The Muses Sacrifice [by John Davies] |
THE DOLEFVLL DOVE: OR, Dauids 7. Penitentiall Psalmes;
somewhere paraphrastically turned into Uerse. |
The Muses Sacrifice | ||
THE DOLEFVLL DOVE: OR, Dauids 7. Penitentiall Psalmes; somewhere paraphrastically turned into Uerse.
Domine ne in furore.
When Dauid by his sinnes had prouoked Gods wrath; and now felt, not onely his hand against him, but also conceiueth the horrors of death euerlasting, he desireth fornesse, bewailing that if God tooke him away in his indignation, he shall lacke occasion to praise him as hee was wont to doe, while she was among men. Then, sodainely feeling Gods mercie, he sharply rebuketh his enemies, which reioyced in his affliction.
(for, iust it is, sith so vniust I am)
Nor chasten me when thy fierce Wrath is hot,
lest I should be extinguisht yer the Flame.
(thy Grace so strong, as it vpholdeth All)
And heale me (Lord) with thine all-helping Hand:
for, eu'n my bones are bruised with my fall.
(for griefes but pine; but this doth quite vndoe)
Then Lord, how long shall I (a poore Relict)
endure these plagues, that paine and pine me too?
(to me that fades as flowres for want of Sunne)
And let my Soule be safe, and sau'd by thee,
through Grace, that hath to thee most glory wonne:
that they constraine the Sense to minde but them:
Who then in Hell, through hellish discontent,
can once but minde thee, in such paines extreame?
that it conuerts mine Eyes to founts of Teares:
For, eu'ry night in teares I rince my Bed,
and drowne my Couch in streames of griefes & feares.
that they see nought, but through those Water-streames:
My beauty's gone, while I away do weare,
among my Foes, and these confus'd extreames.
then leaue me, leaue me, yee too idle Crue,
That yet still worke, but worke iniquitie;
for, God hath seene my Teares, and heard me rue.
but Foe-like friends, and all mine enemies
God will cut off by diuers fearefull ends;
and soone confound you, and your Trecheries.
three Persons, and one God; all glory be;
As it was, is, and shall be in each Coast,
thoughout all worlds in all eternitie.
Beati quorum.
Dauid punished with grieuous sicknesse for his sins, counteth them blessed, to whom God doth not impute their transgressions. And, after that he had confessed his sins and obtained pardon, he exhorteth the wicked men to liue godly; and the good to reioyce.
whose Crimes out of Gods Note-Booke cleane are crost;
Whose sins are couer'd so with Clemencie,
that they are hid; so, seeme they to be lost.
imputes no Sinne; (for, so he shall be cleare
How e'er defil'd) and in whose sp'rit no base
deceit, shall once so much as but appeare.
for Death with Silence in such passion striues)
My bodies Props (my Bones) consumed are
while all the day I grone in Sorrowes Giues.
like Lead vpon my weaknesse: who haue bin
Conuerted into selfe-Calamitie,
whiles the Thorne prickt me (or, my stinging sin)
& haue not clockt my crimes, which thou dost hide:
But I confesse those Sinnes, thou hast conceal'd
sith my misdeedes shall (so) be iustifide.
in fitting time (yer Mercies Gate be sparr'd)
But when the Inundations swelling be
of many Waters they from Him are barr'd.
when troubles me assaile with fiercest woe:
Then ô preserue me from the impious Bands
that me inclose, in death to close me so.
and guide thee in thy way (ô honied Words)
Thine Eye (thou saist) shall me defend from ill,
and watch to guard me from my foe-mens Swords.
that are as rude as vnintelligent:
Lord, bridle them, thy Snafle will not rule,
till they be rul'd, or else be made repent.
that doe the Sinner euermore attend;
But who with Hands o Hope on God layes hold,
his boundlesse Mercy him will comprehend.
(for, he in Griefe still glads the righteous Soule)
Exult all ye, that for your Sinnes are sad;
and all true Hearts, that stoupe to his controule.
and to the Sonne, and their coequall Spirit,
As it was, is, and shall be euermore
World without end: for, they are infinite!
Domine ne in furore.
Dauid lying sicke of some grieuous disease; acknowledgeth himselfe to be chastised of God for his sinnes, and therefore prayeth God to turne away his wrath. He vttereth the greatnesse of his griefes by many words and circumstances: as, wounded with the arrowes of Gods ire, forsaken of his friends, euill intreated of his enemies. But in the end, with firme confidence he commendeth his cause to God, and hopeth for speedy help at his hand.
nor chastise me in thine incens'd ire;
For, in my Flesh thy Shafts are fixed fast;
and thy Hand quels me, that would faine a pire.
