The Yellow Book OR A SERIOUS LETTER SENT BY A Private Christian TO THE Lady CONSIDERATION The first day of May 1659. Which she is desired to communicate in Hide-Park to the Gallants of the Times a little after Sun-set ALSO A brief Account of the Names of some vain persons that intend to be there whose company the new Ladies are desired to forbear LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Tho. Butler in Lincolns-Inn-fields neer the Three Tun-Tavern by the Market place and by The Brewster at the three Bibles at the West-end of Pauls 1659. A serious Letter sent by a private Christian to the Lady Consideration the first day of MAY 1658. LADY I Am informed fine Mrs. Dust Madam Spot and my Lady Paint are to meet at Hide-Park this afternoon much of pride will be there If you please to take an Hackney I shall wait upon your Honour in a private way But pray let us not be seen among the foolish ones that ride round round wheeling of their Coaches about and about laying of the naked breast nâ—ck and shoulders over the boot with Lemon and a Fan shaking it at young Mrs. Poppet crying Madam Your most humble Servant your very humble servant sweet Madam while some are doing worse Young Sir William Spruce Monsieur Flash the Lord Gallant will be all on horseback Mr. Belt and Mr. Feather Mr. New Exchange Mr. Old will be there Sir Thomas Cavy is poor and ashamed to come some of the name will be there and some Commanders of the Army but the Ladies hate then generally Mrs. Come-up Mrs. Totherday and Ioan hold my Staff they cannot abide neither nor indeed any of the new Gently which I hope God wil keep from their vanities Pride Covetousness and Hypocrisie Mrs. Contempt and Mrs. Envy will be there Mrs Luxury Mrs. Wanton Mrs. Faith and troth Mrs. Hop about Mrs. Never pray and Mrs Never go Mr. Church and Mr. Careless wil be all in a Coath together Sin Guilt and a little Content wil be with them Time and Vanity swiftly driving them away as upon the wings of the mighty wind but Death Hell and Eternity follow after Rev. 6. 8. After the black Horse and the pale Horse death and hell follows a cursing of the Ministers who are apt to dine with them speak to them and yet wink at them Martins Pauls Covent Garden this is a judgement of God and the greater because so little minded Madam I had rather beg my bread from door to door then be in the case of some of these Ladies which are as beautifull as Angels but more miserable and poysonous than Toads Let me live with one of them under a stone and die with a dog in a ditch â—ather then in a golden bed in one of their conditions And your vain Roysters are as bid young Gallants that are sporting and courting these dancing shadows at the brinks of hell and are ever studying how to please their lusts and their lmps one way or another which they are ever waiting on they think there is no heaven but if there be and a hell too What will become of them I had rather fear the worst the best will help it self But if they go to that farewell Hide-Park May day and pleasures too The Fishes never get up that once fall down into the dead Sea called Mare mortuum the River Nilus carrieth them thither but fetcheth not them back Pleasures carry thousands but sorrow fetcheth none from the dead Sea and the deadly Lake where streames of brimstone ever run over and over their heads hearts and souls that fall into that Tophet is prepared of old yea for the King that is the greatest and the breath of the Lord like a Stream of brimstone kindles it Isa. 30. 33. I know many will not mind this and Mrs. Busie is putting on her gown but I would she would put on Christ and his righteousnesse Rev. 6. 18. Buy of me glod sayes he that than may the rich and white rayment that thou may the cloathed that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear This rayment I had rather have than a skin to cover my bones naked soules are more common and miserable than naked bodies a thousand times but not half so much pitied by the world some had rather be dead than not in the fashion and cloathes to put on on such a day as this others rather buried alive than want Christ and the righteouness of Christ Run to my Taylor bring them done or undone cryes Mrs. Would be gone fetch my green petticote and my white sattin mantle my Lady Impatience stayes for me yea and some body else too and will have you when you take your short journey if you have not Christ to go a long with you to your long home and you may chance quickly to be there as well as at the Park what is your life but a vapour or a shadow sayes Iames ch. 4. v. 24. Some Ladyes get the Pox and die with a fear others get a Cold and die with a Feaver few live long that do not die soon eternall life is the fruit of a short living unto Christ and eternall death is the wages of an old sinner the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Yea of all sinners that have not Christ and the righteouness of Christ for cursed is every one that continueth nor to doe all that is written in the Law Gal. 3. 12. Madam some are of the opinion that no unsanctified Ladies shall go to heaven nor no ungodly Lords go to hell providing they beleeve and repent but if they do not so and be throughly washed in Iudah's Fountain Zic 13. 