for her comfort I did thus begin Sweete Lady be not sorrowfull I am he Will pay the debt and end all misery Be not amaz'd the great Kings sonne am I A Prince that will not let his mercy die I 'le dye to giue thee life and thou shall rest Henceforth for euer in a Princes brest And this I 'le do to make an end of strife With my owne death I 'le purchase thee a life FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Redemption A Spirituall legacy for the Benifite of the Honorable Lady the Lady Gerreard Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. ⧠TO THE NOBLE Lady Ellenor Lady Gerrard wife to the late Honorable Gilbert Lord Gerrard c. Honorable Lady VVHen sorrowes nights are ouer-past There followes ioyfull day Haplesse extreames can neuer last But styes and posts away To bring glad tidings in sad times I hold it wondrous fit And so doth all our best diuines And you may thinke of it I do present you with a gift Fit for a Princes hand Pray take it 't is the meanes to lift Soules to the holy land The full redemption of mankind I offer to your view A subiect to translate the mind From th' old man to the new I know you seeke Gods holy place And clothes you for his feast With pious loue purenesse and grace True zeale and all the rest Of those rich garments faire and meete For such a Princes Court And doubtlesse you shall one day see 't Though now my by report Imperfectly you are but told Yet quickly you shall see In Syons City wall'd with gold The Lambe in 's Maiestie Aduance your thoughts to heauenly things And you in the end shall soare Vnto that Court where's none but Kings Reioycing euer-more Your Honors deuoted in any Christian office Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The promised Messias birth Conquers hell death and sinne And t' Eden backe with mickle mirth Brings Adam and his kinne IMmortall soule and my elected Queene Though hitherto thou hast most carelesse beene T' obserue my will yet now incline thy neart Or thou and I for euermore shall part See this epistle truely vnderstood Read it with teares for it is writ with blood A pretious price is found to pay thy det A sacrifice not ordinary to get For thou had but one God God but one sonne That sonne one life that life to death was done To bring old Adam backe to Edens blis And now learne what it cost to finish this I being promis'd came man did disdame me The world was proud and loft to entertaine me My earthly mother had so poore a kinne She was deni'd a lodging in the Inne When night and paine and teares and trauell tooke-her poore Mary was alone and all forsooke-her Sighing and seeking to find place for rest And at the last a stable was the best That could be spar'd this I had power to mend But I came rather like a lowly friend Then like a maister and so caus'd it try'd I came to shew my loue and not my pryde My pathes were plaine my cradle was a cratch I had no friends none shew'd such loue to watch For my arriuall the worlds loue was small Mary was mother mid-wife nurse and all No costly robes nor silkes nor cloth of gold Prouided was to keepe me from the cold Nothing but poore attyre and homely things Thus Princeps Regum terrae King of Kings Begun his Lambe-like raigne yea my pretence Was onely peace my armor innocence I did not many nights in safety nappe Vpon my louing mothers lowly lappe But warning came I must to Aegypt flee Herod was mou'd and making search for mee And I must runne or die for his intent's To wash his hands in blood of innocence The time wherein he did the infants slay Shall still be noted for a dismall day He aym'd at my fall but he fell we see And murther'd many to haue metwith mee But he mistooke himselfe and miss'd his ayme And I to Bothlem safe return'd againe In spite of Herod prophecies did ring That Dauids sonne was borne to be a King I did sustaine temptation for thy sake Much toyle and trauaile I did vndertake To make thy burthen light I dare presume To sweare betweene my cradle and my tombe I knew no perfect rest I had no bed Foxes had holes and birds were furnished With nests and lodgings but my head had none Mine was like Iacobs state when he left home And his old parents to procure his rest From angry Esau with his kin in th' east He was benighted in a strange land where He neither found friends nor companions there His pillow was a stone his bed was earth A naturall musitian made him mirth Surmis'd the Nightingall he could not get Wherein to wrape himselfe from nights could sweat His vncoth roome was all with greene be spred And rouing cloudes were curtaines to his bed His canopy was heauen where he might view Millions of Starres fixt in the blackest blew He went to bed as mildly as a lambe And slept as moderatly as a man And rose as earely as a Larke and fed With more content then e're he went to bed Then towards his vncles he doth post amaine To proue if Rachels loue he may obtaine And at the last his prentiships