and fro: But when from vanquished death I rise again, By mighty power and heavenly deity, I'll walk before you into Galilee. But hereupon, this answer I did make, And freely spoke, what I in heart intended, My Lord and Master will I not forsake, Though all the world, with thee should be offended: But jesus said, Before the cock crow twice, This night, (for fear,) thou wilt deny me thrice. Upon these words, I did my speeches double, And told my Lord, what ever came of me, I would not shrink, for any worldly trouble, Respecting not, enforced calamity, In all disgraces, Peter first will die A lingering death, ere he his Lord deny. Then went my Lord himself alone to pray With heavy heart, and laid him on the earth, Who said to us, Watch you a while and stay, For my sed Soul is heavy to the death. But while he sweat cold water mixed with blood, We careless, slept, and did no other good. Three times came Christ, and found us fast asleep, While he attended judas spiteful hour, To think thereon, it makes my heart to weep, Christ tasting then, a bitter bleeding shower: Thus lay we careless, while his care increased, We slept, and he in praying never ceased. What drowsy drones were we? that had no power, On Gethseman, to watch a little space, Ah, could not we, forbear one sleeping hour? While Christ lay praying, with a watery face: Whose Agony that time, was found so great, That he all over bathed in bloody sweat. Then came our Saviour unto us, and said: Sleep now henceforth, and ever take your rest, The hour is at hand, the plot is laid, That wretched sinners must have their request: Arise, arise, so drowsy do not stand, I shall be took, the traitor is at hand. Our Saviour had these words no sooner spoken, But judas came, with others very strong, The Traitor gave a kiss, which was the token Betrayed my Lord: so took they him along: O Sin of sins, what falsehood worse than this? To harbour Treason in a trothless kiss. My Saviour thus abused, I banished fear, At this lewd troup, I strait drew out my sword, And smiting Malcus, I cut off his ear, For which my Christ gave me a checking word: Then leading him away, on my reproof, With lingering steps I followed him aloof. Oh Coward, here thy hollow heart begins, I followed in the dark, as all unknown, Which doth increase my great and grievous sins, In Calendar of shame, my name is shown: I that erewhile such mighty brags did make, With palefaced fear did now begin to shake. False hearted man, and full of wicked ill, Into the court of Caiphas did I go, And warmed me there, while cold my heart did kill: Coldness of faith, the root of all my woe: O wretch of all men, well deserving hate, For buying fire, at such a damned rate. There came to me a Wench, and thus she said: Thou sure art one of this Man's company, For by thy countenance is the same bewrayed: But what she said, I stiffly did deny: O sinful soul for this thy lack of grace, Weep, weep, till tears make gutters in thy face. With that the quick rebuker of my vice, The wakeful cock did then begin to crow, Yet ere he crew, I did deny him thrice, And swore I knew him not, whom I did know: O sin of sins! O excrement of earth! Forgive me Christ, though my desert be death. Then Christ on me did cast a glorious view, Like to a Star that glanced in the sky, Whereby behold, my foul offence I knew, That my hearts thoughts were open to his eye: And thereupon the Cock again did crow, The heavy watchword of my overthrow. But when I saw his piercing eyes look back, As I pronounced my perjury within, O how my soul did feel a sudden wrack, Thus struck against the damned rock of sin: Which made me strait to get me out of door, And on the thirsty earth my tears to power. And with a woeful bitter bleeding heart, Thus I began to thunder out my cry: Lord look not on me, after my desert, I have deserved, eternal death to die: Though I on earth have here denied thee, Yet of thy Kingdom, Lord, deny not me. Celestial power, Creation's sole beginner, View here thy poor Apostles relenting, Meekly forgive, a true repentant sinner, That with salt tears is evermore repenting: But who? a wretch, unworthy to be known, A Saint? O no, not Gods, nor yet his own. All weeping eyes, resign to me your tears. From weeping will I never cease, but weep, For why? my sins have filled my soul with fears, And floods of sorrows breaks my soundest sleep: The more distills the liquid Olive tree, The better will the fruit in season be. And that makes