Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of King James the First. 1847. Mercy XCVIII. Thomas Collins
DAUID 1 did mercy craue, and nothing more, In all his troubles and aduersities; ’Cause mercy paies sins’ debt, and cleares the score, Leauing no sign of our iniquities, To feare our soules or to offend our eyes. 5 Wherefore, with him, I will for mercy craue, That of my sins I may remission haue. Mercy’s the sum and substance of my sute; Mercy’s the marke at which I aime by prayer; Mercy’s soule’s manna, heauen’s sacred fruit; 10 Mercy’s the idea of the onely faire; Mercy’s God’s seat, his hie and only chaire; Mercy’s the loadstone, that to life doth drawe; Mercy’s the gospell, that fulfills the lawe. Mercy’s the obiect of the angells’ loue; 15 Mercy’s the arke doth in sin’s deluge saue; Mercy’s the martir’s oliue-bringing doue; Mercy’s the means that men saluation haue; Mercy’s the most good that a man can craue; Mercy’s the salue that cures sin’s vgly sores; 20 Mercy’s the porter of heauen’s pretious dores. Mercy mou’d Christ to come, and die for men; Mercy moues man to deeds of charitie; Mercy may saue me, sinfull publican; Mercy the saints pray for continually; 25 Mercy doth pardon man’s iniquitie; Mercy’s most royall, bred and borne in heauen; Mercy’s God’s gift, the best that ere was giuen.
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