The Sedvction of Arthington by Hacket especiallie, with some tokens of his vnfained repentance and Submission Written by the said Henrie Arthington, the third person, in that wofull Tragedie |
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 | The Sedvction of Arthington by Hacket especiallie, with some tokens of his vnfained repentance and Submission |  |
To the Right Honourable, the Lords and the rest of her Maiesties most Honourable
priuie Councell, increase of all graces and blessings needfull &c.
[I humblie craue that as my fall]
I humblie craue that as my fall,Hath much offended each degree,
So my restore, may comfort all
That loue the Lord vnfeinedlie.
And to that end I wish this booke,
In all mens hands accordinglie,
That whosoeuer on it looke,
May praise the Lord eternallie.
Amen,
quoth. H.A. prisoner.
Arthingtons Lamentation being close prisoner, some what augmented since his inlargement, not vnprofitable for the vse of others.
1
O heauenly Lord O father deare, how downe thine eares to meA wofull wretch that in my grief do onely seeke to thee.
2
Remember (Lord) thy promyse made to all that stande in neede,that when they cal vpon thy name, thou wilt them helpe with speede.
3
The waight and burden of my sinnes, do presse me downefull fore.therefore (O Lord) I come to thee, that mercy hast in store,
4
Confessing from a broken hart my greeuous sinnes (O Lord,)in that I haue not led my lyfe according to thy word.
5
Not onely in my youthfull yeares, when frayltie bore the sway,and led me captiue to his lusts, most apt to run astray
6
But since euen at this present tyme when knowledge doth abound,I feele my selfe most prone to sinne, which seekes me to confound:
7
There is no branch of thy iust law, but I haue broken quites,In hart, in thought, in worde, in deede, with all my whole delight:
8
Yea, euery day and euery houre, O glorious God of myght,thy holy lawes I do transgresse most vilely in thy sight.
9
For why, there is within my flesh, a secrete lust of sinne,which stil resistes thy worke of grace, & woundes me with his sting
10
So that the good which I would do, and gladly would fulfill,I am not able to performe, but euyll is with me styll
11
Which doth inforce my sinfull soule, with sorow to complayne,that I (as captiue vnto sinne) in bondage should remayne.
12
Yea (Lord) freely do confesse my best in deuours heredeserue thy earthly plague, and lasting death elsewhere
13
O then most vile and wicked wretch, what vengance is my right,For my so late most fearefull fall, in all thy peoples sight.
14
Assuredly (my souereigne Lord) my hart cannot conceiue,the horrour of those tormentes, great, that I deserue to haue:
15
So that if thou should throw me downe, the cursed feendes amongI must confesse thou hast been good, in sparing me so long
16
For neuer since the worlde began, was euer heard or seene,the lyke scandall in any age, as our offence hath been;
17
A mortall man for to presume, as thou dost vnderstand,to call himselfe (Christ Iesus (Lord) the Iudge with fanne in hand,
18
And I my selfe (distract in mynd) a Prophet false by name,should be so mad this cursed wretch Christ Iesus to proclayme.
19
Woe is my hart, woe is my soule, and all my sences woe,for to abuse them selues so much, to make thee Lord my foe.
20
And to rebell with shamelesse face agaynst thy maiestie,whom I haue found a louyng Lord, in styll preseruyng me.
21
If I should weepe both day and nyght, so long as I do lyue,my teares could be no cause (O Lord) why thou shouldst me forgiue.
22
Or yf I should in fetters lye, whylst Sunne and Moone do last,and as vnworthy of the lyght in dungion deepe be cast.
23
Or yf I should be dayly whypt in open market place,to warne all people to beware how they abuse thy grace.
24
I do protest vnfeygnedly these were to lytle payne.so that I might be reconcild into thy loue agayne.
25
Oh then (deare God) what should I do, thy Iustice to withstand,or where shall I Sauiour finde, to ridde me from thy hande.
