not Faith is bruitify'd The Interest of Flesh perverts the will It conquers Reason and corrupts the Mind No other Enemy doth so much ill To self-destroying perishing Mankind ANd now oh Man is Flesh all that thou art Worthy of all thy stir and cost and care Live not as if thou hadst no better part Mens Souls like God and Kin to Angels are Even Bruits have Souls possest of Life and Sense Made to serve Man who 's made his God to praise Whither Distinct or One when taken hence Subject to us whom God will higher raise What 's Flesh but Water mixt with sensless Earth Viler than dirt when Souls a while are gone It 's unseen Spirit which causeth Life and Birth This moveth all that 's mov'd doth all that 's done Mans Soul is made the Image of his God Substantial Virtue of Life Light and Love And though in Flesh it now have its abode Its tendency is to the world above It came from God and unto God returns Though in this Flesh its Life of Tryal be It daily wasts the Oyl as Fire that burns Consumes its Fuel and then is set free As flames mount upward Souls tow'rd Heav'n ascend And are still restless till they be at home If Sin depress them not tow'rd God they tend Blessed and joyful when to him they come As things Inanimate are rul'd by force By Sense and Objects Bruits determined be Both these are carried on in Natures course Mans will more undetermin'd is and free Bruits are not Ruled by a Moral Law Nor moved by the hopes of Life to come Nor of Gods Threats and Justice stand in awe Nor after Death fear any other Doom Man 's made in his degree to know the Lord To know his Duty and to please Gods will To learn and love trust and obey his word In hope of Heav'n his course here to fulfil God is Mans supreme King his Guid his End His Soul and Life should have no other scope From Sin and Devils God will his defend In Life and Death God is our only hope You see not whither Souls departing go But Heav'n and Hell are visible to Faith God hath reveal'd enough to make us know That all shall be performed which he saith We no more need to fear his word should fail Or God forsake the Souls that do him please Or any final Hurt Christ's Flock assail Than Earth to bear or Sun to shine should cease Is not a Sober Righteous Holy Life In certain hope of everlasting Joys Better than Sin Despair Care Fear and Strife For short deceitful pleasant Dreams and Toys IF yet blind Man thou thinkst thou art a Beast And hast no higher Hopes Work to mind Become a Tame and gentle One at least Not of the wild fierce hurtful bloody Kind Serpents Toads Wolves are harmless things Yea Lions Tigers and such Beasts of Prey Compaird with many Conquerors and Kings Who do Ten Thousand fold more hurt than they If this short Fleshly pleasure be thy best What need of Wars Blood Rage debate Sweet Love and quiet Peace afford more rest Than Pow'r Wealth with hurtful Plots Hate What need of large Dominions to prepare For Dying Pangs a Coffin and a Grave Quiet Content and Kindness fitter are Thy Neighbours welfare thy own to save But of all Beasts the Man-Beast is the worst To others and himself the cruelst Foe And turning Serpent doth become Accurst A Scourge to others his own endless Woe As Holiness fits Souls for endless Bliss And here hath its beginning and foretast So Sin the Plague of Unman'd Nature is And turns Man-Beast to Devil at the last If all Men made themselves are their own And have no Ruler but Self-will and Sense If Man be nothing else but Flesh and Bone Can live here still and say I 'le not go hence If Man can Conquer God and him Dethrone Kill Christ again and shut up Paradise Then Saints are Fools and Worldly Men alone Choosing a Shadow and Despair are wise But sure if Man be only Mortal Flesh A Squib a Bubble a vile Earthy Clod He never will have Pow'r what e're he wish To save himself by overcoming God But Heav'n is quite above Malignant Powers Our Peace Safety 's far above their reach Christs Kingdom is not of this World nor ours It 's unseen Blessedness which he did Preach There Holy Spirits free from Sin and Fear From Cruel Tyrants Devils Death and Hell The sweet Celestial Melody still hear In perfect Light and Love together dwell There 's no dark Error no perplexing doubt No Selfish Envy Strife or Discontent All hurtful troubling things are there shut out No Wrathful Sting no Malice no Dissent Numberless Numbers there are all but One Of the same Body each a Member is Each hath his due degree and place but none A Selfish separated part