The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule Set foorth by Sir William Leighton |
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An Euening Meditation.
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 | The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule |  |
An Euening Meditation.
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Ile lie me downe to sleepe in peace,for thou Lord only mak'st me dwell
In saftie with great quietnes,
and do'st ill dreames from me expell.
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My body to innormitie,is subiect, without rest and sleepe:
Because of mine infirmitie,
my life and health it cannot keepe.
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Good father all sufficient,my louing God, I yeelde thee praise:
For this dayes blessings to me sent,
and guiding me in all my waies.
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In that thou hast this day now past,me strongly guarded with thy handes
With loue refresh't me, first and last,
with mercies more thē sea shore sandes
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That hast me brought to this daies end(blacke night & darknes drawing neere)
Wherein all creatures rest attend,
and lay them downe t'il day appeare.
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I finding my debilitie,poore creature, run to thee Diuine:
Oh strengt'h mine imbecilitie,
and ayde this soule and body mine.
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Thou hast me made of matter grosse,and brittle substance out of clay:
Which still is subiect to the crosse,
a tennis ball for worldlings play.
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He wanting comfort cannot liue,(after great sorrow and much griefe)
Therefore I doe my body giue,
and soule to thee, Lord graunt reliefe.
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O Lord I doe thee humbly pray,(as thou art fountaine of all rest:)
Be thou my succour, helpe, and Stay,
let me by thee this night be blest.
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Consider me in my weaknes,and let thy carefull eies behold:
My miseries, and my distresse,
to cry for mercy make me bold.
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And since t'is time that night now bringsof bodies rest, & quiet sleep:
Oh shadow me vnder thy wings,
let thy protection safe me keepe.
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Looke ouer me with watchfull eies,when this corrupted flesh of mine:
In slumbering sleepe, and dulnes lies,
depriu'd of sence with closed eyne.
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Vnnable, my poore selfe to saue,from dangers of the darksome night:
Keepe me my bedd, else is my graue,
and I shall neuer see the light.
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Lord thou that onely mak'st me dwelland in sure saftie to abide:
(Thou watchest ouer Israell)
watch ouer me, be by my side.
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Thou art my Castle, and my fort,my Sword, my Buckler, & defence:
My Rocke, my Refuge, & Comfort,
saue me from force and violence.
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Alasse, without thee what am I?a beast that rightly nothing knowes:
A senceles block a sillie flie,
that no good doe, nor no good showes.
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Thy louing fauour Lord extend,ouer the house, wherein I rest,
My bed with Angels Lord defend,
my spr'it by thy spr'it, be possest.
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Oh, lie me downe in rest and peace,in rest and peace, O let me rise:
In rest and peace, O giue some ease,
from torments, troubles, teares & cries.
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Let not the sleights of sinne deceaue,nor wicked practize ouertake me:
Let nothing me, of hope bereaue,
Oh, doe not thou (though all) forsake me.
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Lord I am poore, Oh make me rich,with those great riches of thy blessing:
My soule, my soule, is blacke as pitch,
let pardon follow my confessing.
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In hope of this, I lie me downe,depending on thy prouidence:
I care not if the world doe frowne,
for I am safe by thy defence.
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Lord let it be, for I am thine,my rest make sweete & comfortable:
To thee I doe my selfe resigne,
lord graunt all this, for thou art able.
FINIS.
| The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule | |