Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne Comprehending those seuen Psalmes of the Princelie Prophet David, commonlie called Poenitentiall; framed into a forme of familiar praiers, and reduced into meeter by William Hunnis ... Whereunto are also annexed his Handful of Honisuckles; the Poore Widowes Mite; a Dialog between Christ and a sinner; diuers godlie and pithie ditties, with a Christian confession of and to the Trinitie; newly printed and augmented |
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| The poore Widowes Mite |
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 | Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne |  |
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The poore Widowes Mite
Who knocks with hope and craues in faith,
shall haue their iust request;
By loue who seekes the way shal find
to port of quiet rest.
shall haue their iust request;
By loue who seekes the way shal find
to port of quiet rest.
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To the Queenes Maiesties Highnesse.
[_]
The initial letter of every second line has been highlighted in the original to spell the words ELIZABETH REGINA.
this gift of humble mind,
Lacke shall my hope the gladsome frute,
it sought thereby to find.
If gift with giuers loiall hart
your Maiestie will trie,
Zeale more than gift shall triumph then
before your princelie eie.
A Persian prince, in gratious part,
tooke water of the well,
Because he saw the giuers zeale,
the giuers gift excell:
Euen so my zeale, renowmed Queene,
equiualent is with his,
Though I offense commit to giue
so slender gift as this.
Remembring yet your Princelie woont,
of clemencie withall;
Example such hath boldned me,
vpon my knee to fall.
Great gifts of gold, and gems of price,
poore Hunnis would present,
If he them had; in stead whereof
hee praies this may content.
New yeere, and manie God you send,
in health with peace to raine,
And after when your spirit departs,
with Christ it may remaine.
Your Highnes loiall subiect and most humble obedient seruant, W. H.
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The Author.
[_]
The initial letter of every second line has been highlighted in the original to spell the name WILLIAM HVNNIS.
the life that shall remaine,
Is far deceiu'd for ift be so,
then Christ hath dide in vaine.
Let our good woorks our faith declare,
by faith we are made free,
It coms from God, that goodnes is,
no good at all in mee.
As man himselfe vnable is,
in thought to please the Lord,
Much lesse to worke or do the deed,
that might his health accord.
Here I professe one God to serue,
from secret search of hart,
Vnto his sacred word to cleaue,
and neuer to depart.
No time my Prince or Magistrate,
by will for to offend,
Ne wish I woorse vnto my foe,
than to my verie friend.
In Christ by faith, by no means else,
my righteousnesse doth flo:
Such was his loue, such is my faith,
and euer shal be so.
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The first Meditation.
[Ah helples wretch! what shall I doo?]
Ah helples wretch! what shall I doo?
or which way shall I ronne?
The earth bewrais, & heuen records
the sins that I haue donne.
or which way shall I ronne?
The earth bewrais, & heuen records
the sins that I haue donne.
The gates of hel wide open stand,
for to receiue me in,
And feareful feends alreadie be,
to torment me for sin.
Alas, where shall I succor find?
the earth doth me denie,
And to the sacred heauens aboue,
I dare not lift mine eie.
If heauen and earth shal witnesse be,
against my soule for sin,
Vntimely birth (alas) for me,
much better then had bin.
And now despaire approcheth fast,
with bloudie murdring knife,
And willeth me to end my griefes,
by shortening of my life.
Shal I despaire? thou God forbid,
for mercie more is thine,
Than if the sinnes of all the world
were linked now with mine.
Despise not then most louing Lord,
the image of thy face,
Which thou hast wrought and deerelie bought
with goodnes of thy grace.
And sith the bloudie price is paid,
and bitter paines al past;
Receiue my plaints, accept my spirit,
and mercie grant at last:
So shall my soule reioise, reioise,
for to receiue me in,
And feareful feends alreadie be,
to torment me for sin.
Alas, where shall I succor find?
the earth doth me denie,
And to the sacred heauens aboue,
I dare not lift mine eie.
If heauen and earth shal witnesse be,
against my soule for sin,
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much better then had bin.
And now despaire approcheth fast,
with bloudie murdring knife,
And willeth me to end my griefes,
by shortening of my life.
Shal I despaire? thou God forbid,
for mercie more is thine,
Than if the sinnes of all the world
were linked now with mine.
Despise not then most louing Lord,
the image of thy face,
Which thou hast wrought and deerelie bought
with goodnes of thy grace.
And sith the bloudie price is paid,
and bitter paines al past;
Receiue my plaints, accept my spirit,
and mercie grant at last:
and still for mercie crie,
Peccaui, Peccaui,
Miserere mei
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The 2. meditation.
[Thou God that rulst & rainst in light]
Thou God that rulst & rainst in lightthat flesh cannot attaine,
Thou God that knowest the thoughts of men
are altogither vaine;
Thou God whom neither toong of man
nor angell can expresse:
Thou God it is that I do seeke,
thou pitie my distresse.
Thy seat, O God, is euery where,
thy power all powers transcend,
Thy wisedome cannot measurd be,
for that it hath no end.
Thou art the power and wisedome too,
and sole felicitie,
But I a lumpe of sinful flesh,
nurse of iniquitie.
Thou art by nature mercifull,
and mercie is thy name,
And I by nature miserable,
the thrall of sinne and shame.
Then let thy nature, O good God
now worke his force in mee,
And clense the nature of my sinne,
and heale my miserie.
One depth, good Lord, another craues,
my depth of sinfull crime
Requires thy depth of mercie great,
for sauing health in time.
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may swallow vp my sin,
That I thereby may whiter be,
than euer snow hath bin.
So shall my soule reioise, reioise,
and still for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
Miserere mei.
and still for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
Miserere mei.
The 3 meditation.
[Before thy face and in thy sight]
Before thy face and in thy sight,
haue I, deuoid of shame,
O Lord transgressed willinglie,
I doo confesse the same.
Yet was I loth that men should know,
or vnderstand my fall,
Thus feard I man, much more than thee
thou righteous iudge of all.
So blind was I and ignorant,
yea rather wilful blind,
That suckt the combe, and knew the Bee
had left the sting behind.
My sinnes, O God, to thee are knowne,
there is no secret place,
Where I may hide my selfe or them,
from presence of thy face.
Where shal I then my selfe bestow?
or who shal me defend?
None is so louing as my God;
thy mercies haue no end.
In deed I grant, and do confesse
my sinnes so heinous bee,
As mercie none at all deserues:
but yet thy propertie
Is alwaies to be mercifull,
to sinners in distresse;
Whereby thou wilt declare and shew
thy great almightinesse.
Haue mercie Lord on me therefore,
for thy great mercies sake;
Which camst not righteous men to call,
but sinners part to take:
haue I, deuoid of shame,
O Lord transgressed willinglie,
I doo confesse the same.
Yet was I loth that men should know,
or vnderstand my fall,
Thus feard I man, much more than thee
thou righteous iudge of all.
So blind was I and ignorant,
yea rather wilful blind,
That suckt the combe, and knew the Bee
had left the sting behind.
My sinnes, O God, to thee are knowne,
there is no secret place,
Where I may hide my selfe or them,
from presence of thy face.
Where shal I then my selfe bestow?
or who shal me defend?
None is so louing as my God;
thy mercies haue no end.
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my sinnes so heinous bee,
As mercie none at all deserues:
but yet thy propertie
Is alwaies to be mercifull,
to sinners in distresse;
Whereby thou wilt declare and shew
thy great almightinesse.
Haue mercie Lord on me therefore,
for thy great mercies sake;
Which camst not righteous men to call,
but sinners part to take:
Wherefore my soule be glad, be glad,
and crie incessantlie
Peccaui, peccaui,
Miserere mei.
and crie incessantlie
Peccaui, peccaui,
Miserere mei.
The 4 meditation.
[Most gratious God, doo not behold]
Most gratious God, doo not behold
the number of my sin,
Ne yet consider with thy selfe
how wicked I haue bin;
But rather thinke I am but dust,
or as the withered haie,
Which flourisheth to daie in field,
to morrow shorne awaie.
my flesh rebels against the spirit,
my spirit too weake is found,
By sinne conceiu'd in mothers wombe,
my soule first caught his wound,
My flesh is fraile, too weake and vaine,
to do the thing I should,
And what I would not, that do I,
contrarie that I would.
Thou seest, O Lord, how weake I am,
not able for to stand
Without the succour, helpe and aid
of thy most mightie hand.
And what is he that wil not staie
the man thats like to fall?
Or wil refuse the sicke to helpe,
for helpe when he doth call?
If thou wilt laie vnto my charge,
the burden of my sin,
O Lord, the conquest is but small,
that thou thereby shalt win.