(for, Sinne's the sore; the salue, sore-sicknesse is:)
And, in my bones I can no rest enioy,
because their Marrow them hath mou'd amisse.
and, as a breake-necke Burden, me oppresse:
My wounds (which they haue made) with filth are fed,
and ranckled sore, through my worse foolishnesse.
deform'd, and wretched; yea, it breakes my backe:
or mourning goe, as those that comfort lacke.
now harbour nought but restlesse Malady:
No health is in my flesh; for, all is sore:
so sore that anguish makes me (roaring) cry.
because my Plaints still tell it in thine eares;
My Heart is vext, my strength from me retires;
nay, more, mine Eyes are blinded with my teares.
like foes (in deed) now me (poore me) withstand:
Nay, those, in bloud that were my neerest, be
now furthest off; and lend nor heart nor hand.
that life; or (at the least) me to vndoe:
And but of guile and spoile they euer speake;
and put in practise what they speake of too.
(for poore Soules must not hear what must offend)
And, as one dumbe, I still my selfe did beare,
that gaue no more reproofes then eare did lend.
my sighes and grones, sith they increase for Sinne.
who, when I doe but trip, triumph therein.
and cause thereof, I euer beare in minde:
For, I, with griefe, confesse mine ouerthrowes,
that lost thy Grace, which now I seeke to finde,
strong in their friends, their places, purse and armes,
And they that hate me (causelesse) and inuade
me (forcelesse) many be; the more my harmes.
oppose me still, sith goodnesse I ensue:
Then, haste thee (Lord) to help me (so withstood)
and leaue me not among this cursed crue.
and to the Sonne, and to their blessed Spirit,
All glory be, as it was heretofore,
is and still shall be through Worlds infinite.
Miserere mei Deus.
When Dauid was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offences, he did not onely acknowledge the same to God, with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie, but also left a memoriall thereof to his posteritie Therefore first he desireth God to forgiue his sinnes, and to renue in him his holy Spirit; with promise that he will not be vnmindfull of those great graces. Finally, fearing left God would punish the whole Church for his fault, he requireth that hee would rather increase his graces toward the same.
haue mercy on me (wretch) whose Sin exceeds;
Yet after thy compassion so compleate,
wash out the blots of my too foule misdeedes.
that ranckles in my Conscience, all defilde
With all that may depraue both Soule and Sense;
that (purg'd) I may to thee be reconcil'd:
sith still my Sinne's the obiect of my sight;
And, by the pow'r of mine impiety,
I wrong thy grace and still impugne thy Sp'rit.
and done what doth condemne me in thy sight;
That in thy Words thou maist be iustifide,
and ouercome when thou art iudg'd vnright.
to my conception; which to worse did passe:
Then, ere I was, I stood at sinfull stay;
and, when I fell to Being, worser was.
thy Grace to me thy Wisedome (hid) to show:
Then sprinckle me with Isop, in thy Loue;
and so, I shall be whiter farre; than Snow.
what Eares corrupts) thou shalt but Ioy obiect:
So shall the bones, which by thee broken were,
reioyce; and, sinne, wherein it ioy'd, reiect.
and wash me from the filth they cast on me;
In me create an vndefiled Heart,
with such a spirit as may be iust to thee.
out of the Way still brightned by thy beames;
Nor, from me take thy Spirit, my Guide and Stay,
in hardest passages of all Extreames.
and, with thy chiefest Spirit, still strengthen me;
Then those Ile teach that now thy wayes doe misse:
so, Sinners shall conuerted be to thee.
so shall my Tongue thy Iustice highly raise:
But more thy Mercy, sith it glads me more.
Then, ope my Lips, and they shall shew thy praise.
offer'd it to thee; but, thou tak'st delight
In no burnt Offrings; but, art euer glad
to take the Offer of a contrite Spirit.
thou wilt, nor canst thou, for thy Word, despise;
Then, let mine, broken so, thy Mercy win;
and, from it still auert thine Angers Eyes.
of raz'd Ierusalem rebuilt may be;
And still withstand Hels fiery darts, and Bals,
to keepe thy Foes out, onely but for thee.
of Iustice in thy Mercy; then, shall they
Offer Oblations still in flames to thee;
and Calues vpon thine holy Alter lay.
and to the Sonne, and to their blessed Sp'rit;
(A Trinitie in strictest Vnitie)
as it was, is, and shall be infinite.
Domine exaudi.
