requite Crowne his faire soule with comforts infinite Is it not fit then we our sinnes bewaile Thinke still on Heav'n on Heav'n that ne'r did faile The penitent soule when alas distrest Naked forlorne when most of all opprest Then sends reliefe miraculous reliefes Such is the love of Heav'n Heav'n cures all griefes As for Tymes Wolfe-turn'd ill-affected great-ones Close-fisted to the poore deafe to their groanes The Villaines of this Age that make profession Of a pure life yet live by base oppression Hell shall confound their soules that Den of Horrour Circl'd with blacke affright blew-burning terrour Shall boyle their soules and bodies to th'black-sweat Of an infernall poyson and that eate Still to renue new paines plagues that excell Such are the never-dying paines of hell There painted Pride lives crown'd in flaming fire Tymes glorious strumpet whipt with burning wiere Fed is the Lust-provoking Letcher there With scorching coales such as delight to sweare Swallow the Drunkards ever scalding oyle There Vsuters in Pooles of sulphure boyle Murther Rape Incest endlesse torments feele The Rack of vengeance and the burning wheele Whirl'd round in blew flames soule-amazing feare More thignes then tongue can tell the damned beare In burning beds of steele soules blazing fry Tortur'd with torments such as never dye Cursing the Time of their abus'd Creation Parents Fate sinne and their owne damnation Better O better never to be borne Then with such Terrour-striking torments torne Which â—o 〈◊〉 weepe wormes of Earth repent Weepe weepe for sinne soule-killing sinnes prevent Seeke heav'n shun Hell fly from the worlds intice Heav'ns the reward of Vertue Hell of Vice Perfect repentance makes men bravely die That liv'd not so fly then Hell's miserie Repent or damne for sinne weepe and weepe well Soules that doe flout at teares shall fry in hell The Devill sets his baits in ev'ry Angle No Corner's free from him soules to entangle Therefore in Vertues Path strive to excell Let firme faith still repulse the Fiend of hell Divines may preach else till their heart-strings burst The height of sinne will mount live still accurst Vbi peccatum ibi Procella Mans Miserie MAns life is like a Watch whose Time if still It Minnits right distemper'd by no ill It is a rare Peece then but oft we see It runnes too fast in Action t is too free Sometimes by wilfull providence set backe Sometimes by dull neglect it goes too slacke Beates like a dying panting pulse so slow That by and by it stands and then we know T is downe some curious wheele is much amisse Or some sprynge broke whereby the whole frame is So farre pastrectifying that it can Never goe right but like disorder'd Man Mis-spending pretious time in godlesse riot Time barrs of Heav'n Angells immortall dyet Youth is a hot unbridled willfull folly Picke me out one that 's Vertuous truly holy In this abused life and you shall finde Infinite thousands of a Vicious minde Age Palsey-strucke ready for deaths darke grave Insensible of sinne it all would have That shew of profit brings though ill got gaine And threatning heaven in thunder speake refraine Bad precepts t' will not do Truth tells us still Age proves Youth's scorne through examples ill Vice leades the silver yeares to endlesse blame Vaine unstay'd youth to beggery and shame 'T is Heav'ns just punishment an ill lewd life In Young and old meets with eternall strife Thinke then on thy Creatour wretched man Remember what thou art thy life a span A weake thinne thread spun from the downy wooll Of tender children to the Aged skull From youths rich Scarlet die Beauties full force To the silver Tinsell snow of a cold Course Man is an Actor and the world the Stage Where some doe laugh some weepe some sing some rage All in their Parts during the Stene of breath Act follies scourg'd by the Tragodian death Such is the Fate of soules ensnar'd within Satans command beware the twigg of sinne Least touch will take thee Pris'ner Hellish guiles Prove like the perilous paths of Crocodiles That with a slimie Tongue lick't o're prepares To murther Mortalls such is Satans snare O why should Mortalls wish long life to live What comfort what true joy do's this life give Ther 's nothing not one thought that do's us good But it is strangl'd straight by flesh and blood The longer life the more we sinne and fall From bad to worse from worse to worst of all Life loving fortunes how ye puffe men up To hugg their follie drinke damnations Cup O that men were farre wiser would but thinke How swell'd with pride they desperately wincke At their owne