lies drown'd as it were in a Sea of loves and sweetnesses in a blessed astonishment and stupefaction it is elevated in the highest advancement of life and spirits in the Lord of life and glory that descended and ascended to draw up with him all that adheres to him O were the soule wound up to this pitch and watched at it and wound up againe if never so little slipt downe how might we live O still still let us be in this blessed vision of God with more continued intentivenesse contracting thence or rather dilating those Coexistant inherent essentiall which we call attributed species Then others beholding the stedfastnesse of our faith could not but there see more of that radiant image in its deputed Majestie the ball of the sensuall eye not more naturally expressing the Idea of the directly opposite and neighbouring visage then this of the spirituall of faith doth that of God And certainly no sence doth furnish us with more and more cleare conceptions of God then the sight being for its ready commence with the soule for its extention and intention the properest most conducible and advantagious of all being the most spatious farthest reaching pure simple active and therefore most apprehensive and next to that the hearing being the lesse grosse and earthly of all the rest But to keepe to that As the Sunne conveyeth heate and activitie inseperably with and proportionably to its light so is the truth loved and done so farre and onely so farre as it is seene The actions are spurious and illigitimate that are not conceived in the heart and begotten by the eye it will be our wisedome then so truly to informe the latter at we desire the well and right forming and performing of the other Let us looke on him then by no other Organ then faith thorough no other medium then Christ at no other distance then the mearest approaches even to such an unitie that wee see our selves in him and him in us When with the wicked wee put God farre from us and see the world draw nigh us then seemes he little and this great but when we draw neere to him what a pointile what an atome what a nothing it seemes nay it is And as the medium is ever the fame so is the Organ then best when most refined abstracted metaphysicall subtilized sublimed and sence-rarified cause then most proportionable and sutable to the simplicitie and puritie of the object it intends and therefore consequently to the extensivenesse and infinitie of it God being simply infinite and infinitely simple And therefore as wisedome consists in the clearenesse and quicknesse so in the inlargednesse of the understanding but since that knowledge that light in every thing wee draw from him is the onely true wisedome wee are then wisest when our understandings are most clarified by him most acted on him And surely this clarifying of our faith is according to the intimatenesse of our humbly bold accesse unto him the nature of this Sunne being to give light to the blind and that more or lesse according as we are more off or apply our selves nearer to Him And surely while we thus see God in the holiest of holies all the kingdomes of the earth in their freshest and heart-stealingest lovelinesse and that set forth in the most rich and glorious accoutrements will lie at our feete as a dead and rotten carkasle so farre shall we be from committing folly with it so farre that though then too our spirits be at the liveliest as they cannot but be yet because wee nay therefore because we be as crucified as dead to it as it is to us Such power hath this sight to fill the heart with love this love to hold the soule close to God from any thing that would part it from him and to carry it forth in all readinesse of obedience with him When contrarily while we are looking on the world without God we are but looking on so many lying vanities that dead the heart to reall and full contentments withholding it from God and setting the hand on worke in the wayes of sinne which still estrange the soule from Him and keep Him at a distance from the soule that more deading the heart that c. so the soule running on in a round of wickednesse if God not gratiously breake in and hinder its course Which when he doth his presence makes grace to grow by the interchangeable officiousnesse of all its undivided parts The sight of God inflaming the affections they inciting to actions these againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stirring up the fire in more fervent flames they giving in greater light that discovering more beautie that kindling more fire that animating to more action this againe c. so truely infinitely infinitely infinitely sweet is the comfort of the God-conversing soule The soule that hath received the truth in the love thereof and he that loves mee keepes my Commandements he that doth my will shall know my will he that hath my Commandements as his possession riches c. and keepes them as his greatest joy comfort life he it is that loves me and to him will I manifest my selfe Now this manifestation againe fills the heart with more operative and effectuall love this againe c. Thus Faith worketh by love the fulfilling of the Law the end of the Commandement out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained the sinceritie whereof must needs be according to the sight it hath of God according to the lovelinesse worth chooseablenesse that it seeth in him Faith then I take to be by what of light in this night of blindnesse and darkenesse I can see such a light as shining on the intentively beholding soule through the face of Christ hath that influence and attractive power with it to draw it up and make it cleave and adhaere with all its might and strength to God to lift up the heart to and make it goe along with him in all his wayes While like the Helitrophion it turnes and winds shuts and opens with the motion of the Sunne of righteousnesse And this light thus influenced thus working how ever clouded and obscured to a Christians selfe to be wisedome unto salvation that effectuall knowledge of God his Christ comming into and received of the soule that is life eternall already taken hold of and ere long fully prossessed or thus Faith is a promise-lighted seeking light Burnes with pure fervent love whose active might In every radiant precept shining bright Reflects its glory to the Father-Light Thus these three-one obedience-faith-and love Unite my soule to those Thee-One Above John 11.5.7 A seeking Isaiah 11.10 with Romans 15.13 Satisfying John 5.44 with John 14.1 Faith John 1.4.19 a sincere Phil. 1.10 Matth. 6.22 Eph. 6.24 Fervent Cant. 8.6.7 love John 14.15 an universall Psal 119.6 Jam. 2.10 Ephe. 4.23 Matth. 5.10 Constant Cor. 1.15.58 Obedience So that grace is faith understanding faith affecting faith acting
bayes are these thy brags They have no Grandeur to amuse My free-borne spirits scorne to choose What so inadequate will prove Unto the Heavenly vastnesse of my Love Nor when I see thee crosse my way Arm'd in thy terrors to essay Me with fell browes and felling blowes Canst make me stoope to thy dispose there 's no such amiablenesse appeares T' attract the sweetnesse of my feares So canst not play the Cheater nor The Thiefe I thus provided for Nor have I time nor strength t' attend Thy gaudy trifles nor to lend An eare unto thy trifling threats Whilst such a fearefull-Love compleats It selfe by growing more One in One My busied thoughts o're-whelm'd alone In my exceeding Great Reward My Buckler and my shielding Guard Whos 's Sunne-amasing bright aspects Majestique Grace Inf'nt protects Omnipotent Benignities Eternall favours my soule n're sees But wonder-struck it panting lies For life to live before those eyes Whose every glance conveies such sparkes As all created beauties darkes And wholly makes my loving feare Injoy th'inliv'ning dyings there Breaking through every object to Th'great Love with whom I have to doe That fires out mixtures while he warmes Pure hearts in 's purifying armes Trampling on worlds with all their force And fraud that strive to stop my course There lie thou sprawling feare and there Disheartned love so proudly'd dare T' usurp the name belongs to One Doth both as you yourselves oppone Let vulgar men have vulgar mindes Let false feare kill while fond love blindes Let vulgar men have vulgar mindes Move crosse and stumbling lie behinde Unenterfairing even pac't Affections smoothl'each other hast And me on them as the same feet O' th' same Heaven-journying soul to meet The same desire one blessed God Who ne'r made passions be at ods BUt Sin and Satan fear'st not them No no nor them they can't condemne Me that must be the Higher powre Whose feare their feare doth over-powre Why shu'd I so disgrace my Birth A piece of Heaven-inspired Earth Shall I degenerate from my Birth And to base feares resign my Mirth No 't is not them I feare but Him Whose love will never lose a limbe I conflict with a conquer'd foe Wh'hath only strength enough to show The stronger over ruling hand Subjecting All things to'ts command I 'le wary cautions active be And so my feare from feare shall free Give me no feare but that which meets In hearty joyes and honved sweets A well compos'd Ingredient To make the more compleat content A pure a cleane a cleansing sound Strong strengthning healthy feare whose ground Is Love is Faith a hopefull feare A feare of great delight 's my feare Sweet feare How oft I 'd name thee ere I 'd let thee goe who art so neare So deare unto my heart Sweet feare That mak'st such Musick in mine eare That feast'st me with such royall cheare Such heavenly fare the while I heare Thee say the King my Father 's here The King my Husband 's come to beare Me company to solace me W'th all manner o' pleasants hid for me Unworthy me to sup and dine To banquet with me with the wine The generous wine repleats my soule With raised spirits above th'controule Of men and divles while humbly waite On th' gratious Councels that impart So glad a course of watchfull worke T' avoid the