Wounds bestow'd No mean disgrace from nobler Hands had flow'd But all my Spleen and Anger moves To see a base ungrateful Slave His Benefactor 's Passions brave An unoblig'd a great Man's Scorn I had without Reluctance born But here I Pardon crave Fond sensless Thoughts Where heavenly Patience grows It no such nice Distinction knows Ne're values Men nor Injuries But lifts its humble Eyes To Him whose glorious Hand bestows the Victor's Prize Talk not of Patience if thy Hand must choose Thy Burden or the Weight refuse Patience regards not What nor Who An Injury may do But to the sacred Exercise submits And easy under every Trial sits It the Creator not the Creature views And with submissive Eyes pursues Its Maker's Hand and can repose On what its Maker's Hand bestows He knows small Sufferings for his Master's Name A vast Reward may claim Not to Deserts by Justice paid But by free Goodness down to humble Hearts convey'd Up then for Wars prepare If Thou the Crown wouldst wear Patience if unfading found Patience may at last be crown'd If thou manly Deeds pursue The Promise is to Sufferers due Rest by Labour is obtain'd And Victory by Fighting gain'd Believer Help then O help Me Lord by powerful Grace Impossibilities deface Impossibility's no more When Grace has fill'd the Heart before Thou know'st my Weakness Lord how soon My Hope my Strength my Vigor's done Little I little can perform To stem the Tide or face the Storm O touch my Soul with Heavenly Love Till soaring tow'rd those Joys above Afflictions I with Scorn may view And still a steady Course pursue To suffer Lord a while for Thee Must bring Salvation sure and Happiness to me XX. Miserable and Poor and Blind and Naked Believ LOrd to Thee I 'll now confess All my own Unrighteousness All my own Infirmity I 'll acknowledg Lord to Thee Oft I 'm griev'd and oft dejected When with smallest Pains affected Oft a brave Resolve I take But the least Temptations shake All my Courage and confound Me When those Common Straits surround Me. Sometimes from the meanest Cause Hell a strong Temptation draws When a sudden Blast o'rethrows Me And from all Assurance blows Me. See my Wretchedness and see Lord what Weakness reigns in Me Save Me snatch Me from the Deep Lest I there for ever sleep Most this grieves Me most it wounds Me That my Lust so soon confounds Me Tho my Soul be ne're consenting Yet the Labours of preventing Too uneasy make my Life Wearied with the constant Strife Plainer still my Frailties show While corrupted Notions flow Fast upon my Mind but prove Tedious grievous to remove Dearest Lover Lord of Souls Whose Almighty Power controuls All above and all below Pity on thy Slave bestow All my Toils and Labours view And with aiding Grace pursue Fill Me with Celestial Strength Lest rebellious Flesh at length O're my fainting Mind prevail And my inward Wisdom fail Tedious Wars may fatal be And betray my self to Me. What a wretched Life is This Where we ne're can Sorrows miss Where Perplexities and Woes Crafty Friends and mighty Foes All my Steps around enclose Some departing more approaching And the Tempter more encroaching Sorrows still on Sorrows ride With a dismal pompous Pride Like the Higre on the Tide O who can love a Life distracted so All whose Streams with Wormwood flow Fill'd with Trouble bankt with Woe How 's that true Life which Death and Plagues creates Yet how great a Number rates All those Cares as Delicates They 'l cry The World is false the World is vain And yet from it can't refrain Lust will still the Field maintain The World to Us our fleshly Lust commends That our Pride of Life pretends That our greedy Eye defends But when we think of Griefs and think of Pains Griping Mischiefs weighty Chains Hatred then triumphant reigns A vitiated Tast the Mind deceives And so false a Gusto leaves As for Honey Gall receives God then the Mind can neither taste nor see Nor how Sweet or Gracious He Nor how pleasant Truth may be But those who throughly can the World despise To their Maker only Wise Love their Heavenly Exercise They know those Sweets to well-purg'd Minds ensur'd And of Inferiour Longings cur'd Live from the World 's false Snares and wheedling Arts secur'd XXI And now Lord what is my Hope truly my Hope is even in Thee Believ LIfe my Soul of Peace possest On thy Dear Redeemer's Breast He 's the Saints Eternal Rest Dearest Sweetest Jesus store Me with Love to love thee more Than I could the World before Make Me love Thee more than Feature More than all the Pride of Nature In the fairest softest Creature More than Honour more than Glory More than boundless Territory Or a Mighty Name in Story More than Subtilty or Parts More than Riches or than Arts Or the Joys a World imparts Make Me love Thee more than Fame Or the loudest sounding Name Or than Comforts Heavenly Flame More than all those treasur'd Sweets Hope in every Promise meets When it dawning Glory greets More than Merits or Desire Or than thy Superiour Fire Can with all its Beams inspire More than Pleasure more than Gladness Or a Mind when purg'd from Sadness Extasy'd to Holy Madness More than Captain Angels more Than those Spirits which before Thy All-glorious Throne adore More than I believe or see More than all on Earth can be Which my God which is not Thee Thou my Lord my God art blest Goodness centers in thy Breast God most High and most Puissant God most full and Allsufficient Sweetest Kindest Fairest Loving And thy Kindness still improving All that 's Good and Perfect we Can at once discern in Thee All thy noblest Gifts and Light Move me not nor e're excite My faint Wishes only Thee Lord I pant and long to see O my Heart can never rest Satisfy'd within my Breast Till my Thoughts above can rise All created Joys despise Far above all Blessings soar And with Thee thy Self adore Jesus O my Love my Spouse Lord of purest chastest Vows To Whom humble Nature bows O who 'l give swift Wings to Me That I might from Fetters free Fly to Heaven and rest with Thee When O when Lord shall my Heart Gain in Thee my Love a Part And discern how sweet thou art When shall I from Sins at leisure And possest with sacred Pleasure Long and Love beyond all Measure Oft I sigh and oft I groan Much my Suffering loud my Moan In this Vale of Tears alone Oft disturb'd distracted I Hindred clouded fetter'd ly And can't to thy Embraces fly Let my Sighs my Groanings move Thee Tho distrest on Earth I love Thee Let my Sighs and Groanings move Thee Jesus O Eternal Light With Immortal Glories bright Comfort of the wandring Soul Tho my Language Silence be Silence can be heard by Thee While I thus my self condole O how long how long Dear Lord When wilt thou one Smile
and Integrity Lest Scandal yet should from his Silence rise Or Fools should think their lavish Censures wise Sometimes He 'd check their Follies with severe Replies Why then shouldst thou poor fading Mortals fear Who live to Day to Morrow won't appear Fear God but live above their Pride and Scorn Whose Flouts and Censures on themselves return Who wound themselves when at thy Head they fly And ne'r can put their Make 's Judgment by Look up to God but ne'r with Fools contend Tho with their weight Thou seem at first to bend Dash'd with their Impudence and all confus'd And undeserv'dly by the Croud abus'd Fret not nor with thy own impatient Air The Beauties of thy glorious Crown impair Wait thou on God He 'll quickly rescue Thee Set Thee from Wrongs and all Confusions free And as thy Suffering's great thy kind Reward shall be XXXVII Casting all your Care upon him for he careth for you Chr. TO find Me O my Son thy Self forsake When from Self-fondness throughly wean'd More great thy Gains will be Grace full Possession of Soul shall take When by resigning Vertue clean'd And from Relapses free Believer How far Lord and in what must we So freely leave our selves for Thee Christ My Rules in all both Things and Times obey There 's no Reserve but stript of All Thou more belov'd wilt be Thou of thy Self I 'm sure can'st ne'r convey While Thee the Flesh his own can call A Title good to Me. The sooner thou can'st lay Dear Self aside The stronger far the more sincere Thy Thoughts to God shall move The sooner I 'll within thy Breast reside Thy Soul more to thy Maker dear Thy Minutes kinder prove Some to their God by halves themselves resign And won't on Providence rely But for themselves provided Some give up All but tempted soon decline And to secure old Property Throw Truth it self aside Those who at uncorrupted Freedoms aim And Union and Fruition too With Me their Lord above Must daily and at once themselves disclaim The Flesh with serious Hate pursue And scorn inferiour Love Oft have I said it and repeat it now Give o're thy self thy self resign And inward Peace obtain Give All for All No blind Reserves allow On God with steddy Faith recline And God thy Soul shall gain No Darkness then no Chains shall compass thee Sigh then and pray and strive to get That self-resigning Grace Then Naked quite from vain Pretences free Thou shalt above thy Nature set A naked Christ embrace Die to thy self and thou shalt live to Me Vain Troubles then vain Dreams and Cares Away like smoke shall fly Then no immoderate Fears shall torture thee No sensual Loves shall spread their Snares For thee but sink and die XXXVIII Commit thy Works to the Lord and all thy Thoughts shall be establish'd Christ MY Son be watchful and thy Self command No Slave but Master o're the Creature stand Let God no little Mercenary Tool No fawning Thing thy Thoughts or Actions rule An Israelite indeed by Grace made free No present Joys but future Hopes can see Looks but askance on what beneath him lies But with an Eagle's sharpness views the Skies Makes every Creature as by God design'd His useful Slaves as that Almighty Mind All to Submissions first to Lordly Man confin'd Judg not of all Events by what appears False Stories oft abuse our Eyes and Ears God's Help like Amram's Son of old implore He 'll guide thee better and instruct Thee more Than all thy little Teachers could before Moses in doubts straight to his Maker flew The Strength of Prayers that Man of Wonders knew No Dangers He no noisy Tumults fear'd While God so quickly to his Prayers appear'd Fly Thou too to Him and with Vows sincere Approach thy God and his Advices hear Then Gibeon Jacob's careless Tribes abus'd When they to ask his blest Advice refus'd And well forg'd Tales believ'd and foreign Dainties us'd XXXIX Lest your Hearts be overcharg'd with the Cares of this World Chr. MY Son to me commit thy weighty Cares I 'll manage order bless thy great Affairs Believ I Lord my All submit to Thee For vain my little Cares would be Should I thro' future Secrets pry And not with thy reveal'd Advice comply Chr. My Son Man hotly oft a Toy pursues But when He near at hand the Quarry views Laughs at his Purchase gives himself the Lie And straight at large his random Fancies fly He 's wise who can Himself in little things deny He 's most a Christian who Himself denies He walks at large and down in Safety lies Hell's Prince indeed no fatal Arts forbears But Day and Night he lays his deadly Snares Longs for a straggling Soul a thoughtless Prey Watch then to me with strict Devotions pray I 'll guard thy Sleeps by Night secure thy Joys by Day XL. He who glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Believer LORD what 's poor Man or Man's infected Race So pity'd yet so kindly own'd by Thee How Lord can He deserve thy Grace Or how should I deserted be Can I murmur or complain If I can't my Prayers obtain This I 'll acknowledg Nothing Lord am I Can Nothing do and Nothing good contain Defective too and useless lie Till I thy kind Assistance gain And both loose and cold must be Till instructed Lord by Thee Thou art and art the Same eternally Good Holy Just and all thy Actions so But backward and unactive I And thro a thousand Changes go And uncertain Vanity Has its Center Lord in Me. But when thy Helping Hand sufficient sure Without Man's Aids supports my trembling Soul My State may mend my Self endure Unchang'd and reach the glorious Goal And enjoy Security Trusting resting Lord in Thee Could I but cast all Worldly Comforts by Forc't from without or for Devotions sake And to thy self for Shelter fly When Man of Me no Care would take I might justly hope for Grace And again to see thy Face Prais'd be my God who grants Me all Success So blest can I vile Nothing fondly boast It should my Self-Conceit repress To think of Grace or Glory lost He who gapes for Praise or Pleasures Loses Vertue 's surest Treasures In Thee to glory to rejoice in Thee Is real Glory and substantial Joy Prais'd be thy Name thy Works by Me This Lord may all my Hopes imploy Tho I 'm all Infirmity Always all my Joy's in Thee Let Fools seek Worldly Praise I beg but Thine praise Honour Worldly Greatness when compar'd With endless Glories dimly shine Blest Trinity my God! my Guard Glory Honour Praise to Thee Thro Eternal Ages be XLI I receive not Honour from Men. Christ THO trampled o're when others thrive and rise Fret not my Son but raise thy faithful Eyes To Me no worldly Scorns shall then thy Heart surprize Believer I 'm Blind Lord lost in Vanity Else O my God I soon should see No Creature e're had injor'd Me Nor could I now complain
which fly In my crazy Brain defy Save Me O endless Truth from Vanity O come sweet Jesus come to Me All my Lusts will fly from Thee Pardon O pardon Lord my wandring Mind Which when for earnest Prayers design'd Can such foolish Objects find I love the World too well and Thoughts will fly Where e're the vain Affections lie And the Tempter's always nigh Oft with my Lips I pray when Lord my Heart Will from that holy Duty start And from Thee my God depart Truth spoke the Word The Treasure holds the Mind The Good are all to Heaven inclin'd But I with worldly Glory blind I love the Flesh and fleshly Things pursue But could the Spirit the Flesh subdue To my God I should be true Of what I love I love to talk and hear And home the fair Ideas bear And esteem them always dear Blest Lord is He who leaves the World for Thee And by a perfect Victory Lives from Nature's Furies free Calm is his Conscience and his Prayers are pure And He 's of Angels Bliss secure Nor can the Thoughts again of worthless Earth endure XLIX I have fought a good Fight henceforth there remains for me a Crown of Righteousness Christ MY Son Since from above thou feel'st a sacred Flame For from above those holy Ardours came Long'st to be gone and with a cloudless Eye To see my Face and grasp Eternity Enlarge thy Heart and with a vast Desire Blow up thy Wishes and advance thy Fire Thank thank thy God whose kind indulgent Love To visit Thee stoops from those Realms above Enflames thy Soul and with a powerful Hand Supports thy Heart and makes thee firmly stand This neither from thy Thought nor Labour flows But wondrous Grace the wondrous Boon bestows To make thy Valour shine more dreadful bright To humble Thee before the Ghostly Fight And Thee to Godlike Loves and holy Works excite The Fire may burn but Smoke attends the Flame And holy Souls whose inward Fervours aim At heavenly Bliss yet never hope to be From fleshly Lusts or dark Temptations free They love their God but with severe Allays Nor can thy Fire without incumbrance blaze Flesh has its own Convenience first in view And can't with perfect Love Eternal Joys pursue Ask not abundance nor Delights for Thee But what accepted with thy God may be Think well Thou 'lt find my Orders wiser far Than all thy Wishes or Attainments are I know thy Wishes and have heard thy Groans Thou long'st for Palaces and glittering Thrones Shining with endless Joys and fix'd on high Where God's blest Sons enjoy their Liberty But stay a while To Day 's a time for Fight For Pains and Trials thou wouldst glut thy sight With boundless Good but must thy Heats rebate I only AM for ray approaching Kingdom wait Thou must be longer exercis'd and tri'd Have Comforts here but not be satisfi'd Take Courage then be strong to do to bear A Man quite new a Man quite chang'd appear Renounce thy Will and oft against it move Not Thine but other Mens Designs improve They shall be heard when all thy Prayers are lost They shall but ask and have thy Words and Hopes be croft They shall be talk'd of Thou in Silence die They trusted useless Thou and slighted lie Nature will flinch at this but bravely born Victorious Silence will thy Life adorn God's Servant Thus Thus must his Son be taught Thus to deny and rule Himself be brought It 's to be mortifi'd indeed to see And suffer what 's so hard my Son to Thee And tho subjected to a Power Divine It 's hard rebellious Nature to confine And the resisting Will to God's Commands resign Weigh then my Son the Fruits of all thy Pains Their swift Conclusion and their mighty Gains Such Meditations will no Wounds procure But raise thy Courage and thy Heart obdure Thy Will here quitted shall be gain'd above There thou 'lt obtain thy Wishes and thy Love Good thou shalt have and never fear to lose Thy Will as Mine no private Interest chuse None shall resist Thee there nor stop thy Way But to thy utmost Hopes thy Soul convey I 'll give thee Honours for Disgraces past For Sorrows Praises and a Throne to last Tho when on Earth beneath the meanest cast Thus shall the Fruits of just Obedience shine And humblest Penitents obtain Rewards Divine O then to human just Commands submit Beneath their Laws with humble Patience sit Thy King 's thy Friends thy Parents Pastor's Will Take well and with sincere Address fulfil Let Brutes in various ways their Thoughts engage Enjoy the Praises of a flattering Age Brag of a thousand Honours spread their Fames And to the Stars exalt their lofty Names Boast not of such Atchievements but when Grace Makes Self to God resign its darling place Come Life come Death let Love thy Heart enflame And in new Hymns of Praise thy gracious Lord proclaim L. Turn Thee unto Me and have Mercy on Me for I am desolate and afflicted Bel. MY God dear holy Father may My Soul Eternal Blessings pay To Thee whose just Resolves have stood Whose Deeds are always kind and good Let Me blest Lord rejoice in Thee But not in other Men nor Me. Thou Lord canst all my Hopes employ My Crown my Glory and my Joy Ah to what can I pretend But what God himself must send All is thine from thee it flow'd But my Age is Lord bestow'd All in Sorrows all in Tears All in tedious Doubts and Fears While the Tyrant Lust appears Lord give thy Childrens Peace to Me Who feed in Comforts light with Thee Thy Peace thy heavenly Gifts infuse And I 'll thy Holy Gifts produce And all to sing thy Praises use But shouldst Thou dear Lord withdraw I should soon forget thy Law Such a Change would make me droop Make me tremble make me stoop Not as when I felt the Streams Of thy Mercies lively Beams And beneath thy Wings could be From design'd Temptations free The Time O righteous Father's now Which must thy faithful Servant prove This happy Moment Lord will show My suffering patient lasting Love That Time Dear Father known of old To Thee has laid its hands on Me When outward Woes my Life should hold But still my Heart should live to Thee I tho grosly slighted here I the weight of Passions bear Yet from thence should quickly rise And above the lofty Skies Bask in thy refulgent Eyes Thus thy Word of old ordains it Thus my present State explains it Lord it 's a Friendly Test of Love When I repeated Sorrows prove From thy All-guiding Providence The great Events on Earth commence I for my Good thy Scourge have known Now better wiser humbler grown Tho Confusion hides my Face I implore thy saving Grace And thy Judgments deeps admire While the Good and Bad expire Since thy prudent Orders shew Equity and Mercy too I Lord thy glorious Name adore Tho compass'd round with mighty Foes Since I
who couldst give thy Fleshy thy sacred Blood By Faith to be my Soul 's Immortal Food O let thy Arms embrace Me Lord while I Here prostrate at thy sacred Footstool lie Till my Devouter Soul approach the peaceful Sky V. Who is able to describe his Glory Christ WOuldst Thou be worthy to participate To eat my Body and to drink my Blood Wouldst thou attain a sinless State Be wholly pure be wholly good Great was the Baptist's Honour who before My self the Gospel-Standard bore Pure are those Angels who on constant Wing Before my Throne Immortal Anthems sing Yet John yet Angels will submisly own Their Lord is kind but their Deservings none What then can Sinners plead or whence can they Pretend to Merits or to Favours due Would they alas their Souls survey Or to Themselves themselves be true They'd to the Dust before my Footstool bow No Merit then but Grace allow They'd all my condescensive Acts adore Their own unfit defective State deplore And with Amazement view that wondrous Love Which at my Table could such Guests approve Thou at my Altars as a Priest canst wait Approach my Presence and my Gifts dispense And Bread and Wine canst consecrate With mighty Words of Mystick Sense What Miracles my Language once could do Those Miracles thy Words renew Mean Matter thence proves a substantial Sign Of Grace Celestial and of Food Divine And by those Ways which heavenly Wisdom trod Sense sees the Matter Faith discerns the God Thou speak'st the Matter still the same remains Yet Strength invisible to all conveys The Mind sublimely entertains And Light thro humble Souls displays Thou seest the Sign couldst thou my Word believe thou 'dst then the inward Part receive Think then what Grace those sacred Hands confer When they imprint the Priestly Character Think what a glorious weight thy Shoulders bear When thou canst in thy Saviour's Room appear A Priest should always bring the Sacrifice Of Holy Converse and an Humble Mind In Him their Pattern vulgar Eyes Of Piety and Love should find With Angels or Angelick Saints below He should his holy Hours bestow When e're He robes himself his Thoughts should be How He may reconcile the World to Me How in his Saviour's Name he 'll intercede And how for Sinners with their Maker plead Think then think how thy Lord was crucifi'd O let his Sufferings melt thy yielding Heart Think how by cruel Hands he di'd That He to all might Love impart Think o're his Love his Life his Innocence From his Example Love commence Mourn o're thy murdering Sins with Sighs Tears Expunge the Follies of thy careless Years Give oft and oft receive that Food design'd To rouze the Sinner and refresh the Mind Mourn too for others Sins and O advise They'd oft remember their expiring Lord And with a grateful Sacrifice For Them his bleeding Wounds record When Thou shalt at my Board devoutly stand And raise thy Consecrating Hand God shall be honour'd Angels shall rejoice My Church adore Me with a chearful Voice New Grace shall every weary Soul revive And we 'll for ever in a blest Communion live VI. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord Bel. MY dearest Lord my surest Guide My God whose Help was ne'r deny'd What shall I do O teach Me Lord I 'm Terror all Confusion all When I my Vileness Lord recal And thy Majestick Height record I die if I abstain and I If I approach unworthy die Shew Me Dear Lord the perfect way Some Exercise before Me lay To fit Me for that sacred Feast It 's good it 's wondrous good to know What Reverence my Soul should show To Thee to be a welcome Guest To taste thy Banquet worthily And sacrifice a Heart to Thee VII Let a Mam examine Himself Christ THE Priest the Private Christian when they dare Approach my Table should with utmost care Their sinful Hearts survey They should with Reverence and Humility Firm Faith and just Resolves to honour Me Their Thoughts in order lay Discourse Receive and Consecrate And in my House with all their best Devotions wait Search thro' thy Conscience where some Taint appears With meek Confession and with mournful Tears O make thy Conscience pure Then when Thou com'st from all Convulsions free Of private griping Guilt thou may'st on Me Rely with Faith secure Hate all thy Sins but hate them more Which by their swift Returns advance thy daily Score Count o're the Bead-roll of thy sinful Deeds Mourn o're that Lust from whence thy Guilt proceeds As from a Poisonous Root O sigh to see thy Thoughts to Earth confin'd Enslav'd to Passions and to Lusts resign'd And all their baleful Fruit Think how thou' rt lost in outward Sense And how thy Phantosms vain from vain Delights commence Think how thou slightst thy Soul 's Internal State How worldly Joys thy holy Flames rebate How hard to Sighs and Tears How swift thou to a loose Debauch canst fly How slow to Rigours and Severity How fond of itching Ears To hear what 's new to see what 's fair And mean and humble things pass with a scornful Air. Mourn o're thy griping Hand thy stingy Heart How wild thy Talk how vain thy silent Part How loose thy Manners are Ill-tim'd thy Actions vast thy Appetite Deaf to thy God but fond of lazy Night And still averse to Care Fond of a Fable Drowsy all When thy poor Soul's Decays for constant Vigils call How Restless till my Holy Days are past How loth to taste of my Immortal Feast How all distracted there Thy Thoughts unhing'd thy Passions quickly rais'd Pointed thy Words thy Censures loudly blaz'd And all thy Dooms severe In Blessings mad in Suffering low Swift in thy boasting Tongue in thy Performance slow These and thy other Sins with Grief confest In this Resolve let all thy Sorrows rest Thy faulty Life to mend Then to my Honour all thy Self resign And let thy Body let thy Soul be Mine To Me thy Thoughts ascend So shall thy Sacrifice be sweet And in his Supper Thou thy Dearest Saviour meet Give but thy Self in this no Sacrifice Can please me more no purer Incense rise From Altars here below If thus a Man with all his Might repent My Grace shall then his Future Woes prevent And Life on him bestow I 'll straight expunge his fatal Score Bless Him with endiess Smiles and mark his Sins no more VIII He endur'd the Cross Christ THUS on the Cross I stretch'd my bleeding Arms And thus my naked Limbs expos'd Thus I dissolv'd dark Hell's malignant Charms And thus thy Wars with Heav'n compos'd I gave my Self a Sacrifice And bore what else thy Soul had born O on my Wounds then turn thy Eyes See how my Brows the sanguine Drops adorn Offer O offer then thy Self to Me A Sacrifice sublim'd and pure O be thy Strength thy best Affections free O may I but thy Self procure Give Me thy Self the Gift I 'll prize But All without thy Self despise
that the Judgment CAnst thou Ah wretched Sinner canst thou still Obey thy own distemper'd Will Canst thou who fear'st an angry Prince's Brow Thy self in Sins against thy Lord allow Hark the dreadful Trumpets sound How they rend the trembling Ground Hark how pale Ghosts Fiends with dismal Shrieks Cries From their Infernal Caverns rise And look with Horror on the flaming Sky And to the rolling Rocks tumbling Hills for Shelter fly See where obedient Angels raise the Bar Where God his great Assizes holds Who sees and scans thy private Sins as far As both the Poles in sunder are Where neither Bribes nor feign'd Excuse Can blind the Judg or Wisdom's Search abuse While his Impartial Doom thy monstrous Guilt unfolds What wouldst thou helpless Creature do What Methods would thy thoughtless Soul pursue Canst thou alone escape the dreadful Test Or in thy Sins without disturbance rest Or will some subtle Advocate appear And plead for and acquit thee there Poor silly Hopes and senseless Dreams On Earth thy humble Cries thy speaking Tears May reach thy mighty Maker's Ears Repentance here begun betimes May cleanse thy ingrain'd Sins thy foulest Crimes But Death for ever bars bright Mercy 's smiling Beams Think'st thou the gloomy Flames of darksome Hell Will only Purgatory prove And when thy Soul in endless Chains shall dwell Thy crying Guilt thy endless Chains remove It 's true indeed thy Sufferings there Shall dark and hideous as thy Sins appear Insatiate Fiends there with their pointed Prongs And fiery Goads and burning Tongues Shall rouze thy tortur'd Soul Thy Glutton Appetite the Pangs shall feel Of Thirst and Hunger Whips of flaming Steel Shall all thy barbarous Thoughts controul Black Streams of burning Pitch and purple Flame Shall there the Wanton Leacher tame The Envious Wretch with many a painful Scowl Thro the waste Shades of hellish Torments howl But still O still shall thy distracted Soul In never-wasting Flames and livid Sulphur roll But what are Flames and Sulphur to Those long unutterable Pains To damn'd Delinquents due Hot Streams may fail and bluest Flames expire But Hell's Immortal Rack disdains The Bounds of Time nor canst thou dream How inconceivably extream The Torments are from Intellectual Fire Think if thou canst O think what dreadful weight Almighty Fury on a Ghost may fling Think with what Woes a dark despairing State Must the distracted Conscience sting There Woes bring Woes and Tortures Tortures breed And Pains and Anguish Pains and Anguish feed Plagues follow Plagues Curses on Curies roar Rage blows up Fury tho enflam'd the more Horrors on Horrors tumble Hells on Hells And the sad Soul first-born of Light Once with internal Glories bright In heavy thickning endless Darkness dwells No short-liv'd Beam can ever find the way To tortur'd Souls from their Congenial Day No Glimpse of Joy in Hell can find a room Or rend th' impenetrable Gloom No Rest no Respit not one single Now Can Vengeance for their Ease allow The damn'd Associates can't one Thought engage In Prayers or Wishes for an end of Woes No Plant of Hope in that waste Region grows But Rage to Malice Malice turns to Rage Could Days could Months could rolling Years Could Time's last running Sands one Moment show From whence one Drop of Hope might flow The blackest Fiend might wipe his scalding Tears But when a thousand fatal Years are told Ten thousand more are still for Pains enroll'd Millions of Millions then enhance the Score And when they 'r past but clear the way for more For ever still that dismal Hell must be And vast as the wide Bounds of vast Eternity What tho Repentance now to thee A tedious Work appears In Hell one Minute shall more dreadful be Than all the Penance of a thousand Years Repent poor Sinner then no more delay No more put off the necessary Day So thou among the Blest at last shall stand And like a Judg the trembling World command Tho mean on Earth and despicably poor The Great the Proud shall there thy Doom endure Then those who scorn'd thy Vertues here Shall at the Bar confus'd appear Admire thy Wisdom and their own despise Which more a Bubble than a Crown could prize Thy Griefs shall then be acceptable found With Favours as with Patience crown'd A Conscience pure obedient innocent A Soul with humblest things content Devotion holy Works shall serve thee more Than worldly Wit or all the Miser's Store Thy Saviour gain'd shall more of Blessings bring Than all the Joys which here from mighty Conquests spring Shouldst thou poor Wretch in Ease and Wealth increase And all the Smiles of flattring Peace Should Sycophants beneath thy Footstool bow And all their Service to thy Greatness vow What Blessing 's this when thou shalt quit the Field And Life to Death's Approaches yield What 's Wealth within the silent Grave Or who 's the Dead-man's humble Slave Only thy Love to God the Test can bear All other Treasures fly like empty Air That Love pulls out Death's mortal Sting Death can't to thee the Fears of Vengeance bring Thou canst unmov'd the Bar and Pit behold In thy Redeemer's Merits bold Approach thy Judg and with a smiling Brow Before his awful Glories bow Till by thy Saviour's tenderest Loves embrac'd With Robes of flowing Joys and Crowns of Glory grac'd XXIV Cease to do Evil learn to do Well I To my Lord have now my self resign'd His Service has engag'd my thoughtful Mind I 've broke the Charms of this deceitful World No more in common Storms or Tempests hurl'd Rise then my Soul O rise to things above O serve thy Lord with watchful fervent Love Vain are thy Vows thy best Resolves are vain If thou thy old thy groveling Thoughts retain On Zeal's bright Wings O to his Bosom fly With Angel-Bands in cheerful Service vie Let no Resistance beat thy Courage down Take up the Cross and thou shalt gain the Crown Here thou may'st mourn there Joys eternal flow Work here there Peace and boundless Pleasures grow Be thou my Soul to sacred Practice true He 'll more than pay the promis'd Glories due Rouse rouse thy Hopes if thou the Wreath wouldst wear But thy Presumption still repress with humblest Fear Perhaps uncertain Doubts distract thee here To know if thou in Good shalt persevere That is thou 'ldst have some Oracle declare How weak thy Thoughts how vain thy Fancies are But were thy Question throughly satisfi'd How wouldst thou then thy flowing time divide Wouldst thou be careful should thy Industry More active then or more illustrious be Do now the same sweet Comforts then shall rise And Strength inform thee from the smiling Skies Leave future things to God's superiour Care And strive to know what his Prescriptions are Search through his Laws and all thy Life shall be Divine and thou from Fears and torturing Passions free What tho the Work be hard the Task severe And various Terrors round Heaven's Ways appear He 's only brave
on his wretched Head if rack'd with Woes And inward Griefs convulsive Throws Forlorn deserted still his Faith can rise And still can pierce the lowring Skies This Man alone Faith's conquering Virtue knows But Ah! how weak dear Lord am I How could I flutter in serener Days And sport and bask beneath thy gentler Rays How bold when Dangers at a distance stood When all thy Ways were smooth and all were Good And always thy Assistance by Nay I have bravely stem'd the threatning Tide Of hellish Malice and of humane Pride And thro afflictive Deserts prest When by thy Conduct and thy Favour blest But 't was not I dear Lord thy mighty Grace And living Beams from thy Illustrious Face Enlarg'd my Courage and confirm'd my Heart But O should once thy Grace depart Shouldst thou desert my Soul no Comforts bring When gathering Storms around me sing How Lord could I support the fatal Smart I know when my Redeemer dy'd When my dear suffering Jesus conquer'd Hell His Flesh beneath Extremes of Anguish fell Thy Saints beneath severe Desertions groan'd By Men afflicted and by Heaven disown'd When in the scorching Furnace try'd Harsh were their Trials but their Faith Divine Did brightest in Affliction 's Midnight shine They stood as Rocks unshock'd unmov'd When by Temptations hideous Tempest prov'd Nay tho they dy'd they still could trust in Thee And chearful Hopes thro' dismal Darkness see But what am I alas how weak how vain If thou my God thy Smiles restrain I sink I drown O save me save me now Unbend thy dreadful threatning Brow E're I among the silent Tombs remain Lord I confess I 'm all impure Like beggar'd Oar drawn from exhausted Veins Which n'er rewards the Owners Cost or Pains I know if for Eternal Rest design'd I must be oft like purest Gold refin'd And oft the fiery Test endure Try me O try me Scorch me Burn me here Till I well purg'd from drossy Earth appear But still with Judgment lash me Lord Not like an off-cast Wretch forlorn abhorr'd Thy roughest Hand O give me Strength to bear Thro' Woes protect me by thy tendrest Care If thou thy Face a while in Anger hide Or in prodigious Gloom reside Shine quickly shine again to me and clear O Sun of Righteousness appear With all thy lovely Beams and Morning Pride When all Hell's Messengers on me With angry Buffets vent their utmost Rage And spiteful Worlds against my Soul engage Be thou with me and tho a thousand Foes Exert their Malice and their Hate disclose Thy Grace my sure Defence will be Affliction makes me humble makes me wise Affliction is Devotion 's Exercise Hope's happy Test Faith 's Ordeal Fire The Death of sensual Lust and vain Desire But when I 've bravely past the threatning Flood The Seas all blushing o're with Crimson Blood Tho Hell 's inveterate Armies still pursue Dear Lord thy Captain-Flame renew Their shatter'd Wheels shall then but slowly move But I thy vigorous Comforts prove And from the wrecky Shore the promis'd Canaan view X. Of his Fulness we all receive and Grace for Grace HA would I hope a lazy Rest to find For Pains created and for Toils design'd Would I supinely snort and streak And only in a drousy Language speak No I 'll all worldly Ease despise And only Patience exercise And while the World dissolv'd in Pleasure lies The Cross I 'll freely take The Cross my Glory make My dearest prize Poor thoughtless Creatures yet inferiour Toys Would rather chuse than these diviner Joys These which their own excel as far As Midday's Sun outshines the Morning Star Those only Shame and Leanness bring But these from Heaven and Vertue spring By God himself on humble Minds bestow'd Tho off that pleasing Tide Sometimes in Ebbs must slide Which lately flow'd Unhappy Men for sensless Freedoms move Which but as Bars to Heavenly Pleasures prove God freely will his Grace bestow But Men ingrateful won't the Donor know We never could exhaust the Spring Could we but fit Receivers bring On humble Hearts God pours abundant Grace But where assuming Pride Can in the Soul reside It quits the Place I hate those Joys which drown my Sense of Sin I hate those Raptures which in Pride begin Not all that 's High is Holy found Nor all that 's sweet with wholesome Goodness crown'd Impurities our Thoughts may seize Our very Dreams our God displease By Grace and by the Rod reform'd my Sense Observes I 'm poor and bare And Mercies only are My sure Defence I 'll humbly then before my Maker bow Nor Pride nor Folly in my self allow The purest Saints are humblest still No vain Conceits their modest Bosoms fill God was their Strength on him they stay'd More lowly still by Vertue made Each other 's flattering Eulogies they scorn'd But ever lov'd to see The gracious Deity With Praise adorn'd Much have I got but still I hope for more If I my God with humble Vows implore Nor by my Own His Actions prize Whose Wisdom dazzles my defective Eyes The Gift that 's mean the Work that 's low Can't from unbounded Goodness flow His Rod in Me a thankful Heart shall find And let him take or give My humble Soul shall live To him resign'd XI Let him take up his Cross LOOK out my Soul see all the floating World With Anchors drop't and Canvas furl'd As if in Heaven's capacious Road secure They 'd make their Port and seize Eternal Rest Nor could their tedious Lives endure Till with Immortal Glories blest But lo a Cross of Blood the thundring Sky Flames with the dreadful Prodigy And lo the Fleet in strange Confusion fly Their Cables cut all Hands aloft they cry To Windward ply clap all their Canvas on And lo how suddenly they 'r gone In all the Offin not one Sail appears So terrible the Cross so swift their sensless Fears They 'r bold in Calms and love a gentle Gale But in a Storm their Tempers fail Cold are their Hearts their Courage deadly cold They can't a rolling Eastern Billow bear But to enslaving Terrors sold They sink at once in deep Despair Fond Hypocrites who 'd fain by fine Deceit Their Maker's searching Wisdom cheat Would solid Bliss for empty Service gain And by Heaven's piercing Eyes unseen remain They love a Heavenly and Eternal Feast But previous Abstinence detest Themselves as other Men Themselves abuse And for a weighty Cross a weightier Crown refuse How close on Jesus for the Loaves they wait But all the Thoughts of Sufferings hate Gladly his helpful Miracles admire To loud Applauses and Hosannas rise But from the shameful Cross retire With daunted Hearts and lowring Eyes They love him when with joyful Garlands crown'd And all his shining Armies round But when the Villain-Rout their Lord assail And Tyrants o're his Innocence prevail If He our healing Sun in Blood go down Or but obscure a while or frown They like his Friends of old desert him all And to a
greater Brightness rise But He who waits for none but Festivals Between them oft to Sin remisly falls Then happy 's He and truly wise Who by constant Exercise Can to such a temper rise Duty can't his Heart surprize Come then but Antient Prudent Rules obey Abhor the busy Fools fantastick Way Break not the Churches Peace but wisely wave Thy whymsied Schemes for Publick Good Who cuts the Banks le ts in a boundless Flood Nor can the frighted Boor his drowning Pastures save XI Search the Scriptures Lord evermore give us this Bread Believer DEarest Jesus kindest Lord What Sweets that happy Soul may taste Who feeds with Thee at thy immortal Board That Board where Sinners only fast Where Thou thy Self art All Meat Drink Inviter Waiter Principal More lov'd by faithful Souls and more desir'd Than all those glittering Toys by carnal Fools admir'd Ah! how pleasant Lord and sweet Should Tears of Holy Sorrow be How should I love to wash thy sacred Feet And prove a Magdalen to Thee But where 's that flagrant Mind Where can I Sorrow's Holy Fountains find My Heart should fall in Tears in Flames should rise Since Thou art here indeed and seen by faithful Eyes Lord my sinful dazling Sight Can't thy full Beams of Glory bear Nor could the World subsist should all the Light Of thy Majestic Brows appear It 's wondrous Goodness all That God beneath my Cognizance should fall That I should him in holy Signs adore Before whose Servile Form bright Angels bow'd before O may I contented prove To live and walk in Faith's pure Light Till that Eternal Day shall dawn above And Shades and Figures take their flight When that great Day mail shine Then glorious Saints shall bask in Beams Divine View all the Godhead's dark Abyss and see That Word made Flesh of old engulph Eternity When I read those Wonders o're Scarce inward Joys can please my Mind I scorn what e're I saw or heard before Till I thy glorious Face can find O witness Lord for Me No Comfort I no Rest can find but Thee And since thy Face no Mortal Eyes can view Let me that future Bliss with Patient Love pursue Thus the Saints enthron'd with Thee Th' Effects of Faith and Patience found My Faith My Hope 's the same O may I be By Faith with equal Glories crown'd By their Examples I Soar with an active Faith to reach the Sky My Rules my Comforts Lord thy Scriptures are And my declining Hopes thy Flesh and Blood repair Life a wretched Load would be If we no Light no Food could meet But Lord thou mak'st thy Flesh a Feast for me Thy Word a Lamp to guide my feet Oh these I sweetly live Light to my Soul thy sacred Writings give And When I at thy Altars Lord appear I find the Bread of Life the great Elixir there These th' Exchequer-Tables are Where all the Churches Treasure lies To This pure Souls for Holy Food repair To That to clear their Cloudy Eyes That thro Faith's perfect Ways And thro the Vail to th' holiest Place conveys Blest be my Jesus Light of endless Light Whole Servants wandring Souls to Wisdom's Springs invite Blest O blest be thy great Name Dear Maker dear Redeemer who Couldst Love immense to sinking Worlds proclaim Yet not a Paschal Figure show But wouldst thy Self appear Expose thy Flesh the faithful Heart to chear Pour Healthful Sweets into the saving Bowl While joyful Angels wait around the thirsty Soul O how glorious is the Seat By Thee to happy Priests assign'd Who still when they thy awful Words repeat Thy Efficacious Presence find And daily feast on Thee How clean their Hands how pure their Hearts should be Good Works should their untainted Hands employ Their Lips be Love's sweet Springs their Hearts the Thrones of Joy Thus to Priests their Lord declares I 'm all Essential Holiness O Ye who wait on my Divine Affairs The same accepted Grace express O with a single Eye With Modest Looks approach the Mystery Your Hands unspotted to those Altars raise Where God at Your Request his wondrous Love displays O may We to Priesthood rais'd Thy Gracious Influences find For Holy Lives and pure Devotions prais'd And to internal Peace refin'd And tho our Lives may fail O let our Tears above our Crimes prevail While We with humbler Souls and warmer Love In all thy sacred Ways with swift Obedience move XII He who Eats and Drinks unworthily Eats and Drinks his own Damnation Christ I Love the Pure and Holiness bestow I love within a well-purg'd Heart to rest Up then my kind Approaches know Know who designs to be thy glorious Guest A rise thy noblest Room prepare Let it be furnish'd well and large and fair I with a glorious Train design To eat the Paschal Lamb with Thee And can thy Heart embrace a Guest Divine Who would a constant Inmate be Purge then that Old fermenting Poison well And let no Darling Sin within thy Bosom dwell Cast off the Follies of a sinful Age And all the vicious modish Rout exclude Thy Sins with bitter Tears engage And fly O fly the Godless Multitude The Lover when his Mistress come With costly Arras hangs his fairest Rooms And hopes his nice expensive Care May to her Eyes his Flames declare But know shouldst thou a thousand Years enjoy And all thy busy Thoughts employ The Preparation of a thousand Years To what my Justice claims a small Proportion bears Thou 'lt feed before Me but the Privilege Not thy Deserts but Grace and Mercy gave Nor would a starving Slave alledg Desert should He a rich Man's Bounty crave And at his Table feasted He Could but submissive there and thankful be Come then Dear Soul but not of Course Approach but not compelled by Force O come with holy Love and awful Fear And at my Marriage-Feast appear I call Thee I invite Thee freely I At thy submiss approach will all thy Wants supply Praise God when I Devotion 's Grace bestow Praise not thy Merits but my Mercy praise If thy Devotions colder grow Thy Prayers thy Sighs importunately raise Cease not thy Prayers and Tears till I With rilling Grace thy thirsty Soul supply Thou need'st Me I 've no want of Thee Nor can thy Knees advantage Me I come to better thy Defective Mind Thou com'st a Smiling God to find thou 'dst fain be One with Me thy Grace renew And with reviving Flames a hoiler Life pursue Don't then my offer'd Grace my Favours slight But thy poor Heart with utmost Pains prepare Him whom thy Soul adores invite And grasp and hold Him with a faithful Care But ne're in Preparations rest Nor when the Feast is past unguard thy Breast Be careful when the Banquet 's o're As when a Guest design'd before He toils as much who would his Post maintain As He who Wealth at first would gain The Heart still kept will but prepare it more And add new Floods of Grace to those imbib'd before What can
unfit Thee more to feast with Me Than to be far in Worldly Fancies lost What can a greater mischief be Than a Vain Heart by carnal Joys engross'd O fly the World's alluring Cheat And to enjoy thy God from Crowds retreat Of Me thy dearest Lord possest No crafty Thief can rob thy Breast Lo I am He who all thy Bosom claim I can't endure a Rival's Name Put off thy self then hide thy Life in me And live from every Care and every Torment free XIII With my Whole Heart have I sought Thee O let Me not wander Believer WHO Lord will give that Grace to Me That I may close with None but Thee And to enjoy my Soul 's Dear Object may My Bosom and my faithful Arms display Then shall I all inferiour Things despise No Creature shall distract my Eyes My Words with Thee my Life and Thine with Me Shall soft as whispering Lovers be Or Friends when they with Friends agree This Lord my utmost Wish shall be To live and to be One with Thee That I withdrawn from all the World below May fonder of Eternal Glories grow Swiftly to thy ador'd Communion fly And oft to Thee my Heart apply Ah when shall I Dear God! engulph'd in Thee Forget my self and only be Ever in Thee and Thou in Me Thou art my best Belov'd my Dear In whom my Soul's Delights appear Search thro the World view all the Wise the Fair None None can with my God my Life compare Thou lay'st those rugged Storms which rend my Heart Thy Smiles unfading Peace impart Thy Counsels Dearest Lord are dark but wise Thy Way obscur'd to Impious Eyes Yet plain to th' Meek and Humble lies Lord how thy Spirit gently blows How sweet thy charming Kindness flows That to thy Own thou mightst thy Love declare thou 'dst with Celestial Food their Strength repair None Lord like Vs can boast of God so near None to their Maker seem so Dear To make our Souls on Wings of Comfort rise Thy Flesh thy Blood our Want supplies And lifts us high above the Skies No Tribes e're gain'd so bright a Fame As those who bear their Saviour's Name What Creature e're was to his Lord so near As He whom pure Devotion 's Flames endear Man whom his Maker enters whom He feeds Whose Life from Mystic Flesh proceeds O condescending Grace O Love Immense Beyond our Words beyond our Sense Beyond all Dreams of Recompence What shall I render Lord to Thee For all thy wondrous Loves to Me A Heart a humble Heart is all my Store I 'll give Thee That nor can I give Thee more Vnite my Heart with Thee and all within Shall Hymns of Holy Praise begin Call then My Heart shall Eccho Lord to Thee I 'm Thine O live My God in Me That Prayer of all my Hopes the Central Point shall be XIV Whose Faith follow considering the End of their Conversation Believer O How deep the Treasures are Dear Lord of thy Immortal Sweets How inexhaustible the Share Which There thy happy Servant meets When I on that Prodigious Flame reflect Which fill'd thy happy Saints of old When I their Grace their Love their Zeal respect Their Acts in Starry Books enroll'd I die with One Eternal Blush confus'd By my Own luke-warm Heart accus'd Which had thy Loves so oft thy sacred Feasts abus'd Lord I blush to think how dry How unaffected there I came My Soul untouch'd by Sympathy Unmov'd by any purer Flame Others by vast Desires and Loves possest To Tears unsluc'd their Joyful Eyes The Floods the Flames with equal violence prest Would both with equal Fulness rise They 'd pant for Drops from Life's pure Springs distill'd Nor would their sacred Longings yield Till with Immortal Food and endless Pleasures fill'd O how soon their Faith could pierce The Shell of that Mysterious Feast How broken Bread to Longings fierce Their wounded dying Lord exprest But Lord how oft my cold Affections fail What Damps my Infant-Heats o'reflow Jesus for Pity let my Sighs prevail Some Cordial on a Wretch bestow O let my Faith my Hope my Love renew'd With more extensive Strength endu'd Only for Manna long and loath inferiour Food But thy Mercies Lord are great And can the Graces beg'd bestow And fill me with Superiour Heat And make my Passions fiercely glow Tho short of Heroes yet thy Grace may find Some Seeds in my unmanag'd Heart Tho short of Heroes my aspiring Mind Grasps at the better nobler Part. O let my Failures be by Mercy past Till with thy happy Heirs at last I may Eternal Sweets Eternal Glories taste XV. I dwell also with Him who is of a Contrite and Humble Spirit Christ WOuldst Thou Devotion 's Grace obtain Or inward holy Ardour gain O seek it Early seek it Late Let thy Petitions prove Importunate With Patience and with Faith expect the Dole Embrace it closely in a lowly Soul Improve it when it 's gain'd but leave God to appoint the Time when thou shalt Grace receive If Thou no Heat within canst find No lively Flames enlarge thy Mind O let that Thought abate thy Pride Yet not between thy Soul and Hopes divide One happy Moment oft that Gift bestows Which many tedious Years could ne're disclose God answers oft the Prayer at last Which seem'd refus'd before ere half the Suit was past Should Flames rush in at once the Soul Could ne're their rapid Force controul O then with Hopeful Patience wait If Sins obstruct or Sins thy Zeal rebate Small Sins may oft obscure or hinder Grace If those be small which mighty Gifts deface But Small or Great when once subdu'd Grace may be new infus'd or Grace decay'd renew'd To God submit thy Self thy All And ne're thy lingring Lusts recal Then Calms will soon o'respread thy Mind In Vnion with thy mighty Lord combin'd God's Will shall then thy utmost Longings move 'T will Sapid all and all Delightful prove He 's only fit for Heavenly Fires Who to his God resign'd subdues his Vain Desires A Heart from Earthly Passions free Empty of Creature-Vanity A Heart all Clean a Soul all Bright Will all the Blessings of its Lord invite The Man who these inferiour Things defies The more He to Himself corrupted dies Grace Fuller Swifter Stronger gains And his unfetter'd Soul to endless Glory strains He 'll see and Heaven's vast Stores admire And glowing with Etherial Fire He 'll to his Father's Hand resign And His to God's Eternal Will confine That happy Man who with a single Heart Seeks God and won't from Heavenly Reason start That Happy Man must sure be blest Of God so warmly sought and Godlike Grace possest When He before my Table kneels He Extasy and Rapture feels And from above swift Flames Divine With his bright Soul 's internal Glories twine And since his Master's Praise He values more Than his own Comforts or his private Store To be for ever One with Me Of His Self-Conquests all the great Reward shall be XVI He