thee Lord hear me While I expostulate the case with thee Have I not cause to be in angry mood Was any man so serv'd that ever stood His credit with thy glory to maintain If none were so then well may I complain Ere I went out of my own countrey dear This was the very thing that I did fear Not only fear it but I said it too For why I thought full well what thou wouldst do Thou would not bring to pass what I must say And preach and cry aloud at Niniveh I thought full sure that thou wouldst soon repent Yet to denounce their doom I must be sent I know O Lord what these men now do find That thou art gracious mercifull and kind Full slack thou art and slow pac'd unto wrath But winged speed always thy mercy hath And if a people truly do lament For sin and do reform thou wilt repent Consid'ring then it would not be avoided By heathen ones thy word would be derided And my ambassage too they would despise And say I thundred out a heap of lies For which so saying I must bear the blame And be cal'd prophet false to my great shame This is the reason it seems right to mee Why formerly to Tarshish I did flee And thou hast judg'd it for a heinous crime But whos 's the fault whether 't is thine or mine These things so sadly do my spirits grieve No earthly thing O Lord will me releive It is far better for me for to dye And in the dust in silent darkness lye Then longer live sith nothing but disgrace My portion is whilst I am in this place I do beseech thee let my life expire And take it from me that is my desire Thus when fond passion sways and goes uncurb'd The minds of men thereby are soon disturb'd Soon out of order gotten out of frame Observ from Jonah's pettish choosing death rather then life because God did not act according to his mind They glory in the things should be their shame The Lord in patience all this while did bear With Jonah's angry passion and did hear His words reflecting on his Majesty Yet like a loving father passes by His great offence seeing him frais and weak Did thus in gentle manner to him speak How now what Jona darst thou angry prove Dost thou not think it will my patience move How darst thou once presume to be so bold Dost think with wickedness that I will hold Or dost thou think that this is well in thee Oh wondrous strange what Jonah angry be Did not my mercy and my justice strive To kill thee els for to keep thee alive Hast thou forgot how mercy did thee save When justice would the whale should be thy grave Mercy prevaild and thou canst not deny it Then cease thine anger canst thou justify it Hast thou not learnd and been taught in the schools That anger resteth in the best of fools Thus God in goodnesse labour'd to convince The pettish prophet of his foul offence Observ from Gods patience and forbearance though provokt by Jonah Imputing all to his infirmities As parents do to children whom they prize Jonah is angry yet it did not move God to be angry cause he did him love So great is love love cannot finde its like So great is love love spares when it should strike So great is love not easy to provoke Love suffers long before it give one stroke So great is love so high and broad it grows It covers sins all multitudinous Now Jonah had a longing great desire To see th'vent when th' forty days expire For at this time he would not come to know Whether God would destroy them yea or no Perhaps for one or other end God may The execution of the judgment stay For this a maxim is receiv'd of many Forbearance never yet acquitted any Out of the city great and populous Jonah departs and now away he goes And when he came to th' east side of the town He goes not further but there sits him down He makes a booth and in it is his seat The shade thereof defends him from the heat Untill the truth of falshood shall be tride Of his late message there he doth abide But now perhaps soon after he comes thither His booth he made begins to dry and wither The Country's hot the sun with mighty heat On Jonah's head continually did beat By reason of which heat his soul is greiv'd Then God in mercy wills he be releiv'd The Lord 's a present help in time of trouble And mercy upon mercy he doth double And treble too Observ from Gods compassion providing shelter to releive Jonah always in time of need His power and pitty is put forth with speed To save and succour his distressed ones His bowels yearn to hear their sighs and groans Fear we not then in depths of misery To help us then 's his oportunity For he then brought an herb out of the earth Turns Jonah's sorrow into pleasant mirth A mighty plant he quickly made to grow With boughs and branches on it high and low That they might shade and shelter him all over And from the scorching heat be Jonah's cover Under the shadow of it he doth rest Thinking thereby that he is greatly blest Such great refreshment he hath lately found In his new house springing out of the ground He doth rejoyce he is exceeding glad So great his joy is all the grief he had Sustaind by reason of the heat before Seemeth as though he thought on it no more A suddain change begets experience sad To day he