Christ's sufferings we should still be found such wicked and unprofitable Servants as to have no more hope than worth in our best performances On therefore O my Soul and for all thy former demerits indeavour by the devoutest applications of God's Grace to be raised unto Mount Sion and to be made thy self a Temple an Habitation for the God of Jacob where thy Lord himself may delight to dwell thou canst not aspire to more Happiness than to be a Mansion for his Son and Spirit Therefore know the way of truth and walk in it make right paths for thy Feet since they that wander through Ignorance are lost or confounded by their own darkness Let thy Knowledg and thy Zeal prevent thy self and other Sinners too from rejoicing in their own Errors by due Austerities detourn them from their Perverseness By good Counsel assist others in their affairs and succor them in their affliction With the Shield of Patience break through the thickest Ranks of thine Adversaries and overcome them by thy Charity Receiving Injuries without being galled by them without retorting such venomed Artillery but rather pray for Enemies do good to such as hate and persecute and then thou shalt find as the Hospitable King of Israel did that God shall be on thy side 2 King 6.16 23. and more for thee than against thee But woe to that Soul that by its dis-belief of God's Word hath trespassed so hainously as to drive away God's Love that was unwilling to leave it Woe to that Soul which becomes blind by its profane Obstinacy in such a manner as to make it self an Object of God's Scorn and derision then when it might be the Object of his Love and Delight No Words no Thought can exemplify the direful miseries of that State which becomes so infinitely wretched as not onely to be left Sentenced by God but justly Punished and Condemned Nay Scorned and derided and instead of being pitied by the unspeakable Bowels of an Heavenly Father for its perpetual loss and torment have the Furnace of Hell made seven times hotter by the derision of God and holy Angels as if they rejoyced and took pleasure in the Pains of the Damned while they adore and praise the Justice and Holiness of God in giving to each one his due And Thus it comes to pass as there is Joy in Heaven for the conversion of a Penitent so there may be Joy too there for the eternal Punishment and deserved Ruine of an un-repenting and obstinate Offender As we may infer from the words of Divine Wisdom spoken in the First Chapter of Proverbs from the 24th Vers to the end of that Chapter Prov. 1.24 So that of all those many Showers of Grace that God so plentifully and continually sends down in these days of our Visitation there will not be one drop left to cool the tongue of a Dives when he may be sweltring in perpetual Flames All that which might have nourished and feasted the Soul turns to its Poyson and infects it more with the Disease and Nature of the Devils But on the other side How blessed is the choice Spirit which laying hold on the Promise and obeying the Precepts of its God thrives so wonderfully under his gracious Blessing Dan. 4.12 13. as to be fruitful notwithstanding its height and out of danger of falling No evil Spirit shall have power to cast it down since it is watched by an Angel and an Holy one receiving the Birds of Paradice within its Arms. O Lord What Solace and what Happiness may I not secure to my self if I have the favour of thy good Will and Protection for thou dost not baffle the hopes of such as anchor themselves upon the Rock Christ Jesus thou dost not break the Knees that are bowed down or bruised in their frequent Devotion before thee Thou dost not weary our Expectations neither dost thou hate our Prayers or our Persons but thou lovest thy Creature yet not his Sin Thou hearest his requests by Christ's Intercessions Thy Promises not blended with self-interest are never subject to alteration as men's are too much Thine immense bounty is the Parent of thy good Will to Mankind and is unchangeable because exempt both from Jealousy and Fear Thy wisest Providence leades all our operations through several amazing Labyrinths to most excellent ends and many times far otherwise than we designed them Thy Mercy that is so tender as to be wrought on by a Mortal's Sigh or Tear calls every Sinner watches and waits his leisure as it were accepts and welcoms him almost at any time after it hath provided the Festival too for his Cheer without any Contribution or Charges of the Guest Thy Wisdom is a depth past fathoming too and therein like though transcending our Demerits it knows though we do not always who are thine and can work good and Glory out of the worst of man's Misery and the Devils Malice O that this fore-praised Wisdom and Love of thine may work these following Effects First Let the one subdue those Adversaries of thy Glory and my Good who oppose themselves to my thorough Conversion Tyrannizing over my Will and perverting the devout Affections that now and then warm my Heart Secondly Let the other enrich my Soul with Grace As David was blessed in thy Love and