The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
5
The Rauisht Soule.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Sing, my soule, to God thy Lord,
All in glorie's highest keye;
Laie the Aungells quier aboorde,
In their highest holy daie;
Craue their helps to tune thy heart
Vnto praise's highest parte.
All in glorie's highest keye;
Laie the Aungells quier aboorde,
In their highest holy daie;
Craue their helps to tune thy heart
Vnto praise's highest parte.
Tell the world no world can tell
What the hand of heauen deserueth;
In whose onely mercies dwell
All that heauen and earth preserueth;
Death's confounding, Sinne's forgiuing;
Faith's relieuing, Comfort's liuing.
What the hand of heauen deserueth;
In whose onely mercies dwell
All that heauen and earth preserueth;
Death's confounding, Sinne's forgiuing;
Faith's relieuing, Comfort's liuing.
Grace and glory, life and loue,
Be the summe of all thy dittie;
Where a sinner's teares may proue
Comfort's ioy in Mercie's pitty:
Euery note in loue alluding,
Endlesse glory in concluding.
Be the summe of all thy dittie;
Where a sinner's teares may proue
Comfort's ioy in Mercie's pitty:
Euery note in loue alluding,
Endlesse glory in concluding.
Prayse of prayses where Thou dwellest,
Tell me, (if the world may know Thee)
In what sense Thou most excellest,
When Thy wonder worth doeth shew Thee,
In that state of Honour's story
Where Thou gain'st thy highest glorie?
Tell me, (if the world may know Thee)
In what sense Thou most excellest,
When Thy wonder worth doeth shew Thee,
In that state of Honour's story
Where Thou gain'st thy highest glorie?
'Tis not earth nor earthly wonder
Can discerne Thy dearest honour;
All her praises are put vnder,
When Thy glory lookes vpon her.
Nor in heauen Thy glorie dwelleth;
Where Thy wonder most excelleth.
Can discerne Thy dearest honour;
All her praises are put vnder,
When Thy glory lookes vpon her.
Nor in heauen Thy glorie dwelleth;
Where Thy wonder most excelleth.
Yet in heauen was neuer liuing
Virgin, saint, nor angel's spirit;
Where Thy Grace may haue the giuing
Of Thine honour's highest Merite.
Tis their glories admiration
That deserues Thy commendation.
Virgin, saint, nor angel's spirit;
Where Thy Grace may haue the giuing
Of Thine honour's highest Merite.
Tis their glories admiration
That deserues Thy commendation.
Since then by all consequences,
In the notes of Glorie's nature,
And the Graces influences,
Tis no earth, nor heauenly creature;
In my God alone on high
Is this onely mysterie.
In the notes of Glorie's nature,
And the Graces influences,
Tis no earth, nor heauenly creature;
In my God alone on high
Is this onely mysterie.
And since in His Maiestie,
All and onely euer dwelleth
That most glorious Deity,
That all prayse's praise excelleth;
Say although thy soule attend Him
It can neuer comprehend Him.
All and onely euer dwelleth
That most glorious Deity,
That all prayse's praise excelleth;
Say although thy soule attend Him
It can neuer comprehend Him.
If thou speak'st of power, all powers
To His power are in subiection;
If thou speak'st of time, all houres
Run their course by His direction:
If of wisedome, all is vanitie,
But in his Diuine humanitie.
To His power are in subiection;
If thou speak'st of time, all houres
Run their course by His direction:
If of wisedome, all is vanitie,
But in his Diuine humanitie.
If of trueth, it is His triall:
If of loue, it is His treasure:
If of life, it is His diall:
If of grace, it is His pleasure:
If of goodnesse, 'tis His storie:
If of mercy, 'tis his glorie.
If of loue, it is His treasure:
If of life, it is His diall:
If of grace, it is His pleasure:
If of goodnesse, 'tis His storie:
If of mercy, 'tis his glorie.
