and the painfull prize Of their sweet labour in the hollow Chest Of the dead Lyon whose unbowell'd brest Became their plenteous storehouse where they laid The blest encrease of their laborious Trade The fleshly Hive was fill'd with curious Combes Within whose dainty waxe-divided roomes Were shops of honey whose delicious taste Did sweetly recompence th'adjourned haste Of lingring Samson who does now repay The time he borrow'd from his better way And with renewed speed and pleasure flies Where all his soule-delighting treasure lies He goes to Timnah where his heart doth finde A greater sweetnesse than he left behinde His hasty hands invites her gladder eyes To see and lips to taste that obvious prize His interrupted stay had lately tooke And as shee tasted his fixt eyes would looke Vpon her varnisht lips and there discover A sweeter sweetnesse to content a Lover And now the busie Virgins are preparing Their costly Iewels for the next dayes wearing Each lappe is sill'd with Flowers to compose The nuptiall Girland for the Brides faire browes The costâ—neglecting Cookes have now encreast Their pastry dainties to adorne the feast Each willing hand is labring to provide The needfull ornaments to deck the Bride But now the crafty Philistins for feare Lest Samsons strength which startled every eare With dread and wâ—nder under that pretence Should gaine the meanes to offer violence And through the shew of nuptiall devotion Should take advantages to breed commotion Or lest his popular power by coaction Or faire entreats may gather to his faction Some loose and discontented men of theirs And so betray them to supected feares They therefore to prevent ensuing harmes Gave strict command that thirty men of armes Vnder the maâ—ke of Bridemen should attend Vntill the nuptiall ceremonies end Meditat. 9. HOw high unutterable how profound Whose depth the line of knowledge cannot sound Are the deerces of the Eternall God! How secret are his wayes and how untrod By mans conceipt so deeply charg'd with doubt How are his Counsels past our finding out O how unscrutable are his designes How deepe and how unsearchable are the Mines Of his abundant Wisdome how obscure And his eternall Iudgements and how sure Lists he to strike the very Stones shall flie From their unmov'd Foundations and destroy Lists he to punish Things that have no sense Shall vindicate his Quarrell on th' Offence Lists he to send a plague The winters heate And summers damp shall make his will compleate Lists he to send the Sword Occasion brings New Iealousies betwixt the hearts of Kings Wills he a famine Heaven shall turne to brasse And earth to Iron till it come to passe Both stocks and stones and plants and beasts fulfil The secret Counsell of his sacred will Man onely wretched Man is disagreeing To doe that thing for which he had his being Samson must downe to Timnah in the way Must meet a Lyon whom his hands must slay The Lyons putrid Carkas must enclose A swarme of Bees and from the Bees arose A Riddle and that Riddle must be read And by the reading Choller must be bred And that must bring to passe Gods just designes Vpon the death of the false Philistines Behold the progresse and the royall Gests Of Heavens high vengeance how it never rests Till by appointed courses it fulfill The secret pleasure of his sacred will Great Savior of the world Thou Lambe of Sion That hides our sinnes That art the wounded Lyon O in thy dying body we have found A world of hony whence we may propound Such sacred Riddles as shall underneath Our feet subdue the power of Hell and Death Such Mysteries as none but he that plough'd With thy sweet Hayfer's able to uncloud Such sacred Mysteries whose eternall praise Shall make both Angels and Archangels raise Their louder voyces and in triumph sing All Glory and Honour to our highest King And to the Lambe that sits upon the throne Worthy of power and praise is he alone Whose glory hath advanc'd our key of mirth Glory to God on high and peace on Earth THE ARGVMENT The Bridegroome at his nuptiall Feast to the Philistians doth propound A Riddle which they all addrest themselves in counsell to expound Sect. 10. NOw when the glory of the next dayes light Had chas'd the shadowes of the tedious night 〈◊〉 coupling Hymen with his nuptiall bands 〈◊〉 gâ—lden Fetters had conjoyn'd their hands 〈◊〉 jolly welcome had to every Guest â—â—pos'd the bounty of the mariage Feast 〈◊〉 now appeased stomacks did enlarge 〈◊〉 captive tongues with power to discharge 〈◊〉 quit their Table-duty and disburse 〈◊〉 store of enterchangeable discourse 〈◊〉 â—â—genious Bridegroome turn'd his rolling eyes 〈◊〉 his guard of Bridemen and applies â—â—â—peech to them And whil'st that every man 〈◊〉 his attentive eare he thus began My tâ—ngue's in labour and my thoughts abound 〈◊〉 a doubtfull Riddle to propound 〈◊〉 if your joyned wisdomes can discover 〈◊〉 our seven dayes feasting be past over 〈◊〉 thirty Sheets and thirty new supplies â—â—â—â—â—â—ment shall be your deserved prize 〈◊〉 be seven dayes feast shall be dissolv'd 〈◊〉 darkned Riddle be resolv'd Ye