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A26856
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Additions to the poetical fragments of Rich. Baxter written for himself and communicated to such as are more for serious verse than smooth.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1683
(1683)
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Wing B1180A; ESTC R26683
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25,832
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82
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ADDITIONS TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS OF Rich Baxter Written for himself and Communicated to such as are more for serious Verse than smooth LONDON Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. A Supplement TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS I. Grace GOds perfect Power did this great World Create Gods perfect Wisdome all in Order Plac't Gods perfect Goodness made all very Good But Sin Gods Image on Mans Soul defac't Power caus'd Necessity and Wisdome Order And both by Goodness caused Harmony All in one perfect Frame Gods Glory shew Praise him and please him with pure Melody Sin could not change Necessity nor that Disorder which God fixt above Mans reach But the Free Lord Free Agents also made And there by Sin Fâ—â—â—e-Will did make the breach This Breach to Man was Punishment it self For God before had order'd Nature so That Poyson would cause Pain Wounds cause smart And Sin to Sinners Misery and Woe Goodness is Love delighting to do good Wisdome resolves this fowl breach to repair And make advantage of Mans Sin and Woe Iustice and Mercy largely to declare Hurt is soon done the Wound was quickly made The Cure must be performed by degrees A Saviours Grace must exercised be Wisdome with Love to do the Work decrees Mans Soul Incorruptible Substance is Essential Life not made it self to die It s final State then like it self will be Durable Happyness or Misery But it is plac't in Corruptible Flesh And the Compounded Frame that 's called Man Must be dissolv'd for Sin hath caused death And Flesh must turn to Earth whence it began But He who Mans Salvation undertook Is perfect Primitive Life Light and Love And will give Compound Life again to Man In joyful Glory with Himself above But as in Nature God great difference made Stones are not Men all have their proper place Men are not Stars and Stars are not the Sun So he will make great difference in Grace Man is not helpless left to mear despair Life is again made possible to all The former terms of Innocence now cease Mercies all Sinners to Repentance call A Law of saving Grace is newly made All that accept it and consent shall live Trust but a Saviour for that blessed Life And he will freely Grace and Glory give But yet Mans Life on Earth a Warfar is Gods Grace and Satans Malice daily Fight And all that will be Sav'd must overcome Sin 's vanquished by Grace Darkness by Light Each part their Captain have they their bands Not made by Force but Doctrine and Consent Each Man as Rational and Free Commands One draws to Sin the other to Repent Sin hath its Punishment the worst within When for neglect of Grace God it suspends But the correction of the Flesh for Sin Furthers Repentance and the Soul amends Thus all on Earth have some degrees of Grace Which Reason tells us they should not abuse Which bringeth some so far to Adam's case They stand or fall as they these Mercies use But God will not his Grace at randome give And leave the event to uncertainty But hath his Chosen who shall surely live In whom his saving Grace shall never die The two first Brothers did this War begin he killed and conquer'd who was first by birth He that seemd Conquer'd Triumphed by death The Victor's a curst Vagabond on Earth This War continu'd is unto this day Between the Holy and the Serpents seed These Brothers the prognostick Instance were Of all that ever after should succeed But the worst War is inward Grace and Sin The controversie daily there debate That which the Final Victory doth win Determineth Mans everlasting state A Law of Grace thus made to all Mankind In Adam and Noe common roots of all Ill entertainment with fall'n Man did find Who mostly to Idolaty did fall The strength of Sin is Love to Flesh and World And averse strangness to a better life It stronger grew by custome and abhor'd All motions tending to the Souls relief But Gods Electing Grace shall not be void In Abel Henoch Noe he this declar'd But specially in Abraham whose great Faith He with a special