Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne Comprehending those seuen Psalmes of the Princelie Prophet David, commonlie called Poenitentiall; framed into a forme of familiar praiers, and reduced into meeter by William Hunnis ... Whereunto are also annexed his Handful of Honisuckles; the Poore Widowes Mite; a Dialog between Christ and a sinner; diuers godlie and pithie ditties, with a Christian confession of and to the Trinitie; newly printed and augmented |
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 | Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne |  |
35
Miserere mei. Psal. 51.
The first part.
1
O thou that mad'st the world of nought,whom God thy creatures call,
Which formedst man like to thy selfe,
yet suffredst him to fall:
2
Thou God, which by thy heauenlie word,didst flesh of virgine take,
And so becam'st both God & man,
for sinfull fleshes sake:
36
3
O thou that sawst when man by sinto hel was ouerthrowne,
Didst meekely suffer death on crosse,
to haue thy mercie knowne:
4
Thou God which didst the patriarksand fathers old diuine,
From time to time preserue and keepe,
by mercie great of thine.
5
O thou that Noah keptst from floud,and Abraham day by day,
As he along through Aegypt past,
didst guide him in the way.
6
Thou God that Lot frō Sodoms plaguedidst safely keepe also,
And Daniel from the Lions iawes,
thy mercie great to sho,
7
O thou good God that didst diuidethe sea like hils to stand,
That children thine might thorow pas,
from cruel Pharos hand;
8
So that when Pharo and his host,thy children did pursue,
Thou ouerthrewst them in the sea,
to proue thy saying true:
9
O thou that Ionas in the fish,three daies didst keepe from paine,
Which was a figure of thy death,
and rising vp againe.
10
I saie, thou God, which didst preserueamidst the fierie flame,
37
the glory of thy name:
11
Thou God haue mercie on my soule,thy goodnesse me restore:
And for thy mercies infinit,
thinke on my sinne no more.
12
O Lord the number of my sinsis more then can be told,
Wherefore I humblie doo desire
thy mercies manifold.
13
For small offence thy mercie smal,may soone small faults suffice,
But I, alas, for many faults
for greater mercie cries.
14
And though the number of my sinnessurpasse the salt sea sand,
And that the filth of them deserue
the wrath of thy iust hand:
15
Yet do thy mercies far surmountthe sins of al in al,
Thou wilt with mercie vs releeue,
for mercie when we cal.
16
Right wel I know, man hath no powerso much for to transgresse,
As thou with mercie maist forgiue
through thine almightinesse.
17
I do confesse my faults be morethan thousand else beside,
More noisome and more odious,
more fouler to be tride,
38
18
Than euer was the lothsome swine,or menstruall cloth beraid:
To thinke thereon my woful soule,
(alas) is yet afraid.
19
Wherfore good Lord, doo not beholdhow wicked I haue bin,
But wash me from my wickednesse,
and clense me from my sin.
20
The Israelits being defil'ddurst not approch thee nie,
Till they their garments and themselues
had washed decentlie.
21
The priests eke clensed also were,yer they thy face would see,
Else had they perisht in their sin;
such, Lord, was thy decree.
22
Alas how much more neede I then;to craue while I am here,
To wash my soule and spotted soule
that it may cleane appeere?
23
Polluted cloths with filth distainddoo many washings craue,
Yer that the launder can obtaine
the thing that he would haue.
24
My soule likewise (alas) doth needthy many dewes of grace,
Yer it be cleane, for cankred sin
so deepe hath taken place.
25
The leprosie that Naman had,could not be doon away,
39
had washt him daie by daie.
26
How manie waters need I thenfor to be washed in,
Yer I be purged faire and cleane,
and clensed from my sin?
27
But, Lord, thy mercie is the sopeand washing lee also,
That shal both scoure & cleanse the filth
which in my soule doth gro.
28
Why should I then (alas) despaireof goodnes thine to mee,
When that thy iustice willeth me
to put my trust in thee?
29
Thy promise Lord thy mouth hath pastwhich cannot be but true,
That thou wilt mercie haue on them,
that turne to thee anew.
