reputation Instead of glory I must take the dress Of one that hath no form nor comeliness In form of God I am and robbery Do think it none to claim equality With him but yet I must a man become And be found in a sorry servants form Nay more if I to man would bring relief Sorrows must my familiars be and grief Mine intimate acquaintance I must be Most sorely bruis'd for his iniquity For his transgressions wounded In that day On me thou their iniquities wilt lay Yet this doth not discourage nor much more I have of love and bowels as great store As thou canst have of wrath This pleaseth me Full out as much as Vengeance pleaseth thee More thou art not displeased with his sin Than I am pleas'd Salvation him to bring Him I will draw out of the horrid pit And on a rock most sure I 'le set his feet Thy Justice honour I will so secure As that thy Mercy shall for ay endure Look on me Father then and take my word Which it's impossible for me to break great Lord Thou know'st me faithful thou dost know that I Can upon no account my self deny Look then again I here as surety stand To pay what e're thy Justice shall demand Ask what thou wilt thou canst not ask amiss Performed it shall be what e're it is Can only blood pardon procure If so Rather than not a pardon mine shall go My life I 'le give for his and part with all Which I can part with Let thine Anger fall On me thine only Son that burden I Will take to take away iniquity In all its guilt and power And that I may Be a fit object for it in the day Thou shalt appoint I will to my Godhead The Manhood joyn and so have blood to shed Blood thou canst not except against for I As man will suffer as God satisfie Let men me as a worm tread underfoot And laugh and shake the head and the lip shoot Let Bulls yea Bulls of Bashan me beset And come like hungry Lyons me to eat Let me be poured out like water and Let all my bones as dislocated stand What though my heart melted must be and I Shall have my strength like to a potsherd dry What though in sorrows thou do me immerse And cruel ones my hands and feet will pierce I 'le bear yea welcome all since thus I can Redeem from wrath poor but beloved Man Nay when I am thus brought upon the stage Let death it self spend on me all its rage Let it strike fiercely with its Iron Rod And then boast it hath kill'd the Son of God My heart is glad my glory joys also My flesh shall rest in hope because I know My precious Soul thou wilt not leave in grave I incorrupt shall resurrection have Of life the path thou wilt me shew to store Of joys and pleasures which forevermore Are in thy glorious presence Thus although I seem to yield unto that mighty foe By him to be devoured yet will I Fall like my self and a brave Conquerour die My very weakness shall much stronger be Than men and Devils Devils and men shall see I at my lowest can their pride abate And be above them in their greatest height 'Gainst man the hand-writing shall not prevail Out of the way I 'le take it and will nail It to my Cross. All adverse powers I 'le spoil And give to principalities the foil So be triumphant o're th' infernal crew And also of them all make open shew My people I will ransome from the grave From death I will them all redeemed have O cruel death even I thy plagues will be O grave I will destruction bring to thee And utterly root out mine enemies Repentance shall be hidden from mine eies In death I 'le fall that death may die by me In grave I 'le lie that graves may sweetned be To mine that shall come after I my head Will lay in dust that dust may prove a bed Of fragrant Roses yielding to them rest Who by sin were ty'rd out by world opprest Yea that same death which was brought in by Sin And was intended only to have been A way to Hell shall through my dying-love For mine be made the way to joys above A way to Heav'n for them I will it make When out of grave I shall rise for their sake As their head and first fruits I will disarm Death of its sting that it shall do no harm To mine As victor then in triumph high I I will captive lead captivity And to my Chariot-wheels will firmly bind All those mine Enemies who were combin'd Me to disgrace mine to destroy attend My triumph as slaves they shall when I ascend In clouds to Heaven and direct my course Father with gladness unto thee the source And spring of happiness when I will sit On thy right hand until under my feet My foes by thee be brought At length I will Descend again in state and so fulfil My joys and thy Decrees Father I 'le go Waited upon by Angels who shall blow And by their mighty breath that Trumpet sound Whose noise shall rough the Seas and shake the ground And make them both surrender up my dead Who with those living then shall me their Head Follow into thy presence where I shall Resign my Scepter that God all in all May be Father this I 'le perform and thus We shall rejoyce in them and they in Us. GOD. None could have spoken thus but He that is The brightness of my glory the express Image of mine own person in whom be All the perfections of the Deity My Son thou art my most beloved Son In whom I am well-pleas'd mine only one My works I took delight in because good Much more in man mine image while he stood Nor am I so incensed by his fall As utterly to ruin him and all Who shall of him proceed Now he is lost I am resolv'd to be at much more cost For his to be admired Restauration Than ever I was at for his Creation I made him with my word alone but will Ransome him with thy life and thereby fill Both Heaven and Earth with wonder that I part With thee who art so near unto my heart For man's Redemption I do not care What charges I am at I will not spare For cost but freely will deliver up Thee unto death and mingle such a cup For thee to drink as never one did taste For bitterness and yet I will no waste Admit of though it wormwood be and gall My pleasure is thou drink it dregs and all But thine own love will sweeten it for I Know for man's sake thou lovest to deny Thy glorious self and never wilt repine To shed thy blood so man may have the wine And as thy love doth prompt thee so I do Set everlasting joy before thee too For thy encouragement A just regard Shall be had to thee and a full reward Shall crown thy
