may have a firme superficies Hollow vaults a hard roofe The soule that takes things by the outside is like to goe away with out-side comforts that is not penetrating bottom-searching inward-looking is like to fall low for want of looking low Build then cauteously O my soule tread warily take heede of the rashnesse of fooles Esa 32.4 walke accurately circumspectly precisely keepe thy selfe close to thy God loase not thy hand thy hold the least time the least distance walke humbly love him intirely cleave to him inseperably follow him at every turne thou canst never be out of thy way while thou keepest thy way thy Christ whom thou sha't onely find in his fatheas who is who is already found of all them that seeke his face not themselves but him his holinesse his glory who of his just goodnesse and gratious wisedome to the manifestation of the power of his light of his love hath left thee among so many false lights fooles-fires in such a mist in such a night of darkenesse among so many misguiding guides like so many false voices in a wildernesse Now to know his from a strangers now to discerne is grace wisedome c. in its richest attire Resigne then thy selfe to thy Christ to thy God live by faith in all and feare not but when thou art gone out of thy selfe his spirit shall teach thee when what c. to see heare doe c. for while thou art with so farre as thou art with the Creator thou canst not want wisedome how to use the Creature so as it may bee most for his glory and that is the height of thy wisedome Certainly so long a wee are with him hee will bee with us counselling directing in all our wayes All our miscarriages ill doing and ill farings being from our departure from him our light life comfort so that not onely true faith is rationall in beleeving God beyond and against sence but true reason is faithfull in conversing with God in and thorough sence And hither I conceive lookes those places I am crucified to the world and the world to me am dead and this that I live in the very flesh incarnall sensuall things seeing hearing talking eating drinking commerce c. I live by the faith live the life of the son of God We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God ARe dead and the spirit that raised up Jesus quickneth our mortall bodies the soule of our soules the life of our lives Senses spiritualized Whatsoever is not of faith is sinne c. Neither can there be any thing pleasing to God but what is done in him in whom onely he is well pleased but what wee doe in him we doe by faith The nature whereof were wee so happy fully to know wee should fully know our owne happinesse VVIsdome begins with ends makes first its last Not stirs a foot till wary feare forecast Vnto what good but good thence End 's but One Then doe speake thinke an act till feare hath shewne Thy faith that kinde to come from lead to God A sinfull folly ' t is Thus faith will plod Hee 's then the man that 's only wise That keepes his God before his eyes The head of wisdomes feare but there Are wisemens eyes see with their feare His Optick nerves his moving hence Derive their animall influence THings as their principles decay and thrive Th'most dying Christians are the most alive Reduce all ills to sin all sins to 'th First All goods to grace all graces unto Christ Then place thy selfe i' th' midst and thou sha't see How good 't is in a trembling joy to be VVhile every act and accident shall show Thee thee not thee ere blest thee so to know Thus shake thee from thy selfe and thou sha't finde How good 't is to enjoy anothers minde Thus shake thee from thy selfe and thou sha't see How good 't is in anothers life to be VVhile seeing whence and whether brought th' ast bin Grace shall thee humble make and faithfull sin But may this humble faith still acted be Still't wu'd from sin and sinfull sorrow free THere is nothing wherein we are more wanting then in what we thinke our selves least the grounds and principles of Christianity VVhat more commonly confessed than that we are all sinners children of wrath by nature More readily professed then that we believe in Christ that we preferthe will the glory of God above all c. and yet what is it we beleeve we do lesse What is it is more hard more excellent VVhile they are things meerely notionall and superficially swimming in the braine or at most but glide and coast upon the heart and carry it on in a way of action so far as pleases our selves and corrupt nature the devill lets us run on with the undoubted uncontraverted conceit that we know them that we believe them till they have at length brought us thither where we shall too late be forced to believe know that we believed that we knew them not But then is it that we meet with the crosse windes the stormes fluctuations temptations doubts questionings of their certainty their equity c. When they come with that weight upon the soule as to sinke into it to be received and entertained of it into its seriousest and solemnest consideration when they come with that force and power upon it as not to Herere inprimis viis to stay in the common sense fancy but to take the judgement and by that the heart and by that the whole man into their possession that they are not only on the soule but In it and it wholly given up to wholy in these things when we come to suck sweetnesse from them to live upon them to digest them throughly to gather strength from them to draw them forth to practise to make them such to our selves as they are in themselves c. certainly could wee fully understand firmely beleeve cordially affect and frequently or rather continually actuate these things what manner of men should wee be O could we experimentally know in all holinesse in all happinesse of conversation we should be Christians farre more in reallitie then wee can be in profession in substance then wee can be in shew It is as impossible for that heart to make the world know what it sindes within it selfe as it is to speake proportionably to make them know what is heaven Not the thousandth part of it selfe is that soule able to discover that hath the powerfull workings of these thoughts these meditations within it though too they be such whose very nature is to carry forth the soule in the most operative activitie The cause once knowne the cure 's halfe done the soule And why not adde the body purg'd o' this foule Distempering humourous faithlesse pride thou' rt sound Though sinne shame paine want div'ls beset thee round The man 's within and all 's in vaine without If he that 's hid in Christ will
