knowâ— Good You shall become as Gods and I pray when 'T is so what fear you who can punish then Your wisdom may the threatned Death evade And with an equal pow'r Heav'ns pow'r upbraid Thus spake the Tempter and thou straight didst yield And treacherously to him didst quit the field Forthwith the fatal Fruit with impious hand Thou pluckst and eatst against thy God's command Branding thy self and thy posterity With Treasons Guilt and endless misery And here vile Soul I cannot chuse but tell Thee one thing more that will increase thy Hell The Devil had no power to compell Thee to have tasted this his poisonous Feast But wilfully thou hast God's Law transgrest For though thou hadst a pow'rful Sword to weild Tempted to Lust thou cowardly didst yield Thou to thy self dost thy destruction owe And this doth greatly aggravate thy woe If want of strength or weapons if oppression Do force a Man to give up his possession He is excus'd and his unhappy fall Condol'd lamented and bewail'd of all But he deserveth neither love nor pity That unconstrain'd surrenders up a City When he has pow'r to make strong opposition Furnisht with Arms and warlike Ammunition Yet at one slender Summons yields his Fort The mis'ries he sustains in such a sort Reflect upon himself and do redouble His conscious Anguish self-accusing Trouble Just as the Southern Sun with burning beams Reflecting from a Wall with fierce extreams Above its natural strength or wonted course Scorches and burns with a far greater force So do those Flames first kindled with desire Grow dangerous and prove the stronger fire The wounds receiv'd from self-confounding Arms Have ever done poor Souls the greatest harms There 's yet another Circumstance behind That aggravates thy smart which prethee mind When once thy fearful Torments are begun Thy fatal Glass will never cease to run Years fill'd with months and months with weeks retire Weeks fill'd with days days with hours expire And hours in nimble minutes swiftly fly Unto their End But in Eternity There is no End nor will thy woes diminish Although years moneths weeks and hours finish The toilsome Day when once it does expire All Creature here to pleasing rest retire Slaves Bondmen Prisoners Captives all have ease No Drudgery so great but then doth cease Each bustling Day ends in a Night of peace But thou must look to be with pains opprest Where mid-day torments find no night of Rest Death puts a period to the greatest grief I' th silent Grave the weary find relief But wish't-for Death from thee shall fly away Eternity's a never-ending Day Where th' angry mouth of Justice loud doth cry Here must thou ever ever ever lie How miserable ah how sad's thine end When thou in vain shalt court Death for thy friend Men now do fly from Death whilst Death pursues But then shall seek to Death who will refuse At their Request such favour to afford As frees them from that Breath giv'n by the Lord. Death knows no pity Nay observe it well â—Tis Death that opens wide the Gates of Hell Where thou must be tormented with the Devils As the just punishment of all thy evils Distressed Soul oh unto what shall I Compare thy caseless endless misery In various Volumes of the World's Records Strange Tortures we may find exprest by words But Oh! so great so fore is thy distress As flesh can't bear 't so words can't it express Devils rejoyce and welcom in the Day That crown'd their Conquests with so rich a prey To see thee thus quite buried in thy spoils Berest of Earthly joys and Heav'nly smiles And I do fear th' incensed God above With direful Wrath will quickly thee remove Into that place But hark methinks I hear Some dreadful noise see how the Mountains tear And rending Hills do into pieces fly Whilst Thunder bellows through the troubled sky The Stars and Planets in confusion hurl'd Have banisht Natures order from the World See how the melting Orbs of Heaven sweat Like Parchment parch'd shrivel'd up with heat Swift Lightning flashes through the Air appear And now O hark the dreadful Trump I hear It sounds exceeding loud enough to make The Dead from their deep silent Graves awake And stoutest Sinners stubborn hearts to quake Ah! 't is Mount Sinai God himself is come Now to convince thee of thy final Doom The Law and Justice will thee now Arraign Poor Soul for thee my Soul 's in bitter pain From them be sure no Mercy thou wilt meet Although thou shouldst turn Suppli'nt at their feet Their method is so rigid so severe The Guilty by no means they ever spare Awake awake poor Soul and look about Jehovah doth command the Sinner out And active Justice having seiz'd her fast Doth hale her to the Judgment-seat in hast Justice Most Soveraign Lord who dares i' th least gainsay What thou commandst thy Word I must obey Lo here I bring this wretched Prisoner forth Unto thy Bar who mad'st both Heaven and Earth See! with what dread the trembling wretch doth stand To know thy Sacred Pleasure Command Jehovah Justice What is her Fact her Crimes declare I patiently will now the matter hear