And will not let his vnderstanding flye To see what goodly clusters there doe grow In heau'nly Canaan where Milke and Hony flow We hardly here of things below discerne And with great paines what is before vs find Ah how shall we than able be to learne Thy Wisdome which no limits haue confin'd Thy Spirit onely can into our mind These hidden mysteries in Christ reueale In which the Princes of the world were blind For from man naturall thou dost conceale This Wisdome spirituall which thou to thine do'st deale For as none know's the Spirit of a man But that same Spirit that within doth dwell So nothing apprehend this Wisdome can But that wise Spirit that all Truth doth tell Oh Sacred Spirit of Truth my heart compell This holy Sapience to entertaine Thou only giu'st to drinke of Wisdom's Well Mans wisdom's wickednesse his thoughts are vaine His knowledge is but errour and his pleasure paine Thou didst create eu'n all things by thy Word And by thy heau'nly Wisdome didst ordaine Man of thy handy workes to be the Lord That he in Truth and Equitie might raigne And with an vpright heart the right maintaine Oh therefore downe thine heau'nly wisdome send Me in all Truth and vprightnesse to traine She shall my Words and Works to thee commend And bring my small beginnings to a perfect end And here with Praise and Prayer I will end Oh who aright can know or vnderstand Except thou Wisdome from thy Throne do'st send To giue vnto him what thou dost command Then grant me Wisdome alway's to withstand Hells subtill Plots and Worlds base Blandiments Let sacred Prudence euer be at hand Still to direct my words acts and intents To yeeld Obedience to thy Commandements MEDITAT II. Of OBEDIENCE WHen first th' Almighty by his only Word Had fashion'd all within the Firmament He made Man last to be their King and Lord That he to him might be obedient But Man not with this Monarchy content Diuide his homage to omnipotence And hauing but one small Commandement Transgressed it by Disobedience The easier the Command the greater the Offence This all the Sonnes of Adam doe deriue From him and call it guilt Originall Which by th' Eternall Law did vs depriue Of all Gods Benefits and did enthrall To endlesse Bondage till Christ for this Fall The price of his most precious bloud did pay Which vs recouers from Sins actuall And by obeying Gods whole Law doth stay His wrath And merits Heau'n for all that him obay For as by first mans Disobedience On all men commeth Death and Condemnation So by the seconds true Obedience We haue eternall Life and sure Saluation Thus Disobedience by deriuation From Adam bringeth endlesse wretchednesse And true Obedience by imputation Conuay's from Christ eternall Happinesse So by the first comes sin by second Righteousnesse The glorious robe of perfect Righteousnesse Which they that are obedient onely weare To couer that foule shame and wickednesse Which Adams Disobedience layed bare Ah! let a Disobedient Sinner dare The aid of the Obedient Lamb desire My Will and Actions Tongue and Heart to square In due proportion to his heau'nly squire Whil'st I of true Obedience prayses doe enquire Deuoutest Lady Handmaid to the Queene Of heau'nly Loue And so in duty bound That shee 's alway's prest and ready seene To doe what thing soeuer she propound Her heart words will and deeds all one are found Seruing for Loue and not for Feare or Gaine No Subiect merits better to be crown'd For who can best obay he best can raigne And she is shortly sure eternall Crownes to gaine If I may square Her by the Rules of Art I her define to be our Wills subiection To Him that ought to rule both will and heart And by his will disposeth our best affection The rule of Reason may be our direction How our superiours Statutes we obay But when the Lord commands there 's no election Nor doubting what we ought to doe or say Gods will 's the rule of Right which none may disobey Here in two Branches I might her diuide Obedience first to God and secondly To our Superiours that on earth abide But all is but to one Authority For there 's no Power or precedency But that which highest Power doth ordaine Who therefore doth resist mans Soueraignty Gods ordinance resisteth and againe Who duly it obay's Gods Statutes doth maintaine Thus must our hearts eares hands be all attent His Word and Will in all things to obey Who ouer vs hath lawfull Regiment Which is one God eternall blest for ay Whose seruants all we are And therefore