me, lament my life so ill, With streaming tears, so long as I have breath, Lest sin and hell my spotted soul should spill, Which daily threatens my eternal death: Though death eternal be my due desert, Yet Lord forgive my sad repenting heart. Accusing Satan, fills my soul with fears, Demanding, how I dare for mercy call? A reeking voice, from hell rings in my ears, That I of force, must to perdition fall: Whose foggy stem doth seek my soul to blind, That the true way to Christ I might not find. Damned wretch (say they) how canst thou hope for grace? Christ's sacred word is precious and most pure, Ashamed thou wast to know thy Master's face, Therefore ashamed of thee, he will be sure: For fear of death, thy life for to prolong, Thou slew'st thy soul, by rashness of thy tongue. Christ in a parable plain, bewrays this case, He damned the slothful servant found asleep: And he that to the wedding forced was: The foolish Virgins, wanting care to keep Their lamps with oil, when they with him should go. Were for this trespass thrown to lasting woe. See how severely Christ, doth sinners use, He spared not Saul, although his true anointed, But cast him off, and did him quite refuse For sparing Agag, otherwise appointed: If Christ spared not chief branches of his tree, Then sinful soul, what shall become of thee? Then bootless spend not thou thy loathed breath, In vain thou dost for grace and mercy cry, Thou hast with judas won a traitors death, He sold his Lord, and thou dost him deny: O wretched soul, nay most accursed devil, For none but fiends would do so bad an evil. Thou mask of shame: badge of a guilty mind: Thou map of sin: thou common foe of fame: outcast on earth: thou whelp of Tiger's kind: God from his book, hath▪ blotted out thy name: At thy complaint, the Lord doth stop his ears, He nought respects thy groans or bitter tears. Curse wretched man, the time that thou wast borne, On thy birth day, soul sin embraced thee fast; To vanquish thee, and make thee thus forlorn: Thereby from grace to have thee quite out cast. What then, a saint, no no, a beast, nay worse, abjuring Christ, thou hast a lasting curse. False fainting heart which fear did overthrow, To save thy life, thou didst thy promise break: How canst thou think, that Christ will mercy show, When as thy faith was found to him so weak? To add small time, unto a fleeting life, Thy soul is filled with sorrow, woe and strife. O purchase base, to length thy life by sin, Infamous wretch, deserving death for meed, Wouldst thou permita woman's words to win Thy love from Christ, even in his greatest need, What favour canst thou find that Christ deluded Angels for sin, from Heaven were excluded. Wherefore was such a caitiff named a Saint, Whose speeches vowed spit and bitter gall, That in Christ's quarrel cowardly did faint: Can an Apostle catch so fowl a fall? Black fiends of hell hereat do laugh and smile, That they did Peter in such sort beguile. Despair and die, rip thy foul entrails out, To search thy conscience make no long delay, 'tis foul and guilty therefore out of doubt: 'Twill witness be against thee at that day. Both clerk and judge, and jury will it be, For to condemn, but not to set thee free. Thus sin and Satan did my soul accuse, Setting the filth of sin before my eyes, My heart with terror did he sore abuse: Who said that Christ my prayers would despise: But yet defying him, though flesh were frail, Through grace I 'gan my faults thus to be wail. Most mighty Lord, sick is my soul within, To think that I against my God offended: Sweet Christ forgive the greatness of my sin, Save me Lord jesus, else I am condemned. Rend heart, weep eyes, & plead thou wicked tongue, Plead thou for mercy, that did Christ such wrong. O holy spirit that seest my restless tears, Read joyful lessons to my painting heart: For Satan speaks of nought, but rueful fears, And grief conceals my soul's incessant smart. My guilty eyes, that still pursues my sin, Each moment doth my grief afresh begin. Look on the thoughts of a perplexed mind, Their irksome days, that leads a loathsome life, There is no joy, or comforts I can find, Such vain illusions keeps me still in strife: O brittle life! that vadeth like a flower, Unstable mind! oft changed in an hour. This world allured me with deceiving hours, Living I find a labyrinth void of measure, A grove of grief, a field of blasted flowers, A stony ground, where grows no spark of pleasure: A witching frenzy, pleasant to