sad temptations lurke About m'in every corner and Hath promis't me hee 'l ever stand Close by me wi'h's ne'r slumbring eye Ne'r shortned Arm that can espie That can prevent thought he so good Evill's at th'great'st distance but he wu'd Have them approach assault to try How much of that great God may lie In such a little piece of flesh What mighty powre he can expresse B' a broken contrite heart what high What unconceiv'd delights defie The highest-aspiring griefe and scorn T' be over-reached overborn By'ts cruell Talons but still soare Their Heaven-securing flights as more Advanced b' its pursuits while still Resolve t' be uppermost will-nill All th' ravenous griefes and Harpy feares Though th'hugest terriblest flock appeares Sweet feare still sweet And have I met Thy name again Though counterfeit That wu'd betray me while I let The feigned sound have entrance yet As error proved makes the truth More lovely so its falshood doth Thy faithfull friendship while I finde They 're purposely of him design'd These hid as well as open foes That may th' sagacity disclose That with the courage lies inclos'd In this my faithfull feare repos'd In that All-powerfull breast Sweet feare Wise Valiant feare still may I feare Yet never feare to lose thee feare Thy misse but not thy losse may heare May see as well as know thou art A constant lodger in my heart While still thou art in exercise Of some sage puissant enterprize Still watchest prayest workest wait'st Still fight'st still beat'st thy way through straights Sweet feare how oft I 'd name thee er'e I 'd let thee goe who art so neare So deare unto my soul sweet feare That mak'st such Musick in mine eare Well make it still within my heart VVe'r still together though we part Il faut avoir Courage iusques apres la mort THe shrill mouth'd Trumpet and the ratling Drum The clattering armour and the quivering Speare Swords glittering Canons roaring these become The Spirit that 's steel'd with Faith not bar'd with feare The smell of sulphure and the sight of blood The sence of wounds of death the heart yet good Thus muster up thy forces day by day Thus fight before thou fight'st this is the way To carry it sure put on thy Panoplie Arm'd Capapea thy proudest foe defie What need'st thou Christian feare maintain the field God is thy Shield Tower Captain never yeeld Or fear'st thou more the fiery darts of men Then divles these quench't shall those affright thee and when Thou shu'dst be bold because thou art afraid In weaknesse God his power is perfect made HAst seen the Hunter hurry down like thunder Headlong descents beare up the steepest Crag Leap hedge and ditch cut gates and bars asunder Break through the thickets plunder through the Quags Scowre o're the Hillocks flie it o're the Plaines Out-face the windes laugh at the storming raines Forget his hunger envy not the Bryars His clothes his flesh wi'h's Steed undaunted prance Through lonely Heaths perplexed Woods never tyres But on still on he rides and if he chance To get a fall leaps nimbly up again And makes the ground to feel's more swift disdain Thus fired with courage nought but feare refraines Thus sports in 's perils pleasures in his paines Up Heaven-bred heart up This 't is doth demerit The exercise of thine Heroique spirit Shall that brave breast recoile what what temptation Dismaies the man whose danger 's recreation How his resisted soule will reinforce It selfe and take new valour to its course Through all he breakes downe all he beares o're all He flies his saith is further'd by his fall For what his
patience waite on that God either for helpe in or from distresse whom I beleeve not on good grounds to be my reconciled father in Christ Who in him hath promised both who is faith full and will not suffer c. 1 Cor. 10.13 and thus beleeveing how can I but thus patiently waite on him And happy thrice happy man is he that thus waites thus beleeves Let our afflictions be never so various never so tedious let our mindes be never so disquiered our bodies never so diseased our estates never so distracted in a word let deepe call upon deepe and all the waves and billowes of God passe over us as David complaines Psal 42.7 let afflictions be continuall as v. 3. yet but let us with the hand of faith lay fast hold on his loving kindnesse v. 8. on his power in taking him for our rocke v. 9. and this will beare up our heads from sinking cheare up our hearts from fainting close up our mouthes from murmuring yea fill them with praises v. ult in the middest of the waters be they never so violent never so shorelesse Confesse I do the multitude and continuance of crosses are of themselves too heavy weights and may adde much to the burthen so much it may bee as may bruise but never so much as may breake the backe of a true beleever And yet why talke I either of bruising or breaking since I may boldly say be but consident and you shall be patient be but patient and the burthen shall be tolerable and not onely tolerable but easie not easie onely but pleasant A paradox to a naturall man but to a spirituall a most approved truth Otherwise what lesse then a rigid taskmaster might the spirit of God seeme Who instead of facilitating a Christians suffering should by the imposing of an impossibilitie exasperate it were it not a grace that he wu'd give to the humble James 1. v. 2. a verse with the two following well worthy your serious consideration Hee saith not repine not or further be patient but yet further rejoyce and how coldly or by halfes no with all joy and that when in temptation onely no in temptations and those divers too and that indefinitely for degrees not in little onely but in temptations be they what they will be more or lesse more or lesse violent and that when we meet with temptations No when we fall into them when we tumble as it were headlong into the pit whence there is no easie or suddaine rising So that we must not onely not repine but be patient not onely bee patient but rejoyce and that with all joy and that even in the middest of the most tedious most various most grievous temptations not onely in the calmenesse of peace in the Sunshine of honour in the harvest of riches in the Eden of pleasure in a word when the faire skie of prosperitie on every side invites us thereunto but even then when the glorious Sunne of comfort our ever-gracious God withdrawes his loving countenance from the sensuall eye within the darke clouds of poverty disgrace sicknesse c. when on every side the tempests of trouble and anxiety beat hard on the soule then even then is it time for it by the spirituall eye of faith to pierce these clouds and see the loving countenance of its God shining on it even then as bright as ever Then is it time for patience to be a prop to the head for joy to bee a cordiall to the heart Away then with that distrust that breeds impatiency that impatiency that breeds sorrow that sorrow that breeds affliction For indeed no evill afflicts further then it affects nor affects farther then it enters nor enters farther then it findes a distrusting and yeelding heart Let not therefore unbeliefe betray your soule to the tyranny of griefe Let then the divell the world and the flesh conspire against us let them muster up all their forces let them environ us with the closest siege let them cut off all comfortable supplies let them make the most thundering temptations the most piercing calamities they can devise yet why should wee so dishonour our good disadvantage our selves as to yeeld where he hath undertaken to defend where with out yeelding there is no being overcome and where the being overcome is so dangerous Maugre all the sicknesse and paine of the flesh all the discredit displeasure disprofit of the world yea all the temptations of the divell whatsoever make but God your stay and strength bring but your heart to him by unfained repentance for your swarving from him and him to your heart by a faithfull dependance and relying on him and you shall remaine as mount Zion that shall not bee removed And happy happy sure is that man whose enemies make him such a friend And indeed nothing nothing so happy were you when they presented themselves unto you under the specious vizard of health wealth and honour When they fang unto you their intising songs of ease peace and pleasure as now when they show themselves in their colours come against you with banners displayed and beat up on every side alarums of terrour and amazement For then were those fained songs apart to lull you asleepe in the cradle of securitie those false sights to make you take them for friends at least not for foes at least not so deadly foes But now you see them in their right shape heare them in their right tone you fly for succour from a dissembling enemy to a faithfull friend Who in that he is God cannot but give safe protection who in that he is good cannot but give all ready and requisite protection to all that truly come in unto him And surely he that is all in all is able to counterpoise yea infinitely to over-poyse all carnall contentments For indeed what of delight is there in any of these worldly things we call good as health wealth c. Which from him they have not or without him can have There is there is surely nothing in them of themselves but vanitie and vexation of spirit Neither is it the meere want or possession of them but the absence or presence of our ever-present God in or with them that can make a man 〈◊〉 â—â—acher happy or unhappy How else can Paul and Sylas sing in a prison when Ahab lies sorrow-sick in a Palace How else can Jobs losse make him patiently dedendon God when Judahs gaine makes him desperately depend on a tree God then must be the ingredient in all these earthly things else are they like those physicall drugges with uncorrected sooner ruine then restore So that what is prosperitie unsanctified but adversitie what adversitie sanctified but prosperitie And blessed ever blessed is that man that thus knowes the peace of perplexitie the riches of poverty the credit of discredit the pleasure of paine the health of sicknesse the libertie of imprisonment the joy of sorrow in a word the prosperitie of a adversitie And this he
