The lamentation of the lost sheepe. By G.E.

The lost Sheepe . 1 ABoue the Clouds , where spangled troops of stars Adorne the pretious bosome of the skie , where heauenly peace abandons breaking iars , from whence sweet comfort comes in miserie : And all the Consort that is tun'de on high . Send forth their delicate melodious sound , That make those christal vaults with ioy rebound 2 Within the bright Jmperiall Orbe of rest , Where soules of Saints on golden Altars set , And in the Lambs sweet breath are onlie blest , where thousand graces , Millions more beget ; Where daies bright shine suffers no sunne to set . There MERCIE is inthron'de in blessed chaire , Most gorgeous in attire , most heauenlie faire . 3 About her head the swift-wing'd CHERVBINS Houer their siluer pinions in her eies , And the sweet Spheares with glorions SERAPHINS , Vpon her shining brow with blisse arise , And those bright beames that decke the christal skies : No stormy cloude can vaile her beautious face , Because there burnes the holy LAMPE of grace . 4 TRVTH richly cloath'd in milk-white ornament , Stands at the right hand of this happy Saint , From whom the words of righteousnesse are sent , Whose worth , no wit : whose will , no pen can paint : But as the daughter to the highest power She sits defended in a strong-built Tower . 5 Oh thou , that art both MERCIE and TRVTHS-self , On whom all grace and goodnesse doth attend , Thou that dost feede thy seruants with such wealth , As may them from the Tyrants iawes defend , ( So they but on thy sacred state depend ) With thy deare MFRCIE saue me , saue thy son , Who melts with griefe for what he hath misdone . 6 And may my soule ( oh maker ) speake with zeale , I stand in danger of a deadly wound , Vnlesse thy MERCIE me in time do heale , The Dragon spues forth poyson on the ground . Preserue me ( Lord ) thy sauing health reueale : So tongue , so pen , so hart , shal for the same , Speak , write , sing , laud and praise vnto thy name . 7 That Name , which MOSES on his for-head bare , J in my hart will worship and adore : That Name , which IEWES to name did sildom dare , May J presume for mercie to implore ? That Name , which Solomon vpon his breast Jn his Diuine PENTACVLVM , did weare ; That Name J le loue , J le reuerence , and feare . 8 That Name , which Aron wore vpon his head , Fixt to his holy Myter , made of gold ; That Name , which ANGELS laud , and Furies dread , Whose praise , no tongue can worthilie vnfold : that Name , which kils the quick , & quicks the dead ; That Name , which flesh is too vnpure to name , My sinfull soule with sacred zeale inflame . 9 By that sweet Name , which Name we inuocate , When sable sadnesse doth oppresse the hart : For whose deere sake , our still-declining state Findes comfort in the midst of sorrowes smart , I pray in my lament thou act a part . Restore me , that in sinfull waies am tost , And ( SHEPHEARD ) saue thy sheepe that 's almost lost . 10 Ô IESVS at whose sacred birth a Starre , Was the true figure of eternall life : Thou art all peace , by thee surceaseth warre : Thy births beginning ended mortall strife , Thou didst bring glad some harts in steade of iarres . O let thy MERCIE guide my wandring soule , And with thy grace , my gracelesse waies controule . 11 Oh light of heauen thou wast extinkt on earth , Yet to our soules celestiall life dost giue , Thy death our life , thy rising our new birth , Thou with thy heuenly blessings dost relieue : Thou three daies dead , didst make vs euer liue . Thou at whose death obscur'd was th'earth and skie Reduce me to the right , that runne awry . 12 Fountaine of grace , from whom doth onely runne , Water of life , to saue our souls from death , Oh sauiour of the world , pure VIRGINS Sonne , That in red earth infus'd first vitall breath , Ioyning thy god-head with humanity : Oh thou whose name was cald EMANVELL , My sin-staind soule from danger saue of hell . 13 Oh womans seede that didst from God proceed , By prophets said to breake the serpents head , Thou , that in grace and vertue doost exceed , Content to die that thou mightst quicken dead , Thou , that ore death the victory didst get : And that didst raise the dead men from the Tombe , Oh help thy seruant , raise thy falling Sonne . 