shades may bid adue While his sweet rayes come vsh'ring in the day Or run as Iohn before to make the way And here great Lord come raise mee vp so high According to thy word that now mine eie May soare vp to thy Mercy-seate and there As Heau'ns pure eyes fixt in a holier Spheare Bee freed from all corruptions taint while I Go bathe my soule in that sweet Theorie Of thine eternall loue and when I see Those high prerogatiues I haue by thee How thou hast made mee free from death from sin From hell and all those miseries wherein I now lye plung'd and those whereto I tend As of my selfe and lesse thy Grace descend And quickly come and take mee vp alas I needs must fall and when it comes to passe That thy sweet Comforter shall come and tell To my sad soule againe that all is well VVith mee and when I feele thy quickning Sprite That harbenger and pledge of true delight Beare witnesse vnto mine that I am made Free man of Grace whereof I 'ue but a shade Whiles here on earth but shall hereafter haue The very substance much as I can craue Or shall know how to wish as earst to me Thou didst declare in that sweet mysterie Of thy great loue then shall my tongue and pen Be wholly votaries to thee and then My sad Vrania whose now weeping eies Are quite worne out with plainings teares and cries When she but apprehends those gladsome raies Shall metamorphose all her notes to praise And I myselfe with all I haue will be As one that 's wholly consecrate to thee Who am alone redeem'd by thee Oh then Here come my God here quickly come agen And take me vp here let me sweetly heare Those heau'nly tunes againe which did while-ere Giue such reuiuals to my soule that I Was almost past my Sea of miserie Ne'r to be plung'd in it againe if thou Hadst not so suddenly with-drawne the brow Of that sweet Sun-shine of thy Grace whereby I 'gan to see the blessed libertie Of those who are the sonnes of God But come Great Maker now and what thou hast begun In me thy creature perfit vp that so When after-ages shall both see and know How kindly thou hast dealt with me they may Appeale to thee in like extremes and pray To thee alone for helpe seeing that I Dauids poore man did humbly call and crie To thee and was deliuer'd for if he Were heard they 'le say then doubtlesse so shall we What wilt thou more This is the time and place As earst I said thou seest I want thy Grace So much poore soule as scarce I 'm able call To thee for Grace and if thou 'lt let me fall Alas I 'm ready to consent altho It be my thraldome to eternall woe Ne'r thence to be redeem'd againe nay more Alas I cannot chuse but fall so poore And weake a wretch am I that faine if I Might haue my will 〈◊〉 decreed to die I 'd seeke out opportunities wherein I would enact sâ—me higâ—â—vnhallowed sin That might exclude not quite from thee alas Such are the deeds my selfe would being to passe And none but such and then how canst thou haue A fitter opportunitie to saue Then now thou hast in me Was euer man Brought neerer yet to hell then now I am That want but one vnhappie step Oh no There 's none can fall to greater deepes of woe Vnlesse he fall to hell it selfe for I Am the next step so full of miserie As quite ore-come with it or one whose sense Is dull'd with its exceeding violence That so I cannot feele my selfe vnlesse It be like him that 's in a drowzinesse Or some vnhappie Lethargie whereby He dully feeles but knowes not how to crie Or plaine himselfe or call for helpe and sure This dangerous sicknesse is beyond the cure Of humans best preseruatiues which can At most but reach vnto the outward man To ease or comfort that awhile but when Those heauie pangs oppresse the soule O then All these are vaine for what were it if I Should liue in body whiles in soule I die Alas this were the life of death when that Which is my bodies life is dead But what What doe I meane Why is my troubled sprite Distracted thus Can griefe be infinite Which rises from that inward sight of sin Whereby we waile that wofull â—ase wherein We see our selues by nature and whereby We learne betimes to climbe so humbly hie As wholly to forsake our selues and cast Our hopes alone on thee who onely hast The treasures of eternall life Sure no This is that happie path by which we goe Into the way of sauing 〈◊〉 and this Is that sweet mâ—lium to our future bliâ— Through which indeed we must before we may Approach those 〈◊〉 of eternall day Here then deare God here will I humbly waite With lowly confidence in this my straite A straite more great then Dauids was when hee Did earst betake himselfe alone to thee Because thy mercies were so great and here Because thy mercies also are full neere In mid'st of humanes greatest deepes that hence We might obserue 't is thy Omnipotence And Goodnesse onely that relieues when wee Are ready to despaire because we see Nought else but death within our selues and how There 's nought beside can doe vs good that thou May'st be made all in all because I say Thou art so good here will I humbly stay Vntill thy mercies raise me vp euen here Confounded in my plaints without a teare To tell my further griefes to verifie That sorrow in extremes is alwaies drie Here will I lay me downe here will I stay Alas because I haue no more to say For lo I 'm dead in sinne and griefe Oh then Here let thy goodnesse shew it selfe my Pen And Muse can speake no more till thou descend And teach them more needs must I make an end And thus in deepes of this my silent griefe I humbly waite for answer of reliefe Here laying downe my selfe much like a man That 's carelesse growne I sleepingly began To drowzie out my dayes not caring how I plai'd the Prodigall with time for now Said I Sure I can doe no more mine eies Are wearied with my teares my sighes and cries Haue quite ore-whelm'd my feeble soule and I Am plunged in so deepe a miserie That now I know not what to doe alas For who am I My pilgrim-daies doe passe Away as shades and still the more I haue Of life the more I doe approach my graue All this I see aye me and more then this That very cloud that hinders all my blisse My sinnes doe still increase on me yâ—â— they Will haue no interruptions though my day Be clouded ere so much they will not cease To vex my soule nor let me liue in peace Alas and these distract me quite while I Haue not
onely fount but here I could not but admire with holy feare That such a gracious light should shine yet man Would turne away his eies and rather ran To follow shades of vanity which bee Indeed but a meere wearinesse and flee Away as soone as ouer-tooke wherein Lyes nothing hid but misery and sin The Parents of eternall death But here Sending my thoughts from Luke to Iohn lo there I quickly found the reason out this Light Did shine indeed but mans all-darkned sight Had not the pow'r to comprehend what here VVas offer'd him till hee himselfe appeare I meane this Light and giue it him for hee Must not bee borne of flesh or bloud but bee New borne of God and drawne as 't were by him To see and come to Christ 'T is not within Mans owne ability Oh no I see It is my God workes all this all in mee Thus hauing found his happy birth I meane Happy to vs spectators of this scene Though not to him that acted it I now 'Gin trace his holy life for here I vow If hee but please to giue me aid and breath I 'le follow him a long euen to the death And thus returning back to Matthew Marke And Luke thence to my John somewhat more darke Though being full of light I here did see The Prologue was begun in miserie As earst I 'ue said the Acts that went betweene VVere not lesse grieuous who had hee but seene His conflicts in the wildernesse when hee Was tempted of that grandest enemie To him and vs who is 't againe that saw Those wordy-warres hee had about the Law With th' enuious Scribes and Pharises when they Laid all their wicked plots how to betray His innocence to death but hee would bleed In heart to thinke on such a horrid deed For hee good Man did neuer harme nay sure Hee was so farre from this so godly pure That hee was good to all his very foes Had neuer better friend then him yea'uen those That sought to take away his life yet he Was patient still But would you farther see His wondrous works of mercie how hee heales The sick the blinde the lame to some reueales His pow'r by raising them from death to some By casting diuels forth yet when all 's done Much like the thanklesse Gadarens they faine Would haue him leaue their coasts 't was not their gaine They thought to lose their swinish sins No no They 'le rather part by far with Christ then so Thus did hee wander vp and downe good man Hauing not where to lay his head and can Wee tearelesse yet stand looking on Sure no Or if there be a stone that can doe so My bowels yearne I must confesse when I But thinke on this nay more my griefe-worne eye Doth either ouerflow or longs to bee Made Jer'mies weeping Well when I but see My Sauiour thus hee comes vnto his owne But they receiue him not nay worse are growne Offended with him Thus hee goes about Meeting with still increasing-griefes throughout The course of all his life yet in this case Hee ceases not his worke but shewes his Grace To many a sad and sinfull soule for hee Was Phisick vnto all that did but see Themselues were sick and needed him but those That stood on their owne righteousnesse his foes The Scribes and Pharises who thought indeed Much like the Papists now they had no need Of Christs all-sauing helpe but did presume To fly to Heau'n with that deceitfull plume Of their owne works hee iustly leaues to bee Condemn'd in this their gracelesnesse to see The fruits of their owne froward pride when they Will go to Heau'n yet scorning Christ the way But to leaue them I here returne againe Vnto my Christ whom I haue seene in paine Thus farre to trauell with the load which hee Did take on him only to set vs free Now for his vsuall meat this was indeed To do his Fathers will to go with speed And finish what hee came about not fed With fulnesse or variety of bread As wee vnhappy lumpes but was with Paul In fastings oft in wearinesse in all Which might expresse his misery so far ' Yond all the Sonnes of Adam as they are Inferiour in integritie to him Who neuer harbourd the least thought of sin Which well might adde vnto his griefes yet hee Was patient still O hearers come and see Wirh rented hearts here is a wofull scene Continued on thus thus did he demeane Himselfe in euery Act and thus was hee That perfect patterne of humilitie But O my soule these are the acts betweene And sad enough but O there lies vnseene The very woe of all the rest his death And passion this that takes away my breath With too fast running doubled sighes that I Shall ne'r bee able speake sufficiently As I desire or as I ought beside I 'm dull'd with former griefes my fount is dryde I haue not teares enough to spend whereby I might re-act this wofull Tragedy In wotds that nothing else but weepe yet here I must supply something of what while're At first I neuer thought to speake when I Began this worke for there in breuitie I scarcely spake saue of his death but now My soule hath vndergone a larger vow Being led by that all-ruling Sprite which here I must performe And thus with wonted feare I enter'd on the Epilogue where I 'Gan first obserue that wondrous Agonie My Sauiour in the Garden had when hee Did pray so earnestly Lord if it be Thy sacred will then let this fearefull cup Yet passe away and I not drinke it vp This fearefull cup Good God what hideous draught Was this at which thou that wast so well taught In bearing miseries didst yet intreate A scape from it Sure sure that feare was great That made thy soule to shrinke who couldst beare more Then all the world besides O then wherefore Did'st thou yet feare my Lord Alas thy Sprite Thus answers me 'T was at th' amazing sight Of mine and euery sinners sinnes which now Were laid vpon thy back because that thou Would'st vndergo so much for vs to bee A Sacrifice for these our sinnes that wee Might bee disburdend quite of them and so Bee freed from that accursed weight of woe Which follow'd them so great so infinite That neither tongue can speake nor pen can write And yet thy loue was growne so strong that thou Didst beare them all for vs. Hence was it now Thy present plunges were so great and hence It was thou felt'st such terrors in the sense Of thy humanitie that made thee call Thy Deitie to helpe hence was the fall Of those great drops of blood which thou didst sweat In this thy fearefull Agonie and yet Do I aske why thou didst intreat Aye mee Some little glimpse of this
in their ills let them â—ke vp The seeming sweets of sins impoys'ned cup Let them carouse in vanity and draw Iniquity with ropes ne'r stand in aw ' Of future iudgements Let them prosper still As they suppose by adding ill to ill Let them be carelesse of themselues and spend Their precious daies ne'r thinking on the end Let them make flesh their guide taking delight In their owne lusts still glorying in the hight Of their ambitious titles and their wealth Got by obliquitie and lawlesse stealth Let them be-pride themselues in rich attires And robes of State burning with lawlesse fires Of lusts not to be nam'd let them be fed With choycest meates and glutted vp with bread Like pampred Horses to the full I say Let them spend all their happinesse away In these and such like vanities nor thinke On death at all thou standing at the brinke Of their vncertaine graues and heau'ns high hand Of vengeance ouer them doth alwaies stand Readie to strike them downe to hell but we Will ioy alone in this sweet libertie We haue in Christ we will delight I say Our selues in him in him wee 'l vow and pay Our dues of praise vnto our God in him Wee 'll hence triumph o're all the pow'rs of Sin Of death and Hell in Him we will expresse Our vtmost thanks by liues of holinesse And walking in his waies till by the hand Of his good Sprite hee'th brought vs to the Land Of righteousnesse where we would be on Him We will build all our confidence and clim To Heau'n alone by Him vnder his wings Wee 'l alwaies shrowd our selues nor shall the Kings Of th' earth be able doe vs harme though they Rage ere so much Our foes shall melt away Like Snow against the Sun and ' cause wee 'ue made The Lord our dwelling place vnder his shade We shall be surely safe yeâ— though the earth Be mou'd with all the pow'rs thereof though death Triumph on euerie side of vs yet wee Shall surely be preseru'd and liue to see The wondrous riches of his loue wherein He hath endear'd himselfe to vs through him We shall passe all these nether-stormes and spight Of all with-stands walke onwards in the light Of his sweet countenance still singing praise Vnto his Name till he at length shall raise Our Muses to a higher pitch where we Shall sing his praises to eternitie In his ne'r-ending place of blisse euen there Where he himselfe remaines where neither feare Nor griefe shall interrupt our ioyes but we Shall haue our fills of all felicitie And glory inexpressible the hight And chiefe of which is in the blessed sight Of this our glorious God whom we shall see There face to face euen as he is yea bee Made like to him what would you haue me say Mine eyes are dazled at this glorious day And reason stands amaz'd when it would reach This wondrous hight how shall a Mortall preach Of this immortall state O had mine eye But one sweet glimpse of this how should I tye Your eares vnto my tongue when I should speake Of what I saw 't would make your hearts to breake With earnest longings after it and you Would scorne from hence so much as take a view Of these inferiour vanities which be But toyes as 't were not worth your thoughts and flee Away almost as soone as come withall Leauing behind them nought but cursed gall And bitternesse to vex and gripe and grieue Those foolish soules which did ere-while beleeue Their false pretended sweets but here alone Is fulnesse of all true delight where none Can euer be deceiu'd vnlesse it be As that wise Queene of Sheba was when she Heard of the glory of King Salâ—â—on And of his happinesse but when anon She came and saw it with her eyes she than In great amazednesse thereat began Confesse that all was true yea sure the fame Said she came farre too short If then the name Of Salomon were such behold here 's one That 's greater farre then was King Salomon What shall I say of him sure my report Will speake but truth and yet come so farre short As finite doth of infinite what then She spake of Salomon and of his men So may I speake to thee my God O how How happie are thy Saints which fall and bow Before thy Maiestie Happie I say Are those that haue the priuiledge to stay Continually with thee there to behold Thy glorious face wherein as Dauid told Are ioyes at full and sit at thy right hand VVhere pleasures liue for euermore where stand Thy blessed troopes of glorious Saints that sing Eternall Halleluia's to their King To thee their King to thee alone for thou Art onely worthy O my God And now Here doe I craue to ioyne with them euen I Though yet on earth here doe I thankefully Fall downe before thy glorious Throne and here In humbled confidence and holy feare I offer my poore mite to thee of praise And thankfulnesse in these my lowly Layes All glorie be to thee my God to Thee And to the Lambe which hath redeemed mee By his deare blood and to the sacred Sprite The Comforter and pledge of true delight Which hath been with me hitherto and brought My soule into thy peace Sure I haue nought That 's worth thy great acceptance Lord for I Am poore thou know'st and full of miserie Happie in nothing else but thee I meane By being thine and yet I 〈◊〉 vncleane Vncleane alas vncleane well may I cry Come thou and wash away my Leprosie And make me fit for being thine O then What shall I pay who am the worst of men To thee for all thy mercies Lord VVhy here I le pay thee with thine owne the case is cleare I offer vp my selfe to thee with all That here I haue hence may it please thee call And count me wholly for thine owne for now I bid farwell vnto the world and vow In thy sweet aide eternall enmitie To all my wonted sinnes to vanitie And euery luring baite of hell And here I humbly doe deuote my selfe in feare And holinesse to thee my God that I May still be praysing thee vntill I die In all my thoughts and words and acts and hence May walke along by faith and not by sense Still gladded with thy countenance till I Haue ouer-past the present miserie Of this short life and till my soule at length Being cloath'd vpon with that immortall strength Of my blest Sauiour Christ shall sweetly flee Into thine hands there to remaine with thee In thy expreslesse happinesse till thou In that last day shalt swiftly come and bow The heau'ns and raise my body vp though dead And rotned dust and ioyne it to my Head And Sauiour Christ where it againe shall bee Vnited to my soule and I shall see My