became an Illustrious Instrument for the advancing thy Glory So I may be installed for ever with the tokens of thy Favour and with the ornaments of thy meek and holy Spirit I see the World arrayed with Vanity and dawbed over with excesses its sweets like too hot perfumes strongly assault the weakness of our senses and the softness of my Constitution discover the Rebellions of the Flesh against the Spirit I fear my Levity and inconsideration will lay me open to the inveiglements of my subtilest Foes And shall I not pray then against their wickedness that thou wouldest frustrate their attempts against me and confound their Devices Least I be confounded who repair to thy holiest Sanctuary for Protection Save me then O Lord who Renouncing the Devil and his Works and forsaking the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinfull Lusts of the Flesh would be faithful unto death and receive from thee alone a Crown of Life of Grace here and Glory hereafter Amen The fourteenth Step on the fourteenth PSALM of Degrees being the 133 PSALM Ecce quam bonum c. LIft up thy self O my Soul and be thou raised up from the burthen of my Sins unto the Throne of the Most High for though God be the absolute dispenser of his own Grace yet he loves to have it coveted and looked after by Mankind since his delights are placed amongst us Be sure not to leave his presence wander no more like a Cain from his sight for although nothing be covered from his inspection yet as he that travels far Northward banishes himself from the Sun's power and will not be advantaged by his heat so
Steps of Ascent because who ever intends to make use of them should do it for his Advancement unto God for his climbing up by Grace and not suffer his humblest Thoughts to stoop so low as to give any great Respect or Entertainment unto Earthly Objects The five first Degrees are for Christian Noviciats and Pupils those who begin their Journey towards Heaven in the way of Coelestial Love and venture to pass through the difficulties of Temptation the hardship of Affliction the Swords and Pykes of Censure and Calumniations They are such as with David on his way to Victory stay themselves on their God fix their Confidence with Jacob in his Journey upon Heavenly Succours and rejoyce in Spiritual Supports and press on forward in the hopes of Rewards and in fine have so much true Humility as to attribute the small Progress of their Repentance not at all to their own strength but wholly unto God The five next Degrees assist Proficients in the same Love of God and of Religion who are forward in the way of Mastering their Passions and so are more confident as better Confirmed not only to further themselves but others too in Divine Contemplations as well as encourage and invite to a Plus ultra to a making on in the Love of God 'till they have clearly made it out to themselves They can meekly beg of God a Confirmation of his Grace and of their Strength nor expect any reward nor conceit any Merit nor seek any Commendation either for the exercise of Patience in Adversity or for doing their Duty in that Condition wherein God hath placed them The last five Degrees are for the highest Form of Professors such as are nearest the top of Perfecton above and the Kingdom of Heaven here below who can pray for their Persecutors do good to those that do them hurt and accompany their own tryed Patience with desires of trying it still more and more Begging nothing more of God than Lowliness and Nothingness of Spirit under all the greatest Demonstrations of his Favour lest with St. Paul they should be exalted above measure and grow unworthy by being Proud of that Love with which they long to be made one in an Eternal Charity Therefore taking their Hearts quite off from the World and divorcing their Thoughts from Terrene Objects they imploy their whole Man in beginning their Heaven upon Earth by the continual blessing and praising of God And I pray God these Words may be read with such Thoughts as may stir up each several sort of Christians to the devoutest Action within their Capacities kindling in every Breast one Spark or other more bright and fervent than that can possibly be which is struck out of the black Flint of my Heart who like Absalom have heaped up more Stones of Guilt for the Erection of a Monument in Hell than I have enjoyed Hours of Life for the steering my Course to the Glories of Paradise Every Book that speaks of God should be as a Terminus or Law-Stone either to inform or reform our Footsteps and those Columns are not like Enoch's of Worth nor of Duration that build not up the House of Wisdom Those Figures stand but for Cyphers those Letters are but Mutes that do not teach the Ignorant the Right way or at least turn the Erronious from the Wrong Nevertheless I acknowledge my self not less unapt to Correct the one than unable to Guide the other being neither fit for the Office of a Monitor nor of a Master For what I have written hath been rather to wake my own dying Devotion than to watch for the Encomiums of others and for once I can protest the Puff