from his great desire you be blest And in your choice reach everlasting rest He offers dear-bought light to guide your mind That to the better part it be inclin'd He shews a little in a homespun stile The one's simplicity the other's Guile What stocks they come of and their old descents Their various treasures and their plain intents What are their qualities their differing ends To what plain issue each proposal tends Their sundry overtures your love to gain In way of Dialogue betwixt them twain The love of Christ SWeet Virgin stop let Wisdom drop a word becoming Kings Pray be inclin'd to bend your mind unto coelestial things I beg your love for things Above nay all your Powers I claime I would adorn your youthful morn and crown your early aime The lust of the flesh Should any thought to mind be brought that interrupts your quiet Shall Virgins weep disturb their sleep desert their needful diet Tush drink in Plate and recreate your lively youthful Spirit Seek Courtly things delight in Kings which may proclaim your merit The love of Christ While Flesh pretends these pleasing ends its dire intents it hides But pray awake for Jesus sake while day of Grace abides Flesh lusts its Guests between its Breasts convictions to expel But deadly Charms are in its armes its Guests are lodg'd in Hell The Lusts of the flesh What strange conceits what silly cheats would drive thy joys away These Preachers tell but dreams of Hell and of the Judgment day 'T wil ne'r do well till mirth expel such sullen dumps as these The Timbrel bring come dance and sing eat drink and take thine ease The Love of Christ These Childish Toys may make a noise to please the carnal heart But all the while they but beguile nay wound the better part One glimps of love seal'd from above these highest joyes transcends From deeps 't will raise to heights of praise when that in torment ends The Lust of the flesh Shall wordy winds on gallant minds such deep impressions make That for a â—ound of things unfound they joys in Hand forsake This day invites to rare delights all Ladies who design T o've fortunes rais'd and beauties prais'd embrace thess paths of mine The Love of Christ Alas at length you 'l lose your strength mirth beauty sport and pleasure And when too late lament your state your mispent time and treasure They 'l take them wings and leave you stings with venom guilt and smart Then while 't is day I humbly pray chuse Mary's better part The Lust of the flesh Are such things fit that clogs your wit which now to heights aspires Such doatings leave till age bereave of moisture warm desires Your budding Spring prompts you to sing your warbling Princely straine In Courtly Modes with amourous odes your Gallants entertain The Love of Christ Such frothy freaks aloud bespeaks how slightly youths esteem Their nobler parts their precious hearts which Earth cannot redeem How hardly brought to turn a thought from Objects thus deprav'd Though Jesus cries Oh! fix your eyes on me and be ye sav'd The Lust of the flesh Such looks may grace some wither'd face or some grave Cloystered Nun Are counted blots not beauty-spots where Fame 's but now begun Tush rather prize those Comedies and rare Romances use Attend resorts to Princely sports and shades for interviews The Love of Christ What pitty 't is such trash as this with heaven-born Souls should take While Jesus stands with stretch'd out hands rich overtures to make Gold try'd in Fire and rich attire do your acceptance crave A crown of Bliss prepared is when each an end shall have The treaty stops but here you have a tast your friend hath longings that you may be Chast Preserv'd a Virgin and brought such to Christ By love constrained not by lust intic't A Description of an Elect Person in his threefold state by Nature Grace and Glory Collected by Va. Powel in the close of his Catechism translated into familiar Verse for Childrens better remembrance by A. Chear Ejaculation My blessed Father when my heart enclines To sing this Song or but to read these lines Let me thy Spirits Power or leadings find To form their lively likeness on my mind Work deep convictions and an holy fear To think what am I or what once I were And into fellowship Lord let it guide me With all this Grace the Gospel doth provide me That I may claim what this thy record saith By sound experience and unfeigned Faith And let the hope of yonder Glory raise My Soul to close with those reflects of praise 1. Nature BY Nature and as out of Christ born of the flesh was I Grace By Grace and as I stand in Christ I 'm new born spiritually Glory In Glory I with Christ shall reign and heavenly freedom have Refl Lord what is man that thou shouldst daign so vile a Wretch to save 2. Nature Flesh did my Members and my mind with quietness inherit Grace But now a Warfare I do find betwixt my flesh and spirit Glory The spirit promised at length all glorious will make me Refl For that his War 's above my strength let not my Christ forsake me 3 Nature My sensual lusts to satisfie a fleshly War I waged Grace But now for walking spiritually my spirit stands ingaged Glory Nay by Christ's quickning power at last transform'd I wait to be Refl Lord what am I that thou should'st