mourns that yesterday was glad His suddain joys are turn'd to suddain greif His plant it dyes that gave him such relief For now alas before he was aware In readinesse a worm God did prepare Who with his sharp teeth and his cruel jaws As bit with hunger eagerly he gnaws Who smote the gourd and now the gourd is dead And with it Jonah's joys are withered Such is the nature of all earthly things Which for a while so great contentment brings They fade they vanish perish and decay Observ from the withering of Jonah's gourd shewing the fickle state of all things With winged haste th' are gone and passe away Th' are but a puff a blast a watry bubble That soon is gone or like a fiery stubble That in a moment is consum'd and past Or like a post that on the way makes hast Or like the dusky clouds that break before The sun appears and then are seen no more Or like the flower or herb or fruit that 's sown That wither will as soon as it is mown Or like the vapours drawn into the ayr Or like the thing that 's gone when 't doth appear Such are the things in which men take such pleasure And too too much account their chiefest treasure The sweetest joys that are upon the earth Are dying still so soon as they draw breath To day they are injoy'd but
out p. 54. l. 13. for heavy r. hairy l. 29. for do r. to p. 57. l. 18. for from r. fro p. 58. l. 4. for excell r. exceeds p. 61. l. 4. for best r. brest l. 19. for would r. could l. 31. for of falshood r. or falshood Also take notice That whereas in many places on Jona there is no distinction between that part of the history and what is observed from it therefore to avoid confusion know that where you finde it thus marked l there the Observation begins and where it is again thus marked l there it ends CHAPTER I. 1 THe Song of Songs most excellent Of Solomon who by the guide Of Gods spirit doth represent Christ and his Church the lovely bride 2 a Saints do desire to enjoy more simptomes seals and assurances of the love of Iesus Christ Oh let him come and me embrace And with his mouth let him me kiss For my soul's longing for the grace That flows from that sweet spirit of his b In adversity and prosperity the fruition of Christ is better then the choicest chiefest of all things beside For why thy loves are better far And night and day make me more glad Then all the choicest wines that are Or were or ever shall be had 3 c The graces of Christ and the anoyntings of his holy spirit are sweet precious pure and powerful in working Thine oyntments Lord all of the best Are sweeter then the choyce perfume Their vertue heals the soul opprest That sin Satan would consume d His blood powred out and life spilt upon the cross Thou wast pour'd out like ointment pure Thou emptied wast me for to fill e A fountain set open for sin and uncleanness Zach. 13.1 a well of water springing up to life everlasting Yet thou art full and shalt endure An overflowing fountain still f The love of Christ constrains souls to be obedient Thy grace diffus'd the virgins move Thy love shed forth 's the only cause The pure in heart and life thee love g True love is made manifest in keeping Christs precepts And loving thee they keep thy laws 4 h The Church of Christ sensible of her own and members nothingness weakness backwardness and remisness prays for assistance and promises a good improvement Draw me and mine to goodness slack Perswad 's to come to thee in hast Put forth thy power when we draw back We 'l run and follow thee full fast i There is a special intimacy between Christ and saints he will shew them his secret which angels desire to peep into Psal 25.14 The Royall king just strong and wise Not only outward kindness shews But all his chamber secresies To them that fear him he 'l disclose k Christ is the object of a Christians joy a divine contemplation of Christ begets divine affection unto Christ Much more then wine thy love we mind With joy most pure it glads our heart More we think on thee more we finde Thou by the upright loved art 5 l A sensibleness of deformity works deep humility ingenious confession I now deformed am and black As black as kedars tents by name Afflictions great and sin alack Hath brought me to confess the same m The saints are beautiful through grace without spot through Christ yet their glory is within Yet daughters of Jerusalem Like to the curtains bright and fair Which once surrounded Solomon I comely am through Christ as they 're 6 n The Churches discoulorings last not always 't is but for a moment in wrath the Lord hides his face therefore divide not despise not enemies dispare not friends With evil eye behold me not Though beauty mine be turn'd to stain The suns hot beams hath caus'd this spot And time will wipe it off again o Friends degenerate do often if not always turn the most implacable enemies My mothers children angry were To keep the vinyards when they stept Aside they made me oh severe p The Churches devastation gives cause of sad complaint Therefore my vineyard is not kept 7 q A fense of ignorance and weakness drives to Christ for strength and direction Oh tell me where thy