A painted tomb with putrefaction in it A map of death a burthen of a Song A winters dust a worm of five foot long Begot in sin in darkness nourisht born In sorrow naked shiftless and forlorn His first voice heard is crying for relief Alas he comes into a world of grief His first age is sinful his youth is vain His life 's a punishment his death 's a pain His life 's an hour of joy a world of sorrow His death 's a winters night that finds no morrow Mans life 's an hour-glass which being run Concludes that hour of joy and so is done 2. How poor a thing is man how vains his mind How strange how base and wavering like the wind How uncouth are his ways how full of danger How to himself is he himself a stranger His hearts corrupt and all his thoughts are vain His actions sinful his words prophane His wills deprav'd his senses are beguiled His reasons dark his members are defiled His hasty feet are swift and prone to ill His guilty hands are ever bent to kill His tongues a spunge of venom or of worse His practice is to swear his skill to curse His eyes are fire-balls of lustful fire And outward helps to inward foul desire His body is a well-erected station But full of folly corrupted passion 3. How slight a thing is man how frail briâ—le How seeming great is he how truly little Within the bosom of his holiest works Some hidden embers of old Adam lurks Which oftentimes in men of purest ways Burst out in flame and for a season blaze Lord teach our hearts and give our souls directions Subdue our passions curb our stout affections And in thy mercy grant this boon to me That I may die to sin and live to thee 4. Our life on earth is a like a thred of flax That all may touch and being toucht it cracks Death is a Kalender compos'd by fate Concerning all men never out of date His days Dominical are writ in blood She shews more bad days then she sheweth good She tells when days and months and terms expire Mesuring the lives of mortals by her squire Death is a Pursuvant with Eagles wings That knocks at poor mens doors and gates of Kings Worldling beware betimes death sculks behind thee And as she leaves thee so will Judgment find thee A Farewel to the World by the Honourable Sir H. W. FArewel ye gilded follies pleasing troubles Farewel ye honoured rags ye glorious bubbles Fames but a hollow Eccho gold pure clay Honour the darling but of one short day Beauty the eyes idol but a damask'd skin State but a golden prison to live in And torture free-born minds imbroydered trains Meerly but pagents for proud swelingveins And blood ally'd to greatness is alone Inherited not purchas'd not our own Fame honour beauty state train blood and birth Are but the fading blossoms of the earth 2. I would be great but that the Sun doth stil Level his rays against the rising hill I would be high but see the proudest oak Most subject to the rending thunderstroke I would be rich but see men too unkind Dig in the bowels of the richest mine I would be wise but that I often see The fox suspected whilst the ass goes free I would be fair but see the fair proud Like the bright Sun oft setting in a cloud I would be poor but see the humble grass Still trampled on by each unworthy Ass Rich hated wise suspected scorn'd if poor Great fear'd fair tempted high still envyed more I have wisht all but now I wish for neither Great high rich wise nor fair poor I le be rather 3. Would the world now adopt me for her heir Would beauties Queen entitle me the fair Fame speak me fortunes minion could Ivy Angels with India with a speaking eye Command bare heads bow'd knees strike Justice dumb As well as blind lame or give a tongue To stones by epitaphs be call'd great master In the loose rimes of every Poetaster Could I be more than any man that lives Great fair rich wise in all superlatives Yet I more freely would these gifts resign Than ever fortune would have made them mine And hold one minute of this holy leasure Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure 4. Welcome pure thoughts welcome ye silent groves These guests these courts my Soul most dearly loves Now the wing'd people of the sky shall sing My cheerful anthems to the glad somspring A pray'r book now shall be my looking-glass In which I will adore sweet vertues face Here dwell no hateful looks no palace cares No broken vows dwell here nor pale-fac'd fears Then here I le sit sigh my hot-loves folly And learn to affect an holy melancholly And if contentment be a stranger then I le nere look for it but in Heaven agen Conclusion BIrth is a brag Glory a blaze Honours earth 's pomp riches a gaze Fame is but a wind Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the World a bower In Heaven with thee Lord let me be On earth my Heaven 's alone in thee Quatuor Novissima OR Meditations on the four Last Things Death Judgment Heaven and Hell Death CAn he be fair that withers at a blast Or he be strong that airy breath can cast Can he be wise that knows not how to live Or he be rich that nothing hath to give Can he be young that 's feeble weak wan So fair strong wise so rich so young is man So fair is man that death a parting blast Blast his fair flower makes him