The Muses Sacrifice [by John Davies] |
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The carefull Soule because of the momentany
condition of transitory life, desireth
to wash away the filth of sin with the teares of continuall penitencie.
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 | The Muses Sacrifice |  |
The carefull Soule because of the momentany condition of transitory life, desireth to wash away the filth of sin with the teares of continuall penitencie.
Sith on this moment of fraile Life depends
th'eternall weale or woe of humane Breede,
And that no meanes can long deferre their ends,
let Teares still feede me (Lord) till Wormes I feede.
th'eternall weale or woe of humane Breede,
And that no meanes can long deferre their ends,
let Teares still feede me (Lord) till Wormes I feede.
For, Teares for Sin, doth Sin, through grace, destroy;
(so kill their Cause) whereon who feeds shall liue,
Where they that sow in teares, shall reape in ioy;
then let my Teares me (dead in Sinne) reuiue.
(so kill their Cause) whereon who feeds shall liue,
Where they that sow in teares, shall reape in ioy;
then let my Teares me (dead in Sinne) reuiue.
They were they foode (ô Christ) that couldst not sin;
and yet, for others sinne, still weptst; then I
That liue a life that's quite o'erwhelm'd therein,
had need to weepe till (drown'd in teares) I dye.
and yet, for others sinne, still weptst; then I
That liue a life that's quite o'erwhelm'd therein,
had need to weepe till (drown'd in teares) I dye.
Happy that Soule that on a Sea of Teares
sailes (in Faiths Ship, by Hopes securest Cape)
Vnto the Port of Peace; and with her beares
Good-workes that make the Worker wracke escape.
sailes (in Faiths Ship, by Hopes securest Cape)
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Good-workes that make the Worker wracke escape.
This World's but Sorrowes Sea, whereon mankinde
is tost with Stormes of Troubles, that arise
By Enuy, Malice, or Fates wayward winde,
whiles Life to Death, more swift then Swallow flies.
is tost with Stormes of Troubles, that arise
By Enuy, Malice, or Fates wayward winde,
whiles Life to Death, more swift then Swallow flies.
If, in the way, a Calme the Course prolongs,
it holds vs but to griefe, resembling Ioy;
While Pleasure, with her charming Syren-Songs,
o'erwhelme vs (in the end) in deep'st annoy.
it holds vs but to griefe, resembling Ioy;
While Pleasure, with her charming Syren-Songs,
o'erwhelme vs (in the end) in deep'st annoy.
Twixt Silla and Charibdis (Ioy and Griefes)
fraile life still floates; and wrackes in Eyther oft;
(Which equally to Death betrayeth Life)
but low estate lesse sinckes then that aloft.
fraile life still floates; and wrackes in Eyther oft;
(Which equally to Death betrayeth Life)
but low estate lesse sinckes then that aloft.
Why should we then prize worldly things so much
which haue no good, but as they vs respect;
And lightly weigh those Treasures without which
we haue no Goodnesse, but are meere Defect?
which haue no good, but as they vs respect;
And lightly weigh those Treasures without which
we haue no Goodnesse, but are meere Defect?
Honor and Pow'r, Health, Beauty, Strength, and Wit
are but as Smoake, that comes from troubled fire:
The more it growes, the lesse continues it;
and, comes to nought whan it doth high'st aspire!
are but as Smoake, that comes from troubled fire:
The more it growes, the lesse continues it;
and, comes to nought whan it doth high'st aspire!
To be in Princes grace (which all desires)
procures but Pride, which blindes our Iudgements sight,
While like a siled Doue, we (Lord) aspire,
till sou'raigne heate, at height, doth sinke vs quite.
procures but Pride, which blindes our Iudgements sight,
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till sou'raigne heate, at height, doth sinke vs quite.
Then tis in vaine, to trust in Princes grace,
which pleasure or their profit may procure;
And when these faile, they streight auert their Face;
but Lord, thy Grace is euer free as sure.
which pleasure or their profit may procure;
And when these faile, they streight auert their Face;
but Lord, thy Grace is euer free as sure.
Then let me wholy on thy Grace depend;
yet so, as still I worke it to encrease;
So, it with me shall worke too, to the end;
and, at the end, with me, shall rest in Peace:
To which (deare Lord) vouchsafe thy Grace may goe
With my toil'd Soule, that cannot rest but so:
yet so, as still I worke it to encrease;
So, it with me shall worke too, to the end;
and, at the end, with me, shall rest in Peace:
To which (deare Lord) vouchsafe thy Grace may goe
With my toil'd Soule, that cannot rest but so:
| The Muses Sacrifice | |