a desolate Tree Forsaken of all her Leaues the Fruite dead And eu'ry Branch of comfort withered Naked performance of Heauens sacred Word Pulls Hell on me Me thinkes the flaming sword Of Gods iust vengeance houer's o're my head Simile Th' Element burnes the starres like molten Lead Threaten destruction while distressed I Like a condemned wretch sentenc'd to die Stand quaking at the Horrour dreadfull woe Shiuers my sinfull soule What shall I doe Pitty me King of Thunder Heau'n and Earth Mercifull Maker thou that didst giue me Birth Thou that canst muster Angels in the skie To safegard soules from blacke impietie Thou that dost feede and clothe and still perseuer To giue me Health be mercifull for euer I that am poore weake feeble and too apt By the worlds whorish wayes to be entrapt I that am slothfull dull and negligent Vnmindfull of thy dread Commandement Beseech thy pardon forgiue my coldnesse In seruing thee pardon that sinfull boldnesse Pardon all idle prate sinnes rotten talke Let not my steppes tread that accursed walke Which leades to lewdnesse base delight in Pleasure Desire of Pompe Vaine-glory Tott'ring Treasure Deale not O deale not with me as my merit Truely deserues driue out the vggly spirit Of all vncleannesse from my filthy flesh My drooping soule with sanctitie refresh Shrowd me beneath thy sacred Countenance Giue me thy Seruant Dauids Repentance The Patiency of Job Paul's Puritie And soule-afflicted Peters weeping eye With holy Teares Lord make me to reiect The sinne I sinne-sicke sinner most affect Heare me Miraculous Maiestie and giue A Period to my cares let me not liue Frustrate of heau'nly thoughts O send redresse Thou bidst me write keepe me from Idlenesse From all ill Company All waies vniust Sinne Satan and the Laborynth of Lust Simile * Like Joseph Mighty Maker make me fly * The tempting Baites of Beauties burning Eye * Diuert my sad distressed soule from vice * And Rauish me with loue of Paradice * Let not my wand'ring Eyes swimme in the fire * Of Lust-stung lookes nor let the loose desire * Of womans naked Paps burne out mine Eyes * With sencelesse gazing make me to despise * All base desires sinnes of ill-gouern'd youth * All wicked Customes gainst thy sacred Truth Suffer me Worme vnworthy not in vaine To call on thee let me some comfort gaine Or kneele for euer happie man were I To kneele and pray and praying thus to die My Armes are spread come sempeternall Essence Rauish my soule come blessed penitence Giue me a thousand stabs my soule has need Of many thousand Teares then let it bleed Pierce pierce my stubborne Heart make that the Inne Of Grace which yet is but the house of sinne At my dull follies I 'le no longer wincke Sorrow shall be my Pen sad Teares my Incke Misery my Paper whereon I 'le write The sorrowes of my soule my Youth's delight My Paths of Pleasure prodigall expences My scarlet Crimes and all my blacke offences This Booke I 'le Dedicate vnto my Heart My Heart chiefe Actor in sinnes Tragicke part My Heart vnprincely Reuelling within My Body that Banquetting House of sinne There chain'd to th' Magicke Musicke of free-will Riots in poyson'd pleasures lewdly ill All that belongs to th' Body eu'ry part My soule alone excepted serues my Heart Best pleas'd and best at ease with pleasures Bane Most glad to be most bad and in that vaine Traitor to Truth Each Limme a Mortall Foe To worke my vniuersall ouerthrow And to that end with rude insatiate eyes Runne all a whoring after vanities Soule-damning Banquets Pompe bewitching ioy Forsake eternall Glory for a Toy Debarring hope of Heau'n and sweete Saluation For moment pleasure licorish damnation O false false Heart false to thy dearest friend Wound me no more for pittie make an End â— pittie thy blacke life nor can forbeare For thee to shed many a bleeding Teare Thou art my foe and yet to see thee feed Fat for Hells shambles my poore soule do's bleed Bleeds inward vndiscern'd of any Eye Except my God and my owne misery What shall I doe faine would I shunne the sinne My frailty most delights to wander in And yet I cannot when I striue gainst vice To stand most firme I 'me tript vp in a trice * Oh what a misery 't is to haue a minde * For to be truly honest well inclinde * And not to be suffer'd such is the state * Of my sad bleeding soule vnfortunate Poore soule that liues like Fortunes foot-ball tost In hazard eu'ry minute to be lost Simile As is the ship 'mong Rocks steerd by the skill Of an imperfect Pilats desp'rate will Simile Which like a fruitlesse naught respected fly Carelesse of danger paine or misery Cutting the Ayre flies at selfe-will so fast Till in the Spiders web 't is caught at last So pleasure soothing pleasure doth beguile The sinfull Body with her couert guile Being the onely cause when life for breath During her short space vainly striues gainst death Simile Then like a mast-lesse Barke in stormy weather The soule driues vp downe it knowes not whether At last for life misse-led sinnes that excell Body and soule at once Iumpe into Hell * O thou the King of those eternall fires * Which spangle Heauen good God grant my desires * Infuse in me thy Grace or I shall stray * And so become a fearefull Cast-away * Helpe or I sinke belowe the lowe degree * Of sinnes extreamest infelicitie * Come come Lord Iesus O come thou and giue * Helpe to my helplesse soule I that doe liue â—imile Like the distressed Bird trapt in a Snare Caught by a lime-twig flying from the Ayre In which distresse for comforts sweete reliefe Poore Innocent with wings adds woe to griefe So fares my soule striuing sinnes snare to fly Forc'd by deceit liues snar'd in penury Accompaned with comfortlesse despaire With sobs and grones and selfe-consuming care Simile In Sable sorrow sits there sighs and mournes Wastes and consumes like a spent Taper burnes Onely for a slash ready to goe out With multitude of sinnes circl'd about The very thought do's shake me and the feare Simile Rowze my flint Heart that like a frighted Deere Amazed stands attaints mine eyes of treason Those eyes exclaime against the eyes of reason The eye of reason blames their wanton sight As ouer rul'd by foolish appetite Each guilty of their fault to sinne stand thrall No Limme but helps th' oppressed soule to fall * Man at the best his vertu's very little * His state a Bubble at the strong'st most brittle Simile * Mans life is like a Game at Tables where * A good chance happ'ning if you doe not there * Mend it with some good play the sad Games losse * Will vexe thy grieued soule proue the sole crosse * To all thy comforts All quietnesse than Simile * Leaues thee and like a drunken seruing-man * Which at his masters
Foes Reproach Mockes Scoffings Scorne â—y SINEWES to be Rackt thy BODY Torne Suffer'dst the Crowne of Thornes t' empale thy Braine Which downe thy Checkes forc'd showres of Bloud to raine Suffer'dst the piercing LAVNCE that like a FLOVD Sluc'd from thy wounded Side thy pretious BLOVD Nayl'd to the Crosse there CHRIST lost Soules to winne Suffer'd the World 's huge pond'rous weight of Sinne. Heau'ns Wrath Hel's Rage On CHRIST all Torments fell To saue our Soules froÌ„ those blew flames in Hell 〈◊〉 which th' amazed EARTH with horrour shooke â—arkenesse possest the WORLD Day Light forsooke INRI The Key of Heauen Her wonted course the Sunne obscur'd his Ligâ—â— At Death of IESVS CHRIST that bloudy sigâ—â— Made HELL to quake Diuels with Admiratioâ— Tremble to see the Cause of MANS Saluatioâ— Oh the rich thought strike strike amazing Thundâ—â— Shake Natures Frame this impious Age with wondâ—â— CAN muddie Mortals minde their Actuall EVILLS And not Christs SVFF'RINGS Such resemble Deuils HAPPY the MAN whose sacred SOVLE is bent FOR Christ's ENDVRINGS firmely to REPENT What Tongue What Pen Not all Man's Wit can tell CHRIST'S Torments they exceeded paines in Hell And all for MAN Ingratefull wretched MAN Are we not bound to loue and feare Him than O yes to spend whole houres dayes months yeaâ—â— In true Repentant Showres and Flouds of Teaâ—â— The PYRAMID OF Paradice Blest Blest O Blest Be that Diuinity Three Sacred Persons GOD in Vnitie WHOSE glorious Rauishing Resurrection Restor'd Vs lost to Grace Oh PERFECTION Purifie thou my Soule my Heart my Minde Snatch mee from Earth to Heau'n make mee inclin'd Wholy to Thee All worldly Pompe despising Fixe my THOVGHTS euer On thy Blessed RISING Giue MEE A Sempeternall Reuerence To Thy ALL-glorious high Omnipotence I that am clog'd with sin wretchednesse Desp'rate thoughts hunting after Worldlinesse Thy Blest Protection craue cleare the great score Of all my fowle misdeeds that I no more So great a Sinner prooue Lord let my strife Against my sinnes Raise me from Death to Life And from the Foote of vggly sinnes disgrace â—ount mount my SOVLE to th' Pyramid of Grace Did each one truely know the true delight Wherein the wise contemplate Heau'ns rich sight 'T would fright th' excessiue sinners God-lesse face Make him as in a Glasse see his disgrace Teare op'e his eyes that all amaz'd with horrour Trembling he may behold with dreadfull terrour A guard of Furies sucking at his soule That he may see his sinnes horrid and foule Liue as in sulphurous flames discerne his Euill See the fierce Deuill and cease to be a Deuill Cease from damnations Heire licentious life Cease from extreames in sinne soule-murdring striâ—â— Abhorre to studie state with greater Zeale Then Zeale to Heau'n or the soules Common-weâ—â— Abhorre with solemne Oathes periur'd to teare And racke the Name of Christ dreadlesse of feare Wounding afresh with trembling feare I write Wonder of Angels that great God of Light His wounds with Othes of wounds flesh bloud hart Honour of darkenesse O blaspheming part Too too much vs'd 'mong God-lesse soules who still Infinite good pay with infinite ill As if no thought remain'd of future good No teares for him that shed his pretious bloud Simile But as the comely Actor whose faire part Vpon the stage presents an honest heart For two houres space a Vertuous Noble Minde His Sceane expir'd basely to vice inclinde Drinke Drabs and Oathes making no other vse With his faire Part but with excesse abuse * O you that stand on Pynacles of state * Let not the World deceiue you least too late * From off your slipp'ry height you come in thrall * o pash your selues in peeces past recall * Sell not fare Lord-ships to keepe Lady-ships * Nor sucke damnation from a strumpets lips * Touch not those Spells of Sparta let e'm Rot * When Vertue rules in Man Lust liues forgot One onely Iemme that 's all the store I haue Great of that little nothing which shall craue Of Heauens Greate En's not for my selfe alone But for thee Reader thee and euery one Rarenesse of Rare example and withall An euerlasting skie of Grace to fall Vpon our warre on Earth desiring Heauen For wayes on Earth are crooked all vneuen * Saue me O saue me thou Eternall Terror * To damned soules I doe confesse each Error * The many thousand sinnes vnseene vnfelt Which long too long in my hard heart haue dwelt * To thee to thee thou Euer-liuing being * Of an Eternall Maiestie All-seeing * With penitent Heart I come I call I cry * Pardon my sinnes helpe thou All-viewing Eye * Looke downe Soule-sauing sacred God of Truth * Forgiue th' infinite follies of my youth * Shield me Diuinitie from Satans Ginnes * Lord lay not to my Charge my Parents sinnes * Glory of Goodnesse in thy Mercy heare mee * Let Hate Reuenge nor Enuie ne'r come neare mee * Let neither Pride nor hope of gaine deceiue mee * Nor pleasure nor the want of Meanes bereaue mee * Of sense least senselesse wholy I despaire * And so become the wretched Childe of care * O sacred Sauiour make me euer trie * To liue by honest Meanes or let me die * Though griefe and I haue well acquainted beene * Lord let me neuer grieue but for my sinne * So shall thy Mercy ne'r forgetfull stand * While I haue Tongue a Pen a Head a Hand THE SPIRITVALL SEA-FIGHT EM'prour of Angells O thou King of Starres Mans perfect solace ' gainst sins bloody Wars When I behold with contemplation Eye The siluer Spangles of thy Glorious skie Me thinkes in that Blew-paper-Booke of Heau'n I see waies of Mortalls all vneu'n The wretched soule of Man in euery Place Liues as in Hell on Earth without thy Grace Temptation on Temptation past controule Alures the Body to betray the Soule Hell's Blacke Prince Troopes of spirits eu'ry day Inuade my sinne-seidg'd-soule Furies display Infernall Banners while the Drumme of Death Beates a dead March and e're I can take Breath Sounds shrill Alarums hot Assaults beginne The soules fierce Fight muffl'd in cloudy sinne I liue beset Millions of spirits round Shoote at my soule I stand on no firme ground But tread on earth as on a Ball of Ice I cannot stand nor stirre for slip'ry Vice My Soul 's a Ship tost on the Mountaine Seas Of this vast World she neuer liues ar ease * Her sayles are sighes her Anchor deepe despaire * Her Compasse Error her sad Pilot Care Farre of from safeties shore floates on the waues Of fearefull billowes Soule deuouring Graues Rough blust'ring stubborne stormes yeeld no reliefe On euery Shrowd Each Tackling hangs a griefe Death like a darke cloud besets euery Place Here Rocks of Ruine their Pyrates lie in Chase In euery corner Mischiefes hourely lurke Simile * Pride fights against vs like a furious Turke * Lust like a trech'rous Spaniard murd'ring French * Like an infected poyson's loathsome stench
most need goes astray * Is euer sure still to be out o' th way What shall I doe Where whether shall I fly Here there I know not where lie downe and dye Vp soule to Heau'n there get a glorious Crowne I am too weake too vile sinne puls me downe O my vnworthinesse my shame my sinne When shall I shake thee of when when beginne No wilt not bee can I not doe the good I would Must I be rul'd by flesh and blood Weepe on weepe on dissolue hard heart of flint Melt melt thou stony rocke Teares neuer stint Drop Marble Mount drop to a crimson flood Sinke my sinnes in Seas of penitent blood Come folded Armes and you sad Eyes sad Heart Come Soule opprest with sorrow play thy Part Haste to some gloomy-groue there all alone On the greene mantled Earth sigh sob and grone Spend pretious time with sacred thoghts that beares Heau'n in their Eyes true Vertue in their teares Complaine I will to fortune not that whore Which makes leane art pale-fac'd wisdome poore I le not complaine to her but to that Enâ— Almighty Fortune in diuinest sense Groueling on Earth for sinne I le cast forth groanes Sighes shall conuert to Teares Teares into moanes Then will I start from ground my Body raise Shoote mine Eyes vpward against Heau'n I 'le gaze Thinke on my God my God whose sacred Will I haue abus'd my God most iust to kill Damne Soule and Body my rememb'rance blot Out of the Booke of Life I that forgot In midst of all vaine ioyes Intemp'rate healths Loose wanton chambering lasciuious stealths All-seeing Heauen a God so good so great He that to feed vs with Spirituall meate The Natiuitie of Christ Tooke humane shape came downe from Heau'n to Earth Enter'd the World at whose