If of iustice, Iudgement sheweth
His proceeding is impartiall:
If of valour, all Hell knoweth
Who is Heauen's high marshall:
If of bountie, tis His blessing:
If of place, tis His possessing.
His proceeding is impartiall:
If of valour, all Hell knoweth
Who is Heauen's high marshall:
If of bountie, tis His blessing:
If of place, tis His possessing.
If of patience, His perfection:
If of comfort, tis His fauour:
If of vertue, His affection:
If of sweete, it is His sauour:
If of triumph, tis His merite:
If perfection, tis His Spirit.
If of comfort, tis His fauour:
If of vertue, His affection:
If of sweete, it is His sauour:
If of triumph, tis His merite:
If perfection, tis His Spirit.
If aboue all these thou singest
Rauisht in thy reason's glory;
Tell the world whatere thou bringest
Admiration's wonder's story;
To such height my Sauiour raiseth
As aboue all praises prayseth.
Rauisht in thy reason's glory;
Tell the world whatere thou bringest
Admiration's wonder's story;
To such height my Sauiour raiseth
As aboue all praises prayseth.
6
Let all kings and princes then
In submission fall before Him;
Virgins, angels, holy men,
Both in heauen and earth adore Him:
In His onely mercie seeing,
All and onely, all your being.
In submission fall before Him;
Virgins, angels, holy men,
Both in heauen and earth adore Him:
In His onely mercie seeing,
All and onely, all your being.
Babes and children, shew His glory,
In your silly soules preseruing:
Men and women note this storie
Of the life of loues deseruing;
Heauen and earth be euer reading
Of this essence of exceeding.
In your silly soules preseruing:
Men and women note this storie
Of the life of loues deseruing;
Heauen and earth be euer reading
Of this essence of exceeding.
Sunne and moone and euery creature
In that shining starrie skie,
All confesse your brightnesse' feature
In the hand of Mercie's eye:
And for all your blessed powers,
Shew it God's and none of your's.
In that shining starrie skie,
All confesse your brightnesse' feature
In the hand of Mercie's eye:
And for all your blessed powers,
Shew it God's and none of your's.
And when all the world together
Ioyne with angels harmonie:
Let my soule come singing thither
With that blessed company:
God in Mercie's power victorious,
Be aboue all glory glorious. Amen.
Ioyne with angels harmonie:
Let my soule come singing thither
With that blessed company:
God in Mercie's power victorious,
Be aboue all glory glorious. Amen.
Sacred Muse that onely sittest
In the spirits of the blessèd
And the faithfull onely fittest,
With their thoughts to heauen addressèd:
Helpe my humble soule to sing
To my glorious heau'nly King.
In the spirits of the blessèd
And the faithfull onely fittest,
With their thoughts to heauen addressèd:
Helpe my humble soule to sing
To my glorious heau'nly King.
All abandon earth's coniecture,
Thinke not on so meane an instance:
Make thine honour's architecture,
But on Grace's glorious substance:
There in comfort's confirmation
Build thy heauenly habitation.
Thinke not on so meane an instance:
Make thine honour's architecture,
But on Grace's glorious substance:
There in comfort's confirmation
Build thy heauenly habitation.
Study not astronomy,
Least to darknesse turne thy light:
But that high diuinitie
Where the day hath neuer night:
There finde out that worke of worth
That may bring thy wonder forth.
Least to darknesse turne thy light:
But that high diuinitie
Where the day hath neuer night:
There finde out that worke of worth
That may bring thy wonder forth.
In the teares of true contrition,
Think on Mercie's blessednes:
And in care of Loue's condition
Of Perfection's holinesse:
Then in notes of Grace's glory
Make the state of all thy story.
Think on Mercie's blessednes:
And in care of Loue's condition
Of Perfection's holinesse:
Then in notes of Grace's glory
Make the state of all thy story.
Il Christiano al honore di Christo.
