English Puritan & Reformed

The Divine Penitential Meditations and Vows of His Majesty

Edward Reynolds (1599-1676) · 3,391 words · 15 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A74840.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

Numb. 1.

THE DIVINE PENITENTIAL MEDITATIONS AND VOWES OF HIS LATE Sacred Majesty IN HIS SOLITUDE AT HOLMBY-HOUSE, Faithfully turned into Verse.

By E. R. Gentleman.

—Respiciat Deus. Bene cogitata—
Senec.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1649.

To the READER

I Here present unto thee a flower plucked out of that most excellent storeyard 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 meanly turned into verse, therefore I may boldly applaud, and admire the one, and refer my own unto thy censure, yet if this finds acceptance (from Loyall Subjects) it will incite me to proceed with the other Meditations; which if I shall not be so fortunate as to perform, I hope some more happier, & Deviner Muse will with an Elaborate Pen Dilucidate unto the world what is deficient in my Skill, but not in will, I am far from desiring any plaudit; Omnis insipience arrogantia & plausibus capitor Every fool is won with pride and his own flattering applaud, but as I should be sorry to affect the one, so I hate, and disrespect the other, it shall be sufficient to me, if I please them, who are Ravished with these Divine Meditations; which like A Diamond cannot lose their Luster although they were mantled in Cimmerian-Darkness; The world must confess with me that they are obstacles to our profound Mercuralists, who can extract such Sences out of the Sacred Scripture, that are again the sense of common reason, which yet catch poor silly people by Shooles, as Fishermen with Drag nets take their Fishes, yet are not (or will not) our Trumpettors be sensible of it, but either encourage them, or remain silent as in a Lethargy; And thus, since neither our former, nor present sufferings can refine, or cleanse our drossy & leprous souls: HOW may we hope that our correction is ended? or that the rod shall be burnt?

         Nil hosts, nil dira fames, nil deing morbi
        
         Egerunt, fuimus qui nunc sumus ijs{que} periclis
        
         Tentati, nihilo meliores reddimur unquam,
        
         Sub vitijs nullo colparum finum manentes.

         Nor foes, nor famine, nor diseases have
        
         Workit any change in us, that which we were,
        
         We constantly remain, and still do crave
        
         To be entangled in the self-same snare.

No time can our depraved manners move,

In vice we dwell, in endless sin's our love.

Which as it is too true, so must we still expect heavier Judgments, & none but such who have the grape of Canaan. A good • onscience will be able with patience to endure them; 'twas that made PAUL courageous in the turbulent Adriatical Sea (when the Mariners dispaired) the tempestuous Euroclidon blowing, and suffering 14. days want of meat and light; 'It is a good Conscience that is like the Herb Nepenthes which driveth away all sadness, 'tis a good Conscience that without Music, or Wealth, or Honor, or Liberty, nay in a forced and unlawful Death, is happy, and merry alone, And it is that which I wish unto all who fear God and honor the King; For Conscience is individual and inseparable, there is no putting of it to flight, or flying from it; nec fugere, nec fugare poteris, it was bread and borne with us, and saith (as Ruth to Naomi) I will go with thee whither soever thou goest. Therefore since our Kingdom is become a Pantheon (next after the Scripture,) I may well prescribe this Panacea, which sure none will refuse for,

Miser esse mavult, esse qui faelix potest?

Who miserable doth desire to be,

That may be linked to felicity?

Yet if any shall (as I am confident many will) find fault with me, I only desire them, either to mend what I have most willingly begun, or lay them away, and not afford them any spare time for reading.

Farewell.

Penitentiall Meditations AND Vowes in the KINGS Solitude at Holmby.

GIve ear to my words O Lord, consider my Meditations, and hearken to the voice or my cry my King, and my God, for unto thee will I pray.

          GIve ear unto my words (O Lord)
         
          My
         
         Meditations
         
          think upon
         
          To
          
           •…
          
          voice of my sad cry accord.
         
          My
         
         King
         
          my
         
         God
         
          to thee alone,
         
          I will offer up my supplication.

I said in my hast, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes: nevertheless, thou hearest the voice of my supplication, when I cry unto Thee.

          I unadvisedly did say,
         
          That I am cast out of thy sight,
         
          Of thy clear eyes more bright then day.
         
          Yet thou to hear me dost delight.
         
          When I with cries to thee show my sad plight.

If thou Lord shouldest be extreme to mark what's done amiss, who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayst be feared; therefore shall sinners fly unto thee.