shall be all engaged to resigne The like to me the vict'rie being mine So said the Bridemen whose exchanged eyes Found secret hopes of conquest thus replies Propound thy Riddle Let thy tongue dispatch Her cloudy errand We accept the match With that the hopefull Challenger convai'd His Riddle to their hearkning eares and said The Riddle Our food in plenty doth proceed from him that us'd to eate And he whose custome was to feed does now afford as meate A thing that I did lately meet as I did passe along Afforded me a dainty sweet yet was both sharpe and strong The doubtful Riddle being thus propounded They muse the more they mus'd the more coÌ„founded One rounds his whispring neighbour in the eare Whose lab'ring lips deny him leave to heare Another trusting rather to his owne Conceit sits musing by himselfe alone Here two are closely whispring till a third Comes in nor to the purpose speakes a word There sits two more and they cannot agree How rich the clothes how fine the Sheets must be Yonder stands one that musing smiles no doubt But he is neere it if not found it out To whom another rudely rushes in And puts him quite beside his thought agin 〈◊〉 three are Whispring and a fourths intrusion Spoiles all and puts them all into confusion â—â—re sits another in a Chaire so deepe 〈◊〉 thought that he is nodding fast asleepe The more their busie fancie doe endever The more they erre Now farther off than ever 〈◊〉 when their wits spur'd on with sharpe desire Had lost their breath and now began to tire They ceas'd to tempt conceit beyond her strength And weary of their thoughts their thoughts at length Present a new exploit Craft must supply Defects of wit Their hopes must now rely Vpon the frailty of the tender Bride She must be mov'd Perswasions may attaine If not
Through his distemper'd passion home he went Where to asswage the swelling of his sorrow With words the poorest helps distress can borrow His wife and friends he summon'd to partake His cause of discontent and thus be spake See see how Fortune with a lib'rall hand Hath with the best and sweetest of the Land Crown'd my desiers and hath timely blowne My budded hopes whose ripenesse hath out-growne The limits and the height of expectation Scarce to be had but in a Contemplation See see how Fortune to inlarge his breath And make me living in despight of Death Hath multiply'd my loynes that after-Fame May in my flocke preserve my blood my Name To make my honour with my fortunes even â—ehold my gracious Lord the King hath given And trusted to my hand the sword of Pow'r Or life or death lies where I laugh or lowre Who stands more gracious in my Princes eye How frownes the King if Haman be not by Ester the Queene hath made the King her Guest And wisely weighing how to grace the Feast With most advantage hath in policy Invited me And no man else but I Onely a fit Companion for a King May taste the secrets of the banquetting â— Yet what availes my wealth my place my might How can I relish them with what delight What pleasure it in dainties if the taste Be in it selfe distemper'd Better fast In many sweets one sowre offends the pallate One loaâ—â—some weed annoyes the choycest Sallat What are my riches what my honourd Place What are my Children or my Princes Grace So long as cursed Mordecai survives Whose very breath inâ—ects whose life deprives My life of blisse and visage sternely strikes Worse venome to mine eyes then Basiliskes When Haman then had launc'd his ripned griefe In bloody termes they thus apply'd reliefe Erect a Gibbet fifty Cubits hie Then urge the King what will the King deny When Haman sues that slavish Mordecai Be hang'd thereon his blood will soone allay The heat of thine his cursed death shall fame The highnâ—sse of thy power and his shame So when thy suit shall find a faire event Goe banquet with the King and live content The Councell pleas'd The Gibber fairly stands Soone done as said Revenge finds nimble hands Meditat. 12 SOme Ev'ls I must approve al Goods I dare not Some are seem not good some seem are not In choosing goods my heart will make the choyce My flattring eye shall have no casting voyce No outward sense may choose an inward blisse For seeming Happinesse least happy is The eye the chiefest Cinque-port of the Heart Keepes open doores and playes the Traytors part Le ts painted pleasures in to bribe th' Affections Which masks foule faces under false complexions It hath no pow'r to judge nor can it see Things as they are but as they seeme to be There 's but one happinesse one perfect blisse But how obtain'd or where or what it is The world of nature ne're could apprehend Grounding their labours on no other end Than bare opinion diversly affecting Some one thing some another still projecting Prodigious fancies till their learned Schooles Lent so much knowledge as to make them fooles One builds his blisse upon the blaze of glory Can perfect happinesse be transitory In strength another summes Felicity What horse is not more happy farre than he Some pile their happinesse on heapes of wealth Which sicke they 'd