may Not chuse a Lord or Master whom we will Nor serue two masters least we disobay The one when we the others mind fulfill For that which pleaseth one doth crosse the others will Thus our obedience is only due To him that all did for his seruice make And 't is a firme position sound and true God only for himselfe But for his sake All that from him Authoritie doe take We truly and sincerely ought obey Or else our bounden dutie we forsake As those which doe their Princes disobey When they their lawfull Officers commands gainsay For this whole world is like a family In all things well and iustly ordered Where God hath the supreame authority And Rulers theirs from him deliuered By which they doe command as in his stead Who then to them are disobedient They may be said to disobey the Head For whil'st they rightly vse their gouernment We ought them to obey in things indifferent Indeed all ought regard the Supreme Will As first commanding cause and end of all Which all that Being haue ought to fulfill From which as all things rise so all must fall Here therefore first we into mind will call To whom that will commands vs to obay For in obeying their commands we shall Obey that Supreme Will This is the way To make Gods Will the Cause of all we doe or say To Him we must be subiect first of all To whom all Power in Heau'n and Earth is lent The Sonne of God begotten naturall Next to his Ministers which he hath sent Apostles Pastors Doctors here are meant Which by his Word doe teach their Masters Will And rule his Church by godly Gouernment And those which heare these his commands fulfill And those which them despise despise his heau'nly Will As Kings which with great Honour doe conuay Princes Ambassadours it doe intend Vnto their Lords So we our Lord obay When we obey the Legates he doth send The second Power is that which God doth lend To Kings and Princes for to delegate Iudges to punish those which doe offend And to maintaine the Life Peace and estate Of eu'ry member that maintaines the Bodies state To this all Subiects owe Obedience The third obedience is which wife doth owe Vnto her Head who due Beneuolence For Dutie ought vnto his wife to shew For as the Church so ought the Wife to know
cry Giue giue as Graue and Hell be neuer full So nought the couetous eye can satisfie But he that 's liberall and bountifull Is like full clouds which doe most plentifull Water the earth and poure downe store of raine Yet are not emptie for the mercifull And liberall shall greater plentie gaine And he that scattereth shall find increase againe That hand is neuer emptie of reward Where as goodwill the hearts chest filleth full And bountie neuer is so much afear'd Causlesse to giue As not be bountifull Where need requires His face is beautifull Where sweet Goodwill both heart and lookes haue Ioyn'd But th' enuious and malitious doe pull On wrinkles And a man shall euer find The beautie of the face to alter with the mind Bountie is like vnto the glorious Sun Which as a Bridegroome doth from chamber glide And as a Gyant ioy 's his course to run From East to West most swiftly he doth ride Nothing from 's fertile heat it selfe can hide He doth not looke that one him vp should call So bountie deales her Graces far and wide And Blessings without asking sends to all Expecting not vaine praise where shee lets graces fall As some faire glorious garment which we weare Vpon our shoulders reaching to the ground Couers all spots and Naeues that on vs are So where this noble bounty doth abound It couereth all faults that can be found For as Loue couers so doth Bounty hide A multitude of sins and doth confound By her bright Beames Detraction Enuy Pride Alas these are to weake where Bounty 's on our side Shee 's like vnto the Lamp of glorious day Which doth diuide the darknesse from the light For whereas Bountie doth her beames display Behold bright day without them there is night The King that by his bountie doth inuite His subiects hearts to Loue and Honour due Sleepes more secure than he that doth by might And feare strong forts and walled townes subdue And for his guard 's encompassed with armed crue Bountie and Benefits are eu'n the Bands Of Concord and as fire doth quickly dye That is not fostered with coles or brands So dies true Loue with men Except supply Be made by gifts and liberalitie Who doth the wandring soule direct aright Though with him he doth deale most bounteously Yet doth he but his