earth at last So strong is man that with a gaspingbreath He totters and bequeaths his strength to death So wise is man that if with death he strive His wisdom cannot teach him how to live So rich is man that all his debts being payd His wealths the winding sheet wherein he layd So young is man that broke with care and sorrow He 's old enough to day to die to morrow Why brag'st thou then thou worm of five foot long Tho' art neither fair nor strong Nor wise nor rich nor young Judgment The trumpet shall blow the dead awak'd shall rise And to the clouds shall turn their wondring eyes The Heavens shall ope the Bridegroom forth shall come To Judge the World and give the World her doom Joy to the Just to others endless smart To those the voice bids come to these depart Death Iudgment Heaven Hell Depart from life yet dying live for ever For ever dying be and yet dye never Depart like dogs with Devils take your lot Depart like Devils for I know you not Like doggs like Devils go go howl and bark Depart in darkness for your deeds were dark Let roaring be your musick and your food Be flesh of vipers your drink their blood Let fiends afflict you with reproach shame Depart depart into eternal flame If Hell the portion then of sinners be Lord give me
hast said As surely as I live I desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he should Convert and Amend and Live Who hast also said Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee have mercy upon me for Jesus Christ his sake whom thou wouldest should be a peace-maker to the end that thou mightest shew thine exceeding great Wrath against sin and thine inestimable mercy towards Mankind sanctifie and illuminate my heart with thy holy Spirit O God the guide of my life forsake me not turn from me the filthiness of desire Turne mine Eyes away from beholding vanity strengthen me in thy wayes and grant that mine offences in this world overcome me not and I beseech thee O Lord with a most ardent affection that this day and ever thou wilt keep me and all mine and that thou wilt be unto me a Mighty Protector a firmament of strength a covering against heat a shadow at noon-tide a defence from falling an assister from offending a comforter of my soul an enlightner of my mind a giver of health and happiness in Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour To whom be all glory honour and power for ever Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Tuesday-Evening MOst mighty and most merciful Lord God by whose goodness I was created by whose Justice I am punished and by whose mercy I am saved I cast my self down before thee and lift up my hands unto thee at this present as my Evening-sacrifice but alas my conscience accuseth me the secret cogitations of my heart reprove me my fear checketh me the infinite number of my sins oppress me yea my miscarriages this day witness against me and exceedingly condemn me O Lord what am I that thou shouldest yet favour me and shew thy self so loving and bountiful a Father unto me why should'st thou so nourish me who am so unworthy a wretch with thy mercy and loving-kindness I know that it is for His sake in whom there is no guile and in whom there was found no evil that thou regardest me and imbracest me Pardon I beseech thee through Jesus Christ all my sins faults vices and offences and indue me with all holy vertues make me to live a godly life and to continue to the end in good works Take away all darkness from my mind that I may see thee by understanding thee and love thee by knowing thee And grant O Lord that I may so keep and govern and end my life that I may sleep in peace and rest in thee and so into thy hands I commend my self both soul and body this night and for ever Hide me I beseech thee under the shaddow of thy Wings that I may rest quietly void of all fear spiritual darkness danger and despair comfort me in all those things wherein I have been any way discouraged this day Preserve me to the end that sleep with rest and rest with quietness and quietness with everlastingness may receive me that having run the race of this life I may be made partaker of a better that so I may live and reign with thee for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday-Morning HOly Lord God the glorious face of the Sun which sheweth it self and casteth its beams over the whole World I take it for an argument and earnest of thy good will toward thy Children in the number of whom I account my self though the chief of Sinners and not worthy to loose the latchet of thy shooe for if we enjoy such benefits in this strange country together with thine Enemies then what joy and glory what excellent goodness shall we be made partakers of when we come to our heavenly country the blessed land of Canaan where we shall not see this earthly Sun but thou O Lord who art the Son of Righteousness will be continually before us And now O Lord I Praise thy blessed name for preserving me from the many dangers of the Night past and for bringing me safe to the beginning of this day As thou hast now wakened my Body from sleep so I beseech thee awaken my Soul from sin and carnal Security and as thou hast