flock doth feed Thou whom my soul doth dearly love r Christ is a Christians sweetest shade in the hottest persecution Where they lie down i' th days of dread When scorching heat their faith doth prove s Christs sheep are careful to follow him John 10. and fearful of false teachers and corrupt and false assemblies For fear lest I should go astray After the flocks to turn aside Of thy companions in the way Thy faithful followers never try'd 8 t They that abase themselves shall be exalted and they that ask shall receive directions Mat. 7.7 If thou know not that art so fair My word and spirit shall thee guide u New converts are as meek lambs Joh. 10. gathered into flocks must keep from those folds Christ hath not appointed Thy tender kids them take with care And feed the shepherds tents beside w We must follow the faith and good works of those before us and make their pattern our example Go thy way forth get out with speed From all false ways and worships go To th' footsteps of the flock take heed Conform thy ways their ways unto 9 x The Church of Christ is orderly powerful and speedy in executing the good pleasure of Christ her head Much like to Pharaohs chariot horses My love my dear I thee compare Who goodly are and keep their courses Through me thou' rt as choice as they are 10 y A conversation becoming the Gospel is the Churches duty and outward beauty Phi. 1.19 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Thy cheeks with jewels thou dost deck A sight most comely to behold z The Church observing Christs appointments is not enthrald thereby but in glorious freedome And thou hast round about thy neck Chains that are wrought of purest gold 11 a The three and yet but one are ingag'd by promise to make the Church very glorious through divers precious spiritual Gospel endowments Both father son and holy Ghost Will make for thee borders of gold With studs of silver things that most Will make thee glorious to behold 12 b True grace is not idle cannot be hid but is powr'd out like the sweetest perfume or most pretious oyntment in our solemn approaches to God to the pleasing of him greatly and the good and benefit of our brethren That I may please the King full well When at his table he sits there My spiknard shall send sorth its smell In love in mercy praise and prayer 13 My welbeloved is to me For mine he is and one we are c Nothing can be more sweet then Christ to that soul that once tasted how gracious the Lord is More sweet then bags of mirrh can be Or precious gums or things most rare
his sight 11 t Those Christ imploys in his vineyard ought to be both vigilant laborious diligent At Baalhamon a fertile fruitful plot A fruitful vineyard Solomon had got Which vineyard he lets out unto his keepers Which must be watchmen and not drowsy sleepers And every one of them must yearly bring Forth fruit thereof a thousand silverling 12 u The Church of Christ and so every Christian is Christs own and ought to be devoted wholy unto him The vineyard t'wich I have a proper right It is my own and always in my sight w He hath promist his presence with his people and will make provision for them My watchful eye her wants shall still be spying And when discern'd my grace shall be supplying Those wants of hers that she may fruitful be x To the end they may abound in Gospel fruit in good works And in great measure bring forth fruit to me Her blessing is prosperity and peace And I expect and look for much increase Not for my self alone nor for my sake y The labourers in Christs Church are blessed if faithful for they shall have a great reward But fellow laborers that pain do take To dig and plant and prune without regard Unto themselves sure I will them reward If I a thousand do look for at least Two hundred to allow them I am pleast They shall partake o' th glory that is mine And like the sun in brightness ever shine 13 z The true Church of Christ and thâ— pastours thereof teach and instruct others with saving doctrine and sound speech such as cannot be condemned O thou that in the gardens hast thy dwelling Regard this thing which to thee I am telling Thou hast companions which do heare thy voyce And thou must them instruct for therein lyes Thy duty to them thou must set before them The good and evil too not Lord ore them For they partake of the same precious faith And what the one have still the other hath a To be much in prayer is the duty of Saints it is the precept of Christ and pleasing to him if they do so And furthermore thou mayst cause me to hear Thy voyce also in humble hearty prayer It is a sacrifice right pleasant sweet And for the saints to offer it is meet My soul also with it is much delighted Remember how to it thou art invited 14 b Every gracious soul longs and prays for Christs second coming in glory that they may be freed from all that is greivous here reign with him in heaven hereafter amen come Lord Jesus come quickly My soul dear love's impatient of delay Make hast make hast and do no longer stay Be thou for swiftness like the roe or hart My only dear who on the mountains art Of spicy pleasures and all