the ears, A dreadfulll den, a surging river of tears. O splendent Christ! which suffered for my sin, Celestial Substance! let me taste thy sweet, That my poor soul may be refreshed within, Which this false world doth clog with cares unmeet, The holy Ghost to my poor spirit apply, That on thy mercy I may still rely. Behold my eyes, with daily weeping tears Are bleared and parched, for my offences done, Thy grace I crave, my heart thy justice fears, With trembling joints, my soul's distress begun: Sin causeth grief, for sorrow is their share, That in the shop of shame trade's perjured ware. sins farm I rent, with hard interest bought, The rent my soul, yet all my gain was grief, Deer was that purchase, which my downfall wrought In Caiphas' court, I lost my soul's relief: O wretched men! that buys the curse of hell, With wreck of souls, the wares that devils sell. Lord let thy mercy be the only key, To open the door of my afflicted heart, Where my accounts in secret hidden lie, Griping my conscience with extremest smart: And thereby let thy holy spirit in, Which is of force to dispossess my sin. Lord seek the sheep, that long hath gone astray: The prodigal to thee his moan hath made, I have procured and wrought my own decay, And of damnation am I sore afraid: If thou wilt help, O sweet Christ! help me now, And make not Peter break, although he bow. O writ my tears within the book of life! The register of thine elected fold, Where mercy and compassion shineth rife, There Lord, let Peter's name be sure intold: Protect me Lord, and free me from all fears, Whose soul is drenched within a shower of tears. With mildness measure, my submissive mind, Meekly forgive, I crave with contrite heart Let thy poor servant, thy free mercy find, With sighs I beg, release of earned smart. Bend knees, thick sobs, wet eyes, sad heart begin, Plead clients plead, God's mercy sweet to win. Sinful Disciple, fall flat on thy face, And warm the thirsty earth with flowing tears: Yea, rise not up, till thou hast purchased grace Ring rueful sobs, repentant in his ears. A true and contrite heavy soul for sin, The Lord regards, and most doth joy therein. Redeem me then with ransom of thy love, Release my bondage from sins captive gail: Let Peter's true repentance pity move, And let thy mercy be my souls sure bail. Tender my sui●e, cancel offences great, With fear I crave, with hope I do entreat. O that I had not borne so base a mind, As to deny my Christ, that did me make: But that I had, with constant Steven been kind To have been stoned for my master's sake. Then had I never known this hellish smart, That wounds my conscience, and doth kill my heart, What did produce me to this cursed crime? How came I so securely rocked asleep: The monster sin, my wings of faith did lime, I could not fly that hellish danger deep. Blasphemous heart, benumbed with deadly cold, Thou didst my tongue, to perjuries unfold. Ah woe is me, I am that cursed Cain, That murdered Abel, I may justly say, His precious blood doth issue out amain, And 'twas my sins, that did my Saviour slay: Had I so many eyes, as Stars in sky, For this offence, well might I weep them dry. I do bewail my foul committed sin 'Gainst Christ, redeemer of my soul from hell, Sweet Saviour, let my soul thy mercy win, That I among the damned may not dwell: For I confess without thy mercy's store, I shall be damned in hell for evermore. Ah servile fear, that masks a drooping mind, Subject to sin, base captive unto thrall: Couldst thou permit a silly woman kind, To be contriver of thy shameful fall. Were now the Cock to crow as thrice he crew, No woman (though I died) should me subdue. O hasty rashness, where true faith was fled, Unsavoury tree, where fruits of sin do grow For want of faith, let floods of tears be shed, Baptize anew, thy soul in streams of woe: Too long they live, that live till they be nought, How cheap sold I, what Christ so dearly bought. Come idle eyes, 'tis long time since ye wept, Strain out my sorrows, fruits of my untruth, That springing streams of tears may still be kept, To blaze with plaints the Echoes of my ruth: Unkind in kindness, where faint fear took place, To spit thy poison in thy maker's face. O wretched Peter, far worse than the jews, That hist at Christ, like poisoned stinging snakes, Whose scornful mocks, his patience did abuse, Who notwithstanding died for their sakes: My oaths were darts, my cruel tongue the sting, My God the mark, and him I did