caused the Light of the day to shine in my bodily Eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy word and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and give me grace as a Child of Light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and grant me to endeavour to keep a good Conscience towards thee toward all men in all my thoughts words and dealings and to this end I commend my self and all my ways and actions together with all that do belong to me unto thy gracious direction and protection beseeching thee to keep both them and me from all evil and to give a blessing to my honest Labours and endeavours this day following and for evermore Amen Our Father c. A Prayer for Wednesday Evening O Most Mighty Lord God and most mercifull and loving Father in thy Son Jesus Christ I sinful Creature am bold to return unto thee all possible Praise and thanks for all thy great and manifold favours which thou in thy mercy hast from time to time vouchsafed unto me a sinful wretch who am full of sin and iniquity I beseech thee favourably to hear my imperfect prayers and to grant my requests and needful suits which I make unto thee at this time Forgive me I intreat thee good Father all the sins that I have committed from day to day against thy divine Majesty and suffer me not O Lord to offend thee any more hereafter that neither sin nor Satan nor any unruly passions may have dominion nor reign any longer in my mortal body for I confess I have herein done wickedly and have broken all thy commandments for which thou mightest in thy severe Justice punish me both in Soul and Body to eternal Death besides those sins which I have this day committed Forgive me O Lord all my sins past and blessed be thy name that thou hast kept me this day in my going out and in my returning home O Lord watch over me this night and be thou my defence and protection from all dangers casualties and troubles grant that I be not overcome with any fantasies and dreams or other Temptations but that I may fully set my mind upon thee love thee fear thee and rest in thee and thou O Lord waken me again in due time that I may behold the light of the next day to my comfort still preparing my heart and mind to thy service every day and my whole life time in truth and sincerity that when I have run the short race of this mortal life thou mayest be pleased to call me to be partaker of a better and so I may live and die and ever remain with thee in thy Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour in whose name I beg all these
afflicted and needy Supply all my wants and confer upon me all necessary blessings O be reconciled unto me in the blood of thy Son that I may â—ere depend upon thy fatherly protection and may hereafter be received into thy heavenly Kingdom there to reign with thee world without end through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour in whose blessed name and words I conclude my imperfect Prayers saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father c. The Prayer of a Marriner MOst glorious and eternal God whose power and wisdome is infinite and whose dominion is without end thou canst order and dispose of thy poor creatures to thy own praise and to their souls comfort Be pleased to look down from heaven the habitation of thy dwelling place and take notice of the broken requests of a poor worm in thy presence that is not worthy to take thy name into his lips Lord I may well say What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou shouldst visit him that thou shouldst compass him about with loving kindness as with a garment The divine Architecture of this goodly fabrick of heaven and earth raysed out of nothing to this admirable perfection is beyond the apprehension of poor sinful dust and ashes but to behold thy glorious works upon the deep waters is much more admirable these declare thy glorious power O blessed Lord vouchsafe thy presence with a poor sinful creature in this undertaking that I may praise thee in the vast Ocean be a preserve from the danger of the Sea and prosper what is lawfully undertaken but especially preserve me from the danger of sin Oh let the gales of thy gracious spirit blow my soul at last to its desired harbour Oh thou that carriest the winds in thy fist so take care of me that the waves of the sea or of worldly desires may not swallow me up and return me home in safety that I may bless the land of the living and in the congregation of thy people and all this and whatsoever else is needful I aske for the sake of Jesus Christ my Lord to whom with the holy Spirit of grace be glory and honour now and ever Ameâ— The Thanksgiving of a Mariner after a prosperous voyage EVerlasting God the powerful preserver of men there are no bounds to be set to thy bounty for besides the great work of thy Creation thy continued Preservations and wonderful works of Providence declare thee to be a God of mighty power so also of wisdom goodness justice and truth oh never to be enough magnified is thy mercy for the continuance of thy favours thou never leavest nor forsakest those that put their trust in thee Oh holy Lord what shall I render