and paine Winnes his faire bride and he comes home againe With 's Lady in his hand his slockes before His seede about him and his Princely store Comes after with his seruants and thus hee With beauty riches health and dignitie Comes home attended I with Iacob may Compare my trauailes so that by the way I make some difference by the difference gather I left a fayrer home a better father To tread strange pathes where I was neuer knowne I sought for strangers loue and left my owne Iacob was neuer in such miscrie I was both worser cloth'd and lodg'd then he I went to fetch my bride from amongst those That dwelt farre further off and were my foes He payd but loue and seruice for his bride I payd my seruice loue and life beside He brought his home with riches and renowne With ioy and gladnesse vnto Sichem towne And for her mouing tents he hath her giuen Faire fixed temples stately types of Heauen His bed was on the earth mine was within He slept for sorrow but I slept for sinne I rose more earely to prepare thy way For I saw sun-rise before he saw day I 'll bring thee home adorn'd with better things The power and honor of all earthly kings And let their powers together lincked bee All cannot make one worthy t'waite on thee I spent my dayes in sorrow for thy good I sayl'd to th'Cradle in teares to th' graue in blood And more then this I was content to doo My middle time had mickle sorrowes too I liu'd releeuing poore healing and feeding I wipt those eyes that wept wounds that were bleeding I cur'd
fixed firme and sure And shall in blis and endlesse time indure And empty stayes thy leasure come in time These lights below will quickly cease to shine Seeke those aboue and seeking thou shall find The ioyes and glory that 's for thee assign'd Vntill thou come to shew thou meanes to come Apply thy hand and tongue and be not dumbe Send dayly sacrifice thou ought to learne Earth should send thankes to heauen for each good turne It 's all I looke for therefore let me see Some signes of loue ascend from thee to mee And I 'll expect thy comming make it knowne Th' art wholy now thy owners not thy owne Let thy succeeding carriage be so good That by thy acts it may be vnderstood Who is thy Lord and let there be exprest In thee those things that fits a Princesse best From th'hauen of sorrowes to the heauen of blisse Vnto my holy hill from thine abisse Mount with the wings of loue and thou shall bee Partaker of my throne and royalue Let all the gracelesle nations grudge and tell To their great griefe the daughter of Israell Hath marri'd a Prince that euer-more shall raigne Her health and life and honor to maintaine Be not in loue with earth nor earthly things Though for a time th' art troubled with the stings Of death and sinne and hell for thy offences Yet there 's a campe wherein is none but Princes And ioy and blis and peace and to that place I will translate thee from thy life of grace Vnto my life of glory thy protecter Will giue thy head a crowne thy hand a scepter Thy mouth a song to sing truthes excellence Thy backe a robe as white as innocence Thy soule both life and comfort thou shall see More perfect absolute felicity In one dayes length in heauen then if thou were To liue on earth a king ten thousand yeare Thou couldst obtaine and therefore in a word To manifest how Paradise is stor'd As things beyond thy knowledge I will leaue I must conceale since thou cannot conceiue That thou mayst fully know them hast and come Millions of blessings waites thy welcome home FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord expressing her Gratitude A Spirituall legacy bequeathed to the protection of the Right Honorable the Earle of Cumberland c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes 1623. ⧠TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE FRANCIS CLIFFORD Ealre of Cumberland Lord CLIFFORD Westmerland and Vescy c. Most Noble REligion ioyn'd with valour lookes as well As a faire Diamond set in purest gold These man-like God-like parts in you excell And shall to after ages be inrold In leaues more lasting then the sheetes of brasse And in the fore-head of my diuine verse Your name with fame and honor forth shall passe Into all coasts of this faire vniuerse I do present to your inditious view The pistles 'twixt the Lambe and 's holy Bride A very proper present 't is for you That weares a sword to cause her deside Strike still in truths defence and you shall see Your euening crown'd with glorious victory Great Lord my natiue place neighbours your north Then since my soule inhubits in that soyle And since my muse bath wing and will flie forth She 'll tell you of more ioyes then life hath howres And lookes for welcome in your fairest towers Your floods and fords are faire your swans but few But if you please with gracious eyes to view My diuine verse and therein take content I 'll build your trophies betweene tweed and trent Your Honors