the ground This Palace Thou perkt up to Heaven adorn'st Thee'n specious self-admired Parts and scorn'st Thy neighbouring Underling whose humble heart Shall raise his praise as choosing th' Better part Who deeply founded on his Rock outstands The proudest structure on the crumbling sands That over-charg'd with its owne pondeur shall With lower-shooting violences fall Intomb'd in its owne ruines ' ith'Abysse 'T wixt which and Heaven the vastest Chasma is BEE proud who can Dost constant use to bow Thy serious minde by an intentive view Of God How Great How Good Vile Sinfull thou Mercies how excellnnt and those not few God! Man Mercie Such from Such to such a man These and their Suches Weighed So Where 's the man NO All. And now what letts what 's now between Why not now joyne claspe in a mutuall close And twine in full embraces Why not lose My Name my Life in Thee so ever bee With Thee with Thee the only Heaven I 'd see No No All All be gone For I have lost have lost my selfe in One. For ever ever Lord that I may feare No more to be my self but still be here And if thy wisdome see my foolish heart Wu'd surfet on thy kisses and convert This Grace to wantonnesse shu'dst still impart Unsowred sweets yet though our lips must part But shall they part never never shall our hands Though then in Hell I be yet what withstands But I may Vault my self to Heaven on This hold Whose touch is strength whose strength is uncontrol'd I Wonder how I live I 'm but a Shade A Ghost Doe dead men eat then I 'le eat too My life is hid with Christ in God I 'm made To men a stranger to my self nor doe I know ought aft'r th'flesh live in the Spirit Survey the Glories that I Now inherit How black 's this Sun how grim a night this cleare This flearing day O what an Aegypt's here While in my Heaven-illumin'd Goshen stand I viewing the palpablely-obscured land Which did they feel it as they think they see 't How to our Dwellings wu'd they speed their feet But still the world 's the world When shall I see The Sun the Day that make these thus to mee I see else knew I not these thus wu'd see More yet more that more knowing I might be I see but oft a cloud intrudes between And make's me say 't is darknesse to have seen I see one beam through th'Cranie blear's mine eye When all are pointed there O where am I My Light shall strength my sight nay I shall be All light for as He is I shall Him see No Dark of Folly-Sin-Sorrow shall there bee VVhen I Allight Allight shall Alwaies see ACTS 10.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T Is good 't is good being Here. Shall I go downe Shall I goe eat whose stomack kindly swels VVith for by Food-indeed Shall I goe drowne My Faith in Sence Or may my spirits as well Be lost as dull'd so too the work not hast Then goe flesh goe but dip but sip but Tast Goe not unenvyed of those precious houres VVherein thou laiest me out for dead and yet Extortest more for Life where funerall flowers Are welcome sweetes But what a sad regret Comes over if not overcomes my spirit To heare them talk of straws that Thrones inherit Nay t' heare them talk like two wh'ave but one soul bound for the same Heaven-Voyage They fall foule Keep up my Faith and there the while thee feed VVhere when I am no more I food shall need Keep up my Faith and talke thee there the while Where when I am this feare shall be my Spoile Keep up my Faith and then I may goe downe And through my Crosse the better view my Crowne HOw is my soule distracted with content How full of Joyes and yet how fill'd with Griefe How well compos'd my heart and yet how rent How often straights and yet as oft reliefe Impatient of delaies I patient stay Oh come away deare Lord I 'le not away The more I have the more I still desire The more I still desire the more I have Thrice happy thirst whereby I so acquire The drinke who drinkes he never more shall crave I aske no more but this but more of this No more this th' only blisse more still there 's misse Oh could I ever dwell where I have been Or once could be where I shall ever dwell In Kedars Tents I mourne when I have seen Th' Invisible how soon my heaven to hell Is turn'd The only hell that I can see To see the face reflects no God on me Cast me into those Roomes of this great Inne Where I may heare them talke that talke of Home And when these worldlings which thee ne'r have seen Chance in my-thy appointed way to come Oh iet me be so prepossest with thee Hearing I may not heare nor seeing see When highest I arise I lowest fall And when I lowest fall I highest rise The higher my sin and shame me more appall The lower the greater's mercy in mine eyes I fall rise rise fall move but nev'r remove So stedfast am I founded on his love Mount up my spirit what not Higher yet Yet Higher Higher yet this is too low Till quite above my selfe advanc'd I get Where my New self shall me His Glory show In this third Region shall my Eagles eye Th'unclouded splendour of his face descrie Before I heard but Now I Now behold Those holy beauties that first struck me dead Those holy beauties that first did unfold The riches of my life thus thus is bred Death out of Life Life out of Death by his Light More black 's mydark mydark his Light more bright Oh how I love to love such * Desirablenesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Can. 5.16 Lovelinesses As Thou art Altogether how I hate My selfe I cannot love oh th'expedite distresses That my self-jealous soule doe intricate Cares Cleerings Feares Desires Zeale Indignation Revenge one smile caus'd cur'd blest perturbation By'agreeing discord how delight 's augmented By these harsh touches how well grac't the close VVith a full harmony never be repented Shall this Repentance VVhen thou dost Lord compose A heart thus broken 't is then an instrument And ne'r till then can give thine ears content For never thou pleas'd with thy self alone Break'st one in two but bring'st two hearts in one So am I whole again ' cause one with Thee So love my self ' cause Loving Lov'd of Thee O VVhat a Consort is thy Word VVhen Place falls into Place O what a Beauty is thy VVord VVhen Grace is matcht to Grace But what a What then is That Word That shews all Face to Face HOw faire a Casket is thy VVord VVhat broken sparkes it doth afford From every corner to invite My eyes to frequenter delight My eyes my wondering eyes to see Such radiant Christianity Cu'd I but sett these sparks in one VVhat floods of lustre thence were flow'n One's worth a world Heaven
in its balbutient age Instruct the Father or what more can ingage Me to content then 't is my Fathers pleasure In whose contentment 's lain up all my treasure Of joy and blisse But th'want o'th'laying th'foundation Well and well building on 't makes all th'mutation So oft befall us else might we steady stand Upright unshaken mov'd on neither hand God is my Diapason rise or fall Above all thorough all the ground of all And so he is to All his workes but they Can heare no concords that will disobey But wee that put our selves into his hand Obedient instr'ments of his just command Who with his crosse-division running art Gives such mysterious pleasure to the heart Of 's understanding ones a stranger can't Conceive whose judgement 's too too rude too scant To compasse such an odde variety Into a sweeter-sounding unity Nor sees th'decorum now with smarter strokes Of 'ts valour excitating tones provokes Our rouzed spirits unto Martiall feates To quiet combates with the enemies threats Now w'th soft retreatings recollects them by it 'S remisser touches to a watchfull quiet Strike hard or gently stroke this know we still We 're th' better musick of his gracefull skill Prosperity's a Triall too and he that uses 'T not in that notion exceedingly abuses Himselfe and it and never sooner looses His every-way ensnared soul then when he chooses It not as pleasing God but him refuses Adversity not because his minde induces Him t'think it 's not thought good of God but hee Wu'd ever prosperous never afflicted be And wu'd'st thou so know every state 's a triall And all prosperity lies in self-deniall While thou surrounded with the confluence Of all the earths indearements that presents Thee with its goodliest heart-alluring'st offers Tak'st them as not ta'ne of them daily proffer'st A glad resignment having learn'd the art To have thy Food-indeed ev'r hungring heart More fil'd with Heaven then thy hands with Earth Count'st Myriades of Worlds a starving dearth Till Him thou seest in All gets Him through All Above all livest with Him 's in through 'bove all O such a man this man of Millions he 'S well bottom'd beares so well so high degree Be rooted grounded stablisht in the Faith So maist thou reare that superstructure hath A winde-and-storme-out-facing firmitude Whos 's Capstone shu'd be constant gratitude Whose corner stone is Christ whom while we see How can we unchearefull how unthankfull be In every thing give thankes ' cause every thing Brings good to us ' cause glory to him brings This is the will of God Sweet will The will Of God concerning me What me What still More sweetnesse What am I that I should be To be the subject of such Majesty That thou shud'st once bestow a thought on me But such a such a thought concerning me In Christ In Him even now translate into The Kingdome of thy dearest Son might view My Crosse triumph't o're by a patient and Long suffering joy while strengthned strengthned stand With might all might according to his power His glorious power doth all things over-power O' th' joy the joy the over-flowing joy Tides on the Heaven-ward soule wherein the Law Of comforts God's a hidden spring delights The inward man whose chiefe whose sole delight 's To be the subject of Gods will a joy Whose boundlesse inundations can destroy And beare before it like a wispe of Straw