malign. With sin, O Lord, my soul is sore attainted, My mind, my thoughts, my heart is clogged with grief, Heart throbbing fear, and treason hath me haunted, All these are ruins of my soul's relief: Inconstancy, foul fraud, and false self will, These gave attendance, my poor soul to kill. Despair not Peter, do not thy God forget, To call for mercy do thy best endeavour, Never did he refuse a sinner yet: Nor craved his death, but wished him life for ever. All burdened souls come unto me saith he, And of your grief you shall released be. Therefore I think myself thrice happy blest, For that I hope I shall behold his bliss, Although this flesh be frail, full of unrest, Against the spirit, working much amiss: Yet Christ his mercy floweth like a spring, While his wounds bleed, received for my sin. I did offend thee Lord with perjured speech, Which wicked deed I do from heart repent: Therefore sweet Lord I humbly do beseech, To save his soul that doth for sin lament: For I believe, and for a truth I know, My scarlet sins thou canst convert to snow. Lord cleanse me then, thy blessing on me spread, With many foes my soul is hard beset: Be thou my strength and helmet for my head; And with thy treasure pay my servile debt, As tears of vines foul leprosy doth cure, So ulcer sins, is by thy blood made pure. Why then my soul, wherefore art thou so sad, And why art thou disquieted within? Pluck up thyself, be joyful and most glad, Christ by his passion washed away my sin: Though of all men the worst to be esteemed, Yet by my Saviour is my soul redeemed. Then Peter break from that wild tyrant strong, Shake off his chains, and burst his hellish bands: Sin hath thee kept in servitude too long, And run to jesus where he meekly stands, Spread on the Cross wide open with his arms, Thee to embrace, & keep thee from all harms. Lo thus with faith and hope still did I pray: Christ heard my suit, and all my sins forgave, Poor sinners suits no time he doth delay; He came from Heaven, repenting souls to save. None can on earth a greater sinner be, Then I was found, and yet he saved me. The wicked jews that hauled him to the Cross With many taunting terms, and hateful scorns, He greatly grieved their souls eternal loss, While they did crown his holy head with thorns. They whipped his body, bored his hands and feet, Yea pierced his side, and did rejoice to see'r. But this Beathlemite, dear son of God, Which by his wisdom could have staid this strife, Yet rather chose, to feel Gods heavy rod, Then we should lose the joys of blessed life: For rather than we should hell's torment try, He spared not to yield himself to die. Yet cursed Scribes did take no pity when The bloody streams from his gored sides did sink, The soldiers Spear was the registering pen, His precious blood was made the staining ink, Whereby he did heavens bliss to us reveal, And Consummatum est was his true seal. Why should I cease, posterities to tell, That Christ alone did work our exaltation, He raised us up, that by transgression fell, And suffered death with great humiliation, To pluck us from the plunging pit of sin, Or else we had in darkness ever been. Stricken he was, and thereby were we healed, And by his death, he brought us lasting life, In his fair hands our foul offence was sealed, That so we might be freed from Satan's strife. Our hateful sins, these bitter torments urged, But by his blood, our sins had ne'er been purged. Take heed, detest, abhor, fly sin amain, Which brought our Lord to his most doleful death: And sith his wounds are now made whole again, Do not renew them by sin-poysning breath: O do not mock and offer him a teede; Rub not his wounds afresh to make them bleed. Now he is crowned with eternal glory, And high installed in a heavenly Throne, Pluck him not down, but for thy sin be sorry, Lest like the jews thou sealest him in stone: He doth more grieve at one poor sinners loss, Then all the pangs he suffered on the cross. The pricking Thorns that gored his holy head, Was sure our sins; the nails our sins also, That pierced his hands and feet, till he was dead; Our sins the spear, that made the blood to flow. Our sins were those, that whipped him with such strife, Our sins the Cross, that took away his life. If Mary mourned for our sweet Messiah, For Benjamin, if Rachel did lament, If Isreal wept for their good King josias, If flinty stones at Christ's death did rend: Then may we rend our hearts, and weep as much, That for our sins