truely obseruant Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Glad Israels of-spring tunes her voyce Of gratitude to sing Accounts her selfe an vnfit choyce To Queene so great a King IF earthly kin may send t' a heauenly King Or if thy greatnesse will heare meanenesse sing Accept the sacrifice I now bestow My heart is high although my voyce be low And since thou vnderstands my thoughts before They be transform'd to breath and passe the doore Of my vnready lips my confidence Is that thou will maintaine my innocence And make my worke according to my will I know thy mercy and power continue still And since I share of both let it be seene Such qualities as doth become a Queene I doe not want and then the world so wide Shall blesse thee for thy bounties to thy Bride My gracious Lord I haue a great desire To sing thy prayses in the sacred quire And will vpon condition I may finde Thy heauenly graces vnto me assign'de In so great measure that I may approue My bounty and thy duty and my loue Tenne thousand thankes that it hath pleased thee With mercies eyes to view my miserie My griefe 's forgotten and my ioy growes full My crimson spots are chang'd to whitest wooll My soule 's content my brest can scarce containe My guilty garment that was dy'd in graine Past alteration is restor'd by thee From sinnefull red to perfect purity Thy day dissolu'd my night thy cares my feares Thy drops of blood hath stanch'd my drops of teares When I remember my estate at first Griefes bitternesse threatens my heart shall burst Feare keepes possession and that feares leads paine And paine brings death and thus I 'm partly slaine With thinking on my miseries After these Sad thoughts are past which I do pay as fees For my offences ioy comes in againe When I consider my king doth remaine A glorious conquerour of all my soes Now that I may my thankfulnesse disclose Assist me Lord and lend such grace to me As may preferre a sacrifice to thee Lapt in a sacred song that I 'm indu'd With the poores payment perfect gratitude Take this succeeding witnesse my good Lord For all thy blessings all I can afford Out of my borrow'd store is onely prayse It doth become the iust thy Prophet sayes Daily to render thankes vnto thy name I being iust through thee must do the same Or shew my selfe forgetfull I would bee As farre from that as I wish that from mee For my creation that it was thy will To shew thy loue and grace and power and skill In making nothing something and in that Placeing such beauty as is wonder'd at By heauen and earth and that of all this all Thou hast made me thy Princesse principall And to adorne my state made all thy store I giue thee thankes and I can giue no more For my election I do much reioyce Thou would vouchsafe to make so meane a choyce And was so mighty but each Dauid sings It fits th' Almighty to doe mighty things When out of Eden I forsaken fell Set in the open fields my shame to tell I grew in nature and in number great The earth was spacious yet had ne'er a seate Wherein the sonnes of Adam neuer sate Then since it pleased thee t' illuminate All nations and the best of all to choose To make thy one let that one neuer
flourish faire and free and fast Comely and seemely both to like and last Some bidden come not some vnbidden come Thus some proue wiser farre then other some Some like the driuen dust are parcht and dry'd Some like the branches by the riuer side Are faire and fruitfull and doe cause the streame Draw beauty and plenty with her siluer teame Vnto the good all good shall happen still And vnto th' euill ill because th' are ill Such thing desires it like and so it comes That Caine's at oddes with all his fathers sonnes For hating's brethren and contemning's God He ranne a vagabond to the land of Nod And liu'd vnlou'd vnpiti'd vnlamented And some thinke di'd vntimely vnrepented For so shall all that doe the Lord dispise Or offers him a broken sacrifice So our lewd poets doe God makes a poet And the thing made forgets or doth not know it A speciall good God meant vnto the earth First when he did intend a Poets birth Gods perfect image catch it those that can Is heauenly measures in an earthly man When Moses troope had pass'd the scarlet flood His inward ioy we had not vnderstood But by his Hebrew song and onely that Makes the man prays'd the maister wonder'd at Iordans obedience at braue Iosuahs feete When it show'd him a passage faire and meete When walls of water stood like walls of glasse Vpon both hands to suffer him to passe And bring his army in at Cana'ns doore The land Iehouah promis'd long before These things had beene vnknowne and beene vnsung But for the musicke of a sacred tongue With Baraks victory and Sisâ—raes fall We had not beene so well acquainted all But for the heauenly muse of Debora That Barak wonne the honor of the day That ancient Kishon washt mount Tabors feete And all our enemies away did sweepe That Heauen