venom Vices and yet storme At others faults good heav'n this sinnereturne Or we shall perish praying for our foes Is of small use this causes all our woes Rejoyce at no mans fall with foule aspersion Although thy foe but pray for his conversion So piety wills still imitate the best Not worst of men he that lives well dies blest Observe what Holy Rritprompts thee to act Pray for thy foes 't is a most pious fact If then thine enemie persist in ire Heav'n on his head in flames heapes coales of fire The cause that on our heads just vengance drawes Springs from our selves we breake Gods sacred Lawes Yet never minde it complaints and daily cryes Are much among us still but no weteyes For crying sinnes daggers of discontent Stab home where carelesse people ne'r repent Nothing more dang'rous nor hath ever been Then to live still i' th' Lethargie of sinne The clouded fight permits us not to Eie Our owne foule faults nor the Flint heart to spie It 's rockie substance many have no sense No feeling of their sinnes large conscience Remove the cause betimes let thou and I Ev'ry one strive offend not with thine eye Fly from the tongues abuse thy hard hearts terrour Or live sinnes Slave lost in a mist of errour Sinnes Jnfirmitie THe Sinne of Mans infirmitie is knowne Best by the consequence sad sorrowes groane It leaves behind it such a sting within The Soule that miserable Man for sinne Snar'd with temptations in this worlds wide Hall Can never be at rest but grieve and fall Out to the Death with his abhord condition The guilt of Conscience and the base fruition Of his besotted sence he takes no pleasure In the worlds wealth weighing Gods deepe displeasure Still against sinne he never is at quiet At Home abroad in bed or at his diet There is no health in 's flesh no rest in 's bones Sinne stifles sence all mirth converts to moanes Each comfort proves disconsolate within That soule which really is griev'd for sinne Deepe swelling sighes like breaking Seas discover Heart breaking groanes one griefe upon another Sinne like incessant stormes beats on the breast Of Mans afflicted soule never at rest 'Till he has made his peace with Heav'n by so und And serious humble reconcilement drownd In streaming teares such teares as best expresse For
the wise Actor see His soule in danger circl'd with sinnes that He In all meeke Humblenesse of soule prepares him Not rashly hot like some that goe to swimme But takes a time to coole by meditation Ponders with sweet celestiall affectation On his soule-pleasing Part dares not venter To tread Times Stage nor unadvis'd to enter Till perfect in that part whose excellence Gaines grace sinnes pardon Mercles Audience Then like a bold and able Musketeire Arm'd with a world of valour trampling feare Vnder his valiant foot set's bravely on The front of danger where destruction In fiery flames threatens to scourge his errour With never-failing death yet scorning terrour He in his good cause still opposing all Horrours and terrours what e're can befall Mounted on valours wings never retires Still he winnes ground his ready nimble fires Play thicke upon the foe adde flame on flame Vndanted stands to 'th honour of his name And ne're forsakes the furie of the fight Till conquest Crownes him in his Countries right So fares it with Truth 's Actor when his Part Enters him on the Stage a Pious heart Then with clutch'd heav'd up hands above his head Eyes drown'd in Teares and Armes divinely spread To meete with mercy servently beginnes So to bewaile the whirle-poole of his sinnes That to gaine pardon rid away all feares Sighes swimme in Sobs deepe groanes in flouds of teares Importunes heav'n good Actions ne'rgives ore Till he hath quit the world and clear'd sinnes score That like to Ariadne crown'd with starrs The soule in glory shines all ill debarrs Admit at first thou canst not frame thy selfe For Cares and Crosses Lust and worldly pelfe To pray to God aright yet still endeavour Combate with linne for victory persevere What though to pray thou find'st thy selfe unapt Dull heavie sad easie to be intrapt Start from the Devill that ensnares thee so With sloth's lewd lullaby for endlesse woe Let me beseech thee to be heavenly wise Rub drowsie dulnesse from thy tender eyes Retire unto thy chamber shut the doore There wringing of thy hands fall downe implore Heav'ns sacred aide on thy dejected knees Pray to that glorious Majestie which sees The depth of darkest secrets beate thy breast Till teares for sinne arise ne'r give it rest Strike strike the stonie ent'rance of thy heart Act to the life the