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of flax That all may touch and being toucht it cracks Death is a Kalender compos'd by fate Concerning all men never out of date His days Dominical are writ in blood She shews more bad days then she sheweth good She tells when days and months and terms expire Mesuring the lives of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
hell on earth Lord give me Heaven with thee Heaven When I consider New Jerusalem Wherein 's reserv'd my Crown my diadem O what a Heaven of bliss my Soul enjoyes On sudden rapt into that Heaven of Joyes Where troops of Powers Vertues Cherubins Angels Archangels Saints and Seraphins Are chaunting praises to their heavenly King Where Hallelujahs they for ever sing Where ioyes are full and pure not mixt with mourning All endless from which is no returning No theft no cruel murther harbours there No hoary-headed care no sudden fear No pinching want no griping fast oppression Nor Death the stipend of our first transgression But dearest friendship love lasting pleasure Still there abides without stint or measure Fulness of riches comfort sempiternal Excess without surfeting life eternall Hell Let Poets please to torture Tantalus Let griping Vultures gnaw Prometheus And let poor Ixiâ— turn his endless wheel Let Nerveâ—s toâ—ment with whips of steel They far come short t' express the pains of those That rage in hell enwrapt in endless woes Where time no end and Plagues find no exemption Where cries admit no help nor place Redemption Where fire lacks no flame the flame no heat To make their torments sharp plagues compleat Where wretched Souls to tortures bound shall be Serving a world of years and not be free Where nothings heard but yells and suddain cries Where fire never slacks nor worm ere dies But where this Hell is placed my muse stop there Lord shew me what it is but never where Of Death and Judgment Heaven Hell Who oft doth think must needs die well Short Graces and Thanksgivings before and after Meat Before Meat SAnctify O Lord unto us the use of these thy creatures of which by our sins we have made our selves and grant that the end of our eating and drinking may be to be better enabled to serve thee in our several places through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen After Meat ETernal thanks and praise be ascribed unto thee O blessed Lord which hast opened thy hand at this time and made us partakers of thy benefits Lord let us never cease to offer unto thee the Sacrafice of praise and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Before Meat HUmble our souls before thee O Lord and cause us to see the Smalness of out desert even in respect of the least of thy mercies and bless these thy creatures to us at this time to the rejoycing of the soul of thy Servants through Jesus Christ. Amen After Meat We give thee most hearty thanks O Lord for thy bountiful Liberality to us at this time grant we may serve thee better in the enjoyment of these favours Amen Before Meat LOrd lift up our hearts to look unto thee for a blessing upon our meats that we may comfortably use thy creatures as pledges of thy favour through Jesus Christ. Amen After Meat LOrd accept our thanks for the mercy we have enjoyed in receiving these thy creatures for our bodily relief and let us also labour for the meat that perisheth not for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Before Meat O Lord bless us and bless these thy good creatures to the nourishment of our bodies and grant that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do we may do all to the praise and glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After Meat AS thou hast filled our bodies O Lord with thy good creatures far above our desert so be pleased to endue our souls with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly things through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS
and mercy in thy sight without thy assistance this sore burthen is too heavy for me to bear Lord either remove it from me or make it easier for me to bear Lend me thy gracious and helping hand that as I am scourged with thy rod so I may lean upon thy staff let me never despair of thy comfortable relief but in all my miseries be thou my refuge be pleased to endue me with patience from above that I may give no advantage to the Tempter in my suffering open the eyes and the charitable hands of those that should see and know mine adversity and so enlarge their hearts that they may administer relief and comfort to me in the midst of my necessities O thou that feedest the young ravens which call upon thee thou that didst bless the poulse to thy servant Daniel be pleased to fill my hungry Soul with the blessings of thy bounty grant that whatsoever I suffer in my body my Soul may thereby draw near unto thee in the misery of hunger do thou satisfy me with thy grace in my scorching thirst do thou cause me with joy to draw water out of the wells of Salvation in the pinching cold do thou warm my devotion and in my poorest and meanest habit do thou cloth me with the Righteousness of my Redeemer O suffer me not to offend thee in my greatest want but make me rely depend upon thee Teach me by this chastisement the vanity of the World and wean me from the fond delights thereof and carry me so through the storms of this troublesom life that in the end I may arrive at the happy haven of eternal peace and rest through thy own merits and passion O Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Sacrament O Most gracious and merciful Lord God thou hast called all