soule-sauing Birth The euerlasting gates of Mercy stood Open to all His houre of flesh and blood Turn'd night to day Heau'ns glittering Angell came And to poore men poore sheepheards did proclaime A Sauiour borne sinnes fury to controule Neuer was such sweet musicke to the soule Before his comming the Natiuitie Of Christ brings mortals firme felicitie * Milde was his Birth his Life creations wonder * His death deaths terror O thou God of thunder * Master of mans saluation all the Earth * Reapt plenitude of Ioy when thou tookst Birth * Mortalls were bigge with sinne villany ripe * Hells dreadfull Dragon ready for to gripe * Soules in his vggly pawes But then stept in * Our Sauiour he redeemd lost soules whose sinne * Gaue them to death eternall blessed houre * Blessed Natiuitie thrice blessed powre * Me thinkes at thought of thy Natiuitie * I lie perfum'd in Immortalitie When Christ was borne all were new borne agen Nere came like Musicke to the hearts of Men Angels for ioy clap their Celestiall Wings And eu'ry Saint eu'ry Crownd Martyr Sings Magnifico Deum to mortalls peace The calme of Conscience and shall mortals cease Their glad expressions No let hate to vice Dissolue sinnes cloud Eccho to Paradice Our Sauiours welcome let vs neuer more Simile Lie downe to our dishonours like a whore Dead to good councell neuer let darke deedes Defile the Soule Le ts roote vp all the seedes Of Pride Lust Enuie Hatred and in place Plant wisedome meeke humility and grace * Christs Glory came cloathd in humility * To teach our Hell-bred Pride Ciuility * Borne of a Virgin came to the world a stranger * His Palace an Oxe-stall his Bed a Manger O're whose obscure aboad Heau'ns Taper shinde And to the soules of wisest Men diuinde Great Natures wonder pointed them the way To finde the worlds Redeemer they obay Made towards that fixed starre which in the skie Was the blest Virgin Maries Canopie To Beth-lehem they came there with hearts glad Ador'd the King of Glory poorely clad Nor could blood thirstie Herods strict command Nor bloody butchering of Babes withstand His blessed Birth whose admiration brings Ioy to the world blest be that King of Kings He that to cure sinnes Leaporous disease A Heauenly Progresse fetcht the Geste these The Adamant of Glory CHRIST'S Setting forth from 's Celestiall PALACE Lodg'd in the Virgins Wombe from that blest PLACE To th' Manger went from Manger to the Crosse From Crosse departed with his deare Blouds losse Vnto the SEPVLCHER there made all euen And so Return'd Gloriously Home to HEAVEN To HEAV'N from whence LORD let thy SACRED FIRE GLISTER vpon my SOVLE whose sole Desire Begges MERCY for my Sinnes makes knowne to THEE THOV that hast RAVIHST ALL hast Rauisht Me. The Passion of Christ. Thirty three yeeres Christs sanctity did were The Cloth of our Redemption and did beare Times heauy yoake of crosses that we might With ease sustaine all wrongs in him delight Simile * Like Martyr'd Stephen whose lowd crying grones * Gain'd Heau'n i th' middle of a storme of stones * Loue lead him on in Death this Saint was Taster * And first that follow'd his Immortall Master * Christ Crucifide whom none that truly heares * But sure 't will thawe their frozen hearts to teares * Christs whole Life was a Martyrdome and Crosse * Actiue and Passiue and his deare bloods losse * The Tragicke Part the bloody Sceane which none * But he himselfe must Act and Act alone Alone for vs Heau'ns Glorious Lampe of Grace Grou'ling on Earth fell on his sacred Face He that is euer Lord of Mercies seate Water'd the Garden Cedron with the sweate Of bloody Browes and Body heauinesse And deadly sorrow seiz'd his blessednesse A kisse betray'd him and a periur'd lie Was the Reward for all his puritie â—n scorne this Prince of Heau'n was buffetted Spighted spitted at Extreamly scourged Yet Torture ne'r mou'd him he was silent In all his bitter suffrings patient Neuer did Earthly King free from annoy Receiue his Crowne nor with a greater ioy Went to his Coronation Dignifide As Glories King went to be Crucifide In him the Iewes derided Maiestie Condemned Innocence scourg'd Pietie * Head Hands Side Feet they to the Crosse did Fiâ— * Made him all o're a bloody Crucifixe Simile * Satan and Death like sawcie serieants went * To seize on him to sheere that Innocent * Blest Lambe of God But he who was to saue * All that belieu'd they had no power to shaue * His Patience Death and Diuels force did quell * He tooke the Great Leuiathan of Hell * With the hooke of his Crosse made him his slaue * Captiu'd the Diuell and subdued the Graue Simile * Like a long lookt for Booke Christ in the Presse Was kept to come in Print forth for to blesse * Our soules with that Saluation which do's giue * New Life whereby Eternally wee liue INRI The Key of Heauen â—are Sauiour sweet sweet was thy deare Compassion â—arely exprest in that most bitter PASSION â—hen whipt and scourg'd thou mildly suffer'dst all â—owes Buffets Blasphemies VIN'GER and GALL â—ulting