rare delight That ravish will the heart and dim the sight Of all beholders from those glorious hills The swetest pleasures evermore distills While I am here below I am opprest Lord Jesus quickly come to give me rest THE BOOK OF JONAH IN MEETRE CHAP. I. The Argument How Jonah's sent to Niniveh But he withstood Gods call In turning off another way And 's swallowed by a whale IN antient times as Scriptures do record In Isra'l dwelt a prophet of the Lord. Jona by name son of Amittais youth To whom the Lord sent forth his word of truth He long had preacht to Isra'ls ten tribes Converts them not but gains their mocks and gibes Now God doth see by means they do not profit When they should hear the word they rather scof it Their hearts are hard means makes them not amend Another way God will their prophet send The light from heaven must not always shine What God doth give he sometimes takes again Observation from Gods sending Jonah to Niniveh out of Israel when he preacht but did not profit When trees are barren do not bring forth fruit The gardener will pluck 'em up by the root When men have means for growth but do not grow God will not taâ—â—y but away will go When truth appears but truth men do not love Nor means nor mercies carefully improve For their cheif good their day is turn'd to night And darkness covers them instead of light The means they had before God will remove it And give it those that better will improve it When by the means they do not bring forth fruit Those shall have means that by the means will do 't On mine embassage Jona thou must go And hast away th' assirian city to That is so great so full and of such fame Through all the world 't is Niniveh by name And when thou comest there in herald-wise Declare thy message though they do despise Both it and thee lift up thy voice on high And like a trumpet sound a fearfull cry Against the city lest it doth repent And let it know for what end thou art sent For why I judge them not without a cause The people are found bteakers of my laws They have not lern'd to fear nor to adore me Their wickedness and sin it lies before me As Sodoms sins once cry'd lowd in mine ears So Ninivehs before my face appears For which I will the city overthrow Commission now thou hast see that thou go The greatest monarchs that the earth doth bear Nor Citys of most fame that ever were Nor might nor greatness gives immunity But all expos'd to judgment just they ly Observation from Gods not sparing the greatest places nor persons If they minde not their maker for to know Their makers minde is them to overthrow But Jona now as one amaz'd no doubt With this strange heathen news doth cast about What course to take that so he may not be A bringer of this news to Ninivee For why in Israel he had taken pain And preached long but 's preaching was in vain Doth those elaborate pains convert no Jews What hope is there that this unwelcome news This dreadful direful sermon should finde place Among the people of the heathen race And if it should then God was gracious bent And of the threatned judgment would repent That so his reputation he must lose Another way therefore the prophet goes When doubts arise and dangers stand before Seeming to cross the way we should go ore When at the stake our carnal interest lies And self must suffer by the enterprize How apt are we poor weaklings to suggest Our own devices not Gods ways the best Observation from Jonah's turning aside because he thought God would not make good his word against Niniveh Sin blinds mens eyes now Iona thinks to flee Out of his presence who doth view and see Each step he takes from his all-seeing eyes He posts away and unto Tarshish flyes Having cast off obedience to Gods word He steals away from serving of his Lord Thinking that by this unadvised flight To hide himself from Gods most peircing sight To
a sea port or to a haven town Iopa by name this passenger went down At his arival there he quickly sound A ship prepared fitted ready bound To Tarsus citty there her voyage was Thither the rebell Prophet thought to pass And that his passage might not be prevented To pay his fare aforehand hee 's contented Which having done he quickly goes aboard To flee away from serving of the Lord. When self sits uppermost and beareth sway That selfish soul will quickly disobey Gods just commands Observation from Jonah's care and diligence to effect his carnal intention and every holy test For to promote a selfish interest No let nor rub that standeth in the way Of erring man when once he goes astray From Gods command but he with diligence Will use endeavour to remove it thence What care he takes for fear his game be lost Although at last full dear it do him cost Now Jona hasts away hee 's under sayl Looking each minute for a prosperous gale Of pleasant winde to further his intent And quickly waf't him ore whether he went But that great Lord whom Jona did displease Sent out his winde and did a tempest raise A mighty tempest is upon the main So that the ship the clouds do seem to gain Those milder streams are curl'd rough and unkinde And rage and