Before there was a light, there was a light,
Which saw the world the world could neuer see;
From which the world receiues his brightest sight,
Yet cannot see what brightnesse there may be.
Which saw the world the world could neuer see;
From which the world receiues his brightest sight,
Yet cannot see what brightnesse there may be.
From this faire light there came a liuing loue;
A loue which giues the liuing all their seeing;
And in the life of all their seeing proue
The onely essence of their onely being.
A loue which giues the liuing all their seeing;
And in the life of all their seeing proue
The onely essence of their onely being.
From this bright loue there came a liuing Word;
A Word that doeth in wisedome signifie
What heauen and earth in wonder can afford,
Is but in life this loue to dignifie.
A Word that doeth in wisedome signifie
What heauen and earth in wonder can afford,
Is but in life this loue to dignifie.
For in this Word was that Almightie power
Which was before that power was euer namèd;
Begun before the first-beginning houre,
Framing each substance that was euer framèd.
Which was before that power was euer namèd;
Begun before the first-beginning houre,
Framing each substance that was euer framèd.
And in that Word that onely wisedome dwelleth
That onely knowes what onely may be knowne:
And in that knowledge knowledge all excelleth,
Because it knowes all knowledge is His owne.
That onely knowes what onely may be knowne:
And in that knowledge knowledge all excelleth,
Because it knowes all knowledge is His owne.
This worthy Word of wisedome's wonderment
(To giue some notice of His powerfull nature)
In wisedome made His will an instrument
To shew Himself vnto His silly creature.
(To giue some notice of His powerfull nature)
In wisedome made His will an instrument
To shew Himself vnto His silly creature.
The holy essence of the Deitie
In Virgin's wombe did take the vaile of flesh;
Bringing the dewe of blessed charitie
Our withring spirits sweetly to refresh.
In Virgin's wombe did take the vaile of flesh;
Bringing the dewe of blessed charitie
Our withring spirits sweetly to refresh.
This highest height of heauenly Maiestie,
This Word of Wisedome's gracious, glorious loue,
Inuested in all vertues vnitie
That perfect God and perfect Man approue.
This Word of Wisedome's gracious, glorious loue,
Inuested in all vertues vnitie
That perfect God and perfect Man approue.
From the sweet bosome of His Father's brest,
Eternall Babe, of all eternall blisse;
All blessed Babe, that made the mother blest,
By that sweet blessed holy loue of His,
Eternall Babe, of all eternall blisse;
All blessed Babe, that made the mother blest,
By that sweet blessed holy loue of His,
From the High Throne of heau'nly Glorie's seate,
Vnto this world, this worthlesse world descended;
With their crosse spirits kindely to intreat
For their owne good, that highly Him offended.
Vnto this world, this worthlesse world descended;
With their crosse spirits kindely to intreat
For their owne good, that highly Him offended.
This blessed infant of Eternitie,
And onely glorious essence of the same;
By the cleare light of His all-seeing eye
Beholding all things, all, so out of frame,
And onely glorious essence of the same;
By the cleare light of His all-seeing eye
Beholding all things, all, so out of frame,
Vnto His seruants to make knowne His loue
And to redeeme what lacke of loue had lost;
In tender age and elder yeeres did prooue
How Patience' care might be in passions crost.
And to redeeme what lacke of loue had lost;
In tender age and elder yeeres did prooue
How Patience' care might be in passions crost.
When first sweet Infant in the mothers armes,
Fed with the milke of pure Virginitie;
How did He scape the tyrant Herod's harmes,
That little knew of His diuinitie.
Fed with the milke of pure Virginitie;
How did He scape the tyrant Herod's harmes,
That little knew of His diuinitie.
But oh, when first His presence sweet appear'd,
Vnto the silly shepheards in the field:
With how much ioy were all their spirits chear'd,
Whose humble eyes His heauenly Face beheld.
Vnto the silly shepheards in the field:
With how much ioy were all their spirits chear'd,
Whose humble eyes His heauenly Face beheld.
