A sinfvll Mans Solace Most sweete and comfortable, for the sicke and sorowful Soule: Contriued, into seuen seuerall Daies Conference, betweene Christ and a carelesse Sinner. Wherin, euerie man, from the highest, to the lowest: from the Richest, to the poorest: and aboue all, the sorowfull Sinner: maye take such sweet repaste of Resolution, to amendment of lyfe, and confirmation of Fayth: that (in respect of the Heauenlie Solace, therin faithfully remembred:) all the pompes and pleasures of this wicked worlde, shall be plainely perceiued to be meere miserie. Writeen by Iohn Norden |
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THE SVNDAYE, and last dayes Conference,
betweene Solace and the sinfull Man.
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 | A sinfvll Mans Solace |  |
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THE SVNDAYE, and last dayes Conference, betweene Solace and the sinfull Man.
VVherein Solace directeth him in prayer, which is the principall and last work, belonging to the attainement of eternall life, by faith in Christ.
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The sinfull man.
Ye, Solace, loe I looke for thee,
mine onely comfort deare:
Whose comfort now I find, in deed,
proceede from heauens cleare.
And therefore I attend on thee,
mine only guide and stay:
Whom thou doest call, I see cannot
gad like a wretch astray.
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(through thee) yt guides to blisse:
Whereby I shall at last possesse
the ioye, that perfect is:
Which I in heart by faith doe feele,
though in this vale of woe:
Where Sathās forces fell abound,
and sinnes by custome growe.
Which vale, I long to leaue in haste,
to take my rest with thee:
In heauens hye, where only ioye
and nothing els can bee.
Solace.
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Alas I knowe not how to aske,
nor what true prayer is:
I long to learne so sweete a meane,
to bring my soule to blisse.
Wherefore, declare to me in haste,
how I must pray aright:
Mine heart is set to seeke the thing,
so pleasaunt in thy sight.
Solace.
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What are the thinges, for which I ought
most specially to pray:
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thy sacred will obey.
Solace.
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Declare thou these thinges more at large,
(good Solace) that I may:
In faith be stirred vp in thee,
for what, and when to pray.
Solace.
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Loe then I see that praier is,
through thee, the meane to haue:
What so I want, if that in faith,
and trueth, the same I craue.
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giue, for his passing loue:
Wherein he doth vouchsafe releefe,
from heauens high aboue.
Solace.
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Al thanks & praise oh Lord I doe
in humble wise commende:
To thee who doest such solace sweet
vnto poore sinners sende.
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my sinfull soule from woe:
That tongue cānot thy praises due,
for want of wisedome showe.
But yet as farre as heart and tōgue
can giue, I yeeld to thee:
Accept it Lord, though passing thankes
thou doe deserue I see.
For when I was in sinfull plight,
in Sathans bands opprest:
Thy tender Sonne came downe to mee
to shewe the way to rest.
My soule did harbor all that was
vnto my soule annoye:
But he hath fraught ye same againe,
with all surpassing ioye.
My darknes he hath turnd to light,
wherein I see the way
That leades to life & how to shunne
what led me long astray.
The pleasant shewes and fawning cheere
of worldly wealth, I see,
The fond delightes & peeuish toyes,
did worke but ill for mee.
Therewith I was puft vp aloft,
with plumes of pride so hye:
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but iust desert to dye.
For, sinne a thousand folde, I did
within myne heart retaine:
A burning zeale there was in me,
to heape vp foolish gaine.
My heart was led wt deepe delight,
myne eyes did gaze awrye:
My truethles tongue within myne head,
for greedie gaine did lye.
No pittie or compassion was,
within my careles breast:
A thousand cares of worldly wealth
my wicked heart possest.
I thought not on an others woe,
I passe not for his paine:
I spared not to pinch the poore,
to reape my selfe the gaine.
And thus I liued long secure,
in sinfull soyle a sleepe:
Till Solace came and did awake
me, out of slumber deepe.
And set before my blinded eyes,
the reckles race I runne:
Which now I see I must forsake,
or rest (for aye) vndone.
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oh Lord of Lords to thee:
Unto thy Sonne, and holy Ghost,
for thus receiuing mee.
| A sinfvll Mans Solace | |