of worldly Applause which often Tympanies the soundest Minds with Ambition did not blow up the Feathers of my Quill to this its present Flight and Undertaking He that aspires to Abraham's Honour to talk with God as a Man speaks with his Friend doth not give heed to those Whispers of the Serpent to those vain Hopes I mean which Fame and Reputation those Terrae Filiae Children of the Gyant bring along with them to deceive us here I once thought to be Dictator to my self alone because Devotion is a Spirit and like Camphire if let out too far or blown about most commonly 't is lost and vanishes away But when I viewed David like Jonathan climbing up the Rock and commanding his Armour-bearers to follow him I had also the courage both to attend and imitate him in beckening unto others to creep along with me upon these Stairs which lead unto David's Fortress unto the God of Gods in Mount Sion and unto his Temple where every one must speak of his Honour And who knows but some others incited perhaps by my weakest endeavours may assist hereafter with better address those who are getting up these Holy Rounds this Scala Santa of Meditation As we see a little Star shines before the Sun as it were to raise and light up a far greater and more useful Guide than it self But without any more Preamble not to detain or deceive the Reader let me tell him who is not pleased with this Book That he may be pleased in regarding the Subject and if he shall look herein and find any thing that is good it is to be returned with due Interest of Praise to God the true Owner of it who was the Framer of the World from Nothing and the Maker of Mankind Upright though we have sought out many strange Inventions both to be and to do Wrong So that Mistakes and Men go hand in hand together and all the Errors here we must yeild to be our own IN Psalmorum Laudem CHORUS 1. Angelorum 2. Hominum CHORUS THE PSALMS are Paradises Spring Streaming Refreshments every way They 1. Wine 2. Oyl 1. Milk 2. And Honey bring 1. To Cheer 2. To Cure 1. To Feed 2. T' Allay 1. When we are merry Psalms we sing 2. When we 're afflicted Psalms we say 1. They Heav'n's 2. And Earth's Devotions wing 1. While Angels Praise 2. Or Men do Pray CHORUS The PSALMS are Paradises Spring Streaming Refreshments every way c. THE ASCENTS OF THE SOUL The first Step upon the First PSALM of Degrees being the 120 PSALM Ad Dominum cum tribularer c. O Most Gracious God when I have fathomed the tossing Billows of my troubled Spirit either by the depth of humane anxieties or by some thwarting dispensation of that Providence that moves upon the great Abyss and was termed Fortune by the Heathens rolling the whole Globe upon Waves of incertain Casualties Nay when the Storms of my violent Passions make my wicked heart like a raging Sea foaming out nothing but mire and dirt in filthy Motions and in tyrannical or rebellious Actions O then with Humility Contrition and Sincerity of Intention I indeavour to strike sayl for fear of the Shipwrack of a good Conscience and make hast to put into the Harbour of thy Goodness and Compassion Then I
the privy Chambers of Heaven which are hanged with Eternity and furnished with all real good is so great a favour so inestimable a Jewel so unparalell'd an advantage as that the Soul it self cannot comprehend much less the tongue express it How am I then arrived O dear Redeemer to a blessed pitch of Confidence by considering though I find my self a very unworthy Sinner yet I may come as I am call'd into the Land of the living into the Kingdom of Heaven and when this Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved I shall have a Throne a Seat a Building not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens What greater happiness O my God! can a Soul promise it self then by seconding thy divine Commands be secure of inheriting such a Throne such a Seat such a Kingdom in the portion of the blessed and in the presence of Saints and Angels Communicate of thy own Greatness and of thy Glory What delights can equal those of the Celestial Paradise Speak no more of an Earthly one for what satisfactions may keep pace with the Vision of my God Adam himself could but view his works in the Universe But O thou great Ineffable Incomprehensible Transcendent Wilt thou ever become the Object of those Eyes that have been prophaned by Worldly Spectacles In thy presence is Life full Content and endless Joys and these I shall as fully possess being instated by thy Favour as Angels or other perfect Spirits have them so my desires shall be still feasted with the Contemplation of thy Goodness and my affections shall triumph in their eternal injoyments and the insatiable Nature of my Soul and sence will find enough to entertain and quiet them in the infinite Treasure of thy Love and Wisdom But because he deserves no admission into the Clossets of the Righteous who hath made his abode amongst the Carnalities of the World and inslaved his reason to the service of sin I pray thee most gracious God to stay the feet of my longings from going up too hastily too rashly