For why, thy glory and thy praise,
in mercie doth consist,
Vnto the which I yeeld my selfe,
to do with what thou list.
the number of my sin,
Ne yet consider with thy selfe
how wicked I haue bin;
But rather thinke I am but dust,
or as the withered haie,
Which flourisheth to daie in field,
to morrow shorne awaie.
my flesh rebels against the spirit,
my spirit too weake is found,
By sinne conceiu'd in mothers wombe,
my soule first caught his wound,
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to do the thing I should,
And what I would not, that do I,
contrarie that I would.
Thou seest, O Lord, how weake I am,
not able for to stand
Without the succour, helpe and aid
of thy most mightie hand.
And what is he that wil not staie
the man thats like to fall?
Or wil refuse the sicke to helpe,
for helpe when he doth call?
If thou wilt laie vnto my charge,
the burden of my sin,
O Lord, the conquest is but small,
that thou thereby shalt win.
For why, thy glory and thy praise,
in mercie doth consist,
Vnto the which I yeeld my selfe,
to do with what thou list.
My soule shall trust in thee, in thee:
and still for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
and still for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
The 5. meditation.
[If I demaund what mercie is]
If I demaund what mercie is,
thou God wilt answere me,
That mercie is th'abundance great
of thy diuine pitie.
Wherewith thou vewst th'afflicted sort,
that on the earth doo lie:
And what is this compassion then,
but proofes of thy mercie?
Our fathers old the same haue felt,
and now in rest doo raine,
And thou art stil the selfe same God,
for euer to remaine.
Our fathers were conceiude in sin,
and so are we likewise:
Wilt thou compassion shew on them,
and children theirs despise?
One faith in Christ we al professe,
one God in persons three,
As thou compassion hadst on them,
compassion haue on mee.
Ponder, O God, my harts desire,
most humblie doo I craue;
And doo away al my misdeeds,
and so compassion haue.
And as of sinners many a one,
whose number is vnknowne,
Thou didst vouchsafe to draw to thee,
and make them all thine owne:
So now vouchsafe most gentle God,
likewise to draw me in,
And make me righteous by thy grace,
forgiuing me my sin.
thou God wilt answere me,
That mercie is th'abundance great
of thy diuine pitie.
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that on the earth doo lie:
And what is this compassion then,
but proofes of thy mercie?
Our fathers old the same haue felt,
and now in rest doo raine,
And thou art stil the selfe same God,
for euer to remaine.
Our fathers were conceiude in sin,
and so are we likewise:
Wilt thou compassion shew on them,
and children theirs despise?
One faith in Christ we al professe,
one God in persons three,
As thou compassion hadst on them,
compassion haue on mee.
Ponder, O God, my harts desire,
most humblie doo I craue;
And doo away al my misdeeds,
and so compassion haue.
And as of sinners many a one,
whose number is vnknowne,
Thou didst vouchsafe to draw to thee,
and make them all thine owne:
So now vouchsafe most gentle God,
likewise to draw me in,
And make me righteous by thy grace,
forgiuing me my sin.
So shall my soule reioice, reioice,
and stil for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
and stil for mercie crie,
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miserere mei.
The 6. Meditation.
[Most mightie God, I do confesse]
Most mightie God, I do confesse,
ten thousand and times and more,
Thou hast me washed from my sinne.
and salued still my sore:
But I through sinne am falne againe,
and fowler now am made,
Than euer was the filthie swine
with mier ouerlade.
How oftentimes shall we forgiue,
ech other that offend;
Seuentie times seuen, the scripture saith,
which signifies no end.
If man to man such fauour shew.
that wretched caitiues bee,
How much more thou, O gratious God,
to them that call on thee.
It is thy nature to forgiue,
my nature can but fall;
Though thou be iust in al thy works,
thy mercie passeth all.
What time a sinner doth repent,
and turnes to thee at last,
Al sinnes fore doone thou wilt forget,
thy promise so hath past.
Behold, o God, I turne to thee,
with sorrow for my sin,
And doo repent euen from my hart,
that I so lewd haue bin.
Now wash me Lord yet once againe
with fountaine of thy grace,
That I among thy sacred saints,
with thee may haue a place.
ten thousand and times and more,
Thou hast me washed from my sinne.
and salued still my sore:
But I through sinne am falne againe,
and fowler now am made,
Than euer was the filthie swine
with mier ouerlade.
How oftentimes shall we forgiue,
ech other that offend;
Seuentie times seuen, the scripture saith,
which signifies no end.
