How should we imitate the Saints of old who have embittered their souls*, and sacrificed their lusts, and put on sackcloth […] hope of white robes. Peter baptized himself with tears; And that devout Lady Paula, (of whom Hierom writes) like a Bird of Paradise bemoaned her self and humbled her self to the dust for sin. Besides our own personal miscarriages, the deplorable condition of t•e Land calls for a contribution of Tears. Have not we lost ⟨image 4⟩much of our Pristine fame and renown*? Time was when we did sit as Princess among the Provinces*. God made the sheaves of other Nations to do obeisance to our Sheaf*, but is not our Glory fled away as a Bird? Hos. 9. 11. We are become the shame of our friends, and the scorn of our enemies. And what severe dispensations are yet behind, we cannot tell. Our black and Hideous Vapours having ascended, we may fear loud Thunder-claps should follow; and will not all this bring us to our wits, and excite in us a Spirit of humiliation? Shall we sleep on the top of the Mast when the winds are blowing from all the quarters of Heaven? O let not the Apple of our eye cease*. I will not launch forth any further in a Prefatory Discourse, but that God would add a blessing to this work, and so direct this arrow, that though shot at rovers, it may hit the mark, and some sin may be shot to death, shall be the ardent prayer of him, who is
How should we imitate the Saints of old who have imbittered their souls*, and sacrificed their lusts, and put on sackcloth 〈…〉 hope of white robes. Peter baptized himself with tears; And that devout Lady Paula, (of whom Hierom writes) like a Bird of Paradise bemoaned her self and humbled her self to the dust for sin. Besides our own personal miscarriages, the deplorable condition of t•e Land calls for a contribution of Tears. Have not we lost ⟨image 4⟩much of our Pristine fame and renown*? Time was when we did sit as Princess among the Provinces*. God made the sheaves of other Nations to do obeysance to our Sheaf*, but is not our Glory fled away as a Bird? Hos. 9. 11. We are become the shame of our friends, and the scorn of our enemies. And what severe dispensations are yet behind, we cannot tell. Our black and Hideous Vapours having ascended, we may fear loud Thunder-claps should follow; and will not all this bring us to our wits, and excite in us a Spirit of humiliation? Shall we sleep on the top of the Mast when the winds are blowing from all the quarters of Heaven? O let not the Apple of our eye cease*. I will not launch forth any further in a Prefatory Discourse, but that God would add a blessing to this work, and so direct this arrow, that though shot at rovers, it may hit the mark, and some sin may be shot to death, shall be the ardent prayer of him, who is
- *Cum pervenissem ad poe•itentes vidi […] res & verba quae Deo vim infe•e possent▪ Quosdam ex eis vidi noctibus totis sta•e Pervigiles; alios humi •uridas facies inclinantes, indignos s• qui coelum aspicerent vociferantes; nonnullos lugentes, fron▪ te• que in Terram collidentes • alios pectora jugiter Tundentes, animámque suam suspi•i▪ inge•i amaricantes. Cl•mach.Cum pervenissem ad poe•itentes vidi 〈…〉 res & verba quae Deo vim infe•e possent▪ Quosdam ex eis vidi noctibus totis sta•e Pervigiles; alios humi •uridas facies inclinantes, indignos s• qui coelum aspicerent vociferantes; nonnullos lugentes, fron▪ te• que in Terram collidentes • alios pectora jugiter Tundentes, animámque suam suspi•i▪ inge•i amaricantes. Cl•mach.
- *Fama Pari Passu ambulat cum vita.
- *Lam. 1. 1.
- *Genesis 37. 7.
