not doe 14 But as a naturall body doth consist Of quarters foure to make a man complete And if but one of all those foure be mist The other three lose all their life and heate Eu'n so it is with Truth whereof I treate If of these foure substantiall parts want one The other three are vainenesse or deceat For Truth of Iudgement Heart Speech Action Make but one Truth without dissimulation 15 But Truth of Iudgement ground is and foundation Of all the rest For be our Hearts sincere Our words and deeds without dissimulation If Errour in our Iudgements doth appeare With Paul we may eu'n persecute the deare And holy Seruants of the Sonne of Truth And thinke we doe to God good seruice here Fie then on Fooles that misse-spend their youth They neuer seeke to know or learne the way of Truth 16 But be our Iudgements eu'n as right and sound As Christs Disciples by their Master taught Yet if within vs Iudas hearts be found On vs the greater iudgement shall be wrought Who knowes his Masters will and doth it nought Oh what doth he by this his knowledge gayne But eu'n the sting of his owne conscience brought To desperation and infernall payne And to put out this sting puts on an hempen chayne 17 What shall we say of those that doe professe Truth of Religion and a Heart sincere Yet in their dealings nothing lesse expresse But for their gayne deceaue lie and forsweare Surely these men a double heart doe beare For were the Heart which is a liuely Spring Whence flow our words and deeds oh were that cleare Then all the streames from thence forth issuing Would be pure like the fountain from whence they do spring 18 But things we best of all by causes know God is the Cause of each good gift and grace But here more mediate Causes I may show Whereby he in the Truth doth guide our pace By 's Word we Truth of Iudgement doe embrace Which is to wandring Soules a guide and light His Spirit vpon our Hearts doth Truth enchase Then Truth of Iudgement makes vs speake aright And Truth of Heart makes all our actions true and right 19 Thus as Effects true Speech and Actions flow From Truth of Iudgement and the Truth of Heart As all Mankind from Eue and Adam grow But if the subtill Serpent can peruert Our Hearts or Iudgements as he did diuert Our two first Parents then as all their seede Defiled is with their corrupted part So from our Heart and Iudgement will proceede Corrupted words and actions which such fountaynes breede 20 Therefore to set our Iudgement true and right We to the ground and pillar ought to come Of Truth which is the Church of God so hight Because the treasures of all Truth there won Of all Gods Oracles which there haue rome From which all Truth of Iudgement we deriue The Church a carefull Keeper doth become There 's Truth that able is to saue aliue And away Errour Darknesse Superstition driue 21 O blessed Truth that holy Church preserues From Satans malice and the Moth of time O glorious Church whose soundnesse pure reserues Truth of Religion which doth make thee shine In Righteousnesse Faith Hope and Loue Diuine More then Pompe Wealth Vniuersalitie For Truth doth decke Christs Spouse more trim and fine Then Time Consent Succession Vnitie Now foild with Superstition and Idolatrie 22 With these false Ornaments the Church of Rome Like painted Harlot shuns the open Light Nor will vnto the Ground and Pillar come Of Truth to trie if shee bee wrong or right Therefore poore Laiks neuer must haue sight Of holy Writ to frame their Iudgement by Traditions and false Miracles them light And on the Churches word they must relie Thus Ignorance the Mother is of Poperie 23 But as sound Truth abhorres such Ignorance Eu'n so presumptuous curiositie Shee doth decline nor euer doth aduance Her purest thoughts to things that be too high Her subiect is no higher Mysterie Than Spirit of Truth is pleased to reueale Into Gods secret Counsell for to prie Is like the Thiefe that fire from Heau'n did steale To whom eu'n Heathen iudgements endlesse torments seale 24 So vniuersall is Truths glorious Fame That all things that the Heau'n and Earth contaynes Delight to be adorned by her Name Yea God himselfe Truths title not disdaynes Loe He Lord God of Truth for ay remaynes The Word of Truth the Spirit of Truth likewise Wayes iudgements works cōmandements Truth retaynes In this Saints Angels with God sympathize But Satan and his broode delight in contraries 25 Thus as shee is adorn'd by Titles high So with her Glorie shee doth all adorne Nothing vnto perfection commeth nigh Except by them the badge of Truth be borne And though some Worldlings doe her Liuerie scorne As things against their pleasure ease and gayne For that plaine dealing is a Iewell worne But he that weares it beggerie shall gayne Yet Truth her credit still doth with the best retayne 26 Yea