Justice Then will I legally my Lord proceed And presently her black Indictment reade Come forth thou Conscious wretch and hear thy Crimes In wicked deeds thou didst begin betimes By th' name of Soul thou standst indicted here Being without true Grace and godly fear Most treacherously in Eden long ago Didst then and there with God's most horrid Foe Conspire against his Soveraign Majesty To the dethroning of him privily Then setst thou up a Traitor in his place And traiterously his Image didst deface And ever since hast in Rebellion stood Pursuing Evil and forsaking Good For Treason Murder Theft thou standst Indicted These Crimes were all in thy first fact united Nay more then this yet worser is thy Cause Thou art Arraign'd for breach of all those Laws Which in thy Nature God at first ingrav'd The same thou hast in every point deprav'd This Royal Law much hast thou violated And every Day thy Crimes are aggravated That Spirit 's still in thee which was at first When God did thee out of his Garden thrust Thou sid'st with Satan and dost him obey Not minding what or God or good men say All Evil Rebels in thy House remain And nobly there thou dost them entertain Whilst God thou hat'st his proffer'd Love refuse And precious Patience daily dost abuse Therefore my Lord she worthy is of Death As ever any that on Earth drew Breath Jehovah Soul What dost say hold up thy guilty head Thou unto this Indictment now must plead Guilty or not Guilty I charge thee speak Lest Justice doth severer Courses take Soul I dare not say I am not Guilty Lord Of some of these foul Crimes which I have heard Read in my Charge 't is vain for to deny My Conscience makes me Guilty Guilty cry Thy Law is
shall a Prince be thus ore-come by thee And brought into contempt to this degree Sure this may melt an heart of hardest Stone When 't is consider'd well and thought upon But no less worthy note is it to hear The manner how this Soveraign did appear Was it in Pomp and outward Splendor bright Which doth the sensual heart of man invite To cast a view and deep respect to show As unto haughty Monarchs here they do Like to a Prince or like himself did he His beams display that every eye might see In his blest Face most radiant Majesty No no so far was he from being proud That he thought fit his Glories all to shroud And like the Sun invelop'd in a Cloud Did vail his Heav'nly Lustre would not make Himself of Reputation for the sake Of that poor Soul he came for to seek out He saw 't was good that he might work about His blest Design himself thus to deny And shew a pattern of humility His glorious Robes he freely did lay off Though thereby made th' object of men's scoff Who viewing his despised mean condition Welcom'd him with contempt scorn and derision For 't was 'i th form of a poor servant he Appear'd to all the very low'st degree Which amongst all the sons of Adam are And doth not this still wondrous Love declare The people of that Country too I find To gross mistakes so readily inclin'd They judg'd him a poor Carpenters Son born And stigmatiz'd him with it in great scorn Nay some affirm he worked at the Trade For which they did him mightily upbraid How ever this we must to all proclaim He that all Riches had most poor became That so the Soul through his sad poverty Might be enriched to Eternity The Foxes of the Earth and Birds of th' Air Had more alas than fell unto his share In holes the one in nests the other fed But he poor he no where to lay his head Not one poor Cottage had this precious King Although the rightful Heir of every thing The meanest man almost of Adam's Race Seem'd to be in as good nay better case Respecting outward Wealth and Glory here Those things no Price in his affections bear Silver and Gold the Muckworm Wordling's Gods He knew to be but more refined Clods Of that same Earth which he himself had made Ripe by a Sun scarce fit to be his shade No Mony doubtless had this Prince at all In purse or coffer for when some did call For Cesars Tribute then behold must he Dispatch in haste a Servant to the Sea In an uncertain Fishes mouth to spy A piece of Coyn Oh wondrous Treasury With which he straight did Caesars Tribute pay Though small Engagement on the Children lay Rather than hee 'l be disobedient thought To raise the Tax a Miracle is wrought But here t is like some may desire to know The cause why he abas'd himself so low The Answer to which Query's very plain His Errand so requir'd if he 'd obtain The Soul for whom his Country he did leave He of his Glory must himself bereave 'T was Love that brought him into this disguise To come incognito to haughty Eyes To lay aside awhile his Robes of State And thus in Pilgrims weeds upon her wait Without this Form assum'd these Raggs put on The mighty Work could never have been done She grov'ling lay below unable quite Once to aspire unto his Glorious Sight Therefore must he a Garb suitable take To raise her up and his dear Consort make He must descend that she might mount above And joyn in a fit Entercourse of Love So the kind Sun beams do the Dunghil gild That it to Heaven may Exalations yeild With pregant Show'rs to fertilize the Field CHAP. III. Shewing how upon the arrival of the glorious Prince thâ— Vice-Roy of that Country contrived in a barbarous maner to take away his Life And of the horrid Massacre that fell out upon it in the Town of Bethlehem And how the Prince escaped and fled nto Egypt Also discovering how the Creature he came to be a suiter to was preingaged by the black King to the Monster oâ— defâ—rmity a Bastard of his own begetting calleâ— Lust And of the great and fearful battel that fell ouâ— between the Prince of Light and Apollyon Prince of Darkness and how Apollyon was over-come and after three amazing Incounters forc'd tâ— fly THough Goodness still 's oppos'd by envious Hate Vertue like Palms thrives by th' oppressing weight Our Princes Welcome is in part exprest But what ensues is worse than all the rest Of his sad usage further I 'le declare And the curs'd cruel Foes he met with there No sooner flutt'ring Fame the news had told Of his arrive and that some Seers of old Heralds of Fate proclaim'd him on Record To be a high-born Prince and mighty Lord But presently the Voyce-Roy of that Land Was fill'd with Indignation on each hand Fearing 't is like he might deposed be Or much diminisht in his Dignitie That this great stranger might assume his Crown Or quite eclipse his perishing Renown For when the Sun doth rise and shine so clear The Moon and Stars do all straight disappear Not knowing what strange evils might arise He therefore did a bloody Plot devise Such was his Rage and undeserved spight He needs would butcher this sweet Lamb of Light Who though to none he thought one dram of ill Yet he resolves his precious Blood to spill But failing of one Treacherous Design He and his Gang do in a worse combine Which was by strict Inquiries for to hear When this bright Star did first to men appear That so he might exactly know the Day When he arriv'd and in a Manger lay Which known to make all sure he straight contrives To sacrifice a thousand harmless Lives And kill the Males yea every one of them Which had been born in famous Bethlehem From two years old or under ever since The late prediction of this new-born Prince Judging this way 't is like might be the best To cut off him unknown amongst the rest Which horrid Massacre he brought to pass And one more bloody sure there never was If Circumstances were but weighed well Both what they were and why that day they fell On the poor Babes they no compassion have But hurle them from the Cradle to the Grave The weeping Mothers rais'd a swelling flood Of their own tears mixt with their Childrens blood In every street are heard most dismal Cries Be wailing those untimely Obsequies As had been prophesied long before By Rachel's moans refusing to give o're She sighs and weeps and has no comfort got Because her hopeful Children now are not Great was the slaughter yet their hopes were crost The precious Prey these raging Blood-hounds lost For th' Prince of Peace had notice of this thing And fled to Egypt from this wrathful King And there remaining graciously was fed Until this Savage Murderer was dead And
All my soul 's to him united As Jonathaen's to David who delighted So much in him that in his greatest trouble Dear Jonathan did his affections double When David was in great distress and fear Then did his love and loyalty appear So when my dear Beloved is distrest My love to him shall chiefly be exprest But why said I distrest What can my Lord Who hath consuming power in his Word Be touch'd by Mortals what can he be harm'd Who with all strength of Heaven and Earth is arm'd No no I must recall that lavish strain No hand can touch him he cannot sustain The smallest injury from th' greatest Pow'r For in a breath he can his Foes devour But now methinks I presently espy Upon the Earth the Apple of his Eye Which are his servants nay his members dear Which wicked men do oft oppress O there My Lord 's distrest for if his Children smart O that doth pierce and wound his tender heart If cold or nakedness afflicts their souls He sympathizes and their state condoles It sick they be or if by cruel hands They are in Prison cast and under bands And there with hunger and with thirst opprest He feels their grief he is in them distrest What wrong soever they on Earth receive 'T is done to him for which my soul doth grieve To see th' afflictions of his servants here This is the fruit true loyal Love does bear Her sorrows are his woes for they alone Being his members are my flesh and bone And all make but one Body he 's the Head From whence all flows 't is he alone has shed His love abroad in this my love-sick â—eart Whereby I feel when any members smart My bowels move and tender heart does bleed VVhich makes me for his sake supply their â—eed Thus for my Christ and for his Children's sake I 'le suffer any thing yea I do take My life and goods and all into my hands To be disposed of as he commands But know for certain evermore that I For aid and help on him alone rely These pleasant Fruits O these delight the King And hereby 't is that we do honour bring Unto his Name all souls of the new birth VVho are sincere this precious fruit bring â—orth â—et not these things seem strange because to few Do bear such â—ruit believe the Maxim's true That as the Sun doth by its warm reflection Upon the Earth produce a resurrection Of all those Seeds which in the Earth do 〈◊〉 Hid for a time in dark obscurity Ev'n so the Sun of Righteousness doth shine Into this cold and barren heart of mine The precious seeds that have been scattered there Take root and blossom nay their branches bear Sweet fruit being the product of those Rays VVhich that bright Sun into my soul displays 'T is precious and most lovely in his Eye Both 〈◊〉 it Beauty and Veracity You Viâ—gâ—â—â— all who are by Love invited Into his 〈◊〉 where he is delighted With all his pleasant Fruits come come and see â—ow choice fâ—ir sweet and 〈…〉 they â—e One cluster â—ere's presented to thy view That thou mayst sâ—e and then believe 't is true Theâ—e be 〈…〉 which I 〈◊〉 nâ—w 〈◊〉 â—â—ve Joy and Peace â—ong 〈◊〉 Holiness â—aith Goodness Temperaâ—â—â— aâ—d Charity â—hese are the products 〈◊〉 th' Aâ—â—inity That 's made between me and my dearest Friend Nay moâ—e than these Eternal 〈◊〉 i' th' end But iâ— through sin thou canst not cast thine Eye On these 〈◊〉 Fruits then know assuredly VVhen th' Vintage comes and thou beginst to crave For one small taste one taste thou canst not have The â—ruitful Soul it is the King will â—â—own VVith th' Diadâ—m of Glory and Renown O let theâ—e things the Soul's affections raise In grateful Songs to celebrate the Praise Of great Jehovah who is King of Kings VVhâ—se glorious Praise the heav'nly Quire sings â—hen let us sing on Earth a Song like this 〈…〉 and I am his An Hyâ—â— of Praise to the Sacred Bridegroom PRaise in the Highest Joy betide The sacred Bridegroom and his Bride Who doth in spendor shine Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs In Earth beneath let all Mens Tongues sing forth his Praise Divine 〈◊〉 sullen Man refuse to speak 〈◊〉 Rocks and Stones their silence break for Heaven and Earth combinâ— To tie that sacred Bridal Knot O let it never be forgot the Contract is Divine You holy Seraphims above Who do admire Jesus's Love O hast away and come With Men on Earth your joys divide Earth ne'r produc'd so fair a Bride nor Heaven a Bridegroom Another 'T is not the gracious lofty strain Nor record of great Hector's glory Nor all the conquering mighty Train Whose Acts have left the World a story Nor yet great Cesar's swelling fame Who only look'd and overcame Nor one nor all those Worthy Ninâ— Nor Alexander's great Renown Whose deeds were thought almost Divine When Vic'tries did his Temples crown But 't is the Lord that Holy One Whose Praises I will sing alone My Heart and Tongue shall both rejoyce Wâ—ilâ—t Aâ—gâ—ls all in Consort sing Aloâ—d with a melodious voice The praises of sweet â—ion's King O 't is his praise that Holy One I am resolv'd to sing alone My Heart indites whilst I proclaim The Praises of the God of Wonder My lips still magnifie his Name Whose Voice is like a mighty Thunder I 'le praise his Name and him alone Who is the glorious Three in One. Whose feet are like to burning Brass Whose Eyes like to a flaming Fire Who bringeth mighty things to pass 'T is him I dread and do admire Iâ—le magnifie his Name alone Who is the glorious Three in One. My Heart and Pen shall both express The Praises of great Juda's â—ion The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess The holy I 〈◊〉 the King of Zion To him that sitteth on the Throne Be everlasting praise alone Whose Head is whiter than the Snow That 's driven by the Eastern Wind Whose Visage like a flame doth show 〈◊〉 all yet unconfin'd For ever prais'd be Him â—â—one Who is the glorious Three in One. I 'le praise his Name who hath revealâ—d To me his everlasting Love Who with his stripes my Soul hath heal'd Whose Foot-stool's here his Throne above Let Trumps of Praise be loudly blown To magnifie his Name alone This sacred Subject of my Verse Though I poor silly Mortal should Neglect his Praises to rehearse The ragged Rocks and Mountains would Make his deserâ—ed Praises known Who is the glorious Three in One. You twinkling Stars that Day and Night Do your appointed Circuit run Sweet Cynthia in her monthly flight Also the bright and flaming Sun Throughout the Vniverse make known The Praises of the Holy One. Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce Whom Christ hath chosen let him sing Whilst I to him lift up my Voice To sound the Praises of my King For He it is and He alone Hath made me his Beloved one FINIS There will be suddenly Publish'd another Treatise of this Author's intituled Zion in Distress or The Groans of the true Protestant Church * Sat. 6. Cessant oracula Delphis †Excessere omnes Adytis Arisque relictis Dit quibus Imperium hoc steter â—t c.