If man to man such fauour shew.
that wretched caitiues bee,
How much more thou, O gratious God,
to them that call on thee.
It is thy nature to forgiue,
my nature can but fall;
Though thou be iust in al thy works,
thy mercie passeth all.
What time a sinner doth repent,
and turnes to thee at last,
Al sinnes fore doone thou wilt forget,
thy promise so hath past.
Behold, o God, I turne to thee,
with sorrow for my sin,
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that I so lewd haue bin.
Now wash me Lord yet once againe
with fountaine of thy grace,
That I among thy sacred saints,
with thee may haue a place.
My soule shal trust in thee, in thee:
and stil for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
and stil for mercie crie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
The 7. meditation.
[Like as the guiltie prisoner stands]
Like as the guiltie prisoner stands
before the iudge so tride,
With quaking breath, and shiuering lims
his iudgement to abide:
Euen so, O God, before thy face
in feareful state I stand,
And guiltie crie to thee my iudge,
and now hold vp my hand.
Nothing haue I to plead for life,
no goodnesse is in me,
Of sinne, deceit, and wickednesse,
guiltie, good Lord, guiltie.
Thus by thy righteous doome, O God,
and sacred law diuine,
Condemnd am I to endlesse paine,
through iust deserts of mine.
Alas, what then is to be said,
or what is to be doone:
For mercie yet wil I appeale,
to Iesu Christ thy sonne.
For neuer yet hath it beene heard,
since first the world began,
That Iesu Christ did turne his face,
from any sinfull man
Which vnto him for mercie came,
with sad repentant mind:
O Lord shal I then be the first
that shal no mercie find?
Shal I be he thou wilt despise,
that humblie comes to thee?
No no, sweet Christ thy promise is
for to deliuer mee:
before the iudge so tride,
With quaking breath, and shiuering lims
his iudgement to abide:
Euen so, O God, before thy face
in feareful state I stand,
And guiltie crie to thee my iudge,
and now hold vp my hand.
Nothing haue I to plead for life,
no goodnesse is in me,
Of sinne, deceit, and wickednesse,
guiltie, good Lord, guiltie.
Thus by thy righteous doome, O God,
and sacred law diuine,
Condemnd am I to endlesse paine,
through iust deserts of mine.
Alas, what then is to be said,
or what is to be doone:
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to Iesu Christ thy sonne.
For neuer yet hath it beene heard,
since first the world began,
That Iesu Christ did turne his face,
from any sinfull man
Which vnto him for mercie came,
with sad repentant mind:
O Lord shal I then be the first
that shal no mercie find?
Shal I be he thou wilt despise,
that humblie comes to thee?
No no, sweet Christ thy promise is
for to deliuer mee:
Wherefore my soule be glad, be glad,
and crie incessantlie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
and crie incessantlie,
Peccaui, peccaui,
miserere mei.
Verses vpon the Lords Praier.
Our father which art in heauen.
A thing thou art frō which all things
beginning tooke their name,
And thou without beginning art,
that gaue all things the same.
We call thee God, some Iehouah,
some Tetragrammaton:
By all thy names thou art the thing,
wee all depend vpon.
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And thou without beginning art,
that gaue all things the same.
We call thee God, some Iehouah,
some Tetragrammaton:
By all thy names thou art the thing,
wee all depend vpon.
We be thy sonnes, thy children deare,
and heires of kingdome thine,
By which we do presume and saie,
Our father most diuine,
Which art in heauen, deuoid of shape
that reason can deuise.
Ne yet art thou there to be felt,
or scene of humane eies.
and heires of kingdome thine,
By which we do presume and saie,
Our father most diuine,
Which art in heauen, deuoid of shape
that reason can deuise.
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or scene of humane eies.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy name, O God, is woonderfull,though we the same abuse,
And by thy name such things are doone,
as make the mind to muse.
The heauens aboue, the earth below,
and waters vnder them,
Thy name hath wrought miraculouslie,
all for the vse of men.
O maruellous God what is thy name?
or what shall I thee call;
Thou art in power omnipotent,
the mightiest power of all.
Then mightie powers of powers that is,
vouchsafe the same in me;
So worke thy will, that in my life
thy name may hallowed be.
Thy kingdome come.
Thy kingdome euerlasting is,in truth and equitie,
In fauor, loue and righteousnesse,
to all in miserie.
