I 'll more prepare And on Religion then attend with warmer Care On these my God was Born on these he Dy'd On these he Rose on these in Flame On us the Spirit gently came On these their Lord his valiant Martyrs try'd Up then my Soul awake arise Reach tow'rd the Goal grasp at thy kindred Skies I shall found so employed be blest And in a nobler Trust and fuller Glories rest XIX O that I had Wings like a Dove ENough enough in this vain World I find To disengage my wandring Mind To wean me from the Joys below And Anchoret or Hermit grow A thousand Follies here assault me round A thousand noisy Tales my Thoughts confound I want a little time for me Of Silence and of Privacy Where I my humble Heart might raise To sing my great Creator's lofty Praise And there with undiscover'd Tears begin To cleanse my self from hateful Sin Fain would I meditate on what 's to come A while before I 'm summon'd home Fain would I exercise my Mind A while on that long Life behind How should I act Blest Saints of old withdrew To Woods and Rocks and Caves from human View There they enjoy'd themselves and there With humble Prayers and Lives severe Had quiet Sleeps and peaceful Dreams And Vertues were their lively Fancies Themes There they converst with God and learnt to dwell With him who was Invisible But what are meaner Saints My Saviour too From noisy Crouds to Mountains flew And there in lonesome Silence pray'd And thence his Heavenly Sermons made Would I with him to just Perfection rise With Truth forgot the careless World surprize He who a while reserv'd has been May be with greater Safety seen He safely speaks who Silence chose He governs best who best Subjection knows Obedience is by him most kindly nurst Who was himself obedient first When thro a lonesome wild or silent Grove Secur'd by Innocence I rove There where no bloody Tyrants reign Nor cruel wrested Laws restrain Where I sole King my self at large command And only at my own Tribunal stand Yet my Creator's every where And he 's my holy Guardian there He 's still my Fear my Master still And I his Laws with utmost Care fulfil No holy Hermit in his Cell can lie More humble more devout than I. Yet tho I rest or wander where I please Temptations oft upon me seize Tho parted from the noisy Rout Hell's Gloomy Prince can find me out Nor could my Saviour from his Strokes be free When in his solitary Privacy Yet when alone I spend my Time In Extasies and Fights sublime And dream Celestial Visions roul In glorious Order thro my raptur'd Soul Temptations may redeem my languid Sense From Pride and sinful Confidence O could I quit the World and worldly Toys It s vain Solicitudes and Joys How would my harmless Conscience rest All quiet in my peaceful Breast But can I e're to such Attainments rise Till Grief for Sin break thro my mournful Eyes Till to my lustful Follies I At thousand bleeding Wounds can die And in my humble private Cell Long with my self in silent Sorrows dwell So I indeed above the World below May rise and better stronger grow When from my Lord the baffled Fiend retir'd And all his cruel Hopes expir'd Convinc'd his deadly Enemy True God not Man alone must be Straight at his Feet Angelick Armies kneel'd With Hymns of Praise for that triumphant Field So when in private Silence I My hellish Tempters Arts defy And Scripture-Light and constant Tears Wash out my Stains and guide my fading Years My God will my endear'd Companion be And Angels always wait on me What can I gain below but empty Toys A wretched World and sensual Joys Where all to ruine and betray Black Lusts their horrid Charms display Where shortliv'd Joys to tedious Woes succeed And Terrors on the wounded Conscience feed Were all things mine that All would be But visionary Vanity Look up my Soul then Pardon crave And let vain Men their vainer Longings have Be Christ but thine his Peace around thee dwell Thou l't love the darkest Cave and hug the loneliest Cell XX. A broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Wouldst thou improve my Soul With Fear Before thy God's all-piercing Eyes appear Retrench thy Mirth thy wandring Sense restrain Esteem a contrite Heart thy noblest Gain Contrition that vast Treasure shews Which vain Desires and careless Manners loose It 's strange that thoughtless Men can bear Such Shews of Mirth when wretched Exiles here And such dire Woes such mighty Dangers near Fools oft with an undecent Grin Throw Ashes o're those glowing Coals within And fain would with an ill-tim'd Laughter hide Those cruel Pangs their tortur'd Souls divide Give me when with true Mirth I 'm blest A peaceful Conscience in a peaceful Breast Happy 's the Man who mourning goes Who off the Weight of guilty Conscience throws And can his Soul to holy Grief compose Ne're for a Mass of Business strive Nor into great Mens dangerous Secrets dive Look first at home first give thy Counsels there And ne're cast down for worldly Frowns appear Grieve for thy Sins against thy God Or when awry thy wandring Steps have trod Crosses on Earth are better far Than all that