in its balbutient age Instruct the Father or what more can ingage Me to content then 't is my Fathers pleasure In whose contentment 's lain up all my treasure Of joy and blisse But th'want o'th'laying th'foundation Well and well building on 't makes all th'mutation So oft befall us else might we steady stand Upright unshaken mov'd on neither hand God is my Diapason rise or fall Above all thorough all the ground of all And so he is to All his workes but they Can heare no concords that will disobey But wee that put our selves into his hand Obedient instr'ments of his just command Who with his crosse-division running art Gives such mysterious pleasure to the heart Of 's understanding ones a stranger can't Conceive whose judgement 's too too rude too scant To compasse such an odde variety Into a sweeter-sounding unity Nor sees th'decorum now with smarter strokes Of 'ts valour excitating tones provokes Our rouzed spirits unto Martiall feates To quiet combates with the enemies threats Now w'th soft retreatings recollects them by it 'S remisser touches to a watchfull quiet Strike hard or gently stroke this know we still We 're th' better musick of his gracefull skill Prosperity's a Triall too and he that uses 'T not in that notion exceedingly abuses Himselfe and it and never sooner looses His every-way ensnared soul then when he chooses It not as pleasing God but him refuses Adversity not because his minde induces Him t'think it 's not thought good of God but hee Wu'd ever prosperous never afflicted be And wu'd'st thou so know every state 's a triall And all prosperity lies in self-deniall While thou surrounded with the confluence Of all the earths indearements that presents Thee with its goodliest heart-alluring'st offers Tak'st them as not ta'ne of them daily proffer'st A glad resignment having learn'd the art To have thy Food-indeed ev'r hungring heart More fil'd with Heaven then thy hands with Earth Count'st Myriades of Worlds a starving dearth Till Him thou seest in All gets Him through All Above all livest with Him 's in through 'bove all O such a man this man of Millions he 'S well bottom'd beares so well so high degree Be rooted grounded stablisht in the Faith So maist thou reare that superstructure hath A winde-and-storme-out-facing firmitude Whos 's Capstone shu'd be constant gratitude Whose corner stone is Christ whom while we see How can we unchearefull how unthankfull be In every thing give thankes ' cause every thing Brings good to us ' cause glory to him brings This is the will of God Sweet will The will Of God concerning me What me What still More sweetnesse What am I that I should be To be the subject of such Majesty That thou shud'st once bestow a thought on me But such a such a thought concerning me In Christ In Him even now translate into The Kingdome of thy dearest Son might view My Crosse triumph't o're by a patient and Long suffering joy while strengthned strengthned stand With might all might according to his power His glorious power doth all things over-power O' th' joy the joy the over-flowing joy Tides on the Heaven-ward soule wherein the Law Of comforts God's a hidden spring delights The inward man whose chiefe whose sole delight 's To be the subject of Gods will a joy Whose boundlesse inundations can destroy And beare before it like a wispe of Straw The hugest oppositions sad'st annoy That Earth and Hell can raise a joy redoubles T 's augmented forces by'ts increasing troubles The while he makes the more retir'd repaires Unto h's entowring Name views th' Legions there Attend him how heavens souldiers flock about Him with their profer'd service and his doubts Fly far away the while hee 's more intent To th' secrets of his heart more represent Him purity integrity simplicity Sincerity truth th' face of God vvhereby H's's inlargedly spirited with joyfull love 'T dares wrastle a fall with death and longs to prove The mastery and like some mighty Gyant fil'd With generous Wines speeds sprightly to the field Of high exploits that th' world and he might see Th'o'repowring arme of Al-sufficiency What wonders 't acts in feeble flesh a joy That can the most blood-sucking sorrow cloy With superabundant sweetnesses a joy Sings nothing sweeter then it's wisht envoy Unto the world a joy whose skill is showne ' N extracting marrow from the dryest bone A joy of that extended pure delight ' I's impossible the heart b' in such a plight Shut up in selfish ridgid austere constriction No't can be hard while such a blest affection Dissolves it all in pitty drawes powres it out In streames of meek compassions run about On every side with heedy tendernesse To see what wayes of succouring redresse 'T may finde while still it makes this gentlenesse prove More flaming oyle to its Seraphicke Love Thus thus annoint with this Celestiall joy Diffuses weighty spirits and imployes M' in such a sadnesse t' which all th' rest is madnesse A grave confulting serious sober sadnesse Consist's with is the Basis of true gladnesse 'T which all other's is but a merry madnesse A joy 's no light slight frothy vapouring bubble That disappeares at th'softliest-blasting trouble But a perspicuous solidity Transplendent firmnesse agile stability Thus kindly may the influented Art Of that bright morning Star that rules this heart Temper thee to it selfe and warm thy soule VVith spirits may raise th' above the worlds controule 'T is not thy Musicke Stories Company Thy forc'd ungenuin mirth can remedie Thy wound no i'ts but a palliated cure 'T will fester more and thou wilt lesse indure T 's returning smart but leave this Mountebanke trick And search toth ' coare better once be throughly sicke Then never truly well Out with this odde This peevish humour that oppugnes thy God His sacred will for then and not till then Thou't say to all his workes a glad Amen 'T is onely this our inconformitie 'S the cause of all our sinne and miserie And wu'dst thou not conforme did'st firmely beleeve Him all good thou all bad but hence we grieve Fond soules the griefes must be griev'd over again Cause our weake faith this maxime can't maintaine How can we be in our repining mood But in our heart we say he is not good No no it 's not it 's not so easie a thing To b'leeve him good for whether wud 't not bring Us duely truly creedited keepe then to this Say God is good for that is all our blisse Our blisse is all in Christ by whom alone The selfe denying soule God good hath knowne Worke waite pray praise This part 's thine God's the rest 'T is daring sacriledge to be unblest Gods glorie 's rob'd ere thine owne good but pray Thy Will be done let thankefull patience pray Blest man how ever There 's nothing comes amisse Toth ' man harh ta'ne the will of God for his Is now no more himselfe is ruled by Another soule his sole
we ENough Lord July 1640. Mercy enough take my life from me I better than my Fathers No s'bad I 'd die Were I left only Yet were I still with Thee But I 'm so fickle s'inconstant one while I Conquer Philistims break through all but then My strength is gone and I 'm like other men 〈…〉 renew'd and now had I 〈…〉 I 'd so imploy 〈…〉 â—ation Go their 〈…〉 Exalts it self above the highest Throne And sweeps down Stars whose lustre hath outshone Their artificiall Fires and made their Light Appeare th'ditch-plunging Vapours of the Night Lull'd were wee fast asleep while they Us shave But in thy Name wee 'le valiantly behave Our selves wee 've strength an t'spare wee 'le be more be Than Conquerours yea shortly on Them see Wh'have long depriv'd us of our sight and made Us grinde the grist keeps up the Romish Trade And now wee'z make them sport but such as makes Them and their Conclave feele their Downfall shakes Down down it goes this Lordly Machination On their own Lordlesse hearts this reputation Have all His Saints let not the vision be Prolonged Lord. When when shall I once see These Cockatrices Egges These Spiders webbs Crush't and swept down This Flood even now it ebbs While't more Rebellion then the Ocean sounds That curbs its proud Waves by its Makers bounds Is'nt th'Myst'ry of Iniqu'tie's Measure found Orerunning th'brim strik 't strik 't and throw 't to th' ground O when 's That 's Shortly Thou't under our feete contrite All desperate haters of Thy