sent ayde to earth and all the Starres Behau'd themselues like souldiers in those warres That men intended mischiefe and God crost it That Iaell wonne the day and Iabin lost it We had not knowne these had been wrong'd with death But that th' are infants of a muses breath That God doth iustice loue but mercy rather And that although man's feeble earthly father Forget him and forsake him God will not This had beene vntold or told and forgot But that the sacred breath of holy man Preserueth more then Brasse or marble can That Iesses sonne was fetcht from following sheepe An hoast of men to leade defend and keepe That he once wore a sheepe-hooke in his hand And then a royall scepter did command That he sate in the field vpon a stone And after in the pallace on the throne That he was capt with wooll against the cold And after crown'd with purest beaten gold That of a Sheepheard God thus made a King And turn'd his fasting into banqueting That he that sometime â—llow'd ewes with yong Did leaue that labour and apply'd hiâ— tong To prayse Iehouah in an Hebrew song Gods greatnesse goodnesse highneste workes and wonders We know and had not knowne but for his numbers Dauid I meane he that in word and deede Both did and sayd for God and Iacobs seede Thankes be to Salomon we are not to search A sacred muse betwixt Christ and his Church To sing the nuptials 't is already done By Isr'els King and Dauids sacred sonne Asaph and Ethan well deserned thankes For placing th'Arke of God on Sylos bankes With triumph and reioyceing Amos sonne Seeing his Lord his Vineyard hath beguine Vpon a fruitfull hill sayd I will sing To my King Vineyard of my Vineyards King And so proceed and all the world yet heares When great Iehouah fell a dealing yeares To Hezekiah Iudahs holy King To gratulate his Lord no better thing Had of his owne to giue then freely trips A heauenly measure from his princely lippes Praysing the God of life death night and day The scripture warrants what you heare me say That Maries soule so greatly did reioyce To heare the tidings by an angels voyce That she should be a mother and beare a sonne That should redeeme a wretched world vndone We had beene ignorant of these good things But that glad Mary had amuse that sings Vnto this day and by her muse we know Th' humble are set aboue the proud below That Simeon in the Temple sung to all His Sauiours lullaby and 's owne funerall That his old armes so happy were t' imbrace The Prince and heire of glory and of grace His owne tongue testifies and thus I chuse The sacred script of many heauenly muse T'exhort wits that are bearing and doe breede Choycest inuentions henceforth to proceede More regularly religiously I meane Leaue Babels partched commons seeke the streame That keepes the skirts of Hermon euer greene The on 's a strumpet th' other is a Queene And those that striue her beauties to expresse Shall know her matchlesse endlesse happinesse God sayd all those that sought her honor should Be fed with Manna and be cloath'd with gold And led with Angels and haue Saints society Ierusalem to dwell in and variety Of those delights and ioyes both all and some That God prouided for the world to come But Esaus timelesse haplesse gracelesse seede Shall lucklesse liue in misery and neede And be in bondage still a voyce diuine Sayth Esau must not drinke of Iacobs wine Then since there 's due rewards layd vp for merits And like deserts like punishments inherits We 'll idolize no more nor men nor treasure Let him that hath a muse can tune a measure To the worlds eare bestow it in such wise T' haue life and honor by his sacrifice Leaue all rediculous fictions take aduise Learne either properly to similize The truth or tell it plainely you should ken What 's vnlike truth should euer dislike men Make your proceedings perfect and then proue By outward actions your true inward loue Lasciuious voyces but makes deafe the season Th' are stuff'd with mickle rime but little reason That poesie may be honor'd lâ—â—'d and prays'd And like to him that 〈◊〉 with glory rays'd Out of the dust of ignorance and death Refuse your subiects and refine your breath By sucking sweeter ayre study to bring Such songs a Saints may sing before their King Like towers well built your workes shall last and then Both purchase grace with God and loue with men FINIS AN EPISTLE Dedicated to the Right VVorshipfull Sr. Thomas Smith Knight Maior of Chester and High Sheriffe of that County Palatine c. To the Right Worshipfull Sr. Randall Manwaring Knight c Edward Whitby Esquire Recorder William Gamwell Iohn Ratcliffe Robert Whitby William Aldersey Charles Fitton Hugh Williamson c. Esquires late Maiors of that ancient and Honorable City And to the Worshipfull Mr. Nicholas Ince Mr. Thomas Whitby Mr. Brereton Mr. Peter Drink-water Mr. Andrew Gamwell Mr. Robert Berry Mr. Humphrey Lloyd c. Alderâ—â—n of the same c. All temporall and eternall happinesse Right Worshipfull
