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
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
iorney with great paine But with farre greater Honor came againe My Prince I know thy day disolu'd my night Thy heauy burthen made my burthen light Thy purple robe di'd red with my offence Bought me a coate as white as innocence Thy thorne's my crowne thy reeds my scepter and Thy death 's my life my faith doth vnderstand Thy blood 's the fountaine wash'd my soule from sin Thy wounds the gates to let me enter in And that wound in thy side doth this impart That thou intends to lodge me in thy heart And made thy passage ready the vailes rent Makes me despise th' earth for I 'm consident Thy cities gates wide open I behold And who'ill be pleas'd with leade that may haue gold My Lord I will not heauen is my home And I 'll not let thee goe before I come To share part of thy glory I am thine And my faith tels me that thy kingdome 's mine I know and do beleeue this and I trust My seat's made in the mansion of the iust And for that place I 'm bound in the meane time That I in all my actions may shew thine I 'm furnishing my selfe and I will ayme To weare my robes for th' honor of thy name I 'll first put on obedience and applie My selfe t' attend vpon thy Maiestie With dilligence and with religious feare Thy law I 'll study and thy world I 'll heare Stife-neck'd rebellion I will neuer know My power shall be bestow'd for to bestow Loues legacies on thee at thy command My inward heart and my externall hand Shall purpose and dispose and to thy throne I 'll offer both my owners and my owne Thy messengers and ministers I 'll giue Their honor and respect and striue to liue So carefully and free from all offence As one that ne're knew disobedience Although whilst my poore soule is lapt in flesh It 's cloth'd with sorrow and with sinfulnesse Yet with such holy feare I 'll spend my time Thou 'll please to say my sinnes are none of mine They shall be done s'vnwillingly my flesh I know well is betroth'd to guiltinesse But not by my consent I doe much ill And Lord thou knowest I do 't against my will Sinne dwelleth in me and muah'ill contriues T' effect much mischiefe and vnkindly striues To burthen me Lord how shall I 't preuent Since I am both guilty and innocent The flesh being mine the sinnes say so are they Yet since my will ne'er will'd to disobey Thy ordinances do thou plead my cause And if I perish vnder Moses lawes Let me appeale to my Messias grace And there find comfort I will seeke thy face But not presumptuously as Mary came Poore woman burthen'd both with sinne and shame Into the house where once thou sate to eate And well considering that her sinnes were greate Presum'd not to behold thy face but kept Behind thy backe and there kneel'd downe and wept And for a sinners sacrifice most meete Dropt pearle-like teares vpon thy pretious feete And gladly washt them and with her heads-haire Carefully wipes them dry to leaue them faire And with th' imbraces that best fits a friend And many louing kisses makes an end Euen so my gracious Lord I come to thee With many faults and much humilitie Knowing my blemish I 'm afraid of blame And being laden both with sinne and shame Willing to bide my face wash wipe and weepe Or any measures sinners ought to keepe Wishing with Mary my release to winne I craue my loue might couer all my sinne My Christ my loue is true and as it were Ioyned and mixed with a reuerent feare To make it perfect lend thy gracious skill To make my worke as proper as my will Vouchsafe to mend what is in me amisse It is both for thy honor and my blisse The old man 's crucifi'd and I 'm new borne I 'ue left my chaffe and I expect thy corne FINIS THE EPISTLE OF THE BRIDE TO her Lord containing her Petitions A Legacy spiritually composed for the gracious suruey of the Right Reuerend Father in God IOHN Lord Bishop of Chester c. By Augustine Taylor Preacher and Minister in the Church of God LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1623. TO THE RIGHT REVERENT FATHER IN GOD IOHN by Diuine Prouidence Lord Bishop of Chester c. Most Worthy Lord IF for your gracious fauours vnto mee My loue and seruice can e're make amends Both are at your dispose and you shall see I 'll ranke your name amongst my noble friends And no dishonor to your Honor for I bring not th' offring of a monitor But of one that wonld be admonished At your dispose you are as'twere my head Learn'd Prince of Preachers whose celestiall voyce Contracts a King to willing audience Accep't these lines and I 'll maintaine my choyce Is the true Image of true excellence 'T is inward ioy to mee to see men note Me clothed in a shâ—ed of Chester scoate It is a robe of honor and maintain'd By Chesters Lord vnwronged and vnstain'd My gracious Lord mistake me not I do Present with reuerence and humility These to your Lordshâ—p they belong vnto Your Honor onely Not presumptuously I eternize your name but with regard And your free Patronage is my reward Bestow it then and for your share doth rest Both all my all and of my all the best Contracted to your Lordship with the bands of true affection Augustine Taylor THE ARGVMENT As harrowing after sowing fits So the Bride wraps her will In prayers and her plants commits Ther Lord in Syon hill LOrd be not angry that I stay so long I would I will not leaue thee if I wrong Thee or my selfe with troublesome attempts Since mercies lawes poore weakenesse still exempts From punishment for commonly we see Weaknesse acts none but her owne iniury Then since she punisheth her owne transgression To chastice her againe were meere oppression Pardon me Lord for I am forc'd to speake Channells o're charg'd with water needs must breake Into the neighbouring lands and cooles the plaines With the moyst land-blood of their too full vaines My heart 's the fountaine and my tong 's the brooke Wherein flowes all my passions Ouer-looke Her fruitlesse inundations I request Conceiue the baser but receiue the best They both proceede from loue and can loue cire I know she may but what man will preferre Complaints against vnfained loues offence None for 't would argue hate to innocence I know thy nature's gracious and Intreate Since thou art better pleas'd to blesse then beate Say not my sinnes are sinnes make good of ill Although they be my workes th' are not my will My God thou knowest it well and since I haue Promis'd thee some good seruice I must craue Thy fauours to performe it thou must breede Th' originall in me of will and deede For any good and first I humbly pray Increase my faith that the foundation may Vphold and honor all the vpper parts Of