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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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not Faith is bruitify'd The Interest of Flesh perverts the will It conquers Reason and corrupts the Mind No other Enemy doth so much ill To self-destroying perishing Mankind ANd now oh Man is Flesh all that thou art Worthy of all thy stir and cost and care Live not as if thou hadst no better part Mens Souls like God and Kin to Angels are Even Bruits have Souls possest of Life and Sense Made to serve Man who 's made his God to praise Whither Distinct or One when taken hence Subject to us whom God will higher raise What 's Flesh but Water mixt with sensless Earth Viler than dirt when Souls a while are gone It 's unseen Spirit which causeth Life and Birth This moveth all that 's mov'd doth all that 's done Mans Soul is made the Image of his God Substantial Virtue of Life Light and Love And though in Flesh it now have its abode Its tendency is to the world above It came from God and unto God returns Though in this Flesh its Life of Tryal be It daily wasts the Oyl as Fire that burns Consumes its Fuel and then is set free As flames mount upward Souls tow'rd Heav'n ascend And are still restless till they be at home If Sin depress them not tow'rd God they tend Blessed and joyful when to him they come As things Inanimate are rul'd by force By Sense and Objects Bruits determined be Both these are carried on in Natures course Mans will more undetermin'd is and free Bruits are not Ruled by a Moral Law Nor moved by the hopes of Life to come Nor of Gods Threats and Justice stand in awe Nor after Death fear any other Doom Man 's made in his degree to know the Lord To know his Duty and to please Gods will To learn and love trust and obey his word In hope of Heav'n his course here to fulfil God is Mans supreme King his Guid his End His Soul and Life should have no other scope From Sin and Devils God will his defend In Life and Death God is our only hope You see not whither Souls departing go But Heav'n and Hell are visible to Faith God hath reveal'd enough to make us know That all shall be performed which he saith We no more need to fear his word should fail Or God forsake the Souls that do him please Or any final Hurt Christ's Flock assail Than Earth to bear or Sun to shine should cease Is not a Sober Righteous Holy Life In certain hope of everlasting Joys Better than Sin Despair Care Fear and Strife For short deceitful pleasant Dreams and Toys IF yet blind Man thou thinkst thou art a Beast And hast no higher Hopes Work to mind Become a Tame and gentle One at least Not of the wild fierce hurtful bloody Kind Serpents Toads Wolves are harmless things Yea Lions Tigers and such Beasts of Prey Compaird with many Conquerors and Kings Who do Ten Thousand fold more hurt than they If this short Fleshly pleasure be thy best What need of Wars Blood Rage debate Sweet Love and quiet Peace afford more rest Than Pow'r Wealth with hurtful Plots Hate What need of large Dominions to prepare For Dying Pangs a Coffin and a Grave Quiet Content and Kindness fitter are Thy Neighbours welfare thy own to save But of all Beasts the Man-Beast is the worst To others and himself the cruelst Foe And turning Serpent doth become Accurst A Scourge to others his own endless Woe As Holiness fits Souls for endless Bliss And here hath its beginning and foretast So Sin the Plague of Unman'd Nature is And turns Man-Beast to Devil at the last If all Men made themselves are their own And have no Ruler but Self-will and Sense If Man be nothing else but Flesh and Bone Can live here still and say I 'le not go hence If Man can Conquer God and him Dethrone Kill Christ again and shut up Paradise Then Saints are Fools and Worldly Men alone Choosing a Shadow and Despair are wise But sure if Man be only Mortal Flesh A Squib a Bubble a vile Earthy Clod He never will have Pow'r what e're he wish To save himself by overcoming God But Heav'n is quite above Malignant Powers Our Peace Safety 's far above their reach Christs Kingdom is not of this World nor ours It 's unseen Blessedness which he did Preach There Holy Spirits free from Sin and Fear From Cruel Tyrants Devils Death and Hell The sweet Celestial Melody still hear In perfect Light and Love together dwell There 's no dark Error no perplexing doubt No Selfish Envy Strife or Discontent All hurtful troubling things are there shut out No Wrathful Sting no Malice no Dissent Numberless Numbers there are all but One Of the same Body each a Member is Each hath his due degree and place but none A Selfish separated part of Bliss All have one God one Head one Vital Spirit All Love God with one Love and all Rejoice With one Joy All one Kingdom do Inherit All sweetly sing Gods Praise as with one Voice True Unity with Diff'rence well Accords And makes up Beauty Consort though there Self Numbers Many and such parting words Have not the same dividing sence as here Thus hath one Soul more than one Faculty One Sun each sort of Life Three formal Powers Some Image of the Divine Trinity But none on Earth so excellent as ours And as in Being so in more respects Unity doth with Number well agree Many Concauses have the same effects Yea all Gods Creatures One and Many be So divers Fruits are but parts of one Tree And every Tree is Rooted in one Ground All Grounds