26
Yf I should sue vnto thy Saints, or holy Angels moue,to begge me pardon for my sinnes, they woulde me all reproue.
27
Yf I could flee as feathered foule and hide me in some hill,euen there thyne eyes would spy me out, to worke on me thy wil.
28
As for thy creatures in their kynd, they can not helpe my case,but rather storme because I sought their maker to disgrace
29
And al the damned ghostes in hel, they watch (already bent)when thou wouldst giue them leaue (O Lord) my soule for to torment.
30
O wretched man should I dispayre, because my sinnes are great,or feare thou wylt not heare my playntes, when I do thee intreate.
31
No (Lord) thy worde and spirit sayth, although mens sinnes abound,yet hast thou no delyght at all, poore sinners to confound.
32
Namely such wretches as in hart, their greeuous sinnes lament,and stryue by all good meanes they may, the same for to repent.
33
But to that ende such sinners may finde comfort in distresse,thou chargest them to call on thee, and thou wylt sende release.
34
Then looke vpon thy seruant (Lord) whylst there is tyme & space,for from thy iustice I appeale vnto thy throne of grace:
35
Beeseching thee (O father deare) some pittie on me take,and saue me (not for my desartes) but for thy mercies sake.
36
Alas what glory shouldst thou gayne in damning me to hell.or who shall there thy noble factes, and worthy prayses tell:
37
O blessed God thou hast delyght thy mercies to extendevnto all those that iudge them selues and would not thee offend:
38
In trueth (my Lord) I do confesse of all that know thy name,I am the least than haue done well, and most deseruing blame.
39
O therefore in thy iustice (Lord) do not contende with me,for why as gylte in thy sight I yeelde my selfe to thee:
40
Requesting one thing at thy handes, that thou wouldst thinke vponthy couenant made in Iesus Christ, for mans saluation.
41
And as it then so pleased thee, when we were all thy fooes,to sende him downe for vs to die, thy mercies to disclose.
42
That where our sinnes (by thy iust dome) deserued lasting payne,his merites myght restore vs all into thy loue agayne.
43
Of all those fooes I do confesse my selfe for to be chiefe,then magnifie thy mercies (Lord) to sende me some reliefe.
44
And though my sinnes in number passe the starres aboue the skye,yet (Lord) thy mercies far surmount thou canst it not deny.
45
O then increase my fayth in Christ, so strongly to abounde,that neither Satan, death, nor hell, my wounded soule confound.
46
But that when iustice grypes my hart, and cryes vengance for sinne,to Christ his merites I may flye, and pleade my light therein.
47
O father make the power thereof, transforme my barren hart,that sinne may die that grace may lyue, & my styll soule conuert:
48
Giue strength (O God) to spende my dayes according to thy worde:and after this lyfe, grant me heauen through Iesus Christ my Lord.
49
And seeing Satan seeketh styll Christes glory to deface,by castyng how to griue his sainctes almost in euery place.
50
O father deare preuent his rage, and let him not preuayle.51
Lord sende thy Angels from aboue to pitch their tentes below,to saue all such as trust in thee, from Satans ouerthrow.
52
Beate downe his kingdome into hell, frō whence sin first did spring,and styll exalt thy holy worde, that Christ may reigne as king.
53
Be good (O Lord) to Israel, thy poore despysed flocke,euen such as suffer for thy name, and buylde vpon the Rocke.
54
O Lord, be good vnto all those that loue thee in their hart,and from the wayes of wickednesse, do more and more depart.
55
So shall thy people all abrode, fall downe before thy face,and quite forsake their former sinnes, thy Gospell to imbrace.
56
O blessed Lord, graunt this request, thy glory to aduance,and styll regarde for to maynteyne thine owne inheritaunce.
57
Increase the number of thy sainctes, defende them from all euyll,Lord giue them grace to watch and ward styl to resist the deuyl.