Christ's torment should be such. O be thou earnest to subdue thy sin, And strive with God till he have blessed thee, As jacob did; so he his wish did win: Of jacobs' race if thou wilt counted be, In faithful sort he did God's favour seek, Wrestling by prayer, and submission meek: The Ostrich wild, with swift wings cannot fly, But lifts his body up when he doth run, Pricking himself with spurs, faster to high, And so his present danger doth he shun: So prick your hearts, and run from sin amain, The deadly danger of eternal pain. Look sinful soul, and looking view thy fill, Mark in man's body how the Arteries run, Beating the veins, and never stand they still, Lest that the blood should grow corrupt and num: So beat thy heart, with praying never cease, Lest corrupt sin doth more and more increase. And pray that thou mayst see his glorious face, Who is the joy of Angels and of Saints; He gives reward to them that asketh grace, They shall obtain the bliss that never faints: Who ever shall be safe from all annoy, Crowned with true honour and eternal joy. Blessed is that soul, which hath truly warded, Where Saints are Clerks, and jesus is the judge, Angels the jury, Innocence the Verdict, Where is no fees, nor cause of any grudge: Who would not shed whole floods of tears awhile, Which afterward might have such cause to smile? Esteem the worth of true heart-grieved tears, Obtaining mercy, at God's sacred seat; And pleading pardon in his gracious ears, Repentance true, doth hide offences great: Tears tie the tongue of an accusers grudge, Softening the rigour of severest judge. Tears like true Advocates won my Lords love, By tears, first did I fly from sin to grace, By tears, I did my Christ to mercy move, By tears being washed, Christ did my soul embrace: By tears, great plagues the Ninivites did prevent, At jonas preaching when they did lament. These weeping tears did quench God's kindled ire, Appeased his fury, winning heavens bliss, Procured God's grace, purchased my soul's desire, Whereas the spring of life eternal is: Then Christ by grace I found my heart's direction, Who then installed my soul with true perfection. Perfection pure, where springs of mercy rise, Whereas the crown of life is free from fear, Where the cheer's joy, a Kingdom is the prize, Saints faithful subjects, Angels are the quire: Where God's temple the Lamb of glorious light Is guarded in his Throne with Angels bright. Bright is his Glory, as the purest Sun, Where company of Saints thou shalt enjoy, Receipt of a Diadem thy soul hath won, Where lives fee simple suffers no annoy: joyful Receipt, where souls are not distressed, But live in pleasure, and are ever blessed. Blessed? o thrice ten times blessed are they, Attaining joy of heaven with mournful tears, where's life without impeachment or decay, Where souls are settled free from former fears,: O happy soul! thrice happy there to dwell, Where joy passeth conceit, for tongue to tell, Sweet jesus take my soul into that place, Which I so long time longed for to see, Where I may view my Lords illustrate face, And laud the greatness of thy Majesty: O joy of joys! O pure celestial sight! Where mercy shines with sweet abundant light. O sinful man, think on this blessed fruit, Which true repentance to thy soul doth bring: Cease not to pray, till God doth grant thy suit, Peccavi cry, with David royal King. Hearts true contrition, is soul's bliss beginner, Heaven joys to see a true converted sinner. While sorrow sits with moan and casts her count, While woe and misery brings their muses thither, To nurse thy griefs in numbers that amount, Use sighs in am of tears and sobs together: By sighs and groans rue thy distresses deep, When dried eyes denies thee tears to weep. The Lord will sure accept thy inward cries, When faith with love, on spotless Christ is placed, Thy heart may weep, though dried be thy eyes: For Adam's sighs and groans the Lord embraced, For when she used, nor words, nor weeping tears, God said, why criest thou thus within my ears. Our wretched minds besieged with fruitless toys, Enchained in sin, and trained unto thrall, In errors lap lies lulled with brittle joys, Till grief doth ring the ruin of our fall: Which wounds our souls with inward bleeding sores, That stepped in danger of deaths fatal doors. From woe, sin, and sorrow shall we ne'er be free, Till death to our acquittance sets his hand, Nor receive the charter of eternity, Till our souls present at the sealing