7
While in the heauens the angels sung for ioy,
That peace by Him vnto the world was come;
By Him Who should both Death and Hell destroy,
And be the Sauiour of His chosen summe.
That peace by Him vnto the world was come;
By Him Who should both Death and Hell destroy,
And be the Sauiour of His chosen summe.
The virgin-mother ioyed in her childe,
And in her ioy did call her sonne her Sauiour;
Whose gracious spirit in her countenance milde,
Did shew the blessing of her meeke behauiour.
And in her ioy did call her sonne her Sauiour;
Whose gracious spirit in her countenance milde,
Did shew the blessing of her meeke behauiour.
O blessed Sonne, the Father's best belou'd,
In Whom He all and onely did delight;
How many wayes His workes in wonder proou'd,
He held the scepter of His Father's right.
In Whom He all and onely did delight;
How many wayes His workes in wonder proou'd,
He held the scepter of His Father's right.
In simplenesse, all harmelesse as the doue;
In learning, putting all the doctours downe;
In power, the hand of highest heau'ns behoue;
In state, the King of Kings in Glorie's crowne.
In learning, putting all the doctours downe;
In power, the hand of highest heau'ns behoue;
In state, the King of Kings in Glorie's crowne.
In patience, the true proofe of sufferance;
In truth, the touch-stone of all vertues triall;
In loue, director of Life's ordinance;
In life, the hande of the eternall diall.
In truth, the touch-stone of all vertues triall;
In loue, director of Life's ordinance;
In life, the hande of the eternall diall.
In charitie, the giuer of all good;
In bountie, the bestower of all blisse;
In mercie, faithe's eternall blessed food;
In grace, the guide that cannot leade amisse.
In bountie, the bestower of all blisse;
In mercie, faithe's eternall blessed food;
In grace, the guide that cannot leade amisse.
In wisedome, founder of all wit and sense;
In will, the worker of all wonders' worth;
In essence, all the Summe of excellence;
In all, that good that bringes all glorie forth.
In will, the worker of all wonders' worth;
In essence, all the Summe of excellence;
In all, that good that bringes all glorie forth.
This essence all incomprehensible,
Yet willing in His mercies to be knowne;
That glorie might not be offensible,
That in a shadowe onely should be showne:
Yet willing in His mercies to be knowne;
That glorie might not be offensible,
That in a shadowe onely should be showne:
First, in the time of feeble infancie
When Nature's weaknesse fled a fearèd force;
Then, in the yeeres of reason's constancie,
When gracious Mercie gloried in remorse;
When Nature's weaknesse fled a fearèd force;
Then, in the yeeres of reason's constancie,
When gracious Mercie gloried in remorse;
Came to the worlde to call the worlde to come,
Vnto His call that had the heauens at call;
Healing the sicke, the blinde, lame, deafe, and dumme,
And rais'd them vp that readie were to fall.
Vnto His call that had the heauens at call;
Healing the sicke, the blinde, lame, deafe, and dumme,
And rais'd them vp that readie were to fall.
Contented with the badge of pouertie,
Who might commaund both heauen and earth at wil;
Lodg'd in a manger in humilitie,
Who in Himselfe both heauen and earth did fill.
Who might commaund both heauen and earth at wil;
Lodg'd in a manger in humilitie,
Who in Himselfe both heauen and earth did fill.
Threatned with death, Who was the life of life;
Sought to be slaine, Who was the death of death;
The ground of peace, yet with the world at strife;
And suffred death, yet gaue the liuing breath.
Sought to be slaine, Who was the death of death;
The ground of peace, yet with the world at strife;
And suffred death, yet gaue the liuing breath.
Seeke heauen and earth and finde out such another,
So might command and so would be commanded;
Who was our King, yet would become our brother,
Might strike all dumbe, and yet wold be demanded.