1. the fountain which God hath set open for sin and uncleanness both Lords and Ladies too shall be eternally damned and thrown into the midst of flames hell and divels Lords and Ladies have more reason to be damned than poore people a thousand times for where much is given much will be required Matt. 25. 30. they sin more and draw more to sin and yet may best serve God besides they are many of them the very factors and purveyors of hell a great road leads to a great Town and a great man to a great devill some goes to the bridge foot to drinke wine and others to the devills mouth in following them they ride on poor mens backs and devils ride on theirs the Prince of the Air that now rules in them Ephes. 2. 2. yea both are carried somtime in close Sedan but to day they are more open doe not you see the Lord of Kill Chicken and the Lady Be graceless one eats both full of sin and good creatures it is pity mountain Larks should feed such Swine Kites are too good for them that doe nothing but eat drink and put it out some study Musick Doctors kill many but a good book never hurts O Timothy give thy self to reading saith Paul but many go to hell a pick-pack more
a thousand times in many things your condemnation will be greater Mat 11. 21. And woe unto you as Christ sayes for if cursed be al the familes of the earth which call not upon him Jer. 10. 25. what will then become of you who never call nor think upon him unless it be to blaspheme and dishonour him Truly if Christ be the Son of God as certainly he is he can never own you who are so unlike to him for the present Be ye holy for I am holy saith the Lord and without holinesse no man shall ever see the face of God Heb. 12. 14. Oh minde that and this Text I and my farther are one saith Christ and must not all his members be in some measure like him this likeness is not wrought in an hour but by the continuall working of the holy Spirit which is called the Sunctifier of them that beleive and if you beleive in Christ or hope to be saved by Christ do you think it shall be without any work of sanctification or change in your hearts truly if you think so you think amiss and are the most deceived of any in world 't is true works shall save none nor in any measure contribute to the saving of any the Lord Jesus Christ is and will be all 〈◊〉 that particular yea he is all in all in point of Justification Sanctification and Glorification and if he do not thoroughly justifie you and in some measure sanctifie you he will 〈…〉 you and yet if he save you it shall not he for work 〈…〉 works for not unto him that worketh is the promise 〈…〉 him that believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly Psal. 32 2. Rom 4 5. two golden texts for mark the expression I am sure you are ungodly an I am sure you may be easily saved yea you 〈◊〉 great ones that never minded salvation all your dayes may be saved if you will look unto him who is God alone Isaiah 35. 21. but will you will you look to him 't is but looking and be saved from the wrath to come 1 Thess. 1. 10. for all other salvations though never so great are nothing but will you be saved from being shut out of the new Ierusalem with dogs sorcerers whoremongers and liars Revel. 22. 15. And from being cast out with the children of this kingdome Luke 13 27. whose pleasures joyes and glories are in the things of this life never minding that kingdome where Abraham Isaac and Iacob are I say will you be saved from being so cast out into utter darkness where shall be wailing weeping and gnashing of teeth for evermore Verse 29 Oh would you escape all this and stand in the evil day when they shall sting their gold and their silver to the moles and to the bats Isaiah 2. 20. the day wherein sinners shall move out of their holes like Worms Mich. 7. 17. and lick the dust like Serpents the day wherein many shall run with Kings and Captains and mighty men to the rocks and to the hills and mountains crying Fall onus and hide us from the presence of the Lamb Revelation 6. 15 16. for the day of his fierce wrath is come I say if you would escape all these things which the Lord Jesus grant you may consider a little how vain those pleasures are that you pursue how great that salvation is that you neglect Heb. 2 3. How free how full how easie to be had it stands at your dores it waits upon you it cries after you Hear hear and your souls shall live Isa. 55. 99. I will make an everlasting Covenant with you saith the Lord even the sure merices of David your sins and your iniquiâ—es I will remember no more and though they have been as red as scarlet I will make them as white as wool your pride your glory and your boasting is a thing of nought yea your stout words against me wherein you say It is in vain to serve me Mal. 3. 13. And what profit will it be so to do calling proud ones and they that contemn me happy when as the day cometh that shall burn as an even and all they that do wickedly and all the ungodly of the earth shall be burnt up saith the Lord of Hosts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch for the wicked shall be as stubble and the day that comes shall burn them up Malac. 4. 