Mirth our foolish Thoughts prepare When we build Castles in the fleeting Air. For Joys I 'll sow the fruitful Seed And with salt Tears the swelling Ocean feed Till rising Tides with briny Floods shall kill Those noisome Weeds which now my Fancy fill That happy Desolation past Fresh springing Joys shall crown my Soul at last Tears from the Sense of Sin will rise Contrition send the failing Springs supplies And draw sweet Dews of Comfort from the Skies Think how thy Life like Lightning flies How every Hour thy languid Nature dies Think on those dreadful Pains of Hell beneath Those lingring Tortures that immortal Death And wouldst thou hug the Viper still Whose deadly Sting will all thy Comforts kill Wipe off thy Sins at last for Shame In thy cold Breast blow up the sacred Flame And thy reforming Life by Deeds reform'd proclaim XXI Man is born to Trouble us the Sparks fly upward WEll then I 've search'd the wretched World around I 've search'd it thro and nothing else have found But constant Doubts and constant Woes I see how miserable others are I feel my self just lost in black Despair While endless Doubts my tedious Years compose I 've seen a mighty Prince enthron'd His Head with Gems embrac'd By suppliant crouding Vassals own'd And all th' Applauses of the Vulgar grac'd Yet Cares sate thicker on his clouded Brows Than Diamonds and rack'd his tortur'd Soul Dark Plots could all his midnight Slumbers rouse And Rebels all his glaring Bliss controul But he who to his Maker flies Above these earthly Fears above the World can rise Yet thoughtless Fools the pompous World adore And only covet its perplexing Store And raise alas
that the Judgment CAnst thou Ah wretched Sinner canst thou still Obey thy own distemper'd Will Canst thou who fear'st an angry Prince's Brow Thy self in Sins against thy Lord allow Hark the dreadful Trumpets sound How they rend the trembling Ground Hark how pale Ghosts Fiends with dismal Shrieks Cries From their Infernal Caverns rise And look with Horror on the flaming Sky And to the rolling Rocks tumbling Hills for Shelter fly See where obedient Angels raise the Bar Where God his great Assizes holds Who sees and scans thy private Sins as far As both the Poles in sunder are Where neither Bribes nor feign'd Excuse Can blind the Judg or Wisdom's Search abuse While his Impartial Doom thy monstrous Guilt unfolds What wouldst thou helpless Creature do What Methods would thy thoughtless Soul pursue Canst thou alone escape the dreadful Test Or in thy Sins without disturbance rest Or will some subtle Advocate appear And plead for and acquit thee there Poor silly Hopes and senseless Dreams On Earth thy humble Cries thy speaking Tears May reach thy mighty Maker's Ears Repentance here begun betimes May cleanse thy ingrain'd Sins thy foulest Crimes But Death for ever bars bright Mercy 's smiling Beams Think'st thou the gloomy Flames of darksome Hell Will only Purgatory prove And when thy Soul in endless Chains shall dwell Thy crying Guilt thy endless Chains remove It 's true indeed thy Sufferings there Shall dark and hideous as thy Sins appear Insatiate Fiends there with their pointed Prongs And fiery Goads and burning Tongues Shall rouze thy tortur'd Soul Thy Glutton Appetite the Pangs shall feel Of Thirst and Hunger Whips of flaming Steel Shall all thy barbarous Thoughts controul Black Streams of burning Pitch and purple Flame Shall there the Wanton Leacher tame The Envious Wretch with many a painful Scowl Thro the waste Shades of hellish Torments howl But still O still shall thy distracted Soul In never-wasting Flames and livid Sulphur roll But what are Flames and Sulphur to Those long unutterable Pains To damn'd Delinquents due Hot Streams may fail and bluest Flames expire But Hell's Immortal Rack disdains The Bounds of Time nor canst thou dream How inconceivably extream The Torments are from Intellectual Fire Think if thou canst O think what dreadful weight Almighty Fury on a Ghost may fling Think with what Woes a dark despairing State Must the distracted Conscience sting There Woes bring Woes and Tortures Tortures breed And Pains and Anguish Pains and Anguish feed Plagues follow Plagues Curses on Curies roar Rage blows up Fury tho enflam'd the more Horrors on Horrors tumble Hells on Hells And the sad Soul first-born of Light Once with internal Glories bright In heavy thickning endless Darkness dwells No short-liv'd Beam can ever find the way To tortur'd Souls from their Congenial Day No Glimpse of Joy in Hell can find a room Or rend th' impenetrable Gloom No Rest no Respit not one single Now Can Vengeance for their Ease allow The damn'd Associates can't one Thought engage In Prayers or Wishes for an end of Woes No Plant of Hope in that waste Region grows But Rage to Malice Malice turns to Rage Could Days could Months could rolling Years Could Time's last running Sands one Moment show From whence one Drop of Hope might flow The blackest Fiend might wipe his scalding Tears But when a thousand fatal Years are told Ten thousand more are still