Hold my thoughts yet longer upon the Reflection of my own demerits and then afterward fix them on the sole contemplation of Heavenly things so I shall better find the Obligation I have to serve thee with pure intentions and suitable operations and not continue still only fit to be shut out of the new Jerusalem that is above That Jerusalem I mean whose walls are built up of several orders of Vertues whose stately Pallaces are reared by the Law of Moses the Revelations of the Prophets and the labours of the Apostles the sufferings and Patience of Saints and the power of the Gospel wherein the glorious Majesty of Christ Resides and the best Apartments are set off with Love and Charity and the Angels are the bright Courtiers Thrones Dominions and Powers chief Officers arch-Arch-Angels the Guards and the blest inhabitants are the just made perfect What then should a man do or rather what should he not do or suffer to get to this Jerusalem above O my Soul thou must know that Heaven is a free and General native Countrey that is arrived at not by nobleness of Birth nor by the pride of Life or living not by the glories of Ancestors nor by the Wealth nor Honours of the Earth but by the Holinesâ—acts of our desires the sincerity of the Heart the temperance of the Tongue and the Righteousness of our Actions Here then my Soul fix all thy Complacencies thou hast already cloy'd thy apetite on the momentary pleasures of a short Life and thou findest how brief they are in the fruition how bitter in the recantation of them Get up therefore get up to this new Jerusalem which the pity and goodness of my God doth promise thee while by his infinite Mercies he lets thee tast the fruit of his planting the wonderful Conjunctions of Faith and eternal Glories and will let thee partake of the chief good that common portion of such as are found worthy to be called the children of God Hast thou no reason then O Soul to give thy self up absolutely to the goodness of my God what should hinder or impeach thy submission is not this due to the merits of his goodness and to the demerits of thy former Operations Yea surely by so much the more art thou oblig'd to his service by how much the more his bounties have been extended towards thee Therefore after all this his payment of thy debt of transgressions I find thee bound more fast to thy debt of Duty to fear Gods Power to adore his Majesty to be humbled for my Pride and ashamed of my follies Heaven is no place thou knowest for the unclean there are none but Innocents or Penitents such as have needed no Repentance or else have used it O thou most gracious Monarch of the World whosoever pretends to aproach thy Throne to partake of thy Glories or to enter into thy garden of Life He must of necessity be installed with the Vesture of thy Grace and be stript of all Earthly compliances which so intangle men amongst the snares of Offences or the miseries of this Life All they who to this time have stay'd in the Presence-chamber of the Heav'n of Heavens have been signalized with the special characters of thy Love without which all our indeavours are alike Blind and fruitless they alone have gained that place and honour by the sincerity of their Consciences by the purity of their Lives by the cleanness of their hands in thy sight O Lord as saith the Psalmist Let this be owned by those Children of Israel those chosen people and that Royal Priesthood of Thine who being advanced to an heavenly height by the steps of their Vertues have made thy greatness conjoyn'd with thy goodness to be Ecchoed through the Universe to the shame and confusion of others more oblig'd who notwithstanding they be inriched by millions of Benefits yet know not how to respect the Donor acknowledg the Gift or sanctifie thy Holy name therewithall Lord I am sensible of the backwardness of my Heart to any gratefulness it is conscious of it's own Guilt and would not go no farther till it hath confest how the observation of thy Commands hath been the least of its care and thy Love which ought to have been the first desire of my Heart hath by my ignorance been so neglected as that the fading sparks of a beautiful look have more easily inflamed it then thy presence As many Objects as have been offered to my sense became so many Idols to the which my passions were devoted Thy divinest Name hath been cast out of my Mouth in a Thousand vain asseverations and these have been uttered to no other end then to give Credence to the vanity of my intentions or the falsehood of my Speeches How then can these Eyes these Ears these Hands these words of mine plead themselves guiltless of any Crime since they have or would have offended in all and this conviction of my own guilt
