their envious Eyes To dunghil Worms with mighty Treasures blest To worthless Sots with gaudy Glories drest Or who to Honours or to Scepters rise But he who 's envi'd ne're can find That strange Felicity But growing Cares distract his Mind And Beggars more enjoy themselves than he My very Life 's but one extended Woe My Meat my Drink my Sleep my waking Hours My Rest my Labours all uneasy grow And baffle all my Soul 's superiour Powers Could I Love 's holy Flames attain Life would be vile to me and Life's Corruptions vain Wo to the Wretch whose Dulness ne're could know The Miseries of fading Life below Wo to the Wretch whose sordid Soul For mean and transitory Joys can slight The blissful Regions of immortal Light And still on Earth in common Ordure roll Ah mad ah unbelieving Fools In carnal Wisdom great In better things mere senseless Tools Who drudg but ne're can find the monstrous But far more wise those holy Saints of old Look'd on their sinking Lives with nobler Scorn Their Expectations as their Faith grown bold To Heaven on Wings of bright Affection born Nor could the Toys which here they saw Their large aspiring Souls from unseen Glories draw Rise then my Soul no more thy Task delay Employ the present Light the certain Day Up rife put off the Day no more Now now 's the time to work the time to fight The Time to set thy Thoughts and Actions right Delays can but increase the dreadful Score What tho fierce Flames and angry Seas Oppose thy sacred Rest O let no darling Error seize Or tyrannize within thy captive Breast Shake off thy Sloth for shame attack this Foe Throw off thy Sins and Innocence pursue 'T was only Sin diseas'd our Lives below And robb'd us of our Crowns and Garlands due O on thy Maker's Mercy wait Till he thy Living Death to Deathless Life translate Thinke o're thy State on Earth How strangely frail How soon Hell's Follies o're thy Thoughts prevail To day perhaps thy Lips confess Thy mighty Sins with Floods of streaming Tears Tomorrow Hell his sanguine Trophies rears And Sins again thy weak Resolves oppress O then with humble Meekness all Thy yielding Weakness see How that in one short Hour may fall Which might the Work of toiling Ages be Ah wretched I if grown so quickly cold Ah wretched I to drowse in careless Rest As if secure I could the Garland hold Tho not with one poor Grain of Goodness blest Up try the mighty Work again If Hopes of bettering Life or stronger Grace remain XXII It is appointed for all Men once to die SEE where the naked Mormo stands See how his pointed Dart the World commands The meager Sceleton with dismal Glare Shoots thro the pestilential Air Lays Heaps on Heaps around and I Before to morrow's Sun may die Dull that I am hard-hearted Wretch to dream Of lasting Joys and Pleasures here Shine dearest God! and let one glorious Beam Of heavenly Light my gloomy Conscience clear I so prepar'd for Death may be And from my Sins and from thy Anger free To Day I 'm unprepar'd I know But shall I fit for Death to Morrow grow To Morrow's but a wild uncertain thing And may as little Wisdom bring Nor can the longest Life be sure It can repenting Thoughts procure I 've been a Christian long but still retain An unreform'd unchristian Mind Death may be dreadful and attending Pain But I more Woes in longer Life may find O may I now with daily Care And watchful Eyes for Death foreseen prepare To day my youthful Neighbour di'd And for Death's Summons I 'll to day provide I see to day but can't be sure my Sight Shall reach the next approaching Night I see the Night but never may Survive to meet the dawning Day O mayn't a sudden Death my Soul surprize When it goes off its needful Guard Death with an unimagin'd Swiftness flies No Art can its impetuous Wings retard Then I an inward Change may see And Sloth tho past my greatest Grief may be I 'm truly Wife and Blest if I Live but as well as I could wish to die If my great Soul could earthly Joys despise And to the Heights of Vertue rise If I to Discipline could bow And by my Works Repentance show Could I to God with swift Obedience fly And my dear wretched Self abjure Could I but for my blest Redeemer die And for his Love the Racks and Flames endure Much I while blest with Health may do But can't in Death those happy Works pursue Perhaps I think a Sickness might Reform my Manners and enlarge my Sight Make me review my self and straight repent And be at once an Innocent Yet I in Sickness oft have pray'd A thousand solemn Vows I 've made But still I live the same no more improv'd Than modish Travellers may come Who have long Years thro' many Countries rov'd And only brought their shameless Vices home Now now 's the time the welcome Day O don't for better Season vainly stay Rouze then my Soul thy Thoughts engage On what thy daily Weaknesses presage Fears for a time an Antidote may prove And thy eternal Fears remove Thy Fears of present Death prevent Thy everlasting Punishment Live now that when his Summons Death shall give We to unfading Joys may fly Die to the World that we to Christ may live And thou unclog'd ascend above the Sky Let 's now the rebel Flesh chastise That we may then with blest Assurance rise What canst thou dream of lengthning Days When nothing here below unalter'd stays How many have those foolish hopes deceiv'd Of Breath by sudden Strokes bereav'd This Man by some swift Bullet dies That drown'd beneath the Ocean lies This dash'd in pieces that just choakt expires Another's in his Sports destroy'd Sword Plagues attempted Thefts outragious Fires Make all their Dreams and vast Intendments void So Life an empty Shadow flies And when Death summons languid Nature dies Rouse then at last be active now Thy Neck to thy Celestial Labours bow When Death once parts us two our Hopes are vain New Overtures of Grace to gain And if our own Endeavours fail The Prayers of others can't prevail Now while Time lasts grasp at Eternal Wealth Now now encrease thy sacred Store Secure betimes thy own Immortal Health Thy God thy Saviour and his Aids implore And when thou shalt thy Fetters leave They 'l Thee to thy great Master's Joys receive Live then but as a Stranger here And unconcern'd with worldly things appear Be light be free from Cares above the Skies O raise thy long-expecting Eyes That when thy Days on Earth are past Thy Mansions there may ever last With Prayers with flowing Tears O seek the Place Where Glories all their Beams display With endless Groans O seek thy Saviour's Face And upward soar to reach that gladsome Day Where thou with Saints shalt rest above Wrapt in th' Embraces of Eternal Love XXIII And after
