vertue doth not lend Eu'n so the Man whose loue doth fall away Doth straight in errour darknesse and delusions stray 19 Those that by reasons force and strength of wit Draw true Conclusiont by firme Argument First striue the Causes with th' Effects to fit Else they will hardly grant the Consequent To say I loue is not sufficient Except I shew the reason why I loue I know ô Lord thou art Omniscient But know no cause to loue mee should thee moue Onely I daily feele that which I cannot proue 20 God is Loues very Authour Life and Spring Yea God himselfe is also stiled Loue From him all Streames of Loue are issuing As from the Sea all other Waters moue He first fills all with Loue in Heau'n aboue Which Water plenteously the Vales below So God loues first before we doe him loue Loe what exceeding great loue he doth show God loues his Enemies first before they doe him know 21 The cause of all this Loue proceeds from thee Thou didst vs loue yet being Enemies Bond-slaues to Sinne and Satan but now â—ree And made thy Friends by Grace our loue doth rise From thee as from the Spring and multiplyes Growing from strength to strength till by thy Grace We workes of Loue in thee doe exercise Thy Members here for thee wee doe embrace Eu'n as ouâ— owne till we behold thy glorious Face 22 Into one Body we by Loue doe grow Into one Building we are all combin'd Loue that doth from the Head to Members flow And all the stones hath in this building ioyn'd Where eu'ry Members office is assign'd And eu'ry stone an others weight doth beare All liuely Stones the choisest of mankind All liuing Members of one Head which here By Loue in one close cemented and ioynted are 23 My lowly Muse dares not presume to prie Into Gods holy happy Habitation Where Loue three Persons ioynes in Vnitie And makes one Godhead to mans admiration I leaue the Mysterie of th'Incarnation Where Loue doth make both God and Man in one And eke the power of Spirits regeneration Where Loue makes Man eu'n of Gods flesh and bone Thus Loue all things in Heaueâ— and Earth vnites in one 24 Such as Loues cause is such are Loues effects Holy Transcendent Supernaturall Which publique good not priuate most respects The weakest member seruice doth to all And the most Honourable doth not call The meaner base as he did him despise They all agree in one and one in all Vnto one glorious Head by loue to rise And in him workes of Loue and Grace to exercise 25 This Loue 's long suffering gentle not enuies Not striuing boasting shamelesse for her owne Bitter ill-minded ioying in iniuries But most glad to doe right when Truth is knowne Endures beleeues hopes suffers all alone Though tongues doe cease and prophecyings faile And knowledge vanish yet Loue holds her owne We know and prophecie in part as fraile But when the perfect comes th' imperfect nought auailes 26 Had I the tongues of Men and Angels and Could prophecie and knew all mysteries Had Faith to remoue Mountaynes t' vnderstand All knowledge and should all my goods out size Amongst the Poore my body should deuise Eu'n to be burn'd yet if I want this Loue It profits not this Loue which doth arise From a pure heart oh thou then that dost proue And trâ—e the hearts of Men season mine heart with Loue. 27 And euer let the Obiect of my Loue Be the true indiuiduall Trinitie The Saints on earth and Angels all aboue That still persist in their integritie I mention here the happy memorie Of thy deceased Saints and Martyrs all Which here their Loue to thee did testifie Whom thou by Loue didst first vnto thee call And dost in heau'n reward with blisse perpetuall 28 But 't is the heart from which this Loue must flow There Loue her Court keepes there 's her Royall seate 'T is not enough with wordes this Loue to show Or fayned lookes God doth the heart intreate That must bâ—â— clens'd from sinne made sweet and neate For him that standeth knocking at the dore Then open he will enter in and eate And bring with him of heau'nly foode such store As thou shalt neuer thirst nor hunger any more 29 Clense my deceitfull heart defil'd with sinne Make it a Temple for thy Spirit of Loue Fit for the King of Glorie to come in That all my words thoughts actions pure may proue As Riuers which from purest Fountaynes moue Oh since thou wert so bountifull to spend Thy precious Blood for vs thy Foes still loue And cherish vs and 'gainst all harme defend Who will die for his Foes cannot denie his Friend 30 In all that Nature hath indued with life We find desire with like to companie Againe wee see diâ—â—â—â—tions jarres and strife 'Mongst those that are of different qualitie We oft 〈◊〉 inclinations may descrie By company they either keepe or shunne They haue of manners such a sympathie I therefore shew what heau'nly Graces wonne With royall Loue which sweetly link't together runne 31 These Vertues are Loues deare Concomitants Repentance Knowledge Faith Humilitie Fortitude Iustice Prudence Temperance Meeknesse Obedience Truth Hope Curtesie These a most sacred 〈◊〉 Societie Doe on the Court of royall Loue attend These Hate expell and her base progenie Wrath Auaâ—â—â— Pride 〈◊〉 and contend Gainst Gluttoâ—e 〈…〉 which on Hate depend 32 These Impes which of this hellish Hagge are bred Begot of her by Lucifer in Hell In wayes of errour and of darknesse leade Where damned spirits in torments euer dwell And though on earth they beare away the bell Of all one day there will a reckning bee Then shall appeare who hath done ill who well The louely Bride shall ioy her Loue to see But they which follow Hate with her shall damned bee 33 Such doe ill iudge of Loue that cannot loue Nor in their hearts feele heate of liuely flame Loue is the gift of God from heau'n aboue Sent downe mans proud rebellious heart to tame And yeeld obedience to his holy Name Though scorn'd by those whose hearts are made so blind With this worlds god they cannot see the same This World they loue and on Lusts set their mind And neuer seeke this true and heau'nly Loue to find 34 The reason is they doe not seeke to know Gods Wisedome Mercy Bountie Goodnesse Loue And these though Preachers daily to them show And their slow vnbeleeuing hearts reproue Their hearts of flint to loue they cannot moue Ah! How can they loue God they haue not seene When as their brethren here they cannot loue To loue the Head and yet to beare a spleene Vnto the Members is a thing vnknowne vnseene 35 Should they with Paul behold the glorious sight Of th' Head whose Members they doe cause to rue They would fall downe amazed with such light And humbly prostrate with submission due Crie Lord Who art and with affection new That Head and Members would intirely loue
accounted worthy for Christs sake To suffer scourging prison shame despite Which did them way to Crownes and Glorie make More happy 't is to suffer at a stake For Truth than end our dayes in ease and rest Paul for a wondrous fauour did it take That he not onely to beleeue was blest But that he suffered more for Christ than all the rest 53 The abiect and off-scowring of the World A gasing stocke to Angels and to Men Perill on Land on Seas with Tempest whirld Perill of Beasts and of false Bretheren Mock'd scourg'd bound stock'd cold hungrie naked thin Last Satans buffetting spirituall I here should tyre my Reader and my Pen If I his crosses all to mind should call Yet he with constant Patience conquered them all 54 So they that truely loue will ought endure For his sake onely they so truely loue Lord grant me Loue for then I may be sure In all afflictions patient to proue No power of Men or Hell their soules can moue That build vpon so good and strong foundation Temptation may vs shake but not remoue From Loue the ground and pillar of saluation Loue is the Cause of ours as of our Sauiours passion 55 This seasons all afflictions crosses payne Makes Death our Gate to Heau'n the Graue our rest This makes our Patience perfect and doth gayue Vs Heau'n as sure as if we were possest The God of Patience be euer blest The End and Authour of my Meditation And grant I constantly may euer rest Vpon his Loue in Christ my sure foundation Whose Patience paid my price of Reconciliation 56 Thus of true Patience hauing laid the ground I thereon Christian Fortitude will raise For neuer any valour true and sound Can well abide but where true Patience stayes No perill payne or shame that soule dismayes Where these two Vertues doe themselues combine Both ioyfull make vs walke through dreadfull wayes And like two Sunnes in Firmament doe shine Most glorious Fortitude but Patience most Diuine MEDITAT V. Of Fortitude 1 AL valiant Captaynes of the sacred Hoast Of Loues high Queene that fight 'gainst Hate and Hell Christs Souldiers