So might command and so would be commanded;
Who was our King, yet would become our brother,
Might strike all dumbe, and yet wold be demanded.
Would leaue such pleasure and endure such paine,
And for their liues, that crucified His loue;
With losse of life to make their liuing gaine
That prooued turkies to their turtle-doue.
And for their liues, that crucified His loue;
With losse of life to make their liuing gaine
That prooued turkies to their turtle-doue.
Who euer crau'd His help, and was denied?
Who loued Him so, but left Him at His death?
Who euer fail'd where faith on Him relied?
Yet who for Him would spare one fauour's breath?
Who loued Him so, but left Him at His death?
Who euer fail'd where faith on Him relied?
Yet who for Him would spare one fauour's breath?
Oh Lord, what madnesse could be more in men?
Then when they knew the trueth to make a doubt;
And long in darkenesse hauing light euen then,
To blinde themselues to put the candle out.
Then when they knew the trueth to make a doubt;
And long in darkenesse hauing light euen then,
To blinde themselues to put the candle out.
And blessed women that His death bewailed,
While hearts' deepe griefe found comfort's high perfection;
When passion's teares so much with loue preuailed,
As first to them reueal'd His resurrection.
While hearts' deepe griefe found comfort's high perfection;
When passion's teares so much with loue preuailed,
As first to them reueal'd His resurrection.
The mother wept, to see her Sonne so vsed;
The sinner wept to see her Sauiour dying;
The cousin wept, to see her kind abused;
All for His death fell to a deadly crying.
The sinner wept to see her Sauiour dying;
The cousin wept, to see her kind abused;
All for His death fell to a deadly crying.
The sunne eclipst, the day did loose his light,
And stones did rise against their Maker's foes;
The Temple rent, the people were affright,
And from the graues the troubled spirits rose.
And stones did rise against their Maker's foes;
The Temple rent, the people were affright,
And from the graues the troubled spirits rose.
All these were tokens of His holy trueth,
To make men know how they were woe begon them:
But gracelesse spirits voyd of gracious ruth,
Ventred to take the guiltlesse blood vpon them.
To make men know how they were woe begon them:
But gracelesse spirits voyd of gracious ruth,
Ventred to take the guiltlesse blood vpon them.
Here then behold the maiestie of blisse,
That pray'd for them that prei'd vpon Him so;
Content with all might come to Him amisse,
So His with Him might to their comfort goe.
That pray'd for them that prei'd vpon Him so;
Content with all might come to Him amisse,
So His with Him might to their comfort goe.
His life, the lantherne of eternall light;
His death, the passage to eternall rest;
His grace, the marke of the most blessed sight;
His loue, the lite of the eternall blest.
His death, the passage to eternall rest;
His grace, the marke of the most blessed sight;
His loue, the lite of the eternall blest.
His miracles, the witnesse of His power;
His sacraments, remembrance of His loue;
His resurrection, His triumphant houre;
And His ascension angels' ioyes aboue.
His sacraments, remembrance of His loue;
His resurrection, His triumphant houre;
And His ascension angels' ioyes aboue.
His trauaile, all to bring our soules to rest;
His prayer, for our preseruation;
His worke, to ioy the spirits of the blest;
His Word, the assurèd trueth of our saluation.
His prayer, for our preseruation;
His worke, to ioy the spirits of the blest;
His Word, the assurèd trueth of our saluation.
His warre a fight, but onely for our peace;
His peace, the ioy wherein our soules doe liue;
His woundes, the salue that doth our woes release;
His triumph, freely of His grace to giue.
His peace, the ioy wherein our soules doe liue;
His woundes, the salue that doth our woes release;
His triumph, freely of His grace to giue.
Oh, should I runne into that world of worth,
Wherein His glory duely doth increase;
I should more wonder of most worth bring forth,
Then thought can reach, vntill all thinking cease.
Wherein His glory duely doth increase;
I should more wonder of most worth bring forth,
Then thought can reach, vntill all thinking cease.