58
And as saluation is thy gyft (O heauenly God aboue)bestow vpon thy lytle flocke that blessing of thy loue:
59
Then shal we al with cheareful voyce, sound out thy worthy prayseand in thy Church with one accorde, sing Psalmes to thee alwayes.
60
All laude and prayse (O Lord of hostes) I do ascribe to thee,for sending Iesus Christ thy sonne, my sauiour for to be.
Giue God his due
quoth H. A. prisoner.
Arthingtons Thankefulnesse, for the Lordes exceeding kindnes extended vnto him.
1
O mightie God thou Lord omnipotent,who onely rulest all thinges at thy wyll,
Whose throne is far abeue the fyrmament:
and whose great power both heauen and earth doth fyll,
Shall dust and earth begge of thy Maiestie,
to shew how good thou hast been vnto me.
2
How good (my God) graunt pardon I thee pray,for neyther I nor any mortall wight,
Thy goodnes (Lord) can any way display,
as I do feele it working day and nyght:
Yet giue me leaue to tell the best I can.
what thou hast done for me (poore simple man)
3
Poore man, I may not stande on euery poynt,for so I shoulde too much thy patience mooue,
But so far forth thy doinges to acquaynt,
as others may thy goodnes dayly loue:
Now then with comfort let my tongue intreate,
what thou hast done for me (poore wretch of late.
4
Of late my (Lord) thou knowest I was possest,with Satans spirite cast into my soule,
Which was as hot as fyre within my brest;
and dyd my scenses for the tyme controll,
Inforcing hart and soule for to begin,
and most of all my cursed tongue to sinne,
5
To sinne, (deare God) the lyke was neuer scene,so great a sinner since the worlde began,
To lyue with breath, as I vile wretch haue been,
agaynst Christ Iesus thy beloued sonne:
Oh mercy graunt, that grace may styll abounde,
for my supplyes, as I haue alwayes founde.
6
As I haue founde (good Lord) thy mercies great,they farre surmount the greatnes of my fall:
For thou from heauen (euen from thy mercy seate)
didst giue in charge to saue my soule from thrall,
And wouldst not let the temptor worke his will,
as he dyd seeke my lyfe (by death) to spyll.
7
My lyfe to spyll (deare Lord) thou knowest it well,that Satan sought to worke me further payne,
My soule and body both to bryng to hell,
that I should there in tormentes styll remayne:
But thou (my God) wouldst not it should be so,
but didst reuenge me of my deadly foe.
8
My deadly foe (HACKETT the Sorcerer)thou hast destroyde, and cast into the lake,
For his great pride agaynst my Sauiour,
that durst his name and office vndertake.
But I (poore wretch) thou God of all glory,
how mightely hast thou preserued me.
9
Preserued me from stangers many fold,of soule and body due (without excuse)
And that most strange for mans eyes to beholde,
that shoulde be restorde to former yse,
Or vnderstanding wit, and right reason,
without all helpe saue Iesus Christ alone.
10
Christ Iesus onely, did cast Satan out.Christ Iesus onely saued me from woe,
Christ Iesus onely compast me about
that Satan could not my state ouerthrow.
O Iesus Christ, what should I giue to thee,
for all thy mercies manifolde to me?
11
Thy mercies (Lord) in stinting all this strife.thy mercies (Lord) in shylding me from shame,
Thy mercies (Lord) in sauing of my lyfe.
that I might lyue to prayse thy holy name:
O blessed Lord giue grace and strength I pray,
thy mercies great yet further to display,
12
Thy mercies great my mynde for to conuert,when worldly, meanes did fayle me in my neede,
Thy mercies great in comforting my hart.
when as in soule with inwarde woe did bleede,
Thy mercies great which doth the rest excell
in sauing (Lord) thy seruantes soule from hell.
13
My soule from hell I freely do confesseand body both (my Lord) thou didst preserue.
Yea furthermore when I was in distresse.
So farre thy kindnesse did extende to me,
but (Lord) how should I thanke thy maiestie.