of Bliss All have one God one Head one Vital Spirit All Love God with one Love and all Rejoice With one Joy All one Kingdom do Inherit All sweetly sing Gods Praise as with one Voice True Unity with Diff'rence well Accords And makes up Beauty Consort though there Self Numbers Many and such parting words Have not the same dividing sence as here Thus hath one Soul more than one Faculty One Sun each sort of Life Three formal Powers Some Image of the Divine Trinity But none on Earth so excellent as ours And as in Being so in more respects Unity doth with Number well agree Many Concauses have the same effects Yea all Gods Creatures One and Many be So divers Fruits are but parts of one Tree And every Tree is Rooted in one Ground All Grounds of this One Earth but parcels be This Earth a small part of the World is found Souls are unseen and so their Union is Many united Individuals Their distinct persons make some think amiss That they are incoherent Integrals God only hath a perfect Unity Of the same World some Blest some Cursed be Some Union stands with great Diversity Apples and Crabs may grow on the same Tree Blest Union is of Good-things near of Kin To things Discordant Union causeth pain An aking Tooth is better out than in To lose a Rotting Member is a Gain The nearest Fuel is Consum'd by Fire Gods Wrath is near the Wicked to destroy To Holy Souls who Gods Love most desire He is their full and everlasting Joy Ten Thousand Stars and Candles give one Light Concordant Sounds make one sweet Melody Two Ears One hearing Cause Two Eyes One Sight But Light Darkness have no Unity Here Wicked Men are every where in Wars Men against Men as Tigers fiercely Rave Our Minds Wills Passions have their Jars Our Souls and Bodies Mortal Discords have Though Life be short Death is at the Door Impatient Foes think posting Time too slow They grudg to let us live a few Days more Revenge and Malice long to give the Blow But Heav'n
ADDITIONS TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS OF Rich Baxter Written for himself and Communicated to such as are more for serious Verse than smooth LONDON Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. A Supplement TO THE POETICAL FRAGMENTS I. Grace GOds perfect Power did this great World Create Gods perfect Wisdome all in Order Plac't Gods perfect Goodness made all very Good But Sin Gods Image on Mans Soul defac't Power caus'd Necessity and Wisdome Order And both by Goodness caused Harmony All in one perfect Frame Gods Glory shew Praise him and please him with pure Melody Sin could not change Necessity nor that Disorder which God fixt above Mans reach But the Free Lord Free Agents also made And there by Sin Fâ—â—â—e-Will did make the breach This Breach to Man was Punishment it self For God before had order'd Nature so That Poyson would cause Pain Wounds cause smart And Sin to Sinners Misery and Woe Goodness is Love delighting to do good Wisdome resolves this fowl breach to repair And make advantage of Mans Sin and Woe Iustice and Mercy largely to declare Hurt is soon done the Wound was quickly made The Cure must be performed by degrees A Saviours Grace must exercised be Wisdome with Love to do the Work decrees Mans Soul Incorruptible Substance is Essential Life not made it self to die It s final State then like it self will be Durable Happyness or Misery But it is plac't in Corruptible Flesh And the Compounded Frame that 's called Man Must be dissolv'd for Sin hath caused death And Flesh must turn to Earth whence it began But He who Mans Salvation undertook Is perfect Primitive Life Light and Love And will give Compound Life again to Man In joyful Glory with Himself above But as in Nature God great difference made Stones are not Men all have their proper place Men are not Stars and Stars are not the Sun So he will make great difference in Grace Man is not helpless left to mear despair Life is again made possible to all The former terms of Innocence now cease Mercies all Sinners to Repentance call A Law of saving Grace is newly made All that accept it and consent shall live Trust but a Saviour for that blessed Life And he will freely Grace and Glory give But yet Mans Life on Earth a Warfar is Gods Grace and Satans Malice daily Fight And all that will be Sav'd must overcome Sin 's vanquished by Grace Darkness by Light Each part their Captain have they their bands Not made by Force but Doctrine and Consent Each Man as Rational and Free Commands One draws to Sin the other to