loath if gold could purchase health Some in the use of beautie place their end Some in th' enjoyment of a Courtly friend Like wasted Lampes such happinesses smother Age puffeth out the one and wants the other The happinesse whose worth deserves the name Of chiefe with such a fier doth inflame The brests of mortalls that heav'n thinkes it fit That men should rather thinke than taste of it All earthly joyes some â—ther aime intend This for it selfe's desir'd no other end Those if enjoy'd are crost with discontent If not in the pursuit in the event This truly good admits no contrarietie Without defect or yet a loath'd â—aciety ¶ The least is more than my desert can claime Thankfull for both at this alone I aime THE ARGVMENT The King askes Haman what respects Befits the â—an that he affects And with that â—onour doth appay The good deserts of Mordecai Sect. 13. NOw when as Morpheus Sâ—rjeant of the night Had laid his mace upon the dawning light And with his Iustlesse limbes had closly spred The sable Curtaines of his drouzy Bed The King slept not but indispos'd to rest Disguised thoughts within his troubled brest Kept midnight Revells Wherefore to recollect his randome thought He gave command the Chronicles be brought And read before him where with good attention He mark'd how Mordecai with faire prevention Of a foule treason 'gainst his blood intended His life and state had loyally defended Whereat the King impatient to repay Such faithfull service with the least delay Gently demands what thankfull recompence What worship or deserved reverence Equivalent to such great service hath Iustly repaid this loyall Liege-mans faith They answer'd None Now Haman fully bent To give the vessell of his poison vent Stood ready charg'd with full Revenge prepar'd To beg his life whom highly to reward The King intends Say Haman quoth the King What worship or what honourable thing Best fits the person whom the King shall place Within the bounty of his highest Grace So Haman thus be thought Whom more than I Deserves the Sun-shine of my Princes eye Whom seekes the King to honour more than me From Hamans mouth shall Haman honour'd be Speake freely then And let thy tongue proclame An honour suting to thy worth thy name So Haman thus This honour this respect Be done to him the King shall most affect In Robes Imperiall be his body drest And bravely mounted on that very Beast The King bestrides then be the Crowne of State Plac'd on his lofty browes let Princes waite Vpon his Stirrop and in triumph leade This Impe of Honour in Assuerus flead And to expresse the glory of his name Like Heralds let the Princes thus proclame This peerlesse honour and these Princely rites Be done to him in whom the King delights Said then the King O sudden change of Fate Within the Portall of our Palace Gate There sits a Iew whose name is Mordecai Beâ—he the man Let no perâ—erse delay Protract But what thy lavish tongue hath said Doe thou to him So Haman sore dismaid His tongue ty'd to his Roofe made no reply But neither daring answer not deny Perforce obey'd and so his Page became Whose life he sought to have bereav'd with shame The Rites solemniz'd Mordecai return'd Vnto the Gate Haman went home and mourn'd His visage muffled in a mournfull vale And told his wife this melancholy Tale Whereat amaz'd and startled at the newes Despairing thus she spake If from the Iewes This Mordecai derive his happy line His be the palme of victory not thine The highest heavens
attaine The rare discovery of so high a straine Dive to the depth of darknesse and the deepes Renounce this Wisdome The wide Ocean keepes Her not inclos'd 'T is not the purest Gold Can purchase it or heapes of silver told The Pearles and peerlesse Treasures of the East Refined Gold and Gemmes are all the least Of nothings if compar'd with it as which Earths masse of treasure summ'd is not so rich Where rests the wisedome then If men enquire Below they finde her not or if they higher Soare with the Prince of Fowles they stil despaire The more they seeke the further off they are Ah friends how more than men how Eagle-eyd Are you to see what to the world beside Was daâ—ke To you alone in trust was given To search into the high Decrees of Heaven You read his Oracles you understand To riddle forth mans fortunes by his hand Your wisedomes have a priviledge to know His secret Smiling from his angry Brow Let shame prevent your lips recant and give To the Almighty his prerogative To him the searching of mens hearts belong Mans judgement sinks no deeper than the tongue He overlookes the World and in one space Of time his Eye is fixt on every place He waighes the Waters ballances the Ayre What e're hath Being did his hands prepare He wills that Mortalls be not over-wise Nor judge his Secrets with censorious eyes Medit. 