Marie Magdalens loue

Mary Magdalens Loue . Vppon the twenty Chapter of Iohn , from the first verse to the eighteenth .

Vppon the first verse as fo●●oweth .

The Text. Now the first day of the weeke came Mary Magdalen , early when it was yet dark vnto the Sepulchre , and sawe the stone rowled away from the Tombe .

DEerely beloued in our Sauiour Christ : In this first verse I find foure cheefe note● to bee well marked , and kept in memorie : First the person named , who it was , and of what condition : Secondlie , the time , Thirdlie the place , and fourthly what was there seene and done . The person was Marie a woman , and one that had bin a great sinner , the time that she came , was the first day of the week in the morning earely , euen when it was yet darcke : the place shee went vnto , was the sepulcher , and the thin● that shee saw there was the stone rolled awaye from the Tombe : now touching Marie let vs note two especiall causes of her comming , loue and sorrow , loue that she bare him , and sorrow that shee had for him . I meane to liue without him : who of manie thousandes are ignorant , that the mistaken loue indeed , which the wantons , and wretches of this worlde are to much troubled with ; will keep their wits waking , watching and continuallie woorking for the accomplishment of a moste wilfull or rather woefull desire : and if then the deuill , by the permission of God , haue such power to blind the eyes , and charme the senses of humane creatures , with that lewd humor of mistearmed loue , how much more warie , effectuall , and continuall carefull watch dooth the loue of God keep in the soules of his seruantes , longi●● and looking , both day and nig●● , and thinking no time too earlie or long , be it neuer so long , so that at last they may come to the enioying of their souls comfort : Let vs therfore consider a little what may bee spoken of Maries loue : First that shee loued we cannot doubt , for it was spoken by the mouth of Christ himselfe vnto Simon . Luke , Chapter 7. Verse . 45. Many sinnes are forgiuen hir , for she loued much ▪ But marke now the nature of this good loue what it wroght in her ▪ three excellent blessings , Constancy , Modesty , & Humility : Constancy in the hart , Modesty in the minde , and Humility in the soule : but of these wee wil speake more hereafter in their due places , & therefore touching the first words from whence I gather my first notes , marke here what is saide by the ●olye Euangelist , whom 〈◊〉 ●ameth : Marie Magdalen , a w●●●n , and one that had beene a great sinner : out of whom were cast out seuen deuills , but when the foule spirits were gone , there came to her that good spirit , that in true penitence found especiall grace with her liuing Lorde , not that she was then no longer a sinner , but being a penitent sinner , she had obteined mercie .

Now you see , how Marie had beene a great sinner , and receiued a great forgiuenes , which begat in her faith so great a Loue , as broght forth great fruits of repentance , & made of her as it were a new woman , turning her from a sinfull seruant to the world , to a louing seruant to Christ : as in these wordes following shall appeare .

Nowe earlie in the Morning the first day of the Weeke , came Mary Magdalen , he sayeth not the Disciples , but Mary Mag●●len : See here you blessed and welbeloued of God , both men and women : What a sweet example of care she hath left for your comfort that wil follow hir , it is saide heere , shee came the first day of the weeke : An excellent note for good husbandes and huswiues to obserue , not to ouerslippe their time , till the latter end of the Weeke , and then perhaps also be either idle , or worse exercised , as I feare too manie are in these dayes : then another note of wisdome in the choosing of her worke to seeke Christ : for beginne the Weeke with him and thy worke will thriue the better , and continue the Weeke with him and thy wages wil be the greater , and neuer worke but with him , and thou shalt finde thy labour will bee the easier by the vnspeakable ●●mfort of thy reward . Manie are 〈◊〉 earely , and downe late , as the ●●●fe about his robery , the couetous about his misery , the adulterer about his villanie , and the Traytor about his ●reason , but alas Mary had none of these thoughtes in her head , shee rose earely to seeke Christ , shee came earely while it was yet darke : for as Dauid the Psalmist saieth in his hundred and thirtie Psalme , and sixt verse . My soule waiteth on the Lord , more than the Morning watch watcheth for the Morning : who then wilcome to Christ must wait for him as Dauid did ; and seeke for him as Marie did . Earely in the morning and the first day in the weeke and though it be dark , yet wee must watch till it be day , and then by Gods helpe wee shall see that wee looke for : Now let vs speake a little more of Mary , shee found her self a sinn●r , and therefore vnwoorthy to see her Sauiour any more , but yet her sinnes were forgiuen her and she desired to sinne no more , and now did grace so woork in her looue , that faine she would see her Lord a little more : but alas her Lord was dead , to other perhaps , but not to her , and see how faith wrought in her affection , her heart had light before her eyes , shee went through the dark and came to the place ere it was day .

The diuell watcheth in the light to lead his followers into darknes and shall not wee watch thorough darknes to seeke Christ in the light ? Iudas watch all day to betraye his Master in the night , but Mary watcheth all night to come to her Master in the day : Oh sweete blessing of God where faith wrought loue and loue dutie , and all came together to bring Mary to Christ : and except with these we followe her , wee shall neuer come to him : but Mary was a woman , and shal men follow women ? why her happines came from God , and shall not wee follow her to her happines ? but Mary was a sinner , and what flesh is righteous ? and Mary was repentant , and what more proofe of election ? and Mary loued Christe , and what more ioy in a Christian ? now not offending men ; let mee thus farre speake in the commendation of godly women : if the first spoken off in the scripture offended God ; the last spoken off , looued Christ : If Heuah was an accursed wife , Mary was a blessed virgine : If shee were full of sinne ; Marie was ful of grace : If Eue was tempted by the diuel , Mary was saluted by the Angell : And if Eue bare a wicked Son Cain , Mary brought a blessed Son Christ : now though this was not that Mary that bare Christ , yet this was she that loued Christ , & for a world of such godly women as are lest examples to their posterities & sex in all Ages : I would be loath to spend time in recounting their names , which truly set downe , might make a Cathalogue of worthy memorie : but I speake to all beloued men & women , thinke it no scorne to follow Marie in her early rising to seeke Christ : for to rise early is holsome for the bodie , & to walke to Christ is comfortable to the soule , suche exercise is better than any physick , & such a trauail brings the best rest .

Now Mary came early in the morning while it was yet darke : surely , sin dooth much darken our eyes , that wee cannot see the way to Christ yet repentaunce gaue Mary such a light that shee found the way to his sepulchre , and surelye wee must haue our lampes fedde with the oyl● of her Lords grace , or we shall neuer finde the way to her soules comfort : when Peeter and Iames were taken vp into the heauens & saw Christ in his glory , standing betwixt Moses and Eliah he could say , Heer is good beeing Lord , but after hee was crucified , who sought him at his sepulchre ? Mary : Many would perhaps bee glad to rise earely to go vp to heauen to him , but who will goe thorough the darke to seeke him at his graue ? Mary did , and such as Mary will : Oh blessed Mary , so may I well tearme thee , for as the Psalmist saith in his Psalme . Blessed are they that seeke him with their whole heart : & in that was she surely blessed , for shee sought him with her whole heart , by the light of her soules loue , orels being in the dark she woulde haue hardlye hitte the way : but now , where sought she him ? at his sepulchre where he was buryed : see heer the ●trong effects of loue , liuing or dead , shee could not forget her Lord : dead she saw him , buryed shee knewe hee was ; & why did she then seek for him ? loue could not forget him , & sorrowing to liue without him , aliue or dead she wold be glad to se him : Now stil note the force of loue in the elect . A woman in nature feareful was now valiant , the darknes vncomfortable , shee thorow the dark sought her comfort , and amongst the graues of the dead sought the comfort of her life : here was loue voide of feare , and faith void of doubt , broght a spiritful of sorrowe to seeke her light in the darke , and Mary full of griefe to seeke her Lord in his graue . Now Mary came early while it was darke , the first day of the weeke vnto the Sepulcher . Manie will rise earely to looke to their Chickens , their Geese , their Duckes , their Swine , or such other things , but al things must be looked ouer , ere Christ be thought vpon , and perhappes not then neyther : But as it is written in Luke , Chap. 10 , vers. 41.42 . Martha was troubled much about her worke , but Mary tooke the good parte : so manye take earely iournies , but Mary here made the good walke : Now though she came to seeke him where hee was buried , yet in hir hart she beheld him crucified ; for who sees not his death in the sorrow of his hart , I am perswaded shall neuer find him liuing in the ioy of his soule : But he was crucified for Maries and our redemption , and shall not wee with Mary mourne for his Passion ? Yes let vs with Maries loue looke into his Mercie , and following hir sorrow , wee shall finde hir comfort ; and though not at the first as wee wish , yet at the last as she did : For if we watch the darke night of sin that wee sleepe not in sensualitie , but rise early to repentance , and walke with a true faith to the finding of our soules felicitie , when we haue gone thorough the dark , and attended the day , wee shall see the stone rowled away , and somewhat lest for our comforte , when the hardnes is rowled from our hearts , we shall enioy the blessing of our soules : Which that we may the better attaine vnto , let vs watch with Mary , walke with Mary , and weepe with Mary , rise early , goe thorough the darke , and come to the Sepulcher to seeke Christ in his graue , ere wee looke for him in his glorie : and though it bee long ere wee see his Person , yet shall wee quickly be partakers of hir comforte : For shee , as you shall herea●●●r heare ( God willing ) sawe him , bu● knewe him not ; so shall wee bee sure of his Mercy though we see him not : Will you then come to Christ ? Learne to imitate Mary in hir course : Who hath many sinnes , and findeth much remission , let his loue bee great , and his sorrowe not little , to lacke the comforte of his loue : Christ is offended , Christ must forgiue ; Christ must be loued , Christ must be sought , and that early , for feare wee come too late , and since wee cannot behold him with our eyes of corruption , let vs holde him in the heart of our regeneration ; let the first day of the weeke be the first beginning of our youth lest when wee growe olde either our spirites be so dull , or our eyes so dimme , that we shall not be able to rise , or at least to walke to seeke Christ : Christ dwels a great way from the worlde , and ●ee that is ouerladen with sinne , must shake off his burthen , or hee will neuer come at heauen ; and hee or shee that will not in the sorrow of their sinnes rise vp to repentance , and in Christ his Passion learne the power of Mortification , they may perhaps heare much of him , and pray much to him , but I doubt whether they shall euer come neere him .