1. and all the wicked shall go down to hell for ever Psal. 9. 17. and all that forget God Oh you that do so hear and hearken unto the voyce of God yea hear his voyce to day to morrow is another day and you know not whose it may be to day if you will harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation this day is salvation tendered to you if you will accept it do not say to morrow do not say we will have none of this salvation which Christ and all the Prophets of Christ yet tender unto you and abuse not that rich and free-grace which brings and tenders salvation to all men but to you especially nor intreat him to be gone out of your course and companies as once those unkind and churlish Gadarens did Mark 5. 16. preferring their swine before Christ the Lord of life and glory who only hath immortallity dwelling in himself and dwelleth in that light which is unaccessible the onely Prince and Potentate who shall be revealed in due time 2 Tim 6. 14 15. In the mean time charge them that be rich to be rich in good works and prefer not every lust rattle toy and baby before the Lord of life and glory who hath the keys of death and hell in his hand Revel. 1. 18. an absolute power over you Saints Angels Men and Devils to dispose of you and them all as he pleaseth either for light life and glory or wrath hell and darkness Phil. 2. 10. Why should this Lord of Lords and Ladies too Revel. 16. 19. be set at nought who hath a name written on his thigh the King of Kings Lord of Lords though his Kingdome be not of this world yet his Kingdom shall break in pieces all the Kingdomes of this world Dan. 2. 44. 7 9. And they that will not kiss this enlightening Son shall be broken with an iron rod Psalm 2 9. Be wise O ye Lords and Ladies of England and kiss with a kiss of obedience subjection and affection this Son and Son of Sons Angells are the Son of this Son which now we do behold and Christ who is fairer than the Children of men is the Son of Saints and Angels too shall he be yours O ye Stars of England glory of our Nation in a common sense shall he be your Sun and shall he rise this night with healing in his wings on some of your soules who are as black as the nether Hell notwithstanding all your outward lustre Oh let him arise there now the Sun and glory of the world is
setting if he shall let him his wings are the wings of true affection his wings are the wings of safe protection who shall harm if God be and he will be with you he will and shall keep you in life death and eternity in the hour of temptation yea in that hour when all those whose souls are built upon the sands of common Christanity much more of vain delight shall come tumbling down with a vengeance when the winds and the rain and the storms of conscience come with Hell death and a thousand despairs at their heels But that they may never come shroud your selves under those wings that wil now imbrace you and let the everlasting armes of mercy fold you up in the bosome of divine love joyes and sweetness and that it may so do stand open yea stand open O ye everlasting doors and let the King of glory enter in Psalm 24 7. who is the King of glory ver. 10. the Lord of Host is he and the Lord over hosts of Angels Men and Devils is he and therefore lift up your heads and gates O ye everlasting doors of the soul and let the King of glory into your hearts where nothing but sin and Sattan for the present is yea let this King of glory enter in though ye be as the Devils den a desert land a barren Wilderness where is nothing but the howling of cursed lust and nature ye shall be as the Eden and Garden of God yea ye shall certainly be as a fruitfull field till'd and blessed of the Lord instead of the briar shaâ—l come up the mirtle tree read the 35. of Isaiah and that sweet promise in the 65. of Isaiah 13. Mind these promises O ye 〈◊〉 Lords and Ladies for God is able to make you as a fruitfull tree and the Eunuch shall say I am no more a batren tree Isa. 50. 4 5 6. not shall it be said ye are still as Reprobates we trust you are not so though for the most part ye are dead to all good works yet we trust as Paul saith we shall not find you Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5 6. for the future we know there is in you a noble spark a free and gallant spirit an humble and ingenious disposition affable and courteous to all some of you are so and the sweetest natures in the World truly noble in all things onely the blood of Christ the blood of Christ is wanting in your veines the spirit or the appearances of Christ in your lifes and 〈◊〉 Owles dwel where mountains larks should sing this blood and this spirit and the merit of the former is as freely tendered unto you as to any in the world Oh ye that have a freedom and equality of right unto the winds that blow and showers that fall and lights that shine know ye have the like to all the tenders of grace in the Gospel of grace and though your present greatness do and may exceedingly cumber you yet it can never absolutely hinder you from Christ the loves joyes and tenders of Christ who once stood up and loudly cryed and still doth oh every one that thirsteth come to the waters of life high low rich poor yeaif any man thirst let him come unto me drink saith Christ Isa. 55. 