8
But since true loue requited with vnkindnesse,
Grace with disgrace, comfort with miserie;
Wisedome with folly, Truth with falshood's blindnes,
Honour with shame and right with iniury.
Grace with disgrace, comfort with miserie;
Wisedome with folly, Truth with falshood's blindnes,
Honour with shame and right with iniury.
Since all the contraries of true content,
That wit and reason rightly maie receiue,
His heauenly mercy, truely patient,
All for our good full meekely did receiue.
That wit and reason rightly maie receiue,
His heauenly mercy, truely patient,
All for our good full meekely did receiue.
And being gon from our vngratious handes
Vnto the right hand of his Father's rest;
There in His hourely intercession standes,
For our remission making Loue's request.
Vnto the right hand of his Father's rest;
There in His hourely intercession standes,
For our remission making Loue's request.
And by his Worde, the message of His will,
Sent by the preacher of His proouèd truthe;
Doth call our soules from all accursèd ill,
Vnto the good of gracious Mercie's ruth.
Sent by the preacher of His proouèd truthe;
Doth call our soules from all accursèd ill,
Vnto the good of gracious Mercie's ruth.
And bids our faith to feare no hurt of sinne,
And leaues vs lessons in the rules of grace;
Where true repentance doth remission winne,
And humble faith doth finde in heauen a place.
And leaues vs lessons in the rules of grace;
Where true repentance doth remission winne,
And humble faith doth finde in heauen a place.
And lets vs see each day and euerie night,
A kind of figure, both of heauen and hell;
And how that sinnes doe alwaies fly the light,
While blessed graces doe in brightnes dwell.
A kind of figure, both of heauen and hell;
And how that sinnes doe alwaies fly the light,
While blessed graces doe in brightnes dwell.
And howe the vertuous in the heauens are blessèd,
And how the vicious in their horrors hated;
And howe the iust shall haue their wrongs redressèd
And how the proude shall haue their pride abated.
And how the vicious in their horrors hated;
And howe the iust shall haue their wrongs redressèd
And how the proude shall haue their pride abated.
How Charitie shall be in heauen rewarded;
How Patience' care shall richly be contented;
How Bribrie shall be vtterly discarded;
And Tyrannie shall be in hell tormented.
How Patience' care shall richly be contented;
How Bribrie shall be vtterly discarded;
And Tyrannie shall be in hell tormented.
How humble Faith shall be in heau'n belouèd,
And gracious spirits blessedly embracèd;
And faithlesse spirits from all grace remoouèd,
And gracelesse spirits vtterly disgracèd.
And gracious spirits blessedly embracèd;
And faithlesse spirits from all grace remoouèd,
And gracelesse spirits vtterly disgracèd.
When life shall be pronounc't to the elected;
And Loue shall take the charge of the belouèd;
And Hell receiue the soules of the reiected,
To endlesse paines of gracelesse will reprouèd.
And Loue shall take the charge of the belouèd;
And Hell receiue the soules of the reiected,
To endlesse paines of gracelesse will reprouèd.
When this (I say) and all that can be sayd,
That may reuiue the vertuous in their death;
And iustly make the reprobate afraide,
With looking downe into their hell beneath.
That may reuiue the vertuous in their death;
And iustly make the reprobate afraide,
With looking downe into their hell beneath.
Our Lord hath left vs in those lines of Loue,
That heau'nly wisedom wrote for our instruction;
Yet we, all carelesse of our soules behoue,
Will headlong runne vpon our owne destruction.
That heau'nly wisedom wrote for our instruction;
Yet we, all carelesse of our soules behoue,
Will headlong runne vpon our owne destruction.
What shall I say? But, let the atheist frie
Within the coles of his owne concience' fire;
Torments too true, too late will make him trie
He cannot scape the furie of God's ire.
Within the coles of his owne concience' fire;
Torments too true, too late will make him trie
He cannot scape the furie of God's ire.
