A solemne passion of the soules loue

A solemne Passion of the Soules Loue . A Wake , my soule , out of the sleepe of sinne , And shake off slouth the subiect of thy shame , Search out the way how best thou maiest beginne To holy worke thine humble will to frame : Then proue not weary of a little paine , When fleshes griefe will breede the spirits 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 mercy neuer will reiect thee : And how he helpt thee when the world distrest thee , And with his graces how he sweetly blest thee . Say , I was sicke , and he did send me health , I was in prison , and he set me free , And I was poore , and he did send me wealth , And I was blinde , and he did make me see : I was perplext , and he did heale my paine , And being dead , he gaue me life againe . When I was lame , he did my limmes 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 reioice : When I had sind , he would not yet forsake me , When I was lost , he did to mercy take me . To say yet more , what he hath done for me , I needes must say , his goodnes hath no ende , Who , when on earth he saw no friend to me , Did make me feele I had a heauenly friend : A heauenly friend whose helpe 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 indeede , This is the blessing of my best behoue , The sacred fruit whereon I sweetely feede : This is the ioy that makes my heart to sing , Honour and glory to my heauenly king . Oh king more glorious than the world can know thee ▪ From whom the day , euen from on high doth spring , Where glorious works vnto the world doe shew thee , Of glorious loue the euerliuing 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 sweete breath they liue that do attend him , And by whose wrath they die that doe offend him . For who can bide the fury 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 , & makes the mountains bow If he but once begin to knit the brow . And where he loues , what will he leaue to doe , To make the soule acquainted with his kindnes ? And with what ioy will he the spirit wooe , To shun the woes that grow of worldly blindnes ? What paine , or griefe , or death did he refuse , To saue their liues that he did sweetely chuse ? Now for the greatnes of his glorious power , He is almighty and all glorie his , He made the yeare , the month , day , night and hower , The heauens , earth , sea , and what in them there is : In him alone doth all their being stand , And liue or die 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 hid : He knowes the hearts , & searcheth through the raines And sees the roots euen of the smallest vaines . Hee deckt the Skye with sunne & moone & starres , And made the seas to flowe vpon the sand , Vpon whose shore his hand did set the barres , They shall not passe to ouerflowe the Land . Amid the ayre he hath dispearst the Clowdes , And onely man within his mercy shrowdes . Within the depth the fish their holes doe keepe , And in the rocks the Conny makes his house , Into the earth the crawling wormes doe creepe , And hollowe rocks are harbour for the mouse : The Lion keepes his den , the bird his nest , And man alone doth but in mercy rest . Yet these and all are guided by his power , And may not passe the passage he hath giuen them , The sun his course , the Moone must know her houre , And clouds must wander but where winds haue driuen them Beasts know their times , & fishes know their tides , And man alone in onely mercie bides . To tell of wonders by his wisedome wrought , Euen from the greatest to the very least , Which time declares by true experience taught , In fish , and foule , in bird , in man and beast : Marke but the power , that doth in each abide , And howe it weakens in their highest pride . The Lyon first is fearefull of the Bee , The Elephant doth dread the little mouse , Acrowing Cocke the Dragon may not see , The stoutest Engle subiect to the louse : The greatest Oxe a little taint worme killeth , And many a man a little Canker spilleth . Yet is the Lyon feared for his force , The Elephant a huge and mighty beast , The fiery Dragon kills without remorse , And Eagles carry lambes vnto their nest : The Oxe the taint worme vnder foote doth tread , And man sometimes doth kill the Cankers head . But when that power begins to gather pride , Then see the strength of the almighty hand , By whose high helpe the weakest thinges are tride , To spoile the strength wherein the strongest stand : That they may know there is a power on hie . In whom they liue , and at his pleasure die . To shewe 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 houre : How greatest staies that on their strength were grounded , With headlong fals were vtterly confounded . How Pharaoh first , the proud Egyptian king , That would not suffer Israel to passe , What plagues and griefes did the almighty bring , Vpon the house , euen where his lodging was ! Frogges , flies , and lice did freely make their way , Euen to the chamber where proud Pharaoh lay . A number plagues the Lord did further threaten , His Land was strooken with a darkesome feare , His grasse and corne by Grashoppers were eaten , The plague destroied his people euery where : And last 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 proues , his loue was his elected stay , While rebell hearts were torne vp by the roote : 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 diuels power . Yet in it selfe what weaker is than water , Which drownd proud Pharao with his mighty host ? A lowse or flie is of a little matter , Yet with such wormes are men tormented most . What strength alas 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 almighty 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 prowesse 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 mercy 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 workes 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 serue his onely sacred loue , And in his loue doth so mans life preserue , As may the comfort of his care approue : And so approue as may this sentence giue . His onely loue doth make the soule to liue . He loued the earth when he did giue it life , He loued the life when he his Image gaue it , He loued the flesh that made the bone a wife , He loued the soule when he from