Learne then of Mary whom to loue , Christ : Why ? for his goodnes in forgiuenes of hir sins , & the feeling of his Mercy ; then louing Christ , learne hir sorrowe to bee without him ; with hir sorrowe ▪ hir labour to rise early to seeke him ; the place where to finde him , at his Sepulchre : I meane in the Mortification of the flesh , that you may glorifie him in the spirite ; who in forgiuenes of sinnes , and redemptio● of sinners ; in comforting the penitent , and blessing the faithfull in the perfection of loue , deserueth all honour , to whome sweete Iesu , the blessed sonne of the euerliuing God , with our heauenly father and the holy Ghost , bee all Glory , Honour and Prayse , both now and euer , Amen .

Mary Magdalens Loue . Vppon the seconde verse , which is as followeth .

The Text. Then shee ran , and came to Simon Peter , and to the other Disciple whom Iesus loued , and said vnto them , they haue taken away my Lorde out of the Sepulcher , and we know not where they haue laid him .

IN this Verse I take foure especiall notes : First , hir running ; then to whom shee ranne ; then how shee spake ; and last what shee said .

In the former verse it is said , she came to the Sepulcher , nowe in this verse it is said , shee ranne from the Sepulcher . Shee came thorough the darke to seeke Christ in his deade Tombe ; but nowe it is day , shee beginnes to runne to his Disciples , to tell what shee had seene , hoping perhaps of them to heare somewhat of ●im : Se● here a notable token of true Constancie in her l●●e , through the darke shee walke●●o seeke him at his graue ; now in the light shee runs to his Disciples to enquire of him : So surely ought wee to doo , if in our owne cogitations wee finde him not as we desire , let vs runne to the Disciples to instruct our desires howe to seeke him : Searche the Scriptures saith Christ , and there you shall reade of mee .

So , the Scriptures wee must search , if we hope to finde Christ , but if wee bee so ignoraunt that wee cannot reade them , let vs then runne to his Ministers , that can and will deliuer his Worde vnto vs , that by them we may be instructed to finde the best way vnto him .

Then shee ranne and told Simon Peter , and the other Disciple whom Iesus loued .

In this worde Then , is a notable sence to bee obserued : First shee came to the Sepulcher , and sawe the stone rowled away from the Tombe , and then shee ranne and tolde the Disciples ; so wee must first looke into Christs buriall , by his buriall , I meane his whole Passion ; and then if wee finde not his Resurrection , wee must runne vnto his Ministers for our instruction .

Againe I note here an excellent token of Modesty in Mary to bee obserued of all Godly creatures , as well men as women ; it is not saide heere , that so soone as shee came to the Sepulcher , shee went in , or looked into the Sepulcher , but shee sawe the stone rowled away from the Tombe , and then shee ranne and tolde the Disciples : By a litle shee gathered more , the stone was rowled away , the graue ●as open , and him shee saw not , and therefore either he was gone , or els finding hir vnworthines to come so neere as his Tombe , shee would not looke in , but shee woulde first tell his Disciple : what shee had seene , to heare what they would say to her .

Howe excellent a note is this of Modesty , for all Godly women & men th●t are zealously giuen , to runne to Gods Ministers to enquire of Christ , and to bee instructed in his will , ere they diue too deepe into the secretes of his holy Scriptures .

Then shee ranne , and came to Simon Peter , and the other Disciple whom Iesus loued , and saide vnto them : Heere are you to note an excellent point of Modesty in Mary , to be carefully obserued thogh shee ranne from the Sepulcher , yet shee came to the Disciples : Though she ranne while she was out of sight , yet shee came when shee was in sight of the Disciples : shee ranne not hir selfe out of breath , to tell hir tale out of order ; but after that shee had runne the time of hir loue , she came in good time for hir comfort ; as ( God willing ) you shall heare hereafter .

Now it is not said , shee cryed , or sighed , or sobbed , and coulde not speake a worde , or as a body halfe destraught , laide holde on the Disciples , to hale them to the place where shee had beene , but when shee came to them shee saide ; which worde saide , encludeth a kinde of discreete deliuery of speeche : As wee commonly say in our Courtes , when a speech is well deliuered , if vpon any occasion of the hearers consideration the speaker be interrupted , when the cause is thought vppon hee is bidden say on : In speaking oft we heare added vnto this word speak , either lowd or softly , distinctly or plainely ; but to saying I find none of these : but I finde written the sayings of the wise . Yea , Christ himselfe , in heauen and earth , the glory of all wisedome , vseth that worde in many places , as Verelie , verelie , I say vnto you , &c. Many places coulde I sette downe where this worde is vsed to beautefie the speeche , with the Modestie in the deliuery . But I will leaue them to the Readers leysure , and I woulde wish that all men and women woulde learne to imitate Mary in this manner of hir speaking , to talke as shee did of Christ and to his Ministers , to learne their instruction for their knowledge of him : Then would there not bee so many wicked men and women , Witches and Sorcerers , Glutto●s , Drunkards , Adulterers , Thieues , Traytours , and Murtherers , besides other vayne and idle headed people , and blasphemers of GODS most holy name , so daylie and howerlie exercised as they commonly are , in most vile and filthy talke , too intollerable to be heard of any Christian , leauing to thinke either of Christ his word or his Disciples , and wilfully runne headlong to the diuell and his followers , and will rather laugh at Mary , and runne to the diuel , than weepe with Mary to come to Christ : But God for his mercies sake , turne their heartes , and with them giue vs all grace to goe with Mary to Christs Tombe , to runne with Mary to his Disciples , and to returne with Mary to our comfort : But of that we will ( by Gods grace ) speak more hereafter .

Nowe shee ●ame to the Disciples and saide , they haue taken away my Lorde , and I knowe not where they haue laid him : Note here now the cause , that led Mary to the Disciples : Hir Lord she mist , & faine she would see him , but knowing not where to seeke him , shee thought it hir best way to goe to his Disciples to enquire of him : To seeke in the Heauens , alas shee was too great a sinner to looke so high for him ; in the earth to seeke him were in vaine , for the stone was rowled away from the Toombe , and therefore he was surely stolne away ; and in the worlde to seeke him , alas it is too base a place for so Royall a Presence , hauing before his death so vngratefully entertayned him . Nowe neither in the Heauens , the Earth , nor the World ; alas , where s●oulde shee enquire after him ? Is not of any of his Disciples : And therefore to them shee ranne , and to them she said , They haue taken away my Lord and I knowe not where they haue laid him . For many causes dooth the Lorde absent himselfe from vs , that wee may consider howe wee haue lost him , and seeke howe to finde him : If we loose him by sin , we must seeke him by repentance , and wee shall finde him by faith ; but wee must seeke him as Mary did , runne to his Disciples to enquire of him , and so shall wee the better come to him .

Nowe touching the Disciples shee came vnto ; one thing I especially note in the naming of them : Simon Peeter and the Disciple whom Iesus loued . Though all the Disciples were called by the especiall grace and power of the holy Ghost , to the true seruice of GOD , in the administration of his holy worde , yet here I note them two especially named : For to which of his Disciples did hee say as hee said to Peter ? when hee confessed him to bee the sonne of the liuing God ? as it is written in the sixteenth Chapter of the Gospell of Saint Matthew , and sixteenth verse : Fleshe and bloode hath not reuealed this vnto thee , thou shalt be called Cephas , which is by interpretation a stone . And vppon this Rocke will I build my Church : Not vppon Peter , but Peters confession . And againe , to which of them did he say as hee saide to Peter three times ; Dost thou loue mee Peter ? Feede my flocke . Dost thou loue me Peter ? Feede my Lambes , &c. Who though hee answered him to both his questions , with Lorde thou knowest I loue thee ; yet hee treabled his question againe , asking him , Dost thou loue mee Peter ? And when hee had receiued his answere , that Lorde thou knowest all thinges , and thou knowest I loue thee : Hee gaue him this commandement , Feed my Lambs nowe , if wee bee Lambes of Christes flocke , where shall wee looke for the milke of his mercie , but out of the booke of his most holy and sacred Scriptures , & who can interprete them vnto vs ? But his learned and holy Ministers , and such as will shewe Christe their loue in instructing his flocke . Such a Disciple was Peter , and such a Lambe was Mary : God sende vs many such Lambs as Mary , to run to such Disciples as Peter , to talke of nothing but Christ .

