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The teares or lamentations of a sorrowfull Soule

Set foorth by Sir William Leighton
Leighton, William (ca. 1565-1622)

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[section]
  
LECTORIE IN LIBRUM egregij Militis Gulielim Leighton. Thomas Burt. Verbi sacri Concionator.
  
A Farewell to the world.
  
To the true deuoted Reader.
  
Idillion in eximii Millitis, Leightonis laudem.
  
In laudem authoris & presentes operis sui, Antonii dyat Arm.
  
Vnto the troubles and sorrowes of the worthy Knight Sir William Leighton.
  
To the Right Worshipfull Sir William Leighton Knight his endeared friend and kinsman, concerning his diuine Lamentations.
  
[Mvsicke is then Diuine, and not but then]
  
In laudem Authoris.
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THE TEARES OR LAMENTATIONS of a Sorrowfull Soule.
  
[dedication]
  
A prayer vnto Almightie God, to preuent, prepare, and dispose our hearts rightly, vnto prayer.
  
A generall confession of sinnes.
  
A Morning meditation.
  
An Euening Meditation.
  
A Nosegay gathered in the holy Paradice.
  
A particuler confession of a sorrowfull sinner.
  
A heauenly hymne touching the Natiuitie of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ.
  
A prayer in extreame sicknes
  
Precepts of duties.
  
An invocation to God, humbly praying for remission of sinne.
  
A Godly meditation,
  
A prayer wherein the distressed, humbly confesseth his sinnes, and the vanities of his former times lewdely mispent, desiring others to take example by him, and to returne to God by repentance before it be to late. And at the last preparing to die, commendeth his soule to God: with whom after death, he hopeth to liue for euer.
  
The repentant complaineth of his horrid and grieuous sinnes, and in the end giueth thankes vnto Iehouah on high, who is distinguised into one God and three persons.
  
The repentant wholy flyeth vnto the mercies of God in Christ, and describeth the loathsomnes & vglines of his sinnes, aggrauating the greatnes thereof, aboue all other mens.
  
The poore Suppliant being visited with a grieuous sicknes, sheweth how he languisheth in all the corporall parts & members of his body, but especially with the torture of his conscience for sinne, and at the last prayeth that God would take from him this heauie yoake of miseries.
  
A feruent prayer vnto God, that the repentant may find fauour in Christ, whose merits and satisfaction he offereth vnto thee O Lord, as a pleasing ransome for his sinnes.
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The first Lamentation in distresse cōteineth a confession of sinnes, and a petition to be released of the punishments due for the same.
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The second Lamentation containeth Godly and deuout prayers for constancie in afflictions, and to beare malicious slaunders patiently.
  
A thankesgiuing to God, with magnifing of his holy name vpon all instruments.
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The third Lamentation in distresse.
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The fourth Lamentation in distresse.
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The fift Lamentation in distresse.
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The sixt Lamentation in distresse.
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The seauenth Lamentation in distresse.
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The eight Lamentation in distresse.
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[The ninth Lamentation.]
  
To God the Father.
  
To God the Sonne.
  
To God the holy Ghost.
  
Diuers consolations that the life and time of affliction is short.
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Of Death.
  
An exhortation to forgiue one another, before we depart out of this, world.
  
Diuers consolations that the life and time of affliction is short.
  
A consolation for them which suffer for their offences.
  
A disputation betweene the Diuell and vs.
  
The poore and distressed soule being loaden with the burthen of his sinnes, feruently prayeth to God for his remission thereof.
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Seauen Psalmes of Dauids repentance commonly called Penitentiall Psalmes.
  
A Mistery to be noted and followed of those that are parting out of this life.
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Short Meditations or Iaculatorie prayers, to be had in memorie vppon seuerall occasions.
  
The penitent prayeth for the Testimonie of a good Conscience.
  
A heauenly Himme of the ioyes Celestiall.
  
A prayer for a good Conscience.
  
The penitent proueth that sinne is not of God, but of the diuell and our selues.
  
A comfortable Himne for the Children of God.
  
A prayer against temptations especially fit for a man that findeth in himselfe a continuall Inclination to any particular sinne.
  
An exhortation to praise God, and to acknowledge our thankesgiuing to him without ceasing.
  
Adams fall.

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A consolation for them which suffer for their offences.

1

If men you buffit for ill deedes,
what praise mongst mē, get you therby:

1. Pet. 2. 20

Corrections from your faults proceedes,
and therefore take it patiently.
141

2

See none do suffer as an Actor.
of ill, as busie bodies, theeues,
Nor as a wicked male factor,
for that barrs pitty from your grieues.

3

But if please God we suffer must,
for wicked deedes were done by vs:
Deseruing punishment most iust,
may holy be by suffering thus.

1. Pet. 3. 14


4

And vnto God t'is no lesse pleasing,
then suffering of the Innocents:
God can and will, helpe our diseasing,
we are but as his patients.

5

If euill men their faults confesse,
and noe good course of life omit:
Belieue in Christ, and faith expresse,
then surely he'l their faults remit.

6

And their deserued punishment,
and crosses all he'l lenifie:
And giue a crowne magnificent,
to purenesse them he'l sanctifie.

7

The theefe who died for heineous crime,
hang on the Crosse by Iesus side:
Confessing sinnes at his last time,
was in his suffering sanctifide.
142

8

To comfort him our Lord did say,
this day thy soule to heauen seal'd vp:
On Iacobs ladder, heauens high way,
because thou tasts with me my cup.

9

Then sinners all that him belieue,
repent their sinnes & mend their life:
As mercy them shall sure releeue,
and so cut off their mortall strife.

10

The suffering Martiers testifie,
Christ and his Gospell he vs sent:
The law doth sinners scourge and try,
faith frees their paines if they repent.

11

Whē thou sufferest for right or wrong
let steadfast faith in Christ remaine:
Such sufferings shall ere it be long,
the crowne of endlesse glory gaine.

12

No man therefore ought to dispaire,
Christ dyed for our redemption:
Him aduocate did God prepaire,
from sinne to cause exemption.

13

And thē he wil'd his word be preached
to euery creature instantly:
And by his Gospell his grace reached,
cause he would haue no sinners die.
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14

The health of all he doth desire,
calls all to him that burdned bee:
And to forgiue doth vs require,
and all to pray that troubled bee.
FINIS.
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