1. Io. 7. 37. Rev. 22. why should ye refuse these sweet waters of Shiloh that run softly and that voice which speaks from heaven and shakes both heaven and earth and all these sublunary glories here below O see and again see see refuse not him that speaks from heaven that which ages and few of the Princes of this world which come to nought have done or known for many hunpred of years 1 Cor. 1. 18. but to you it is spoken not in a way of thundring and lightening like God to Moses in Mount Sinai when he gave the Law but like the Angels to the Shepherds when they sung glory to God in the highest peace and good will to men on earth Luke 2. 14. for to you is born a Saviour and his name shall be called Iesus for he shall save his people from their sins yea and ye as well as they if ye will accept of him and now is the acceptable time and to you is born a Jesus and with this song I shall conclude but do not you for another refuse this Christ and this Jesus who will save you with an eternall salvation if indeed you do beleeve in him O ye that are singing like the fool in the Gospel you have this you have that you have goods enough soul soul take thine case thou hast beauty riches honour and esteem amonst men 't is no matter now for Christ know before your song is half done your soul shall be taken from you Luke 12. 1â— and whose shall all this be it is said the Swan never sings but once and then dies ye have sung once and again to your selves take heed and again take heed death catch not you or some of you up as a Kite catcheth a Chick before you have half that content and pleasure which you now promise unto your selves we will buy sell and get gain say they and yet their life was but a vapour Iames 4. 13. I will take my case saith the fool and I will take thy soul saith the devil and this night it shall be saith God but will you sell what you have and get you bags that wax not old Luke 12. 33. and lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven It is the counsel of Christ now tendered to you will you sell your glory will you sell your beauty wil you sell your pleasure and all these things that wax old and get you bags that will last you ever that is the righteousness of Christ which blessed and for ever blessed are all they and only they that hunger and thirst after it Mat. 5. 6. O Madam it is nothing but Christ yea nothing else but Christ and the righteousness of Christ that wil last you ever al things else are fading the sweetest rose and the fairest beauty fades in time the richest robe and the lasting garment doe the like time and the moth wil consume them all but time death grave nor eternitie shall ever fade this righteousness however if they should not death will strip you to your skins naked came I cut of my mothers womb naked must I returne toe and toe must be tyed together the silken stocken and the silver shooe the holland shalt and all most off and naked must you return O Madam as you came you must goe onely your mothers blood shall be washed off Princes Kings and Queens must do so too yea to death must all lay down their Crowns and Parliament men pull off their robes death will strip them to there skin but it cannot strip a Saint of this righteousness no no worms may eat and eat his skin thorough thorough the grave consume his bones and flâ—sh to dust but it
cannot touch this righteousnesse no no Christ keeps that for him as in a Cabinet of gold untill the day of resurrection and then his dead body though consumed to dust and that again to nothing yet shall that nothing be raised and arayed too like a Princess in the morning of her esponsal and all by vertue of that power which saâ—es to the North and to the South give up and bring back my sons and daughters from fat Isa. 43. 6. And oh that this almighty power might bring back you or some of you the captive daughters of Sion oh that you might returne like the rivers in the South from all your lying vanities to the living God and from all your follies to the wisdom of God which is better then fine gold or silver yea then Rubies Prov. 8. 10 11. Riches and honour yea durable riches and honour are with me saith the Lord my fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then silver verse 19. therefore hearken O ye Children of men unto me for blessed are they that keep my waies but cursed are those that go a whoring after other Gods sorrow shall be multiplyed yea thay shall lie downe in sorrow Isa. 50 11. this sorrow is the daughter of sin but the mother the daughter shall sit downe and lay downe upon the heads hearts and soules of all that will not hearken unto me saith Wisdom Wherfore O ye foolish ones turn ye turn ye at my reproof Prov. 1. 22. hear ye and your souls shall live and if you wil hear hear ye young and lovely Lords and Ladies and Gallants of the times and for Christs sake remember ye your Creator in the dayes of your youth before the evill day commeth wherein the Lord shall say I have no pleasure in you before the Sun and blossome of your virginitie and flower of your age be darkened yea before Christ and the things of Christ be hid from your eyes before the Moone the Stars and the Clouds returne after the rain Eccles. 