Repent Sin hath its Punishment the worst within When for neglect of Grace God it suspends But the correction of the Flesh for Sin Furthers Repentance and the Soul amends Thus all on Earth have some degrees of Grace Which Reason tells us they should not abuse Which bringeth some so far to Adam's case They stand or fall as they these Mercies use But God will not his Grace at randome give And leave the event to uncertainty But hath his Chosen who shall surely live In whom his saving Grace shall never die The two first Brothers did this War begin he killed and conquer'd who was first by birth He that seemd Conquer'd Triumphed by death The Victor's a curst Vagabond on Earth This War continu'd is unto this day Between the Holy and the Serpents seed These Brothers the prognostick Instance were Of all that ever after should succeed But the worst War is inward Grace and Sin The controversie daily there debate That which the Final Victory doth win Determineth Mans everlasting state A Law of Grace thus made to all Mankind In Adam and Noe common roots of all Ill entertainment with fall'n Man did find Who mostly to Idolaty did fall The strength of Sin is Love to Flesh and World And averse strangness to a better life It stronger grew by custome and abhor'd All motions tending to the Souls relief But Gods Electing Grace shall not be void In Abel Henoch Noe he this declar'd But specially in Abraham whose great Faith He with a special Promise did reward Not calling back the common Law of Grace He chose his Seed as a peculiar Nation Gave them a proper Law and of them rais'd The Lord Incarnate Author of Salvation Yet was their Dignity most Typical As was their Law to shew what God would doe When he the Nations unto Christ would call And build his Church as Catholick anew Sin soon prevail'd their Land was dry and small Seldome from under Enemies and Wast But they Gods Oracles preserv'd for us And from their Vine we all Salvation tast But as in Nature God works by degrees From Seed to Infancy from thence to Youth From thence to Manhood and Maturity So did he in revealing Grace and Truth Faln Man his Infancy and Childhood had In the old Laws dark Types and Prophesies But in times fulness God Incarnate came The Sun of Righteousness to Man did rise Three Laws he did fulfil one as a Man Once made for all Another as a Jew The third as Saviour proper to himself Then for his Church he made another new He Preacht Gods Will Proclamed saving Grace Brought to light Life and Immortality Declar'd Gods Love shew'd Man Gods pleased Face A Sacrifice for sinful Man did die He came to conquer Satan destroy Sin And heal sick Souls of Worldly Fleshly Love To raise the Earthly Mind of Man to God And bring him to a better Life above Words were too weak for this his works must do it He was to teach Man how to bear the Cross To deny Life and live above this World For Heav'n to count all here as Dung and Loss Wonder of Wonders God appears in Flesh Preacheth to Sinners calls them home to God Dies for them as a Sinner on a Cross Till the Third day among the Dead Abode Himself the greatest Wonder many wrought Heal'd all diseases gave the blind their Sight Raised the Dead by present bare Command Long before many in the open Light The Third day rose from Death stay'd Forty days Describes his Laws Church-Covenant and Seals Commissions his Apostles promiseth His Spirit which all saving truth Reveals Ascendeth up to Heaven before their Eyes And before Multitudes at Pentecost Gives them the gift of Miracles and Tongues By giving them the promis'd Holy Ghost They Preach Christ to the World speak various Tongues Work Miracles Heal Sickness Raise the Dead Convey this Power and Spirit unto others Thus through the World the word of Life they Spread These many Wonders not in Corners wrought Converted Thousands Conquer'd unbelief But above all his great Convincing Works The Spirits Sanctifying Grace was Cheif The erring know the Truth Fools are made Wise The Proud made humble Wrathful ones made meek The worlds fondâ—lovers now do it despise Kill fleshly Lusts and Heavenly Glory seek Sin is a hated
