bereft By open Force or secret Theft Safe in it's Cabinet 't will stay Till by the Owner thrown away O dismal Bargain when for Sin we sell This Gemm 'T is Life for Death and Heav'n for Hell By Dr. Fuller LOrd what is Man lost Man that thou shou'd'st be So mindful of him that the Son of God Should quit his Glory his Divine Abode To be on Earth a poor Afflicted Man The Deity contracted to a Span And that for me O wondrous Love for me Reveal ye glorious Spirits when ye knew The way the Son of God took to renew Lost Man Your vacant Places to supply Blest Spirits tell Which did Excel Which was more prevalent Your Joy or your Astonishment That for a Worm a God should Dye Oh! for a Quill drawn from your Wing To write the Praises of th' Eternal Love Oh! for a Voice like Yours to sing That Anthem here which once you sung Above By the same Hand IN the black dismal Dungeon of Despair Pin'd with a Tormenting Care Wrackt with my Fears Drown'd in my Tears With dreadful Expectation of my Doom And certain horrid Judgments soon to come Lord here I lie Lost to all hope of Liberty Hence never to remove But by a Miracle of Love Which I scarce dare to hope much less expect Being guilty of so great so long Neglect Fool that I was worthy a sharper Rod To slight thy Courtings O my God! For thou didst Woo Intreat and Grieve Didst beg me to be happy and to Live But I would not I chose to dwell With Death too far from thee too near to Hell But is there no Redemption no Relief Thou sav'st a Murd'rer and a Thief Thy Mercy Lord once more advance And give O give me such a Glance As Peter had thy sweet kind Chiding Look Will change my Heart as it did melt that Rock Look on me Iesu as thou didst on him 'T is more than to Create thus to Redeem By the same Hand HOw have I stray'd my God! where have I been Since first I wander'd in the maze of Sin Lord I have been I know not where So intricate Youths Follies are Age hath its Labyrinths and Mazes too But neither hath a wise returning Clue Thy Look thy Call to me Shall my far better Ariadne be Hark I hear my Shepherd call away And in a kind complaining Accent say Why does my Soul thus stray O blessed Voice That prompts me to new Choice And fain dear Shepherd would I come But I can find no Track To lead me back And if I still go on I am undone 'T is thou O Lord must bring me home Or point me out at least the way For ah poor Souls have thousand ways to stray Yet to return alas but One. HYMN OH that mine Eyes wou'd melt into a Flood That I might plunge in Tears for Thee As thou didst Swim in Blood to ransom me Oh! that this fleshly Limbeck would begin To drop a Tear for every Sin See how his Arms are spread To entertain Death's welcome Bands Behold his bowing Head His bleeding Hands His oft repeated Stripes his wounded Side Hark how he Groans remember how he Cry'd The very Heavens put weeds of Mourning on The solid Rocks in sunder rent And yet this Heart this Stone could not relent Hard-hearted Man to weep alone deny'd Hard-hearted Man for whom alone he Dy'd The Passing-Bell COme honest Sexton take thy Spade And let my Grave be quickly made Thou still art ready for the Dead Like a kind Host to make my Bed I now am come to be thy Guest Let me in some Dark Lodging rest For I am weary full of pain And of my Pilgrimage complain On Heavens Decree I waiting lye And all my wishes are to dye Hark I hear my Passing-Bell Farewel my loving Friends Farewel 2. Make my cold Bed good Sexton deep That my poor Bones may safely sleep Until that sad and joyful Day When from Above a Voice shall say Wake all ye Dead lift up your Eyes The Great Creator bids you Rise Then do I hope among the Just To shake off this Polluted Dust And with new Robes of Glory drest To have access among the Blest Hark I hear my Passing-Bell Farewel my loving Friends Farewel JOB's CVRSE By Dr. JEREMY TAYLOR LEt the Night perish Cursed be the Morn Wherein 't was said there is a Man-Child born Let not the Lord regard that Day but shroud It 's fatal Glory in some sullen Cloud May the dark shades of an Eternal Night Exclude the least kind beam of dawning Light Let unknown Babes as in the Womb they lye If it be mention'd give a Groan and Dye No sounds of Joy therein shall charm the Ear No Sun no Moon no Twi-light Stars appear But a thick Vale of gloomy Darkness wear Why did I not when first my Mothers Womb Discharg'd me thence drop down into my Tomb Then had I been at quiet and mine Eyes Had slept and seen no Sorrow there the wise And subtil Councillor the Potentate Who for themselves built Palaces of State Lie husht in silence there 's no Mid-night Cry Caus'd by Oppressive Tyranny Of Wicked Rulers There the Weary cease From Labour there the Prisoner sleeps in Peace The Rich the Poor the Monarch and the Slave Rest undist urb'd and no Distinction have Within the silent Chambers of the Grave The Words by a Young Lady THere 's no disturbance in the Heavens above And heavenly Souls do nothing else but Love No Anger no Remorse no Discontent Can seize a