* Gluttonie like a Germaine drunkennesse * Like a Dutch Dun-kercker whose impiousnesse * Stiles him the Master Gunner to giue fire * To all sinnes blacke Artillery Hells Ire * Infernall chaine-shot All soule-murd'ring strife To sinke Man's weather-beaten ship of Life Which to gaine Grace no sooner weighs Anchor Sets sayle for safety but straight sinnes Canker The deuouring Diuell Pyrate for Hell Chasing flyes after and with blacke Arts spell Commands to stay sometimes with beauteous formes With songs of Syrens sometimes sometimes stormes Such pitchie Tempests to be night the way As if the horror of the lattet day Frighted the World so stops the soule from blisse Shoots through and through her so she steers amisse Simile Then as in bloudy Sea-fights Men may see Times sacrifice to valour no man free â—rom desp'rate danger euery one maintaines The terrour of the Fight though with their braines â—asht in each others Faces Vitall breath â—ost in a fighting flame blood and death â—ullets and Batteries couers the ship all o're Her dismall deckes with horror purple gore And scatterd limmes so the soules Pinnace â—n her spirituall fight sinnes do's deface Murders our best of thoughts like raging Seas Winds stormes tempest driue vs where they please The poore afflicted soule Satan so blinds â—t knowes not where shee is by whyzing winds Now tost toth ' top of all the Azure Skie Now tumbling as to Hell with frighted Eye Her Flag of sinnes defiance Tempest-rent Her Sayles torne all to Rags her Maine-mast spent All out of Order tossing to and fro The soule distrest knowes not which way to goe With gentle calme check Satan's black storme Lorâ— Wee shipwracke else Diuels will come a Board Burne with Hells wildfire Flame Ruine Race Blot our soules hope helpe Minister of Grace Safeties in Heau'n in this vncertaine Life Nothing but Hell-bred quick-sands Warre and strife Soule-killing vapours worldly vanities Thicke clouds of vice Perpetuall miseries There is a Voyage to the Holy Land 〈◊〉 which the Truth our blessed Card must stand â—he Holy Ghost our Pilot to direct â—he steerage of our course from sinnes neglect â—oth ' Hauen of Heau'n that happy Port of Rest â—aluations Guard true Cape of Comfort blest There Heauens bright Maiestie our Sauiour sweet â—its with the Hand of Mercy for to Greet And waft vs to him O may all that stray â—ayling along the Coast of sorrow Pray Pray vnto him hee 'l guide their wandring Barke Tempest tost hourely in the dreadfull Darke â—f thou be Sea-sicke call vpon him and he Shall soone with Health's sweet solace comfort thee Rebuke the raging windes Times blackest storme And to a calme Skie-swelling Seas reforme No Rocks Gulfs Sands nor Seas cloud-kissing waue Sinnes dreadfull Sea-fiight nor the desp'rate brauâ— Of Pyrates none shall hurt let then thy care See thy weake vessell Rigg'd well Man'd with prayeâ— And then launch forth hoist sayles and when you spâ— The Cape of good hope keepe it in thine eye Let holy thoughts death threatning storms o're comâ— That whatsoeuer chance there shall become The vessell of thy Body being foule Make sure to saue the passenger thy soule * He valiant onely Vertuous is that can * Subdue his Sinnes Hee s the true Noble Man * Ther 's perfect valour he true glory winnes * He 's the true Souldier that subdues his sinnes * Breakes through the pikes of sinne all fiends that are * In Hell or Diuels ruling in the Aire * Forcing his way to Heau'n despight all charmes * EnchantmeÌ„ts dead-sleeps all soule-slayling harmes Simile * Wrestling like Jacab constant in his fight * Mindfull of his maiestick-Makers sight To such belongs the Euerlasting Crowne Of sempeternall Glory true Ronowne Which to prepare thee for cease to neglect Th' Allmighties sacred seruice let respect Feare and true Reuerence to his pretious Word Be to thy soule that Helmet Shield and Sword Too strong for Sathan all the fiery Darts Of Fiends and furies Arme thy noble Parts Thy Soule thy Heart thy Minde striue to fulfill The Maiestie of Heauen his Diuine Will â—imile And like the cunning curious Architect Earnest some goodly Building to Erect Breaking his sleepe wholly imployes his minde On the drawne Modell which when he do's finde Exact his Eye dwels euer then vpon it And his affection neuer driuen from it So when to thought we call our Sauiours blood That sempeternall platforme of all good Shed for our sinnes Let it for euer dwell In the Idaea of our Mindes so Hell Sinne death nor deadly desp'rate discontent Can barre the Heau'nly heart from true content * What vggly wormes are wee that dare presume * To pawne our soules for pleasure dare consume * Our Time on toyes when as we firmely know * Time shall decay we cannot feed nor goe * Nor promise life a Minuite we passe to bed * But Ignorant to rise aliue or dead * Admit day-light approaches and the morne * Inuites thee forth thou neuer maist returne * Death by a thousand accidents do's meete * Health Wealth and Beauty stabs them in the street * He that least thinkes of death some falling Tyle * Timber or Stone do's suddenly beguile