30
I know when heauen and earth shall passethis promise shall stand fast:
Wherefore vnto thy maiestie,
I offer now at last
31
An heart contrite and sorrowfull,with all humilitie;
For heinous sin by it conceiu'd
through mine iniquitie;
32
I do acknowledge all my faults,my sinnes stand me before;
I haue them in remembrance, Lord,
and will for euermore.
40
33
Bicause thou shouldst the same forgetI still doo thinke thereon,
And set it vp before my face,
alwaies to looke vpon.
34
Against thee only haue I findand doon ill in thy sight;
In whom it lies to punish me,
or to forgiue me quight.
35
But sure my hope is firmely fixt,that thou wilt me forgiue;
For with thine honor shal it stand,
to suffer me to liue:
36
That al the world may witnesse theea iudge most iust to bee,
For that thou wilt thy promise keepe,
to al that trust in thee.
37
That is, our sins thou wilt remit,and cleane forget them al,
And bend thine eares vnto our plaints,
when we vpon thee cal.
The second part.
1
O Lord consider with thy selfe,what mettall I possesse,
Behold in sinne I was conceiude,
and borne in wickednesse.
2
From Adam first this sinne was drawnwhereby I am made prone
To do the ill should thee offend,
and let the good alone.
41
3
Yea, many a time I am so drawneto doo I would not do,
And that I would I leaue vndone,
for want of might thereto,
4
Such is, O Lord, the strength and forceof my concupiscence:
But yet of greater force than this,
is, Lord, thine indulgence.
5
For thou wilt mercie shew to them,that mercie do require;
And wilt not turne thy face from such
as mercie do desire,
6
Surely of honour more is thine,through pitie men to saue;
Than by thy iustice to condemne
such as deserued haue.
7
Therefore, O Lord, receiue me now;which do my selfe accuse;
To th'end thou shouldst my sins forgiue,
and al my faults excuse.
8
O Lord, I do not hide my sinnes,but shew them vnto thee;
Because thou shouldst thy mercie grant,
as thou hast promisd me.
9
For neuer yet thou hast beene foundin anie word vniust,
Ne canst thou now begin at me,
since that in thee I trust.
10
Thou Lord hast euer loued truth,and truth thou art most sure,
42
for euer to indure.
11
Thou promisedst to Abraham,his seed to multiplie,
Euen as the star, and as the sand
that in the sea doth lie.
12
To Ishac and to Iacob eke,like promise didst thou make;
And thou the same performed hast,
for this thy promise sake.
13
Thou promisedst to Iosue,to strength him with thine hand,
And so he slue the Chananites,
and did diuide their land.
14
To Gedeon thou promise madst,that he should set at large
The Isrelites, which were in thral,
and in their enemies charge.
15
When Ezechias laie sore sicke,and wel nie at deaths dore,
Thou promisdst him his health againe,
to liue fifteene yeeres more.
16
Thus hast thou kept thy promisesto thousands else beside,
Who haue reposed trust in thee,
thou hast not helpe denide.
17
Euen so good Lord thy promise keepewith me that am vniust,
A scabbed sheepe, one of thy flocke,
and ouerchargd with lust.
43
18
Which of long time haue run astraiethe time since I was borne,
Yet now returnd with heauy heart,
that's with repentance torne.
19
Thus hath thy grace now called me,with mercie of thine hand;
And what thy wil and pleasure is,
by grace I vnderstand.
20
Thou hast reuealed vnto meethe things that be vnknowne,
The secret points of wisedome thine
thy grace to me hath showne.
21
Thy mysteries that hidden werewithin thy sacred word,
Thou hast to vs made manifest,
by Iesus Christ our Lord.
22
I am now fed with bread of life,that shal my hunger flake,
And from dame wisdoms watry springs
my drinke I often take.
23
Now wisdome hath cast out her floudthe plants al watered be,
And stil she seekes to lighten those,
that put their trust in thee.