for Pains enroll'd Millions of Millions then enhance the Score And when they 'r past but clear the way for more For ever still that dismal Hell must be And vast as the wide Bounds of vast Eternity What tho Repentance now to thee A tedious Work appears In Hell one Minute shall more dreadful be Than all the Penance of a thousand Years Repent poor Sinner then no more delay No more put off the necessary Day So thou among the Blest at last shall stand And like a Judg the trembling World command Tho mean on Earth and despicably poor The Great the Proud shall there thy Doom endure Then those who scorn'd thy Vertues here Shall at the Bar confus'd appear Admire thy Wisdom and their own despise Which more a Bubble than a Crown could prize Thy Griefs shall then be acceptable found With Favours as with Patience crown'd A Conscience pure obedient innocent A Soul with humblest things content Devotion holy Works shall serve thee more Than worldly Wit or all the Miser's Store Thy Saviour gain'd shall more of Blessings bring Than all the Joys which here from mighty Conquests spring Shouldst thou poor Wretch in Ease and Wealth increase And all the Smiles of flattring Peace Should Sycophants beneath thy Footstool bow And all their Service to thy Greatness vow What Blessing 's this when thou shalt quit the Field And Life to Death's Approaches yield What 's Wealth within the silent Grave Or who 's the Dead-man's humble Slave Only thy Love to God the Test can bear All other Treasures fly like empty Air That Love pulls out Death's mortal Sting Death can't to thee the Fears of Vengeance bring Thou canst unmov'd the Bar and Pit behold In thy Redeemer's Merits bold Approach thy Judg and with a smiling Brow Before his awful Glories bow Till by thy Saviour's tenderest Loves embrac'd With Robes of flowing Joys and Crowns of Glory grac'd XXIV Cease to do Evil learn to do Well I To my Lord have now my self resign'd His Service has engag'd my thoughtful Mind I 've broke the Charms of this deceitful World No more in common Storms or Tempests hurl'd Rise then my Soul O rise to things above O serve thy Lord with watchful fervent Love Vain are thy Vows thy best Resolves are vain If thou thy old thy groveling Thoughts retain On Zeal's bright Wings O to his Bosom fly With Angel-Bands in cheerful Service vie Let no Resistance beat thy Courage down Take up the Cross and thou shalt gain the Crown Here thou may'st mourn there Joys eternal flow Work here there Peace and boundless Pleasures grow Be thou my Soul to sacred Practice true He 'll more than pay the promis'd Glories due Rouse rouse thy Hopes if thou the Wreath wouldst wear But thy Presumption still repress with humblest Fear Perhaps uncertain Doubts distract thee here To know if thou in Good shalt persevere That is thou 'ldst have some Oracle declare How weak thy Thoughts how vain thy Fancies are But were thy Question throughly satisfi'd How wouldst thou then thy flowing time divide Wouldst thou be careful should thy Industry More active then or more illustrious be Do now the same sweet Comforts then shall rise And Strength inform thee from the smiling Skies Leave future things to God's superiour Care And strive to know what his Prescriptions are Search through his Laws and all thy Life shall be Divine and thou from Fears and torturing Passions free What tho the Work be hard the Task severe And various Terrors round Heaven's Ways appear He 's only brave
their envious Eyes To dunghil Worms with mighty Treasures blest To worthless Sots with gaudy Glories drest Or who to Honours or to Scepters rise But he who 's envi'd ne're can find That strange Felicity But growing Cares distract his Mind And Beggars more enjoy themselves than he My very Life 's but one extended Woe My Meat my Drink my Sleep my waking Hours My Rest my Labours all uneasy grow And baffle all my Soul 's superiour Powers Could I Love 's holy Flames attain Life would be vile to me and Life's Corruptions vain Wo to the Wretch whose Dulness ne're could know The Miseries of fading Life below Wo to the Wretch whose sordid Soul For mean and transitory Joys can slight The blissful Regions of immortal Light And still on Earth in common Ordure roll Ah mad ah unbelieving Fools In carnal Wisdom great In better things mere senseless Tools Who drudg but ne're can find the monstrous But far more wise those holy Saints of old Look'd on their sinking Lives with nobler Scorn Their Expectations as their Faith grown bold To Heaven on Wings of bright Affection born Nor could the Toys which here they saw Their large aspiring Souls from unseen Glories draw Rise then my Soul no more thy Task delay Employ the present Light the certain Day Up rife put off the Day no more Now now 's the time to work the time to fight The Time to set thy Thoughts and Actions right Delays can but increase the dreadful Score What tho fierce Flames and angry Seas Oppose thy sacred Rest O let no darling Error seize Or tyrannize within thy captive Breast Shake off thy Sloth for shame attack this Foe Throw off thy Sins