Now the other was hee whom my Text sayth Iesus loued : and Christ be●●ng hir loue , of whome shoulde she● better enquire after him , than o● his beloued ? See then , what is the cause that first leads vs vnto Christ ? Loue : How shall we seeke him ? but goe to his Ministers for our instruction ; who by the true administration of his holy Worde , doo manifest themselues to bee the beloued of his Mercie .

Learne then of Mary when to seeke Christe , the first day of the weeke , in the beginning of our daies , then thorough the darkenes of sinne , to breake out into the day light of Grace ; then where to seeke him , in his Tombe ; if there you finde him not , runne to his Disciples to enquire for him ; and to which of them ? those that by the discharge of their dueties , are most likely to be his beloued : and thus if you will bee guided by the line of hir loue , I doo not doubt , but you shall come to hir comfort ; which as hirs was , let ours bee , in the onely sight of our most blessed Sauiour , sweete Iesus Christ , the light that will leade vs through the darke , the life that will raise vs vp from death , and the loue that will giue vs life for euer : to whome in his Redeemer , in his holy spirite our comforter , and all in one , our Lorde , King , and euerliuing , almighty GOD , bee ascribed and giuen all Honour , Prayse , Dominion , and Glory , both nowe and for euer , Amen .

Mary Magdalens Loue . Vppon the foure , fiue , sixe , seauen and eighth verses , which are as followeth .

The Text.

Peter therefore went foorth and the other Disciple , and they came vnto the Sepulcher : So they ranne both , but the other Disciple did outr●nne Peter , and came first to the Sepulcher .

And hee stooped downe , but went not in ; then came Simon Peter following him , and sawe the linnen cloathes lie , and the kerchiefe that was vpon his head , &c. Then went in also the other Disciple which came first , and saw and bel●eued .

IN these verses I note foure chiefe pointes to be considered ; the cause of their going forth , the cause of their running , why the other Disciple outranne Peter , & the cause why comming first to the Sepulcher , hee stooped downe , but went not in .

Peter therefore went forth and the other Disciple , and came to the Sepulcher : When Mari● had told them what shee had seene ; it is not said , they presently beleeued ; but they went forth : For though shee told a truth , yet they would see , & then beleeue : for it is said they went forth and came to the sepulcher : It should seeme , and very likelye that they had some remembrance of Christes wordes , spoken before vnto them touching his passion , & resurrection , the third daye , and therefore conferring their memories with her wordes , they were the readier to goe forth to try the truth of her report : Nowe Mary being a woman , and so great a sinner as she had bin , it was likely she should not obtaine any great credite with the Disciples of Christe : But , Truth in whose mouth soeuer it be , deserues well to bee entertained : and nowe the Disciples not hauing any knowledge to the contrarie , woulde not sticke at a little trauaile to try the truth of her speech : and therefore it is said they went forth : You see here she was not blamed for her reporte , nor doe wee finde as yet shee was beleeued , but only approued : so that hereby we are to learne what to report , and alwaies to tel truth , and to trie out a truth , ere we giue credite to a report : but if the talke be of Christ and the reporte from the faithfull , and that conferring it with the Scriptures , we finde any likelyhood of truth , wee must not regard who it be , man or woman , but goe with them for their comfort to the triall of their cause : It should seeme now they heard it of none , but of Mary , for as it is saide of none but of Marie that came earlie to the Sepulcher , and from thence ranne to the Disciples and told them what she had seene ; so it is not like that she had told anie but the Disciples , for if shee had , some or other would haue beene with the Disciples before her : or els haue beene at the Sepulcher , before shee had re●ained with them ; ●ut the Disciples not hearing of it , by any other , ( as I said before ) calling to memorie , some of Christes speeches deliuered vnto them before , to trie out the truth , they went forth , and came to the Sepulcher : Nowe here is neyther a beleefe , nor distrust , a reprehension nor commendation , but a proofe : and of whome ? a woman , and in what ? of a truth , touching the resurrection , or at least as shee thought of the remoouing of Christ : But of that I meane ( God-willing , to intreate more hereafter : but to my Text : Peter therefore went forth , and the other Disciples , and came to the Sepulcher . What an encounter argument may this be to all men & women to tell truth , when the Disciples of Christ vpon the report of Mary , would go forth with hir , & not return till they cam to the sepulcher : we read that Ananias & his wife wer both stroken dead for denying of their and lying to the Disciples of Christ : yet here we see Mary for telling of a truth accompanied with the Disciples vnto the graue of Christ : learne therefore how dangerous a thing it is to lie vnto the Disciples of Christ , especially in naming of Christ , the God of all truth , and how gratious a thing it is in man or woman to come to the Disciples with a truth , or to enquire of any truth touching Christ : & thus much touching the cause of the Disciples goin● forth , and comming to the Sepulcher : Now is it saide here , they ran both , but the other Disciple out ran Peter : a light beleefe will make many men and women to runne them selues out of breath to see a May game , a Beare-bayting , or a bauble not worth the lo●king after , but heere was no such report , and therefore coulde bee no such beleefe : and therefore woulde to God the idle heades of the world would turne their mindes to better matters & leaue such toyes , as are b●t snares of the diuell , & harken vnto the truth that may bring them to Christ : and rather bee delighted to talke with the Ministers of Gods holye worde , of the passion of Christ , & to seeke him in his worde ; than to runne with wicked people to see a foole in a play : but learne of Marie , what to say , whither to goe , & what to doe ? Seeke Christ , bee instructed by his Disciples , and goe with them to his Sepulcher : First learne to be mortified , or els neuer looke to be glorified : Nowe it is said that the other Disciple whom Iesus loued out ran the other : so that the verie loue in the spirite , that he had vnto the Lord , was it that carried him to the Sepulcher to see what he had hard , or might become of his Master : and surelie , the greater measure of loue , that God infuseth into the soule of man , by the inspiration of his holy spirit , the greater shall bee his , or her desire , and the swifter to come to him , his Sepulcher , or his holie word : the true testimonie of his eternall mercie . First it is said , they went forth , now they ranne , so we see hereby , that once entred into the way to Christ , wee will euen runne to get to him , at least if wee be lead by the ●ame spirit that Marie and the Disciples were : otherwise if once in the way wee looke backe , we shall euer be vnworthy to finde the path againe to our comfort : but to the former words , So they ran both , but the other Disciple outranne Peter : Of all contentions , I finde it the best , to contend for the soules comfort ; & of al races , the best running to Christ : manie run after their dogges , hurrting all day for a hare , and perhaps go without her at night ; other run their horses for the ●ell , and tire them , or kill them ere night ; many run for a wager , that breake their hart in the course , that they are neuer able to goe againe : too manie runne from their Countries , that sield or neuer returne good Christians ; but too fewe run to the Disciples of Christ , or with his Disciples to his Sepulcher : but as I said before , Marie did , and such as Marie will : shee ran to them to tell of Christ , & shee came with them to heare of Christ , would to God we cou●d & would so run , & so talke as Mary did , that Christ might bee the delight of our talke & the end of our trauaile : Alas poore wretches that we are , how vile & corrupt is this nature of ours ? that we are so blinde that we cannot , or so blinded that wee will not see the way that leads vs to Christ , and if God of his mercie haue opened our eyes , so that wee see the way , yet wee are so lazily lame , as that we had rather sleepe out the day in idlenes , or loose the whole yere in wantonnes , or in all wicked & filthy beastlines , spend the whole time of our yeres , rather than trauaile one mile , nay step one foot , or stay on● minute , eyther to talke of Christ , or come to his Disciples : wee will runne to a playe , where perhaps we may haue our purses pickt , or to football , where wee may haue our shinnes broken , or to a fray where wee may haue our heads broken , or a worse matter : but to come to Christ our spirituall Treasure , our Creator , Redeemer , our peace , health , and soules Chirurgen , who will runne , or is almos● willing to stirre a fote ? But here it is saide his Disciples ranne , and surely who will be his Disciple must run , or els it is so far a walke , that they will hardly euer come to him : Nowe as it is thought , Peter was the elder , and not so light of the body , yet such was his loue , that it is saide , they ranne both : so that old and young must run : now marke further , what I gather in these two running together : Peter was old and faithfull , the other in his loue eyther bashfull or fearefull : for it is said when he came to the Sepulcher , he stooped downe and sawe the linnen clothes lying , but went not in : See heere the excellent care of this Disciple : either bashfulnes , that beeing the younger , he should presume to goe in before the elder , or to auoide a vaine glorie of boldnesse without aduise , or fearing to offend to goe in without counsaile : It is said hee stooped downe & saw the linnen clothes , but went not in : Note heere an excellent warning for yong heads that are either zealous in Religion , or learned in the holy Scriptures , to learne by this Disciple how to run to Christ ; let them take their elders with them , and do nothing without them or their aduise : and if they come to anye perfection , yet let them giue place to their elders , in anye thing that may bring them to Christ : for so did the beloued of God , the Disciple here spoken of : Againe here we may note an excellent agreement between them , though Iohn outranne Peter , yet hee stayed for him at the sepulcher : & seemd not angry ●or saide any thing to him for his sow comming , nor laught at him for his stiffe runing , but that he stayed and went not in , neither doe I finde that Peter was angrie with his outrunning of him , nor smild at his feare ( as it shuld seeme ) of his stay , that he durst not goe in till he came ; for being led both by the power of one spirit , they gest thus farre each of others minde : Loue was of most force to bring him to the Sepulcher , but saith made Peter more valiant to goe in into the Sepulcher : yet no doubt but they both had faith , and both had loue : or els Maries report had not made them run so fast thither : For the commendation of the one , what can bee saide more of faith , then that which Christ himselfe said vnto Peter , vpon his confession of him , to be the sonne of the liuing God , vpon that rocke he woulde build his Church : and for the other , what more proofe of his loue ? vnto any creature liuing , than in the Reuelation of his Diuine will ? as in the holy word you may reade most sweetly expressed . Learne then I saie to run with the loue of Ioh. but venter not in without the faith of Pet. Iohn perhaps might doubt manie things , that the gra●e might bee closed when hee were in , for his presumption , in going in without authoritie , & yet not being forbidden at least to his owne remembrance , he might be the lesse afraide what woulde followe of his aduenture : b●t while loue prickt him forward , and feare puld him backe , comes Peter to the place , and goes into the Sepulcher : Here is the old saying disannulled , first come , first serued ; no , for here you see Peter came last , but he first went in ; and sawe the kerchiefe , and the linnen clothes lie , & the kerchiefe that was wrapped together by it selfe : then went in the other Disciple , which came first to the sepulcher : and hee saw it , and beleeued . In these last wordes , you may see the cause , why he went not in : not that hee beleeued not at all , but that his faith was not yet of that force , that Peters was : For Peter knowing the Sea woulde not swallowe him , when he threwe himselfe into it to come to Christ liuing ; had now no fear that the earth would shut her mouth vpon him , for going in where he had beene buried : And therefore boldly he went in , and then went in also the other Disciple , who saw it and beleeued : Heere will I onely trouble you with one note more touching faith , you see howe loue brought Mary early in the morning while it was yet darke to the Sepulcher , made her runne to the Disciples to tell what she had seene , made the Disciples to runne to make tryall of the truth , and last made Iohn to outrunne Peter , in the race to the Sepulcher , but where al this while was faith ? weake in Mary by reason of her sinnes , weake in Iohn by reason of his youth , but strong in Peter by reason of his comfort ; so are there no doubte nowe a daies , many that are forward and zealous in Religion , that yet doo lacke that strength of faith that Peter had : for though a number perhaps would runne with Mary to his Sepulcher , & to his Disciples to talke of him , yet who will venter to go into his graue ? or will throw himselfe into the Sea ? in Loue to come to him as Peter did ? Now it followes they saw and beleeued ; and why nowe more than before is it said they sawe and beleeued ? because as yet they knewe not the Scriptures , that hee must rise againe from the dead : Lo , here is a good excuse for the weakenesse of their faith ; but what excuse can bee laide downe for vs ? nay what shame is it for vs , that hauing the testimonye of their truth ; seene by them , and written by them to vs , and for vs , that wee will not reade the holie Scriptures , or reading , so little beleeue them , or beleeuing , so little regarde them , that wee maye iustlie bee saide to bee without eyther faith , or loue , eyther to seeke or finde Christ , or almost to heare or thinke of him , eyther in his woorde , his Sepulcher or his mercie ? but God for his mercy sake , turn our harts , and inspire our soules , with the gratious power of his glorious holy spirit , that running from the sincke of sin , we may come to the sepulcher of Christ , and that with Maries sorrow , Iohns loue , & Peters faith , we may rise earlie , in the prime of our yeares and through the darke of sinne breake out into the day light of grace , that maie bring vs to the fight of our soules comfort in the resurrection of our blessed Sauiour , to whome nowe sitting at the right hand of God , in all absolute power , wisedome , peace , grace , and mercie , truth , bountie , loue , life , and glory , with our heauenly Father and his holie spirite one Almightie and euerliuing God ; bee ascribed , and giuen all due honor , praise dominion , and glorie : both now , and for euer : Amen .