muster vp from eu'ry coast And them to stand in complete Armes compell That Satans fiery darts they may repell But as in worldly Battaâ—les Armes are vaine If Cowards hearts doe faint or courage quell So in this spirituall Warfare all are slaine That with true Fortitude this fight cannot maintayne 2 I therefore her Loues valiant Generall And chiefe Commandresse of her Forces name For that the most braue Sp'rits heroicall Haue alwayes beene most honour'd by the same Amongst the Heathen men that sought vaine Fame This Vertue was in such great estimation Of heau'nly Seede they thought their Heros came Expecting not from humane propagation Such worth except the Gods concurr'd in Generation 3 And therefore those whose valour did transcend The ordinarie reach of humane Race By Pedigrees are lin'd out to descend From Ioues or some great Deities embrace Thus in a mist they seeme the Truth to trace For Vertues all but chiefly Fortitude Are not begotten but infus'd by Grace And in Kings hearts in larger amplitude As they it more doe neede than common multitude 4 For as small Waters faire and goodly seeme When little Channels doe their course maintayne Yet would a Man them scarsely Waters deeme If they ran drissing in some Riuer mayne Eu'n so a Subiects heart that doth contayne True Fortitude but in a measure small Great glorie to himselfe thereby may gayne But if in Princes heart the same should fall It scarsely would be counted Fortitude at all 5 Wherefore the Hearts of Kings are said to bee Like mightie Riuers in th' Almighties hand From which as from a little Ocean hee Disposeth Water ouer all the Land His Nobles which him round like Brookes doe stand Refresh and water eu'ry Dale and Plaine As from their Soueraigne they haue command But all their Waters haue from Ocean maine Where all their Tribute must reâ—urne with praise againe 6 And therefore since I find it all but vaine To seeke for any good and perfect Grace But from the bountie of my Soueraigne I here beseech th' Almightie guide my trace In finding out this Vertues royal Race That I her wondrous Glorie may expresse So here as all may striue her to embrace As th' onely strength of humane happinesse Till with Loues gracious Trayne shee bring vs vnto blesse 7 Thus strong in God and Power of his might â— Fâ—rtitude doe truely first explaine To be a strength of mind or valiant Sprite Whereby couragiously we doe sustaine Hard things for Vertues sake and not for gaine Betwixt Bâ—olâ—nesse and Feare a moderation True Fortitude doth from base Feare retaine Meeknesse from murmuring at Gods castigation And Patience mitigates the know of our passion 8 Patience is past and Meeknesse comes behind I therefore Fortitude here twofold name One of the Body th' other of the Mind This Fortitude of Body is the same We common haue with Beasts both wild and tame Encreast by feeding strength good constitution In stout sustayning is her greatest fame Next in on-setting with braue resolution This helps in Warre but minds it best in persecution 9 I twofold likewise call that of the Mind One true the other that which men doe fayne When for false ends we nobly are enclin'd Or when these Causes following constrayne Passion Experience Ignorance Art Gayne Passion of Feare of Fuâ—ie Hope and Anger By these we mightie things doe oft darraigne Experience Art make vs to dread no danger By Ignorance and for Gayne we boldly Life endanger 10 For feare of danger and t' auoid disgrace The Coward faint will like a Dragon fight Who can withstand the furie of the Base Experience Art preuaile oft against might And Ignorance of danger doth incite The fearefull great atchieuements to aduenter Custome of winning makes vs oft in spite Of Fate and Fortune into Battles enter By Sea for hope of gayne some to the Indies venter 11 But Fortitude which doth prepare the Mind For God and Goodnesse chearefully to die Is that braue Vertue formerly defin'd Which Death nor Hell it selfe can terrifie By this we onely on the Lord relie And strong in God and Power of his might Put on our armes to fight most valiantly Faith Hope and Truth with Patience Iustice Right And with the spirituall Sword vndantedly doe fight 12 Though of our selues we no more able are These mightie Armes to weare and wâ—ild aright Than little Dauid was King Sauls to beare When he Goliah met in single fight Yet if Gods power we consider right And set by all the worldly strength we haue Relying on his prouidence and might As Dauid we may say with courage braue Who me from Beare and Lyon from all harme shall saue 13 For from the Lord is all sufficiency Our Enemies in Christ we nothing feare But fight Gods Battailes most couragiously In whom we able to doe all things are And
