Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
 |
On Repentance. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
On Repentance.
Repentance is a gift which comes from high,
We are not with it born;
None of themselves repentantly can cry,
Or make the World his scorn.
They're carnal Christians think it is enough
To mingle Lord have mercy with their stuff.
We are not with it born;
None of themselves repentantly can cry,
Or make the World his scorn.
They're carnal Christians think it is enough
To mingle Lord have mercy with their stuff.
We Jewels buy, and they prove counterfeit,
So man himself undoes.
Thus in Repentance Souls themselves do cheat,
And their rich Jewel loose.
Which made one say, Repentance would not lin,
Until it damned many more than sin.
So man himself undoes.
Thus in Repentance Souls themselves do cheat,
And their rich Jewel loose.
Which made one say, Repentance would not lin,
Until it damned many more than sin.
If we repent for sin, 'tis nothing worth,
Unless we do refrain
From it as well: for if we from our birth
Delighted to be vain,
Yet sometimes weep, but still our hearts do harden,
God will us with a Contradiction pardon.
Unless we do refrain
From it as well: for if we from our birth
Delighted to be vain,
90
God will us with a Contradiction pardon.
The sorrow of this World it worketh Death,
But godly sorrow that
Repentance works, and that eternal breath:
The Lord himself doth hate
Man for his sins, that numberless do flush,
And for those sins doth love as much the blush.
But godly sorrow that
Repentance works, and that eternal breath:
The Lord himself doth hate
Man for his sins, that numberless do flush,
And for those sins doth love as much the blush.
Repentance strips us of those Garments black,
That the first Adam's was;
It kills our sins, and keep us from the wrack.
Though now we are but Grass,
It doth revive: Our Tears do water so,
That we like Plants of Paradise do grow.
That the first Adam's was;
It kills our sins, and keep us from the wrack.
Though now we are but Grass,
It doth revive: Our Tears do water so,
That we like Plants of Paradise do grow.
All, above all thou art, O God most just,
Repentance grant to me,
That I may cleanse my Carnal house of Dust,
And make it fit for thee.
Teach me that Lesson which doth still remain,
With dayly Tears to wash my dayly stain.
Repentance grant to me,
That I may cleanse my Carnal house of Dust,
And make it fit for thee.
Teach me that Lesson which doth still remain,
With dayly Tears to wash my dayly stain.
Repentance should appear before I die;
Nor can I know the when
My dying-day shall come, or when I flie
From hence to thee agen:
Therefore give me Repentance ev'ry day,
So shall my flight be clear, and thou my way.
Nor can I know the when
My dying-day shall come, or when I flie
From hence to thee agen:
Therefore give me Repentance ev'ry day,
So shall my flight be clear, and thou my way.
No better showers extinguish can the flames
Of Hell, than sinners Tears.
Begin betimes, trust not to after-games,
For they bring after-fears.
Have little cause to say, Wo's me, that I,
Who liv'd a sinner, must a sinner die.
Of Hell, than sinners Tears.
Begin betimes, trust not to after-games,
For they bring after-fears.
Have little cause to say, Wo's me, that I,
Who liv'd a sinner, must a sinner die.
We all are apt to think it is too soon
Repentance to begin;
We put it off from morning until noon,
From thence do farther spin;
Whenas we hourly should prepare a room
To entertain our God when he shall come.
Repentance to begin;
91
From thence do farther spin;
Whenas we hourly should prepare a room
To entertain our God when he shall come.
Beda makes mention of a certain man,
Who lying very sick,
Was counsell'd by his Friends his life to scan,
And to repent, while quick:
Who said, His sins he would not yet shake off,
Lest if he should recover, then a scoff
Who lying very sick,
Was counsell'd by his Friends his life to scan,
And to repent, while quick:
Who said, His sins he would not yet shake off,
Lest if he should recover, then a scoff
To his Companions he himself should make:
But still he waxed worse;
His Friends then counsell'd him again to take
Repentance, not his Curse:
He answered them, That then it was too late,
For he was plung'd in a condemn'd estate.
But still he waxed worse;
His Friends then counsell'd him again to take
Repentance, not his Curse:
He answered them, That then it was too late,
For he was plung'd in a condemn'd estate.
Better it is by far from sin to flie,
Than lack Repentant cure;
For he that hath no wounds fears not to die,
But liveth safe and sure.
'Tis good for any man, more for his ease,
Neither to know the Cure nor the Disease.
Than lack Repentant cure;
For he that hath no wounds fears not to die,
But liveth safe and sure.
'Tis good for any man, more for his ease,
Neither to know the Cure nor the Disease.
| Prison-Pietie | |