thing God now is all Love makes all Common for it makes all One Zeal for good Works Patience in bearing wrong Were the true Marks by which Christs flock was known Had not Christ added this convincing Seal Tongues Miracles and Sanctifying Grace The Wonder of Redemption is so great That Faith to unbelief must needs give place Apostles Mortal were before they Die For future Ages they Christs sacred word His Deeds Laws Doctrine by the promis'd Spirit To guide the Church infallibly record As Moses gave the Iews the only Law Which following Priests and Prophets were to Teach So th' Holy Ghost by the Apostles wrote The word which after Ages were to Preach As Moses Law was Seal'd with Miracles When such the following Ages did not need So Christs Apostles did by Wonders Seal Those Records which the after Ages read The Spirit promis'd to the Apostles was To lead them to all needful saving Truth And bring Christs words to their rememberance What they by his Commission did Christ doth Their Writings are the Holy Ghosts own Book Though human Imperfection do appear In Modes and Phrases it 's no just offence But leaves the Truth and Use still sure and clear Words but the Vehicle of matter be Gods Spirit owns not the Translators words But if as signs they with his Words agree The Sense and Matter of them is the Lords This Spirit helps the Church but not to bring Another Gospel Law or Word from Heav'n Nor mend or change Gods Laws in word or sense But to preach and obey the word once given To bring new Laws or Messages from God A Prophets Office is and not a Priests To forge such or make Laws for all the Church The Authors prove false Prophets or false Christs Christian Religion is one stablisht thing Which all the Church from first to last may know It is not human changeable or new Nor doth by Mens decrees increase and grow If Canons no part of Religion be But Laws for Rites and things indifferent Why must all Christians needs in these agree Or not agreeing by Church-Wars be rent The Church hath all one Head one perfect Law All justified be by Christs Blood and Merit All that are true though weak Christ doth receive For all are Sanctified by one Spirit The Holy Ghost in all true Christians dwells He doth illuminate and make them New This is Christs Agent and his Body formes His Witness proving that his Word is true This Spirit did the Gospel first Indite And on it did Gods Image first Ingrave And then by it as his great Instrument That Image Prints on all that he will save Though it be long of their resisting Will That any of this Grace deprived be Yet Scripture and Experience clearly tell That diffrencing electing Grace is free In Children it appears when God doth choose He gives a reachable and willing Mind Good Dispositions and Capacity By Grace their Nature is to good inclin'd Grace chooseth Parents careful of their Souls Helps them to educate them in Gods fear To commend Virtue and disgrace all Vice Teach them Gods word causeth them to hear Gods Seed in such is often early Sowd And as they grow it springs up by degrees As Plants and Fruits by Sun Moisture grow'd Whose present growth and motion no Man sees The first beginnings of the Spirits work Is in a learning Mind and fear of Sin A love and liking of good things and Men 'Gainst Sins for Duty Conscience strives within Grace watcheth over them provides them helps Meet Teachers Books Examples Company Keeps off temptations causeth them to hate Lying bad Words and Deeds and Ribaldry Bad Childrens Hearts are quite averst to good They love not Virtue relish not Gods Law Tempting Discourse Examples Vanities Catch on their Hearts as Fire doth on Straw If early helps Parents and Teachers fail And Sin the childish Mind and Life pervert If Folly Flesh and tempting Baits prevail Yet God his chosen will in time convert Hee 'l either give them better Company Or better helps and Teachers whom hee 'l Bless Or bring some useful Book unto their Eye And make their Snares their Temptations less Or hee 'l some sharp Affliction on them lay Which may awake the hardened sleepy Heart Or Conscience shall some quickning motion feel Tell them their Sins their Danger and Desert O! How the Case with Sinners now is chang'd Things all appear now in another Shape Sin now is Madness Mad he calls himself For loving Death and thinks now how to Scape Now God is Holy Just his Word is True He is in earnest though Sinners be in jest The Face of all his Works and Ways seem New Those things seem worst which formerly seem'd best The common Texts and Truths he daily heard Do now begin to have some Life and Sence He wonders how he past them by before As if they had been of no Consequence That wounds shames and grieves and breaks his heart Which formerly was his Delight and Pleasure That 's Vanity and mortal Poyson now For which he hungred as his Food and Treasure Now