Publicars true part Knocke and knocke hard make l'ertues hammer felt On thy hearts slinty Anvile till it melt To soft compassion when that spring appeares Eyes turne to pearly drops to flouds of teares Such streaming pearles of pittie being shed For sinne in thee as shall when thou art dead Mount thy triumphing soule on Angells wings To live for ever Crown'd by the King of Kings Great is the power of fervent Prayer that can Conquer the All-Creator ravish man Fervent prayer makes the crooked conscience even Prayers are those scaling laders set to heav'n That lay long siege unto the throne of God Surround divinity keepe in his Rod. And never will depart nor raise the siege Till they compell Natures Celestiall Liege To grant what they doe come for faine would have To shield sad soules from the infernall Grave THE WORLD VAine is this World this Strumpet World that can Yeild nothing constant Love 'twixt man man Which next his Maker should be most respected Is soonest broke and most of all neglected Misse-led by ev'ry vaine phantastick toy To forget God bewitcht with carnall joy Bundles of Banbles imbecillitie Biles of Apparell Botch Nobilitie Lordship Ladyships Fool'ries and Fashions Lust-panting Humours ten thousand passions Rich men the more to blame as this Age goes Debarre House-keeping to maintaine gay Cloathes Arich Caroach three hundred pound a Gowne Thirty pound a Smocke or their wives will frowne There is no living with them they must ride Where when and how they lift in glitt'ring pride High flasting burning Braverie blind eyes Flint Hearts dull Eares deafe to the poore mans cries Such is the dullnesse of mortalitie And such the worlds cold Hospitalitte Brave Cloathes fall feeding pride ease and laughter Are peoples sinnes that breed a peoples slaughter Times maw-wormes muck-wormes cancker-wormes of sinne Ruines our Peace without our Peace within Each dustie Magistrate with Brib'rie fed One robs the Living another robs the dead A third the Arch-theefe playes by cunning stealch Knave Knights by Patent rob the Common-wealth Ioyne with much too much ill Injustice he Sodomiticall letcher for a greedy Fee Dares license lust glad if he may prevaile Suck wealth from prostitute Harlots never faile Mans mind which most his maker should respect With feare and trembling and that true respect Belongs to his high Majestie the net Of sinne so snates we worth-lesse wormes forget Gods thunder-darting Vengeance glorious state Still forget God forget to contemplate With ravishing Love true Love pure heart pure eyes That 's the defect makes hourely mischiefs rise Ambitious Lords attir'd in Anticke shape Joy in the waies of Lust Murther and rape Ladies with charmes trickes humours that they have Abuse their Lords dispatch 'em to the grave The jealous Husband mischievous in ill Through vaine suspect his constant wife to kill The carelesse-Clergy-man in his degree Satan corrupts makes for a goldensee The greedy Lawyer fed by Clients strife Brib'd Angells take for the the true Angell life Just Judge the unjust'dustie Magistrate Father the sonne the sonne the Father hate Brother the brother prosecute to death Quarrell for toyes stop one anothers breath The World do's hour'ly tempt fooles worldly wise The deceitfull Trades-man that seemes precise And is an arrant Knave to thinke the honie And only blessed life still to get monie Mockes at the poore mans vertue and in pride Stiles him a vertuous Foole thus Knaves deride The poverty of men which do's as sarre In Heav'nly wealth transcend them as a starre The richest Gemme on Earth But 't is not so With the World 's wealthy worldlings they say no Rich enough honest enough all they can Aymes at the outward not the inward man Poverty made a scosse a scorne a winde Gold smothers Vertue blackest actions blinde Gold got in Gods name with an honest face Comes flow but in the Devills name apace Such is the Worlds condition Good Mens thrall On Parth ther 's no true comfort none at all The honest minded Scholler shall no'r lack Sorrowes nor want of meanes to breake his back The pittifull Souldier in his greatest neede Ha's his throat cut he shall be sure to bleede The faire Gamester for his milde square play Is soonest cozen'd sure to lose ev'ry day The faithfull Lover oft is paid with hate The more in Love the more unfortunate Be rich or poore in high or low estate Pth'mod'rate meane or fully fortunate Vnsatiate mankind ever discontent Desires to live yet never lives content In scarcity of corne for plenty cry In plenty straight forget God instantly Such is mans erring soule which ought to know Life 's but a long
