God offend Stand here impli'es a general Command A mandate signed by some Supreme hand A warning-piece whose thunder-like report The sons of men from sinning doth dehort In standing stand wee tremblinglie in awe Dreading through sin to violate God's Law If fiend and flesh the world would all withdraw thee Yet let these Cautions alwaies over-awe thee If any by these caveats grace shall gain Let And be linked to this virtuous chain Sin not least that thou Crucifie again The Lord of life which for thy sins was slain Sin not but back with speed in time retire Else death 's thy wage thy guerdon and thy hire Commune Confer keep constant Consultation With thine own heart which knowe's thy conversation Let an Enquiry be by Inquisition Betwixt our hearts and us of our condition Endeavor this with all thy Industrie With mindful heart perform it heartilie And with thy heart keep reckoning daie by daie And so thy debt more easie is to paie We have this adage at our finger's ends That oft accountants long continue friends On other's faults forbear surcease to treat Thy heart at home can work thee till thou sweat Admit no Inmates in thy heart to dwel As vain desires and lusts which aye rebel Both grace and vertue freely entertain For by such guests thou shalt be sure to gain Stand not on Stages for to bee admired Such ostenation is not here required Thy Chamber sighs sent from an honest heart God will accept and take them in good part Our Closet thoughts conceiv'd in Secrecie Omniscient God reward 's them openlie In loud high thunder such distracting noise God did not come but in the low still voice When Solomon God's sacred house did rear Then all was still no hammering in the ear Be Still these words may plainly bear the sence Of Peace Rest Quiet suffering Patience Pursuing good eschewing that is ill In every vertue to be frequent still If this discourse fitts not for explication To fast from sin Stil hitts th'interpretation Upon a Sermon deliverd a Darby before the Judges of Assize March the 8th 1652. upon the ensuing Text. PSALM 77. 20. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron PROLOGUE The Judge that judgeth all terrene estates Send 's an Ambassage to his Delegates And by his Nuntio here doth represent A limb of Israels antique government Alluding to the flocks will not bee led Nor by their Pastors in fresh pastures fed DAvid dejected tempted to despair Rouzeth his faith looke's back on God's great care Recovering Comfort in this place recite's Gods dealings with his dearest Israelites How that hee led them by the faithful hand Of special Trustees through their enemies land In leading them thou didst not dog nor drive By furious force nor flock nor fleece can thrive Moses and Aaron had God's substitution To put his works and will in execution They were his Instruments his mediate hand Went in and out before his chosen band Moses for Eminence hee held the chair The charge of souls was left to Aaron's care Moses was Magistrate and swaid the sword Aaron dispenser of the Sacred Word Both were install'd by God's immediate hand Without these twain nor Church nor State can stand The Lord is founder and chief Corner Stone Of governments the power is his alone The Ministrie cannot promulge the word Unless supported by the secular sword Moses and Aaron joyntly both together All 's off the hooks where there is want of either Moses though meek was Captain for Conduction Aaron was ghostly Father for Instruction The Charge in Chief it was for preservation As food and raiment and like reparation Not only so but for the flocks protection From ravenous wolves rot scab and such infection Order and union hence may be collected which in these dangerous dayes is much neglected These are the Master-props of Church and State Which cherished sweet peace doth propagate Our text may tolerate this application Ther 's many straggling straies within this Nation Many blind guides in these dogmatick daies Lead's captive souls into pernicious waies Many escapes which start out of the fold By word nor sword that will not be controld For want of Discipline and due correction People perverse are pestred with infection EPILOGUE My honored Lords advanc'd to Moses place Mercie with judgement see yee interlace Spare the Subjected debellate the strong Support your flocks from violence and wrong Supplant ill weeds that spread in every place Which let 's the growth of the good Hearb of Grace Upon a Sermon delivered upon the occasion of the Rain descending in June and July 1652. PSAL. 147. 7 8. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving sing praises upon the harp unto our God Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth rain for the earth who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains O Let the people of all sorts and ranks Unto our God sing prais with giving thanks Sing to the Harp with David's spirit and voice And let the hearts of all the earth rejoyce Sing and resing unto the King of Kings Which hath reviv'd all vegetable things The God of mercies of his great good will On barren earth make's Clouds drop fatness still With wonderment wee well may sing and say Our June and July 's turned into May Those wonted withering months men use to mow Our grass did then both freshly spring and grow Let 's magnifie our God with publick praise With Psalms and Hymns and Hallelujahs When Tellus was dismantled of her green And on our Sun-burnt soil small grass was seen Then Earth's inhabitants agast did stand Dreading a fearful famine through this land Wee wretched worldlings have a faithless Crew Which do despair unless all things ensue According to their gaping expectation They whine repine with grudging murmuration Others there are depend on nature's will Thinking the clouds do constantly distill Their Influence sans Providence Divine This their belief shall bee no Creed of mine For wee by Sacred writ do understand The clouds God's bottles are within his hand And when those sponges hee shall please to wring Wee earthlings here expect a fruitful spring Behold vain man with eyes of purblind reason God's open hand come's never out of season He send 's his former and his later rains Thy herds with grass thy life with bread sustain's When man with diffidence is most despairing The cloudy heav'ns give 's hope that rain's preparing When wee conclude wee 're starv'd undon forlorn God's fair Inheritance abound's with corn Not in low vales alone but Mountain tops With laughter and great joy wee reap our Crops Bless mee the bounty of God's liberal hand With admiration hath enrich'd this land If wine oyl rayment food for life be scant Content's a feast can satiate all want What shall wee render for our preservation Our breath our being life and sustentation Let us with exultation sound his praise That feed's us clothe's us lengthen's out our daies Rejoyce I say I
DIVINE POEMS Being MEDITATIONS Upon several Sermons preached at Eckington in the County of Darbie by Mr S. G. And put into Vers by VVILLIAM VVOOD of Eckington Gent. IVSTVS VIVET FIDE DEVS PROVIDEBIT יהוה I.Y. LONDON Printed by WILL. Du-GARD for the Author 1655. The Prologue SOme trees grow green in hoary winter season On this account it 's much I owe to reason Through age alas I almost want my sight Yet mercie lend's me intellectual light Wherwith these following Fancies I did frame Onlie to gratifie my Maker's name Let these receive your gracious milde reflection Which represent's my heart's entire affection VV. VVOOD DIVINE POEMS Conceived Upon several Sermons delivered at Eckington in the County of Darby by Mr S. G. upon these ensuing Texts of holy Scripture GEN. 45. 24. See that yee fall not out by the way AFter afflicted Joseph was enlarged From pit from prison and the stocks discharged By the unfolding Pharaoh's double dream Which to his wizards wonderful did seem He was advanced to a Viceroy's state Maugre his Mr's lewd libid'nous hate He sate the second on the Regal Throne Prime in Commission save the King alone And under God next Pharaoh was head Lord Providore of Egypt store for bread Joseph's incensed Brethren through his Dreams By death Conspir'd to execute their spleens Reuben and Judah's pitie did restrain Their Brethrens rage else Joseph had been slain Out of that plot which was to spill his blood To Jacob's seed there sprung a world of good Joseph by providence was sold and sent A fearful famine early to prevent The general dearth was so far overspread That aged Israel for his house want's bread His sons to Egypt they must post with speed To buy some corn for to supplie their need Who when they came to Joseph soon were known Yet him they knew not no nor him could own After som parlie had betwixt them past Joseph himself descrie's thus at the last Forthwith command's all should depart the room Then near unto him bid's his brethren com Joseph I am whom erst yee did entrap At which they start as at a thunder-clap Their guilty Conscience did them so convict They fear'd they Judg his Judgment would bee strict The storm o'repast the sunshine doth appear The clouds do vanish and the welkins clear Instead of vengeance mildly hee doth melt Remit's forgive's their by-past rage and guilt Hee drown's his passion with a show'r of tears Hee weeps for joy and doth expel their fears When Joseph was dispatching them from thence With love hee charms them to avoid offence Wisely forewarning thus to them doth say See yee agree fall not out by the way Hee had great cause to know their late condition Their Emulation envie and ambition Hee knew and fear'd that they would Emulate His darling brother Benjamin's estate In any wise quoth hee observe I pray Fall yee not out nor brawl yee by the way Yee that are shepherds peaceful by your calling As sheep bee harmless let their bee no brawling Yee that are strangers in your enemies Land Let them not hear you jarr at any hand Yee that are Brothers Sons to one self Father See that yee keep the League of love the rather Yee that do worship one no other gods Bee all as one see that there be no odds Yee Patriarchs the hopes of numerous Nations The roote and branches of blest generations Fall yee not out in passing on the way Your Citie yee shall see another day Yee have no Mansion here nor certain rest Your City is above amongst the blest Joseph's sage caution which he gave his Brothers May happly be appli'd to us and others The nearest and the dearest of relations Seldome observe religious obligations Wee'reover weening wedded to our will Reason can have no room but 's outed still Wee are divided rent and torn asunder Become a by-word and Europa's wonder Our inbred wrangles thwarting disposition Makes sober men to hold us in derision The Saints communion Lord let us enjoy Bung up their mouths which Sions peace destroy Cant. 1. 