14. T Is Vertue to flye Vice there 's none more stouâ— Than he that ventures to picke vertue out Betwixt a brace of Vices Dangers stand Threatning his ruine upon either hand His Card must guide him lest his Pinnace run Vpon Charybdis while it Scylla shun In moderation all Vertue lyes T is greater folly to be over-wise Than rudely ignorant The golden meane Is but to know enough safer to leane To Ignorance than Curiosity For lightning blasts the Mountaines that are highâ— The first of men from hence deserv'd his fall He sought for secrets and found death withall Secrets are unfit objects for our eyes They blinde us in beholding He that tryes To handle water the more hard he straines And gripes his hand the lesse his hand retaines The mind that 's troubled with that pleasing itch Of knowing Secrets having flowne a pitch Beyond it selfe the higher it ascends And strives to know the lesse it apprehends That secret Wiseman is an open Foole Which takes a Counsell-chamber for a Schoole The eye of Man desires no farther light Than to descry the object of his sight And rests contented with the Suns reflection But lab'ring to behold his bright complexion If it presume t' out-face his glorious Light The beames bereave him justly of his sight Even so the mind should rest in what 's reveal'd But over-curious if in things conceald She wades too farre beyond her depth unbounded Her knowledge will be lost and she confounded Farre safer 'tis of things unsure to doubt Than undertake to riddle secrets out It was demanded once What God did doe Before the World he framed Whereunto Answer was made He built a Hell for such As are too curious and would know too much Who flyes with Icarus his feathers shall Have Icarus his fortunes and his fall Anoble Prince whose bounteous hand was bent To recompence his servants faith and vent The earnest of his favors did not profer But wild him boldly to prevent his offer Thankfull he thus replyed Then grant vnto me 〈…〉 With-â—old thy Princely secrets from me That holy Man in whose familiar eare Heavn oft had thundred might not come too near The Temple must have Curtaines mortall hearts Must rest content to see his Hinder-parts I care not Lord how farre thy Face be off If I but kisse thy Hand I have enough THE ARGVMENT Iob wisheth his past happinesse Shewes his state present doth confesse That God's the Authâ—r of his griefe Relates the purenesse of his life Sect. 15. OH that I were as happy as I was When Heavens bright favours shone upon my face And pâ—sperd my affaires inricht my joyes When all my sonnes could answer to my voyce Then did my store and thriving flocks encrease Offended Iustice sought my hands for peace Old men did honour and the young did feare mee Princes kept silence when I spake to heare me I heard the poore reliev'd the widowes cry Orphans I succour'd was the blind mans eye The Cripples foote my helplesse brothers drudge The poore mans Father and th'oppressors Iâ—dge I then supposed that my dayes long Lease Would passe in plenty and expire in peace My Rootes were fixed and my Branches sprung My Glory blaz'd my Power grew daily strong I speaking men stood mute my speeches mov'd All hearts to joy by all men were approv'd My kindly words were welcome as a latter Raine and were Oracles in a doubtfull matter O sudden change I 'm turn'd a laughing 〈◊〉 To boyes and those that su'd to tend my flock And such whose huÌ„gry waÌ„ts have taught their haÌ„ds To scrape the earth and digge the barren lands For hidden rootes wherewith they might appeasâ— Their Tyran ' stomacks these even very these Flout at my sorrowes and disdaining me Point with theire fingers and cry This is he My honour 's foyl'd my troubled spirit lies Wide open to the worst of injuries Where ere I turne my sorrow new appeares I 'me vext abroad with flouts at home with feares My soule is faint and nights that should give â—ase To tyred spirits make my griefes encrease I loath my Carkeise for my ripened sores Have chang'd my garments colour with their coresâ— But what is worst of worsts Lord often I Have cry'd to thee a stranger to my cry Though perfect Clemency thy nature bee Though kinde to all thou art unkinde to me I nere waxt pale to see another thrive Nor e're did let my ' afflicted brother strive With teares alone but I poore I tormented Expect for succour and am unlamented I mourne in silence languish all alone As in a Desart am reâ—iev'd by none My sores have dy'd my skin with filth still turning My joyes to griefe and all my mirth to mourning My Heart hath past Indentures with mine Eye Not tâ— behold a Maid for what should I Expect from heaven but a deserv'd reward Earn'd by so foule a sinne for death 's prepar'd And flames of wrath are blowne for such Doth Hâ— Noâ— know my actions that so well knowes mee If I have lent my hand to slye deceit Or if my steps have not beene purely strait What I have sowne then let a stranger eate And root my Plants untimely from their seate If I with Lust have e'â—e distain'd my life Or beene defiled with anothers Wife In equall Iustice let my Wife be knowne Of all and let me reape as I have sowne For Lust that burneth in a sinfull brest Till it hath burnt him too shall never rest If e're my haste did treat my Servant ill Without desert making my power my Will Then how should I before