cast a look of love on me 4 Nature To that which fleshly pleasure brings I wholly bent my mind But now unto the Spirit 's things Grace I chiefly stand inclin'd Glory At length my glorified eyes such sights alone shall see Refl Lord what am I that thou should'st prize so poor a Worm as me 5 Nature By sinful nature I was dead in trespasses and sins Grace By Gospel-Grace now quickened my Soul to live begins Glory The day approacheth when from sin I shall be wholly free Refl Lord what am I that thou hast been at so great cost on me 6. Nature In sin as in my Proper place I was well pleas'd to lie Grace But now I strive to walk by Grace in all simplicity Glory I shall presented be at last as my dear Christ is pure Refl What love is this that Christ so chast should such a Wretch indure 7. Subjected to the Law of sin Nature and death I once did stand Grace Made free I to obey begin the Spirit of Life's command Glory A glorious triumph 's yet in store o're sin and death for me Refl How should I Majesty adore that I thus sav'd should be 8. Nature Once Gods pure Nature Word and Law I hated as my foes Grace Now with them I in holy awe and dear affections close Glory Desires shall into full delight at length resolved be Refl Lord what am I that er'e my sight should such blest objects see 9 Nature Born ignorant of Heavenly things I teachings did despise Grace
Milk which when she had it she said I cannot relish any thing But said she I will wait upon the Lord to see what he will provide for me Then her Sister standing by she said Sister Betty and Sister Ann be sure your first Work be in the morning to seek the Lord by Prayer and likewise in the evening and give thanks for your Food for you cannot pray too often to the Lord and though you cannot speak such words as others have yet the Lord will accept â—f the heart for you do not know how soon your speech may be taken away as mine was She desired her Mother thus Do not let 〈◊〉 much company be here late at night lest it â—hould hinder them from seeking the Lord in duty 〈…〉 She said further When I was first ill and went about the House I was not under trouble for my sins at all neither am I now troubled with satans temptations for the Lord hath trampled him under his feet She said also When I can hear or understand I will tell some body that they may come and read by me for I love to hear the Word of God read to me for then she could not hear Another time She spake to the maid to call her Mother saying I have something to say to her and when her Mother came she said If my speech be taken away and should be a great while so that then I may have no Doctor Apothecary or Chirurgion come at me and that I may not have any more Physick given to me and be sure to take notice of my words for they look more at the Physick than at the Power of God and if you suffer them to give me any more things the Lord will be angry with you and will bring a greater affliction upon you in some of my other Sisters I know the Lord can open the passage of my Throat in a moment and cause me to take food or he may let me lie a great while in this condition As for washing my mouth with water I find no more but only to wash the phlegm But I am fâ—d with the bread of Life that I shall never hunger and do drink of the water of Life that I shall never thirst more I know not whether I shall live or die but if I die and if you will have a Sermon I desire this may be the Text the place I do not know but the words may be comfortable to you That David when his Child was sick he cloathed himself in Sackcloth and wept but when his Child was dead he washed and ate Bread For you have wept much while I have been sick and if I die you have cause to rejoyce She said My soul also was so full of comfort that I would have spoken much more But her speech being almost gone she said If it please the Lord that I might have my hearing and my speech which would be a great miracle I should speak much more Novemb. 10. On the Lords day she said as follows When her Mother had syring'd several things into her mouth as first water which she not relishing then water and vinegar then vinegar and Sugar then milk and none did relish with her she said Here is but little comfort in these my comfort is in the Lord There is comfort indeed Though we may seek comfort here and the glory of this World yet what is all that all will be nothing when we come to lie upon a Death â—ed then we would fain have the love of God and cannot get it I am full of comfort and joy Though the Lord is pleased to let me lie under many pains yet he knoweth what is best for his Children he hath enabled me and will enable me to bear them and though he should lay a hundred times more upon me yet will I wait upon him for he is my stay and the hope of my Salvation My pains are nothing to the pains of Hell where they will never be at an end And Christ he suffered a great deal more for me then all this is he was bruised buffeted and spit upon and they platted a Crown of Thorns and put upon his Head and gave him Vinegar to drink But I have several things to take though I cannot relish them And they came out against Christ with Swords and Staves and Christ did not open his mouth