14 Ancient of daies , and yet still yong in yeares , Oh Godon earth : oh man , yet most diuine , Poore in this world , the chiefe of heauenly peeres , Whose glory in th' infernall pit did shine , Oh thou whose praise both SAINTS and ANGELS sing , Stay my sin-following steps from deaths dread hands , That threats as many sorrowes as are sands . 15 Oh God of times , and yet in time a man , Beforé all times , thy time of being was , And yet in time , thy humaine birth began , Least we should fade vntimely like the grasse , Thou that hast said , thy word shall neuer passe : And thou that doost al times begin and end , Vouchsafe thy comfort to my sad-soule send . 16 I come in cloudes of griefe , with pensiue soule , Sending forth vapours , of black discontent : To fill the concaue cirkle of the Pole , And with my teares bedeaw each continent , For straying from the fold of sweet content . Thou art all MERCIE , from thy MERCIES throne , Make me in number , one amongst thine owne . 17 I bring a hart wherein all woes are closed , Mingled with teares , distild from weeping eies , And not so much as hope for me repos'd , Is left behind , but quite from me it flies , Vnlesse thy fauour please to temporize : For which I beg , for which I waile and mone , That thou redeeme me that am almost gone . 18 Like NIOBE , that till death euer mourn'd , For her deere childrens losse , whom PHEBVS slew , And to a sencelesse stone at last was turn'd , That in her life did most extreamely rue , And with one griefe another did persue : So will I turne my ioyes to bitter gall , And sighes to teares ( so thou be pleas'd withall ) 19 Thou deepest searcher of each secret thought , Infuse in me thy all affecting grace ; So shall my workes to good effectes be brought , While I peruse my vgly sinnes a space , Which ( I confesse ) in me hath tane deepe place , Whose staining filth so spotted hath my soule , As nought will wash , but teares of inward dole . 20 But wo it is to see fond worldlings vse , Who most delight in things that vniust be , And ( without feare ) worke vertues foule abuse , Scorning soules rest and all true pietie , Following ( with hot pursute ) iniquitie , As if they made account neuer to part From this fraile life , this pilgrimage of smart . 21 Such was the nature of our foolish kind , When practis'd sin hath taken deep-set roote , The way to pennance due is hard to finde , REPENTANCE , held a thing of little boote , Such is the foule corruption of mans minde , That contrite teares , soules health , and Angels ioy , Men now account , a meere fantasticke toye . 22 Ill working VSE , deuourer of all grace , The fretting moth , that wasteth soules chiefe blisse , The slie close theefe , that lurkes in euery place , Filching by peece-meale , till the whole be his , Teaching corrupted minds to do amisse ; How many are deceiued by this bait , T'account their sins as trifles of no waight ? 19 Oh cursed CVSTOME , causing myschiefe still , Too long thy craft my sences hath misse-led , Too long I haue bin thrall vnto thy will , Too long I haue bin Luld in pleasures bed , Too long my soule on bitter sweets hath fed ; That surfetting with thy hell-poysoned cates , I now repent faire vertues former hate . 20 And humbly come with sorrow-rented hart , With blubered eies , and hands vpreard to heauen , To play a poore lamenting LOST SHEEPES parte , That would weepe streames of bloud to be forgiuen . So that heauens ioyes may not from me be-reauen . But ( oh ) I feare , mine eies are draind so drie That though I would , inough I cannot cry . 25 If any eie therefore can spare a teare , To fill the well-springs that must wet my cheekes , Oh let that eie to this sad feast draw neere , Refuse me not my humble soule be-seekes , With weeping mones helpe me to fill the aire : For all the teares mine eies haue euer wept , Were now too little had they all bin kept . 26 I see my sinnes arraign'd before my face , I see theyr number passe the motes in sunne : I see that my continuance in this place Cannot be long : for since my life begunne , All I haue said , all that I haue misdone , I see the IVDGE before my face hath laide , At whose sterne lookes , all creatures are afraid . 27 If he be iust my soule condemned is , And iust he is . What then may be expected ? But banishment from euerlasting blisse , To liue like curssed CAIN , base , vile , abiected , And from the flocke of Gods deare fold reiected ? He in his rage his brothers bloud did spill : I ( more vnkind ) mine own soules life do kil . 