like Lot and Abram entertaynes Strangers all Day at Noone and eke at Night Not that shee hopes from them least gold or gaynes Or that with double mends they will requite But those which harbour want shee doth inuite Humbly to Meate and Drinke and Lodging meete Where shee to wait vpon them takes delight And brings faire water for to wash their Feete And them for her sweet Sauiours sake doth fairely greete 23 Then shee the hungrie Bodies of the Poore With her faire Hand of plentie full doth feede And drinke vnto the thirstie powreth store Shee feares not once her selfe to stand in neede Who to the Sower ministreth his seede And bread vnto the humble will prouide For those which of her Body shee doth breede Shee with no future want is terrifide For others oft to feede shee hunger doth abide 24 Oh should you see th' abundance eu'ry day Of clothes shee for the naked doth prouide To keepe them from the cold and to aray Gods Images which here in Clay abide And if that any naked shee espide After shee all her clothes diuided had Shee would her owne coate cut out and diuide To those that want most chearefully and glad That shee had such a shift poore naked Soules to clad 25 With those that mourne in Sion shee will mourne And beare a part with them in miserie Whether they weepe by friends as left forlorne Or grone with weight of their iniquitie Shee wondrous salues of comfort doth apply And when they weepe shee mourning not forbeares And oft in Psalmes and Hymnes makes melodie Sweet Psalmes and Hymnes that drie vp all our teares And like to pleasant Wine make vs forget our cares 26 But most of all sicke persons shee doth tend And comfort them in point of death that lay For there most needed comfort sweet to lend When Sinne Hell Death and Conscience doe dismay The Soule that now departing is away First spirituall comfort shee to them doth deale How on Christs merits they should onely stay Balme that applide aright their sores should heale And prayes the Spirit within the Truth hereof may seale 27 'T were infinite to tell the wondrous store Of heau'nly comforts Mercy can apply For Mercy hath a salue for eu'ry sore Soules burthened with their iniquitie Shee handeleth most soft and tenderly The smoking flaxe nor yet the bruised reede Shee will not quench or breake vnwarily Such heau'nly comforts can thus Peere areede That shee makes Soules 〈◊〉 when Bodies are halfe dead 28 Best skill to cure the Body shee doth vse And to his former health againe restore No Office meane or base shee doth refuse That may the payne asswage or heale his sore All miseries lie open her before That shee may lend to all her helpe and aid She physicke sends and meate vnto the poore With beds of downe whereon he may be laid And though her med'cines faile her prayer's neuer staid 29 But if their Soules from Bodies once depart In seemely sort shee cares them to engraue Last worke of Mercy that we can impart Vnto their corps when God their soule doth saue Which though now dust yet most sure hope we haue God will the same a glorious Body rayse And decke it for her Spouse most fine and braue The Deads memoriall shee doth often prayse The Liuing to prouoke to walke in righteous wayes 30 Thus when shee hath in Graue him seemely laid With much lamenting and with many teares To tender Orphanes and to Widdowes aid Shee doth employ the vtmost of her cares In whose defence no great Mans frownes shee feares But stands in iudgement for their firme defence And if both Parents die as oft it fares Their tender Babes shee soone remoueth thence And feedes and puts to Schole eu'n at her owne expence 31 Therefore shee large Almes-houses hath erected Faire Colledges for Muses habitation And Churches by prophaner sort neglected Adornes and decks in honourable fashion Shee holds it much against her reputation In goodly seeled Houses to abide And see Gods Temples ruinous prophanation If in her any sparing be descride 'T is that shee works of Mercy may dispread more wide 32 