stand: But when death comes to put his pen to write, None knows the day, the time, the hour, or night. Consider well, all mortal flesh is grass, The beauty thereof fadeth like a flower: All things are vain we seek to bring to pass, Surety of life, no creature hath one hour. Then place thy soul, to please the Lord of light, So shalt thou live for ever in his sight. This life is like the seasons of the year, A harvest that abides the reapers will: Some in the seed, the blade, some in the ear, Is blasted, cropped, cut, mown and reaped still. A shade, a breath, a blast, a span, a flower, A morning's dew that's dried in an hour. First mark the sorrows of this wretched life, And how thy soul still clogged is with sin; How worldly cares do keep thee still in strife, The many perils thou art wrapped in. Then shalt thou see this life to us hath lent, But heart's vexation, grief and discontent. Our greatest pleasures end in pains distress, The Elements offend us with their heat, The earth with vapours cold doth us oppress, Our health is mixed with sickness, dangers great: To be alone, alack it grieves us sore, And company disturbeth us much more. Admit the Lord hath lent thee earthly treasure, And thou enjoyest the labour of thy hands, Thy wife and children is to thee a pleasure; Thou raisest sumptuous buildings on thy lands. What is all this, wert thou a Prince of power, Having no charter of thy life one hour? This life (alas) is but a wink of Time, And on eternity our joys depend: Our mortal bodies are but earth and slime, Ordained of God, his glory to attend, Like to a bubble, weak as brittle glass, Or like a shadow that full soon doth pass. Why should we sleep or slug one night in sin, Seeing that night might chance to be our last, What grievous danger should our souls be in, If unpreparde so sinful hence we passed: Then every minute wail thy sin with sorrow, Men here to day, are laid in earth to morrow. But thou wilt say, the world bids me delay, And tells me that I need not fear my life, I shall live long, and in great pleasure stay: And have much time t'avoid all future strife. Ah think not so, the flattering world doth lie, While yet thou speakest, thou mayst on sudden die. Amend thy life therefore without all let, Lest when the time approacheth thou shouldst die; Thou dost thy soul's chief comfort quite forget, When thousand cares will lead thy thoughts awry. Repent, repent, death hath thy life in gage, Repent in youth, stay not till crooked age. O think what woeful state thy soul is in, When death draws near with terrible assaults: That hour mayst thou be vexed so with sin, So much tormented with thy filthy faults, And with thy body's pain so vexed be, That true repentance will be far from thee. What time thy woeful mind will chiefly run, Which way thou mayst have ease of body's smart; And how thou mayst those bitter gripings shun, That with such sorrow burdens thy poor heart. How ill advised wast thou in fainting breath, To post repentance to the hour of death. What horror then will thy poor heart endure, When fear of death doth so afflict thy mind, When physics help cannot thy conscience cure; Nor for thy soul a remedy can find, When thou shalt see the devil accusing stand, And gaping hell upon the other hand. But in respect this grief is nought at all, Touching thy soul, and whither it shall go, After she leaves this fading life mortal: She at God's judgement seat herself must show, Sentence to have, and glory to obtain, Or else sad sorrow and eternal pain. O think what torments sinners have in hell, That's mad with pain, and there doth roar and cry; In extreme torment which no tongue can tell, Always a dying but can never die: O heart! o mind! o eyes behold and see, Observe and mark what endless torments be. judas too late doth there himself excuse, Too late for Achan, to restore his gold, Gehezi doth his gifts too late refuse, And Dives all too late his faults unfold. Lord though with these we have deserved pain, Yet to thy kingdom let our souls retain. The seas saltness is tasted by one drop, False oaths describes a guilty heart within, The world wins our flesh to a servile lot: Fear doth seduce us unto deadly sin. Most mighty Lord, therefore to thee we pray, That thy true spirit may our conscience stay. Sweet jesus Christ, resplendent in thy seat, Which purchased by thy death, man's perfect joy, For my misdeeds, thy pardon I entreat; With wings of mercy shroud us from annoy: Thy death