of this One Earth but parcels be This Earth a small part of the World is found Souls are unseen and so their Union is Many united Individuals Their distinct persons make some think amiss That they are incoherent Integrals God only hath a perfect Unity Of the same World some Blest some Cursed be Some Union stands with great Diversity Apples and Crabs may grow on the same Tree Blest Union is of Good-things near of Kin To things Discordant Union causeth pain An aking Tooth is better out than in To lose a Rotting Member is a Gain The nearest Fuel is Consum'd by Fire Gods Wrath is near the Wicked to destroy To Holy Souls who Gods Love most desire He is their full and everlasting Joy Ten Thousand Stars and Candles give one Light Concordant Sounds make one sweet Melody Two Ears One hearing Cause Two Eyes One Sight But Light Darkness have no Unity Here Wicked Men are every where in Wars Men against Men as Tigers fiercely Rave Our Minds Wills Passions have their Jars Our Souls and Bodies Mortal Discords have Though Life be short Death is at the Door Impatient Foes think posting Time too slow They grudg to let us live a few Days more Revenge and Malice long to give the Blow But Heav'n
hath no such work there 's no such Men Nothing is there the Blessed to Annoy With Christ Angels Holy Soul shall then Praise God in perfect Life Light Love Joy Amen Decemb. 17. 1682. VI. The Exit MY Soul go boldly forth Forsake this Sinful Earth What hath it bin to thee But Pain and Sorrow And thinkst thou it will be Better to Morrow Love not this Darksome Womb Nor yet a Gilded Tomb Though on it Written be Mortal Mens Story Look up by Faith and see Sure Joyful Glory Why art thou for Delay Thou cam'st not here to stay What tak'st thou for thy part But Heav'nly pleasure Where then should be thy Heart But where 's thy Treasure Thy God thy Head 's above There is the World of Love Mansions there purchas'd are By Christs own Merit For these he doth prepare Thee by his Spirit Look up towards Heav'n and see How vast those Regions be Where Blessed Spirits dwell How Pure and Lightful But Earth is near to Hell How Dark and Frightful Here Life doth strive with Death To lengthen Mortals Breath Till one short Race be run Which would be ended When it is but begun If not defended Here Life is but a Spark Scarce shining in the Dark Life is the Element there Which Souls reside in Much like as Air is here Which we abide in Hither thou cam'st from thence The Divine Influence In Flesh my Soul did place Among the Living To be of Humane Race Was his free giving There I shall know God more There is the Blessed Chore No Wickedness comes there All there is Holy There is no Grief or Fear No Sin or Folly Ierusalem above Glorious in Light and Love Is Mother of us all Who shall enjoy them The Wicked Hell-ward fall Sin will destroy them O Blessed Company Where all in Harmony Iehovah's Praises Sing Still without ceasing And all Obey their King With perfect pleasing God there is the Saints Rest God is their constant Feast He doth them Feed and Bless With Love and Favour Of which they still possess The pleasant Savour God is Essential Love And all the Saints above Are like unto him made Each in his Measure Love is their Life and Trade Their constant Pleasure Love Flame 's in every Breast The Greatest and the Least Strangers to this sweet Life There are not any Love leaves no place for Strife Makes One of Many Each is to other dear No Malice enters there No Siding Difference No Hurt no Evil Because no Ignorance No Sin no Devil VVhat Joy must there needs be VVhere all Gods Glory see Feeling Gods Vital Love VVhich still is Burning And Flaming God-ward move Full Love returning SELF makes Contention here Love makes all Common there There 's no Propriety Mine is my Brothers Perfect Community Makes One's Anothers Go out then lingring Soul From this Vile Serpents Hole VVhere Bred as in a Sink They Hiss and Sting us VVill not Christ dost thou think To better bring us Think not that Heav'n wants store Think not that Hell hath more If all on Earth were lost Earth's scarce one Tittle To the vast Heavens at most Exceeding little All those Blest Myriads be Lovers of Christ and Thee Angels thy presence wish Christ will receive thee Then let not Bruitish Flesh Fright and Deceive thee Gladly my Soul go forth Is Heaven of no more worth Then this Curst Desert is This VVorld of Trouble Prefer Eternal Bliss Before this Bubble VVish not still for Delay VVhy wouldst thou longer stay From Christ from Home so far In Self-Denyal And live in longer VVar A Life of Tryal Souls Live when Flesh lies Dead Thy Sin is Pardoned VVhen Christ doth Death disarm VVhy art thou fearful And Souls that fear no harm Should pass forth Chearful Cherish not causeless Doubt That God will shut the out What if he thee assur'd From Heav'n by Letter His Son his Spirit and VVord Have done it better Hath Mercy made Life sweet And is it kind and meet Thus to draw back from God VVho doth Protect thee Look then for his sharp Rod Next to Correct thee VVhat if Foes should make hast Thou wilt the sooner tast VVhat all Blest Souls enjoy VVith Christ for ever VVhere those that thee Annoy Shall hurt thee never Fear not the VVorld of Light Though out of Mortal's sight As if it doubtful were For want of seeing Gross Bodies Vilest are And the least Being Vain sinful VVorld farewel I go where Angels dwell VVhere Life Light Love and Joy Are the Saints Glory Gods Praises there employ The Consistory Christ who knows all his Sheep VVill all in safety keep He will not lose his Blood Nor Intercession Nor we the Purchas'd Good Of his dear Passion I know my God is Just To him I wholy Trust All that I have and am All that I hope for All 's sure and seen to him VVhich I here grope for Lord Jesus take my Spirit I trust thy Love and Merit Take home this wand'ring Sheep For thou hast sought it This Soul in safety keep For thou hast bought it Amen Decemb. 