those that are weary and heavy laden with their sins to come unto thee and hast promised to ease and refresh them thou hast invited all those that hunger and thirst after thy Kingdom and the righteousness thereof to come to thy Table to tast of thy Supper and hast promised that thou wilt satisfy them in assurance therefore of these promises I come to thee blessed Lord Jesus beseeching thee to ease me to refresh me to satisfy me with thy mercy for my Soul hungers and thirsts after thee thy Salvation I confess and acknowledge that my dayly sins have made me unworthy of my dayly bread much more of this Manna this Bread of life that came down from Heaven I confess O Lord I am not prepared according to thy preparation of thy Sanctuary yet for as much as this day I have set my heart to seek to thee thou O God be merciful unto me and though I cannot bring with me a clean heart for who can say his heart is clean yet behold O Lord I bring with me a contrite heart and a broken spirit despise not O God this Sacrifice As for the sins that I have committed against thee bind them up into one bundle and cast them into the bottomless Sea of thy mercy bury them in thy wounds and wash them away in the blood of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus and for the time to come sprinkle my Conscience with the same blood that being cleansed from dead works I may serve thee the living God in righteousness and true holiness all the days of my life that so this blessed Sacrament may be a means to quiet my Conscience to increase my faith to inflame my charity to amend my life to save my Soul and to assure me that I am of the number of those blessed ones who shall eat at thy Table and be called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb. Grant this O Lord for Jesus Christ his sake in whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught me Our Father c. A Prayer after the receiving of the Sacrament O Most gracious God from whose bounty every good and perfect gift is derived I and all that is within me praise and magnify thy holy name for all thy mercies and favours which from time to time thou hast bestowed upon me But especially I thank thee for Jesus Christ thy Son the fountain and foundation of all blessings and benefits that thou hast sent him into the world to take our nature upon him and to die for us and that thou hast fed me who am unworthy of the least of thy favours with the precious merits of his death and passion Blessed Lord God thou hast been pleased this day to set thy seal to the pardon and forgiveness of all my sins oh let me not lose it again by unthankfulness or relapsing into my old sins from which thou hast purged me lest my last end be worse than my beginning But if hereafter I shall be tempted by the Devil allured by the world or provoked by my own flesh then set before mine eyes by the remembrance of thy Spirit how dear the expiation of my sins cost my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ even the effusion of his most precious and holy blood that in the contemplation of his death and application of his most bitter passion I may die dayly unto sin and so may shew forth the Lords death till he come and bring his reward with him I may receive the Crown of Righteousness which he hath purchased and prepared for all those that love and expect the day of his appearing with the precious price of his incorruptible blood And whereas I have this day renewed my covenant with thee my God in vows and purposes of better obedience assist me by thy grace and strengthen me by thy power that I may pay the vows which I have made unto thee and that by vertue of thy heavenly nourishment I may grow up in grace and godliness till at last I come to be a perfect man in Christ Jesus Preserve and maintain always this thine Ordinance that it may be a note and a badge of my publick profession and give unto all of us that have been partakers of thy body and blood one heart and one mind in the unity of Spirit for the worthy and reverend receiving of the same whensoever we shall come to thy holy Table again and for this thy mercy towards me do I yield unto thee all praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and might and majesty through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose most blessed name and words I further pray Our Father c. The Prayer of a Virgin BLessed Lord Son of a Virgin who didst honour Virginity when thou tookest our nature hearken to the cryes of a lamenting Maid Lord I am not worthy to come unto thee I am not worthy to receive any favour from thee for I have forsaken thee my most indulgent Husband and have followed other Lovers My soul is too much polluted to be called thine too often
feeble knees and support my weak hands and revive my deaded heart and so powerfully assist me with the spirit of strength that I may with confidence call upon thee with patience endure this trial with hope expect thy good pleasure with wisdom make use of this thy Visitation and with thankfulness ever praise thy goodness and mercy for my safe recovery if it may fland with thy will whereunto I submit and wholly resign now and for ever through Jesus Christ my blessed Lord and Saviour in whose most holy words I further pray Our Father A Thanksgiving after recovery O Lord God of my health and salvation who hast known my Soul in trouble and didst make my bed in my painful and dangerous sickness and hast now raised me out of it to stand before thee I offer now unto thee a sacrifice of praise because I emplyed not the saculties of my Soul and members of my body as