holy Might SWell on proud Toad and with thy swelling burst Spit venome still I 've m'Antidote How say'st I can't indur't Nor He thee thou accur'st That blest the meek I wonder how thou pray'st Thy Will be done What Wu't th' prerogative 'S His Glory To none other will He give A Touch a Pin a Word a Look make such a brable But brought on Bed thy self-will never eas'd Gi'th'Child its will give the Fool its bable And who more pleasant The devill 's well when Hee 's pleas'd But whose of God is pleas'd when He 's not well His Will 's his Pleasure and his own 's his Hell NO feare not Thou for Thou dost Jesus seek Meek righteous soul to make thee righteous meek Feare nothing nothing else but Him who can Yet cannot ' cause he will not hurt a Man A man of God whose single watchfull eye Heart minde strength might joy time doth all imploy In all Commands with all their due extents And sweetly still the humble soule relents And drooping dropping dropping in his breast will cry Ah wretch't unprofitable servant I O blest and profitable servant Thou Rewarded with th'All powerfull God and how How canst thou feare wh'hast Him who all things made Feare not He bids then feare to be afraid Feare not the Lion but the way watch pray He 'd keep th'in his who keeps His in their way THat feare and love is good and great That Goodnesse feares and Greatnesse loves Good for a slave may feare a threat And every rascall money moves Great the greatest feare from * Miserimum est fuisse foelicem Sin-and misery is as it is to Holinesse-and Happinesse Had not they first been we had never known these It is the full and feeling apprehension of their irrecoverable losse that makes Hell Hell to the wicked And the feare of their indiscoverable obscuring that makes feare feare to the godly In this so far exceeding that of the ungodly that the feare of the one ariseth from the losse of God of the other from the losse of themselves an infinitely sweet and gratious God a poore petty contemptible worm The soule of the one widened in the great vast apprehensions of the incomprehensible simplicity of God of the other shrunk up shrivelled in the strait narrow bounds of its own welfare That being a feare of Love the workings whereof are stronger than Death this of hatred that shall be kept under the power of Eternall Death That being that which draws the soul insinitely after him bindes it indissolvably to him makes it dwell everlastingly in him who is Love all Love and in whom is no hatred at all This that which contracts it into it self in a straight and scanty compasse carries it off makes it flie and keep at a distance from him who is Heaven while they are flying from Hell There being nothing that laies a stronger ingagement on the soule than Love and therefore nothing that doth more intend and increase the affections conducible to its preservation Which did an Arminian feele he would never exclaime against free Grace and absolute Predestination as a doctrine of sinfull liberty but rather as I may call it against forc't Grace and dependant Predestination The feares cares worries of the slave and mercenary beginning and ending in himselfe he not labouring out of a single eye but as seeing the whip and lash over his head the messe of Pottage at his hand while the adopted Son that lives at his Fathers Court and is ascertained of the Inheritance can as well qua talis as such whose heart is so enlarged and carryed forth in the sence of divine joyes and loves indure any the least aberration from its Fathers good pleasure as he that hearing him bespeake him with such like kinde compellations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my deare my precious Son the childe of my kisses my pleasant embracings for whose trouble my bowels are troubled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on whom in tender mercy I will have tendes everlastingly tender mercie c. can chuse but be affected with the most quick and ready concord of bowels the most passionately stirring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most Son-like givings givings up of soule and consequently acted with a more than manlike feare care working to be ever ever pleasing such a Father such a God to whom he findes it so good to draw to be so neare Losse doth rise Heroicque spirits catch not flies HOw full of sweetnesse is my foule While in this boundlesse Ocean 't roules 'T selfe in concurring floods of Blisse Where meets in One what ever is O How I dread thy mercies How Imbrace thy judgements on whose brow Sits lovely Soveraignety Inthron'd in an Identity Of awfull smiles whose holy beames Influence Seas of gratefull streames Through all thy wayes whose every path A sweetly fresh occurrent hath To bath my blissefull soul sings still Jehovah is in all and till He cease to be he never will To doe Great Good nor I to fill My reverentiall heart with praises Whose welcome feare my spirit raises To such an heighth of self-contempt that all This and the world below below me fall Poore despicable spectacles to 'th soule that feares Nothing but what it Loves nor loves but what it feares Hence pedling world with all thy paltry pack Trusse up away be gone Nor have I lack What Faire foule skins full empty bags Fresh rotting
Christ working on us in us and through us beginning continuing and ending all in it selfe happy Soule that knowes what is the study of selfe-deniall never can wee finde any where more of sweetnesse because no where more of God O could we make this our Hoc age our businesse our one thing whether wud it leade us where wud it loose us even to the following of God fully to be full of him and still to follow him to emptie and fill fill and emptie in a most sweet and blessed exercise of soule till we lay downe in everlasting rest and peace wholly emptied of our old and dying wholly filled with our new everliving selves O the unserchablenesse the unconceiveablenesse of the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord O the depth of its humility the heighth of its zeal the latitude and length of its obedience what thing what time can bound it O what is it can so free can so enlarge so sublime the heart as the giving it up to the hands of its God to be guided by him at his pleasure Can the soule contain it selfe within it selfe that hath these thoughts O when shall we know what it is that singlenesse of heart that being but one soule but one heart When shall we be like so many closing pieces of tender waxe before the fervent heat of the Sun When shall we be dissolved when runne into one another and all into one holy Lumpe Even so Lord Jesus come quickly 1 Cor. 10.24 Phil. 2.4 5. c. 21. Sic nos non nobis So we not for our selves have fame So we not for our selves have gaine Nobis nâ— nati sumâ— So we not for our selves have pleasure So we not for our selves have * Omnia mea temp amicorum temporibâ— absumend putavi Câ— Perdididâ— em quunâ— nemini be nefecisset Titus Impâ—rator leasure So have nor mind's nor bodie 's health To keep t' our selves our selves is stealth So nothing for our selves we have But have for Him that all things gave So all things for our selves we have Since He who all Himselfe us gave GOes th' Boate uneaven Leane the other way So with more safetie and with lesse delay In joying grieve and in thy grieving joy So neither change shall worke thee such annoy 'Ts the man that makes his fortune Ever 's he