28 Oh could mine eies send trickling teares amain , Neuer to cease till my eternall night , Til this eie-flood thy mercies might obtaine , Whom my defaults hath banisht from thy sight , ( Sending forth sighes of true repenting sprite ) Then could I blesse my happie time of crying : But ( ah ) too soone my barren springs are dying . 29 Thrice happie sinner was that blessed Saint , Who though he fell with puffe of womans blast , Went forth and wept with many a bitter plaint , And by his teares , obtain'd grace at the last : For in his weeping teares he did not faint . I , hauing lost my selfe of mine accord , Haue faln ten thousand times from my deer Lord . 30 Yet cannot straine one true repentant teare , To gaine the blisse from which my soule is banisht : My flinty hart such sorrowing doth forbeare , And from my sence all true remorse is vanisht , So haue my follies led me without feare , That hart and sence are cloyd with dregs of sin , And ther 's no place for grace to enter in . 31 No place ( deare Lord ) vnlesse thy goodnesse please To pitty him that worst deserues of any , And in thy tender mercy graunt him ease , As thou tofore hath mercy shew'd to many , With th'oile of grace curing their foule disease : Yet none of those do equall me in sinne , How may I hope thy MERCIE then to winne ? 32 The traitor JVDAS , heire-borne to Perdition , Who for a trifle did his Lord betray , In equall doome deserueth more remission , Then my defaults can challenge any waie , That thus haue lost my selfe and runne astray : He sold him once : that once for gaine was done , I often times ; yet lesse then nothing wonne . 33 The bloudy-minded IEWES , in fury mad , Vntill on thee ( deere Lord ) their rage was fed , In their fell anger more compassion had , And lesse in selfe destruction surfetted Then I , for whom thy harmelesse bloud was shed : Their hellish spight within a day was past , My sinfull fit doth all my life time last . 34 For euery stripe from them my Lord did take , A thousand deadly sinnes I haue committed , And euery sinne as deepe a wound did make , As did the cords wherwith my CHRIST was whipped For straying from him , now my soule is nipped . Oh hatefull caytife , PARRICIDE most vile , Thus with my sinne his pure bloud to defile . 35 Oh sinne , first parent of mans euer-woe , The distance long , that seuers hell and he auen , Sences confounder , Soules chiefe ouerthrow , Grafted by Men , not by the Grafter giuen , against true blisse , a secret-working foe : Consuming CANKER , wasting soules chiefe tresure , Only to gaine a little trifling pleasure . 36 Happie were Man , if sinne had neuer bin ; Thrice happie now , if sinne he would forsake , But happier farre , if for his wicked sinne He would repent , and hartie sorrow make , And for his comfort , true CONTRITION take : Leauing this drosse , and filthy delectation , To gaine in heauen , a lasting habitation . 37 There is the place wherein all sorrowes die , Where ioy exceeds all ioyes that euer were ; Where ANGELS make continuall harmonie , The mind set free from care , distrust , and feare : Where vertu's crowned with eternall glorie . There all receiue like ioyfull Contentation , Happied by that most heauenly contemplation . 38 Now do I see the chaunge we make for sinne : In stead of Heauen , Hell is become our lot ; For blessed Saints , we damned fiendes do winne ; For rest and freedome , lasting bondage got . Such paiment , and such Intrest is sinnes shot . For ioy , content , eternall loue , and peace ; Griefe , despaire , hate , and iars that neuer cease . 39 The worme of CONTIENCE still attendeth on me , Telling each houre , each instant I shall die , And that my sinnes cannot be parted from me , But where I am , thither they likewise fly , Working my soules heart-breaking miserie , Vrging this stil , that death I haue deserued , Because I fled from him I shoulde haue serued . 40 What greater sinne can touch a humane heart ? What hellish FVRIE can be worse tormented ? What sinner liues , that feeleth not a part Of that sharpe plague , vnlesse he haue repented , And with remorsefull tears sinnes scourge preuented ? And yet I find REPENTANCE is but vaine , Without full purpose not to sinne againe . 