through the merits of his Death and sufferings Come tell me is not this thy language I know thou darest not to speak so much in words But ah my Heart I find thou hast got a Tongue as well as my Mouth that often mutters and speaks a different language But tell me if thy unbelief hath any ground for it What makes it then that thy self is so free from fears and terrours when thou shouldst believe the Almighty of thy Bodies Death Resurrection and coming to Judgment if thou thoughtest him not thy friend and reconciled to thee in his Son if not methinks thy fears should fright thee and trembling seize on every joint and yet thou wilt foolishly mutter against thine own feeling Soul speaks O blessed God! I feel thou hast overcome I yield I yield I have not left a word to speak against thy love thy Son hath offered satisfaction and thou hast accepted it thou hast laid down O my Saviour thy life for mine and thy Father and my Father is well pleased with it Blood is paid Justice is satisfied Heavens doors are widened thine arms opened to receive me nothing is wanting but my heart make it such as thou wilt have it and then take it to thy self Come up my soul thou hast an heart and there is a Christ the Father thou feest is willing and the Son is willing give but thy consent and he is thine for ever Fear not thy hardness blindness deadness loathsomeness all these cannot hinder if thou be but willing He hath been in the world to ask the worlds consent already and also thine thou canst not doubt of his good-will speak but the word and he hath thine too What stickest thou at surely thou art a sluggish spirit what dost thou ail Half of this ado would find a heart for a little mire or dirt or something else that is worse and is not Christ better But ah yet I feel a spice of unbelief still working in thy very bowels as if that Jesus that died at Jerusalem were not the Son of God and the Redeemer of the world And is this all O were I certain thou wouldst ne're doubt more how freely should I make satisfaction But Oh! I faint and tire with the trips and stumblings of my unbelief But mount my soul thou must resolve to tire and put to silence all thy unbelieving bablings or they will thee which if they do never expect an hours peace or quiet more thou must resolve to conquer thy unbelief or to be conquered thou knowest her tyranny too well to let her go away the victoress He was not the Christ thou sayest but tell me why Object His Parentage was too low and mean what the Saviour of the world a Carpenters Son how can it be Answ My unbelief in the first place thou lyest his Mother was a Virgin and her Conception knew no Father but the Almighty power of the overshadowing Holy Ghost he was more truly the Son of God than Joseph's Son And was his birth thinkst thou so mean whose Parentage was so glorious Object His birth but mean and beggarly no sooner born but cradled in a manger and could Heaven suffer this Answ It is confest But yet it was as glorious for did not a Star proclaim him born and did not a whole Host of Angels sing and shout it up for joy and did not wise men yea and Kings bring Incense Myrrh and Frankincense being but as so much tribute unto the new-born King and heir of all things as if by instinct they knew they held their Crowns of him a greater honour than ever any new-born Prince hath yet received before him or ever shall or will do after him Methinks my unbelieving heart I could dare to tell thee that room was no stable it was a Palace and did not the cost presents and glorious presence of Kings speak as much Object But his days were spent in poverty meanness and disgrace and can I dare I trust my soul with such a one and take him to be the Son of God Answ And now I wonder at thee it's true what thou fayest if thou lookst upon him one way his life was such as thou tellest me of but 't is a strong argument against thy self for just such a one was the Christ to be according to the Prophets the 53 Chapter of Isaiah shews as much But yet if thou truly understandest what true pomp and glory means even to an eye of sense as well as to that of faith Solomon's life imbroidered with all his glorious acts was not comparable to this life of his Was it not filled with miracles and wonders was he not proclaimed the Son of God with voices from Heaven did he not conquer Devils and therefore the Kingdom of Hell Was ever Prince on Earth honoured with so great a Conquest Were not his miraculous Feasts more splendid than those of Princes the fare was but poor and mean but the miracles made it rich and glorious Had I been present should I not have wondered and gazed more at the Master of this Feast and have taken more pleasure to have seen him sit down with these five thousands than with a Table full of Princes and great men Alas it were a trifling sight to this Methinks my unbelief that pleads so much for sense sense it self pleads too strongly against thee for thou canst not argue one syllable Object But would the Son of God be hanged and crucified could Heaven have suffered this could not the Saviour of the world save himself how could he then save me Answ Hadst thou not the blindness of the Jews thou couldest not reason thus like them but was it not necessary it should be so Did not the Prophets foretell his death and such a death Had he not died and died as he did I might then have had some ground to doubt him whether he were the Messias or not for it was needful that the Prophesies should be fulfilled Dan. 9. But yet as wretched and as contemptible a going out of the world as he had and his manner of dying on the Cross how vile soever it seemed to be yet was there not enough to silence all the doubts that could possibly from thence arise and much for the confirmation of my faith in the wonderful Eclipse of the Sun the rending of the veil of the Temple the opening of the Graves the raising of the dead and afterwards his own rising the third day and ascending up to Heaven in a Cloud If my faith might have staggered in seeing him on the Cross dying it could not when it saw him risen and in the Clouds ascending Object But were those wonders true and certain Answ But hast thou any ground to doubt them are they not written in thy Bible and art thou not certain that it is the word of God or hast thou not sufficient reason to believe it to be so But hast thou not a whole Nation yea Nations that do believe the
cups and sing Scoff laugh deride your Preachers now Care not for Christ your King You worldlings call upon your gods See what your Gold can do Ye proud ambitious of the earth Judg whether Gospel's true Fear not you humble holy Saints This is your Marriage-day Your night is past your tears dri'd up Your sorrows fled away This day you heard of and believ'd At it your hearts did melt This wrath now come you beg'd to ' scape Whilest on the earth you dwelt Third Part. Lord I astonisht stand to think What brightness will thy face That day put on when thou thy self To mortals wilt uncase How will the bleeding mangled Christ On earth that seem'd so poor Outshine the Sun and put it out For it shall shine no more Then to the wicked he shall say See him whom you have pierce't It 's I whom you did scorn to fear And bid me do my worst You sin'd yet would not bow your knee Though I you pardon could You would go on and have your way Though th' danger you were told I must not rule you you had got A better Lord than I I cri'd I call'd but you were deaf Why sinners will you die How long did I your leisure wait With hope you might repent Ah sinners now it is too late My patience is quite spent You hope 't to find a Lamb your Judg And of my love to share You shall me find a Lion now That can in pieces tare Go cursed cursed from my sight I 'le never see you more I would have wip't off all your debts Now you shall pay the score Ye Angels that attend my will Bind them in chains about Now cast them in the dreadful gulf They never shall come out Loaded with sins now get you hence Sink deep sink deep in flames