sinnes infirme a heart in bitternesse Learne thou this Lesson thou whose clouded eyes Hides thee from sight of thy infirmities Thy Pride oppression lust-provoking diet Nastie defilements drunken belching riot Which so besweats sots and bespots the soule As renders it most loathsome uggly foule To the Eyes of the All-pure-God He spies All our base thoughts each darke deed all those lies The Divell blinds us with to our abuse Vnder the feign'd pretence of an excuse Sinnes Jmpudence SInne that was wont in privacy to lurke Not daring to be seene darke deeds to worke Walk't still in feare the mind was ne'r at rest Like a poore Man in danger of Arrest But now in Triumph like a Drab of State Branded with impudence dare walke and prate Doe deedes of open shame yet never blush Shrinke feare nor feele Revenge more then a rush Shield us from sinne great God sinne that at first Poyson'd the perfect Man made all accurst That glorious Image made him see his shame Poore naked neede and losse of his good name What ever sorrowes on weake man befall Publique or private sinne is the cause of all Sinne dulls the Soule when Heav'n is out of sight Man 's out of Heart all vertues loose their light Like a besieged Cittie sinne surrounds The medowes of the soule ruines her grounds Windes like a subtile River bout the bancks So Eates into her sides as drown's the Ranks Of Muddy-minded Mortalls weake defence Walls built on Wood-Piles to ten confidence O the rare Mercy of Almighty God How it do's daily woe us from the Rod Of his just vengeance yet nor love nor feare Not any thing that 's good in us appeare The Prodigall Gull uncapable to know The worth of wealth farre sooner will bestow Ten pound upon a Hawke a Hound a Whore Rather then give ten pence to cloath the poore The Worldly Churle whose money is his slave Goes to the Church heares Sermons seemes to have Divine discourse Religion in his talke Devotion Pitty yet in life do's walke A full dissembler Machivell and he Remorselesse monsters dead in Charitle Deafe to the poore man's-crie his want of food Vrge Scripture to him that will doe no good The spirits of mischeife in their soules reply They 'l not be forc'd to succour boggery Let Ioseph lie in Chaines and Daniel too Shall they for thread-bare Charity undoe Their full cramm'd baggs abate the curious Pride Of Wife and Children dimme glorious outâ—lide High hopes the Worlds applause sinne-sick wishes Banquets by Torch-lights and bloud stirring dishes All to relieve despised poverty Wrong their delights to pitty penury No no they 'l not be taught where when and how To give their Almes the Saint to whom they bow Learnes no such lesson he so slaves the braine With the blacke Text that for their hell-beed gaine Worse then the Scythian Thiefe or barbarous Turke They 'l cheate friend Father never doe good worke Vnlesse to trumpet forth their Almes much good When ther 's no Vertue in their venome bloud Yet to the World appeare the scourge of evill A very Saint in show in heart a Devill A foule dissembling Fiend incarnate That seemes precise thinking the gift of prate The pratling pious seeming shew forsooth Of a pure life should darken sacred Truth Good God divert their eyes from Hell below To looke on Heav'n force their blind eyes to know Sinne for a while may with a Brasen face Out-brave poore Vertue flourish for a space Feed hot and high swimme in the worlds delight As if Vice only were beav'ns Favorite Befat in folly curious scoffes that dare Mocke at the wrinckled lookes of honest care Scorne leane Ribb'd Art all griefes which interlace The Lines of sorrow writ in Vertues face Sinne may doe this rais'd on the loftie stile Of Prides preferment for a little while But if time lend thee yeares for to observe You soone shall see proud sinne ready to sterve Blushing for shame and halting on a crutch Spotted all o're with Biles loathsome to touch Sweett sinnes soone fade vanish like lightnings flash Honors a Bubble Riches deceitfull trash Circl'd with mischiefes glitt'ring wantonnesse Dull self-esecured Ease brittle greatnesse Which like the serpent Dipsas quentchlesse thirst Lives never satisfied untill it burst Much wealth small witt and farre lesse honesty Preferres the golden Asse to dignity Be wise as Cato just as Mâ—nlius Valiant as Scipio Chast as Curius Wisedome in ragges is spurn'd at like a rush Folly gaines Credit crept but into Plush Be what thou wilt wealth formes formality Though spung'd with never a one good quality Worldlings applaud the Rich the poore despise Speake