and Innocence pursue 'T was only Sin diseas'd our Lives below And robb'd us of our Crowns and Garlands due O on thy Maker's Mercy wait Till he thy Living Death to Deathless Life translate Thinke o're thy State on Earth How strangely frail How soon Hell's Follies o're thy Thoughts prevail To day perhaps thy Lips confess Thy mighty Sins with Floods of streaming Tears Tomorrow Hell his sanguine Trophies rears And Sins again thy weak Resolves oppress O then with humble Meekness all Thy yielding Weakness see How that in one short Hour may fall Which might the Work of toiling Ages be Ah wretched I if grown so quickly cold Ah wretched I to drowse in careless Rest As if secure I could the Garland hold Tho not with one poor Grain of Goodness blest Up try the mighty Work again If Hopes of bettering Life or stronger Grace remain XXII It is appointed for all Men once to die SEE where the naked Mormo stands See how his pointed Dart the World commands The meager Sceleton with dismal Glare Shoots thro the pestilential Air Lays Heaps on Heaps around and I Before to morrow's Sun may die Dull that I am hard-hearted Wretch to dream Of lasting Joys and Pleasures here Shine dearest God! and let one glorious Beam Of heavenly Light my gloomy Conscience clear I so prepar'd for Death may be And from my Sins and from thy Anger free To Day I 'm unprepar'd I know But shall I fit for Death to Morrow grow To Morrow's but a wild uncertain thing And may as little Wisdom bring Nor can the longest Life be sure It can repenting Thoughts procure I 've been a Christian long but still retain An unreform'd unchristian Mind Death may be dreadful and attending Pain But I more Woes in longer Life may find O may I now with daily Care And watchful Eyes for Death foreseen prepare To day my youthful Neighbour di'd And for Death's Summons I 'll to day provide I see to day but can't be sure my Sight Shall reach the next approaching Night I see the Night but never may Survive to meet the dawning Day O mayn't a sudden Death my Soul surprize When it goes off its needful Guard Death with an unimagin'd Swiftness flies No Art can its impetuous Wings retard Then I an inward Change may see And Sloth tho past my greatest Grief may be I 'm truly Wife and Blest if I Live but as well as I could wish to die If my great Soul could earthly Joys despise And to the Heights of Vertue rise If I to Discipline could bow And by my Works Repentance show Could I to God with swift Obedience fly And my dear wretched Self abjure Could I but for my blest Redeemer die And for his Love the Racks and Flames endure Much I while blest with Health may do But can't in Death those happy Works pursue Perhaps I think a Sickness might Reform my Manners and enlarge my Sight Make me review my self and straight repent And be at once an Innocent Yet I in Sickness oft have pray'd A thousand solemn Vows I 've made But still I live the same no more improv'd Than modish Travellers may come Who have long Years thro' many Countries rov'd And only brought their shameless Vices home Now now 's the time the welcome Day O don't for better Season vainly stay Rouze then my Soul thy Thoughts engage On what thy daily Weaknesses presage Fears for a time an Antidote may prove And thy eternal Fears remove Thy Fears of present Death prevent Thy everlasting Punishment Live now that when his Summons Death shall give We to unfading Joys may fly Die to the World that we to Christ may live And thou unclog'd ascend above the Sky Let 's now the rebel Flesh chastise That we may then with blest Assurance rise What canst thou dream of lengthning Days When nothing here below unalter'd stays How many have those foolish hopes deceiv'd Of Breath by sudden Strokes bereav'd This Man by some swift Bullet dies That drown'd beneath the Ocean lies This dash'd in pieces that just choakt expires Another's in his Sports destroy'd Sword Plagues attempted Thefts outragious Fires Make all their Dreams and vast Intendments void So Life an empty Shadow flies And when Death summons languid Nature dies Rouse then at last be active now Thy Neck to thy Celestial Labours bow When Death once parts us two our Hopes are vain New Overtures of Grace to gain And if our own Endeavours fail The Prayers of others can't prevail Now while Time lasts grasp at Eternal Wealth Now now encrease thy sacred Store Secure betimes thy own Immortal Health Thy God thy Saviour and his Aids implore And when thou shalt thy Fetters leave They 'l Thee to thy great Master's Joys receive Live then but as a Stranger here And unconcern'd with worldly things appear Be light be free from Cares above the Skies O raise thy long-expecting Eyes That when thy Days on Earth are past Thy Mansions there may ever last With Prayers with flowing Tears O seek the Place Where Glories all their Beams display With endless Groans O seek thy Saviour's Face And upward soar to reach that gladsome Day Where thou with Saints shalt rest above Wrapt in th' Embraces of Eternal Love XXIII And after
