Lazarus must be Fed With Heavens rich Juices and with Angels Bread There is a Table richly Spread above There is an Everlasting Feast of Love A Feast which Friends and Friendship doth mantain Pale Envy is not there nor proud disdain They all are One In One they all agree One is there all which makes all one to be Here 's Height of Mirth with Depth of Seriousness Plenty without the Hazard of Excess Here are full Joys in Hand full Joys in View Here Wine and Appetite are ever new Ever begins their Feast and n're do end Whom growing Loaves and Living Springs attend Their Harps are well-strung Hearts well-tuned And Sacred Hallelujahs are their Songs Tongues Here sit the Saints Here the Believers Sire Is Nobly Seated in his Rich Attire Hither the King of Heaven new Guests doth call Nor can he come too late that comes at all The mighty One who dwells and rules on High Angels attend with an obedient Eye The Secrets of his Breasts they do not Skill But are the trusty Servants of his Will Thus charg'd he them ' Bring Lazarus to the Feast ' And let him take his Place next Abraham's Breast They heard with Rev'rence and obey'd their King Joy rais'd their Hearts nimbly shook their Wing They fled from Heaven yet Heaven was with them still It was their Heaven to do their Masters Will. They stopt not at the Stars that pompous show Who went to view a Brighter Star below The Point design'd they well did understand Who had old Voyagers been to Canaans Land There they had been Lots Guests who was their There had they been Elisha's flaming Guard Ward In that Land chiefly lay their Lords Affairs Wares They traffiqu'd there for Souls those precious Soon came they where Sick Lazarus had his Lare They stop'd and waited for their Passenger No visitant found they with him but the Lord No Nurse but Faith no Cordial but the Word They heard him praying ' Lord some Mercy Show ' For I can find no mercy here below This said he sigh'd and was of Life bereav'd He gave his Soul and they his Soul receiv'd With Shouts and Songs triumphant up they went And to the Company did him present They shouted all and joy'd the New come Guest How gently stoops and leans on Abrahams Breastâ— Whom Dives Curs'd and stately Fools disdain'd How is he Blest how is he Entertain'd Tho' Vertue here on Earth neglected lies Yet Heaven will raise it for 't is born to rise Dives that silken God must never dye Unless his Creatures and false Prophets lye He 's safe if Death be cast as far behind His Body as it is below his Mind He 's always young He learns it from his Glass Which smooths his furrow'd Brow and paints his face But a Cold striking hand consutes the Lie Down falls his Flattering Glass his Fancies dye His Garden-walks must him no longer know The Life-tree in his Garden doth not grow His Palace must be chang'd for a dark Tomb That was his Inn but this must be his Home He must no longer at his Table stay The Voider Death is come to take away Death that abhorr'd both Name and thing comes on And potently torments this Potent One It makes Amazing Breaches and in short Hath seiz'd the Out-works and attacks the Fort In what a wretched Posture doth he lye He cannot live and yet he dares not dye His Debt must be distrain'd for he 'll not pay Nor yield his Ghost it must be fetcht away He sprunts he struggles but Death keeps him under And with one stroke tears Flesh and Soul asunder Then rang the House with his five Brethrens Cries Alas our Brother so they clos'd his Eyes His outward parts are wash'd his inner Rooms Stuffed with Arabian Sweets and rich Perfumes Now Death his Purple is now he 's allow'd Fine Linnen too but 't is a Fun'ral Shrowd Grave-fac'd Spectators with their Garments torn And Shrouded Lips attend the Room doth mourn Ah what a poor Revenge is this on Fate For him that cannot live to Lie in State Amidst the Gazing Crowd the Bearers come With Pomp they bring him to his painted Tomb. Minstrels and Trumpeters their Noises joyn And Women sell false Tears for Currant Coyn. Now lest his Friends should in salt streams be drown'd The Cup of Consolation goes its Round But stay my Soul 't is Death that thou must view Not shadows which dead Bodies do Ensue What a dark Notion and Abstrusity Is this to living Men that they must die Grim Death on his pale Horse Triumphant Rides He strikes us through our nearest Kinsmans Sides Yet are we sensless as the stupid Mule Live as Exceptions from the Common Rule We cast a Cloth o're Death 't is soon forgot We charm the Serpent and it stings us not Now might one let this pleasant Error pass If Death was all but Death his Second has When once the Dissolution Hour is come Out goes the Soul to hear her Final Doom You who have slightly heard the Fun'ral Knell Now hear the Voice which dooms the Ghost to Hell For those whose hearts an Earthquake will not