The hugest oppositions sad'st annoy That Earth and Hell can raise a joy redoubles T 's augmented forces by'ts increasing troubles The while he makes the more retir'd repaires Unto h's entowring Name views th' Legions there Attend him how heavens souldiers flock about Him with their profer'd service and his doubts Fly far away the while hee 's more intent To th' secrets of his heart more represent Him purity integrity simplicity Sincerity truth th' face of God vvhereby H's's inlargedly spirited with joyfull love 'T dares wrastle a fall with death and longs to prove The mastery and like some mighty Gyant fil'd With generous Wines speeds sprightly to the field Of high exploits that th' world and he might see Th'o'repowring arme of Al-sufficiency What wonders 't acts in feeble flesh a joy That can the most blood-sucking sorrow cloy With superabundant sweetnesses a joy Sings nothing sweeter then it's wisht envoy Unto the world a joy whose skill is showne ' N extracting marrow from the dryest bone A joy of that extended pure delight ' I's impossible the heart b' in such a plight Shut up in selfish ridgid austere constriction No't can be hard while such a blest affection Dissolves it all in pitty drawes powres it out In streames of meek compassions run about On every side with heedy tendernesse To see what wayes of succouring redresse 'T may finde while still it makes this gentlenesse prove More flaming oyle to its Seraphicke Love Thus thus annoint with this Celestiall joy Diffuses weighty spirits and imployes M' in such a sadnesse t' which all th' rest is madnesse A grave confulting serious sober sadnesse Consist's with is the Basis of true gladnesse 'T which all other's is but a merry madnesse A joy 's no light slight frothy vapouring bubble That disappeares at th'softliest-blasting trouble But a perspicuous solidity Transplendent firmnesse agile stability Thus kindly may the influented Art Of that bright morning Star that rules this heart Temper thee to it selfe and warm thy soule VVith spirits may raise th' above the worlds controule 'T is not thy Musicke Stories Company Thy forc'd ungenuin mirth can remedie Thy wound no i'ts but a palliated cure 'T will fester more and thou wilt lesse indure T 's returning smart but leave this Mountebanke trick And search toth ' coare better once be throughly sicke Then never truly well Out with this odde This peevish humour that oppugnes thy God His sacred will for then and not till then Thou't say to all his workes a glad Amen 'T is onely this our inconformitie 'S the cause of all our sinne and miserie And wu'dst thou not conforme did'st firmely beleeve Him all good thou all bad but hence we grieve Fond soules the griefes must be griev'd over again Cause our weake faith this maxime can't maintaine How can we be in our repining mood But in our heart we say he is not good No no it 's not it 's not so easie a thing To b'leeve him good for whether wud 't not bring Us duely truly creedited keepe then to this Say God is good for that is all our blisse Our blisse is all in Christ by whom alone The selfe denying soule God good hath knowne Worke waite pray praise This part 's thine God's the rest 'T is daring sacriledge to be unblest Gods glorie 's rob'd ere thine owne good but pray Thy Will be done let thankefull patience pray Blest man how ever There 's nothing comes amisse Toth ' man harh ta'ne the will of God for his Is now no more himselfe is ruled by Another soule his sole
thee t' unwrap thee o' thy misterious lawes And give thy unvailed beauties into me And take my love-inflamed heart to thee To live by faith by love that live by action And but thy pleasure what 's my satisfaction To you it is given to know the ministeries of the kingdome of Heaven And art not thou O Lord tui juris art not Thou at Thine owne disposall at whose disposall are all the things in the world mayst not thou give thy selfe to whom thou pleasest or what is Heaven but Thee or the knowledge of its mistery but the knowledge of Thee and the knowledge of Thee life eternall Thy free and gracious and therefore not worke-fore-seene gift Shalt Thou depend on the creature or that on Thee Thou on its will or it on Thine Can the humble soule say thou sawest man would be good or bad and therefore thou must needs order him to life and death and so not thy will but theirs must have the precedency the preheminency It is not safer to say that thou who art an absolute and free agent giver and disposer of thy selfe in the inhabitation of whom in the soule is Grace Glory Life eternall that thou in leaving and passing by a man hath left him as bad because not pertaking of thee the onely good or blasphemously to say thou seeing some goodnesse in man without thy selfe as it must needs be if not from thee from thy will thou seeing of him thus good of himselfe and therefore a God wouldst order him to salvation and then how can he be a God O into what absurdities into what everlasting confusions would not the mad pride of degenerate nature leade us and all for want of a true thorough sight of that infinite desparitie betweene the Creator and the creature thaâ— absolute soveraigntie that he hath over it that cleare and distinct understanding of his will its positivenesse privitivenesse activenesse permissivenesse c. it s alwayes justice holinesse goodnesse Can that soule but above all desire nay desire it as that one onely thing that it might ever dwell in the house in the presence of God to behold the beauties of his holinesse and to blesse him among his chosen and yet but say withall but if he hath no delight in me here I am let him doe to me as seemeth him good Os what is it can more assure the soule that it hath seene him that it shall ever see him as having chosen that good part that shall never be taken from it in whom alone it could learne to humble it selfe to the death in the willing fulfilling of a ready obedience to its Fathers will This is the heart that will not haste after its owne inventions but will waite upon his counsells that feareth the Lord and dwelleth in his secrets Marle not my soule If wisedome some reserved cases have For heavens Cabinet councell he shu'd save Thee never an Heaven shu'd he fully show The misteries of his state here here wee 'd know Him fully and that were heaven indeed But since Thy conversation shu'd be never thence I blame not this thy scrutinie but wu'd Thy grosse contempt if thy remissenesse shu'd Not prie fnr truth as life and that to see Sparkling i' th' loveliest resplendencie That lights our Hemisphere The soule in'ts grave That 's not abroad i' th' Light Thou't then behave Thee wisely when thy Scripture-guided eye It s ingenious boldnesse shall most humbly prie Unto the utmost bounds of modestie And there where reason failes let faith supply Till thou sha't see thy faith was rationall That skild thy will to trust Truth over all When thou sha't see all ends fall in together All knit all into one knot no time shall seaver No sooner now I 've gotten one but then The others gone and I 'm t' be gone agen Then sha't thou know as thou art knowne without Discourse at one compleat sight far from doubt Grow then in gracious knowledge now and so More Heaven in more Heaven-like manner know Thy Councels were not worthy o' Thee great God Were'nt they too deep Broad Long High f'r me to plod Them out to one full intuition nor My love so great so sweetly'd inforce m'abhor M'selfe cu'd this blest distraction comprehend Thee in my owne short armes till thou sha't send Th'inlarging Light and Truth shall end This controversie in thee my endlesse friend Now can't I bring two ends together then Two ends to bring together can't I ken Now can't I Mercy and Justice knit in one Then see it shall not need for they are one VVrapt up in one Decree how Thou't expresse Thy uniforme sweetnesse in a divers dresse Substantiall goodnesse in a various shade Compleat perfection with a Cloud ore-laid O come then come VVhen breakes the day That breakes these broken shades away The Clouds subjected under our feet Hang ore our head so may we meet And greete may wholy contemplate the face That glances here imparted grace SHall faith subscribe to sense Or sense to faith Poore faithlesse faith my eyes my head my eares My heart say they all what they will Thus saith Jehovah Speake Lord Now thy servant heares Can't I beleeve thon art I le not beleeve I am Art good N'r I bad But I both beleeve Thou art thou a Rewarder ar't of all That diligently seek thee I have sought Seek and will seek thee so I le nere lin't call By thought by word by deed till I am brought VVord otherwise by a messenger of Heaven And then I le trust but what I have receiven I Would not beleeve because I see feele heare c. but see heare c. because I beleeve not have my sense leade my faith but my faith my sense because I have a ground for it by revelation by the VVord and not so far beleeve as I finde ground from faith out of sense If I cannot believe Gods eyes I will never believe mine owne thinke all I see heare doe as a dream farther then faith goes along and assures me of it c. To receive apprehensions of things as meerely presented by the senses is no more then brutish by naturall reason no more than humane but what by supernaturall reason by faith is divine though indeed that reason be but unreasonablenesse farther then it is inlightned by this farther then it is acquainted with adheres to workes according to the will of God The heartie thorough active compleat knowledge of the Truth Now truth is as I may say of fundamentall necessitie to the constituting of a true and stable faith it being impossible that that which is founded on falsehood shud prove other then false and failing whether concerning persons or things our condition in generall or perticular acts Where the promise precept word is not taken aright the application of the soule to it must needs be amisse where the ground is mistaken the building muw needs miscarry Where that 's not sound this must sinke Loose and spongie soiles