41 And is t not then follies contagious error , To couet that , which brings with it contempt , And make vs liue in feare , distrust and terrour Hating at last the thing we did attempt , Pursuing still our courses with black horrour : For neuer sin did yet so pleasing tast , But lustfull flesh did loath it , when t was past . 42 Witnesse my wofull soule , which well can tell , In highest top of sins most fresh delight Although my frailtie suffred me to dwell , Yet being past , I loath'd it with despight , And then ( methought ) it seem'd a second hell : Yet like the SWINE , I see mine owne desire , That being cleane , do couet still the mire . 43 So greedy is mans beastly appetite , To follow after dunghill pleasures still , And feede on carrion , like the rauening Kite , Not caring what his hungery maw doth fill , So he may please his fond affecting will : He worketh still , a selfe-conceit effect , Without constraint , controulement , or respect . 44 Oh , why should man , that bears the stamp of heauen , So much abase heauens holy will and pleasure ? Or why was sence and reason to him giuen , That in his sinne cannot containe a measure ? But still neglect his soules celestiall treasure : He knowes he must account for euery sinne , And yet committeth sinnes that countlesse bin . 45 This to peruse ( deare God ) doth kill my soule , But that thy MERCIE quickneth it againe ; Oh heare me ( Lord ) in bitternesse of dole , That of my sinnes do prostrate heere complaine , And for the same poure forth my teares amaine . And at thy feete with MARIE knock for grace , Though wanting MARIES teares to wet my face . 46 She happy sinner saw her life misse-led , At sight whereof , her inward hart did bleede : To witnesse with her , outward teares were shed , Oh blessed SAINT , and oh most blessed deed : ( For on the teares of sinners ANGELS feede ) But wretched I , that see more sinnes then shee , Nor grieue within , nor yet weepe outwardly . 47 When she had lost thy presence but one day , The want was such , her hart could not sustaine , But to thy TOMBE , alone she tooke her waie , And there with mournfull sighes she did complaine , And downe her face teares trickled like the raine : Nor from her sence once stir'd or mou'd was she , Vntill againe she got a sight of thee . 48 But I haue lost thy presence all my daies , And stil I am slacke to seek thee as I should , My wtetched soule in wicked sinne so stayes , I am vnmeet to seeke thee , though J would , J haue so strayed from thee in by-waies : Yet if I could with teares thy comming tend , I know , I should ( as she ) finde thee my friend . 49 Teares are the key , that ope the way to blisse , The holy water , quenching heauens quick fire : Th'atonement true twixt God and our amisse , The ANGELS drinke , the blessed SAINTS desire : ( Happie is he that sings in this sweet quier ) The ioy of thee ( OH CHRIST ) the balme of smart , The spring of life , ease to a grieued heart . 50 The second king of ISRAELL by succession , When with VRIAHS wife he had offended , Jn bitter teares bewailde his great transgression , And by his teares found grace and so repented , For at the same almighty God relented . He night and daie in weeping did remaine , I , night nor daie , to shed one teare take paine . 51 And yet my sinnes in greatnesse and in number , Far his exceed . How comes it then to passe , That my REPRNTANCE should so far be vnder , And graces force ( deare God ) is as it was ? Why is CONTRITION now so far asunder ? Truth is ; that I , although I haue more need , Do not as he , so truly weepe indeed . 52 Oh , wherefore is my steelie hart so hard ? Why am J made of mettall vnrelenting ? why is all ghostlie comfort from me bard ? Or to what end doe J refer repenting ? Why am J not of after-claps afeard ? Can lustfull flesh , or flattring world perswade me , That I can scape the power of him that made me ? 53 No , no , the secret searcher of all harts , Both sees and knowes the deeds that I haue done , And for each deede will pay me home with smart , No shew can shaddow what I haue misdone ; No place can serue his will decreed to shunne : I should deceiue my selfe , to thinke that he For sinne would punish others , and not me . 