who conquers powerful Foes And to a Throne thro mighty Dangers goes To curb thy self the noblest Conquest yields He who himself subdues may win a thousand Fields What tho thy Sins are few thy Passions low O don't presumptions thence or lazy grow Another prest with head strong Passions may Fight bravely thro and gain a glorious Day While thy unhappy slothful Temper fails And Hell too soon on all thy Hopes prevails These things may to thy Reformation tend If thou thy vicious Nature strongly bend To better Ways or with a fervent Heat Contendst to be in rarest Vertues great But chiefly from those noted Vices fly Which in another seen offend thy tender Eye Look out my Soul for good look all around And imitate the great Example found From others Sins with utmost Caution fly To mend thy own thy utmost Cares apply Remember others Eyes are sharp as thine How sweet's the Life when heav'nly Discipline Christ's zealously devout Professors guides And o're their Works and o're their Hearts presides While Sorrows break the pious Heart to see The vile and treacherous Arts of curs'd Hypocrisy Call o're thy Name that Saviour's Acts revise Who for thy Sins could fall a Sacrifice Read his dear spotless Life and read with Shame How short thou fall'st of that Illustrious Name How long a Christian but how far from Christ How soon by Hell to Hellish Crimes entic'd Read but his Life and Death devoutly o're 'T will soon appear how good how vast thy Store The Holy Jesus all thy Works will bless Jesus thy Thoughts thy Words thy All possess O were that dear that dying Saviour mine How brightly would my Will my Sacred Learning shine The zealous Christian with Submission bears That Weight wherein his Matter 's Hand appears While deep Afflictions on Afflictions roll With mighty Woes around the lukewarm Soul No inward Comfort warms his gloomy Breast But with vast Loads of inward Guilt opprest He seeks for holy Luxury and Ease But can't his bleeding Wounds his inward Pangs appease How liv'd those holy Saints renown'd of old In Sacred Fame's Eternal Sheets enroll'd In private all with meanest Food content Their Days in Watchings and in Labours spent Rough Hair their tender Bodies mortifi'd Humble within and free without from Pride Early and late their Prayers attack'd the Skies Much was their Reading much their Exercise Whole Nights they 'd oft in Sacred Praises spend Whole Days with Holy Fasts their Lord attend And canst thou all their great Examples find And be to Madness still or lazy Sloth enclin'd O were we free from all Incumbrance here Our God would in our Hearts and Lives appear From Sleep from Thirst from griping Hunger free We'd consecrate our selves dear Lord to thee 'T were far more happy so to spend our Days Than Trophies to our mouldring Flesh to raise Too rarely now Divine Delights we taste The Holy Banquet then shall ever ever last When we can Creature-Comforts once despise God will be precious in our longing Eyes We soon shall smile at all Events below Our Pleasures and our Griefs with Temper flow God will be All in All supreamly blest Our constant Hope and our Eternal Rest With whom there 's nothing present past to come But one eternal Now compleats the boundless Sum. Think oft of Death that Time once past no more Returns no Cares can flying Age restore If thou growst cold my Soul the Plague's begun Thy Joys are ruin'd and thy Hopes undone But if thy Zeal grows hot thou 'lt purchase Peace Thy Loves shall flourish and thy Grace encrease Zeal makes thee fit for all things makes thee thrive And keeps thy Courage and thy Hopes alive More Honour he who rules his Passion gains Than he who Scepters or who Crowns obtains Small Sins indulg'd rise to a greater Height A Day well spent brings on a joyful Night Watch then my Soul O rouse thy Self from Sin In all Advices with thy Self begin Rule thou thy self let others stand or fall A Conquest o're thy self a real Conquest call The Christian Pattern PARAPHRAS'D The Second Book I. That the Life also of Jesus might be manifest in our Flesh THE Mighty God in pious Hearts commands In such his sacred Empire stands Turn then to God this wretched World detest Thy Soul shall then in Safety rest Scorn outward Toys but inward Vertues prize Then in thy Breast his Throne shall rise Sweet Peace and Holy Joys to Dogs deni'd Shall in thy happy Breast reside Thy Lord to thee if thou prepare the Room Shall with a thousand Comforts come His glorious Beauties and his Charms Divine More bright in Holy Bosoms shine Where with the Soul he oft and kindly talks And in amazing Friendship walks Rouse then believing Soul with humble Care Thy Lodgings for thy Spouse prepare His Word is pass'd If any Soul improve In Holy Truth and Heavenly Love I and my Father in his peaceful Breast Will settle our Eternal Rest He comes discard all other Inmates straight Set wide for him the Glorious Gate Christ will be Riches Life and All to thee Thy Husband and thy Guardian He. No more shalt thou Inferiour Aids implore In Man repose thy Trust no more Men soon are chang'd and perish only He Lives thro immense Eternity