not step out 'T is unbeleeving pride proud faithlesnesse 'S the bitter roote of all unhappinesse Looke on the humble-and-beleeving man He will be happy doe you what you can Below he lies the while he flies above Th' great'st evills and sweets the bitterest in love Still may I Act my God-adoring faith Not heare what sinne or sinfull sorrow saith Up up above I am out of the reach Of what in pact in peace will make a breach The cause once known the Cure's halfe done th' disease Exactly tane away the Symptomes cease Being as co-transient as co-incident Faith knowes no sinne nor humblenesse male-content Perverse and faithlesse faithlesse and perplext 'S the combination of the holy Text. A generation of perversenesses In whom's no faith no men of blessednesses Were they implanted in my pleasant rivers And suckt th' sweets m' All-abounding Name delivers Liberall to thirsty soules cu'd they the while Thus feeding runne to th' dry and barren soile Cry out for any want but want of care To keepe them fatting on Angely fare To stretch their wider branches to receive More of my fulnesse in more fruitfull leaves Happy happy soules indeed big with delight Knowne of and knowing the Lord what lust m' excite Him sit nay stand nay walke i' th' wayes of folly What blacke event becloud with melancholy Pure candid limpid quicke pellucid spirits Streame from the lively fountaine well demerits The honour o' th' parent grace Why 's living man Whose life is joy so sorrowfull what can What reas'n deject him man suffers for his sinne Which faith not suffering let 's no suff'rings in For while it comes to God it turnes from evill That found this left why troubled at words of divels But wary indigning simpathizing hearts Are Agents in their sweetly-played parts I le boldly say 't if truth say true So farre untoward so farre a Jew Untoward froward faith I can as well While melt in love gainst love rebell Untoward froward faith I can as well While blesse in heaven banne in hell Heare then the summe of Christian art Keepe faith in all things Acting's part Faith's onely where it lives and where it lives 'Ts the spirit the paire of nerves that motion gives To every action the man the worke is dead Is sinne where this is not the heart the head FOnd man in those first loynes himselfe unblest Fled from his nest cou'd never since find rest Now soares above now headlong fall's below That place-uncircumcised Being O That faith wou'd hold me still above my feare And feare below my pride Durst I presume To blesse my selfe my selfe unblessed doome Wer 't thou my feare great God how soone I 'd start Abhorre runne farre from this div'l swolen heart Aspires thy Throne in envious discontent To doe it's homage to thy regiment My wanton head wu'd it more Babells plot To reach forbidden fruite my froward heart not Rejoyce in all thy wills my stubborne hand Not quickly act thy soveraigne commands This head heart hand this all that first wu'd Thee Their Maker governe e're they 'd humble be Wert thou my trust shud I still sow the wind And reape the whirlewind tangle teare my mind With thorny cares such tireing circuits fetch To rake the Mammon makes me more a wretch Contrive a wisedome that thou never taughtst Create Chimaeras flocks of monstrous thoughts Headlesse conceipts that hold not of thy Christ The head the whole where all our worth 's compris'd Resolve upon an happinesse of mine owne Though by 't my happinesse be quite o're throwne Pitch such an height of learning unto which I will attaine what e're come on it itch After vaine applause be eminent or none Have what I will or else let all alone Silly-proud-childish-obstinate-God-denying else How madly lost when fondly sought my selfe How faithlesse pride the brainessets on the wracks While fretting grief the heart-strings gnawes and cracks Were God thy ayme thy stay this ne're wu'd neede H' accepts the doing will for th' willing deede How hard and yet how easie now I worke To please my Saviour sav'd me from the Turke My tireing Tyrant selfe expects the tale Of toylosome Brickes though time straw strength shu'd faile I will be rich will honors pleasures have Saith selfe or else I le venter on the grave But who pursues these riches honors pleasures He knownes not Christ his Alsufficient Treasures How easie is thy yoake thy burthen light When with selfe world divell mandates I them tight The faith that once of God hath got a taste Loves not the world so well to fall for hast But takes his time meanes measure manner kinde As willinger to be without were so his minde Whose manifold wisedome shewes its mighty power To keepe the soule whom neither th' golden showre O' th' glittering'st goods the cheating world can tender Nor th' bitting'st siege fiercest shots can make surrender And wherein faith most bravely hath acquitted 'T selfe 's not told so easily as pertinently omitted Since then the evill heart is to depart From thee and to depart from Thee 's the heart Of unbeleefe put in this faithfull feare Then shu'd I still be good because still here All blisse is in Thy presence th' evill heart 'S in evill case cause 't will from Thee depart Evill departs fares ill and all because This fearelesse unbeliefe not tends Thy lawes Stampt on the heart in golden Carracters Of ne're defaced loves and thence transfers Its thoughts to trash puts forth its hand to folly Th' luscious fare's resolv'd in t ' adust melancholly Fond fearelesse faithlesse man n'er findes his rest Runnes from his mercy least he shu'd be blest Then let thy feare fall and incompasse me From this false world while faith makes upward flie Thus both made one in love this faithfull feare Translates my soule to its celestiall Spheare To rest from th' labour I to 'th utmost doe And sing 't along ' cause thou wu't bring me through So gives he his beloved rest sweet sleepe Amidst the sprightly est activitie dost keep My spirits in reposed freshnesse while Th' world breakes their sleepe head heart with vaine turmoile Worke out salvation with a trembling feare Give love its perfect worke 't will cast out feare Th' excrementitious humours thus expeld Th' implanted spirit of faith's communion's held The better with the gracious love that sweetly feedes O' th' purer Pabulum of humble deeds 1 Joh. 3.9 CUd'st thou induce th' proposall t' vouchsafe a touch Unto the stateliest to yes the fairest moile The richest dâ—â—â—â—gerie what brave indignation'd boyle In that Heroick breast while thou sha't see The imminent Crowne of such an eminencie Surround thee in a glorious compasse hath no end Of time nor place but shud'st thou not intend Thy heedie faith but th' glancingst squint-eye lend From him to painted lies how soone thou d'st mend O how thy bowell's'd turne within thee with A sweete regret to think thy father seeth Cou'dst thou now sinne while such a
's but a drop A dust to Him that makes the mountaines hop And skip like Lambekins with his Earthquak hand But thou 't goe faire and soft though he command Thee flie for so doth love He who graspes the winds I' th' hollow of his hand the swelling Ocean binds Up with a word here just here stay thy waves But lawlesse man how proudly he behaves Himselfe he stinted he a strickt precise Foole no for he that is is onely wise Call'st him thy Master while thou canst expect To have thy servant shew thee more respect Thou't bid him come and goe and stay and so He must bid's God thou answerest Him thou 't goe Thou't come thou 't stay when where he will provided His will fall in with thine but if divided Th' art not so silly a Puritan to displease Thy selfe for him but He must serve thy ease Or if thou part'st with 't 't is but with lesse for more T' avoid what 's endlesse tak'st what 's quickly o're So still thy selfe 's thy end thy God O what 'S the worme a doing that assaults its God! Whose every word is pure All linck't together And woe t' him dares the least he all doth sever Every word of God is pure and woe t' him dare Make them their jeere that make it all their care The pure-in-heart see Him-their Puritie Th' impure their place who them-Him vilifie O what 's the worme a doing how every bone 'S an Aspen leafe to see it climbe the Throne VVhose footestoole's all the kingdomes of the world By whom such station-quitting spirits were hurl'd To that unbottom'd pit prepared is For all such enviers Whose vexation's this They ne're shall see what they are vext to see Men truly Holy only Happy be Poore childish fooles wu'd have they know not what Heaven they wu'd have but Heaven they wu'd not Cry out braule fight with all that wo'nt confesse It theirs yet when they see 't love nothing lesse Through th' morrall-vertue-swept yard through the porch Bedect with formall duties may approach To th' very doore but they 're too good to knock To waite and if th' least glimpse slip through the locke These light-abhorring Owles winke wish their losse If heaven be puritie they 'd rather their drosse E're-scorching ne're-consuming flames inherit Then passe the fire o' th' purifying spirit Indeed what wud'st thou there Heaven'd be but thy Hell What wud'st thou see who here dost shut thine eye Against the God-revealing light and ope Thy mouth or 's this thy purifying hope Accursed curre that barkest at the Moone That but reflects how wu't against the Sunne Or what wud'st heare a crew of simple Saints With just such puritanicke Angells chants They 'le never ha' done n're linne their singing Psalmes Unto their God for their victorious palmes None 's still or thinke'st while thou wind'st up thy dull Thy jarring heart thou 't make to waite so full A set of fore-well-tuned instruments Jumps all in one compleater of concents Contents God while blesse that dreadfull-joyfull name That brought their blessed mindes in heavenly frame I tell thee man Thou art a Pagan or a Puritan Thou may'st a Jesus but did'st Jesus know These Hell-devis'd revilings dar'st thou throw Upon nay thou wud'st be his Image did Thy faith once see