12. all the lesser meanes and helps of your salvation be blown away like a cloud or a rain that is carried away by the clouds ye before the day when the keepers of the house the spirit and noble courage of your souls shall tremble at the approach of death when he comes climbing in at your windows and up to your beds wheâ—e you lie panting like the poor Partridg in the tearing tallents of the Falcon and what is a bed of state in such a condition though surrounded with a thousand Lords and Ladies who are but vain comforters or as flesh flyes when the strong men shall bow themselves the leggs arms and sinewes of strength all shrinked up yea the whole man turned to the wall like Hezekiah and weep like a child the grinders cease as not able to doe there office and they that look out of the windows be darkened the light and sight of thine eyes dim and creamy the throat rattle and the breath earthly when the doors shall be shut in the streets all the intellects of the soule that take in and shut out vissible appearance be locked up then the sound of the grinding shall be low no noyse or motions hardly heard when you shall rise up at the voise of the bird the secret chirpings of conscience the private bird that tells all old and almost forgotten things and ungodly acts when the daughters of musick are brought low all your former vain and sinful vanities and delights are husht still blowne over and gone through the fear of that which is coming on namely death hell and he that hath the power over death yea the keys of death and hell too in his hand Revel. 2. 18. but the Almond tree shall flourish then that is the righteous man yea mark for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37. 37. but woe to the transgressour the Grashopper shall be a burden to the wicked and all his desires shall saile because he goeth to his long home whether he will or no yet he goes and the Mourners about the streets the silver cords be loosned the golden bow and pitcher broken at the fountain the veines and strings of life all broken through the invisible shouting of the immortall soul into another world whereby the pitcher of mans body becomes broken as at the fountain head in the return of the spirit to that God that gaive it the dust returns to the dust for a while and the spirit to God for a final sentence O vanity of vanities how is all but froath and vanity besides Christ and the knowledge of Christ this knowledg â— recommend to you and every one of you in Hide-Park after your unwearied pursuit of lying vanities and if you refuse it your blood and the blood of your souls will be upon your own heads Acts. 20. 26. I am more free from that then thousands of your Chaplains and others too that deal not so faithfully with you as they ought God Almighty bless and turne you from your sins though Israel be not gathered yet my labour is and shall be with my God Isaiah 49. 5. but my hearts desire and prayer is and shall be that Israel may be saved in the day of the Lord Iesus Rom. 10. 1. and that you may the eyes of al mercy look upon you to convince you one by one and oh that you dare or that he would take you alone a little this night to mind and meditate what you have done this day and all your dayes for him or rather against him but you dare not walk alone or be in the dark one hour nor will the Devil let you think on Christ heaven hell death or Iudgment And now O Christ how few lives to thee O Christ how few mind thee O Christ how many dissâ—mble with thee and when shall the Nobles lick the dust of thy feet whilest Kings and Queens attend on thee and count it honour enough to own and honour thee in the most contemtible way and manner when shall they bring their gold and silver and offer unto thee who art all in all in life death and eternity Coll. 3. 11. But poverty parts good company thou at present appears not in thy glory 1 Iohn 3. 2. but art as it were upon the wain while the World and Nobles of the world are in their full sun splendor but appear O Christ and leâ— the world see thee that art invisible and yet thou rulest the stars and bounds the tumbling seas while thou stands knocking at the sinners heart Rev. 3. 20. courting as it were this or that or t' other gnat-worm nothing for a little admittance O Christ fling them down to hell yea fling them down quick that storm and contemn thee because they are fine and tricked up in the offiles of thy creature and if these golden Sparks and Ladies will not own thee make them like a wheel and let them perish as the stubble Psal 84. 13. yet if any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha so sayes Paul 1 Cor. 10. 22. but I say love him Lords love him Ladies he and he onely is altogether lovely in his name in his nature in his person in his promise to look to to hope in to follow after and to lean upon he is altogether lovely the last present the future hope of sinners But do what you will I have chosen him and he hath washed me in his own blood Rev. 1. 5. Glory Honour and Salvation be ascribed to him world without end W. B. For Christs sake do not tear nor fling this about but tell the Lords and Ladies of it and ask for the green Book or the Ladies Tryall