Prosperous thar learnes loves wills adversitie Then learne this lesson and 't is worth the while Let sorrow be the shaddow of thy smile Be not so joviall frolicke so profuse Least plung'd up swimme thou canst not through disuse That mirth is madnesse where's no ponderousnesse For reason's weightie and imports no lesse Then God the moving cause who once in thought The faithfull soule in fearefull joy is brought Great God! I sinke w'th that All-contayning name Good God! my burthen and my Heaven 's the same What heart-betraying world wu'dst have me joy I le turne my joy to my God-joying grace And that will quickly give true griefe its place While both together sit with sweet accord And make my heart the musicke of my Lord. Or think'st to quell me with thy fell Annoâ— I le turne my griefe to my God-grieving sinne And that will quickly turne to joy agin Nay they are one for they agree in one Blest Father sorrow smiles while joy doth moane Both fall about his necke and kisse brave sight To see Griefe weepe for joy the day through night Thrice happy man this happy temper keeps As th' golden Sunne through th' Silver droppings peeps Upon the flowring earth or softly playes O' th' gliding streames with'ts gently glittering Rayes As th' modest smilings o' the native Heat Nor Chronick nor acute diseases threat Thus wud'st thy sence-refined faith imploy thou d'st th' one from th' other reciprocally draw And in the Trinessence of both compose The temper wu'd heaven in earth God-man disclose Thus griefe should loose its name and nature be Swallowed up of Glorying Humilitie Humble I shall be in Heaven O! ' th' weight o' th' Love O' th' Love presses my soule to solid joyes My spungy soule so often shrunk and swel'd Glorious I am on earth O! th' heighth o' th' Love O' th' Love raises my soule t'an humble poyse A temper ad pon dus might exactnesse dwell On this side th' Empyraean so be I still Tempered to Justice till on Sions Hill The Spirit-pondering-God shall find me weight Made me meete to live at such a glorious height LOok not so much at the present as the future having eye in adversitie to prosperity and prosperitie to adversitie learne to estrange neither from your thoughts that you may welcome either they are guests that looke for successive entertainement be not so free to one as that the other take you unprovided they are enemies to each other and yet an indifferent respect may make them both friends to you be acquainted yea familiar with both but indeare your selfe to neither deny neither of them admission to your head so shall you both the possession of your heart keepe correspondency with both and you are safe but give your selfe to either and it will leade you you know not whither you are betrayed you are lost you shall be set upon now by the one now by the other and become a slave to both you shall then learne that it is better to observe ten then serve two be not led so much by sight of what is as foresight what may be not so much by sence as by reason and not so much by reason as faith for that is beast-like and lookes but downeright this man-like and lookes forward but this last Christian-like and looks upward Labour then to know no such things as adversitie and prosperitie but as the will or not the will of God in your having or not having these outward things and learne this excellent Art of composing a meane out of two extreames Take somewhat of the sweet to qualifie the soure and of the soure to qualifie the sweet yet let it savour most of the most benigne to which the other is but subservient It is the soure griefe and fulsome joy that distempers but it is the joyfull griefe and grieving joy that is the sweete the onely gracefull temper I deny not but changes of State may move you but they must not remove you they may somewhat alter the affection but must nothing alter your station suppose you sing the more cheerefully in the Sun shine and weepe the more freely in the storme yet must you mourne in this singing and rejoyce in this weeping this Aequanimity unwaveringnesse standing even upright posture of soule is that which may be demonstrated the best in that the excellency of every thing is according to its likenesse or rather partaking of that onely excellency and therefore as of his simplicitie and infinitie in the inlargednesse and puritie of heart so its immutabilitie in the steadfastnesse and immoveablenesse of our mind these being as necessarily concomitant
thought rul'd in Thy princely mind thou cou'dst not cou'dst not sinne 'T is death to such a one to sinnne Nay death thou d'st runne to death to free thee from this death Live like thy selfe then Christian act act act Set keepe thy faith on worke in every fact In vain 's the power that 's not produc'd to act Where what is had 's not us'd what 's had is lack't O Leave me not my head O stint the strife Canst pull my head off Canst see me so to flutter Bustle and struggle So labour for my life Do'st pleasure in my paine or hear'st me utter ' Blasphemous word yet with the tender Fowle Or quiet lambe I de faine retaine my soule My soule Thou art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 31.24 Hold fast and now I 'm ' ready die Canst see me gripe and graspe the cloathes my heart Not strength yet Canst heare me say I die I die griev'd nothing but with Thee to part Deare friend dear'st husband and yet thou my death What shall our children doe too O give breath Breath still blest spirit and while I am alive I le have a care to see thy graces thrive VVHat sweet repasts when God and hunger meet And stay the hungry soule whose hunger's sweet How sweet the draughts when God and thirstings meet And stay not quench their thirsts whose thirst's so sweet I here 's the soule shall eate drinke once for all When want of praise no more for prayer shall Oh cu'd I praise what need I pray But I shall praise shall praise for aye That 's m' onely worke both here and there What is no praise can be no prayer I 'M dull I 'm dull with this my clod O breath these earth-rejecting veines and make Them full with praise of purer worth I 'm full I 'm full of Thee my God O breath my blessing-turgent veines and make Them run them spring Thy prayses forth Winde up my soule to those Seraphique straines Wherewith that noble Quire entertaines Their farre-above all praise-exalted Maker That joyes in this that thou art his partaker Whose joy 's his glory glory will will thine Thine his will-pleased joy his glory thine Who onely happy will not happy be Unlesse thee as himselfe hee happy see I tremble and this shaking gives a grace Unto my singing voice VVhat This my place I tremble and this shaking opes my pores And thrusts my sluggish humors out of doores I tremble and this shaking makes me catch My God more fast in h's faster foulds doth catch I tremble and this shaking cleares my wings Rouses my spirits up the speedier brings To sit among the gods t' exalt the name That deignes to Christian creatures by the same To sit among the gods to give receive Eternall blessings thus to interweave My joy inseparably with his glory Be all my pleasures hushed with this story Admire Let this still musicke still my griefe Till sence supply what 's wanting in beleefe For carnall sence is not so farre below My faith but spirituall may overflow To powre out mutuall blessings and to be Most blessed by my blessing so to see It is more blest to give then to