24
Of this her floud S. Paule did drinke,and he was taught thereby,
Thy wisedome, Lord, which secret was,
and hidden long did lie:
25
As thou to him didst manifestby thy free spirit before,
44
of secrets thine and store.
26
Of this Lord part I tasted haue,through mercie shewd to me,
And am now taught by them to know,
mine owne infirmitie,
27
And by it am I taught likewisethy goodnesse for to kno,
Beseeching thee this worke begun,
maie neuer part me fro.
28
So that the light which kindled isin me by thy great grace,
Maie so increase, as darknesse, Lord,
maie neuer more take place.
The third part.
[1]
With Hyssop, Lord be sprinkle me,and clense me from my sin,
More whiter then shall I be made,
than euer snow hath bin.
2
Thou didst command this herbe with blooda sprinkle for to bee,
To sprinkle such as clensed were
from lothsome leprosie:
3
A bundle of this herbe, ô Lord,thou didst command also
To dip in bloud of simple sheepe,
and therewithal to sho
4
Vpon the doore posts of the house,the slaigher might it see,
45
and from thy people flee.
5
These vnto vs do representthe bloud of thy deere sonne,
Without the which no man is cleane,
what euer can be done.
6
And he that marks his soule therewithand puts his trust therein,
The slaier hath no power to hurt,
nor plague him for his sin.
7
If with this grace thou sprinkle me,I shal be white I know,
And though as bloud my sins appeare,
they shal be like the snow.
8
Yea though my sins as purple were,or as the scarlet die,
Thy grace shall make them as the wooll
t'appeare before thine eie.
9
Then shall I heare the words of ioy,of gladnesse so likewise,
That Nathan to king Dauid spake,
whom thou didst not despise.
10
That is, My sins are now put out,what euer I haue done,
And are forgiuen me quight and cleane
by Iesu Christ thy sonne,
11
Then shall I heare the wordes Christ spaketo him the palsie had,
My sonne thy sinnes are thee forgiuen,
arise, go home, be glad.
46
12
Then shal I heare thee also speakeby inspiration,
Whereby I shal be comforted
in tribulation.
13
Yea Lord, the bones thou broken hastshall then againe reioice,
Through working of thy heauenly grace
and sweetnesse of thy voice:
14
That is, the powers of my poore soulewhom sin so weake hath brought,
Whereby it wanted power to worke
the good it long time sought,
[15]
Shall then recouer that was lost,and be reuiu'd againe,
And through the quickening of thy spirit
sin shal no more remaine.
16
Wherefore, thy face turne from my sins,and wipe my faults awaie,
And eke al mine iniquitie;
most humblie I thee praie:
17
I meane the face of iustice thine,wherewith thou doost behold
The sinnes we dailie do commit,
to punish manifold.
18
This face, good Lord, turne yu from meand from the faults I make,
And them forget, and me forgiue,
for thy great mercie sake.
19
But Lord, the face of mercie thine,from me turne not awaie:
47
and helpe me daie by daie,
20
For what am I if that thy gracethou take awaie from me?
A bondman vnder sin and death,
and cast awaie of thee,
21
And euerie man thy grace that wants,shall haue a hart of stone,
As Pharo had after thy grace
departed was and gone.
22
He shall both see and heare indeed,yet shal be deafe and blind;
His eares and eies shall stopped be,
the truth he shal not find.
23
His heart likewise shal frozen be,or as the stonie wall;
He shal thy creatures like and loue,
and loue not thee at al:
24
Yea, such a heart, ô Lord in me,long time hath taken place,
Which no waie can be mollifide
but by thy special grace.
25
Wherefore I praie thee hartilie,remoue this hart from me;
And, Lord, in me a new heart make,
that flexible may be:
26
A fleshie hart, both soft and meeke,an heart that I may know
Thou art the Lord, without whose grace
no goodnesse I can show.
48
27
This grace it is that must reuiue,aright spirit, Lord, in me,
My spirit through sinne is crooked made,
and lothsome for to see.
28
Make it vpright therefore to be,and that decline it may
From worldlie pleasures light and vaine,
that vanish soone awaie.