19. 1682. The Valediction 1. VAin World what is in thee What do poor mortals see Which should esteemed be Worthy their Pleasure Is it the Mothers VVomb Or Sorrows which soon come Or a dark Grave and Tomb VVhich is their Treasure How dost thou Man deceive By thy vain Glory VVhy do they still Believe Thy false History 2. Is 't Childrens Book and Rod The Lab'rer's heavy Load Poverty under-trod The VVorld desireth Is it distracting Cares Or Heart-tormenting Fears Or pineing Grief and Tears VVhich Man requireth Or is it it Youthful Rage Or Childish Toying Or is Decrepite Age VVorth Mans Enjoying 3. Is it deceitful Wealth Got by Care Fraud or Stealth Or short uncertain Health VVhich thus befool Men Or do the Serpents Lies By the VVorlds Flatteries And tempting Vanities Still over-rule them Or do they in a Dream Sleep out their Season Or born down by Lusts Stream VVhich Conquers Reason 4. The silly Lambs to day Pleasantly Skip and Play Whom Butchers mean to Slay Perhaps to Morrow In a more Bruitish sort Doe careless Sinners Sport Or in dead Sleep still Snort As neer to Sorrow Till Life not well begun be sadly Ended And the Web they have Spun Can ne'r be Mended 5. What is the time that 's gone And what is that to come Is it not now as none The present stays not Time posteth Oh how fast Unwelcome Death makes hast None can call back what 's past Judgment delays not Though God bring in the Light Sinners awake not Because Hells out of Sight They Sin forsake not 6. Man walks in a vain shew They know yet will not know Sit still when they should go But run for shaddows While they might tast and know The living Streams that flow And crop the Flowers that grow In Christ's sweet Medows Life's better slept away Than as they use it In Sin and Drunken Play Vain Men abuse it 7. Malignant World adiew Where no foul Vice is new Only to Satan true God still offended Though taught and warn'd by God And his Chastising Rod Keeps still the way that 's broad Never amended Baptismal Vows some make But ne'r perform them If Angels from Heaven spake 'T would not reform them 8. They dig for Hell beneath They Labour hard for Death Run themselves out of Breath To overtake it Hell is not had for nought Damnation's dearly bought And with great Labour sought They 'l not forsake it Their Souls are Satans fee He 'l not abate it Grace is refus'd that 's free Mad Sinners hate it 9. Vile Man is so perverse It 's too rough work for Verse His badness to Rehearse And shew his Folly He 'l die at any rates He God and Conscience hates Yet Sin he Consecrates And calls it Holy The Grace he 'l not endure Which would renew him Constant to all and sure Which will undoe him 10. His Head comes first at Birth And takes Root in the Earth As Nature shooteth forth His Feet grow highest To kick at all above And spurn at saving Love His God is in his Grove Because its nighest He loves this World of strife Hates what would mend it Loves Death that 's called Life Fears what would end it 11. All that is Good hee 'd cursh Blindly on Sin doth rush A Pricking thorny Bush Such Christ was Crown'd with Their Worships like to this The Reed the Judas Kiss Such the Religion is That these abound with They mock Christ with the Knee When e're they bow it As if God did not see The Heart and know it 12. Of Good they choose the least Despise that which is best The joyful Heavenly feast Which Christ would give them Heav'n hath scarce one cold wish They live unto the Flesh Like Swine they feed on VVash Satan doth drive them Like weeds they grow in Mire VVhich Vices nourish VVhere warm'd by Satans Fire All Sins do Flourish 13. Is this the VVorld Men choose For which they Heav'n refuse And Christ and Grace abuse And not receive it Shall I not guilty be Of this in some Degree If hence God would me free And I 'd not leave it My Soul from Sodom flie Lest wrath there find thee Thy Refuge-rest is nigh Look not behind thee 14. There 's none of this adoe None of the Hellish Crew Gods promise is most true Boldly believe it My Friends are gone before And I am neer the Shoor My Soul stands at the Door O Lord receive it It trusts Christ and his Merits The Dead he raises Joyn it with Blessed Spirits Who sing thy Praises Ian. 14. 1682 3. FINIS The Titles I. Grace pag. 1 II. Wisdome 19 III. Madness 25 IV. Hypocrisie 34 V. Man 48 VI. The Exit 62 VII The Valediction 70 Books lately Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. MR. Rich. Baxter's Dying Thoughts preparatory to his approaching Change Octavo Of the Immortality of Man's Soul and the Nature of it and other Spirits Two Discourses Octavo By Mr. Baxter Truth and Peace promoted Or a Guide for young Christians in the way of Salvation past the danger of Errors and Difficulties of Curiosity In a familiar Dialogue between a Minister of Christ and a Devout private Christian. Twelves By Adam Martindalt