But ah no pen is able 〈…〉 The fruits of Mercy by Humilitie But in one worke I all theâ— vp doe count To succour those that are in miserie As there is infinite varietie Of miseries in Soule and Body found So without number shee doth helpes supply But for her end Soules health shee doth propound And in such heau'nly comforts shee doth most abound 33 Rebuke admonish suffer and chastise Her very stripes are corraâ—â—â—es to heale And when in most distresse the Body lies Most comfort then to Soule shee doth reueale Thus Christ did vnto her a paterne seale With mortall foode he thousand Bodies fed But those to whom he Bread of Life did deale Like huge Sea sands cannot be numbered Whereby their Soules now liue though yet their Bodies dead 34 But though this Peere is mercifull to all Yet almost all become her Enemies Ambition Pride Hate Enâ—â—e Malice Gall All that delight in wrong and iniuries From whence oft come most horrid cruelties But amongst all they doe her greatest wrong Who vnder shew of pitying miseries Punish not those that doe in Vice grow strong The Iudge that spares the wicked doth the godly wrong 35 Iustice and Mercy both doe well accord And in one Subiect may contayned bee For iust and mercifull is God our Lord Iust as a Iudge but as a Father hee Is pitifull and tender So ought wee In our owne cause as Fathers Mercy show And our deare Brethren of all wrongs to free But when we sit in iudgement we must know We are Gods Ministers to punish sinne below 36 Eu'n as a Iudge in his owne Familie Vnto a gracelesse sonne may pardon giue Though he his Coffers rifle priuily And doe conspire of life him to depriue But if as Traytor to his Prince he liue And one before his Father him arraigne The Iudge there cannot his owne Sonne forgiue But must condemne to his deserued paine For Magistrates ought not to beare the sword in vaine 37 I Mercy here and Iustice may compare Vnto a Gardners spade and pruning knife The knife luxurious branches off doth pare That for vaine shew grow fruitlesse ranke and rife The Spade vnto Vines roote giues heate and life By dunging opening it to Sunne and Raine Ne yet betwixt them discord is or strife One prunes the boughes the other doth maintayne The Roote Both haue one end the Bodies good and gayne 38 In this Worlds Schoole we all like Scholers are Fitted below for Fellowships aboue Mercy our Patronesse doth vs prepare Foode Rayment Bookes all things that needfull proue We all haue but one Lesson here to Louâ— Which none can better teach than this sweet Peere Yet our vntowardnesse doth oft her moue To suffer Iustice to correct vs here Which sure doth vs more good than all her daintie cheere 39 So as Correction truely may be
goe twaine Strike her on one shee turnes the other Eare All wrongs done to her selfe shee can sustaine But none done to her Neighbours shee can beare If shee to lâ—ue her selfe commanded were Shee euill would resist with ill againe But loe her Lord resistance did forbeare When he was scoffed scourged beaten slaine And open'd not his Mouth to curse or to complaine 18 Afflictions are her Obiects which we find Diuers as they in diuers Subiects rest Afflictions of the Body and the Mind Which Mind and Body dang'rously infest Against these Patience is alwayes prest And them as well-come Friends doth entertaine More crosses shee endures more shee is blest And knowes through anguish trouble griefe and paine Her ayme eternall rest shee in the end shall gaine 19 Thus Heauinesse and Sorrow proue her Heart How willingly how long shee will abide How lowly humbly shee endureth smart How void shee is of Haâ—tinesse and Pride Anger Reuenge selfe Loue and Enuies gride If minds afflictions shee could not withstand How could shee beare such as her Flesh betide Plagues Torments Labours Paynes Diseases and Death Fastings Watchings Prisons Cold and Yron band 20 Most sweet 〈◊〉 and most welcome Ghest To eu'ry payre combin'd in Amitie The chiefe Maintayner of each ioyous feast Begun in Wedlocke Friendship Charitie Sweet Patronesse of each Societie Continuing all that Loue begins in Peace Most sacred Twin with sweet Humilitie For as one growes the other doth encrease And to attend on Loue and Mercy neuer cease 21 What doth the Loue twixt Husband and the Wife Than Patience more fast and firme maintayne Who keepes true Friends from discord iarre and