shake Thro' Heav'ns Loud-roaring Cannons may awake Dives black Ghost all Horrour and Despair Is from its Prison snatch'd to th' dismal Bar Behind him the impatient Devils roar His Sins those worst of Devils stand before With Terrors thus besieg'd in every place He hears a Voice but might not see the Face The Voice was roaring Thunder in his Ears The words were tearing Bolts and flaming Spears Go thou accurst vile Caitif hence away To damned Ghosts Come Devils take your prey Struck with this Thunder down he sunk he fell And was a Triumph to the Fiends of Hell Th' ingenious Tyrants did a Council pack Their Malice set their Wits upon the Wrack When they had joyntly study'd to Torment For their pale Prisoner then in haste they sent They chain'd and stak'd him to a furious Flame Where constant streams of Brimstone feed the â—ame Behold Sins Martyr and Hells Sacrifice He yells and howls and vents unpity'd Cries He finds no Friendly Ear or tender Eye He feells a thousand deaths but cannot die Like burning Brass he 's Fir'd in every part A Vultur lives upon his living Heart God's gone he 's gone and what an Hell is this To be depriv'd of everlasting Bliss O this Eternal Banishment is worse Than all the Remnant of the Dooms-day Curse This Hell of Hell may thus be understood No torments are so bad as God is good Besides an Appetite in Man doth lie Which nothing but a God can satisfie And tho' this Appetite be here deluded By various Objects in God's room obtruded Yet when at death all these are laid aside Then thirsts the Soul for God but is deny'd This Thirst unquench'd is such an inward Flame An Hell in Hell is its deserved Name In Hell there cannot be an Atheist 'T is Hell in Hell that God is dearly mist Poor Dives
Holy Ones And dost thou stoop and bow thine Ear To a poor Sinners groans 2. God minds the Language of my Heart My Groans and Sighs he hears He hath a Book for my Request A Bottle for my Tears But did not my dear Saviour's Blood First wash away their Guilt My Sighs would prove but empty Air My Tears would all be spilt 3. Lord thine Eternal Spirit was My Advocate within But O! my Smoak joyn'd with thy Flame My Prayer was mixt with Sin But then Christ was my Altar and My Advocate above His Blood did clear my Prayer and gain'd An Answer full of Love 4. It could not be that thou shouldst hear A Mortal sinful Worm But that my Prayers presented are In a more glorious Form Christ's precious Hands took my Requests And turn'd my Dross to Gold His Blood put warmth into my Prayers Which were by Nature cold 5. Thou heard'st my Groans for Jesus sake Whom thou dost hear always Lord hear through that prevailing Name My Voice of Joy and Praise XXVII A Song of Praise for Deliverance from Enemies 1. GReat God who dost the World command Thou check'st both winds and waves The Devils which like Lions Roar Are thine Enchain'd Slaves The Sons of Rage are smoaking Brands And Idols fear'd in vain Thou Lord the only only God Their Fury dost restrain 2. Thou Lord didst smooth fierce Esau's Brow And change his Murm'ring Breath Thou gav'st to him a Brothers Heart Who vow'd his Brothers Death Angels have Arm'd at thy Command And Stars have shot their Dart Nature hath fought and Miracles Have took thy Churches part 3. Thee Lord who still thy Church dost love All Creatures must obey And when for Thine thou dost arise Their En'mies where are they I cry'd to Heav'n in my Distress I to my God did flee He with Compassion heard my Cry He did Arise for Me. 4. With humble Fear and thankful Joy Lord at thy Feet I fall Unfeignedly acknowledging That Thou alone dost all Thou art all Pow'r thou art all Love And so thou art to Me Blest be my God now and henceforth And to Eternity XXVIII A Song of Praise for Deliverance from Spiritual Troubles 1. I That am drawn out of the Depth Will sing upon the Shore I that in Hell's dark Suburbs lay Pure Mercy will adore The Terrors of the Living God My Soul did so affright I fear'd lest I should be condemn'd To an Eternal Night 2. Kind was the Pity of my Friends But could not Ease my Smart Their Words indeed did reach my Case But could not reach my Heart Ah then what was this World to Me To whom God's Word was dark Who in my Dungeon cou'd not see One Beam or shining Spark 3. What then were all the Creatures Smiles When the Creator frown'd My Days were Nights my Life was Death My Being was my VVound Trtur'd and wrack'd with Hellish Fears VVhen God the Blow should give â—ne Eyes did fail my Heart did sink Then Mercy bid me live 4. God's Furnace doth in Sion stand But Sion's God sits by As the Refiner views his Gold With an observant Eye God's Thoughts are high his Love is wise His Wounds a Cure intend And tho' he doth not always smile He loves unto the end 5. Thy Love is constant to its Line Tho' Clouds oft come between O could my Faith