of love to thee and thine will die And shall by Death obtain the Victorie Nailing unto his Cross each enemie But unto man by death bring peace and rest So that whoe're believe in him are blest He judged you and he will come at last To judg the World when Judgment shall be past By him in Righteousness And then his own He will advance to his most Glorious Throne Where they shall reign in all felicity Without disturbance to eternity Mans Hymn of Praise Tune our Hearts Lord that we may speak thy praise Flat they are yet do thou them higher raise Affect us thoroughly Let us admire Thy Love and call in help from all the Quire Of Angels who with wonder have all seen How great thy goodness unto us hath been Who gav'st thy Son that he might for us die Who gav'st thy self for our Recoverie How freely did'st thou stoop when we did fall That we might Honey have thou drankest Gall. We eat the Fruit thou hung'st upon the Tree Which Life brought unto us Death unto thee Thy stripes our healing are thy thorn our flower Thy Blood our Balsom and thy Cross our Tower Thy wounds our Refuge and thy sighs our Song Of thee we 'l make our boast all the day-long Thou art the first-begotten of the Dead Thou of all earthly Princes art the Head Thou love'st us and washt us from our sins In thine own Blood making us Priests and Kings To God thy Father Therefore we will never Cease saying Glory be to thee for ever For we O Lord thy ransom'd Ones shall come Unto the Heavenly Zion as our Home With Songs caus'd by that blood which thou did'st shed And everlasting joy upon our head We shall obtain all gladness in that day When sorrow and sighing shall flee away FINIS A Dialogue BETWEEN FAITH AND A DOUBTING SOUL TO THE READER Courteous Reader ABout seventeen years ago a gracioas Woman one of that Flock which was by Divine Providence committed to my charge sorely laboured under many Doubts which created her much disquiet In her agonies she frequently repaired to me for help which according to the Grace given I did most readily afford her But by those Convulsion-sits which almost every day returned her memory was rendered so labil and unfaithful that all I said made no abiding impression Every time she came to me she brought with her the same perplexing thoughts and I had my work to do again Thereupon I resolved to draw up in Verse her Doubts and my Answers and gave them to her in writing in hope that her memory would more easily retain something which might befriend her at least that having these things by her she would make use of them as occasion required and so save both me and her self much labour Through the goodness of God my expectation was not disappointed she found much benefit as she did most freely and thankfully acknowledg and through mercy past the remainder of her days in a pleasant calm But good Soul she could not hide Gods loving kindness within her breast but communicated to others these lines which she counted a treasure several Copies were taken and disperst some sent into remote parts which found good acceptance and were not without their fruit Mine own Copy of them lay dormant long after indeed I concluded it lost until about two years since one of my Children found it among my loose Papers and with joy brought it to me Since then one borrowed it and another and more of which several took the pains to transcribe it And I have of late been so prest to make it publick that contrary to my own thoughts and resolution I have been constrained to yield unto their importunity Certain it is that Doubtings do abound in gracious Souls though wicked men enjoy a fatal peace and are not in trouble like them The Devil like a roaring Lion gapes upon and worries those that have escap'd out of his snares whilest he rocks his vassals and doth his utmost to keep them asleep in the cradle of carnal security Those that have true Faith have also many fears But those that are strangers to Faith are commonly free from them Doubts are good signs yet bad company They damp the spirit and weaken the hand and cover with a cloud that face which should shine They keep Faith from flourishing they deprive the Christian of that comfort which the breasts of Gospel-promises would yield him they rob God and Godliness of that honour which the cheerful lives of Saints would bring them and they render the converses of holy persons many times very unacceptable to their brethren though we should bear one anothers burdens and be very compassionate unto such as are deserted buffeted and disconsolate It is the unquestionable duty of Christs Ministers to be Messengers of peace as well as Sons of thunder as to startle and affright sleeping sinners so to revive drooping and sinking Saints We are to comfort the people of God by speaking to their case and to their hearts To strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees is a part yea a very sweet part of our work We have no dominion over their faith no none at all but