          If thou (sweet Lord) shouldst be extreme
         
          To notify what's done amiss,
         
          Who can abideit? but thy bright beam
         
          Shines mercy, which with fear must kiss,
         
          Therefore shall sinners fly to thee for blis.

I acknowledge my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my condition; the eminency of my place, adding weight to my offenses.

          My leprous sins I with contrition
         
          Acknowledge now before thy Grace,
         
          Which ponderous are by my condition,
         
          The Eminency of my place
         
          Adding much weight to them, which me deface.

Forgive I beseech thee, my Personal, and my Peoples sins; which are so far mine, as I have not improved the •… wer thou gav •… t me, to thy Glory, and my Subjects good.

          Forget, forgive, I thee implore,
         
          My Pers
          
           •
          
          nall, and my Peoples ill
         
          Which are so added to my store,
         
          As I improved nos power, and skill,
         
          Thou gavest me, for thee, & their hurt to kill.

Thou hast now brought me from the glory and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects.

          And now thou hast dejected me,
         
          From what my Glory did disclose,
         
          And freedom of a
         
         Majesty,
        
          To be a Prisoner unto those,
         
          Who're my own Subjects, yet their
         
         King
         
          oppose.

Justly O Lord as to thy overruling hand, because in many things I have rebelled against Thee.

          But justly 'tis (most mighty Lord)
         
          As to thy over ruling hand,
         
          Because that I thy will deferred,
         
          And contrary to thy Command,
         
          In opposition against thee did stand.

Though thou hast restrained my Person, yet enlarge my heart to thee, and thy grace towards me.

          And yet although thou hast restrained
         
          My Person, O enlarge my Heart,
         
          To thee my God, my God unfain'd,
         
          And let me have a greater part
         
          Of thy good Grace, for to over way my smart

I come far short of David's Pyety, yet since I may equal David's afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of David.

          I come far short of
         
         David's
         
          zeal,
         
          Yet since in afflictions equal his
         
          I only unto thee appeal,
         
          For
         
         David's
         
          Comforts (happy bliss!)
         
          And the sure mercies which he did not miss.

Let the penitent sense I have of my Sins, be an evidence to me thou hast Pardoned them.

          O let the feeling penitent sense
         
          Which of my numerous sins I have,
         
          Be unto me an evidence,
         
          That thy sealed pardon will me save,
         
          And that thoust buried them within Christ's grave.

Let not the evils which I & my Kingdoms have suffered, seem little unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins.

          Let not the evils which both I,
         
          And all my Realms have suffered,
         
          Seeme little to thy Majesty,
         
          Although thou hast not punished
         
          Us; with such pains as our great sins have bred

Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate, and afflicted.

          Turn thee (O Lord) turn unto me,
         
          Have mercy on thy Servant
         
         God,
        
          For I am fraught with misery,
         
          O I am desolate, and thy rod
         
          Hath much afflicted me my God! my God!

The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles.

          The sorrows of my bleeding heart
         
          Encreased be, enlarged are,
         
          O from thy mercy do not part,
         
          But fetter from me lean despair,
         
          Bring thou me out from troubles, and my care.

Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure.

          Hast thou forgotten for to be
         
          A gracious and a loving Lord?
         
          Hast thou shut up thy bowels free,
         
          Thy loving kindness and thy word
         
          In black displeasure, not for to be stirred

O remember thy Compassions of old, and thy loving Kindnesses, which have been for many generations.

          O now remember, call to mind,
         
          Of old thy sweet compassion,
         
          Thy kindnesses which all did find,
         
          And which had a Relation,
         
          To all thy Saints for many a Generation.

I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodness in the land of the Living.

          Lord! I had fainted utterly
         
          If that my faith had not confirmed
         
          My drooping heart to know that I,
         
          Should see thy goodness great enthron'd,
         
          Within the Land of th' living, ever owned.

Let not the sins of our prosperity deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions.

          Let not the gilded swelling sins
         
          Of our prosperity be show'n,
         
          To take from us thy sweet blessings,
         
          To take from us most wretched ones.
         
          The benefit of thy afflictions.

Let this fiery Trial consume the dross, which in long peace and plenty we had contracted.

          O let this purging fiery Trial
         
          Consume the Canker and the dross,
         
          Which we (who never used denial)
         
          In our long peace and plenty gross,
         
          Contracted had, not to our gain but loss.

Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace what is wanting of prosperity, make up in patience, and repentance.

          Though thou continuest miseries,
         
          Thy grace yet do not Lord withdraw,
         
          What's wanting of prosperities,
         
          Make up in patience and in awe,
         
          As in repentance that we've brake thy Law.