Him of his life yea oft' when he refraines And seekes to shun it dasheth out his braines These Tragicke Truths true causes of dislike Me-thinkes should moue vs to repent and strike A terror to our soules force vs to see Man's outward danger inward misery Which like an vnresisted roaring Tide Runnes through our veins and apts the blood to priâ—â— To all the sinnes that are or euer were O horrid ill haue wee not cause to feare To quake and tremble when our dull dead Eyes Drunke with the poyson'd dreggs of sinne ne'r spiâ—â— The mischieuous perills and the blacke affright That hourely waite on the Spirituall fight Fiends liue at Sea and Furies on the Land * Gluttonie for a Corporall do's Stand * Au'rice a Pioner Sloth you may spie * An idle Gentleman of a Company * Wrath 's the Serieant Enuie the Colours gaine * Lust the Lieftennant is Pride the Captaine These in the Heart of euery one take Place Where cowardly soul 's shun the blest meanes of grace Let vs for euer then resist all Euill Wisedome commands vs to defie the Diuell To combate with our sinnes oppose temptation Fight against Hell the Diuell and Damnation This for a Caueat take striue to doe well Ingratitude to Heau'n picks open hell While Grace is offer'd then Watch Fast and Pray Ther 's no preuention in the latter day * None liues secure that to his Vice liues friend * A Vitious life oft makes a vitious end * Strengthen me my Creator make me fight * Thy HOLY BATTLE let not the Worlds delighâ— * Disswade my soule sweet Iesus for thy merits * Enable mee Rowze my deiected Spirits * Vncharme Hells charme O Sacred God vntie * My fetter'd Soule let mee not euer lie * Lull'd in the Strumpet lap of deadly sinne *
This Minute Sacred Sauiour now beginne * To giue Release and as thou didst prouide * An Army of Angels for Eliahs guide * Who to secure him guirt with Enemies * Mounted his soule from worldly vanities * So Heauenly Day-Star blessed Iesus end * This my Designe thy holy Angell send * To be my Guide my Guard my Sacred spell * Gainst all Enchantments witchcrafts death hell * So shall my Anthem euery morning be * Glory of Heauen shew mercy vnto me * To me Times wretch most wretched vilely base * Wanting thy sacred aide spirituall grace * Remember not my frailties make me to grow * Great in thy loue thou that dost truly know * Of all the Blessings vnto Mortals giuen * My chiefe desire on Earth is Grace from Heau'n * The Blessing of th' Almighty Lord of Hoast * The Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost * Preserue be with me now and for euer when * My Soule is most distrest Amen Amen Spes mea Christo THE WORLD VAine is this World this Strumpet World that can Yeeld nothing coÌ„stant Loue 'twixt man man Which next his Maker should be most respected Is soonest broake and most of all neglected Ingratefull vile the World 's a very Whore Proud rich in Vice in Vertue most most poore Misse-led by eu'ry vaine Phantasticke Toy To forget God bewitch't with carnall ioy Bundles of Baubles imbecilitie Biles of Apparell Botch Nobilitie Lordships Ladyships Foolries and Fashions Lust-panting Humours ten thousand Passions Rich Men the more to blame as this Age goes Debarre house-keeping to maintaine gay Cloathes A Rich Caroach three hunder'd pounds a Gowne Thirty pounds a Smocke or their Wiues will frowne There is no liuing with them they must ride Where when and how they list in glit'ring Pride High flashing burning Brauerie blinde Eyes Flint Hearts dull Eares deafe to all poore Mens cries Such is the dullnesse of Mortalitie And such the World 's cold Hospitalitie * Each dustie Magist'rate with Brib'rie fed * One robs the liuing another robs the dead * A third the Arch-Theefe playes by cunning stealth * Knaue Knights by Patent rob the Common-wealth * Ioyne with much too much ill iniustice he * Zodomiticall Lecher for a greedie Fee * Dares license lust glad if he may preuaile * Sucke wealth from prostitute Harlots neuer faile Man's minde which most his Maker should affect With feare and trembling and that true respect Belongs to his high Maiestie the Net Of sinne so snares we worthlesse wormes forget God's Thunder-darting Vengeance glorious state Still forget God forget to contemplate With Rauishing Loue true loue pure heart pure eies That 's the defect makes hourely mischiefes rise * Ambitious Lords Attir'd in Anicke shape * Ioy in the wayes of Lust Murder and Rape * Ladies with charmes tricks humours that they haue * Abuse their Lords dispatch them to the Graue * The Iealious Husband mischieuous in ill * Through vaine suspect his constant wife to kill * The carelesse Cleargy man in his degree * Satan corrupts makes for a golded fee The greedy Lawyer fed by Clients strife Brib'd angels take for the true Angell life Iust Iudge the vniust dustie Magistrate Father the Sonne the Sonne the Father hate Brother the Brother prosecute to death Quarrell for Toyes stop one anothers breath The world do's hourly tempt fooles worldly wise The deceitfull Tradesman that seemes precise And is an arrant knaue