against them but rebukes Peter for cutting the High Priests Servants ear and bid him put up his Sword into the Scabbard and said Shall not I drink of the Cup that my Father hath prepared for me though my pains are very great yet I am so full of joy and comfort I was very full of comfort before but I am fuller of joy this hour than I have been yet It is better to live Lazarus's life and to die Lazarus's death than to live Dives his life he had his delicates and afterwards would have been glad to have had Lazarus dip his finger in water and cool his tongue Though the Lord give Satan power over my Body yet he hath promised he shall not hurt my Soul The Devil could not go into the herd of Swine till Christ had given him leave And though he stood at my left hand and said I am in filthy rags yet the Lord stands at my right hand and saith I am but a fire-brand newly plucked out of the fire and he will put on me his Robes of Righteousness The last night I could not stir my Head Hand nor Foot but by and by the Lord did help me to move my Head a little and at length my Body O what a good God have I that can cast down and raise up in a moment but here is only looking at the Physician as many when they have been sick and well again they say Such a Physician and such a Physician hath cured them they neglect looking up to the Lord. It is true the Lord doth appoint the means to make use of but nothing will do us good except he give a blessing to it O that we had Faith as that Woman had that had spent all upon Physicians and did her no good then came and touched the Hem of Christs Garment and when Christ felt vertue go out of him he asked his Disciples Who touched him then she trembled but Christ said Rise up Daughter thy Faith hath made thee whole Of the Expressions of an hopeful Child the daughter of Mr. Edward Scarfield that was but eleven years of Age in March 1661. Gathered from a Letter written by one fearing God that lived in the house with the Child IN August last this Child was sick of a Feaver in which time she said to her Father who is a holy humble precious man I am afraid I am not prepared to die and fell under much trouble of Spirit being sensible not only of actual sins but of her lost estate without Christ in unbelief as Ephes 2. 12. John 16. 8 9. and she wept
mire among the pots you might my visage see Grace But now though mixt with waves and spots fair as the Moon I be Glory My raised Glory shall at last The Suns bright Beams out-shine How could eternal life be plac't Refl on Souls so black as mine 35. Nature Within the Region once I sate of Death's dark dreadful Shade Grace In Light 's Dominion now of late to sit down I am made Glory A throne of glorious Life at length reserv'd in Promise lies Lord lead thy worm from strength to strength Refl such precious Grace to prize For young Joseph Branch 1. THe names that Holy men of old did on their Children set Some mysteries tended to unfold some teachings to beget Some works of God in ancient dayes were to remembrance brought Or some instructions for their wayes was thus kept in their thought 2. This way our wanton age disgusts our names have other ends The rich thus gratifie their Lusts the poor thus please their Friends Yet sometimes Providence is known tradition to out-reach That names at unawares bestown some Gospel truths do preach 3. And what should hinder but I might such lessons learn in mine Did Parents teach me and the light of grace upon me shine Of Holy Josâ—ph I might learn a fruitful Bough to be And Christ the Branch I might discern a living Root to me 4 Alas A brasch by nature now of a wild Vine I be Of the degenerated Bough of thee wild-Olive-tree My root is rottenness like dust my blossoms will ascend My grapes are Sodom's pride and lust to death my clusters tend 5. Can pricking Bryar or grieving thorn good grapes in clusters bear Are figgs upon the Thistle born will any seek them there A root of bitterness can nought but gall and wormwood bring No wholsome water can be brought from a corrupted spring 6. â—anured nature forth may bring a lovely Branch to sight With leaves and blossoms of the Spring and shades of great delight But if no fruit it doth afford as Christ expects to find The Figg-tree dry'd or Jonas-Gourd my dreadful state do mind What once fair Branches may I spy of fruit and leaves bereft Who living may be said to dye to men and burning left What great appearance once they made with cost were dig'd and drest They yielded an increasing shade and promis'd with the best 8. ut like the Ivy hardly known on other Branches hung Their Root was properly their own though to the rind they clung But now the Fan and Axe are brought to purge and cast away Such fruitless figg-trees come to nought such empty Vines decay 9 True the Vine-dresser yet intreats that digg'd or dung'd they be If precepts promises or threats may better them or me But to our root the axe is put If no good fruit be found This is the sentence down them cut why cumber they the ground 10 Instruction I should learn from hence How vile a branch I be Unless in a new-cov'nant sense a death shall pass on me Unless from Adam I be cut as standing in the law And by a new ingrafture