University of Virginia Library

---

35

A Godly meditation,

wherein the distressed sheweth, he is vnfeignedly grieued, hat he hath offended God, who is so powerfull and so dread a iudge: who also (as the repentant thinketh) hath armed man and all creatures against him for his sinnes. But (aggrauating the greatnes of his miseries aud afflictions) at the last, he resolueth to goe vnto God in Christ his name, with whom he is well pleased, and in whom he will accept the prayers of the offendant.

[The first part.]

1

Alas that I offended euer,
this God of Gods, this Lord of powers
That can in peeces all men shiuer,
and ouerturne the stateliest towers.

Gal. 3. 10.

2

Ah woe is me that I offended,
and iustly God stir'd vpp to ire:
Who by his lawe, hath sin condempned,

The example of Ionas swallowed with a whal for his disobedience, shew'th this Ionas 1.

vnto the pit of endles fire.

3

I dayly see Gods creatures all,
iustly for sinne displeas'd with mee:
Mens hearts are hardned and with gall,
feede mee that haue offended thee.

---

36

4

My God thy blessings all one earth,
thou doest witholde, & from me keepe:
Alas my soule sustaines a dearth,
of grace, vnto thy grace I creepe.

5

But what to doe or what to say,
I know not Lord, but I know this:
My griefes encrease more day by day,
my mirth is moane, bane is my blisse.

6

One euill doth another call,

Iohn. 2. 3 Psal. 6..

like waues on waues in raging seas:
My weary burthen makes me fall,
I find no comfort helpe nor ease.

7

I hope of helpe, but that hope quailes,
in crosses are my comforts ended:
I fly to faith, but then faith failes,
when I neede most to be defended.

8

So Dauid complaineth that he was a mark to shoot at. Psal. 11. 2.

As if I were the onely man,
prepos'd by thine intendement:
Whom heauen & earth must curse & ban
as subiect of all punishment.

9

Thy iustice dams me, I appeale,
to mercy, then appeald I feare:

---

37

To be reiected, thus colde zeale,
and secret sinnes with griefe I beare.

10

Shall I thinke it a fruitles taste,
vnto my God for to repaire:

Mat. 7. 7.

That Sinners calles and bids them aske,
and they shall haue all things by praier.

11

Can it be bootles downe to fall,
before his throne of maiestie:
And with repentant tongue to call,
for pardon for my iniquitie.

12

May not vnfained cries at last,

The importunate widdow preuaileth with the vniust iudge. Mat. 18. 7.

preuaile with him that's pittifull:
To pardon my offences past,
& moue my spr'its which now are dull

13

I'le frame my heart to meditate,
my tongue to vtter what may please:
Him whom best knoweth mine estate,
and seeke his wrath for to appease.

14

To him i'le goe in Christ his name,

The prodigal child returned to his Father. Luke 15. 11.

in whom I know hee is well pleased:
And will confesse my sinne with shame,
and so mine heart, shall sure be eased.

---

38

The second part of the meditation.

15

Gen, 17. 1.

For Christs sake, looke on me againe,
hee is God all sufficient:
Hee doth behold and see my paine,
my inward faithfull hearts intent.

16

Psal. 39. 16.

Hee knoweth what I goe about,
all I thinke, speake, or doe amisse:
He writes or noates, without all doubt,
in his remembrance booke it is.

17

I know he will in worth accept,
what iustly I intend to doe:
And cannot it performe, except
He put his helping hand thereto.

18

He knoweth that I am but flesh,

1. Pet. 1. 24. Psal. 40. 6. Iam. 1. 10.

and what is flesh but fraile and ill:
And what is man a lumpe of trash,
whom vaine desires do fully fill.

19

And will this God Iehouah high,

Psal. 22. 7.

so strong and powerfull set his might:
Against a worme so weake as I,
a silly man a shade of night.

20

What conquest can there be in God,
to worke reuenge on mee poore soule

---

39

Who still corrects me with his rod,
whose iustice doth my sinnes controle.

21

shall I dispute with thee, nay rather,
poore wetch I should fal prostrate down,

Rom. 9. 10.

And humbly kneele vnto my father,
& pray with teares whē he doth frowne

22

If he afflict, more be it so,
if further plague me let be so:
If he will kill with paines and woe,
do what he list, let it be so.

23

For I am his, do what he will,

Mat. 6. 10.

with mee and all that mine can bee:
It is his owne and must be still,
theres no disputing God with thee.

24

There is noe Art, or Eloquence,

Psal. 49. 16.

can quench thy coales of burning ire:
It is not words can make defence,
nor friends can saue me from thy fire

25

Nor take me from the powerful hands
so full of might force strength & power:
Or breake a sunder thy strong bands,
nor ease one minute of an houre.

26

Ile yeelde me therefore to his will,

Mat. 16. 10.

Lord doe what thy good pleasure is:

---

40

Turne me as may, thy minde fullfill,
i'le waite the time of happie blisse.

27

Ile waite thy pleasure, time will come,
wherein I may the issue see:
Of my afflictions all and some,
and what thy purpose is with mee.

28

1. Sam. 2. 1. 1. Sam. 5. 19.

The meane time I will with thy word
consult and vse my exercise:
And comfort take though hope O Lord
refresh dull spr'ites & cleare dim'd eies.

29

With dewe of thy sweete promises,
laying aside all fleshly ayde:
I onely rest on thy mercies,
in holy word as thou hast said.

30

And in true faith will I remaine,
and seeke thee (beeing the true way:

Iohn. 14. 6.

Wherein who walkes, at length shal gaine
true blisse and happines for aye.

31

Who this embraceth shall not erre,
wherein who liues, shall neuer die.
But weare a crowne past reason farre,
to liue with God eternally.