and what must then be done When time shal bring to light this promis'd sonne About that time when the declining Lampe Trebles each shadow when the evening dampe Begins to moisten and refresh the land The Wife of Manoah under whose command The weaned Lambes did feed being lowly seated Vpon a Shrubbe where often she repeated That pleasing newes the subject of her thought Appear'd the Angell he that lately brought Those blessed tidings to her up she rose Her second feare had warrant to dispose Her nimble foot-steps to unwonted haste She runnes with speed she cannot runne too fast At length she findes her husband In her eyes Were Ioy and Feare whilst her lost breath denies Her speech to him her trembling hands make signs She puffes and pants her breathlesse tongue disjoynes Her broken words Behold behold said she The man of God if man of God he be Appear'd againe These very eyes beheld The man of God I left him in our field Meditat. 3. HEav'n is Gods Magazen wherein he hath Stor'd up his Vials both of love and wrath Iustice and Mercy waite upon his Throne Favours and Thunderbolts attend upon His sacred Will and Pleasure Life and Death Doe both receive their influence from his breath Iudgements attend his left at his right hand Blessings and everlasting Pleasures stand Heav'n is the Magazen wherein he puts Both good and evill Pray'r is the key that shuts And opens this great Treasure T is a key Whose wards are Faith and Hope and Charity Wouldst thou prevent a judgement due to sinne Turne but the key and thou maist locke it in Or wouldst thou have a Blessing fall upon thee Open the doore and it will shower on thee Can Heav'n be false or can th' Almighties tongue That is all very truth doe truth that wrong Not to performe a vow His lips have sworne Sworne by himselfe that if a Sinner turne To him by pray'r his pray'r shall not be lost For want of eare nor his desier crost How is it then we often aske and have not We aske and often misse because we crave noâ— The things we should his wisdome can foresee Those blessings better that we want than weâ— Hast thou not heard a peevish Infant baule To gaine possession of a knife And shall Th' indulgent nurse bee counted wisely kinde If she be mov'd to please his childish minde Is it not greater wisdome to deny The sharp-edg'd knife and to present his eye With a fine harmlesse Puppit We require Things oft unfit and our too fond desire Fastens on goods that are but glorious ills Whilst Heav'ns high wisdome contradicts our wils With more advantage for we oft receive Things that are farre more fit for us to have Experience tels we seeke and cannot finde We seeke and often want because we binde The Giver to our times He knows we want Patience and therefore he suspends his grant T' encrease our faith that so we may depend Vpon his hand he loves to heare us spend Our childish mouthes Things easily obtain'd Are lowly priz'd but what our prayers have gain'd By teares and groanes that cannot be exprest Are farre more deare and sweeter when possest Great God! whose power hath so oft prevail'd Against the strength of Princes and hast quail'd Their prouder stomaks with thy breath discrown'd Their heads thrown their Scepters to the grouÌ„d Striking their swelling hearts with cold despaire How art thou conquer'd and o'recome by Pray'r Infuse that Spirit Great God into my heart And I will have a blessing ere we part THE ARGVMENT Manoah desires to know the fashion And breeding of his promis'd sonne To whom the Angel makes relation Of all things needfull to be done Sect. 4. WIth that the Danite rose and being guided By his perplexed wife they both divided Their heedlesse paces â—ill they had attain'd The field 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of God remain'd And drawing â—eerer to hâ—s presence stai'd His weary steps and with obeysance said Art thou the 〈…〉 blessed lips â—oretold Those joyfull 〈◊〉 Shall my tongue be bold Without the breach of manners to request This boone Art thoâ—â— that Prophet that possest This barren woman with a hope that She Shall beare a Sonne He answer'd I am He Said Manoah then Let not a word of thine Be lost let them continue to divine Our future happinesse let them be crown'd With truth and thou with honour to be found A holy Prophet Let performance blesse And speed thy speeches with a faire successe But tell me Sir when this great worke is done And time shall bring to light this promis'd Sonne What sacred Ceremonies shall we use What Rites What way of bleeding shall we chuse T' observe What holy course of life shall be Be trained in What shall his Office be Whereat th' attentive Angel did divide The portall of his lips and thus replide The Child that from thy fruitfull loynes shall come Shall be a holy Nazarite from the wombe Take heed that wombe that shall inclose this Childe In no case be polluted or defilde With Law-forbidden meates Let her forbeare To taste those things that are forbidden there The bunch-back Camell shall be no repast For her Her palate shall forbeare to taste The burrow haunting Cony and decline The swiftfoote-Hare and