I should have done thou didst bereave me of the strength and vigour and use of them for a season but now because thy compassion fails not thou hast returned them to me again wherefore I consecrate and devote them perpetually to thy sâ—rvice and as I am in the state of my body so by the power of thy renewing grace I will become in the estate of my Soul a new man My broken heart which thou hast healed shall now entirely love thee my feeble knees and weak bones which thou hast settled shall night and day bow to thee my weak hands which tâ—ou hast strengthned shall continually be lifted up unto thee I confess unto thee O Lord that in my health I often read and heard that worldly delights and comforts were vain and much like flags and bulrushes which men in danger of drowning câ—tch to bear them up but they sink doâ—â—â— under water with them yet did I not learn till I suffered till thy rod had imprinted it even in my flesh Now O Lord I beseech thee to knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy name create in me a new heart renew a right spirit within me I asked life of thee thou gavest it me I now desire and crave thy Salvation O my God withhold it not make me to repent of my sins the cause of my sickness and to depend upon thee the giver of all good things and make me in the time of prosperity to think of adversity in health to think of sickness in sickness to think of death and at all times so to think of judgment that whither I wake or sleep eat or drink or whatsoever I do else I may ever have this voice sounding in mine ears Arise ye dead and come to judgment Give me grace O Lord to make this use of mine affliction past and to cleave and stick fast unto thee in all holiness for the time to come through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in whose name and words I further pray Our Father c. The Prayer of the Sick now ready to depart this World ETernal and Omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my days my body now is returning into dust and my soul returning to thee that gavest it O Lord most holy O most mighty draw near unto me who make hast to come unto thee give me a clearer sight of thee by how much the nearer I am out of the dark prison of my body Give me also a quicker tast of the powers of the life to come that I may the more comfortably pass over these last troubles of this present life O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sâ—â—s or horror of thy judgments or Satans suggestions or the fear of death or terrors of hell drive me to desperation I confess that for my unmindfulness of thee and ungratefulness to thee all my life I deserve that thou shouldest utterly abandon and forsake me now at my death but thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like ours Dear Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakness confirm thy mercy to me in my greatest need apply thy comforts to me in this my last extremity asswage the pains of my body with spiritual Comforts and diminish the fear of death by the assured hope of a better life O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speak but this once to my Lord and Maker with ill my heart soul and strength I beseech thee by all that my Saviour Jesus Christ hath done and Suffered for me I entreat thee to speak peace unto my soul at its departing and say unto it I am thyâ— Salvation Make my election sure by my true repentance fervent charity assured confidence constant patience and comfortable perseverance to the end and in the end Amen At the Hour of death WElcome blessed hour the period of my pilgrimage the term of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my tarvels the goal of my race and the heaven of my hopes I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have finished my course though in great faintness and the crown of my joy is that through the strength of thy grace I have kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resign my flesh I despise the world and I defie the Devil who hath no part nor share in me And now what is my hope my hope Lord Jesus is even in thee for I know that thou my Redeemer livest and thou wilt immediately receive my soul and rayse up my body at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and no other my heart â—ainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy spirit of comfort help mine insâ—â—mities and make Supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered I submit my self wholly to thy will I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer who hast bought it with thy most precious bloud I profess to all the world I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved but thine my Jesus my Saviour I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine I thankfully acknowledg all thy blessings I unfainedly bewail all my sins I steadfastly believe all thy promises I heartily forgive all mine enemies I willingly leave all my friends I utterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy coming Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lord Jesus receive my spirit SACRED POEMS UPON SELECT SUBJECTS WITH Divine Meditations OF THE Vanity of Mans Life and the World And also of the Four Last Things Death Judgment Heaven and Hell With Graces Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing and making melody with your Heart to the Lord Eph. 5. 19. The Souls Breathing after Her Heavenly Country 1. JErusalem my happy home O that I were in thee Oh would my Woes were at an end thy joys that I might see
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