29
Vouchsafe, ô Lord, to heauenly thingsmy spirit may aspire,
And with thy grace replenisht be,
most humblie I desire.
30
Let neither yet aduersitie,nor worldly wealth also
Plucke downe my spirit, nor hinder it,
where it desires to go.
31
Ne cast me off at anie time,from presence of thy face;
Ne take from me thy holy spirit,
ô Lord in any case.
32
My sinnes good Lord, behind thee castthere euer to remaine:
But cast not me from thy sweet face,
as thou didst wicked Caine.
33
Nor from thy fauor cast me so,as thou didst cast king Sall,
For if that I thy presence loose,
I cannot choose but fall.
34
O Lord how sweet and gratiousis this my spirit most pure;
49
where righteous folke endure.
35
Grant, Lord, that this thy holy spirit,may dwel within me stil,
And me confirme in righteousnes,
according to thy will.
The fourth part.
1
O Lord my God restore to methy sauing health againe,
And stablish me with thy chiefe spirit,
that it may still remaine.
2
My sins, ô Lord, haue beene the causethat I thy grace did want,
And when thy grace departed was,
I found thy spirit but scant:
3
The losse whereof did greeue me muchand by the same I found
Al goodnesse gone, al wickednes
within me to abound.
4
For light and darknes may not beat one time in one place;
No more may sin and wickednes
associat be with grace.
5
Wherefore the greatnesse of my lossehath made my griefe the more,
And where in sin I had delight,
I now repent it sore.
6
Behold therefore most mightie God,mine inward griefe of mind,
50
to that I cannot find:
7
I meane thy sacred holie spirit,which I through weakenes lost,
Mine enemies were strong and fierce,
and crūellie me tost:
8
So that my soule too feeble was,their power for to withstand:
Good Lord in grace yet once againe
confirme me with thy hand.
9
And let thy spirit no more depart,no Lord not when I die,
But that it may stil with my soule
remaine continuallie.
10
Then shall I stedfastlie instructthe wicked in thy way,
Whereby they may to thee returne,
that long haue gone astraie.
11
I wil my selfe put forth, O Lord,to sinners al that be,
As an example them to cause
for to remember thee.
12
I wil not cease for to declarethy iustice euery where,
And of thy iudgment bring them al
in terror and in feare.
13
And then wil I againe extolthy mercies ouer al,
To plucke them from despairing Lord,
least any therein fal.
51
14
Thus shall I able be to do,being confirmd in thee,
By working of thy holie spirit,
which thou shalt put in me,
15
Thy seruant Moses was afraid,to go on message sent,
Til thou promisd to be with him,
when he to Pharo went.
16
After which time he doubted not,but forth went on his waie,
Accomplishing thy holie hest,
as thou didst bid him saie.
17
The seuentie elders of the host,to thee whom Moses brought,
Til part of Moses spirit they had,
were able to do nought:
18
But after that they propheside,and did thy people guide,
And ruled them with righteousnesse
and truth on euerie side.
19
Lord, Peter at a womens voice,thy sweet sonne Christ denaid,
And readie was him to forsake,
he was so sore afraid:
20
Vntil that thou reuiuedst himwith this thy spirit of grace.
Yea, Lord, thy sonnes apostles al,
were bidden for a space,
21
To bide within Ierusalem,in praier and in loue;
52
fulfilled from aboue.
22
Wherefore send down thy holie sprite,in me the same to be,
And from the guiltinesse of bloud,
good Lord deliuer me.
The fift part.
[1]
Tthou God that God art of my health,deliuer me I praie,
From sinne that I committed haue,
against thee day by daie.
2
A multitude of sinnes there be,from flesh and bloud that grow,
Which I through my concupiscence,
haue dailie done I know.
3
And this corruption is in meby nature as I find,
For what is he can make that cleane,
that is vncleane by kind?
4
How can a man of woman borne,be cleane? I faine would kno,
The child that is but one daie old,
yet is vncleane also.
5
Thus flesh and bloud such works bring foorthas aie corrupted bee,
And therefore cannot heauen inioy,
ne dwell and raigne with thee.