strife And Children in their Parents loue retayne Shee Masters fauour doth to Seruants gayne And tells them they a Master haue aboue Who God most patient doth ay remayne Though they to wrath him eu'ry day doe moue Thus Patience preserues all Peace begun by Loue. 22 None can ascend to glorious Court of Loue But he must clime by Patience beare with payne Without this Patience all the Vertues proue False shewes which doe no substance true retayne What Loue Faith Hope What Grace did ere remaynâ— Constant without this gift of Patience Therefore shee is the Glorie of Loues trayne The Vertues all attend her Excellence And shee againe attends them all with Recompence 23 Those most Heroike Vertues Fortitude Prudence Ioy Iustice Bountie and the rest What are they if you Patience exclude But eu'n so many torments to molest Mans Soule if with affliction once distrest Zeale without Patience doth like Furie spurne Eu'n heau'nly Knowledge doth our minds infest Repentance like Hell fire doth Conscience burne Wer 't not for Patience all would to Confusion turne 24 As Christ is Authour of true Patience So of Impatience Satan and his brood First shew'd in Garden in Mans innocence Whilst he in Makers Grace and Fauour stood For when the Serpents base impatient mood Mans glorie in Gods Image could not beare He them seduc'd to eate forbidden food Whereby our Blessings chang'd to Curses were Till Patience in the Garden vs againe did cleare 25 Since this these two doe worke by contrarie By Patience we our Soules possessen here And we them lose by our Impatiency One heares sound Doctrine th' other stops her eare One suffers all the other nought will beare For Loue Christ Godlinesse or Honestie By Patience more than Conquerors we are Impatience makes vs cowardly to flie True Patience brings all Grace all Vice Impatiencie 26 There 's an extreme besides Impatience Because by Vertue clok'd most dangerous Which is a light Râ—gard and stupid Sense Not feeling crosses which God layes on vs Such as doe vant themselues so valourous That by Gods punishments they set most light Plague Famine Sword Fire Wiues and Childrens losse Nor will be scourged when the Lord doth smite But scorne his chastenings all which doth his wrath incite 27 Such neuer looke at God who these doth send Nor on their sinnes the Cause of all our smart Nor on the End that they their liues might mend But with rebellious will and stubborne heart Gods Father-like chastisements doe peruert Whereby they doe themselues the fruit denie Of Gods corrections which should them conuert Like Beasts and Blocks they vnder burthens lie Referring all to Heathen Fate and Dâ—stinie 28 These the Almighties Patience prouoke Like Pharaoh Iudgements on their heads to send And turne his scourging stripes to fatall stroke Bringing a fearefull and a desperate end Of two extremes from this Lord me defend Oh rather let me fainting take a fall Then as incorrigible thee offend Which is most wicked dang'rous sinne of all Into the first thy Saints the last the Deuils fall 29 This Heath'nish blockish base impatience Which is a froward dull Stupiditie Doth like to Opium amase the Sense And makes Men as dead drunke all senselesse lie Ah how can he his Armes or Legs emply Like Christian Souldier valiantly to fight Gods Battailes whom such Drugs doe stupifie Or how can he of Christs Cup taste aright That doth in such dead cursed drunkennesse delight 30 This World 's the Field where all Saints Souldiers are Assaulted daily by Gods Enemies Who therefore must by Christian Paâ—ience beare Payne Hunger Cold all incommodities Wayting for Victuall Ease and new supplies They constantly must hold out to the End One bearing with others infirmities To faint or flie before the Battaile end Is worse than if to fight they neuer did intend 31 Loue is the Mother Patience the Nurse Of eu'ry linke and band of Amitie And though Hate and Impatience ban and curse Seeking to choke all good Societie Yet Patience nurseth all in Charitie Her sincere Milke is patiently to beare And suffer wrong and harme most willingly Ah but for Patience Malice all would teare Kings Husbands Fathers â—ould their Subiects Wiues Sonnes spare 32 Nothing her Nature better can expresse Than her to Bootes and greaues of brasse compare Which doe the Feete and Legs of Souldiers dresse That in the fore-front of the Battaile