Truth amongst the Writers of all times Hath beene in such great honour and account As without Truth yet neuer Prose or Rimes To any Praise or Honour vp did mount The holy Writ wherein Truth doth surmount Shee safely doth'gainst all her Foes defend How oft doth Dauids muse Gods Truth recount Whereby her glorie lasts to the Worlds end Ah my poore Muse see thou alwayes on Truth attend 27 There 's not one Vertue that with Loue doth dwell But honours Truth and seekes her company Begin eu'n at Humilities low Cell And mount to Mercy that doth sit on high All seeke the companie of Veritie Eu'n Loue must be without dissimulation And Righteousnesse without Hypocrisie Vnfaigned Faith true constant Expectation No Vertue without Truth comes neare Loues habitation 28 Faire glosing shewes without Dame Veritie Are but as falsely feigned Holinesse Which surely doubles the iniquitie And neuer leades the way to Happinesse My Muse is farre vnable to expresse The prayses all of Peeres that Truth attends Whom shee adornes with wondrous Noblenesse But Righteousnesse vpon her most depends And Mercy now and Truth haue met growne great friends 29 But surely Truth hath not so many Friends But shee doth find as many Enemies For Satan all his malice 'gainst her bends Supplanting Her by force or subtilties He father is of errours and of lyes And seekes herewith Truths glorie to distaine And therefore they maliciously deuise Interpretations false and glosses vaine Traditions mens inuentions 'gainst her to maintaine 30 As Purgatorie first they did deuise Purses for Pardon of mens sinnes to gleane So Limbo's they for Writers haue likewise Wherein to purge and make their Writings clean◠Index expurgatorius I meane In which if any Writer disagree From their Traditions whereupon they leane They in this Limbo Patrum purg'd must bee Or falsely else condemned to burne for Heresie 31 Thus moderne Writs sacred Antiquitie The Fathers Schoole-men Doctors Histories They all of them in Purgatorie frie And
Faith in briefe Is a right application and a sound beliefe 7 Faith is the Bucket which hangs on Hopes string Whereby the most deepe liuing Well we sound Which if the Rope hold out vs vp will bring Such liuing Water as doth there abound When Christ his sauing Graces doth propound Faith is the Hand whereby we them receaue Faith healeth vp the clensed purged wound Beginneth where Repentance doth vs leaue Who without her seekes Faith 〈◊〉 doth himselfe deceaue 8 Faith as it 's tâ—ne for credit or beliefe Is when we credit giue to God or Man Thus he with men most Faith hath that is chiefe And in his coffer hide most money can But when to God it reference hath we than It ordinary or extr'ord'nary call By this we miracles and wonders can Ordinarie Faith is hight historicall Or iustifying Faith in some but temporall 9 But this most precious Faith whereof I write And which I formerly aright define The Faith of Gods Elect is truely hight Which when one hath doth wholly ne're decline This iustifying sauing Faith doth ioyne Vs to our Head and is the instrument And meanes whereby Gods Spirit doth refine And purge our hearts from sinfull excrement This Faith doth make Gods Children bold and confident 10 This Faith though not diuided hath degrees Beginning first encrease and consummation A little Faith to greater doth encrease Till built and rooted on a sure foundation Yet neuer had this Faith so sure a station Which conscience and hels terrours haue not shaken Remember Christ our Head his bitter passion How he cry'd out as God had him forsaken When he the guilt and curse of sinne had on him taken 11 Such as the Head the Members must endure Thus in their soules they totter faint and reele Though the foundation of the Lord stand sure And firme and hath vpon it set this seale The Lord knowes who are his yet he doth deale With vs as doth the Finer with his gold Which he doth seu'n times in the furnace neale Thus tries he those whose names he hath enrold But will heape comforts in their bosomes manifold 12 In Men and Plants and 〈◊〉 three soules wee see Of Reason Growing and the 〈◊〉 So in this Christian soule 〈◊〉 Faith there bee Three qualities alike cooperatiue And as in Man all three into one 〈◊〉 So in th'Elect both Faith historicall Temporall and the true Faith are aliue And but one sauing Faith together all This Soule Mans forme this Faith 〈◊〉 Christians life we call 13 As vegetation sheweth most in Plants So in the worldlings Faith historicall Faith temporall in false Professors hants True Faith vpon th'Elect doth onely fall And as no Plant or Beast be it great or small The things that are in Man right apprehends Yet Man what is in Beasts and Plants knowes all So those two Faiths which serue to other ends Know â—â—t true 〈◊〉 Faith yet shee both comprehends 14 God Authour