14
How should I thanke thy goodnes (O my Lord)for all these tokens of thy constant loue:
(Especially for sending me thy worde)
to strength my soule that nothing could me moue:
Assuredly, my hart can not conceyue,
what thankes thou (Lord) deseruest for to haue.
15
Deseruest (Lord) no mortall wyght can tell,the worthy prayses that belong to thee,
Except he could describe in the paynes of hell,
And ioyes of heauen that last eternally:
(Which yf man could) yet doth thy prayse excell,
as farre as heauen in goodnes passeth hell.
16
Thy goodnes (Lord) it reacheth ouer all,It fylleth heauen, and earth, and all therein,
It norisheth all lyuing thinges mortall:
it doth preserue the state of euery thyng,
Then as thy goodnes all thy workes surmount,
so can no man thy prayses iust recount.
17
Thy prayses (Lord) thy workes expresse the same.The Sunne, the Moone, the Starres in firmament,
And all the host of heauen in such good frame,
do shew thou art a God omnipotent:
But what a God in thyne eternitie,
these thinges created cannot testifie.
18
Thy creatures (Lord) do all with one consent,say blessed be thy holy name therefore.
But forasmuch as they must all relent,
they can not yeelde thy prayses euermore.
O then (deare God) how shoulde I prayse thy Sonne,
for working foorth my deare saluation.
19
Saluation (Lord) sith that shall haue no ende,I know not how to prayse thee for the fame,
But styll to pray that thou wouldst condiscende,
that I may lyue to gloryfie thy name.
And when this lyfe is flytt and worne away,
with thine elect to prayse thy name for aye.
20
For aye (sweete Lord) yea and for euermore,let me (poore wretch) sound out thy prayses styll,
For all thy mercies kept for me in store:
and for all thine that, do obey thy wyll,
O let the number styll be multiplyde,
that thy great name may be more magnified.
21
Thy name be magnified (O glorious Lord)both in this worlde, and in the worlde to come,
Of all thy creatures with one accorde,
that are or shall be altered in forme:
Let heauen, let earth, let euery thyng lyuing,
sounde out the prayse of Christ our heauenly king.
Giue God his due
quoth Hen. Arth. prisoner.
A meditation of the exceeding mercies of God, the father, sonne, and holy ghost, in the creation, saluation, and sanctification of the redeemed. &c.
1
O mortall man, regarde and see,what God in loue hath done for thee:
When thou wast nought but dust and earth,
he put into thee lyfe and breath,
And made thee like his Maiestie,
in wysedome and integritie.
All creatures he made for thy sake,
to gouerne, vse, and thereon take:
What hart coulde thinke for thy safety,
he did it graunt most wyllingly.
2
When thou through sinne wast falne from grace,and so cast downe from pleasant place,
into this vale of miserie
subiect to all calamitie:
And of Gods friende was made his foe,
in bondage styll to sinne and woe,
God in great loue sent downe his Sonne,
for thy saluation to be borne:
That so he might in thy nature,
his fauour lost agayne procure.
3
So that when sinne did styll abounde,and Satan sought thee to confounde,
Gods iustice yeelding to the same,
to throw thee downe to endles shame:
Beholde the great exceeding loue,
of Iesus Christ that did him mooue,
Thy sauegarde man to vndertake,
and so to suffer for thy sake,
The paynes of hell, and to fulfill
in euery poynt his fathers wyll.
4
If thou belong to God aboue,then dost thou feele his greatest loue.
His holy spirite assures thine hart,
that in Christes sufferinges thou hast part:
A steadfast fayth in Christ his death,
this spirite in thee sealed hath,
A constant hope by him alone,
for to obtayne saluation.
None other Sauiour dost thou craue,
but onely Christ thy soule to saue.
5
Thus must we all Gods people deare,confesse the loue he doth vs beare,
In chosing vs before the rest:
and louing vs his chyldren best.