Soul that 's truly Innocent And aims at nought but that she may combine With all she finds like to her self Divine And seeing Things in such Confusion hurl'd Does not contend with but despise the World A Dialogue between two Penitents 1 Pt. HArk how the wakeful cheerful Cock The Villagers Astrologer Clapping his Wings proclaims the Day And chides thy Sleep and Night away 2 Pt. I hear and thank my kind Remembrancer Flow flow my Tears O when will you begin St. Peter's Bird Reproves St. Peter's Sin 1 P. Complaining Man hast thou thy Christ deny'd 2 Pt. Wo's me I have done more than Peter did With less Excuse and many ways beside Ev'n since my Christ was glorify'd And this alas too oft alas more more than thrice As often as I Chose and Woo'd a Vice Or brutish Lust to be Abhor'd Rejected Jesu my dear Lord. 1 Pt. O my sad Heart if that be to deny None ought to weep more Floods than I When to receive into my Heart a Sin I thrust my Jesu out and took it in But Lord how oft he came and being deny'd Dy'd How dolefully he cry'd Why dost thou use me thus who for thee 2 Pt. Methinks I hear him Call too from the Tree Ungrateful Wretch were these Wounds made for Thee Who both deny'dst me and betray'd me too For every wanton Kiss A very Iudas is And each malicious Thought a spiteful Iew. 1 Pt. If Sins do now what
S Gribelin in et sculps Whom have I in Heaven but Thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire in comparison of Thee Psal. 73. ver 25. Miscellanea Sacra OR POEMS ON Divine Moral SUBJECTS Collected by N. Tate Servant to His MAJESTY 'T is not that which First we Love But what Dying we approve Mr. Waller LONDON Printed for Hen. Playford in the Temple-Change in Fleetstreet MCDXCVI TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS The PRINCESS ANNE of DENMARK MADAM THE Reformation of Poetry and Restoring the Muses to the Service of the Temple is a Glorious Work and requires a Patroness whose transcendent Quality and Virtues can give Sanction to what she is pleased to favour 'T was therefore my Duty as well as Ambition to present these pious Composures to your Royal Highness's Protection which like an Altar should only be approach'd with Religious Offerings A Book design'd for Publick Benefit cannot want Encouragement from a Princess who declines no Opportunity of doing Good Piety Madam has appear'd in all your Actions and Deportment with such prevailing Charms as have engaged many to become her Votaries even in so deprav'd an Age as This. Your Royal Brest is the Sacred Court where the Graces and Virtues have their respective Stations and where Charity has her Throne But Madam 't would be Presumption for any Pen to attempt your Panegyrick as it is written in the Souls and Sentiments of All who are Admirers of exemplary and accomplish'd Worth Although 't is the Transport of pious Minds to Contemplate that exalted State of Glory Reserv'd for you in the Regions of Eternal Happiness Yet Madam in Pitty to an Age where your Pattern and Presence are so Necessary Your long and prosperous Continuance Here is the National Wish from the Great to the Meanest and amongst them the Prayer of Madam Your ROYAL HIGHNESS'S most humble and Obedient Servant N. Tate PREFACE THE Publishing an Annual Miscellany of Poems on Divine and Moral Subjects can displease no Persons who have any respect for Virtue and She has few profest Enemies That Religion and Morality are capable of all the Embellishments of Poetry has been confirmed by the Suffrage and Performance of best Poets in all Ages 'T is there the Muses breath their native Air. After all their Prodigal persuits of Vanity 'T is thither they must come to recover Strength and Beauty to appear like Themselves in a Dress that is suitable to their Quality Those are only to be accounted legitimate Off-springs of Wit which are useful to the World or at least Inoffensive For such Births which the Muse that conceiv'd them cannot look upon with Satisfaction should be excluded the Favour and Patronage of noble Minds Cui non risêre Parentes Nec Deus hunc Mensâ Dea nec dignata Cubili est Perhaps there is no Talent or Genius more capable of being serviceable to Mankind than That of Poetry But 't is the Misfortune of that generous Soil to be over-run with poysonous Weeds and thin stockt with wholsome Plants Otherwise I had not inserted in this Collection any of my own Essays Neither will I pretend those from other Hands to be All of 'em choicest in their Kind However they had generally the private Approbation and many of them the Applause of able Iudges Some of 'em carry their Sanction in the Names of their Authors such as Dr. Jeremy Taylor Dr. Fuller Earl of Roscommon and Others Several also amongst the Anonymous will approve themselves to come from Eminent Hands Amongst which the Ladies may have the Entertainment to find that our Age and Country have produc'd more than One Orinda In so good a Design 't is hop'd the Ingenious will timely supply a second Freight and Pardon what they think