should be helpers of their joy and rejoice to be so Vpon this Errand and Design is this little piece sent abroad into the world without question many will find themselves concerned in the things contained in it and I hope some will find advantage The answer to these Doubts are fetcht from the Word of God and grounded upon it and such are most cordial Nay none but such will bring healing to a wounded and settlement to a tumultuating spirit Let none be offended at the manner of composure but remember the reason before given and call to mind Davids Psalms together with the Apostles Exhortation To admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs A blessing from heaven go along with this little work and if thou receivest any spiritual benefit by it he hath his end who is A Friend and Servant to the Houshold of Faith SAMVEL SLATER A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul FAITH WHat joys like those which from above descend They know no bounds are strangers to an end My comforts overflow I sit and sing The night is day to me and Winter Spring While others think I want I enough have My heritage is good I nothing crave Come Soul put on a smile chase sorrow hence Whence flow these tears why is this great expence Of deep fetcht sighs groans thy Saviours voice Should clear thy brow make thy heart rejoice Husht dost not hear 't Salvations Captain comes With sound of Trumpets with beat of Drums 'T is not th' alarm of War he takes thy part His actions all along have spoke his heart For thee he did engage he fought and di'd And now triumphs All all makes on thy side Himself did tell me so be of good chear Away with doubtings
written in his Book That is a vain attempt that course once take Thy soul thou'lt wound work for sorrow make There is enough in Christ and none shall die But such as do not to that refuge flie In him are safely Arkt persons unclean Who grievous sinners like to thee have been Haste thou for shelter too Why this delay O soul it must be done Do it to day Wouldst thou destroy thy self shall black despair O'rewhelm and drown thee now there 's such a fair And ready passage leading to the Ark In which thousands of thousands do imbark And are conveyed to a land of rest Where neither sin nor sorrow can molest Up up for shame away to him with speed Who 's call'd a Saviour and is one indeed Do but go to him yea go at a venture Into his gracious presence all may enter He never said to any seek in vain All humble seekers shall his favour gain His promise is if any one will rise And make address to him he in no wise Will cast him off Flee thou unto his grace So he in arms of love shall thee imbrace None e're departed empty from him He Is infinitely full full out as free Haste to him therefore haste thy days do spend End thou thy danger e're thy days do end Put in thy sickle reap what he hath sown He 's not thy foe if thou be not thine own The invitation is Whoever will Let him come hither and here take his fill If thou wilt take then Christ will give believe Stretch out thy hand he will thy wants relieve He is the God of Love then to him go Thou canst not ask the thing he will not do Others have sought and found asked and had Who sinners were like thee as old as bad Their good success should ease and chear thy heart Christ will do his if thou wilt do thy part Doubt 4. From uncertainty of interest SOVL. I question still mine interest in God And cannot call him Father Mine abode Is yet in darkness I want light to read Mine Evidences by Oh! could I feed My joys with full assurance did I know That God is reconciled Christ did do And suffer all for me I soon would chase All sorrow hence and with a smiling face Look on my dearest Lord nothing should hinder His love should be the spark my heart like tinder Should quickly kindle and be all in slame With love and praises to his holy name Thrice happy Paul could say Christ dy'd for him Which fill'd his soul with joy up to the brim Did I know that my comforts would run o're I 'd sit and sing but sigh and sob no more FAITH Dost thou desire to know it Look within Is no discov'ry made then look agen Beg light from Heaven when 't is dark below Thou shalt know if thou follow on to know Christ dy'd for all in whom he lives make out His living in thee and thou needst not doubt If thou canst say O Lord my heart is thine Thou well maist say O Lord thy death is mine He enters no House but he sprinkles first The Door-posts of it with that blood which burst Out of his precious side That sincere love Which glows within thy breast came from above And is a sweet reflection of that fire And purer flame in him and doth aspire To its own Element 't will carry thee To that blest place where is no room for me Cease groundless fears God will not him deny That saith Lord give me Christ or else I dye Deal faithfully in thine own case and own With thankfulness what God for thee hath done Thou canst not choose but say many a time Christ hath himself shewn willing to be thine Thou dost accept him dost not Then all 's done The match is made and Jesus is thine own God saith wilt have my Son thou say'st yea Lord Be it to me according to thy word His Love and Law also both I would have His Peace without his Grace I do not crave I am as willing he in me should reign As that by him I happiness may gain Let this be thy return for so shall he Fill thee with grace and Heaven with such as thee Doubt 5. From inward Corruptions SOVL. With such as me believ 't who will I can't Whoever enters Heaven sure I shan't Nought that defiles shall thither come that place Is fill'd with