is and Cause efficient Of eu'ry good and perfect gift and grace His good Will moues him first But his Intent And chiefe end is the glorie of his Grace And our saluation in the second place But when He in our soules doth Faith beget Whereby Christ and his Merits we embrace A double meanes he here on worke doth set Inward and outward whereby sauing Faith we get 15 The outward is his Word and Sacrament One workes the other strengthens what is wrought The inward is Gods Spirit into vs sent Our hearts to quicken sanctifie make soft Wherein the Word may sowne be as it ought The Gospell whereupon stands Faith's foundation Though we by Law to see our sinnes are brought As the Schoole Mistris to regeneration Yet 't is the Gospell 〈◊〉 vs wise vnto saluation 16 The 〈◊〉 most what worketh by the Word Not but without 't is all sufficient But this instruction it doth vs afford That we in hearing should be diligent The Word without the Spirits enlightenment Is as good Seede sowne on vntilled ground That neuer brings forth fruit that 's excellent For without Grace Faith temporary's found And neuer doth in good and holy workes abound 17 Prayer is not the meanes Faith to obtaine But it preserues and strengthens Faith to pray For without Faith our Prayers are in vaine Yet after Faith is wrought in vs we may Pray that Faith failes vs not wherefore I say We must giue Prayer her due commendation For by her we discourse with God alway And haue with him familiar conuersation Though none can pray aright before regeneration 18 Faith 's like the Hand and Prayer like the Key Which doth th' Almighties Coffers open wide Wherein his richest Treasures lockt vp lye The Key vnprofitably hangs beside Except that Faith it take in hand to guide Likewise the Hand doth vse her strength in vaine The Barre without the Key gainst Wards to slide Both ioyn'd the Locke to open doe constrayne And vs most glorious view of heau'nly Treasures gayne 19 'T were infinite of all Faiths fruits to tell All duties towards God all charitee Towards our Neighbours done aright and well From her proceede A holy mother's shee Of Graces all that sanctifying bee Therefore 't is plaine they want her that doe striue To make good workes Faiths mother and doe flee Vnto Saints merits For were Faith aliue In them all Pietie and Charitie would thriue 20 They 〈…〉 from Rome For then a quiet conscience and a cleare A faithfull euidence to them would come Then with true inward ioy would soone appeare Holy Securitie to cast our care Vpon the Lord for if Faith iustifie We are at peace with God Loe then our feare Is turned into sweet Securitie And inward ioy doth by afflictions multiplie 21 But if this peace and ioy doe not appeare But rather terror stormes and diâ—â—idence Let 's labour yet our conscience may stand cleare Which is to doe Gods Will and shun offence Here God beholds our will not impotence And if we doe indeauour to approue Our selues to God Faith workes in vs a sence Of heau'nly Loue whereby we plainly proue That God loues first whereby we doe begin to loue 22 Behold thus eu'n a fruit of Faith is Loue For many one whose Faith is weake and faint And cannot in themselues Spirits earnest proue Nor their hearts with true inward ioy acquaint So as in true beliefe they seeme to faint Yet find within their brests this Spirit of Loue Which is to them from sinning a restraint And 't is an euidence doth surely proue Faith's seede is sowne within when as we truely loue 23 And as Faith growes eu'n so doth Loue encrease Loe first we them that are in want releeue With spirituall comfort troubled soules appease Loue makes vs if we constantly beleeue That for our brethren we our liues will leaue By this indeed we know God's charitie That did himselfe of life for vs bereaue We therefore for our brethren ought to die This great Loue in vs comes from
Faiths plerophorie 24 The Subiect of true Faith is a pure heart Her Obiects are Christs sufferings sanctitie Fulfilling of the Law in eu'ry part If these three by true Faith we can apply They are against all ill the remedie These are the Balme a wounded soule can heale And not the Churches store Romes trumperie These onely can to vs our Pardon seale Merits Mens fancies are these Scripture doth reueale 25 Eu'n as three ills inherent be in sin Originall vice Sinne actuall condemnation So Faith three parallel benefits le ts in Whereby effected is Iustification Christ's sufferings pay the price of our damnation His perfectest Obedience satisfies For actuall sinnes th'exquisite Sanctification Of 's humane Nature in vs all destroies Originall sinne This threefold way Faith iustifies 26 He that is able out of stones to raise Vp children vnto Abram He I say Can onely make our hearts melt at the rayes Of his Sunne beames He to a heart of clay Can