Men are uncertain as the veering Wind To all delusive Arts inclin'd To day they 'r loving and to day they 'r kind To morrow all to Spite resign'd Trust then in God to him for Shelter fly With Love and Fear before him lie Thou 'lt find no lasting City here below But wilt a wretched Stranger grow A wandring Pilgrim and bereav'd of Rest Till of thy Christ thy King possest Earth's not an easeful Place Above the Skies O lift thy watry longing Eyes There let thy sacred Conversation be Tho clog'd with vile Mortality Think on thy Mighty Lord On Christ recline Be all thy Thoughts and Words Divine But if his wondrous Throne appear too high O to his Cross for Harbour fly Think on his gaping Wounds how deep how wide How they 'll a trembling Sinner hide There thou a Flood of healing Balm shalt find More rich than Gilead's noblest Kind Thence may'st thou look abroad with cheerful Eyes And Human Scorns and Frowns despise Thy dearest Lord was helpless here and poor And could their bold Affronts endure A Man of Sorrows and inur'd to Pain And can'st thou wretched thing complain Hated beli'd was He and wouldst thou find The World about thee Just and Kind How would thy Patience if untry'd be crown'd Thy Love be to thy Master found With him the Cross on Earth for him sustain If thou 'ldst with him triumphant reign Hadst thou thy Saviour's bleeding Bosom view'd Had Love thy tender Soul imbu'd thou 'dst ne're thy own Concern nor Ease regard But be with Joy for Shame prepar'd Where Heavenly Love in sacred Flames can rise A Man will soon Himself despise Jesus and Truth in Souls from Passions free Implant a Godlike
Thy Grace within my Heart to live That it may all my Fears survive Lord guide my Wishes guide my Will O make them seek thy pleasure still And gladly thy Commands fulfil O let my Pleasure Lord be thine To follow Thee my Thoughts incline And to thy sacred Laws confine What e're I wish what e're refuse Let Me thy sacred Book peruse And all by thy Directions chuse Lord make Me die to things below And thro' Neglect and Scorns to go For what thy wondrous Loves bestow In Thee let all my Wishes rest Let happy peace possess my Breast With thy supporting Favours blest On Thee my Dovelike Soul relies But when it out at random flies It only Floods and Storms descries In Thee O only Good in Thee My easy fearless Thoughts shall be Blest with immense Security XVI He alone comforts Vs in all our Tribulations Believer LORD while Here my Expectations Ne're pretend to Consolations Endless Comforts endless Blisses Oft engage my purer Wishes But on Earth I ne're shall find them But on Earth I ne're design'd them All the Joys of Earth possessing I should quickly lose the Blessing Look my Soul then look above Thee Let no common Pleasures move Thee God alone has Consolation He 's the Poors and thy Salvation Wait my Soul a while expect it He who promis'd won't neglect it But abundant Blessings send Thee And With flowing Sweets attend Thee If thy sickly craving Fancy Would to Earthly Joys advance Thee They 'l at last alas deceive Thee And Diviner Favours leave Thee Use the World but use 't in measure Grasping still at endless Treasure Slight the fawning Fairs Caresses Since ordain'd for greater Blisses All created Pleasures flowing And their softest Charms bestowing On Thee ne're could satisfy Thee But superiour Joys would fly Thee God alone who made can bless Thee And with true Delights possess Thee Not with those the World admires Nor what Folly mov'd desires But what faithful Souls delight in Pleasures pure and Sweets inviting Joys the cleanest Hearts attending While in Heavenly Flights ascending Short and vain are worldly Pleasures Fixt and sure Celestial Treasures Jesus too attends the Motions Of the pious Soul's Devotions And with Comforts round secures Him And of endless Life assures Him Jesus Dearest Lord defend Me And with guarding Flames attend Me And when Humane Comforts fail Me Let no dark Despair assail Me But thy boundless Goodness guide Me And reward Me when t' has try'd Me For thy Mercy fails us never And thy Anger burns not ever XVII Casting all your Care upon Him for he careth for You. Christ MY Son complain not murmur not if I With Thee the Methods of my Wisdom try I who alone thy utmost Wants descry Thou think'st as Men would think as sensless Fools Brought up in Reason's long Corrupted Schools Strangers to Faith and Hell 's uneasy Tools Believer Truth Lord thy Cares are more for Me Than Mine tho for my Self could be And He must stand but weakly sure Whose Faith can't rest in Thee secure Lord make my Will subscribe to Thee And act thy Pleasure then with Me For all thy Management will prove Th' Effect of Goodness and of Love If thou in Darkness chain me Lord Thy Goodness I 'll with Praise record If Thou with Light my Soul enflame I 'll sing to thy Illustrious Name If Thou my Heart with Comforts fill I 'll still adore and praise Thee still If laid in gloomy Dungeons low My Lips shall still with thy Immortal Praises flow Christ It 's all thy Duty Son The pious Mind Must