And if thy anger be not yet to be turned away, but thy hand of justice must be stretched out still.

          And if thy anger be not yet
         
          For to be turned from us away,
         
          But that thou dost account it fit,
         
          Thy hand of Justice still should stay,
         
          Stretch out, sharp punishment on us to lay.

Then will I make all the world to see, and my very enemies to enjoy the benefit of this Vow and Resolution of Christian Charity, which I now make unto thee O Lord.

          Then will I make the world to see,
         
          And all my foes joy with content,
         
          The benefit of my Vow so free,
         
          And Christian Charities intent,
         
          Which now to thee (O Lord) from me is sent.

As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind.

          As I do freely now forgive
         
          For Christ my worthy Savior's sake,
         
          All those who any ways did strive
         
          Me miserable for to make,
         
          Or yet their malice on me for to stake.

So my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past, in regard of any particular injury done to me.

          So shall my hand (which hate doth shun)
         
          Ne're lifted be 'gainst any one,
         
          For to revenge what's past and done,
         
          In reference unto what was shown,
         
          Particularly 'gainst me, or yet my Throne.

We have been mutually punished in our unnatural divisions for thy sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this in my heart.

          We mutually were punished,
         
          By civil Wars unnatural,
         
          For thy sweet sake (O Lord my Head)
         
          And for's sake who for me did fall,
         
          This have I purposed in my heart to all.

That I will use all means in the ways of honesty and indemnity; which may most fully remove all fears, and bury all jealousies in forgetfulness.

          That all means I will use to stay
         
          In the blest ways of honesty,
         
          Indemnity to give, which may
         
          Must fully make all fear to f
          
           •
          
          y,
         
          And in forgetfulness
          
           •…
          
          comb jealousy.

Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth and Peace are towards my People.

          O let thy mercies be to me
         
          Thy Servant Lord, and unto mine,
         
          As these my Resolutions free,
         
          Of canded Peace and Truth incline,
         
          To those, whom thou didst unto me design.

Hear my Prayer O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips.

Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my Prayer, nor taken his mercy from me.

          O Lord my God my prayer hear,
         
          Which out of lips feigned go not out
         
          Blessed be God, who from my prayer,
         
          H
          
           •
          
          th never turned himse
          
           •
          
          f about,
         
          Nor taken his mercy from me so to doubt.

O my soul, commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass.

          O my poor humble seeking soul,
         
          Commit thy way to the Lord alone
         
          Trust in him, who doth all control,
         
          And then be sure (as it will be known)
         
          That he shall bring to pass, for what you moan.

But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should charge thee foolishly?

          But if thou (from thy Providence)
         
          Nor me, nor mine wilt not restore,
         
          What am I, what preeminence,
         
          Have I a silly worm most poor,
         
          To charge thee foolishly, whom I adore?

Thou, O Lord, hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy Name.

          Thou, thou O God, omnipotent Lord,
         
          Hast, given, each thing from thee came,
         
          And thou who rulest with a word,
         
          Hast taken from us worms the same,
         
          Observed be! O blessed be thy Name!

Let it I beseech thee be against me, and my Fathers house; as for these sheep, what have they done?

          O let it Lord (I thee entreat)
         
          Be turned from them, on me to light,
         
          And on my Fathers House and Seat,
         
          For as these poor sheep in right
         
          What have they done? what hurt is in their sight

Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Churches Enemies.

But let their cruelty never exceed the measure of my chaity.

          Let these my sufferings satiate
         
          The cankered malice of my foe,
         
          And such who thy pure Church do hate.
         
          But let their cruelty never out-go,
         
          My charity which J would have here flowe.

Banish from me all thoughts of revenge, that I may not loose the reward nor thou the glory of my patience.

          Banish from me revengfull thoughts,
         
          That so I may not with offense.
         
          Lose the reward which will be brought,
         
          And which to me thou wilt despence,
         
          Nor thou the glory of my patience.

As thou givest me a heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee forgive what they have done against thee and me.

          As thou to me dost give a heart
         
          To pardon, and forgive them free,
         
          So I beseech thy love impart
         
          Forgivenes to them speedily,
         
          For what they've done against, both thee and me.

And now (O Lord) as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee: so hear and accept this vow which I make before thee.

          And now (O Lord) as thou hast gave
         
          Me such a pliant heart to pray,
         
          To thee, who solely canst me save,
         
          So hear, and take without delay,
         
          This vow, which I before thee make this day

If thou wilt in mercy remember me and my Kingdoms, in continuing the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us.

