the cause is tri'd 11. My generall advice is this Remember death must seaze on all Thinke and prepare O doe not misse Thy selfe against when death doth call In expectation daily die And willing be in dust to Iye 12. In doubtfull things men use to feare On certaine things men doe resolve What doth more plaine than this appeare That death must all ere long dissolve Why should a man whose time is short Jest at mens death with sinfull sport 13. Repent of sinne the sting of death There 's no such thing as many deeme In't though that he do stop thy breath Thou maist be great in Gods esteeme Hold in with Christ then sweetly sing O cruell death where is thy sting 14. Death to the best a gaine indeed Is they doe change this place of strife Though in the grave wormes on them feed Yet they shall have eternall life They doe but mellow in the dust Till God new mould and make them just 15. Have still thy heart on heaven set And keepe Gods love fresh in thy heart Though Death doe catch thee in his net 'T will not be fired out by art Love stronger doth than death appeare Such love will free thee from deaths feare 16. Let wicked men so tremble still At thoughts of death that they may leave Their sinnes let sorrow their hearts fill Ere death doth them of life bereave That they may learne to hate their sin And may a new life once begin 17. It 's best for those that live at full To set the worst before their eyes And rouse themselves for such are dull And have regard to poore mens cries You 'd best give bread while here you dwell Lest you your water beg in hell 18. Learne to know want in midst of wealth And die to riches while you live And thinke of sicknesse in your health Doe not content to humours give Life will not be so strange to these If thou from earth dyest by degrees 19. The foolish must know though 't is bad That death will take them all away Then are not such men worse than mad That drive off all untill that day Till they doe see needs they must die And they despairing quaking lie 20. Beat downe conceit and thinke thou art A foole indeed then thou maist learne To know the turnings of thy heart And maist true wisedome then discerne That thou maist then receive at last Eternall life when this is past 21. Let tender hearted men beleeve Their grace is true though 't is not strong Let not the thoughts of death them greeve They shall be freed ere it be long Gods strength is thine which will prevaile Against all feares that thee assaile 22. Those that be strong yet be falne downe And feares of death oppresse them so That they have lost their great renowne And God himselfe seemes like a foe Strengthen your hearts and feeble hands Rescue your selves from feare and bands 23. If you be cowards you will shame The cause your selves and others will Be fearfull when they heare the name Of death such frailties shew the ill Vse well the gifts that God doth give That though death comes your joy may live 24. And ever after have a care Of falling from your stedfastnesse You need not then to feare the snare Of death but heavens happinesse Will tend on you and you shall see The glorie of eternitie 25. Those that would leave a happie seed Behinde them when death throwes his dart Must pray and labour still indeed That God with grace may fill the heart That they may live to God below When they above Gods praises shew 26. And they that long to see the peace Of Sion ere they 'd leave their life Let them not grutch their lives to cease For death will free them from all strife In heaven they at last shall see Their freedome with felicity 27. Some willing are to die when they Are vext or want their wils in things They thinke they have no score to pay Though death them endlesse torment brings They ignorant of death remaine Till second death bring such their gaine 28. Some desperate persons that doe kill Themselves they seeke for 't which they finde The curse of God their soules shall fill The effect will not please well the minde The first fruits of hell may suffice To reape the crop such fooles devise 29. Some of a better making doe Sometimes in passion wish to die Such in distresse are foolish too And fret disdaining miserie But when God chides them quickly they Were sorry that they went astray 30. Those that are Gods the truth so grace Confesse they will unto the death They willing are to give the place To tyrants and to lose their breath Before they will deny Gods name They 'l give themselves to burning flame 31. Such that have peace with God above Do draw from earth their hearts content And with their sins are out of love And to all good their hearts are bent Their blessed'st life doth then begin When death doth set them free from sinne 32. But yet if God would have them stay A while on earth they willing are To doe his will their soules each day Confirme how ere the bodie fare When the body growes towards earth The soule brings forth immortall birth 33. The wicked still are in extreames They would not die if God should call They of this world have then such dreames Of joy which they 'l not part withall They 'r so be witcht to pleasure here There 's nothing else but death they feare 34. And others that God bids to save The lives of others and their owne They 'r brought untimely to their grave And by themselves are overthrowne Such feare not death but downe to hell They headlong rush and there doe dwell 35. I cannot chuse but I must chide Those that in sullen fits would die The worlds disgrace cannot abide For trouble that upon them lie They must of this with teares repent Or else of God they shall be shent 36. Can any suffering be too much For God his cause or glory when They shall have a reward with such In heaven these are blessed men That never share in troubles more They now rejoyce though sad before 37. Such as are willing for to yeeld Their lives to death for Christ his sake By Death they conquer in the field In losing life a better take They leave a dread upon all those That unto God and them are foes 38. Who would not willing be to part With earth for heaven when they have Got peace with God by gratious art And knowing God their soules will save For heaven let all those be prest That fitted are thus for their rest 39. Yet let not any grudge to stay Till they have done the worke that he Hath set them to spending their day In good while they here present be Returning still their pay therefore Worke now then thou need'st work no more 40. The more men do or suffer