The Text.

And the Disciples went againe to their owne home : but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping , & as she wept , she bowed herselfe into the Sepulcher , and saw two Angels sitting one at the head & the other at the feete , where the bodie of Iesus had laine : and they said vnto her , woman , why weepest thou ? She saide vnto them , they haue taken away my Lord , & I know not where they haue laide him : when she had thus said , shee turned her selfe backe , and sawe Iesus standing , and knew not that it was Iesus : Iesus saith vnto hir , woman , why weepest thou ? whom seekest thou ? She supposing it had bin the gardner said vnto him . If thou hast borne him hence , tell me where thou hast laid him , and I will take him away ,

Iesus saith vnto her , Mary ; she turned her selfe , and saith vnto him Rabony : which is to say Master .

DEarelie beloued in our Sauiour Christ , yee haue hearde before of the Disciples comming to the Sepulcher , with Mary , yee haue heard of Iohns outrunning of Peter , and of Peters first going in into the Sepulcher ; yee haue I hope , noted the fruites of faith , and loue in the elect children of God , in briefe to seeke Christ , either aliue , or dead ; that learning to die with him , wee may bee assured to liue with him : Now ye see what is here said , The Disciples went home againe : when they had tried the truth of her report , and that their eyes were witnes of more , than Mary had yet in her wordes deliuerd , ( for that she had not yet presumed either to goe in , or so much , as to looke in into the Sepulcher : ) they returned home without hauing further conference with her , rather willing to leaue her mourning for her loue , than to fill her head full of doubts , what might become of hir Lord : and therefore it is said , they returned to their owne home , neither commending her for her truth , nor giuing her thankes for her report shee had made , nor aduising her to seeke further a●ter him , nor counsayling her to staye there longer for him : but , beeing them selues ignoraunt where to seeke him , they left her to Gods pleasure , to dispose eyther of her staie there , or her departure from thence : by this I gather , that if we shall enquire of the ministers of Gods holy worde , touching anye such point , as in the holie Scriptures is not laid downe , wee must not take it amisse , if we be left vnto the mercie of Gods holie spirit , for the reuelation of his holy will , rather than to ●●ll our heades with such cogitations , as neyther the scriptures doe warrant , may perhappes please God , nor fall out to our comfort : but yet , let vs with Mary go to the Disciples of Christ , to enquire and learne of them , what wee may for our comforte , but if we can not be resolued , then let vs run to Christ with incessant praier , that wee may aske and receiue at the handes of his mercie , that he shall in his sacred wisdome finde to bee most to his glorie and our comfort : And thus much of the Disciples returning againe to their own home : now it followes , but Marie stood without at the sepulcher weeping , & as she wept , she bowed her selfe into the sepulcher : See here , as I haue saide before three excellent notes to bee obserued , in the loue of Mary to her Lord Christ : Constancie , Modestie , and Humil●●ie : Constancie , in that , though the Disciples returned home , shee stayed still ; Modestie , in that she stood , ( as it is saide ) without at the Sepulcher ; Humilitie , that shee bowed her selfe to looke in ; but would not presume to goe in , though the Disciples had beene there before her : how little is this first part of commendation , in Maries loue at these daies followed ; Let them to whom God hath giuen Grace to finde it in them selues , in sorrowfull sighes consesse it to his mercie , and with teares of true repentance ; amend it to his Glorie : Oh Constancie the true Testimonie of the harts loue , and the suerest token of the soules comforte , to loue Christ is a blessed gift of the holy Ghost , but to continue Constant to the end is an espeaciall fruite of Gods fauour .

Oh Constant loue of Mary , that hauing once washt his feet , would now fil his Tomb with her teares : Oh rare Modestie , that in his life would but lie at his feete vnder the Table , and now was so bashfull , as to stand without at the sepulcher : And , Oh most excellente Humillitie , that woulde presume no further , but to looke in : See here the heauenlie loue of this blessed woman , how much it differs from the vile nature of our worldlings loue .