turne a stony heart And though this may Seeme very hard and strange to flesh and blood Yet he that feeles his heart melt with the ray Of spirituall Grace Faith there doth proue this good By those whose hearts world blinds thâ—s is not vnderstood 27 Three qualities true Faith accompany Which shee doth vse in eu'ry worke well wrought First shee doth good not for to please Mans eye But for his sake whose blood her dearely bought Next by Gods Law each action word and thought Shee squareth For shee knowes Obedience Then Sacrifice is better by her wrought All to Gods glorie last hath reference To these we guided are by Spirit not by Sense 28 Shee 's swift to heare The holy Sacrament Of Baptisme once The Eucharist oft receaues Releeues the Poore in Prayer diligent In which shee still persists and neuer leaues Lastly shee to some lawfull Calling cleaues To be â—fore God and Man without offence If these faile in her shee herselfe deceaues Shee 's temporary and a false pretence To walke licentiously without Obedience 29 Other Companions are of Faith likewise As grieuous manifold and great tentation With these sound Faith herselfe must exercise These part not from her till soules separation For Satan prosecutes with infestation His hatred to our head continually Vpon his Members to their great vexation Besides Tentations true Faith purge and trie Preparing hearts for Grace by sweet Humilitie 30 These often come of diffident distrust When sight of sinne makes vs faint stagger reele Or when by our vnworthinesse and lust We of this precious Faith a coldnesse feele These for a while our spirituall eyes vp seele So as true inward comfort life and loue As in times past in him we cannot feele Who is our Head and hereby doth vs proue And make vs when we feele his want the more to loue 31 Behold two other Deepes on either hand On right Presumption proud on left Despaire Which like two red-Sea walls of waues doe stand And for the Faithfull a faire way prepare That through the Deepe they may eu'n drie-shod fare But loe the miscreant and presumptuous Wight They drowne in ouer-weening and much care Here God against th' Egyptians seemes to fight Out of the fiery Pillar that to Faith giues light 32 These two are like the Cities of the Plaine Gomorrha proud and Sodom base in lust On which God fire and brimstone downe did raine The first is Pharisaicall ouer-iust The other doth Gods promises distrust But Faith like little Zoar Lot doth saue Though vnbeliefe doe turne his Wife to dust These three be they that seeke Faith to depraue These three so hinder Faith shee nothing right can craue 33 Presumption proud on her owne merits stands Despaire lookes downe on her vile wretchednesse But neuer Gods great goodnesse vnderstands Nor his great power free grace and willingnesse To ease all those whose sinnes doe them oppresse But Infidelitie seekes to entise To Atheisme and all vngodlinesse And make Faith folly seeme to worldly wise Who nought beleeue but Sense and Reason must deuise 34 Despaire to great Goliah I resemble But Faith doth like to little Dauid fare At whom though Saul and all his Host doe tremble Yet all his threats bold Dauid cannot scare He that hath giu'n the Lion and the Beare Into his hands he surely doth beleeue This rayling Philistim will neuer spare But will him vnto like destruction leaue Thus off with his owne sword Dauid his head doth cleaue 35 Oft haue I seene some grieued patient Languishing of some desp'rate disease Not feâ—ling it till Natures helps were spent Then thinks his graue onely can's griefe appease Yet if he hopes of skilfull Leech some ease He him intreates to vse his vtmost skill To cure his maladie and sore disease Himselfe referring wholly to his will Till he such Balme apply that cures him of that ill 36 All men are 〈◊〉 of the disease of sinne Which till 't is past mans cure they not perceaue But when of helpe they to despaire beginne If by true Faith they vnto Christ can cleaue Their soules Physician and vnto him leaue The cure alone of his most precious Blood A plaister they to cure their sore receaue This onely is the Balme can doe them good And not Saints mâ—nts Pardons Dirges woodden Rood 37 Faith to the blind man may be well compar'd That feeles the heate but cannot see the flame Of fire which in the winter is prepar'd The tyraâ—nizing cold thereof to tame Faith Hope are like two Men one blind one lame Blind Hope weake Faith on shoulders doth sustaine Faith Hope directs her steps aright to frame Both labour top of Zions mount to gaine And both by mutuall aide their wished end attaine 38 Our hearts are like vnto the parched Land That three yeares drought endur'd in Ahabs dayes Faith like the Cloud is little as mans hand That in the end great stormes and wind doth raise And many showers abundantly displayes Loe then the Land that earst was drie and waste Abundantly her fruit and grasse repayes So Faith though small at first yet at her last Growes wondrous great poures down heau'nly showres ful fast 39 Faith is like to a graine of Mustard seede Which of all graines at sowing time is least But growes so high that Birds therein may breede Yea Fowles of th' aire therein doe make their nest Shee 's like an Oâ—en plant that winds infest Which more 't is shak'd rootes faster in the ground So more tentations haue true Faith opprest Shee stands more resolute secure and sound And as her rootes hold fast her leaues and fruit abound 40 We are on earth like Wind-mills all whose grist Are workes of Pietie and Charitie Our Faith like Sailes which if the wind be whist And aire calme doe stand vnprofitably But when tentations rise shee instantly Swayes all the inward powers by her commotion To all the workes of Loue and Pietie Loue to our Neighbours to our God deuotion But if Faiths
Sonne for vs What can be denyde Who dares condemne who by him saued are For whom his Death and Rising doth prepare Eternall blisse Shall anguish tribulation Nakednesse famine perill sword or feare Vs sep'rate from the Horne of our saluation In these Faith makes vs conquer by Christs mediation 75 My prayer gracious Lord shall euer bee Increase my Faith And as now in some wise Thou her faire Lineaments hast made mee see For which I praise thee Open so mine eyes That seeing I her worth may truely prise And for her sake most willing be to loose My life and all this wicked world despise And rather bondage here with Faith to choose Than liue in Egypts Court with vaine deceitfull showes 76 Now as a valiant Souldier strong and wise That would in open field defeate his Foe Suffers no sleepe to come within his eyes But keepes continuall watch For he doth know His En'mie Lyon-like about doth goe By force or sleight his life for to surprize Eu'n so good Lord grant thou me grace to doe That though sleepe often close my bodies eyes My Soule may still keepe watch 'gainst Satans subtilties 77 Hope was the Patron that with Faith did ioyne When to my triall me Repentance brought Who all their might and forces did combine Vntill my absolution they had wrought These not their owne good but their Clients sought And pleaded not for friendship fees or gayne Loues fauour was their vtmost ayme and thought They shew'd no Law their Causes to maintayne But Pardons wrote in 's Blood that for our sinnes was slayne MEDITAT V. Of Hope 1 REpentance Faith and Hope be graces three Which no where but in Israel are knowne Of other Vertues some resemblance wee Do find amongst the Heathen which are showne To them by Natures light and first were sowne Most pure till they corrupted were with sin But now they most vnlike themselues are growne For till Faith Hope them to restore begin They glorious seeme without but foule and vile within 2 For though of Knowledge Loue Truth Patience Right Mercy Fortitude Humilitie Prudence Zeale Temp'rance Bountie Obedience There doe in them remayne some memorie Yet wanting Faith and Hope like either eye Their blinded soules for to direct aright In all their actions they doe moue awry For Faith and Hope like Sunne and Moones cleare light Direct repenting Soules which wander else in night 3 And though by reading in Dame Natures booke The Heau'n and Earth's most wonderfull creation They vpwards to their Maker oft did looke And saw his Power and Wisedomes manifestation And their owne wretchednesse Yet Humiliation For sinne in them no true Repentance wrought For missing these chiefe Agents of saluation The worke could not be to perfection brought For without Faith and Hope Repentance profits nought 4 Thou that the Finisher and Authour art Of eu'ry good and perfect Gift and Grace Who look'st not on the worke but on the heart Where eu'ry Vertue holds her seate and place Who lately hast me guided in the trace Of Faith the Mother now direct aright My Muse to follow on the Vertues chase And first of Hope Faiths daughter next in sight And make my Hope stand stedfast whilst of Hope I write 5 Hope is of things to come an expectation Which God hath promis'd and Faith doth beleeue For when th'Elect of their Iustification By Faith stand sure Then Hope doth them releeue With Patience to expect till God doth giue All the good things which he hath promised So that no crosse affliction can them grieue For by this Hope they stand assured The day will come their Hope shall be accomplished 6 Some Faith Hopes Mother some her Sister call Howsoe're betwixt them is so neare relation That if one faile the other needes must fall Faith brings forth Hope the Anchor of saluation But Faith is nourished by expectation A thankfull Daughter to a blessed Dame Who nonrisheth her Mother