fellowes candle light And to another giues yet loseth selfe no light True bounty seekes high God to imitate Who to the most vnthankfull is most free Sol doth his light to Theeues participate And without tempests Pirates saile on Sea The Heau'ns of all good things the Authors bee Faire fortunes to vngratefull fooles doe send As onely seeking to doe good so we Though oft in vaine our bountie we doe spend To the vnthankfull must as to the thankfull lend Gods bounty 's like to incense and perfume Cast on an heart inflam'd with holy zeale Which praises vp like cloudes of smoake doth sume And sweetest odours round about doth deale Man's Bounty is like widowes cruse or meale Which spent vpon the Prophet growes to more Like Surgeons skill which as he more doth heale Doth grow more cunning than he was before The diligent and bounteous hand want neuer store As many fruits doe faire encrease and grow Not so much by the nature of the ground As by the bounty which from Heau'n doth flow And temperate aire that is about them found So all good Arts in noblest wits abound More by some Princes liberalitie And high regard they haue of Muses sound Than their owne nature strength and industry Best friends to Arts are Bounty and Humanity Should I but here recount the names of all Whom bountifull in holy Writ I find I of your patience should be prodigall And my short time for this discourse assign'd Let me their names vp in a bundle bind Which if you please to ope as sweetly smell As Camphires bush my Muse is now inclin'd Of some prophane examples here to tell Which seeme in noble Bounty others to excell Than treasure Cyrus more his friends esteem'd Whereof he multitudes by bounty won And Alexander greatest glory deem'd By bounty neuer to be ouercome A King of Egypt thought it better done His subiects coffers than his owne to fill When as Alphonsus heard Titus Vespasians sonne Accounted that day lost when for goodwill He had giu'n nought said I ne're spent a day so ill Behold these fiue examples liue in one The bounteous Monarch that our Scepter sways Esteemes his friends ' boue gold or precious stone And ouercomes eu'n all that him obay's By soueraigne Bounty to 's immortall praise No King so fills his subiects chests with gold His bounteous deeds in number passe his day's Ah! how then dare my niggard rimes be bold The sacred bounty of my Soueraigne to vnfold Who hoards not vp his wealth in Caue or Tower Nor into prisons darke condemnes his gold But as on him from heau'n all Blessings shower So are his to vs Subiects manifold As from thicke clouds we numberlesse behold Large streames of fruitfull raine on earth to fall So is his largesse to his seruants told Who entring poore returne rich from his hall Like Tagus golden sands his hands are liberall Vouchsafe oh bounteous Soueraigne heare thy thrall After thy cloud a subiects drop'd to sing Whom thou didst to deserued honour call And was in name and bountie as a King Who in thy bounteous steps thee following Did from obscurity my Fortunes raise Without desert or my least offering He now in Heau'n his bounteous King doth praise As he with bounty honour'd him here all his day's And let vs all his bounteous praises sing Whose bounty vs from Hell and Death doth raise Our blessed Sauiour Prophet Priest and King Who here in bounteous deeds spent all his day 's Casting out Deuills sauing soules alway's Healing the sicke giuing the blind their sight Mournes for our sins for enemies he pray's Comforts the rich and feeds the hungry wight And still in doing good doth set his whole delight How could malicious heart of enuious man Consent to murther such a bounteous King Scourge scorne deride despight him what they can Still in his bounteous deeds perseuering Yea when vnto the Crosse they him doe bring Father they know not what they doe he cry's And when his body hangs their torturing He to the Thiefe not Paradise denyes Thus doing good he liues Thus doing good he dyes What doth the Lord of Life eternall dye Which vnto vs eternall life doth giue See his large bounty and benignity Hee gaue his life for vs that we might liue What heart of stone doth not here melt or riue But with his Life his Bounty doth not end He by his Will and Testament doth giue Vs Heau'n yea more the Comforter doth send With millions of Angells on vs to attend Who can of this his Sauiours Bountie tast And to his members not be bountifull If thou want wealth and coine giue what thou hast And
