The Muses Sacrifice [by John Davies] |
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The Sinner because of the darknesse of his
vnderstanding, confesseth his inabilitie to come
to the knowledge of Gods will by his Word; and desireth to be holp
and enlightened by Gods spirit therin.
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 | The Muses Sacrifice |  |
The Sinner because of the darknesse of his vnderstanding, confesseth his inabilitie to come to the knowledge of Gods will by his Word; and desireth to be holp and enlightened by Gods spirit therin.
Thou hast commanded (Lord) in eu'ry Want,
that Man, thy Creature, still should call on thee;
And thou his iust desires hast said to grant,
then now (ô now) thy Promise keepe with mee:
that Man, thy Creature, still should call on thee;
And thou his iust desires hast said to grant,
then now (ô now) thy Promise keepe with mee:
For now, eu'n from the Bottome of the Deepe,
I cry to thee that art all Heights aboue;
I, crying, call; or rather, calling, weepe
for what I want; that is, thy Grace, and Loue.
I cry to thee that art all Heights aboue;
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for what I want; that is, thy Grace, and Loue.
Then, as thou art still soothfast, grant them me
that by them still I may thy Heasts performe;
Then if thou would'st I should obedient be,
let Loue and Grace my will to thine conforme.
that by them still I may thy Heasts performe;
Then if thou would'st I should obedient be,
let Loue and Grace my will to thine conforme.
Lo, I entend, and by thy holy Grace
will still contend, thy holy Will to doe;
Then through the luster of thy brightest Face,
shew it, that I may know, and doe it too.
will still contend, thy holy Will to doe;
Then through the luster of thy brightest Face,
shew it, that I may know, and doe it too.
Giue that which thou hast giu'n me Pow'r to craue,
and Promise to obtaine; thy guiding Spirit:
Thou still dost tender that which I would haue;
yet cannot take it, if I lacke thy light.
and Promise to obtaine; thy guiding Spirit:
Thou still dost tender that which I would haue;
yet cannot take it, if I lacke thy light.
A Chaos (Lord) of Darknesse still I am,
without th'inlightning Spirit still moue thereon;
Then let thy Spirit with light so cleare the same,
that it may be an Heau'n for thee alone.
without th'inlightning Spirit still moue thereon;
Then let thy Spirit with light so cleare the same,
that it may be an Heau'n for thee alone.
Vnseele mine Eyes, that long thy Light to see;
for, they are blinded with black Ignorance:
Then, Light of Lights to Heau'n direct thou me
the rightest way with thy bright Countenance.
for, they are blinded with black Ignorance:
Then, Light of Lights to Heau'n direct thou me
the rightest way with thy bright Countenance.
Men are of various mindes about this Way;
some this, some say that way the way doth lie:
And to it Scripture (Truths right Rule) doe lay;
but Truth ne'er lay in such diuersitie.
some this, some say that way the way doth lie:
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but Truth ne'er lay in such diuersitie.
For, Truth is one, but these are manifold;
then lead me in this way, else stray I shall:
Incline my Will this rightest way to hold
(how euer strait) and in it neuer fall.
then lead me in this way, else stray I shall:
Incline my Will this rightest way to hold
(how euer strait) and in it neuer fall.
O trade me in thy Paths, I begge of thee
with all the forces of my minde and mouth;
And when I step awry, straight shew it me
by inspiration of thy Spirit of Truth.
with all the forces of my minde and mouth;
And when I step awry, straight shew it me
by inspiration of thy Spirit of Truth.
If in thy Word I looke for help herein
from all Presumption keepe my priuate Spright:
For, many Doctors so deceiu'd haue beene;
then make my Soule still see, and take the right.
from all Presumption keepe my priuate Spright:
For, many Doctors so deceiu'd haue beene;
then make my Soule still see, and take the right.
Thy Word's a Lanthorne to direct their steps,
that are as humble, as intelligent:
Yet oft the Wise thy meaning ouer-leapes,
while it's reuealed to the innocent.
that are as humble, as intelligent:
Yet oft the Wise thy meaning ouer-leapes,
while it's reuealed to the innocent.
Thou spak'st therein to all Capacities,
and lispst to Babes, to make them know thy minde:
Yet if thou guide them not, and ope their eyes,
the Wonders of thy Law they cannot finde.
and lispst to Babes, to make them know thy minde:
Yet if thou guide them not, and ope their eyes,
the Wonders of thy Law they cannot finde.
Thy Will then (shewne and hidden in thy Word)
is hid, though shewne, from those not prompt by thee:
Though Camels there may swim, and Gnats may ford,
yet both may drowne, if (there) too bold they be.
is hid, though shewne, from those not prompt by thee:
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yet both may drowne, if (there) too bold they be.
In shallow'st places, there, great Clarkes haue suncke
into the depth of Heresie, and drew
Whole Nations after them; yea, made Kings drunke
therewith, while they Beleeuers-right pursue.
into the depth of Heresie, and drew
Whole Nations after them; yea, made Kings drunke
therewith, while they Beleeuers-right pursue.
So then, as none could euer see the Sunne
but by the Sunne; so, none can rightly see
Thee in thy Word, but by reflexion
of that pure Light of Lights that comes from thee!
but by the Sunne; so, none can rightly see
Thee in thy Word, but by reflexion
of that pure Light of Lights that comes from thee!
If so, then light me in that Light (thy Word)
sith thou art Light of lights; else may mine Eyes
Be daz'led, and (so) drowne me in each Ford
of those pure Riuers of thy Paradise.
sith thou art Light of lights; else may mine Eyes
Be daz'led, and (so) drowne me in each Ford
of those pure Riuers of thy Paradise.
Thy Word is Truth; but those it doth misguide
that know not well thy Language, nor will know;
Sith they will learne but of them-selues and Pride;
so, not thy Word, but they are erring so.
that know not well thy Language, nor will know;
Sith they will learne but of them-selues and Pride;
so, not thy Word, but they are erring so.
None can be sau'd without they doe thy Will,
which none can doe, vnlesse the same they know:
And none can know it, much lesse it fulfill,
if it, by speciall grace, thou doe not show.
which none can doe, vnlesse the same they know:
And none can know it, much lesse it fulfill,
if it, by speciall grace, thou doe not show.
Then, if thou wilt that I shall saued be,
(for thou wilt no mans Death that seekes thy face)
Let me be taught to know thy Will by thee;
and made to doe it by thy Pow'r and Grace:
So shall I finde what I am seeking still,
To know Thee well, and well to doe thy Will.
(for thou wilt no mans Death that seekes thy face)
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and made to doe it by thy Pow'r and Grace:
So shall I finde what I am seeking still,
To know Thee well, and well to doe thy Will.
| The Muses Sacrifice | |