always be to Providence resign'd And Sufferings welcome there as Joys must be And Wealth no more admir'd than slighted Poverty Believ For Thee Dear Lord I 'll gladly bear What e're thy Dispensations are Let Good or Bad let Sharp or Sweet Let Joys or Griefs around Me meet The Dole thy Gracious Hand shall leave For Me I 'll still with Thanks receive From Sins Dear Saviour keep Me clear And I nor Death nor Hell can fear O don't for ever Me disclaim Nor from thy Book deface my Name Then let a thousand Sorrows fall On Me with Patience I 'll support them all XVIII Thro' many Tribulations ye must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Christ MY Son to save Thee when I left the Skies I could a mighty Mass of Woes despise Freely I came from those blest Seats above Unforc'd by Power tho constrain'd by Love That Thou might'st with submissive Patience go Thro' all the Miseries of Life below From my first Birth till on the Cross I dy'd I still continued on the suffering side Great Wants and Curses loud and great I bore The Sinner's Follies and the Scorner's Store With base Ingratitude for Kindness I Was paid for Miracles with Blasphemy I preach'd the Truth but Ah too rarely mov'd The sinful Soul but was for sacred Truth reprov'd Believ Since Patience Lord thy Practice sway'd And all thy Father's Rules obey'd How humbly Lord should I fulfil A sinful Wretch thy gracious Will With what Submissions undergo The Pains of easeless Life below Tho Life's unwieldy Load oppress Thy Grace Lord makes the Burden less And He who can thy Footsteps trace May with thy Saints obtain the Race What strange Obscurities of Old Did thy peculiar Flock enfold When Jewish Bounds thy Church confin'd And few to Heavenly Joys enclin'd Yet then thy Blood their Bliss procur'd Thy saving Death their Lives ensur'd Else on the Gloom of Sufferings tost They 'd been in Woes Eternal Mazes lost To Thee what Praise then should We pay Who show'st the Good the Perfect Way Whence I and all thy faithful Seed May to Eternal Joys proceed Thy blest Example shows the Way And He who follows Patience may With Thee our Lord our Head appear And Crowns of endless Glories wear Thy teaching thy preceding Light Alone could backward Souls excite Who else a fatal Course had run By their own wandring Thoughts undone Thy Miracles thy Words Divine Could scarce our lazy Hearts incline But whither whither had we gone Had not thy saving Beams before our Footsteps shone XIX He endur'd the Cross despising the Shame Christ GIVE o're Complaints my Son give o're Those deep-drawn Sighs those flowing Tears Think what for Thee thy dear Redeemer bore Think what the dying Martyr bears Think what a Flood Of sacred Blood Think what a Sea of Crimson Gore From Me from all my dying Servants flow'd Yet Thine still safely fills thy Purple Veins While We endur'd a thousand Pains Strongly tempted deeply wounded And with Heaps of Woes surrounded Weigh well these mighty Sufferings then compare Thy own with their prodigious Share Blush if Impatience swell thy thoughtful Breast When with so small a Burden prest Nay look for more that if a Storm should rise No stubborn Murmurs may thy Heart surprize The more thy Soul to Heav'n resigns The more thy sacred Wisdom shines By Use the Burden lighter proves Say not Had nobler Hands the
would the Publick Good maintain Nature seeks Honour with exalted Eyes While Grace its Honours due to God alone applies Nature Confusion and Reproaches fears Grace Shame with Pleasure for its Saviour bears Nature loves Slothfulness and lazy Rest Grace thinks it self in constant Labours blest Nature must have the Gay the Brisk the Fair And will against the Poor the Mean declare But Grace in honest humble Things delights And neither old nor homely Garments slights Nature loves present Things and lawless Gains And of the smallest Loss or Wrong complains Grace loves eternal things a Loss can bear And for a Scandal scorns to spend a Tear Has fix'd its Treasures high above the Skies And thither nobly rais'd with eager swiftness flies Sharp Nature grasps at All ne'r gives but takes And Private Interest its Idol makes Grace kind and free no private Interest makes And pleas'd with little rather gives than takes Nature at little Creature-Comfort flies Loves Wandrings inborn Lusts and Vanities Grace draws to God and Good the World abjures The Blush for roving innate Lusts endures Nature for outward sensual Joys enquires Grace Comfort only from its Lord desires And tow'rds a God unseen unseen Delights aspires Nature walks all in profitable ways Gives as it Fancies either Votes or Praise But all its Merits with exactness weighs Grace at its God its sole Rewarder aims Nor more of temporary Pleasure claims Than what may serve to feed pure Loves eternal Flames Nature of Friends and great Relations proud Proclaims its Honours and its Birth aloud And fawns on Greatness when with Wealth endow'd Grace seeks no worldly Friends but loves its Foes No worth in Place or Birth but Verue knows And with poor faithful Innocence will close