In whom he reigneth by his worde,
and keepes vs from the enimies sworde:
Whose prouidence styll doth well supply,
for to relieue our miserie.
that we should serue him euermore.
6
Then let this great loue of the Lord,mooue all our hartes to learne his worde:
To worshyp first his Maiestie,
with hart and soule most constantly.
And next our heighbour in lyke sort,
to loue, maynteyne, and styll comfort.
And whylst we lyue with hart and mynde,
to prayse Gods loue to vs so kynde.
So long as heauen and earth doth last,
and when this worlde is gon and past.
7
Let all Gods workes sounde out his prayse,most chearefully now and alwayes:
Not onely those that are mortall,
but those much more Cælestiall.
And most of all his owne deare flocke,
that are sure buylt on Christ the Rocke.
O let vs all with one consent,
prayse this our God omnipotent,
For working our saluation,
through fayth in Iesus Christ alone.
Giue God his due
quoth H. A. prisoner.
Certaine infallible tokens of a faythfull Christian, taken out of the 5. of Mat. &c.
1
He that is poore in spirite and in mynde,and rightly deemes his vertues to be small.
He that in his soule no goodnes can finde,
but doth adiudge himselfe the worst of all.
O happy man preferde before the rest,
All thinges shall worke togeather for his best.
2
He that doth feele the burden of his sinne,to presse him downe into the lowest hell:
And euen from thence with woofull playnt begins
to mourne, that he so deepely did rebell.
O happy man. &c.
3
He that is meeke and humbled in his soule,for greeuing God by former tyme mysspent.
He that doth striue his lustes for to controll,
and from within doth all his sinnes repent.
O happy man, &c.
4
He that doth hunger after righteousnesse,to know the Lord and his most holy wyll.
He that in lyfe doth study to expresse,
what God his worde enioynes him to fulfill.
O happy man &c.
5
He that is mercifull, to remit all wronges,and tenderly respectes his neighbours poore.
that so they may passe by the niggardes doore.
O happy man. &c.
6
He that is pure and single in his hart,to seeke the Lord and his true worshyp heare.
He that from his worde wyll in no wyse start,
for losse, for gayne, for fauour, or for feare.
O happy man. &c.
7
He that doth seeke to ende debate and stryfe,twixt man and man, so much as in him lyeth:
He that hymselfe doth leade a holy lyfe,
which God doth loue, and Satan much enuyth.
O happy man. &c.
8
He that doth suffer for the Gospelles sake,the losse of freedome goodes, or lyfe it selfe:
And chearefully his crosse with Christ vp take,
regarding not this worlde, not worldly pelfe.
O happy man. &c.
9
He that can put vp all reprochfull wordes,with Iesus Christ, and for his holy wyll,
Although such tongues do cut lyke pearcing swordes,
to wounde the iust, that wysh and would none yll,
O happy man &c.
10
He that doth watch and pray vnto the Lord,to redeeme all those that suffer for his sake:
And for to giue free passage to his worde,
our soules by preaching ioyfull for to make,
O happy man. &c.
11
He that doth hate the wicked wayes of sinne,and sets his soule to seeke the trueth aryght.
He that forsakes this worlde, and all therein,
and on the Lord doth fixe his whole delyght,
O happy man &c.
12
He that doth loath the pleasures of this lyfe,as knowing them to fight agaynst his soule.
He that doth stryue to stynt such fruitelesse stryfe,
and all his lustes by wysedome styll controll.
O happy man. &c.
13
He that in all distresse can freely say,thy wyll (O Christ) be euer done in me:
I do beleeue thou wylt not me denay,
but saue my soule in ioy eternally.
O happy man. &c.
14
He that doth long to be with Christ the Lord,where his elect his blessed name adore:
That he with them, and all with one accorde,
may magnifie his goodnes euermore.
O happy man preferde before the rest,
All thinges shall worke togeather for his best.
FINIS.
| The Sedvction of Arthington by Hacket especiallie, with some tokens of his vnfained repentance and Submission | |