are Thus shod on Speares Pricks Goades Pikes treade we dare Losse Shame Crosse Fire Griefe Sword and Banishment Which would o'rethrow vs if our Legs were bare But Patience armes them with such hardiment They passe them ouer all with courage and content 33 As Temples Arches built by cunning hand Of Artist skilfull in Geometrie More weight on them is laid more firme doe stand So Patience more opprest most sure doth lie No Stormes Wind Weather can our House destrie Erected on such sure and fast foundation Afflictions doe ioynts more strongly tie And knit most firme by patient sustentation For more shee suffers here more is her consolation 34 And as the soundnesse of a firme foundation Is best discern'd when most weight on is laid And Faith vnfeign'd best tryed by temptation Mercy most seene when Poore doe want our aid So Patience is most gloriously displaid By Crosses Paynes Disgrace Indignities Which without her our Soules
by Gods helpe thou shalt against them all preuaile 51 So by this mightie Power we shall at length Be Victors though Sinne seeme vs here to foile Lord grant me this spirituall Pow'r and Strength That though my Body suffer here a while And like a Coward oft doth take the foile I may with courage so my Soule defend No Power me of spirituall Armes despoile Lord grant I practise may what I commend So I with prayse my Booke and Meditation end 52 Thus as one of the Bridegromes meanest Friends I to adorne the Bride doe offer here These Ornaments The gift no worth commends But He to whom the Widdowes mite was deare Because shee all her substance offred there Will well accept of this poore Offering That when I shall at that great day appeare Before the Iudge to giue my reckoning This time may be allow'd me for Gods honouring FINIS The third Booke consisting of fiue MEDITATIONS viz. 1. Knowledge 2. Zeale 3. Temperance 4. Bountie and 5. Ioy. And The fourth Booke of viz. 1. Prudence 2. Obedieâ—ce and 3. Meekenesse 4. Gods Word and 5. Prayer Were Likewise intended by the Authour at this time for the Presse But the euer-lamented losse of his most honored Lord which hath changed all his Ioyes into Sorrowes and Songs to Lamentations hath beene the cause of deferring their publishing A FVNERALL ELEGIE Consecrated to the memorie of his euer-honoured Lord IOHN KING Late Lord Bishop of London LEt others call their Muse to helpe them mourne And books of Tragique Scenes and Stories turne My Heart abundant matter shall indite If but the halfe I of my sorrow write Were it a priuate losse of mine alone I could it smother with a priuate grone But ah I ring my Fathers Fathers knell The Charet and Horsemen of Israel Happy Elisha when the fiery Horse And Charets thee did from thy Master force Whilst he in Whirlewind vp to Heauen ascends His Spirit doubled downe on thee descends But ah I haue no Spirit but to mourne And wash with teares this sacred Fathers Vrne His 〈◊〉 is not left me to diuide Mine Eyes from Teares as Iordanes floods were dride Yet had I but his Spirit here to tell How stoutly he opposed Iezabel And all her Baalling superstitious crew Of Prophets and their Idols ouerthrew How firmely he in his Religion stood Readie till Death to seale it with his blood Without least Bastard thought to change that Truth Which was in him firme rooted from his youth I then might iusâ—ly hope my feeble Verse Had done full right vnto thy wronged Herse For I should muzzell those that wrong thy fame And die them like their whoare scarlet in shame Should force into their face that modest blood That left them ere since they left Truth and Good Yet why should I thinke much that Calumnie Labours to cloud thy Names bright memorie Since that Iust One thy Sauiour after Death Could not auoid Slanders envenom'd breath And if thy Lord and Masters fate were such Let not thy Ashes grieue to beare as much Oh sacred Spirit enclos'd in frailest mold Of britle Clay when I did thee behold Praying Elias-like thou couldst constrayne The Heau'ns to water all the Earth with rayne And when thy zealous tongue touch'd with the flame Which Seraphin had from the Altar taâ—ne Thou like to Paul or Peter didst diuine Three thousand Soules conuerting at a time When thou didst sit on Iustice sacred Throne Thy Prudence shin'd like that of Solomon And Samuel-like so equall didst diuide Thou often gau'st content to