bounties toward 〈◊〉 may be quit With loue and seruice I haue some such coyne Impresse thus with you names make vse of it It doth the soules of Saints together ioyne And Syons preseruation doth expresse And treats of nought but blisse and happinesse Prophane adulterous plots I do detest I ayme to please the soule and not the soyle To call and summon euery Holy ghest To the Lambs nuptialls is my pleasant toyle My Patrons glory my pen onely seekes And moues no blushes in most modest cheekes Right noble Henry I do know your brest Containes a spirit that is not cantain'd In ordinary limits Honor's best Approu'd and honor'd and her worth explain'd Being cloth'd with robes of purity most fit Lined with mercy valour grace and wit Y' are Lord of these I flatter not I know you And your good parts I honor and admire For all your loue and fauours more I owe you And what I do not do I do desire I could do for your good But I note still Imperfect acts may rise from perfect will And best deseruing Lady you haue beene The Patronesse of my yet infant pen If these more mature workes you do esteeme And countenance I 'le vrge both times and men To keepe your name aliue free from the dead So long as English shall be spoke or read My pen my sacred muse and sweetest breath Shall honor Henry and Elizabeth God guide protect direct and loue you still And send you good vntill I wish you ill Your Honors in all holy duty and Humaine loue Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Thelpe Isr'els faults some good men striues But cannot make amends Iustice and truth her fall contriues Then mercy makes them friends HEare more my choice and thou shal more conceiue Go not for her I loue I would not leaue Why should we part no no it must not be And if we euer do it's long of thee No fault of mine thou ought'st to vnderstand I mildly do intreate that may command But rigour fits not Princes hatefull thing Base cruelty did ne're become a King Milde patience potency hath euer lou'd The Monarch would not Momus will be mou'd Meeke clemency with Princes euer rides Dauid's at Musicke diuellish Doeg chides So some may do and may vndoe and doth Some things at once are done and vndone both Compassion should in greatnesse beare great sway Mercy in Kings shines like the Sunne in day My mercy thou hast found It hath found thee And brought more blessings then dim eyes can see Or hearts of men conceiue not thy creation Choosing collection troublesome vocation Was all the charges I for thee disburst Thy limmes were soundest but thou trauel'd worst And left my wayes to wander in thy owne Thy heathen neighbours that haue scarcely knowne Thy beauties by report much wonder still To see so faire a creature do so ill When I saw thus thou had thy selfe forgot And other nations that I loued not Reioyce in th'disgrace I knew some paine Must be perform'd to wash thee white againe So foule was thy complection some did see That the whole peece of blacke impurity Was all Imploy'd to make thy coast sad Iob Desires to wash thy spotted sinnefull rob In his snow-water and he brings it in But 't was not that could send away thy sin So Iob mistaken his indeauours rest He 's worthy thankes good man he did his best But could not make thee better Aaron then The first and chiefe of earthly holy men Puts on his rich attire and meanes to bring A sacrifice vnto his Lord and King Prouides his alter and with reuerent feare Calues goates and pigeons he doth offer there And to make an attonement for thy good My priest and alter were both di'd in blood Actions that in some measure did perswade But there was other off'rings to be made Of better value and of greater price Good Dauid friendly brought his sacrifice And that was Isop water and with that His meaning was to wash away thy spot He did his best but 's best did not remooue Yuy sinne but onely manifest his loue Aaron and Iob and Dauid lou'd thee well Yet notwithstanding they did partly dwell At the vaine-labour their workes went to wracke They washt the Moore and he was still more blacke Angels descend and moues Bethesdas lake And yet the long-sicke man no shift could make To make his sorrowes cease these are but toyes Or rather types of price of better ioyes A faire oblation must amend these foule A spotlesse blood must make a spotlesse soule No other offering can disolue offence But luke warme-blood of harmeles Innocence When man had sinn'd and sinne had wrought the fall Of Adam Heuah and their seede and all Borne betweene the worlds birth and funerall God granted a Commission to these two Iustice and Truth and these should say and do And in the high Court on this high Commission These two were set and making inquisition How man that was so good became so ill And finding that he fell by his owne will Affirm'd no punishment could be too much For 's voluntary trespasse and begins To whip man willingly for willing sinnes And by decree in