but pierce these Clouds It might be always seen But I am weak and forc'd to cry Take up my Soul to thee Then as thou ever art the same So shall I ever be 6. Then shall I ever ever sing Whilst thou dost ever shine I have thine own dear Pledge for this Lord thou art ever mine XXIX A Song of Praise for Deliverance from imminent Dangers of Death 1. LOrd of my Life length of my Days Thy Hand hath rescu'd me Who lying at the Gates of Death Among the dead was free My dearest Friends I had resign'd Unto their Makers Care Me thought I only time had lest For a concluding Prayer 2. Me thoughts Death laid his Hand 〈…〉 And did his Pris'nâ—◠〈…〉 And by the sound me â—â—oughts I heard His Masters Feet behind Me thoughts I stood upon the Shore And nothing could I see But the Vast Ocean with my Eyes A Vast Eternity 3. Me thoughts I heard the Midnight Cry Behold the Bridegroom comes Me thoughts I was call'd to the Bar Where Souls receive their Dooms The VVorld was at an End to me As if it all did Burn But lo there came a Voice from Heav'n VVhich order'd my Return 4. Lord I return'd at thy Command VVhat wilt thou have me do O let me wholly live to Thee To whom my Life I owe Fain would I dedicate to Thee The Remnant of my Days Lord with my Life renew my Heart That both thy Name may praise XXX A Song of Praise for the Hope of Glory 1. I Sojourn in a Vale of Tears Alas how 〈◊〉 sing My Harp doth on the Willows hang Distun'd in every String My Musick is a Captives Chains Harsh Sounds my Ears do fill How shall I sing sweet Sions Song On this side Sions Hill 2. Yet lo I hear a Joyful Sound Surely I quickly come Each word much sweetness doth distil Like a full Honey-Comb And dost thou come my dearest Lord And dost thou surely come And dost thou surely quickly come Methinks I am at Home 3. Come then my dearest dearest Lord My sweetest surest Friend Come for I loath these Kedar Tents Thy Fiery Chariots send What have I here my Thoughts and Joys Are all pack'd up and gone My Eager Soul would follow them To thine Eternal Throne 4. What have I in this Barren Land My Jesus is not here Mine Eyes will ne're be blest until My Jesus doth appear My Jesus is gone up to Heav'n To get a Place for me For 't is his Will that where he is There should his Servants be 5. Canaan I view from Pisgahs Top Of Canaans Grapes I taste My Lord who sends unto me here Will send for me at last I have a God that changeth not Why should I be perplext My God that owns Me in this World Will own me in the next 6. Go fearless then my Soul with God Into another Room Thou who hast walked with him here Go see thy God at Home View Death with a believing Eye It hath an Angels Face And this kind Angel will prefer Thee to an Angels place 7. The Grave is but a Fining-Pot Unto believing Eyes For there the Flesh shall lose its dross And like the Sun shall rise The world which I have known too well Hath mock'd me with its Lies How gladly could I leave behind Its vexing Vanities 8. My dearest Friends they dwell above Them will I go to see And all my Friends in Christ below VVill soon come after me Fear not the Trumps Earth rending Sound Dread not the Day of Doom For he that is to be thy Judge Thy Saviour is become 9. Blest be my God that gives me Light
how to spare It ever lies before mine Eyes It is my constant care But thou O Solomon must have A thousand for thy Gains And those that keep its Fruit may crave Two Hundred for their pains 13. And now farewel thou that Dost dwell In Gardens here below As thy Companions hear thy Voice So let me hear it too The Church 14. Haste my Beloved like a Roe Which soon her course fulfils O that thou wert like a young Hart Upon the Spicy Hills The Paraphrase CHAP. VIII The Church 1. LORD that thou wert as near to me As is my Mothers Son Such freedom should I have with thee As if we both were One I would impart my very Heart To one that was so near VVhose nearness should advance my Love Above all Slavish fear 2. Gods Holy Church my Mother Dear Sould me such Lectures Read I should provide such Heav'nly Chear VVhereon thou lov'st to Feed 3. And then shouldst thou thy Love display The Riches of thy Grace Thy Left Hand then my Head should slay Thy Right my Heart embrace 4. Christs Love my Heart doth so inflame This Charge I needs must give All ye that own his Sacred Name Do not his Spirit grieve Lord leave us not if yet thou wilt VVith Tears we 'll own thy Right But a Departure forc'd by Guilt Makes a Tempestuous Night VVeak Christians 5. VVhat strange Aspiring Souls are those VVhich do this VVorld disdain VVho on their Lord themselves repose Heav'ns Kingdom to obtain The Church Under thine Ordinances Shade I Sought and found thine Aid For there thine Entrance first was made Thy Graces first Conveigh'd 6. Lord bear my Name upon thy Breast Engrave it on thine Heart There let it