Promise did reward Not calling back the common Law of Grace He chose his Seed as a peculiar Nation Gave them a proper Law and of them rais'd The Lord Incarnate Author of Salvation Yet was their Dignity most Typical As was their Law to shew what God would doe When he the Nations unto Christ would call And build his Church as Catholick anew Sin soon prevail'd their Land was dry and small Seldome from under Enemies and Wast But they Gods Oracles preserv'd for us And from their Vine we all Salvation tast But as in Nature God works by degrees From Seed to Infancy from thence to Youth From thence to Manhood and Maturity So did he in revealing Grace and Truth Faln Man his Infancy and Childhood had In the old Laws dark Types and Prophesies But in times fulness God Incarnate came The Sun of Righteousness to Man did rise Three Laws he did fulfil one as a Man Once made for all Another as a Jew The third as Saviour proper to himself Then for his Church he made another new He Preacht Gods Will Proclamed saving Grace Brought to light Life and Immortality Declar'd Gods Love shew'd Man Gods pleased Face A Sacrifice for sinful Man did die He came to conquer Satan destroy Sin And heal sick Souls of Worldly Fleshly Love To raise the Earthly Mind of Man to God And bring him to a better Life above Words were too weak for this his works must do it He was to teach Man how to bear the Cross To deny Life and live above this World For Heav'n to count all here as Dung and Loss Wonder of Wonders God appears in Flesh Preacheth to Sinners calls them home to God Dies for them as a Sinner on a Cross Till the Third day among the Dead Abode Himself the greatest Wonder many wrought Heal'd all diseases gave the blind their Sight Raised the Dead by present bare Command Long before many in the open Light The Third day rose from Death stay'd Forty days Describes his Laws Church-Covenant and Seals Commissions his Apostles promiseth His Spirit which all saving truth Reveals Ascendeth up to Heaven before their Eyes And before Multitudes at Pentecost Gives them the gift of Miracles and Tongues By giving them the promis'd Holy Ghost They Preach Christ to the World speak various Tongues Work Miracles Heal Sickness Raise the Dead Convey this Power and Spirit unto others Thus through the World the word of Life they Spread These many Wonders not in Corners wrought Converted Thousands Conquer'd unbelief But above all his great Convincing Works The Spirits Sanctifying Grace was Cheif The erring know the Truth Fools are made Wise The Proud made humble Wrathful ones made meek The worlds fondâ—lovers now do it despise Kill fleshly Lusts and Heavenly Glory seek Sin is a hated
Heav'n for this is lost And this is all for which they sell their Souls A fools cap purchas'd at the dearest cost All this is done in the known way to Death They have not the least hope but die they must They are not sure to fetch another breath They know their pamper'd Flesh will soon be dust Their pomp wealth for which they God forsake Yea though their Streets with Slver they could pave All the vexations strife stir they make They know is but in passing to the Grave Were they but following anothers Course Such going towards a Grave would be a shame But when it s towards their own it is far worse A Madness which doth want a proper name Sheep know not when Death 's neer yet live in peace Birds feed sing in peace together got Man always knows his Life will shortly cease Yet madly lives as if he knew it not But when Death comes they are surpriz'd with fear As if till then they knew not they must die Departing wealth and life their hearts then tear O how the Case is chang'd when death seems nigh How sad doth Dives look how deep he groans His Mammon God now will not hear his cries Money and Friends now answer not his moans For all his wealth he trembles faints and dies The greatest Lord and Prince must now submit Crowns Titles Money will not ease his pain Forced repentance seems to have some wit Preachers may speak now without proud disdain He calls for Mercy he forgiveth all Instead of Fire and Sword he speaks for Peace His wit revives as Flesh and Strength do fall Not from a Holy change but for his ease Now he talks how he 'd live when life 's nere gone He seemeth wise and promiseth to mend He thinks what Time is for when time is done Begins to think of living at his end Might he be sav'd now for a frightned wish VVhen guilt and terrour cause his heart to faint VVhen worldly pleasures all forsake his flesh He 'd have the end and portion of a Saint Now take an Inventory of his VVealth