death did saue it : He loued him euer , yet he loued him most , To fetch him home when he himselfe had lost . Come Poets , ye that fill the world with fansies , Whose faining Muses shew but madding fits , Which all too soone do fall into those franzies , That are begotten by mistaking wits : Lay downe your liues , compare your loue with mine , And say whose virtue is the true diuine . For further triall let me giue you leaue , To adde a trueth vnto your idle stories , Wherewith so oft you do the world deceaue , And gaine your selues but ill conceited glories , Yet when you see where sweetest sights are showne , Looke on my Loue , and blush to see your owne , With sunny beauties let your loues be blest , 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 do your Ladies praises sing , The Angels sing in glory of my King . The earth alas , from whence your loues receiue Their floures & sweets , their pearls & pretius stones , To decke themselues , with which they do deceiue The blinded spirites of the simple ones : This earth from whence their outward graces spring , Is but the footestoole of my heauenly King . And if he so hath deckt the earth below , Imagine then the glory of his seate , Which may perswade where Angels tremble so , For humane eies the glory is too great : For where the sun , the moone , and stars haue light , For natures eies the Beauty is too bright . And who doth liue that euer ye did loue , But that ye could their fairest faire vnfolde ? And my faire loue , let fairest truth approue , No eie 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 kinde , thinke who the comfort giueth , And know the turkey from the turtle doue : If constant yours , that truth let my loue trie , 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 state , And in my Loue a further life approue , Who loude indeede when he had cause to hate : Your fancies oft for lacke of fauour starue , But my Loue doth both mine and yours preserue . Then truly say whom chiefe your loues doe chuse , To cast the countenance of their fauours on , Then whom againe they wholy do refuse , In liking thought as most to looke vpon : Then do but looke vpon my loue his choice , And whose heart most he maketh to reioyce . The wealthy , mighty , wise and well at ease , Doe fit the fansies of your Ladies best : But poore , and weake , and simple soules best please , My heauenly Loue , to labour 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 gaine or lose , And ye shall see they are but my loues creatures , Whose liues are at his pleasure to dispose : And while your fauours all doe fade away , My sweete 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 mercy 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 cloudy euening to a sunny 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 sun-shine and your showers of raine . Compare meere folly to the finest wit , The coursest copper to the purest golde , The healthfull body with an ague fit , And set the youthfull age against the old : The Rauens foule note to Philomelaes voice , And quickly say , which is the better choice . Compare foule pride to faire humility , A kinde discretion to a dogged nature , The clownish race to true gentility , A blessed Angell to a cursed creature , Fauours to frownes , and smiling , vnto scowles , And say the Phoenix akes all birds but owles . Compare the earth vnto the heauen on hie , The spirites treasures vnto fleshly toies , The pibble stone vnto the Azurde Skie , The woes of men vnto the Angels ioyes : The lowest weakenes vnto the highest powers , Then see the difference twixt my loue and yours . And when you see how all sweete blessings grow But from the ground of my loues liuing grace , And do 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 mercy will bring forth : And write but truth that may be truly proued , My onely loue , alonely to be loued . Before all times , al thoughts , al things he was , And euer is , and will be aye the same , That doth in wonder wonders wonder passe , In Truths high triumph of eternall fame : Where life , and loue , in grace and glory crownd , Do sway the Scepter of the heauns renownd . Now what he was , cannot be comprehended , Who in himselfe doth al things comprehend , And when that all things shall be wholy ended , Himselfe , his word , his wil shal neuer end : Whose gratious life , al glorious loue beginning . Doth adde all grace , and endlesse glory winning . And of his Essence , this is al we finde , A spirite fully incomprehensible , A louing God , vnto his seruants kind , And in his humane nature sensible : In wisedomes wonder , knowledge , quintessence , And in that Essence highest excellence . The high Creator of al creatures liuing , The sweet Redeemer of his seruants lost , The glorious grace , all grace and glory giuing , The ioy of ioyes , that glads the spirit most : The loue of life , and life of loue indeed , Gainst death and hell , that standes the soule in steed . His seate is heauen , the earth his footstoole is , His chiefest dwelling with his soules elected , His ioy to loue , and to be lou'd 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 die . His blessing is the peace of conscience , His comfort mercies contemplation , His pretious gift , the spirites patience , His mercy , vertues meditation : His grace the oyle , that kils the spirits euill , His death the life , that did subdue the deuill . His garments are the sundry sortes of graces , His tribute is but sinners sacrifice , His worke , the planting vertues in their places , His gaine , the loue of humble spirits seruice : His musicke Psalmes , that angels neuer cease To sing in glory of the King of Peace . This King of peace , this God of life and loue , Who in himselfe doth al , and only holde , The highest blessings of the hearts behoue , That faithful truth hath to the spirit tolde : This is the substance of my soules delight , Vnworthy subiect of his worth to write . Yet as his mercy will vouchsafe me grace , With intercession of his high assistance , Against the power that would my thoughts deface , And proudly make against the soule resistance : I will a little giue his loue a tuch , Whose smallest praise is for my penne too much . What loue was that which made him like