put Christs life and sap to draw 11 Might I in that true Vine be found a branch that bides alive And from that root and plant-renown'd might fat and fruit derive Like Joseph's would my fruitful-Bough by Well and Wall be sent Nay though the Archers griev'd me now my Bow would bide in bent 12. Then in the schorching years of drought when moisture others want I should retain both leaves and blowth and flourish like a plant Till planted by the Crystal brooks in Paradice I be Where Gods fruit-ripening shining looks shall still be fixt on me Verses sent by an unknown Hand to Captain Sampson Lark in Exon-Prison with a Respond DIversion breeds delight delight prepares for action action is the â—each of cares When one from t'other in this wise proceed Then of Diversion sometime you have need Cares only sinful actions must expell Which none but lawful actions can do well And lawful actions breed a chast delight Which flows from good diversion when its right It lawful actions shoot out sinful care And chast delight doth for such acts prepare And good Diversion breeds such chast delight Have at the mark Sure this will hit the white Though you are mostly known to me by fame Yet I 'le make bold to descant on your name Names to the things sometimes do well agree As in your name whoever will may see When this agreement shall to light be brought All men will say your name is not for nought Lark is your name and Larks most sweetly sing When they are mounted highest on the wing Your towring Soul sometimes mounts up on high And sings its sweetest notes above the sky The Lark seeds clean and can no filth abide To Common-prayer should you a month be ty'd I am perswaded I may safely say You 'ld live on that as well as Larks by Hay The Lark's a Princely Dish though small to sight The Pestle of a Lark is worth a Kite One Hour's discourse with you more gain affords Then years acquaintance with some greater Birds But there 's a season when Larks may be caught A month in which the silly Bird doth dote And then the Fowlers use to set their Gin They leave their stall their lure the glass wherein The Birds behold a false though glistering Sun And tempted by it to the lure do come And to it play which when the Fowler sees He makes no doubt but such a Lark is his The cunning Fowlers they have set their gin Good Sir beware least they should draw you in Should you be caught they 'l make a stall of you To tice in others as they use to do Sir keep aloft and stoop not to their glass Lest what I do but hint should com to pass I wish the Proverb may in this prove true Till the sky falls they 'l ne'r catch such as you I am no Poet nor a Poet's Son As you may guess by what I now have done Yet pray accept what I in love do send Although it come from Your concealed friend Respond DUll Genius rouze for shame awaken Heark What mourning melody salutes the Lark What meetred musick what Seraphick straines What curious warblings eccho through the plains The singer to retirement is diposed No name nor Character must be disclosed The strâ—in transcends vail'd in some shady bush The Gold-bill'd Black-bird or the dapple Thrush Outvies the Nightingal or turtles voice The notion's ravishing th'anointing's choice Some Zions singer in a sable coat Stop cease thus guessing Hark attend his note His quick intelligence on Eagle's wings Yields Piercing insight through terrestrial things He sees and smiles at mens phanatick rage In cloistering unshorn Sampson in a Cage Besides the vain attempts to clip the wing Or to inhibit Birds inspir'd to sing But here he 's out mistaking he admires Lark's worth in act which is but in desires He spies the
Me God hath from great plagues at hand In greater Mercy taken Friends do not grieve then that by me this wretched worlds forsaken Here to be left might mercie be But greater Mercy taken In dust I sleep now freed from tears But shortly shall awaken And shall be when my Christ appears In greater Mercy taken Ye might have one day wept to see Me sigh as one forsaken But now Triumph that Christ hath me To Greater Mercy taken Margaret Trenick Anagram Mark retreating The blessed subject of this mournful verse Transcends my skill her praises to reherse The lively grace which in her youth did shine Reflects convictions on this Soul of mine How short of her I am in patient waiting And how unskil'd aright to make retreating This age of deep revolt from truths profest Made sad impressions on her heaven-born brest Such as bespoke her griev'd in heart to see Gods name blasphem'd by seeming Saints to be This broke her sleep and mixt with tears her eating To mark the madness of this times retreating It s true she talkt not much made little noise Her closet-Friend she chose should hear her voice But her whole walk with God and man bewray'd Heart full to matter Though not much she said For hers and others Souls her heart was beating To mark the steps and issues of retreating She chose to walk a mournful softly pace Weeping while waiting for her Father's face Sharp sickness seal'd home love but seaz'd her life Once a choice Virgin Then a faithful Wife Both life and death this Anagram repeating Behold the uprights end but mark retreating Margaret Trenick