Folly is of wise illumination And as in Chaos rude at first Creation There was all Darknesse by the want of Light So in all men before their renouation Are Folly's mists and errours blackest night Till there the Spirit moue which all things doth inlight The Poets which did wondrously transcend In making Mystery's by Fictions plaine All other Graces as diuine commend But Wisdome they to be a Goddesse faine Minerva who proceedeth from the braine Of Iupiter whom they the Mistris hight Of all the Graces and the Muses traine To whom shee oft descends for her delight Weary'd with toile of Gouernment and Martiall fight Thus her of Warre Peace Politie and Arts They Goddesse make as if they should her call The Wisdome God the Father thus imparts Vnto the Sonne to make rule order all With God the Father Coessentiall As all his Attributes Power Truth and Loue For on the Persons Consubstantiall No accident can fall or thence remoue This Soules faint eye conceiues of Wisdome from aboue Which is vnto my minds obscured eye As to my Body's Sunne in Firmament The farther off the easier to descry For neerenesse breedeth but astonishment Oh glorious Wisdome Sun most orient Into my soule with Folly clouded shine Some clearer beames of wisdome excellent The whil'st I sing these radiant rayes of thine Which make a mortall wight seeme gloriously diuine What and how great is wisdomes heau'nly skill No heart of man is able to conceiue Much lesse expresse by any tongue or quill For none but Wisdome wisdome can perceiue The cause vnknowne of nothing shee doth leaue A Numen of such wondrous excellence Shee doth no good but from her selfe receiue Being her owne end ayme and recompence No good in Heau'n or Earth but flow's from Sapience And therefore call'd the proper Good of Ioue Which though to Men and Angells hee dispence In wise proportion yet from him doth moue All wisdome and to him hath reference For as in Power so in Sapience He doth all other heau'nly Powers transcend For Wisdome Ground is of Omnipotence And as we Mortalls on her hests attend So neerer io diuine perfection we ascend Such is true Wisdom's glory that eu'n they Seeme much to doubt who doe her most admire Whither we properly possesse her may And by continuall industry acquire Or that the Heau'ns her secretly inspire In briefe no price or gold can her obtaine Shee seemes to be some flame of heau'nly fire In Adam breath'd before by Folly slaine Which therefore we must seeke to haue from heau'n againe Schooles her to be the knowledge doe define Of things diuine and humane which in breast Of Mortalls if it pure and liuely shine Makes him like God vnmou'd and stable rest For as no chance of Fortune can molest The Power diuine So wisemen doe enioy Within themselues by Wisdome Peace and Rest Nothing that is without can them annoy All seeming Miseries giue place to Inward Ioy. Yet falls this Wisdome short of that Diuine Which Adam did possesse before his fall And as Sun-beames through clouds so doth she shine Through our corruptions scarse discern'd at all Wee common and more exquisite her call That see things that are past and things in sight This things which in succeeding times may fall Wee her as shee guides mens affayres aright Call Prudence Wisdome as shee doth in God delight Wisdome and Prudence in an humane breast Are one same Grace though diuers by relation Wisdome referres to God Prudence doth rest Most in a wise and vpright moderation Of States and Men by Law 's administration By Wisdome here we see the life of Grace By Prudence in a ciuill conuersation Prudence amongst the heathen had a place True heau'nly wisdome only Gods elect doth grace This heau'nly wisdome whereby we conuerse With God and take delight in holy things Doth our affections all and wills peruerse Set right and neere diuine perfection brings Shee first like good Musitian tunes the strings And then sends forth a most harmonious sound First lifts our Soules to heau'n vpon her wings Next orders all by Prudence on the ground Like Leach who ere he others cure himselfe makes sound She first within in order sets the heart Next is for outward things most prouident No Grace more Good to Mortalls doth impart Nor none more euills here on earth preuent She shew's her inward Graces God hath lent By outward manners habit graue attire Few words pure hands in all such complement Such gesture publike and in her retire As all her for a heau'nly patterne doe admire