that high Court consents That wilfull faults with wofull punishments Shall be rewarded Is the law so sore For tasting but one apple mongst such store The smallest faults done willingly are great Sinnes done at vnawares shall pardon get Sinnes worthy pardon mournes and knowes no mirth And but begins conception after birth Sinnes worthy death are those that mourning scorne Those that are first conceiu'd and after borne When Truth and Iustice doom'd thy death for sinne Mercy came sorrowfull and sadly in Her body trembl'd and her head hung downe Vpon her backe she wore a long white gowne Her hands were lifted vp her eyes were weeping Her woes were waking and her ioyes were sleeping Her knees were bended begging thy offence They would iudge hers and with such reuerence She spoke in thy behalfe with such respect That as I liue a Tyrant would haue wept She had a palme but bore it very low And carelesly because she did not know How she should speede and humbly thus preferres Her plaint before the high Commissioners The iust Commissioners something mou'd to see So faire a Princesse beg so earnestly Another pardon sadly answer'd thus That one must die it is decreed by vs If thou canst make amends for Adams fall His faults we 'll bury at thy funerall And yet we cannot thus the man forgiue For if thou should die he cannot liue But this we 'll tollerate if thou can get A Prince to loose his life for subiects det Our God is pleas'd to Eden he shall come And thus the lost sonne may be welcome home Thinke with thy selfe speake with thy Prince and try Thy Prince must fall or man and men must dye Mercy being answer'd sate her downe and wept And being full of sorrow would haue kept Her selfe vnseene I see her stept in And
and car'd for all that were in woe None can complaine that they away did goe Without a pardon for the great'st transgression All those that brought repentance found compassion I haue beene thine thine both in word and deede My tongue did preach and pray my flesh did bleede From my fresh wounds the smallest droppe that fell Is price sufficient to saue Israell I promise thee beleeue my promise then One drop may saue more worlds then this hath men It is sufficient Know I did not come To plead defficience and pay halfe the summe Let him that 's poore and needy and that must Confesse his pouerty and take on trust I haue no such occasion let him score That 's growne disable beggarly and poore Thy ransome all is payd and thou art rich And still within my store-house there 's so much It neuer can be empti'd do not want My bounty cannot make my blessings scant Desire and I will giue thee more and more Thou canst not make the stocke of mercy poore Presume not neither for I will expresse My Iustice on presumptuous saucinesse The meeke and lowly I delight to guide I owe the greatest punishments to pride My Israell my death hath bought thy life Forget not then the duties of a wife The office of a husband I haue showne In greater measure then the world hath knowne The graue is conquer'd death hath now no sting All foes are vanquisht by thy Lord and King And now thy Christ as chiefe aloft doth raigne And Edens gates are now vnbarr'd againe The Lambe being slaine the fity sword by him Is taken from the angry Cherubin And my faire bride may come and welcome in FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Sanctification A Heauenly legacy properly for the vse of the Honorable Sr. Richard Mullineux c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. RICHARD MVLLINEVX Knight and Barronet c. Worthily Honored THere is a sumptuous feast prepar'd Vpon Gods holy hill Of dainties and of plenties shar'd Amongst all those that will With reuerence and louing feare Attend to be the ghests At the Lambs nuptialls to be there The Lord by me requests Your worthy selfe therefore prouide Your wedding garments fit And you by Gods-sonnes-sacred side In glories seate shall fit Peruse these lines and though they be No measures that excell Yet th' are diuine and comes from me That knowes and loues you well Yet for my knowledge and my loue Accept it not but for His glorious name that fits aboue And is th'all gouernour I know you 'll giue this meete respect And for your Noble name Time shall preserue and still protect With the sweete lippes of fame To all posterities to come When this short life is past These lines shall liue and when your tombe Shall perish these shall last Your Honors in the sernice of the Lambe Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Least nation rude should spie some spot In the Messias Bride By 's spirit and 〈◊〉 begot A new and Iustifi'd BEcause I 'm earnest and an vrgent mouer Do not thou take me for a doting louer Why I 'm so loth to leaue thee thou mayst know From her I loue I do not loue to go Something 's are wanting yet the prophet sings That holy men are seru'd with holy things And know I will be sanctifi'd in all That shall