defective in this first Adventure Youthful Minds will have their Diversions where Poetry comes in for no small Share 'T is therefore a Publick Service to furnish them with such as may be instructive and entertain their Fancy without viciating their Morals For which Reason the Encouraging a Book of this Nature is the Interest of all Parents and Masters of Families who are best Obey'd in Both Capacities when their Children and Servants have a Sense of Piety Nay Religious Poetry may be one Means of reclaiming even profligate Persons by its insinuating Charms in the Sweetness of its Streins and Harmony of its Numbers according to that of our divine Herbert A Verse may take him who a Sermon flies And turn Delight into a Sacrifice If Verse has such Allurements they will doubtless exert themselves most happily on Divine and Moral Subjects which naturally excite all the innocent Passions of our Minds Nothing furnishes the Fancy with more charming Ideas and Imagry No other Topicks or Occasions suggest such exalted Notions and Sentiments nor is any Thing capable of nobler Expression Which I think are all the Requisites a Poet can desire He will certainly find the Holy Scriptures his best Magazine of which Writings Mr. Cowley has truly asserted That They are already either the most accomplish'd Pieces of Poetry in the World or the best Materials for it POEMS ON DIVINE and MORAL SUBJECTS A Morning HYMN by Dr. Fuller formerly Bishop of Lincoln THou wakeful Shepherd that dost Israel keep Rais'd by thy Goodness from the Bed of sleep To Thee I offer up this Hymn As my best Morning Sacrifice Like grateful Incense may to Rise And raise me with it from the bed of Sin And do I Live another day to view O! let me with the Day my Thanks renew And by its Light thy righteous Paths persue Could I redeem the Time I have mispent In sensless Scenes of sinful Merriment Such Exemplary Penitence I 'd practise for each past Offence That ev'n the Innocent Should always wish themselves like me When with such Crimes they such Repentance see An Evening HYMN By Ezr. Simson ANother Day is past But can I say That I have Liv'd not lost another Day For Days and Years if spent in vain Can never to Life's Summ amount 'T is only adding to Death's black Account And must be Reckon'd for again Thou Setting Sun Art Witness how I 've been employ'd If One good Action I have done Worthy the Light that I this Day enjoy'd Thou seest my conscious Fears Therefore kind Planet let thy Ev'ning Beams Before they sink in Western Streams Set first in my Repenting Tears That when thy Lustre is withdrawn From these benighted Eyes To chear my Soul a fairer Dawn And brighter Sun of Righteousness may Rise The Sun who only can send forth a Ray That makes the Morning to Eternal Day INNOCENCE Or the Inestimable Gemm Written by a Young Lady WHat 's Innocence A brighter Gemm Than e'er enricht a Diadem A Gemm that bears a Price so high As Crowns and Empires cannot Buy Yet by the poorest Mortal's Brest This matchless Treasure is possest A Treasure not like other Wealth That 's liable to Fraud or Stealth No Soul of this can be
he goes Whose Streams his Passage to the Schools oppose He now must put Heav'ns Promise to the Test And prove if he Elijah's Spirit possest Dismantled on the Current's Verge he stood Then smote and cry'd Where 's now Elijah's God Chastis'd by Him the swelling Streams give way And Great Elijah's greater Heir Obey HYMN by H. W. 1. THou God for ever blest Of uncreated Pow'r possest Whose Habitation is in Light refin'd From thy Celestial Throne With Pity Lord look down Behold relieve my troubled Mind Anguish and Horror from my Heart remove Thou God of everlasting Peace and Love 2. And Thou who sitt'st at his Right-hand That do'st th' Angelick Hosts command Thou who on Earth didst heav'nly Pow'r display Thou whose mild Voice made Winds and Seas obey The Storms the Tempest in my Brest allay Chastise Controul The boist'ring Waves that rowl And Toss and Wreck and quite o'er-whelm my sick despairing Soul 3. And Thou most sweet and Sacred Dove The God of Consolation and of Love Visit O Visit ev'ry Part Of my afflicted Heart That Heart for thy Reception to prepare By thy most heav'nly Influence Expel all sinful Thoughts from thence And Save me from the Gulph of black Despair Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery KINGS the II. Chap. 20. By Mr. Tate WIth double Pleasure sprung the cheerful Dawn That saw the Syrians threatning Host with drawn Yet ah no sooner Wars Allarms are fled No sooner Peace her brooding Wings had spread But Sickness arm'd with Death's resistless Sting Invades the Sacred Person of the King The raging Pest within his Vitals reign'd More dang'rous than the Siege he had sustain'd The fatal Summons Purple Symptoms gave And Thus the Prophet warns him to his Grave Thy House in Order set dispose thy State For Death O King do's on my Message wait He stalks behind me to thy Palace-Gate The Prince who had Besieging Hosts defy'd Turns Pale