Torments seize on your trembling joints I ever be free from pains Blow blow thou wrathful breath of God That kindlest Tophets fires Ye worms of conscience catch your hold Bite hard and never tire You poys'nous curled snakes arise Out of the sulphur'd Lake Torment them ever with your smells Their lives yet never take Bear witness sinners I your Judg Am free from cruelty I would have sav'd you from this death You rather chose to die Now you would leave your loved sins Have me at any rate Leave pride and drink and gold and life Ah! now it is too late Lord hear a trembling sinner cry While I on earth do dwell I thee will love and fear and serve Free me but from this Hell Oh! when I die grant me this wish That I thy face but see Gold honour pleasures here on earth I will forsake for thee HYMN VIII WHat if my Chests were cram'd with Gold My Chariots stood at Gate What if a thousand servants did Upon my pleasure wait What if my House a Palace were Its walls with Rubies shone My Chambers costly Tissue wore In-laid with Diamond-stone What if my Bed were cloath'd with Gold Befring'd with Pearls most bright What if some clouds of ruffled Silks Were Curtains for my light What if I drank the sp'rits of Pearl Eat of all sowls beasts fishes What if each day these were serv'd up In massie golden dishes What if I had espoused one So wise so good so fair That both in soul and shape she might With Angels well compare What if my numerous off-spring were Of Wits deeply profound Their outward carriage state did bear Yet all with meekness crown'd What if for one whole thousand years Our youth a spring-tide had What if that while no pains we knew That ever made us sad Yet ah my soul this thread of life At length would fret away A dark and sullen cloudy night Would rise upon our day This long-liv'd candle at the last Would to her socket burn Her flame would struggle for a life And then to smoke would turn My soul chuse rather to live well How long it matters not He that lives ill while he hath liv'd Hath done he knows not what Thou maist live well without this wealth Be good without this state Please but thy God and thou wilt think Thy death will come too late HYMN IX 53 Chap. of Isaiah Translated WHO hath believed our report Who hath the Lords arm seen When he his Son sends to the world By blood it to redeem He must spring up before his face As a most tender plant Out of dry ground he must shoot up Yet seem all form to want When one his visage shall behold He nothing there shall see Of that alluring beauty which May well desired be Men him despise and shall reject Add sorrows to his grief Of him asham'd they hide themselves So give him no relief Yet certainly he only was The man our griefs that bore But we thought he was smitt'n of God So paid but his own score For our transgressions he had wounds And for our sins was bruised By his chastisements we had peace For our health stripes he chused All we like sheep have gone astray And turn'd from God each one But God all our iniquities Hath laid on him alone He was afflicted and opprest Yet moved not his tongue Lay like a lamb when to be kill'd By butchers laid along From darksome prison he was took Who shall declare his birth For th' peoples sins he smitten was And cut off from the earth With wicked men he found a death Among the rich a tomb Because for ill nor done nor said He had receiv'd his doom Yet did it please the Lord to bruise And put him for to bleed Therefore he shall prolong his days And after see his seed Therefore the pleasure of the Lord Shall prosper in his hand The travel of his soul shall see His children at command By his knowledg my righteous Son Shall many justifie For he by suffering shall bear All their iniquity Therefore I him a portion With the great will divide Because to death his soul he pour'd His Kingdom shall be wide HYMN X. A Consolatory against the fears of Death THOU tyrant Death look not so stern Think not me to affright The giddy tumult thou maist awe With thy unconquer'd might I wear di'd in a Saviours blood A scarlet robe about Strike where thou wilt thy Serpents sting This robe shall fetch it out Were I to die but like a beast I think my heart would break But now I know my soul survives To fear it were but weak Were it not baseness for to think Of Saints souls though the least That after death they did enjoy No more than a poor beast If then I shall as joyful be And happier every way Than I am here why should I fear To bid that world good day But Oh! the fainting-fits and pains That I must needs go through Why what of that they 'r quickly o're Then what needs such ado They are not past some fourteen days Diseases come to height Be patient but for that small time Bid sorrows then
world heapt upon world and all made one Prove palace large enough for her alone If we suckt dry ten thousand more of joys And drain them in one torernt Sp. Yet all toys F. What if we wreath a chaplet and then steep't In Stars then crown her brow Sp. She 'l yet defie 't Nor wont your duskie tapers yet suffice To grace the room where fair 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lies Natures bright flames of reason are but clouds As fainter lights when in the socket shrouds All glough too weak light all thy graces up Yet all too small for with one glance she 'l sup That liquid fire quite dry then with craving eyes Seek out for more not found will thee despise F. Then 't i' nt in me to satisfie the womb Which with a gust such pleasures can entomb My flow'rs distill'd to sweets can't pleasures yield Flagrant enough nor though I hunt my field With pretty winged beagles for to take Light-footed odors and all for her sake To honey her delights no melody will serve Her famisht ear craving more than I have I 'le ease my hands sure then of such a guest And let her seek her some-where else a rest The ALARM I. RISE Rise Hark! the Heav'nly cries That Eccho from the Skies From our slumbers to awake The Alarum doth sound Bids us rise from the ground For the Devil hath us found And to death will us wound But our God would have us crown'd Oh why then should we lie Sleeping out till we die II. What! What! Is it that you have got Which your brains thus besot That you care not to stir Why drank you so deep Of that cup where did steep Venom'd joys whence did creep Fumes that have rockt asleep At which waking you may weep When the danger you espy I was ' witcht you will cry III. See! see Yonder Prince that is he That did deliver me When an enemy I was Though I have him forsook Yet a smile from his look My soul a captive took When for fear of death I shook Gave me Clergy on the book Oh why then will you die When a Saviour is so nigh IV. Wake Wake Your slumbrings off shake And to Jesus betake The General of Souls Heaven him a Captain made That ' gainst banners display'd In wounds through blood dare wade And of Devils not afraid For a Crown that ne're decay'd If he can but it win We shall all have 't of him V. Fight Fight While the day yields you light That as Conquerors by night In triumphs you may dwell I'nt it better to ride With victory by your side Then as slaves to abide With the Devil your guide Who at length will you deride Let us arm then and on We shall lose not a man VI. Turn Turn You whose souls that must burn If you thus from him run Stay but a while and think What harm will he do If that he saveth you From amidst the damned crew That in glowing flames will rue Those sins that will undo Oh do not you refuse While he gives time to chuse A SONG I. WHither Oh wandring wight Art thou thy jourey taking Why amidst these caves and dens of wolves do'st walk As Pilgrim quite forsaken What is thy Countries name Thy Parents are they living What is the cause thou stray'st so far from home And art thus pin'd with grieving Why still dost thou cry Oh my Jesus my Jesus What is that name I trow I would its meaning know For each time that thou nam'st him Thy eyes fill to the brim And thy heart with throbbing almost bursts II. A stranger I am here And so was all my kin Who in tents or caves like Hermites here did dwell Such have their poor cots been My off-spring's from on high A beam dropt from the Sun I call him Father that the Heav'ns made And he doth call me Son I am a-kin to that Jesus that Jesus Who in tears so long l 've sought That from Hell with blood me bought For through this wilderness he Bleeding ran to seek me Whom when found to Heav'n in clouds was caught III. To Heaven I said he 's gone And that 's my Countries name Where breaths the sweetest freshest gales of grace Which will augment my flame This Country lyes on high Far distant from my sight Beyond you hills and globes of fire that burn Stands a Palace wrapt in light Within which gilded roof dwells my Father my Father With him my Prince of Peace Where of glory 's no decrease Where Chores of Angels sing round And my breth'ren sit Crown'd Who would joy to see me arrive at last IV. The desart when I 've crost I do expect to find A black and dismal grove of Cypress-trees Where doth breathe a numbing wind There wearied mortals rest Their languid limbs lay down Here Crown-tired Kings and leprous beggars lie All a gasping on the ground In th' belly of which grove there a cave lies a cave lies The Mansion-house of death Where I must lose my breath In which black shades my Ghost must shake off all her cold dust Where do Angels wait to fetch me home A Spiritual Song YOU Rabshekahs 'mong whom I dwell That pass me and my cause to hell Do'nt me condemn and pass your doom Till I am raised from my Tomb. Gaze not upon my thread-bare skin Stuft with a slimy mud within Nor on the thatch upon my back Nor bread which I perhaps may lack Gaze not upon my watry eye Wherein a show'r of tears do lye Nor on the clouds of looks that dim The light of Heaven that 's within Gaze not upon my blubber'd cheek Which lyes in puddles all the week Nor mind the throbbings of my breast Wherein I scarce find any rest Gaze not upon my purblind mind That gropes in light its way to find Do not my words so strictly mark My tongue walks sometimes in the dark Gaze not upon my bleeding heart When God it wounds and makes to smart Or on me when you hear that I For sin do groan and wish to die Gaze not upon me in my race When stumbling I fall on my face Nor while in blood and wounds I fight With hell self world till it be night For when my Jesus once doth come My skin shall turn complexion My watery eye dries up and clears Which was besprinkled all with tears My woollen thatch turns robes of light Whose Sun-shine-dims the strongest sight My barly-bread turns Manna sweet And I shall with the Angels eat My sulli'd cheeks shall then disclose Their full-blown beauty in a rose My Lord shall brood within my breast And hatch up glory in that nest On this benighted mind of mine A sevenfold Sun shall cast its shine The morning of another day Shall scatter those night-fogs away These gaping wounds my heart doth feel My God with balmy smiles shall heal He shall me melt in flames of love And shall this sin and dross remove The race will end which now I
daily conversant in Philosophical Exercises but did frequently meet to promote the great business of real godliness and growth in grace and to make experiments on their own hearts of that Religion they should be called to impart to others And it seems he began betimes to impart what he had received of the grace of God for not long after he had been of the Colledg he observ'd a young Scholar of good parts and a good humour but having nothing of real godliness whom he would often seek and single out and talk with to draw him off from vanity and to engage him to mind the concerns of his precious soul and as it pleased God in some short time that same Scholar fell sick unto death and upon his Death-bed sent for this young Mr. Wadsworth as his spiritual Father to whom he declar'd he was much affected with what he had formerly spoken to him in his health giving him hearty thanks for the love he had shew'd to his soul and bewailing his own folly in his formerly declining such an ones company and importuning his earnest prayers to God with him and for him Whereupon this early spiritual Father dealt freely and most compassionately with him in farther instructing and then comforting of that spiritual penitent who gave good evidence that he had a true work of grace wrought upon his heart was a new creature and died very comfortably to the great rejoicing of the instrument V. Whom we find in a piece of his own Journal or Note-book Aug. 8. 1650. on a day of Thanksgiving to God for his mercies in exalting the Throne of Christ in the Land the Vniversity and Colledg to which he did then relate recording the frame of his heart That it was pretty spiritual in the former and later part of the day but in communion of some choice Servants of Christ whom he and his Associates had invited to Supper he was exceedingly rais'd in joy so full that his mouth could not express his heart and so was another of his friends then but he observ'd that the Devil did suggest to him there was much carnalness in his joy which made him afraid though still he was persuaded there was much spiritual joy mixt with it for he adds Oh! how sweet was the Communion of Saints to me Truly it was so pleasant that I remember I wisht I could have always liv'd in that state and was loth to leave this company The next day reviewing the temper of his spirit he notes he was very freely carried out for the good of Saints Whereupon he resolv'd first to mortifie carnal joy in which he had been before immers'd in that he found it very destructive to his spiritual comfort and secondly to be more active for God in the company to select some out and discourse with them to inflame their souls in love to God in Christ and to the Children of God praying for strength thereunto from Heaven VI. The next Lords-day after he records to the exaltation of the riches of Gods grace That he appeared very clearly to him as a Father in Christ I may truly say I never found such a discovery of the mortification of carnal joy and carnal love as then when I was exceeding melted with a sense of love and with the remembrance of Gods dealings with me Further VII If any would have me distinguish 'twixt carnal love and spiritual let them first consider that spiritual love is carried out only to a Saint as the image of God appears in him now carnal love to a Saint appears when it is upon account of a sweet disposition humility meekness and loveliness of body usually accompanied with a propensity to laughter and lightness of spirit but spiritual love is accompanied with abundance of seriousness of spirit and composedness of mind as I found at that time Carnal love and carnal joy in Saints is a great rock against which they are very apt to run You shall have Saints sometimes so extasied with joy that they know not why nor for what and it is commonly in meltings of soul 'T is true there may be the spirit there working as he is often and likewise there is the flesh mixed with it therefore 't is good to consider that rapture of St. Paul carried into the third Heavens where were things unutterable There was joy with an high discovery of God but thou wast joyful and may be sawest nothing Whence may be this Inference VIII That the more discovery of God and thine own nothingness take them together the joy comming in upon such discovery is the more spiritual but the less the discovery of those things the more carnality in that joy 'T is true it is the common complaining of Saints Oh I want comforts joys discoveries of love and these they daily pray for but because they have them not so given in as they us'd to be they wonder Alas they little conceive that there is some lust some corruptions that they cherish in their bosom which supplies the room of grace and comfort and therefore note God doth or would do thee a greater kindness to subdue thy corruption than in giving thee in the comfort thou prayest for IX As to carnal love mark whether thy love to other Saints comes from discovery of grace in them or from the sweetness of their dispositions for the carriage and sweetness of their natural temper is excellent and be sure the more love doth arise from the sweetness of their natural dispositions the more that love is carnal because such is common to any carnal man And as to the effect that love which ariseth from their carriage doth decay and flag upon more familiarity with them but spiritual love decays not yea it increaseth by more acquaintance And again spiritual love to Saints is accompanied with a composedness and serenity of soul and doth not so much express it self in other outward joy as in merriness of the countenance The same may be said of that spiritual love in soul to God it is not so much carried out in joy which is external but in the inward man and the more thy love is spiritual and thy joy spiritual as to God the more it is accompanied with a discovery of self-emptiness and self-vileness and this kind of love is masculine and far more durable than that love which ariseth from the apprehensions of Gods love and a less of self-vileness These are Truths much discovered to me Aug. 12. 1650. X. On the 14th saith he I cannot but remember that being drawn out then as two or three days before for a discovery of the Majesty of God to keep me from sin I had such a strong persuasion set home upon my soul that if God should have answer'd my prayers in such a measure as I beg'd I should not have endur'd his presence for that glimpse I had then though it was but confus'd and vail'd it put me into a kind of fear And I could then say If
of his Father but March 25. 1672 he follow'd his Mother Upon the loss of him then his only child whom he greatly affected his mournful but religious Father set a fair copy to others of much Christian patience and submission to thei will of God He had staid three years a Widower from the death of his second and then Decemb 14. 1670 took to his third Wife with the good liking of her Parents Anna sole Daughter to Colonel Henry Markham one of an ancient Family and a Gentleman of his Majesties Privy Chamber By whom he had first Anna then Hester afterwards Thomas and lastly Nathaniel all these four he left alive but this last Son when he was about a year and an half old departed this life to go and rest with his Father gone about a twelve-month before LIV. It seems this famous servant of Christ was in Decemb. 1672 well nigh four years before his death by some illness at Theobalds admonisht of his frailty and being come to London as to preach his usual course so also to advise with a Physician for his health upon those symptoms were then upon him during which time in his house at Pickle-Herring he was suddenly surpriz'd with a kind of fainting fit that occasion'd some failure of spirits and sweatings which did a little startle him Hereupon by and by he call'd for a Candle went up stairs and retir'd himself into a private room not permitting either his Wife or Sister then to accompany him but addrest himself to God alone as one summon'd by him it might be shortly to appear before him Then after a while return'd to his dear Wife c. upon his coming down they observ'd an admirable raisedness of spirit in him who then greatly blessed God for a cold sweat and a trembling pulse which had occasion'd him to look more narrowly within where finding all well to his great comfort he behav'd himself as one that was not afraid then of an arrest to Judgment We find him indeed in his Memorials upon a former sickness from March 6th till the 16th recording I was cast into a fit of sickness God brought me into a wilderness but spake kindly to me He afflicted me but for a moment About a week after he adds I was exceeding well much melted having an eye open'd to see God in prayer by faith as if I spoke to any of my familiars This humble confidence of going to God as his Father was rais'd as he elsewhere where notes from discoveries of mortification and purity in heart And besides this he lays it down afterwards That Nothing speaks Adoption fuller than the discoveries of Gods love either to the answering thy prayers with reference to mortification and strength in grace or comfort Joh. 15.15 And adds The readiest way to come to spiritual disveries of the Mystery of the Gospel-promise is to do the commands of God Joh. 7.17 He was a sincere doer of Gods will and such God heareth LV. When in perfect health he would be thoughtful of changes and therefore would often pray that God would prepare him and his for sickness death and parting About half a year before his last sickness when he had exceeding sharp pain he said He would not have been without it to have been without those joys he felt by it Being resolv'd to leave his more expensive habitation at Theobalds to live in Southwark nearer to his old charge It seems the Family and Friends talking somewhat cheerfully of their removal his Eldest Daughter Anna then a Child betwixt four and five years old said unexpectedly What if my Father should go to London and die He was so apprehensive of a dying hour that he said after His Girl whom he had a great love for was a true Prophetess 'T was about three weeks and odd days before he died that he came to his house at Pickle Herring Stairs having preacht the first of those two last Sermons published on the eighth of October and the last on the 15th 1676. The next day following he was chearful in the morning but then afterwards that day his pains came upon him he possessed his own soul in more than ordinary patience And was not willing to confult a Doctor till the 24th after a week of extream pain night and day then with great importunity he was prevail'd with to send for one in great reputation for skill and practise Who conceiv'd at the first visit that it was the Stone not questioning at all but that he would do well notwithstanding This was on the Tuesday Octob. 24th That night after he slept well whereupon with a thankful heart to God he told some of his friends how he had been carried through Saying I am like a man who had gone over a precipice and looking back trembled to see the danger he had past through For saith he when I was in pain God supported me and now I stand amaz'd how I got through it He indeed did use often to say when he had seen others in great pain he was afraid of dying i. e. of the antecedent pains he might pass through but he was not afraid of being dead He knew full well that Death which was the dissolution of his soul and body would only open the passage to his soul to be for ever with the Lord. LVI On Wednesday 25th he rose pretty cheerful and spent some time in reading but after dinner his pains return'd again when he began to complain of sin saying Ah! vile sinner God is carrying me back again into the Wilderness to afflict me expressing some sorrow of heart but without any murmurring Then he bid his Wife to read the 88 Psalm by that time she had done Justice Reading and some other friends came to visit and condole with him Afterwards about seven of the Clock that night came in his second Wifes Brother Mr. W. Gibb's going for Bristol the next morning and his dear Wife Mrs. Sarah Gibbs who greatly respected and dearly loved this choice Servant of the Lord she indeed was a gracious Woman of a most sweet temper a choice one of his dear flock who since went to rest with him her faithful Pastor in glory Jan. 27. 1679 These were discoursing about his taking a Countrey-house nearer to London than Theobalds To which he replyed with much composure of spirit Yea God will provide me a Countrey meaning an Heavenly one Then his former Wifes Son Thomas Sharp 〈◊〉 about to go to Sea and come into the room He told him It was not likely they two should meet again here Whereupon he gave him with tears a most Pathetical Exhortation to mind his souls spiritual and eternal welfare and to serve God holily righteously and soberly in this present world which shew'd his great and conscientious solicitude for the real happiness of this young man committed to his charge The night after his great pains did again return with much acuteness And LVII On Thursday morning 26th he had sharp pains
Then in the afternoon some of his choice Christian friends Ministers and others met to seek the Lord with fervency on his behalf When again pinch'd with recurring pains he said He was in an agony but not a bloody one And what are all my pains to those Christ did undergo for me When they were earnest with God in prayer for faith and patience He would often be saying Though thou killest me yet will I trust in thee And expressing much humility when they were importunate for his restoration Ah! poor useless sinful wretched creature that I am that they should be so earnest for my life But when it pleased the Lord that his pains should continue and the joint and ardent prayers of his dearest Relatives and people were not prevalent for his recovery He would be ever and anon thus stilling and quieting himself What shall I say unto thee O thou preserver of men One minute in heaven would make amends for all this pain LVIII On Friday 27th his repeated pains did continue yet the Doctor of Physick said There was no danger Towards evening he had some intermission and then was reading some part of his own Book concerning the Immortality of the Soul and Faiths Triumph over the fears of Death That Friday night his friend that much lov'd him Mr. Jeofferies sate up with him When being again rack'd with grievous pain he spake to this purpose Oh! the wonderful mysteries of the Providence of God! who can see a Job cast out upon a dunghil filled with botches and biles for saken by his friends and worried by Satan and yet at that very time God had not a more choice servant on the face of the earth nor one more dear to him than he was To another of his Congregation come with his Wife that evening to visit him and saying If it should please God he should then dye they should be a scattered flock as sheep without a shepherd He said The great shepherd of his flock liveth still or eternally He doubted not but he would take care of them LIX On Saturday morning 28th he by the help of his intimate friend Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick Merchant made his Last Will and Testament constituting his Wife sole Executrix he then as one who had set his house in order taking leave of this world told his Wife He had now done with Wife and Children and not less than twice to the Question How it was with him as to soul-concerns He answered I bless the Lord I have no cloud upon my spirit yet if my God should give Satan leave he may put me into an Agony before I dye Reverend Mr. Bragg in his Sermon p. 24 25. hath more He then spake of this nature yet further he repeated that of Solomons The soul knows his own bitterness and a stranger intermedles not with his joy He told Mr. Parsons his fellow-labourer in the Ministry All my self-righteousness I disown and I trust only to Christ and hope I have a Gospel-righteousness This evening seeing his Wife to weep He said I prethee weep not but turn thy face with Hezekiah to the wall and pray The night after when he was weaker his pains grew stronger but when an acute pain was a little over He would ever and anon say Now this pain is over and I shall know it no more And to one that stood by who he thought had not walk'd acurately Now see the benefit of a good conscience Then when they had given him something from the Apothecary to dispose him to sleep though his speech was somewhat interrupted with pain and drowsiness He was much concern'd for the People of God in England After a little slumber he said I long to see a people rich in spiritual graces as well as spiritual priviledges but surely God hath here a peculiar people a royal priesthood that serve him day and night in sincerity LX. On the Lords-day morning 29th his Wife asking him whether he knew her What saith he not know thee not know my Wife Thou would'st make me to think I am going to triumph before I am However his triumph was not many hours after For though his people in the solemn assembly that holy day had been earnest again with the Lord if he had seen good to have spared him longer to them about one of the Clock that Lords-day on which blessed days he had used to be much in an heavenly frame as before this choice servant of the Lord expired his last breath and his holy soul entred those joys he had often been labouring to get a Pisgaghsight of and to shew them to others whiles he was here in the body Upon his death that being dissected there was a stone took out of his bladder figured like an Egg which then did weigh 'twixt three and four ounces It may yet be seen in the hands of his Sister He had a brother who though a very strong young man when he was not above 20 years of age dyed being cut of the stone which much affected our compassionate Author and made him all his life after pre-apprehensive of those pains which nextly caused his own dissolution LXI If upon their departure as Erasmus saith in the life of Hierome We are ready to kiss the very shooes and shirts though soyl'd of those Saints we lov'd we should certainly account their Books their best Reliques most useful and efficacious The Works of our Author much beloved by those who knew him well already published with good effect are 1. His serious Exhortation to an Holy Life wherein he doth with great strength and much affection from Mat. 5.20 put in a plea for the absolute necessity of inherent righteousness in those that hope to be saved This was written when he had been six years at Newington as he saith in his Epistle to it 2. The Immortality of the soul prov'd by Scripture and Reason to the Saints joy and the Sinners terror Printed much about the time of his last marriage 1670. To which is annext 3. The Triumph of Faith being in a tendency to the Practical improvement of the former from Phil. 1.21 answering fears upon the conceiv'd approach of death 4. â— Sermon in the Printed Book of Farewell-Sermons though it seems that was not the very last he preached before stinging Bartholomew on Rev. 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent Published 1663. where he presseth England to repent Lest said he if God be provoked by sin to go the Devil come And he adds prophetically enough the Plague Pestilence and Sword and all other manner of Evils follow God doth not go alone neither doth God remove his candlesticks alone I do not tell you that God threatens you to pull down all your lights I would not terrifie you by telling you that God is a departing from you when he puts out
a Copy of it for his satisfaction He was also in hand with an Answer to Mr. Lamb's Stop to Separation shewing the weakness of his arguings We find also some solid reasons of his own practise in dissenting from the present National Ecclesiastical establishment in the point of Conformity And that he was drawing a parallel of Mr. Medes and Dr. Hammonds Expositions of the Revelation with an Examination of Dr. Hammonds And somewhat more particular he was writing concerning the Millemium and the right stating of it as he apprehended carrying it always with great mildness and kindness towards those Brethren from whom he did in any thing dissent about these controverted points lest any unseemly heats amongst Evangelical Ministers should occasion people to have less regards to those undoubted truths and essentials of the Christian Institution wherein they were cordially agreed But though he had made some progress in these and other things yet he did not live to finish them However the last doth appear to be pretty well compleated We shall conclude having prayed that these now published may do good to souls especially those who desired them with that of the beloved Divine Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them An ELEGY on the Lamented Death of the Reverend Mr. THOMAS WADSWORTH sometime Minister of St. Mary Newington-Butts and after for a short time of St. Laurence Poultney London October 29. 1676. WELL may the Church now wash her wounds with tears When her best blood from every vein appears If the sound members be cut off so fast Sure the whole Body 'll pine away at last For when our dear Right Hands and Eyes are gone The sorry stump will seek Consumption And every one like that Disciple cry Joh. 11.16 Let us go Partners in his fate and dye The Ark is Israel's Chariot but when Death Pursues its chiefest Horsmen out of breath Well may our Wheels be taken off and we Be driven to despair of Remedy If God proceed to fill his Garner so With Lab'rers whom we need so much below Such chaff as we almost justly fear God hath no Isra'l to be gather'd here And if provoked Justice should begin To whet its â—word and thrust its Sickle in Oh dreadful Harvest when the Reaper claims The whole for fewel to Eternal flames God's naked Vineyard cannot but decay If skilful Dressers be thus call'd away And how can we expect but that they will When we 're thus barren in a fruitful Hill Laden with such Wild Grapes as vengeance hath Adjudged to the Wine-press of his wrath The firmest stakes in all our Hedg we see Pluckt up by the same hand successively And God's just counsel sure of us in store Is to lay waste and to replant no more Hedges of thorns there are not for defence But only set to gore our Innocence Wild-Bores of ' he Roman forrest may invade By us there can be no resistance made For at these Breaches they 'll come in and then Whose skill or strength shall drive them out agen The little Foxes spoil our tender fruit And who can take them ' nless the Keepers do 't Doctrine and Worship like two Clusters stand Exposed to be snatcht by ev'ry hand And they who boldly dare call evil good May give us poyson next instead of food Well may the Philistins now proudly boast When all our Champions leave the wounded Host Now that the danger 's greatest and they think In heat of War to give us blood to drink So we who hop'd to see Goliah's fall Follow our Leaders to their Funerall When such as these defie God's mighty Name Who shall stand forth to vindicate the same For they that knew it best have left us here To strive at once with Ignorance and Fear Suspecting Error 't is an easie crime In weaker eyes to shun the Truth sometime And when our light is gone men in the dark Will bring their Tinder to a Wild-fire spark When Reason climbs the Throne we stand in doubt Whether our Faith may cast this Hagar out But now those Eagles face the Sun whose flight Hath made their Faith to vanish into sight No Veil within that Temple therefore they Have open vision and perfect day These Palm-trees once adorn'd our Sion-Hill And though by Death cut down they flourish still But in another soil and Countrey where They only now a weight of glory bear And other pressures taken off they soare Above those skies they could not reach before No other Canaan now but that is known With Milk and Honey always overflown Rivers of pleasure run on ev'ry hand Like channels cut throughout this promis'd Land From future Evils they 're escap'd while we Survive to feel the threaten'd misery For 't is most certain when the Bridegroom's friends Are called home God's Marriage-Treaty ends Which after such remisness and neglect Is but what foolish Virgins might expect Thus what they feared and predicted too May be accomplisht in our final woe And though the Messengers are gone we find Their message in full force shall stay behind Like to that Church above Truth will appear To shame Despisers yet Triumphant here Among that throng whose souls have lately fled Out of their Bodies to embrace their Head This Man of God hath taken wing to taste Whether the best Wine be reserv'd till last There he is proving what he prov'd before Now in the Ocean then upon the Shore That Immortality of which each line Partakes and thereby proves it self divine Thus in his Book beside his own intent He rais'd himself a lasting Monument Wherein his Name shall live and Readers come Like devout Pilgrims visiting his Tomb. And as his Faith the fears of Death ' orecame So shall those Papers evidence the same For what he had by Reason taught long since He after learned by expertence His Agonistick Tortutes and his Pains Screw'd up his joyful foul to higher strains Of Triumph and when nature struggled he Obtain'd by Grace the greater victory Wonder and Pity both were mov'd in those Who were spectators to his pangs and throws Well might all such conclude that saw him then That dying Saints are somewhat more than men For when he smarted most by 's Father's Rod Still our dear Thomas cry'd My Lord my God As seeing now his wounded hands and side Whom he had preacht through weakness crucify'd Thus Patience had its perfect work at length Like one whose Conflict had increas'd his strength He triumph'd over all and did commit His soul to him that had redeemed it His Course so finisht he at last sat down And he that first won souls then won the Crown These Works now follow him while he 's possest Of 's full reward in Everlasting rest Faithful in all God's House like Moses still H' obey'd the Sov'raign Legislative Will Observ'd the Pattern in the Mount
sentence thou canst not send me into worser than flames or punish me longer than everlastingly Christ answers Oh how my bowels turn this sinner knows not what is in my heart he thinks I am his enemy Sinner shake off thy fears and wipe thine eyes thou shalt not die The Sinner speaks again Oh thou glorious God or Angel or I know not what to call thee do not delude or deride a poor Caitiff wretch in the midst of misery Why wilt thou raise me to such a pinacle of hope to cast me down and make my fall the greater My Judg hath passed the sentence I must die and who can reverse the doom Ah! I must go see my prison-door wide open the smoke and flashes come to meet my despairing soul half way Christ speaks And now my heart begins to break my love can keep no longer in how causelesly doth this wretch torment his heart he knows not who I am I must reveal my self Sinner I love thee I say thou shalt not die Come feel my heart and pulses how they beat and tell how strong my love within doth act them Dost thou not see I have left my Throne and am come down to the Bar where thou standest condemned But why dost thou weep Come let me wipe thine eyes and bind up thy bleeding and despairing heart I tell thee thou shalt not die If Heaven will have blood it shall have mine so it will but spare thine Sinner if thou knewest who I am thou wouldst not doubt one tittle I tell thee I am his Son his only Son that but now condemned thee I know he is just and justice must be fatisfied But do not thou fear if one of us must die it shall be I I will pour out my blood a sacrifice for sin and appease his wrath and make you friends again Ye innumerable company of Angels yet servants at my Fathers will why do ye rejoice to see my prisoner sent to Hell this cursed soul over whom in glory you do now triumph I do resolve to die for and to buy her to my self a Spouse and to make her blessed with your selves and give her a Princess's place on a Throne that is by my self Sinner speaks Is this a dream or am I waking the goodness greatness glory of this sudden unexpected blessed change tempts me to doubt whether it be true or whether it be some unruly fancy that doth delude this wretched heart of mine What! for the Son of God to debase himself so low as to take my nature and so my cause and become the prisoner What! and though he knows he shall be cast Will he hear the sentence and quietly bear bolts and shackles and chains which should have fettered me Yet more than this Doth he know it is impossible to get a reprieve from his Father and Judg and that he must most assuredly drink the bitterest dregs of Death more bitter than Devils or damned souls in Hell as yet ever tasted of For it is impossible the Cup should pass And can he will he dare he venture But stay I must be a Spouse to be exalted from this Dunghil to be a Princess to the Son and Heir of Glory Hold hold here 's enough it is a Dream an idle fancy of a distempered brain I shall never find a heart to believe one syllable But yet methinks if it be a dream 't is a Golden one Is it possible that such a damned wretch as I could harbour such silken gilded thoughts of such love grace mercy and tenderness of the Son of God Oh my heart if they were not true how came they into my mind or how came they to stay or could they if but meer fictions make such a change in my heart Could they so victoriously conquer all my fear silence all my doubts allay the heats of a scorched and be helled Conscience But why a dream poor wretched heart Didst thou not see him step off his Throne Was it a time to dream or sleep in when thou wert before the Judgment-seat while God was frowning and the Devils dragging thee to and fro to get thee away to Hell Oh then just then he stept down drew near and took thee by the hand and spoke these reviving words to thee Doubt this and doubt thy judgment But why a dream I am not now in Hells torments whither I was just now sentenced My heart is now at ease and quiet surely something must be the reason why the Devil that but now had hold of me hath left me Where is the Conscience that but now was burning in me But Oh cannot the presence of the Lord put me out of doubt Do not his words that were so kind his tender dealing with me doth not his stooping to me taking me by the arm and the gentle lifts that he gives to my drooping soul speak him present Oh! do not my head eyes arms heart breast and the ease of every joint and limb about me witness the same A way my unbelieving heart what a stir is here to make thee believe a thing so evident Doubt my mind and freely doubt I'â—e give thee leave when thou hast any occasion or reason for it But why should I doubt that which is past all doubt May I not believe my senses I both saw and heard him speak the words or shall I misdoubt his faithfulness I know he is the Son of God he cannot lye But is it true yet my God I pray thee be not angry with my scrupulous heart thou seest in tears I make the doubt let it be an argument to me of sincerity I do not ask that question as one that would be fain perswaded it's true Canst thou think my Lord that I would not be reconciled and cheerfully accept of Grace when thou so freely offerest it Oh but Lord speak these words to my heart which thou hast already spoke to my ear and thou wilt melt it into love and thankfulness and I shall never doubt it more Object But yet but what can Heaven love so much Answ Thou silly worm how idly dost thou question must Heaven and so its love be bound up to so narrow and contracted thoughts as thine are What can God love no more than thou canst Love is a perfection and God is infinitely perfect so must be infinitely and incomprehensively loving Thou fool go found the Sea and tell me its greatest depths give me the height of yonder Stars this possibly thou maist do for the Seas are not so deep but they have a bottom nor the Stars so high but they may by art be known But Oh the heights and depths and breadths and lengths of the love of our Redeemer He is God and his breasts are so full of love that they flow and overflow with love they have no bottom Do but try my soul cast thy self into this bottomless lovely Ocean into this endless Bosom and when thou hast been sinking millions of millions of years tell me whither
refuse the seal thereof I know I am vile I am vile but thou hast pardoned me Lord I have abused thy love a thousand times refused thy offered self and withstood the tenders of thy Grace but thou hast covered all my sins thou hast freely justified me by thy Grace and made a full attonement for me by thy blood this is that thou freely biddest me take and I have freely drunk it Never was Wine so full as this is Never was Bowl so full of pleasure as this I have swallowed down my life and pardon at one draught I took it from my Saviours hand it was a cup of his own preparing If ever drink was sugared this was I never tasted better rellisht Wine in all my life The richest Cordials cannot match this draught Divine Spirits of pearls dissolved would but dead this Wine Oh when my hopes but kist the purple dews they hung and cleaved so As if they were loth to let thee go They strove and strugled to get near my heart As if intending there to take a part I dare not say them nay blood from that bowl May the best room command within my soul What a sudden strange yet happy alteration do I find within my languid spirits are revived my winter is over Methinks I feel my life and joy to spring amain My Aarons Rod a dry stick but now doth bloom and flourish My newly ingrafted soul is full of Infant-clusters Blood at the root of Vines They say produceth richest Wines Oh! if my Lord will undertake to dress this Vine and trickle down his blood into my root then draw it up into each branch of Grace by the warming beams of his reviving love then let my Dearest come let him come as he hath promised and bring my Father and his Father with him and sup both with me and in me Let them come and I will bid them a welcome I shall have a fruit to present them with which they themselves shall say is pleasant I shall not send my Father away now so oft complaining I came to seek for grapes and fruit but behold wild ones The Conclusion Oh! how unwillingly do I rise methinks I could sit here and feast my heart and eyes for ever What running-Banquets doth my Lord afford me here surely he should not need to fear that I should surfeit on himself But alas I must be gone what shall I do in yonder hungry soul-starving world again I have been feeding on my Paschal Lamb and now I must go and eat my sowr herbs but if it be his will I must obey if it be so I must arise I know thou hast prepared the endless feast above where I shall ever sit and enjoy thy love and glut my hungry eye and heart on the Banquet of thy everlasting self As yet I am now on earth my toil and work lyes heavy on my hands I have yet an afternoon to labour out God knows my work is hard too hard for me my self to perform I scarcely should have lasted out so long but that sometimes at such seasons as this is he repaired my sinking spirits by pouring in the Cordials of his Blood Now I must go and perhaps find as sharp conflicts with my self as ever I know the World and Hell have been laying their snares and gins to catch my new-fledg'd soul and all conspire against my welfare Now it is well if I escape a fall a bruise a breaking of my bones in which sad plight I have so often lain that my Lord might have took me for dead but that my groanings told him loudly I lived Lord must I leave this feast must I go Take me then by the hand and lead me if I must walk let me see thee by me that I may know I walk with my God Lead me away and I will go with thee and let me not go till thou bringst me hither again I cannot will not live without thee And do thou Lord say I must not shall not If both our hearts in love so well agree What then shall separate my Christ from me A Meditation on the Death of Christ Preparative to the Sacrament Pen'd for his private use BUT is he dead Oh sad yet joyful news how strangely is my soul amazed and diversly mov'd and troubl'd by these contrary passions methinks I could pull up the floodgates of my sorrow and vent it out in tears but something bids me hold Shall I mourn for him that 's just now past his state of mourning He 's dead and what of that And so are all his griefs his bloody sweats his sighs and groans concluded He hath drunk on the brook in the way bitter while they were in his mouth and he was living but sweet now they have sunk into his belly and and he in Heaven Sweet to him because it was his work and he hath finisht it and sweet to me because it was the potion of sorrow death hell that I must have taken And canst thou mourn methinks if thou didst love thine heart should rather sympathize with his He is singing and shalt thou be sighing He is joying that his work is done and now is welcoming into Heaven by God his Father and shouting up by Angels voices as the great Conquerour of the hearts of men on earth and that now in triumph he is returned And will a mournful weed a wet eye and a cloudy brow become thee at these times of Festivals Shall the Heavenly Angels be joyful and thou sad How strangely will this be construed Will it not be said thou dost not love him or thou dost envy his recovered glory that he had left and now again hath taken Or that thou canst not endure to see him wear his Princes Crown in Heaven that for a time he had laid aside to come down to the earth to fetch thee thence to Heaven But ah my Lord thou wilt not sure interpret sorrow thus thou hast not sure forgot to give a meaning unto tears to teach a sigh to speak and then to know its language Hath my Lord forgot so suddenly that he was on earth and that he sweat and groan'd and wept and bled as well as I do now What though now all tears and sorrow and sighing is done away and he ceaseth to be any longer subject to our infirmities yet sure he knows it is not thus with us I am not yet in Heaven nor am I yet quite past the vale of sorrow and it cannot then be strange to him if he sees sometimes our faces look of a sadder hue than those that are in Heaven But why should thus my tears be check'd and my throbbing heart be chidden were it for a thing of nought I might be counted fool or child but shall my Saviour die and vent his soul in a stream of blood and all in love to me and shall he thus forsake the world and die and then be laid in the grave and I be denied the liberty of following
love-flames Those Oh those are names make melodie VIII But see what is' t there stands A tablet all of Gold Spread with a cloth of threads as fine as light Oh its pity 't should be foul'd What dainty Fare is that How richly is 't persum'd Oh it smells and it looks as drest of fires of love Meat that 's eat yet ne're consum'd May I taste may I taste yea welcome welcome Thy Lord did it prepare That thou mightest have a share Now he hath got thee above He will feast thee with love Thou must now forget all grief and care IX Here 's honey-combs indeed Sweets that will ne're annoy I scarcely could think that Heav'n it self could yield Such delights that could not cloy This wine I have but sipt It will make a sick soul well One drop it would fetch a soul to life again That with grief were sunk to Hell Will this life always last yea for ever for ever Of want there can't be fear When God will make the cheer And that provision must last That with eating can't waste Such is all the food that we have here X. What lulling murmur's this That thus salutes mine ear It 's pleasant muttering accents almost made Me quite forget my chear These are the silver streams Of joys sprung from the Throne Of which each drop's more beautiful than pearl And more rich than th' Onyx stone Transparent it is as the Chrystal the Chrystal Of taste and smell more sweet Than th' ointment on his feet Here souls and angels leap in And together all swim Who along her banks like arrows fleet XI These dainty curling streams About her shores that twine Is sweetly shaded with a tree of life Yielding juice more rich than th'vine It 's roots spreads in th' clouds As old as th' night and day Twelve sorts of fruits twelve times each several year It doth yield yet don't decay The Pomegranate or the grape a' nt so pleasant so pleasant Compar'd to th' worst of these Never fruit did half so please Besides who tasts but one bit Is made immortal by it For its juice is clean from dregs or lees XII Here always it is spring A long continued May Our Sun standing still makes Summer ever last And an everlasting day For my heart I cannot sleep No though I were to die Those ravishing Sun-beams keep me broad-awake Yea and will eternally It 's God and the Lamb that thus glissen thus glissen Whose faces blush with light If I wink it straight were night Whilest with these beams I 'm then blest I 'le never think upon rest But conclude that waking's always best MORTALITY I. FRom the womb From the womb Do I pass to my tomb For my passage is quick in the cast of an eye I here that am living you 'l straight see me die This warm breathing dust to a clod of cold clay In a trice will be turn'd then molder away Hark you but a while you 'l soon hear the bell Toul out my Funeral-knel My thread is e'en spun My glass almost run That on earth I here cannot long dwell II. Ev'ry breath ev'ry breath Is a step to my death My flesh is consuming each thought that I think Each minute that passeth to my grave I do sink The hungry worms my neighbours will be And my guests too that shortly will feed upon me I was born of corruption a cruel step-mother That brought me but forth to smother No sooner in th' world But out I am hurld So I 'm shufled from th' one to th' other III. What is death what is death But a stop of th'breath Some small puff of wind that will blow a flame out Or the turn of a door for a soul to step out It 's no more than the wreck of a Ship that hath crost A Sea that 's tempestuous where no passenger's lost The planks of my body may be tomb'd in a wave But my God will my spirit save It 's but to step in At most to unpin My rags that are fit for a grave IV. What 's a groan What 's a groan That our friends thus bemoan When they by our beds side sit to close up our eyes It 's no more than a crack from the Heaven that flies Our souls then like lightning are breaking their way From the clods of our bodies and why should they stay It 's a pang of corruption our mother that brings Forth souls that she breeds to be Kings For no sooner I 'm dead But a Crown 's on my head And Hosannah in Heaven I sing V. Not a day Not a day That doth pass but I pray That my work were dispatcht that I might hence but go Though the first Inn I lodg at is the grave I do know Those chambers of darkness my soul do'nt affright It is but mine Inn I dare lodg there one night In my Coffin I 'le creep as into my bed And my winding-sheet I 'le not dread There soundly I 'le sleep Till the morning doth peep From the dust then I 'le raise up my head Self-Estimation MOunt up my soul and stroke into a calm The surges of proud passions with a Psalm Stretcht out on either side tower up thy head O'retop the waves stear on let reason lead Be 't as thy Polar-star while thou art tost Lest 'mong perplexing billows thou be lost Look how the first fiercely comes rowling on Which reason calls Self-Estimation A sporting-wave turns visage now bold now shie How fond as if in love with thy Egoifie She fawns and with her circling arms Embraceth that which quickly feels her charms See how she soars aloft and on her wing Mounts self yet all this while but flattering When at the height her sleiked face turns glass Which represents self's vertues in a mass Thrice double to their proper magnitude Take heed don't look my soul it doth delude Think what 's but a wave will quickly sink And mounts so weak in vallies sooner shrink Waves quickly fall they cannot stand so fast Their weight will press their fainting knees at last Thus with her higher gusts of flattery She turns thy brain then turns thine enemy Strange metamorphis'd passion glass just now Fit for reflection of an amorous brow Now in a cup she 's turn'd bow'd fit for th'lip Presents thee with a Nectar bids thee sip Sip not my soul waters that brackish are Are much too strong for weaker heads to bear Their duller spirits they will soon convey And chill thy brains to ice for as they say Salt will freez hard though in a thawing day CONTEMPT A Dialogue betwixt Flesh and Spirit Flesh WHat all to small Nothing seems big enough To entertain thee yet doth th'housholdstuff Of this vaste Microcosm prove now too small To dress and trim thy swoln-big heart withal Sp. Her gusts to great contraction cannot bound That which infinite can scarce surround Contentment she must have which cannot be Found cloister'd in the cells of poverty F. Won't