swell by reason of the winde The Ship it reels like to a drunken man The mariners they do all that they can To lowr the top-sail and take in the sails Yet all they do or can nothing avails For still the hideous tempest on them lyes And to lose ship and all now each man crys How vain are we to think our counsel will Take place Observ from Gods crossing Jonah in his way of disobedience and rebellion when we consult for to fulfil Unruly lusts and foolish fond intent Thinking Gods blessed will for to prevent Then to our grief our detriment and loss Such purposes he 'l quickly cross All mens endeavours then are at a stand When they endeavour to bind up God hand Or to divert the course of a just rod When streached forth by a displeased God The seamen all are now full sore afraid The strongest hearts of men may be dismayd Fear with the smart of heavens chastizing rod Drives every man to call upon his God Unto their heathen gods they make their suit Fear makes men pray when nothing else will do 't And now as men possest with dreadful cares To save themselves and ship they take the wares And cast it over board in hope their pains May be rewarded in the use of means Some that confesse a God Observ from the heathen Seamens praying in danger no more God knows Then did these heathen rude and barbarous Who in the time of their great misery Do all confesse there is a deity But they that do confesse the true God must Fear love obey and always in him trust But where is Jona all this dreadful while The Seas do roar and rage and foam and boyl And whistling winds a fearful noyse do keep Our Ionas gone aside the ship to sleep His sences are lockt fast and conscience too And neither wakes for all the seas can do A man would think no heart could now endure But sin makes men most desperatly secure When into dangers men are plunged deep They many times do fall full fast asleep Lul'd in the cradle of security Till their small threed of life be cut Observ from Jonah's security in time of so great danger whereby They hold their lease then they awakned be Eyes that were shut are open now to see How Sathan like a jugler did deceive them And of true happinesse did quite bereave them Who being fool'd into this dismal state Must pay for pleasures at a woful rate The master of the Ship then to him came And says what meanest thou O fy for shame What meanest thou O sleeper void of fears How canst thou darst thou rest now death appears Are not we sinking all into the deep Why dost not rather watch but ly and sleep Is this a time for thee to be secure Now death is wayting for thee at the door Art thou of sence and reason quite bereft Or of the world to come all thoughts hast left Arise O sluggard do it not delay Hast thou a God then unto thy God pray And call upon him with an earnest cry Perhaps he 'l hear and will us not destroy Thus did the heathen to his duty move him And for his negligence sharply reprove him Come near and take a veiw Observ from the prophets sluggishnesse who was to have been a watchman unto others but do not wonder To see a Boanarges son of thunder Whose office is to cry to men arm arm Lest through security your souls take harm Stand fast quit you like men be strong and watch And yet himself a single slumber catch His light his life his grace a while to smother In ashes rak't till kindled by another O most prodigious he that is the keeper Of 's own and others souls to turn dead sleeper The seamen now agast with horrid fear Did think some wicked person was come there Who had committed some more huinous crime And for whose cause the evil of that time Had now befaln them hence with one consent They all agree to finde the delinquent Come let us now cast lots into the lap Thereby to know for whose cause this mishap And evil is upon us so they fell To casting lots till that time none could tell Who was the man so sorely had offended The lot was cast and Iona apprehended When God will execute his judgments just 'T is a vain thing in a vain thing to trust Observ from Jonah's being found out by the Lord and his sin discovered When God a sinner will bring to the tryal 〈…〉 thing to bid the Lord denial When God will serch 't is vain to go about To hide from God for God will finde it out Shall vain man sin in sinning think to hide Himself from God whose eyes cannot abide To look on sin what doth he think he can Deal with his God as he dealeth with man Nay God hath ways and means to bring to light Things done in secret and the darksome night Sometimes by this means and sometimes by th' other God will discover what vain man doth smother Now let us know we pray thee hide not from us The very cause why this is come upon us Thou seest wee 're brought into an exigent And till we know the cause are not content Hast thou a calling then what calling hast Art thou not one that wilfully doth wast Thy precious time and live in idlenesse And for that sin ere brought unto distresse What is the country now from which thou came And of what people art tell us by name Now danger great had opend Ionah's eyes Therefore he says to them in humble wise as for my