I 'll more prepare And on Religion then attend with warmer Care On these my God was Born on these he Dy'd On these he Rose on these in Flame On us the Spirit gently came On these their Lord his valiant Martyrs try'd Up then my Soul awake arise Reach tow'rd the Goal grasp at thy kindred Skies I shall found so employed be blest And in a nobler Trust and fuller Glories rest XIX O that I had Wings like a Dove ENough enough in this vain World I find To disengage my wandring Mind To wean me from the Joys below And Anchoret or Hermit grow A thousand Follies here assault me round A thousand noisy Tales my Thoughts confound I want a little time for me Of Silence and of Privacy Where I my humble Heart might raise To sing my great Creator's lofty Praise And there with undiscover'd Tears begin To cleanse my self from hateful Sin Fain would I meditate on what 's to come A while before I 'm summon'd home Fain would I exercise my Mind A while on that long Life behind How should I act Blest Saints of old withdrew To Woods and Rocks and Caves from human View There they enjoy'd themselves and there With humble Prayers and Lives severe Had quiet Sleeps and peaceful Dreams And Vertues were their lively Fancies Themes There they converst with God and learnt to dwell With him who was Invisible But what are meaner Saints My Saviour too From noisy Crouds to Mountains flew And there in lonesome Silence pray'd And thence his Heavenly Sermons made Would I with him to just Perfection rise With Truth forgot the careless World surprize He who a while reserv'd has been May be with greater Safety seen He safely speaks who Silence chose He governs best who best Subjection knows Obedience is by him most kindly nurst Who was himself obedient first When thro a lonesome wild or silent Grove Secur'd by Innocence I rove There where no bloody Tyrants reign Nor cruel wrested Laws restrain Where I sole King my self at large command And only at my own Tribunal stand Yet my Creator's every where And he 's my holy Guardian there He 's still my Fear my Master still And I his Laws with utmost Care fulfil No holy Hermit in his Cell can lie More humble more devout than I. Yet tho I rest or wander where I please Temptations oft upon me seize Tho parted from the noisy Rout Hell's Gloomy Prince can find me out Nor could my Saviour from his Strokes be free When in his solitary Privacy Yet when alone I spend my Time In Extasies and Fights sublime And dream Celestial Visions roul In glorious Order thro my raptur'd Soul Temptations may redeem my languid Sense From Pride and sinful Confidence O could I quit the World and worldly Toys It s vain Solicitudes and Joys How would my harmless Conscience rest All quiet in my peaceful Breast But can I e're to such Attainments rise Till Grief for Sin break thro my mournful Eyes Till to my lustful Follies I At thousand bleeding Wounds can die And in my humble private Cell Long with my self in silent Sorrows dwell So I indeed above the World below May rise and better stronger grow When from my Lord the baffled Fiend retir'd And all his cruel Hopes expir'd Convinc'd his deadly Enemy True God not Man alone must be Straight at his Feet Angelick Armies kneel'd With Hymns of Praise for that triumphant Field So when in private Silence I My hellish Tempters Arts defy And Scripture-Light and constant Tears Wash out my Stains and guide my fading Years My God will my endear'd Companion be And Angels always wait on me What can I gain below but empty Toys A wretched World and sensual Joys Where all to ruine and betray Black Lusts their horrid Charms display Where shortliv'd Joys to tedious Woes succeed And Terrors on the wounded Conscience feed Were all things mine that All would be But visionary Vanity Look up my Soul then Pardon crave And let vain Men their vainer Longings have Be Christ but thine his Peace around thee dwell Thou l't love the darkest Cave and hug the loneliest Cell XX. A broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Wouldst thou improve my Soul With Fear Before thy God's all-piercing Eyes appear Retrench thy Mirth thy wandring Sense restrain Esteem a contrite Heart thy noblest Gain Contrition that vast Treasure shews Which vain Desires and careless Manners loose It 's strange that thoughtless Men can bear Such Shews of Mirth when wretched Exiles here And such dire Woes such mighty Dangers near Fools oft with an undecent Grin Throw Ashes o're those glowing Coals within And fain would with an ill-tim'd Laughter hide Those cruel Pangs their tortur'd Souls divide Give me when with true Mirth I 'm blest A peaceful Conscience in a peaceful Breast Happy 's the Man who mourning goes Who off the Weight of guilty Conscience throws And can his Soul to holy Grief compose Ne're for a Mass of Business strive Nor into great Mens dangerous Secrets dive Look first at home first give thy Counsels there And ne're cast down for worldly Frowns appear Grieve for thy Sins against thy God Or when awry thy wandring Steps have trod Crosses on Earth are better far Than all that Mirth our foolish Thoughts prepare When we build Castles in the fleeting Air. For Joys I 'll sow the fruitful Seed And with salt Tears the swelling Ocean feed Till rising Tides with briny Floods shall kill Those noisome Weeds which now my Fancy fill That happy Desolation past Fresh springing Joys shall crown my Soul at last Tears from the Sense of Sin will rise Contrition send the failing Springs supplies And draw sweet Dews of Comfort from the Skies Think how thy Life like Lightning flies How every Hour thy languid Nature dies Think on those dreadful Pains of Hell beneath Those lingring Tortures that immortal Death And wouldst thou hug the Viper still Whose deadly Sting will all thy Comforts kill Wipe off thy Sins at last for Shame In thy cold Breast blow up the sacred Flame And thy reforming Life by Deeds reform'd proclaim XXI Man is born to Trouble us the Sparks fly upward WEll then I 've search'd the wretched World around I 've search'd it thro and nothing else have found But constant Doubts and constant Woes I see how miserable others are I feel my self just lost in black Despair While endless Doubts my tedious Years compose I 've seen a mighty Prince enthron'd His Head with Gems embrac'd By suppliant crouding Vassals own'd And all th' Applauses of the Vulgar grac'd Yet Cares sate thicker on his clouded Brows Than Diamonds and rack'd his tortur'd Soul Dark Plots could all his midnight Slumbers rouse And Rebels all his glaring Bliss controul But he who to his Maker flies Above these earthly Fears above the World can rise Yet thoughtless Fools the pompous World adore And only covet its perplexing Store And raise alas
rebates Weak are thy best Designs and weaker far Than all thy humblest Apprehensions are Don't then my Son thy little Actions prize Nor let great Shows delude thy wandring Eyes Let not the World be sweet or dear to thee Nor fix thy Love beneath Eternity Be TRVTH thy Darling TRVTH thy Soul's Delight Thy Innate Vileness all thy Tears excite Thy Fears thy angry Talk thy Scorn and Hate Engag'd against thy inward sinful State Some with a careless Life but Curious Eye Would boldly thro my Mystic Secret pry Neglect their own and others Souls confound Till in a Sea of deep Temptations drown'd And for their mad Attempts and Godless Pride Down by revenging Strokes to endless Tortures slide Do Thou my Anger and my Judgments fear And don't too busy on my Works appear Thy Sins examine well thy Sins survey Thy frequent Negligence thy cold Delay Some on their Pray'r-Books or on Form and Show All their Devout deceitful Hours bestow They 'l Talk indeed but never Think of Me But those of Souls refin'd more clearly see And only pant and breath to reach Eternity Their Ears all Earthly Conversation hate Unwillingly on Nature's wants they wait They all the Smiles of flattering Worlds despise And higher still in Heavenly Vertues rise And spurn the Ball below and grasp the lofty Skies V. Love is strong at Death Believer TO Thee Eternal Father I With earnest Thanks and Praises fly Father By kind Adoption Mine My Saviour's by his Birth Divine Thro whom on wretched Me bestow'd Thy streaming Pity largely flow'd Blest ever blest be thy Great Name From whom my former Comforts came Who pitied oft unworthy Me For Mercy only lives in Thee To Thee to thy Eternal Son Thy sacred Spirit blest Three in One All humble Thanks all hearty Praise I 'll thro Immortal Ages raise O Gracious God! when once my Breast Is by thy sacred Love possest All Rapture then and Extasy My Heart and Soul shall wait on Thee O then my Hope my Harbour be When Seas of Tribulation compass me Weak are my Vertues weak my Love But O with Joys my Strength improve And with thy Heavenly Discipline Oft visit and my Soul refine My Passions my Affections guide That heal'd and throughly purifi'd My Love with brighter Flames may shine And Patience make me all and only Thine O what 's the Force of Heavenly Love How wondrous all its Motions prove It makes the Heavy Burden Light And always holds the Ballance right It can the Cross with Pleasure meet And make the Bitter truly Sweet Jesus that Name belov'd can raise The humblest Soul to grasp at Praise Make it to mighty Works incline And greater still and more design Love scorns the lower World and flies Like Flames to reach their kindred Skies Love hates Restraint and hates its Chains And always of its Clogs complains Sweet Love the roughest Souls can hold Enflames the Wise the Brave the Bold Makes Heaven the Rest of Saints above And God himself subsists in boundless Love The Lover smiles and springs and flies He 's free and every Bar defies Gives All to All yet keeps it All For he his God his own can call From whom the purest Blessings fall It 's not the Gift but Giver He Above all other Joys would see Love knows no Mean but burns and glows And ore its common Bounders flows Love never values Weight nor Pains Nor of th' Impossible complains But grasps at All and All can do If he who loves can be but active too Love watches in the Lover's Eyes And ne're fatigu'd nor fainting lies Love tho confin'd abroad can rove Unfrighted by the noisy Drove Love like a Torch or Astral Fire Will always tow'rds the Poles aspire If that bright Flame my Soul possess I soon to God shall find Access My God my Love my Life is mine And I Dear Lord am All and only Thine O then with Love enlarge my Heart To me that Heavenly Gust impart That I those happy Sweets may prove And always Live and always Love May Love possess me all and raise My Passions to a soaring Blaze Teach me to sing the Songs of Love And fly with Thee dear Lord above O fill me more and more till I A Phenix in those Flames may die More than my Self I 'll love Thee Lord If thou thy lightsome Beams afford And for thy sake I 'll all embrace Who love thy Glories and who seek thy Face Love when sincere is swift and warms With pleasant and delightful Charms It 's Brave and Patient Wise and True Long-suffering Manly ever New And never seeks it self but You. Love's Cautious Humble seeks the Right Not Soft Effeminate or Light But Sober Peaceful Firm and Chast A Guard on all our Senses plac't Love to its Guides Obedience gives And meanly of it self believes Devout to God and grateful proves And still by Hope's Prescriptions moves Yea tho its God His Smiles remove Since Clouds sometimes obscure the Skies of Love Fit Me for Suffering O my God O fit me for thy sharpest Rod For if I dare not smart for Thee No Lover's Name belongs to Me. All Hardship I for Thee can bear Thy Love can harshest things endear No Pains from Thee shall make me start While Grace unvails my Eyes and Love secures my Heart VI. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith Christ YEt still my Son thou' rt neither brave nor wise And Love's soft Name is but thy thin Disguise Bel. Why Lord Chr. Consider how thy Soul recoils Despairs of Comfort and desponds with Toils The valiant Lover like a Rock secure Can all Hell 's furious Arts unmov'd endure He loves me when he thrives and lives in Peace Nor can his Sufferings make His noble Ardours cease The Prudent Lover may the Gift admire But to the Giver most his Thoughts aspire The Worth but little to the Kindness seems The Giver He above the World esteems I not the Boon his restless Heart engage Yet Doubts don't straight a total Fall presage Love's Sweet and Good when fixt on Mine and Me Grace gave it Being and the Fruits may be The Foretaste of a Blest Eternity Grace yet may vary have its Ebbs and Flows And interrupt the careless Soul's Repose He 's Brave indeed who fights the Battel thro And Courage tho opprest with Odds can shew He breaks Hell's utmost Force and all his Loves are true Then let not fanci'd Beauties charm thy Sight Nor thy Sick Soul from righteous Ways invite Sometimes perhaps thy Joys are Raptures all And down straight to their former Weakness fall If thou to get an equal Temper strive That War may warm thy Soul thy dying Hopes revive Know then the Prince of Hell thy antient Foe Would all thy Faith and envy'd Hopes o'rethrow Thy Soul's Devotions from thy Maker turn And would against thy Saviour's Passion spurn He 'd fain divert thee from thy Sense of Sin From Vertue 's Progress and thy Guard within Fills thee with impious Thoughts
Thy Grace within my Heart to live That it may all my Fears survive Lord guide my Wishes guide my Will O make them seek thy pleasure still And gladly thy Commands fulfil O let my Pleasure Lord be thine To follow Thee my Thoughts incline And to thy sacred Laws confine What e're I wish what e're refuse Let Me thy sacred Book peruse And all by thy Directions chuse Lord make Me die to things below And thro' Neglect and Scorns to go For what thy wondrous Loves bestow In Thee let all my Wishes rest Let happy peace possess my Breast With thy supporting Favours blest On Thee my Dovelike Soul relies But when it out at random flies It only Floods and Storms descries In Thee O only Good in Thee My easy fearless Thoughts shall be Blest with immense Security XVI He alone comforts Vs in all our Tribulations Believer LORD while Here my Expectations Ne're pretend to Consolations Endless Comforts endless Blisses Oft engage my purer Wishes But on Earth I ne're shall find them But on Earth I ne're design'd them All the Joys of Earth possessing I should quickly lose the Blessing Look my Soul then look above Thee Let no common Pleasures move Thee God alone has Consolation He 's the Poors and thy Salvation Wait my Soul a while expect it He who promis'd won't neglect it But abundant Blessings send Thee And With flowing Sweets attend Thee If thy sickly craving Fancy Would to Earthly Joys advance Thee They 'l at last alas deceive Thee And Diviner Favours leave Thee Use the World but use 't in measure Grasping still at endless Treasure Slight the fawning Fairs Caresses Since ordain'd for greater Blisses All created Pleasures flowing And their softest Charms bestowing On Thee ne're could satisfy Thee But superiour Joys would fly Thee God alone who made can bless Thee And with true Delights possess Thee Not with those the World admires Nor what Folly mov'd desires But what faithful Souls delight in Pleasures pure and Sweets inviting Joys the cleanest Hearts attending While in Heavenly Flights ascending Short and vain are worldly Pleasures Fixt and sure Celestial Treasures Jesus too attends the Motions Of the pious Soul's Devotions And with Comforts round secures Him And of endless Life assures Him Jesus Dearest Lord defend Me And with guarding Flames attend Me And when Humane Comforts fail Me Let no dark Despair assail Me But thy boundless Goodness guide Me And reward Me when t' has try'd Me For thy Mercy fails us never And thy Anger burns not ever XVII Casting all your Care upon Him for he careth for You. Christ MY Son complain not murmur not if I With Thee the Methods of my Wisdom try I who alone thy utmost Wants descry Thou think'st as Men would think as sensless Fools Brought up in Reason's long Corrupted Schools Strangers to Faith and Hell 's uneasy Tools Believer Truth Lord thy Cares are more for Me Than Mine tho for my Self could be And He must stand but weakly sure Whose Faith can't rest in Thee secure Lord make my Will subscribe to Thee And act thy Pleasure then with Me For all thy Management will prove Th' Effect of Goodness and of Love If thou in Darkness chain me Lord Thy Goodness I 'll with Praise record If Thou with Light my Soul enflame I 'll sing to thy Illustrious Name If Thou my Heart with Comforts fill I 'll still adore and praise Thee still If laid in gloomy Dungeons low My Lips shall still with thy Immortal Praises flow Christ It 's all thy Duty Son The pious Mind Must always be to Providence resign'd And Sufferings welcome there as Joys must be And Wealth no more admir'd than slighted Poverty Believ For Thee Dear Lord I 'll gladly bear What e're thy Dispensations are Let Good or Bad let Sharp or Sweet Let Joys or Griefs around Me meet The Dole thy Gracious Hand shall leave For Me I 'll still with Thanks receive From Sins Dear Saviour keep Me clear And I nor Death nor Hell can fear O don't for ever Me disclaim Nor from thy Book deface my Name Then let a thousand Sorrows fall On Me with Patience I 'll support them all XVIII Thro' many Tribulations ye must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Christ MY Son to save Thee when I left the Skies I could a mighty Mass of Woes despise Freely I came from those blest Seats above Unforc'd by Power tho constrain'd by Love That Thou might'st with submissive Patience go Thro' all the Miseries of Life below From my first Birth till on the Cross I dy'd I still continued on the suffering side Great Wants and Curses loud and great I bore The Sinner's Follies and the Scorner's Store With base Ingratitude for Kindness I Was paid for Miracles with Blasphemy I preach'd the Truth but Ah too rarely mov'd The sinful Soul but was for sacred Truth reprov'd Believ Since Patience Lord thy Practice sway'd And all thy Father's Rules obey'd How humbly Lord should I fulfil A sinful Wretch thy gracious Will With what Submissions undergo The Pains of easeless Life below Tho Life's unwieldy Load oppress Thy Grace Lord makes the Burden less And He who can thy Footsteps trace May with thy Saints obtain the Race What strange Obscurities of Old Did thy peculiar Flock enfold When Jewish Bounds thy Church confin'd And few to Heavenly Joys enclin'd Yet then thy Blood their Bliss procur'd Thy saving Death their Lives ensur'd Else on the Gloom of Sufferings tost They 'd been in Woes Eternal Mazes lost To Thee what Praise then should We pay Who show'st the Good the Perfect Way Whence I and all thy faithful Seed May to Eternal Joys proceed Thy blest Example shows the Way And He who follows Patience may With Thee our Lord our Head appear And Crowns of endless Glories wear Thy teaching thy preceding Light Alone could backward Souls excite Who else a fatal Course had run By their own wandring Thoughts undone Thy Miracles thy Words Divine Could scarce our lazy Hearts incline But whither whither had we gone Had not thy saving Beams before our Footsteps shone XIX He endur'd the Cross despising the Shame Christ GIVE o're Complaints my Son give o're Those deep-drawn Sighs those flowing Tears Think what for Thee thy dear Redeemer bore Think what the dying Martyr bears Think what a Flood Of sacred Blood Think what a Sea of Crimson Gore From Me from all my dying Servants flow'd Yet Thine still safely fills thy Purple Veins While We endur'd a thousand Pains Strongly tempted deeply wounded And with Heaps of Woes surrounded Weigh well these mighty Sufferings then compare Thy own with their prodigious Share Blush if Impatience swell thy thoughtful Breast When with so small a Burden prest Nay look for more that if a Storm should rise No stubborn Murmurs may thy Heart surprize The more thy Soul to Heav'n resigns The more thy sacred Wisdom shines By Use the Burden lighter proves Say not Had nobler Hands the
Wounds bestow'd No mean disgrace from nobler Hands had flow'd But all my Spleen and Anger moves To see a base ungrateful Slave His Benefactor 's Passions brave An unoblig'd a great Man's Scorn I had without Reluctance born But here I Pardon crave Fond sensless Thoughts Where heavenly Patience grows It no such nice Distinction knows Ne're values Men nor Injuries But lifts its humble Eyes To Him whose glorious Hand bestows the Victor's Prize Talk not of Patience if thy Hand must choose Thy Burden or the Weight refuse Patience regards not What nor Who An Injury may do But to the sacred Exercise submits And easy under every Trial sits It the Creator not the Creature views And with submissive Eyes pursues Its Maker's Hand and can repose On what its Maker's Hand bestows He knows small Sufferings for his Master's Name A vast Reward may claim Not to Deserts by Justice paid But by free Goodness down to humble Hearts convey'd Up then for Wars prepare If Thou the Crown wouldst wear Patience if unfading found Patience may at last be crown'd If thou manly Deeds pursue The Promise is to Sufferers due Rest by Labour is obtain'd And Victory by Fighting gain'd Believer Help then O help Me Lord by powerful Grace Impossibilities deface Impossibility's no more When Grace has fill'd the Heart before Thou know'st my Weakness Lord how soon My Hope my Strength my Vigor's done Little I little can perform To stem the Tide or face the Storm O touch my Soul with Heavenly Love Till soaring tow'rd those Joys above Afflictions I with Scorn may view And still a steady Course pursue To suffer Lord a while for Thee Must bring Salvation sure and Happiness to me XX. Miserable and Poor and Blind and Naked Believ LOrd to Thee I 'll now confess All my own Unrighteousness All my own Infirmity I 'll acknowledg Lord to Thee Oft I 'm griev'd and oft dejected When with smallest Pains affected Oft a brave Resolve I take But the least Temptations shake All my Courage and confound Me When those Common Straits surround Me. Sometimes from the meanest Cause Hell a strong Temptation draws When a sudden Blast o'rethrows Me And from all Assurance blows Me. See my Wretchedness and see Lord what Weakness reigns in Me Save Me snatch Me from the Deep Lest I there for ever sleep Most this grieves Me most it wounds Me That my Lust so soon confounds Me Tho my Soul be ne're consenting Yet the Labours of preventing Too uneasy make my Life Wearied with the constant Strife Plainer still my Frailties show While corrupted Notions flow Fast upon my Mind but prove Tedious grievous to remove Dearest Lover Lord of Souls Whose Almighty Power controuls All above and all below Pity on thy Slave bestow All my Toils and Labours view And with aiding Grace pursue Fill Me with Celestial Strength Lest rebellious Flesh at length O're my fainting Mind prevail And my inward Wisdom fail Tedious Wars may fatal be And betray my self to Me. What a wretched Life is This Where we ne're can Sorrows miss Where Perplexities and Woes Crafty Friends and mighty Foes All my Steps around enclose Some departing more approaching And the Tempter more encroaching Sorrows still on Sorrows ride With a dismal pompous Pride Like the Higre on the Tide O who can love a Life distracted so All whose Streams with Wormwood flow Fill'd with Trouble bankt with Woe How 's that true Life which Death and Plagues creates Yet how great a Number rates All those Cares as Delicates They 'l cry The World is false the World is vain And yet from it can't refrain Lust will still the Field maintain The World to Us our fleshly Lust commends That our Pride of Life pretends That our greedy Eye defends But when we think of Griefs and think of Pains Griping Mischiefs weighty Chains Hatred then triumphant reigns A vitiated Tast the Mind deceives And so false a Gusto leaves As for Honey Gall receives God then the Mind can neither taste nor see Nor how Sweet or Gracious He Nor how pleasant Truth may be But those who throughly can the World despise To their Maker only Wise Love their Heavenly Exercise They know those Sweets to well-purg'd Minds ensur'd And of Inferiour Longings cur'd Live from the World 's false Snares and wheedling Arts secur'd XXI And now Lord what is my Hope truly my Hope is even in Thee Believ LIfe my Soul of Peace possest On thy Dear Redeemer's Breast He 's the Saints Eternal Rest Dearest Sweetest Jesus store Me with Love to love thee more Than I could the World before Make Me love Thee more than Feature More than all the Pride of Nature In the fairest softest Creature More than Honour more than Glory More than boundless Territory Or a Mighty Name in Story More than Subtilty or Parts More than Riches or than Arts Or the Joys a World imparts Make Me love Thee more than Fame Or the loudest sounding Name Or than Comforts Heavenly Flame More than all those treasur'd Sweets Hope in every Promise meets When it dawning Glory greets More than Merits or Desire Or than thy Superiour Fire Can with all its Beams inspire More than Pleasure more than Gladness Or a Mind when purg'd from Sadness Extasy'd to Holy Madness More than Captain Angels more Than those Spirits which before Thy All-glorious Throne adore More than I believe or see More than all on Earth can be Which my God which is not Thee Thou my Lord my God art blest Goodness centers in thy Breast God most High and most Puissant God most full and Allsufficient Sweetest Kindest Fairest Loving And thy Kindness still improving All that 's Good and Perfect we Can at once discern in Thee All thy noblest Gifts and Light Move me not nor e're excite My faint Wishes only Thee Lord I pant and long to see O my Heart can never rest Satisfy'd within my Breast Till my Thoughts above can rise All created Joys despise Far above all Blessings soar And with Thee thy Self adore Jesus O my Love my Spouse Lord of purest chastest Vows To Whom humble Nature bows O who 'l give swift Wings to Me That I might from Fetters free Fly to Heaven and rest with Thee When O when Lord shall my Heart Gain in Thee my Love a Part And discern how sweet thou art When shall I from Sins at leisure And possest with sacred Pleasure Long and Love beyond all Measure Oft I sigh and oft I groan Much my Suffering loud my Moan In this Vale of Tears alone Oft disturb'd distracted I Hindred clouded fetter'd ly And can't to thy Embraces fly Let my Sighs my Groanings move Thee Tho distrest on Earth I love Thee Let my Sighs and Groanings move Thee Jesus O Eternal Light With Immortal Glories bright Comfort of the wandring Soul Tho my Language Silence be Silence can be heard by Thee While I thus my self condole O how long how long Dear Lord When wilt thou one Smile
it like some fair Gem lost in the Quarry lies XXXIII My Son give me thy Heart Christ NE're in thy roving Thoughts my Son confide They 'l fix to Day to Morrow change their side While to a wretched load of Earth confin'd Thou 'lt suffer always by a changing Mind Now sad now pleasant now serenely blest Straight with a thousand inborn Storms opprest Deep in Devotions now but soon profane Now studious quickly in a slothful strain Now wondrous grave and soon as light vain The Man of sense that various Humours scorns While sacred Art his happy Life adorns On God his Polar Star he 'll fix his Eye Furl all his Sails and not to Windward ply But through rough Tides with Oars his Passage force And to his heavenly Port direct his constant Course Sometimes the wisest Christian Pilot may Encroaching Sleep's Lethean Drops obey Some humane Frailties Flesh and Blood surround And selfish Dreams the steddy Soul confound They seek for Heav'n but seek for Pleasure too And double Ways with double Hearts pursue So when blest Mary's Brother left the Grave And to his Master Death resign'd his Slave To Bethany the Jews in Troops repair'd With curious Thoughts but more alas prepar'd To gaze on Lazarus to Life restor'd Than to obey themselves their Lord's reviving Word Clear thy Intention first direct it true And then with steddy steps thy Holy Course pursue XXXIV That God may be All in All. Bel. MY God 's my All my Soul's desire How can I greater Bliss require Sweet Note dear charming Name to Me Who hate inferiour Vanity My God my dearest Lord my All I 'd oft the pleasing Sound recal How all things smile when Thou art here But dead when Thou withdraw'st appear Thou fill'st the peaceful Soul with Joy Thy Works thy chearful Saints employ Thy Name in every Work they praise And Trophies to thy Goodness raise Without Thee nothing sweet we find But when thy Grace adorns the Mind Then all things savour well and we Thy Hand in all thy Works of Wonder see Blest with thy Love we relish All Without thee nothing taste but Gall. Here witty Worldlings grosly fail Where Vanity and Death prevail But those who can the World subdue And Flesh and Blood with Scorn pursue Such happy Men are wise indeed Such happy Men to Truth proceed From Vanity from Flesh and Blood To all that 's Holy all that's Good The Creature 's noblest Character These to its Maker's Praise refer And can a just Distinction find Between the whole Created Kind And Him who made them and between What in our fleeting Years is seen And what includes Eternity Between that Light we daily see And that which centers in the Deity O Thou Eternal Light Divine With thy All-piercing Glories shine Quite thro' this gloomy Heart of mine Purge make me glad illuminate New Life within my Soul create And raise Me to a raptur'd State O come O come blest long'd for hour On me thy quickning Favours shower And let me feel thy nearer Power No Joys Dear Lord can perfect be Till I that happy Instant see And Thou art All in All to Me. Still Adam's Lusts in Me reside Not yet not throughly crucify'd They 've bled but never truly dy'd The Flesh against the Spirit arms My Soul with fiery Discord warms And with unceasing Wounds alarms O Thou whose great Command the Sea The rugged Waves and Winds obey O help O hear thy Servant pray With thy Almighty Arm surprize And crush my inward Enemies Who still in Arms against me rise O let me all thy Wonders view My Hopes my Shelter Lord renew While I thy Smiles alone my Lord my God! pursue XXXV Blessed is the Man who endureth Temptation Christ THY Life my Son can ne'r of Health be sure Unless thy Heart Celestial Arms secure While hellish Foes thy trembling Heart surround The Shield of Patience must repel the Wound Fix then on Me for Me resolv'dly dare For Me for Sufferings and for Wounds prepare So may'st thou blow the Flames of sacred Love And reach the Palms of glorious Saints above Thy Foes then with a Manly Force repel The Conqueror may be crown'd while Dastards sink to Hell Would'st Thou on Earth with Peace and Ease be blest Then never dream of Heaven's Eternal Rest Rest is a foolish Purchase here below For Patience all thy Studies here bestow True Peace springs out from Heav'n and not from Earth God not the Creature gives that Blessing birth Pains Sorrows Tortures Griefs Temptations Woes Wrongs Wants Reproofs Confusions Scandals Blows These fox the Love of God must all be born And Patience still the Sufferer's Life adorn These edg true Valour these the Christian Soul Beneath the Standard of their Lord enroll These Trials that unfading Crown compose Those Honours which entwine the Brows of those Who to endure the worst of Earthly Furies chose Or can'st Thou dream to live at Peace within Unmov'd by Scruples and unshock'd by Sin Such Ease no pious Saints of old procur'd But Cares Temptations Doubts and Fears endur'd They in their God and not themselves would trust True to their King to their Engagements just They knew these Woes could no Proportion bear To those bright Wreaths triumphant Martyrs wear Or would'st Thou Child with ease at once obtain What they could scarce with Tears and Labours gain No but on God with Manly Courage wait Take Comfort in him nor distrust thy fate And to his Honour with a chearful Note Thy Self thy Body and thy Soul devote I 'll pay thee and thy suffering State shall be A boundless Treasure of immortal Wealth to Thee XXXVI Be not afraid of them neither fear their Words tho Briars and Thorns be with Thee and Thou dwell among Scorpions Christ ON Me O let thy Heart securely rest A guiltless Conscience in a guiltless Breast The Censures of a thoughtless World may scorn Above their spite on Wings of Honour born It 's Godlike Great in all things to be good And yet by Malice falsly understood Tho Men are blind God visits Innocence And to his own will nobler Joys dispense The Faithless World will things at random call Nor could an Angel hope to please them all Great Paul devoted to his Master's Name First pleas'd his God then All to All became Yet lash'd by silly Tongues their Sense despis'd Scorn'd all their Censures by Heaven advis'd In holy Freedom still his Conscience exercis'd He all his Strength his Zeal his Wisdom us'd And saving Light thro' gloomy Worlds diffus'd The real Price of Humane Souls enhanc'd And their Instruction and their Health advanc'd Yet could not he a foolish World restrain Unscourg'd unjudg'd or undespis'd remain But when he found the World to Lies resign'd Noisy as Seas and faithless as the Wind Weak and Mistaken but assuming more Than suted with their Wit 's exhausted Store With humble Patience to his Maker He Referr'd his Case whose piercing Eye could see His spotless Innocence
Truth improve It 's Truth I would in others find O mayn't I be my Self to Lies inclin'd From Tatling and Credulity And Words which out unguarded fly He 'll keep Himself who 'd Peace pursue And He 'll reveal Himself to few To Thee great Lord of Hearts he flies No windy Words his Soul surprize But in his Thoughts and all his Deeds He by thy sacred Will proceeds That I may keep thy Grace Divine I shan't for fond Applause design Nor vulgar Air but carefully My Soul to Life reform'd and purer Zeal apply Man bloated up with empty Praise May like a slimy Meteor blaze But soon as shooting Stars appear And fall from his exalted Sphere But who in private spends his Days Not gaining but deserving Praise He thro' his Christian Course walks all in peaceful Ways XLVI Esteeming the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt Christ ON Me My Son fix all thy Pains and Care For empty Words are only empty Air. If Conscience sting to mend thy Life prepare If not think what thou for thy God could'st bear Frighted with Words canst thou contend with Blows Thy selfish Thoughts thy best Resolves oppose Scar'd with Reproach Fig-leaves thy Guilt would use And with a trifling Plea thy Coward Heart excuse Look thro' thy Bosom then O search it well Close there the World and vain Affections dwell Loth to be humbled or to blush for Sin Thou show'st that World still lives and reigns within Hear Me thou 'lt all inferiour Scandal slight Tho Malice should her utmost Force excite How should they hurt thee Son despise them all They from thy Head can't make one single Hair to fall God's Fear and Wisdom scorns the World's Disgrace And sober Faith will common Fears efface I the great Judg Mens common Practice know Who bears the Injury who gives the Blow I all the Thoughts of gloomy Hearts reveal Yet from themselves the secret Test conceal While to my Sentence Guilt and Innocence appeal Mens Judgments fail but mine unchang'd remain Obscure to Fools to Men of Wisdom plain To Mine then not thy Own Decisions stand The Just unmov'd may Fate 's last Force command Unvex'd with Malice and unshock'd with Lies Not Pride but Reason is his Exercise He knows I search the Heart and try the Reins No false Appearance e're my Doom restrains What Fools as Charity and Vertue prize Casts but an ugly Shade in my severer Eyes Bel. Just Mighty Judg Dear patient Lord To me thy Faith and Strength afford Thou knowst our frail Corruptions all How short my Sense and Wisdom fall Thou knowst what 's to my Self unknown I then should thy Chastisements own Mercy to Me O Mercy show And Pardon and thy Grace bestow Thy Mercy 's more indulgent far Than all our vain Excuses are Tho not self-conscious I should be Unfit to plead my Cause with Thee Without that Mercy I and All Beneath the weighty Strokes of dismal Vengeance fall XLVII For when He is tried He shall receive the Crown of Life Christ LET not my Son those Sufferings born for Me Those Sorrows thy tyrannic Conquerors be But let my Promise strengthen comfort Thee I can beyond the largest Thoughts repay Sorrows continue but for one short Day Wait humbly and they fly on Wings away The Time shall come when all that Pain and Noise Shall cease which now thy inward Peace destroys That 's short which only Time 's short Bounds employs Up rise to work with earnest Toils regard My Vineyard then I 'll be thy great Reward Write Read Sigh Sing Pray Cease thy Passions guard Such Exercise with Manly Courage bear That glorious Crown which thou at last shalt wear More Dangers may and sharper Toils endear I see I see the blest approaching Day No Night shall its Eternal Beams allay But thee to Rest and endless Peace convey who 'll from this Load of Death deliver Me How long shall I a mournful Pilgrim be Such Cries shall never more be heard from thee Death then shall yield and Life for ever last Thy cheerful Days no Sorrow's Wormwood taste With sweet Society and Splendor grac'd O couldst Thou see the Saints immortal Crown The Saints whom sensless Worlds of old bore down Their present Honours and their vast Renown thou 'dst soon be humble scorn the Joys beneath For God's dear sake embrace approaching Death And tho by Men despis'd Celestial Honours breathe Knew'st Thou but This could this thy Heart possess thou 'dst ne'r complain but think thy Sufferings less Compar'd with thy superiour Happiness Heav'n gain'd or lost is of a vast Concern Look up then thro' the Clouds thy Lot discern Mine and my Saints advancing Glories learn We who endur'd so many Wounds of old Peace now and Joys in full Possession hold In my Eternal Father's Royal Lists enroll'd XLVIII For the Things which are seen are Temporal and the Things which are not seen are Eternal Believer O Salem with Immortal Glories light O Day for ever ever bright Free from Clouds and free from Night Where Truth 's the Sun and sheds his gladsom Rays Where he diffuses cheerful Days And the same unchanging stays Sink wretched World O Day Eternal shine That Saints may bask in Beams Divine And may their blest Lot be Mine Those Days the Saints at Rest with gladness know We find these bitter here below Full of Mischief full of Wo. We 'r here defil'd with Sins with Lusts ensnar'd With Bugbear-Dreams and Terrors har'd And with endless Dangers scar'd Wild with too curious Thoughts and Fancies vain Opprest with Errors weighty Chain Rack'd with Wants and torn with Pain Or broke with soft delights all the Tempter's train When shall these Ills be past my Soul be free From Sins extream Servility So to think Dear Lord on Thee When shall I bathe in Joys immortal Springs And free from wretched Worldly Things Mount on Freedom's airy Wings When shall my Peace be solid full secure And firm on every side endure And my Saviour's Smiles procure When Lord shall I thy Kingdom 's Glories fee And make Thee all in all to Me And for ever reign with Thee Now I a poor a banish'd Wretch appear And now a thousand Sorrows bear While by Foes surrounded here Ah to an Exile Lord some Comfort give From Woes ray wretched Heart retrieve For in Thee my Wishes live Earth's Comforts are uneasy Weights to Me I long Dear Lord I pant for Thee Ah how ineffectually Dull Earth wild Passions check my Towring Soul When I 'd the lower World controul Lust alas subdues Me whole Thus Civil Wars distract my tortur'd Breast My Mind by Rebel Lusts opprest Loses all its private Rest How great 's my Torment while my Mind aspires To Heav'n but Carnal base Desires Quench the sacred rising Fires O don't in Wrath thy wretched Servant view But with thy pointed Shafts pursue And my struggling Lusts subdue Give Me but Wisdom I 'll the World deny And those Ideas vain
Thy Longings nothing could on Earth suffice Should'st thou but miss thy Maker there Thro Me alone in Price thy Blessings rise I all the noblest Gifts endear And canst thou dream large Hecatombs Should satisfy what God requires Think'st Thou I feed on what consumes With noisom Stench and in material Fires No I thy Self Dear Soul thy All command Give then O give thy Self to Me I leave my Body in thy faithful Hand I offer'd all my Self for Thee Dearly I 'm sure I purchas'd Thee Give then O give thy Self to Me But give it freely or the Gift will be A poor unworthy Sacrifice If I must only have a Part in Thee No happy Union thence can rise A Free-Will-Offering finds a place With God and to thy Self assures Vast Liberty and wondrous Grace Which none while of himself too fond procures I 've said Vnless a Man his All forsake He 's no Disciple fit for Me And wouldst thou one of my Attendants make From all inferiour Service free Wouldst Thou my blest Disciple be Give then O give thy Self to Me IX Offer unto God Thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the Most High Believer WHAT e're this Lower World contains Dear Lord is Thine And since a Free-Will-Offering Favour gains I here to Thee my Self resign Lord with a Heart sincere I freely offer up my Self to Thee My faithful Service and obsequious Fear A Sacrifice of Praise to be When I thy Self Dear Lord receive And round thy Table smiling Angels wait O don't my glorious Hopes deceive But let it be New Life to Me Let Me thy heavenly Grace thy Loves participate My Sins Dear Lord for Love of Thee I sacrifice Those Sins with which from early Infancy I durst offend thy sacred Eyes Lo at thy Altars here I cast them all O let thy burning Love Consume them Lord my sinful Conscience clear And all the Stains of Sin remove That Grace which Sin had lost before That Grace of which my Self my Self bereav'd O to my Soul Dear God restore Smile Lord on Me And let Me be To thy immortal Kiss thy boundless Peace receiv'd I 've sinn'd I 'm lost Lord what shall I For Pardon do I 'll at thy Feet with deep Confession lie And all my Tears for Guilt renew Atone my God for Me To Thee I 'll offer up unceasing Cries I 'll offer up unceasing Prayers to Thee Look down O look with gracious Eyes I hate my Sins I hate them All Lord I repent indeed I mourn and grieve O save Me from a future Fall My Sins pass o're Wash out my Score My Soul with Blood redeem'd with precious Blood relieve I here for Mercy Lord resign My Self to Thee O don't repay those black Deserts of Mine But in thy Goodness deal with Me My fairest Actions here Poor weak alas I offer up to Thee O let 'um grateful in thy Sight appear Adorn'd with Life and Sanctity My Soul for nobler Actions wing And Me a senseless Brute a worthless Slave By thy all-prudent Conduct bring To that blest Place Where well-us'd Grace Shall all the bright Rewards of full Perfection have Lord at thy Feet I humbly lay My just Desire For Friends Relations Benefactors pray And all who my Relief require For them thy Aids dispose From Pains from Dangers from Afflictions free Let them thy dear reviving Smiles disclose And sing their grateful Hymns to Thee Where others Lord have injur'd Me Where I have injur'd others O forgive O let our numerous Failures be All gently past And we at last In mutual Charity and God's Embraces live Lord let our doubtful Hearts be free From Jealousy From Wrath from Malice all those Crimes which we Oft in each others Tempers see And let thy Grace remove What e're Distrust in Christian Souls can raise Or Charity confound or murder Love Or Nature's crasy State betrays Mercy we Mercy Lord implore On needy Souls thy Mercy Lord bestow And Grace from thy unbounded Store Till happy we May live with Thee Where endless Mercy reigns and boundless Pleasures flow X. Not forsaking the Assembling of your selves together as the Manner of some is Christ WOuldst Thou thy Passions utmost Rage command Wouldst Thou against infernal Malice stand More watchful yet and stronger grow Here the Springs of Mercy flow Here I every Grace bestow Here my Servants kindly know Oft at my Altars oft prepar'd appear And oft thou 'lt meet thy mighty Saviour there Hell knows what Strength my Flesh and Blood can give And tries a thousand Means and Ways And all his subtle Art displays To make the doubtful Soul in pinching Hunger live When for my Supper pious Souls are drest They 'r oft by Hell's delusive Wiles distrest He 'll still among my Sons appear Scatter Care and sensless Fear And tho I my self am near Try to make Disturbance there Scorn then his Terrors tho deform'd and foul And let Himself beneath the Burden howl Let neither Sloth nor Coldness ravish Thee Hell's Malice nor imposing Art Enslave or turn thy yielding Heart When it on joyful Wings should fly to feast with Me. He 'll tell Thee Holy Cheat He 'll tell Thee there Thy Preparations should be more severe But Thou hast ne'r confest thy Sin Never let Repentance in Never cleans'd thy self within And wouldst now in vain begin If this be true fly dearest Soul O fly And at my Feet with deep Contrition lie Before my Priest thy Follies humbly lay He bears my sacred Character And his absolving Hands confer True Life on contrite Souls and Comforts cloudless Day Throw off Hell's Poison from thy fainting Soul Sins Burden from thy drooping Conscience roll Fly then dear Soul O fly to Me I 'll thy happy Shelter be Set Thee soon from Bondage free Fly dear Soul O fly to Me Name not to Morrow that 's a tedious Day Now now thy own Internal State survey Don't with some stupid Brutes my Feast forbear Lest They more firmly ty'd should be To save themselves and honour Me But let those Vows renew'd my sacred Feast endear How low's their Love's and their Devotion 's Tide Who can so soon from their Engagements slide How dear how truly welcom 's He Who preserves his Conscience free Lives in Faith and Purity And is always fit for Me Sometimes thy Soul 's touch'd with an awful Fear Or may for some important Cause forbear But if encroaching Sloth thy Heart detain O shake it quickly off and I Will to thy fervent Bosom fly And thou shalt Loves renew'd and glowing Fervours gain If justly absent let thy chearful Will Thy eager Thoughts approach my Altars still Live so adorn'd with Innocence Lively Faith and heavenly Sense As may leave Thee no pretence With Attendance to dispense But when the Son of God assum'd the Man When his dear bloody Death thy Life began When He shook off Death's Chains and climb'd the Skies When He the glorious Spirit sent New Loves for Loves renew'd present And let Devotion 's Flames with