Anagram King rare matter A Dialogue betwixt a Querist and her Answer Querist Dear heart while living Grace did much appear In thy slow speaking who wert quick to hear But more when death did thy crackt piâ—cher break Thy lamp shines brightest thou dead dost speak In this I acquiesce yet fain would know Why wert so mute why too good speech so slow Answer The Tempter on my Temper might prevail Some needful teaching sometimes to conceal Pretending ease yet brought no solid rest The fire increasing in my panting brest Which rais'd rebukes convictions griefs so high As found no vent but through a weeping eye Quest Was 't all and only thy temptations then Thou wert so mute among the Sons of men So scarcely sociable so retir'd As made converse with thee not much desir'd Thy lips allow'd thy heart so little vent That few could fathom what thy musing meant Ans Nay sometimes reasoning of a higher kind Did that way Byass my poor pausing mind I view'd and wept on a 〈◊〉 age That talkt 〈…〉 a staâ—ely stage But so reproacht it by unworthy walking As made me dread their fellowship in talking Quest But why among the Sâ—â—nts thy dear delight Wert so reserved if not silent quite Their gracioâ—â— speeches drop as generous wine yet might have been more spic'd warm'd by thine 'T is wisdoms way these waters deep to draw By frequent speakings yet with holy awe Ans Besides the Tâ—mpter's wiles I oft bethought How â—gnorant I was what need be taught How â—ittle I could speak to others gain How I had spoke already much in vain Then begg'd a bridle on my lips might be Lest I should speak what was not wrought in me Querist It 's true their talk involves both guilt and dangers Who boast of grace whereto they are but strangers But all who rightly knew thy Soul could say Ther 's precious treasure though a straightned way Nay when death seiz'd thee and thy strength was spent What glorious matter prest to have a vent Ans I must confess though forth I could not bring My heart conceiv'd rare matter for the King But my conceits were shatter'd short and bare Of such high matter heavenly-Royal rare I could not speak what I was apprehending Until my clouds my streights sighs were ending Margaret Trenick Anagram Make not Grace retire IF this Saint's name inverted thus affords Such choice variety of teaching words What would her nature her new nature yield Had we traversed that sweet-smelling field But since with gravity it was inclos'd Not seeking entrance most its profit los'd Such bosome friends as did that key acquire Found deeply graven Make not grace retire Above the rest her yoak-fellow is left To wail with bitterness as one bereft Of a choice Jewel whose rare vertues lay In Bosome-strengthnings through Christs hated-way Her heavenly arguments in secret dropt His fainting soul hath oft with Courage propt When he ran hazards still did her desire Keep conscience tender Make not grace retire Consult not wife and children would she say Though we beg with you in the Kings-high-way Beâ—ray not any truth what'ere 't would get you Desert no station where the Lord hath set you Great sufferings rather choose then little on A little spark may dreadful flames begin Set soveraign pleasure in dominion higher Though nature startle Make not grace retire Such words of wisdom dropt in gracious cools Speak louder than the cry that reigns with fools When husband slept the pantings of her breast In frequent travail held her eyes from rest For clearer sealings of her father's love For Sion's showrs and shinings from above She durst not grieve the spirit quench his fire Not make the least true grace of his retire At last she best appear'd on fiery tests When bonds her Husband Death her self arrests When stript of strength being forc't her husband left her Of all three sons her father had bereft her When friends stood trembling grace such beams did dart As rais'd with triumph fil'd with joy her heart These first fruits of the Kingdom set her higher Than that the tempter should make grace retire Sweet Soul She now a glorious rest obtains From all her outward pangs her inward paines Relation dues she long'd so to perform As griev'd to leave him in this dismal storm They cease to bind her These cares ended are To be with Jesus she finds better fare To such rare patterns might my soul aspire Not grieving Christ Not making grace retire An Epitaph GIve heed Spectators In this grave 's invol'd A costly Cabinet to be dissolv'd With wondrous wisdom richly rarely wrought And by great exercises aptly brought To lodge subserve and openly to tender An heavenly Jewel this age rich to render But it s new workmanship in worth did rise it To such vast value this world could not prize it They'd foils indeed to shade it wisely set And on its outside some distempers met On which the world did with contempt insist Till their enriching maket-time they mist So little knows this crooked generation Their things for Peace or dayes of Visitation Like them of old cry Barrabas set free Dispatch the Heir the vineyard ours shall be But the great owner marks not jealous eyes This age's aptitude to slight despise And scorn his renders of the richest gem Crown-Jewels nay the royal diadem And vext