assistants And you that for sinne acted such a part And 'gainst my truth have tried all your art Receive your doome for this will be your hire Ye cursed goe into eternall fire Where divels dwell and monsters doe inherit The fruits of sinne there each one hath his merit There you shall stay for ever and from me No light of comfort you shall ever see In sorrow you eternitie shall spend Depart from me for now you know your end FINIS POEMS CONCERNING DEATH AN INDIGHTMENT AGAINST DEATH by LIFE being Plaintiffe With the Event and Issue thereof LONDON Printed by John Dawson 1639. OF DEATH 1 Cor. 15. 56. Death where is thy sting Hosea 13. 14. O Death I will be thy death 1 Cor. 15. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death The Argument in charge to the Muse. ADdresse thy selfe my Muse to that sad tale Of Death though grim ghastly wan pale His looke feare not for I will see thee righted Speake bold for life thou need'st not be affrighted Accuse him answer with a sharp reply His vaine defence and sentenc'd let him dye A Plea against Death Lord now I have brought Death to be arraign'd A Traitor he already is proclaim'd To be against thy sonne the life of all The world that hath been are or ever shall Remaine on earth unlesse some course in hand Be taken now to cut him from the Land O let me never beare thy name in vaine To yeeld to Death my losse he counts his gaine Now let this tyrant be by thee destroy'd That hath so long so much my peace annoy'd An examination of the case a commana to speake their mindes What wouldst thou have done to him speak thy mind What he hath done that 's il that he shal find To him I shall returne againe like measure As he did mete I le open now my treasure Of wrath and vengeance and upon him poure And he shall know what 't is life to devoure I le heare you both now life speake what of Death Thou know'st death why he stroys living breath And testimony that about the cause You can produce according to my lawes For so I le Judge and give to each his right My truth appeare shall in all peoples sight The Indightment against Death in generall When thou at first didst breath me in the soule Of man alive he was who did controule His living state but death when he for ever Might then have liv'd with doing his indeavour But fearfull Death did stare him in the face And did his glory utterly disgrace His name was fearfull and men at it bend The thoughts of Death brought forth untimely end To some the rest that liv'd the course of nature The feare of him did weaken so their stature That when he came he had not much to doe Halfe dead before for they were sinfull too And captives like he chain'd them in the grave Close prisoners none out of his hands could save A man so cruell as it doth appeare Men durst not aske he kept them so in feare He scorn'd to take a courtesie from any Nor did regard their teares though nere so many The old mans plaint he never did regard The strong mans valour with death did reward The young mans person never did respect The infants smiling ever did neglect The virgins beauty he did still defie The fathers griefe he slighteth presently The mothers weeping he did still disable Although she mist her children at the table The childe though kneeling begs life for his father Then death in fury saith he 'l have him rather The loving daughter seekes life for her mother But death lookes in and cries give me another The masters cares considers not a whit The servants paines with death so payes he it The Bridegroomes joy he turneth into sorrow The Brides delight today he spoyles tomorrow Or any one that sueth for his friend If he grieves much death brings the sooner end On him but helpes him not a jot but brings On all men death and kils all other things Thy servants Lord that were by me maintain'd In all the world yet death hath all them gain'd And while they had a being here on earth They trouble had but seldome knew what mirth Did meane yea some of them that I am sure Through feare of death a bondage did endure At home abroad or ever where they went They still did thinke his bow was ever bent No comfort in the world then did they take Of any thing that God did for them make I was to them aburthen yet they call For joy but then the King of feare spoyl'd all And fresh discō for t brought into their harts Frighting their mindes death breeds such inward smarts The thoughts of death bring out the guilt of sin Annoye without distemper all within And to this day it is his practice still With darts of death the bloud of all to spill Where as he findes me he doth hate me so His venome spits and is a cruell foe The birds the beasts the fish all that have sense A suit of death against him doth commence And he by might doth ever get the day And as his right he takes them all away The plants that live a bare life and no more Scarce men can see life in them 't is so poore Death findes it out as plainly doth appeare And kils their fruit some once some twice a yeare At last the stock to death must give a place For fruit and stocke death doth at last disgrace Nay if there were of persons or of things A world of millions more he 'd use his stings Till all were gone if thou didst not restraine His power then still like a King he 'd raigne The more he slayes the more he doth desire The lower men are he is rais'd the higher He hath confest the ruine of mans life Is that he seekes he gaines they lose so strife Hath been betwixt us ever since the first I doe perceive he for mans bloud doth thirst Till he himselfe doe die he 'l never cease To kill his name 's enough to stroy mans peace Against Death in particular What have I done that death should envie me Was I not made to quicken men by thee Why then should death a greater power have I being free to make me like a slave If I doe ill correct me with thy hand But why should Death have me at his command Death had his being at the first by sinne And as a vassall to him still hath been Sinne goes before then Death he takes his place They both conspire against mans living race For they agree in all that suits with evill And with consent doe gratifie the Devill For his device and subtill slights that he Did still invent brought all to miserie Should Death that by thee never being had And workes for sinne O this is too too bad Rule over all that goodly worke of thine To spoile it too his malice doth