But most of all a wiseman striues to tame Both in himselfe and others Sin and Lust For hee that Good from Ill discern's doth blame False varnish't show's defil'd with inward rust He Pride Pompe Boasting Scorne away doth thrust And from a pure Serenity of mind A paterne draw's of Life most quiet iust Far from opinions false and errour blind And guides at sterne as in a calme so in the wind In Warre most valiant in Iudgement iust Ill vnto Good things hurtfull turn's to sound Will 's still the same because the best no Gust Of fate oppresleth him if Wealth abound Or Pouertie he still the same is found And doth with pleasing Constancy endure All Fortunes changes which doe others wound True innocent sincere iust simple pure And as his Life his Death is ioyfull sweet secure The Poets faine that in the golden Age Graue wise experienc'd men bare all the sway And the vnexpert young not yet growne sage To learne Law 's rules first practis'd to obey For Prudence all by leuell orders ay And by a long Experience doth discerne How she prouide for future changes may By precept and example much we learne But that imprints most deepe which doth our selues concern Examples Precepts and Experience Are euer ready at a Wisemans hand To teach him Iudgement Counsell Prouidence Of which we alway's here in need doe stand By Counsell we the Grounds doe vnderstand Of things we ought to doe or leaue vndone Iudgement our Wills and Senses doth command What things we ought embrace and what to shun And Prouidence prouides for things that are to come I praise not here that cunning Politie Which maketh of anothers Folly gaine This comes of Malice Guile and Subtiltie Which generous braue Prudence doth disdaine Such alway's euill counsell entertaine The Apes of Prudence Reasons deprauation Whose minds as hands grow hard by taking paine Are by base plots and subtill magination Inured vnto others wrongs and supplantation As Quicknesse wit As Soundnesse memory Graue lookes the Face and Plainnesse speech commend So Iudgements praise is in Equalitie Without least doing wrong to Foe or Friend And as salt sauours so doth Iudgement bend Eu'n all our words thoughts workes to good or ill Without this Iudgement Prudence doth intend Nothing for shee is Mistresse of her Will Which she with all her power labours to fulfill Counsell and Iudgement are the very eyes And Lamps here to direct
sings this Psalmist Hymnes and Heav'nly Lay's To him that giues him Spirit till his Death Oh heav'nly Musicke which the rage could quell Of Cis his sonne possest with euill Spirit Pure Hymns from God sweet mercy to compell When foulest Sins Hell-fire doe commerit Sweet Shepheard when thou singest forth thy Flocks The Angells all admire thy heav'nly Lay's Thy musicke moues stones trees and senslesse stocks When thou diuin'st of Christs most happy day's Yet those hands that so gently touch a string Can Lyons Beares and Wolues in peeces teare And quell the proud Philistine with a sling From whom the Host of Israel runs for feare Loue at his birth him dandled in her Lap Whilst all the Graces Lullaby's doe sing Shee fed him with Ambrosia for Pap And rais'd him from a Shepheard to a King And thou my Sonne although thy Breath be faint I cannot but commend thy good desire With their diuine Essays thy Muse acquaint Which may be fewell to thy heav'nly fire Yet though thou straine Inuention Art and wits And fills thy Verses with thy wisest Says They shall not liue except some holy fits Thy Soule aboue the Heav'ns bright Tapers raise Thy Soule whose Beeing is Celestiall fire Must like the Saints be rapt vp in a trance And extased with holiest desire If thou thy Verse wouldst vp to Heav'n aduance For as none but the Spirit of a man The secrets of that Spirit can disclose So none attaine sublimest numbers can Except a holy Fury them compose And as no Actor well can play the King That is not one in his imagination So none can Vertues pure Ideas sing That suits his mind not to his meditation Poets are like to Organs sounding shrill With fingers touch so long as they be full But as on empty ones in vaine's our skill Ev'n so are Verses without Fury dull And as none on the Harpe sweet tunes can sound Till hee by Art hath set in Tune each string So none high-rapted numbers can compound Till's soule be tun'd by spheare-like rauishing Sith then to Numbers life from Heav'n is sent Oh rarest Spirits how dare you abuse Them to dishonour him who hath them