unto thee that so aboundest in love and mercy in the deep the Lord hath been seen and every morning thou preventest me with thy loving kindness and though sin hath abounded yet thy grace hath superabounded Thou dost fulfil the desires of them that fear thee oh now as thou hast given me a new life and delivered me from the dangers and terrors of the deep waters so be graciously pleased to give me a thankful heart let there be found in me hungring and thirsting after righteousness that I may be brought home at last to that land of promised blessedness Good Lord do this and what else thou seest needful for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake our Lord in whose most holy name and words I further pray Our Father c. A Prayer to be used by all Christians O Almighty everlasting God and most gracious and dear loving Father I beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake thy most dear and only Son to have mercy pitty and compassion upon a most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offâ—nces both old and new are grievous and great by which I have justly deserved thy grievous wrath and everlasting damnation But now good Lord I do only appeal to thy great mercy which far surmounteth all thy works and thou hast promised in thy holy Word yea and sworn as truly as thou livest that thou desirest not the death of a sinner but ratheâ— that he should repent and live O gracious Lord I do confess that I am a great and grievous Sinner yet O Lord let me not perish nor suffer that everlasting death of my Soul which I have so deeply deserved but make me a vessel of thy great mercy that I may live and praise thy name amongst thy chosen Children for ever O let not my great sins separate me from the sight of thy holy Majesty but let thy great power and mercy be magnified in me as it was in David and Peter and Mary Magdalen and the Thief upon the cross O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence in thee who hast taken away the sins of the World who camest not to condemn the World but to save it that none which truly believe in thee should perish but should have everlasting life who camest noâ— to call the righteous but sinners to repentance O gracious God give me true hearty earnest and unseigned repentance that I may from the very bottom of my heart continually lament my manifold sins and wickednesses and so assist me with thy grace that I may never trespass against thy divine Majesty any more but that I may gladly serve thee in true holiness and righteousness all the days of my life Guide me O Lord by thy holy Spirit in all my ways works words and thoughts that I may gloriâ—y thy holy name which livest and reignest for ever through Jesus Christ my blessed Lord and Saviour in whose name and words I further pray Our Father c. A Prayer of a sick person FAithful Creator and preserver of all men look down I beseech thee upon thy poor servant who is punisht and afflicted in body with the smart of my pain and sickness and who is also troubled with the fear of thy heavy displeasuâ—e for my many sins and iniquities wherewith I have provoked thy holy Majesty in the time of my health I confess that of very faithfulness and goodness to me thou hast laid this scourge upon me to the end that by the stripes of my fleâ—h my spirit might be healed and saved in the day of the Lord Jesus I valued not the benefit of health as I should have done and therefore thou hast made me sensible of it by the want of it in my prosperity I remembred not the afflictions of my brethren and therefore thou hast afflicted me like unto them I was in a kind of spiritual lethargy till thou didst awake me with the strâ—â—ke of thy hand and because I know that it is good for me to be thus disciplined by thee I humble my self under thy mighty hand kiss this thy rod which I trust through thy grace shall make my Soul appear fair beautiful in thine eyes Comfort O Lord my fainting spirit and strengthen my
2. Oh happy harbour of the Saints Oh sweet and pleasant Soil In thee no sorrows may be seen No Cross no Grief no Toil. 3. In thee no sickness ever is No Hurt no Ach no Sore There is no Death nor ugly Devil but life for evermore 4. No damp no mist is found in thee No Cloud nor darksome Night There every Star shines like the Sun There God himself gives Light 5. Thy Houses are of Ivory Thy windows Christal clear Thy Tiles are maide of beaten Gold Oh would that I were there 6. Thy Turrets and thy Pinacles With Carbuncles do shine Thy very streets are pav'd with Gold Exceeding pure and Fine 7. Within thy Gates can nothing Come Which is not passing Clean No Spiders Web no Dust no Dirt No Filth may there be Seen 8. Thy Saints are Crown 's with Glory great They see God face to face They still Triumph they still Rejoyce Most happy is their case 9. We that live here in Banishment continually do Moan We sigh we Sob we Weep we Wail continually we Groan 10. But there they in such pleasure Live and such delight alway That unto them a thousand Years doth seem but Yesterday 11. Thy Vineyards and thy Orchards are Most beautiful and Fair Full furnished with Trees about Exceeding Rich and Rare 