designs waits for all his comforts here below I who for my part store my chiefest Treasure of bliss and solace in a Heav'n above turn all my thoughts and my affections towards thee who art my only Lord and Master I have ventured again to lift up these two doores of mine eyes these humble gates of vision even to the lofty Throne of thy Majesty and my desires have made bold to enter like Esther unto Artaxerxes even into the Cabinet of thy graces and glories unto the bosome of thy Love Christ Jesus and they have found admittance hitherto by the confidence thy goodness and pity doth afford Them in a Saviour I acknowledg my self like an humble slave that waits for pardon of his faults Relief of his necessities protection from injuries freedom from his chains deliverance from further persecutions in a word I expect through thee my dear Redeemer Jesus whatsoever may advantage my outward man or felicitate my inward I am not for retireing any farther from thy presence like a guilty Cain since it is by the light of thy countenance by the favour of thy grace that I would chase away the thick clouds of my sins and never more loose the light of thee my Father which art in Heaven c. Thou art the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof the putting thee far away from us is the foolish and desperate attempt of loosing God of loosing his favour indeed as Jonas once did to meet with what is monstrously Horrid but not of getting out of thy sight as that Prophet did experiment for though we goe down into Hell There art Thou also and thine eye can reach us Therefore will I keep mine eye fixed on thee O thou Father and fountain of Lights and will fear to fall under any such eclipses as thy displeasure or my transgressions may bring upon me I was once so hoodwinckt by the pleasures of sin as to be led about fondly by the false glitterings of the World I have been dazled by a frail Womans beauty so as to think there hath been no Heaven like a kind look from her nor have I look'd at any other happiness then hath shone from from her eyes which were two wandering stars alass which in a little space of time must set without hopes of shineing out again My blind ambition carried me no farther then mortals praises and my designs smelt of the ground from whence they sprang my passions grew not feebler while my person did but waxed more robust as I grew older and when I became nearer to my end and had less need of worldly entertainments such as wealth and honour then I became more greedy after them How base is that mental Idolatry inslaves us to the worship of that which hath it self no more value then is given by the opinion of some foolish adorers and as the femal graces of shape or complexion come as it were by accident so these are subject to ten Thousand casualties from them neither gave these to themselves nor can keep them unless by great deceipt and Colour I now see what phantasmes all those honours are which are sought with great pain possess'd with fear and lost again with torment Therefore dearest God! I am returning to thee and leaving worldly pomps and passions to thee alone address my prayers my desires and my vows I will be like those Domesticks who serve faithfully and and seek Diligently to please their Lord by minding his business and his beck that they may please and profit him to the utmost I will attend with longing eyes for thy favour and pardon and look to thy mercy seat while I cast not a glance upon the glories of the world as I have done Psalm 19. that Basilisk shall no more invenâ—ome my life by its regards but shall be trampled under the feet of my contrition luxury and vain glory shall be trod down into the dust as low as Humility can lay them or me and the richest intrals of both Indies shall have no treasures big enough to bribe my desires from the service of thy Heavenly Majesty Have mercy then O gracious Lord have mercy on thy poor indebted steward and deliver me from the evil of this defect and transgression both from sin and suffering by grace and glory If thou dost not by the transcendencies of thy power and goodness free me from the miseries of my guilt and restore me to some degree of pardon which is Innocence in thy sight where can I firm my hopes from whom can I expect Salvation I was form'd according to thy Image imbellished with thy resemblance in a superfluity of spiritual and temporal indowments and yet I could not for all this preserve my selfe in a state of purity or safety So that without the renew'd favours of thy goodness I might expect nothing but thunders and lightnings from the Throne and flashes from the lake that burns for ever Without thy Assistance O my God! I am affraid of thy foregoing promises that I shall not be able to keep my word with thee nor keep my heart from worldly lusts for indeed I have sound my spirit running out of it self too often into the Arms of sin and mischief frail humane nature being utterly disabled from maintaining thy favour without thy overruleing grace I am not a little sensible of the impotent commotions of my Soul and the frequent domineering of my passions sometimes Ambition drives me after the seeking a trouble which our ignorance calls a Title of Honour Somtimes I am wrackt with suspicion of disgrace or I hunt after reputation by any means but by godliness Now I am affraid of dying or of leaving that to the earth which was borrowed of her for me anon I am vex'd in the possession or acquest of Riches which some call felicities others find to be torments and then complain of any slight mischance as if these happened without thy providence or were not produced by my demerits Thus my state doth sufficiently experience each excess of humane wretchedness by the agitation of my faculties to my disturbance or danger nor without thy help and mercy Lord can I find how to get out of this wretched condition nor how to keep my self well if I were out My weak shoulders stoop under the weight of thy commands as if these were like my sins too heavy for me to bear and my corruptions exhale matter continually to cross my resolutions of not offending thee Stay therefore O Lord and take the sword of thy Spirit and stop the way for me Stetch forth thy hand above the fury of mine adversaries and shield me with thine arm against them Let not the fiery darts of my Concupiscenses divert or prevent thy bounties or turn thy patience into displeasure For as I have said before I must again acknowledg that without thy continual aid I shall become a prey to their force and malice who to the disparagement of thy power would in spight of it
Parentage Thou hast enriched my Well-being with many temporal Honours and Privileges above others so grant that I may not exceed the Limits of my Duty nor presume to take thy Praises to my self For my Birth whether high or low was not my choice but thy good Will and I can no more secure my Life than I could at first chuse it For my Death shall come as my Life did when it shall please thee to send it and that too shall pull off all disguises leaving me naked as from my Mothers Womb and in no better a condition than the poorest Mortal And this the Princely Job taught both himself and us when humbled to the very Dunghill Job 1.20 21. Worldly Honours are designed by thy good Providence to be Spurs to our Vertue while we ride through the short Stages of this frail Life and they should be looked on as streams issuing from thee their Fountain so that when we grow proud of them we kick against thee and make brutish returns of Ingratefulness to thy special favours Humane Learning which is meer ignorance in respect of thy knowledg is an Oyntment that is fly-blown corrupt and unsavoury when the Philosopher is such a Fool as to glory in his Wisdom Therefore entertain my notions good Lord within the compass of a just moderation that they may not boil over with conceit or opinion nor build Castles in the Air like Aesop's Eagles soaring above the proper reach of my own capacities Give me I beseech thee an exact and sober understanding of my self that Pride may have nothing to do within me nor without But that Humility may take its right place about me and not be wrongfully ejected by Worldly Circumstances Though Titles Wealth and Friends may difference me from others Gracious Father I desire that my best skill may be used in the accommodating me to others in the levelling my conceit of my self to him that hath the meanest thoughts of me while I confess my self as miserable a Sinner as mortal a Creature as the most abject wretch in the World can be If I strive for Precedence let it be only as Christ's Disciples did to be nearer to Jesus to out-strip others in Prayer and Fasting and such like Acts of Piety as may prove that I have drank of his Cup of Grace I would divest my self of all such habits as like false Glasses render me bigger than the Life and count my best efforts for thee to be nothing in comparison of what thou hast done me dear Saviour and thus will I traffick for true Glory by getting all the Praise and Honour which I can for thee till I come into the Harbour of thy Eternal Grace and Goodness Should I indulge the Pride of my Nature I should lose the pleasure of thy Love For Pride is a Sin so hainous as that it could transform an Angel and throw him out of Heaven and Man out of Paradice for both their High-Treasons against thy Majesty whereas Humility is the eldest Sister of the Graces and the first born of the Beatitudes having promises like the Fifth Commandment both for this Life and a better and although Haughtiness of Temper is one of the Goads of Nature which pushes Man forward since he was made with expectation of Dominion yet Lord abase this Domineering humour least Pride that is the Queen of Vice and first begotten Child of Sin and the immediate Successor of Wrath and Vengeance lest Pride I say should get the better of that Lowliness I would still keep in my Soul for the better imitation of my Saviour When I consider how that dangerous forementioned Crime hath armed Legions of Angels to revenge it I fear lest it should make me be not like David in this Psalm but like an unhappy Child of Rachel snatched away from the Bosom of my dearest Parent as unworthy of the sweet and precious Milk of thy Word or of any Spiritual refreshment But for all Humility is so needful as the Mother of Vertues yet a man should not rely upon the brittle staff of the best natural performances even in the very Duty of meekness and lowliness of Mind Since our Salvation is secured by thy goodness and in our holiest Operations there is no Merit to Redeem us from Sin or to entail thy Graces on us upon thee alone we must ground our hopes from thee onely springs our Happiness by thy good pleasure Eternity is consigned to us He that sets his Heart on Riches what doth he but rear up Pinacles whereon his Soul may be tempted and his Life indangered Gold is said to be Devoted to Pluto because he that trusts therein can promise himself nothing at the last but the lowermost Pit Honours are rather the Gifts of Fortune than of Merit and abandon men usually at the approach of Calamities Friends are gained by interest and lost by Death if not by some odd Casualty before Health is short and fleeting made so by change of Diet Air and every motion of Soul or Body In fine All mortal Hopes and Joyes are liable to the Tempests of innumerable Accidents Thou onely Almighty Lord art He that changest not and therefore art my safe Anchor-hold and the Rock of my Hope In thee Devout Souls pitch their absolute trust because there is no time wherein thou art not able willing and ready to accommodate them with Mercies and with thine infinite Beneficence Amen The thirteenth Step on the thirteenth PSALM of Degrees being the 132 PSALM Memento Domine c. O Gracious Lord Look with the Eyes of thine infinite compassion upon a wretched Sinner and remember that I am thy Servant I am thy Servant and the Son of thy Handmaid let me refuge my self now at thine Altars though I have been such an Idolater as to worship most of the World's Naughtiness I have adored earthly pleasures yet deny me not thy favourable protection look not upon me as on such an huge offender who hath warred against thy Holiness by heaps upon heaps of vain aspiring thoughts But Consider me as thy Creature as a penitent and humble Convert who may be a fit Object for thy mighty Compassion through the sense I have at present of my Vileness This is great since I have been Impotent Impious nay Sacrilegious My Tongue hath dared to profane thy sacred Attributes My Hands have not spared the Blood or Honour of others my Heart hath pitched its delight among brutish and sensual pastimes even such as have been repugnant to thy laws and to those of Humanity But now that by my Conversion thou mayest be glorified Hast thou not obliged thy self by the truth of thy promises to receive such guilty ones as are Weary and heavy laden because thou art a God of Mercy and There is more joy in Heaven for one Sinner that Repents than for Ninety and nine such Righteous persons as think with the Pharisees they need no Repentance I know mine Eyes have been treacherous Scouts to my
Charity unto God himself who is Love and the Man that can get thither saith St. John dwells in Gods 1 John 4.16 and God in him These Five Ascents are to be often mounted and if in honour to the holiest Trinity they are thrice gone over in our youthfullest in our strongest and in our oldest Age we shall be perfect in our Duty by such Repetitions of it and not think the Fifteen Ascents to God's House at all too many or too steep or tiresom FINIS ERRATA IN the Epistle to the Reader Page 1. Line 28. for quote read Court p. 3. l. 48. read Sketch p. 4. l. 19. for ones read ends l. 49. read Ite In the next Epistle of the Author at l. 12. insert its p. 2. l. 12. read to Heaven p. 3. l. 8. read perfect ones In the Book p. 8. l. 7. read thee p. 9. l. 2. read it natural and born with us l. 32. read or recover it THE Eucharist at Easter 1657 ON THE Happy Recovery Of my Most Dear and Honour'd LUCINDA ANGELS come tune my Joys since they require Notes pure and high like those which ye inspire Blest Saints of Heav'n could ye impart your Mirth Then might I learn to sing of one on Earth One who hath not your Glory yet your Grace One equals you in Piety not Place Because she lives Nor can I more express To tell what 't is the World calls Happiness And since she lives I pray for nothing more But how to praise that help I did implore O God who art most powerful do thou please To give me thankfulness who gav'st her ease Give strength as to her Body to my Brain That with her health may Harmonize my strain And breath still vigorously like my past Fears In Lines more numerous than were earst my Tears While every gladsome Verse records at once My Gods and Mothers Resurrections Within the Spheres of which two Blisses move All I enjoy below hope for above But all my Words and Actions needs must be Lame Offerings fit for Vulcan not for Thee I cannot sing like David nor can I Be even like Saul when Saul did prophecy Yet by that Harp which was his cure I find A Tongue to ease my overjoyed Mind Therefore my Song shall fill the thankful Quire My Voice shall consort with the Hebrew Lyre To drown its Hoarsness in those sweeter Lays So hiding my Defects but not thy Praise The CXVI PSALM verse 1 I Love to praise thy Love most high Who to my Praise gav'st ear verse 2 While I have Breath to thee I 'le cry For thou my Cry did'st hear verse 3 Hell 's Prison made my Soul afraid Death's Snares beset me round 'Till to thy