and deeply Sighing Thus reply'd Can Heav'n impose where Justice is sublime A Task so weighty and so short a Time My House in Order set dispose my State Surpriz'd like Me with Life's last stage in View Alas what could a private Master do If Him a Doom so sudden wou'd o'erwhelm Ah what must I who sit at Iudah's Helm My Family no less than All the Realm That Realm how shall I orderly bequeath E'er Wars Alarms afford me time to breath How place my Scepter e'er my Sword I Sheath But if th' Almighty Wisdom has thought fit That I shou'd Iudah's Royal Ensigns quit My Soul at his Decree shall ne'er Repine Both Life and Empire at his Call Divine I will Resign But ah to whom Resign For yet the Marriage Bed's to me unknown And Iudah wants an Heir to Iudah's Throne Shall Israel's Ten Apostate Tribes their King To Sion's Tow'r and worse Unhallow'd Idols to the Temple bring Or shall Assyrian Troops the Siege renew And Rabsheka's blaspheming Threats prove True When in such Terms the Royal Saint had mourn'd His Face bedew'd with Tears he meekly turn'd Turn'd to the Wall Why thither that his Mind Might less Distraction in that Posture find Or secret Pray'rs more servently to press As warm Devotion loves no Witnesses Or that his Palace open'd on that side A Prospect whence his Eyes the Temple spy'd Where wish'd Access was to his Feet deny'd A second Deluge at his View he show'r'd And thus his Soul her Deprecation pour'd Remember Lord with humble Trust I sue How to thy Service I have been most True With perfect Heart by strong Devotion warm'd That which was Righteous in thy sight perform'd The Royal Saint paus'd here and hov'ring round Attending Angels strive to catch each Sound Scarce could They for their finisht Errand stay While thus the Pious Prince proceeds to Pray How prays He Not one Accent more he spoke But when his Tongue grows mute his Thoughts invoke His Tears and Groans their Office still maintain Let then the faithful Muse The Language of those Groans and Tears explain They said Thou seest O God most Just and Wise All fix'd on me the Neighb'ring Nations Eyes How in a Leud and Superstitious Age Alone I stand and for thy Truth engage Thy Worship's Champion if in Death I sleep From Pagan Force who shall thine Altars keep The Reformation I with Toil commenc'd Will soon relapse to Ruin when unfenc'd The Assyrian Savage with impetuous Haste Th' Enclosure gone will lay thy Vineyard waste Let me or let my Cause thy Favour claim Support thy Servant or at least thy Name Restore me from the Grave prolong my Days Prolong them that I may prolong thy Praise Nor yet the Prophet had the Palace left And Royal Patient of all Hope bereft But He whose Visit made the Court to Mourn Of Life the welcom Envoy must Return Turn cry'd the Vision bring my Saint Relief Tell Hezekiab tell my People's Chief Thy Father David's God has heard thy Pray'r Beheld thy Tears and will thy Health repair The Third Day 's Sun shall see that Health restor'd But Miracles must first confirm my Word Who now wants Breath his mournful Crys to raise Shall in the Temple then resound my Praise On the Death of Mr. Fell who was found Dead upon his Knees in his Chamber PRetending private Study when thy Mind To Paradise this Voyage had design'd Was sure a Pious though surprising Fraud And such as Saints and Angels must applaud Elijah thus pretending to Retire Told of the Water but conceal'd the Fire Elisha had he sought no more to know Had lost his Spirit and his Mantle too Such Legacies blest Soul mightst thou have giv'n Had we but seen thee when snatcht up to Heav'n Sure Paradise was open'd to thy view When with thy Pray'r thy Soul together flew In such a sacred Rapture Stephen spy'd Heav'n's Gates unlockt and forthwith kneel'd and dy'd To Heav'n thou now hast shewn the nearest way Which is like Thee to Study and to Pray You that carve Virtue deckt with ev'ry Grace As if her Beauties lay in Hands and Face Come Counterfeit this Image if you dare The first Original Statue of a Prayer Heaven took thee up when it beheld thee down So Princes kneel when they receive a Crown Nor did Heav'ns sudden Summons Thee surprise It scarce could ever find thee otherwise Thy pious Soul in Consecrated Clay For 't was a Temple never ceas'd to pray Thy oft repeated Storms Heaven's Gates assail'd Whose sacred Violence at last prevail'd Heaven kindly yielding sent a Message down To bid thee enter and possess the Crown One Period ends thy Combat and thy Breath Thy Conquest bravely finish'd in thy Death Such was Epaminondas noble Pride The minute that he Overcame he dy'd Alas what cannot warm Religion dare No Walls so high but may be scal'd by Pray'r New Stratagems by Piety are found And highest Flights take rise from off the ground What happy Zeal thy Spirit did inspire That ' midst thy Tears could kindle so much fire Which made