man best , Of all the workes that euer he created , What loue againe did in that liking 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 gemmes and gold , Without with trees and herbs , and fruits and flowers , The waters deepe where fishes keepe their hold , The Elements with all their inward powers : These hath my Love 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 breath to hold , The earth to drie when moisture is too great : These crosse in natures yet doe meete in one , Onely to serue the vse of man alone . Each bird , each beast , each foule , and euery fish , The flesh of man must 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 mercies Loue , to serue the life of man . The light was made to glad the lightsome eie , The sound to please the pure attentiue eare , The aire to drawe a liuing breath thereby , The earth , the body , and the limmes to beare : The clouds , the stars , the sunne , the moone , the Skie , Were made for man , to make him looke on high . All these were made out of the mould of Loue , Was neuer Loue came euer neere to this , Which doth a wonder in affection proue , Euen when we least deserude the loue of his : For when our soules did most offences do him , He came himselfe in loue to call vs to him , To make , redeeme , preserue , defend , and cherish , His faithfull soules , and so in loue to nourish , As in his loue , their liues shall neuer perish , But like the Lilly liue and euer flourish : Are these not points sufficient to approue , The true affection of a pierelesse Loue ? Yet more to say , that truely may be said , In humble honour of this heauenly Loue , In mercies sweete to make the soule dismaide , To see the blessing of his 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 might see his high supernall power , But in his loue to see that glorious light , That gaines that sweete that cuts off euery sower The second person of himselfe , his sonne , In whom are all things to his glory done . And see the cause why so he came vnto vs , His onely loue the onely cause we liue , And when we came , what comfort did he doe vs , To saue our liues , his Loue his life did giue : And so to saue vs from the fire of hell , That with his Loue we might for euer dwell . What Loue was this , to leaue his heauenly seate Among his angels , all in glory serued , To come to man who did too ill intreate The sacred Loue , that hath his life preserued , From being honourde , praisde and glorifide , To be disgraced , whipte , and crucifide . In loue he left his highest heauenly pleasures , Aboue his Angels in their heapes of ioyes , To liue on earth in sorrowes out of measures , With change of nothing but the worlds annoies : In toile and trauell , long in loue he sought vs , And with his death at last full dearely bought vs . Oh woful 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 left the spirite of his loue behinde him , To shew the loue that seekes him , how to finde him . In loue he 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 shal not we loue him that so loued vs ? Yes my deare Lord , be thou my dearest loue , For Christ his sake , let my soule neuer leaue thee . Who in thy loue , thy liuing truth doth proue , That makes me find the world doth all deceiue me : And were there truth on earth as there is none , Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone . And let these teares be witnes of my loue , Which first do begge remission of my sinne , And in repentance do but mercy moue , To ope the gates of grace and let me in : Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall , With my soules seruice , loue , and life , and all . Forget O Lord , my workes of wickednes , Whereby my soule with sorrow is oppressed , And with the finger of thy holines , In mercy touch my spirit so distressed : And saue my life that draweth nigh to hel , Loue mea little , and I shal be wel . Loue ? no sweete Lord mercie I craue no more , My sinnes are such , I dare not speake of loue , But in thy mercie , to thy loue restore My humble faith , that may but mercie proue : And so approue , that al the world may see , The ioyful loue betwixt 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 seruice do 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 feareful danger of infernal death , Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale , Which haue their bargaine in the hel beneath : Let my soules loue , and life , and labour be , 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 needie to relieue , To feede thy flocke , and not the wolfe to grieue . Let me not listen to the sinners songs , But to the Psalmes thy holy saints do sing , Nor let me folow tyrants in their wrongs , 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 loue be , to behold thy loue , And let my loue be , but to liue in thee , And so to liue , that al the world may proue , The gracious good my God hath done for me : To call my soule out of this world of woe , In faithful loue to serue my Sauiour so . And when they see the blot of al their blame , To loue the world , but al in wretched toyes , And do confesse with inward blushing shame , They are but sorrowes vnto heauenly ioyes : They may with me forsake al worldly 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 wholly giue , For thy loues sake shall we affection flie ? 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 feare my loues presuming Of too high sence , may be my soules consuming . And with the teares of true repentant loue , Looking vppon the wonders of that wonder , That in his least perfection may approue The greatest wisdome of the world put vnder , Confesse my wit as short to penne his prayse , As darkest nights in light of clearest daies . And say but this in grace and glories height , Where vertues loue doth liue for euer crowned , And all the Hoast of heauen and heauens await , Vpon the highest of the heauens renowned : Whom Saints and Angels trembling do adore , To him alone be praise for euermore . If honour praise and glory euer bee , Vnto my louing euerlasting King , This King of life who so hath loued me , To giue my soule this gratious power to sing : In heart and minde , in man and Angels loue , All glorious glory be to God aboue . Nicholas Britton . FINIS .