receive Honor'd by him all honour with him leave To power out mutuall blessings whilst I lie Drown'd in the fountaine where no sooner I Cry blessed but my blessing strait redounds With millions to my brest and heaven resounds With Echoed praises of those beautious creatures Are all in love with one anothers features Spirits spiritualiz'd rarifide to such Sublim'd simplicitie there 's not so much As th' smallest specke of dust the Atom'st moate With 'ts interpos'd obscurity to floate Betwixt their light and beautie God and them Their every-way-surrounding glorious stem I tremble and this shaking gives a grace Unto my singing voyce is this my place I heare eternitie speake and say I love Thee as my selfe whom no affections move I 'le be thy crowne of everlasting glory While thou sha't banquet on the endlesse story Of all my councells and survey the depths Highth breadths lengths of my er'st-untracted steps While thou sha't heare my thwarting feet agree I' th' perfect'st set o' th' pleasant'st melodie While still perfused i' the richest savours Th' art fed with kisses e're refreshing favours Still lost in admiration of thy blisse Thou't finde so blessed ' cause s'admir'd it is Well if the master of the feast shall say Friend sit up here shall I dare disobey God knowes no compl'ments hee 's sinceritie A word 's enough where all 's realitie Mount mount my soule and keepe upon the winge Jehovah see and Hallelujah sing O How my soule 's inheaven'd in the sound That descants on so beautifull a ground See eye love heart sing glory and all accord To make my life the musicke of my Lord. Rejoyce my spirits and all my thoughts within Ride triumph with the speedie Cherubim While death and hell attend my conquering Carre Whose glory duskes the brightest glizning Starre The brightest Sun in all his Summers pride 'S a cloud of darkenesse when together ey'd Thankes thankes my soule for when my soule sings thanks Then onely then my joy 'ore flowes its bankes Praise praise my spirit for while my spirit sings praise Then onely then I weare the crowning bayes Blesse blesse my heart for when my heart sings blesse Then onely then my heart feeles blessednesse Heart soule spirit spirit heart soule zeale fire Breake breath burne blaze and in his brest expire Earth hold me not O pinnion me no more When shall I be whence I shall be no more Still hold me earth for heaven wu'd be no heaven Shu'd not my will keepe time and fall in eaven With his O could I blesse thee here here were My heaven but want both heart and art how ere Can 't hold while some want matter for their words I words f'r Immatteriatnesse yet like the tender Birds That in the silent shadow sit forlorne Bill dresse their feathers by the dawning morne Stand perking pearing in the blooming Sunne And teach their light-delighted tongues to run Their chirping welcomes to its glorious raies So doe I strive to chatter forth Thy praise Praise praise him soule I le never cease to praise And when I cry I le cry I cannot praise Why sorry but for sinne t is folly why For sinne but that unthankfull praiselesse I Praise my petitions praise him my confessions Praise deprecations praise him intercessions And if my tongue cease praise in griefes and feares I le make my tongue recant in praysing teares In every thing give thankes for 't is his will That gives me cause to sing 't is well 't is ill O praise praise praise let me no longer live Then doe my masters businesse prayses give Nay life is praise for then I truly live When joy then truly joy when praises give The life is best 's most like the life above Hence I so much Psalme-singing tempers love The man is best comes nearest to
rid Of halfe my selfe stand's in'ts owne light but bid Thou dost my stay and I 'le obey Till thou sha't call who art my all VVhose will 's my heaven My owne the leaven Sowes all my sweete thine sweets my sowre Makes me unwish my still-wish't houre COme flying on thy spicie mountaines on Thy saving hills and so convey along Those opening odours kindely work upon M' obstructed soule unlocke it from among These streights and let my spirits out of prison To praise thy name among thy second risen These meditations prayers thankes confessions Thus peec'd patcht interrupt when shall they end In endlesse praise what now by darke expressions These volumes of thy word and workes commend Me leafe by leafe b' one cleare intire view May the Synopsis of thy Face me shew Now see I one in all then all in one So may I see what is not all is none SIR No longer after my long Vacation in my travells to frustrate you of your desire though of force I must of the thing desired FEare I conceive may not unfitly be distinguished into a feare of aversion and a feare of adhesion of turning from and cleaving to and this may well be stupendious astonishing overcomming in respect of the immensitie of the goodnesse of its object such a feare as may be sayd to fall upon the soule and make the soule fall under it in a sweet God-injoying submissive humilitle Such a feare as one may be sayd to be In the seare of the Lord to be plunged in swallowed up of those great and glorious apprehensions This being both the effect and the cause of uniting the heart to God And hence is it a feare of such great joy and strong confidence The soule thus brought into God by love that is stronger then death and faith that interested in the power wisedome goodnesse of God can doe all things by this so neare approach to and communion with him discovering more of his fulnesse and in that of the creatures vanitie And hence are they so inseperably linckt together men of courage-fearing God-hating covetousnesse fearing the Lord-and Delighting Greatly in his Commandements It is rashnesse and madnesse that proceeds not from this feare it is basenesse and pusillanimitie that ariseth not from this courage The joy is sadnesse that is not accompanied with this feare and griefe the more kindly it is the more it hath of this delight For that other of aversion whether respecting morall or naturall evills it is either a bare and simple or a mixt and applicative a eare a feare of contraction or of dilatation of the spirit a meere withdrawing and flight or an aggressive resistance and repulsion And either of them is convenient pro re nata as warranted by the consideration of the thing time place person c. For morrall evills it is a feare of absolute resistance because they never consist with the will of God quoad nos for naturall it is a respective resistance and flying so farre as they shall appeare to be his will or not as we are called or not called to them So that there may be a feare of these evils well consisting with a willingnesse too and desire of them as it is said of Christ hee was heard in all that hee feared and yet againe I come to doe thy will as it is written of mee a body hast thou prepared me c. The spirit may be willing when the flesh is weake There may be and that lawfully an abhorrencie from evill as evill and yet a will ingnesse to it as the will of God and therefore good Father let this cup passe from me if possible but not my will but thy will be done The prayer of him who himselfe alone in his owne person so freely drunke up that so unimaginably terrible cup of the Aeternall wrath that shu'd have beene the portion of an everliving death to so many millions of soules And certainly could all the calamities of the world that