We daylie see before our eyes , that the wisest Prince ; the moste Godlie preacher ; the most louing parents ; the most bountifull Master ; the most kinde kinsman ; and the most faithfull friende ; If they dye , howe soone are they forgotten ? if they bee of anye account , I meane according to the worldes estimation ; that their ●eires maye bee the better for them , then perhaps they will take this order , and bee at this charge for them : the Lawyer shall make his Will , the Sexton hys graue , the Preacher shall make a Sermon for him , the parish shall haue a Feaste for him , the Minister shall bee paide for buriall of him , and a few weare Blacke weedes for him , and so there is no more adoe for him : But where are the teares of Loue all this while : alas there is no such cause , there is more gotten by his death , than by his life : rather weepe that hee liued so long , than that he died so soone : is it not too true that in manie places , it is daylie seene , the childe is sicke of the Mother , and wisheth his Father in his graue , ere he can learne to bee a son , or leaue to be a Childe ? are not many Subiects vnkinde , that will rathe● seeke the death of a Prince , than w●epe for his want : are not those kin too strange in nature , that are not onely continually in lawe , but seeke one anothers life for their lands ? are not those seruaunts most wicked , that had rather wish for a mourning coate for a dead Master , than a cognizaunce for the liuing , and will rather betray him to his death , than weepe for him when hee is gone ? And are not those friendes moste faithlesse , that will rather giue a Iudas kisse , than shedde Iosephs teares ? I woulde there were no such people , but if there be , God of his goodnes giue them grace , with Mary to repent them of their wickednes , and with Mary to shed the teares of loue , that maye bee witnes of her faith : and continuing in her Constancie , with feare of presumption , they maye make proofe of such Humilitie as was her commendation , and may bee their comfort . How much this vertue of Constancie is commended in diuers places of the holye Scriptures , yee may read , as in Genesis the fift Chap. and fourteentl● verse . Henosh , for his long walking with God , was taken vppe in the heauens : Eliah for his constant faithfulnes was taken vpp into the heauens . Genesis , the two and twentie Chapter and seuenteenth verse . Abraham for his constant loue was called the Father of the faithfull , and had the promise of the Almightie , that of his blessed seede shuld come the blessed Messias . Noah , Genesis , Chapter seuen , and thirteenth verse , for his Constancie was saued with all his Familie , when all the worlde was drowned , that were not in the Arke : Dauid for his Constancie was left vnto vs a figure of Christ : the three Children in the fornace , for their Co●●●ancie , were preserued in the fire . Ier. the eight and thirtieth Chapter and tenth verse , Ieremie , for his Constancie , was deliuered from the Dungeon ; Iob. the one and fortieth Chapter , and twelfth verse , for his Constancie , was restored to his health , & made more happie than euer hee was , Paul , for his Constancie , was rapt into the heauens , where hee sawe Christ in his glorie : Steuen the holy Martir of God , did shine like an Angell at the time of Martirdome : and Mary here for her Constancie , comes to the sight of her Sauiour : but of this I will ( God willing ) speake more fitly anone : Now for Modestie , tedious it were to trouble you with many places of commendation , laid downe in 〈…〉 lie Scriptures touching that 〈◊〉 though some of them I thinke it not good to omit : Sara was commended for her Modestie , in calling hir husband sir : Rebeccha for couering her face , when shee saw Isaach : Hester , for her modesty was said to haue hir face shine , whose bashfull feare so pleased the King Assuerus , that he laid his scepter on hir necke , and kissed hir , and held her in his armes till her trance was ouer : And here you see her Modestie so pleased God , that he sent his Aungels to comfort her : for you see what followes . And shee bowed her selfe downe and sawe two Angels , the one sitting at the head , and the other at the feete ; O would to God that all women woulde learne this Modestie of Mary ! then wo●d they not so often fall into such p●●●●●ption , as is manie times , a 〈◊〉 of their confusion , & in steed of laughing with Michol to see Dauid daunce before the Arke of God , they ●●uld weep with Mary at the Sepulcher of Christ : Modestie would teach them to come to the Church with more deuotion , and to heare the worde with more reuerence , than I feare too manie doe now a daies : how vncomely a thing it is in a maiden , to be giggling and laughing , and how vngratious a thing it is for a woman , to be tighing and babling , in the Temple of God , at the time of the reading , or preaching of his holie Gospell : Alas what will they bee thought on among the wise ? the one but an idle gossip , and the other a foolish girle : but here you see Mary did none of these , and as I said before , such as Mary will doe none of these : Learne then of Mary to loue Christ , to bee Constant in louing Christ , and to vse Mod●sty in your loue to Christ : so shall you surelye please Christ , and I am fully perswaded , bee most comm●nded of Christians : Nowe for Humilitie , what is more commended in the holy Scriptures ? Abells sacrifice was best accepted for his Humilitie , Moses beloued for his Humility , Abrahams faith best regarded in his Humility , Dauids patience best considered in his Humility , Salomons request granted for his Humility , Nabuchadnezer restored to Babell for his Humility , Iob best tried , beloued , and made happie in his Humility , Mary the virgin , receiued the saluation of the Angell , and the abundance of Grace in her blessed wombe for her Humilitie , and Christ himselfe for his Humilite to his Father , is glorified with his father : many places I omit , that shininglie set out the brightnes of this vertue , but indeed so manie are the rare and excellent properties of this most excellent vertue , as I thinke it past the capacity of man , to giue it halfe sufficient comm●●dation ; yet thus much giuen ●aue to speake mine opinion of it : It pleaseth God aboue all thinges , it pleaseth man in manye thinges , and displeaseth the Godlye in nothing ; at lest wherin it ought to be showen : It graceth the Prince to be humble towards God , it aduaunceth the Subiecte in seruice to the Prince , it draweth loue from the parents , in the Childrens obedience , it maketh the wife alone with her husband , it bindeth friends in Amity , & perswadeth enemies to peace , it winneth Christ vnto his Church , and here you see , it bringeth the Angels to Mary : before shee ran to the Disciples , & talked with them of Christ , telling them what she had seen , now when they had seene what shee had reported , and were said to beleeue , yet they left her , and ●ent home againe : but what followed of her stay ? Now the Disciples had left her , the Aungels came to her : was not here a speciall blessing of God ? vnto so great a sinner , tha●●od regarding her sorrow , sent his Aungels for her comfort : Now let me a little touch one pointe that I haue ouerslipt , touching Maries weeping , for it is said : But Marie staid weeping at the Sepulcher : and she bowed her selfe ; now in weeping I note fiue sundrye kinds of teares : of anger , of subtilty , of sorrow , of ioy , and of loue : some are saide to weepe for curst hart , I feare too manie know the nature of those teares , but such are saide to crie , not to weepe ; for teares comming from the heart , doe so distill from the eyes , that they make no sound on the tongue ; Nowe Marie it is saide , stood weeping not crying : now there are teares of subtilty , called crocodi●es teares , which are said to mourne and weepe , till they can bring their praier within the compasse of their calles , and then they ouerthrow them , sting them to death and then feede ●pon them : so