The Rich the Mighty the Deceitful Slights The Good to Godlike Excellence excites Nature with Want sinks down no Want pure Grace afrights Nature it self regards it self defends Grace by good ways to God its Source ascends Proudly on no inherent Good presumes Nor high above the wiser World assumes But all its vigorous apprehensive Wit Will to its God and Wisdom's Test submit Nature would Secrets know and News would hear And much in-strange Experiments appear Loves Admiration much and gapes for Praise Grace seeks Novelties nor curious Ways Grace knows the World corrupt poor remains No new no real lasting Good contains Grace shows us how we may our Lusts restrain Vain Compliments and pompous Words disdain True inward Worth conceals with humble Eyes And to God's Honour all its Means applies Would have that God and not it self be prais'd Whose Goodness all its Force from less than nothing rais'd Grace is a Beam of God's superiour Light Bright Emanation from a Fountain bright Election's Seal Pledg of Eternal Rest Parent of heavenly Loves which warm the Breast And when it Rebel-Nature's Force subdues God yet will more and greater Grace infuse Till in the Man within his sacred Form renews LV. Ye were by Nature the Children of Wrath But by Grace ye are saved Bel. THOU hast Dear God created Me Thy Image and thy Son to be Send Me O send Me needful Grace And I 'll thy saving Health embrace Then I 'll Nature's Force subdue Which would Sin and Death pursue I find a carnal Law within Which leads my Captive Soul to Sin Against my better Thoughts rebels Till Grace the struggling Fury quells And the bright spreading Flame my inward Gloom dispels I want thy Grace thy wondrous Grace To check malignant Nature's Race Nature in Adam fail'd of old From thence the dire Infection roll'd And what was Perfect once and Pure Must now Corruption's Chains endure Nature to its self resign'd Is to all that 's ill inclin'd And with noblest Qualities Like a Spark in Ashes lies This is our boasted Sense around Envelop'd with a Gloom profound Knows Good and Ill and False and True But can't its wiser Thoughts pursue Since of Light from Faith deriv'd And of soundest Loves depriv'd Hence Lord thy Laws my Soul delight Thy Precepts Holy Just and Right Teach Me from every Sin to fly But ah my Body slavishly To Sin 's not Reason's Rules submits And when e're in wiser Fits I some nobler End propose Wayward Nature backward goes All my Thoughts abortive prove And I lose my Heart and Love Hence I Perfection's Way can see And what my Works and End should be But by Corruption's weight opprest Still in common Weakness rest To Good inclin'd for Grace I call To Try to Hold to Finish All. I All when that assists can do Without it nothing Good pursue Dear heavenly Gift God's welcome Smile Without which Nature's Gifts are vile Art Wealth Strength Beauty Language Sense From Grace alone their Worth commence Good and Bad partake of those Love from Grace abundant flows Both the Saint's bright Crown compose Both the Paths of Life disclose Love the greatest Grace excels Prophecies and Miracles Knowledg Faith and Hope may fail But holy Love will in a future World prevail Blest Heavenly Grace which canst the Poor In Mind with Godlike Vertues store Canst humble both the Rich and Great O come in Me O take thy Seat My Breast with Heavenly Comforts fill And in thy Soul thy Sweets distil O grant me Favour Lord with Thee Should Nature's Gifts defective be Thy Grace would prove enough for Me. Possest by Grace I scorn to fear The Tempter's Arts or Sufferings here In Grace my Courage Lord is laid That gives Me Comfort sends Me Aid Quells ray trembling Enemies And out-wits the worldly Wise Truth 's Mistress Queen of Discipline Solace of Mourners Beam Divine Bold Conqueror of Doubts and Fears Devotion 's Nurse Parent of Tears Meer rotten Wood or Stubble I Without it worthless useless lie Lord by thy preventing Grace Guide my Sublunary Race For Jesus sake my Soul embrace Till I in holy Works my whole Enjoyment place LVI This is the Way walk in it Christ SO far my Son as Thou thy self canst leave So far may I thy pious Vows receive Leave all without and inward Peace secure Leave Self within and of thy God be sure With perfect Self-denial yield to Me From base Reluctance and from Murmurs free Lo I the Life the Truth the certain Way Come follow Me and my Commands obey Without the Way thou canst not go Without the Truth canst nothing know Nor live without the Life below I am that Way which thou shouldst still pursue I am that Truth to which Submission's due I am that Life which must thy Life renew I am that safest Way which leads thee right Truth undeceiving Truth supreamly bright Pure blest unmade Eternal Life and Light Walk but in Me and thou the Truth shalt know And from Encumbrance free to Life immortal go Keep my Commands if thou wouldst Life obtain Believe Me if thou real Truth wouldst gain Put All things off if Thou wouldst perfect be Deny thy Self if thou wouldst follow Me For endless Bliss thy present Life despise Be lowly