were ever are or ever shall be suffered from Adam to the youngest of his sonnes steeped like so much Gall and Wormewood in one cup till all their ill-savoured tast were extracted from them they could never make a draught so intensively bitter so large a draught of bitternesse as that which was presented to him accepted of him pray'd for by him To which he comes brings his body as a Voluntier as ready as prepared for The Service The Suffering So in deede should this feare of aversion be subordinate to fall in with and be comprehended in as part of as comming from and tending to that of adhesion I therefore turning from evills because pro sua virili of their owne nature it would turne me from God but such being the never never sufficiently admired power wisedome and goodnesse of God that he can turne even the greatest evill to the greatest good the soule stands in aequilibrio with a kind of willing unwillingnesse or willing willingnesse disposed to it So as it may be said not to feare them but God fearing them because of him and him in by and through them as it may be said to love not the creature but God they being but as foyles and set offs for the further illustrating the otherwise not so apprehensible Glory So make the soule cleave the closer to him and gather more strength from him So these feares differing not in their being and nature but in the manner of action both being the feare of God now acting ad intra now ad extra now making good its primary object now evill its secondary Christ upon whom were the chastisements of our peace whose stripes hath purchast us the spirit of a sound and healthy mind who was troubled for our ease and tranquilitie that wee in him possessed of his fathers alsufficiencie might be of an untroubled mind having thus like that unparellel'd Queene to her impoysoned husband suckt out the venome virulencie and malignitie of our feares that naturally fill us with disturbance distractions evill-creating and evill-nourishing conceits over studious and over burdening preventions Their deadly qualitie and over-mastering power thus drawne away and onely so much left as is within the strength of inherent and continually supervenient grace and may by it be kept at an under subdued and worke't out daily to the further manifesting the power of God in us and by us as well as upon us The more then we prevaile against this distempering feare the more is our convalescencie the greater our recovery of that happy harmony that was betweene our affections before they were untuned in their fall Every affection being so farre good as it holds its correspondency with the other and all as they tend to their perfection action Good is the griefe the feare that after helpes A wary circumspective deliberating confultive prudentiall providentiall feare And to this purpose was it an answer well worthy its Author that Turkish Terrour that even-incredibly valiant Scanderbeg to the precipitate
knoweth that hath God for his God Faile then heart and strength yet shall the strength of our heart faile never Shall be with us in the fire and in the water bee an Arke to his Noah a Zoar to his Lot Et pater mater dosunt nec restat amious Nec manet ulla domus noc manet ulla salus Tot haud habere sentias necem mala Omnia quae multis dantur tibi nulla sed ipsum Quod vel perpaucis reddidit ille Deus Hic instar omnium fit atque praevalet MY neare and deare friend in the Lord Jesus I cannot but according to your desire acquaint you with present passages and passages I may well say for all these things are but passing shadowes nothing Were we in our own place we might look down upon them as little fleeting vapoury clouds without raine Or else see our selves so far above them in this third region as wee need not feare the storme It is unworthy the thought of a Christian that hath already laid hold of eternall life to shrink at the appearing losse of a mortall But we are men But God is God And he is our own God the God of our salvation c. O that we could that we alwayes could see our selves so partakers of the divine nature so filled with all the fulnesse of God that we could look upon life and death principalities powers c. as things given in unto us and all as things under our feet at our command for so they are to him that beleeves for all are ours and we are Christs and Christ is Gods Our faith must fall before we and our God before our faith For it is founded on that rock that living stone that is the life of all the building Let us stand therefore having taken us unto the whole armour of God for what can the man doe that comes after the devill And surely little nay no cause have we to feare in adversity that can stand in prosperity That soule and only that soule that in this estate can follow God fully be so satisfied with the hourely minutely presence of God that in all things it crosses it selfe of its own will as not enduring the least estrangement from him certainly in the other the mercies of God shall so follow him so shall he delight himselfe continually in him as that in all things hee will crosse men and devils of their wills against him and so over-powre him with the light of his countenance without which he was dead in the dearest injoyments and with which he lives in the deadliest confusions as shall make them gnash their teeth to see such a divine reflect from that light unspeakable and glorious whereby he shall be able to laugh death and destruction in the face But shall we not feare not grieve He is no true Christian that doth not Shall the Lion roare and we not tremble Yet must we be confident in this feare and joy in this sorrow And indeed the feare of God is strength Prov. 14.26 Psal 112.1 with ver 7. and 8. And by the humility of our heart is our trust in the Lord Prov. 28.25 But audaciousnesse and pride will shrinke in the wetting Neither will James his joy 1.2 hold good without Pauls sorrow 2 Cor. 7.7 Nor his sorrow without his joy It is not the excesse of feare and griefe but the defect of confidence and joy that hurts us Our own weaknesse can never too much fright us Our own and others sins grieve us Neither will it be found so proper and soveraign a salve to those happily languishing consciences to tell them they are too much dejected cast down sorrowfull but rather they have too little lifted up Christ in their hearts and their hearts in Christ It is impossible to think too basely of our selves and if there may be degrees in impossibility more impossible to think too highly of Him When we are led back by any particular sin to the Originall source of all as wee must if we mean to know it to any purpose and see the horrid shape of it and become sensible of the malignity the universality the inherencie of it c. with all those infinite as to us actuall breakings out of rebellion from it or rather the divers kinde of breaking out of one continued unintermitting act now while the soule is thus taking a bottome-and through-searching view of it selfe by a beame of the divine Light and Love shed abroad in its heart without which it could make no through no true discovery of it and thereupon throwes it selfe below the lowest hell in a sensible self-condemning while it is still held up by the hand of faith in an unspeakably blessed distraction now to see this Sun of Righteousnesse still rising and rising with its infinite-surpassing infinitenesse of glory splendor lovelinesse