him whom thy God hath hid From blinded eyes while with an ayrie name He lulls thee dead asleepe to wake in flame But Christ is life and so he is to all Whom he shall with h's talitha cumi call A virtuall power-exhibiting command Reares thee a virgin on new resolves to stand To walke the way of his Commandement To keepe thee true loyall chaste pure innocent From selfe-world-devill pollutions all for Him And so thou wud'st did'st thou beleeve in Him Some fancied I doll of thy wanton braine That will thee in thy minnion-lusts maintaine Will winke at smaller faults no great adoe Will make shud'st harbour some few grosser too Will let thee vaunt it in thy pride and gad About thy eye's and flesh's lust be glad O' th' dregs of spirit-exhausted loves the leavings O' th' marrow-sucking world the sad bequeathings O' th' banckrupt-soule now hurried out of doores To pay the debts of ' â—s ne'r-acquittable scores I here 's thy Jesus presumptuous-desperate wretch Dar'st from that soveraigne name such venom fetch To kill thy soule but for that spotlesse Lambe Who so his owne to metamorphize came To teach them by a secret sympathy To follow what by occult qualitie He makes them know his from a stranger's voice To make them runne unto the brest so choice And with their bleating rethoricke bespeake Th' simple milke that makes them strong of weake To teach them keepe his undefiled steps Not dare to tread awry for each-hand deaths At 's first smallest stillest whistle straite to come To stand before their Coate-bereavers dumbe To watch the Wolves come cloathed in their skinne The light-like Angell selfe-deceiving sinne To graze no pasture but His wholesome word To fetch no salve but what his side afford's To become silly that he might make them wise T' abase themselves he might them highly prize Not live t' themselves but Him an'th'common good And when he calls to meekely shed their blood I here 's my Christ of whom thou art afraid To have too much lest so thou shudst be made To be too wise pure just too farre from hell For feare of Heaven fear'st to doe too well Nor car'st indeed for this nor that Earth earth Is thy deare home of sinne-rejoycing mirth But if must needs away thou' rt more content To be where Angels sing then divels torment And yet wert there thou 'dst be tormented with Their singing Lo whither brought by thy beliefe Cud'st thus believe didst thou believe him just And faithfull in his sayings away thou 'dst thrust Thy heavenly joy-prevaricating lust There is a faith that doth not love to trust Nor Christ to trust that faith who sees the heart Him never saw with all for him l'not part Canst thou pursue thy honour pleasure gaine And not believe all this beliefe 's in vaine thou d'st hate loathe friends selfe All did'st ever know But what it meant to have a God to wooe thou d'st doe suffer come runne flie did'st ever prove The powerfull sweet of all-commanding love thou d'st live die by for love did'st ever spie The feasting beauties of that lively eye Poore soule for ever past my pittie if on Thou hold'st thy course I know you not be gone Thou wicked worker thou never livd'st above For what acquaintance Thou my love my dove My undefiled loving dove what thou Sit billing moaning with me flyed'st thou To th' purest houses of my spirits resort Thou m' friend my Spouse wee walke and talke wee sport Our selves in hidden loves Thou carefull how To keepe me as thy life And absent how To take the speediest wayes to finde me Thou In a sweet trembling at a sillable Thou Unlade thy bosome secrets in
my brest Thence Councells furnish take thee to my rest Thou jealous of mine honour did Thy thoughts Run on my beauties day and night that nought Cud please thee else thy feet i' th' pleasant wayes Of my commands did'st count them so How sayes saith Thy heart and they is this thy holy faith Cleane feare God ' ndwelling love Now now what saith Thy conscience Did thy heart er'e feele a dagger yet Survive the thorough-strucken wound and yet Thy-heart-still-killing smart survive the hope Of Cure this daggers it kills heart and hope With minute mortall stabbes of quicke dispaire Myriads of endlesse living dyings are I tell thee man Th' art not a man or art a Puritan A beast a dog a hog a what-he-will Whose Jesu-countermands thy lustes fulfill I tell thee man Thou art a Devill or a Puritan There are but two unelimentary spirits Good bad God the divill and justly he demerits T' be counted th'latter who 'l not be the first Who scoffes at th' blessed spirit to be th' accurs'd Bad in th' extreame who wu'd be i' th' meane Of absolute good who wu'd no nearer come To God then needs t' be cast i' th' farthest roome Of utmost darkenesse there to learne too late Th' remotest distance of the middle state Of wilfull neutralists a semblance make Of friends to heaven when Tophets part they take HOw now mad sparke what pride thee in thy wit When pride 's the Principle follie and what is it What is thy wit when it is at the best And worth the name but judgement neately drest The wit that 's made the judgements recreation This play the ground while that the variation That made the sauce unto a weaker braine That else wu'd of the stronger meate complaine And what is judgement but a childish thought When to the full'st maturitie 't is brought What all our parts but parts and those received And in a moment may be quite bereav'd The best are bad for else they never cu'd Be tane away but are th' parts of that good That onely good compleate then not our owne So then who hath th' great'st the best hath none But what in Him but what in Him we see We see 't we feel 't in humbling humilitie VVEll say thou saydst thou thought'st 't were somewhat well Why not confesse his gratious gifts as free As of th' ungracious retributions tell By that that humbly thankefull thou mayst be By this thankfully humble be sincere Nor shame nor praises need'st thou then so feare I Have sat downe and councell held I cannot fight I cannot build And yet I can't but fight and build The warre the building 's great Great wants do threate My strength my stocke is small Is none at all What shall I doe I le doe thy word A Toole in this that hand a sword My Christ will helpe and wealth afford My strength my stock 's not small For they are all The building warre shall thrive While hee 's alive Here then I le minutely repaire Nay hence not budge a foot my care ' Sonl ' he who ' h's life so freely'd spare Me and I not fetch 't but spare Such gainefull care Such life such strength whereby 'T is I am I Ungratefull sloath had rather fall and die Then stretch his bosom'd hand to ' th' life so nie THe world 's uncertaine and my knowledge too But I desire to be certified Of nothing but Christ and him crucisied Christ from this head all goods all grace convay And on him crucified all ills sinnes lay So see my all while see my Christ My evills on my goods in Christ So has my foote a sure place Nor will I longer wandring trace The world to finde a setling stay For I have one and that 's my way VVArre peace life death A harbour and a shelfe The death of death The Image of himselfe Th' omnipotent Prophet and the Priestly King That Learnt Obedience by his Suffering A sacrificing sacrifice Simplicitie Lodg'd in a house of clay Omnipotencie Sensible of humane frailties The Lord of life Slaine The God of glory undergoing the strife Of vilifying tongues The administrator Of heaven and earth administred to th' Creator Poore reliev'd by th' Creature Aeternall happinesse Afflicted stupendious godlinesse Great mistery and they that thinke it small As doe all worldlings they know nought of all God manifest i' th' flesh heaven dwell in earth Descend in hell O how divine's my mirth When I can in my flesh my earth my hell See Him See in my flesh my earth my hell This spirit this heaven O spiritualize me more Him more t' approve whom Angels so explore Adore A God poore heathen gospells th' God to whom The sensuall sense-refined world doth come Drawne by beleeving hearts Unbonnded glory Caught up to glory what created oratory Can reach can teach these wonders so sublime Profound Th' celestiall theame of timelesse time How humble shu'd I be cu'd I still bow My selfe to pry into this mistery How Heighthned inlarg'd cu'd I still soare aloft In this so broad so long deep-heighth t' be taught Gen. 1.31 2 Cor. 3.18 THou Lord mad'st onely good my object be 'T is onely good then I shud see But I wu'd ill and ill now onely see 'T is onely sinne then I 'de not be But I 'd be Christ when shall I onely be T is onely God then I shall see Thou Lord madst onely good my object be 'T is only good then I shu'd see But I wud ill and ill now only see 'T is onely I then I 'd not be But I 'd be thee when shall I onely be 'T is onely thee then I shall see Thou' rt only good and I wu'd see All but as spots to draughts of Thee All but as spots to draughts of Thee Who art the only good I see The world 's the Image of thy Image word The mire sin that Satan blur'd Man with the stain straite through th'Creation crept But this untouch't him selfe hath kept And h's glorious-face-resplendent glasse hath left To daily dresse me quite bereft Of sight by that foule filth His Spirits breath Upon this Mirror quicks my death Struck-eyes And now since such a foulnesse in My fairest I see I 'le never lin To eye to pry to dresse redresse me by This God-conforming Theory VVHy shu'd I envie grace insult o're sinne Are not the Saints sins mine my graces theirs All sinn's in one in one all grace we in Them both he onely well himselfe compares Whose humble thankfull watchfull soule makes true One flesh one spirit one Adam old and new THou art Thou onely art Man 's but a But An adj'ctive accident a what-Thou-wut Thou art art onely excellent to be 'T is that 't is that 's the onely excellencie Bee 't all my businesse t' get more Thee That being more Thee I may more be More be in more to be To Thee PAsse world along with all thy pompous traine Goe ruffling in thy pride thy richest