12. Thy Gardens and thy gallant Walks Continually are Green There grows such sweet and pleasant Fruit As no where else is Seen 13. There 's Nectar and Ambrosia There 's Musk and Civet Sweet There 's many fine and dainty Drugs lie trodden under Feet 14. There 's Cinamon and Sugar too There Myrrh and Balm abound What tongue can tell or heart conceive The joys that there are found 15. Quite through the streets with silver streams The flood of Life doth flow Upon whose Banks on every side The Trees of Life do grow 16. The trees do evermore bear Fruit And evermore do spring There evermore do Angels sit And evermore do sing 17. There David stands with Harp in hand As Master or'e a Quire Ten thousand times that man is Blest that doth this Musick hear 18. Gods praises there are always sung with Harmony most sweet Old Zachary and Simeon Have not their songs to seek 19. Their Magdalen hath left her moan and cheerfully doth sing With blessed Saints whose Harmony In every street doth Ring 20. O Heavenly frame Jerusalem At length I hope to see Thy glorious Throne and in the same For evermore to be 21. O Heavnely City fair and bright when shall I come to thee When shall my sorrows have an end Thy Joys that I may see Upon the Passion 1. THus died the Prince of Life He That could not die even dyed for me My thoughtful heart Lord shall arise And ponder these deep Mysteries 2. What means his Death that knew no sin Or what my life who live therein Mine was the debt and Death my due Though thou wast pleas'd thy Son to sue 3. Thou Lord wast pleased on him to lay The debt and He the price to pay Thy Gospel-feasts though sweet to me Are the Emblems of His Agony 4. And Oh! how great his Sufferings were Who the Wrath of God man did bear The Father then forsakes the Son And creatures against their maker run 5. Judas betrays Disciples flee Whilst Jews and Romans Crucifie Hereat the Sun furls up his light And clothes the Earth in sable Night 6. The joyless Stars even seemed to say Israel had quenched the Lamp of day The stubborn Mountains they lament The Rocks they are asunder Rent 7. The Graves their sealed doors unclose The dead awakened also Rose The amazed Centurion mourning crys Oh! 't is the Son of God that Dyes 8. Thus these all labour to confess Thy Deity thy Righteousness Enough Dear Lord these offer me Supports for the utmost faith in thee The Souls Farwell 1. FArwel poor world I must be gone Thou art no home no rest for me I 'le take my staff and travel on Till I a better world may see 2. Why art thou loath my heart O why Do'st thou recoil within my Breast Greive not but say Farwel and fly Unto the Ark my Dove there 's Rest. 3. I come my Lord a Pilgrims pace Weary and weak I slowly move Longing but can't yet teach the place The gladsome place of rest above 4. I come my Lord the floods here rise These troubled Seas foam nought but mire My Dove back to my bosom flys Farwel poor world Heaven 's my desire 5. Stay stay said Earth whether fond one Here 's a fair World what wouldst thou have Fair World Oh no! thy beauties gone An heavenly Canaan Lord I crave 6. Thus th' ancient Travellers thus they Weary of earth sigh'd after thee They are gon before I may not stay Till I both thee and them may see 7. Put on my Soul put on with speed Though th' way be long the end is sweet Once more poor world Farwel indeed In leaving thee my Lord I meet Of Mans Life by the Right Honourable the Lord B. 1. THe World 's a Bubble and the life of Man Less then a Span In his Conception wretched from the Womb So to the Tomb. Curst in the Cradle and brought up to Years With cares and fears Who then to frail Mortality shall trust But Limns the Water or but Writes in dust 2. Yet since with sorrow here we live opprest What life is best Courts are but only Superficial Schools To dandle â—ools The Rural parts are turn'd into a den of savage men And where 's a City from all vice so free But may be termed the worst of all the three 3. Domestick cares afflict the husbands bed Or pains his head Those that live single take it for a Curse Or do things worse Some would have children those that have them moan Or wish them gon What is it then to have or Have no Wife But a single thraldome or a double strife Our affections still at home to please Is a disease To cross the Sea to any forreign soil Perils and Toyl Warrs with their noyse affright us when they cease W' are worse in peace What then remains but that we still should cry Not to be born or being born to die All Vanity but Virtue SWeet day so cool so calm so bright The Bridle of the Earth and Sky Sweet dews shall weep thy fall to Night For thou must Die Sweet Rose whose hew angry and Brave Bids the rash Gazer wipe his Eye Thy root is ever in its Grave And thou must Die Sweet Spring full of sweet Days and Roses A Box where sweets compacted lye My Musick shews you have your Closes And all must Die Only a sweet and virtuous Soul Like seasoned Timber never gives And when the whole World turns to Coal Then chiefly Lives The Vanity of mans Life WHat are poor men but quickned lumps of earth A feast for worms a bubble full of breath A looking-glass for grief a flash a minute