Glory for Souls fill'd with Grace But mine is stuff'd with sin numberless evils Ill thoughts affections Legions of Devils Haunt and inhabit here Lord what a pow'r Of lusts are crawling in it every hour I never set my self to look within But I discover filthy heaps of sin Did others see what I do they with shame And scorn would shun me I disgrace that name Which graceth me Christ's holy name I bear Him I profess his Livery I wear With him I live his word I hear yet feel No yielding to him in this heart of Steel Filthy I was and so am still How can An holy Christ dwell in so soul a man Sure he his habitation sweepeth clean There are not in his Temple heaps of sin Sin dies in him that liveth therefore I Have no true life not finding sin to dye FAITH Sin is in thee But is there nothing more There may be Grace though of corruption store In midst of enemies thy Saviour reigns And of those enemies still ground he gains That mighty one hath girt his Sword to 's side And conquering to conquer he doth ride Thou feelest thy corruptions are rife Such feeling is a mercy sign of life Dead men feel nothing load them load again They do not groan they do not once complain It 's well when sin doth trouble and molest Which did thee please for Christ hath promis'd rest To heavy laden souls nor is he slack To take that burden off which galls thy back He will not pass thee by because so ill Thou art the fitter for his Sov'reign skill A good Phisician overlooks the sound And goes where sicknesses do most abound Hate and abhor thy sins thy self bemoan If sin lose love it cannot keep the throne Where 't is endear'd it lives loathed it dies Christ at one time humbles and sanctifies As for the stirrings of thy lust at most They 'r but death-pangs it shall give up the Ghost Sampson did at his death make greatest sport The Devils rage grows high when 's time is short Be thou so wise in th' case which thou art in As to discern 'twixt reign and rage of sin What speak thy bleeding heart weeping eyes Sure this that sin don't reign but tyrannize Danger of death is past because I see By these complainings sin doth die in thee Doubt 6. From want of Godly sorrow SOVL. Could I indeed mourn kindly then at last I 'd think the bitterness of death were past Could I with weeping mingle all my drink Or make my bed to swim could I so think On my corruptions as to
raise And teach a creature dumb to speak its praise Which is an argument I shall not dye The Serpent eat and dy'd not why should I Are only we restrain'd Death only found Us two to fright and keep us within bound Was this rare fruit designed for a beast And must we die the death if taste the least I 'le not believe it I will take and trie Yea and taste too although I taste and die But if when I have eaten I do live And like I will some unto Adam give ADAM My Dear where hast thou spent so many hours What work could thee detain what pleasant Could keep thee from me or what could supply bow'rs Thy Husbands room so long for certain I Did greatly miss thee and do find it true Upon this earth is nothing like to you Nor only so for I did strangely find A discomposure in my thoughts and mind Which boded ill methought a sudden blow Was given though by what hand I did not know The earth beneath did tremble and withall Off from their trees the fading leaves did fall Upon a sudden beauty left their fruit And all the pretty warbling birds stood mute Some creatures fearful grew and others fierce Their looks were stern Eve I cannot rehearse All that I did observe My blood waxt chill My heart misgave me there was something ill Had fallen out and though I had e'en wove Of choicest flowers a Garland for my love Out of my hands I threw it would not stay A minute longer but did come away In haste to find thee glad to meet thee here How dost thou feel thy self how is 't my dear EVE It never better was never so well Unless I judg amiss since I could tell What Being means Thy company indeed Most sorely I did miss and shall take heed Of future absence for I felt such pain Upon that score I would not feel again But that which me detain'd so long was this The subtle Serpent who advanced is Unto a nobler state than what he had And is of that advancement very glad Most humbly came desirous to acquaint Me with his change and did most sweetly paint In lively colours virtues of that tree Which you and I by God forbidden be A taste of This he did in humane voice With words that were most eloquent and choice This secret not being selfish but most free Others should with him share he did to me Kindly impart and withal much perswade Me for to take and eat ADAM Ah! but I hope he did perswade in vain My Dearest tell me for I am in pain To know thee issue EVE My Lord he did perswade and did prevail I saw I took I eat What wil't avail Now to deny the fact neither despise Me for what 's done much clearer are mine eyes Scales off did fall my mind is more sublime Than e're I found it was before this time My spirits are dilated my thoughts flie Hither and thither with full libertie All my affections are rais'd I do Conclude my self a kind of Goddess too ADAM My soul is troubled thou hast troubled me Who formed wast my Comforter to be Upon me hath amazement taken hold My joints are loosed all and horror cold Runs through my veins this 't is to be undone By her that is my dear and only one Oh! that I ever suffer'd thee to go Alone expos'd alone unto thy so Had I deny'd thee then I had not now Known those sad sinking sorrows which I do Lately thou wast most lovely and most sweet In thee did all create Perfections meet