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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
 2. 
The second part of the second lamentation.
 3. 
The third part of the second lamentation.
 4. 
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.
 5. 
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.
 2. 
The second part of the eight Lamentation.
 5. 
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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2. The second part of the second lamentation.

The repentant prayeth that God would direct him in the right path, that so he may grow from grace to grace, and from vertue to vertue, he also confesseth that his sinnes deserue very sharpe punishments and yet desireth that the Lord would spare him in his mercy.

13

Psal. 5. 9. Psal. 27. 11.

O let me treade in the right path,
& walke frō faith to faith in loue:
Obserue thy lawes and shun thy wrath,
and forward to all vertue moue.

14

And let my conscience witnes beare,

Psal. 51.

of my faith and integritie:
Let all men see the christall cleare,
and pure heart of conformitie.

15

Mat. 18. 7. 8.

Though I good father cannot liue,
free from all sinne and all offence:
And some take cause, though I none giue
yet keepe thou cleare my conscience.
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16

Shall I deserue still I doe,
mens iust reprouffes, though in discretiō
And that against my meaning too,
and suffer carnall mens oppression.

17

That breake forth into bitternes,
against me that am weake and lame:
And vomit out their filthines,
that thou hast don, they count my shame

18

And take it as an argument,

Act. 28. 34. 5.


that I am in deiection:
And thinke it is thy full intent,
to keepe me from protection.

19

Indeed O Lord I must confesse,
my sinnes deserue sharpe punishment

Luke. 13. 40. 41.


Worthy of more and not of lesse,
then all the plagues on me hast sent.

20

I more should tast then I can beare,
or able them for to endure:

Psal. 51 .7.


Thy mercies yet they doe me spare,
and make me cleane that am impure.

21

But in my weakenes of mine hauiour,
I this haue done which caus'd me fall:

Rom. 5. 9. 1. Iohn. 7.


And therefore trust in Christ my sauiour,
his pretious bloud hath paid for all.
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22

Psal. 17. 4. 5

Depending on thy mighty power,
to saue, keepe, and deliuer me:
Least miseries doe me deuour,
and enemies my sorrowes see.

23

And take occasion to pursue,
pretending to my soule no good:
Inuettred hatred they renue,

Psal. 27. 2.

to eate my flesh & drinke my bloud.
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