4. Draw mee wee will run after thee THe Church her Christ doth fervently petition And promiseth concurrent expedition But being helpless impotent and poor Assisting grace shee humbly doth implore As of our selves shee grants no strength wee have To ask aright to invocate or crave Therefore dejected thus her Lord doth move Draw mee O draw mee with thy cords of love Instruct mee Lord then shall I be instructed Lead guide and guard mee I shall bee conducted Turn mee dear Lord then turned shall I bee From wicked waies to run yet after thee Convert me Lord and then converted I Shall bee thy mercie for to magnifie Constrain me with thy love my dove my sweet Shake off sins snares shackling my lingring feet Delay not Lord make hast to mend my speed For thin's the power alone to do the deed In thy books volume with thy Spirit 's own quill It 's written Lord that I should do thy will This task though hard to frailtie I would do If thou my will make willing thereunto Bend and incline my heart my feet and hands To will work run and do as thou command's And what thy will commands whilst life lend's breath Mine must obey it on the pain of death O that thy Scepter in my soul might sway Then would my will wait on thee in thy way If thou my Lord my Loadstone and my love Daign thus to draw mee others I will move And wee will run most chearfullie thy race No stop nor stay shall impedite our pace Not as Competitors of like degree But humble handmaids meeklie after thee My fellow virgins with mee I will draw To run the lists that 's boundred by the law And least through negligence wee should offend With burning lamps the Bridegroom wee 'l attend And wee will emulate with holie strife Who shall run foremost in a virtuous life Let thy precedence be our imitation Our rule for life and holie conversation The race here run is not corporeal But heart's devotion which is spiritual From Earth to heav'n besides thee wee have none Can be our Convoy saving thee alone No slavish servile servant but the free And filial can fitlie follow thee No sprightless drone that 's dull in his desires Can pass heav'ns narrow way through thorns and briers Ther 's no respect of persons Lord with thee But hearts obeying best run after thee Not after vain delights and worldly lust But after thee which art our stay and trust Not after blasted honors flitting wealth But after thee which art our saving health Not after terrene trash that 's transitorie But after thee the Prize a Crown of glorie Psalm 4. 4. Stand in aw and sin not Commune with your own heart and in your Chamber and be still These ensuing Poëms were conceived by the Authour without the help of a Sermon STand in this place serve 's aptlie to this end For to affright us least wee
not read but with a single eye Withall implies that some are child-like bold Call for new Lessons ere they have learnt the old Here with som sorts of lights of various shine Som dark and dim and som more chrystalline Our Fathers saw but by a shadowed light Wee have the sun shine that perspicuous light They had the dawning Wee the morning star Wee saw it home but they remote and far In this our day let us so act our parts Untill Aurora rise within our hearts That after our few dayes so transitory This star may stear us to the sun in glory EZEK 36. 26. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I well give you an heart of flesh WWen Israel had by graceless provocation Deserv'd God's wrath and angrie indignation By joyning with the heathen of those times In idols service such nefarious crimes Mercie in room of Judgement God did render Becaus his mercie alwaies is most tender Hee take's away remove's their heart of stone Instead thereof give 's them a fleshly one How this hard heart is aptly Qualifi'd With weak expressions shall be specifi'd A stone is dark and suteth with the night Cannot discern because it lack 's the light A stone ponderous downward doth descend Unto Earth's Center that 's it's proper end A stone that 's cold may heated be by fire But from it's heat to coldness will retire A stone hath many properties beside Sans means of grace cannot be mollifi'd The heart of stone which now wee have in hand Will not obay nor learn to understand This stonie heart it hath been hammered oft By preaching teaching yet