And let the faithfull in their fearelesse hope,
Assure their spirits of especiall grace;
The breadth of heauen doth beare so large a scope,
That none so poore but there shall haue a place.
Assure their spirits of especiall grace;
The breadth of heauen doth beare so large a scope,
That none so poore but there shall haue a place.
And let the prince not glory in his crowne,
But lay it at the feet of Mercie's loue;
And let the haughtie pull those humours downe,
That onely worke for wicked hel's behoue.
But lay it at the feet of Mercie's loue;
And let the haughtie pull those humours downe,
That onely worke for wicked hel's behoue.
Oh, let the faire leaue painting of their faces,
And onely seeke the beautie of the minde;
For God alone doeth loue the inward graces,
And not the shadowes that the eye doe blinde.
And onely seeke the beautie of the minde;
For God alone doeth loue the inward graces,
And not the shadowes that the eye doe blinde.
And let the rich not let his riches rust,
But seeke the wealth but of the spirit's worth;
For God doth know your treasure is but dust,
And ye but stewards for to let it forth.
But seeke the wealth but of the spirit's worth;
For God doth know your treasure is but dust,
And ye but stewards for to let it forth.
And let the wise so well employ their wits,
They may attaine the knowledge to doe well;
And shun the follies of those madding fits,
That leauing heauen doe run the way to hell.
They may attaine the knowledge to doe well;
And shun the follies of those madding fits,
That leauing heauen doe run the way to hell.
Oh let that Queene be truely angel-like,
With Grace's scepter holdes the sword of peace;
And by her faith in Mercie's hande doth seeke,
A ioyfull kingdome that shall neuer cease.
With Grace's scepter holdes the sword of peace;
And by her faith in Mercie's hande doth seeke,
A ioyfull kingdome that shall neuer cease.
And let that Ladie thinke herselfe a queene,
That hath possession of her spirite so;
That she could leaue all comforts she hath seene,
And her owne selfe vnto her God to goe.
That hath possession of her spirite so;
That she could leaue all comforts she hath seene,
And her owne selfe vnto her God to goe.
And let that Souldier most that valour loue,
Where God assistes the faithfull in their fight;
While lacke of faith in coward feare doth prooue,
Each shadowe doth the faithlesse soule affright.
Where God assistes the faithfull in their fight;
While lacke of faith in coward feare doth prooue,
Each shadowe doth the faithlesse soule affright.
And let the Lawyer looke on Iustice lines,
And knowe that God will right the poore man's wrong;
And that such lawyers as are true diuines,
Doe loue the Muses sing of Mercie's songe.
And knowe that God will right the poore man's wrong;
And that such lawyers as are true diuines,
Doe loue the Muses sing of Mercie's songe.
And let the Marchant loue that traffique best,
Where trauaile findes the treasure of God's grace;
While greedie mindes that fill the golden chest,
Shall neuer see their Sauiour in the face.
Where trauaile findes the treasure of God's grace;
While greedie mindes that fill the golden chest,
Shall neuer see their Sauiour in the face.
And let the Scholler that doth studie most,
Finde out the truth of life's eternall treasure;
And thinke all labour in his studie lost,
Where God His grace giues not the spirit pleasure.
Finde out the truth of life's eternall treasure;
And thinke all labour in his studie lost,
Where God His grace giues not the spirit pleasure.
And let the louer leaue his wanton looke,
With such illusions as enchaunt the minde:
And onely loue the beautie of that Booke
Where God alone is in His loue to finde.
With such illusions as enchaunt the minde:
And onely loue the beautie of that Booke
Where God alone is in His loue to finde.
Abhorre the diuell and he will depart,
Grace is as neere as sinne, if you will craue it;
So faith doe begge it with repentant heart,
For feare nor pride are euer like to haue it.
Grace is as neere as sinne, if you will craue it;
So faith doe begge it with repentant heart,
For feare nor pride are euer like to haue it.