to thinke the honie And onely blessed life still to get mony Mockes at the poore mans vertue and in pride Stiles him a vertuous foole thus knaues deride The pouertie of Men which do's as farre In Heauenly wealth transcend them as a starre The richest Iemme on Earth But t is not so With the worlds wealthy worldling they say no Rich enough Honest enough all they can Aimes at the outward not the inward man * Pouertie made a scoffe a scorne a winde * Gold smothers Vertue blackest Actions blinde * Gold got in God's name with an honest face * Comes slow but in the Diuels name apace Such is the world's condition Good Men's thrall On Earth ther 's no true comfort none at all * The honest minded Scholler shall ne'r lacke * Sorrow nor want of meanes to breake his backe * The pittifull Souldier in his greatest need * Ha's his throate cut he shall be sure to bleed * The faire Gamester for his milde square play * Is soonest coozen'd sure to lose eu'ry day * The faithfull Louer still is paid with hate * The more in loue the more vnfortunate Be rich or poore in high or low Estate I' th mod'rate Meane or fully fortunate Insatiate Mankinde euer discontent Desires to liue but neuer liues content In scarcity of Corne for plentie crie In plenty straight forget God instantly Such is Man's Erring soule which ought to know Simile * Life 's but a long sad Pilgrimage of woe * An Arke of trauell shop of vanity * Storehouse of trifles Inhumanitie * A Field of Stones a Path of thornie Prickes * Meadow of Scorpions Groue of Basilisckes The Worlds vnquiet rest is all Man's foe * Dangers attend vs where so ere wee goe * Mischieuous Deceits Brawles Quarrels Fightings * False-hearted Neighbour-hood base back-bitings * Friendship 's so faithlesse Ripe full blowne with euill * A friend to day the next for gaine proues Deuill The World's condition right 't is slaue to sinne Beware of it the worlds a cunning ginne 'T will entrap soules call then to God for Grace * Let griefe for worldly Crosses ne'r take place * Neuer let sorrow runne into extreames * Vnlesse for sinne so shall Celestiall Beames * Glorifie thy Soule make it Immortall * Free it from ills what euer can befall In this false promising World this Maze of woe Where wretched Worldlings know not where to goe To winde them out such are the various wayes Of life oppressing Yeeres Months Weeks and Daies As Prose ill read abide too much misusing Or Vertuous verse when rogues haue the perusing * So fares it with the faire and flourishing Line * Of that sweet Heauenly straine Poesie Diuine * Basely neglected by the Monster Crew * Of Puff-Paste muddie Mindes that pish and mew * Make a wry Close-stoole-face a squint ey'd glance * At Vertuous verse whose sad mischance * Is to goe vnregarded when the crime * Of a lasciuious Bastard Ballet rime * If baudy enough though ne'r so vnfit * Winnes fauour profit and the praise of wit * Read with delight and much too much requir'd * Coppies sought after greedily desir'd * When perfect Poetrie Musicke to the soule Truth 's firme Opposer ' gainst crimes filthy foule * If Read most read for fashion small delight * No comfort no respect but scornefull flight * And such is Vertues Foe the Worlds proud Miniâ—â— * In whom ther 's no true Loue no perfect Vnion O Diuine Poesie I lament thy state To see thy Beautie disproportionate So poorely in esteeme their 's few
I see Or none at all take true delight in thee * This wanton World farre sooner will approue * Ioy in Pot-Poets lousie Rimeing loue * Or wanton Ouids straine to itch the care * And stirre the blood to lust rather then heare * The Glorious Godly Aime of Noble Verse * Which points at Heau'n and tels vs of that fierce All-threatning Thunderer he that descries Our secret deeds those blackest Actions spies At which amaz'd my Muse stands wrapt in wonder Beggs Mercy Mercy O thou God of Thunder Or we shall shipwracke all All too too blame Farre too vnmindfull of God's Sacred Name His Blessings day by day his great Mercy Long suffering and Excelling Safety Why should we worm's stand pretious in Heau'ns sight And not be damn'd to Euerlasting Night For our Foule erring sinnes sinnes that Excell The least whereof merits the Paines of Hell Hell that this instant Gapes to seize this world Deseruing euery moment to be hurl'd To endlesse Flames but for the Excellence Of OVR FATHER'S wonderfull patience O for the Pen of pure perfection To character Man's imperfection Open the blinde excessiue sinner's eyes Force Teares for sinne make him himselfe despise 'T were Musicke to the Soule Diuine delight Th' vndoubted Path to pleasures infinite Holla Commanding Empresse of my Braine Whether thus flings my Muse diuert thy Straine Man is so farre from making God amends That all his waies to wicked Actions bends The World 's a Racke Times Tenter-hooke to ketch At mindes most honest makes a man a wretch Thousands in 〈◊〉 finding no way to cure it Hazard the Gallowes rather then endure it Mis'ry of Miseries when Coyne growes scant Man's Fortun 's Foot ball ther 's no