lent To 's Glory and your Chast delight to vse Shall your diuinest spirits stoupe so low To make your-selues base slaues to Lust and Sin And let your pure Pyrenean Fountaines flow In stinking Channells all defil'd within Still will you fawne on Fooles and Greatnesse flatter And fill the world with wanton idle groanes Still shall your Muse like Pyes this one song chatter Of Lust which brings corruption to the bones I st not enough you burne in lustfull flame Except you eke corrupt youth prone to vice And strumpet-like hang out your signes of shame The Passengers to folly to intice For numbers notes and tunes such power haue They soonest on the noblest Spirits seaze Whereon they doe their formes and sounds engraue As Seales on wax imprinted are with ease And that 's the Reason graue and wiser Sages Haue banish't from their coasts lasciuious rymes When Poets chast and vertuous in all ages Haue beene as Priests and Prophets in their times Would you the Genius of your Fury raise And change your fleshly to spirituall Flame Such matter would immortalize your praise And leaue behind you a most honour'd name Your Verse would be admir'd you honoured As Secretarys to the King of Kings For first the Prophets words thus numbered To handle mystery's and holy things Thus Dauid all his Psalmes by measure sings Moses the freedome from Egyptian thrall And Miriam vpon a Timbrell rings Gods Praises Iudith the Assirians fall They sang for Ioy but Iob and Ieremy Sing when they with afflictions most are prest A Nunc Dimittis was the Poefie The Swan-like Simeon warbled in his brest Magnificat the blessed Virgin sings The Angells Glory sing to God on high And Martyrs bound to stakes with Iron strings Sing Praises whilst in Flames their Body's fry So burnes their zealous heate of Loues purefire They feele no outward for the inward flame So long as they haue Bowells to respire They neuer cease to praise Gods holy name But he that seemes an Angell of the light More easie children of the light ' tabuse In Verse doth also his delusions write And for his Oracles did numbers chuse And for he know's that Loues pure heav'nly fire Is that by which we Gods whole Law fulfill His Prophets all must chant of Lusts desire And make great Ioue be rul'd by Cupids will Thus bloud corrupt th'inchanter doth instill With lustfull Fire to scal'd youths hotter veines And poisons with this Copperis the quill Of Heathen Poets in their gentle straines Who to make more authenticke Ribauldry Doe faigne their Gods therein to take delight Where though they Natures secrets wittily Oft vaile yet thus to Lust they youth inuite I know in first pure streames of Poesie The Muses Bath was chast as Pheebes shrine The Virgin Graces Ioues chast progeny And Pallas chast and vertuous as diuine Venus was then with Almas title graced And lov'd her Spouse plaine Vultan Mars scarce knew Whom though shee oft in nuptiall bed imbraced T was not for wanton pleasure but for due This Poetry my Sonnes reuiv'd againe To mortalls would restore the golden times And for your Brow 's immortall Lawrells gaine And to their ancient honour raise your Rimes But Satan since another patterne set Which he would haue all his to imitate And like a Fowler draweth to his Net Poore Birds with merry notes and pleasing Bait. But thou that seek'st Gods Glory not thine owne And striv'st to quench not quicken lustfull Flame Chuse these diuine ensamples I haue showne And guild not with faire words the foulest shame When thou do'st feele Loue 's Fury in thy breast What better theame or matter canst thou take Than sing his Loue who Heav'n and Earth possest Yet here himselfe for Loue a Slaue did make The Loue betweene the Bridgroome and his Deare Were matter to immortalize a Song No Man or Angell euer yet did heare Diuiner Musicke from a mortall tongue This is a deepe broad boundlesse Ocean A high Pernassus of sweet Meditation No holy Fury diue the bottome can Nor reach the height thereofby contemplation Soule-rapting Tunes when Turtles voyce doth sound The Songs of Sion in a Holy Land Sweet accents making Hills and Mountaines bound And Cedars of the Forrest trembling stand This better will thy heart enrich thy mind Here profit thou shalt reape with sweet delight Here thou refreshing Nectar-streames shalt find To coole thy thirst and cleare thy dimmer sight For thus thou safely maist enioy delight The pleasure which shall last for euermore Vaine Worldly Pleasures leaue men ere their night But when the iudgement comes they run before These heav'nly precepts sweetned by her voyce So rauished my Soule with delectation My Muse at quiet since doth sole reioyce And take delight in heav'nly contemplation And though I neuer hope to touch with