come neare me euery one that shall Into my Temple come by my command Shall put their shooes off for 't is holy land I loue this holinesse 't is a kind of beauty And to expresse thy loue and shew thy duty Thou mayst do well to learne it and thou so May be Queene-like in substance and in show Beauty or maiesty lookes well alone But ten times better if these two be one One beauty's honor'd seru'd and praised too And then for many what would many doo They could not do so much and so I thought When with so great a ransome I thee bought Thy spots and freckles all I washt away And made thee such that there is not one may Compare to be thy equall th' art that one Whom all doth like but can be-alike none Each tong tels forth thy praise each pen thy fame A peerelesse Princesse and a matchlesse Dame Chiefe of thy kind and fairest of thy sex A worke that makes admir'd the Opifex Conceiue thy owne estate and thou will tell God is a louing God to Israell I made thee happy yea and holy too For all that earth and earthly kings could do Thou hath beene carried safe on Eagles wings To th'prayse of thine to th'shame of other kings With blood and water I haue washen thee Thy spots of sinne and thy infirmity Are chang'd for honor strength and purity And thou so faire in holinesse art seene Thy heathen neighbours wonder and do seeme To enuy thy estate and maruaile so They make dispute if thou be flesh or no Thee of more pretious mettle they define Some small part mortall but the most diuine Thy pleasant beauty countenance and grace They thinke composed of no peece so base They know thy beauties from the Heauens are For th' earth cannot afford a frame so faire Nature amazed doth her selfe submit To her owne worke and loues to worship it And seekes to find the author of each obiect And findes but one for all and that one's subiect She willingly becomes and doth record Her selfe a seruant and thy loue her Lord. And thus my grace to sanctifie my creature Path blest thee with all helpes of art and nature Hut of thy coate it is the old mans weare Filchy polluted noy some gracelesse geare Made of a web in disobedience frame Stain'd with the spots of infamy and shame 'T was cut out by ambition shapen by pride And stitcht together by that Homicide Impiety and lin'd throughout with sinne Vncleane without but more vncleane within Butten'd with feare garded about with woe And spotted with a thousand plagues and so By flattery sold and bought by arrogance And dayly worne by doating ignorance The old man weares it such a one I say Whose sinnes are greene and yet his haires ar gray I meane him old in vices him eschew Old things are worne away all 's become new And so must thou the coate that 's made for thee Is cut out of the web of puritie Made large and long th' image of excellence Of colour white betokening innocence In-layde with ioy the skirt with safty bound And with true honor treble-garded round Clasped with comforts furnisht with content Ornated with each seemely ornament Fram'd by desire perfected with good will Seame-sow'd with loue and perl'd with holy skill Set thicke with starres attended on with day Compos'd with care and shall looke fresh and gay For euermore I haue thee so attir'd As thou cannot be equall'd but admir'd And it must needes be so since thou art wife T' a Lord in comprehensible thy
iorney with great paine But with farre greater Honor came againe My Prince I know thy day disolu'd my night Thy heauy burthen made my burthen light Thy purple robe di'd red with my offence Bought me a coate as white as innocence Thy thorne's my crowne thy reeds my scepter and Thy death 's my life my faith doth vnderstand Thy blood 's the fountaine wash'd my soule from sin Thy wounds the gates to let me enter in And that wound in thy side doth this impart That thou intends to lodge me in thy heart And made thy passage ready the vailes rent Makes me despise th' earth for I 'm consident Thy cities gates wide open I behold And who'ill be pleas'd with leade that may haue gold My Lord I will not heauen is my home And I 'll not let thee goe before I come To share part of thy glory I am thine And my faith tels me that thy kingdome 's mine I know and do beleeue this and I trust My seat's made in the mansion of the iust And for that place I 'm bound in the meane time That I in all my actions may shew thine I 'm furnishing my selfe and I will ayme To weare my robes for th' honor of thy name I 'll first put on obedience and applie My selfe t' attend vpon thy Maiestie With dilligence and with religious feare Thy law I 'll study and thy world I 'll heare Stife-neck'd rebellion I will neuer know My power shall be bestow'd for to bestow Loues legacies on thee at thy command My inward heart and my externall hand Shall purpose and dispose and to thy throne I 'll offer both my owners and my owne Thy messengers and ministers I 'll giue Their honor and respect and striue to liue So