the Mad Prodigal comes to himself Perhaps the World doth him its Husks deny Why saith he did I leave a Fathers House There none do want here I must starve and die O that I had not tasted Satans Bait Nor Pampred Flesh and pleas'd vain Appetite Neglected Grace and things of greatest Weight Nor medled with Sins poysonous Delight But the time lost can never be recal'd The works of Madness cannot be undone I have undone my self is there no help I know all else is Vain there is but one A Fathers Love affordeth me some hope The World gives none I must return or die I 'le go and humbly all my Sin confess And cast my self upon his Clemency But God is Just and Holy how can I Defil'd with Sin and Guilt stand in his sight Now the sick Soul a sure Physicion needs There is one Saviour who is Gods Delight He is the Way by whom Men come to God He is the Truth to save the World from Errour He is the Life to save from endless Death Self-Murdering Souls subject to Hellish Terrour And now the Gospel's better understood Redemption seemeth not a needless thing His Thoughts are precious of Christs precious Blood His Mediator Prophet Priest King The Gospel now is Tydings of great Joy Pardon of Sin Adoption Peace with God Freedom from Terrour Satan Sin and Hell Mans self-made and Gods just Revenging Rod. He sees why Love in Mans repair must be As much Admir'd as Power in our Creation Sinners cannot immediatly God see But by a Mediator have Salvation Now all things else seem loss and dung for Christ Wisdom is folly where Christ is left out To know him is the true Philosophy The rest doth teach Men but to prate and doubt Some glimps of God and Heav'n blurd Nature yields But it s but as a Candle to this Sun Others towards God
hath no such work there 's no such Men Nothing is there the Blessed to Annoy With Christ Angels Holy Soul shall then Praise God in perfect Life Light Love Joy Amen Decemb. 17. 1682. VI. The Exit MY Soul go boldly forth Forsake this Sinful Earth What hath it bin to thee But Pain and Sorrow And thinkst thou it will be Better to Morrow Love not this Darksome Womb Nor yet a Gilded Tomb Though on it Written be Mortal Mens Story Look up by Faith and see Sure Joyful Glory Why art thou for Delay Thou cam'st not here to stay What tak'st thou for thy part But Heav'nly pleasure Where then should be thy Heart But where 's thy Treasure Thy God thy Head 's above There is the World of Love Mansions there purchas'd are By Christs own Merit For these he doth prepare Thee by his Spirit Look up towards Heav'n and see How vast those Regions be Where Blessed Spirits dwell How Pure and Lightful But Earth is near to Hell How Dark and Frightful Here Life doth strive with Death To lengthen Mortals Breath Till one short Race be run Which would be ended When it is but begun If not defended Here Life is but a Spark Scarce shining in the Dark Life is the Element there Which Souls reside in Much like as Air is here Which we abide in Hither thou cam'st from thence The Divine Influence In Flesh my Soul did place Among the Living To be of Humane Race Was his free giving There I shall know God more There is the Blessed Chore No Wickedness comes there All there is Holy There is no Grief or Fear No Sin or Folly Ierusalem above Glorious in Light and Love Is Mother of us all Who shall enjoy them The Wicked Hell-ward fall Sin will destroy them O Blessed Company Where all in Harmony Iehovah's Praises Sing Still without ceasing And all Obey their King With perfect pleasing God there is the Saints Rest God is their constant Feast He doth them Feed and Bless With Love and Favour Of which they still possess The pleasant Savour God is Essential Love And all the Saints above Are like unto him made Each in his Measure Love is their Life and Trade Their constant Pleasure Love Flame 's in every Breast The Greatest and the Least Strangers to this sweet Life There are not any Love leaves no place for Strife Makes One of Many Each is to other dear No Malice enters there No Siding Difference No Hurt no Evil Because no Ignorance No Sin no Devil VVhat Joy must there needs be VVhere all Gods Glory see Feeling Gods Vital Love VVhich still is Burning And Flaming God-ward move Full Love returning SELF makes Contention here Love makes all Common there There 's no Propriety Mine is my Brothers Perfect Community Makes One's Anothers Go out then lingring Soul From this Vile Serpents Hole VVhere Bred as in a Sink They Hiss and Sting us VVill not Christ dost thou think To