upon the lighttransformed soule lying under the gracious droppings of its healing wings O how sweet is that healing How how glorious that Sun But the seeing the feeling soul where is it How high how low How lost between both Be then as sorrowfull my soule as may be thou canst not be enough for sin As joyfull as may be thou canst not be enough for grace Abate not of that sorrow but increase this joy Goe as low as thou canst but bee sure thou risest higher by it To be so dejected and cast down as not to be heightned raised by it in the admiration the love the life of thy Saviour is indeed to have proud and haughty thoughts of thy selfe and low and undervaluing of thy Christ Never feare thy livelinesse and cheerfulnesse so far as duely objected on him Nor lessen so much thy love to the creature as augment it to Him thy Creator Affect with the strongest and heartiest indearement any thing beside him and yet abhorre it with the most detesting and abominating hatred for him There is nothing that I set my eye on that I wu'd not love as proceeding from him as subsisting in him But so far as degenerate from him as comming in competition with him the indignation wherewith it affects me is inutterable Thus shall Cesar best have his due and God his Himself and what is subordinate to him God takes away no affection no nor the intensivenesse of it but onely its obliquitie to the object Nay I am perswaded that all worldly feare all worldly sorrow fall farre short of spirituall the one being from a displeasing world which is finite the other from a displeased God who is infinite But how great then is that consident joy to which this fearing griefe is but a set off For these to overcome the soule and them for Christ to come and overcome that conquest what a triumph will there be Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God c. And blessed ever blessed be our God that we are not of them from whom hee hath hid the mistery of godlinesse strength made
Of food of friends Whose modest sharp-set eye Each corner of this feasting face doth prie And every Gospel-verset in his reach As some Grace-whelming dish doth ope and teach His neighbours eyes the shape and mouth the sweet Happy happy soules that at this banquet meet T 's a doubtfull feast indeed not only ' cause We 've all that Heaven and Earth can give but ' cause VVhen we remember whence we came poore wretches Rak'd up from dunghills drawn from under hedges Blinde lame sick naked wandring here and there Th'beaten road to death and now see where we are Translate from death to life from that dark sad Disconsolate State or which is worse those mad And desperately deluding joyes to such Incircleing reallity of blisse as much Glory as our capacity can beare Angels attend us God himselfe our cheare Our Cloathing-Light we are not able t'beare 'T but doubt we 're in a dreame and fondly feare VVe've nothing ' cause so much but th'night's far spent Th'last watch th'last houre 's nigh th'day w'll prevent's Gird up your loynes trim up your Lamps along Hast tune your hearts to th'Epithalanian song Now now we see the day no more through night Our earthy houses now so swept so cleane There 's not a dust a speck a moate to dark a beame VVhile solemnize th'Espousals of the darklesse Light VVHen wu't thou come deare Lord and shew the face Shall blemish all these splendors O the fire Burnes in this breast for an allay of Grace Of Grace that feeds not damps such blest desire Some drops of love still to increase the flame And make it beare me thither whence it came VVas'e n't a reflection from the righteous Sun VVas glanced in my heart Or was it one From that light-likened Angell Then undone I am unlesse quite out the fire be blowne By th' holy Spirit But can the devill come So drest He hath a cloven foot say some Sure this he hath he cannot humble be But he can counterfeit But hee 's so bad Hee le not seeme good for nothing now what shu d'make thee Masque thy selfe in humility who had N'advantage hence Sure 't was the native hew I 'm in a Labyrinth but where 's the clew Lord if it be of thee then let it stand If not downe downe let it for ever fall T is thee I seeke in it dost thou command Mine Isaak here t is and my selfe and all O how I joy I 've such a sacrifice Whereby my God my Love unto him tries Sure many choiser splendors have I seene Yet few so choise was it my sensuall eye I sought to please fit objects they had beene But a new eye new glories did espie Through that bright Christall a farre brighter jewell That yet into this fire cast's in fewell How how I 'm wrack't love hate desire averse Sorry rejoyce feare hope angry well pleas'd Carefull not care cannot rehearse Hope t'ought not be feare 't ought there am I eas'd Diseased here well I 'le stint the strife Nere loose my Love that lost for me his Life Lord how I love thee that thou did'st not leave Me in the creatures hand alone 't is thee Thee 't is alone to whom I wish to cleave My other wish serves this if thou do'st see It cement fit to make me closer cling To thee to me deare Lord that cement bring I dare not fetch it least that I should bring For morter slime I 'le set me downe and blesse Thy name first to thy willing of the thing Then to thy time meanes manner I 'le adresse Me my way rowle on thee delight in thee Thou't doe's I my-thy hearts desire shall see How full I am what shall I doe for vent I muse th' fire 's tin'd when will the word 's burst out They doe so crowde throng presse stop they are so pent Come loaden with such matter that I doubt I must be faine to let them all alone And in ward speake what in word can't be showne Thy mercies Lord I speake it with my heart Flow in so fast I am not able t'beare The memory of them how much lesse convert My thoughts to words yet will I have a care Both I and others both in my word and deed The thankfull memory of Thy Loves may read BLest blest be thee m' inligtning sunne For now I see I 'm but a shade Blest blest I feele my life begun For now I feele my soule Thou' rt made I am not Lord but I wu'd bee I 'de not be I but I 'de be thee Not be my owne be at thy call Wu'd nothing be wu'd ha' thee all I 'd be but feet and thou shud'st walke I 'd be but tongue and thou shu'dst talke I 'd be but eye I 'd be but eare And thou shu'dst see and thou shu'dst heare What see I heare I in this field Thou thee through me do'st heare and see VVhere goe I With whom is this talk held 'T is thou through me speak'st com'st to thee Trees birds home selfe These What 's all th' world to mee Thy Spirit through them all conveighs me Thee So I All th' world is but thy instrument In which thou sit'st a playing thy-my content Most blessed God that brought'st my minde in frame Not left'st me a set-off-discord to thy name O rub me rub me I begin to fall My What love Convulsions pull and hall M'adheringly-pursuing soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 'M left behinde O for wings for strength to flie One drop One little No Cordiall left Hee No Balsome t' keep my heart uncleft E'ne gone I was but that a lightsome thought Whose season-bearing seed was deeply wrought I' th' secrets of my heart sprang up and brought Me an Idea o' th' Inlivening Tree Who stretcht it selfe beyond the farth'st degree O' th' spatious Heavens tendring me'ts healing leaves And ay-preserving fruit when my heart perceives I'ts feare-shrunck selfe with hopefull joyes inlarg'd Whereon m'officious spirits are discharg'd Unto their severall functions while the peace Past understanding thence doth re-increase My watchfull guard in heedy confidence To hold my peace in holding Peace's Prince HAppie's the man that knowes the cause of thing 's Unhappy then 's the man whom God not brings Acquainted with himselfe only happy hee Hath him his friend in whom he all doth see HOw good it is to waite on Thee Deare Good How good it is To bee Possest with that that I desire That 's not the thing that I require But to desire with what possest thou 'dst have me be that 's my request The world hath not the thing I would Till I can heare Thee say I should But still in aequilibrio stand Expecting thy scale-turning hand Not any thing till nothing will So false are th'weights of good and ill But thine are true Blest Truth O tell My heart what 's ill and what is well Till then I 'll leane th' contrary way Wish not to have 't ' cause wish I may So happily