never so well so excellently wise Best knowledge must be dumbe Wisedomes best Note Yeelds but harsh Musicke in a Thread-bare Coate Witnesse Times poore Philosophers report Who being in the Presence at the Court Was for his simple weeds of slight regard Rudely thrust out by the grim-looking Guard But shifting cloathes admitted to the Eye Of State the King before whose Majestie He not the least of Reverence would beare Save Cap and Knee toth ' cloathes himselfe did weare Saying I honour him that honours mee These my gay Clouts which brought me King to thee This to the sinfull World may Embleme out Mortalls vaine worshipping the Golden Clout Of him or her whose soules uncertaine stand Fixt i' th imperative moode of proud command Ioyes in no other Heaven but admiration Till sencelesse they forget their first Creation Honours vaine bubble Riches deceitfull store Which ne'r drops penny to the pining poore Nor ever harbours thought of Charity To Wretches wiâ—â—â—t sterv'd with poverty While on the adverse part Vertue denide Vice still is huâ—g'd the world 's in love with pride O stonie hearted sinne on thee to thinke Feare turnes my Paper black makes pale my Inke Amazeth sence compells my palsey Pen Trembling to write the Impiousnesse of Men Whose hate to pitty must to terrour turne Where teares for sinne are wanting sinne shall burne Tell me ye Toad-swolne flinty Pharaohs tell Can temporall joyes equall tho paines of Hell Treasures and pleasures those quicke fading streames To the poore sleeping soule are all but dreames The bodies beauty momentary joy Which waking findes Earths glory but a toy This for a Maximetake shunne times lewd life Cease from extreames in sinne soule-murth'ring strife Abhorre to Studdy state with greater zeale Then zeale to Heav'n or the soules Common-weale Abhorre with solemne Oathes perjur'd to â—â—are And racke the name of Christ dreadlesse of feare Wounding a fresh with trembling feare I write Wonder of Angels that great God of light His wounds with Oathes of wounds flesh bloud and heart Horrour of darkenesse O blaspheming heart Too too much us'd 'mong godlesse soules which still Infinite good pay with infinite ill The Penitent Sinner LEt others boast their goodnesse for my part Wretch that I am I have a sinfull heart So ti'de and bound fetter'd and chain'd within So strong a prison such
his desire free But by a narrow lane where he must see That never enough to be lamented losse Christ Iesus Tenterd on the bloudy Crosse God on the Racke for our spirituall food His limbs all o're a Charactor of blood All wounded and now bleeding crying out O thou that bearst ' the Christian stampe about Thy flesh and blood behold my bloud braine Was ever griefe like mine sicke soule refraine Reade in my wounded side thy backe returne Thy sordid sinnes repulse let thy soule mourne In showers of sorrow and to hells disgrace Reade sinnes dislike in my storme beaten fate Vnbosome Vice tast from thy soule sinnes evill And with my Scriptum est silence the divell Can carelesse Christians beare the thought of this Mercies Memento in their mindes amisse No sure no hellish heart so prone to sinne But the rich thought of such rare love must winne Mans soule to God and with right admiration Fixt sirme and often on our Saviours passion Force him to hate the sinne he lik't so well And with a loathing kick send it to hell Mercie 's rememb'rance like a Curious Lute Renders most excellent Masicke heavenly fruite Points out the weary soule the way to Grace And spurs us on to the Celestiall race Invites the penitent minde o're clogg'd with care To Heavenly extasie spirituall fare Mercifull God turne thou man's vaine desire To feare and trembling let a zealous fire Flame in the soules of men let each proud eye Humbl'd with teares admire thy Majestie Backward and forward looke calling to mind Those multitudes of Mercies mortallâ— find Day Nâ—ght Tyme Tyde miraculously given By thy All-sacred hand Great God of heav'n As the young Bird then that do's never cease Op'ning the Mouth untill the Damme release And cures the want it suffers so should wee With vnlockt lipps still pray that God would free Our soules from sinne O 't is a blessed taske God ne'r leaves giving 'till we leave to aske Dei misericordia plenitudo est virtutum FAITH Nail'd to the Crosse there Christ lost soules to winne Suffer'd the world's huge pond'rous weight of sinne Insulting Foes reproach mocks scoffings scorne His sinewes to bee Rackt his Body torne A kisse betray'd him and a perjur'd lie Was the reward for all his Puritie Heav'ns wrath Hells