hand Much lesse my head with Lawrell Bough adorne May I yet mine owne Passions thus command My Cost and Tilt's short of my Crop of Corne. FINIS The Authors Vow or wish at the Consecration of a Chappell newly founded by the Right Honorable WILLIAM Lord Maynard at his House in Eston in Essex LEt others heape vp Titles Lands and store Their names on earth for euer to maintaine Thou to thy house dost surer honour gaine By adding of this Consecrated Floore Where Thou and Thine may euer him adore That Proud throw's downe and Humble men doth raise Thy Father built the Palace in his day's But leaues Gods house vnto his prudent Sonne Who Numa-like now plants Religion Where Romulus the first Foundation lay's This Leauen makes the whole Lump to endure Shis Salt to Thee and Thine shall season all And gainst thy Foes shall be a Brasen Wall This shall Thee waking keepe most safe and sure And nigh this Altar thou shalt sleepe secure By this Thy Honour ay continue shall And Blessed make Thy Names memoriall Alas this worlds vaine seeming glittring Glory Is lubrike full of hazard transitory What 's built on this Foundation cannot fall So long as Sions Temple's vndefil'd The line of Dauid doth the Scepter sway But suddenly are captiue led away When Altars they with Idols had defil'd Wherefore they wise did Gods house rebuild When out of Babylon they were translated Then since Thou wisely has determinated Thine House and Honour by Gods Church to raise Hee Blissings send so long as You him praise So may both stand for ay vnruinated Be it like Sions Mount inaugurated Which is by Sions MOVNTAIGNE Consecrated The Muses Health To the Right Honourable WLLIAM Lord Maynard at the Consecration of his Chappell at Eston Lodge in Essex THis building thus adorn'd and rais'd in state Shall now be made a Chappell consecrate Embleme of Adam whom as God did rowle First vp in clay next breath'd a liuing soule So to these faire materialls preparation A Spirit shall be giuen by Consecration Not stol'n from Iupiter as ports tell Prometheus did for which he hangs in Hell Nor yet a sparke of strange or common fire Which brought on Aarons sonnes consuming ire But coales on Gods owne Altar kindled By right succession to vs fostered The sum is that the Bishop doth inspire Into this Edifice an holy fire A liuing flame which neuer shall goe out So long as they which tend it are deuout But aye thereby shall safe and quiet rest As swallowes which besides is build their nest Oh may this fire within these walls indure So long as Neptunes waues this I le immure And as from Mountaines comes that wholesome breath Which healthfull makes the Valleys all beneath So from this MONTAIGNE health come and saluation Vnto the Founder and his generation Let Prophets Priests in Prayers all combine To make this House a Blisse to Thee and Thine And when by their deuotions ioy'nd this flame Is kindled let thy Priests maintaine the same And offer vp thy prayers day and night Like fumes of Incense in th' Almighties sight Oh force vnited of a Congregation That ioyne in prayer at a Consecration With these my Muse now thine shall beare a part And whilst they pray by booke shee 'le pray by hart FINIS THE CONVERTS CONQVEST PSAL. 119. V. Ultimo I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost oh seeke thy seruant for I doe not forget thy Commandements LONDON Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY 1625. TO THE MOST SINCERELY RELIGIOVS AND TRVLY Vertuous Mistresse SARAH ARGAL Wife to IOHN ARGAL of Badew Esquire LEast I be deem'd a thiefe I will disclose I turn'd to Verse what you gaue me in Prose In so few lines I neuer yet did find More heav'nly Comforts to a grieued mind Mans sinfull Heart Hells Malice Grace diuine Is intermixed so in ev'ry Line I praise God I this speake with feeling Sense God grant the Reader like experience Good publish't doth more good by being knowne Wherein I seeke Gods glory not mine owne Of Reading and of Writing's but one end Repent beleeue for sake Sinne and amend Your true vnfeigned Friend R. A. THE CONVERTS CONQVEST ACertaine Christian which had often bin Tempted and by his weaknesse ouertaken To his great sorrow with one selfe