frown'd upon my Birth Nor to this Hour allows one Minute's Mirth Yet still I 'm flatter'd with deceitful Air That always says to Morrow shall be fair No Morrow yet has darted one kind Ray But still proves darker than the former Day The ruffling Winds oftimes disturb the Main But soon the Billows grow compos'd again No Leaves in Winter on the Grove are seen Which yet the next Spring Cloaths with fresher Green When sudden Storms eclipse the Morning's Light Those once dispers'd the Day returns more bright My gloomy Thoughts no Interval can find The Tempest always rages in my Mind My Sighs are all the Musick I employ My Sighs are all the Musick I enjoy With these I pass the tedious Night away With these I pass the yet more tedious Day My Friends 't is true their Counsel oft address Advise me oft to make my Sorrows less I took their Council gave to Mirth the Rein Mirth only brought more sharp Returns of Pain For when my Griefs with Laughter I 'd beguile Tempestuous Sighs destroy'd the Infant Smile And when I try to Sleep my Griefs to Rest Their Crys fright from my Door the gentle Guest Ye Streams and Groves my long frequented Seats Ye Rocks Caves my Sorrows last Retreats You know how oft my Groans in vain supprest Have with recoiling Fury torn my Breast While Eccho gentle sharer of my Woe Returns a Sigh to ev'ry Sigh I throw Here Progne do's her mournful Story tell Answer'd by sadder Notes of Philomel Each in her Turn renews the doleful Strain While Halcyons from the distant Shoars complain With these the Turtle joins eternal Moan Like me she mourns and murmurs all alone Thus Fate do's cruelly my Life prolong Of all my suffrings Life the greatest Wrong Out of Hermannus Hugo I Charge you O Daughters of Jerusalem if ye find my Beloved that ye tell him I am sick of Love Cant. 5. 8. YE happy souls of Heavenly Salem's Race Whose snowy Feet the Azure Temples grace You you I charge attend my sacred Strain If ye by chance shou'd find my Love again Tell him I Languish with a Fire unknown As Iasmins saint beneath th' Assyrian Sun For ' midst the Darts he lately scatter'd round He fell himself a Shaft and I a Wound At least his own Blood ting'd the pointed Steel ' For I more His than my own Sufferings feel Ah! with what fires was then my Soul possest As if whole Aetna heav'd within my Breast If he 's inquisitive as Lovers are And should enquire of each particular Talk all the Forms of Languish and Distress Which Pain forbids the Sufferer to express He 'll ask if I am Feaverish tell him No My Spirits are too weak my Pulse too low He 'll ask if danger of my Life appears Tell what your Eyes discover not your Ears Tell him you bid me speak whilst my faint breath Imported nothing but the signs of Death Perhaps he 'll ask you how I did appear What Looks and what my other symptoms were This or like This let your Description be That he my danger with its Cause may see A pale a frightful trembling Ghost I lye Condemn'd O Fate neither to live nor dye I pant and struggle for my hovering Breath Labouring for either perfect Life or Death With heavy Eyes that sink in gloomy Shade My faint Right hand within my Bosom laid No rosy Colours no young Native heat No Pulse tho' touch'd can be perceiv'd to beat A floud of Tears wash my faint Life away And dying Sighs to him my Soul convey Whilst in these sad Complaints I still admire To feel I burn yet know not what 's the fire Unless 't is Love which doth these Passions move For every accent of my Pain is Love From hence I find from hence proceeds my flame I know not Love but yet a Lover am Love made my Plaints so loud my Sighs so deep Love taught my unexperienc'd Eyes to weep From hence th' Abruptness of my Language came That I could utter nothing but his Name This in these words Let my Beloved hear That I fond of my pain his Fetters bear Tell him I burn with such a gentle fire As Roses in the Summers heat expire Tell him that I with long Desires decay As hoary Lillies droop and fade away I charge ye tell him I am sick of Love And my last Sickness tell him it will prove ON EASTER-DAY By an unknown Hand 1. HArk Sure I hear Urania play I hear her tune the heavenly Strings Some wondrous Tidings sure she brings Oh! now methinks I hear her say The Sun of Rightcousness To day Must break must rise must come away With Healing on his Wings 2. 'T is done behold the God appear Fulfilling all that he hath said Captivity is Captive led Death of his old invenom'd Spear Behold disarm'd and conquer'd here The Grave no more the Members seat Since risen is the Head 3. In vain the silly Rabbins strove A Stratagem of Force to find The Lord Omnipotent to bind Too weak to stop Almighty Love Their Guards their Stone their Seal must prove The trembling Earth doth all remove Like Dust before the Wind. 4. Let ransom'd Men in Praises vie Let every faithful Soul rejoice And tune to Angels Notes his Voice Hail Son of David let them cry Hail Thou that Livest and didst Dye That list'st thy glorious Seat on high And Sufferings mad'st thy Choice 5. Unfold ye Everlasting Gates That Guard the great Iehovah's Towers Those Sacred My stick Leaves of yours The King of Glory for you waits Receive