in this fashion And oft when Faith growes cold blind faint and lame Hopes brests Assurance Patience her restore againe 7 A blessed paire like Naâ—mi and Ruth Faith doth direct and Hope goes forth to gleane Faith searcheth first beleeues and finds the Truth Then Hope at Booz feete expects the meane And though at first a small reward shee gayne Yet being content Gods leisure for to stay Shee in the end doth to her Hope attayne Ruthâ—nto â—nto Booz married is that day And now may Naomi in her lap Obed lay 8 Hope is so like Faith and so neare of Kin As hardly we discerne a difference Faith is the ground whereon Hope doth begin Both haue alike assurance Patience From the same Spirit both haue their influence Both sauing Graces purge and purifie The heart and season with obedience Both last alike By both we'our selues denie Both make our conscience sound By both for Christ we die 9 But Faith is first for loe shee is Hopes ground Hope onely future sees but Faith things past Faith seales our euidence and makes it sound Hope waites till shee possession take at last Hope is the Helmet that on th' Head is plac't But Faith the Shield doth all the body hide And though our Faith oft faint our Hope stands fast From off the Shield full many a blow may slide On Helmet but there farther entrance is deni'de 10 Thus haue I shew'd how they are different The cause now As of Words immortall seede The Spirit begets Faith to giue firme assent Vnto Gods Promises Eu'n so indeede That Spirit out of those Promises doth breede A liuely Hope whose end is our saluation And that we shall haue all things which we neede In the meane time we haue our conuersation By Faith and Hope with Christ in heau'nly habitation 11 Similitudes make plaine and illustrate Things that are else mysterious darke obscure As when th' immortall Workman did create At first Man without helpe alone and pure He made him then a deepe sleepe to endure And tooke stuffe from him ere he did awake Of which he made for him a helpe most sure So the same Spirit that Faith at first did make To make now Hope Faiths help doth matter from Faith take 12 As Body Spirit Faith Lord and Baptisme's one So but one true and liuing Hope we find But as her Obiects infinite become We may distinguish her in different kind If heau'nly Obiects be to her assign'd Shee like the Obiect is Celestiall If shee on worldly Obiects set her mind As doth the Obiect shee doth rise or fall Loe then the Obiect of our Hope is all in all 13 We hope for that for vs in Heau'n's vp laid We hope to see Christs glorious Exaltation We hope for all things that Christ for vs praid We hope in Gospell that brings vs saluation We hope of all in Christ a restauration We hope Soules Bodies shall immortall liue We hope to reape what 's sowne in expectation The faithfull Pastor hopes his Flocke shall thriue Faith Author is of Hope
but Hope keepes Faith aliue 14 When Faith beleeues Hope hopes gainst Sense and Reason Gods Promise is her soundest Argument His leisure to attend is her best season Though Faith beleeue ' boue Hope yet shee 's content To hope Present to her are things absent Shee neuer faints but holds out to the end Shee to encrease and grow is diligent Shee 's pure and cleane No shame doth her attend By Patience and Experience shee doth daily mend 15 Faith 's like Elias that by God was sent Elisha to anoint him to succeede Hope like Elisha waits most diligent And leaues her not till fiery Charets leade Faith vp to Heau'n Then Hope stayes in her stead Loe then Faiths Spirit on Hope is doubled found And though by Faith our Soules on Heau'n now feede Hope still sustaynes our Bodies on the ground And waits till all that Faith beleeues shee true haue found 16 Yea after that our bodies turne to dust It seemes that Hope still with our soules remaine What else doth meane the crying of the Iust Which for Gods Word lie vnder th' Altar slaine How long wilt thou Lord to auenge refraine Our blood on those that on the earth it spilled To whom this answere is return'd againe They should rest till the number was fulfilled Of those which for the Word as they were should be killed 17 Hope's subiect is each heart that Christ hath knowne And where in glorie he vouchsafes to dwell Shee best by Obiects is conceau'd and showne For as they doe transcend Hope doth excell All Gods good Promises which one can tell Her Obiects are which if one right would reade He must begin with that when Adam fell Gods Promise to the Woman that her seede Though Serpent bruis'd his heele should breake the Serpents head 18 Like this was that promise to Abraham All Nations should be blessed in his seede And him that King of Israel became God promis'd one should ne're want of his breede To sway great Iuda's Scepter in his stead Till Shilo came who was his Lord