may I say , are the te●●●s of a harlot , who in her pouerty will seeme to weep for affection , far enough from her hart , til she hath caught a sole in her snare , and then shee will feede vpon him at her pleasure : thus did not Mary , for the body was dead as shee thought , that shee wept for , the earth had no eyes to behold her teares , nor did she see any man , that she could think to deceiue with her weeping : no , no , her hart was too full of sorrowe for the dead , to thinke to deceiue any liuing : Now there are teares of sorrowe , as when Peter had denied Christ , it was said hee wept bitterly , for sorrowe that hee had denied the knowledge of so good & deare beloued a Master : So it is saide Iesus wept ouer Ierusalem , to thinke on the destruction of the Cittie that shoulde after ensue : manie are the causes of sorrowe , tha● may bring teares out of the eyes of the moste wise and valiant that euer were ; but the greatest cause that shoulde melt the heart of a Christian , should bee the sorrow of the soule for the denying of Christ : now there are teares of Ioy , as were those of Ioseph , when hee saw his Father and his Brethren : But so it should not seeme were Marie● , who lookt for none but hir Master that shee could not see : Nowe there are teares of Loue , and those proceed of the kinde nature of the hart , as Christ wept when hee sawe Lazarus dead , whom he loued , and now Mary wept when she saw her Lord dead , or at least , could not see him dead , or aliue when shee liued : Mary was said to wash his feete with her teares , and wipe them with her haire when she was liuing : an excellent note of true loue , she borowed no water but her owne teares , nor any Towell but her owne haires : Now looke againe on her Humility , she vsed no towell I say but her haire and went no higher than his feete : and for her Humility and Loue , see what befell her : 〈◊〉 shee bowed herselfe into the Sepulcher , and sawe two Aungels sitting one at the head , and an other at the feete where the bodie of Iesus had layne : Nowe marke the degrees of comfort , that came vnto this humble louing Mary , Shee came f●●st to the Sepulcher to the Disciple● , from the Disciples to the Aungels : and except Christ she could goe no higher : Now a worde or two of the Aungels : and they said vnto her , woman , why weepest thou ? and she saide vnto them , They haue taken away my Lord , and I know not where they haue laide him : Now some perhaps will haue a Ierk at this peece of Scripture , to pray to the Saintes ere they come to Christ : because she talked with the Aungels ere shee came to Christ himselfe ; but let those ouerseene wittes looke a little better into the matter : First the Aungels came but to the graue , & seeing her there weeping , they asked her but a question in these word●● , woman ? Why weepest thou ? she saide they haue taken away my Lorde , and I knowe not where they haue laid him : Here is no praier made vnto them , though they were Aungels , but she onelie answered their question , & so ended their talke ; so if the Saints will come and speake to them ; l●t them aunswere their questions and haue no more to doe with them : for surely God will better appeare vnto them in his mercie , then aunswere them by his Saintes , if they could deliuer him any message ; but let these blinded people take heede that these mistaken Saints proue not Diuels that by illusions lead them not from God , & his mercie , to their vtter confusion both of body and soule ; but let mee come againe to my text : And shee bowed her selfe , and saw two Aungels sitting , one at the head , and an other at the feete : where the bodie of Iesus had la●ne , and the● 〈◊〉 vnto her woman , why weepest thou ▪ 〈◊〉 shee saide they haue taken away my Lord , & I knowe not where they haue laide him : See n●w how much did her comfort exceed the Disciples , they sawe but the li●nen clothes , and departed home againe ; but she staid and was spoken to by the Aungels : but marke withall the care of her speech , and substance of her talke , she continues one tale , shee hath no minde but of one matter , no thought but of her loue , nor any loue but of her Lorde : no ioy but in him , no talke but of him , nor sorrow but to bee without him : goe to whom shee would , come to her who wold , Disciples or Angels , al was one for hir speech , they could get nothing of her , but they haue taken away my Lord , and I know no● where they haue laid him : See here nowe what a property , the faithfull claime in Christ , that they call him their Lord , as one would say , my Father , my sonne , m●●●●ends , my house or my landes , so ●ere sayes Mary my Lord : who was more deare to her , than either Father , Mother , Sister , Brother , kin , or friend , or all the houses and landes of the world , and therefore with teares she continues her sorrow with these wordes : They haue taken away my Lord , and I know not where they haue laide him . But now see I pray you , what presentlie follows . Immediatelie in a moment she turnes her selfe backe , and sawe Iesus , but knew not that it was Iesus : Nowe marke I say the glorious rewarde of her Humilitie , from the Disciples to the Aungels , from the Aungels to Christ him selfe ; Now it is said shee turned backe , as though shee was afraid , that shee had presumed too farre , eyther in looking into the Sepulcher , or at lest in talking to the Aung●ls : Oh Lord , how few will learne ! I would many woulde followe this vertue of Humilitie in Mary ; not to 〈◊〉 too farre , nor to speake till they be ●●●ken to , & then to bee afraide to speake too much : yea though it bee the best thing they can speake off , I meane their true loue to Christ : but to drawe towards an end ; marke what followes : Now she comes neare her comfort ; shee sees her Sauiour , and knowes him not : for when he said vnto her , Woman why weepest thou ? whome seekest thou ? she supposing it had bin the gardner , said , Sir if thou hast borne him hence , tell me where thou hast laid him , and I will take him away : Thus in one word she aunswereth to both his questions , why she wept & what she sought : she sought her Lorde , in sorrow she could not finde him : Iesus said vnto hir , Mary , shee turned her selfe and saide vnto him Rabboni : which is to say , Master . Now when Christ made him selfe knowen vnto her , see what wordes she vseth : but onely one , to expresse as much as she was able to speake , Master : For a faithfull seruan ●hat loueth his Master , if after a long mi●●e of him , hee come to the sight of him againe , can he forbeare teares of loue to shewe his dutie ? and say with Mary , Master ; confesse all yee that loue your Masters , for the rest God amend yee : Now was there euer so good a Master , as for onely louing him , nay rather of his own meere loue giues vs life euerlasting ; forgiues vs all our offences , payes vs our wages in his mercies , and our debts for vs in the blood of his owne heart ; when by reason of sinne , wee bee long absent from this so good a Master , if euer his Grace bring vs againe to his mercie , with the teares of sorrowe shall we not weepe , to haue been so long from him , and so reioyce in his sight ? that we shall bee able with Mary to say no more but Master : which one word so spoken , may make more pr●●●● 〈◊〉 our ●●ue , than a longer tale of our ser●●●● for he knoweth our hearts , loue●●●●r Humility , and so regardeth our loue , that though wee fee him not as Marie did , yet we shall enioy such part of her comfort , as if we but thinke vpon his mercie , wee shall say in heart Master , when the friends of our ioy will not suffer vs to say any more : but it is enough and so much enough , as I beseech God to graunt vs all Crace , so to sorrow for our sinnes , and to long for his comming , that seeking him as Mary did with teares , wee way see him with ioy , and say with Mary , Master : which Master , Lord , King and God , be loued serued , honoured praised and glorified , of all his seruaunts here present , and all his faithfull wheresoeuer : Amen .