him O ye blissful Bow'rs Ye Thrones Dominions Sceptred Powers He comes accomplish'd are the Hours Appointed by the Fates 6. Be now thy Foes thy Footstool made Exalted high on God's Right-hand A Priest for ever mayst thou stand Thy dear Redeeming Blood to plead Th' imperfect Sacrifice to aid Which is by wretched Man convey'd And never must be scann'd A Preparation to PRAYER By the same Hand 1. LET no bold Prayer presume to rise Let no unhallowed Incense go A fruitless Progress through the Skies Whilst here thy Heart remains below Thy Heart adorn'd in all its best desires Thy Father kindly courts thy awful God requires 2. Think with what Reverence and State Thy Maker is ador'd Above What mighty Beings round him wait And pay their Worship and their Love That Cherubims are in his Sight afraid And with enfolded Wings their glorious Faces Shade 3. How must that Guardian Angel grieve That to attend thy Soul is sent Such cold Petitions to receive As his warm Zeal can ne'er present How must he grieve thy empty Forms to see In Spirit and in Truth his God must worshipt be 4. How will it swell thy final Cares How will it all thy hopes defeat To see thy Sins increas'd by Prayers Which only could their force abate How can'st thou hope t' escape those foreign Harms Who thus against thy self turn'st thy defensive Arms GOLD is try'd in the Fire
and acceptable Men in the time of Adversity By the same Hand 1. IF all th' appointed Days of Man were fair And his few Hours mov'd o'er him like a Breeze That gently fans the waving Trees Soft and Smooth and void of Care As Infants balmy Slumbers are How should we ere assured be That even Temper we might see Were Vertue not Prosperity 2. Not so th' Almighty Wisdom has design'd We should in Ease and Luxury remain Untry'd by Sorrow or by Pain No the great Searcher of the Mind Unshaken Vertue there must find Tho' low as to the Dunghil brought With him whose sifted Patience taught He serv'd for Duty else for nought 3. We see the wealthiest Oar the Earth doth hide Is not receiv'd or pass'd for current Gold Nor by the greedy Miser told Till by the Cleansing Furnace try'd It doth the seven fold Test abide So must the Path of Grief be trod That certain Purifying Road By all th' accepted Sons of God 4. God in this Method to our Needs has bow'd Nor is it Reason guides when we complain Favours alas but fall in vain And the good Things that are allow'd Instead of happy make us proud Let us not then refuse this part But wisely learn the Saving Art Which Tears to Comforts do's convert On AFFLICTION By the same Hand 1. WElcome what e'er my tender Flesh may say Welcome Affliction to my Reason still Tho' hard and rugged on this Rock I lay A sure Foundation which if rais'd with Skill Shall compass Babels aim and reach th' Almighty's Hill 2. Welcome the Rod that do's Adoption shew The Cup whose wholsome Dregs are giv'n me here There is a Day behind if God be true When all these Clouds shall pass and Heaven be clear When those whom most they shade shall shine most glorious there 3. Affliction is the Line which every Saint Is measur'd by his Stature taken right So much it shrinks as they repine or faint But if their Faith or Courage stand upright By that is made the Crown and the full Robe of Light PSALM the 137th Paraphras'd to the 7th Verse By the same Hand PRoud Babylon thou saw'st us Weep Euphrates as he past along Saw on his Banks the Sacred Throng A heavy Solemn Mourning keep Sad Captives to thy Sons and Thee When nothing but our Tears were free A Song of Sion they require And from the neighbouring Trees to take Each Man his dumb neglected Lyre And Cheerful Sounds on them awake But Cheerful Sounds the Strings refuse Nor will their Masters Griefs abuse How can we Lord thy Praise proclaim Here in a strange unhallow'd Land Lest we provoke them to blaspheme A Name they do not understand And with Rent Garments that deplore Above what e'er we felt before But thou Ierusalem so dear If thy lov'd Image e'er depart Or I forget thy Sufferings here Let my Right hand forget her Art My Tongue her Vocal Gift resign And Sacred Verse no more be mine The Second Chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon Paraphras'd By the same Hand The first 12 Lines being an Introduction HOw weak is Man that would himself perswade Out of his Interest and his Tempter aid Misled by present Ioys and humane Pride Would gladly lay his future Hopes aside Uncloath himself of all he holds Divine And to the Earth his Ashes would confine Consent his Soul all pains on it to spare Shou'd vanish like the soft and silent Air This Doctrin which in ancient Times was penn'd Th' industrious Devil took care shou'd still descend And we by Atheists now the same are told Which Israels wisest Prince describes of old The CHAPTER begins THus reason'd they said he but not aright Deluded by the Charms of vain Delight Tho' Life be short how tedious is the day Which some new Pleasure doth not drive away Death hastens on all humane Things to seize