Bow down the heauens, O mightie king
whereby thy grace may fall,
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into the harts of all.
So shal our sins be driuen awaie,
our flesh made tame also,
And we found righteous in thy sight,
a perfect life to sho.
Vouchsafe to grant, O heauenly king,
this blessed worke may be,
Thy kingdome stil to dwel in vs,
and we to dwell in thee.
Thy will be doone in earth, as it is in heauen.
Thy will is good, our will is nought,thy will be therefore done,
Such was thy will, that Iesus Christ,
thy deere and onlie sonne,
Should teach thy will to sinfull flesh,
our wicked lusts to kill;
And he thy will vpon the crosse,
the same did there fulfill.
O heauenly father let thy will
in earth fulfilled be,
Among vs men as with thy saints,
in heauenlie hierarchie.
And grant thy will so worke in vs,
that we thy will confesse,
In word, in life, in faith, in loue,
and perfect holinesse.
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Giue vs this daie our dailie bread.
Thy word thy truth, & Christ thy son,is bread that we should haue;
Vouchsafe our soules may feed thereon,
most humblie we do craue.
For man dooth not by bread alone
passe foorth his vital daies,
But by ech word thy mouth proceeds
vnto thy endlesse praise.
Fix in our hearts thy sweet sonnes death,
and such impression make,
As we thereby may cheerefull be,
to suffer for his sake
Such crosse as pleaseth thee to laie
vpon our backs to beare;
With shield of faith to bide the brunt.
against all worldly feare.
And forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs
We know, forgiuenes is at hand,when we for mercie call:
If we ech other do forgiue,
thou wilt forgiue vs all.
Such promise hast thou made, O God.
from which thou wilt not swerue,
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the same for to deserue,
So weake is man, so feeble too,
not able once to mind
The thought that's good, or doo the deed
that might thy mercie find.
This will thy grace must worke in vs,
our brethren to forgiue,
Which grant, O God, that we therewith,
in rest with thee may liue.
And lead vs not into temptation.
And though temptation needfull bethy seruants strength to trie,
And that our sinnes and wickednes,
by faith away doo flie.
Yet Lord thy grace the same doth worke
whereby we stiflie stand
Against the world, the flesh, the diuell,
winning the vpper hand.
Thus of our selues, alas, too weake,
temptations aie too strong,
Thy grace it is must vs defend,
else are we throwne along.
Grant when by sin thrugh want of grace
Great fals we doo sustaine,
That then thy grace might visit vs
and reare vs vp againe.
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But deliuer vs from euill.
From ill that we by sin deserue,most mightie God defend,
And rid vs free from filthie fall,
of miserable end.
Withhold thy seuere punishment,
and let thine eie of grace,
Take view vpon th'afflicted sort,
and helpe our wretched case.
From surging seas of worldly waues,
wherewith we be opprest,
Discharge and set our soules on shore,
in port of quiet rest.
So shall we then our praiers make,
with conscience safe and sound,
And by thy grace shall able be,
our enemy to confound,
Amen.
The Christian faith.
One God in persons three,and three in Godhead one,
I doo beleeue my sauing health
doth rest in him alone.
The first, the Father high,
Creator of vs all,
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the word whom scriptures cal.
The third the Holie ghost,
of both who doth remaine,
O might, power and Deitie,
coequall with the twaine.
The word of loue to vs,
flesh void of sinne became,
Of virgins wombe by power diuine,
most pure he tooke the same.
And then for sinful flesh,
his flesh was sacrifisde,
His bitter, sharpe, and shameful death,
as cruel Iewes deuisde,
His flesh with whips was rent,
his head be crownd with thorne,
His bodie naild on crosse of tree,
his hart with speare was torne.
Thus al his bloud was shed,
to death his life made thral,
To pacifie his fathers wrath,
procurde by Adams fall.
He died and was buried,
descended down to hell,
From death to life he rose againe,
he loued vs so well.
When fortie daies were come,
to heauen ascended he,
Right from men of Galile,
in faith to vs that be.
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he shal againe descend,
To iudge all flesh, and of the world
to make a final end.
The dead from graue shal rise,
the quicke shal chnnged bee,
And euerie eie shall face to face
behold his maiestie.
By grace who hath doone wel,
with him in heauen shal raine:
By sinne who hath doone wickedlie,
in euerlasting paine.
FINIS.
| Seuen Sobs of a Sorrowful Soule for Sinne | |