6
Vpon corrupted nature mine,O Lord powre forth thy grace:
53
and all my sinnes deface.
7
Then Lord shall I be purged cleanefrom all my wickednesse.
Which grant good Lord, So shall my toong,
exalt thy righteousnesse.
8
In that thou mercie shewst to me,being a wicked man,
Giuing me grace pensiue to be,
my grieuous sins to scan,
9
Making me iust that am vniust,wherein thou God art found
In mercie, truth and righteousnesse,
most perfect, sure and sound.
10
But yet, O Lord, before my toong,thy righteousnes can raise,
My lips and mouth thou open must,
whereby to shew thy praise.
11
For else vnseemely praise wil be,where lips be lickt with sin;
And where the mouth with wickednesse
is stuffed full within.
12
Good Lord the prophet Esay,when he thy glorie saw,
Confest his lips to be vncleane,
and therefore stood in awe;
13
Vntil such time as Seraphinthou sentst with burning cole
His lips to touch, and therewithall
he by and by was whole.
54
14
I meane that his vnrighteousnessewas then forgiuen quite,
And al his sins and wickednesse
was cleane put out of sight.
15
O Lord my God in such a sortvouchsafe my mouth to tuch,
That I thy glory may set forth,
to little and to much.
16
To offer sacrifice to thee,or offrings burnt were vaine,
No pleasure Lord hast thou in them,
nor ought in them remaine.
17
They were but figures of that thing,which now to passe is come,
That is, the liuely sacrifice
of Iesus Christ thy sonne.
18
To offer gold to thee, ô Lord,or treasure of the land,
It needeth not, sith al the world
is thine and at thy hand.
19
And yet I will not emptie come,but offer vnto thee
An humble spirit with heart contrite
for mine iniquitie.
20
This sacrifice, ô Lord, I knowthou wilt no time despise;
But it behold, and looke thereon
with thy most gratious eies,
21
And Lord for ye there nothing shouldbe left behind in me,
55
I offer vnto thee;
22
And as a liuely sacrifice,as Ezechias did,
Such time as he thy fauor got,
and health recouered.
23
The same did Marie Magdalenoffer in humane sort:
The theefe also vpon the crosse
to his endles comfort.
24
Great numbers more vnspeakeableby this thy fauour wan;
And I, through grace, now penitent,
although a sinful man,
25
Do claime no lesse of mercie thine,for to be shewd to me:
Bicause thou art as then thou wast
and euermore shalt be.
26
To Sion, Lord, likewise shew forththy fauor and thy grace,
That is vnto thy faithful flocke
disperst from place to place.
27
Such as depend on thee alone,and do themselues forsake,
Vpon the walles of this thy fort,
thou Lord, must vndertake
28
watchmen to set continualliethe same for to defend,
Least that the enemies vnawares
bring al to wofull end.
56
29
Thou knowst, ô Lord, of what small forcemankind hath euer bin,
Since first our father Adam fell,
when he committed sinne.
30
Helpe vs therefore most mightie God,so with thy heauenlie grace,
As we in building Sion here,
by faith may see thy face:
31
So shall we then through mercie thinebe squared stone meet found
To building of Ierusalem,
whose walles do still abound
32
With liuelie stones of thy true churchhere militant in earth;
Where thine elect stil offer shal
while thou shalt spare them breath.
33
Such offrings burnt as thou best lou'stwhich is of thanks and praise,
We shal not spare the same to do,
while life shal length our daies.
34
This sacrifice of iustice is,which all thy creatures craue,
To giue the same onlie to thee,
most worthie so to haue.
35
This is the bullocks of our lips,where of the prophet saies,
We shal with lips vnto thy name
confesse most condigne praise:
36
Which shall to thee accepted be,ten thousand times much more,
57
offred in time before.
37
Lord grant we may in number beof thine elected sort,
Which shall this sacrifice present
vnto our soules comfort:
38
And that as burning incense sweetthou wilt receiue the same,
Vpon thine altar, which is Christ,
our meane for sin and blame:
Amen.
| Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne | |