life Lord heare my Prayer take fleshly lusts away 1 Ep. Pet. 1.2 and give my Eyes no power to lust at all But on such things as lawfully I may use for to make the pride of lise to fall Quit of all these take heart be of good cheare Run forth thy Race Psal 37.1 be patient doe not feare Christs Love to Man THe true Elect Heb. 12.2 by true effectuall Faith beleeves that Christ by death hath them redeem'd A Prophet Priest and King all three he hath perform'd in Office so deare he us esteem'd That nothing should be wanting for our good His Fathers wrath he hath appeas'd with blood Dare mortall man be bold as to desire but that the God of gods hath it reveal'd His working spirits makes mortalls to admire that our Salvation should not be conceal'd For wretched man had neer thought to have sought it Had not Gods love and Christ with blood have bought it This blessed Jesus the Author of our Faith with Heavenly joy did guide the way before And finish all for so the Scripture saith that on the Crosse with shame he clear'd our score For he doth fit upon a glorious Sear 1 Ep. Pet. 3.22 One Gods right hand for our poor Soules to pleat An Article of our Faith He suffered under Pontius Pilate MOurne mortall man in dolour of thy heart with sorrows sad and sighes lament thy sin Christ Heaven forsakes Isay 53.4 He suffered to beare a hellish smart and took our base infirmities of him And for a time he made the Earth his stage To free us mortalls from his Fathers rage Tiberius then in Rome did beare the sway and had the Jewes obedient to his power Under Pontius Pilate Sent Pontinus Pilate his Debuty away whose strict commands made all the Jewes to lowre Yet for to please his Conscience did Condemne unjustly judging led by wicked men Ioh. 19.16 The Lord of Life he did condemne to dye 1 Cor. 2.8 by providence he judged unto Death That no Death else but that could testifie VVas crucâ—fied the Lambe of God deprived of his breath All former Types and Prophesies of him He did fulfill and clear'd the Just of sin For to make good his Death he buried was Dead and burâ—ed Ioh. 19.41 within a Tombe where never none was layd To make it safe a Guard on it did passe a jealious feare did make the Jewes afraid That his Disciples his body should convay Mat. 27.64 And on the Night should steale his Corps away But by his Power for he himselfe was Power Ioh. 10.18 The grave is sometimes takâ—n for Hell Mat. 28.6 Act. 2.24 Psâ— 16.10 Hâ—â—eâ—cended into hell not locally Hos 13.14 he from the Grave did powerfully arise Mans Enemy grim Death he made to lowre triumphingly the Grave he did despise For none but Christ he had the power alone Free from Corruption was this holy one Then it is said to Hell he did descend by Hellish paines he must worke mans salvation Not locally for then I should offend among the damned doom'd unto damnation As man being there be never could returne But evermore in fiery torments burne Where shall we finde that Christ perform'd his Passion not with the Damned Christ in his passion neither in the Grave But Praying in the Garden as it was his fashion paine prickt his heart sweat blood and there to have The paines of Hell Gods wrath within a Cup VVhich could not passe before he drunke it up This was not all much more then this must be mockt Indured the shame despised the crosse All is finished Mat. 27.46 Psal 22.7 Rev. 5.1 Gen. 49.9 Rev. 5.5 and arraign'd condemn'd his Life to lose Most shamefully be nayl'd unto a Tree and Crucified upon a wooden Crosse There finisht all that he did undertake When he did cry My God doth me forsake This crying Lambe he undertook Seaven Seales to open and the book Of Judahs Tribe this was the Lyon That brought all joy and peace to Syon This holy Lambe Ioh. 19 16. our soules to gaine Was by the Jewes and Pilate slaine Gods onely deare beloved Son Sinne Devill and Death did overcome Look on him Lord yet bleeding see It is his blood that saveth me I thanke my God Eph. 3.6 this Faith I hold Thy promise Lord doth make me bold A Heaven on Earth REading an Author that I will not name who saith the Elect beginneth Heaven on Earth And for my part I will beleeve the same for joyes are great that 's found in a new birth VVhen God grants grace to rule and guide the heart There is no feare true Faith will doe his part VVhat comfort more when Saints by Faith doe hold that God in glory fills the heavens with light No Summers heat to feare nor VVinters cold the Sonne of Sonnes is ever in their sight There joyes and dayes are endlesse in their length Seen of all Saints but not with equall strength God in his mercy will our workes regard but for our merits they are nothing worth Cold water in a Cup he will reward and Martyrs blood by Tyrants powred forth They both shall be content to their desire But for desert they nothing can require Strive then on Earth in Heaven to have a place effectuall Faith and Grace will guide the way Let hope thee help be sure in any case and love of God will force thee for to Pray Then Pray in Faith it will thy soule prepare The world to scorne in Heaven to have a share The Soules Complaint O Lord when I doe summon up my sins they mount to be in number numberlesse Psal 50.17 Isay 57.15 Psal 50.1 Then godly sorrow in my soule begins and cryes for mercy in my great distresse For mercy Lord for mercy I intreat Thy mercy farre exceeds my Sins though great Look on the wounds before thy face that bleeds it was my sins that made those mortall wounds Thy heavenly food my soule with comfort feeds thy blessed Promises in all my sences sounds Joh. 6.47 My sinnes are pardoned for I trust in him VVhose bleeding wounds doth wash away my sin And now my soule prepare thy selfe to take those sacred signes that Christ hath Instituted Receive by Faith they will thee joyfull make his righteousnesse be to thy selfe imputed That is the Robe that makes us Rich in Grace And shine like Saints before his glorious Face The Soules request toGod before the Communion TRy Heart Mat. 5.8 and Reignes without within Lord cleanse them cleane and make them pure Plucke up by Roots all sorts of sin thy blood Isay 53.5 Isay 43 4 O Lord my wounds must cure And being cured Lord by thee My soule shall live eternally As sure as I doe Eate the Bread My inward thoughts at the Communion Ioh. 6.51 and in my stomacke it disgeast By Faith upon Christs Flesh I feed a misticall and holy Feast And when I doe receive the Cup and Drinke the VVine my Heart doth say It is Christs blood by Faith drink 't up then I give thanks and thus I Pray Now then in me and I in thee Iâ—h â— 56 My Prayer after the Communion Joyn'd fast in Faith knit one in one Lord let us never parted be Till heaven take soule and earth the bone And both at Resurrection Rise Ioh 19.27 By Gods great power made one againe Then I shall see thee with these Eyes And ever prayse thy holy Name All Glory be to God above That fills my heart with joy and love A Friendly Admonition to the Quakers O Lord my God give grace to guide my Pen To write the truth of these vild wicked men VVhich doting drives into the Hunters snares To breathe out Curses when they should use Prayers Confound their Pillars or convert their Rockes Mis-leading Leaders cursed Nayler Fox False Zeale and Spirits makes them boast and cracke For Gilpin said they have both White and Blacke These men take pleasure on the Sabbath Day To trouble some almost as bad as they Those that dare Preach not Call'd by holy order Mat. 7.15 With Hands layd on approv'd by Heavens Recorder Doth runne themselves in danger of their Maker For to be punish'd equall with the Quaker These hold that they once call'd can sinne no more Though Thiefe or Robber Traytor or a Whore Against all truth and Conscience they aspire To guard damn'd Doctrine and make truth a lyar Ioh. 1.8 That crys we are damn'd in every Towne and Street This bids Repent I hold that Doctrine sweet But both are led with such a subtile guide That shoots the strait Mat. 7.13 and runs the way that 's wide Lord cleare their Eyes that they may see the evill And save their soules from running to the Devill They say the day of Judgement is at hand That I beleeve for I doe understand That Christ himselfe fore-told of such a Sect That should deceive but never his Elect. This Sect lay close six hundred fifty Yeare One thousand more yet never knowen here Audatious Rebels that wrongs our Heavenly King Assumes that Honour that is due to him You say you are the Life the Truth the Way What have you left to whom are we to Pray What doe you thinke we take you to be gods Presuming thus there is but little odds O wretched wretches know you are but men And dye you shall take heed of Judgement then Christ is the Life which life he freely gave His faithfull servants and Elect to save Christ is the Truth you dare it not deny He led the Way when he was plea'd to dye Was Buried Rose Assend then seen no more Be faithfull follow the way is made before Stand still and study and blush you are amisse And cry for mercy while there mercy is Love not that Spirit that maketh all this strife Confesse you are no way no truth no life FINIS
Watch over the Soule REst now my Soule have care to kill the power of Satan every day With feare worke thy Salvation still trembling sobbing Phila. 2.12 sighing Pray To keep thee from that wicked thought for now the Devill begins to rore That sins no fin a thing of nought 1 Ep. Pet. 5.8 Heb. 10.26 and man once call'd can sin no more Thus David must confirme a Lye and Paul to write that is not true 1 Ep. Ioh. 1.8 Psal 51.3 Rom. 5.12 Rom. 3.9 10. Luke 22 62. 2 Cor. 10.18 Sure sin did cause Saint Peter cry these men they were as good as you Audatious woefull wretched Sect this Devilish Doctrine to maintaine You cannot cousen Gods Elect Lament Repent and Blush for shame Psal 118.28 The God of Heaven I serâ—â— alone Ps 118 28. he is a God of Majestyâ— My God sits on a glorious Throne this God I serve and none but He I thanke this God that gives me grace to call upon him Night and Day I hope to see him Face to Face that gives me grace in Faith to Pray Vpon a Cracke of Thunder I Know O Lord when thou dost speake Thy Voyce makes all the Clouds to breake Lord grant me Grace when I doe Pray My Prayers may peirce to Heaven a Way And from that Place an answer bring Thy Prayers are heard Rejoyce and Sing All Honour Prayse and Thankes to thee One Glorious God in Persons three Pauls Determination For I Determine not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 A Godly Preacher gave a touch A man may sinne in knowing much The Devill did winke gave Eve a Nod And tould her They should be as God But Eate one Apple of that Tree Gen. 3.5 And you shall know as much as he This Knowledge was the fatall fall Of Adam Originall knowledge Eve Man-kind and all Philosophers all things 〈◊〉 know Naturall knowledge That Naturally on Earth doe Grow As Hearbs and Treet of every kind By Knowledge they their Vertues find But gods for God 1 Cor. 8.4 they fondly faine Doting on phaneies idle braine Against the God of gods they sin Ver. 5.6 Gives Nature that that 's due to him There is that knowledge doth affect 1 Cor. 3 2 And seems to know like Gods Elect They sinne and feed themselves with hope And give their Conscience too much scope A general knowledge A generall Faith they hope is good That Christ for all did spend his blood But know poor Soule what ere thou be Iohn 11.26.27 Thou must beleeve he dyed for thee Some use their Knowledge for to gaine That being got they finde but vaine Rom. 14 1. Some bend their knowledge to Dispute So Vice seems sinne for to Confute Some use their knowledge to finde Grace Iohn 17.3 Rom. 3 24. Effectuall faith That dare look sinne into the Face So some there is that knowledge have Effectually their Soule to save It s deep to know the Misterie That 's VVrit in holy Historie A Sonne borne of a Virgin pure Isay 7 14. That Balme of Gillead all will Cure It is deep knowledge for to know Deep knowledge That God and Man should live below Upon the Earth yet had no sin No fraud nor guile was found in him 1 Ep. Pet. 2.22 Wilt thou have knowledge that shall last Then fix thy Faith on Christ so fast As he was nayl'd upon the Tree Lasting knowledge So fast thy Faith one him shall be That mortall Death shall not thee dant Nor Fier of Hell shall make thee pant For Christ his Death by Faith I know The power of sinne doth overthrow All this knowledge Paul rejects Christ Crucified that he affects Pauls Desire CHrist Crucified on the Crosse Mat. 27.25 Rom 5 1. by Faith I have in him Doth cleare me from the Law and Curse that 's due to me for sin Thy suffering Lord shall mortifie my Flesh that 's fraile and vaine Thy buriall it doth testifie Mat. 27 â—0 that thou as Man was slaine Thou didst Descend yet by thy power didst Rise Mat. 28 6. and then Ascend Into that heavenly glorious tower where joyes shall never end There thou on Gods right hand doth sit Heb. 10.12 â— Ep. Pet. 2 5. and pleads for thine Elect That they with thee a place may git a glorious prospect This is the knowledge that I crave all other shadowes be This fixed knowledge I would have Christ Crucified for me A Spirituall King For he must reigne till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 A Glorious King doth sit in Heaven Acts 7 5â— which is the King that I affect Seen upon Earth by holy Stoven and dwells on Earth with his Elect Iohn 6.50 Yet not in Pompe nor State at all but Spiritually Majesticall To his Disciples he gave Power on Earth to Teach Preach and Baptize Mat. 10.7 Acts 2.38 That still remains untill this hower to them he calls and rightly rise With Hands layd on by holy Order confirm'd approv'd by Heavens Recorder This King hath Lawes for to observe which all his Subjects must obey His little Flocke he will preserve from either Wolfe or Lyons Prey Sinne and Vice Death Devill and Hell 1 Cor. 13.55.56 he in a moment will expell Reigne he shall and Raigne he must Vntill his Foes be trod to dust Another of the same THe King of Kings in Heaven doth sit in State The kings foes He hates his Foes his Foes him deadly hate The Devill as Chiefe his kingdome to advance 1 The Devill 1 Peter 3.8.9 Keeps Carnall men in simple ignorance Makes them beleeve because they cannot Reade They neither hope not help of Scripture need Rome Rome beware that close this sinne doth smother Makes Ignorance to be Devotions Mother Ignorance 2 Ep. Pet. 3.5.8 The Devill hath yet a keene sharpe-headed Arrow To pierce the bones and sticke fast in the Marrow He telleth youth he may Repent in time And spend in pleasure all his yeares of prime Make Drinke thy darling let loose the reignes of Lust Gods made of Mercy Prolonging repentance he never tells he 's Just When scores of yeares doth turne thy Haires Gray Its time enough for to Repent and Pray And having brought him in this sad Condition Death shoots his Dart and ends the Devils Commission And now an Enemy of great power doth spring Drawes many Subjects from this Heavenly King The VVorke-mans worke against him doth rebell The world He made the VVorld and it drawes Soules to Hell God made it good but now it is abused By wicked men that 〈◊〉 their God refused The Gold of Ophir makes VVorldlings to offend And Silver Mindes will never make them mend When Honour prickes Ambition to the Heart It makes him Cart-horse to vaine-glories Cart He pulls and sweats it turns on Fortunes VVheeles
And sneaking Envie runs at honours heeles At length it mounts upon the Mount Parnasses Then brought down head-long with a Teame of Asser O wretched man The Vse the Devill he is too cunning He never tells thee that thy Glasse is running That Ignorance is no excuse at all Delaying time oft proves thy fatall fall The VVorld a VVitch drawes men into a Maze That still he runs untill he run his dayes Turne backe betime Repent and Cry for Grace VVhen Christ appears sinne hath an ugly Face Now last of all grim Death must yeeld his Power This glorious King will make that Tyrant cower Death Devill and Sinne must all be forc'd to yeeld And King of Kings have Glory in the Field Thus all his Foes being troden under Feet He sits triumphing in a glorious Seat An Admonition for Children LOve and obey thy Parents in thy heart Prov. 6.20.21.22 23. where ere thou goest they 'l leade thee on thy way VVhen thou dost sleep they will not from thee part and when thou wakes they 'l move thee for to Pray That God will blesse them and increase their store That is the way to make thy blessing more Feare their Commands they are a lampe so cleare that they will make thee vertuously to live Thy Fathers Care and Mothers Love is deare and good Instructions they are bound to give VVhich being followed mittigates all strife And brings the Child into the way of Life Luke 1.60 BLest be the God that 's Israels Lord for his kinde Visitation VVho sent to us his Divine VVord that wrought our Soules Salvation From Davids Loynes and Jesses Root a Vine did spring upright That spread all Israel about a glorious Lampe of Light Thy holy Prophets did declare that we should saved be To keep that Promise that thou Sware thy Covenant to free Vs to deliver from the hand and feare of all our Foes In holinesse upright to stand till Death our Dayes inclose And thou O Child and Prophet Great prepare the way thou must Through sorrows sad and bloody sweat for to Redeeme the just Through tender mercy God gave Grace from Darkenesse Day to bring And made our way to perfect Peace from Jessâ—â— Root to Spring 2 Ep. Tim. 2.8 Meditations of Saint Steven POndring with Admitation how Paul was wrapt to Meaven I had a Meditation upon the Death of Itoven All faithfull Martyrs may by Faith see all things fitting Heaven ope more cleare then Day and Christ ia Glory sitting Acts 7. â—5 This Martyr was the first that see from Earth to Heaven A Comfort to the rest that sheds their blood like Steven The Glory of the Trinity SAint John came poor had neither Gold nor Mony but yet he had the Spirit of Elias His Meate was Locust and a little Honny Mat. 3.4 he Preached Repentance and Cured Hezekiah I never Read he ever Preached of Merrit or workes of men could Heavenly joyes inherit In Jerdans Flood John did Baptize indeed Ver. 17. and thither did our blessed Saviour come From Heaven a Dove descended on his Head ver 16.17 a Voyce was heard this is my loved Sonne Blest Eyes and Eares that there did heare and see without dispute the blessed Trinitie Herod that Fox accuseth John the just Mat. 14.3 for speaking truth to Prison he must goe A Dancing Damsell and unlawfull Lust ver 6. joyn'd joyntly both poor John to overthrow A damned Beldame of a cursed Seed ver â— 10. betraide poor John and made him lose his Head The Guides to Heaven VAine-glory Honour Pleasure Pride Psal 45.10.11 Idolatry and Lust VVhen Pharaohs Daughter is a Bride She must lay in the Dust Then Marry her to Canaans King She will content his mind Such vertuous Beauty for to bring leaves Egypts sinnes behind Even so my Sovle thou Christ shalt take thy Husband for to be And all thy former sinnes forsake and make thy Conscience free Not giving way to any one for one thy Soule may kill But give to Christ thy Soule alone who will all joyes fulfill Though Flesh be fraile Fight doe not yeild give no Consent be sure Unfaigned Faith must be thy Sheild it shall thy Soule secure True Charity must be thy Guide hold Hope fast by the hand Thy holy Angell Guards thy side so walke to Canaans Land Pauls Counsell to the Gentiles SAint Paul was Call'd the Gentiles for to Call 1 Cor. 11.18 And to Convert them to the Christian Faith He Preach'd with Power to Comfort them with all And gave them Counsell as the Scripture saith First try themselves by true Examination And then to take the Signes of their Salvation Forget forgive and make thy Conscience cleare Thy Darling Sinne pull up and throw away A Contrite Heart joyn'd with a godly feare Will worke this Faith that Christ thy debts did pay Upon the Crosse have but this strong beleife This saving Faith redeems thee from thy greife Sinne was the Cause thy sorrows are so great Let godly sorrow drive away thy sin It is but folly for to chafe and fret Rely on Christ and put thy trust in him Repent in Heart and Christ thy Soule shall feed VVith Angels Food in Signes of VVine and Bread Holy Advice BY holy VVrit I heard it prov'd at large That we our selves to God should reconcile 2 Cor. 5.20 Not to delay the time was given in charge But to Repent and drive sinne to Exile For Christ our Christ for sinne hath borne the smart The Nayles his Flesh the Speare did pierce his Heart Iohn 19.34 Ver. 21. He had no sinne for me he was made sin Christ onely Christ must pacifie Gods wrath Angell nor Man nor any thing but him This to beleeve is true effectuall Faith Lord I beleeve help thou my unbeleefe Make strong my Faith like to the dying Theefe Luke 23.43 A true Faith TAke time before for he is bald behind Stretch forth thy hand and take him by the locke Be strong in Faith and thou shalt Comfort find Gates being shut it is too late to knocke Mat. 25.10.12 Christ lov'd me so when I was at a losse To gaine my Soule he Dyed upon the Crosse Thus he the Just for me unjust was slaine The Righteous for the unrighteous Dyed The way to Heaven a fixed Faith makes plaine If that thy Faith be the right way applyed I doe beleeve that Christ did Dye for me Doe thou the like and then he Dyed for thee A holy Desire SEarch thou Psal 139.23.24 O Lord my heart at ground and rip it up in every Vaine All wickednesse that may be found pull up by roots I feare no paine And if I harbour any thought that is contrary to thy will Grant me that grace to count it nought and banish it for being ill Lord let me see my wicked wayes and grace for to abhorre the same All Glory Honour Laud and Prayse ascribe I will unto thy Name