9
Crie vnto Christ, Whom you haue crucified;
In teares of loue reueale your hate of sinne;
So in your greefe, when grace is glorified,
Be sure in mercie doth your blisse beginne.
In teares of loue reueale your hate of sinne;
So in your greefe, when grace is glorified,
Be sure in mercie doth your blisse beginne.
Beleeue His worde, seeke to obey His will,
And knowe the worke is His and none of your's;
Striue to doe well and flye the way to ill,
And be submissiue to supernall powers.
And knowe the worke is His and none of your's;
Striue to doe well and flye the way to ill,
And be submissiue to supernall powers.
Be patient in the crosse of any care,
Repentant in remembrance of amisse;
Constant in faith; loue God without compare,
And giue all glory to that name of His.
Repentant in remembrance of amisse;
Constant in faith; loue God without compare,
And giue all glory to that name of His.
Hate him that speakes against His Maiestie,
Loue him in soule that will forsake Him neuer;
And know the scorners of the deity,
Shall all be damn'd and frie in hell for euer.
Loue him in soule that will forsake Him neuer;
And know the scorners of the deity,
Shall all be damn'd and frie in hell for euer.
Goe to your closet, louely, there alone
Bleede forth in teares, the trueth of your beliefe;
And you shall see your smallest spirit's groane,
Will finde a grace to ease you of your griefe.
Bleede forth in teares, the trueth of your beliefe;
And you shall see your smallest spirit's groane,
Will finde a grace to ease you of your griefe.
For He that knowes the secrets of your thought,
And knowes the natures of your sinne's disease;
Will neuer see your spirit ouer-wrought,
But in the instant giue you present ease.
And knowes the natures of your sinne's disease;
Will neuer see your spirit ouer-wrought,
But in the instant giue you present ease.
You shal be the deare daughter of His loue,
And like a father He will looke vpon you;
And in His mercy so much comfort proue,
That you shall neuer more be woe-begon you.
And like a father He will looke vpon you;
And in His mercy so much comfort proue,
That you shall neuer more be woe-begon you.
Your soule in heauen shall halfe already be,
The angels ginne to set your post to sing;
Your spirit's eye shall in some graces, see
Some shadowing glory of your heauenly King.
The angels ginne to set your post to sing;
Your spirit's eye shall in some graces, see
Some shadowing glory of your heauenly King.
And you all rauisht with your heauenly ioy,
Will so His gracious glorious Name adore;
That being healèd of your soule's annoy,
This hatefull world shall be your loue no more.
Will so His gracious glorious Name adore;
That being healèd of your soule's annoy,
This hatefull world shall be your loue no more.
And you of men that haue bene long admir'd
For many worthes, well worthy admiration,
Shall then of angels be as much desir'd
For heauenly grounds of grace's confirmation.
For many worthes, well worthy admiration,
Shall then of angels be as much desir'd
For heauenly grounds of grace's confirmation.
And God Himselfe so neere Himselfe will set you,
In Grace's seate where Mercy so will loue you,
That Faith's regard will neuer more forget you,
Nor sinne, nor death, nor deuill shall remoue you.
In Grace's seate where Mercy so will loue you,
That Faith's regard will neuer more forget you,
Nor sinne, nor death, nor deuill shall remoue you.
But where the saints and angels are reciting
The heau'nly trueth of high Iehouah's story;
Your rauisht soule in such diuine enditing,
Shall euermore be singing of His glory.
The heau'nly trueth of high Iehouah's story;
Your rauisht soule in such diuine enditing,
Shall euermore be singing of His glory.
To the assurèd hope of which high grace,
In humble prayer let my poore humble penne,
In your good fauour begge that blessed place,
Where my poore heart, may happ'ly say, Amen.
In humble prayer let my poore humble penne,
In your good fauour begge that blessed place,
Where my poore heart, may happ'ly say, Amen.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |