THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO HIS BRIDE VPON her Creation A SPIRITVAL LEGACIE for the Right Honorable the Lord STRANGE WRITTEN By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister at Hawarden in Plint-shire LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IAMES Lord Strange c. The most hopefull Heire of the Spotlesse Auncient and Illustrious House of DERBY My good Lord THere is a Royall marriage to beheld In the Mount Syon that God loues so well It was determin'd in the dayes of eld And now 's at hand and I am charg'd to tell Some noble friends to th' end they may prouide T' attend the nuptialls of the Lambe and 's Bride To be made members of it therefore I My office and my seruice both t' approue Towards God and you giues this to testifie In chaines of duty and vnfained loue I 'm bound so fast It shall be vnderstood I cannot mooue except to do you good I come t' inuite your Honor to a feast That 's heauenly holy happy and ne'er ends You are elected as a proper guest Nobillity vertue honor are those friends Must grace the nuptialls the bad must be gone Good will haue good associats or else none My Lord I know you and I know y' are stor'd With wisedome learning bounty beauty loue Humillity piety grace a compleate Lord Your merits vow to build your seate aboue Your foes on earth with grace and sayth the story Mercy will build your seate in Heauen with glory I haue a licence from the greatest power To build a lanthorne for the Kingdomes sight And vpon stately Lathams eagle Tower I thus presume to place it to giue light Vnto the present and the future time Of the true worth of Derbyes Prince-like line Keepe you it in repaire and you shall proue I owe you life although I pay but loue A seruant at your Honorable disposition Augustine Taylor TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL Sr. Iohn Hanmer Knight and Baronet c. Right Worshipfull EAch other blast brings misery or death These nether-lands nurse nought but discontent No good that happens riseth from beneath Pleasures indeede that are not permanent Are borne and buried heare and perfects sight No more then lightning doth in darkesome night Now that your ayme may be at better things I onely ayme and do beseech you seeke That Heauenly quire where Dauid sits and sings The Maister as 't were in Gods second weeke Which is an endlesse world to gaine that glory Obserue these lines th' are from the sacred story Your Worships truely deuoted Augustine Taylor Peter Mosse his Lenuoy to the Author A.T. KInde friend behold a hopefull misterie In both thy names inwrapt there seemes to bee For as S. Augustine with pious loue In former time mens ignorance t'reproue Did teach and preach the Gospell and did turne The hearts of Kings faire Brittaines Iles adorne To become Christians And behind his deedes In print are left to helpe vs in our needes Now I thy friend the boldlier diuine Because thou art another Augustine Or rather in the word that strengthn'd lies Taylor which is and which so much implyes For thy discerning iudgment hath discride Oracles of truth not ought is left aside But is produc'd and for the nuptiall feast Hath shapt this garment worthi'st for the best And as it 's fram'd all by thy curious hand Euerlastingly a monument shall stand That neither time nor enuy can deface Out lasting life and to thy life a grace Your most assured Peter Mosse TO THE RIGHT VVorshipfull Sr. Roger Mostin Knight c. * ⎠* Right Worthy AS it did please your most religious eares To heare me lately I do now intreate Your gracious eyes to view my labours feares And pious passions in me are growne greate Because I see times barke so fraught with woes The world is not so full of men as foes T' auoyd the worst that woes and foes can do Climbe Iacobs ladder with Caelestiall thoughts Now onely study to ascend vnto The Lambe in Syon that so dearely bought's My prayers shall be for your blis aboue And for my seruice I intreate your loue Your Worships to be commanded Augustine Taylor IN LAVDEM OPERIS ET AVthoris Amici mei Augustini Taylor SAint Augustine thou here dost immitate Mouing our minds on God to meditate Taylor a Taylor diuine for th' ast wrought Thy worke so faultlesse that there is not ought Correction worthy Not a critticke tongue Dares belch a word against thy Hymen song Sung as by Christ muiting to his feast And Nuptials him who lists to be his guest Reader our Taylors full reward is this That to thy soule his labours adde a blisse And with a wedding garment faire to cloath thee That th'Bridegroome say nor friend begon I loath thee He seemeth here as'twere to take a measure Of Heauens high incomprehended pleasure The worlds obstickles he here presseth downe And cankred sinne cuts off wherefore let none That reads but cloath his mind that th' Author know His workes do make vs more and more to know Incouraging his free and painefull quill To pen our more and further profit still And worthy Author let this be a meane That in another haruest we may gleane This being so lik'd prays'd allow'd grac'd lou'd Accepted honour'd thank'd read and approu'd IOANNES RVSSELL THE ARGVMENT Isr'ells forgetfulnesse is show'd Her first estate discry'd The bounties of the Lord bestow'd The beauties of the Bride ONce more from Heauen to earth from me to thee From God to Iacobs great posteritie Oh that thy greatnesse were with goodnesse mixt Thy sinnes are so continu'd that betwixt I see no vertues plac'd what if there were Of twenty dayes together no day cleare But stuff'd with stormy weather Earth would be Bold to taxe Heauen with meere Tyranie Shall not I then complaine ' gainst Israell That spends so many dayes and not one well It 's griefe to me that I haue vnderstood So many acts together and none good Open thy eares to heare thy heart to heede My eyes are full of dew my lockes doth bleede Could droppes that night's accustom'd to distill Vpon dispised louers yet my will Wils thee no punishment for this neglect I onely waite to see thy more respect Vnto my patience for my long attending My eyes are fill'd with teares at thy offending I would not see thy faults I would not strike Nor shew my Iustice vpon her I like Vengeance I sent to Egypt there to dwell Peace I prepar'd to stay in Israell Iudgement I doom'd to dye with Caine in Nod Mercy I meant should liue with Sem in God I wish It so regard and thou shall prooue My actions all do manifest my loue Mans lou 's vnstable like to mans estate But where I once affect I neuer hate Thinke on thy past thy present thy future tense And tell me who hath beene thy best defence Who is it or who will be Abram's dead Isaack and Iacob left the field and fled So did thy
flourish faire and free and fast Comely and seemely both to like and last Some bidden come not some vnbidden come Thus some proue wiser farre then other some Some like the driuen dust are parcht and dry'd Some like the branches by the riuer side Are faire and fruitfull and doe cause the streame Draw beauty and plenty with her siluer teame Vnto the good all good shall happen still And vnto th' euill ill because th' are ill Such thing desires it like and so it comes That Caine's at oddes with all his fathers sonnes For hating's brethren and contemning's God He ranne a vagabond to the land of Nod And liu'd vnlou'd vnpiti'd vnlamented And some thinke di'd vntimely vnrepented For so shall all that doe the Lord dispise Or offers him a broken sacrifice So our lewd poets doe God makes a poet And the thing made forgets or doth not know it A speciall good God meant vnto the earth First when he did intend a Poets birth Gods perfect image catch it those that can Is heauenly measures in an earthly man When Moses troope had pass'd the scarlet flood His inward ioy we had not vnderstood But by his Hebrew song and onely that Makes the man prays'd the maister wonder'd at Iordans obedience at braue Iosuahs feete When it show'd him a passage faire and meete When walls of water stood like walls of glasse Vpon both hands to suffer him to passe And bring his army in at Cana'ns doore The land Iehouah promis'd long before These things had beene vnknowne and beene vnsung But for the musicke of a sacred tongue With Baraks victory and Sisâ—raes fall We had not beene so well acquainted all But for the heauenly muse of Debora That Barak wonne the honor of the day That ancient Kishon washt mount Tabors feete And all our enemies away did sweepe That Heauen sent ayde to earth and all the Starres Behau'd themselues like souldiers in those warres That men intended mischiefe and God crost it That Iaell wonne the day and Iabin lost it We had not knowne these had been wrong'd with death But that th' are infants of a muses breath That God doth iustice loue but mercy rather And that although man's feeble earthly father Forget him and forsake him God will not This had beene vntold or told and forgot But that the sacred breath of holy man Preserueth more then Brasse or marble can That Iesses sonne was fetcht from following sheepe An hoast of men to leade defend and keepe That he once wore a sheepe-hooke in his hand And then a royall scepter did command That he sate in the field vpon a stone And after in the pallace on the throne That he was capt with wooll against the cold And after crown'd with purest beaten gold That of a Sheepheard God thus made a King And turn'd his fasting into banqueting That he that sometime â—llow'd ewes with yong Did leaue that labour and apply'd hiâ— tong To prayse Iehouah in an Hebrew song Gods greatnesse goodnesse highneste workes and wonders We know and had not knowne but for his numbers Dauid I meane he that in word and deede Both did and sayd for God and Iacobs seede Thankes be to Salomon we are not to search A sacred muse betwixt Christ and his Church To sing the nuptials 't is already done By Isr'els King and Dauids sacred sonne Asaph and Ethan well deserned thankes For placing th'Arke of God on Sylos bankes With triumph and reioyceing Amos sonne Seeing his Lord his Vineyard hath beguine Vpon a fruitfull hill sayd I will sing To my King Vineyard of my Vineyards King And so proceed and all the world yet heares When great Iehouah fell a dealing yeares To Hezekiah Iudahs holy King To gratulate his Lord no better thing Had of his owne to giue then freely trips A heauenly measure from his princely lippes Praysing the God of life death night and day The scripture warrants what you heare me say That Maries soule so greatly did reioyce To heare the tidings by an angels voyce That she should be a mother and beare a sonne That should redeeme a wretched world vndone We had beene ignorant of these good things But that glad Mary had amuse that sings Vnto this day and by her muse we know Th' humble are set aboue the proud below That Simeon in the Temple sung to all His Sauiours lullaby and 's owne funerall That his old armes so happy were t' imbrace The Prince and heire of glory and of grace His owne tongue testifies and thus I chuse The sacred script of many heauenly muse T'exhort wits that are bearing and doe breede Choycest inuentions henceforth to proceede More regularly religiously I meane Leaue Babels partched commons seeke the streame That keepes the skirts of Hermon euer greene The on 's a strumpet th' other is a Queene And those that striue her beauties to expresse Shall know her matchlesse endlesse happinesse God sayd all those that sought her honor should Be fed with Manna and be cloath'd with gold And led with Angels and haue Saints society Ierusalem to dwell in and variety Of those delights and ioyes both all and some That God prouided for the world to come But Esaus timelesse haplesse gracelesse seede Shall lucklesse liue in misery and neede And be in bondage still a voyce diuine Sayth Esau must not drinke of Iacobs wine Then since there 's due rewards layd vp for merits And like deserts like punishments inherits We 'll idolize no more nor men nor treasure Let him that hath a muse can tune a measure To the worlds eare bestow it in such wise T' haue life and honor by his sacrifice Leaue all rediculous fictions take aduise Learne either properly to similize The truth or tell it plainely you should ken What 's vnlike truth should euer dislike men Make your proceedings perfect and then proue By outward actions your true inward loue Lasciuious voyces but makes deafe the season Th' are stuff'd with mickle rime but little reason That poesie may be honor'd lâ—â—'d and prays'd And like to him that 〈◊〉 with glory rays'd Out of the dust of ignorance and death Refuse your subiects and refine your breath By sucking sweeter ayre study to bring Such songs a Saints may sing before their King Like towers well built your workes shall last and then Both purchase grace with God and loue with men FINIS AN EPISTLE Dedicated to the Right VVorshipfull Sr. Thomas Smith Knight Maior of Chester and High Sheriffe of that County Palatine c. To the Right Worshipfull Sr. Randall Manwaring Knight c Edward Whitby Esquire Recorder William Gamwell Iohn Ratcliffe Robert Whitby William Aldersey Charles Fitton Hugh Williamson c. Esquires late Maiors of that ancient and Honorable City And to the Worshipfull Mr. Nicholas Ince Mr. Thomas Whitby Mr. Brereton Mr. Peter Drink-water Mr. Andrew Gamwell Mr. Robert Berry Mr. Humphrey Lloyd c. Alderâ—â—n of the same c. All temporall and eternall happinesse Right Worshipfull
confin'd My Image in the beauty of the mind And in the vpright heart did first appeare Some seeke me in the flesh I am not there But in some little measure for to showe Man is the principall of things belowe And whereas other Creatures view the earth In mourning wise yet man with ioy and mirth Beholds the Heauens by which it doth appeare He 's but a traueller and hath no home here My Image in the soule doth fayrest shine Thy better part is made a spouse of mine Therefore my Prophets haue baptiz'd thee thus In Scripture islia not filius For Israels off-spring must a daughter be A marriage was fore-told 'twixt thee and me And thou and I must make the match because No part must perish of my Fathers lawes But with my will his will shall still be done I will discharge the duties of a Sonne It was his will I should wed in the line Of Abraham and it is onely mine His gracious eyes delights in lowly obiects A King may choose his Queene among his subiects He hath done so and anima credentis Is now created sponsa redimentis Reioyce in thy estate for thou art rich Thou hath no equall there 's no other such Although the Queenes and Concubines be many And daughters numberlesse yet there 's not any Can boast to be Iehouahs onely loue But onely thou his vndefiled doue Dauid did thinke it was a matchlesse thing To be a sonne in law t'an earthly King Being by birth so meane by office poore Hast thou forgotten thy estate before I made a roome for thee in my affection My pitty mixt with loue made an election Of thee ' mongst many millions I 'l tell thee Thou may not boast thee of thy pedegree Thy birth was poore and base but I 'l speake low I would not haue thy enemies to know But thus I found thee truely to recite The wretched childe of a poore Amorite An Hittite to thy mother and in thy kinne No sparke of innocence but shame and sinne Thou lay contemned in the field vnknowne Laught at by strangers left of by thy owne Distilling teares on desolations lappe No nurse but sorrow from whose cold dry pappe Nothing but misery issu'd thou was found Lapt in the ragges of woe and well-nie drownd In thy polluted finfull filthy blood Thy friends were fled and all that stayd but stood To witnesse thy disgrace and view thy shame When I saw this I meant to come and came And found thee striuing in a fearefull trance Sicke to the death of finne and ignorance And when I saw thee thou begun to tell I change thy name from Iacob t' Israel And promis'd thee preferment 't is most true And though thou euer left vndone thy due My promises shall stand in my compassion A pardon 's out to free thee from transgression I washt thee white and with the oyle of grace I fill'd thy heart and beautifi'd thy face Thy eares with iewels riche I did adorne A chaine of gold about thy necke was worne Thy breast with pearles was deckt thy backe with silke Thy soule with oyle was cool'd thy mouth with milke With finest flower thou wast most prince-like fed With purest gold thy head was honored Thy fame throughout the spacious world was blowne Who sought thy ouer-throw was ouer-throwne And so it shall be still since I did choose thee I will not suffer any to abuse thee For thy aduancement I haue done great things I 'ue Scepter'd Shepheards and vncrowned Kings My loue haue caus'd all lands t'ring thy renowne I 'ue set vp Lazars and throwne Caesars downe To make the heathen know I did elect Her that from all their rage I could protect And can thou art my choyce and as 't is meere I 'l force thy foes to worship at thy feete The scarlet Ocean shall it selfe diuide And thou shalt go where Pharoh cannot ride That king shall know he hath a King that shall Command him and his Aegypt and his all I sayd thou should come home I meant no lesse In spite of waters and of wildernesse Thou camest and thereupon a publicke voyce Fill'd euery eare and sayd thou was my choyce Report sayd true for by my free election There 's noe roome but for thee in my affection So graciously I 'le vse thee thou shalt say Both Heauen and earth smil'd on our wedding day Angels shall ioy to thinke on 't Saints shall sing Such songs as best may please thee and thy King Consider well how dearely I thee wonne Remember all my loue and seruice done That thou in holinesse might kisse my lips I seru'd like Iacob seuerall prentiships I got my Rachel Laban tooke his lea And tota pulchraes amica mea To make thee such consider what it cost My time and toyle I know shall not be lost For thou art wise the heathen and the rude Shall beare the burthen of ingratitude I told thee what I 'ue done not to vpbraid thee With any benifits but to perswade thee I thinke all well bestow'd that I haue giuen And in my store-house by my throne in Heauen I haue such store I 'le send thee to the earth To serue thee to thy buriall from thy birth And after both beleeue my sacred story I 'le Queene thee with a Crowne of life and glory FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Vocation A Holy legacy bequeathed to the Right Honorable the Countesse of Mountgomery Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE MOST NOBLE LADY A BRANCH OF the auncient and illustrious house of Oxford the Right Honorable SVSAN Countesse of Mountgomery Grace and Glory Thrice Honorable Lady VEre euer loued veritas so well And to all vertues gaue such countenance That sacred truth for euer vowes to dwell In your Breast to be safe from ignorance Enuy and error and hath warned me That where I find vere challenge there to be A lodging due to her I'dmir'd and then Shee sayd to me as Christ did to the men He sent to fetch the asse if they refuse The fauours I intreate make thou but vse Of my name vnto them with mild regard And thou shalt find my lodging straight prepar'd Great Lady with great reuerence I present To your Religious view and gracious eyes A legacy a Heauenly or nament With the Messias pleas'd to sacrifice And send vnto his spouse to moue her come To warne her call her and command her home Vnto his Heauen I wish you would accept My loue and seruice and this offering take As Princes do Imbassadours respect Not for their owne but for their maisters sake I am ordain'd Gods messenger t' intreat His chosen number to his Heauenly feast And you both being truely good and great Hath a faire seate prepar'd among the blest Your pious bounties princely beauties and Religious wisedome which is honors nurse Are guides to lead you vnto Gods right hand And likewise motiues caused
me disburse My loue and seruice in this measure take it My worke 's Diume and my free will doth make it A perfect offering t' helpe gamst death and doombe Regard this frame for 't will out-last your toombe Willing and ready to do your Honor the best seruice that is in the power of Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The Bride is call'd from all the Iles To come and scape her woe And heares the curses and the smiles Belongs to come and goe IF my affection would thereto consent I would be silent th' art so lewdly bent And shewes so little reuerence to my word That iustice tels me silence will afford Me more content and her it will appeare That I still speake to her that scornes to heare But yet be not too deaffe least vengeance cloud Descend vpon thee and then speake so loud It change thy deafenesse into death then heare And if thou canst not loue it 's good to feare Now thy creation and election done My onely care is to procure thee come Euen as a wiseman doth that wants a wife Seeke vp and downe where beauties are most rife And after seeking finds and finding loues And louing bids her home and daily moues Till she be mou'd to come then suite doth cease And they together liue in loue and peace So I did seeke thee first and found thee then And lik'd and lou'd thee woundrous well and when All this was done I did intreate thee home And vs'd the meekest meanes to cause thee come Solemnely I haue bidden thee do not stay Arise my loue my faire one come thy way Remember who inuites thee he that brings Honor to beggars and contempt to Kings Vnto thine enemies and the heathen foe A wofull portion fals a cursed goe In mercy and loue I come and send to thee With mildnesse meekenesse and much clemencie I call thee friendly in these dayes of peace I prethee arme thy selfe these calmes will cease And stormes will follow thou shouldst vnderstand Pleasure and sorrow still goes hand in hand The Sunne will leaue thee and runne out of sight Warre chaseth peace as darknesse chaseth light The time shall come that man and beast shall mourne Mountaines shall tumble and the seas shall burne The morning shall looke red as if it woo'd Tell vs the euening should be dyed in blood The moone shall view thee with a searlet face Dabl'd in clouds and stumbling in her pace The glistering starres shall cease and perish all For some shall be put out and some shall fall The Sunne in sable shall come sadly forth A greater plague them from the bitter north God did e're send shall from each coast appeare Farre worse then Egypt when the plagues were there These lower-lands shall looke each blast shall bring Shot or else powder towards the ruining Of new built Babel's for it must be knowne Bethel's her owners Babel's but her owne She sits aboue now thou knowes if thou know her But all her pompe shall end none shall sit lower A time shall come come loue before it come Each harpe shall silent be each Dauid dumbe Both Heauen and earth together shall conspire To send out vengeance lapt in balles of fire And they shall bust and vtter from within Death and destruction due rewards for sin Millions of dayes thy God for mercy made And in those dayes my care is to perswade And worke my loues returne before it be Too late to saue thy selfe and honor me One day I haue appointed for to bring All kindreds of the earth t' a reckoning The Monarch and the King the Prince and Peere The Stats-man and the Trads-man shall be there All sorts and sects I 'le call and bring as farre As shines the arcticke and th'antarcticke starre Not one shall faile to come at my command Whether they dy'd vpon the sea or land Yea euery one shall that one day appeare And ' mongst those all not one shall want one haire Then I my selfe will come in th' eyes of man As like a Lyon as I was a Lambe With more attendants glorious and bright Then Heauen shewes starres in a cleare freezing night Then Michaels trumpet shall command the dead To rise and come and leaue their drowsie bed T' appeare before a righteous Iudge for then Then he shall fit to Iudge that can condemne And iustifie th' outward and th' inward man According to deserts I will and can But these two parts in men do not agree Therefore they wrong themselues and iniure me But I will come and I will haue regard To all that euer lou'd me my reward I will bring with me and it is most true I will bestow on all estates their due Vnlike to earthly Princes voyd of measure They deale their bounties onely for their pleasure And turnes deserts a begging But looke to 't Peasants now ride and Princes go on foot This order I will alter and I 'le giue All good things vnto all that purely liue Consider thou must meete a Iudge that brings Life to wise Beggars death to foolish Kings Come and thy time to come to please me spend O come before the dayes of mercy end For in the dayes of warre there 's peace for them That loues my Syon my Ierusalem Prouide thy lampe and oyle for it may be I 'le come at mid-night for to call on thee It may be at the first or second cocke Or in the morning or at noone or not Vntill the euening when I will not tell It 's not for want of loue I loue thee well And I conceale this from thee in regard Thou may expect me still and be prepar'd For come I will and when I will and how And sudainely and gloriously looke thou T' attend my comming in thy beauty stand And I will leade thee home with my right hand And bring thee in but shut without the gate All those that lamplesse come and come too late I haue collected thee from many parts From Europe Asia and the wild Desarrs Of Sun-burnt Affricke from the plaines and woods From fields and vallies from the seas as floods From north and easterne coasts from east and west From th'hauen of troubles to the hauen of rest I haue call'd long for my loue th' art in debt Come for it's late O come and welcome yet For feare thou be benighted hast and runne I do beseech thee I command thee come Either for feare or loue I hope to see Thee seeke in season for my companie Regard who cals thy Lord then do not stay A faithfull louer doth dislike delay FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Preseruation A Diuine legacy belonging to the Honorable Sr. Henry Salusbury and his Noble Lady Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. HENRY SALVSBVRY Knight and Barronet c. And his Noble Lady ELIZABETH Sister to the Right Honorable the Lord Vaughan c. Truely Honorable IF your great
for her comfort I did thus begin Sweete Lady be not sorrowfull I am he Will pay the debt and end all misery Be not amaz'd the great Kings sonne am I A Prince that will not let his mercy die I 'le dye to giue thee life and thou shall rest Henceforth for euer in a Princes brest And this I 'le do to make an end of strife With my owne death I 'le purchase thee a life FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Redemption A Spirituall legacy for the Benifite of the Honorable Lady the Lady Gerreard Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. ⧠TO THE NOBLE Lady Ellenor Lady Gerrard wife to the late Honorable Gilbert Lord Gerrard c. Honorable Lady VVHen sorrowes nights are ouer-past There followes ioyfull day Haplesse extreames can neuer last But styes and posts away To bring glad tidings in sad times I hold it wondrous fit And so doth all our best diuines And you may thinke of it I do present you with a gift Fit for a Princes hand Pray take it 't is the meanes to lift Soules to the holy land The full redemption of mankind I offer to your view A subiect to translate the mind From th' old man to the new I know you seeke Gods holy place And clothes you for his feast With pious loue purenesse and grace True zeale and all the rest Of those rich garments faire and meete For such a Princes Court And doubtlesse you shall one day see 't Though now my by report Imperfectly you are but told Yet quickly you shall see In Syons City wall'd with gold The Lambe in 's Maiestie Aduance your thoughts to heauenly things And you in the end shall soare Vnto that Court where's none but Kings Reioycing euer-more Your Honors deuoted in any Christian office Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT The promised Messias birth Conquers hell death and sinne And t' Eden backe with mickle mirth Brings Adam and his kinne IMmortall soule and my elected Queene Though hitherto thou hast most carelesse beene T' obserue my will yet now incline thy neart Or thou and I for euermore shall part See this epistle truely vnderstood Read it with teares for it is writ with blood A pretious price is found to pay thy det A sacrifice not ordinary to get For thou had but one God God but one sonne That sonne one life that life to death was done To bring old Adam backe to Edens blis And now learne what it cost to finish this I being promis'd came man did disdame me The world was proud and loft to entertaine me My earthly mother had so poore a kinne She was deni'd a lodging in the Inne When night and paine and teares and trauell tooke-her poore Mary was alone and all forsooke-her Sighing and seeking to find place for rest And at the last a stable was the best That could be spar'd this I had power to mend But I came rather like a lowly friend Then like a maister and so caus'd it try'd I came to shew my loue and not my pryde My pathes were plaine my cradle was a cratch I had no friends none shew'd such loue to watch For my arriuall the worlds loue was small Mary was mother mid-wife nurse and all No costly robes nor silkes nor cloth of gold Prouided was to keepe me from the cold Nothing but poore attyre and homely things Thus Princeps Regum terrae King of Kings Begun his Lambe-like raigne yea my pretence Was onely peace my armor innocence I did not many nights in safety nappe Vpon my louing mothers lowly lappe But warning came I must to Aegypt flee Herod was mou'd and making search for mee And I must runne or die for his intent's To wash his hands in blood of innocence The time wherein he did the infants slay Shall still be noted for a dismall day He aym'd at my fall but he fell we see And murther'd many to haue metwith mee But he mistooke himselfe and miss'd his ayme And I to Bothlem safe return'd againe In spite of Herod prophecies did ring That Dauids sonne was borne to be a King I did sustaine temptation for thy sake Much toyle and trauaile I did vndertake To make thy burthen light I dare presume To sweare betweene my cradle and my tombe I knew no perfect rest I had no bed Foxes had holes and birds were furnished With nests and lodgings but my head had none Mine was like Iacobs state when he left home And his old parents to procure his rest From angry Esau with his kin in th' east He was benighted in a strange land where He neither found friends nor companions there His pillow was a stone his bed was earth A naturall musitian made him mirth Surmis'd the Nightingall he could not get Wherein to wrape himselfe from nights could sweat His vncoth roome was all with greene be spred And rouing cloudes were curtaines to his bed His canopy was heauen where he might view Millions of Starres fixt in the blackest blew He went to bed as mildly as a lambe And slept as moderatly as a man And rose as earely as a Larke and fed With more content then e're he went to bed Then towards his vncles he doth post amaine To proue if Rachels loue he may obtaine And at the last his prentiships and paine Winnes his faire bride and he comes home againe With 's Lady in his hand his slockes before His seede about him and his Princely store Comes after with his seruants and thus hee With beauty riches health and dignitie Comes home attended I with Iacob may Compare my trauailes so that by the way I make some difference by the difference gather I left a fayrer home a better father To tread strange pathes where I was neuer knowne I sought for strangers loue and left my owne Iacob was neuer in such miscrie I was both worser cloth'd and lodg'd then he I went to fetch my bride from amongst those That dwelt farre further off and were my foes He payd but loue and seruice for his bride I payd my seruice loue and life beside He brought his home with riches and renowne With ioy and gladnesse vnto Sichem towne And for her mouing tents he hath her giuen Faire fixed temples stately types of Heauen His bed was on the earth mine was within He slept for sorrow but I slept for sinne I rose more earely to prepare thy way For I saw sun-rise before he saw day I 'll bring thee home adorn'd with better things The power and honor of all earthly kings And let their powers together lincked bee All cannot make one worthy t'waite on thee I spent my dayes in sorrow for thy good I sayl'd to th'Cradle in teares to th' graue in blood And more then this I was content to doo My middle time had mickle sorrowes too I liu'd releeuing poore healing and feeding I wipt those eyes that wept wounds that were bleeding I cur'd
and car'd for all that were in woe None can complaine that they away did goe Without a pardon for the great'st transgression All those that brought repentance found compassion I haue beene thine thine both in word and deede My tongue did preach and pray my flesh did bleede From my fresh wounds the smallest droppe that fell Is price sufficient to saue Israell I promise thee beleeue my promise then One drop may saue more worlds then this hath men It is sufficient Know I did not come To plead defficience and pay halfe the summe Let him that 's poore and needy and that must Confesse his pouerty and take on trust I haue no such occasion let him score That 's growne disable beggarly and poore Thy ransome all is payd and thou art rich And still within my store-house there 's so much It neuer can be empti'd do not want My bounty cannot make my blessings scant Desire and I will giue thee more and more Thou canst not make the stocke of mercy poore Presume not neither for I will expresse My Iustice on presumptuous saucinesse The meeke and lowly I delight to guide I owe the greatest punishments to pride My Israell my death hath bought thy life Forget not then the duties of a wife The office of a husband I haue showne In greater measure then the world hath knowne The graue is conquer'd death hath now no sting All foes are vanquisht by thy Lord and King And now thy Christ as chiefe aloft doth raigne And Edens gates are now vnbarr'd againe The Lambe being slaine the fity sword by him Is taken from the angry Cherubin And my faire bride may come and welcome in FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE LORD TO his Bride vpon her Sanctification A Heauenly legacy properly for the vse of the Honorable Sr. Richard Mullineux c. Written By Augustine Taylor Preacher at Hawarden LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE HONORABLE Sr. RICHARD MVLLINEVX Knight and Barronet c. Worthily Honored THere is a sumptuous feast prepar'd Vpon Gods holy hill Of dainties and of plenties shar'd Amongst all those that will With reuerence and louing feare Attend to be the ghests At the Lambs nuptialls to be there The Lord by me requests Your worthy selfe therefore prouide Your wedding garments fit And you by Gods-sonnes-sacred side In glories seate shall fit Peruse these lines and though they be No measures that excell Yet th' are diuine and comes from me That knowes and loues you well Yet for my knowledge and my loue Accept it not but for His glorious name that fits aboue And is th'all gouernour I know you 'll giue this meete respect And for your Noble name Time shall preserue and still protect With the sweete lippes of fame To all posterities to come When this short life is past These lines shall liue and when your tombe Shall perish these shall last Your Honors in the sernice of the Lambe Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Least nation rude should spie some spot In the Messias Bride By 's spirit and 〈◊〉 begot A new and Iustifi'd BEcause I 'm earnest and an vrgent mouer Do not thou take me for a doting louer Why I 'm so loth to leaue thee thou mayst know From her I loue I do not loue to go Something 's are wanting yet the prophet sings That holy men are seru'd with holy things And know I will be sanctifi'd in all That shall come neare me euery one that shall Into my Temple come by my command Shall put their shooes off for 't is holy land I loue this holinesse 't is a kind of beauty And to expresse thy loue and shew thy duty Thou mayst do well to learne it and thou so May be Queene-like in substance and in show Beauty or maiesty lookes well alone But ten times better if these two be one One beauty's honor'd seru'd and praised too And then for many what would many doo They could not do so much and so I thought When with so great a ransome I thee bought Thy spots and freckles all I washt away And made thee such that there is not one may Compare to be thy equall th' art that one Whom all doth like but can be-alike none Each tong tels forth thy praise each pen thy fame A peerelesse Princesse and a matchlesse Dame Chiefe of thy kind and fairest of thy sex A worke that makes admir'd the Opifex Conceiue thy owne estate and thou will tell God is a louing God to Israell I made thee happy yea and holy too For all that earth and earthly kings could do Thou hath beene carried safe on Eagles wings To th'prayse of thine to th'shame of other kings With blood and water I haue washen thee Thy spots of sinne and thy infirmity Are chang'd for honor strength and purity And thou so faire in holinesse art seene Thy heathen neighbours wonder and do seeme To enuy thy estate and maruaile so They make dispute if thou be flesh or no Thee of more pretious mettle they define Some small part mortall but the most diuine Thy pleasant beauty countenance and grace They thinke composed of no peece so base They know thy beauties from the Heauens are For th' earth cannot afford a frame so faire Nature amazed doth her selfe submit To her owne worke and loues to worship it And seekes to find the author of each obiect And findes but one for all and that one's subiect She willingly becomes and doth record Her selfe a seruant and thy loue her Lord. And thus my grace to sanctifie my creature Path blest thee with all helpes of art and nature Hut of thy coate it is the old mans weare Filchy polluted noy some gracelesse geare Made of a web in disobedience frame Stain'd with the spots of infamy and shame 'T was cut out by ambition shapen by pride And stitcht together by that Homicide Impiety and lin'd throughout with sinne Vncleane without but more vncleane within Butten'd with feare garded about with woe And spotted with a thousand plagues and so By flattery sold and bought by arrogance And dayly worne by doating ignorance The old man weares it such a one I say Whose sinnes are greene and yet his haires ar gray I meane him old in vices him eschew Old things are worne away all 's become new And so must thou the coate that 's made for thee Is cut out of the web of puritie Made large and long th' image of excellence Of colour white betokening innocence In-layde with ioy the skirt with safty bound And with true honor treble-garded round Clasped with comforts furnisht with content Ornated with each seemely ornament Fram'd by desire perfected with good will Seame-sow'd with loue and perl'd with holy skill Set thicke with starres attended on with day Compos'd with care and shall looke fresh and gay For euermore I haue thee so attir'd As thou cannot be equall'd but admir'd And it must needes be so since thou art wife T' a Lord in comprehensible thy
fixed firme and sure And shall in blis and endlesse time indure And empty stayes thy leasure come in time These lights below will quickly cease to shine Seeke those aboue and seeking thou shall find The ioyes and glory that 's for thee assign'd Vntill thou come to shew thou meanes to come Apply thy hand and tongue and be not dumbe Send dayly sacrifice thou ought to learne Earth should send thankes to heauen for each good turne It 's all I looke for therefore let me see Some signes of loue ascend from thee to mee And I 'll expect thy comming make it knowne Th' art wholy now thy owners not thy owne Let thy succeeding carriage be so good That by thy acts it may be vnderstood Who is thy Lord and let there be exprest In thee those things that fits a Princesse best From th'hauen of sorrowes to the heauen of blisse Vnto my holy hill from thine abisse Mount with the wings of loue and thou shall bee Partaker of my throne and royalue Let all the gracelesle nations grudge and tell To their great griefe the daughter of Israell Hath marri'd a Prince that euer-more shall raigne Her health and life and honor to maintaine Be not in loue with earth nor earthly things Though for a time th' art troubled with the stings Of death and sinne and hell for thy offences Yet there 's a campe wherein is none but Princes And ioy and blis and peace and to that place I will translate thee from thy life of grace Vnto my life of glory thy protecter Will giue thy head a crowne thy hand a scepter Thy mouth a song to sing truthes excellence Thy backe a robe as white as innocence Thy soule both life and comfort thou shall see More perfect absolute felicity In one dayes length in heauen then if thou were To liue on earth a king ten thousand yeare Thou couldst obtaine and therefore in a word To manifest how Paradise is stor'd As things beyond thy knowledge I will leaue I must conceale since thou cannot conceiue That thou mayst fully know them hast and come Millions of blessings waites thy welcome home FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord expressing her Gratitude A Spirituall legacy bequeathed to the protection of the Right Honorable the Earle of Cumberland c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes 1623. ⧠TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE FRANCIS CLIFFORD Ealre of Cumberland Lord CLIFFORD Westmerland and Vescy c. Most Noble REligion ioyn'd with valour lookes as well As a faire Diamond set in purest gold These man-like God-like parts in you excell And shall to after ages be inrold In leaues more lasting then the sheetes of brasse And in the fore-head of my diuine verse Your name with fame and honor forth shall passe Into all coasts of this faire vniuerse I do present to your inditious view The pistles 'twixt the Lambe and 's holy Bride A very proper present 't is for you That weares a sword to cause her deside Strike still in truths defence and you shall see Your euening crown'd with glorious victory Great Lord my natiue place neighbours your north Then since my soule inhubits in that soyle And since my muse bath wing and will flie forth She 'll tell you of more ioyes then life hath howres And lookes for welcome in your fairest towers Your floods and fords are faire your swans but few But if you please with gracious eyes to view My diuine verse and therein take content I 'll build your trophies betweene tweed and trent Your Honors truely obseruant Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT Glad Israels of-spring tunes her voyce Of gratitude to sing Accounts her selfe an vnfit choyce To Queene so great a King IF earthly kin may send t' a heauenly King Or if thy greatnesse will heare meanenesse sing Accept the sacrifice I now bestow My heart is high although my voyce be low And since thou vnderstands my thoughts before They be transform'd to breath and passe the doore Of my vnready lips my confidence Is that thou will maintaine my innocence And make my worke according to my will I know thy mercy and power continue still And since I share of both let it be seene Such qualities as doth become a Queene I doe not want and then the world so wide Shall blesse thee for thy bounties to thy Bride My gracious Lord I haue a great desire To sing thy prayses in the sacred quire And will vpon condition I may finde Thy heauenly graces vnto me assign'de In so great measure that I may approue My bounty and thy duty and my loue Tenne thousand thankes that it hath pleased thee With mercies eyes to view my miserie My griefe 's forgotten and my ioy growes full My crimson spots are chang'd to whitest wooll My soule 's content my brest can scarce containe My guilty garment that was dy'd in graine Past alteration is restor'd by thee From sinnefull red to perfect purity Thy day dissolu'd my night thy cares my feares Thy drops of blood hath stanch'd my drops of teares When I remember my estate at first Griefes bitternesse threatens my heart shall burst Feare keepes possession and that feares leads paine And paine brings death and thus I 'm partly slaine With thinking on my miseries After these Sad thoughts are past which I do pay as fees For my offences ioy comes in againe When I consider my king doth remaine A glorious conquerour of all my soes Now that I may my thankfulnesse disclose Assist me Lord and lend such grace to me As may preferre a sacrifice to thee Lapt in a sacred song that I 'm indu'd With the poores payment perfect gratitude Take this succeeding witnesse my good Lord For all thy blessings all I can afford Out of my borrow'd store is onely prayse It doth become the iust thy Prophet sayes Daily to render thankes vnto thy name I being iust through thee must do the same Or shew my selfe forgetfull I would bee As farre from that as I wish that from mee For my creation that it was thy will To shew thy loue and grace and power and skill In making nothing something and in that Placeing such beauty as is wonder'd at By heauen and earth and that of all this all Thou hast made me thy Princesse principall And to adorne my state made all thy store I giue thee thankes and I can giue no more For my election I do much reioyce Thou would vouchsafe to make so meane a choyce And was so mighty but each Dauid sings It fits th' Almighty to doe mighty things When out of Eden I forsaken fell Set in the open fields my shame to tell I grew in nature and in number great The earth was spacious yet had ne'er a seate Wherein the sonnes of Adam neuer sate Then since it pleased thee t' illuminate All nations and the best of all to choose To make thy one let that one neuer
do Eu'ry attendant that belongs 〈◊〉 Your Honor either fastned by the linckes Of loue or duty wisedome 't were me thinkes And pollicy and honor to respect All loues and dutyes with such meete respect As prudence may proportion some there are Knowes you but by report that would not spare Their liues and treasures t' expresse Derbyes worth To keepe the Eagle famous in the North Pitty it were that those that loues you best Should loose their loues and be regarded least And pitty 't were that those that loues you not Should be respected and the rest forgot That peace and loue within your walles may stand Resolue like Dauid when he tooke in hand The gouernment of Israell these things He vow'd t' obserue vnto the King of Kings Mercy and iustice I will sing to thee And in my house with such integrity I doe intend to liue that men shall tell The Lord bestow'd his crowne and scepter well I will attempt no wicked thing at all The faithlesse and the froward neuer shall Possesse my smallest fauours I doe hate The proud and haughty and I 'll ruinate The slanderer the flatterer and the proud Neither my court nor kingdome hath allow'd A resting place all those that maketh ties And loues deceipt I vtterly dispise The charitable faithfull meeke and free Are onely chosen seruants vnto mee Right Noble Earle let Dauids Princely minde Lodge in your Lordly brest let all those finde Protection from your Honor that maintaine Publike and priuate Stanleys Stainlesse name Do not guild Parasits prayse it 's but a blast But guild that frame in which your name shall last Defend those that defend your Honor and Those that giue you their hearts giue them your hand Your countenance shining as it ought and may Comforts your followers as the Sunne doth day It is examin'd and 'tis vnderstood The Isles are peopl'd with more bad then good Since enemies doe spring as thicke as weedes The shrub's the saffest 't is the Cedar needes Supporting to withstand the furious winds 'T is onely my affection that me binds T' aduise my Lord although Idare not bet That super senes intellexi yet I know what 's fit to boast I 'm not allow'd I 'm proud of nothing but that I 'm not proud I 'll tell some things I know and some I doubt There are some setches their best treasures out Of Derbyes Earledome thence they cloath and feast And gaines most by you and yet loues you least Trust but a few let not those that delights To steale your Eagles feather t'imp their kits Steale both your gaine and Honor. Moses sings God carn'd Israell once on Eagles wings From Pharaohs sury and so did expresse His power and loue in seas and wildernesse Those he lou'd he deliuer'd all the rest He restlesse left to learne at him it 's best And charge your Eagle as she doth respect The fauours of her Lord that she accept None neither vnder nor vpon her wings But friendly ones that 's onely those that brings Pledges of loue and duty then shall those That publicke dares nor be but priuate foes To Derbyes Honor quickly proued bee And this a pious course and pollicie Scorne all base mettle and as Salomon would Haue all his vessells made of purest gold And counted siluer base doe you like him Shut vp your Lordly brest and let none in But choycest chiefest men and looke they bee All truely furnisht with some qualitie Worthy an Earles respect for sayth the stery The Moone among the clouds looseth her glory But if sh'attended be with Starres of light Showes as she ment to make a day of night He his owne goodnesse seales and 's greatnesse saues That keepes himselfe vnstain'd with fooles and knaues Maintaine your state and those that truely loue it And all shall stumble that would steppe aboue it For too much lowlinesse and clemencie None should be blam'd yet there 's some vice we see Proceedeth from these vertues some repent Their humblenesse because it breeds contempt Vertues may be mistaken blessings vs'd Are blessings still but cursings being abus'd Your gracious clemency hath beene to all So largly show'd that my pen freely shall Record it to the times to come Who can Not tell and testifie a noble man Should be both Lambe and Lyon-like the first To match the best the last t'ore match the worst So a Lambs meekenesse and a Lyons might In great men claimes a dwelling as their right Both lodge in you and I do smell a sauor Proceed from Derby both of force and fauour Which your crest claimeth in your rights defence Th'Eagle showes power the child showes innocence Your spirit 's Princely like the Eagles and 'T is as the infants meeke but vnderstand Least childishly you construe I 'll tell thee That comprehends not his no billitie And wonder not th' art not intelligent The earth is thine the ayre 's his element He 's witty wise and valorous knowes his measure He smites not Lazarus and he sooths not Caesar The good he nourisheth and the bad he spares not The lowly he loues well for the proud he cares not Mercy did neuer find a humaine brest Allow'd her better lodging ' mongst the rest Of 's vertues Iustice sits true Princesse like She will lift vp the sword but 's loath to strike Because she knowes God list not iustice try By 's threatning Isacke when the ram did dye Bounty adornes his hand and sacred loue Guids both his words and actions the white doue Of innocence hath brought him Manna t'eate And nurst him so well he 's as good as greate If any aske in whom this wealth is stor'd I say in Derbyes Earle my louing Lord They say in Courts men longest keepe their places If they can patiently receiue disgraces And tender thankee but it were better dwell With Lot in Bela where no dangers swell Then in the fayrer plaines that lyes too low Which Iordans streames hath leaue to ouer-flow The Eagle's wise and betweene tweed and d ee Inioyes such store of happy libertie As well might please a Prince tweed speakes your fame Ribl's your seruant mercy knowes your name Commands his fruitfull shores fayre dee doth meane The treasures in or by his holy streame To tender as your due and as his duty And in a word examine but what beauty The North containes and in loue as 't is fit Both are at your dispose the North and it God that doth all things well hath order giuen To beautifie the earth as well as Heauen Veiwe the aetheriall region and there see The glorious frame of that great canopie Seemes to be nayl'd with starres and in such wise They are asign'd their places in the skies By admirable skill the Heauens expresse About each greater light millions of lesse Doe still attend by loue together knit Both to adde honor to themselues and it Men are so plac'd on earth th' earth doth afford Thousands of seruants to attend one Lord You
THat I thus Register your worthy names 'T is no dishonor for my gift's Diuine You are faire Chesters pillers and maintaines Her royalties since you doe all combine In such a perfect vnion that I find Though you seeme many yet y'haue but one mind You being at one I would your one proue Accept my seruice and giue me your loue Your Worships in Gods seruice AVGVSTINE TAYLOR TAYLORS EPISTLE to the Honorable and VVorshipfull Soâ—ieties of the well Gouerned City of West-Chester c. GOD that of nothing hath so great things made So many and so glorious may perswade The created the Creator intends Some speciall good whereto the finall ends Of euery creature leads which act discouers Nothing was made to serue it selfe but others As nothing made it selfe it must needs bee Nothing was made to serue it selfe we see A power that sends and suffers good and ill The made is subiect to the makers will The Heauens it seemes were made to serue the ayre The ayre to serue the earth the earth doth share Her store to serue the beasts and foules which feede Although to them vnknowne to serue mans neede The Sunne doth serue with light the clouds with raine The fire with heate the cooling springs remaine To serue the swelting soule all things that moue Are tokens manifest the makers loue Which both submit and serue at mans dispose The question is man being Lord of those By lycence giuen him from the onely king Let him beare rule if he bound to bring His seruice as a subiect or if hee Being seru'd by others may claime soueraigntie And onely seru'd himselfe I answere thus God did make all things good man optimus Iudu'd wrth reason onely to expresse His makers glory and 's owne holinesse But was not made to serue himselfe for God Teacheth subiection both with staffe and rod The good the staffe supports to flourish still The bad the rod corrects to punish ill Man is Gods Image and in that is showne God did make man that man shold make God knowne Gods power and prayse should euery where be spred For what 's not knowne cannot be worshipped Then ayme to do your office that you may With much content tell many a happy day On earth of grace and one in Heauen of glory Obserue the stature's in the sacred story Honor the Lord fight in his truths defence Cloath you and your in coates of innocence Euer support the good suppresse the ill This the meanes to keepe your station still Beleeue releeue and as you loue the Lord Maintaine such ministers as giue his word A perfect true construction haue a care The selfe conceipted Schismatickes that are Not pure in life but in opinion doo Not onely wrong themselues but others too Since there is but one God and that one hath But one truth to direct vs in one path That leads to endlesse blisse it fits your place To giue the Preachers of it so much grace As bounty and affection can afford As you haue grace by the incarnate word And promises of glory euer see Such honor giuen to the ministrie As God himselfe commanded and mongst all Th'Embassadors made Euangellicall Cut out rewards according to their merits And know thus much those that some gifts inherits Aboue the rest are worthy more respect Because those gifts are signes they were elect By Gods diuine decrees for we should still Farre more by heauenly then by humaine will Enter the Temple th' alter to imbrace Not with the armes of nature but of grace Truth should haue trumpets to divulge her will Not such as sounds too often but sounds shrill The Church is iniur'd by a number such As keepeth silence or else speakes too much Truth 's sicke and like to dye vnlesse she doo Find speciall friends both good and great ones too As Naomi is alone without a Ruth A sad forsaken widow such is truth Without'n true supporters be you then As you are principals mongst many men Of Dauids perfect mind when he did sing Of mercy and iustice to his Lord and King Oh imitate him with a free consent You are the Cities starres whose gouerment Commandeth millions and your houses bee The Cities schooles where all the rest should see Peace pyety bounty loue and decencie Cherish the vertuous and all goodnesse grace Looke on th' offenders but with halfe a face Banish the bad and doe the good adore Fauour not Parasites rather feede the poore Seeke for the loue of all because 't is prou'd The strongest man is he that 's best belou'd What you may do to learne do not request But striue to know what will become you best Your places are both great and worthy and Vnfit for those that doe not vnderstand Your City's free and ancient and may boast Of better Lawes then those that glory most Your orders and proceedings all are such I know no City that may speake so much Of her owne prayse so iustly there 's not any Hath had so worthy gouernours so many So generous still may faire Chester bee Blest with such heads that true prosperity And peace and plenty in your wals may dwell And that your charge you may discharge as well As Dauids worthies did in Israell Iacobs good God protect and keepe you still And make you Citizens on faire Syon Hill FINIS