mire-delighting Swine The griping Goshauke and the towring Eagle The party-coloured Pye must not inveigle Her lips to move the brood-devouring Kite The croaking Raven th' Owle that hates the light The steele-digesting Bird the laste Snaile The Cuckow ever telling of one tale The fish-consuming Osprey and the Want That undermines the greedy Cormorant Th' indulgent Pellican the predictious Crow The chattring Storke and ravenous Vulter too The thorn-backt Hedgehogge and the prating lay The Lapwing flying still the other way The lofty-flying Falkon and the Mouse That findes no pleasure in a poore mans house The suck-egge Weasell and the winding Swallow From these she shall abstaine and not unhallow Her op'ned lips with their polluted flesh Strong drinke she must forbeare and to refresh Her lingring palate with luâ—-breeding Wine The Grape or what proceedeth from the Vine She must not taste for feare she be defilde And so pollute her wombe-enclosed Childe When time shall make her mother of a Sonne Beware no keen-edg'd Raisor come upon His bâ—llowed Crowne the haire upon his head Must not be cut His bountious lockes must spred On his broad shoulders From his first drawne breath The Childe shall be a Nazarite to his death Meditat. 4. WHat shallow judgment or what easie braine Can choose but laugh at those that strive in vaine To build a Tower whose ambitious Spire Should reach to heaven what foole would not admire To see their greater folly who would raise A Tower to perpetuate the praise And lasting Glory of their renowned Name What have they lâ—ft but Monuments of shame How poore and slender are the enterprises Of man that onely whispers and advises With heedlesse flesh and blood and never
Skollops and returne the Shels Our sweet Pomgranats want their silver Bells We take the Gift the hand that did present it We oft reward forget the Friend that sent it A blessing given to those will not disburse Some thanks is little better then a curse Great giver of all blessings thou that art The Lord of Gifts give me a gratefull heart O give me that or keepe thy favours from me I wish no blessings with a Vengeance to me THE ARGVMENT Affrighted Manoah and his Wife Both prostrate on the naked earth Both rise The man despaires of life The woman cheares him Samsons birth Sect. 6. WHen time whose progresse mod'rates and out weares Th' extreamest passions of the highest fears By his benignant power had re-inlarg'd Their captive senses and at length discharg'd Their frighted thoughts the trembling couple rose From their unquiet and disturb'd repose Have you beheld a Tempest how the waves Whose unresisted Tyranny out-braves And threats to grapple with the darkned Skies How like to moving Mountaines they arise From their distempred Ocean and assaile Heav'ns Battlements nay when the windes dâ—e faile To breathe another blast with their owne motion They still are swelling and disturbe the Ocean Even so the Danite and his trembling wife Their yet confused thoughts are still at strife In their perplexed brests which entertain'd Continued feares too strong to be refrain'd Speechlesse they stood till Manoah that brake The silence first disclos'd his lips and spake What strange aspect was this that to our sight Appear'd so terrible and did affright Our scattering thoughts What did our eyes behold I feare our lavish tongues have bin too bold What speeches past betweene us Can'st recall The words we entertain'd the time withall It was no man It was no flesh and blood Me thought mine eares did â—ngle while he stood And commun'd with me At each word be spake Me thouâ—ht my heart recoil'd his voyce did shake My very Soule but when as he became So angry and so dainty of his name O how my wonder-smitteâ— heart began To faile O then I knâ—w it was no man No no It was the face of God Our eyes Have seene his face who ever saw 't but dies We are but dead Death dwells within his eye And we have seen 't and we shall surely die Where to the woman who did either hide Or else had overcome her feares replide Despairing Man take courage and forbeare These false predictions there 's no cause of feare Would Heaven accept our offerings and receive Our holy things and after that bereive His servants of their lives Can he be thus Pleas'd with our offerings unappeas'd with us Hath he not promis'd that the time shall come Wherein the fruits of my restored wombe Shall make thee father to a hopefull Sonne Can Heaven be false Or can these things be done When we are dead No no his holy breath Had spent in vaine if they had meant our death Recall thy needlesse feares Heaven cannot lye Although we saw his face we shall not dye So said they brake off their discourse and went He to the field and she into her Tent Thrice forty dayes not full compleat being come Within th'enclosure of her quickned wombe The Babe began to spring and with his motion Confirm'd the faith and quickned the devotion Of his beleeving parents whose devout And heaven-ascending Orizans no doubt Were turn'd to thanks and heart-rejoycing praise To holy Hymnes and heavenly