Name I sought for aid Nothing but Woes I found verse 4 But when I pray'd Lord ease my Woe O Lord save thou my Soul verse 5 His Grace and Goodness God did show Making his Patient whole verse 6 His Love and Justice is display'd Shiclding the lowly'st Head And raising mine whom Grief had laid Down low even near the Dead verse 7 Then Soul said I gad not abroad To lose thy sought-for Rest Thou seest Love fills the Heart of God O make that Love thy Host verse 8 That Love which keeps thee from the Grave Thy Foot from falls thine Eye verse 9 From Tears and gives thee Life to have This spent in Piety verse 10 Thus I believ'd and therefore pray'd 'Till Troubles shook my Trust verse 11 Then rashly said all Men are made Of Falshood as of Dust verse 12 But what bring I to thee I 'le take The Cup of Blessing Lord verse 13 And bless thy Name whose Mercies make Our Duty our Reward verse 14 I 'le pay my Vows in sight of them Whose Lives most holy are verse 15 Whose Deaths are in thine Eyes esteem As it s own sight most dear verse 16 Thy Handmaid's Son thy Servant Lord Thy Servant Lord am I bound faster to thee by the Cord Which thou art pleas'd t' unty verse 17 I 'le offer still unto thy Name My Life my Praise my Prayer verse 18 I 'le pay my Vows in sight of them Whose Lives most holy are To God the Father God the Son And God the Holy-Ghost Be Glory and let every one Strive who shall praise God most HALLELUJAH The XXVII PSALM LUCE tuâ fruamur LUCE verse 1 GOD is my Soul 's dear Light What should I fear but him God is my Life 's chief Health and Might What else should dreadful seem verse 2 When wicked ones my Foes Approach me to devour They shall fall down for they that rose Have fall'n into my Pow'r verse 3 Though many Troops besiege None shall my Heart dismay Though Men against me Battel pitch God's strength shall be my stay verse 4 This only Grace this boon Of God I now desire That in his House I may have room To pray in and retire verse 5 There I his Pleasure tast I have his shelter there There on a Rock I shall be plac'd In times of Grief and Care verse 6 For all my Foes surround When God their Siege hath rais'd Around his Courts with joyful sound God shall be greatly prais'd verse 7 O therefore hear me Lord When I rejoyce or cry Comfort or Mercy still afford And to my Call reply verse 8 When once it heard thy Grace my Heart to thee could speak O Lord thou said'st Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek verse 9 Thy Face O never hide Nor turn it once away O Leave me not my God my Guide Whose strenth is all my stay verse 10 When Friends no care had took Thou didst for me provide Nay when my Parents me forsook Thou laid'st me not aside verse 11 Lord teach me thy plain way To shun each crooked Path Because my Foes would have me stray verse 12 O save me from their wrath See how the Faithless rise Against me and their Breath Would first ensnare by Calumnies Then cut me off by Death verse 13 Lord I had fainted quite Had I not hop'd to see Thy Goodness in this Life to light My Soul t' Eternity verse 14 Wait then on God poor Soul Take Courage kiss his Rod For he shall make thee strong and whole Wait then I say on God Glory and Praise allow To God in Trinity As at the first he was is now And evermore shall be The XXIII PSALM Paraphras'd THE King of Heav'n the God of Love Takes up a Shepherd's Crook As David did his Son above To his few Sheep will look Then though in Deserts they are left 1 Sam. 17.20 How safe are those few Sheep How safe am I from wolvish Theft Where Christ the Fold doth keep For while I wake he lets me feed By th' Sunshine of his Eye When I want Rest if ought I need His Arm 's my Canopy So that I shall not fear Death's Night Nay when Time's Bell has gone Darkness that harbours many a Sp'rite Shall let my Soul alone My Soul Return array'd then in its Light Such Glories shall put on As they that make my Shepherd white Who is my Shield and Sun He from a howling Wilderness Of Savages th' Aboad Hath brought me by his right Address Into fair Canaan's Road. There up and down meek Lambs he leads While Tides of Joy flow by Can his Flock want who kindly feeds Young Ravens when they cry Like Israel's Leader by the Flood Exod. 14.2 He bids his Army stay Then as he gave Elijah Food 1 King 19.8 He cheers them in their way The pow'r and goodness of our God Return Are our advance and stay Exod. 14.16 Elisha's Staff and Moses's Rod 2 King 4.29 Do Wonders less than they They save the Poor support the Weak Heal sick Folks help the Blind Soft Hearts they bead hard ones they break Thus nurturing the Unking For all Saul's envy Doeg's hate My Head and Beard is crown'd In spite of Foes I fit in state With Ease and Plenty round My Bowl 's with Wine swell'd to the brim With Oyl my Temples shine God is with me e're I with him His Goodness 't is not mine His Grace and not their own anoints Return Kings to the sway they bear His Spirit Royal Feasts appoints His Son is our best Cheer O that towards God my days could move Fast as to Death they tend My Thanks should keep pace with his Love And like it never END