          If that thou wilt in mercy (Lord)
         
          Think on me, and my Kingdoms too,
         
          Continuing the light of th'word,
         
          And settling of Religion true,
         
          Amongst us all so errors to escew,

In restoring unto us the benefit of the Laws, and the due execution of justice.

          And in restoring (from thy might)
         
          The benefit to everyone,
         
          Of th'fundamental Laws upright,
         
          With the due execution
         
          Of real Justice, seated in her Throane.

In suppressing the many Schisms in Church, and Factions in State.

          In weeding, and suppressing all
         
          The poisonous Schisms which from hate,
         
          Upon the Church in weight do fall,
         
          And suddenly to discipate,
         
          The Hydra factions of the State,

If thou wilt, restore me and mine to the ancient Rights, and Glory of my Predecessors.

          If that thou wilt Lord me restore,
         
          And those who are unto me nigh.
         
          To what we did enjoy before,
         
          To th'ancient Rights, and Majesty
         
          Of my true Predecessors seated high,

If thou wilt, turn the hearts of my people to thyself in Piety, to me in Loyalty, and to one another in Charity.

          If thou my people's hearts will turn,
         
          Unto thyself in pious Love,
         
          And make their loyal zeal to burn
         
          To me their King, and cause them move,
         
          To Charity, and only it to prove.

If thou wilt, quench the flames, and withdraw the fuel of these civil Wars.

          If that thou wilt extinguish quite,
         
          The flames which cause such during scars,
         
          And from thy goodness infinite
         
          Withdraw our mind for moving jars,
         
          And the apt fuel of continued Wars.

If thou wilt, bless us with the freedom of public Counsels, and deliver the honor of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar.

          If for to bless us thou art content,
         
          With public Councils to be free,
         
          And keep the power of Parliament
         
          From the insolence of such, who be
         
          Breakers of Laws, and vulgar in Degree.

If thou wilt, keep me from the great offense of enacting anything against my Conscience, and especially from consenting to sacriligious rapines & spoilings of thy Church.

          If thou wilt keep me from that great sin
         
          Of acting anything, which
         
         I
        
          By conscience know should not have been
         
          And chief, not to consent to fly
         
          To spoil thy Church most sacreligiously.

If thou wilt, restore me to a capacity of doing good, both to the Church and State.

          If that thou (Lord) wilt me restore
         
          To a capacity, that so
         
         I
         
          may endeavor more and more
         
          To praise thee in the good
         
         I
         
          'le do
         
          But to the Church, and State, which now is low.

Then shall my soul praise thee, and magnify thy name before my people.

          Then shall my never fainting soul,
         
          Praise thee thou Lord of glorious might.
         
          Then will
         
         I
         
          laud without control
         
          And Magnifie (as it is right)
         
          Thy blessed name before my people's sight.

Then shall thy glory be dearer to me then my Crown, and the advancement of true religion both in purity and power, be my chiefest care.

          Then shall thy glory be more dear
         
          Unto me, then my Crowns now are,
         
          And true Religion in its fear
         
          As in its purity most fair,
         
          For to advance, shall be my chiefest care.

Then will I rule my people with justice, and my Kingdom with Equity.

          Then will
         
         I
         
          rule impartially
         
          My People all as they will find,
         
          With Justice, which shall hate defy,
         
          And all my Kingdoms to their mind
         
          With equity, which is with love combinde.

To thy more immediate hand shall I ever own as the rightful succession, to the merciful restauration of my Kingdoms, and the glory of them.

          As
         
         I
         
          'le the true succession own
         
          Unto thy more immediate power.
         
          So the kind restauration
         
          Of these my Kingdoms evermore
         
          To thee
         
         I
         
          yield, with all their glorious store,

If thou wilt bring me again with Peace, Safety, and Honor, to my chiefest City, and my Parliament.

          If thou wilt bring me from thy pity
         
          With Peace, with safety, and with Fame,
         
          Again unto my chiefest City,
         
          And my true Parliament, whose Name
         
          I honor, nor do it desire to shame.

If thou again wilt put the Sword of justice into my hand, to punish and protect.

          If Lord, thou once wilt put again
         
          The Sword of Justice in my hand
         
          Impartially for to remain,
         
          To punish those who hate Command,
         
          And a Protector for the good to stand.

May my People and the Church be happy, if not by me, yet without me.

          O may my people everyone,
         
          And thy pure Church (thy beautuous love)
         
          Be happy, let their joy be known,
         
          If not by me, yet (God above)
         
          Without me sinner let them prosp'rous prove.

June 18. 1649.

Imprimatur

JOHN DOWNAME.

FINIS