And there 's no remedy for that Disease None from the Grave return nor Moses Laws Have seen him come to vindicate their Cause Chance made the World and the same Hand of Chance Did blindly Man into that World advance And when the date of certain years expires As he had never been he back retires That active Fire which animates the Heart And thence all Life and Motion do's impart By some contending Element opprest Extinguish'd fails and quits the darken'd breast The Vapour in our Nostrils steals away And all that row remains is common Clay Time preys upon our Memory and Name And deep Oblivion swallows up our Fame Like a swift Cloud we pass unheeded by No track is left no mark where it did fly Nor shall it e'er return to shade the Sky Since past and future we at distance see And present time can only useful be Voluptuous and in Pleasures let us live And freely spend what Moments we receive Still let us gay and warm Affections hold And when in Age forget that we are old Roses about our youthful Tresses ty Roses shall when they fall their place supply The cheerful Spring shall round our Temples shine Whilst our full Bowls flow with Autumnal Wine The polish'd Skin with Ointments shall begay Circling Perfumes shall usher on the way And soft harmonious Airs about us play Diffusing as we pass Luxuriant Bliss This is our Portion and our Lot is this Justice shall lay aside her useless Scales And Force shall Justice be when Force prevails No Law shall govern no dull Rule take place The Widow nor the hoary Head find grace Oppression shall the righteous Man devour Fashion'd by Conscience for the Tyrant's pow'r Who meekly yields to wrong or vile disgrace Yet from th' Immortal God derives his Race And by himself is arrogantly stil'd Of him he Worships the apparent Child Him let us wait for that upbraids us still With Breach of Laws and Education ill That but at distance views our loose Delight And blasts our Mirth with his reproachful sight Who not like us his Youth to Pleasure gives But singular and solitary lives And does his Eyes on distant Prospects bend Saying the Iust is blessed in his End That let us hasten and his Patience prove And his cool Temper with rough usage move If Son to him whom he Almighty calls He sure will Save when in our hands he falls Let us in Shame and Tortures make him dye And so his Truth and his Protector try Full place did such Imaginations find With Men in Mists of Sin and Error blind That knew not God nor did his Laws regard Unmindful of the Work or the Reward That shall on blameless Souls hereafter rest When with Eternity of Pleasures blest God stampt his Image on created Earth And made it so Immortal in its Birth And tho' th' Inferrial Fiend with Envy fill'd Brought Death into the World and some has kill'd Yet only those that do his part embrace Shall fall to him and his appointed place SOLITUDE HOw far the sweets of Solitude excel The World's loud Mirth and clam'rous
the vanquisht fit My self to Death's cold Arms I freely give While you to shield our State and Altars live You Rate my useless Life at Price too high To make me yours and Israel's Victim Dye More than my Merits or my Hopes could claim To purchase with few Years Immortal Fame With Comfort to your Palace Sir repair To cherrish Her that 's now your only Care My tender Mother's Sorrow to asswage For only You can check the Tyrant's Rage Forget your Worthless Daughter and survive By your Example to keep Her Alive You else resign your Laurels to the Foe And Conquer'd Ammon Triumphs in your Woe Or have you lavish'd all your Love away On my past Years Reserv'd no Kindness for my latest Day If my past Life did you in ought offend In Death at least I wou'd my Fault amend And to the Shades a guiltless Soul descend O Torture the distracted Father crys With Arms extended and uplifted Eyes Too much ye conscious Skies for Man to bear For This is Torment that exceeds despair The weeping Crowd around he then survey'd O if the Death of this Illustrious Maid You wretched makes her Death you only see What must the Murtherer her Father be In Innocence your Sorrow finds Relief I bear the double Load of Guilt and Grief Worldly Greatness By Mr. Ezr. Simson WHat 's worldly Empire Pomp Pow'r The Pageant-Triumph of an Hour Or if the Courtesy of Fate Prolong the Scene an Age's Date 'T is all that Fortune can bestow And if for Life's time lasts the Show Not to a Minute 't will amount In vast Eternity's Account Were Heav'n so pleas'd one Monarch may Arrive to universal Sway Mankind in sole Subjection have Yet to his Passions be a Slave Their stronger Forces shall invest Alarm Assault and Storm his Brest And with the Havock there they make Keep Him as He the World Awake HUMILITY By the same Hand MUch injur'd Grace for being Mild Meaness of Spirit Thou art stil'd Thus sensless Mortals Thee defame Who dost with Heav'n Alliance claim 'T is Thou alone that dost inspire The Greatness that brave Souls Admire The proudest Heroes of the Field To Thee the Prize of