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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.
 1. 
The first part.
 2. 
The second part.
 3. 
The third part.
 4. 
The fourth part.
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The second Lamentation containeth Godly and deuout prayers for constancie in afflictions, and to beare malicious slaunders patiently.
 1. 
The first part of the second lamentation
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The second part of the second lamentation.
 3. 
The third part of the second lamentation.
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The fourth part of the second lamentation.
  
A thankesgiuing to God, with magnifing of his holy name vpon all instruments.
 3. 
The third Lamentation in distresse.
 4. 
The fourth Lamentation in distresse.
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The fift Lamentation in distresse.
 6. 
The sixt Lamentation in distresse.
 7. 
The seauenth Lamentation in distresse.
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The eight Lamentation in distresse.
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The second part of the eight Lamentation.
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The fift part of the eight Lamentation.
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[The ninth Lamentation.]
 1. 
The first part of the ninth Lamentation in distresse.
  
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.
  
To the elect and faithful.
  
Although the body die yet they shall liue.
  
The death of the Godly is a sleepe.
  
To whom they that die ought to commit their Spirit.
  
The bodie is buried but shall be raised vp againe at the last day.
  
In the pangs of death and in all tribulations, the remedies be to be learned in the sufferings of Christ.
  
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.
  
Psalmes. 6.
  
Psalme. 32.
  
Psalme. 38.
  
Psalme. 51.
  
Psalmes. 102.
  
Psalme. 130.
  
Psalme. 144.
  
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.
  
[Be vnto me O Lord a Tower]
  
If an ill Suspicion ouertake thee.
  
If vndesent sadnes perplex thee.
  
If vaine-glory seduce thee.
  
If despaire molest thee.
  
If thou be afflicted in minde.
  
If Slouth assaile thee.
  
If wrath disturbe thee.
  
If desire of honour or promotion tempt thee.
  
If Gluttonie solicit thee.
  
If any blessing of God happen to thee.
  
In any grieuous persecutions.
  
When thou seest thou art forsaken of God.
  
Against Detractours.
  
For our enemies.
  
If Corrupt flesh prouoke thee.
  
If labour tyre thee.
  
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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175

The penitent prayeth for the Testimonie of a good Conscience.

1

Looke down (O Lord) on me poore man,
In thee I liue, I moue, and am,
O cleare my soule and conscience,
That I in thee my peace, may finde
Rest to my heart, ioy to my minde,
freed my sinne and mine offence.

2

Let me not stretch my conscience,
But trust vnto thy prouidence,
nor by deceipt or guile get gaine:
Ill gotten goods let me restore,
And of mine owne giue to the poore,
as thou my portion shalt maintaine.

3

From conscience that shall erre a misse,
Out of the way of heauenly blisse,
and hath not warrant from thy word:
From all the pathes Hereticall,
From all the waies Scismaticall,
Restraine, refraine my feete O Lord.

4

From conscience strict, and full of nicenesse,
And ouer curious much precizenesse,
represse mine heart, my soule and minde:
And with traditions new inuented,
That are not with thy word indented,
let not my actions be inclinde.
176

5

A wounded conscience who can beare,
Tis full of horror dread and feare:
it is an endles perturbation.
A witnes torture Iudge and Gaile,
It makes our faith and hope to faile:
and lead'th to desperation.

6

A conscience wicked and peruerse,
That none but great sinnes can it pearse:
and mightie mountaines mole-hills makes,
It hindreth our Saluation,
It furthereth Obduration:
and sence of sinne it from vs takes.

7

Of each good guift Lord thou art giuer,
From all ill conscience me deliuer,
and euer, and euermore preserue me:
Then I in quietnes and rest,
As one of thine whom thou hast blest,
for euer, euermore will serue thee.
FINIS
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