may I meet with Thee For we are contrarietie The godliest heart inhabiting The sweetest soule is this a thing For its peculiar interest Or is n't of 't in Christ possest Or what to Doe what glory wu'dst Have more return'd thee by it shud'st Thou give 't then if thou shud'st detaine't What service more Or can thy Saints Find more content then when they doe Th' best service bring th' great'st glory to Thy Name Or could it want it did It make for that wu't thou forbid What soever's for thine honor or What soever's not it not abhorre Or is it not t' wax wanton ' gainst Him that it with his loves acquaints Or shall it use it as a Tipe Of that All-signified Antitipe Or is'nt there rome enough in thee To loose it in capacitie Enough for all 'ts affections were They farre more overflowing were All th'r stragling streames one channell nay mought All th' worlds be one be poured out To thee how small a drop they 'd be And can it spare a thought from thee Or wher 's else that magnetique force Can draw its hard-adhering course On after it Or where may 't meete VVith such a sympathizing sweet To bartre soule for soule to change Till each unto it selfe were strange Nor wu'd acknowledge it nor owne It further then 't was two in one Or can it find simplicitie Else where else where infinitie Or wu't thou shew thy manifold skill In passing through so nartow a quill VVith fuller incomes what 's thy will That setst this step ' gainst that while still Thou' rt going on the readiest rode Vnto th' same end of sure abode My good-thy glory What 's thy will This way or that way That 's my will It is not good to be alone VVe're one anothers not our owne 'T is very good to be alone To him that is with All-in-One But so was he to whom 't was said Then say Lord what thou wu't I 'm said My vote my vote shall counterpoise Thy casting voyce shall make the choyce T is onely good that I would have T is onely God then I would crave And yet thou sai'st whose search hath found 'T a good choice raritie hath found One onely thing there needs to be VVith or without all goods with Thee And yet how can I without 'em be Since I 'm in Thee in whom all goods be How good it is to waite on Thee Deare God! how good it is to be Drawne after thee the while thou hould'st The favour forth withdraw'st thee towl'st The soule from 't selfe to follow thee VVith whom it is so good to be And w'th what rich interest he repaies Our praying praysing waiting dayes A gratious John sage Samuel Blest Isaac Immanuel How choyce how sweet the mermies are When given in that were so farre How welcome th' presence o' the food To which the stomacke long hath stood How welcome th' absence o' the food That 's so supply'd with such a good The mercy of mercies when sent forth I' th' fullest time 's o' th' fullest worth What pleasant Musicke heares the man That keepe time with 's Creator can That 's nor before nor is behind But jumpe together mind and mind How good it is to waite on thee Deare God How good might th' world once see My joy in things unseene ' tw'ud still The endlesse motion of their will In fond desires ' twud stint their care And set their soules on edge for th' fare Wherewith my starvingst wants grow fat With thriving vigorousnesse but that 'S their misery they 'le not beleeve That we joy most when most we grieve O how I pleasure in his no When I wu'd give the world't were so I surely this conversion is My will converted into his O love th' Lord all m' soule all m' heart All m' might my strength then can I part With ought to ought but Him whose call 'S for all and 's worthy of more then all Thou sha't not have this thing what thing Can please me then There 's nought can bring M'equivalent content but that All prevalent sweet that sweetened that All m' joyes in it as it I see In Thee So not in it but Thee I then can want the world and it But Thee I can't O do'nt retreat Thou ' nd then it s here For what is it But a meete helpe in by to get More Thee so it thou 't be Wh'art all to me So mak'st m' be All f'r Thee ANd shall thy servant finde refreshment here The garden smiles while pretty Philomel Stills the sweet Ayre Yet nought I see feele heare But filth but stench but screeching cries of Hell Unlesse thy spirit 's my Aire i' th' garden be And my Beloved sing his Loves to me My dearest God! my mouth wu't not thou fill 'T is opened wide this is my onely breath With this though dead I be yet live I still Without this while I live I live in death Oh how it 's kindly heatings doe resolve The chilling feares my sadder heart involve O how it 's gentle coolings doe allay My sulpsury passions how it 's cleansing gales My drowsiest dullest dumps doe cleare away Thus o're my earth flegme choller blood prevailes Dull flegme sad earth mad choller turn'd to blood That 's active chearefull sober thy spirit how good Blowe with thy southerne and thy northerne blasts Blow on my garden they will purge my flowers Well nourish them them fragrant make and cast Such gratefull odors through our amorous bowers Hee 'l quickly come and eate his pleasant fruit And at one Banquet we must have the Lute Then will he sing and gently touch my heart The many-stringed instrument I keepe Tun'd to his spirits recorder t'beare it's part And answer grace for grace thus softly creepe These warbled melodies through every veine Rapt up with raptures that I can't containe But needs must beg a kisse a stroke a glaunce A sent from those sweet lipps that glorious eye Hand gentle pretious oyntment needs must dance With all my might and if my flesh envie Me this blest pleasure and not throughout the night Let me prolong these joyes yet I 'le delight My bed shall be his bosome his left hand My pillow and his right my covering My Curtaines Angels round about me stand My Canopie shall be my God his wing But how dare I thus speake how dare how dare I not It is presumption to dispaire I did beleeve therefore I spake And now I sleepe my heart shall wake Heare him in visions of the night But when he speakes he speakes delight And were it lawfull t'speake but what I know I 'd onely in that monosyllable show The soberer world a shadowed glimpse of that Unknowne that unconceived pleasure that Sublime d'light th' God overshadowed soule inherits That knowes the sweets result from mixed spirits VVHy wu't reveale thy selfe to me and not To th' world difference such difference put Where there is none Even so my father cause T pleas'd