show Drawne in Thy stateliest Chariot thou' rt too low Too base an object for my high disdaine Contemne the world I wud wer 't worth contempt Or give my indignation footing or On what shalt trample tell me of somewhat for My vilifying or how w'lt cause more contempt then tempt All th' world is lesse then nothing none is but Who is I Am and by whom every thing Is what it is they 're not then rich that bring Th' world in possession since when 't is got 't is not I De have the World at will And yet I care No more for 't then to buy me food and frize I de have 't th' obedient toole I de make to reare My building soule and when my Master sees It meet lay 't by and take me to my hands Faith freer workes the lesse the sence withstands And this is all I care for th' carefull world To keepe it by my hand and from my heart To have 't an inferiour helpe away to hurle't When told here is a worke of curious art Derides the bunglings of unskilfull sense A heaven-silenc'st active patience THe World 's a straw through which I draw My Canaan-milke's sweet nourishment But if 't be tane away I gaine The wider draughts of deep content While he thinkes fit I 'le sucke through it But if he speake but halfe a word A way it goes and well he throwes That hath i' th' steede such store confer'd DId not I feare Thee Lord The world hath not the cord Cu'd binde this strong desire From what it doth require So vehement yet so stai'd 'S the motion 'ts not afraid Of Hell Onely thy Love Maintaines the fight and proves Of power to withhold What else were uncontrol'd And yet the fight is sore And yet I can't give ore O were I not so free Or had more libertie And yet if neither must Thou' rt very good and just Even this too is for good The more the selfe 's withstood The more the spirit is That crownes with victories Good very good are all thy wayes Thou onely wise and he who staies His marking minde thereon shall know What loving kindnesse thou dost show THou heart-rein-searching spirit-pondering God Turne mine eyes inward teach my head to plod To looke to what thou look'st the maine the man The soule the selfe for when I gadding ranne So oft abroad the divill he gat him home And made my wanton heart the teeming wombe Of stolen pleasure stoale th' word and sow'd instead A world of tares a world of griefe doe breed Still may I watch my yessell keepe sincere Th'infusion else corrupts though ne're so cleare And yet if thou deare God wu't please to come Into my heart my heart'l sincere become Tho' ne're so foule And long'nough may 't contrive Wayes how to cleanse it and to th' utmost strive And all in vaine unlesse that foulenesse cu'd Make faire My sorrowes watchings cares what good Can all from him who of himselfe is all Pollution VVu't heare the humble call O come come come away and doe not stay Untill thou comest and then for ever stay Sure there is somewhat of thee here so longs To see thee while my spirits in such throngs Come forth to welcome thee nay a' nt I all Lovely in my Christ unto thy sight yet shall My blacke abide still will I sweetly grone To hast thy comming till I 'm to mine owne Then come blest day come inside outside turne And try each thought by th' all discerning Sunne How humbly then sinceritie shall smile When proud Hipocrisies unpainted guile Shall show her devill-like face More humble were I I must needes become the more sincere Cause I have more o' th' God-of-puritie Sincerity holinesse and while I spie More beautious glories th' obstacles more remov'd He needs must be more humbly belov'd POwre out the pretious oyntment of thy name That sumptuous box inrich'd with all 's divine Upon my wounded soule so heale the same Allay its dolours make its surface shine Smooth 'ts rigor's cleare its rust soften its hard Make dulnesse nimble mend what pride hath mard Perfume the roome thy guests doth entertaine Free't from those brimstone fumes o'ne overcame My tender Virgin-thoughts had not I tane A scent of life to life so aptly came With rescuing redolencies O open 't wide Powr 't freely forth thou hast enough beside O how these welcome Savours steale my heart And make me shrug for joy at this depart O how this pawne e'ne makes me wish more hearts That I might feele such more desir'd departs O how I love these sweets my sweet O how My pleased midriffe trims my smiling brow O how my humble thoughts revived aspire Borne up with spirits to their high desire How how my unstraitned soule doth boundlesse flie Its gazing circuits through the highest high Where am I now am I a man I see I see but cannot say Mine eyes have borrowed all they may Of tongue of all doe what I can My assembled spirits cannot yet devise To tell my tongue the pleasure of mine eyes Stupendious sights O cu'd I reade The world a lecture of those joyes The cleere-eyd soules so richly feed How they'd indigne these cheating toies And hourely watch at wisedomes gate a glance Might ope their eyes and thence their soules advance Transcendent sounds O too too rare 'S this Nay too grosse these carnall eares O tones O tunes what compasse beare's This stately consorts curious Aires Their strings are true high wound incessant play Musitians skilfull play well well they may Pure understanding zeale responds To God Christ h's Spirit Endlesse straines Of multiplied blisse detaines The blessed soules in boundlesse bonds But if such sights such sounds such distance brings O what 's the mid'st where Glory shines Grace sings O Cud I keepe me in this Option I Wu'd wish to live because I wish to die How like a little God I wu'd converse With men let downe a while here to rehearse Those joyes above till I had drawne up more Harbour'd their Hearts upon thy Haven's shore He onely lives wh ' inthron'd In 's mansion can Yet condescend to sejourne with for man He onely lives who in his Jesus lives But he so liv'd who h's life to if for gives How he derides his feares his cares his griefe That seeke to hast his so-much-sought reliefe O how he pleasure's pleasure 's in his paine That but contrives more treasure to his gaine Christ is his life his death is more of Christ His joy 's now high but then shall be at th' high'st Now ebbes now flowes then an e're-flowing tide O're flowes and swallowes all the woes of pride Morne even eclipse now then a constant no one Th' Sunne lights to th' earth-uninterposed moone O draw this earthy Curtaine draw that darkes M' inlightned eyes from their beloved sparkes Those lovefull beames of dreadfull Majestie In whose exchanged rayes my life doth lie O how I strive I wrastle to be
and unadvised advise of one of his Captaines It is good to feare all that may be feared that so indeed we may feare nothing And such a and but such a feare is that which is becomming a Christian Of whom there is nothing more unworthy then base derecting unmanning and for so much unchristianizing feare God having ex consulto and out of a gratious forefight left our enemies subdutos expugnatos though not funditus stratos brought under overcome though not utterly subverted that that in nothing we might bee terrified this that in nothing we might be secure lasche remisse dull blunt but might still have them as Coticulas as whetstones to our mettle and animositie as those on whose fall and ruine wee may bee raised to an higher pitch of an unreachable and undaunted spirit As it was well counselled by that wise Statist for the sparing of Carthage from an utter demolition for the keeping in heart of the Roman valour that wu'd else languish i' the want of exercise And God sometimes like that dedemeanure of Edward the third to the young Prince at the battle of Cresey withdrawes himselfe as it were and stands aloofe of at a convenient distance on the hills of his salvation environed with his auxiliary troopes and thence viewes us in the valley how we fight how we are matcht how we quit our selves with the strength already received without a more extraordinary recreut and suffers us often to be brought to hard stresses pressing exigences and almost inextricable streights yea to the very jawes of death yea to bee swallowed up of death that living and dying Conquerours like that late-and ever-famous Swead he may in a more speciall manner share to us with himselfe the honour of the day may demonstrate ours in his owne glory That wee are the Sonnes of such a Father and he the Father of such Sons That we shu'd bee so honored to bee made the instruments of his power and hee to be the Maker of such instruments Now the feare that thus strengthens us in the Lord and in the power of his might and makes us stand fast and quit our selves like Men in Christ Jesus that workes up the soule to such noble and Princely atchievements that all sordid earth-bred-feares fall below it as Lucifer before that pure and spotlesse Light This is The feare The feare of the Lord. Which since it is a grace and therefore supernaturall must as all other graces being homogenous be conducible to the rest and all to an active and ready performance of the good pleasure of God So farre therefore as it turmoyles perplexes casts of the hookes and makes the soule that it is not in a fit posture to turne and winde any way with the first significations of the divine command so farre as it is not a feare of furtherance to but of hinderance from our duty so farre is it not a feare of God not a feare that drawes us to him but as all our owne feares from him And so is it extravagant and wandring out of the way of those inseperable companions the graces that all joyntly convey the soule to a more strict close and intimate fellowship with its God It will therefore be great wisedome to keepe this kind of feares so farre as meerely concerning us and the evils from our heart and seat it in the head that it might not take hold of us but wee of it we act and command that not that us that it may be as a Sword in our hand to defend us and not as one at our heart to offend us that while the heart is carryed on with the fullest gale of animositie and