woe to want It dulls braue witts when nothing else can doe it Tames and makes desp'rate when Time brings vs to it Want makes a man turne Slaue vnto a Slaue Scoft scorn'd and flouted at by eu'ry knaue By eu'ry silken sodden-headed Foole That neuer felt Heau'ns scourge nor Mis'ries Schoole Want broacheth Mischiefes neuer thought vpon Makes many an honest woman wanton Simile Want like a Madman makes Men sweare and Dice Forget their God turne Vertue into vice Husband and wife the Sister and the Brother Compel'd through want deuoure one another Merchants Lawyers yea some Diuines will fall When want do's soundly Gripe tw'ill trie them all And therefore As an Antidote be sure First that thou pray to God that 's the maine Cure Gainst Woluish-want and then bethinke thee sure Vpon some honest meanes 't will new Create Thy vnderstanding put thee on a way With Reu'rent Soule on bended knees each day To serue thy God aright so he from falling Proues thy Protector giues thee a Vertuous Calling Heau'n grant the Honest Minde may neuer know The fierce Assaults of want that Hell of woe Torture of Minde Murderer of Modestie High-way to Theft Cut-throate of Chastitie The Key of Whoredome Bane of that true Loue Which many boast but few did euer proue Many vow Loue for euer to be true Yet when want comes Whores are not more vntrue How sweetly did that Sacred Psalmist sing And runne Times true Diuision on the string Of Misery when he of God did craue Nor Want nor too much Wealth least in the Graue Of damn'd Despaire much want might haile him in And Riches Mount him to the highest sinne Lackey his way to lewdnesse to mistrust God's Mercies and to practise wayes vniust A Holy feare seiz'd on that blessed King To dread want's Dangerous Dart Proud Riches sting May the Good Man still thirst for Mercies Cup Climbe Jacobs sacred Ladder and mount vp Into a fiery Chariot Burning Zeale Liue a bright Angell in Heau'ns Common weale Free from this World whose Pompe and Brauery Is but a Land of Durt meere slauery THE FLESH SInne Acts foule Lust vpon the Soule while it Stands Puritan Punck-like willing to commit The Flesh vnto the Soul 's a bitter Pill Sweet guilded Poyson Candide o're to kill Hurrid Carocht in Pride which glit'ring showe Of swelling Pompe whose sweet Effect is woe Fleshly delights beget much Misery Makes Couples marrie vnaduisedly Thinking Loue tittle tattles can feed their wishes Loue soone growes cold where there is empty dishes Of all the sinnes that are when nothing can Ruine the Soule the Flesh preuailes with Man His Eyes no sooner on Deuotion waite But in steps Carnall Concupiscence straight She 's at his Elbow still to itch him on Th' vnhappy path to his Confusion * Chaste wiues are Saints women that wantonize * Witches all poyson Hell is in their Eyes In which as in a Wildernesse of woe In striuing to get out on mad men goe Starke mad past sense spight of all Books and Schools Ruine their Fortunes proue the Slaues to Fooles For an alluring Minutes trifling Ioy A lewd Insatiate Longing a meere Toy * O woman woman thy bewitching motion * Fooles wisedome mads reason and blinds al deuotiō The Flesh false Traitor like striues to betray The Soule to Hell for an Infernall Prey Fleshly delight in Man feares want of Breath More then his God sinne or Eternall Death * When iust plagues come thē sin-sick sots can tremble * Make knowne to all the World how they dissemble * Pray with the lip not heart wrest sacred Text * To serue their owne Ends first and then God next * Prouide to liue in pestilent Times beginne * Take greater Care to flie from death then sinne * Ther 's nothing in our Flesh but wickednesse * Desire to liue and obscene wantonnesse We forget now that dreadfull dismall chance The Terrible Arrow of Gods vengeance When Death buried farre more then th' Earth could swallow And no man to the Graue his Friend durst follow O why should Mortals wish long life to liue What Comfort what true Ioy do's this life giue * Ther 's nothing not one thought that do's vs good * But it is strangled straight by Flesh and blood * Holy Saint Paul finding the Flesh Rebell * desir'd to be dissolu'd proud Flesh to quell * And Sacred Symeon sung ' gainst sinnes encrease * Lord let thy seruant now depart in peace Shall such soule-sweetning preparations be Forgotten quite O blinde securitie * Life louing Fortunes how yea puffe Men vp * To hugge their Follies drinke damnation's Cup. What is it we behold in this vaine life But dayly griefes and dangers sinne and strife * When my soule-erring Eyes staring behold * A dang'rous Strumpet flame in glit'ring gold * And murd'ring Beauty sparkling from her Eye * Burning Temptation then me thinkes I spie * My most apparent mischiefe plainely see * How I ne'r striue to please my God as shee * Striues to please Men such is the flaring Pride * Of the vaine Flesh it hurts on euery side There 's nothing constant in vs if to day Vertue we loue to morrow Vice obay Man at the best is now become so fraile As what cannot a spruce Queane with a smooth Tail