A Solemne Passion of the Soules Loue . AWake my soule out of the sleepe of sinne , And shake off slouth the subiect of thy shame , Search out the way how best thou mayst beginne , To holy worke thine humble will to frame : Then proue not weary of a little paine , When fleshes griefe will breede the spirites gaine , Confesse thy selfe vnworthy of the sence , To learne the least of the supernall will , Beseech the heauens in strength of their defence , To saue and keepe thee from infernall ill . Then fall to worke that all the world may see , The ioyfull loue betwixt thy God and thee . Tell of his goodnes how he did create thee , And in his iustice , how he doth correct thee , And in his loue , how he will neuer hate thee , And that his mercie neuer will re●●ect thee : And how he helpt thee when the world distrest thee , And with his graces how he sweetly blest thee . S●y I was sicke and he did send me health , I was in prison and he set me free . And I wa● poore and he did send me wealth , And I wa● blind , and he did mak● me see : I was perplext and ●e did heale my paine , And beeing dead , he gaue me life ●gaine . When I was lame he did my ●i●mes restore , When I was deafe he made me heare his voice , When I was wounded , he did heale my sore , When I was sad he made my soule reioyce : When I had finde he would not yet forsake mee , When I was lost he did to mercie take me . To say yet more , what he hath done for me , I needes must say his goodnes hath no end , Who , when on earth he saw no friend to me , Did make me feele I had a heauenly friend : A heauenly friend whose help doth faile me neuer , But is my comfort , and my King for euer . This is my Lord , my life , and all my loue , My liuing loue , and louing life in●eed , This is the blessing ●f my best behoue , The sacred fruite whereon I sweetly feede : This is the ●oy that ma●es my hart to sing , Honour and glory to my heauenly king . Oh King more glorious 〈◊〉 the world can know thee From whom the day , eu●● 〈◊〉 on high doth spring , Where glorious works vnto the world doth show thee Of gl●rious loue the euer liuing King : The King of life , in whom the soule doth proue , The highest glory of the heauenly loue . By whose high hands were all things made at first , By whose deepe wisedome they are gouernd still , By whom alone , are blessed or accurst , That loue his word , or disobay his will : By whose sweet breath they liue that doo attend him , And by whose wrath they dye that doo offend him . For who can byde the furye of his yre ? Or halfe conceiue the comfort of his loue ? Who plagues his foes with an infernall fire , And plants his seruants in the heauens aboue : Who shakes the heauens and makes the mountains bow If he but once begin to knit the browe . And where he loues , what will ●e leaue to doo ? To make the soule acquainted ●ith his kindnes , And with what ioy will hee the spirite wooe ? To shun the woes that grow of wordly blindnes . What paine , or griefe , or death did he refuse ? To saue their liues that he did sweetly chuse . Now for the greatnes of his glorious power , Hee is almighty and all glory his , Hee made the yeare , the month , day , night and hower , The heauens , earth , sea , and what in them there i● : In him alone doth all their being stand , And liue or dye in his almighty hand . He spake the word , and by his word they were , And all was good his secret wisedome did , His will did worke his fauour without feare , And not a thought is from his knowledge hyd : He knows the hearts , and searcheth through the raines , And sees the roots euen of the smallest vaines . Hee deckt the Skyewith sunne and moone and starres , And made the seas to flow vpon the sand , Vpon whose shore his hand did set the barres , They shall not passe to ouerflowe 〈◊〉 Land . Amid the ayre he hath dispearst the Clowdes , And onely Man within his mercy shrowds . Within the depth , the fish their holes do keepe , And in the Rocks the Conny makes his house , Into the earth the crawling wormes do creepe , And hollow rocks are harbours for the mouse : The Lion keepes his d●n , the bird hi● nest , And man alone doth but in mercie rest . Yet these and all are guided by his power , An● may not passe the passage he hath giuen them , The Sunne his course , the A●oone must know her houre An● clouds must wander but where winds haue driuen them : Beasts know their times , fi●nes know their tides , And man alone in onely mercie bides . To tell of woonders by his wisedome wrought , E●●n from the greatest to the v●●ie least , Which time declare●●●y true experience taught , In f●h , and towle , in ●●rd , in man and beast : Ma●e but the power that doth in each abide , And how it wea●●●●● their highest pride . The Lion first is fearefull of the Bee , The Elephant doth dread the little mouse , A crowing Cocke the Dragon may ●o● see , The stowtest Eagle subiect to the lowse : The greatest Oxe a little taint worme killeth , And many a man a little Canker spilleth . Yet is the Lion feared for his forc● . The Elephant a huge and mightie beast , The fiery Dragon killes without remorse , And Eagles carrie Lambs vnto their nest : The Oxe the taint worme vnder foot doth tread , And man sometimes doth kill the cankers head . But when th●t power 〈◊〉 together pride , Then see the strength of 〈◊〉 ●ghti● hand , By whose high help the 〈◊〉 thinges are tride , To spoile the strength wherein the ●●●●ongest stand : That they may know there is a power on hie , In whom they liue , and at his pleasure die . To shew examples of the heauenly might , Against the pride of the inferiour power , The word of truth doth giue a glorious light , Where may be seene in minute of an hower : How greatest stayes that on their strengths were grounded , With headlong falls were vtterly confounded . How Pharaoh first , the proud Egyptian King , That would not suffer Isräell to passe , What plagues and griefes did the almighty bring Vpon the house eu●n where his lodging was ? Frogges , flyes , and lyce did freely make their way Euen to the chamber where proud Pharaoh lay . A number plagues the Lord did further threaten , His Land was stroken with a darkesome feare , His grasse and corne by Grashoppers were eaten , The plague destroyed his people euery where : And la●t himselfe , amidst his army crowned , Was in a moment in the red Sea drowned . Yet through these seas his hand did make the way , Where all his seruants went and wet no foote , Which prooues his loue was his elected stay , While rebell harts were torne vp by the root : Which true example to the world may proue , The glorious greatnes of his power and loue . Goliah boasted greatly of his strength , Yet little Dauid kild him with a stone , The Madian Hoast was strong but yet at length , By Gideons hand the Kings were ouerthrowne : By change of tongues fell Babylons high tower , And Christ his word did breake the ciuels power . Yet in it selfe what wea●er is than water , Which drownd proud Pharaoh with his mighty host ? A lowse or flye is of a little matter , Yet with such wormes are men tormented most : What strength a las is in a little stone ? Yet so we reade Goliah ouerthrowne . Know then from whence this wonder power groweth , But from the force of the almightie hand , Which to the world his glorious power showeth , When with the weake the strongest cannot stand : King Dauid wrote and it is truely knowne , That power belongeth vnto God alone . To proue the prowesle of the heauenly power , How many more examples may be showne : There is no yeare , no day , no night nor houre , But some such action to the world is knowne ▪ That truth may well vnto his glorie speake . God is of power and all the world is weake . But since the world cannot the bookes containe , Wherein his works of wonder may be writ , To admiration let his power remaine , And say all powers are subiect vnto it : And let me of his loue and mercie write , Which is the substance of the soules delight . This powerfull loue the glorie of all grace , When he had wrought the world vnto his will , And planted each thing in his proper place , And in the course that they continue still : Of all the works that he in wonder wrought , Made onely man the dearest of his thought . For what he made he made but man to serue , And man to seru●●●onely sacred loue , And in his loue 〈◊〉 so mans life preserue , As may the comf●●● of his care approue : And so approue as 〈◊〉 this sentence giue , His onely loue 〈…〉 the soule to liue . He loude 〈◊〉 earth 〈…〉 giue it life , He lou●d 〈◊〉 ●ife whe● 〈◊〉 ●is ●●age gaue it , He loued the flesh that made the bone a wife , He loued the soule when he from death did saue it : He loude him euer yet he loude him most , To fetch him home when he him selfe had lost . Come Poets yee that fill the world with fansies , Whose savning Muses shew but madding sits , Which all too soone doo fall into those ●ranzies , That are begotten by mistaking wits : Lay downe your liues , compare your loue with mine And say whose vertue is the true diuine . For further tryall let me giue you leaue , To add a truth vnto your ydle sto●●●● , Wherewith so oft you doo the wo●l● deceaue , And gayne your selues but ill conc●●●ed gloryes : Yet when you see where sweetes●●●●hts are showne , Looke on my loue , and blush to see 〈◊〉 owne . With funny beautyes let your l●ues be bles● , The sunne doth fetch his light but from my loue , You haue your wonders from the Phoenix nest , Mine honour liues but in the heauens aboue : Your Muses doo your Ladyes prayses sing , The Aungels sing in glory of my King . The earth alas , from whence your loues receiue , Their flowers & sweets , their Pearses & pretious stones , To decke themselues , with which they doo deceiue , The blinded spirits of the simple ones : This earth from whence their outward graces spring , Is but the footstoole of my heauenly King . And if he so hath deckt the earth below , Imagine then the glory of his seate , Which may perswade where Aungels tremble so , For humane eyes the glory is too great : For where the sunne , the moone , and starres haue light , For natures eyes the beauty is too bright . And who doth liue that euer ye did loue , But that ye could theyr fayrest fayre vnfolde , And my fayre loue , let fayrest truth approue , No eye can liue in glory to behold : Your clearest beauty is with age declining , My loues bright glory is for euer shining . If you be wise , thinke where true wisedome liueth , And then allow the honour to my loue : If yours be ki●●●●●nk● who the comfort giueth , And know the turky from the turtle doue : If constant yours , that truth let my loue try , Who lost his life , to saue his loue thereby . And let me see how liueth all your loue , But on desert the stay of all your s●●te , And in my loue a further life app●●●e , Who loude indeede when he ha● c●●se to hate : Your fancies oft for lacke of fauour starue , But my loue doth both mine and yours presarue . Then truely say whom chi●●e your loues doth choose , To cast the coun●●n●●ce of theyr fauours on , Then who ● againe they wholly doe refu●e , In liking thought as most to looke vpon : Then doo but looke vpon my loue his choyse , And whose hart most he maketh to reioyse . The wealthy , mighty , wise and well at ease , Doo fit the fansies of your Ladies best : But poore , and weake , and simple soules best please My heauenly loue , to harbour in his brest : And who the world doth vtterly refuse , Those doth my loue vnto his fauour chuse . And see what power is in your louing natures , To take or giue what ye may gayne or lose , And ye sh●ll see they are bu● my loues creatures , Whose liues are at his pleasure to disposet And while your fauours all doo fade away , My sweet loues blessings neuer will decay . Could ye conceiue the smallest of the sweete , That doth discend from my soules dearest loue , Vpon the faith that falleth at his feete , That doth in prayer but his mercie proue : And you will blot out euery idle line , And yeeld your soules vnto this loue of mine , Compare a weede vnto a holsome flower , A cloudie euening to a sunnie daie , A foggie