slew death, thy pains was our protection, Thou triumphest over all by glorious resurrection. It was foretold, and truly spoke of thee, By holy Prophets many years ago, God's glorious son should no corruption see, Laid dead in grave, from grave alive should go. The sealed stone, the careful watchman's eye, Can not keep down thy mighty majesty. But when I had my saviours presence lost, Enforced I was unto my former trade, On surging waves my fishing boat was tossed, Yet of great labour little gain I made: All day I toiled, but all in vain I wrought, And all the tedious night, nothing I caught. But when the cheerful morning's light appeared, Upon the sandy shore my Saviour stood, Whose heavenly voice, our heavy hearts so cheered: Calling to us, upon the surging flood. My friends (quoth he) what? have you any meat? We answered no; nor yet one bit to eat. Then said the Lord, that made both sea and land, Upon the right side of your sliding ship, Cast forth your tangling nets with nimble hand, And you shall find, what erst from you did slip. We did the same, whereby such store we got, As never like did fall unto our lot. So full of skipping fish the net was found, That we by all our force, our strength and power, Not able were to draw it from the ground, Such was the store we got that instant hour: At that one draft, myself did tell and see, An hundred mighty fishes fifty three. I knew not Lord thy sacred majesty, For sin and shame, had dulled Peter quite, Till john to me, thy glory did descry: I quite forgot my Christ, the Lord of might: Yet see my Saviour in my greatest need, Forsook me not for all my heinous deed. This did revive my heavy mournful mind, A triple comfort did my joy restore: john, child of grace, did soon our Saviour find, Who said, 'tis jesus standeth on the shore: It is the Lord, undoubted it is he, As by this work we may sufficient see. I hearing that, in haste did leave my net, And to my Saviour sworm, whereas he stood, Through many mounting billows did I get, For he preserned me in the raging flood: The peaceful shore, when so I had attained, There saw I fire, and fish, and bread ordained. A heavenly dinner on the earth below, New raised Christ, for us had there prepared, He saw our want, and did our hunger know, Poor men distressed, the Lord doth still regard: Christ therefore called, and bade us come to dinner, The righteous Lord eats with a wretched sinner. With his most holy hand he broke us bread, And gave us fish, our hunger to assuage: A gracious countenance, on us did he spread, Whose conquest did, both death and hell enrage. And this was now, the third time truly known, To his Disciples, Christ himself had shown. Then after dinner, Christ took me aside, And thrice he asked me if I loved him: Thrice I confessed, and three times I replied, Thou knowest my God, my love to thee is firm: And meet it was, that thrice I should reply, I loved him, whom thrice I did deny. Full forty days did Christ on earth remain, After his glorious rising from the dead; Showing himself to his Disciples plain, In most familiar manner, breaking bread: When all was done, his Godhead had intended, Most suddenly the bright heavens he ascended. In fair Bethania did he leave us all, While blessing us with his abundant grace, He was ta'en up with power majestical; A glorious cloud, his body did embrace: We gazing after, did his power adore, Whom Heaven enclosed, and we beheld no more. On right hand of the father's brightest clear, In glory great he sitteth every hour, Till in the clouds he shall again appear: To judge the world by his eternal power. Lord send our souls, to that most blessed place, To see the splendour of jehovahs' face. Our mighty God, as Daniel plain doth show, In throne doth sit, the Sheep from Goats to cull; His raiment all more white than winter's snow, His silver hair like to the purest wool, His seat bright shining like a fiery flame, And thousand thousands, for to serve him came. God make us servants to so great a Lord, To know his mercy and admired love: Whose praise all Angels sing with one accord, By whom all earthly creatures live and move. With him is life that never shall decay, Souls perfect joy doth in his presence stay. The wounded heart, by hateful sin misled, His grace doth cure, and makes for ever sound, The bitter tears that contrite sinners shed, Within his city is preserved and found: Sin, death, nor hell, cannot that soul destroy, Whom this most mighty Lord preserves