better bring us Think not that Heav'n wants store Think not that Hell hath more If all on Earth were lost Earth's scarce one Tittle To the vast Heavens at most Exceeding little All those Blest Myriads be Lovers of Christ and Thee Angels thy presence wish Christ will receive thee Then let not Bruitish Flesh Fright and Deceive thee Gladly my Soul go forth Is Heaven of no more worth Then this Curst Desert is This VVorld of Trouble Prefer Eternal Bliss Before this Bubble VVish not still for Delay VVhy wouldst thou longer stay From Christ from Home so far In Self-Denyal And live in longer VVar A Life of Tryal Souls Live when Flesh lies Dead Thy Sin is Pardoned VVhen Christ doth Death disarm VVhy art thou fearful And Souls that fear no harm Should pass forth Chearful Cherish not causeless Doubt That God will shut the out What if he thee assur'd From Heav'n by Letter His Son his Spirit and VVord Have done it better Hath Mercy made Life sweet And is it kind and meet Thus to draw back from God VVho doth Protect thee Look then for his sharp Rod Next to Correct thee VVhat if Foes should make hast Thou wilt the sooner tast VVhat all Blest Souls enjoy VVith Christ for ever VVhere those that thee Annoy Shall hurt thee never Fear not the VVorld of Light Though out of Mortal's sight As if it doubtful were For want of seeing Gross Bodies Vilest are And the least Being Vain sinful VVorld farewel I go where Angels dwell VVhere Life Light Love and Joy Are the Saints Glory Gods Praises there employ The Consistory Christ who knows all his Sheep VVill all in safety keep He will not lose his Blood Nor Intercession Nor we the Purchas'd Good Of his dear Passion I know my God is Just To him I wholy Trust All that I have and am All that I hope for All 's sure and seen to him VVhich I here grope for Lord Jesus take my Spirit I trust thy Love and Merit Take home this wand'ring Sheep For thou hast sought it This Soul in safety keep For thou hast bought it Amen Decemb. 19. 1682. The Valediction 1. VAin World what is in thee What do poor mortals see Which should esteemed be Worthy their Pleasure Is it the Mothers VVomb Or Sorrows which soon come Or a dark Grave and Tomb VVhich is their Treasure How dost thou Man deceive By thy vain Glory VVhy do they still Believe Thy false History 2. Is 't Childrens Book and Rod The Lab'rer's heavy Load Poverty under-trod The VVorld desireth Is it distracting Cares Or Heart-tormenting Fears Or pineing Grief and Tears VVhich Man requireth Or is it it Youthful Rage Or Childish Toying Or is Decrepite Age VVorth Mans Enjoying 3. Is it deceitful Wealth Got by Care Fraud or Stealth Or short uncertain Health VVhich thus befool Men Or do the Serpents Lies By the VVorlds Flatteries And tempting Vanities Still over-rule them Or do they in a Dream Sleep out their Season Or born down by Lusts Stream VVhich Conquers Reason 4. The silly Lambs to day Pleasantly Skip and Play Whom Butchers mean to Slay Perhaps to Morrow In a more Bruitish sort Doe careless Sinners Sport Or in dead Sleep still Snort As neer to Sorrow Till Life not well begun be sadly Ended And the Web they have Spun Can ne'r be Mended 5. What is the time that 's gone And what is that to come Is it not now as none The present stays not Time posteth Oh how fast Unwelcome Death makes hast None can call back what 's past Judgment delays not Though God bring in the Light Sinners awake not Because Hells out of Sight They Sin forsake not 6. Man walks in a vain shew They know yet will not know Sit still when they should go But run for shaddows While they might tast and know The living Streams that flow And crop the Flowers that grow In Christ's sweet Medows Life's better slept away Than as they use it In Sin and Drunken Play Vain Men abuse it 7. Malignant World adiew Where no foul Vice is new Only to Satan true God still offended Though taught and warn'd by God And his Chastising Rod Keeps still the way that 's broad Never amended Baptismal Vows some make But ne'r perform them If Angels from Heaven spake 'T would not reform them 8. They dig for Hell beneath They Labour hard for Death Run themselves out of Breath To overtake it Hell is not had for nought Damnation's dearly bought And with great Labour sought They 'l not forsake it Their Souls are Satans fee He 'l not abate it Grace is refus'd that 's free Mad Sinners hate it 9. Vile Man is so perverse It 's too rough work for Verse His badness to Rehearse And shew his Folly He 'l die at any rates He God and