miste vnto an Aprill shower , Nouember blaste vnto a bloome of May : And you shall easily see the difference plaine . Betwixt my sunne shine and your showers of raine , Compare meere follie to the finest wit , The cou●lest copper with the purest gold , The healthfull bodie with an ague fit : And set the youthfull age against the old , The Rauens foule note to Philomelaes voice . And quicklie say , which is the better choice ▪ Compare foule pride to faire humilitie , A kinde discretion to a dogged nature , The clownish race , to true gentilitie , A blessed Angell to a cursed creature , Fauours to frownes , and smilings vnto scowle● , And say the Phoenix makes all birds but owles . Compare the earth vnto the heauen on hie , The spirites treasures vnto fleshly toves , The p●bble stone vnto the Azurde Skie , The Woes of men vnto the Angels ioyc● : The lowest weaknes vnto the highest powers , Then 〈◊〉 the difference twixt my loue and yours . And when you see how all sweet blessings grow , But from the ground of my loues liuing grace , And doe againe the imperfection know , Wherein you doe your fond affection place : Then all your titles to this truth resigne , There is no life but in this loue of mine . And giue me leaue to praise my Princely loue , Although my wittes are short of such a worth , And let my spirite in my passions proue , What his high hand in mercie will bring forth : And write but truth that may be truely prooued , My onely loue , all onely to be loued . Before all times , all thoughts , all things he was And ●●er is , and will be aye the ●●me , That doth i● wonder wonders wonder passe , In truths high triumph of eternall fame : Where life , and loue , in grace and glory crow●d , Doo sway the Scepter of the heauens renownd . Now what he was cannot be comprehended , Who in himselfe d●th all things compr●hend , And when that all things shall be wholly ended , Himselfe , his word , his will shall neuer end : Whose gratious life , all glorious loue b●ginning , Doth a●d● all grace , and endles glory winning . And o● his Essence , this is all we finde , A spirite fully incomprehensible , A louing God vnto his seruants kinde , And in his humane natu●e sensible : In wisedomes wonder knowledge quintescence , And in that ●s●●nce highest excellence . The high Creator of all creatures liuing , The sweete Redeemer of his s●ruants lost , The glorious grace , all grace , and glory giuing , The ioy of ioyes , that glads the spirit most : The loue of life , and li●e of loue indeede , Gainst death and hell , that stands the soule in s●eede . His seate is heauen , the earth his footstoole is , His chiefest dwelling with his soules elected , His ioy to loue and to be lo●de of his , His fauour , life , vnto his loues affected : His word is truth , which doth the spirit try , Where fruitfull faith shall liue and neuer dye . His blessing is the peace of conscience , His comfort mercies contemplation , His pretious gift , the spirits patience , His mercy , vertues meditation : His gr●ce the oyle , that kills the spirits euill , His death the life that did subdue the diuell . His garments are the sundrie sort●s of graces , His tribute is but sinners s●cr●fice , His worke , t●e planting vertues in their places , His gaine the loue of humble spirites seruic● : His musicke Psalmes that angels neuer cease , To sing in glorie of the King of peace , This King of peace , this God of life and l●ue , Who in him selfe doth all ●●d onely ●old , The highest blessings of the h●arts behoue , That faithfull truth hath to the spirite t●ld : This is the substance of my soules d●li●ht , Vnworthie subiect of his worth to write . Yet as his mercie will ●ou 〈◊〉 n●e grace , With int●rces●ion of his ●i●h ●ssi●●ance , Against the power that would my thoughts deface , And pro●●dly make ag●i●●● the soule re●i●●a●ce : I will a little giue his loue a ●uch , Whose smallest praise is for my pen too ●uch . What loue was that which made him like man best , Of all the worke that euer he created , What loue againe did in that li●ing rest , To loue him so he neuer can be hated : What loue was more to giue the man a wife , What loue was most to die to giue him life . The earth within with siluer gems and gold , Without with trees and herbs , and fruits and flowers , The waters deepe where fishes keeps their ●old , The ●lements with al their inward power● : These hath my loue all made for man to chuse , And to his pleasure in his seruice vse . The fire was made to kill the chilling cold , The water made to slacke the burning heate , The subtile ayre a secret b●eath to hold , The earth too drie when moysture is too great : Th●s● crosse in natures yet doe meete in one , Onely to serue the vse o● man alone . ●a●h byrd , each beast , each fowle , and euery fish , The flesh of man mu●t serue to cloath and feede , What eye can see , or heart of man can wish , But some way serues to stand poore men in steede : And for that cause their being first began , From m●r●ies loue , to serue the life of man . The light was ma●e to glad the lightsome eye , The sound to please the pure attentiue eare , The ayre to drawe a liuing breath thereby , The earth the body , an● the limmes to beare : The clowd● , the staires , the sunne , the moone , the S●ye , Were made for man , to make him looke on high . All these were made out of the mould of loue , Was neuer lou● came euer nee●e to this , Which d●th ● wonder in affection pr●u● , Euen when we lea● d●s●rude that l●u● of his : For when our soules did most offences doo him , He came himselfe in loue to ca●l vs to him . To make , redeeme , preseru● , defend , and cheri●h , His faithfull ●ou●es , and so in loue to nourish , 〈◊〉 in his loue , their liues shall n●u●r p●ri●h , But like the Lilly liue and euer flouri●● : Are these not points sufficient to approue , The true perfection of a piereles lou● ? Yet more to say , that truely may be sayd , In humble honour of th●s h●auenly loue In mercies sweete to m●ke the soule di●mayde , To see the blessing of thi● God aboue : The louing spirit liuely to refresh , He let his seruants see him in the flesh . To see him so , as might not hurt their sight , For none mig●t see his high supernall power , But in his loue t● see that glorious light , That gaines that sweete that cuts off eu●ry sower : The second person of himselfe , his sonne , In whom are all things to his glory done . And see the c●use why so he came vnto v● , ●is onely loue the onely cause wee liue , And when we came , what comfort did he doe vs , To saue our liues his loue his life did giue : And so to s●ue vs from the fire of hell , That with his loue we might for euer dwell . What loue was this , to leaue his heauenly seate , Amo●g his ange●s , all in glorie serued , To c●me to m●n who di● too ill intreate , The sacred loue , that hath his life pre●●ru●d , From being honourde praisde and glori●ide , To be disgraced , whipte , and crucifide . In loue ●e l●st ●is high●st heauenly pleasures , Aboue his angels in their ●eap● of ioy●s , To liue on earth in so●rowes ●ut of m●a●ures , With chaunge of nothing but the worlds annoyes : In toyle and trauail● , long in loue he s●ught vs , And w●th his death at last full dearely b●ught vs . Oh wofull trauaile that he vndertooke , To bring our liues vnto his sacred loue , Which paine , nor crosse , nor death it selfe forsooke , That to our faith might his affection proue : Which l●f● the spirite of his loue be●inde him , To ●hew the loue that seekes him how to finde him . In loue h● came , that he might comfort doe vs In loue went from vs , to prouide our places , In loue he sent his comforter vnto vs , In loue he guides vs with his holy graces : In loue he made , bought , keepes and guides vs thus , And shall not we loue him that ●o loude vs . Yes my deare Lord , be thou my dearest loue , For Christ his sake , let my soule neuer le●ue thee , Who in thy loue thy liuing truth doth proue , That m●kes me finde the world doth all deceiue me : ●nd were there truth on earth as there is none , Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone . And l●t these t●ares be witnes of my loue , Which first doo begge remission of my sinne , ●nd in r●pentance doo but mercy moue , To ope the gates of grace and l●t me in : Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall , With my soules seruice , loue and life and all . F●rget O Lord my workes of wickednes , Whereby my soule with sorrow is oppressed , And with the finger of thy holine● , In mercy touch my spirit so distressed : And saue my life that draweth nigh to hell , Loue me a little and I shall be w●ll . Loue ? no sweete Lord ▪ mercy I craue no more ▪ My sinnes are such , I dare not speake of loue , But in thy mer●y to thy loue restore , My h●mble faith , that may but mercy proue : And 〈◊〉 ●pp●●ue that all the world may see , The 〈◊〉 loue betwi●t my God and mee . Oh call me home , and make me heare thy call , And heare thee so , that I may runne vnto thee , And hold me fast that I may neuer fall , But that my soule may euer ●●ruice doo thee : Shew some good token , that the world may know , My soule is blest , whom thou hast loued so . And while I liue here in this wretched vale , Of fearefull danger of in●ernall death , Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale , Which haue their bargai●e in the h●ll beneath , Let my soules loue , and lif● , and labour bee , To seeke my ioy , my loue and life in thee . Make me not rich lest I forget to thinke . From whence I haue the comfort of my hart , Nor in such want , let thy poore seruant sinke , That I be driuen to craue the needy part : Giue me but meanes the needy to relieue , To feede thy flocke , and not the Wolfe to grieue . Let me not listen to the sinners songes , ●ut to the Psalmes thy holy saints doe sing , Nor let me follow tyrants in their wronges , But kisse the rocke , where righteousnes doth spring : Let not mine eye affect the outward part , But let me loue the vertue of the hart . And let my life be to behold thy loue , And let my loue be but to liue in thee , And so to liue that all the world may pr●ue , The grati●us good my God hath done for mee , To call my soule out of this world of woe , In faithfull loue to serue my Sauiour so . And when they see the blot of all their blame , To loue the worlde but all in wretched toyes , And doe confes with inward blushing shame , They are but sorrowes vnto heauenlie ioyes : They may with me forsake all wordly pleasure , And make thy loue an euerlasting treasure . For Lord by thee we are , in thee we liue , And in thy loue the liuing cannot die , And since thy death , did our liues wholy giue , For thy loues sake shall we affection ●lie : No my deare Lord , let life be death to me , So I may die to liue in loue with thee . A ioyfull life were such a death indeede , From earthly paine to passe to heauenly pleasure , A ioyfull line for louing hearts to reade , To leaue the flesh to take the spirits treasure : Whose glorious sence vnto the sunne doth fall , That all is nothing to that all in all . And I ( alas ) of many thousand soules ▪ Vnworthie most of his high worth to write , Who in his mercies true record inrowles , The louing substance of the soules delight : Must mercie crie , for scare my loues presuming , Of too high sence may be my souls consuming . And with the teares of true repentant loue , Looking vpon the wonders of that wo●der , That 〈…〉 p●●fection may app●oue , The 〈◊〉 ●ised● me of the world put vnder : 〈…〉 wit as short to p●n●e his praise , As 〈◊〉 n●ghts in light of clearest dayes . And say but this in grace and glories height , Whe●● vertue loue doth liue f●r ●uer crowned , A●d all the Hoa●● of heauen and heauens await , Vppon the highe● 〈◊〉 the heau●●s renowned : Whom Sai●ts and Angel● t●e●bl●ng doo adore , To him alone be all praise c●e●more . All honour p●aise and glory euer bee , Vnto my louing euerl●uing King , This king of life , who ●o hath l●ued mee , To giue my soule thi● gratiou● power to sing : In hart and mind , in man and ●ngels loue , All glo●ious glory be to God aboue . FINIS . Nicholas Britten .