But now thou art defac'd thou now art lost Which will a thousand thousand sorrows cost Oh! hadst thou ne'er been made or being made Wouldst have my counsel given thee obey'd Poor ruin'd Eve for I must change my note What e're thou think'st thou art to death devote Thy wound 's incurable who can it heal God never will the sentence past repeal EVE Did I feel what thou fearest I would be Alone a victim to that Deitie Which thou supposest angry and so end All that displeasure thou dost apprehend But whence these fears I pray and pray again That thou wouldst tell me Is not the case plain The Serpent did eat first afterward I And we do live why shouldest thou then die If thou shouldst eat but grant it hadst not rather If die we must that we die both together Where is thy love or where thy noble heart Art thou afraid to die shall death us part But where where is he if his fatal blow Must cut me off why don't he strike it now Come let me hug thee in my tender arm And so infolded fear not any harm I tell thee and with twenty kisses seal The truth of these my words I ne'r did feel Such extasies of joy as did insue My tasting of that tree Taste thou it too ADAM Since thou dost give my Dear I 'le take although I 'm not deceiv'd like thee but better know I know that eating this will do me harm But I am carried captive by thy charm My flesh and bone thou hast with them my heart We two are one and therefore will not part In happiness thou didst partake with me In miseries I will partake with thee My great delight thou hast been even thou Whatever comes I will not leave thee now What though this hour I fetch my dying groan It would be death to me to live alone Or if thou die and then another come That other never would fill up thy room Let God his pleasure do I will do mine In life and death resolved to be thine Eve I have eaten and now own my love To thee which threatn'd death could not remove DEVIL Of my ends thus I master am thus I With ease have triumph'd o're mine enemy God did intend to honour dust to raise And make these despicable worms a praise A race of men he was resolv'd should spring From Adam's loins forsooth them he would bring To those coelestial places whence we fell And while we do tormenting pains in hell Suffer without all hope there they should be As favourites crown'd with felicity And that at which my spirit most recoils Is they should be enriched with our spoils And could we Angels brook it though we are Fallen and ruin'd yet we cannot bear Such an affront I gladly would have prey'd On his Imperial Throne I would invade His stately Royal Palace if that it Would but a siege or storm or myne admit But its walls are too high for me to scale It 's gate so fastned no strength can prevail To force it open there he sits secure In happiness for ever to endure Well though his lofty Throne I could not shake I now have that atchieved which will make Some breach upon his peace and spoil in part His matchless joys and grieve him to the heart I call to mind how greatly he was pleas'd VVith our confusion when he had eas'd Heaven of us as
and defie all fear Shake off these causeless dumps arise and shine The victory is Christs th' advantage thine SOVL. What mine canst prove it thou tak'st all on trust And so maist be deceived try I must And look and search examine and enquire Ask question after question Yet no higher Can I attain than to faint hopes which cost A thousand thousand labours but are lost In twinkling of an eye I cannot rest Nor lasting peace enjoy When things are best I am disturb'd my sleep scarce lasts an hour And when I ' wake again Lord what a pow'r Of sad perplexing thoughts assault my mind That I conclude both Heav'n and Earth combin'd To make me miserable Faith speak out Hast thou more cause of joy or I of doubt FAITH Thou bid'st me speak and yet deny'st to hear When I unlock my lips thou bolts thine ear There are such sobs and sighs bitter bewailings Such weeping wringing hands such loud complainings That all my labour 's lost Alas my skill In vain is tri'd for out of meer self-will Thou spillest all my Cordials and wilt none Of my choice Heaven-born comforts no not one Yet since I know thy sickness know I do Both pity it and long to cure it too We 'l argue things once more for I don't dread Thy reas'nings nor the crafty Serpents head My cause is good my blessed Seconds are Though thou think'st otherwise without compare Enter the lists then yet the Judg shall be Not sense nor carnal reason much less he That 's stil'd God of this world these neither can Nor will speak comfort to poor humbled man The Scripture I make choice of for it is Divine impartial cannot judg amiss Thou canst not quarrel it and therefore say Say on dejected Soul I 'le yield the day To Fears if Scriptures do Objections raise Thou shalt have answer and thy God the praise Doubt 1. From the apprehension of Gods Holiness SOVL. Trembling takes hold upon me when I see A God above of spotless puritie The Seraphims his glory do proclaim And it admire most holy is his name The garnisht Heavens are unclean in 's sight The noon-day Sun is darkned by his light His eyes are flames of fire piercing and pure Which can't the least iniquity endure But I am full of sin all over stains From top to toe is nought but boils and blains My head heart life with sin are over run Sin I did chuse by sin I am undone FAITH Yet there is hope a ruin'd Bankrupt may Set up again the night gives place to day Adam his beauty lost and by one sin Defac'd the image God had made him in The Nazarite became an Ethiope And in himself had neither help