It seemeth that this Prayer was appointed to the faithfull to pray in the Captiuitie of Babilon. A Consolation for the building of the Church: whereof followeth the praise of God to be published vnto all Posteritie. The Conuersion of the Gentiles: and, the stabilitie of the Church.
ascend to thee, from whom all grace descends:
From my distresse turne not thy Mercies Eye,
but bowe thine Eare to me, that downward bends.
like Vapor vanish; and, my parched bones
Waxe weake and dry, as is the flame that playes
about the Snuffe, at point to quench at ones.
so that my Heart is wither'd quite away:
And through my griefe, for that, I further it:
for, I forget to eate, for Natures stay.
to my consuming flesh, will hardly cleaue:
And, like a Pelican alone, I mourne:
or, like an Owle I liue, while life I leaue.
and, as a Sparrow, on the Houses Crest,
I sit alone; to minde my sinnes mischance:
so (idly) resting in the most vnrest.
yea, he that praised me, against me sweares:
But I, as Bread, did Ashes eate the while;
and still my Drinke did mingle with my Teares.
for, thou hast rais'd me vp, to cast me downe:
My dayes are past, as if they ne'er had bin;
and (like Hay wither'd) I from thee am mowne.
and thy Memoriall euer lasts in prime:
Thou shalt arise, and downe thy Mercies poure
(by showers) on Sion, in this promis'd time.
delight thy Seruants; and her sacred Ground
They pitty, as they doe her preiudice,
which with the sharpest griefe their hearts doth wound.
and, all the Kings on Earth thy glory feare:
For, Sions Fabricke thou dost still re-frame,
and in thy fullest Glory shalt appeare.
and not dispie their Suites, in wretched case:
So future times to write this, this doth moue,
that Babes vnborne, may praise this God of Grace.
his Eyes to Earth (whereon they still remaine)
To heare poore Captiues plaints, and such as waile;
and, loose the Sonnes of them (vniustly) slaine.
and in Ierusalem his earned Praise:
Yea, in th' Assemblies celebrate the same,
when Kings consorted, sing sweet Sions Layes.
hath answer'd them: but, shew (Lord) shew to me,
How long or short shall be my mortall Race;
that so, for thee, I still may ready be.
(at vnawares) yer halfe my Dayes be done:
As for thy yeeres they stand still at a stay;
but mine more swift then thought away doe runne.
the highest Heauens thy glorious Hands did reare:
But they shall perish; thou, continue sound
while they waxe old, and like a Garment weare.
and they shall changed be; but thou, alone
Dost still continue One, and aye the same:
whose yeeres remaine the same, and euer One!
their seede shall be directed in thy Wayes:
And while they walke therein, they fixt shall stand
in Heau'n and Earth to celebrate thy praise.
t'his Sonne, and to their Spirit, which wee adore;
(Coequall in their Essence and Degree)
as it was, is, and shall be euermore.
De profundis clamaui.
The people of God, from their bottomlesse misery, doe cry vnto God, and are heard. They confesse their sins, and flye vnto Gods mercy.
I doe and will (deare Lord) still call on thee:
and, listen to my Prayers, and to me.
what flesh and bloud then, in thy sight shall stand?
But Mercy is with thee, as in the Fount:
then, I expect thy Mercyes Helping-hand.
hath euer staid; and still doth hope in thee;
Then from the Morning-watch, till that of Night,
let Israel still relie on Thee with me.
is Grace as much as Glory; and, therein
He will redeeme the sad in sinfull Case;
with his true Israel, from all their sinne.
and to the Sonne, and to their blessed Spirit,
All glory be, as it was heretofore,
is, and still shall be through Worlds infinite.
Domine exaudi.
An earnest Prayer for remission of sinnes, acknowledging that the enemies did thus cruelty persecute him by Gods iust iudgement. He desireth to be restored to grace. To be gouerned by his holy Spirit, that hee may spend the remnant of his life in the true feare and seruice of God.
and, for thy truths sake, note mine humble suite:
O heare me in thy Righteousnesse, which heares
All those that mourne, although they still be mute.
with me, fraile man: for I, nor none beside,
(Because of sinne which we haue all incurr'd)
in thy cleare sight shall then be iustifide.
hath long pursu'd my Soule (that flesh misse-led)
My Life in Earth, his Fury hath brought low;
and hid the same in darknesse, with the dead.
are greatly troubled; yet, I minded still
Thy dayes of old (thy Workes and thy Desert)
which did my Muse with Ioy and Wonder fill.
my Soule (that thirsts (as earth that water wants)
For drops of grace, to quench her flames of sinne)
I lift to thee, the while, for grace she pants.
because my fainting spirit hath failed me:
Auert not from me thy conuerting Eyes,
lest I be like to those that burying be.
(the Day when Iustice Sonne shall Comfort giue)
Let me the voyce of mercy heare, I pray;
sith still I hope that thou wilt me relieue.
are said to lead to thee, by Heads of Sects;
Shew me the Way that straight to thee conueyes,
sith my poore Soule both thee and it affects.
to thee alone I flye in all distresse:
Then teach me to performe thy blessed Will:
for thou art onely all my blessednesse.
shall bring me to the Land that Iustice beares:
And, for thy Names sake thou shalt me receiue,
according to thy grace (that neuer weares.)
and, through thy Mercy shalt destroy my Foes:
Yea, all annoy that doe my Soule molest,
sith as thy Seruant, I on thee repose.
three Persons, and one God; all glory be;
As it was, is, and shallbe in each Coast,
thoughout all worlds in all eternitie.
The Muses Sacrifice | ||