54 Our first-borne Sire , first breeder of mans thrall , For one bare sin , was of perfection reft , and all mankinde was banisht by his fall From PARADICE , and vnto sorrowe left , and former comfort was from him bereft . Jf he for one , and all for him feele paine , Then for so many , What shall I sustaine ? 55 The ANGELS , made t' attend on God in glory : Were thrust from heauen , and , onely for one sinne , That but in thought ( for so records the story ) For which they still in lasting darkenesse bin , And cannot sunnes bright shining comfort win . If these once glorious thus tormented be , J poore LOST SHEEPE , what wil become of me . 56 What will become of me , that not in thought , In thought alone , but in each word and deede , A thousand , thousand , deadly sinnes haue wrought , and still do worke , whereat my hart doth bleed ; Being by sinne out of the right way led ? Which makes me thus bewaile , lament , and grieue , For griefe , and sorrow , must my cares relieue . 57 Now doe I cursse the time , J euer went In sinnes black path , that leadeth to damnation : Now do J hate the houres I haue mispent In idle vice , neglecting soules SALVATION , Now do I grieue I lost that was but lent . And to redeeme the time J haue misse-worne , I wish this houre I were againe new borne . 58 But vaine it is , as saith the wisest man , To call againe the day that once is past . Oh! let me see what best is for me than , To gaine thy fauour whilst my life doth last , ( For worldlings fauours are but as a blast ) That in the next , J may but worthy be , Euen in the meanest place to waite on thee . 59 J do as did the prodigall sonne sometimes , Vpon my knees with harty true CONTRITION And weeping eies confesse my former crime , Not hiding any wilfull sinnes transgression , But humbly beg , vpon my lowe submission , That thou wilt not of former faults detect me , But like a louing father now respect me . 60 And thus will J in sorrow spend my breath , And spot my face with neuer-dying teares , Till aged wrinckles MESSENGERS of death , Haue purchast mercy , and remoued feares , And brought true hope in stead of false despaires . And then the world within my lookes shall read The pittious wrack vnbridled sinne hath bred . 61 Oh that I were remou'd to some close caue , Where all alone , retired from delight , I might my sighes and teares vntroubled haue , And neuer come in wretched worldlings sight , In whose ill deeds misfortune workes despight . Whose ill bewitching company still brings , deep prouocation , whence great DANGER springs . 62 Jll COMPANIE , the cause of many woes , The sugered baite , that hideth poysoned hooke , The rock vnseene , that ship-wrackt soules ore-throwes The weeping CROCODILE , that kils with look , The Siren , that can neuer vertue brooke ; The readiest step to ruine and decay , Graces confounder , and hels neerest waie . 63 How many soules do perish by thy guile ? How many men doe without feare frequent Thy deadly haunts ? where they in pleasure smile , Taking no care such daunger to preuent , Nor sorrowing for their youthfull time mispent : But liue like BELIALS , sencelesse and vnta'md , Not looking for their faults they shall be blam'd . 64 Alasse , alasse , too wretched do we liue , That carelesly do worke our owne confusion , And to our willes such liberty doe giue : Aye me It is the diuels meer illusions , Who spareth not to practise lewd conclusions ; To flatter vs with such SENCE-pleasing traines , That he thereby may take vs in his chaines . 65 This well fore-saw good men of ancient time , Which made them shun th'occasions of foule sinne , Knowing it was the nurse of euery crime , And SIREN-like would traine fond worldlings in ; And neuer cease vntill their soules they win . Aluring them with shew of musickes sound , Vntill on sins deepe gulfe their soules were drownd . 66 But better t is beleeue me in my triall , To shun such hell-hounds Factors of the diuell , And giue them leaue to grudge at your deniall , Then to pertake with such in sinne and euill , Treading the open way that leads to hell : For , if that God in iustice then should stay vs From hell and horror who ( alas ) could stay vs. 67 Good God : the iust ( as he himselfe hath spoken ) Should scarse be saued , oh terror vnremoueable ! What should they that neuer had a token , Or signe of grace ( soules comfort most behouable , Bringing to good minds Ioyes vnspeakable ) But gracelesse liu'd , and al good works did hate , What hope of them that liue in such a state ? 