Roundelaies The childe growes sturdy Every day gives strength Vnto his wombe-fed limmes till at the length Th'apparent mother having past the date Of her accompt does only now awaite The happy houre wherein she may obtaine Her greatest pleasure with her greatest paine When as the faire directresse of the night Had thrice three times repar'd her wained light Her wombe no longer able to retaine So great a guest betraid her to her paine And for the toilsome worke that she had done She found the wages of a new borne Sonne 〈◊〉 she call'd his name the childe encreast And hourely suckt a blessing with the brest Daily his strength did double He began To grow in favour both with God and Man His well attended Infancy was blest With sweetnesse in his Childhood he exprest True seeds of honour and his youth was crown'd With high and brave adventures which renown'd His honour'd name His courage was suppli'd With mighty strength His haughty spirit defide And hoast of men His power had the praise â—ove all that were before or since his dayes And to conclude Heav'n never yet conjoyn'd So strong a body with so stout a minde Meditat. 6. HOw pretious were those blessed dayes wherein Soules never startled at the name of Sin When as the voyce of death had never yet A mouth to open or to clame a debt When bashfull nakednesse forbare to call For needlesse skins to cover shame withall When as the fruit-encreasing earth obay'd The will of Man without the wound of spade Or helpe of Art When he that now remaines A cursed Captive to infernall chaines Sate singing Anthems in the heavenly Quire Among his fellow Angels When the Bryer The fruitlesse Bramble the fast growing weed And downy Thistle had as yet no seed When labour was not knowne and man did eate The earths faire fruits unearned with his sweate When wombs might have conceiv'd without the stain Of sin and brought forth children without paine When Heaven could speak to mans unfrighted eare Without the sense of Sin-begotten feare How golden were those dayes How happy than Was the condition and the State of man But Man obey'd not And his proud desire Cing'd her bold feathers in forbidden fire But Man transgrest And now his freedome feeles A sudden change Sinne followes at his heeles The voice calls Adam But poore Adam flees And trembling hides his face behind the trees The voice whilere that ravisht with delight His joyfull eare does now alas affright His wounded conscience with amaze and wonder And what of late was musicke now is Thunder How have our sinnes abus'd us and betrai'd Our desperate soules What strangenes have they made Betwixt the great Creator and the worke Of his owne hands How closely doe they lurke To our distempred soules and whisper feares And doubts into our frighted hearts and eares Our eyes cannot behold that glorious face Which is all life unruin'd in the place How is our nature chang'd That very breath Which gave us being is become our death Great God! O whither shall poore mortalls flie For comfort If they see thy face they dye And if thy life-restoring count'nance give Thy presence from us then we cannot live How necessary is the ruine than And misery of sin-beguiled Man On what foundation shall his hopes relie See wee thy face or see it not we dye O let thy Word great God instruct the youth And frailty of our faith Thy Word is truth And what our eyes want power to perceive O let our
And froÌ„ their ragged wounds they suck forth blood The father dies and leaves his pined Coarse T' inrich his Heire with meat The hungry Nurse Broyles her starv'd suckling on the hastie coales Devoures one halfe and hides the rest in holes O Tyrant Famine that compell'st the Mother To kill one hungry Childe to feed another ELEG 11. LAment O sad Ierusalem lament O weepe if all thy teares be yet unspent Weepe wasted Iudâ—h let no drop be kept Vnshed let not one teare be left unwept For angry heaven hath nothing left undone To bring thy ruines to perfection No curse no plague the fierce Almighty hath Kept backe to summe the totall of his wrath Thy Citie burnes thy Sion is dispoyld Thy Wives are ravisht and thy Maides defil'd Famine at home the Sword abroad destroyes thee Thou cry'st to heav'n heav'n his â—are denies thee ELEG 12. MAy thy dull senses O unhappy Nation Possest with nothing now but desolation Collect their scatter'd forces and behold Thy novell fortunes ballanc'd with the old Couldst thou ô could thy prosp'rous heart coÌ„ceive That mortall powre or art of State could reive Thy ' illustrious Empire of her sacred glory And make her ruines the Threnâ—dian story Of these sad times and ages yet to be Envie could pine but never hope to see Thy buildings crusht and all that glory ended Which Man so fortifyde and Heav'n defended ELEG 13. NE're had the splendor of thy bright renowne Beene thus extinguisht ludah Thy fast Crowne Had ne're beene spurn'd from thy Imperiall brow Plenty had nurs'd thy soule thy peacefull plough Had fill'd thy fruitfull Quarters with encrease Hadst thou but knowne thy selfe and loved peace But thou hast broke that sacred