same sin At last sate downe as if he were forsaken Where of sins bondage first he doth complaine And then himselfe thus comforteth againe From my all-seeing God I cannot flye Still in my loathed sins I may not lye Yet ought I not of mercy to despaire Yet dare I not for Grace to God repaire Pray would I but I cannot it intend Repent I doe but not my life amend I to beleeue desirous am yet doubt In this lewd wicked custome holding out God is by me dishonoured whilst I Professe to serue him true and faithfully Disples'd whilst I prouoke him to his face Both griev'd and quenched is his Spirit of Grace His Graces I abated withered find My sense benum'd besotted is my mind My memory dull'd more strong grows Satans dart My Soule 's aduentred hardned is my hart I grow in Sin rich poore in Goodnesse Grace My head 's vex'd Conscience is in wofull case My calling stain'd crack'd credit Time mispended My strength consum'd and my God offended As doth my sin my burthen doth increase My pain 's inlarged troubled is my peace I sigh but sorrow not aright would faine Be rid of it but soone returne againe I grieue not weepe Lord could I from it part Forsake confesse it with a broken hart How farre aduenture Lord how long shall I Dare to prouoke thy powerfull Maiesty How long shall he forbeare how often might He cut mee off Or suddenly dead smite How long shall hee chastise mee yet in vaine At length O Lord be mercifull againe Oh tarry not Lord tarry not too long But make my resolution firme and strong Oh loathsomenesse deceitfulnesse of sin Sweetnesse and bitternesse wee find therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Faiths weakenesse Satans enuy Mans false heart When shall I now these Oh that I could know Them better Lord by farre than yet I doe Yet wish though much asham'd thus to be tainted I were not as I am with them acquainted What shall I doe Goe on Nay God defend Shall I retire Stand idle Not amend Shall I despaire Why so Haue my sins quite Dride vp Gods mercies which are infinite Such thing to thinke were cursed Blasphemy Who succours all that are in misery Will not God heare what I in Faith desire Humbled with Griefe Then make I him a Lier Shall I presume yet longer Ah I haue Presum'd too much Oh let mee mercy craue By true Repentance and abundant teares What is thy heart so harden'd as it feares It neuer can be mollify'd againe Then Gods Omnipotence thou dost restraine What Hath this thing without God come to passe Hath Satan got the Victory Alas Is not th' Almightie far nore strong than hee Hath not my Lord Christ Iesus dy'd for mee Hath God ere lov'd thee Sure hee once me lov'd For then I it by good experience prov'd Then Loues he still for where he doth begin Hee loues for euer and his gifts haue bin Without Repentance hee for mee destry'd And vanquisht Death Sin Satan when he dy'd O Lord encrease my faith why should not I Beleeue in him obey him willingly How faine would I beleeue and him obay How fame would I repent amend and pray I cannot then conclude nor will nor dare That I am damn'd for these desires sure are The motions of Gods Spirit in mee indeed Who neither smoaking flax nor bruised reed Will quench or breake But all will satisfie Who thirst and hunger after equitie Blist euer be his name who hath begun To make me Conqueror through Christ his Sonne By his assistance gracious then I Vow To serue God better then I haue till now On his behests more carefully attend Thy Grace mee strengthen as a sheild defend Satan auoid thou hast in mee no part From the beginning thou a Liar art Before and after mine in Adams fall Thou to deceiue mee practisest in all But God is true iust mercifull to mee In Iesus Christ his blessed Sonne and hee For honour of his Name and Maiesty Will doe away all mine iniquitie So as the siftings here of Satan shall Not turne to my destruction But they all Gods Grace in mee shall further magnifie And bind mee to him more assuredly More hee forgiues the greater is his grace Him faster we with Loue in Christ imbrace Henceforth my soule remember well what gaine Thou reaped hast and oft maist reape againe By that whereof thou iustly art ashamed For which thy Name and Conscience now is blamed Restore me to the Ioy of thy Saluation Which better is then ioyes continuation For by the want the worth discerne we may And be stirr'd vp more earnestly to pray FINIS * Haruest Homer Alexander Aeneas Virgil. Ouid. Spencer Dauid * Bishop Montaigne