68 Oh who wil giue me teares , that J may waile Both nights and daies , the dangers J haue past ? My soule , my soule t is much for thy auaile , That thou art gotten from these straits at last , And hast recouered that was almost lost . Oh ioy , but in thy ioy mixe teares withal , That I haue time to say , Lord , heare me call . 69 I seeke not to conceale my deeds misdone , That I haue sin'd gainst heauen , J do confesse And am vnworthy to be cal'd thy sonne , Vnlesse thy mercie make my sinne seeme lesse : Though crime be great , Oh let CONTRITION Procure a pitti-yeelding swift reliefe , That for sinnes past suffer a harts true griefe . 70 Now doe I see , and sighing grieue to see , That what we heere possesse is but a blast , Nothing 's found sure in this mortallity , But vertues ship-wracke , and true honors waste , Desart is still by harsh repulse disgrast ? Minds meaning well do tast of misery , When harts corrupted are aduanc't on hie . 71 From bad to worfe still growes this wicked world , Wherefore I thinke that PLATOES wondrous yeere , ( When as the Orbes of heauen shall be reuolu'd , To their first course ) approacheth very neere ; The bands of th'element shall be dissolu'd . And till those daies of consumation come , Cares shal make mute , & sorrows make me dumb . 72 VANITIE is the mask wherein fond youth Doth march and wander to his owne annoy ; Folly attends as PAGE : but care and wrath Are the rewards of soule-seducing ioy . This lesson hath experience taught for truth , That after wits are bit with many cares , And had I wist , is wrapt in sorrowes snares . 73 From the greene pastures , mounts , and meades , And from the cristall current of heauens ioies ; The woolfe hath cast me , and foule errour leades My soone-seduced steps to such annoies , That where I feede , my staruing food destroies ; Seeke me deere SHEPHERD , else J shall be lost , From blessed vales , to thornes and thistles tost . 74 Oh seek me ( Christ ) as once thy mercie sought Downe-falling DAVID from thy mountaine lawes : oh seek thine own , thine own whom thou hast bought , And keepe me from the Draggons open iawes ; Where sinne betraies for euerie slender cause . For from the treasure of thy sacred side , Thou paid'st the ransome of accursed pride . 75 With shame-sick ADAM haue I hid my head , Vnparadiz'd , from my ANGELL-like state , And from the presence of thy father fled , My soule sepultur'd in my bodies hate . My heape of sinnes hath bard that blessed gate Was op'ned wide , by that deepe sluce was made Within that wound , where mercies balm was laid . 76 Paine-pearced Shepheard , master of that fold , Old ISRAELL brought into thy spatious field , For which thy felfe , thy glorious selfe hath sold , Making a dearth such store of MANNA yeeld , With which the parcht and desert plaines were fild ; That where thy lambs from sweet repast were driuen , They banket with celestiall food from heauen . 77 Thou drankest freting vineger with gall , To make their bitter waters hunny-sweet , That spungy moysture , that in deadly thrall , For thy pale lips the sonnes of men thought meete : From such a holy SHEPHEARD who would fleete ? None but my selfe who hauing lost my marke , Wander alone in shames dispised darke . 78 Behold my feete intangled in the bryers , And enuious brambles teare my fleece away : To loose them ( Lord ) my gasping soule desires , Least to the Rauens J become a praie : Such fruit they reape that runne so farre astraie . Then on thy SHOVLDERS take me to thy folde , The sheep whom thou hast bought , and sathan sold . 79 Fiue tallents didst thou paie , whereon was fram'd The seale of death , imprest with crimson bloud ; Two in thy hands , two in thy feet remainde , One in thy side . Those bought that heauenly food , That feeds the soule with his eternall good . Oh bring me then sweet CHRIST , where J may feed On that , for which I sigh , and thou didst bleed . 80 So shall J bid adue to deepe dispaires , And welcome hearts delight and soules content ; So shall J put awaie distrust and feares , And sing thy praises , till my daies be spent , With ioyfull himnes , after a sad lament : That this may be thy seruant suite doth make , thy LOST SHEEP begs , euen for thine own names sake .