againe let Sathans will be crost And then will I thy goodnesse still unfold And cause poore sinners mercy to behold Hee findes successe in his suit with God Alas poore man I pitie on thee take I doe intend thee my redeem'd to make Thou shalt from sinne and Sathan be set free Onely thou shalt be servant unto me I heard thy mone my bowels could not stay To grant thy suit no longer I le delay Thy dreadfull passion came before my sight Then my compassion sent down heavenly light I will thee make an instrument of praise To fight with sin and Sathan all thy dayes Seeing I have brought thy soule and body back From hell whether sin commanded thee to pack And after thou hast serv'd me herein love Then thou shalt dwell with me in heaven above And sin and death that sought to ruine thee Shall be arraign'd and both condemn'd by me The nature of Death with his unsatiable speech and lamentation VVhen death by sin had once possest the earth And found that man was mortall made by birth Still since that time he strikes at all mankinde As well the great as those that come behinde The first man living though a mighty King Death ventred on and struck him with his sting All good bad that liv'd in ancient time Though some liv'd long yet some died in their prime The best that ever on the earth had breith Though free from sin yet was not freed frō death So till this day experience proveth true He darts down some and claimes the rest for due His hungry jawes will ner'e be satisfied While one doth live and on the earth abide And if that once the man that lives he have Brought down to death he bars him in the grave And so triumphs and rules among the slaine For where his kingdome is there he doth raigne When he hath pill'd the world of all her store Though this is done yet still he wishes more O that there were an other world or two I would to worke and make no more adoe O that I mght but use my kingly power Then I would seek mans ruine every hower Graves yeeld no food that give me such content As living flesh to that my mind is bent Nothing there is so pleasant to my taste As lives of men when I doe lay them waste What am I made a King but for a time No power can I use amongst the flime Unlesse it be the silly wormes to slay That can I in the least part of the day I thought I should have been a King for ever Sin set me up I doing my indeavour Perform'd the worke that I was bid to doe I fear'd no man for I was hardy too Assure so quicke for in a little space All nations people were brought in deadly case And must I needs give ore this mighty trading Which cōstant was though all the world was fading This is not all I think I heard some say I must be bound ore to the judgement day If it be so I my defence will make As Kings of all their subjects place doetake Untill that time you 'l heare no more of me How stands the case then all the world shall see Sinnes probable destinie Sinne 's now accus'd with all his sinfull crimes Laid to his charge 't is corrupt are the times The righteous man which doth against sin stand Is very like to have the upper hand Unto the seate of Justice sin is brought An equall judge doth never stand for nought But tries the truth and gives to each his due When once of it he hath had a carefull view Sinne being apprehended is accused before an impartiall Judge Sinne hath me vext ere since I had a being And all men else that carefull are in seeing Shall finde him plotting mischiefe with his will VVith malice murther striving for to kill The seed of good that in mans heart are sowne And every plant that is not of his owne If one be good that hee would from him take If one be bad he tries him worse to make From bad to worse from worse to worst of all More could I say sin counts these things but smal Sinnes vile answer and Request Answer to this what is this true or no T is all but lyes he is my deadly foe He speakes for malice his words have no savor Hee 's but a foole and thinkes to curry favour Because forsooth I am not so precise Though I doe sweare he tells as many lies He hates my waies and I hate his as much I doe him scorne as also loath to touch What though in mirth I take my liquor well What though I brawle rail with them I dwel What though I play and sport both day night Though I blaspheme and court what I might I force no man if I can any draw With craft or fraud I hold it in good law This I will add I 'le open all my store Seeing he is vext I 'le vexe him ten times more Because indeed I doe not often pray And when I doe my heart shall be away He 'd have me read and heare a blacke reproach Poore foolish things yet farre above my reach Pray Sir consider this and free me quite Out of the hands of this malicious wight The Impartiall Iudge his answer he turnes over Sinne and Death to be tried by the Judge of the world Now well it is I heard you each oue single But thy vile words have made my eares to tingle What he did say thy words have now made worse What cāst expect but Gods eternal curse His words are true thine most unjust appeare Sin 's the Delinquent the Righteous man I cleare I le turne thee over to that righteous Judge To whom the world must yeeld though many grudge There thy confession shal be on record Besides the rest that will come word for word I have no baile must I in prison lye That matters not from God thou canst not flye And Death of whom I heate such ill report I understand to be thy great confort Call him to me it 's no matter let him stay Both are reserv'd unto a greater day The righteous man that did thee apprehend Will ruine thee thou canst it not defend And Death by Life will be und one also Your seeming friends each one will turne a foe The Righteous man hath leave granted to prosecute Sinne and Life to prosecute Death Who 's that below that faine would speak with mee A poore sinner Lord that lies in miserie What is that other which by thee doth stand Lord this is Life that doth preserve a land What would yee have speak both for both have breath Free me from sin Free me likewise from death What hath Sin done or Death seeing you desire Sin promis'd good but death comes for sins hire Here they are both give us both leave to speake If thou deny Lord both our hearts will breake Both speak your minds the Saints I made the