rage on Christ all torments fell To save our Soules from those blew flames in Hell Christ's whole life was a Martyrdome Crosse Active and Passive and his deare Blouds losse The Tragick part the bloudy Sceane which none But He himselfe must Act and act alone Christ's Patience Death And Devills force did quell He tooke the great Leviathan of hell With the Hook of his Crosse made him his slave Captiv'd the DEVILL and subdu'd the Grave FAith makes unseene things seene Faiths sacred eye Vn-visore Prides painted hypocrisie A resolute Faith forc'd Abram to consent To butcher his beloved to content His Mighty Maker Faith has ever beene The perfect Evidence of things unseene Jacob by Faith obtain'd his full desire Faith stopt the Lyons Mouthes Faith quenches fire Enoch by Faith from sence of vitall breath Translated was that he should ne'r see death Faith made Eliah to call downe from heaven Consuming flames to burne accursed men Israels great Captaine by his Faith did part Egypts Red-Sea went through with joyfull heart Iosua by Faith on Gibeon did command The golden Taper of the Sunne to stand Still while he fought the Battell of the Lord Faith comes by hearing the All-mighties word Women receiv'd their dead rais'd up to life Faith conquer'd Kingomes and subdues all strife Like a safe winde which to the Sea-man sings Comfort in midst of all sad cares Faith bringt And breathes into our soules Truths gentle gaile Salvations sweet reliefe to fill the saile Of Man's storme-beaten vessell keepes it ev'n So sends it home in peace to th' land of heav'n Faith cloathes the Soule in a divine attire To passe untoucht through Famine sword and fire His body feeles no paine by fire or sword Whose Faith is in the bosome of the Lord. Faith is Saint Peeters walking on the water Hope lent him helpe and Love was his supporter Fides Signum Christianorum HOPE Hope followes Faith when Man is most opprest Ready for hell Hope to the Soule gives rest Hope in the Lord be strong the Psalmist saith Hope strengthens comforts and confirms thy faith Hope is Faiths daughter Heav'ns holy Handmaid still To over-rule unruly desp'rate will From doing damned violence which may beget the soules Eternall cast-away In midst of hellish crosses stormes strife Hope must our Pilot be to a good life Our Anchor Cable give it then free scope The sweet's of Grace are relished by hope O my dull spirit rowze thee fit not still pond'ring on thy poore Meanes though it be ill be thankfull thanke thy God and bee not hurl'd To damn'd despaire by th' malice of the world Good luck may goe away but good hope yet Will never leave us if we leave not it ARe we so blind so sotted by the Devill To receive good at Gods hands and not evill With equall thankes have we for sinne deserv'd Least good no rather worthy to be sterv'd Want threats revenge men's states must needs decline When men against the will of heav'n repine Hope cleares Night-stormes calmes the tempestuous day ' Afflicted or not afflicted let us pray Despaire not nor repine let Vertues scope In midst of sorrowes pearch thy soule on Hope Dare Man despaire to live the life of Caine And die the death of Iudas merit paine The Damned feele in hell good heav'n defend Disquietted soules from such a dreadfull end We all are sav'd by Hope if in true sence We hope for Heav'ns Eternall Excellence Hope 's like the Fisher-man's Corke despaire the lead Whose pond'rous weight no sooner being spread But it beginnes to sinke so man in sinne Did not hope lift him up still by the Chinne Yet neither Faith nor Hope can enesubfist Wanting sweete Charity she is the list That comprehends and is the life of grace Love pittles still the poore seekes the Lords Face Spes mea Christo CHARITIE Charitie and Pride both feede the poore in the Den. Charitie to praise God Pride to get praise of men True Charitie in midst of dangers winnes Safety shee covers multitudes of sins Love is the Chaine of Grace love without spot which ties all Vertues in Loves true-love knot Three thousand Soules the heav'nly weeper gain'd constant till death by Charity obtain'd Not words but good works must man's Faith approve Charitie ever is the life of love Patience House-keeper rich bountiful No Grimfac'd grumbling giver slothfull Deale liberally thine Almes chearfull Aimes-giving increase Mens states decreases no man's living TRue Love ne'r Envies this nor that Man's good The low descent nor High-borne Noble blood Ne're makes hot boast of giving never braggs Nor seeks revenge by Hell-affected Raggs Surpassing this or that proud neighbours state Causes of