and Sonne Sonne as his flesh did from his Loynes proceede Lord as the God-head in the flesh did won Thus he was Dauids Christ Sonne Lord and yet but one 19 Loe God perform'd all his good Promises In Christ his sufferings birth and exaltation All tending to bring wretched Man to blisse But now behold new tidings of saluation The Gospell shewes our reconciliation Is finished as after shall be showne When all in Heau'n and Earth haue restauration What we beleeue and hope shall then be knowne Hope then shall reape in ioy what shee in teares hath sowne 20 For as the promises that God had swâ—re In Christs first comming were accomplished Eu'n so all those that in the Gospell are In 's second comming shall be finished And since that Good to Adam promised Was full foure thousand yeares ere consummation Why then should Hope that 's thus experienced Faint in lesse then two thousands expectation Nearer than when we first beleeu'd is our saluation 21 Oh! had I here Hopes wondrous memorie Then should I able be soone to make knowne All 's Promises which God cannot denie Eu'ry of which Hope doth account her owne Behold in briefe them all vnto thee showne All Faith beleeues And what doth he distrust In whom this little seede of Faith is sowne All these I say Hope doth together thrust And in them puts assured confidence and trust 22 Therefore these Vertues alwayes her attend Assurance Confidence and Patience With Perseuerance alwayes to the end And of Gods faithfulnesse Experience These and the like are her most sure defence 'Gainst troubles sâ—â—ffes her weaknesse long delay Of many Promises which made long since Are not accomplished vnto this day And when shee 's like to faint these her refresh alway 23 They that would make faithlesse vncertaintie So necessary to attend Hopes trayne And on coniect'rall probabilitie Lay Hopes foundation They demonstrate playne True Faith and Hope did ne're in them remayne And though like Faith Hope sometimes waâ—er may As who can to a perfectnesse attayne Yet Hope encreasing Doubting doth decay Vncertaintie and Hope together cannot stay 24 No more than in the Water cold and heate For as the heate all coldnesse doth expell So Hope all doubting out of vs doth beate I grant that as in luke-warme Water dwell Both heate and cold so in the hollow Cell Of vnsound luke-warme Libertines false mind Vncertaintie and wau'ring Hope doe dwell But this no true and stedfast Hope we find Else true and feigned Hope would differ in their kind 25 Though Hope hath many an open Enemie None wrong her more than her familiar Friends As Merits Doubtings false Securitie In ciuill honest dealing who depends On these quick-sands more danger him attends Than if he split on Rocke of fierce Despaire Or to distrust Gods promises intends Because so long a finishing they are Ciuill Defection hazards more than open Warre 26 Oh! who can point out all the subtilties Satan doth vse this Lady to depose How he all worldly Obiects doth deuise That shee may in them confidence repose And thereby may her heau'nly Obiect lose Who are more miserable Satan sayes Than those on things to come their Hopes repose And who liue longer and more ioyfull dayes Than they whose Hope on wealth and Princes fauours stayes 27 As Iewes two Theeues did hang on either hand When as they crucifi'd the Lord of Life So two extremes on either side Hope stands And both of them haue each with other strife On left hand stands Despaire with bloody knife On right Presumption bold doth ouer-weene Hope oftentimes may saue Despaires life Presumption railes and thinketh in her spleene If Hope could others saue shee â—ould endure such teene 28 Hope is like Iacob that went out but poore But free from danger vnto 〈◊〉 Land But when he doth returne with Wiâ—es and store Laban pursues behind Esau with band Of full foure hundred doth before him stand But Angels as Companions him attend And eu'n with God he wrestles hand to hand Who doth from churlish Laban him defend Nor suffers cruell Esau Iacob to offend 29 So when our Hope alas is faint and poore It forward walkes most free from all tentation But when it gets some strength Despaire before Behind Presumption seekes our supplantation Loe then Gods promises of our saluation Like Angels are to comfort vs at hand We wrestle with the Spirit by supplication Whereby we are inabled to withstand Despaire Presumption proud and all the Deuils band 30 Men in this World are like to ships at Sea Which stormes haue beaten and tâ—e waues haue tost That when they come to harbour in the Lea Cast Anchre out where if they find the coast Consist of quick-sands all their labour 's lost Loe then Hopes Anchre there can get no hold So they with stormes and waues againe are tost But if they find firme Land they then grow bold No wind stormes waues