truce concluded Betwixt thy God and thee vainly deluded Thy selfe with thine own strength with deadly feud Thy furious Priests and Prophets have pursude The mourning Saints of Sion and did sâ—ay All such as were more just more pure then they ELEG 14. O How the Priests of Sion whose pure light Should shine to such as grope in Errors night And blaze like Lampâ— before the darkned eye Of Ignorance to raise up those that lie In dull despaire and guide those feet that strey Ay me How blinde how darke how dull are they Fierce rage fury drives them through the street And like to mad men stabbe at all they meet They weare the purple Livery of Death And live themselves by drawing others breath Say wasted Sion could Revenge behold So foule an acted Scene as this and hold ELEG 15. PRophets and sacred Priests whose tongues whilere Did often whisper in th'Eternalls eare Disclos'd his Oracles found ready passage Twixt God and Man to carry heavens Embassage Are now the subjects of deserved scorne Of God forsaken and of man forlorne Accursed Gentiles are asham'd to know What Sions Priests are not asham'd to doe They see and blush and blushing flee away Fearing to touch things so defil'd as they They hate the filth of their abomination And chace them forth from their new conquer'd nation ELEG 16. QVite banisht from the joyes of earth and smiles Of heaven and deeply buried in her spoiles Poore Iudah lies unpitied disrespected Exil'd the World of God of Man rejected Like blasted eares among the fruitfull wheat She roames disperst and hath no certaine seat Her servile neck 's subjected to the yoake Of bondage open to th' impartiall stroake Of conquering Gentiles whose afflicting hand Smites every nooke of her disguised Land Of Youth respectlesse nor regarding Yeeres Nor Sex nor Tribe like scourging Prince Peers ELEG 17. REnt and deposed from Imperiall state â—y heavens high hand on heaven we must await To him that struck our sorrowes must appeale Where heaven hath smitâ— no hand of man can heale In vaine our wounds expected mans reliefe For disappointed hopes renew a griefe Aegypt opprest us in our fathers loynes What hope 's in Aegypt Nay if Aegypt joynes Her force with Iudah our united powres Could nere prevaile 'gainst such a foe as our's Aegypt that once did feele heavens scourge for grieving His flock would now refinde it for reliving ELEG 18. SO the quick-sented Beagles in a view O're hill and dale the fleeing Chase pursue As swift-foot Death and Ruine follow me That flees afraid yet knowes not where to flee Flee to the fields There with the sword I meet And like a Watch Death stands in every street No covert hides from death no Shade no Cells So darke wherein not Death and Horror dwells Our dayes are numbred and our number 's done The empty Houre-glasse of our glorie 's run Our sins are summ'd and so extreame 's the score That heauen could not doe lesse nor hell do more ELEG 19. TO what a downfall are our fortunes come Subjected to the suffrance of a doome Whose lingring torments Hell could not conspire More sharp than which hell needs no other fire How nimble are our Foemen to betray Our soules Eagles are not so swift as they Where shall we flee Or where shall sorrow finde A place for harbour Ah what prosp'rous winde Will lend a gale whose bounty ne're shall cease Till we be landed on the I le of peace My foes more fierce than empty Lions are For hungry Lions woo'd with teares will spare ELEG 20. VSurping Gentiles rudely have engrost Into their hands those fortunes we have lost Devoure the fruits that purer hands did plant Are plump and pampred with that bread we want And what is worse than death a Tyrant treads Vpon our Throne Pagans adorne their heads With our lost crowns their powers have dis-jointed The Members of our State and Heavens Anointed Their hands have crusht ravisht from his throne And made a Slave for Slaves to tread upon Needs must that flock be scattred and accurst where wolves have dar'd to seize the Shepherd first ELEG 21. WAxe fat with laughing Edom with glad eies Behold the fulnesse of our miseries Triumph thou Type of Antichrist and feed Thy soule with joy to see thy brothers â—eed Ruin'd and rent and rooted from the earth Make haste and solace thee with early mirth But there 's a time shall teachâ—thee how to weepe As many teares as I thy lips as deepe Shall drinke in sorrowes Cup as mine have done Till then cheere up thy spirits and laugh on Offended Iustice often strikes by turnes Edom â—eware for thy next neighbour burnes ELEG 22. YE drooping sonnes of Sion O arise And shut the flood-gates of your flowing eyes Surcease your sorrowes and your joyes attend For heaven hath spoke it and your griefes â—â—al end Beleeve it Sion seeke no curious signe And wait heav'ns pleasure as heav'n waited thine And thou triumphing Edâ—m that dost lye In beds of Roses thou whose prosp'rous eye Did smile to see the Gates of Sion fall Shalt be subjected to the selfe-fame thrall Sion that weepes shall smile and Edoms eye That smiles so fast as fast shall shortly cry The Prophet Ieremie his