Conscience hates Yet Sin he Consecrates And calls it Holy The Grace he 'l not endure Which would renew him Constant to all and sure Which will undoe him 10. His Head comes first at Birth And takes Root in the Earth As Nature shooteth forth His Feet grow highest To kick at all above And spurn at saving Love His God is in his Grove Because its nighest He loves this World of strife Hates what would mend it Loves Death that 's called Life Fears what would end it 11. All that is Good hee 'd cursh Blindly on Sin doth rush A Pricking thorny Bush Such Christ was Crown'd with Their Worships like to this The Reed the Judas Kiss Such the Religion is That these abound with They mock Christ with the Knee When e're they bow it As if God did not see The Heart and know it 12. Of Good they choose the least Despise that which is best The joyful Heavenly feast Which Christ would give them Heav'n hath scarce one cold wish They live unto the Flesh Like Swine they feed on VVash Satan doth drive them Like weeds they grow in Mire VVhich Vices nourish VVhere warm'd by Satans Fire All Sins do Flourish 13. Is this the VVorld Men choose For which they Heav'n refuse And Christ and Grace abuse And not receive it Shall I not guilty be Of this in some Degree If hence God would me free And I 'd not leave it My Soul from Sodom flie Lest wrath there find thee Thy Refuge-rest is nigh Look not behind thee 14. There 's none of this adoe None of the Hellish Crew Gods promise is most true Boldly believe it My Friends are gone before And I am neer the Shoor My Soul stands at the Door O Lord receive it It trusts Christ and his Merits The Dead he raises Joyn it with Blessed Spirits Who sing thy Praises Ian. 14. 1682 3. FINIS The Titles I. Grace pag. 1 II. Wisdome 19 III. Madness 25 IV. Hypocrisie 34 V. Man 48 VI. The Exit 62 VII The Valediction 70 Books lately Printed for B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West-end of St. Pauls 1683. MR. Rich. Baxter's Dying Thoughts preparatory to his approaching Change Octavo Of the Immortality of Man's Soul and the Nature of it and other Spirits Two Discourses Octavo By Mr. Baxter Truth and Peace promoted Or a Guide for young Christians in the way of Salvation past the danger of Errors and Difficulties of Curiosity In a familiar Dialogue between a Minister of Christ and a Devout private Christian. Twelves By Adam Martindalt
great Turk Tartarian or Mogul No King so Mighty as the Devil is Nor hath Dominions so large as his Yet would no wise Man such a Devil be That he might be as powerful as he If any would be such his own desire Makes him a Devil fitted for Hell Fire Madness cal'd Wisdom is and Rules in chief With all that cannot see beyond this Life To them that see not beyond Flesh and Blood And tast no better than these Senses Food That know not the true everlasting good Nothing on Earth is rightly understood The Heavenly Light must open Sinners Eyes Before they ever will be truly Wise One real prospect of the Life to come A true belief whither Mens Souls are gone Would more felicitating Wisdom give Than foolish sensual Men will now believe Call not that Wisdom which will end in shame VVhich undoes him who by it wins the Game A Wit that can decieve himself and others VVit to destroy his own Soul and his Brothers VVit that can prove that Sins a harmless thing That Sin 's no Sin or no great hurt will bring That with the Serpent can give God the Lie And say believe not God you shall not die VVit that can prove that God speaks but in jest That present Fleshly Pleasue is Mans best VVit that can prove Gods Wisdom is deceiv'd And sacred Scriptures should not be receiv'd VVit to confute Gods Word reject his Grace Lose time Sin boldly post toward Hell apace Defend the Devils Cause his own Damnation Slight God neglect a Saviour and Salvation Call not that Wisdom which Men would disown And wish at last that they had never known To go with honour ease and sport to Hell And there with shame late repentance dwell Truth is for Goodness Wisdom's Use and End To which true Learning and just Studies tend Is that this may be throughly understood To be Good do Good and get endless Good False Wit emploi'd in hurting other Men VVrites its own Death in Blood with its own Pen It forceth many to their self-defence VVho fain would live in quiet Innocence Kites Foxes Wolves have wit to cath their prey Yet harmless Sheep live quietter than they Men keep their Flocks that they may multiply So that but few by Wolves