Fame must yield To Thee belongs the first Renown Thou only can'st the Glory own To Triumph o'er Fate 's outmost Force And Steer in Storms a steddy Course When Fortune tempts with flatt'ring Wiles Thou only canst resist her Smiles And when her angry Tempests rise Thou only canst her Frowns despise On the Day of Iudgment By the E. of Roscommon THe Day of Wrath that dreadful Day That shall the World in Ashes lay 'T is coming will not cannot stay The Last loud Trumpet 's wondrous Sound Shall through the cleaving Graves rebound And Wake the Nations under Ground Nature and Death shall with supprise Behold the conscious Wretches rise And view their Judge with frighted Eyes Then shall with universal Dread The sacred Mystick Rolls be read To try the Living and the Dead The Judge ascends his awful Throne But when he makes all Secrets known How will a Guilty Face be shown What Intercessor shall I take To save my last important stake When the most Just have cause to quake Thou mighty Formidable King Mercy and Truths eternal Spring Some Charitable Pity bring Forget not what my Ransom cost Nor let my dear bought Soul be lost In storms of guilty Terror tost Thou who for me hast felt such Pain Whose precious Blood the Cross did stain Let not thy Birth and Death be Vain Thou whom avenging Powers obey Remit before the Reckoning Day The Debt which I can never pay Surrounded with amazing Fears Whose Load my Soul with Anguish bears I sigh I weep Accept my Tears Thou who wast mov'd with Mary's Grief And by Absolving of the Thief Hast given me Hopes oh give me relief Oh! let thy Blood my Crimes deface And fix me with those Heirs of Grace Whom Thou on thy Right-hand shalt place From that Portentuous vast Abyss Where Flames devour and Serpents hiss Call me to thy Eternal Bliss Prostrate my contrite Heart I rend My God my Father and my Friend Do not forsake me in my end When Justice shall her Sword unsheath How will they Curse their second Breath Who rise to a severer Death Great God of Mercies pitty take On Souls thou didst Immortal make Nor let their State be that of Woe Which must if Once be ever so FINIS THE CONTENTS THe Morning Hymn by Dr. Fuller formerly Bp. of Lincoln Page 1 An Evening Hymn by Ezr. Simson 2 Innocence Or the Inestimable Gem by a Young Lady 3 By Dr. Fuller 5 By the same Hand 6 By the same Hand 7 Hymn 8 The Passing-Bell 9 Job's Curse by Dr. Jeremy Taylor 11 The Words by a Young Lady 12 A Dialogue between two Penitents 13 Vpon a Quiet Conscience by K. Charles the First 16 A Dialogue betwixt Dives and Abraham Ibid. Soliloquy 18 Psalm the 104 by Mr. Tate 21 The Evening Hymn 27 On our Saviour's Passion pag. 28 The Penitent by Dr. Jeremy Taylor 29 The Blessed Virgin 's Expostulation when our Saviour at 12 Years of Age had withdrawn himself by N. Tate 30 On Pilate's exposing our Lord to the Jews and saying to them Behold the Man 32 Translations out of Boethius Lib. 2. Metre the Fourth 35 Metre Fifth 36 Metre Sixth 37 The last Trumpet by Mr. Tate 38 The Slaughter of the Innocents By the same Hand 39 Vpon the Sight of an Anatomy by Mr. Tate 40 Psalm the First by Capt. Walker 45 Psalm 57. 8 9 10. By the same Hand 47 A Paraphrase on the 79th Psalm 48 The Convert An Ode written by Mr. Geo. Herbert 51 The Prophet Elijah translated up to Heaven by Mr. Tate 53 Hymn by H. W. 58 Hezekiah's Sickness and Recovery by Mr. Tate 60 On the Death of Mr 〈◊〉 who was found Dead upon his Kn 〈…〉 hamber 65 A Paraphrase on several Texts of Scripture expressing the Sighs of a Penitent Soul Translated from Herm. Hugo 68 On Psalm 6. Vers. 3 69 On Ieremiah 9. Vers. 1. 71 On Psalm 69. Vers. 15. 73 On Psalm 143. Vers. 2. 74 A Psalm 75 On Psalm 31. Vers. 10. By N. Tate 77 Out of Hermannus Hugo 79 On Easter-day By an unknown Hand 82 A Preparation to Prayer By the same Hand pag. 85 Gold is try'd in the Fire and acceptable Men in time of Adversity By the same Hand 87 On Affliction By the same Hand 89 Psalm the 137 Paraphras'd to Verse 7th By the same Hand 91 The Second Chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon Paraphras'd The first 12 Lines being an Introduction By the same Hand 93 The Chapter begins 94 Solitude 98 The Enquiry By the same Hand 102 Soliloquy By the same Hand 107 The Safety of a low State Translated out of Seneca's Agamemnon Chor. Argiv By the same Hand pag. 112 Right Zeal By the same Hand 116 Temptations By the same Hand 119 Vpon a most Virtuous and Accomplish'd Young Gentleman who Died of the Small-Pox By S. H. Esq 123 To a Lady upon the X. Commendments cut by her on White-paper and Presented to S. John's College in Oxford 126 Hymn Veni Creator Spiritus Englished by Mr. Wright 129 Jeptha's Vow by N. Tate 132 Worldly Greatness by Mr. Ezr. Simson 136 Humility By the same Hand 137 On the Day of Iudgment By the E. of Roscommon 138 TWo Books of Harmonia Sacra in which are several Hymns c. of this Collection Set to Musick by Dr. Blow the late famous Mr. Henry Purcell and other Masters Bound both Parts 15 s. or the 2 d Part 4 s.