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The Muses Sacrifice

[by John Davies]
Davies, John (1565?-1618)

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TO THE MOST NOBLE, and no lesse deseruedly-renowned Ladyes, as well Darlings, as Patronesses, of the Muses; Lvcy, Countesse of Bedford; Mary, Countesse-Dowager of Pembrooke; and, Elizabeth, Lady Cary, (Wife of Sr. Henry Cary:) Glories of Women.
 
[A broken Heart (deare Lord) thy Grace respects]
 
Another of the same.
 
Another.
 
To ouer-curious Critiques.
 
To the Indifferent Readers.
 
The Author, of, and to his Muse.
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THE MVSES SACRIFICE.
 
A Confession of sinnes, with petition for grace.
 
A Sinners acknowledgement of his Vilenesse and Mutabilitie.
 
A Confession of a Sinner, acknowledging the misery of humane frailtie.
 
The longing of the Soule to be with God.
 
The Complaint of a Sinner.
 
The thirst of the Soule after God, the Fountaine of Life.
 
An acknowledgement of Gods gifts, with desire of vnion with the Giuer.
 
A thankfull remembrance of our preseruation notwithstanding our manifold sinnes.
 
The sighes of a Pensiue Soule, groaning vnder the burden of sinne.
 
Of Lifes breuitie, the Fleshes frailtie, the Worlds vanitie, and the Diuels tyranny.
 
The Soule desireth to know God.
 
A Thankesgiuing for our Being.
 
A Meditation gratulatory for our redemption.
 
A Thanksgiuing for our Vocation.
 
Of Gods vnutterable Being, with desire of the Soule to be swallowed vp with the loue of his Maiestie.
 
A Repetition of Gods many Benefits, and Preseruations, with desire of the continuance thereof.
 
For Power and Grace to withstand the Flesh, the World, and the Diuell.
 
The Sinner, confessing his sinne, striueth with God (by importunitie of Prayer) for Grace.
 
The Sinner confessing he can neyther will, thinke, nor doe any good thing without Gods preuenting and assisting Grace, importunes the same.
 
The Sinner because of the darknesse of his vnderstanding, confesseth his inabilitie to come to the knowledge of Gods will by his Word; and desireth to be holp and enlightened by Gods spirit therin.
 
An Inuocation against vse of offending, or bad Custome.
 
The Sinner refers his Will to Gods will in all things: desiring helpe for perseuerance therein.
 
The Sinner desires fruition of the Deitie; and that his Soule should be euer the habitation thereof.
 
A soueraigne Salue against Sinne and Despaire out of S. Augustine.
 
The crazed Soule being almost in dispaire, desireth Grace to hope in Gods mercy.
 
A desire of the louing Soule, of God, to be kissed with the kisse of Peace.
 
Sith all Gods Creatures are against those that are against God, in action, the Sinner desireth to be in vnitie with him.
 
The Sinner desireth to haue the bent of his Will, made appliable to Gods.
 
The Sinner inueighes against his fleshes frailtie, desiring God to strengthen it with his pow'r, and Grace.
 
The Sinner recounting his manifold transgressions, and finding himselfe thereby in danger of perdition, desireth Grace, through a world of sorrowes, to auoid both Sinne, and damnation.
 
That the vertuous haue the Promises of this life, as well as of that to come.
 
For perfect Vnion with God, and Grace to shunne all Lets that may hinder it.
 
The Sinner in great sorrow for Sinne, relyeth on God for grace and comfort.
 
The Sinner acknowledging repugnant desires in himselfe; desireth to be enabled to performe his good desires.
 
The Sinner desireth, not to be as he is; but, as he ought to be.
 
In respect of the breuitie and vncertaintie of mortall life; the Sinner desires grace, in time, to prepare for Death.
 
The carefull Soule because of the momentany condition of transitory life, desireth to wash away the filth of sin with the teares of continuall penitencie.
 
A short Meditation of the breuitie of life; with an Incitation to make good vse of the present time.
 
A short meditation of Mans Miserie.
 
That our Saluation comes from God.
 
A serious Meditation of the last Iudgement: worthy to be often minded, and repeated.
 
The Sinner acknowledges and admires his owne frailtie: desiring Grace and strength to stand in Vertue, and with-stand Vice.
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THE DOLEFVLL DOVE: OR, Dauids 7. Penitentiall Psalmes; somewhere paraphrastically turned into Uerse.
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RIGHTS OF THE LIVING, AND THE DEAD:

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The Author, of, and to his Muse.

My Muse is tirde with tyring but on Leaues
that fruitlesse are; yet, leaue ill fruits behinde:
Shee onely workes for Ayre, that but deceiues:
so, workes for nothing, but deceitfull Winde.
And what she seiseth, as her Subiect, is
but vaine, if it be light; and lightly what
Shee preyes vpon, is such: then, now on This,
shee needes to pray, for preying so on That.
O Muse, didst thou but know thy natiue kinde,
(being all diuine) thou ne'er would'st waue thy wings
In that which doth but onely marre the Mind;
but, endlesly, about Celestiall Things.
Th'wilt be deplum'd for pluming so on Trash,
and (like a Flesh-flye) lighting but on Sores;
Then, in Arts fairest Founts, thy Feathers wash,
to flye to him that Heau'n and Earth adores!
Thy Raptures else, are but such Rauishments,
as are reproachfull, penall, lewde, and light:
But Raptures farre aboue the Elements,
doe shew thy Vertue in the fairest slight.

O then, thou great vnlimitable Muse,
(that rests, in motion, in th'ETERNALS Breast)
Inspire my Muse, with grace her pow'r to vse
in nought, but what to thee shall be addrest:
So shall that Spirit that made thy Dauid sing,
Make Dauies too, (a Begger) like a King.
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