will not be soft Though massie hammers violently have knock't it Nor force nor fire can break no nor decockt it Wee will pass by a while this heart of stone And view the New I mean the Fleshsly One The heart of flesh is fearful to offend It 's humble lowly will both bow and bend This is the wounded weeping bleeding heart Prickt with compunction suffereth grievous smart This heart of flesh assiduously relenteth And therewithall unfeignedly repenteth This heart of flesh it is the sacred Inne Which welcom 's grace and shut's the doors of Sin This heart 's a harbour refuge for devotions Which entertain's all pious spiritual motions 'T is up heap'd happiness to bee thus hearted The joy 's expresseless for to bee Converted What God can do and what he doth and how It fitly follow 's knowingly to know What God can do wee see in the Creation With wonderment exceeding admiration Hee was sole Artifex and Architector The mightie God the powerful prime protector In Heav'n and Earth and in the depths call'd Seas Hee will 's hee work 's hee can do what hee please For in his hands hee hold's the hearts of Kings Floods hills high mountains and all earthly thin And what God doth by his especial grace Doth fitly follow in this second place Wee 'le instance Esau's thirst for Jacob's blood God turn's his heart and pacifie's his mood Heaven still 's his rage Esau grow's remiss They 're reconcil'd united with a kiss Jacob at every beck call's Esau lord Jacob's smooth posture sheath's rough Esau's sword The thief in theft that all his life had spent Christ grant's his suit with grace for to repent This was the Wonderous work of God the Lord Such semblant mercie truth doth not record Was not that marvel marvellous passing strange Soul's bloody heart so suddenly to change A Persecuter to become a Preacher The high-priests tyrant should so soon turn teache In the last place it serve 's for sound direction To humble hearts from obstinate affection And for this Cure some Cordials are proposed That stony hearts may better bee difposed The first is humble pure sincere contrition Which never want's a promiss of remission The burning heart inflam'd with fire of love This antidote all hardness doth remove The heart obdurate that resisteeh good None can dissolve it but our Saviour's blood The heart must suffer pruneing by excision Before it 's capable of safe condition To hurle down hardest holds the Sacred Word More powerful is than either fire or sword ECCLES 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth WHen Solomon was vested in his Throne Sole supreme Soveraign Regent Lord alone He craved wisdome did the same obtain And therewithal an Indian stock of gain Honor did homage and attend his Throne Riches advanc'd him more then any one Hee gave his heart to gladness and to folly Madness did medicine his Melancholly Lets loos the rains unto all sensual lust Pamper'd his pallat to delight his gust Daintie delicious vians fowles and fish A liberal portion in a lordly dish Playes masks and motions did bewitch his sight with numerous Concubines he spent the night Such Minstrelsie as the inchanted ear Of roaring Revelists did never hear Hee and shee Singers with melodious notes Like Philomel came warbling from their throats Psaltries and Cimbals stringed Instruments Inchanting musick for his solacements In stately Structures he was Most luxurious In Robes and Raiments gallant extreme curious Gardens like Eden Fruits and Flowers for pleasure Vast minerals of Gold and Silver Treasure When with these fond delights his heart had done Hee thus conclude's All 's vain beneath the Sun Thus glutted with imaginary Joyes His vexed spirit disclaim'd these terrene toyes Let this suffice by way of Introduction This serve 's for serious solid sound Instruction Remember here implies the Moral Law The Decalogue to keep mankind in awe The Law as in a glass doth clear reflect What wee should act and what wee should neglect Remember thy Creator in thy strength Whiles thou art plump and young and life hath length Not in decrepid feeble doting daies When faculties shall fail to sound his prais Things of concernment our immortal state Must be remembred early not to late 'T is dangerous to defer until to morrow One daies delay may cause eternall sorrow On pain of death do not procrastinate Least barr'd of entrance at the marriage gate Remember now thy Span thy pettie Space Whiles thou hast Sparing in the day of grace It were ingratitude of high degree For to forget the cause created thee I mean the Mightie God the grand Creator Of the fair frame of all the worlds theater Who in six daies did consummate the same That all his works might magnifie his name Man was the master-piece of God's Creation Made marvelouflie surpassing admiration God in 's good time in the creating season Endued man with understanding reason Hee breath'd in him an ever-living Spirit On terms of Service Heav'n for to inherit But Man thus made was lost whom mercie found Only Christ's blood can cure his mortal wound FINIS