carefully and free from all offence As one that ne're knew disobedience Although whilst my poore soule is lapt in flesh It 's cloth'd with sorrow and with sinfulnesse Yet with such holy feare I 'll spend my time Thou 'll please to say my sinnes are none of mine They shall be done s'vnwillingly my flesh I know well is betroth'd to guiltinesse But not by my consent I doe much ill And Lord thou knowest I do 't against my will Sinne dwelleth in me and muah'ill contriues T' effect much mischiefe and vnkindly striues To burthen me Lord how shall I 't preuent Since I am both guilty and innocent The flesh being mine the sinnes say so are they Yet since my will ne'er will'd to disobey Thy ordinances do thou plead my cause And if I perish vnder Moses lawes Let me appeale to my Messias grace And there find comfort I will seeke thy face But not presumptuously as Mary came Poore woman burthen'd both with sinne and shame Into the house where once thou sate to eate And well considering that her sinnes were greate Presum'd not to behold thy face but kept Behind thy backe and there kneel'd downe and wept And for a sinners sacrifice most meete Dropt pearle-like teares vpon thy pretious feete And gladly washt them and with her heads-haire Carefully wipes them dry to leaue them faire And with th' imbraces that best fits a friend And many louing kisses makes an end Euen so my gracious Lord I come to thee With many faults and much humilitie Knowing my blemish I 'm afraid of blame And being laden both with sinne and shame Willing to bide my face wash wipe and weepe Or any measures sinners ought to keepe Wishing with Mary my release to winne I craue my loue might couer all my sinne My Christ my loue is true and as it were Ioyned and mixed with a reuerent feare To make it perfect lend thy gracious skill To make my worke as proper as my will Vouchsafe to mend what is in me amisse It is both for thy honor and my blisse The old man 's crucifi'd and I 'm new borne I 'ue left my chaffe and I expect thy corne FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord containing her Petitions A Legacy spiritually composed for the gracious suruey of the Right Reuerend Father in God IOHN Lord Bishop of Chester c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT REVERENT FATHER IN GOD IOHN by Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of Chester c. Most Worthy Lord IF for your gracious fauours vnto mee My loue and seruice can e're make amends Both are at your dispose and you shall see I 'll ranke your name amongst my noble friends And no dishonor to your Honor for I bring not th' offring of a monitor But of one that wonld be admonished At your dispose you are as'twere my head Learn'd Prince of Preachers whose celestiall voyce Contracts a King to willing audience Accep't these lines and I 'll maintaine my choyce Is the true Image of true excellence 'T is inward ioy to mee to see men note Me clothed in a shâ—ed of Chester scoate It is a robe of honor and maintain'd By Chesters Lord vnwronged and vnstain'd My gracious Lord mistake me not I do Present with reuerence and humility These to your Lordshâ—p they belong vnto Your Honor onely Not presumptuously I eternize your name but with regard And your free Patronage is my reward Bestow it then and for your share doth rest Both all my all and of my all the best Contracted to your Lordship with the bands of true affection Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT As harrowing after sowing fits So the Bride wraps her will In prayers and her plants commits Ther Lord in Syon hill LOrd be not angry that I stay so long I would I will not leaue thee if I wrong Thee or my selfe with troublesome attempts Since mercies lawes poore weakenesse still exempts From punishment for commonly we see Weaknesse acts none but her owne iniury Then since she punisheth her owne transgression To chastice her againe were meere oppression Pardon me Lord for I am forc'd to speake Channells o're charg'd with water needs must breake Into the neighbouring lands and cooles the plaines With the moyst land-blood of their too full vaines My heart 's the fountaine and my tong 's the brooke Wherein flowes all my passions Ouer-looke Her fruitlesse inundations I request Conceiue the baser but receiue the best They both proceede from loue and can loue cire I know she may but what man will preferre Complaints against vnfained loues offence None for 't would argue hate to innocence I know thy nature's gracious and Intreate Since thou art better pleas'd to blesse then beate Say not my sinnes are sinnes make good of ill Although they be my workes th' are not my will My God thou knowest it well and since I haue Promis'd thee some good seruice I must craue Thy fauours to performe it thou must breede Th' originall in me of will and deede For any good and first I humbly pray Increase my faith that the foundation may Vphold and honor all the vpper parts Of