nor hope Yet found both in another God prepar'd More lasting beauty for him and repair'd His Image on him and the sinner then Washt from his filth waxt fresh and fair agen This may be done for thee the fountain still Stands open for all comers whoso will May go and bathe his sooty soul and so Come sorth a Creature new and white as snow Thy God is holy so is Christ and he Hath Grace sufficient for himself and thee Thy wound is not incurable thy sore He can so heal that it shall run no more Thy Maker can O soul form thee anew Thy holy God can make thee holy too Nay more by Covenant he 's bound t' impart To his a spirit right and a new heart Go to him then his faithful promise plead And so he will richly supply thy need Doubt 2. From Gods Iustice. SOVL. But God is just and will not see his Law Broken without revenge I stand in awe And dread his iron-rod Doth he not say The soul that sins shall die ah who then may Once hope for life since we are sinners all And lost our righteousness in Adam's fall Behold me cloth'd with rags once but one story Lower than Angels who are cloth'd with glory These rags are filthy too and so the shame Which they should cover they to all proclaim I do condemn my self though self I love What favour then can I expect above The Law hath past its sentence it doth crie All men are sinners and as such shall die My guilt is great my God is just who can Satisfie justice and clear guilty man FAITH I have a Friend will do 't Did I say will Pardon dear Jesus Oh how I do fill With joy since I can say he hath it done And God is pleas'd with thee in Christ his Son Thy debt was great empty thy purse that friend Became thy surety and did put an end To the Law-suit by saying he would pay What thou wast charged with upon the day Justice should set and when that day came he Paid to a farthing and discharged thee The sum was great but his far greater love Bogled not at it nor did he once remove From his resolved kindness but hath given What did redeem lost earth purchase Heaven He laid his life down his heart-blood he gave That sparing thy blood he thy life might save What more can Justice ask surely if I Be once arrested I 'le plead Christ did die If God be not appeas'd with death of God I will for ever bear his flaming rod. Besides I spi'd white linnen in his grave And soon concluded that I this must have Christ saw me naked and then did provide A perfect Robe my nakedness to hide What more is lacking let strict Justice see My Saviour saith there is no spot in me Doubt 3. From the comparatively small number of Redeemed Ones SOVL. I grant there is in Christ sufficient merit To purchase Heaven and make his inherit Those peaceful blissful mansions where he Crowns all their hopes with full felicity His blood can make the blackest Blackmoor white And loathsome sinners lovely in Gods sight Of his Almighty power doubt who can I do believe him God as well as man But what of that I hear the number 's small For which he died Had he dy'd for all I might have fill'd with comfort But alas A little part of this corrupted mass Was chosen out for honourable use Vessels of glory whom the Lord did chuse For his Coelestial Temple the rest will As worthless silver be rejected still My reason tells me if he would not crie And pray for all for all he would not die I fear of his dear little Flock I 'm none Others may saved be and I undone FAITH Be it acknowledged that few there are Whom Christ redeem'd shall in his merits share He saves not all the world dy'd not for all Did not alike affect Iudas and Paul Grant that yet do not sink the door is ope To all that will come 't is a door of hope Christ dy'd for sinners why then not for thee Either give reason or believe with me Gods Decrees secret are and who can read His everlasting purpose Nay what need Of climbing Heaven curiously to look Whether thy name be
dissolve Into a flood of tears I should resolve My doubts and banish fears Were e're a vein Of godly sorrow breath'd 't would ease my pain Then I should smile at table rest in bed A bleeding heart would cure an aking head But mine alas is stupid brawnie dry Will scarce afford a tear will scarce supply Me with desired groans sometimes I see My brethren furnisht with a treasurie Or ocean of tears How soon can they With laden clouds o'recast their clearest day One thought of Christ or word of sin doth make Their eyes run over and their hearts to ake I can't command a drop when they have store And therefore grieve 'cause I can grieve no more FAITH Poor soul oh that thy head were waters and Thy chamber Bochim Oh! that a command Would sweetly break thine heart and make it melt Feeling such sorrow as it never felt I wish that these dry cheeks bedew'd may be With tears for him that shed his blood for thee They would be Aqua vitae gen'rous wine Quickly reviving this faint heart of thine Those tears would drown thy sorrow that rain Would make the inward chaps to close again Well take a turn upon that fatal mount Where Christ was crucifi'd and there recount His pressing sorrows there behold the Sun Of Righteousness eclips'd and having run His race of life setting at last in dark Wrapt up in clouds stand still a while and hark How deep his sighs were fetcht in that black night Who brought for us immortal life to light His soul was sorrowful ev'n unto death Yet in that sorrow not the smallest breath Of comfort reacht him he was fain to ' bide The rage of enemies nay God did hide Men reak'd their rage his Father too did pour His wrath upon him in the self-same hour And all this for thy sin lay that to heart Thou did'st transgress and he endur'd the smart Dwell on these thoughts for sure a Saviour's groan May pierce and mollifie an heart of stone Repeated thoughts that God did him forsake May kindly work and cause thy heart to ake Since Peter wept with one cast of Christs eye Thou mai'st to hear him say for thee I die Yet measure not repentance by thy tears Sorrow is deepest when it least appears Don't always judg of inward sorrows by The tongue complaining or the weeping eye For full-charg'd vessels frequently run least Through want of vent so doth the heart opprest Many have words yea tears too at their will Who Christ rejecting hug their Idols still Esau did weep and yet could find no place For wisht repentance nor for saving grace Again there may true Penitents be found O'rewhelm'd with grief with brinish tears not drown'd Some mens complexions are hot and they Buckets of water must needs want to lay The fire that burns within whilst others are So full of moisture they 've enough to spare Grace sanctifieth and makes better yet Natures defects are not suppli'd by it Divers affections too are in the heart Now one anon another acts its part Thy grief once wrought and then thou couldst have stood Under Christs Cross till thou had'st wept a flood Holy revenge now is upon the stage And prosecutes with never-ending rage The murderer that Christ did crucifie And nothing but its blood will satisfie Despond not then O soul that sacred fire Of holy anger which shall not expire Upon the altar of thine heart doth dry That dew which once upon thy cheeks did lie Come dost thou feel the heavy weight of sin Wouldst give a world there were not one within Is that thy misery thy plague thy sore Wouldst willingly offend thy God no more If God should bid thee ask a boon wouldst cry Lord that my soul might live my sin might die Canst part with Delilah canst Agag hew Thy Kingly-darling-lust canst bid adieu To all the Idols of thine heart then he Who dy'd for sinners also dy'd for thee That sense of sin those inward pains that cause A man to loath himself yield to Christs laws The Gospel calls enough Do thou not cover One of thy sins God will them all pass over What e're is wanting in thy tears Christs blood To th' utmost will supply and make it good Huge mountainous transgressions of man Small rivers cannot hide but th' Ocean can Doubt 7. From spiritual unfruitfulness SOVL. But my heart is a barren soil that lays My comforts dead did I fill up my days Place and Relations ah did I find A fruitful soul I should not faint in mind I cannot weep yet if my work went on Were this my straitned heart enlarg'd to run The ways of Gods Commandments then my peace Would like a river be and still increase Abundant fruits of holiness would be Proofs of my love to God Gods love to me God justly doth expect from every one Returns of love and duty There is none Deserves a servants name unless he do Perform the work his master sets him to God likes not idle drones that drink and eat At others cost and live on others sweat His people are industrious and can say Lord we our work have finisht in our day Whereas mine lieth dead upon my hand While time flies swiftly I do idle stand Many commands before me present are But where 's obedience if I compare My life with God's law I most plainly see Of much that should little is done by me I stand and wonder at my Masters cost Then sit down sighing when I think all lost FAITH Suppose it true that little fruit is found Upon thy branches thou dost not abound In service though thy reck'ning-day doth haste Yet days for working do run out to waste The best of servants oft have cause to say I have not done a days-work in a day But what 's thy duty now sure not to throw All hope away and utterly undo Thy precious high-born soul by black despair Rather mend former faults by future care Is one day gone and yet its work not done Then if thou canst do two days work in one And having been too too remiss before Double thy diligence and strive the more Didst sleep away thy golden morning hours Then in the afternoon call up the pow'rs Of soul and body working each amain Not leaving till thy losses thou regain This doth become a Christian not to sit Doubting and drooping only in a sit Of Melancholy which his comfort kills And him with spiritual distempers fills But is 't a just charge which thou dost put in Against thy self poor soul O do not sin In false-accusing act not Satan's part To make him all the sport thy self the smart Let the best laden branches hang the head Be thankful for some fruit the tree's not dead That hath one cluster Though more would do well Out of that one thou mal'st a blessing spell Acknowledg what thy God to thee hath been And overlook not thy returns to him Thankfully own receipts of Grace withall Do not disown
are this do Piece duty unto duty mend all too Since all thy lambs are blemisht without fail Of all thy flock offer to God the male And since thy thoughts wiil from thee often part Be sure in all thy work there be thy heart And know this weakness shall be cur'd God will Give thee of fellowship with him thy fill When once thou com'st to Heaven thou shalt be Fixed upon him to eternitie He that is thy desire and thy delight Shall minded be and serv'd with all thy might Thy thoughts and thy affections shall come And dwell on him their everlasting home Thine enemies shall all away be flown Temptation there sha'nt be corruption none Thine heart shall then be rais'd and no more fall To earth or sin God shall be all in all Grieve not too much though here thou wander still Thou shalt not wander when up Zion-hill Doubt 10. From fear of Apostacy SOVL. I know if I were there I soon should be Eas'd of these loads and from corruption free No Devil 's there to tempt sin to perplex No clog to hinder Canaanite to vex All is serene and pleasant all delight Withdrawings there are none no clouds no night There sights of God are clear communion sure Uninterrupted always to endure But I uncertain am and sadly fear I shall my labour lose and not come there Heaven I mind for Gods sake 't is the scope Of all mine actions yet I dare not hope At last to reach it no I may fall short And be the Angels scorn and Devils sport Experience tells me if at any time I plead a title and call glory mine Strait I receive a check because it is So difficult to get easie to miss I have indeed been walking in the way That thither leads some steps I take each day I for salvation pray and wrestling groan Resolved not to let my God alone Until he bless me Prayer is the thing That to me doth my sweetest comforts bring Unto the Church I go the Word I hear As 't is Gods Word with reverence and fear I daily stand upon my guard and do Watch against sin as my most mortal foe I put on all my armour and maintain A constant war with all thereby to gain The victory at length over each one And sit triumphant on my Saviour's throne I labour with my might if so I may Commended be by God another day I make what haste I can that so I might Reach safely to my Father's house by night By this means I have got near Heaven and From Pisgah can look to the holy land But what of this many an one hath lost All his profession his pains and cost Not only buds are nipt which tender are But lovely blossoms which did promise fair Are blasted with the cold and winds Nay more Oft have I seen the earth thick sown with store Of fruit near ripe which in a Summers morn A furious tempest hath blown down with scorn Many a stately Ship the owners pride Backt at its setting forth with wind and tide Hath swiftly plow'd the Main and safely past Trading from Port to Port until at last It doth return rich fraught and every one Sweetly discourseth of his long'd for home And Wife and Children with his Friends that do Long every whit as much to see him too The Mariners conclude their danger o're The Merchants smile dread their loss no more Yet near the Haven it is cast away And by the mighty waters made a prey When all thought with success their labour own'd The Ship is sunk goods lost and Seamen drown'd With many in Religion thus it is Who aim at Heaven but of Heaven miss Their lives are blameless their hopes are high Yet when their days are done their hopes do die To day they think all well but on the morrow Death summons them down they lie in sorrow Thus did the foolish Virgins at last get Unto the Bridegrooms chamber-door and yet No entrance could obtain This was their doom I know you not depart here is no room For such as you Pack pack out of my sight Your vessels want their oil your lamps their light The young man went a great way and got near To Heaven but fell short and ne're came there Admir'd the progress terrible the falls Have been of some professed Saints which calls Loudly on all to fear lest in the close Of all their labours they their labour lose Of such why may not I poor I be one Who after all their doings are undone Such are the workings of mine heart I do Watch daily ply mine oar and tremble too I have made fair beginnings but do fear Unto the end I shall not persevere Some weight may press me down some sin beset And with ease master my affections get A conquest over me clap on its chain From which I never may get loose again As yet I do proceed as I began But may be driven back by fear of man My zeal now seemeth hot but cool it may Upon the sight of Lions in the way And how shall I appear or with what face Can I look upon God if in this race I tire or turn my back since it is sure Apostate Christians he cannot endure Better it had been never to have known Pure ways of righteousness than to disown And leave them afterward none sink in Hell Deeper than those fall from a Pinacle Many from thence have tumbled why not I Whose head is weak whose standing slipperie Who every foot am ready to turn o're Religion to throw up and do no more The footmen weary me what shall I do When I am call'd to run with horsemen too If in a land of peace I fainted have How shall I live on Jordans swelling wave FAITH Apostacy indeed 's a dreadful evil Transforming man into an ugly Devil Blind Turks and Heathens jewels are if we Compare them with those that Apostates be Hells first-born these are Satans eldest sons And shall receive their double portions Of plagues and miseries God will repay In punishment their falshood at that day Which he appointed hath when for what 's done By men he men will judg by Christ his Son Oft these are found within the Churches line Oft seeming sheep have proved sordid swine Some that were thought furnisht with oil enough To feed their lamps have ended in a snuff Some that seem'd orient stars of light do fail And down are drag'd by th' fiery Dragons tail Demas forsook that Paul he followed Shewing thereby he only borrowed The Christian name himself a while to grace Which done he did the flattering world embrace But know the fruit which falls though 't was before Lovely in skin was rotten at the core Members that seem'd alive and now are dead Never united were to Christ the head Hangby's they were and base pretenders who Mystical union unto Christ ne'r knew False grace is always failing grace the sound Instead of sailing shall still more