be so sure possest It thence shall ne're depart For Love like Death doth cast its Dart VVhich wounds me to the quick Thy Presence Lord supports my Heart Thy absence makes it Sick Shouldst thou but seemingly disdain My Heart so deep Engag'd I should be Tortur'd with such pain As could not be asswag'd O Love Me Lord or else I die Thee Lord my Love doth crave My Lord shouldst thou my Love deny My Love would be my Grave My Love doth flame my Jealousie So burns my Heart and Eyes I must embrace my Lord or I Must be Loves Sacrifice 7. Whole Seas of Trouble cannot quench Loves everlasting Fire Though Hell oppose whom I have chose I cannot but Admire None but a Christ none but my Lord No Brides can take with Me A proffer'd World would be abhorr'd A Christ and none but He The Jewish Church 8 Remember the Blind Nations Lord Who in a Dungeon grope And lack the Sun-shine of thy Word Yet Prisn'rs are of Hope When once the Hour of thy Design Hath on these Captives Shone When they are call'd and own'd for Thine What shall be further done Christ 9. If they be constant to my Name And firmly hold my VVord They shall be blest with strength and fame And honour'd by their Lord If they will open at my Call That I with them may dwell I 'll hold them fast and make them last Against the Gates of Hell The Jewish Church 10. Lord I am constant to thy Name And firmly hold thy Word I had a Smile upon the same From my most Gracious Lord. Christ. 11. I nor admire nor imitate Those who their Vineyards Let Who of their Profit do abate That they some Ease may get 12. My Church and Vineyard is alway My care and my Delight I my self keep it every Day And watch it every Night Drest by my Hand watch'd by my Eye Its Fruit to me abounds The Praise of its Fertility Wholly to me redounds 13. My Dearest Church who art compos'd Of divers companies Now we have both our Minds disclos'd I 'll end with this Advice As all thy Members give an Ear Vnto thy Gracious Strain So let Me often from thee hear Vntil we Meet again The Church 14. Ah my dear Saviour pity Me Preserve Me in thy Heart And Oh make hast make hast that we May Meet and never part DIVES AND LAZARUS IN Judah's Vale a Man of Wealth abode Vile as a Beast yet Worship'd as a God Who Tyrian Cloaths and Egypts Linnen-ware And on whose Table met Land Sea and Air. Beneath the Threshold of his Out-most Gate A pale deformed horrid Carcass Sate Another Job But of more Fixed Woes Who from his Dunghil never once arose God Help Me was his Name God was his all Those few that knew him Lazarus him did call Need Pain and Scorn at once did on him lie His Bed was Earth his Covering was the Sky Nothing had he to pay of Natures Scores Empty he was of Bread but full of Sores Hunger that Wrack will make a Man confess What modest Minds endeavour to oppress Sharp Hunger whets the Wit and mends its strain It hurts the Bowels but it helps the Brain A Servant pass'd the Gate where lo he found This Ruful Odject groveling on the Ground Said Lazarus Sir if Pity be my due Give to your Master what I give to you Lazarus his Petition MOst Noble Sir I humbly crave What Nature doth exact from Me I am a Borderer on the Grave Half slain with sharp Necessity For Childrens Bread I do not Call I do not Ask you Servants Fare Only the Sweepings of your Hall I Beg and what your Dogs may spare Doom Me not Sir to perish at your Gate Who may Preserve Me at so Cheap a Rate For Father Judah's sake some Fragments give I 'll serve You at God's Altars whilst I live Dives his Answer WHat Dog is this that dares Presume on Me Accurst be all such Crawling Toads as He Pests of my Gate Vermin that Creep so Nigh I Hate 'em Let Him Rot and Die In vain the poor Mans thoughts pursu'd his Suit The Dogs were humane but their Lord a Brute They left their Snarling to their Masters Face They Ran and Lazarus gently did embrace He was the pity'd Patient of those Hounds Whose lambent Tongues did cool his burning wounds This done the squalid Vassals of the Times Scorn'd ragged Virtue Honour'd purple Crimes Things are mis-judged by the purblind Eye Which views their Posture not their tendency Till Justice ' wakes to right its injur'd Laws Which doth not weigh the Person but the Cause Nor Rags nor Sores are Clouds that can disguise A splendid Soul to Heavens Soul-searching Eyes Earths Laz'rus was Heavens Dives Earths disdain Was a meet Guest for Heaven to entertain Now comes the Golden Hour that sets him free From his Apprenticeship to misery His Corps the Graves old Neighbour long Uddrest At length is slip into its Bed of Rest A Treasure 't is tho' Funeral-costs it wants The Richest Mineral is the Dust of Saints He was his own most serious Mourner here He Mourn'd enough He needs no Hired Tear The time is come that Lazarus must be clad With such fine Linnen Dives never had The time is come that