and Lyons die But hurtful ravenous Beasts all men pursue While all destroy them there remains but few Some slight Gods Word because weak Men abuse it VVhat 's Law or Reason then when all misuse it Men will not despise God nor sin nor die But they will give a learned Reason why What is so false which Wit cannot defend And that by Volumes confidently pen'd Reason can justifie the greatest wrong The basest lie can hire a Learned Tongue What Cause so vile that cannot Wit Suborn Men will not without Reason be forsworn Reason can make Rogues of the best of Men And make a Church of Saints a Serpents Den Can make usurping Lucifer a Saint And Holy Martyrs like to Devils paint Even Reverend Wit can by transforming Skill Make Hereticks and Schismaticks at will It can prove white is black and black is white That night is day and grossest darkness Light Say what you will Reason can prove it true What is 't that drunken Reason cannot do How rare is that blest place that Age or Season Which may not own this Character of Reason And must we therefore brutishness prefer Because well used Reason is so rare But when the Drunken frenzie fit is gone And Devils their deceiving work have done VVhen Death the dreaming Sinner doth awake O what a dreadful change doth God then make Then wise Men only are the pure and just VVho Christ who God obey and in him trust III. Madness LOrd is not Man though lodg'd in Flesh and Blood A noble Vital intellectual Spirit Thou maid'st him in thine Image wise and good Earths Paradise Heav'ns Suburbs to inherit How comes a Reasonable human Soul Transform'd by such a Monstrous ugly change Into a Bruitish Raging Wicked Fool To God himself and wisdom blind and strange Thou gav'st him sight who hath put out his Eyes Thou gav'st him knowledg who hath made him mad Ev'n Satan promising to make him wise Thou mad'st him holy Sin hath made him bad Did not endeavours blessed by thy Grace Restore some Holy Wisdom in thine own The Souls which Sin and Satan did deface Would not from Bruits Devils well be known It s strange in Man how these two twisted be To be a Bruit and a Malignant Devil Folly and wickedness too well agree A fool to goodness is wise to do evil Children do quickly learn to serve the Flesh Their Pride their Appetite and their Self-will Eager for every thing that these can wish But little knowing what is good or ill Their Sense and Fancie do so strongly Rage That Teachers speak in vain Flesh will not hear Bruitishness gets advantage by their Age Till Grace comes in and opens heart and eare Depraved Nature made by custom worse Makes Reason now a fetter'd slave to Sense Increased Sin becomes a double Curse Fights against God and is its own Defence As Flesh grows up so Sense and Fancie grow Lust and vain Pleasure now do Tyranize What crosseth these they hate would not know And raging Flesh abhoreth to be wise Yet wise in wickedness they needs will seem They can confute their Teachers with a breath All that reproves them they as error deem And become Advocates for Sin and Death And now the same who Infant-Christians were And did renounce the Flesh the World Devil Flesh World and Devils serious Servants are And Christ blaspheme as Patron of their Evil. Now God and Conscience seem their greatest foes God as above them doth controle their lust He that pleads Conscience for an Enemy goes And all that 's done against him goes for just God's call'd to Sinners Bar and there condemn'd As heading Rebels that do him obey Before those fools his Laws are all contemn'd Christ must be taught to think and say as they And being once engag'd in Satans war His daring Souldiers they are quickly made But little wit and labour needful are To learn the Lying Hating Hurting Trade Now valiant Bedlam drunken devillish wit Conquers resistance Triumphs over all Fights against all that help not or submit To bring Church Kingdoms Souls to Satans thral O what a busie Trade mad worldlings drive They talk they ride they run contend fight With craft they plot with fraud and force they strive For fleshly Lust and poysonous Delight As the fleet Swallows glides to catch a Flie And toylsom Ants do gather Sticks and Straw At dearer rates Men purchase Vanity For Satan Lust and Madness make their Law May they but a sick Mortal Lust fulfil Get Money Houses Land and large Revenews Look big and make all stoop to their proud will Feast drink and play and keep a great Retinue This is the dreaming happiness of Fools Life spent for this and