either side Like Aristotles thy Schole Disputations Thy Speeches Tullies eloquent Orations Thy Lectures all Ideas most diuine Where Arts like Starres in Firmament doe shine Did â— behold thee in thy Familie Thy House a Temple of the Deitie Thou Dauid-like didst to th' Almightie sweare No wicked riotous Person should come there You worthy Tribe of Leui when you want And find your shorne allowance all too scant His 〈◊〉 which refresht you often blisse And gaue you Liuengs free as they were his You Poore lament whom he so often fed Not with his Doctrine onely but his Bread And Strangers when you want his losse lament Who vnto you such large allowance sent One and the same Rule in things Temporall He did obserue as in Spirituall Who so on Earth doth plentifully sow May well expect a like increase to mow Most happy Man if Vertue Honour Right Or any worldly Blisse make happy wight Home and abroad honour'd belou'd and fear'd Him Grace and Learning vnto all endear'd But oh what Mortall stands so sure and fast That here may be call'd happy till his last To whom the People erst Hosanna cride When he in triumph doth through Sion ride Ere many dayes was on the Crosse so shaken As if he fear'd himselfe of God forsaken So when this Saint like Paul the â—ged sung To build vp Sions ruines with his Tongue The rauish'd Hearers with thy message strooke Sate as they had no powr's but Eare and Looke Both which did yeeld thy Worth such loud applause As if an Angels Trump had lent thee voyce I thinke their strict attention did fore-see They neuer more should heare so much from thee A Swan-like Dittie for it was his last For ere the Sunne had round his circuit past He that for Sions building vp did pray Did in his owne fraile Temple feele decay My Soule eu'n trembles but thy groanes to heare Alas how couldst thou them with Patience beare Afflictions which would breake a brasen Wall And hardest Milstone grin'd to powder small But Hee in Heau'n that heard thee groane and weepe And all thy teares did in his Bottle keepe When it was full doth take of thee compassion And freed thee from thy paynes and bitter passion Eu'n on that Day whereon we celebrate His Passion whom thou liu'dst to imitate Loe God doth millions of his Angels send Thy sorrowes here with heau'nly Ioyes to end Shall we bewaile thy happy commutation Now chang'd from Earth to heau'nly Habitation Where as thy Ioyes the Angels farre surpast Which neuer of thy Miseries did taste For there thou dost that Psalme of comfort ring Which none but Saints afflicted here can sing That Ioy which neuer had in Heau'n beene knowne But by those Saints that vnder crosses groane That Ioy which feeles God comfort vs againe After he hath vs plagu'd on Earth with paine And for a few yeares of aduersitie Rewards in Heau'n with Ioyes eternitie Which giues for Sorrow Ioy for Labour Rest A Hau'n to vs whom Shipwracke erst distrest From Danger Safetie Light vnto the eye Long blind in Dungeons obscuritie Life after Death doth make our liues more sweet Who here Christs plentifull afflictions meet Shall haue in him a plenteous consolation Then let vs all that wait for like saluation In Body like this Saint the dying beare Of 's dying Lord and let him neuer feare But his Lords life shall be made manifest In Him when He our Labour turnes to Rest. But more my Muse is as vnfit to write As are my sorrowes stupid to endite Onely Shee thus the publique losse bemones And what Shee wants in words supplyes with grones Act. 2. 3. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Church Christ. Church Christ. Christ. Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Daugh. Church Daugh. Church Christ. Christ. Apples †Church Christ. Church Christ. Church Christ. Church a 1. Sam. 2â— 39. 40. b 1. Sam. 18. 18. c Mark 1. 3. d Iohn 3. 29. * Matth. 22. 9. f Can. 2. 14. 3. 7. g Caâ— 5. 1 2. h 2. Cor. 12. 1 2 3 4. i Matth. 22. 2 3 4. k Caâ— 7. 1 2 c. l Luk. 2. 32. m Luk. 14. 17 18 c. n Apoc. 22. 1 2. o Can. 5. 1. p Can. 4. 12. 6. 2. q Apoc. 21. 4. * Apoc. 5. 11. Quaere Iâ—dg 9. 8. * Pâ—nitentia * 〈◊〉 †Christs †Strength †Strength * Presumption a Infidelitie b Despaire †Heart †Iesus †By reason ¶ By sense * Reuel 6. 10. 11. †Mens merits * Separatists * 〈…〉 Truth of Iudgement Truth of Heart Truth of Speech Truth of Action †Potaâ—iana 3. Esdr. 4. * 〈◊〉 Gen. 32. 33. * Woman-Man * Cutter