courage boarne up to the bravest and highest resolves of a magnanimous spirit the head may wisely plot and the hands seasonably act That we may undertake this feare as a voluntary worke an expedient injunction and not be overtaken by it as a meere naturall and necessitating affection But thus supernaturaliz'd spiritualiz'd we doe wee suffer with delight all the wills of God looking on them as designes as ordinances wherein our good is inviolably interwoven with the most high glory So that the horse should not more neigh to the battle nor the souldier shout at the warning Peece then the heaven-animated spirit summoned to the Almighty-might-glorifying encounters springs forth with a nimble and cheerefull alacritie And certainely there is nothing can guard us better against base misbeseeming feares then the unspeakable unconceiveable peace that rules in the heart that is ruled by the feare that is moved by the faith of God There is nothing that carries up the heart to a more elevated pitch of courage and confidence then a selfe-diffident humilitie a carefull serving of Gods providence in the use of all good meanes with a well-grounded and full reliance on him alone above and when he pleaseth without meanes And undoubtedly what ever the selfe conceited world may thinke the most God-fearing the most-mortified the most-meekned-humbled-soule is fortified with the truest with the onely true courage because he onely is with God the onely sound ground of confidence And he hath he onely hath and that worthily the name of a generous man of a gentleman who is the compleate the accomplisht man furnished with all vertuous qualifications though never so seemingly different He whose gentle milde selfe-debasing courteous debonnairete is armed with the most invincible impregnable prowesse and valour commanded and drawne forth by a judicious conducture So the severall denominations of the Latin and English meet well well couched in and accompanied with that primary and all including vertue in that one word of the French un Preud home importing as one may gather from their use of it a man discreet and wise a man of fortitude and prowesse of a sweet and gracious comportment a man of honestie faithfulnesse integritie rondeur of minde All vertue is of choice And where all is not chosen none is chosen To suffer in any case upon any termes is necessitie not patience meakishnesse not meeknesses a flegmaticke dulnesse a stoicall stupiditie not a heaven-taught compositure of spirit Neither can the intermission of the act argue the privation of the habit and though the world count them sheepish moapish c. because they are the quiet of the land that walke softly in the humilitie of their soule yet present them with a fitting object and see whether they doe not give it sutable entertainment the same command the same spirit having wrought in the same heart all requisite graces the manifestation onely of either accommodated to a fit occasion and drawne forth by a prudent observation And since they know not their Genius no marvell they hold so little friendship with them whose foundation is acquaintance Little doe they thinke a Chrisitian is such a one as such a one he is if not unlike himselfe as can bring the Drum and Trumpet in consort with the Lute and Violl or could thence gather
same building frame and growing body so farre should we be from making them as arguments to keepe us at the greater distance And what indeed is the end of Gods various dispensation of himselfe in such diversitie of gifts parts abilities if not that hee might shew the more of his wisedome in drawing them all so compleatly into one gracefull knot the bond of peace love that in such if not by such a variety can preserve the unitie if not further the harmony of the spirit of the Lord Jesus Ephes 4. perlege Or to what purpose is our knowledge but for love for charitie the fulfilling of the Law the end of the Commandement out of a pure conscience and of faith unfained This is the sincere the true faith and knowledge that thus workes What puritie of conscience what life of assection I see in the conversation caeteris paribus by that shall I judge of the truth of the measure of the faith the knowledge as the roote by the fruit and by that I look to be judged by the judge of all things by him whose call is for whose residence is in whose shining is into the heart where he shewes himselfe where he is where he ha's savingly Not by what is found in my braine my head but in my brest my heart that which sitteth here making musicke to the Lord with a gratious answering to all his wills a glorious admiration of his love his wisedome c. his mercifull acceptance in the Lord Christ and not that which it jarring with others there That which sounds forth God in its life and not that which founds forth it selfe in its tongue The Divill I beleeve hath as much knowledge and can dictate as excellent discourse as all the men of the world Knowledge so farre as it is not cordiall and living so farre as it is not sappy savory and fruitfull but dry and barren or bringing forth wild thistles so farre I shall never thinke it to have the Lord Christ for its roote So farre as it is not sapida sertilis it will proove but insipida futilis foolish and vaine I would have knowledge then bee my food and my food my strength and my strength my exercise I wu'd feede with delight but not for delight but for the better disgesting of my knowledge into an assimulated practice And be our opinions notions what they will if they convey no more of God along with them certainly they never came of his sending who alwayes comes along with the true understanding of his will of himselfe the onely truth And by more of his presence induceth more glorious light-more humble love-more faithfull action And to what purpose have our hearts tugged so hard at heaven for the pulling downe of those spirituall wickednesses and exalted vilenesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 12. but as they have held up the heads and strengthned the hands of the ungodly but as they are those of whom we have no warrant that they had their commission from him and therefore no promise that hee would dispence himselfe through them but as they are intruders betweene God and us and obtruders of their ceremoniall and traditionall obstructions in our immediater approaches to him and they taken away wee might have more of him and that that wee might doe more for him But now to have the obstacles removed and the end never the nearer attained to what purpose is it To have those who under the pretence of being the Conduit pipes were the dirt and filth that stopped them of being the Contrefenestres the shutting windowes to keepe out the theevery of innovations schismes seperations c. out of the Church keepe out the light and truth and were the greatest schismaticks renters of the Church themselves to have these I say removed as sure enough they shall at what ever rate and wee draw never the more light and life into our hearts into our lives but still hugge our owne fond imaginations still seeke about in such extravagancies after our owne inventions lying vanities that promise faire and performe worse then nothing what other will it be interpreted by him then the dispising the turning of his goodnesse his glory into shame while we know God more but know him not and therefore worship him not as God the commander of the whole man But those O Lord that know what it is to know thee can they but be thankfull in an active and 〈◊〉 action-denying thankefulnes O then that thou wouldest accomplish the work that thou hast so gratiously so powerfully undertaken How long shall thy servants nauseate at the fulsomenesse of their pride Though they make the hearts of kingdomes still ake with it let them be vomited be vomited forth thoroughly Rather let us be pained with our cure that not prevent our death We yea thou art sicke of their Lukewarmenesse O when wutâ—â— thou spue them out of thy mouth So will we flocke up to mountaines of thy house and poure forth our soules in thy praises So in the humilitie of our spirits will we sit at the feet of thy Jesus and learne at the mouths of thy holy servants So shall our hearts bow before thee and out hands be dilgent in thy service So shall holinesse bee written on our pathes and our lives be the memorialls of thy mercies So shall the review of thy favours be as the fringe for remembrance of thy precepts So shall the wonderfulnesse of our deliverancies be read in the wonderfulnesse of our obedience So will we commune with our owne hearts and be still and say what have wee returned thee What sinne have we more crucified what dutie have we more have we better done So will we offer unto thee the sacrifice of righteousnesse of a broken and contrite heart While wee bind all the faculties of our soule and members of our bodies to thy Alcar With the cords of our affections to thy Christ and thou sha't accept them gratiously O Lord our hearts thy Sion DElayes are neither constant grounds of suspect nor dispaire neither of suspect of the promisers present good will nor of dispaire of the promise it 's future performance In my last I promised you another which till now you received not yet hath this delay neither proved an utter silence nor proceeded from an unfriendlike disrespect God hath promised you deliverance which yet you have not yet received yet can this protraction neither argue a change of his fatherly affection nor unchangeablenesse of your child like afflictions Neither is it a ground for your doubt of his great prudence or gracious goodnesse in correcting nor of your comfortable support in or seasonable freedome from the correction He that beleeveth maketh not hast Faith is confident of the issue patience attendant on the time Two sweet and never-parting companions An unbeleeving patience or an impatient beleese how dissonant are they in the eares of a Christian How can I with a truly submissive and not presuming