This Corps was once the Body of a Man It liv'd in Pleasure Honour Ease and Health Goes Naked hence as Naked Life began That frightful Earthly Face was wont to smile And with proud Scorn on hated Persons frown It Comely seem'd which now is Black and Vile That its the same can hardly now be known Those closed Eyes the Casements were of Lust There enter'd VVorldly Vanity and Sin That Mouth those Lips that now must Rot to Dust Have taken many a pleasant Morsel in That Throat his Fellow-Creatures did Devour Made Sumptuous Feasts his Body to maintain With pleasant Liquors many a merry Hour He did exhilerate both Heart and Brain Those Ears have heard Jests Plays and Melody Mens flattering Praise and many a merry Song The welcome news of their Calamity Whom Wrath and Malice did delight to Wrong That Mouth hath utter'd many a merry Jeast Vain Worldly talk Strife News feigned Story Oaths Lies and wanton Speeches were its Feast Threats and proud Boasts Scorning were its Glory That Nose delighted was with pleasant smell That Black Sallow Skin was smooth white On Eyes and Countenance did Grandure dwell The Just did flie the Poor crowch'd at his sight Those Limbs could move those Hands had nimble Joints The Corps which now lies Dead did Ride Run All did perform what Lust and Pride appoints Many successful Actions he hath done Many deep Plodding Thoughts that Brain hath hatch'd How to grow Rich Great have his VVill For Means and Seasons he hath wisely watch'd All his Desires and Pleasure to fulfil And now what 's left To keep him from Mens sight A Shrowd and Coffin's all that he must have And these unknown afford him no delight But serve their turn who bring him to a Grave But where 's his Money Honours Lands Treasures Left to his Heirs lest they should wiser be That the strong Snare of fleshly worldly pleasures May tempt them all to Live and Die as he But where is Dives Soul Christ saith In Hell But his Five Brethren will not this believe Christ will not lie And who can better tell But Satan thus Successors doth deceive What hath he taken hence of all his Gains Gods Wrath The Guilt Conscience of his Sin But not one drop to ease Tormenting Pains Will all his Honours Lands and Riches win A Preacher tells his Brethren what Christ saith He 's charg'd of Slandering so great a Man A Goal and Scorn is the success he hath Convince proud wilful Sinners no one can And is not this a doleful Bedlam-Case When all a Rich Mans pleasure with him Dies His Brethren madly follow the same Chase At the same time while he in Torment lies He 's paying for his long Contempt of Grace They build his Tomb and celebrate his Fame He 'd have them warn'd not come to that place They praise his Doings and keep up his Name Could one at once but see them their Brother Him in his Torment them in their Delight How unlike are their Thoughts to one another One Groans for that for which the others fight Faith sees all this But Flesh and Sense is blind These Bruits believe no more than what they see One from the Dead sent could not change their mind But it by sense too late will changed be God gives Men Life They 'l not consider why Time's short Fools know not what they have to do Nor think why they were Born till they must Die Nor whither their departing Souls must go They Live as if they thought that Heaven Hell VVere the only places of Consideration And to be Drunk or Mad were to be well And fool away this Life of Preparation IV. Hypocrisie BUt none are worse than Learned Reverend Fools Who vend their folly under wisdomes name And are Abaddons keenest hurtful Tools By Usurp'd Grandure and Religious Fame Who Teach Untruths or Live not as they Teach Pretend to watch for other Mens Salvation And hate the Holy Life for which they Preach And as a Trade Preach their own Condemnation Who against Christ do fight with Sacred Arms His Name Words Church-order forg'd Commissions And Reverend Titles are made potent Charms To win the Ignorant to their Conditions They praise Gods word but make it first their own The words are Gods the Church must make the sense It s no Law till their Sentence make it known Not their meer Teaching by Truths Evidence Religion they corrupt by forg'd Traditions They think Gods Laws too big yet make more All 's not enough without their vain Additions Religion was an Infant-thing before And under Christ the Churches only Head Th' have found one King or one Church-Parliament Whose Soveraign Rule the Christian World must dread And all that will be Saved must Consent This Soveraigns Kingdom is the whole round Earth The Lands where they