for joy. For he will lay it in a bed of peace, And lap it round, with joy on every side, Where is no sorrow, mourning shall surcease; No cause of grief shall in that place abide. It is a kingdom fraught with all delight, Such as no heart can think, no pen can write. No tribulation of this mortal life, No smart, no sorrow that can happen here, No torment, torture, no heart-killing strife, Is worthy of the joy prepared there: Then come all griefs, that ever eye did see, From love of Christ, they shall not separate me. If I do suffer for Christ jesus name, His dearest Saints have been as fore afflicted; Some sawn asunder, some on sudden slain, Imprisoned, stoned, and extremely whipped: But yet most blessed were they, though pained so, Heaven is their meed, where is no taste of woe. And thither is our Saviour gone before, For us a glorious kingdom to prepare, Where we shall live, and reign for evermore, In heavenly pleasure passing all compare: Then fear no foes, to them it is damnation, But unto us a sign of sure salvation. For why, this is a doctrine firm and sure, Worthy of all men to be still embraced, Christ came on earth, the sinful soul to cure, To save all such, whom Satan hath disgraced: And when we end this life so transitory, We shall be crowned with everlasting glory. Then Peter cease thy over-mournfull ditty, In highest heavens remains thy greatest treasure, And with Saint john, describe that holy City, Which is the palace of eternal pleasure: Where Angels dwell, and Saints all clothed be, In purest white, with palms of victory. All paved with gold are those Celestial streets, With precious stones, and Diamonds interlaced, Twelve gates of pearls, called Margaret's, The walls foundation, preciously is placed With Chalcedon, Em'rald, Birle, Topaz, jasper, Chrisolet, Sardonex, Amthest and Sapher. Christ in this heavenly City is the light, In midst whereof, his glory doth appear, There needs no sun, for there is never night, And from his seat, descends a river clear, Whose precious springs with crystal streams are rife, The banks all set with trees of lasting life. Into this City enters none at all, But such as are within the book of life; No discord, no adversity doth fall, No sin, no shame, no sorrow, pain, or strife, Among those souls which there so blessed be, Nor aught that tasteth of mortality. But there is joy and mirth without all sadness, Rest without labour, gain without all loss, Health without pain, abundance joined with gladness, Life without death, and cleanness without dross? All joy unspeakable, in Gods most glorious sight, Where Saints and Angels sing both day and night. O joy of joys, joy without all measure, Where Saints do bathe in everlasting bliss, And swim in streams of ever during pleasure, Where all the host of noble Martyrs is, Where Abraham, Isaac, and all patriarchs be, Singing sweet Alleuia's of eternity. Mirth to the heart, and music to the ears, Is the fruition of God's sacred sight, Health to the soul, and joy for bitter tears; And to the grieved conscience sweet delight: The crown of saints, the diadem of grace, Whose powerful deity rules in every place. O when shall I behold this heavenly sight? When shall I hear my blessed saviours voice? When shall I enter in this glorious light? When shall my soul on Zion hill rejoice? Most mighty Lord, protector of my will, Let me sing Hymns upon thy holy hill. Let all sick souls, laden with extreme sin, Come unto Christ, in faith and trembling fear, Fear joined with love, though they have dazzled been, Christ on the Cross did all offences bear: And then will he by his imperial might, Blot their transgressions clean out of his sight. Stand steadfast man, and strive thou to attain That high immortal Crown of purity: Till death approach, still faithful do remain, So shalt thou find Heavens true felicity. Most glorious God (oh) hear my mournful cries, With wings of mercy wipe my watery eyes. And so let all relenting sinners say, With faith and hope in this unstable state, With trust in God, drive damned despair away, And so come boldly to God's mercy gate: In christian armour, wrestle, strive, and venture, Until thy soul the blissful city enter. where's full fruition of thy soul's salvation, Where holy Angels still do sing and laud, Where Saints shall triumph at thy blessed crownation, And all the heavenly court thy joys applaud: Warrant this Lord, free us from Satan's den, Forget, forgive, sweet jesus say Amen. FINIS.